Category Archives: Author Interview

Chinese Heritage Tour Celebrating Asian-Pacific Islander Month

Posted on May 14, 2013 | 2 Comments

I’m happy to be a part of the Chinese Heritage Tale Tour, featuring Raggedy Chan and Nine Tale Fox by Camille Picott. Camille Picott is a fifth-generation Chinese American. She writes science fiction and fantasy books with Asian characters and/or Asian settings. Camille grew up reading speculative fiction stories largely devoid of Asian characters and culture. This, coupled with a passion for her heritage, is the reason she strives to bring some aspect of Eastern myth, legend, culture, and ethnicity to all of her writings.

May is Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and one way we celebrate our cultures is to share stories and folktales. Raggedy Chan and Nine Tail Fox are two short stories, perfect for sharing with middle grade readers.

Review of Nine Tail Fox

When Emma meets with discrimination in school because of her skin color and eyes, she turns to Auntie for comfort. Auntie tells Emma a story of the Nine Tail Fox, named Ainu, who used her power to defeat Chih Yu, an evil monster.

In this short story, readers learn a lesson of Truth and perseverance, set in the traditional style of storytelling with animals as characters. Chih Yu appears to be one thing, but when Ainu tricks him into taking off his mask, the other animals can see him for what he truly is, a demon who thrives on hatred. This story is based on the attitudes of prejudice that prevailed against the Chinese in 1800s San Francisco. In an entrancing story, young people learn to look below the surface, and not judge anyone by their appearance.

This is a book my granddaughter, who loves anime, would enjoy.

Review of Raggedy Chan

In this tale, young Emma doesn’t have a doll that represents her heritage. The red-haired Raggedy Ann is a far cry from who she is, so her Auntie brings her a hand sewn, black haired Raggedy Chan. Raggedy Chan sets out on an adventure to save her homeland, Kunlun. The author masterfully blends characters from Chinese mythology with American tall tales to weave a story of cultures coming together yet remaining distinct in their own traditions. Chapters switch between Emma and Auntie sharing a day together with Raggedy Chan on her adventures. This story will be a delight for children everywhere.

Giveaway

Camille Picott is offering an autographed Raggedy Chan bookmark to every commenter; a Chinese Heritage Tale illustration signed by the author and illustrator to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and a grand prize of a Limited Edition Raggedy Chan Doll to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. A choice of a Raggedy Chan doll or signed Chinese Heritage Tale print will be awarded to a randomly drawn host. (ALL ITEMS US ONLY) If you follow the tour and comment on each stop, you’ll have more chances to win.

Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt One Nine-Tail Fox:

Ainu’s eyes fell on the small bronze-colored island. She blinked, frowning. Was it her imagination, or did it just move? That was ridiculous. Islands didn’t move.

Except this one did. It rose, a bald dome arching up toward the crooked moon. The twin peninsulas rose up on either side—except those strips of land weren’t peninsulas. They were arms. Two powerful hands crested out of the water, whipping up the sea. The dome emerged fully, revealing an enormous head topped with curving black horns. Black eyes bright with hatred looked straight at them. A broad, bronze-scaled body stood waist-deep in water, about one hundred yards from the steamship.

“Nine-Tails,” the beast whispered, sea foam dripping between his teeth. He spoke the words with hunger. “Nine-Tails.”

Chih Yu. He was bigger than she had imagined. He stood taller than any tree she’d ever seen; not even the stories made him out to be this big. Fear welded Ainu’s feet to the freighter deck. Staring up at the monster, unable to move, she did the only thing she could: she screamed.

Chih Yu dove into the water, driving up a huge wave before him as he charged. The sailors, roused from slumber, cried, “Tidal wave!”

“Get off the ship,” Papa bellowed. “Now!”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Camille Picott is a fifth-generation Chinese American. She writes science fiction and fantasy books with Asian characters and/or Asian settings. Camille grew up reading speculative fiction stories largely devoid of Asian characters and culture. This, coupled with a passion for her heritage, is the reason she strives to bring some aspect of Eastern myth, legend, culture, and ethnicity to all of her writings.

Website and blog: http://www.camillepicott.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camille.picott

Twitter: https://twitter.com/camillepicott or @camillepicott

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/camillepicott

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/camillepicott

About these ads

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Author Interview, reading

Tagged asian pacific islander month, Camille Picott, Chinese heritage month, Chinese mythology, folk tales, Nine Tail Fox, Raggedy Chan

Tempting Romance is Spotlighting Suzanne Lilly Today!

Posted on April 27, 2013 | 2 Comments

Dear readers,

My alter-ego, Suzanne Lilly, is over at Tempting Romance today as one of their Saturday Spotlight authors. Rachel Brimble asked me some fun questions, and now I’ll ask you one.

What do James Bond, Brad Pitt, and Hawaii all have in common? Besides the obvious, of course. Come on over to Tempting Romance and find out. I’d love to know what you think, too!

Also, have you entered the Goodreads Giveaway for Shades of the Future yet? No? What are you waiting for? Click the link and enter to win!

Thanks for reading!

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Author Interview, Blog Tours, Contests, Writing

Tagged Brad Pitt, James Bond, Shades of the Future, suzanne lilly, Tempting Romance, Untellable

The Odd Job Squad by Author Karl Fields Guest Post

Posted on April 23, 2013 | 10 Comments

Yesterday, I did a short review of The Odd Job Squad, by Karl Fields, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Today, Karl is here to tell us a bit about his book. In addition, one commenter from each blog tour stop will win a box of “Pinks,” which are pink fortune cookies that Ander, the main character has a fondness for. One $25 Amazon gift card will be given to one random commenter at the end of the tour.

Take it away, Karl!

Sometimes, the best way to get even is to get Odd.

So, here’s the deal: it’s your first day of middle school, you’re dressed in your new back-to-school gear and loaded down with all your back-to-school supplies. You don’t know where anything is and the halls are full of new faces. All you want is to make it to your next class on time, when someone who doesn’t even know you decides it would be funny to trip you.

Bam! All your stuff goes flying, you hit the floor and rip a hole in the knee of your new pants. Now what? Well, he’s bigger than you, probably in eighth grade, and besides, the school has a no-tolerance policy when it comes to fighting, so that’s out. You could tell a teacher, but do you really want to be labeled a tattletale on your first day?

If you happen to go to San Francisco’s Marina Middle School, you email the Odd Job Squad, four students who specialize in making things right by evening the score. For instance, after Mike Burns gave someone an atomic wedgie in front of all the cheerleaders, the Odd Job Squad fooled Mike into entering a girls P.E. class wearing just his underwear. When Stephanie Cooper spread a pack of lies about another girl, the Odd Jobbers tricked Steph into writing a post on the school website admitting how fake she was.

And the best part? The Odd Job Squad does it all anonymously. They take requests from fellow students, think up the schemes and carry them out, completely undercover. Until someone learns their secret and threatens to tell the world, unless…

It is so on.

Excerpt from The Odd Job Squad by Karl Fields

Greg rolled his eyes and went back to his game. No sign of Christian. We made our way out of the gym, and the second the doors closed behind us, I asked Joe, “What was that about?”

“I don’t know. I guess I thought it would be funny.”

“Next time, stick to the script, okay?”

We’d left Shooter outside the library while the three of us were taking care of the Drive Thru. Since she played on the basketball team, I thought it was best to keep her away from the gym; too easy for her to run into a teammate who might remember her being the scene when Greg’s jersey went missing. Joe and I trekked back to the library, and found Shooter where we’d left her, kickstanding against the wall near to the water fountain. Christian showed up just behind us.

Maybe it was the way she played with the strings on her hoodie – the same blue Golden State Warriors one she’d worn for years, only now the sleeves were cut off at the elbows – but she seemed to be somewhere else, just like the day before at the guesthouse.

“Hey,” I said.

She looked up with a start. “Oh. Hey Ander, did you –”

I shook my head. “We ran into a little problem.”

Joe was about to say something when Christian cut him off. “Lookie, lookie.” He reached into his backpack and pulled out just enough enough scarlet and gold material for us to see “Bilski” printed across the back.

“No way.”

About Karl Fields

Karl Fields is a writer of fiction for teens and young adults. His other interests include jazz, golf and collecting flash drives, the more unusual the better. He was an army brat and by the seventh grade, he had attended six different schools on three continents. His first book, The Odd Job Squad, is about the exploits of three eighth graders who operate an anonymous revenge club at their school. He recommends that you not attempt the stunts portrayed in this book. His second, Instant Preplay, is about a boy who discovers that his DVR records shows before they air. He recommends that you get one of those if you can.

Links

www.karlfields.com

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/The-Odd-Job-Squad-ebook/dp/B00560R9BC

BN – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-odd-job-squad-karl-fields/1103800835?ean=9781463537890

Kobo – http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Odd-Job-Squad/book-qHs3VJyBxEmMs0UaGNlx8g/page1.html?s=uUC_07B_Hk-5_N1qzhxLUA&r=1

→ 10 Comments

Posted in Author Interview, reading

Tagged bullies, bullying, Karl Fields, middle grade books, middle grade fiction, Odd Job Squad

MG Good Reads: The Odd Job Squad

Posted on April 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

Have you been bullied? Is someone threatening you at school? If you have been treated unjustly, call the Odd Job Squad. They’ll balance the scales for you, and no one will ever know who did it or how they accomplished it.

The premise is original, and readers of all ages will identify with the social jockeying of middle school. The Odd Job Squad, operated by an anonymous team, takes retribution on bullies in a top secret way. Yet, when the leader of the Odd Job Squad becomes a target in his own game, he begins to question himself.

In the last chapters of the book, he finds himself racing around downtown San Francisco, trying to win tickets to a boy band concert. A boy band he would never go see. Getting tickets for a girl he detests. He realizes the world is not always black and white, an eye for an eye doesn’t always equal justice, and sometimes your life goes in a different direction than you ever envisioned.

Karl Fields has captured the voice, thoughts, and emotions of tweens in this novel. It’s a fun read, and one I plan to share with my 5th grade class.

Come back tomorrow for a guest post by Karl Fields, and an excerpt from his new book, The Odd Job Squad.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Author Interview, Book Reviews, reading

Tagged bullying, Karl Fields, middle school issues, The Odd Job Squad

Editor-Proof Your Writing, 21 Steps to Clear Prose

Posted on April 12, 2013 | 7 Comments

This is a guest post from Don McNair, an editor and the author of Editor-Proof Your Writing: 21 Steps to the Clear Prose Publishers and Agents Crave.

You can read my review of his book on my April 11 post about his book.

Let me know what you think in the comments. Don will be awarding a commenter a copy of any book from his backlist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Airplane Ride That Changed Everything

Or: A new way to self-edit

My writing life—and that of many others—changed the day I flew from Chicago to Atlanta to interview someone for a client’s story.

I’d been a writer and editor all my life; eleven years a magazine editor, six a PR feature writer and editor, and for several years head of my own firm, McNair Marketing Communications. I’d edited many other writers’ work—even that of professional writers—and often wished that somehow they could learn to edit themselves. That appeared impossible, of course.

But I was wrong!

What I learned on that airplane opened my eyes to that, and led to my writing “Editor-Proof Your Writing: 21 Steps to the Clear Prose Publishers and Agents Crave.”

The Discovery

Out of boredom on that flight, I was editing a fog-filled paperback. I soon realized the same mistakes appeared over and over, and was intrigued. I bought another paperback at the Atlanta airport and edited it on the way home. A pattern emerged, and I became excited. Had I discovered the writer’s Rosetta stone?

Over the next several months I edited many other paperback novels. I joined critique groups and judged writing contests, and aggressively edited other writers’ fiction. I eventually plowed through all those manuscripts from pre-published authors and the marked-up paperback books, and painstakingly sorted thousands of offending sentences and other problems by type. I eventually identified twenty-one distinct problems. Today I call their solutions, appropriately enough, the “Twenty-One Steps to Fog-Free Writing.”

The inference staggered me. Just as there’s a specific number of elements in chemistry’s Periodic Table and letters in the alphabet, there’s also a specific number of fog problems in writing. I realized many unnecessary words are actually tips of bad-writing icebergs, and that eliminating those words resolves otherwise complicated editing problems. In fact, almost half the Steps actually strengthen action while shortening sentences. You can see it happen right before your eyes.

So, here’s the good news. You don’t have to be an English major to achieve this writing miracle. You don’t have to diagram sentences or study verb declensions, whatever they are. You don’t have to learn complicated rules, wade through thick manuals of style, or immerse yourself in the technical mumbo-jumbo of a book on editing. Applying what you learn in “Editor-Proof Your Writing” will make you a better writer than would struggling with any of those.

Here’s why. Most editing manuals are like geography books that give great information but don’t show how to get from place to place. This book is a GPS that leads you through the writing jungle to solve your specific writing problems.

Most editing manuals are like dictionaries from which you’re asked to select words to write the Great American Novel. This book shows what specific words to use and what ones not to use.

This book is not loaded with theory. It instead presents knowledge a step at a time, and asks you apply what you learned—a step at a time—to your Work-In-Progress’s first chapter. You’ll also edit a nine-chapter melodrama along the way, and check your editing against mine. When you’ve worked through this book you’ll have an editor-proof first chapter, and will be ready to edit the rest of your book. You’ll learn how to write sparkling, clear, powerful copy that attracts readers, agents, and editors. And sales.

Does it really work?

That sounds great, but does it really work?

To find out, I taught the material in two online editing courses over the past three years. One class involved putting words into a story (Part 1 of the book), the other taking them out (Part 2). The latter presents the 21 Steps I discovered on that airplane. Part 3, titled “Sharing your words,” covers such things as working with critique partners, professional editors, publishers, and agents. It also discusses writing query letters and synopses.

At the end of each class I asked basic questions about the students’ experiences, so I could fine-tune the classes. The overwhelming majority gave rave reviews. (You can read them on my website http://DonMcNair.com .) Here’s just a sampling:

“Don, I have to take time out from editing my WIP to tell you how much I am enjoying your class. The information you give us is fabulous. I just counted the books I have purchased in the last twelve months dealing with writing. Twenty-seven! Twenty-seven books that have given me less usable information than your one class. Thank you. Thank you!” Linda Cousine

“I loved the class. For years people told me my writing wasn’t clear, yet never explained why it wasn’t. Your class explained why. I rate the class a ‘ten.’” Charlotte Summers

“Thank you so much for this class. I learned a ton that I can even use in my day job of writing marketing copy, so it was sort of a two-fer.” Linda Fletcher

“This was the most detailed, spot-on, editing advice I’ve ever gotten, bar none. The lesson format conveyed a lot of information in a simple, elegant form. And you brought my attention to errors I was still making despite having taken other classes on the subject. I had no clue how many mistakes I was making. Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, I realized what a wake-up call you’d given me.” Patricia Davis

“I LOVED this class. I wanted to let you know that this is, hands-down, the best class I’ve ever taken. It is immediately useful, and is taught logically and with enough examples that it is easy to see the problems in my own writing. Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful resource. I’m excited about looking at my WIP again! And, oh boy, can I see the difference after taking this class. Thank you!!!” Suzy Short

“I have mixed feelings about class ending tomorrow. I’ve learned so much, and I don’t want it to end! I started with a 105,600-word WIP, and have “de-fogged” it down to 100,000. If this class went on much longer I might be sitting here with a short story, instead of the next great American novel!” Capri Smith

That’s a lot of heartwarming responses from newer writers. But what do the old pros think? To find out, my publisher (Quill Driver Books) sent Advance Reading Copies (ARCs) out to several. Here’s what they said:

Don McNair’s Editor-Proof Your Writing is the perfect workshop-in-a-book for fiction writers, and a must-have for any beginner.” New York Times bestselling author Dianna Love

“McNair offers great editing tips that will be sure to strengthen your manuscript!” USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Eden

“All writers, seasoned or newbie, should read, absorb, and put to use the lessons Don McNair offers in Editor-Proof Your Writing.” New York Journal of Books

Of course, the real proof is in what the book will do for your writing. I predict you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much it will help.

Don McNair is a professional editor and the author of ten published novels and non-fiction books. His latest, “Editor-Proof Your Writing: 21 Steps to the Clear Prose Publishers and Agents Crave,” can be reviewed and ordered at his website, http://DonMcNair.com.

You can follow all the stops on Don McNair’s blog tour by clicking on the Goddess Fish Tour banner below. Comment at each stop to increase your chances of winning one of Don McNair’s books.

→ 7 Comments

Posted in Author Interview, Become a Better Writer, Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Tips for Writers, Writing, Writing Tips

Tagged 21 Step Editing, Don McNair, Editing, Editor Proof Your Writing

Book Tour for Drawn to You by Janel Rodriguez

Posted on February 19, 2013 | 10 Comments

Drawn to You by Janel Rodriguez is a new book in the Arts-Angels series. It’s received all five star reviews. I’m happy to host Janel Rodriguez today with Goddess Fish book tours. There will be prizes! Janel will be awarding Winner’s Choice of a $25 gift card to iTunes (music) or, Capezio (dance), or Utrecht (art supplies) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. You know what that means, right? Follow Janel’s blog stops and comment to increase your chances of winning.

Rock Your Destiny! Gina Santiago is a thirteen-year-old “Nuyorican” with rock star dreams, so when she’s accepted into the prestigious New York Academy of Arts and Talents for art instead of music, she’s crushed. To make matters worse, the student body at the Upper East Side school is divided into “schollies” (students on scholarship, like her) and “dollies” (rich kids with “dollars”). But Gina discovers that there is one thing that brings schollies and dollies-and dancers, singers, actors, artists, and musicians-together: music! Maybe she can make her dreams come true after all….

Excerpt from Chapter 6

That Friday morning, I met Michiko at the lockers. “Hi—” I began.

“Watch your back,” Michiko broke in, pulling me closer to the wall. “Today is Rookie Day.”

“What’s that?”

Michiko looked apologetic. “The day when all the new kids get a special ‘welcome’ by the upperclassmen.”

“Dare I ask how?”

Michiko sighed. “…Usually it’s something like being sprayed with silly string or pelted by eggs. At least, that’s the tradition.”

“Tradition?” I echoed. “Even in a school like NYAAT? But wait a minute… I’m not a seventh-grader. I’m a transfer student. Does that still make me a rookie?”

“Well,” Michiko began, “you do look kind of mature for an eighth-grader …. Still, you’ll probably be safe. Unless there’s someone who knows you’re new and for some reason wants to get you.”

I groaned. Great.

Michiko led me away from the lockers. “And then there’s always the ‘Rookie Assassin’ to watch out for. If he ends up coming back again this year.”

“The who?

Michiko’s tone was completely serious. “Last year someone dressed up like a ninja and attacked the new kids.”

My eyes widened. “Attacked? How?”

“He leaves marks on his victims. You know, tags them with paint and stuff. Last year he spray-painted a big silver ‘N’ –for ninja, I guess—on people. On their hair, their backpacks, their butts, even their faces.”

“He graffitied people? And no one caught him…?” Dread prickled down my back. “Well, he’d better not try to get me.” I adjusted my knapsack straps on my shoulders. “Or he’ll be one sorry little ninja.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Like her main character, Gina Santiago, Janel is a Nuyorican who attended a Manhattan high school of the arts as an art major.

Unlike Gina, she isn’t very good at guitar and doesn’t have a rock band to call her own.

Truth be told, she never dreamed of becoming a guitarist. Instead, from the time she was a tween she dreamed of becoming a published author of a book series. And since you’re reading this, you can see that her dream has come true!

Her first hint of an idea for the Arts-Angels series began way back when she received a pendant of St. Michael the Archangel for her sixteenth birthday.

She lives with her twin sister, Jennifer (who got a pendant of St. Joan of Arc that same birthday but hasn’t written any books about it), in New York City.

Website: http://www.theartsangels.com

Blog: http://janelrodriguezferrer.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JanelRodriguezFerrer.

E-mail: janelrodriguezferrer (at) theartsangels (dot) com.

LINKS TO PURCHASE THE BOOK:

Posted in Author Interview, Blog Tours, Book Reviews, reading

Tagged Arts-Angels, Drawn to You, Janel Rodriguez

Book Tour for Chrysalis by Michel Prince

Posted on January 14, 2013 | 8 Comments

Chrysais book cover

I’m happy today to host the book blog tour of Michel Prince for the book, Chrysalis. I asked Michel to answer one question about her writing.

What is the appeal for you in writing Young Adult fiction, and what led you to choose the subject of a multicultural paranormal romance?

Although I enjoy reading Young Adult I never intended to write YA. I was simply flashing back to when Oscar and Ellie met, but with YA you have the joy of firsts. That first date or first kiss seems more intense when you experience them for the first time ever, not just the first time with that one person. Also in young adult you have the extreme emotions of teens. That time in your life everything is heightened because you’re still trying to discover who you are and what those crazy emotions really mean to you.

The characters were so telling when it came to their first years together and how magical their love was that I was compelled to keep writing. This is why the Chrysalis series is a cross over series because like most people it takes until they are adults to fully work through their issues…celestial or not. Walking the line between the two genres wasn’t as hard as one might think.

As far as why I chose multicultural…I write what I know and I felt that it was an underrepresented part of society. In The Beam, the second book in the series, you find Ellie searching for a positive interracial relationship in a movie. Although there may be multicultural characters in books, like still stays with like and that’s not how it is in real life. I wasn’t going for a political statement and I actually crossed a publishing company off my list because they wanted me to stress the issues with interracial relationships.

In Chrysalis you’ll find the narrator Ellie doesn’t bring up people’s race outside side of her first visual description for the reader. After that outside people notice Oscar’s contrasting skin color, Ellie only sees him.

My book is about love and much like everything else, when it comes to my characters I can’t control anything they do. I am their puppet, I just enjoy the ladies choice in heroes.

Book Blurb:

In the annals of dysfunctional families, the Chisholm’s are working their way to the top. Drug abuse, an unwed mother with multiple fathers, and the questionable cash flow for the ‘pretty one’. All this from a seemingly normal, two parent middle class family. But were the choices truly made of their free will?

Bad choices are a Chisholm family trait, one that confounds the youngest child, Ellie, who’s trying to separate herself by making smart decisions. And falling for Oscar Jeffreys, the hottest guy at school, would be number one on the list of Chisholm family disasters. Yet the crazy part is it’s not a one sided attraction. Somehow Ellie has caught Oscar Jeffreys’ eye. Sure she could see the barriers between them. Race, age, popularity. They were at opposite ends of the spectrum. But a demon set to destroy her family? She can’t see that.

Oscar provides security and acceptance Ellie never imagined she deserved. As the passion of first love grows, Ellie honestly believes she has a chance to beat the odds and live a happy, normal life. Then her world collapses around her. With the help of a guardian angel, Ellie learns of a world that has unknowingly surrounded her for years. And she’ll have to find strength buried deep inside to save not only her future, but flush out and stop the demon in her midst.

And Ellie will have to learn that sometimes the hardest lesson about growing up is accepting that you’re worth more.

Prizes:

Michel will be awarding a butterfly gift basket to one randomly drawn commenter and a butterfly necklace to a second randomly drawn commenter. Increase your chances of winning by following the blog tour and commenting at each stop. For dates and details, click on the image below of her book, The Beam.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Michel Prince is an author who graduated with a bachelor degree in History and Political Science. Michel writes young adult and adult paranormal romance as well as contemporary romance.

With characters yelling “It’s my turn damn it!!!” She tries to explain to them that alas, she can only type a hundred and twenty words a minute and they will have wait their turn. She knows eventually they find their way out of her head and to her fingertips and she looks forward to sharing them with you.

When Michel can suppress the voices in her head she can be found at a scouting event or cheering for her son in a variety of sports. She would like to thank her family for always being in her corner and especially her husband for supporting her every dream and never letting her give up.

Michel is a member of RWA Pro and Midwest Fiction Writers. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, cat and new puppy.

LINKS:

www.michelprincebooks.com

http://www.facebook.com/MichelPrinceBooks?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/MichelPrince1

http://www.youtube.com/user/Michelprincebooks?feature=guide

http://www.amazon.com/Chrysalis-ebook/dp/B007USU6AO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351526304&sr=8-2&keywords=Chrysalis+by+michel+prince

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/chrysalis-by-michel-prince?store=allproducts&keyword=chrysalis+by+michel+prince

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chrysalis-779953-140.html

http://www.bookstrand.com/chrysalis-0

→ 8 Comments

Posted in Author Interview, reading, Writing

Tagged book tour, Chrysalis, Michel Prince

Last Diner Standing by Terri L. Austin

Posted on December 18, 2012 | 15 Comments

Welcome to the book excerpt tour for Last Diner Standing by Terri L. Austin. If you follow my blog, you know I love cooking and writing. So when I saw the cover of this book, I knew right away I wanted to read it.

If this is the first time you’ve seen this blog tour, be sure to check out the rest of the tour stops. Terri L. Austin is giving away a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card to one lucky commenter on the blog tour. The more times you enter, the higher the probability you’ll win. In addition, one person leaving a comment here will win a bookmark and cover postcard. (U.S. and Canada only.)

Now, on to the book blurb and the exclusive excerpt from Last Diner Standing.

Rose Strickland is having a blue Christmas. Her friend is arrested for attempted murder, her sexy bad guy crush is marked by a hit man, and her boss is locked in an epic smackdown with a rival diner. Determined to save those she loves, Rose embarks on an investigation more tangled than a box of last year’s tree lights. With her eclectic gang at the ready, Rose stumbles across dead bodies, ex-cons, chop shops, jealous girlfriends, jilted lovers, and a gaggle of strippers in a battle for freedom she might not survive.

Exclusive Excerpt from Last Diner Standing

“Any other names you want to give me? What about Roshanda?”

“Asshat’s sister? I know she lives down by Oakwood Elementary, but I don’t have her address or anything.”

“Do you know who else Asshat was dating? Or Flat Ass’s name?”

He sighed. “I don’t keep track of his social life.” His eyes took in Roxy, from her platform Mary Janes to her blue hair. “I’m thinking about my own extra-curriculars.”

Tariq fenced stolen crap and Roxy used to be a juvenile delinquent. She still missed the thrill of taking things that weren’t strictly hers, so I wondered at the wisdom of this Tariq/Roxy matchup. It had fire and gasoline written all over it.

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my jacket and glanced at the gloomy sky once more. I was going to have to invest in some gloves.

“Thanks, Tariq.” I tugged on Roxy’s sleeve. “Call me if you think of anything that can help Janelle.” I pulled her toward the car and we waved at Tariq as I peeled out.

“Want to hit the strip club?” I asked. “I have just enough time before I have to get ready for my parents’ party.”

“Yep,” Roxy said. “So what are these Strickland shindigs like, anyway? Fancy food you can’t pronounce and champagne?”

“Pony kegs and beer bongs all the way.”

She snorted. “Yeah, I can picture your mom with a funnel tube in her mouth. Seriously, are they any fun at all?”

“Not even a little.”

Author Bio and Links:

Terri L. Austin lives in Missouri with her funny, handsome husband and a high maintenance peekapoo. She’s the author of Diners, Dives and Dead Ends—a Rose Strickland Mystery. “Austin’s debut kicks off her planned series by introducing a quirky, feisty heroine and a great supporting cast of characters and putting them through quite a number of interesting twists.” Kirkus Reviews

http://terrilaustin.com/

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAustin

http://www.twitter.com/TerriLAustin

http://www.goodreads.com/TerriLAustin

http://www.linkedin.com/in/TerriLAustin

https://plus.google.com/114753055559800020620

https://pinterest.com/terrilaustin

Buy links for Last Diner Standing

Amazon Paper - http://www.amazon.com/Last-Diner-Standing-Terri-Austin/dp/1938383087/ref=la_B008EFCWM2_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355232040&sr=1-1
Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Strickland-Mystery-Series-ebook/dp/B00AGLOFOK/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
B&N Paper - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-diner-standing-terri-l-austin/1113507546?ean=9781938383083
B&N Nook - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-diner-standing-terri-l-austin/1113507546?ean=9781938383083

→ 15 Comments

Posted in Author Interview, Blog Tours, Contests December

Tagged cozy mystery, Last Diner Standing, mystery, Terri L. Austin

We’re Done by Judy Irwin

Posted on October 23, 2012 | 10 Comments

October is Bullying Awareness Month. Bullying in schools and in the workplace and its devastating effects has become an international priority. This is the perfect time to introduce Judy Irwin’s newest book, We’re Done.

What if it turns out that YOU’RE the bully – and you didn’t know it?

Up until now, life has been good for 13-year-old Luke. He’s good at sports, attractive, and he’s a big wheel at Heyworth Academy, his private school. He likes to tease, and poke fun at the other kids, but that’s just because he likes having fun. But things start to fall apart, six weeks into eighth grade, when Luke commits an act of ‘goofing around’ that ends up costing him his best friend and his beloved private school.

After he’s expelled, Luke transfers to his local school, Carlyle. Now, he’s on the outside looking in. His looks, and background (not to mention his Heyworth hoodie), make him stand out, and the tough guys zero in on him right away.

The upside-down world that Luke finds himself in at Carlyle gives him a whole new way of looking at things. Can he recover from losing his school, and his best friend, and find new friends and a way to fit in at Carlyle?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Judy Irwin delves into the dark corners of bullying and drags the secrets out into the light. Bullies say they’re just joking, they’re just having fun. Bullies don’t believe they’re being mean, everyone else is just too uptight. Bullies don’t leave you alone after you get home from school, they attack you online too. Bullies use cell phones and social media to tear their victims to shreds.

This story starts with Luke, a kid who plays mean, but doesn’t think he’s a bully. As far as he’s concerned, what he does is funny and everyone enjoys it. Until he gets kicked out of school and has to start all over again in a new place. The story develops around his character realizing what he’s done and the changes that follow. It sends a clear and powerful message in a tightly woven story, both gripping and emotional. This is definitely a book to share with young teens and preteens.

Excerpt from We’re Done

“Entrez,” said Monica. Luke pushed the door open. Kim and Monica lay sprawled on Monica’s bed, with the laptop and an open bag of potato chips between them.

“Check it,” said Monica. “She’s trying to delete the Wall entries. It’s hilarious.”

She grabbed a handful of chips, and lay back against the pillows, watching the computer screen.

“Humiliation in realtime,” said Kim. Monica laughed sharply, and chips flew out of her mouth all over the pillow. “Ew, gross!” said Kim, laughing too.

“Did you hear from Dad?” said Luke. “I haven’t heard from him in a while.”

“No, he’s working really hard,” said Monica. “Mom said he’ll be on the road for a while. Why?”

“Oh, no reason. Hey, what did he say to you about this Facebook stuff?”

“Nothing, really. He didn’t really understand it, so he just told me to play nice. I said I would, and that was it.”

“Well, don’t you think what you’re doing now is — a bit harsh?” said Luke. “I mean, what she did wasn’t really that bad.”

“So? It’s not really about what she did. At this point it’s just funny,” said Monica. “It’s not really about her at all, now. It’s not really personal.”

“But – from her point of view – it must seem to be about her,” said Luke. “How could she see it otherwise?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care. It’s just funny, bro! Just enjoy. Take a peek, here.” She held out the laptop to Luke.

About Judy Irwin

Judy Irwin writes books about kids dealing with everyday stuff, like parents and divorce, friendships and bullies, and figuring out how to handle different situations and circumstances. So far, she’s written two books: We’re Done, and What Did You Say? We’re Done is about13-year-old Luke and how he figures out what went wrong when he’s kicked out of school for a bullying incident. In What Did You Say?, 12-year-old Tash tries to figure out what life will be like following her parents’ divorce. In this book, which takes place at a trailer park up north, Tash first meets Luke, Jon and Polly.

Judy lives in Toronto, Canada, with a dog, a cat, and two hamsters, plus her husband and two children, ages 10 and 13. She studied English Literature at the University of Toronto. She always wanted to be a writer. She wrote her first book in fourth grade – it was about a boy called Japan, who lived in Japan. In addition to writing books, Judy is a freelance business writer.

For more info:

www.judyirwin.com

www.amazon.com/author/judyirwin

→ 10 Comments

Posted in Author Interview, Blog Tours, Book Reviews

Tagged bullying, bullying awareness, Judy Irwin, middle grade books, middle grade fiction, We're Done, What Did You Say?

PJ Sharon and her newest release, Waning Moon

Posted on October 18, 2012 | 9 Comments

Last year, PJ Sharon stopped by the blog for the Writer’s Spaces Inspiration Series, when her book Savage Cinderella was released. She’s a prolific, self-published author, and she’s an active voice in the Young Adult blogging world. Her new trilogy, The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael, is a bit different from her first three novels. If you love reading PJ Sharon’s books, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this new one. She has the talent for putting tension on every page. Please welcome again, PJ Sharon!

Thank you for having me back, Suzanne. I know it’s been a while, so I’ll refresh your readers on who I am and what I write. In my writer’s life, I’m known as PJ Sharon. I independently published my first contemporary Young Adult novel, Heaven is for Heroes last September, followed by On Thin Ice in December, and Savage Cinderella in March. It’s been a very busy year for me, but so far, Indie publishing is working out well. It’s a lot of hard work, but the rewards are many.

Although I love writing contemporary teen fiction, filled with tough life issues and sweet romance, once Lily Carmichael popped into my head, I knew her story had to be told. I think if I had been traditionally published, I might not have had the opportunity to explore Lily’s world. Her story may seem very different than my contemporary books, but in reality, Lily is just a girl struggling to find her identity and deal with the many challenges of life. My latest release, Waning Moon, Book One in The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael trilogy, is a YA Dystopian about a post-apocalyptic world where three quarters of the population has been wiped out by a global pandemic, and a polar shift threatens the remainder of earth’s inhabitants. But our heroine, sixteen-year-old genetically altered teen, Lily Carmichael, faces bigger challenges—escape capture by a rogue government agency, save her family, and avoid falling in love.

Other than the story taking place in the year 2057 in a world that does not yet exist, I’m still writing about older teens who are trying to figure out who they are, what their purpose in life is, and how they fit into their world. Yes, there is still a sweet romance. Lily is torn between her feelings for Will Callahan, a seventeen-year-old drifter in search of his father, and her quest to find a cure for her uncle’s cancer and keep her brother safe from the Industry, an organization who would like nothing better than to exploit her and her brother’s abilities. And oh…there are wolves. Did I mention the wolves? I had so much fun adding animal characters to my story, an experience I first had in Savage Cinderella, where Brinn befriends a bear. As animals do, the wolves, Bo and Pappy, add a whole new dimension to the trilogy.

As a writer, branching out into writing Dystopian was a welcomed challenge. The story idea came from having many discussions with my neighbors about what direction the world is taking and what we think the future might look like given certain probable scenarios. I’m not an official doomsday prepper, but I think it’s foolish for any of us to ignore the signs that the world as we know it is changing rapidly. With books like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series, I’m not alone in my musings. We’re all curious about what the future holds and us creative types love to imagine it onto the page. It almost feels like there is a collective global consciousness that has us all aware that there is an imminent shift happening and we all want to talk about it. I was astounded by how many similarities there were in my book to the new TV show, Revolution. It doesn’t take a lot of research or imagination to come up with possible scenerios of how we would all deal with different disasters. It’s trying to figure out the cascading details that go into building a dystopian landscape that makes it unique to each story teller. My trilogy is kind of like Revolution meets X-Men.

The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael came to me last year. I saw it clearly in three parts, the beginning and end of each book popping into my head as if I’d already watched the movies. I wanted to write stories with more adventure and try my hand at a little sci-fi since the ideas for the story were coming at me in a flood. I assure you, my idea came to be long before Revolution was in production, and the success of The Hunger Games was not a contributing factor in my decision to write Lily’s story. I did find that the idea of a trilogy was an appealing challenge. I felt sad after each of my first three books, not quite ready to let go of my characters when they had just reached such pivotal places in their lives. That seems inevitable when writing YA, since endings are more likely to be hopeful beginnings, not necessarily happily ever after’s. By writing a trilogy, I feel like I’ll get to spend some quality time getting to know my characters and developing them more thoroughly.

Whatever the time period, I think teens will always struggle with the same core issues. Things like family expectations, overwhelming responsibilities, peer pressure, fitting in, feeling alone, attraction, and falling in love for the first time—all part of the human experience that makes teen fiction so appealing both to teens and adults alike. We can all identify with the intensity of those feelings. I’m hoping that adding the element of an unknown, dangerous world will make my teen heroes and heroines that much more interesting to read about. But don’t worry; if Dystopian isn’t your thing, I’m still working on another contemporary called 21 Days. I don’t have a production schedule set for that one yet, but I’m even considering pitching it to traditional publishers. I’m not averse to being a hybrid—it could be the wave of the future.

More about The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael and Waning Moon

In the year 2057, in a post-apocalyptic world where a global shift threatens the remainder of the population with extinction, sixteen-year-old genetically enhanced Lily Carmichael has more immediate problems. Her uncle is dying of cancer and her healing abilities are ineffective against the blood ties that bind them. In order to find a cure, Lily must leave the protection of her quiet town and journey into the trading city of Albany, all while avoiding the Industry, an agency that would like nothing better than to study and exploit her abilities.

Seventeen-year-old Will Callahan has been searching for his father since severe storms blasted through the Midwest, killing his mother and sister. When he learns that his father may be in the city, he catches a ride with Lily, a girl who has come to his rescue more than once. As the two embark on a dangerous journey, the attraction between them grows. But the secrets Will’s keeping could put her in far more danger than traveling to the city with him, and if he was any kind of man, he would have told her to run the minute she found him.

Excerpt:

“Wait,” I said before he got far, “I bet I could find you something to eat.” I tried to appeal to what I knew would work for any hungry male. “Would you like some of this?” I asked. My bag of premium jarred honey lay across my back, and I figured it wasn’t really a meal, but I was willing to bet he’d eat whatever he could get his hands on. Or maybe he could trade Mrs. Higgins for some soup or a place to bathe. She would likely offer him something herself once she saw him. He was clearly in need of both.

The boy eyed the honey as I pulled a glass jar out of my pack, but he put his hands up and backed away. “No, I…thanks anyway…I’ll be fine…I gotta go…” He spun away and strode across the street toward an alleyway. It wasn’t like I could invite him back to the farm. Sam would kill me if I brought home a stranger. His warnings rang clear in my head even as I caught up to the boy and grabbed his arm.

“C’mon. Let me…”

The stranger whirled around, his grey eyes cold and hard. “I don’t need some girl to rescue me!”

Stunned, I took a step back. Not only did his words come as a complete surprise, but the color of his eyes rendered me speechless. I hadn’t noticed beneath his shaggy bangs before, but his eyes were a crystalline blue-grey that reminded me of an icy lake or a stormy sky. Brilliant, backlit with sunshine, and rimmed by dark, thick lashes. I sucked in a breath, confused by somehow feeling happy while being horribly offended at the same time. My brain kicked in and my heart felt the sting.

Author Bio and where to find PJ Sharon online:

I knew I would be a writer someday when I was a little girl sitting on my grandpa’s knee and telling him stories that he would help me put on paper. By the time I entered kindergarten I could already read and write, and I couldn’t wait to look up new words every morning in the ginormous Webster’s Dictionary that sat in the book case at the bottom of our stairs. I would get on the bus and ask my friends, “Do you know what pulchritudinous means?” Between that and challenging the boys to push-up contests at the bus stop, I mostly sat alone on those bus rides to school. But that just meant I had more time to make up stories.

I went on to many other endeavors in life, including the world of figure skating, and later, earning a black belt in martial arts. Though I was a mom at seventeen, I did manage to finish school and somehow made it through college, earning a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant. After nineteen years, two sons, a divorce, and some fairly lean years, I found that it’s true what they say about life beginning at forty. It was about that time when I reunited with the love of my life and worked my way to owning my own business as a Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, and Yoga Instructor—all of my favorite things. To make my bliss complete, I moved out to the Berkshires and found my muse waiting for me there amongst the lilacs and humming birds.

I now write Extraordinary Stories of an Average Teenage Life in order to share hope with others, especially teens, that no matter how tough life gets, there is always a bright spot waiting just around the corner. My published books include the award winning YA Novels, HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, ON THIN ICE, and SAVAGE CINDERELLA, available through Amazon and B&N Booksellers.

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pjsharonbooks

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/pjsharon

Amazon Author Central https://www.amazon.com/author/pjsharon

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/pjsharon64

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/pjsharon/

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5238865.P_J_Sharon

Secretsof7scribes http://www.secretsof7scribes.com/

YABeyond http://www.yabeyond.com/