Wednesday, December 25, 2013

A Christmas Gift ~ Lie to Me by Angela Fristoe is FREE!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Reading!

Christmas is my favorite time of year and I absolutely love gift giving! This year I took my daughter and we went shopping for a mystery girl. We talked about the reason we celebrate Christmas and how not everyone is lucky enough to gifts under their Christmas tree. Her excitement was contagious and we might have spent just a bit more than I'd intended, but it was worth it to see my little girl's face as she wrapped the presents and talked about how happy the girl would be on Christmas morning.

So, all of this got me thinking and I decided to give away my YA novel Lie to Me (A Touched Trilogy, #1). You can download your copy through Amazon for FREE until December 27th.


http://www.amazon.com/Lie-Touched-Trilogy-Angela-Fristoe-ebook/dp/B00AFVK1KI

Lie to Me (A Touched Trilogy, #1)

by Angela Fristoe
Publisher: Little Prince Publishing
Available: Amazon

Phoebe Matlin has always felt broken. While one of her sisters sees the future, and the other can heal people, Phoebe has come to accept that her truth telling gift just doesn't work.

Then her best friend, Tonya, lies to her and Phoebe's gift flares to life. With Tonya pissed at her, being a Truth Teller suddenly doesn't seem like such a great gift. Although, it is nice knowing she was the reason her crush, Nathan, dumped his stalker girlfriend.

But in lies, intention is everything and Tonya's lies are a cry for help. The fear that her friend is covering darker and more serious truths is something Phoebe can't ignore. But knowing when someone is lying is the easy part. Now she has to decide what to do about it. And with Nathan and his doubts about her ability confusing things, finding a way to help Tonya isn't as easy as Phoebe thought it would be.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!!!

Each author has a delicious cookie recipe to share and there are some extra little treats scattered around the Hop too, so be sure to visit each of the Authors and Bloggers blogs to make sure you don’t miss out on something SWEET!

Don't forget to check out the Rafflecopter GRAND PRIZE Giveaway below.

Peanut Butter Maple Cookies
(recipe and picture are from Taste of Home)

Ingredients
1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1tbs maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt  
1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips 

Directions
  1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in syrup and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture. Stir in peanut butter chips.  
  2. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

http://amzn.to/16SiWDT

Heal Me (A Touched Trilogy, #2)
Publisher: Little Prince Publishing

Her sisters think Lily has the easy gift. Who wouldn't love to heal people with a touch? But all that pain has to go somewhere and Lily's the one taking it all in.

Then someone close to her dies and Lily's life spins out of control. Desperate to feel something, she clings to her friend Micah. When she begins falling for him, she realizes healing others is easy. It's healing herself that is much harder.


Available from Amazon 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Interview with Julia Swift and Andrew Landis, Authors of Bold


Today, I'm pleased to have Julia Swift and Andrew Landis, the writing partners behind the YA novel Bold, stopping by for an interview! 
http://amzn.to/1iqWY3CBold
by Julia Swift and Andrew Landis
Published: July 4th, 2013

Synopsis:
Sasha, a shy, 15-year-old girl who hides from the world, almost dies in a car crash and vows that if she survives, she will be bold and live life to the fullest. Her newfound courage is tested when she meets Will, who just moved to her Air Force desert town after his journalist father’s disappearance. Will is fascinated by Sasha’s brush with and secret knowledge of death.

Sasha and Will push each other to take chances and break out of their sheltered suburban world. But will they discover there is a difference between being bold and being stupid before they put themselves, or someone else, in danger?

Available: Amazon

Did you always want to be an author?
J:  I always dreamed of being a writer, but I thought it would never happen.  I knew so few people made a living writing, and it was hard to believe I could be so lucky.  I was in film school when I sold my first poem to a literary magazine -- I made $40.  That first check meant the world to me, someone I didn’t know read my words and thought they were good enough to pay me.  Even now, after making a living as a writer for over a decade, I still have to pinch myself.  I always fear we will fail, but Andrew always convinces me we will succeed -- and thank goodness I’ve been wrong and he’s been right.
A:  I’ve always enjoyed writing, but never figured I could make a career out of it.  My first career took me to Washington, D.C., where I ended up penning correspondence for politicians on Capitol Hill.  After a couple years, I felt unfulfilled creatively, and so I wrote my first screenplay and used it to get into U.S.C. Film School where I earned my Masters in Screenwriting and, more importantly, met Julia.  She had more of the confidence and that pushed me.  Without her, I’m not sure I’d have been able to make the leap from wannabe writer to published and produced writer.
Tell us a bit about your novel.
Bold is about a shy, 15-year-old girl, Sasha, who hides from the world, and almost dies in a car crash.  She vows that if she survives, she will be bold and live life to the fullest.  Her newfound courage, however, is tested when she meets Will, who moved to town after his journalist father’s disappearance.  Will is fascinated by Sasha’s brush with and secret knowledge of death.  Sasha and Will push each other to take chances and break out of their sheltered world.  But can they discover the difference between being bold and being reckless before they put themselves, or someone else, in danger?
How did you come up with the idea for your novel?
We came up with the idea for Bold from a conversation we were having one day about how society looks at things that are appropriate/inappropriate for boys versus girls.  Crying came up as something that is more okay for girls to do in public, but for boys, it shows weakness.  Then we realized that if we saw a boy crying, it would make us want to know more about him -- like proof he had a sensitive soul.  So we thought what if a girl saw a guy crying, assumed that meant he had a sweet side, but then later found out he was faking crying.  But by then he had become more sensitive just because that’s what she expected/allowed him to be.  So we used that situation as a springboard for how two unlikely characters meet and then their relationship ends up changing each other’s lives. 
If you got the chance to spend a day with any character from your books, who would it be and why?
A:  I would want to spend the day with Will because he has reached the age where he’s starting to figure out that there are more important things in the world than sports, and he’s strong enough internally to realize that he should do what interests him even though it doesn’t line up with what his circle of friends want.  Plus, he has deep emotions, he just doesn’t always share them.
J:  I would definitely want to hang out with Sasha, we would be friends.  I would have loved to have a friend like Sasha who could understand me and really listen, and push me out of my shell.
What do you hope readers will obtain from your book?
All of us always imagine everyone else is judging us, but what if instead we could imagine everyone else is rooting for us?  What would we do differently?  What chances would we take?  Our dream is that a shy kid somewhere will read this and realize they are not alone and try to open themselves up more to life.  In the long run, people don’t regret embarrassing things they’ve done, they only regret what they were too scared to do.
Where do you like to do your writing?
A:  I like to write first drafts mostly at home, either in the living room or bedroom.  But I prefer to re-write someplace different, either a coffee shop or the library.  I think it’s the feeling of being somewhere away from my usual comfort zone that maybe empowers me with a slight altered point of view.  Plus, there often are fewer distractions.
J:  I write on my bed with my dog curled around me and the windows wide open so I can see outside.  When I have to get up to get more caffeine (I’m addicted to diet soda), I disturb my sleeping pup.  To avoid inconveniencing my sleeping pup, I try not to move, which is a great way to make myself stay put and write more.  Nothing makes me feel as happy and free as writing, but even so, sometimes it’s hard to get started.  Having a warm bed and ball of furry love makes starting the whole process more enticing.
Do you have any other works published and how do they compare genre/style wise with your current work?
We have been very fortunate to have television scripts produced, which is an awesome experience because we are empowered with the responsibility to change lives through our words, and that’s something we definitely strive for no matter what we write.  Whether we are writing about superheroes like Clark Kent on “ Smallville” or teenagers Sasha and Will in Bold, we tell resonating stories about the underdog or outsider who searches for an authentic human connection in the world.
Do you have any current writing projects? Can you tell us a bit about them?  
We are finishing up our second novel about a 17-year-old girl, Mya, who grew up in a mob family and has plans to go to college to escape from that world.  She was never like her family, she always followed the rules and worked hard for everything.  When her whole world comes tumbling down right before she’s to leave for college and her brother and sister need her, Mya must decide whether she’ll start the new life in a new city that she’s always dreamt about, or if she’ll let herself be sucked back into the life she always hated.  And then next year, we will release a follow-up to Bold.

Julia’s bio:
Julia is amazing at keeping other people's secrets but completely incapable of guarding her own. Every embarrassing moment ends up in her writing.  While at film school at the University of Southern California, Julia met her writing partner, Andrew Landis, and realized having two writers makes it harder for people to identify the autobiographical elements from her crazy past, present... and fantasies. 
Over the last decade, Julia and Andrew have written for television, features, theater, game design and now, her ultimate dream, a novel. 
Raised in Los Angeles, with summers in Las Vegas and college at Columbia University in New York City, Julia now happily lives in the suburbs with her three great loves -- her husband, son and sweet, sad-faced rescue dog.
Andrew’s bio:
Born in South Korea, Andrew spent his first seven months staring at other babies in an orphanage, wondering where everyone would end up, until he was adopted by an American couple. Raised by a minister and a teacher in rural Pennsylvania, Andrew was never quite sure whether he stood out because he was a pastor's kid or because he didn't look like everyone else.
In high school, Andrew spent a year as an exchange student in Brazil. Arriving with no knowledge of Portuguese, he found life in the city overwhelming until his host family's encouragement enabled him to overcome his fears, immerse himself in the culture and eventually enjoy dreaming in Portuguese. More importantly, Andrew found himself "adopted" by a second family, with whom he still maintains close contact.
Andrew wanted to continue living in a city and ended up at N.Y.U. An internship at The United Nations Association of the United States of America helped inspire him to move to Washington, D.C. after college. Although he is proud of the work accomplished on Capitol Hill, as soon as Andrew finished his first creative writing class at Georgetown, he was ready to leave political doublespeak behind and begin to tell stories important to him.
Moving to L.A., Andrew earned his M.F.A. in screenwriting from U.S.C., where he met his writing partner, Julia Swift. Together, they have written for dramas such as Smallville, The Book of Daniel and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Not surprisingly, the stories they tell often deal with families or sticking up for the underdog. Bold is their first novel.
Andrew has completed 12 marathons and lives in L.A. with his husband and their dog.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Songbird by Angela Fristoe is Free on Amazon!

Songbird by Angela Fristoe is up for FREE on Amazon November 28-30 only! It will then be part of the Amazon lending library for Amazon Prime Members for the next 3 months!

Songbird
by Angela Fristoe

There are defining moments in life when everything changes. For Dani Mays, it was the day she witnessed her father kill her brother. Now seventeen years-old, she still hasn't put it behind her. After Jace's death, she bounced between her alcoholic mother and foster homes, until she found a permanent place. And a reason to want to stay: Reece Tyler. He's her best friend, yet Dani wants more from Reece. 

Faced with losing Reece, Dani struggles to define his place in her life and escape the influence her memories of her brother's death have over her choices. Even as she weaves the pieces of her heart back together, the past becomes more than a memory when a former foster brother reappears and Dani begins receiving threatening phone calls.

Amazon Links:

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Review: Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky

Anatomy of a Single Girl (Anatomy, #2)
by Daria Snadowsky
Published: January 8, 2013
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

http://amzn.to/19RIr6K
Synopsis:
After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn’t want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one.

The moment we got together, all my preconceptions about romance and sex were turned upside down. I discovered physical and emotional firsts I never knew existed. I learned to let go of my past by living in the present. It was thrilling. It was hot. It was just what the doctor ordered.

But I couldn’t avoid my future forever.

In Daria Snadowsky’s daring follow-up to Anatomy of a Boyfriend, eighteen-year-old Dominique explores the relationship between love and lust, and the friendships that see us through.


Review:
I had a really hard time deciding how I felt about this book. I hadn't read the first, and though storyline-wise it didn't impact my understanding of the story, I do think it altered my connection to Dominique.

Anatomy of a Single Girl sounds like it's going to be a fun ride with some really great romance thrown in, along with a message that you don't need to have a boyfriend to have a life. Maybe my expectations didn't line up with the marketing. "Judy Blume-like honesty" doesn't mean much to someone who hasn't read any Judy Blume, though I am aware of her as an author. Snadowsky does present Anatomy with honesty and maybe that's why I couldn't connect with Dominique.

Dominique is a chronic complainer, and can be down right bitchy. I thought when she started her relationship with Guy it would get better, but it doesn't because despite her constantly saying she doesn't want a boyfriend, it is exactly what she wants and doesn't think she can have an interesting life without one. 

She complains about her friend ignoring her for a boyfriend, yet does exactly the same thing to her friend once she and Guy become involved. She knows exactly what Guy wants from her and life, yet she has the complete gall to be angry with him for not changing him mind. I was absolutely annoyed with her almost the entire book and not in a way that kept me reading. I finished the book because I really hoped that by the end she'd have some kind of epiphany - she doesn't have to have a boyfriend.

Okay, I'm done ranting. So if I had such big problems with the main character how did I decide to rate this 3 stars? Well, because it was well written and there were some really amazing moments addressing the differences between sex and intimacy, STDs, and the need to be safe no matter how intoxicating the rush of lust can be.


Saturday, November 9, 2013

Blog Tour: Nightmare City by Andrew Klavan *Review

http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2013/09/blog-tour-sign-up-nightmare-city-by.html
I am so excited to be hosting the next stop along the Nightmare City Blog Tour! You can click the tour banner to check out other stops along the tour!

http://amzn.to/17G4TWj
Nightmare City
by Andrew Klavan
Release Date: 11/05/13
Thomas Nelson Publishers

Tom Harding only wants the truth. But the truth is becoming more dangerous with every passing minute.

As a reporter for his high school newspaper, Tom Harding was tracking the best story of his life when, suddenly, his life turned very, very weird. He woke up one morning to find his house empty . . . his street empty . . . his whole town empty . . . empty except for an eerie, creeping fog and whatever creatures were slowly moving toward him through the fog.

Now Tom's once-ordinary world has become something out of a horror movie. How did it happen? Is it real? Is he dreaming? Has there been a zombie apocalypse? Has he died and gone to hell?

Tom is a good reporter he knows how to look for answers but no one has ever covered a story like this before. With the fog closing in and the hungry creatures of the fog surrounding him, he has only a few hours to find out how he lost the world he knew. In this bizarre universe nothing is what it seems and everything including Tom's life hangs in the balance.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17628640-nightmare-city?ac=1


Review:
I loved Andrew Klavan's novel Crazy Dangerous and had really high hope for Nightmare City. Klavan did not disappoint! The first few chapters were completely creepy. I had to stop reading at one point because I was too freaked out to keep reading.

The main character, Tom, was really well written. He was complex and Klavan did an amazing job of making Tom interesting without having him come across as over the top. I was drawn in by his fear and the constant curiosity that drove him forward in his quest for answers.

Klavan has managed to create a unique story, that has twists and turns to keep you guessing. Even though this is Christian fiction, it is dark and definitely meant for older teens. Nightmare City explores some very deep and dark questions though that I do think need to be addressed with young adult readers and he does not shy away from them.






 
About the Author
Andrew Klavan is a best-selling, award-winning thriller novelist whose books have been made into major motion pictures. He broke into the YA scene with the bestselling Homelanders series, starting with The Last Thing I Remember.He is also a screenwriter and scripted the innovative movie-in-an-app Haunting Melissa.

***Author Links***
http://www.andrewklavan.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/271685.Andrew_Klavan
https://twitter.com/andrewklavan
https://www.facebook.com/aklavan

***GIVEAWAY***
3 print copies of Nightmare City (US only)

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Friday, November 1, 2013

Cover Reveal: Waken by Angela Fristoe


Waken (The Woods of Everod, #1)
by Angela Fristoe
Expected Release: January 2014

Moving to her parents’ hometown of Everod is the last thing Janie Lyndon wants. After years of abuse and eventual abandonment, she’d rather forget they ever existed. Haunted by nightmares of her mother killing her, Janie just wants to be normal.

The gorgeous Davin Andersen is out of her league, but for some reason he seems to actually like her. The emotions he draws from her are almost enough to make her ignore all of the weird things he says. Almost enough to ignore the way the entire town seems ready to pounce on her as if she were fresh meat.

Almost, though, isn’t enough when Janie finally discovers what the town is hiding. The town of Everod has been waiting for Janie and if she hopes to survive, she’ll need to confront the truth of who and what she really is.

About the Author
Born in Northern Canada, Angela grew up on the Canadian prairies amid dreams of becoming the next Dian Fossey or a world famous flight attendant. Those, however, were never meant to be. Instead she moved to the United States where she divides her time between her family, writing, and her day job as an instruction coach.

Angela was the winner and double finalist in the Romance category of The Strongest Start Contest 2010 hosted by TheNextBigWriter.com. She currently has three young adult novels published through Little Prince Publishing and her fourth novel, Waken, has an anticipated release of January 2014.


Other Books by Angela Fristoe

 



 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Giveaway~ Breathing Ghosts by Laekan Zea Kemp

I'm excited to be sharing an opportunity to win an ebook copy of the newly released Breathing Ghosts by Laekan Zea Kemp! Check out the book blurb and then enter for your chance to win!


by Laekan Zea Kemp
Published: September 30, 2013

She is a winding cosmos, bleeding and bursting into night. She is a dream. She is dead.

River has just lost the one thing that matters most to him—Nia—and all she's left behind is a pile of scribbled love notes detailing their past and a pin-holed map planning out their future. Hopes and dreams confined to one dimension now that she's gone and River’s too afraid to leave his hometown, crippled by the same anxiety that’s plagued his mother for as long as he can remember.

But after a strange encounter with the only girl he ever loved a week after laying her to rest, River, armed with nothing but her map and his memories, decides to finally leave and never look back. And with the help of a pair of eccentrically named siblings as well as a mutt with three legs, he sets out to do the very thing Nia always knew how to do better than he ever could—live.

From the moonlit beaches off of Florida's east coast, to the forests of Mississippi, to Bourbon Street, Cadillac Ranch, and the Arizona desert, River is faced with not only Nia's ghost but his own and he learns that in life there are no accidents, only miracles.


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Thursday, October 17, 2013

Cover Reveal Sign Up for Waken by Angela Fristoe!


I'm so excited! My upcoming novel, Waken, finally has a cover! Now I just need some bloggers who are interested in sharing the cover to sign up for the release :) The sign up is scheduled for November 1st and is open to all bloggers.1-2 days before the reveal I will send an email with all of the necessary pieces of the post, as well as an html doc that you can copy and paste to make things easy.


Waken (The Woods of Everod)
by Angela Fristoe
Genre: YA Paranormal
Expected Release: January 2014

Moving to her parents’ hometown of Everod is the last thing Janie Lyndon wants. After years of abuse and eventual abandonment, she’d rather forget they ever existed. Haunted by nightmares of her mother killing her, Janie just wants to be normal.

The gorgeous Davin Andersen is out of her league, but for some reason he seems to actually like her. The emotions he draws from her are almost enough to make her ignore all of the weird things he says. Almost enough to ignore the way the entire town seems ready to pounce on her as if she were fresh meat.

Almost, though, isn’t enough when Janie finally discovers what the town is hiding. The town of Everod has been waiting for Janie and if she hopes to survive, she’ll need to confront the truth of who and what she really is.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!


Thanks to I am a Reader, Not a Writer for organizing and hosting this blog hop! Don't forget to scroll all the way down to the end of the post for the Linky list of all the other blogs participating!

For this giveaway I'm giving away a Kindle copy of This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. I absolutely loved this book and you can check out my review here. With Halloween coming and the return of my absolute favorite creepy show, The Walking Dead, I figured zombies was a great idea!


Synopsis:
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to? 


This giveaway is international as long as you can receive an Amazon Kindle gift. In addition to this, a second winner (USA only) will be selected to in signed paperback copies of my paranormal novels Lie to Me and Heal Me. You can find out more about them by clicking here.




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Sunday, October 13, 2013

Giveaway and Interview with Pamela Lorence, Narrator of Songbird by Angela Fristoe

Songbird by Angela Fristoe is finally available in audiobook format! The process of having Songbird produced was quite an adventure and narrator Pamela Lorence has stopped by to answer some questions about the production process as well as to give readers an opportunity to win an audiobook copy of Songbird!

Songbird
by Angela Fristoe
Narrated by Pamela Lorence 

There are defining moments in life when everything changes. For Dani Mays, it was the day she witnessed her father kill her brother. Now seventeen years-old, she still hasn't put it behind her. After Jace's death, she bounced between her alcoholic mother and foster homes, until she found a permanent place. And a reason to want to stay: Reece Tyler. He's her best friend, yet Dani wants more from Reece. 

Faced with losing Reece, Dani struggles to define his place in her life and escape the influence her memories of her brother's death have over her choices. Even as she weaves the pieces of her heart back together, the past becomes more than a memory when a former foster brother reappears and Dani begins receiving threatening phone calls.

Interview with Pamela Lorence

What was it about Songbird that made you want to produce the audiobook?

It was really such an honor to produce this audiobook. Songbird is an intensely moving story. I compare narrating it to singing a poignant and beautiful ballad. There were truly moments during recording when I had to keep from crying in the studio. You can’t help but fall in love with the main characters.  They are completely honest and relatable. I found myself rooting them on as I read. Dani, Reece, and Collin found their way into my heart. As a mom, I wanted to take each one home, feed them some hot soup, and tell them it was all going to be okay. When I finished the book, I was sad to have it all end. That’s when I knew I wanted to produce the audiobook.

How did you get started in audiobooks?

I took the long road to audiobooks. When I was 9 years old all I wanted for Christmas was a Ronco Mr. Microphone.  It was the best Christmas present ever! I wanted to be behind a microphone from that day on. I earned a degree in Vocal Performance from Rollins College and have been using my voice to make a living ever since. I started off in radio, eventually writing, directing, recording, editing, narrating, and singing my way into many, many ears. From producing radio shows, I transitioned into producing audio tours for museums all over the world. When it was time to settle down and have kids, I wanted the best of both worlds – a great job that would allow me to work out of the house. It was really only a matter of time before I combined my love of books with my love of audio into one – Audiobook narration.

Can you tell us something about your process for narrating an audiobook?

The first thing I do is to grab a pencil, my notebook, the manuscript, and a cup of tea. I sit in my favorite reading spot in the house (the comfy chair in the living room, near the fireplace) and read through the book. I take notes on characters, tone, tempo, and things like that.  I mark any words or names that don’t have obvious pronunciations. When the book is sufficiently prepped, I block out a schedule. My voice it always best midday. In the early morning it’s still waking up. In the evening it starts to sound tired.  I’m fortunate to live in a quiet neighborhood in Northern California. So, I’m able to work out of my home in a professionally equipped studio with a soundproof vocal booth. 

I spend the bulk of the day recording chapter by chapter. I take breaks to stretch my legs and walk my two dogs. Friday is the only day of the week I don’t record. It’s the day my neighborhood is zoned for leaf blower use. The sound of a gas powered leaf blower can penetrate even the most soundproof room! So, I reserve Fridays for editing.  When the book is completely recorded, edited, and mastered to retail standards, I listen to it for quality control.  Simple as that! You really can’t beat having a job producing audiobooks.

About the Narrator
It all started with a Ronco Mr. Microphone when I was 9 years old. Since then, I’ve been hooked on all things audio. With a degree in Vocal Performance from Rollins College and a professional background in Audio Production, I’ve written, directed, recorded, edited, narrated, and sung my way into many ears. It was only a matter of time before I combined my love of books and love of audio into one – Audiobooks!

About the Author

Born in Northern Canada, Angela grew up on the Canadian prairies amid dreams of becoming the next Dian Fossey or a world famous flight attendant. Those, however, were never meant to be. Instead she moved to the United States where she divides her time between her family, writing, and her day job as an instruction coach.

Angela was the winner and double finalist in the Romance category of The Strongest Start Contest 2010 hosted by TheNextBigWriter.com. She currently has three young adult novels published through Little Prince Publishing and her fourth novel has an anticipated release of January 2014. 


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Book Release: Eyrie: Society of Feathers #2 by Emma Michaels


Eyrie:
Society of Feathers #2

Somewhere between falling and flying...you will find the truth.

The truth is being unveiled and Iris’ past is unlike anything she ever could have guessed. For Stryx, finding your missing half doesn’t always mean finding your mate. Iris has been missing a part of herself for so long that no one is sure she will be able to put the pieces back together and her ever reliable dreams may be forcing her astray. Coping with the death of someone she loved, she is forced to face the truth and break free from the lies that have caged her.



Excerpt

Iris lost herself in Falcon's arms, feeling the world drift away again as her lips melted against his stronger, larger ones. The warmth spreading through her body felt like electricity filling very part of her, pooling at the tips of her fingers where she touched his shoulders then traced along his arms. The tension that had worked its way up her back and through her own shoulders released as his hand brushed lightly down the length of her spine, sending sparks through every nerve.

"Please," she whispered softly, centimeters from his lips as they breathed in each other's warm breath. She felt herself lean towards him, this time not holding back as she moved his arm to her waist, making him wrap both arms around her fully. His secure hold on her was the only thing keeping her upright.

"Anything," he whispered into her ear a few moments later after she had caught her breath.

"Be the one beside me when I enter the masquerade. Be the one by my side when I change it all. I know I can do it on my own or with Nestor but...I don't want to. I want you both there with me,” Iris said.

The look on Falcon's face, the light in his eyes, showed her the joy he found in her invitation. "I was waiting for you to ask. Waiting for you to want to need me, even if you never will. It would be my pleasure, Izzy. I will always be there for you. Nothing could pull me away." He didn't say the words but they still hung silently between them, the knowledge that anyone who tried to pull him away from her would die trying. She knew she should be afraid, but somehow he was the only person she knew she could trust, the only one her heart was perfectly sure about, like a tether tied them together, connecting their lives.

"I do need you. Even if I don't, I still need you." She whispered and kissed him harder, forgetting the world outside their doors, ready to explore the man that the boy she had known had become. The man who felt like such a part of her now that she had accepted him. She didn't know what she’d do if she ever lost him. She had never felt a connection this powerful, this all consuming.

"I love you." He whispered, his eyes gazing into hers, their intensity only pulling her further into the joy of just being close to him, just letting herself forget the world she wanted so desperately to help, to change. "I want to do something for you."

"What is it?" Iris almost pulled back, not wanting to lose the moment between them but instead she leaned the side of her face against his chest so that she could hear his heart beating.

"I want to show you what it’s like to run without hesitation, without taking away the one part of running that makes it so magical̶the freedom. I want to show you that freedom." He bent and traced his fingers along the back of her legs. They buckled but he lifted her, taking it as an invitation.

She smiled and leaned against his chest. This time he wasn't carrying her because something was wrong. It was like when they were kids and he wanted to show her he was strong enough to support her, that he could be that person who would pick her up even if she hadn't fallen. He walked to the door and she turned the doorknob for him. They found Autumn in the hallway.

"Wanna go for a run?" Falcon asked Autumn, his voice a conspiratory whisper.

"Sure!" She said and smiled lightly when she realized what Falcon was planning. "Every girl should get to feel the aves inside of her come alive."

Iris smiled feeling like she had her team. They were the people she needed and wanted by her side. They were the ones who kept her human and kind, protecting her at all costs. Nestor was upstairs with Nathaniel preparing for his duties in their upcoming plans. The rest of her family was downstairs. As they jogged by, they passed Jarem on the way, heading up to meet Diana. "We’re going running, wanna come?" Falcon offered and Iris laughed.

"If you invite everyone we may as well all go." Iris giggled and smiled widely, looking forward to it, not caring who decided to come. Iris knew that no matter how people surrounded her and Falcon, somehow they were always alone. They were the only two people in on the secret. That was their unusual type of love. It would only grow with time and trust as long as it was never betrayed.

"Sure, why not." Jarem said and smiled. He opened the door to Diana's room and hollered, "We’re going running with Falcon, wanna come?"

"Absolutely!" They heard Diana yell back. She joined them even though she was wearing a short dress. Not bothering to change, she threw a pair of high-tops on with it.

As they jogged through the house David joined them, leaving the fort to Neal, Garah and Griffin so as not to disturb Nathaniel and Nestor. When they went out the door, Diana led them to the back of the house, going through the garden to a strange trail beyond it. "Is this the fairy trail?" Jarem asked. When Diana nodded, he smiled and looked at Iris. "It's perfect."

"Wooooo!" Diana shouted, crying out like a hawk soaring through the sky. Jarem and even Autumn joined in and Iris realized it was for her and Falcon, egging them on. Falcon set her on her feet and knelt down the way he once had to offer her a ride on his back. She blushed feeling like that same little girl for one beautiful moment, attaching herself to his back and holding onto him tightly.

The bird calls got louder and louder until Falcon got ready and whispered, "You ready?"

"Yes." She whispered next to his ear and then looked straight ahead realizing, she really did need him. Falcon knew what she needed even before she did. As he started running, she shifted her weight and realized, she fit so well against his back, like they had been molded for just this moment, for him to give her the freedom that her body robbed her of. Suddenly her grudges against her body for being made the way it was disappeared as the wind whipped her hair away from her face. She arched her back ever so slightly to get the full effect and to keep her weight manageable for Falcon as he ran faster and faster. Her heart felt like it was soaring for the very first time. There was nothing like it, the faster he went the more amazing it felt. All she could feel was the earth around her and the link to her aves.

She couldn't help but giggle with glee as she watched Diana pass them, holding her arms out at her sides like wings. The wind was pushing her arms behind her, and her face was lifted toward the sunlight shining through the trees. Jarem sped to catch up with her and they started to race each other, getting competitive each time one of them would pass the other.

Autumn was at Falcon’s side as she called out, "Oh come on, go for it. She'll love it!"

"Faster!" Iris squealed like a little kid, the sheer joy of movement giving her a rush she had never felt before. As she leaned her face against Falcon's, she could feel that he was smiling as he gained speed. He wrapped his arms behind her, entwining his fingers at her back like he was stretching as his position formed a brace for her. She leaned into it and as he went faster and faster. She slowly let go of his shoulders and held her arms out at her sides like Diana. The sun beat down on her face and arms. As she closed her eyes, she felt like she was flying, really and truly flying.


Author Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a multi-talented bookish girl. Not only is she the designer of beautiful covers, but she has many other accomplishments under her belt. She started book blogging in 2009 and was first published in 2010 (The Thirteenth Chime). She started The Writers Voice in 2011 as a way to help readers get to know authors on another level.

She moved to Washington at seventeen to be with the man that she loves, who asked her what she secretly wanted to be when she grew up. Naturally, she told him that she wanted to be an author, but at the time she thought "it was a pipe dream." He encouraged her to pursue her dreams and taught her that "sometimes reaching for the impossible can make a world of difference in your life." Now she is published and reaching well beyond what most people can imagine.





Book 1 is now 99 cents on Kindle!




Add Book 3 to your Goodreads list!
coming October 13, 2014







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Friday, October 11, 2013

Cover Reveal: Engraved by Amber Garza



Book Title: Engraved

Author: Amber Garza

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Genre: Suspense

Length: 392 pages

Publisher: Amber Garza

Presented by: As You Wish Tours


 
BLURB 


SUSPENSE NOVEL FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR AMBER GARZA...



A missing girl.

A young woman running from her shameful past.
A person with a dark secret who will stop at nothing to keep it hidden.
And the act of betrayal that binds them all together. 


AUTHOR BIO

Amber Garza is the author of Young Adult paranormal and contemporary romance. She has had a passion for writing since she was a little girl, making books out of notebook paper and staples. Amber lives in California with her amazing husband and two hilarious children who provide her with enough material to keep her writing for years.






Thursday, October 10, 2013

Blog Tour: The Ghost Files by Apryl Baker *Review


I'm excited to be hosting the next stop in The Ghost Files by Apryl Baker Blog Tour! Keep reading to read my review of The Ghost Files and to enter the giveaway for a copy of The Ghost Files!


The Ghost File
By Apryl Baker
Published: August 13, 2013
Publisher: Limitless
Available: Amazon

Cherry blossom lipstick: check
Smokey eyes: check
Skinny jeans: check
Dead kid in the mirror: check


For sixteen year old Mattie Hathaway, this is her normal everyday routine. She’s been able to see ghosts since her mother tried to murder her when she was five years old. No way does she want anyone to know she can talk to spooks. Being a foster kid is hard enough without being labeled a freak too.

Normally, she just ignores the ghosts and they go away. That is until she see’s the ghost of her foster sister… Sally.

Everyone thinks Sally’s just another runaway, but Mattie knows the truth—she’s dead. Murdered. Mattie feels like she has to help Sally, but she can’t do it alone. Against her better judgment, she teams up with a young policeman, Officer Dan, and together they set out to discover the real truth behind Sally’s disappearance.

Only to find out she’s dealing with a much bigger problem, a serial killer, and she may be the next victim…

Will Mattie be able to find out the truth before the killer finds her?

Review:
I love when a heroine has some spunk and Mattie definitely has that! But spunk has a very fine line with me between being enough and trying to hard. Baker though manages to keep from going too far with Mattie, and has created a character that stands up for herself and what she believes while not being annoying.

The chemistry between Mattie and Officer Dan is obvious, but it's hard to define. Part of my thinks that they could be long lost siblings, yet I suspect that further in the series Baker may decide to make them love interests. Personally I vote for them to be siblings, but even if Baker decides to take the alternate route, I don't doubt that she can pull it off and pull me onto team Dan. That said there were a couple of other potential guys popping up in Volume I, so I suppose I'll have to be surprised on the next one.

As for the actual ghosts, well they are spooky. Baker does an amazing job of painting a picture of the horrors Mattie is seeing and experiencing. Not that the whole book is one big scare. There's touches of humor sprinkled through out, main due to Mattie's mouthy attitude and the relationship between Mattie and Dan.

Absolutely can't wait until Volume II comes out!






About the Author
So who am I? Well, I'm the crazy girl with an imagination that never shuts up. I LOVE scary movies. My friends laugh at me when I scare myself watching them and tell me to stop watching them, but who doesn't love to get scared? I grew up in a small town nestled in the southern mountains of West Virginia where I spent days roaming around in the woods, climbing trees, and causing general mayhem. Nights I would stay up reading Nancy Drew by flashlight under the covers until my parents yelled at me to go to sleep.

Growing up in a small town, I learned a lot of values and morals, I also learned parents have spies everywhere and there's always someone to tell your mama on you. So when you get grounded, what is there left to do? Read! My Aunt Jo gave me my first real romance novel. It was a romance titled "Lord Margrave's Deception." I remember it fondly. But I also learned I had a deep and abiding love of mysteries and anything paranormal. As I grew up, I started to write just that and would entertain my friends with stories featuring them as main characters.

Now, I live Huntersville, NC where I entertain my family and watch the cats get teased by the birds and laugh myself silly when they swoop down and then dive back up just out of reach. The cats start yelling something fierce...lol.

I love books, I love writing books, and I love entertaining people with my silly stories.

PS: DO NOT GET IN MY WAY IF THERE IS A SALE ON AT TARGET - my home away from home!

Connect with Apryl:

 Other Books by Apryl Baker:
 


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