Showing posts with label author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author. Show all posts

Perfection

Hey, gang! Excited to share a New Adult debut novel from our pal, J.L. Campbell.

J.L. is a ridiculously prolific author with many books under her belt, so I can't wait to see what she does with her NA series! Here's a little FYI about the project–

Five Things You Didn't Know About Perfection

Perfection is my first foray into the world of New Adult fiction, but it has been an educational and fun-filled journey. The story ideas grew out of a series of novels I'd already written about three mature couples. Their daughters, when they first appeared were 14, 15 and 16. Over the duration of the series, these girls appeared onstage with their distinct personalities and when I closed the women's fiction series, I had no idea there were more stories to tell.

Then, the idea of showing the growth of the young ladies took root and soon, I had three complete stories. As I've said elsewhere, my three New Adult tales were gifts that dropped into my lap, complete with characters and storylines. After reading copiously on and in this category, I got ready to take on the challenge of creating a story with a gripping plot and compelling characters.

The first book, Perfection, follows the relationship of Natasha and Karim, who struggle to forge a trusting relationship despite their challenges.

Some unique features include the fact that:
  • Perfection takes place on the island of Jamaica, which gives armchair adventurers an inside look at another setting and culture.
  • Karim is a parent, which is not unique for a guy at age 22, but his circumstances do take a surprising twist. 
  • The three girls who show up frequently in Perfection are related by the marriages of their parents, so apart from being friends, they have a strong familial bond.
  • By no means am I the only storyteller to writes from the perspective of a male, but at four-chapter intervals, the reader gets a chance to see inside Karim's head. 
  • The two main characters are sports enthusiasts, who both do exceptionally well in their chosen fields.
Perfection is live at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. There's a giveaway, so if you're interested win winning a copy of both Perfection and Fixation, which releases next week, enter on the Rafflecopter.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author

J.L. Campbell is an award-winning, Jamaican author who writes romantic suspense, women's fiction, new and young adult novels. She has written thirteen books, two novellas and two short story collections.

Her novels include the Island Adventure Romance series, which currently has four exciting, stand-alone stories and features feisty women and determined men. She also writes under the pen name Jayda McTyson. She is a certified editor, who also writes non-fiction.

Visit her on the web at http://www.joylcampbell
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Thrills, Chills & A Happy New Year!

Hey, gang! 2014 is here and so are we. If that doesn't mean we "won" 2013, I don't know what does! :) Here's hoping you reached most of your goals from last year and have big plans for this one as well.

 I've started the year with crappycrudcoughcongestionsnotbubble-itis, but other than that I'm hitting the ground running. I've got a big Moonsongs tour kicking off today to celebrate the release of the 5th book (Vampire's Ball released in late December while the slumbered away waiting for Santa). 

 You can check out all of the tour stops below, and be sure and enter the rafflecopter. Lots of signed books, Amazon $$$, and book bundles up for grabs.

 I'd love to have you stop by and say howdy!

 ALSO, you can nab a copy of my Moonsongs Anthology 1 (collecting the first three Moonsongs stories) for Kindle absolutely free today. I'd greatly appreciate the download (or sharing of the news for others to download) if you can spare a second.

Thrills & Chills Tour Schedule:

I'll be back here on Wednesday to share some Insecure Writer's Support Group fun. Until then, I'll ask: What's your #1 writing goal for 2014?

 Mine is to publish a full-length novel (or at least have the plans in place for future publication). Speaking of, I need to get back to writing it! 

~EJW~
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The Ghosts of Aquinnah - Get To Know Stella

Hey, gang! Very excited to share a character profile from my pal Julie Flanders' latest, The Ghosts of Aquinnah. Sounds like Julie has woven yet another superbly suspenseful story for us! (If you haven't read Polar Night yet, do so. Soon. :)

Take it away, Stella!

Aquinnah, Massachusetts
The Ghosts of Aquinnah Character Interview

What is your name?

Stella Winslow

What do you look like?

I’m petite and thin, I’ve always been called tiny. I have long auburn hair, fair skin, and green eyes.

When were you born? Where do you live?

I was born in 1864 and I live in the town of Chilmark on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. I’ve lived on the same farm for my whole life. It used to belong to my parents, now it belongs to my husband.

What has been the most important event in your life?

I helped in the rescue efforts when The City of Columbus sank off the coast of Gay Head in January, 1884. I took care of one of the survivors, a young man named Christopher Casey. That experience totally changed my life.

Have you ever been in love?

I have, once. I’ve also been married once. I didn’t marry the person I loved and I didn’t love the person I married.

Do you hold grudges?

Yes, I do. And I’m like a dog with a bone once I’ve set my mind to something. If I have a wrong that I think needs to be righted, I don’t care how long it takes me to accomplish that.

Who is the person you respect the most? Despise the most?

I respect my parents, they were wonderful people. I despise my husband.

What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime?

I want people to know the truth about Christopher Casey.





Blurb:

A brilliant flash of light transcends through time.

Another freezes a cloaked figure within a frame of salty mist as waves crash against a rocky shore. Her harrowing expression shadows the beacon to a pinprick.

By the next blaze, she is gone. Only the lighthouse remains.

Hannah’s eyes blink in step with each heartbeat. Images of her deceased parents and Martha’s Vineyard explode like firecrackers inside her mind.

She shakes her head.

For weeks this eerie woman dressed in nineteenth century garb has been haunting my webcam, but tonight she stared into my soul.

Why? ...

Who is she? ...

Casting aside months of research on historic lighthouses, Hannah drives to the coast and boards a ferry.

What is the strange connection she has to this mysterious woman suspended in time?

Hannah finds out.

But, it’s not at all what she expects...

Hannah unravels a century old murder.

Buy The Ghosts of Aquinnah:




Author Bio: Julie Flanders is a novelist and freelance writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a life-long love affair with the ocean and has spent more summer vacations than she can count on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. When not writing, Julie can be found playing with her pets, reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and watching too much television. The Ghosts of Aquinnah is Julie’s second novel. Her debut novel Polar Night was released in February, 2013 by Ink Smith Publishing.



Find Julie at:
 

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When Would You Go? Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. by PK Hrezo

Hey, gang! Absolutely honored to share the cover of author PK Hrezo's forthcoming book, Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc., with you today!

As part of the fun, I'm going to let you know when in time I'd like to go back to...

Would I like to give Napoleon a taunt on the fields of Waterloo? Or perhaps I'd choose to be cozied up on a couch watching TV with the rest of the US when Neil Armstrong boot-scoots on the moon for the first time. 

 Heck, I'm even contemplating going back and convincing our US forefathers to write in an amendment requiring public thrashings for congresspeople who don't show up to work. *grumbles*

 We'll find out when I'd like to go back to in a sec, but first, let's check the details on PK's book!
Available 11-12-13!
Welcome to Butterman Travel, Incorporated
We are a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. Family-owned and operated, we offer clients one hundred years of time travel experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.
Anxious to attend a special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds?
You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do apply
Conference us directly from our Website. Our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.
We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.   

.
PK Hrezo is a native Floridian whose life could easily be a Jimmy Buffet song. She shares her home with her firefighter husband and their two children. When not creating characters and their worlds, PK can be found at her other job of rearranging passenger’s itineraries for a major international airline. The only hobbies she loves more than traveling, are reading, writing, and music, and when the four are combined she exists in total bliss.   
She blogs regularly at PK HREZO: Fearless Fiction http://pk-hrezo.blogspot.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/PKHrezo  @pkhrezo

__

Sounds fantastic, right? Truly can't wait to read it, PK!

 So let's see, where would I go in time? I'm a history nerd, so I'd be super excited to relive any major event--but honestly, most of history's major events would be super dangerous to be a part of. 

 That being said, I don't think I could pass up an opportunity to see living dinosaurs. 8 year old me would never forgive current me if I did. 

 So send me back to the Jurassic period, PK! But maybe in a helicopter or something I could use to watch from a safe distance. :)

 Also wanted to pass on reminder that the New Adult Fall Fling book sale is still going strong! You can pick up several NA titles for cheap (and maybe even free) this week. Click the banner for more details!

My Moonsongs Anthology, containing the first 3 Moonsongs books,  is on sale for .99 cents as part of the event. Even if you've purchased the three stories separately, I'd greatly appreciate the help of another download. A spare hundred pennies goes a long way to helping an author with his ranking and future sales. :)

 Plus, it contains a sneak-peek of the newest Moonsongs book, Dragon's Game, that's coming out next week!

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Click For Clicks! 5 Questions With Author Amy Evans

Hey, gang! I'm sharing an interview I did recently with author Amy Evans with you today. Her book, Clicks, is a surfing adventure, a love story, an ode to dolphins, and so much more. Think you'll really dig learning about it.

 A couple of quick news things first...

 First, I wanted to mention that Camp New Adult is still chugging along, and this week we've got a Scrivener guru in the forums to take and answer questions. Her name is Kat, she's super helpful, and uses Scrivener in a lot of cool and different ways to help her writing process. 

 So if you have questions about the software, or maybe even tips to share with others, be sure to jump over and check it out. Logging in to comment is as simple as using your Facebook, Twitter, or Google accounts. You can do so, HERE.

 And you might even bump into today's guest author or me over there. :)

Second, I wanted to give a shout out to my pal Carrie Butler, who is re-releasing her book, Strength (which I've featured here on this blog), as an independently published book. 

 She lost her reviews and sales ranking because of the transition, not to mention she's had to learn all the ins and outs of DIY publishing--all in a short amount of time. Furthermore, the sequel to Strength will be hitting the streets in just a couple of months.

 So, to help kickstart things and celebrate the new direction in her career, Carrie is offering up Strength for .99 cents for a limited time. She was featured on this week's W4WS, so you may have already pitched in.

 If you haven't, I know many of my followers here are Indies, and you know how steep the learning curve can be. So if you can, please consider jumping over to Amazon and downloading Strength. It'll cost you less than your next soda and be so much sweeter. :)
5 Questions With Amy Evans, Author of Clicks


EJ: "Born and bred to win, sixteen-year-old Cami's family expects her to join a secret society called The Guard, marry one of the two identical twin boys next door, and stay on Pinhold Island for the rest of her life. But she has other plans: work beach patrol, win the Surf Carnival and leave Pinhold to compete in international surf rescue competitions and see the world."

That's the blurb for Clicks. It sounds a little bit fantasy, a little bit sporty, a little bit The O.C., and a LOT awesome! So, which is it? 

AMY: Clicks is a coming of age story about a girl who takes her home and family for granted until they are threatened.

EJ: Clicks sounds like a beach goer's dream read. Where'd you draw your inspiration for the story from? Was it long days stuck inside dreaming about the beach, or long days AT the beach? :)
AMY: Long days at the beach actually. I wanted to spend even more time there, so I wrote about it.

EJ: There seems to be a strong environmental theme in Clicks. Is that something you're passionate about? Is there anything you hope readers will take away from the story?

AMY: The environmental theme Clicks grew from my obsession with dolphins and my real fear that the damage to our environment and oceans has become irreversable. I wanted the story to be accessible for people younger than me, to help them grow up with an interest in protecting the ocean.

EJ: Clicks is a self-professed coming of age story--an experience that is often sometimes sweet, and sometimes bitter. Why do we want to go on that ride with Cami (the heroine of Clicks)?

AMY: Cami gets to do really fun things - lots of swimming with dolphins and surfing and kissing. She's a reluctant hero who is content to sit back and wait for others to solve problems until her twin Mica is in danger. It's only when pressed that she embraces her natural strength and her instincts, which is the key: listen to that voice that's inside you because you are the only one who can.

EJ: Our favorite question here at The Open Vein! Why should Clicks be our end-of-summer read, and where can we snag a copy? (links to book, websites, author stuff will go here).

AMY: Because everyone wants to hold on to summer as long as you can. And no one ever gets enough time at the beach. And did I mention the hot lifeguards?

Here's where you can find me an Clicks!

AMY
Website
Author Facebook
Tumblr
Twitter
Author Goodreads
Pinterest

CLICKS (EJ NOTE: Also only .99 cents!)

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Welcome To Werewolf College, Where Dorm Living REALLY Bites

Hey, gang! Very excited to bring you an interview today with Scarlet Dawn, author of the brand-spanking-new fantasy novel, King Hall.

The premise for this one is insanely cool, so you'll definitely want to check out Scarlet's thoughts and motivations on writing it.

But first, I wanted to mention that the fine folks behind the Authors For Oklahoma disaster relief fundraiser are still taking donations and entries for the book bundles they're offering up. The proceeds will go to help those still cleaning up after the Oklahoma tornadoes earlier this summer (yes, they're still at it, and lots of people still do not have their homes back). By donating, you'll also be entered for a chance to win one of several book bundles that were donated to the group by various authors. 

You can check all of the details, and help, HERE.

Now for the interview...


EJ: "King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies."

Okay, not going to lie, this sounds AMAZING! Reading the entire blurb, it's like Harry Potter meets the X Men meets The Hunger Games (all the revolution talk)--tell us how you came up with the concept.

SD: My inspiration came from another story I had started writing. I knew I was on the verge of something wonderful, but that original story just wasn’t good enough.

Blank page. I started over, twisting characters, the story…BAM!

King Hall was written.

EJ: So King Hall is VERY paranormal. We've got Shifters, Vampires, Mages, Elementals--you name it. Being completely honest, it seems like everything paranormal has been done to death by this point. How did you keep KH fresh? Conversely, what (if any) paranormals inspired you?

SD: You’re right. Paranormal has been done to death.

When I created King Hall, I did so with a clear idea that I was going to make these fantasy beings as I wanted them. No preconceived notions as to what a Vampire, Shifter, Mage, or Elemental was. That’s the beauty of writing…you can make it whatever you want to. 

I did that. These beings aren’t your typical paranormal/fantasy characters.

I let my imagination fly.

EJ: KH is New Adult... *claps hands together* WE LOVE NEW ADULT HERE AT THE OPEN VEIN BLOG! *stares sternly at audience until they nod in agreement* How'd you find the NA category, and how does KH fit into the New Adult scene?

SD: I love New Adult, though my reason is lengthy…

I adore the chaos that derives from even the simplest action a “new adult” takes, every step a minefield of individuality. But when I wrote King Hall a few years ago, I didn’t know anything about the “label”. I just wrote what I wanted, what stories came to me. This particular series really took hold, and I kept writing.

And writing…

Until I was done.

Even after writing the last sentence of the last book, I still knew nothing about New Adult. A few months later, when I started investigating on how to query, I read an article on NA. It fit. It was that easy for me. If it quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, then it’s most likely a duck. Same for The Forever Evermore series.

That said, I probably could have labeled this particular novel, King Hall, as upper YA (even though their ages are 19-22), but I had to think about the entire series as a whole. I didn’t want kiddies to get hooked on book one, only to have their minds blown by the erotic content of future books. I’m a mother of three wonderful teenagers, and while I’ve allowed them to read sections of King Hall, I would never allow them to read the entirety of the other books. It just gets too hawt for young minds. I was thinking about, not only my children, but other parents’ kids as well.

So, long story short, the New Adult genre fit. It’s where my writing-love is.

EJ NOTE: I hear this a lot from writers exploring NA: The content/story just outgrew YA, and I'm thrilled there's something that allows me to explore that now. Go New Adult go! :D

EJ: Lily, King Hall's heroine, seems like the, "I really want to be left alone and read my boo--oh hell, I've got to go save the world" sort. Can you tell us about some of the challenges she faces as a character (inward/outward)? Also, what's her biggest fear/greatest strength?

SD: You’ve nailed Lily on the head with your description.

Lily has been “hiding” within the Commoner world for her entire life until tragedy strikes, and her sadistic uncle tosses her into the most prestigious Mystical school in the world. You see, Lily’s a hybrid. Half Shifter/half Vampire. She should have been slaughtered at birth by the Executioner…

It’s easy to say her biggest fear is being “found out”, but by the end of this tale, there’s a new overwhelming fear. The Revolution.

EJ: Our favorite question here at the Open Vein! Where/when can we get our paws (shifter joke!) on King Hall, and where can we find you on the web?

SD: King Hall has just recently released! I feel so humbled by the response it has already received…becoming an international bestseller. My heart simply glows hearing all of the fabulous reviews.

King Hall can be purchased here:

Amazon
Amazon.uk










Meet Scarlet Dawn!
Facebook 
Twitter
Goodreads
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Secret, Secret, I've Got A Secret... & Speculative Fiction Chat

Okay, it's no longer a secret. BUT, you'll totally have to go snooping to get all of the details. :) 

 But before that, why not listen to this little number from the Secret Sisters (Hunger Games Soundtrack)

Back to the news! My good bloggy-wrting pals, Michael Di Gesu & Siv Ottem, have been collaborating on Siv's upcoming release, Secrets Of The Ash Tree. (The title alone has me intrigued!) Michael has crafted the cover, Siv the story. 

 We'll get a first look at the cover on Monday, and hopefully Siv will share a little about the book as well. So be sure to head over to their blogs then for the full scoop from these talented folks!

 ALSO, if you're a fan of speculative fiction (SciFi, horror, fantasy, etc.) you'll definitely want to check out the transcript from our latest #NALitChat. For the uninitated, we chat about New Adult fiction every Thursday night (9 PM Eastern) over on the Twitters  by using the #NALitChat 

 We now also do a special audio broadcast along with the usual Twitter chat (we take questions and comments from Twitter and present them to our guest authors to answer on air live... you'll hear me, too :), and last night we had two awesome authors (Kat Vancil & Amanda Havard) on to talk about writing spec fiction, Dr. Who and much more. 

 Here's the link to the transcripts (both the Twitter & audio--check them both at the same time for the full experience)

 Have a great weekend my friends!

 ~EJW~
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Blinded By Science... Or Fate?

Hey, gang! As promised, here's the second of this week's book announcements from good friends and awesome authors. :)

 Today, we've got an interview with Jeff Beesler, author of Optical Osmosis. This is one fantastic sounding story, and it's cut from some VERY Stephen King-esque concepts--which you know thrills the heck out of me! (And how's this for an epic cover?!)

EJ ~ "When an accident involving sunlight and a telescope alters Greg’s vision, he suddenly finds himself with a strange new ability that drains psychic fragments of a person’s soul from their body, killing his victim in the process."

That's the tagline from Optical Osmosis... Holy FRAK JB, that's some gritty sounding goodness right there! Other than from the bowels of your dark, dark mind ;), where did the concept for this story come from? Is this the darkest material you've created yet?

JB ~ I actually wanted to write it as a superhero story, creating a character with powers that were a hybrid of the X-Men Rogue and Cyclops. What I wound up with was a darker, and infinitely better, story once I toned down the unnecessary superhero tropes that the original plotline called for.

EJ ~ Optical Osmosis is clearly born of some serious sci-fi & horror influences. Tell us about what drew you to writing speculative fiction (one of Jeff's earlier works, Spell of Entrapment, is fantasy). Who were your influences, favorite stories, etc.

JB ~ My strongest influence has to be the Saturday Morning Cartoons of the 1980's. Don't get me wrong. King and Koontz and all the rest of them are there, but nothing is as scary as seeing your cute little blue smurf friends turn into purple, monstrous versions of themselves. The episode of the Smurfs called The Purple Smurfs instilled in me a strange fascination with horror. I didn't realize this at the time of course. I was only a kid who was terrified of losing his Smurf pals to some stupid fly bite.

EJ ~ At the heart of most every good story I've read is a relationship. A side plot to Osmosis is the possibly troubled relationship between Greg (the protagonist) and his sister. What kinds of things were you looking to explore with them in terms of developing Greg's character?

JB ~ I wanted Greg to find a way to help his sister out without feeling like he was enabling her problems by giving her money or letting her harp on him 24/7. I wanted him to see that his sister is far from perfect and that sometimes a call out of the blue might actually be a serious cry for help. Most importantly, I wanted him to learn how to forgive himself and others.

EJ ~ Time for an inside scoop: Is Osmosis a super hero type of story where his "powers" might be able to be used for good, or is this guy just screwed for life? (We need to know... for reasons. :)

JB ~ Oh, he's definitely screwed. The Osmosis thing does some really weird stuff to the souls it drains, where they become much darker and nastier than they ever were in life.
EJ ~ Last questions, but certainly most important: Why should we bump Optical Osmosis to the top of our TBR lists, and where can we get it?

JB ~ The thing about Optical Osmosis is that it's meant to be a literary joyride, where you can throw caution to the wind vicariously through Greg and let someone else worry about the blasted consequences for a short while. This book is totally about the escapism, although you may learn a thing or two about telescopes or psychic imprints along the way.

As for where you might find it, you can go here...

Amazon
B&N
Smashwords

Born in May of 1978, Jeff Beesler has been writing since the 7th grade, although he likes to point out that his elementary teachers in 2nd to 6th grades kept sending him to Young Author’s Conferences throughout his school district. When not writing, he can be found chatting it up on social media, reading books, or playing computer games.
Where to find me:
Blog
Twitter @JeffBeesler
Facebook
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The Men of Foxwick


Hey, gang! Really excited to share this new release with you! Cherie is a talented author and blogger, and she has really built a great fantasy universe with her Foxwick stories.

I downloaded my copy of The Men of Foxwick the other day and can't wait to dig in... Plus, I think it might have one of THE coolest covers I've seen in a long time. Well done, Cherie! 


Men of Foxwick by Cherie Reich is now available! This fantasy short story collection features five men from the Kingdom of Foxwick.

A blind teen seeks a place in the kingdom. A dragon seer journeys to Wintermill to spy on the queen. A sword master’s worst fear comes true when he fails to protect the royal family. A king falls in love with an herb witch, but will she feel the same way? A hunter will rise to the challenge to hunt down a man-eating monster.

Short stories in this collection: Blind Scribe, Dragon Spy, Sword Master, Courting Magic, and Monster Hunter

An Excerpt from “Blind Scribe” in Men of Foxwick

Dallan counted his steps as his mama and he weaved through the busy streets of Foxwick. Twenty-six, twenty-seven. They’d passed the fruit stand and were now farther into Foxwick than he’d ever been in his fifteen summers. People, just moving shadows, brushed against his shoulder. He scrunched toward Mama to make his lanky frame smaller. The odor of sweat and manure combated the more pleasant scents of flowers and baking bread. A bead of sweat trickled into his hairline, and he longed for the comfort of their small house.

“Keep up, Dallan.” Mama’s skirts brushed against his pants’ legs.

“Where are you taking me?” He clung to her arm and dragged his feet. They’d gone too far. The shadows darkened, as if the sun had slipped behind the horizon, and he had no clue where he was now.

She halted mid-step before yanking him forward. “I do not wish to do this, but we have little c-choice.”

“Do what, Mama?” He wanted to dig his heels into the pavement and halt their progress. Had she decided he was more trouble than he was worth? Times were tough, and he was such little help. He tried to plow straight—despite counting his steps and placing one foot in front of the other—but he often tripped over the rocky soil. He tried cooking, but he couldn’t even boil water without scorching it. Though he wasn’t too bad as a tailor because he could count stitches and feel where he needed to go, he still needed guidance.

She pulled him closer. Rough stone rubbed against his arm through his thin shirt. A sob hitched in Mama’s throat as she emitted a mouse-like squeak. She embraced him tightly and then smoothed his damp hair from his face. “My sweet boy, I’m so, so sorry.”

“What’s wrong?” His heart pounded like a horse galloping across an open field, each hoof beating the ground in a frantic rhythm.

To purchase: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords / Kobo / Nook

Click here to add on Goodreads.


About the Author: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and a fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms.

Her debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn, book one in The Fate Challenges, will be released on May 23, 2014.

For more information, please visit Cherie’s website and blog.

Also, Cherie has a special announcement for her email newsletter subscribers. Click here to sign up for her updates and receive a coupon for a free copy of Women of Foxwick.

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The Faerie Prince Tour & Interview

Hey, gang! Those of you looking for my IWSG post, please check back on Friday. Today, I'm honored to be hosting author Rachel Morgan in celebration of her newest Creepy Hollow book, The Faire Prince.

 Rachel and I recently sat down for an interview, but first, a little about The Faire Prince:

Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn’t forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current ‘sort of friend’. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to ‘collect’ as many specially talented faeries as he can find—and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi’s problems.
Purchase The Faerie Prince
Amazon US - Amazon UK - Barnes & Noble - Apple iBookstore - CreateSpace print 

Sounds fantastic, right? Let's see what Rachel has to say about it. :)

EJ: The Faerie Prince is the second book in the Creepy Hollow series. What's the inspiration for the series, and more importantly, how'd you come up with the rocking series title? (Seriously, Creepy Hollow is one of THE coolest series titles I've ever seen.)

RM: I REALLY wish I had an exciting answer for you, but, honestly, the name Creepy Hollow just appeared in my head one day! So it was more about picking the right story (from the tons of stories that zoom around my head all the time) to fit the name, rather than having a story idea first and having to think of a name for it. So I suppose you could say the inspiration for the series was the name itself!

EJ: I read that you intended the series to be several novellas originally, but decided to condense them down into 3, full-length books. What inspired that decision? Were there any challenges in changing the format you didn't expect?

RM: You know how a vision changes along the way? That happened for me! I’d first envisaged this series like a TV series, with shorter individual stories (different assignments for Vi) that all linked up with one overarching theme (one main villain with one big plot). But ... I’ve always been a fan of novels, and that started to show through as I was writing the first novellas. They kept getting longer, and the later ones (that are now in The Faerie Prince) were more closely linked than individual “episodes” should be. I decided in the end that Creepy Hollow would work better as a trilogy of novels.

The challenge in changing the format was that some people who’d read the earlier novellas were confused about whether The Faerie Guardian was a new book, or whether it was the same stuff they’d already read. (It was the same, but with some bonus chapters at the end)

EJ: You're doing a blogfest with the book release where people are asked to share their favorite faerie tale prince or hero. (Can mine be a princess? If so, I choose Merida from Brave. If no, I choose Beast from Beauty & the Beast. He's just the kind of flawed and grumpy/angry protagonist I can get behind. :) ANYWAY, why do you think the prince or princess trope (totally not a negative word here--just means it WORKS) in fantasy is so compelling for readers & writers? (We clearly can't get enough of them. Or at least I can't! LOL)

RM: Yes, yours can be a princess, and Merida is an excellent choice! I think there’s something enticing about royalty, probably because most of us are NOT royal and won’t ever marry anyone who is! The idea of princes and princesses speaks to us of fairy tales and happily-ever-afters and adventure and magical worlds where heroic deeds are performed and no matter how many dark clouds and fire-breathing dragons show up, everything always works out in the end. (FYI – this is NOT what you’re going to get in The Faerie Prince!)

EJ: Last GREAT book you read? Most anticipated summer movie? Must-listen-to-weekly (or daily) music or band?

RM: I read a lot and enjoy a lot, but the last really GREAT book (in my opinion) was Insurgent by Veronica Roth (which means I haven’t read a truly great book in about a year!). Most anticipated move of the YEAR for me is City of Bones (I adored the book, and I really hope they don’t “mess up” the movie!). Music ... hmm, that changes all the time. If we make it more general, on a weekly basis I have to listen to some kind of epic, inspirational movie score. It helps the writing ;-)

EJ: Last question! Why are fans of YA Fantasy going to love the Creepy Hollow books? 

RM: The Creepy Hollow books are not just another fairy tale. They have unique modern twists that I think readers will enjoy. There’s also the fast pace, the adventure, the ‘swoonworthy romance’ (quote from a review of the second book!) and the twists you’ll never see coming ;-) Readers have said you should check out Creepy Hollow if you’ve enjoyed Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series and Aprilynne Pike’s Wings series.

EJ: Thanks for hanging out, Rachel! I think The Faire Prince is going to be a smash for sure.

Read below to learn more about Rachel and the Creepy Hollow books. There's also a cool giveaway with the launch (Raflecopter below the post), so be sure to enter!


Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn’t for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults.

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