Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)
by Jennifer Anne Davis
an upcoming Month9Books Title!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
The people of Nelebek live in fear of persecution from the evil Morlet, who reigns with a dark and destructive magic. The kingdom’s only hope lies with the Order of the Krigers—twelve warriors with mysterious powers linked to magical weapons.
For over a century, Morlet has been annihilating the Order, picking them off one by one. Eleven Krigers have been hunted down, tortured, and imprisoned in his dungeon. Now, only one remains.
Sixteen-year-old Kaia survives by keeping her head down and minding her own business. But when she finds herself in the middle of a public execution where the mysterious Morlet is in attendance, an odd compulsion she can’t resist comes over her.
Kaia looks into Morlet’s eyes.
Soon, an ancient power awakens and Kaia can no more blend into the scenery. Will she heed the call of the Krigers or will Morlet’s dark magic destroy the last of the Order?
Fans of GRACELING and THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS will enjoy RISE, book one in the RISE OF THE KRIGERS series from international bestselling author Jennifer Anne Davis.
Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)
by Jennifer Anne Davis
Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books
Jennifer graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. Afterwards, she married her best friend and high school sweetheart. Jennifer is currently a full-time writer and mother of three young children. Her days are spent living in imaginary worlds and fueling her own kids’ creativity.
The Truth Spell (Werewolf High #1)
by Anita Oh
Release Date: 2015
Summary from Goodreads:
As soon as I stepped onto the grounds of Amaris High, I knew I’d made a big mistake. I could never fit in at such a snobbish school – I was more IT girl than “it girl”. But then I saw him.
Sam Spencer. My childhood best friend. But it couldn’t be. Sam Spencer had died three years ago, on the night that changed everything. I need to know what happened, why he’s suddenly not dead and is hanging out with a bunch of rich kids.
When the school is hit by a truth spell, it seems like the perfect chance to find out what Sam and his creepy new friends are hiding, but the weirder things get, the less I’m sure I want to know. Even for Sam, even for the free food, Amaris High might be more trouble than it’s worth.
The Truth Spell is now on sale for $0.99 on Amazon!
Book Excerpt:
He looked so different in the moonlight, and it struck me how the years apart had aged him. He’d lost the roundness of his cheeks, but what he’d lost in baby fat he’d gained in muscle. He seemed to tower over me, all broad shoulders and toned arms.
“Why did you leave?” I asked him, unable to play it cool any longer, to pretend I didn’t care. “Where were you? I’ve been mourning for you all this time and you’ve been off playing polo and eating souffles. What, don’t rich people have phones? You couldn’t have sent a message?”
“It’s complicated, Lucy. You don’t understand.”
“Of course I don’t understand. You were dead. I don’t understand how you could be someone’s friend and let them sit through your funeral.” As I yelled at Sam, the anger drained out of me, and I was left feeling sick and tired. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering. “Just tell me, Sam. Tell me what happened. Tell me why.”
About the Author
After several years in the warm, comforting cocoon of fandom, Anita has decided to see what’s up with this real world she’s heard about. Judgment is reserved until more information can be gathered.
Anita likes dogs, naps, food, and Japanese idol group Arashi. Everything else can be improved when combined with these four things.
Anita lives with a grumpy beagle who bosses her around terribly, and won’t even snuggle.
Kenna is tired of being “normal”. The only thing special about her is that she isn’t special at all. Which is frustrating in a world of absolutes. Villains, like the one who killed her father, are bad. Heroes, like her mother and best friend, are good. And Kenna, unlike everyone else around her, is completely ordinary— which she hates.
She’s secretly working on an experiment that will land her a place among the Heroes, but when a Villain saves her life during a break-in at her lab, Kenna discovers there’s a whole lot of gray area when it comes to good and evil and who she can trust.. After all…not all strength comes from superpowers.
Quote 1:
“Good isn’t always good, and bad isn’t always bad. You’ve always seen the shades of grey.”
― Tera Lynn Childs, Powerless
Quote 2:
“If I could have any superpower, right now, I’d choose the ability to reach through glass. One thin, little pane is all that separates me from bliss…of the midnight-snack variety, to be exact. The chocolate bar hangs halfway to freedom but refuses to take the plunge, as if the vending machine is mocking me, taunting me. As if it knows I’m powerless.”
― Tera Lynn Childs, Powerless
Quote 3:
“I might not have superpowers, but I know how to knee a guy in the nuts.”
― Tera Lynn Childs, Powerless
Quote 4:
“You’re my hero. The real kind. More so than your dad or any of the others working with him are.”
― Tera Lynn Childs, Powerless
Do you believe that some souls are destined to be together, even through hardship and deceit?
After 9-11, Declan’s heart is torn between wanting to stay with Morgan and needing to fight for his beloved country. Knowing that the future may be uncertain, he kisses his fiancée goodbye and focuses on his mission until that dark day from which he will never fully recover. Injured in Afghanistan, Declan has lost more than part of his leg; he’s lost part of himself, now plagued in grief and guilt. How could he possibly ask Morgan to take care of him for the rest of his life, being nothing but a burden to her? Which would be more heartbreaking, feigning his own death or bringing her unhappiness every day? If only he could eradicate her from his mind and be at peace with his decision.
Morgan prays day and night for Declan’s safe return, but when his letters stop coming, Morgan knows in her heart that she has lost him forever. Morgan has a hard time believing in fate and destiny after her fiancé is taken from her. With Declan gone, Morgan’s hope for true love is destroyed, but eventually she finds comfort in the arms of another, even though Morgan’s new love knows that her heart belongs to Declan.
Will Morgan eventually be able to move on, or will Declan haunt her dreams forever?
Her face was the only thing that had kept him sane during his deployment. At this moment, however, thoughts of Morgan had been pushed to the side for reasons of pure survival. Declan wiped the mud from his eye with a swift movement of his hand, just quick enough so that he could see again. Booming thunder went off near and far.
Swearing under his breath, Declan closed one eye and squinted the other shut as he spied his target. Breathe. One, two, three… he could do this. The first time he’d had to shoot another man he had faltered, hesitated only the briefest of seconds, during which time the man escaped his line of sight and shot a fellow soldier in the leg, causing serious injury.
This time, Declan concentrated, aimed his M4 rifle, and fired. The distinct thud of a man dropping to the ground confirmed the target had been hit. Swiping at the sweat in his eyes from the sweltering mid-day heat, Declan gulped and struggled to his knees. Lining up his rifle again, his neck and shoulders ached with fatigue. He bit down and gritted his teeth, tasting dirt while fighting off the pain.
It seemed as if hours had gone by, when in fact, it had probably only been minutes when finally the haunting sound of gunfire ceased. Not one to trust silence in any setting, Declan mentally counted upward until he reached near fifty.
“All clear,” his buddy, Sean, called out. “All clear.”
Declan, always cautious, still maintained his position until he heard his fellow soldiers from his platoon begin to speak. Peeking up from his ravine, Declan rose slowly to his feet as the rifle was pressed to his side.
Surveying the damage, it appeared that several of their enemies were lying still on the ground. The man he had shot lay still, appearing lifeless. Another man lay several feet away. It seemed the enemies had taken off, deserting the boundaries of the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. His platoon mates fell silent, all business as they quickly gathered their belongings to head back to base.
Declan clutched his rifle, drawing closer to his victim. Curiosity had gotten the best of him. Fully aware of his previous actions, Declan stepped even closer. He had never killed a man before — injured, yes, but never killed. This man did not appear to be alive.
His heart sped up as sweat caused his fatigues to cling to his body. For God’s sake, the man looked to have been only in his early twenties at best. What have I done? What are we doing here? Waves of nausea rose and Declan swallowed hard.
“Hey! Step back!” Sean called out. “Move out! I repeat, move out!”
Hearing his friend call out to him, Declan turned toward the sound of his voice, realizing his mistake seconds too late. He should have known better; he should have. But no amount of training can prepare you for taking another man’s life.
Glancing swiftly at Sean through tear-stained eyes, he saw the movement in his peripheral vision. Sean raced to the open dirt road. They were sitting ducks, in plain sight. The man that Declan had presumed dead, the one he had shot, raised his own rifle and fired at Sean, who dropped instantly to ground.
“No! No!” Declan spun his head back to the imminent threat, a moment too late. The force of the explosion knocked him to the ground in an instant. Morgan’s face was the last thing that registered in his mind as another shot fired, leaving his world black.
****
Clouds scattered overhead, cries of gulls bringing back another time, a different memory, sitting here with Declan by her side. Morgan squeezed her jaw, fighting back the pain.
Months later, there was still no word from Declan. On the Internet, she had searched out his name relentlessly but there was no mention of Declan, no death certificates and his name couldn’t be found on any list of casualties of the war. It was as if he had simply disappeared, but that wasn’t possible and she feared the worst. He was gone and there was no closure for Morgan, as his only living relatives were his mom and some family living on the west coast, whom Declan hadn’t seen in years. Even she and Declan’s old friend, Stephen seemed to be losing touch.
She could sit on this beach and watch the water forever; it was a place Declan had cherished, a place she felt close to him. Never again would her life be the same without Declan Blake. How was she going to make it without him?
The world was quiet and without joy for Morgan. Even Morgan’s mother nagged her to speak with a therapist. She didn’t see the purpose of smiling or laughing when it was all forced. Constant thoughts of Declan plagued her day and night.
Morgan nearly jumped when her cell rang. First instincts were to let the call go to voicemail, but she knew the person calling would only persist. That’s how it had been lately; she would ignore phone calls only to find tons of messages waiting.
It was Elle, calling for the second time that day. “Hi, Elle.”
“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call you for hours,” Elle exclaimed.
“I don’t know, I’m just hanging out.”
“Down by the river again?” Elle inquired.
“Yup,” Morgan responded as she moved her foot around in the sand.
“Figured as much.”
Elle’s voice sounded odd, almost as if she were hearing her close by. Morgan turned to see her friend walking toward her on the grassy path leading to the small beach.
Rising to her feet, Morgan felt tears escape. Elle was by her side, arms wrapped around her within moments. Morgan released Elle and took a small step back.
“Oh, Elle, what am I going to do?” she sobbed.
“You’re going to live, dammit. Declan would want you to be happy.”
“How? How can I forget about him, just move on?” It wasn’t possible, she had tried, and it just wasn’t working. Even when she was at work, she was just going through the motions; she did her job, but her heart wasn’t the same.
“I think it’s time for you to see someone to talk about all of this. You’ve waited long enough.”
She was right and so was her mother, believe it or not. “I will, Elle. I will because I don’t know what else to do.”
“Morgan, you’re the strongest person I know. You have so much happiness and love to share. I have full confidence in you. You’re going to make it and come out stronger in the end.” Elle spoke through her own tears.
“Thanks, Elle. I love you.” Morgan felt better knowing there was someone on her side rooting for her.
Author Mya O’Malley
Mya O’Malley was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, daughter and three step-daughters. The family also consists of a boxer, Destiny and a ragdoll cat named Colby. Mya earned an undergraduate degree in special education and a graduate degree in reading and literacy. She works as a special education teacher and enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.
Mya’s passion is writing; she has been creating stories and poetry since she was a child. Mya spends her free time reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She is a romantic at heart and loves to create stories with unforgettable characters. Mya likes to travel; she has visited several Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Costa Rica. Mya is currently working on her eighth novel.
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway //widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Welcome to this week’s Super Middle Grade Mondays presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books!
Today, we get up close and personal with
Michael Gibney
author of The Three Thorns (The Brotherhood and the Shield #1) from Tantrum Books.
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
Michael Gibney began working in restaurants at the age of sixteen and assumed his first sous chef position at twenty-two. He ascended to executive sous chef at Tavern on the Green, where he managed an eighty-person staff. He has worked in the kitchens of Morgans Hotel Group, 10 Downing in Manhattan, and Governor in Brooklyn’s DUMBO, among many others. Over the course of his career, he has had the opportunity to work alongside cooks and chefs from many of the nation’s best restaurants, including Alinea, Per Se, Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, Bouley, Ducasse, Corton, wd~50, and Momofuku.
In addition to his experience in the food service industry, Gibney also holds a BFA in painting from Pratt Institute and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Would you rather never be able to speak again or always have to say everything that is on your mind?
Everything that is on my mind. I value honesty and the power of words, both written and audible. It’s not in my nature to stay silent, especially concerning injustice i.e. Animal Cruelty, etc.
Would you rather be able to read or be able to read minds (but be illiterate)?
I can do both. Haha. Read. I’d find reading people’s minds an invasion of their privacy, unless it was to help them.
Would you rather be able to speak fluently every language in the world or be the best in the world at something of your choosing?
Be the best in the world at something. Reason being I love the fact that learning another language is a feeling of achievement and an exciting challenge. I wouldn’t want that challenge made easy.
Would you rather read only one book over and over for the rest of your life or read as many as you want but never remember what they’re about?
Oh, tough one. Well, if you can’t remember there’s not much point. Seems like a waste of time and effort for nothing, so I’d go for reading one book and that would be J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan (aka Peter and Wendy). The best fantasy book ever written in my opinion. So simple but yet such Genius.
Would you rather only the first page of a book or the last page?
Last Page. I always have to find out how a story ends.
Would you rather read 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?
Five books a week if I could and had the time. Knowledge is power.
Would you rather read only one genre forever or never read the same genre more than once?
One genre forever because you’d quickly run out of genres, right? And there’s plenty of amazing books and various sub-genres to be found in the Sci-Fi and Horror genre. Not so much in the romance genre.
Would you rather be invisible or be able to read minds?
Invisible. Would be so much fun but not if it’s like the Predator or Hollowman/The Invisible Man. That would suck.
Would you rather never use the internet again or never watch TV again?
Never watch TV again. There’s too much sad news and superficial reality shows on TV these days and not to mention a cluster of commercials. Yes, give me the Internet, so I can watch the art, music, movies I want and keep in contact with those I love around the world. Much better than a one way street of TV.
Would you rather have one wish granted today or three granted in 10 years?
Definitely one wish granted today. Life is unpredictable and short. We’re not guaranteed anything. Also, I hate waiting. Patience is a virtue. Possess it if you can. Seldom in a woman, but never in a man.
Would you rather know it all or have it all?
Have it all. I’m a deep enough thinker and have a strong enough imagination as it is and that can be quite exhausting. So, knowing it all would drive me crazy. Plus, one would be viewed as pretentious and arrogant if they had the ability to know it all. And both are not good attributes. =)
Three brothers born to a once powerful King were abandoned at birth and cast out into the old world as orphans – alone and unaware of the other’s existence or their royal heritage.
In the new world, by order of the false King, three of the most lethal assassins are sent to kill the children before they come of age and avenge their father’s throne.
But when the brothers find one another, Benjamin, Tommy and Sebastian must resist the temptation of magic and power if they are to defeat the unspeakable evil that has threatened them since birth.
The Three Thorns is book one in an exciting children’s fantasy series called The Brotherhood and the Shield from debut author Michael Gibney.
Before the Dawn by Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue
(The Ending #4)
Publication date: November 20th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance
Synopsis:
A year ago, the Virus killed off most people in the world.
A year ago, strange things started happening to those who survived. Some of them transformed into something dark and sinister, while others evolved, becoming something more, something beyond human.
A year ago, Dani and Zoe were lost. They traversed the country to find one another, losing some of the people dearest to them along the way. They fought for their right to simply live, uncovered long-buried secrets, and discovered irreversible truths. And after everything Dani and Zoe have been through—even with the battle wounds that they bear—they’re still not safe.
It’s time for the struggling to end, for survivors to take back their lives, their families, their safety. It’s time to really begin to live, and to do that, they must wait for the first rays of dawn.
Excerpt 1
Unable to resist an order from him, especially one delivered in such a low, silky rumble, I raised my gaze to his and fell in love with him, just a little bit more. His sapphire eyes were filled with such warmth, such light and heat and wonder that I couldn’t help but let myself drown in them. In him.
– Dani
Excerpt 2
What were people’s lives like now that they didn’t have to sit in traffic or be on conference calls? Were they worried about the amount of food in their pantries? About clean water? And as far as I knew, no one—save for the exploration, trading, and scavenging teams—needed to leave the protection of the New Bodega community. Everyone had probably already forgotten what’s out there, hidden in the abandoned alleyways and dark corners of the country. I wasn’t sure which was worse, remembering or not remembering. But given the easy, carefree steps of citizens wandering in and out of the building, it seemed they hadn’t a care in the world.
– Zoe
Excerpt 3
Anna resumed pacing. To the desk. To the door. To the desk. To the door. Her mind was spinning uselessly. She couldn’t help Zoe or Jason, and she couldn’t help but be scared for Peter…and be a little scared of him, if she was being honest with herself. She was a sitting duck, a failure at the only thing she’d ever done that had been truly worthwhile—motherhood.
– Anna
Excerpt 4
I was beginning to understand that, while blood was vital and kept us all alive, it was more than that to Jake—it was his life force. I could feel its energy and animation as it cycled throughout my body, refueling me. It was like I’d been running on fumes, and now I felt full and sated. The sensation was only a glimpse of his raw vitality and strength, and it felt otherworldly.
– Zoe
Lindsey Fairleigh lives her life with one foot in a book—as long as that book transports her to a magical world or bends the rules of science. Her novels, from post-apocalyptic to time travel and historical fantasy, always offer up a hearty dose of unreality, along with plenty of adventure and romance. When she’s not working on her next novel, Lindsey spends her time reading and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her two very confused cats.
Lindsey Pogue has always been a little creative. As a child she established a bug hospital on her elementary school soccer field, wrote her first YA manuscript in high school, and as an adult, expresses herself through writing. Her novels are inspired by her observations of the world
around her—whether she’s traveling, people watching, or hiking. When not plotting her next storyline or dreaming up new, brooding characters, Lindsey’s wrapped in blankets watching her favorite action flicks or going on road trips with her own leading man.
Emerge
by Melissa A. Craven Paperback: 438 pages Publisher: Midnight Hour Studio (April 1, 2015) Rating: 3/5
Book Summary (Goodreads):
Allie Carmichael has always believed life is simple.
You’re born.
You live.
You die.
She has no cause to believe that equation works differently for her, but there has to be a reason the world treats her like a pariah.
When an unexpected move to Kelleys Island brings Aidan McBrien crashing into her life, Allie is thrown by his reaction. He doesn’t shrink from her touch. He doesn’t stutter or make a quick exit. He smiles and welcomes her into his circle of friends, who aren’t exactly comfortable with Allie, but they seem to get her in a way most people don’t.
Finally, Allie has a real shot at normal and rides that high right up to her sixteenth birthday when she wakes in agony—an experience Aidan insists they have all faced. She struggles in ignorance, uncertain of what is real and what isn’t. When she emerges, Allie is different. She has always been different, but even among her extraordinary friends, she and Aidan are special.
As Allie struggles to maintain her tenuous grasp on the power that threatens to overwhelm her, she worries she will lose herself in this strange new world. A dangerous world where she will have to fight tooth and nail to defend the power and freedom that is her birthright.
…only Allie hates to fight.
My Review:
Emerge is an imaginative story filled with fantasy and self discovery. It’s a great coming of age story about a girl named Allie that begins her journey as a timid individual, but over time learns who she is and defines herself. All her life, Allie has been an outcast, with people having somewhat uncomfortable interactions with her for unknown reasons. That is, until she meets Aidan, whom doesn’t cringe at her touch or wishes to be anywhere but with her. Instead, Aidan helps Allie come out of her shell and the two become a formidable team, always there for each other, always looking out for each other. But it isn’t until her Awakening that she truly realizes who, or what she is, and with it a huge amount of responsibility.
I thoroughly enjoyed Craven’s fast paced writing and her development of memorable characters. The story itself is very gripping, leaving you wanting more. Her action scenes are incredible, and definitely one of her strengths when it comes to writing. I did feel like the love story took precedence over the rest of the story, and I found myself asking why to one of the characters quite a bit. To me, the love story was a little too much, but I am anxious to see where their journey goes in the sequel.
The world Craven created was truly mesmerizing. I thoroughly enjoyed the ancient stories of where Allie and her kind came from. As I read Emerge I couldn’t help but be eager to find out how the story would end.
I think Emerge is a fantastic debut novel from a first time author and I look forward to reading more from Melissa A. Craven, especially concerning how Allie and Aidan’s stories will turn out.
Be sure to check out the TOUR SCHEDULE for more awesomeness on Emerge! Also be sure to check out the tour wide giveaway, as well as the blog giveaway!
About the Author:
Melissa A. Craven (the “A” stands for Ann–in case you were wondering) was born near Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to Cleveland, Ohio at the age of seventeen. She still thinks of Cleveland as home, so it was only natural for Emerge to take place there.
Today, she is back in Atlanta–for some reason she can’t seem to stay away from the ungodly heat that makes her long for things like “lake effect snow” and wind that will knock you flat.
Melissa decided a long time ago that the “life checklist” everyone else was clutching so tightly in their fists, just wasn’t for her. She does everything backwards because she is weird like that, but then, she is an artist and artists are notoriously “unique” and “quirky.”
She is an avid student of art and design, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of West Georgia in 2009. She worked as an interior designer for several years, but she’s always thought she might like to be a writer when she grows up.
In her spare time, if she has any, she enjoys shopping for derelict furniture she refinishes to exercise the interior design part of her brain.
Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy, and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
You just might find your next read!
This week, #T4T presents to you:
Lifer by Beck Nicholas and A Murder of Magpies by Sarah Bromley
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
Asher is a Lifer, a slave aboard the spaceship Pelican. A member of the lowest rung of society, she must serve the ship’s Officials and Astronauts as punishment for her grandparents’ crimes back on Earth. The one thing that made life bearable was her illicit relationship with Samuai, a Fishie boy, but he died alongside her brother in a freak training accident.
Still grieving for the loss of her loved ones, Asher is summoned to the upper levels to wait on Lady, the head Official’s wife and Samuai’s mother. It is the perfect opportunity to gather intel for the Lifer’s brewing rebellion. There’s just one problem—the last girl who went to the upper levels never came back.
On the other side of the universe, an alien attack has left Earth in shambles and a group called The Company has taken control. Blank wakes up in a pond completely naked and with no memory, not even his real name. So when a hot girl named Megs invites him to a black-market gaming warehouse where winning means information, he doesn’t think twice about playing. But sometimes the past is better left buried.
As Asher and Blank’s worlds collide, the truth comes out—everyone has been lied to. Bourne Identity meets Under the Never Sky in this intergalactic tale of love and deception from debut novelist Beck Nicholas.
“It’s got great action, believable relationships, and a plot full of rebellion and secrecy and lies that won’t leave you disappointed.” – Angela, Angela’s Library
“Lifer was a very interesting book that managed to keep me turning the pages…” – Bri,Books and Ashes
“I give LIFER five stars out of 5 because of its ingenuity and fantastic plot line. It really will take your breath away. – J. Keller Ford, Author
I always wanted to write. I’ve worked as a lab assistant, a pizza delivery driver and a high school teacher but I always pursued my first dream of creating stories. Now, I live with my family near Adelaide, halfway between the city and the sea, and am lucky to spend my days (and nights) writing young adult fiction.
Winter in Black Orchard, Wisconsin, is long and dark, and sixteen-year-old Vayda Silver prays the snow will keep the truth and secrecy of the last two years buried. Hiding from the past with her father and twin brother, Vayda knows the rules: never return to the town of her mother’s murder, and never work a Mind Game where someone might see.
No one can know the toll emotions take on Vayda, how emotion becomes energy in her hands, or how she can’t control the destruction she causes. But it’s not long before her powers can no longer be contained. The truth is dangerously close to being exposed, placing Vayda and her family at risk.
Until someone quiets the chaos inside her.
Unwanted. That’s all Ward Ravenscroft has ever been. To cope, he numbs the pain of rejection by denying himself emotions of any kind. Yet Vayda stirs something in him. He can’t explain the hold she has on him–inspiring him with both hope and fear. He claims not to scare easily, except he doesn’t know what her powers can do. Yet.
Just as Vadya and Ward draw closer, she finds the past isn’t so easily buried. And when it follows the Silvers to Black Orchard, it has murder in mind.
“The writing will really suck you in and help you feel lost in a different world for awhile.” – Krista,Cubicle Blindness
“The tone, the pacing and like I mentioned above, the atmosphere was perfect.” – Paula, Her Book Thoughts
“a strong addition to the YA world with its brooding tone and strong finish” – Christina,Ensconced in Lit
Sarah Bromley lives near St. Louis with her husband, three children, and two dogs. She likes the quiet hours of morning when she can drink coffee in peace, stare into the woods behind her house, and wonder what monsters live there. When she’s not writing or wrangling small children, she can be found volunteering at a stable for disabled riders.
Crimson Earth by Anna Soliveres
(Modi #2)
Publication date: December 10th 2015
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Book Summary
Aeva Storm finally has the answers she’s been looking for since the night she was struck by lightning. She knows who she is—and more importantly,what she is. But her secret isn’t hers alone to keep, and some of those who know the truth will do anything to control her.
In the sequel to the acclaimed Violet Storm, Aeva must decide how far she’ll go to protect her identity and to find her missing sister in a world she hardly recognizes. She must embrace her new life—and her strange new body—if she hopes to save the only place she and her family have left to call home.
Filled with action, mystery, and heartbreak, Crimson Earth finds Aeva, Ruven, and Karth on opposing sides as the war between The False Alliance and the Monarchy draws near.
Can they band together to fight against the evil threatening the City? Or will they destroy each other before the war has even begun?
Anna Soliveres has always been a storyteller but it wasn’t until her early twenties when she began writing novel length works. The result was an enthusiasm to get better at the craft until her work could be shared with the world. Released in March 2014, VIOLET STORM is her debut novel. The sequel, CRIMSON EARTH releases Dec. 2015. Anna is currently working on another young adult sci-fi series, titled SNOW DOLLS. To learn more, please visit her at www.annasoliveres.com.
If you told my high school self that I would someday write an entire novel, I would have laughed my frizzy-haired head off.
Writing was always my dream, but the beast that is a book seemed impossible before I had a strong handle on how to tackle 300+ pages…and survive. DEAD RINGER is officially the longest project of my entire career, and I am somehow still in one piece. In fact, I’m already at work on another.
Here are my 7 Secret Strategies for combating all the woes of life as a long-form writer.
Develop a routine based on your existing routine.
Morning person? Write first thing in the a.m. Night owl? Type all night long. Much of finding your mojo as a writer has to do with knowing your MO as a person. I get my best work done in the morning, so I write from 8:00 a.m. until noon every single day. That’s the other part of developing a routine—doing it over and over and over again until it becomes comfortable. Writing is a muscle, so think of it like going to the gym. The more you go, the less it hurts.
Set a word count every day and hit it.
All hail the crappy first draft! The best thing you can do for your finished product is get a first draft of it done quickly. Writing is rewriting, so there will be many more drafts. When I get hung up, it’s because I’m trying to make every single sentence perfect instead of focusing on getting my word count done so I can move on to the next stage.
When writer’s block hits, don’t panic. Pivot.
I don’t like to use the term “block” when talking about a hiccup in my flow because it feels so severe. I’m not blocked; I’m just a little cloudy. Instead of freaking out (my former philosophy), I stop writing in the prose of the book and start writing to myself. It comes out looking something like this: Yo. This part is really hard but remember what you’re trying to say is simple: Laura is frustrated with Charlie. Why is she frustrated? You know why. It’s because x, y, z.
I know this seems so strange, but this no-writing writing actually helps me remember that I know my road map and I’m just having trouble finding the right words. In a worst-case scenario, I leave some notes in the manuscript and come back to them another day. It’s not a finished word count, but at least I’ve made some progress. For more on this check out a blog post I wrote on the topic.
Outline, outline, outline
This should probably be item number one. I know that some writers prefer plunging to plotting, but even when I employ that tactic I still create an outline of what I’ve written. In a 300+ page document, you need a map of where plot and character development is located. When an editor returns notes, you need to know where to begin making adjustments. Your outline is that full picture of the book, and it is critical.
Don’t wait to ask for feedback
It might seem like there’s nothing scarier than receiving notes, but there’s actually nothing more frustrating than finding out you have major issues to resolve once an entire draft is done! I bring people into the process early (my outline helps) so I’m certain that I’m tracking problems and progress along the way. Somehow a lot of little notes are easier to handle than one massive dump.
End each day with a plan for the next
When I was writing the first draft of DEAD RINGER, I spent thirty minutes every night making notes about what I was going to tackle writing the next day. This wasn’t actual drafting of the manuscript, just a bulleted list of notes about what would happen in the next chapter. I felt so much better arriving at a new blank page the next day knowing that I had a plan.
Celebrate along the way
Writing a novel is a massive, massive task. Why wait to celebrate until the very end? I treated myself to little prizes along the way as rewards for finishing small chunks, and I gave myself big gifts after turning in 100-page installments to my editor. There were many hard days, but I gave myself lots to look forward to. That way, I had little tunnels with bright lights all throughout the process.
Trust me—if I can do this, you can do this! Stay focused. Make your writing your priority. And remember what the great Jimmy Dugan (aka Tom Hanks) from A League of Their Own said, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it.”
Jessie Rosen is a writer, producer, and performer. She grew up in New Jersey, attended Boston College in Massachusetts, and began her writing career in New York. Her live storytelling series Sunday Night Sex Talkhas received national attention. She was named one of “The 25 Best Bloggers, 2013 Edition” by TIME magazine for her blog 20-Nothings, which was also named in “The 100 Best Websites for Women” and “The Top 10 Best Websites for Millennial Women” in 2013 by Forbes.
Rosen is the oldest of four girls, which gives her a special window into the minds of teenagers. She now lives in Los Angeles, where she’s working on film and television projects, as well as her next novel.
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