Sara B. Larson's Blog
October 1, 2019
YASH Fall 2019!!
It's that time of year again!! When we all go crazy for a few days, trying to win piles of awesome books! This year, I'm also doing my own personal giveaway, so make sure to read all the way to the VERY BOTTOM of the post for your chance to win a signed ARC of my new release coming November 5th from Tor Teen - SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT!
Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the world—including their Paladin father the night Inara was born.On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the citadel. Inara inherited their father’s Paladin power; her eyes glow blue and she is able to make plants grow at unbelievable rates, but she has been trapped in her own mind because of a “roar” that drowns everything else out—leaving Zuhra virtually alone with their emotionally broken human mother.For 15 years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the outside world…until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything changes.You can pre-order SOSAL by clicking HERE!!! or HERE *for a signed copy*!! (And make sure to check out my preorder incentive -- if you submit your preorder proof of purchase you will get gorgeous character cards created by Diana Dworak + unique signed swag! Info on my website and IG!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for until Sunday!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Gold Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday October 6, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
This year I'm hosting KB Anne!
I'm so excited because today KB Anne is sharing her cover reveal for DARK MOON!!Are you ready to see this gorgeousness??? ******
AAAAGGHHH!! Isn't that gorgeous!?
Shadow Moon Blurb:
Gallean agreed to train Gigi and Scott, but the Shadow Moon is two weeks away. If they don’t learn how to control their power, Alaric and Lizzie will be lost to them forever.
Caer watched Gigi and Scott in the seomra de’ ruin. Gallean doesn’t know she exists, but Caer considers him her mentor. He’s trained her into the warrior she is today. If Balor finds her, she’ll be ready for him.
**To celebrate the release of Dark Moon, The Goddess Chronicles Book Three, KB Anne is running some super awesome giveaways. First, Wide Awake, The Goddess Chronicles Book One is FREE. Yep, you read correctly Wide Awake is FREE for a limited time. Snag your copy of Wide Awake today! AMAZON **
Blood Moon, The Goddess Chronicles Book Two is $.99 for the next few days, and then it increases to $1.99 by the weekend. Grabby hands for Blood Moon people! AMAZON
Make sure to go to her website to check out her books and giveaways!
To continue the hunt, CLICK HERE to visit Livia Blackburn's website!
**But first, make sure you enter my giveaway below!!**
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the world—including their Paladin father the night Inara was born.On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the citadel. Inara inherited their father’s Paladin power; her eyes glow blue and she is able to make plants grow at unbelievable rates, but she has been trapped in her own mind because of a “roar” that drowns everything else out—leaving Zuhra virtually alone with their emotionally broken human mother.For 15 years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the outside world…until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything changes.You can pre-order SOSAL by clicking HERE!!! or HERE *for a signed copy*!! (And make sure to check out my preorder incentive -- if you submit your preorder proof of purchase you will get gorgeous character cards created by Diana Dworak + unique signed swag! Info on my website and IG!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for until Sunday!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Gold Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday October 6, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
This year I'm hosting KB Anne!
I'm so excited because today KB Anne is sharing her cover reveal for DARK MOON!!Are you ready to see this gorgeousness??? ******
AAAAGGHHH!! Isn't that gorgeous!?
Shadow Moon Blurb:
Gallean agreed to train Gigi and Scott, but the Shadow Moon is two weeks away. If they don’t learn how to control their power, Alaric and Lizzie will be lost to them forever.
Caer watched Gigi and Scott in the seomra de’ ruin. Gallean doesn’t know she exists, but Caer considers him her mentor. He’s trained her into the warrior she is today. If Balor finds her, she’ll be ready for him.
**To celebrate the release of Dark Moon, The Goddess Chronicles Book Three, KB Anne is running some super awesome giveaways. First, Wide Awake, The Goddess Chronicles Book One is FREE. Yep, you read correctly Wide Awake is FREE for a limited time. Snag your copy of Wide Awake today! AMAZON **
Blood Moon, The Goddess Chronicles Book Two is $.99 for the next few days, and then it increases to $1.99 by the weekend. Grabby hands for Blood Moon people! AMAZON
Make sure to go to her website to check out her books and giveaways!
To continue the hunt, CLICK HERE to visit Livia Blackburn's website!
**But first, make sure you enter my giveaway below!!**
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 2, 2019
YASH Spring 2019!
It's that time of year again!! When we all go crazy for a few days, trying to win piles of awesome books! This year, I'm also doing my own personal giveaway, so make sure to read all the way to the VERY BOTTOM of the post for your chance to win a signed ARC of my new release coming November 5th from Tor Teen - SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT!
Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the world—including their Paladin father the night Inara was born.On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the citadel. Inara inherited their father’s Paladin power; her eyes glow blue and she is able to make plants grow at unbelievable rates, but she has been trapped in her own mind because of a “roar” that drowns everything else out—leaving Zuhra virtually alone with their emotionally broken human mother.For 15 years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the outside world…until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything changes.You can pre-order SOSAL by clicking HERE!!! or HERE *for a signed copy*!!
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for until Sunday!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Green Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday April 7th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
This year I'm hosting Lisa Koosis!
<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}</style></div></div>--><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,65280],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"In high school, much to the dismay of her guidance counselor, Lisa Koosis traded AP English for a creative writing class and a class in speculative fiction. She never looked back. Lisa is a member of the SCBWI, an ambassador for National Novel Writing Month, and an active member of her local writing community. Her short stories have been published widely. When she isn’t writing, you’ll probably find her at the beach with her dog, or chilling with her cat."}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><i>In high school, much to the dismay of her guidance counselor, Lisa Koosis traded AP English for a creative writing class and a class in speculative fiction. She never looked back. Lisa is a member of the SCBWI, an ambassador for National Novel Writing Month, and an active member of her local writing community. Her short stories have been published widely. When she isn’t writing, you’ll probably find her at the beach with her dog, or chilling with her cat</i>.</span><br />Lisa is the author of :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HBI8PsLtd1..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="342" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HBI8PsLtd1..." width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><style type="text/css"><!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}</style></div>--><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,65280],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A grieving young musician must make an impossible choice about cloning the girl he loved, in this novel about memory and identity, love and loss."}" style="font-family: "arial";"><i>A grieving young musician must make an impossible choice about cloning the girl he loved, in this novel about memory and identity, love and loss.</i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,65280],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A grieving young musician must make an impossible choice about cloning the girl he loved, in this novel about memory and identity, love and loss."}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Ooooh, that sounds so intriguing!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,65280],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A grieving young musician must make an impossible choice about cloning the girl he loved, in this novel about memory and identity, love and loss."}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can buy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0807569445/" target="_blank">RESURRECTING SUNSHINE by clicking HERE</a>!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And if you're a fan of the book - today is your lucky day because Lisa is sharing a deleted scene with us for her bonus material! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I worked on RESURRECTING SUNSHINE, I found myself writing a number of pretty surreal dream sequences. Not only do I love writing these types of scenes because writing about dreams gives me the freedom to really play with words and imagery and to be a little, well, out there, but because it also provides a way to explore what’s happening inside a character. In this particular dream sequence, as with several others in SUNSHINE, Adam explores in some depth his grief over losing Marybeth—aka Sunshine—as well as his fears and reservations about bringing back the girl she loves through this crazy process.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While the following scene was always one of my favorites, it never made it into the book in its entirety (although you may find pieces of it scattered here and there). I’m glad to have the opportunity to share it with you today.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I will warn you that this deleted scene contains some potential spoilers...or maybe I should say it hints at spoilers, but when I had the opportunity to share a deleted scene from my book, I just couldn’t resist choosing this one. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I hope you enjoy it!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">~ Lisa A. Koosis<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MediumShading1-Accent21" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Deleted Scene from RESURRECTING SUNSHINE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wake into the dream with Marybeth kissing me on the cheek. When I open my eyes she brushes hair back from my forehead and says, “Can you get up? I have something to show you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She’s wears her Sunshine get-up, that yellow dress that never stopped reminding me of funerals. Her feet are bare and black with dirt, as if she walked barefoot all the way from her own tomb. But she’s so gentle and attentive, so with me in the moment and not lost inside her grief, that my eyes burn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wish that for at least a few moments I could pretend this is something more than a dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Please.” She holds out her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I sit up. “You need to stop doing this, MB. I need to bond with the new you, and how can I do that if you keep coming to remind me you’re dead?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She sighs. “Adam, head out of the sand. I am dead.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I kick the sheets back, feeling suddenly, over-the-top, angry. “You think I don’t know that? I’m trying my best to move forward.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Forward,” she says. “Backward.” As if it’s all the same to her. And maybe it is, because what are directions when you’re dead?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Okay,” I say. “I’m getting up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We leave my apartment and after a few hallways, I realize she’s taking me to the place where Marybeth 2.0 floats in her tank. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We can’t go in there,” I tell her. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sure we can,” she says. “You’re getting tame, Adam. When did a rule ever stop you from doing anything?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It’s called growing up,” I tell her. I don’t know why I feel so cross. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I wouldn’t know about that,” she says. “I’m always going to be almost-seventeen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With her words, though they’re completely off-the-cuff, all the crossness goes out of me. She pushes open the door to the nursery. Apparently, you don’t need keycards in dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I expect the tank to be empty since Marybeth is here, with me, but it isn’t. Inside, Marybeth 2.0 floats, eyes closed, lips pressed tightly together. Whatever she’s reliving right now isn’t pleasant. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Probably that day Daddy Jacobsen decided my bed was more interesting than his own,” the dream MB says. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“God, MB! How can you say it like that, so matter-of-factly?” How hard I’ve been trying not to think about her reliving those things. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How else can I say it, Adam?” she says, almost gently, as if she’s protecting me more than herself. “It was my life. Now she’s stuck living it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I look from one Marybeth to the other. Seeing them side by side makes my chest squeeze. Or maybe it’s the thought that even now Mr. Jacobsen is sliding between the sheets of fourteen-year-old Marybeth’s bed as she pretends to sleep, hoping he’ll come to his senses and go away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Not all of my life experiences happened with you there to try to protect me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We look at each other, me and this girl I love with my whole heart, this girl so long in the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But that’s not what I wanted to show you.” She pulls me away from the tank. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beyond the bank of computers that nobody’s tending to right now, a door appears. It wasn’t there a second ago. It swings open on its own.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">From inside, I hear bubbling, like Marybeth’s nursery tank, only a hundred times over. My feet feel heavy in the way of dreams, and I force myself forward, reminding myself that that’s exactly what this is. No matter what’s in the room, no matter what fear-brought-to-life exists in there, it’s only the product of my thoughts and worries and paranoia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I step into a room filled with tanks. In each one, a clone of Marybeth floats.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Go on,” Dream Marybeth says. Her fingers press lightly against my shoulder, nudging me forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I move toward the first tank. The Marybeth inside is identical to the Marybeth standing beside me. Her eyes are open, staring through the pale fluid as if she’s really seeing me rather than just whatever exists inside the current memory being piped into her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“MB.” I put my hands against the glass. Up close I see the faraway look in her eyes that I know so well, and my mind supplies an image of her sitting in the tour bus, her dress traded for jeans, her head tipped against the tinted windows, looking out at something only she can see. I can’t...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I move to the next tank. The Marybeth in that one is younger, but only slightly, judging by the shoulder-length of her dark hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I walk to the next, and the next, looking at the Marybeths in each one.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Marybeths.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As if she’s a product rather than a person. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I look to the Marybeth next to me. “Am I taking away from who you were by doing this?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Does it matter?” She shrugs, and then points to the tanks where the older Marybeths float, Marybeth when she was Sunshine. “Hadn’t I lost who I was by then anyway? Wasn’t I already a commodity?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I shake my head. “Not to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She smiles, the kind of smile you give someone you’re sad for. “I know. Thank you for that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Together, we walk to the far end of the room. I can pick out the ages of each by the hair length, the roundness of her cheeks, her height. My dream-guide Marybeth accompanies me, speculating on what memory might be getting pumped into each particular clone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Marybeths get younger, until they’re younger than the first time I met her. I see Marybeth at maybe the age of seven or eight, cigarette burns running up the length of her bare arms. I see Marybeth at around four or five, her hair short and choppy, as if she cut it herself. In some of the tanks she’s nothing more than a baby.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“This doesn’t make sense,” I tell the original Marybeth as we stare in at the young clone. “Her hair wouldn’t change in the tank.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Dummy,” she says affectionately, “this is a dream. Your mind has to make its dream-points somehow. Duh.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But what is the point? That she had a life before me? That she’s reliving everything?” I feel that crossness again, and suddenly I’m cross with her, even though I kind of realize that the dream her is really just my subconscious pretending to be her. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sure,” she says. “That. But maybe the point is this. When would it make a difference to stop the memories? When we were with the band? Before I met them? The day I met you? Or before? Or was it something just inside me, Adam? A ticking bomb that started the day a sperm met an egg, something in my genetic code that’ll be there no matter what you do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And there it is,” I say. My pulse pounds in my jaw. “Poor me. Right, MB? You had a hard life. Well you weren’t the only one. You weren’t the only one who lost your family, who lost LaLa and Jeddy. You weren’t the only one who got stuck in shitty foster homes. You’re not the only one who had scars. You’re not the only one who’s ever thought about…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I can’t say it. But Marybeth just keeps on looking at me, her gaze steady. In fact I feel all of the Marybeths watching me from their tanks. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Go on,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What is it you want to say to me, Marybeth? That it’s my fault you’re dead? That I gave up on you? You gave up first, Marybeth. You gave up a long time before me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I bang my fist against the nearest tank. It shudders, but neither the Marybeth inside nor the one next to me so much as flinches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I followed you onto that stage, Marybeth. I followed you into that ridiculous fame we had. I would have followed you to the ends of the earth. And still it wasn’t enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You quit, Marybeth. You quit us. You quit life. And you left me to live without you. You left me when you knew it was going to hurt me the most. When it would look like it was my fault and not yours.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Go on,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And I am so mad at you, Marybeth. I am so mad at you for leaving me here all alone, just like everyone else did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MediumShading1-Accent21"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MediumShading1-Accent21" style="text-align: center;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... RESURRECTING SUNSHINE to your Goodreads list</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">To continue the hunt, make sure to go visit <a href="https://melindacordell.com/blog/" target="_blank">Melinda Cordell by clicking HERE</a>!</span></o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But first</b> - make sure you enter my giveaway of an<b> ARC of SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT </b>right here : </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="af34b21b19" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp..." id="rcwidget_ij9mau8h" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com...
October 2, 2018
YA Scavenger Hunt Fall 2018!!!
It's that time of year again!! When we all go crazy for a few days, trying to win piles of awesome books! This year, I'm also doing my own personal giveaway, so make sure to read all the way to the VERY BOTTOM of the post for your chance to win a signed copy of either DARK BREAKS THE DAWN or the sequel BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT -- your choice!!!
"With its intricate, dazzling system of magic and a vibrant cast of characters, this passionate, war-torn retelling of Swan Lake is not one to be missed! You'll be spellbound from the very first lines." - Sarah J. Maas #1 NYT bestselling author of THRONE OF GLASS series
"Larson (DEFY trilogy) deftly weaves fantasy with the best parts of the Swan Lake ballet in this gripping first book of a duology." - PW *Starred* review
(You can win one of these!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Red Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday October 7th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
This year I'm hosting the J.M. Sullivan!
<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}</style></span></div></div></div></div></div>--><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;">Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!</span><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;">She is the author of ALICE: </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVTpCpO1g6..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="562" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVTpCpO1g6..." width="199" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;">Isn't that cover gorgeous??? </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><i><style type="text/css"><!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}</style></i></span></span></div>--><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Alice Carroll hardly remembers life before the plague. When the undead first crawled from their graves, it was like a nightmare. When they killed her mother, the nightmare became shockingly real. Now her sister Dinah has contracted the 'un-deadly' virus and without a cure, soon she'll be worse than dead. She'll be momerath.\n\nTo save her sister, Alice must leave the safety of the Sector and venture into Momerath territory in search of an antidote - if it exists. Chasing a rumor about a mysterious doctor with a cure, Alice falls down the rabbit hole into Wanderland, where ravenous momerath aren't the only danger lurking."}" style="font-size: 10pt;">Alice Carroll hardly remembers life before the plague. When the undead first crawled from their graves, it was like a nightmare. When they killed her mother, the nightmare became shockingly real. Now her sister Dinah has contracted the 'un-deadly' virus and without a cure, soon she'll be worse than dead. She'll be momerath.<br /><br />To save her sister, Alice must leave the safety of the Sector and venture into Momerath territory in search of an antidote - if it exists. Chasing a rumor about a mysterious doctor with a cure, Alice falls down the rabbit hole into Wanderland, where ravenous momerath aren't the only danger lurking.</span><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">You can buy her book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Wanderla..." target="_blank">ALICE by CLICKING HERE!!</a></span></span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";">You're in for a treat today, because J.M. is giving you a sneak peek of the first chapter from BROKEN GLASS! Read on for that sneak peek -- and make sure you continue past it for my giveaway of a signed book!</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>LOOKING GLASS HOUSE<br />CHAPTER ONE<br />My sister is gone, and it’s all my fault.<br />Alice buried her face in her pillow, trying to chase away the thoughts that refused to<br />yield. The darkness didn’t help—she was still haunted by the vision of Dinah’s beautiful<br />almond eyes flashing from a rich, radiant brown to a mottled, murky grey.<br />A frustrated scream ripped from her chest and she flung the pillow across the room,<br />lashing out against the fresh wave of memories threatening to drown her. The projectile hit<br />her desk with a crash, toppling Alice’s family picture with Dinah and her mother. She winced<br />as the frame fell, smacking against the hard wood. Alice rushed to her desk, overcome with<br />a fresh surge of emotion as she looked at the picture and saw the fractured image of her<br />family—infinitely separated by shards of broken glass.<br />Alice gently removed the largest shard, clearing the splintered marks from Dinah’s<br />face, revealing the unmarred image of her sister. A harsh laugh ripped from Alice’s chest.<br />If only it was that easy.<br />In reality, things were much more complicated. In reality, her mother was dead, and<br />her sister was something worse. She was a momerath.<br /><br />Alice shivered, remembering the way the virus had come for Dinah, changing her<br />from a healthy, vibrant woman into a shambling monster in a matter of days. Alice glanced<br />down at the image of her sister, and was hit with a sharp pang of guilt as she studied her<br />smiling face. She hadn’t even been there for the worst of it. She had left the Sector and went<br />to Phoenix, leaving Dinah all alone.<br />Alice bit her lip to still her trembling chin, then set the photo back in its place. She<br />stooped to retrieve her pillow, then scuffled across the floor to flop mournfully onto her<br />bed, overcome with shame.<br />She had gone to Wanderland to save Dinah, but all she’d succeeded in was making<br />things worse. The rumor of a cure had only brought more questions about the undeadly<br />virus, along with the undesired side effect of the death of too many good people. The guiltreel<br />whirred through Alice’s mind again, fresh with images of the people who had helped her<br />through Wanderland. Dr. Abbott, Indi, Johnny, Big Mike. So many lost in a failed attempt to<br />find a cure, and it was all her fault.<br />No. Alice strangled the pillow in her hands. It was the Red Queen. If she hadn’t<br />interfered, Chess and I would have made it back in time to properly administer the antidote.<br />If it wasn’t for her, Dinah wouldn’t have —<br />Alice’s nose pricked as she swallowed the lump in her throat. It was hard to believe<br />that only a week ago, she had been sitting in this same room, mentally preparing for a<br />simple scouting trip.<br />If that was all I had to worry about now, Alice thought with a bitter sigh. She couldn’t<br />believe how much she had whined at Dinah. Unbidden, a fresh wave of tears surged<br />forward, carried on the memory of the last conversation she had with her sister.<br />‘I only talk to myself because I don't have anyone else to talk to. It’s a coping<br />mechanism.’<br />‘You can talk to me. I'm always here for you, little sister.’<br />The tears Alice fought so hard to hold back spilled over her cheeks and onto her<br />pillow. She couldn’t believe how selfish she had been. How much she had taken for granted.<br />How little she had done. Maybe if she were braver or smarter or faster, Dinah would still be<br />there.<br />But she wasn’t. She was the same quiet, timid girl she’d been her whole life. And<br />Dinah was gone.<br />“Knock, knock.” Chess appeared as he rapped the inside of the already opened door.<br />He peeked at Alice from under the messy ash hair falling in front of his amber eyes. He<br />brushed it away and a nervous grin twitched his lips, showing a bright smile that stood out<br />against his dark olive skin. “I come bringing gifts,” he said, setting a peanut butter sandwich<br />and a warm soda on the table beside her bed. Alice gave it a blank stare.<br />“Thanks.” She tried to smile, but it collapsed halfway through the gesture.<br />“You have to eat,” Chess chided as he flopped onto the bed beside her. “I know you<br />miss your sister, but it’s been three days and you haven’t left the room once.” He screwed<br />his lips together as he leaned in to sniff her shoulder. “You’re starting to stink.”<br />“I am not!” Alice pushed him back as she shot away from him and her long, silverblonde<br />hair tumbled over her shoulder, revealing a collection of tangled strands. Her eyes<br />widened and she grasped it into a low ponytail and brushed her fingers through the ends to<br />quickly smooth the snarls. Chess snickered.<br />“Alright, the smelly thing wasn’t true.” He coughed out another laugh before he<br />looked at her disheveled state, then his expression softened. “But honestly, Princess? This<br />isn’t healthy.”<br />“I’m not hungry.” Her stomach let out a contending growl and Chess’ lips quirked in a<br />knowing smile. Alice huffed and flopped onto the bed, turning her back to him. Behind her,<br />his chest rumbled with a low laugh.<br />“Sure, you aren’t,” he sighed, but didn’t press the issue. “At least drink the soda.” He<br />waved it enticingly over her shoulder. “It’s practically a delicacy.”<br />Alice stared at the can. How could she care about food at a time like this? Her sister<br />was outside the Sector running God-knows-where, disguised as a monster. Except, it wasn’t<br />a disguise. It was her.<br />Kind of.<br />A frustrated growl escaped her throat. Her mind stuck in a cruel loop, forcing her to<br />endlessly relive Dinah’s transformation from Carrier to momerath to . . . Alice wasn’t quite<br />sure what. A million questions buzzed behind the gruesome memories accompanying the<br />reel with a disparaging soundtrack. She twisted her neck to face Chess.<br />“You don’t understand,” she argued. “You didn’t see what happened to her. The way<br />she looked at me. I—” Her voice broke her explanation, and she turned away to hide her<br />impending tears. “I lost her.”<br />“And you’ll find her,” Chess encouraged. “I mean, you found a plague antidote in the<br />middle of a momerath haystack.” He nudged the small of her back. “You can find your<br />sister.”<br />“We found half an antidote,” she reminded him. “It didn’t work—not all the way.”<br />Chess sighed. Alice could picture him scratching the back of his head as he decided what to<br />say next. She knew she was being difficult, but she wasn’t finished with her self-loathing.<br />“Listen, Princess,” Chess’ voice hardened, employing a different approach, “you can<br />mope over what happened and how you’re a failure for as long as you want, but that isn’t<br />the girl I know. And it won't help. If anything, it will only make finding Dinah harder later.” He<br />caught his breath before continuing, “Because you'll get over this and then you’ll be upset<br />that you sat around and waited so long to kick ass.” He nudged her in the back again.<br />“That’s my Alice.”<br />Alice chewed her lip, considering his words. Chess was right. Her sulking wasn’t<br />accomplishing anything. It wasn’t even making her feel better. Resigned, she slowly scooted<br />to join him at the edge of the bed. Her shoulders slumped as she studied her knuckles to<br />avoid Chess’ gaze, embarrassed by her tantrum.<br />“What are we going to do?” she moaned. “She could be anywhere.”<br />Chess’ features scrunched together as he deliberated. “Where do you think she<br />would go?”<br />Alice shrugged. Whenever Dinah had taken her scouting before, they always took<br />different paths. They never went the same way twice. It was too dangerous. Instead, they<br />followed an alternating pattern, tracing an invisible circle around the Sector. The last time<br />they went out, they went north, towards Glendale. If Dinah followed the same route, this<br />time she’d travel more east.<br />She’d be heading towards Phoenix.<br />“I think I know where she’s going,” she gasped. “But,” she paused and turned to<br />Chess, whose amber eyes narrowed as her face curled into a grimace. “I don’t think you'll<br />like it.”<br />Chess’ brows knotted deeper together. “Why?” he asked. “Where’s she going?”<br />Alice sucked in a breath, bracing for his reaction. She knew it was the last place either<br />of them wanted to go. Yet, something inside her screamed that she was right. Her breath<br />whooshed from her lips as she met his bronze gaze.<br />“She’s going back to Wanderland.”<br />“What?” Chess jumped from the bed, his eyes blazing as he gaped at her in shock.<br />Though her own insides were swirling, she calmly met his gaze, confident in her suggestion.<br />Finally, he dropped beside her with a heavy sigh.<br />“It’s never easy with you, is it?”<br />A small laugh escaped Alice’s throat. “I never said it would be.”<br />Chess scrubbed his eyes and flopped dramatically onto the bed. He peeked out at<br />her through one hand, then quirked the corner of his lips. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty.”<br />Alice’s breath stalled as she choked over Chess’ quip and its possible interpretation.<br />Her face warmed and she dropped her gaze, busying herself with freeing the stray fluffs<br />from her blanket to cover the flush burning her cheeks.<br />“Yeah, well,” she countered in a strangled reply, “you’re the one who followed me, so<br />this is on you.”<br />Chess laughed. “That’s because a gentleman always keeps his promises.” He sprang<br />from the bed and extended his hand with a wink. “Are we ready to go find ourselves a<br />sister?”<br />Alice accepted his hand with a quick nod. “Let’s go get Lewis,” she said. “I promised<br />him an ‘exclusive’ when I got home. Guess it’s time to pay the Piper.”<br />“He’s getting one hell of a payback,” Chess muttered.<br />“And then some,” Alice agreed. She moved toward the door, but was stopped when<br />Lewis turned the corner and barged inside, his chest heaving. He stuttered to a stop in front<br />of Alice and clutched his side, his brown eyes bulging under his mop of mousy brown hair.<br />He gasped in a ragged breath as he stared at Alice before finally rasping out his words.<br />“We have to go.”<br /><br />***Did you enjoy this chapter? Want to learn more? Discover Alice’s secrets at: www.jmsullivanbooks.com***<br /><br />To continue the hunt, make sure to go visit <a href="https://www.thrumsociety.com/category..." target="_blank">Mary Amato by CLICKING HERE!</a> But first - make sure you enter my giveaway right here ----><br />*<br />*<br /><div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Enter to win either of these books (you choose!) signed and mailed directly to you, with swag! It's your choice - either the first book, or the sequel and conclusion to the duology. (Open internationally.) Good luck!! </span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-479pOIwgvB..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="788" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-479pOIwgvB..." width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRx7Fzdf93..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRx7Fzdf93..." width="210" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><br /></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="af34b21b18" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp..." id="rcwidget_o1cj2lz2" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com...
"With its intricate, dazzling system of magic and a vibrant cast of characters, this passionate, war-torn retelling of Swan Lake is not one to be missed! You'll be spellbound from the very first lines." - Sarah J. Maas #1 NYT bestselling author of THRONE OF GLASS series
"Larson (DEFY trilogy) deftly weaves fantasy with the best parts of the Swan Lake ballet in this gripping first book of a duology." - PW *Starred* review
(You can win one of these!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Red Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday October 7th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
This year I'm hosting the J.M. Sullivan!
<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}</style></span></div></div></div></div></div>--><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;">Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!</span><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;">She is the author of ALICE: </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVTpCpO1g6..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="562" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVTpCpO1g6..." width="199" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;">Isn't that cover gorgeous??? </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><i><style type="text/css"><!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}</style></i></span></span></div>--><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Alice Carroll hardly remembers life before the plague. When the undead first crawled from their graves, it was like a nightmare. When they killed her mother, the nightmare became shockingly real. Now her sister Dinah has contracted the 'un-deadly' virus and without a cure, soon she'll be worse than dead. She'll be momerath.\n\nTo save her sister, Alice must leave the safety of the Sector and venture into Momerath territory in search of an antidote - if it exists. Chasing a rumor about a mysterious doctor with a cure, Alice falls down the rabbit hole into Wanderland, where ravenous momerath aren't the only danger lurking."}" style="font-size: 10pt;">Alice Carroll hardly remembers life before the plague. When the undead first crawled from their graves, it was like a nightmare. When they killed her mother, the nightmare became shockingly real. Now her sister Dinah has contracted the 'un-deadly' virus and without a cure, soon she'll be worse than dead. She'll be momerath.<br /><br />To save her sister, Alice must leave the safety of the Sector and venture into Momerath territory in search of an antidote - if it exists. Chasing a rumor about a mysterious doctor with a cure, Alice falls down the rabbit hole into Wanderland, where ravenous momerath aren't the only danger lurking.</span><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16711680],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect, find JM on social media at @jmsullivanbooks -- she’d love to hear from you!"}" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">You can buy her book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Wanderla..." target="_blank">ALICE by CLICKING HERE!!</a></span></span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";">You're in for a treat today, because J.M. is giving you a sneak peek of the first chapter from BROKEN GLASS! Read on for that sneak peek -- and make sure you continue past it for my giveaway of a signed book!</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>LOOKING GLASS HOUSE<br />CHAPTER ONE<br />My sister is gone, and it’s all my fault.<br />Alice buried her face in her pillow, trying to chase away the thoughts that refused to<br />yield. The darkness didn’t help—she was still haunted by the vision of Dinah’s beautiful<br />almond eyes flashing from a rich, radiant brown to a mottled, murky grey.<br />A frustrated scream ripped from her chest and she flung the pillow across the room,<br />lashing out against the fresh wave of memories threatening to drown her. The projectile hit<br />her desk with a crash, toppling Alice’s family picture with Dinah and her mother. She winced<br />as the frame fell, smacking against the hard wood. Alice rushed to her desk, overcome with<br />a fresh surge of emotion as she looked at the picture and saw the fractured image of her<br />family—infinitely separated by shards of broken glass.<br />Alice gently removed the largest shard, clearing the splintered marks from Dinah’s<br />face, revealing the unmarred image of her sister. A harsh laugh ripped from Alice’s chest.<br />If only it was that easy.<br />In reality, things were much more complicated. In reality, her mother was dead, and<br />her sister was something worse. She was a momerath.<br /><br />Alice shivered, remembering the way the virus had come for Dinah, changing her<br />from a healthy, vibrant woman into a shambling monster in a matter of days. Alice glanced<br />down at the image of her sister, and was hit with a sharp pang of guilt as she studied her<br />smiling face. She hadn’t even been there for the worst of it. She had left the Sector and went<br />to Phoenix, leaving Dinah all alone.<br />Alice bit her lip to still her trembling chin, then set the photo back in its place. She<br />stooped to retrieve her pillow, then scuffled across the floor to flop mournfully onto her<br />bed, overcome with shame.<br />She had gone to Wanderland to save Dinah, but all she’d succeeded in was making<br />things worse. The rumor of a cure had only brought more questions about the undeadly<br />virus, along with the undesired side effect of the death of too many good people. The guiltreel<br />whirred through Alice’s mind again, fresh with images of the people who had helped her<br />through Wanderland. Dr. Abbott, Indi, Johnny, Big Mike. So many lost in a failed attempt to<br />find a cure, and it was all her fault.<br />No. Alice strangled the pillow in her hands. It was the Red Queen. If she hadn’t<br />interfered, Chess and I would have made it back in time to properly administer the antidote.<br />If it wasn’t for her, Dinah wouldn’t have —<br />Alice’s nose pricked as she swallowed the lump in her throat. It was hard to believe<br />that only a week ago, she had been sitting in this same room, mentally preparing for a<br />simple scouting trip.<br />If that was all I had to worry about now, Alice thought with a bitter sigh. She couldn’t<br />believe how much she had whined at Dinah. Unbidden, a fresh wave of tears surged<br />forward, carried on the memory of the last conversation she had with her sister.<br />‘I only talk to myself because I don't have anyone else to talk to. It’s a coping<br />mechanism.’<br />‘You can talk to me. I'm always here for you, little sister.’<br />The tears Alice fought so hard to hold back spilled over her cheeks and onto her<br />pillow. She couldn’t believe how selfish she had been. How much she had taken for granted.<br />How little she had done. Maybe if she were braver or smarter or faster, Dinah would still be<br />there.<br />But she wasn’t. She was the same quiet, timid girl she’d been her whole life. And<br />Dinah was gone.<br />“Knock, knock.” Chess appeared as he rapped the inside of the already opened door.<br />He peeked at Alice from under the messy ash hair falling in front of his amber eyes. He<br />brushed it away and a nervous grin twitched his lips, showing a bright smile that stood out<br />against his dark olive skin. “I come bringing gifts,” he said, setting a peanut butter sandwich<br />and a warm soda on the table beside her bed. Alice gave it a blank stare.<br />“Thanks.” She tried to smile, but it collapsed halfway through the gesture.<br />“You have to eat,” Chess chided as he flopped onto the bed beside her. “I know you<br />miss your sister, but it’s been three days and you haven’t left the room once.” He screwed<br />his lips together as he leaned in to sniff her shoulder. “You’re starting to stink.”<br />“I am not!” Alice pushed him back as she shot away from him and her long, silverblonde<br />hair tumbled over her shoulder, revealing a collection of tangled strands. Her eyes<br />widened and she grasped it into a low ponytail and brushed her fingers through the ends to<br />quickly smooth the snarls. Chess snickered.<br />“Alright, the smelly thing wasn’t true.” He coughed out another laugh before he<br />looked at her disheveled state, then his expression softened. “But honestly, Princess? This<br />isn’t healthy.”<br />“I’m not hungry.” Her stomach let out a contending growl and Chess’ lips quirked in a<br />knowing smile. Alice huffed and flopped onto the bed, turning her back to him. Behind her,<br />his chest rumbled with a low laugh.<br />“Sure, you aren’t,” he sighed, but didn’t press the issue. “At least drink the soda.” He<br />waved it enticingly over her shoulder. “It’s practically a delicacy.”<br />Alice stared at the can. How could she care about food at a time like this? Her sister<br />was outside the Sector running God-knows-where, disguised as a monster. Except, it wasn’t<br />a disguise. It was her.<br />Kind of.<br />A frustrated growl escaped her throat. Her mind stuck in a cruel loop, forcing her to<br />endlessly relive Dinah’s transformation from Carrier to momerath to . . . Alice wasn’t quite<br />sure what. A million questions buzzed behind the gruesome memories accompanying the<br />reel with a disparaging soundtrack. She twisted her neck to face Chess.<br />“You don’t understand,” she argued. “You didn’t see what happened to her. The way<br />she looked at me. I—” Her voice broke her explanation, and she turned away to hide her<br />impending tears. “I lost her.”<br />“And you’ll find her,” Chess encouraged. “I mean, you found a plague antidote in the<br />middle of a momerath haystack.” He nudged the small of her back. “You can find your<br />sister.”<br />“We found half an antidote,” she reminded him. “It didn’t work—not all the way.”<br />Chess sighed. Alice could picture him scratching the back of his head as he decided what to<br />say next. She knew she was being difficult, but she wasn’t finished with her self-loathing.<br />“Listen, Princess,” Chess’ voice hardened, employing a different approach, “you can<br />mope over what happened and how you’re a failure for as long as you want, but that isn’t<br />the girl I know. And it won't help. If anything, it will only make finding Dinah harder later.” He<br />caught his breath before continuing, “Because you'll get over this and then you’ll be upset<br />that you sat around and waited so long to kick ass.” He nudged her in the back again.<br />“That’s my Alice.”<br />Alice chewed her lip, considering his words. Chess was right. Her sulking wasn’t<br />accomplishing anything. It wasn’t even making her feel better. Resigned, she slowly scooted<br />to join him at the edge of the bed. Her shoulders slumped as she studied her knuckles to<br />avoid Chess’ gaze, embarrassed by her tantrum.<br />“What are we going to do?” she moaned. “She could be anywhere.”<br />Chess’ features scrunched together as he deliberated. “Where do you think she<br />would go?”<br />Alice shrugged. Whenever Dinah had taken her scouting before, they always took<br />different paths. They never went the same way twice. It was too dangerous. Instead, they<br />followed an alternating pattern, tracing an invisible circle around the Sector. The last time<br />they went out, they went north, towards Glendale. If Dinah followed the same route, this<br />time she’d travel more east.<br />She’d be heading towards Phoenix.<br />“I think I know where she’s going,” she gasped. “But,” she paused and turned to<br />Chess, whose amber eyes narrowed as her face curled into a grimace. “I don’t think you'll<br />like it.”<br />Chess’ brows knotted deeper together. “Why?” he asked. “Where’s she going?”<br />Alice sucked in a breath, bracing for his reaction. She knew it was the last place either<br />of them wanted to go. Yet, something inside her screamed that she was right. Her breath<br />whooshed from her lips as she met his bronze gaze.<br />“She’s going back to Wanderland.”<br />“What?” Chess jumped from the bed, his eyes blazing as he gaped at her in shock.<br />Though her own insides were swirling, she calmly met his gaze, confident in her suggestion.<br />Finally, he dropped beside her with a heavy sigh.<br />“It’s never easy with you, is it?”<br />A small laugh escaped Alice’s throat. “I never said it would be.”<br />Chess scrubbed his eyes and flopped dramatically onto the bed. He peeked out at<br />her through one hand, then quirked the corner of his lips. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty.”<br />Alice’s breath stalled as she choked over Chess’ quip and its possible interpretation.<br />Her face warmed and she dropped her gaze, busying herself with freeing the stray fluffs<br />from her blanket to cover the flush burning her cheeks.<br />“Yeah, well,” she countered in a strangled reply, “you’re the one who followed me, so<br />this is on you.”<br />Chess laughed. “That’s because a gentleman always keeps his promises.” He sprang<br />from the bed and extended his hand with a wink. “Are we ready to go find ourselves a<br />sister?”<br />Alice accepted his hand with a quick nod. “Let’s go get Lewis,” she said. “I promised<br />him an ‘exclusive’ when I got home. Guess it’s time to pay the Piper.”<br />“He’s getting one hell of a payback,” Chess muttered.<br />“And then some,” Alice agreed. She moved toward the door, but was stopped when<br />Lewis turned the corner and barged inside, his chest heaving. He stuttered to a stop in front<br />of Alice and clutched his side, his brown eyes bulging under his mop of mousy brown hair.<br />He gasped in a ragged breath as he stared at Alice before finally rasping out his words.<br />“We have to go.”<br /><br />***Did you enjoy this chapter? Want to learn more? Discover Alice’s secrets at: www.jmsullivanbooks.com***<br /><br />To continue the hunt, make sure to go visit <a href="https://www.thrumsociety.com/category..." target="_blank">Mary Amato by CLICKING HERE!</a> But first - make sure you enter my giveaway right here ----><br />*<br />*<br /><div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Enter to win either of these books (you choose!) signed and mailed directly to you, with swag! It's your choice - either the first book, or the sequel and conclusion to the duology. (Open internationally.) Good luck!! </span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-479pOIwgvB..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="788" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-479pOIwgvB..." width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRx7Fzdf93..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRx7Fzdf93..." width="210" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><br /></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="af34b21b18" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp..." id="rcwidget_o1cj2lz2" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com...
March 19, 2018
BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT pre-order giveaway!
Can you believe there's only 2 months left until BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT comes out??? I know I can't!
So it's that time again!
For all of you WONDERFUL readers who pre-order books (something that really helps authors), I am doing another giveaway!
ALL pre-orders will receive signed bookmarks of both DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT! **If you order a hardcover, you will also receive a signed bookplate to put in your copy of any of my books!** (Ebook orders will not receive the bookplate as there will be no book to put it in!)
And you'll be entered into the drawing to be one of 6 GRAND PRIZE winners who will get one of the following BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT inspired items!!
1 - Hawk necklace with a red gemstone (hmmmm...wonder who that represents! ;-) )
2 - Hawk keychain
3- Swan necklace with a purple gemstone
4 - Swan earrings (not the best picture, but I've shown them on my IG stories - they are gorgeous, delicate earrings, with Swarovski Crystals!)
5 - A swan necklace with meaning card
6 - A large gold swan necklace with multiple gemstones
All you have to do is email me a copy or picture of your receipt to DarkBreaksTheDawn (at) gmail (dot) com and put "BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT pre-order giveaway" in the subject. Include your mailing address in the email, and BOOM! You're done!
If you would like a personalized/signed copy (and support a truly remarkable indie bookstore in the process, please call The King's English at 801-484-9100 to pre-order your copy and I will sign it the night it releases at my launch!
*Rules:
*EVERY purchase is an entry, so if you buy more than one copy, you will receive more than one entry - but you MUST email the receipts separately. All formats count, but only hardcover orders will receive the bookplate.
*Open international
*Giveaway is open until Monday May 28th at 11:59 pm
*Grand Prize winners will be announced and notified within a week of giveaway end date, but please allow for time to prepare and ship items as it tends to be quite busy right after a book release.
So it's that time again!
For all of you WONDERFUL readers who pre-order books (something that really helps authors), I am doing another giveaway!
ALL pre-orders will receive signed bookmarks of both DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT! **If you order a hardcover, you will also receive a signed bookplate to put in your copy of any of my books!** (Ebook orders will not receive the bookplate as there will be no book to put it in!)
And you'll be entered into the drawing to be one of 6 GRAND PRIZE winners who will get one of the following BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT inspired items!!
1 - Hawk necklace with a red gemstone (hmmmm...wonder who that represents! ;-) )2 - Hawk keychain
3- Swan necklace with a purple gemstone
4 - Swan earrings (not the best picture, but I've shown them on my IG stories - they are gorgeous, delicate earrings, with Swarovski Crystals!)
5 - A swan necklace with meaning card
6 - A large gold swan necklace with multiple gemstones
All you have to do is email me a copy or picture of your receipt to DarkBreaksTheDawn (at) gmail (dot) com and put "BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT pre-order giveaway" in the subject. Include your mailing address in the email, and BOOM! You're done!
If you would like a personalized/signed copy (and support a truly remarkable indie bookstore in the process, please call The King's English at 801-484-9100 to pre-order your copy and I will sign it the night it releases at my launch!
*Rules:
*EVERY purchase is an entry, so if you buy more than one copy, you will receive more than one entry - but you MUST email the receipts separately. All formats count, but only hardcover orders will receive the bookplate.
*Open international
*Giveaway is open until Monday May 28th at 11:59 pm
*Grand Prize winners will be announced and notified within a week of giveaway end date, but please allow for time to prepare and ship items as it tends to be quite busy right after a book release.
April 4, 2017
YA Scavenger Hunt Spring 2017!!
It's that time of year again!! When we all go crazy for a few days, trying to win piles of awesome books! This year, I'm also doing my own personal giveaway, so make sure to read all the way to the VERY BOTTOM of the post for your chance to win a signed ARC of DARK BREAKS THE DAWN!! (My new release coming May 30th!)
"With its intricate, dazzling system of magic and a vibrant cast of characters, this passionate, war-torn retelling of Swan Lake is not one to be missed! You'll be spellbound from the very first lines." - Sarah J. Maas #1 NYT bestselling author of THRONE OF GLASS series
"Larson (DEFY trilogy) deftly weaves fantasy with the best parts of the Swan Lake ballet in this gripping first book of a duology." - PW *Starred* review
(You can win one of these!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Red Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday April 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
This year I am hosting J.L. Weil!
<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}</style></span></div></div></div></div>--><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":{"1":2,"2":16711680},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"J.L. Weil is the USA Today Bestselling author of New Adult and Teen Paranormal Romances, including the Raven & Divisa Series. You don't want to miss out on any of the amazing books by this author."}" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">J.L. Weil is the USA Today Bestselling author of New Adult and Teen Paranormal Romances, including the Raven & Divisa Series. You don't want to miss out on any of the amazing books by this author.</span><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666;">And today she sure has a treat for you!! We get an exclusive cover reveal for her new book FIRST SHIFT! First, here is a description to whet your appetite: </span><br /><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #666666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Something wicked is shifting in Seattle.</span></span></b></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Karina Lang has enough on her mind dealing with college applications, her mother’s ailing health, and busting her butt after school at the café. Forget boys. Who has the time? The last thing she needs in her busy schedule is to be mugged by a band of thugs.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe fate is trying to tell her something.</span></span></i></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A mysterious stranger shows up just in the nick of time. Coincidence? Not in this life. Karina must face the startling truth about herself. And Devyn St. Cyr has the answers she needs. But uncovering the secret of her heritage threatens more than just the world as she knows it, but her life.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Falling in love is not the answer.</span></span></i></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Regardless of her feelings for the dreamy and steamy Devyn, Karina finds herself on unsure footing, a hot target for every ambitious otherworldly creature. As she struggles with her rare gift, Devyn is there to support her, protect her, and challenge her. In order for Karina to survive, she must do what no other kitsune in a century has accomplished—acquire nine tails.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">*</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">*</span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Are you ready for the cover reveal?? Here it is!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8n-tPdqglS..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8n-tPdqglS..." width="213" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">SOOOO gorgeous, right?? </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To find J.L. Weil online : </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="http://jlweil.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://jlweil.blogspot.com/</span&... style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="https://twitter.com/JLWeil" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://twitter.com/JLWeil</span&g... style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="http://jenniferlweil.wix.com/jlweil" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://www.jlweil.com</span><... style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="https://www.facebook.com/jenniferlweil" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr>&... style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..." style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/<wbr>... style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And don't forget to continue the hunt by <a href="http://aprilynnepike.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">CLICKING HERE to go</a> to NY Times best selling author Aprilynne Pike's website!!</div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">NOW, for those of you who want an extra chance to win an ARC of DARK BREAKS THE DAWN, just follow the instructions below! And may the odds be ever in your favor! ;-) </div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="af34b21b17" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp..." id="rcwidget_hz604o32" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com...
"With its intricate, dazzling system of magic and a vibrant cast of characters, this passionate, war-torn retelling of Swan Lake is not one to be missed! You'll be spellbound from the very first lines." - Sarah J. Maas #1 NYT bestselling author of THRONE OF GLASS series
"Larson (DEFY trilogy) deftly weaves fantasy with the best parts of the Swan Lake ballet in this gripping first book of a duology." - PW *Starred* review
(You can win one of these!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Red Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday April 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
This year I am hosting J.L. Weil!
<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}</style></span></div></div></div></div>--><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":515,"3":{"1":0},"4":{"1":2,"2":16711680},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"J.L. Weil is the USA Today Bestselling author of New Adult and Teen Paranormal Romances, including the Raven & Divisa Series. You don't want to miss out on any of the amazing books by this author."}" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">J.L. Weil is the USA Today Bestselling author of New Adult and Teen Paranormal Romances, including the Raven & Divisa Series. You don't want to miss out on any of the amazing books by this author.</span><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666;">And today she sure has a treat for you!! We get an exclusive cover reveal for her new book FIRST SHIFT! First, here is a description to whet your appetite: </span><br /><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #666666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Something wicked is shifting in Seattle.</span></span></b></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Karina Lang has enough on her mind dealing with college applications, her mother’s ailing health, and busting her butt after school at the café. Forget boys. Who has the time? The last thing she needs in her busy schedule is to be mugged by a band of thugs.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe fate is trying to tell her something.</span></span></i></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A mysterious stranger shows up just in the nick of time. Coincidence? Not in this life. Karina must face the startling truth about herself. And Devyn St. Cyr has the answers she needs. But uncovering the secret of her heritage threatens more than just the world as she knows it, but her life.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Falling in love is not the answer.</span></span></i></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Regardless of her feelings for the dreamy and steamy Devyn, Karina finds herself on unsure footing, a hot target for every ambitious otherworldly creature. As she struggles with her rare gift, Devyn is there to support her, protect her, and challenge her. In order for Karina to survive, she must do what no other kitsune in a century has accomplished—acquire nine tails.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">*</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">*</span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Are you ready for the cover reveal?? Here it is!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8n-tPdqglS..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8n-tPdqglS..." width="213" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">SOOOO gorgeous, right?? </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To find J.L. Weil online : </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="http://jlweil.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://jlweil.blogspot.com/</span&... style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="https://twitter.com/JLWeil" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://twitter.com/JLWeil</span&g... style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="http://jenniferlweil.wix.com/jlweil" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://www.jlweil.com</span><... style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="https://www.facebook.com/jenniferlweil" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr>&... style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&..." href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..." style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/<wbr>... style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And don't forget to continue the hunt by <a href="http://aprilynnepike.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">CLICKING HERE to go</a> to NY Times best selling author Aprilynne Pike's website!!</div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">NOW, for those of you who want an extra chance to win an ARC of DARK BREAKS THE DAWN, just follow the instructions below! And may the odds be ever in your favor! ;-) </div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="af34b21b17" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp..." id="rcwidget_hz604o32" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com...
March 14, 2017
DARK BREAKS THE DAWN Pre-Order Giveaways!!
Coming May 30th, 2017!!
DARK BREAKS THE DAWN Pre-Order Extravaganza is HERE!!!
I am SO excited to share the pre-order giveaway details with you all! I've been working on this for months, and I hope you will be as thrilled with the MANY options of what you could win as I am!
Before I get to the giveaways though, here are the entry details:
1. PRE-ORDER DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and take a screenshot or picture of your receipt!
Pre-order links - Support Indie Book stores by ordering a Signed/Personalized copy from The King's English CLICK HERE
Pre-order from AMAZON CLICK HERE
Pre-Order from Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE
Pre-Order from Book Depository CLICK HERE
2. Email me the picture of your pre-order receipt via DarkBreaksTheDawn (at) Gmail (dot) com and include your mailing address in the body of the email to streamline the shipping process ON OR BEFORE May 29th, 2017.
THAT'S IT!! So easy, right??
Now to the REALLY fun part....what you could win!
Dark Breaks The Dawn is a fantasy re-imagining of Swan Lake with some new twists. I've always loved Swan Lake, it's my favorite ballet and that music. Wow. Also, swans have always been my favorite birds. (I guess I have that in common with Evelayn, the main character in the book.) So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I saw my cover for the first time -- I actually got emotional, I loved it so much. And that image, along with the story's roots in Swan Lake, and Evelayn's love for swans inspired the items in the giveaway. Are you ready??
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ALL Pre-orders will receive a signed bookmark:
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The FIRST 30 pre-order entries will ALL receive this cool swan pendant necklace:
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I will do drawings from ALL of the entries (including the first 30) for the following prizes at the end of the giveaway:
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10 Runner-ups will receive this necklace:
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1 Grand Prize WINNER will receive this necklace:
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1 Grand Prize Winner will receive this necklace:
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1 Grand Prize Winner will receive this necklace:
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1 Grand Prize Winner will receive this necklace:
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1 Grand Prize Winner will receive this crystal paperweight:
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THE ULTIMATE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will receive this Crystal Swan Diadem!!!!
How GORGEOUS is this?!?!
ARE YOU FREAKING OUT YET?!?! I know I am!! You have SO many chances to win something, so hurry and get those entries in to me!
**(All prizes will be announced and mailed after the giveaway closes on May 29th, 2017. Giveaway is open internationally because I love ALL my readers that much! )**
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY READING!!
*P.S. I will also be giving away a few of these items at my launch party on May 30th, 2017. *
October 4, 2016
YA Scavenger Hunt FALL 2016!
It's that time of year again!! When we all go crazy for a few days, trying to win piles of awesome books! This year, I'm also doing my own personal giveaway, so make sure to read all the way to the VERY BOTTOM of the post for your chance to win a signed copy of one of my books! (You get to choose which one!)
(You can win one of these!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Orange Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday October 9, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
Today I am hosting the lovely, talented (and my agency sis):
Julie Eshbaugh!!!
Julie Eshbaugh once produced an online video series for teens which received several honors from the Webby Awards. Now, she focuses her time on writing. Her debut YA novel, IVORY AND BONE, was released by HarperTeen in June 2016. Its sequel will follow in 2017.
You can buy IVORY AND BONE by clicking HERE!!
You know you want this gorgeous cover on your bookshelves! (Not to mention to read the awesome story inside!)
Here's what it's about: Hunting, gathering, and keeping his family safe—that’s the life seventeen-year-old Kol knows. Then bold, enigmatic Mya arrives from the south with her family, and Kol is captivated. He wants her to like and trust him, but any hopes of impressing her are ruined when he makes a careless—and nearly grave—mistake. However, there’s something more to Mya’s cool disdain…a history wrought with loss that comes to light when another clan arrives. With them is Lo, an enemy from Mya’s past who Mya swears has ulterior motives.
As Kol gets to know Lo, tensions between Mya and Lo escalate until violence erupts. Faced with shattering losses, Kol is forced to question every person he’s trusted. One thing is for sure: this was a war that Mya or Lo—Kol doesn’t know which—had been planning all along.
And now to the REALLY fun part - the bonus content! Julie has picked out a dream cast for the characters in her book, and WOW. I think she did an awesome job. What do you say??
Amber Midthunder as Mya
Booboo Stewart as Kol
Qorianka Kilcher as Lo
See?? I told you! SO awesome. Thanks, Julie! You can find Julie on Twitter: @JulieEshbaugh
Continue the hunt by clicking HERE to go to Mary Crockett's blog!
AND NOW...for my personal giveaway!
All you have to do is comment and tell me which book of mine you want signed and mailed to you if you win, and you're entered. There are also extra options if you want a better chance at winning!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(You can win one of these!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Orange Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday October 9, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
Today I am hosting the lovely, talented (and my agency sis):
Julie Eshbaugh!!!
Julie Eshbaugh once produced an online video series for teens which received several honors from the Webby Awards. Now, she focuses her time on writing. Her debut YA novel, IVORY AND BONE, was released by HarperTeen in June 2016. Its sequel will follow in 2017.
You can buy IVORY AND BONE by clicking HERE!!
You know you want this gorgeous cover on your bookshelves! (Not to mention to read the awesome story inside!)
Here's what it's about: Hunting, gathering, and keeping his family safe—that’s the life seventeen-year-old Kol knows. Then bold, enigmatic Mya arrives from the south with her family, and Kol is captivated. He wants her to like and trust him, but any hopes of impressing her are ruined when he makes a careless—and nearly grave—mistake. However, there’s something more to Mya’s cool disdain…a history wrought with loss that comes to light when another clan arrives. With them is Lo, an enemy from Mya’s past who Mya swears has ulterior motives.
As Kol gets to know Lo, tensions between Mya and Lo escalate until violence erupts. Faced with shattering losses, Kol is forced to question every person he’s trusted. One thing is for sure: this was a war that Mya or Lo—Kol doesn’t know which—had been planning all along.
And now to the REALLY fun part - the bonus content! Julie has picked out a dream cast for the characters in her book, and WOW. I think she did an awesome job. What do you say??
Amber Midthunder as Mya
Booboo Stewart as Kol
Qorianka Kilcher as Lo
See?? I told you! SO awesome. Thanks, Julie! You can find Julie on Twitter: @JulieEshbaugh
Continue the hunt by clicking HERE to go to Mary Crockett's blog!
AND NOW...for my personal giveaway!
All you have to do is comment and tell me which book of mine you want signed and mailed to you if you win, and you're entered. There are also extra options if you want a better chance at winning!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 29, 2016
YA Scavenger Hunt Spring 2016!!
It's that time of year again!! When we all go crazy for a few days, trying to win piles of awesome books! This year, I'm also doing my own personal giveaway, so make sure to read all the way to the VERY BOTTOM of the post for your chance to win a signed copy of ENDURE!! (The final book in the DEFY trilogy!)
(You can win this!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Blue Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday April 3rd, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
Today I am hosting:
Vicki Weavil and her book:
(Cool cover, huh??)
FACSIMILE INFO.:
Link to Goodreads:
Purchase Links:
Amazon | B&N
Here's some more about the book:
Facsimile (Facsimile #1)
by Vicki L. Weavil
Publication Date: March 8, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books
For a ticket to Earth, seventeen-year-old Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano is willing to jettison her birth planet, best friend, and the boy who loves her. Especially since all she’s required to do is escort Dace Keeling, a young naturalist, through the wilderness of the partially terraformed planet Eco. Ann‘s determination to escape the limitations of her small, frontier colony never falters, until Dace’s expeditions uncover three secrets. One offers riches, one shatters Ann’s perceptions of
herself, and one reveals that the humans stranded on Eco are not its only inhabitants.
Ann’s willing to sacrifice friendship and love for a new life on Earth. But when an entire species is placed in jeopardy by her actions, she must make a choice – fulfill the dream that’s always sustained her, or save the planet she’s never considered home.
**WHOA!!! That sounds so good, doesn't it??***
Here's a little bit more about Vicki:
Vicki L. Weavil is represented by Fran Black of Literary Counsel. Her Young Adult Fantasy, CROWN OF ICE – Book One in the Snow Queen Saga-- was published by Month9Books in 2014. Two companion books to CROWN OF ICE -- SCEPTER OF FIRE and ORB OF LIGHT -- will be published in fall 2016 and in 2017.
Her YA SciFi -- FACSIMILE – was published by Month9Books in March 2016. A sequel, DERIVATION, will release in 2017. A new YA Fantasy, THE DIAMOND THIMBLE, will be published by Month9Books in 2018.
She also writes adult SciFi.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads |
And here is her bonus content!!
An Interview with Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano from FACSIMILE
How old are you, Anna-Maria – or is it Ann?
I prefer “Ann.” I am seventeen-and-a-half, almost as old as my parents when they got married. But I have no intention of marrying so young, even if there isn’t much else to do on Eco.
So what’s your life like?
Okay, you ready for this? Basically, I am a nobody on a nowhere world. My dad’s parents, who were originally from Peru on Earth, were contracted to terraform my birth planet, Eco. But the company that recruited, educated, and trained them went bankrupt and stranded them on Eco. Yeah, we have enough infrastructure to scratch out a subsistence living in our little frontier colony, but we don’t have any spaceships, so we can’t leave. We also can’t earn enough credits to pay any passing spacecraft to take us on as passengers. This means we’re stuck on Eco, with no real future. All we can do is follow in our grandparents’ and parents’ footsteps and live our simple lives.
Do you have a lifelong dream or aspiration?
Sure – to get off this dead-end planet and travel to Earth. Once I’m there, I believe a world of opportunities will open up for me. My grandparents claim Earth is too segregated into the “haves” and “have nots” for that to happen, but they haven’t been back in so long, I think they’re mistaken.
Can you share one vivid memory from your childhood?
I remember when I was little, there was one time my parents seemed really “in sync.” I’d found an unusual stone, with a perfect circle carved through the middle. I sat nestled between my parents and said I’d found something “alien,” but my dad – who’s an engineer – and my mom – who’s a geologist – explained how wind, sand, and time had simply worn away the center of the stone. It was one of the few times I felt like we were a real family. (My parents don’t get along very well most of the time).
What’s your favorite thing to eat?
Anything different from the stuff we grow in our hydroponic greenhouses. I am a vegetarian, though, because raising animals for food wastes too many resources, so I never got used to eating meat. We do have chickens (for eggs) and goats (for their milk, which we also use to make cheese).
I guess my most prized treat is the rare chocolate bar we acquire by bartering our fresh produce with passing space traders.
Do you have any siblings?
No, but I have a best friend. Her name is Emie, and we’re probably closer than most sisters, actually. She’s really, really, smart – a genius at working with computers and anything digital. She’s apprenticed to our communication and data expert.
What’s your town or city like?
There isn’t anything remotely like a city or town on Eco – just our settlement. Our living quarters were built from the spacecraft used to transport my grandparents and the other terraformers to Eco. (Which is why we don’t have any space ships now). Our settlement is basically ramshackle metal-siding buildings surrounded by a simple fence. We have living quarters – which are small, so extended families live together – a kitchen and group dining space, a meeting/recreation hall, two hydroponic greenhouses, some workshops, garage space for our big machinery (mostly broken now), a dairy, a building that houses a couple of labs and our com room, and some domes that cover our animal pens. That’s about it. We do have windmills that help provide electricity, along with our solar collectors. I mean, we can get along, but we are basically living in a frontier settlement. No luxuries, and not that much to do, outside of daily chores.
Do you go to school or do you have a job?
Both. I am apprenticed to my grandmother, who’s a botanist. She manages our hydroponic greenhouses. (We really depend on the produce grown in the greenhouses because you can’t grow anything in Eco’s thin soil). I also take classes over the ‘sphere and study any holographic discs we can get in trade from passing spacers.
What do you do for fun?
Mostly the younger people play immersive holographic videogames. The entire colony watches a lot of movies, too, because my other grandmother (mom’s mom, who died before I was born) brought along digital copies of every film she could lay her hands on – even really old, 2D stuff.
I also like to ride my solar-powered electric bike out across Eco’s rather barren landscape. Sometimes I stop and search for these purple crystals that I trade to spacers for stuff. The crystals look like amethysts. They aren’t, but don’t tell the spacers that!
Do you have a boyfriend?
Well, uhm… Yes, sort of. There aren’t very many people my age on Eco, so I don’t have many choices. There’s Raiden Lin, of course. We hang out sometimes, and we kiss, but … I want more options, so I’m going to wait until I can get to Earth to commit to someone. (Even though Raid is really, really, hot, and smart, and his kisses can make me swoon, I need to meet other people before I dive into anything too serious!)
Okay, Ann. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, and good luck to you!
Thank you. Nice to talk to someone different. Now I gotta run. I hear a trading ship will be landing on Eco soon. I hope this ship – the Augusta Ada – will offer me a chance to trade my purple crystals for something new and fun. I mean, you can always hope for a change, right?!
Thank you for sharing with us Vicki!!
To continue the hunt make sure to visit Leah Bobet's site by clicking HERE!!
And now for my personal giveaway! Just for stopping by, you have the chance to win a signed copy of ENDURE. Just do as many options as you want and good luck! :-)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(You can win this!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Blue Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday April 3rd, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Here's a little trivia for you - my all time FAVORITE number has always been 21!!!
Today I am hosting:
Vicki Weavil and her book: 
(Cool cover, huh??)
FACSIMILE INFO.:
Link to Goodreads:
Purchase Links:
Amazon | B&N
Here's some more about the book:
Facsimile (Facsimile #1)
by Vicki L. Weavil
Publication Date: March 8, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books
For a ticket to Earth, seventeen-year-old Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano is willing to jettison her birth planet, best friend, and the boy who loves her. Especially since all she’s required to do is escort Dace Keeling, a young naturalist, through the wilderness of the partially terraformed planet Eco. Ann‘s determination to escape the limitations of her small, frontier colony never falters, until Dace’s expeditions uncover three secrets. One offers riches, one shatters Ann’s perceptions of
herself, and one reveals that the humans stranded on Eco are not its only inhabitants.
Ann’s willing to sacrifice friendship and love for a new life on Earth. But when an entire species is placed in jeopardy by her actions, she must make a choice – fulfill the dream that’s always sustained her, or save the planet she’s never considered home.
**WHOA!!! That sounds so good, doesn't it??***
Here's a little bit more about Vicki:
Vicki L. Weavil is represented by Fran Black of Literary Counsel. Her Young Adult Fantasy, CROWN OF ICE – Book One in the Snow Queen Saga-- was published by Month9Books in 2014. Two companion books to CROWN OF ICE -- SCEPTER OF FIRE and ORB OF LIGHT -- will be published in fall 2016 and in 2017.
Her YA SciFi -- FACSIMILE – was published by Month9Books in March 2016. A sequel, DERIVATION, will release in 2017. A new YA Fantasy, THE DIAMOND THIMBLE, will be published by Month9Books in 2018.
She also writes adult SciFi.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads |
And here is her bonus content!!
An Interview with Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano from FACSIMILE
How old are you, Anna-Maria – or is it Ann?
I prefer “Ann.” I am seventeen-and-a-half, almost as old as my parents when they got married. But I have no intention of marrying so young, even if there isn’t much else to do on Eco.
So what’s your life like?
Okay, you ready for this? Basically, I am a nobody on a nowhere world. My dad’s parents, who were originally from Peru on Earth, were contracted to terraform my birth planet, Eco. But the company that recruited, educated, and trained them went bankrupt and stranded them on Eco. Yeah, we have enough infrastructure to scratch out a subsistence living in our little frontier colony, but we don’t have any spaceships, so we can’t leave. We also can’t earn enough credits to pay any passing spacecraft to take us on as passengers. This means we’re stuck on Eco, with no real future. All we can do is follow in our grandparents’ and parents’ footsteps and live our simple lives.
Do you have a lifelong dream or aspiration?
Sure – to get off this dead-end planet and travel to Earth. Once I’m there, I believe a world of opportunities will open up for me. My grandparents claim Earth is too segregated into the “haves” and “have nots” for that to happen, but they haven’t been back in so long, I think they’re mistaken.
Can you share one vivid memory from your childhood?
I remember when I was little, there was one time my parents seemed really “in sync.” I’d found an unusual stone, with a perfect circle carved through the middle. I sat nestled between my parents and said I’d found something “alien,” but my dad – who’s an engineer – and my mom – who’s a geologist – explained how wind, sand, and time had simply worn away the center of the stone. It was one of the few times I felt like we were a real family. (My parents don’t get along very well most of the time).
What’s your favorite thing to eat?
Anything different from the stuff we grow in our hydroponic greenhouses. I am a vegetarian, though, because raising animals for food wastes too many resources, so I never got used to eating meat. We do have chickens (for eggs) and goats (for their milk, which we also use to make cheese).
I guess my most prized treat is the rare chocolate bar we acquire by bartering our fresh produce with passing space traders.
Do you have any siblings?
No, but I have a best friend. Her name is Emie, and we’re probably closer than most sisters, actually. She’s really, really, smart – a genius at working with computers and anything digital. She’s apprenticed to our communication and data expert.
What’s your town or city like?
There isn’t anything remotely like a city or town on Eco – just our settlement. Our living quarters were built from the spacecraft used to transport my grandparents and the other terraformers to Eco. (Which is why we don’t have any space ships now). Our settlement is basically ramshackle metal-siding buildings surrounded by a simple fence. We have living quarters – which are small, so extended families live together – a kitchen and group dining space, a meeting/recreation hall, two hydroponic greenhouses, some workshops, garage space for our big machinery (mostly broken now), a dairy, a building that houses a couple of labs and our com room, and some domes that cover our animal pens. That’s about it. We do have windmills that help provide electricity, along with our solar collectors. I mean, we can get along, but we are basically living in a frontier settlement. No luxuries, and not that much to do, outside of daily chores.
Do you go to school or do you have a job?
Both. I am apprenticed to my grandmother, who’s a botanist. She manages our hydroponic greenhouses. (We really depend on the produce grown in the greenhouses because you can’t grow anything in Eco’s thin soil). I also take classes over the ‘sphere and study any holographic discs we can get in trade from passing spacers.
What do you do for fun?
Mostly the younger people play immersive holographic videogames. The entire colony watches a lot of movies, too, because my other grandmother (mom’s mom, who died before I was born) brought along digital copies of every film she could lay her hands on – even really old, 2D stuff.
I also like to ride my solar-powered electric bike out across Eco’s rather barren landscape. Sometimes I stop and search for these purple crystals that I trade to spacers for stuff. The crystals look like amethysts. They aren’t, but don’t tell the spacers that!
Do you have a boyfriend?
Well, uhm… Yes, sort of. There aren’t very many people my age on Eco, so I don’t have many choices. There’s Raiden Lin, of course. We hang out sometimes, and we kiss, but … I want more options, so I’m going to wait until I can get to Earth to commit to someone. (Even though Raid is really, really, hot, and smart, and his kisses can make me swoon, I need to meet other people before I dive into anything too serious!)
Okay, Ann. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, and good luck to you!
Thank you. Nice to talk to someone different. Now I gotta run. I hear a trading ship will be landing on Eco soon. I hope this ship – the Augusta Ada – will offer me a chance to trade my purple crystals for something new and fun. I mean, you can always hope for a change, right?!
Thank you for sharing with us Vicki!!
To continue the hunt make sure to visit Leah Bobet's site by clicking HERE!!
And now for my personal giveaway! Just for stopping by, you have the chance to win a signed copy of ENDURE. Just do as many options as you want and good luck! :-)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 23, 2016
What's next?? (HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!)
I've had so many of my fans and readers asking me "what's next?" and it has been SO hard to bite my tongue and keep this secret...I've been sitting in this announcement for months but I finally get to share my big news!
I sold a new duology to Scholastic for publication in Summer 2017!
DARK BREAKS THE DAWN is being pitched as GRACELING meets SWAN LAKE and I can't wait to share Evelayn's story with you all!
I've always loved the music and story of Swan Lake, and I've tried to do a retelling of it multiple times over the last six or seven years, but it just never seemed to work or come together the way I hoped. Until last summer. I was going through a difficult time. In talking about it, one person asked me, "how did you come up with the idea for DEFY?" I explained that I had merely been trying to put into words what I was feeling after Josh passed away, and he suggested I try the same thing, only for the new situation I was in at that time. And suddenly, it all clicked! My Swan Lake idea finally had the right characters and the right world and the right plotline - and I sold it a few months later to my editor at Scholastic!
It has been so fun to explore a new world and go on this adventure with these characters. And I'm very visual so I've put together a Pinterest Board of images that inspired me while plotting and drafting this series. Here are a few to whet your interest: CLICK HERE to see the full board
And last but not least, my perfect Evelayn:
If you want to see more, check the board out by CLICKING HERE!
Signing my new contract!
And here's the official announcement!!
Can't wait to share more soon!! :-)
I sold a new duology to Scholastic for publication in Summer 2017!
DARK BREAKS THE DAWN is being pitched as GRACELING meets SWAN LAKE and I can't wait to share Evelayn's story with you all!
I've always loved the music and story of Swan Lake, and I've tried to do a retelling of it multiple times over the last six or seven years, but it just never seemed to work or come together the way I hoped. Until last summer. I was going through a difficult time. In talking about it, one person asked me, "how did you come up with the idea for DEFY?" I explained that I had merely been trying to put into words what I was feeling after Josh passed away, and he suggested I try the same thing, only for the new situation I was in at that time. And suddenly, it all clicked! My Swan Lake idea finally had the right characters and the right world and the right plotline - and I sold it a few months later to my editor at Scholastic!
It has been so fun to explore a new world and go on this adventure with these characters. And I'm very visual so I've put together a Pinterest Board of images that inspired me while plotting and drafting this series. Here are a few to whet your interest: CLICK HERE to see the full board
And last but not least, my perfect Evelayn:
If you want to see more, check the board out by CLICKING HERE!
Signing my new contract!
And here's the official announcement!!
Can't wait to share more soon!! :-)
October 1, 2015
YA Scavenger Hunt Fall 2015!!
It's that time of year again!! When we all go crazy for a few days, trying to win piles of awesome books! This year, I'm also doing my own personal giveaway, so make sure to read all the way to the VERY BOTTOM of the post for your chance to win a signed ARC of ENDURE!! (The final book in the DEFY trilogy!)
(You can win this!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Blue Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday October 4th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Today I am hosting:
Matthew Phillion!! Welcome Matthew! I hear that he will only eat donuts if he can have 21 at a time. (Or maybe that's just a rumor...) Here's more about Matthew:
Matthew Phillion, author of the Indestructibles superhero series, is a writer, actor, and film director based in Salem, Massachusetts. An award-winning journalist by trade, he has also appeared in feature films including the sci-fi romance Harvest Moon and the independent horror flick Livestock. His screenwriting and directing debut, the romantic comedy Certainly Never, premiered in 2013 at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, where it was nominated for five awards including best screenplay and best New England film. An active freelance writer and journalist, Phillion continues to write about both local issues and the medical industry.
Follow Matthew online!
Blog: http://www.theindestructiblesbook.com/blog
Here's what Book 3 of THE INDESTRUCTIBLES is about:
Time travel is a long-standing tradition among superheroes, and so when Anachronism Annie, a friend and ally of Doc Silence, asks the Indestructibles to journey with her to save an alternate future where everything has gone terribly wrong, the team agrees. In this other timeline, a few small decisions have led to a much darker and more tragic world, and the adult versions of themselves the Indestructibles meet—Solar, the Dancer, Straylight, Whispering, and Entropy Emily—are nothing like they expected. Are they heroes? Martyrs? Or perhaps even villains? And what happens when the young Indestructibles discover that the alternate future’s version of one of their own team has been turned into the very weapon that will be used to destroy the whole world? Can they team up with these darker versions of themselves to save an entire future? It's said that when you time travel, you can never come back the same. How will journeying through time change the Indestructibles? Will they ever be the same? The Entropy of Everything is the third book in the Indestructibles series.
For Matthew's bonus content, he's offering a sneak peek of book 4 in his series! Check it out here:
From the upcoming Book 4 in the Indestructibles series by Matthew Phillion and PFP Publishing. Books 1, 2 and 3 are available in both print and e-book formats through all major retailers. You can buy them by clicking HERE!
Prologue: Big sky
Billy Case landed in a field outside the City, an old playground gone to seed where his parents used to bring him on those rare days they both could get away from work. Rusted swing sets creaked softy in the light breeze, the entire field cast in a dark pink light as the sun set, turning the City’s skyline into shadowy spires.
Billy, the superhero known to the world as Straylight, looked up into the sky, deep blue darkening to indigo and black, stars so faint as to be almost invisible. A city sky, the sort where the ambient light all cities cast off devour the glimmer of stars and turn the night into a neon-bathed day.
“You know, I didn’t really notice stars till that time Jane took us to her parents’ farm,” Billy said, as if to no one. But he wasn’t alone. Billy Case was never alone, not with the symbiotic alien sharing his body acting as his constant companion, his conscience, his Jiminy Cricket.
This is something you Earthlings do far too often, the alien, whom Billy had dubbed Dude, much to the creature’s annoyance, said. I’ve been on your planet a long time, and I’ve never understood how you look up so rarely.
“We get busy,” Billy said. “We get distracted. And then, I guess… then it’s too late. The stars pass us by.”
They had not long ago returned from a trek into an alternate future, Billy and Dude and the rest of the Indestructibles team, and none of them had come back the same. Billy, in particular, felt more pensive, more inclined to melancholy. But then again, he’d suffered a unique trauma there, sharing memories with his future self, witnessing his own death in that timeline. Things just seemed a little less funny now, though he did his best to keep those worries to himself when he was with the others.
And then a few days ago an alien had crash-landed on Earth, an alien sharing Billy’s powers, with a symbiotic alien just like Dude living inside him. The alien had been more than half-dead, desperate to find his counterpart here, to warn him. An invasion was coming. Another species, and not the friendly and charming kind like Dude. Headed for Earth-fall. Dude called them the Nemesis.
Billy spent a lot of time the past few days looking up at the sky.
Now he saw the others approaching, Jane flying through the evening air like a ball of fire, Entropy Emily far less gracefully drifting behind her in one of her “bubbles of float.” They were looking for him, Billy knew. They needed to figure out what to do. How to stop this invasion. If they could stop this invasion. Billy sat down on a rusted swing, hoping it would hold his weight, and let himself rock back and forth, taking unexpected comfort in the soft squeaking of the chains as he moved. Jane landed nearby, then Emily. Together the girls approached him. Jane stopped in front of him and folded her arms across her chest, her hair moving and dancing like open flame. Emily plopped down on the swing next to him and began to swing for real, legs kicking to stay in motion.
“You know I’m going to have to go up there and scout things out,” Billy said to Jane. Her mouth was a tight line of worry across her face.
“I can go with you,” Jane said. “You shouldn’t go into space alone.”
“Can you believe we’re talking about this?” Emily said. “Going into space? I mean, seriously. Eighteen months ago I was getting in trouble for jaywalking and now we’re talking about interstellar travel. Space. The final frontier.”
Emily began whistling the theme song to Doctor Who softly. When Billy gave her a dirty look, she immediately switched gears to the “Binary Sunset” theme song from Star Wars.
“What?” Emily said. “Tell me that’s not apropos.”
Billy smiled at her then turned back to Jane.
“No, I have to go alone,” Billy said. “You’re the big gun. Everyone will need you here if I don’t come back.”
“I think we’re both the big guns on this team, Billy,” Jane said. “Especially after what happened to you in that other timeline.”
She had a point. They had always been the two most powerful members of the Indestructibles, and Jane seemed to get stronger every day as her solar-powered abilities built up over time. But Billy had absorbed some of the strength of his future self while they were in that other timeline, and it seemed to be permanent. He could do things he hadn’t been able to before. It had changed him physically, too; his eyes glowed blue-white all the time now, the way their mentor Doc Silence’s glowed violet. They both had scars from trying to take on too much power now. Billy wondered if he should get some signature sunglasses like Doc wore.
“I’ll be fine on my own, Jane,” Billy said. “I won’t engage them. I’m just going to get some eyeballs on whatever is headed our way and then come right back.”
“Maybe the alien will wake up and tell us that,” Jane said, referring to the Straylight-like creature who had come here to warn them of the pending invasion. The being remained unconscious at the Tower. Dude told Billy the other symbiotic alien would try to heal its host, but for now, both were in a state of stasis, unable to tell them anything else about what was headed their way.
Billy said nothing, listening intently to the creaking of Emily’s swing, rocking his own to create a call and answer between the two. Creak swing, creak swing, creak swing.
“The two of you,” Jane said, smirking. “You can’t even help it when you’re together to do stuff like that.”
“We’re a team, yo,” Emily said.
Billy leaned back and looked into the night sky again. It felt so overwhelming, looking up there. Like it went on forever.
It makes me feel insignificant, Dude, Billy thought.
It makes us all feel insignificant, Billy Case, Dude said. And it should. If outer space doesn’t make you feel insignificant I would be worried about your ego.
You already worry about my ego, Billy thought.
True enough, Dude said.
“It’s amazing how big it is, isn’t it?” Billy said.
“What,” Emily said.
“The sky.”
“That’s kind of what it is. ‘Big’ is its defining characteristic,” Emily said.
“I know what you mean,” Jane said. “On my parents’ farm I used to lay on my back and just look up and be amazed at how it felt so endless. Just stars and blackness.”
“I was born in the City,” Billy said. “I grew up there. The sky was just that sliver of blue you saw between buildings on those rare occasions you looked up. We didn’t have stars. We didn’t have big sky.”
“This is known,” Emily said. “Seriously, the first time I went somewhere without ambient urban light I thought I was struck blind.”
“If you want, I can go to scout and you can stay here,” Jane said. From anyone else it would have felt like a taunt. From Jane is was simply an honest offer to take away some of your own pain and fear.
“No,” Billy said. “This one’s my job.”
“Okay,” Jane said.
Billy and Emily continued their rhythmic swinging as the sun crept closer to the horizon.
“You’re not leaving right now, are you?” Emily said.
“No,” Billy said. “Got a few things I should do first.”
“Like write a will?” Emily said.
“Emily!” Jane said.
Billy laughed.
“Like I have anything to leave behind,” he said.
“You do,” Emily said. “I, William Byron Case, bequeath to Entropy Emily sole custody of our dog Watson in the event I die tragically in a battle in outer space.”
“It’s all about the dog with you, isn’t it, Em,” Billy said.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather you come home,” she said. “But you better make sure the dog stays with me if you don’t.”
So cool! Thank you for sharing Matthew!
***Continue the Hunt by going to Michelle Painchaud's site - CLICK HERE!***
And now, here's your chance to read the conclusion to the DEFY series months before everyone else when it releases on December 29th! (Just promise you won't post any spoilers!)
Fill out the rafflecopter below and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(You can win this!! Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!)
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. This year I'm on:
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Blue Team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday October 4th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Today I am hosting:
Matthew Phillion!! Welcome Matthew! I hear that he will only eat donuts if he can have 21 at a time. (Or maybe that's just a rumor...) Here's more about Matthew:
Matthew Phillion, author of the Indestructibles superhero series, is a writer, actor, and film director based in Salem, Massachusetts. An award-winning journalist by trade, he has also appeared in feature films including the sci-fi romance Harvest Moon and the independent horror flick Livestock. His screenwriting and directing debut, the romantic comedy Certainly Never, premiered in 2013 at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, where it was nominated for five awards including best screenplay and best New England film. An active freelance writer and journalist, Phillion continues to write about both local issues and the medical industry.Follow Matthew online!
Blog: http://www.theindestructiblesbook.com/blog
Here's what Book 3 of THE INDESTRUCTIBLES is about:
Time travel is a long-standing tradition among superheroes, and so when Anachronism Annie, a friend and ally of Doc Silence, asks the Indestructibles to journey with her to save an alternate future where everything has gone terribly wrong, the team agrees. In this other timeline, a few small decisions have led to a much darker and more tragic world, and the adult versions of themselves the Indestructibles meet—Solar, the Dancer, Straylight, Whispering, and Entropy Emily—are nothing like they expected. Are they heroes? Martyrs? Or perhaps even villains? And what happens when the young Indestructibles discover that the alternate future’s version of one of their own team has been turned into the very weapon that will be used to destroy the whole world? Can they team up with these darker versions of themselves to save an entire future? It's said that when you time travel, you can never come back the same. How will journeying through time change the Indestructibles? Will they ever be the same? The Entropy of Everything is the third book in the Indestructibles series.
For Matthew's bonus content, he's offering a sneak peek of book 4 in his series! Check it out here:
From the upcoming Book 4 in the Indestructibles series by Matthew Phillion and PFP Publishing. Books 1, 2 and 3 are available in both print and e-book formats through all major retailers. You can buy them by clicking HERE!
Prologue: Big sky
Billy Case landed in a field outside the City, an old playground gone to seed where his parents used to bring him on those rare days they both could get away from work. Rusted swing sets creaked softy in the light breeze, the entire field cast in a dark pink light as the sun set, turning the City’s skyline into shadowy spires.
Billy, the superhero known to the world as Straylight, looked up into the sky, deep blue darkening to indigo and black, stars so faint as to be almost invisible. A city sky, the sort where the ambient light all cities cast off devour the glimmer of stars and turn the night into a neon-bathed day.
“You know, I didn’t really notice stars till that time Jane took us to her parents’ farm,” Billy said, as if to no one. But he wasn’t alone. Billy Case was never alone, not with the symbiotic alien sharing his body acting as his constant companion, his conscience, his Jiminy Cricket.
This is something you Earthlings do far too often, the alien, whom Billy had dubbed Dude, much to the creature’s annoyance, said. I’ve been on your planet a long time, and I’ve never understood how you look up so rarely.
“We get busy,” Billy said. “We get distracted. And then, I guess… then it’s too late. The stars pass us by.”
They had not long ago returned from a trek into an alternate future, Billy and Dude and the rest of the Indestructibles team, and none of them had come back the same. Billy, in particular, felt more pensive, more inclined to melancholy. But then again, he’d suffered a unique trauma there, sharing memories with his future self, witnessing his own death in that timeline. Things just seemed a little less funny now, though he did his best to keep those worries to himself when he was with the others.
And then a few days ago an alien had crash-landed on Earth, an alien sharing Billy’s powers, with a symbiotic alien just like Dude living inside him. The alien had been more than half-dead, desperate to find his counterpart here, to warn him. An invasion was coming. Another species, and not the friendly and charming kind like Dude. Headed for Earth-fall. Dude called them the Nemesis.
Billy spent a lot of time the past few days looking up at the sky.
Now he saw the others approaching, Jane flying through the evening air like a ball of fire, Entropy Emily far less gracefully drifting behind her in one of her “bubbles of float.” They were looking for him, Billy knew. They needed to figure out what to do. How to stop this invasion. If they could stop this invasion. Billy sat down on a rusted swing, hoping it would hold his weight, and let himself rock back and forth, taking unexpected comfort in the soft squeaking of the chains as he moved. Jane landed nearby, then Emily. Together the girls approached him. Jane stopped in front of him and folded her arms across her chest, her hair moving and dancing like open flame. Emily plopped down on the swing next to him and began to swing for real, legs kicking to stay in motion.
“You know I’m going to have to go up there and scout things out,” Billy said to Jane. Her mouth was a tight line of worry across her face.
“I can go with you,” Jane said. “You shouldn’t go into space alone.”
“Can you believe we’re talking about this?” Emily said. “Going into space? I mean, seriously. Eighteen months ago I was getting in trouble for jaywalking and now we’re talking about interstellar travel. Space. The final frontier.”
Emily began whistling the theme song to Doctor Who softly. When Billy gave her a dirty look, she immediately switched gears to the “Binary Sunset” theme song from Star Wars.
“What?” Emily said. “Tell me that’s not apropos.”
Billy smiled at her then turned back to Jane.
“No, I have to go alone,” Billy said. “You’re the big gun. Everyone will need you here if I don’t come back.”
“I think we’re both the big guns on this team, Billy,” Jane said. “Especially after what happened to you in that other timeline.”
She had a point. They had always been the two most powerful members of the Indestructibles, and Jane seemed to get stronger every day as her solar-powered abilities built up over time. But Billy had absorbed some of the strength of his future self while they were in that other timeline, and it seemed to be permanent. He could do things he hadn’t been able to before. It had changed him physically, too; his eyes glowed blue-white all the time now, the way their mentor Doc Silence’s glowed violet. They both had scars from trying to take on too much power now. Billy wondered if he should get some signature sunglasses like Doc wore.
“I’ll be fine on my own, Jane,” Billy said. “I won’t engage them. I’m just going to get some eyeballs on whatever is headed our way and then come right back.”
“Maybe the alien will wake up and tell us that,” Jane said, referring to the Straylight-like creature who had come here to warn them of the pending invasion. The being remained unconscious at the Tower. Dude told Billy the other symbiotic alien would try to heal its host, but for now, both were in a state of stasis, unable to tell them anything else about what was headed their way.
Billy said nothing, listening intently to the creaking of Emily’s swing, rocking his own to create a call and answer between the two. Creak swing, creak swing, creak swing.
“The two of you,” Jane said, smirking. “You can’t even help it when you’re together to do stuff like that.”
“We’re a team, yo,” Emily said.
Billy leaned back and looked into the night sky again. It felt so overwhelming, looking up there. Like it went on forever.
It makes me feel insignificant, Dude, Billy thought.
It makes us all feel insignificant, Billy Case, Dude said. And it should. If outer space doesn’t make you feel insignificant I would be worried about your ego.
You already worry about my ego, Billy thought.
True enough, Dude said.
“It’s amazing how big it is, isn’t it?” Billy said.
“What,” Emily said.
“The sky.”
“That’s kind of what it is. ‘Big’ is its defining characteristic,” Emily said.
“I know what you mean,” Jane said. “On my parents’ farm I used to lay on my back and just look up and be amazed at how it felt so endless. Just stars and blackness.”
“I was born in the City,” Billy said. “I grew up there. The sky was just that sliver of blue you saw between buildings on those rare occasions you looked up. We didn’t have stars. We didn’t have big sky.”
“This is known,” Emily said. “Seriously, the first time I went somewhere without ambient urban light I thought I was struck blind.”
“If you want, I can go to scout and you can stay here,” Jane said. From anyone else it would have felt like a taunt. From Jane is was simply an honest offer to take away some of your own pain and fear.
“No,” Billy said. “This one’s my job.”
“Okay,” Jane said.
Billy and Emily continued their rhythmic swinging as the sun crept closer to the horizon.
“You’re not leaving right now, are you?” Emily said.
“No,” Billy said. “Got a few things I should do first.”
“Like write a will?” Emily said.
“Emily!” Jane said.
Billy laughed.
“Like I have anything to leave behind,” he said.
“You do,” Emily said. “I, William Byron Case, bequeath to Entropy Emily sole custody of our dog Watson in the event I die tragically in a battle in outer space.”
“It’s all about the dog with you, isn’t it, Em,” Billy said.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather you come home,” she said. “But you better make sure the dog stays with me if you don’t.”
So cool! Thank you for sharing Matthew!
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