Monday, April 30, 2012

Special Guest Chris Redding


 Everyone welcome my special guest today, Chris Redding! She's here to talk about people watching and how to use your experience to make you a better writer!

Take it away, Chris!

I’m not a great traveler. I like to sleep in my own bed. But I do get out sometimes. Hence our trip to Europe. It really is good to broaden your horizons. You gain perspective. I’ve lived in Europe so this isn’t a new experience. This time we brought the kids to broaden them.
          Besides, what better place to people watch, than an airport. I saw a woman in Frankfurt Airport whose picture I wanted to take. I didn’t and it was tough not to stare because she was so interesting looking ‘I’d guess she was Turkish. Darker skinned. She wore no make up with a scarf on her head. Her hair was brown with no gray in it, but she looked old to me. I bet  every wrinkle on that face had a story behind it. As a mental exercise, which I do often when I people watch, I thought about how I would describe her. My description above didn’t do her justice.
          Nonetheless, it is a good exercise for a writer.
          So is getting out of our comfort zone. We sit alone (maybe) day after day hunched over a keyboard. We have the illusion of friends. We fees as if we are tuned in, but are we really?
          Get out. Go someplace new eve if it is only to a new Dunkin Donuts. See something new. Maybe you’ll find someone that you went to use in a book.

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. When she isn’t writing or giving workshops, she works part time for her local hospital.


You just can't hide from the past...

Mallory Sage lives in a small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind of life she has always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer firefighters, knows about her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.

Former partner and lover, Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory's life. He believes they made a great team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don't have much choice. Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and their old nemesis, is back.

Framed for a bombing and drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run and must learn to trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory has been hiding another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And time is running out.


Find Chris Redding on the web at:

Buy links:

Amazon in print: http://tinyurl.com/87qdaam


Thanks for having me today.
cmr

Thanks for taking the time to visit, Chris! 

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Lore of Fei by Kathleen S. Allen



I'm excited to share a new release with you! Lore of Fei is by one of my writing friends, Kathleen S. Allen. It just came out yesterday! 

LORE OF FEI BLURB:
“I am not a human girl, Duri. I am a faerie, like you. I was born without wings.” His eyes widened, but he still did not speak. “The Old Ones sent me to find a way to stop the humans. There can be no war on Fei. I need to know what the humans plan and when they will raid Fei again. You can help save Fei from extinction, Duri. Will you help me and be loyal to me and to Fei?”
He nodded. It was a slight nod, but it was a nod.
“Thank you Duri.” I sensed relief from him. “Sunvi, of the Old Ones has been captured and is ensconced in the food area. His wings have been clipped, too. He will help us restore Fei to the land it once was.”
I moved away from Duri toward the dragons. Tashie spotted me and flew over. She gave me a look, and I laughed at her. I sensed hunger from her. I reached in my pouch and pulled a sweet out. She took it and gobbled it down. I scratched under her chin, feeling the happiness flowing from her into me. I looked over to where Duri had stood, but he had gone back to the Lair. I hoped I could trust him. Faeries were much harder to read than humans.


LORE OF FEI-a Young Adult faerie fantasy. Released April 27, 2012 by Muse It Up Publishing as an Ebook on most platforms. 


About the Author:
 
Kathleen started writing when she was eight years old and self-published her first book of poems. She has been writing ever since.  She has a MA in Children’s Literature with an emphasis in creative writing for Young Adults from Eastern Michigan University. 

Look for her books on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, Smashwords, Kindle/Nook.
Look for her book trailers on You Tube.
Find her on Twitter as: @kathleea

I am an urban faerie born without wings but I fly on the wings of imagination tethered to this mortal coil. Moonlight sustains me and sunlight devours me. Stars swim in my eyes and my soul bleeds on a daily basis. I am a writer. 

Thanks for visiting, Kathleen!

Friday, April 27, 2012

New Release for my Critique Partner!!!



I'm so excited to announce my critique partner's new release! Cherie Reich has been my critique partner for so long, I can't imagine writing life without her. I'm so lucky to be able to work with her on these and read them before the whole world does! Defying Gravity is the first in this trilogy, but each book also stands on its own.

Here's the blurb:

A Futuristic Space Fantasy Novelette

Forced into executing Aresia's people, Phoebus escapes the Aresian Guard by flying his spaceship through a wormhole.

The only single woman of marrying age, Marissa flees her prospects of becoming Elder McGee's third wife for a chance at freedom upon the New Atlantic Ocean.

When Phoebus's spacecraft crashes upon an asteroid-ravaged Earth, he is captured by a rogue Earthling youth and thrown into a cellar. Marissa stumbles upon the spacecraft, but it explodes before she can find any sign of the alien. When she awakens, she discovers the alien's whereabouts and vows to help him. They plot his escape when they learn Phoebus's Aresians have landed and are searching for him. Phoebus and Marissa must battle against their despair and their peoples in their quest for freedom and love. And through it all, an Earthling and an Aresian will find it easier to fight gravity than their love for each other.


Buy from Amazon
Buy from Smashwords


About the Author:

Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant. She enjoys writing horror, fantasy, and mysteries, but she doesn't let that stop her from trying other genres. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her novelettes are published as e-books. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Valley Writers and placed third in Roanoke Valley's BIG READ writing contest.

A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie received her bachelors of the arts in Classical Antiquities at Missouri State University. She currently lives in Virginia with her family and four adorable pets: Cinderella the cat, Romeo the cat, Abby the guinea pig, and Dash the goldfish. Besides working in a library, she is surrounded by over 1000 books in her room at home. Can anyone say bibliophile?


Thursday, April 26, 2012

New Steampunk Anthology


Book Title: The Omnibus of Doctor Bill Shakes and the Magnificent Ionic Pentatetrameter.
Editors: Jaymee Goh and Matthew Delman
Genre: Steampunk
Publisher: Doctor Fantastique Books
Publication Date: May 11, 2012
Format: eBook, Paperback Book

How would William Shakespeare dream up his stories if he were born in the Victorian Era? More specifically, how would his tales change if set against the backdrop of Steampunk? Would Hamlet appear as a half-man, half-machine gear and flesh mash up? Perhaps Henry the V would field an army of soldiers with mechanical suits. This was the premise tossed around steampunk forums. The folks at Doctor Fantastique took up the reins and created an anthology.

A quick scan of the table of contents reveals steampunk twists on Measure for Measure, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Many of the sonnet are also explored.

The Tragic Tale of King Lear’s Wonders by Jennifer Castello
“Devouring Time, rust thou the robot’s gears” by Olivia Waite
Measure For Steel-Sprung Measure by Rebecca Fraimow
“Where art thou Muse that forget’st me so long?” by Tucker Cummings
The Malefaction of Tybalt’s Mechanical Armature by Tim Kane
“Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck” by J.H. Ashbee
Julius C-ZR by Bret Jones
“Your expanse of metal is a waste of time” by Frances Hern
Much Ado About Steam Presses: A Scandal of Minor Importance by R. J. Booth
“My brasswork’s gleam is nothing like the sun” by Alia Gee
Leo’s Mechanical Queen by Claudia Alexander
“A woman’s face with artist’s sure hand painted” by J.H. Ashbee
The Misfiring Love-Piston of Sir John Autumnrod by Larry Kay
“Not iron, nor the Difference Engine” by Kelly Fineman
What You Fuel by Jaymee Goh
“To me, fair friend, you never can be old” by Tucker Cummings
A Midsummer’s Night Steam by Scott Farrell
“Devouring Time, wear thou steam-hammer’s head” by J.H. Ashbee
Richard, Dismantled by Jess Hyslop

The print and ebook editions of the anthology are available starting May 11, 2012 from Doctor Fantastique’s Show of Wonders.

A special thanks to Tim Kane whose story can be found in this anthology!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Cover Reveal: Divinely Ruined by Diane Alberts

She finally meets a decent man--after she's oath-bound never to touch men again!

Rebecca's life sucked before she became an angel. Crappy apartment, awful jobs, abusive boyfriends--it was no wonder she jumped at the chance to escape it all and become a real live angel. The problem is Rebecca's not very angelic,and she'll have to do more to earn her wings than end her love affair with the word f--er, frick.

Especially when she's assigned to save single father Tony Weis, whose less-than-pure thoughts wreak hell on a telepathic angel's nerves. It's all Rebecca can do to keep her hands off him...but when she loses her memory injuring herself to save Tony's daughter, now it's Tony's turn to be her angel and care for her. But will Tony's devotion tempt her from her angelic path, even if it means being human again?

...To learn more about the author and her other projects, go to: www.dianealberts.com

Another great title from Entangled Publishing! 
Tell me, what do you think of this cover?

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Special Guest: Theresa Milstein


Theresa is one of my awesome critique partners! She worked very hard on Colonization: Paradise 21 (Coming out in October from Inkspell) and gave me the brilliant idea for the sequel to be told through Andromeda's arch nemesis's eyes. She left a comment saying that Andromeda's nemisis wasn't well rounded enough and needed more. That's when I decided to give the character her own book! Boy, has it turned out to be the best thing ever for this series. Thank you, Theresa, for being so honest!

Today she's visiting to tell us about her newly published story in the Vine Leaves Literary Journal Issue #2! Her story can be found on page 12! It's a story I was lucky enough to read in the drafting stages and help critique. I love this story. Everyone should click on the link and read it now! 

About Theresa: Theresa Milstein writes children's books with a paranormal twist. She has also written several YA and adult short stories. Her short story "Daisy" is included in the 100 Stories for Queensland anthology and "Allured" is included in the YA vampire anthology, Fangtales. She'll also have her short story "My Moment" in the speculative fiction anthology Tiny Dancer (coming soon) in 2012. Theresa is a member of SCBWI and active in the New England SCBWI branch.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Messenger in the Mist now $.99 on Amazon!!!

Just $.99 cents on Amazon!!!

One of my very first fantasy romance novels just went on sale today! I'm so excited.  

Two factions on the verge of war…A countryside overrun with beasts…A love tested against duty…

Star, a messenger for the Elite Riders of Evenspark, races through the misted countryside delivering correspondence to the bordering Fortress of Ravencliff. The route is haunted by the mysterious beasts that lurk in the moors. Star risks her life for the hope of relocating her parents, for the glory of her illustrious career, and for an unrequited love. 

On one such mission, Star discovers she carries plans for the assassination of Prince Valen of Ravencliff - the man who has captured her heart. Weighing love against livelihood, she must decide what’s more important…the safety of her country or her love for the Prince, who is betrothed to Princess Vespa of Evenspark. 

With the mist is rising, enabling the Elyndra to gather and threaten the borders of both kingdoms, Star must unravel the mystery of their existence and forestall a war.