Magic, immortals, and being a good monster.: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

The Gifted Ones by PG Shriver Blog Tour Review

SYNOPSIS:
Thrown together by the cruelties of a modern day world in which genuine compassion is rare, evil abounds, and goodness is often tainted by the fight to survive, two unusually gifted teenagers discover they are linked by a fairytale told them repeatedly throughout their youth by their late mothers.

Destiny awaits them, but first they must locate the others, as the fairytale foretells, to defeat the evil monster who waits and change the lonely world in which they live. Only then will they find peace... and family.

JEN'S THOUGHTS:
This is the first installment to The Gifted Ones Series. Don't let the word fairytale fool you. Cheater and Jazz are far from living a fairytale life. The only thing that are keeping them going is each other and the fairytale that their mothers use to tell them when they were growing up. Knowing that their are others out there like them, they plan to find them and head towards where the fairytale leads them. Unfortunately, neither of them know how the fairytale ends and what lies ahead.

I look forward to the next installment of this book. I am curious to see if the series will have a fairytale ending or if it will be a nightmare for Cheater and the rest of The Gifted Ones. They have a big journey ahead of them. I am glad I agreed to the blog tour, I have found another new author to follow.

Originally posted on The Mystical World of Book Reviews.

About P. G. Shriver:

Born in California, and raised in Minnesota and Texas, P.G. spent her early years writing poetry and winning poetry contests, while escaping the drama in her own childhood by reading great books for children. Ever since her earliest days, she loved story telling. She wrote numerous short stories in High School and her early college years, continually trying to relive that first experience at the age of seven of seeing her name in print in the local newspaper.

P.G. sought her education at the University of Texas, where she studied English, literature, and Education. During the entire process of earning her BA and M.Ed, she never stopped writing and trying to be published. It was during this time that her first children's book No More Stinkbugs! was accepted for publication by Castle Keep Press. Many of her stories develop from nature.

P.G. graduated college and began her career in education, another great world that offered real experiences to humor and delight through children's books. She watched children interact, bringing to surface her own experiences as a child and yet more events to write about. While teaching, she discovered many great books for young people, such as The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, Maniac Magee, So. B. It and many more. She is a fan of Dean Koontz novels, too, and loves reading fantasy and paranormal books.

P.G. was married 20 years in March 2012 and has a bright, young daughter who has begun her own college career. She lives on a small farm in Texas with her family and animals. P.G. has experienced great love and loss throughout her life. Those her family has lost have dedications in her books.

P.G. has two young adult books published, Dead Perfect and The Gifted Ones: The Fairytale the first book in The Gifted Ones Trilogy. She also has several children's books written under Gean Penny, her pseudonym. P. G. has since dissolved her contract for her first book with Castle Keep Press and moved the title to her own imprint, Gean Penny Books.

Author Links:

Tour Schedule:
11/1/2012 Bookish Whimsy

11/2/2012 Magic Immortals and being a good monster
11/3/2012 The Cover (and everything in between)
11/4/2012 The Dark Heroine
11/5/2012 Young Adult Book Addict
11/6/2012 Night Owl Reads
11/7/2012 Michelle Shouts Random
11/8/2012 Writers And Authors
11/9/2012 Book Nerds United
11/10/2012 Geo Librarian
11/11/2012 Bound 2 Astound
11/12/2012 From The Bootheel Cotton Patch
11/13/2012 Reading Away The Days
11/14/2012 The READioactive Book Blog!
11/15/2012 Read Review Smile
11/16/2012 Pink Fluffly Hearts: Diary of a Coffee Addict
11/17/2012 Mom With A Kindle
11/18/2012 A Readers Devotion
11/19/2012 Girls Heart Books
11/20/2012 Joie De Lire
11/21/2012 Joie De Lire
11/22/2012 Reader Girls
11/23/2012 The Other Shelf
11/24/2012 Lost In Fictional Worlds
11/25/2012 Crossroad Reviews
11/26/2012 A Soul Unsung
11/27/2012 Captivated Reading
11/28/2012 Just Another Rabid Reader
11/29/2012 My Seryniti
11/30/2012 Jen’s Review Corner

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Veer by Alyssa Rose Ivy Release Day Blitz

A Part to Play by Jennifer L. Fry Blog Tour Guest Post

Blurb:
When fifteen-year-old actress Lucy Carter loses her older sister in a car accident, her mother shuts down and her father can’t hold the family together. Their only choice is to ship Lucy off to the Edmond School for Performing Arts. But boarding school is no cure for Lucy’s grief. With failing grades, wooden stage performances, and curfew violations, Lucy is threatened with expulsion. For the once talented Lucy, it feels as though she has nowhere to turn.

One night, Lucy hears mysterious music drifting through the school’s old heating system. The music leads her to a troubled but passionate songwriter whose brilliance gives her the strength to perform like never before. Yet their intense relationship puts Lucy in a precarious position: if she follows her muse, will she lose herself? And if she breaks it off, can she stand on her own again?

Guest Post:

Coming up with the story idea for

A PART TO PLAY

In planning A PART TO PLAY, I started with the emotional journey I wanted my main character to experience. I knew immediately I wanted to write a young adult story, and I wanted my story to have a strong message – that is, the importance of believing in oneself. Then, to develop my plot, I thought of my most favorite stories of all time from movies, plays, and books. One of these happens to be The Phantom of the Opera. I didn't want my book to be a retelling of that classic story, but rather I wanted it to draw inspiration from what I considered the most captivating parts. I loved the mystery and the powerful role that music played in the story; I also found the dark side of the Phantom intriguing.

Once I had that basic premise, I needed something at the beginning of the story to make my character lose all self belief, which in this case happens with the death of her beloved sister and the subsequent breakdown of her family. As a writer, I explore big questions that I personally have about life. In A PART TO PLAY, I explore the death of a child in a tight-knit family. As I consider becoming a parent myself, I wonder how I could survive losing my child – it seems like one of the worst possible things that could happen in life. Lucy, the main character of my story, watches as her parents are consumed by grief, and she naturally begins to doubt her worth.

By the time she arrives at the Edmond School for Performing Arts, where our story begins, Lucy doesn't know what to think anymore. She hears music coming from underground, and eventually meets the musician who has helped her find something to focus on besides her grief. I explored the idea of both main characters in my story, Lucy and the musician, having the same flaw – how that brings them together, and how it drives them apart. It was important to me to show Lucy's gradual shift. I wanted the reader to come along on Lucy's journey, to feel what it is to be at the bottom and to experience with her the joy of first love and finally finding a way to cope with the loss of her family.

In later revisions, I felt that Lucy must confront her parents. It was part of the process for her to recover her sense of self. Then my story became something new. It wasn't just about loss, romance, and finding your own way; it was also about recognizing parents as fallible people who we can no more rely on for our self-worth than anyone else in life. Ultimately, no matter the parallels between my novel and the Phantom of the Opera, it is truly about the strength of a young girl who manages to carry on even though everyone around her seems to have given up.

About Jennifer L. Fry:
Jennifer L. Fry is a writer, artist, and teacher in Marin County, California, where she lives with her wonderful husband, two adorable dogs, and orange tabby cat. Though she has been writing since she was young, A Part to Play is her first novel.

Links:
Author website: http://www.jenniferlfry.com/home/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-L-Fry/394827827250769

Twitter: https://twitter.com/frygurl

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15835670-a-part-to-play

YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/component/content/article/28-young-adult-indie/13056-a-part-to-play

YouTube: http://youtu.be/f2_3Ha1hoyQ/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Part-to-Play-ebook/dp/B008VSW614/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1344998757&sr=8-7&keywords=a+part+to+play

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-part-to-play-jennifer-l-fry/1112451468

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B009MH10FG&qid=1349917179&sr=1-1

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/a-part-to-play-unabridged/id569381147

Title: A Part To Play
Author: Jennifer L. Fry
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Pages: 261

Check out the rest of the tour :)
11/1/2012 The Cover (and Everything in Between)

11/2/2012 Writers and Authors

11/3/2012 The Dark Heroine
11/4/2012 Reader Girls Blog
11/5/2012 Crossroads Reviews
11/6/2012 Reading Away the Days
11/7/2012 Fiction Addiction
11/8/2012 Sweet Southern Home
11/9/2012 Behind A Million And One Pages
11/10/2012 Michelle Shouts Random
11/11/2012 Howling Books And Designs
11/12/2012 Mom With A Kindle
11/13/2012 Night Owl Reads
11/14/2012 A Readers Devotion
11/15/2012 To Procrastinate
11/16/2012 Infinite House of Books
11/17/2012 Book Lovin' Mamas
11/18/2012 From The Bootheel Cotton Patch
11/19/2012 One Day YA
11/20/2012 Bookish Whimsy
11/21/2012 Jen's Review Corner
11/22/2012 Bookishly Devoted
11/23/2012 Young Adult Book Addict
11/24/2012 Girls Heart Books
11/25/2012 Magic Immortals and Being A Good Monster
11/26/2012 Becky's Barmy Book Blog
11/27/2012 A Soul Unsung
11/28/2012 Book Nerds United
11/29/2012 A Bibliophile's Thoughts On Books
11/30/2012 My Miscellaneous BookShelf

Friday, November 23, 2012

Young Adult E-book SALE!!!!

Tired of the malls and the stores? Looking for gifts without breaking the bank?

How about 20 Young Adult books each priced at 99 cents now through Monday on Amazon?

Buy some books for yourself.

Gift books to others.

Books are still the biggest entertainment bang for the buck, and there's SO many great titles to choose from.

Like romance, adventure, humor, or contemporary? How about Sci-fi, fantasy, or mythology? We've got you covered!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A Part to Play by Jennifer L Fry Blog Tour Review

Jen's Thoughts:I am always on the look out for amazing new authors. Being asked to participate in this blog tour has given me just that.

Lucy Carter had the perfect family life, until the tragic accident that took her sister away. Since then, her family has grown apart and she is sent away to school. ESPA is the school she has always dreamed of, but with everything going on in her life, she feels that all it is a dream that became a nightmare. Now Lucy has to deal with the grief of losing her sister, her family being shattered, making friends, defeating enemies, a relationship, and passing school. Lucy will come to find out that her life is the hardest part she will have to play.

I really enjoyed this fast paced, emotional read. It truly gives the ups and downs that are hard to face. I hope that there will be more or these characters in the future. I just know they have more stories that need to be shared. I am glad to have found this author, she is one that I will be sure to keep an eye on for more books to add to my tbr. A great Contemporary YA read!

Originally posted on The Mystical World of Book Reviews.

Links:
Author website: http://www.jenniferlfry.com/home/

Author: Jennifer L. Fry

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Pages: 261

Check out the rest of the tour :)
11/1/2012 The Cover (and Everything in Between)

11/2/2012 Writers and Authors

Faded by Chloe Miles Blog Tour Guest Post

Title: Faded

Author: Chloe Miles
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 380

Blurb:
"Savannah wanted to kiss him, but she had never even kissed a human guy before, let alone a ghost. How was she supposed to kiss him if he wasn't really there?"

Savannah has never been in love before, but she's in love with Hunter Emmerton. He's cute, funny, charming...and a ghost. How can you date someone if nobody else can see them?

After seventeen-year-old Savannah Fraser and her three friends are killed in a car accident, they are given a second chance at life by a group of hundred-year-old teenage earthbound spirits who need their help.

Savannah and her friends learn that they are The Chosen Ones, which means they can switch between human and spirit form, heal people and control the weather. And they are also now invincible. The Chosen Ones are the only ones who can defeat The Forces - a group of evil spirits who are slowly destroying the perfect little town of Fort Everwick with violent storms and not-so-natural disasters - and stop them from harming everyone they care about.
The Forces are set on destroying everything Savannah knows and loves, but they also have another plan - they want a new member to join them. They aren't willing to give up until they get the one they want...and they have Savannah firmly in their sights.

Savannah had never been confident in herself before, but with her new-found powers, she discovers just how strong herself and her friends really are. But what Savannah didn't count on was falling in love with Hunter. She's never loved anyone the way she loves Hunter and she knows he loves her too. But how can they be together forever if he no longer exists and she's the only one who can see him? Will Savannah have enough belief in herself to defeat The Forces, or will they be able to lure her to the dark side and turn her against her loved ones...and tear her and Hunter apart?

Guest Post:
Hey everyone. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share an excerpt of Faded, the first book in The Faded Trilogy. I hope you enjoy it!

Just as Savannah turned, the glass window behind her smashed and sent shattered glass out onto the seats in the cinema below. Everybody screamed and scrambled towards the door.

The girls ducked for cover out of instinct, even though they knew nothing could hurt them. They looked around, but there was still no one there.

“Thought you were alone, didn’t you?’ a deep voice seemed to come out of nowhere. He laughed. “What a shame, you didn’t get to see the end of the movie. I can tell you how it ends,” The movie projector exploded. “With three nosy young girls dying.”

A man appeared in the doorway and looked at each of the girls. It was Griffin. He grinned to himself then looked over at the remains of the movie projector. It burst into flames.

Abigail stood up and glared at him. “Well, what a shame, we’re spirits too. Don’t you know that you can’t kill the dead?”

Griffin looked in her direction and smiled. “Maybe not, but there’s a whole room full of people down there that I can.”

Savannah looked at the burning projector, then back in Griffin’s direction. A gust of wind blew the flames into the air and she sent the projector hurtling straight at him.

Griffin laughed. “If you don’t play nice, I’ll just have to hurt someone.”

“Those people are innocent,” said Savannah. “Leave them out of it.”

Griffin disappeared and then reappeared behind Savannah. “There are so many of them, you can’t possibly protect them all. Why even bother? You can make it easier for yourselves and I won’t even hurt a hair on any of their heads. Or you can choose to protect yourselves. Selfish, if you ask me, but the decision is yours. What’s it going to be?”

Savannah stared him down, showing no sign of giving in. “We’re stronger than you could ever hope to be. We will save everyone,” she said, “including ourselves.”

Griffin shook his head and looked over at Abigail and Madison, then back at Savannah. “Wrong decision, ladies. When will you ever learn?”

He disappeared and the girls looked around the room, waiting for something to happen. Everything was still and quiet. Too quiet.

About Chloe Miles:
"Chloe Miles is the author of FADED, the first book in THE FADED TRILOGY. The second book in the series, SEE NO EVIL, is due to be released soon."

Author Links:

Goodreads

Purchase

Tour Schedule:
11/18/2012 Girls *Heart* Books

11/19/2012 Mom With A Kindle

11/19/2012 Self Publish or Die

11/20/2012 The Cover (and Everything in Between)
11/21/2012 Magic, Immortals and Being A Good Monster
11/22/2012 All In One Place

11/23/2012 JessaBella Reads
11/24/2012 Book Worms Avenue
11/25/2012 Pink Fluffy Hearts

11/26/2012 Captivated Reading

11/27/2012 A Soul Unsung

11/28/2012 Young Adult Book Addict
11/29/2012 Reader Girls Blog
11/30/2012 Bookend 2 Bookend
12/1/2012 The College Crawl

12/2/2012 My Escape
12/3/2012 Reading Away The Days

12/4/2012 Highly READioactive

12/5/2012 A Dream Within A Dream

12/6/2012 A Book So Fathomless

12/7/2012 Nigh Owl Reads
12/8/2012 Fiction Addiction

12/9/2012 Book Lovin Mamas
12/10/2012 Bibliophile's Thoughts On Books
12/11/2012 Mallory Heart Reviews

12/12/2012 Witchmags Boekenplank

12/13/2012 My Seryniti
12/14/2012 My Miscellaneous Book Shelf
12/15/2012 Pinkindle
12/16/2012 Stressed Rach

12/16/2012 From The Bootheel Cotton Patch

12/17/2012 Book Nerds United
12/18/2012 The Book Lover's Report

Monday, November 5, 2012

Little Blessings

As this is November, I'm seeing a plethora of daily posts on thankfulness. I love this time of year! Sadly it seems to that many folks do not take the time to find the 'little' blessings in their daily lives until Thanksgiving approaches.

I try (emphasis on try) to find something every day to be thankful for. Some days....that's a real task. But I think it's important to keep things in perspective. If you dwell too much on the negative, your life will soon be consumed by only negative things. I hope as you read this you have a little giggle. I hope you can relate some, and I hope when the 'bad things' set upon you, you will remember the little blessing that come your way. (No matter how small they may be.)

1. I have a couple grandchildren (and their parents) living with me right now. Two of which are toddler boys. I am exceedingly thankful every time I go to the bathroom and the toilette seat isn't wet.

2. I also have my two youngest children still at home. (One 15 and the other 17.) I am always thankful when I give them chores and they actually do them. LOL Now I'm sure that sounds a bit silly to some of you, but seriously.....when was the last time you attempted to get a 15 year old boy to wash dishes?

3. With all these people living in the same house, I'm terribly thankful my husband hasn't killed any of us yet. LOL (In addition, I'm also thankful that I haven't either.)

4. Often as I try to write, work on promotions, or other things, I am interrupted by someone knocking on the door. Usually it's one of the toddlers. Many times they just want to see Grandma. When I open the door to see what they need and hear, "I want you, Grandma." I am thankful to be so loved by such precious little blessings.

5. When I wake in the middle of the night and make it all the way to the fridge to get a drink AND back to the bedroom without stepping on a leggo or toy....I am thankful. (And usually amazed. LOL)

6. I am thankful for those rare mornings when I wake up to find that someone else has made coffee and I do not have to wait for my caffeine fix.

7. I am so very thankful for the 'just enough' moments that come along. 'Just enough' extra food when the kids have a surprise visitor for dinner. 'Just enough' money to pay a certain bill. 'Just enough' gas to get where I need to go. It's always great to have more, but 'just enough' is still something to be grateful for. ;)

So the point to this post....and there is a point...is simply this: Times are hard all over. Each of us have our own burdens to bear. BUT a burden can also be a little blessing. It's all in your perspective. Some people call it looking through rose colored glasses, I call it making the most out of what you have. Your perspective is your choice. No one can choose it for you. ;)

Friday, November 2, 2012

The Gifted Ones by PG Shriver Blog Tour Guest Post

GUEST POST:

On Ideas

The idea for The Gifted Ones Series began in 2000, during a telephone conversation with my late sister. Much of the planning for the entire series stemmed from communications between my mother, sister and me. During those long conversations, I always took for granted that they would be here to see its completion through, but four years later, my sister died from cancer.

That event became one of the worst in my life.

She was my only sister.

We were very close, in spite of the sibling rivalries we shared.

We spoke on the phone every day.

We watched each other's children.

We took road trips together.

We shopped together.

We were only two years apart, she the younger, and we were always there for each other.

Yet, in the end, I could not forge enough bravery to be there for her last moments. Although I spent many hours at the hospital after work, the day she died, I did not go right after work.

Instead, I went home, sat on the porch swing with my husband, and called the hospital room, knowing my mother would answer.

I remember so clearly the conversation between us. Knowing all hope had fled my sister's body, and our hearts as well, the final two weeks had only been a struggle of time.

"Well?"

Mother never cried in front of us. She never let her feelings show. She was the strongest woman I knew. Without a crack, her age lowered voice touched my ear, "She just took her last breath."

Of course, I knew. I knew I would somehow be there, though by phone, when she left us. She was my sister. I knew when I came home from work that day and did not go right to the phone that our sisterly connection would make me call at just the right time. If I had driven to the hospital after work, I might have made it, but I could not watch her leave us... me. I did not have the strength to say goodbye again. I just could not do it.

I always thought myself weak for not being there. My mother stayed until the end, strong enough to watch her younger daughter leave this world. I never understood how she could do that, until she died seven years later. From the time that my mother made that simple, dreaded statement, "I'll be going home soon," I mustered my courage. I absorbed all the strength she could give me, and twenty-four hours later, I held her hand while she took her last breath.

Those two events took me away from the series for a while. Mother was still here to see the first printing of The Gifted Ones: The Fairytale, but not to its completion. I continue to work on the second book now, though I did not write again until November of 2011. Today I think of Mom and Candy when I write about the deaths that the characters have to suffer through in the series. Proudly, I move forward on it in honor of them, my mother and sister, my sounding boards. Without their input, the ideas would not have formed. Without their passing, I might still be taking for granted that they would be here to see it through, and the first book may not be even complete. I believe everything happens for a reason. As a writer who uses a great deal of emotion in my works, I believe the lives and deaths of my mother and sister make me a better writer, not perfect, but better.

I will not take my writing for granted, again. I have stories to tell, and there is an audience to read them. I can do anything, get through anything, with my writing. My sister and mother let me know that. They believed in me, and I refuse to let them down.

About P. G. Shriver:
Born in California, and raised in Minnesota and Texas, P.G. spent her early years writing poetry and winning poetry contests, while escaping the drama in her own childhood by reading great books for children. Ever since her earliest days, she loved story telling. She wrote numerous short stories in High School and her early college years, continually trying to relive that first experience at the age of seven of seeing her name in print in the local newspaper.

P.G. sought her education at the University of Texas, where she studied English, literature, and Education. During the entire process of earning her BA and M.Ed, she never stopped writing and trying to be published. It was during this time that her first children's book No More Stinkbugs! was accepted for publication by Castle Keep Press. Many of her stories develop from nature.

P.G. graduated college and began her career in education, another great world that offered real experiences to humor and delight through children's books. She watched children interact, bringing to surface her own experiences as a child and yet more events to write about. While teaching, she discovered many great books for young people, such as The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, Maniac Magee, So. B. It and many more. She is a fan of Dean Koontz novels, too, and loves reading fantasy and paranormal books.

P.G. was married 20 years in March 2012 and has a bright, young daughter who has begun her own college career. She lives on a small farm in Texas with her family and animals. P.G. has experienced great love and loss throughout her life. Those her family has lost have dedications in her books.

P.G. has two young adult books published, Dead Perfect and The Gifted Ones: The Fairytale the first book in The Gifted Ones Trilogy. She also has several children's books written under Gean Penny, her pseudonym. P. G. has since dissolved her contract for her first book with Castle Keep Press and moved the title to her own imprint, Gean Penny Books.

Author Links:

Goodreads

Authorcentral
Purchase
WebsiteBlog
Facebook
Twitter

Tour Schedule:
11/1/2012 Bookish Whimsy

Magic, immortals, and being a good monster.

Pages

Translate

Friday, November 30, 2012

The Gifted Ones by PG Shriver Blog Tour Review

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Veer by Alyssa Rose Ivy Release Day Blitz

Sunday, November 25, 2012

A Part to Play by Jennifer L. Fry Blog Tour Guest Post

Friday, November 23, 2012

Young Adult E-book SALE!!!!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A Part to Play by Jennifer L Fry Blog Tour Review

Faded by Chloe Miles Blog Tour Guest Post

Monday, November 5, 2012

Little Blessings

Friday, November 2, 2012

The Gifted Ones by PG Shriver Blog Tour Guest Post