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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Traveling Vlog #9

Welcome to this week's edition of The Traveling Vlog with Jennifer Malone Wright, JH Glaze, K.B. Miller, and of course me.  Be sure to check out the spotlighted books/links below the video!!!

Have a great day!!!





BANDITS by LM Preston
FREE on Amazon!!!


THE CHILDE by C.A. Kunz

DARK DAYS by C.A. Kunz

MEANT TO BE by Tiffany King

THE ASCENDED by Tiffany King


Jen's Review Corner- facebook page


THE BLOODSTONE ORACLE
PENDANT!!!!

click the link below to go to the store




Sunday, September 9, 2012

A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods by Stan Popovich Blog Tour



Book Blurb:
"A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/

 



Author Bio: 
Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. 





Buy link

http://www.managingfear.com/order.html

Website
http://www.managingfear.com

Other Social Media Sites
http://twitter.com/managingfear
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/stanley-popovich/14/979/326
http://www.youtube.com/user/StanPopovich1
http://www.facebook.com/#!/stanley.popovich

Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4GxCX8N8Xk&feature=plcp

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Blah-dee blah blah

Yep.  You probably guessed by the title of the post that the blah monster has settled in.  I'm not entirely certain why he decided to take over my territory, but I'm doing my best to oust him.

I spent a good hour this morning seriously thinking about retiring from writing and just going back to being Mom and Grandma.  Those two things are enough to keep any one woman busier than bees in the spring without the added stress of writing, marketing, and publishing.

So I sat here contemplating a life without all those extra hassles.  Of course I'd have to finish the books I promised.  I wouldn't leave anyone hanging like that.  It's just not a nice thing to do.  But after.....

Hmmmm.  What about the after?  What would that really be like?  It went a little something like this:

Well for starters there'd be no more getting up at the butt crack of dawn.  I could sleep in just as long as I wanted!  (Oh wait, I still have kids to get off to school so I guess that's a no go.)

Soooo..... Oh I know!  No more facebook.  Think of the time I'll have to read, clean my house, play with the dog.  (Play with the dog?  Seriously?)

Okay this not retiring thing is looking better all the time.  I'm not even certain the dog actually likes me.  LOL

But I really don't have time right now to write.  There's 2 more babies coming in the next month.  Jakie's birthday is next month and it's right around the time his baby sister is due.  And this house?  Good night in the morning!  This house gets completely out of hand every stinkin day.  I've obviously bitten off more than I can chew.

However, I do manage to clean things up every day.  And the kids are supposed to be doing chores to help.  I can't really blame that on writing.  Good grief, I'm not really even writing right now.

And then I reached the core of my issue this morning.  I need to write.  I have all these voices and stories rummaging around in my brain and they want out.  Life got in the way because I have a very busy life, but....that doesn't change the fact that I want to write.

Ah ha!  Epiphany! LOL

I know a lot of you are writers, many more of you do other things and attempt to follow your dreams.  We all get down and out.  Sometimes it's like you can't catch a break to save your life.  But hang in there and remember the reason you do what you do.  Whether it's writing, singing, drawing, or playing the bongos....don't give up your dreams.  Sometimes you need to put them on hold for a bit, but don't ever give them up.

Well that settles it.  My blah monster has officially been ousted.  Sometimes you just need to take a sword to your monster and behead the beast.  ;) 

Monday, September 3, 2012

Forsaken by Kristen Day Blog Tour Guest Post


Author Kristen Day has stopped by today with a guest post for the Forsaken A Daughters of the Sea blog tour.


Synopsis:
Once you’ve been touched by darkness, it never leaves you…

Abandoned by her parents as an infant; seventeen year old Hannah spent her childhood wading through countless foster families until being adopted by the Whitmans three years ago.

Unfortunately, Atlanta’s high society wasn’t quite ready for Hannah…or the strange events that plague her.
Chilling visions of murder, unexplained hallucinations, and a dark, mysterious guy who haunts her nightmares all culminate to set in motion a journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she’s ever believed; not to mention her sanity.

Sent to live at The House of Lorelei on Bald Head Island, NC for ‘kids like her’, Hannah quickly realizes things are not what they seem. Her fellow ‘disturbed’ teens are actually the descendents of mythical Sea Gods and Goddesses. And so is she.

But when Finn, the ghost from her dreams, appears in the flesh; her nightmares become reality and her dark visions begin coming true. Inexplicably drawn to him, she can’t deny the dangerous hold he has on her heart. The deadly secrets he harbors will ultimately test her courage and push the boundaries of her love.

She must decide if she is ready to embrace the ancient legend she is prophesized to be a part of. The fate of all the descendents will forever depend upon it.


Forsaken (Daughters of the Sea, #1)
Guest Post:
After several hours of nail-biting deliberation, three sub-par attempts, and one epic fail, I think I’ve finally figured out what I want to write about in my guest post. I want to invite you on a mini tour - of my mind. I’ve been writing my entire life: poems, journals, short stories, quotes, and even songs. But they were simply bi-products of my experiences, feelings, and dreams; so close to my heart and soul, I would go to any length to make sure the only eyes that fell upon those sacred pages were my own. The words were too personal; too raw. The only exception was my very first published work - a poem about the color red. My second grade teacher tasked us with writing a short poem about our favorite color. In typical Kristen fashion, I completely forgot about it and found myself staring at a piece of paper the night before it was due. I wrote down whatever happened to pop in to my head at the time and was finished in about ten minutes. I stuffed it in my backpack and went back to my chocolate milk and strawberry toaster strudel dessert; poem forgotten. The next week it was chosen as the best poem in the class and selected to be in my elementary school’s annual student poetry collection. Go figure! 


That’s the moment I fell in love with the written word, but it was also the same moment I began hiding it. As you might imagine, second grade was the very last place a kid wanted to stand out - ‘different’ was NOT considered a desirable quality. Neither was getting a perfect score on every spelling test. But I was harboring secrets from my classmates. Besides the secret that I loved words as a whole, what truly drove me to achieve that perfect score each Friday was the glorious opportunity to plunge my tiny hand in the coveted bag of candy that perched tantalizingly close at the front of the room; promising delectable handfuls of Sprees, Pixie Sticks, and Skittles to anyone who aced the test. To this day, I’d gladly climb Mt. Everest for one of those little boxes of Nerds. 

So needless to say, when I get asked the question ‘How do you come up with this stuff?’ I tend to just shrug my shoulders and change the subject. I’ve never tried to explain it. But now, I’ve finally decided to divulge the ludicrous and bizarre mysteries of my mind. So here it is… (deep calming breaths)…(several sips of wine)…(another deep calming breath)…(overly dramatic pause in order to achieve maximum level of suspense). My thoughts and ideas…have a life of their own. I can only hope to contain them. These snarling idea-beasts crave one thing and one thing only: to feel. Even if I’m doing something as simple as painting a room, I’m actually searching for a particular feeling. That’s when the ravenous monster stirs; refusing to rest until I’ve searched to the ends of the earth for the exact color that elicits that emotion. In my craft room at home, the idea-beast demanded to feel inspired. Two weeks later, the color ‘Bittersweet Shimmer’ came in to my life and squelched the hunger; leaving me not only fulfilled from the success of finding the perfect color, but…well…inspired. 

So back to the whole reason you are graciously still reading my rambling web of thoughts. Forsaken. I wanted to write a book that would make the reader feel as many emotions as humanly possible. That was my end goal and not particularly an easy one. But I opened the door to my imagination (and the idea-beasts) and let them run wild. Thankfully, they travelled for two months and returned with a character who has felt the best and worst of what life has to offer. Along with a storyline that’s guaranteed to take her on the journey of her life - I knew it was something I could be proud of. As I have to do with my own uncontrollable idea-beasts, the reader will need to hold on tight, open their hearts and enjoy the ride. Hopefully at the end you will find yourself fulfilled…and inspired. 

Although I still tremble a little inside each time someone reads the sentences woven in the colorful corners of my mind, I’m having the time of my life and I’ve learned being different isn’t a curse blinking relentlessly on a neon sign. It’s a blessing in disguise whispering quietly to your mind. 

Thank you for spending some time with me today!!! If you get the chance to enter the enchanting world of the Daughters of The Sea, I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it! 

Kristen Day
Author Bio:
I am a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. I love all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. I've been told I see the world through rose-colored glasses, but I prefer to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something I can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).

I am the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN (Fall 2012), and CHOSEN (Fall 2012). I love all books, but really enjoy writing young adult, paranormal romances. I've loved to write for as long as I can remember. My first published work was my poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, I know) that won me 5 gold stars and a spot in my elementary school's poetry book. That's when my addiction to the written word officially began. I was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay.

When I'm not writing I'm making jewelry, painting, drinking sweet tea, watching the discovery channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing husband. I graduated from Appalachian State University and dream of becoming a full time novelist.
Author’s Links 
Blog 
Facebook

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Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour ;)
9/1 http://captivatedreading.com
9/2 http://myescape84.blogspot.com
9/3 willowcross.blogspot.com
9/4 http://bound2astound.blogspot.com
9/5 http://mymiscellaneousbookshelf.blogspot.fi/
9/5 http://lissalynnsreviews.blogspot.com/
9/6 http://kelseyheartsbooks.blogspot.com/
9/7 http://littlehyuts.blogspot.com/
9/8 http://whoopeeyoo.com
9/10 http://auggie-talk.blogspot.com
9/11 http://engelsigh.blogspot.com
9/12 http://thelibrariansbookshelf.blogspot.com/
9/13 http://sarahcatchingbooks.blogspot.com/
9/14 life-ducks.blogspot.com
9/15 http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com
9/16 http://www.readergirlsblog.com
9/17 http://www.moosubi.blogspot.com/
9/18 http://www.myseryniti.wordpress.com
9/19 http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au/
9/20 http://thelifeoffiction.blogspot.com
9/21 http://www.booklovinmamas.blogspot.com
9/22 thecoverbybrittany.blogspot.com
9/23 http://betweenthebind.blogspot.com
9/24 jennreneeread.blogspot.com
9/25 http://StressedRach.co.uk
9/26 http://geolibrarian.blogspot.com
9/27 http://projectreadandreview.blogspot.com
9/28 http://doctorsnotes-shy.blogspot.com
9/29 http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/
9/30 http://behindamillionandonepages

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Phoenix Rising by Lisa C. Morgan Blog Tour Guest Post


BOOK BLURB:
Maggie has lived the last ten years with a woman who isn't her mother and carrying the label "Daughter of John Henning", a man sentenced to live out his days at Sunnyview Psychiatric Hospital after his conviction of fire bombing a church...

and killing the 8 people inside.

What Maggie learns will change her life.
She is the last of a race of creatures known as "The Phoenix", a race of supernatural beings with the ability to wield and control fire.

And she will need that power now...

Revenants- walking, living, skeletal creatures who have waged a war against an unseen, parallel world known simply as The Realm- need Maggie's blood to bring them to a full power...a power that will give them an unbeatable edge and offer the deciding weapon in this war.

Maggie is not alone as she learns not only what she really is, but what it is her destiny to become...



Guest Post:

YA, an introduction 
YA…”young adult”. It’s a giant market of readers, consisting of as many subgenres as adult fiction. YA literature has been around for as long as words have been in existence. We all begin with books that helped to push our imaginations further, and many of the popular YA titles available now are finding hugely successful crossover appeal with adult readers.
There are some out there that flat out refuse to pick up and read any work labeled as young adult. I find that just… sad. The stories they’re missing… Another HUGE misconception among some- that writing in the YA category is easy, maybe even a ‘cop out”. Wow… are they misinformed.
But let us begin with the stories they’re missing. Books like The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Claire. Yes, angels. Yes, the main characters are in their late teens/early twenties. They face problems within their world, battling demons and such, but more over, these characters are also learning how to live their lives. They are asked to make choices based on the information they have at the time, sometimes with earth shattering consequences. They find love, they experience loss. These are all things adults can read in the books they choose, too.
The fact that the age of the characters is a factor in determining whether or not you read the book? I’ll say it- you’re missing out. These aren’t easy reading books, either.
The notion that because the books are targeting a young adult audience doesn’t always translate to meaning “little words, simple topics.” Some of the topics in YA books are as difficult to face as in any adult oriented novel. Take the popular books The Hunger Games… kids chosen to fight to the death. These books aren’t an attempt to glamorize killing or to take advantage of some fantasy about children murdering each other. These books explore real human emotions; they face tragedies and are forced to make difficult decisions that impact more than just themselves.
As a parent, I appreciate these books. Day to day, my children live in a society that puts hard choices on them and they must learn to navigate them. No, as of yet, none of my kids have been asked to kill a bunch of their fellow students or find sponsors (but my youngest does have a bow…just in case) but this theme can be used in their day to day life. Issues with friends, consequences to their actions, etc. And like it or not, kids won’t always go to their parents to talk about it. Many YA books have characters that face these choices and it gives kids the opportunity to think about how they would react if faced with a similar situation.
I write mainly YA. It isn’t easy like many think. YA comes with certain constraints that adult fiction doesn’t. For example, an adult oriented novel may have cuss words out the kazoo; YA, in general, tries to refrain from too much of that. It would be easy to drop an “F-bomb” in certain situations, but YA focuses more about the character development and problem resolution. My personal guideline in writing YA- would I let my children read what I wrote? I’ve been known to delete entire chapters because I wouldn’t be comfortable with it.
 Emotions play a large part in young adult writing too, no matter the subgenre. To assume that YA readers are not at an emotional level to understand some of the concepts is a misconception. I find emotional connections in YA books to be somewhat deeper. Perhaps it’s because the characters typically are not involved in a physical relationship, for the most part.
That’s another difficult part to writing YA- sex. We’ve probably all read books where those physical scenes include words like “throbbing” whatever. YA? Not so much. When a scene like that is written for the young adult market, they usually focus more on the emotions rather than the physical act. This can be a tricky thing to write. I believe we all, to one degree or another, have issues facing emotions. Teens and young adults, many just beginning in this area, especially so. Finding a balance between description of the physical and the emotional pieces is like walking a tight rope made of dental floss.
I'll admit, it upsets me to read posts and blogs where folks state they will never read a YA book for whatever reason. I often wonder if they skipped classics like Where the Wild Things Are or Alice in Wonderland- both books written to target the YA audience, both, arguably, classics.
The Young Adult market is one of, if not THE, fastest growing markets. Books geared for this age group are consistently found on best seller lists around the planet. To write a blank check that says “will not read” is unfortunate. These are not stories written in an afternoon, but for the most part, well crafted, deeply engaging reads that draw at emotions we all have. If books are the mini vacation many think they are, then Young Adult novels are our chance to turn back the hands of time and experience some of our most crucial and exciting life experiences. They give us a chance to see inside the thoughts of today’s youth, to really grasp what our children are going through, what they dream that they choose not to share with us “old fogies.”
Most of all, like any good book out there, they give us the opportunity to escape, even for a little while, into the life of someone else- to walk in their shoes, to live, love, and breathe with them. And isn’t that what a reading experience is supposed to be about?
I challenge you, set aside what you think you know about YA and dig deeper. You may find you like it.


Author Bio:
Lisa C. Morgan lives in rural Upstate NY with her husband, three children, a degu, a precocious Siberian Husky, and a half Pom/Half Chi spoiled baby named Salacious B. Dustbunny.
 A lover of books and words, it has always been her desire to tell stories that the people near her could listen and read, escaping the world around them by way of the page.
 Always having a new story idea popping into her head, (sometimes at the least appropriate of times,) Lisa can always be found with a notebook and writing utensil somewhere within reach, just as her 8th grade teacher made her promise to do.Lisa has two short stories previously published in anthologies. A Romantic short titled Nothing’s Terminal (A Home for the Holidays; December, 2011) and  a zombie themed short titled Antidote (The Thorn of Death; March 2012). Her debut novel- Phoenix Rising is the first in a new YA series Maggie Henning & The Realm and will be released July 2012. Upcoming will be the continuation in the series- Phoenix Burning, Phoenix Shadow, and Phoenix Ashes.
            When she isn't writing or taxing kids, Lisa enjoys reading, football, softball, cooking, singing & dancing, tattoos, and spending time with family and friends.


Phoenix Rising (Maggie Henning & The Realm: book 1)
Synopsis
“…And I believe you do not have the control over your fire yet to destroy us all.”  He was calling my bluff. Worse, he was right.

Phoenix Rising is a first person story revolving around sixteen year old Maggie Henning. Maggie lives with her mother and has spent the previous ten years of her life wearing a label- daughter of the murderer John Henning. Her father resides at Sunnybrook Psychiatric Hospital, having been convicted of killing eight people inside of a local church, burning them alive. Or so Maggie has always been told. Maggie’s world begins to change after finding a letter addressed to her from the psychiatric hospital that offers an ominous warning. She ignores the letter, waving it off as some random nut sending her mail.
Having to endure visits with her father, per her mother’s request, has left Maggie feeling isolated and alone, with exception to her one friend, Stephanie; daughter of her father’s deceased law partner. In an effort to cheer Maggie up, Stephanie and she take in a little “retail therapy” at the local mall.
Maggie finds herself drawn into a music store she doesn’t normally go in to, drawn by a melody played by a mysterious raven haired guy that apparently alarms Maggie’s friend.
Following an argument, Maggie is abandoned at the shopping center to walk home, only to spot the mystery man again, riding a motorcycle, who offers her a ride home. Maggie isn’t normally that reckless, but she decides to throw caution to the wing and take him up on the offer.
The stage is set after a visit to her see her father, normally in a fairly catatonic state, comes aware, giving Maggie the same warning as the letter she received. Creatures, called “revenants” want Maggie’s blood. Just when Maggie had felt optimistic about her father, the hopes were dashed. But, she had seen strange things; bones, pointed teeth, rotting flesh…
The drive home reveals that Maggie’s mother is NOT what she seemed to be and after she’s attacked, the mystery guy, named Michel, arrives and rescues Maggie from one of these creatures.
Maggie is taken to “The Trust”, a manor house that offers protection to beings from “The Realm”- another world that lives right below the surface of the Mortal one. Maggie begins to learn of this strange world and the creatures that inhabit it, including a young witch with much to live up to named Autumn, a light hearted fairy named Seatha, and two Vampire Princes of The Realm, one of which is Michel. Michel is kind and level headed. Luc, his brother, is a smart ass and calls things as he sees them. The two brothers tend to be opposites of each other in most things, with exceptions to their kingdom and now, Maggie.
Maggie meets Liam at The Trust, learning that the crazy board game eating man from the asylum is really her grandfather. Liam explains The Realm, offering guidance, and more importantly, informs Maggie of what she really is- the last of a race of beings called “Phoenixes”, creatures who have the ability to call fire and use it as they wish.
The revenants, led by a creature named Ossa, will stop at nothing to get Maggie; needing her blood to bring them to full power.
Maggie must not only come to believe in all that she has heard, including that she’s one of these mythical creatures from stories, but also learn how to wield her power to face the creatures that would destroy both worlds Maggie has come to know of. All of this, even as she begins to feel more than mere friendship with one of the Princes…

Links:
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-C-Morgan-Author/322116171151749
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LisaCMorgan
twitter: @iluvvikingvamps
getglue: http://getglue.com/iluvvikingvamps
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