Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Review Tour: Entromancy

Entromancy: Book One of the Nightpath Trilogy
by M.S. Farzan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB

2076 is not a good year to be a special agent. A quarter of the world's power runs on ceridium, a newly discovered element that has had the unintended consequence of spawning a new race of people, and several forms of magic that were once thought to have been forgotten. Eskander Aradowsi is an agent of NIGHT, a paramilitary force created to contain and control this new perceived threat, but he soon learns that not all within his organization is as it seems. A botched mission turns out to be the least of his troubles, when he unearths a plot that threatens the uneasy truce between the aurics and humans of San Francisco, and centers on a form of magic that toys with the very fabric of the universe: Entromancy.



An Excerpt 


I fought to stay calm.  I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears, matching the drumming in my temple, and I kept forgetting to breathe.  I hedged, knowing that I could leave, taking the auric with me for questioning, but I wouldn’t have time to evacuate the people upstairs.  I wasn’t familiar with being unsure of my next course of action, and I didn’t care for the feeling.


I had neither the time to give the defuse protocol another try nor the skillset to hack into the device and do it the hard way.  I synced the timer with my digitab and saw the countdown appear in my lenses.  Pocketing the digitab, I released my knee from the auric’s throat and grabbed him by the collar.


“What’s the code?” I snarled at him.


“What?” he said thickly.  I could see the blood staining his white teeth.


“Don’t play stupid with me,” I said, shaking him.  “What’s the code?”


“The hell, man?  What code?”


I could see that he had no idea what I was talking about.  I glanced back at the bomb and up at the time display.  21:27:24, three minutes and thirty-six seconds.


The auric craned his neck to follow my gaze, then looked at me.  I could see understanding register in his eyes.


“We’re dead?” he queried.


I nodded absently, reaching for another ceridium capsule.  Prying off a glove with my teeth, I reached out towards the device.


The auric’s hand shot up and grabbed weakly at my wrist.  “You’re going to kill us, man!” he protested.


“Probably!”  I looked back towards a side entrance next to the counter.  “Can you open that?”


He hesitated, then nodded slightly.

“Do it,” I said.  He got up slowly and trotted over to the door.



Buy Link 
https://www.amazon.com/Entromancy-Nightpath-Trilogy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0161VPC90/


About the Author

M. S. Farzan was born in London, UK and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has a B.A. in Integrative Biology, M.A. in Religious Leadership for Social Change, and Ph.D. in Cultural and Historical Studies of Religions. He has written and worked for high-profile video game companies and editorial websites such as Electronic Arts, Perfect World Entertainment, and MMORPG.com, and has trained in and taught Japanese martial arts for over ten years. He also enjoys soccer, baseball, and games of all kinds.



My Review
This is the first book by M.S. Farzan that I have read. If you count Hunger Games, this is the second science fiction book I have read.

This was a quick and easy book to read.

Each chapter had a quote at the beginning. I believe the quote made the chapter easier to follow.
The book also contained clever dialogue, use of magic and a character from Michigan. All of which made the book interesting.

I would like to read the next two books in this trilogy.

Rating: πŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒ


The Giveaway
The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


Blog Tour: The Highlander's Crusader Bride

Meet the Author:

Cathy MacRae lives on the sunny side of the Arbuckle Mountains where she and her husband read, write, and tend the garden—with the help of the dogs, of course.
You can visit with her on facebook, or read her blogs and learn about her books at www.cathymacraeauthor.com. Drop her a line—she loves to hear from readers!
* * *
DD MacRae enjoys bringing history to life and considers research one of the best things about writing a story! With more than 35 years of martial arts training, DD also brings breath-taking action to the tales.
You can connect with DD through www.cathymacraeauthor.com. It’s always exciting to hear from readers!

About the Book:

Born in the Holy Lands only a few years after the Third Crusade, half-Armenian, half-Scot Arbela MacLean is a true daughter of the desert, beautiful and untamed. Trained to be a warrior to avoid her gentle mother’s fate, Arbela has honed her skills with Turkish bow and arrow, sword and throwing darts—and dreads the day her father choses a man for her to marry.
After more than thirty years in the Holy Land, Donal MacLean, Baron of Batroun, is recalled to Scotland, the last son available to take up leadership of clan MacLean. He brings with him knights, treasure, trade—and a daughter of marriageable age.
Caelen MacKern, known as the Bull of the Highlands, is cynical about women. His first marriage formed an alliance, and he did not grieve when his spoiled, immature bride passed away. He has agreed to marry again—against his better judgement—for the men, means and coin to recover from a devastating pestilence that all but wiped out his clan.
More than a little resentful at finding himself forced to remarry, Caelen’s proposal to Donal MacLean’s headstrong daughter nevertheless piques her interest. Each will receive what they want most from life—the ability to live as they please without interference from a meddling spouse. But their marriage of indifference will soon change to one of passion that neither Arbela nor Caelen could have predicted.
Purchase: Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Giveaway:

  • $20 Amazon Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, October 30, 2017

Book Blast: Son of the Moon


BLURB

In Nysa, Alexander the Great and time traveling journalist Ashley find their abducted son Paul being worshiped as ""the son of the moon"". Knowing she can’t change history and that Alexander’s kingdom will be torn apart when he dies, Ashley must make the terrible decision to leave her firstborn son in the sacred valley.

Alexander presses on to India, where he and Ashley are welcomed with feasts - and treachery.  They struggle through monsoons, face the might of Porus’s army, and outwit deadly Brahmin rebels. Facing the reality of Alexander’s looming death, Ashley considers the unthinkable - How to save him, and the consequences of cheating the Fates. Book III in the Time for Alexander series"


An Excerpt 

The battle that day was over by mid-morning. Alexander lost twelve men. The enemy lost half their army and sued for peace before noon.

Alexander was carried into the infirmary where I was helping Usse. His ankle had been shattered by a lance.

“Are you all right?” I asked, rushing to his side.

He stared at me, sweat pouring off his face, and his eyes two wells of pain.

“Would I come here if I was all right?” he gasped.

I sat down next to him and held his hand while Usse took off his sandal and examined the wound. When he probed, my own hand was nearly broken in Alexander’s grip, and I yelped.

“Sorry,” muttered the slender Egyptian doctor, dousing the ankle with hot water mixed with different herbs. He cleansed it and put a splint around it. There wasn’t much else he could do. Now we just had to pray it didn’t get infected.

We stayed for three days while we organized the peace talks with both tribes. Then Alexander decided to pull out and head straight to Nysa. An ambassador for the Assacenian king told us that the child of the moon was being worshipped in Nysa.

The child of the moon was Paul, my baby, now nearly five years old. I hadn’t seen him since he was ten days old.


About the Author
Jennifer Macaire lives in France with her husband, three children, & various dogs & horses. She loves cooking, eating French chocolate, growing herbs and flowering plants on her balcony, and playing golf. She grew up in upstate New York, Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. She graduated from St. Peter and Paul high school in St. Thomas and moved to NYC where she modeled for five years for Elite. She went to France and met her husband at the polo club. All that is true. But she mostly likes to make up stories.

Links

BLOG ... FACEBOOK ... TWITTER ... AMAZON ... BARNSANDNOBLE

The Giveaway

$10 Amazon/BN GC




Sunday, October 29, 2017

Sunday Post #11: Just a Re-cap 3

It seems as though I have to make this week's Sunday Post a re-cap only. I put direct links to each blog post for this past week. Please note that I did not plan for the 26th to be a double post day.

Post Rewind
πŸ“Œ[double post day] 16th = Pre-order Blast: Betting on Ciderella ... Book Blast: Deadspeak 2

πŸ“Œ 17th = Blurb Blitz Tour: Sweets & Treats

πŸ“Œ19th = Blog Tour: Her Duke at Daybreak

πŸ“Œ21st = Release Tour: Betting on Cinderella

πŸ“Œ24th = VBT: Of the Divine

πŸ“Œ25th = RWC: Eternal

πŸ“Œ[double post day] 26th = Blog Tour: Falling into Right  ... Review: Delay of Game

πŸ“Œ27th = Romance Between the Pages Weekly Podcast -- Oct. 27th


"Heads Up" - Posts for the New Week

πŸ”Ό30th = Book Blast: Son of the Moon

πŸ”Ό [double post day] 31st = Blog Tour: The Highlander's Crusader Bride ..... Review Tour: Entromancy

πŸ”Ό1st = Spotlight: Love in Dublin

πŸ”Ό2nd = Spotlight: Wyoming Winter

πŸ”Ό3rd = VBT: Snakes Can't  Run


πŸ“–Currently ReadingπŸ“–
"Blind Tribute" (by Mari Christie) = 49%

***The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @
http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/the-sunday-post-meme

Friday, October 27, 2017

Review: Delay of Game

A pregnancy and a 10 game suspenstion are only small parts in the the lives of Cam Johnson and Sara Thomas.
The Portland Storm finally have a post-season to speak of when Cam "Johnny" Johnson receieves a 10-game suspension. That, of course, is the least of his problems. As for Sara, she has issues of her own.

This is book #5 in Catherine Gayle's Portland Storm Series.

What I like about Cam (besides being a hockey player) is that there seems to be more to him than meets the eye. He has taken blame (his or not) for the major health that occured in this story.
Sara, in small way, reminds me of Noelle (Light the Lamp). She is worried about taking care of someone other than herself.

Rating: πŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒ

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Blog Tour: Falling into Right


Title: Falling Into Right 
Author: Sharon Kay 
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Release Date: October 24, 2017 
Cover Designer: Kim Killion 



How do you recover when life kick boxes your soul?
Becca Gable is fighting to stay on her feet after a series of crushing losses. She's always been the good girl until the events of the past year push her to make a mistake she can’t take back. Now, her corporate finance job and her fiancΓ©e are gone thanks to her newly-acquired criminal record.
Shane Marlow survived an IED blast during his service in Iraq—but half his team did not. Physically healed, he returns to his home county as a K9 officer. The scars of loss run deep and though local folks admire him, no one truly gets him—until Becca literally lands in front of him.
Their bond of shared tragedy evolves into a connection both fiery and healing. But a stalker decides that Becca’s crime should stay front and center. As the unsettling episodes reveal that no part of her life is secret, Shane is all that stands between her and the enemy.



Shane tilted her chin up. Big, sad eyes stared back at him. Hell, he’d had that bleak feeling. The point where his heart hurt for his team, and he felt like he was facing a sheer vertical climb with no help. He dealt with it by working, running with Denver, shooting, hanging out on Redemption Hill. And he pushed the negative thoughts to the back of his mind. But not until Becca had he realized that meeting someone who’d walked his path could make a difference. “I see that look,” he murmured. “What look?” “The one that says you’re at the bottom of a twenty-foot pit with no ladder.” “Maybe I am,” she whispered. “How did you get out?” “Don’t know if I have,” he said. “But meeting you bumped me up higher than I was before.” Her brows knit. “How can I help you when I can’t even help myself?” “Just being you is all you need to do.” He laced his fingers with hers. “I’m not good with words. But I’ve never met anyone who’s been through anything close to what I have—losing people too soon, and not just one—except for the rest of my team. And, uh, it’s not like we hang out and talk about our feelings or anything.” She gave a half laugh. “Yeah, I guess not.” Light fingertips grazed his knuckles. “I still don’t know how I’m helping, but as long as you think I am, I wanna keep on with it.” “I like that plan.” Finally, a happy glint appeared in her eyes. “I like you.” He grinned. “Seein’ as you’re buck naked in my bed, you better.” “You’re bad.” She smacked his chest and kept her hand there, pushing him back. “Lie down.” He guessed she wanted to cuddle and that was fine with him. Stretching out on his side of the bed, he held out his arms. “Come here.” But instead, she leaned across his chest and pressed a warm kiss to his pec. Not a quick press of her lips to his skin. But one that lingered, yanking his mind to a place he hadn’t expected to go tonight. Not that he minded. “Becca?” She raised her magnetic eyes, but not her warm, naughty mouth. Her kiss, slow and languid, ignited every inch that she touched. “Mmm?” A hundred questions popped rapid fire into his head. Was she okay? Did she need to talk or to just be held or something? He’d never been good at comfort. But each thought was derailed by the fire in his veins. He trusted she’d tell him what she wanted. And right now, she didn’t need to say a word.

Sharon Kay writes award-winning fiction and can never get enough reading time. She loves winter and black coffee, and is endlessly inspired to write kick-ass heroines and the men strong enough to capture their hearts. Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and one weekend the idea for her Lash Watchers and tough leading ladies formed in her head, refusing to stay quiet until she put pen to paper. Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and slay endless varieties of power-hungry demons






Wednesday, October 25, 2017

RWC: Eternal


Synopsis

After months of bad luck and even worse men, Luciana Diaz just wants to crawl under the covers and forget the year ever happened. Her friend has other plans, convincing Luci to attend a New Year’s Eve party on the affluent shores of Kiawah Island.
Luci never expected to have fun. She also never expected to wake up next to a man she just met, or for this man to be the new attorney at her firm.
Landon Summers is done with drama. After an ugly separation and even worse divorce, he has no desire to jump into another relationship.
When his sister Trinity drags him to a New Year’s Eve party, he doesn’t plan to stay long. One drink, a few hellos, and he’s out. Until he meets Luci, the first person in months to draw his smile and incite his passion.
Neither Luci nor Landon planned on each other, and they definitely didn’t plan on love. But the New Year means a fresh start, and eternal possibilities neither could deny…


An Excerpt 
Banging from the kitchen has me turning in the direction of the wall oven. The brunette shoves the tin of crab cakes into the center, shiny with the sauce she basted them with.
No sooner than she sets the timer and takes off her oven mitt than Kirk Watson arrives. “Hey, sweet thing. How about you fix me a plate?”
How about I punch you in the head, Kirk?
I glare in his direction. She’s the only non-Caucasian woman in the immediate vicinity. I’m not trying to be a dick and assume he’s racist, I’ve just known him long enough to know that’s what he is. Not to mention, she’s in a cocktail dress or whatever the fuck, not dressed in a black shirt and pants like the caterers Becca hired.
Her small chin juts slightly forward. “I’m sorry, sir,” she says. “I don’t work here, I was just helping someone out.”
Kirk is already drunk and way past horny. He leans his arm against the overhead counter and gives her the kind of once-over that should send her to the nearest shower to wash his filth clean. “Then how about I buy you a drink?”
“It’s my understanding the drinks are free,” she tells him.
He sidesteps in front of her when she tries to walk away, blocking her. “Come on, sweetie. I’m just trying to be nice.”
I don’t think things through. I storm in from the opposite side and from one blink to the next, I’m suddenly there.
The brunette takes a step back and into me, my presence startling her and making her jump. “Back off, Kirk. She’s with me.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have said what I did, but Kirk’s the type who doesn’t know when to quit unless there’s a bigger man there to make him.
Tonight, that bigger man is me. He swipes his shaved head, offering me a slick smile that turns challenging real quick. “Is that right?”
“Damn straight.” I think the brunette looks up at me, but I’m too busy looking at Kirk. Yeah, he’s drunk, and ready to take a swing. The protective side of me kicks in. I grasp my supposed damsel in distress by the elbow and gently guide her behind me.
His gaze trails to her briefly before returning to me. “I thought you were hard up.”
“Nah,” I say, not wanting to give this idiot any amount of satisfaction. “Onto bigger and better as you can see.”
“Or tinier and cuter?” he offers.
“Watch your mouth,” I fire back, knowing he’s not complimenting her, but rather trying to rile me. “Like I said, she’s with me.”
I clench my fists, causing my knuckles to crack. I don’t think he hears the crunch, not over the music and escalating clamor of voices. He does see me, though. Whatever he catches in my hardening features is enough to make him back down. Smart man, at least when it comes to a fight. He knows I can take a hit, and give one a hell of a lot harder.
He grunts and slinks away, like he did me a favor by letting me off and not the other way around. I keep him in my sights. By the time he reaches the door leading out to the foyer, he perks up, likely having spotted the next woman he’ll approach.
I wait until he disappears into the next room before turning back to the brunette. “Ma’am,” I say, tilting my chin.
I mean to step away and back in the direction of my beer. One drink and out, right? Sounded good in theory except the moment I shift my weight to walk away, her smile holds me in place.
It’s not the kind of smile that promises anything close to what the bartender offered, nor is it teasing and daring like the half-dozen cheerleaders Becca introduced me to flashed. It simply is, fragile like the first snowflakes that fall in winter, and shy like a young woman at her first dance, hoping no one notices she’s not dressed like the rest.
I like what she’s wearing. She looks nice to look nice, not to impress or show off. And someone as pretty as her, well, she doesn’t need to be so shy.
Her lips are glazed in a soft pink like her dress, not overly done, just enough to give them a shine and glisten her light eyes. “Thank you,” she says, quietly. “For helping me out.”
“You’re welcome.”
I take a step in the direction of the bar, eyeing my beer like it’s waiting for me to return. But the step feels unusually heavy and I think my friend the beer can wait.
I turn slowly and offer this little thing with the pretty eyes and the soft smile my hand. It shouldn’t seem like such a big deal or much of an effort, but it’s a little of each. Maybe for both of us. “I’m Landon.”
She takes my hand. I watch it as it disappears within my grasp.
“Hi, Landon,” she replies quietly. “I’m Luci.”


About Cecy Robson
CECY ROBSON is an author of contemporary romance, young adult adventure, and award-winning urban fantasy. A double RITA® 2016 finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed, and a published author of more than eighteen titles, you can typically find her on her laptop writing her stories or stumbling blindly in search of caffeine.

Follow Cecy:  Website | Twitter | Facebook |Newsletter

The Giveaway
Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and (3) Digital Copies INSEVERABLE from Cecy Robson!

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

VBT: Of The Divine


BLURB:

Henna is one of the most powerful sorcerers in the Order of Napthol, and her runes ’s runes tell her that the future of Kavet is balanced on the edge of the knife. The treaties between Kavet and the dragon-like race known as the Osei have become intolerable. The time has come for the royal house to magically challenge Osei dominion. Prince Verte, Henna' lover, is to serve as the nexus for the powerful but dangerous spell, with Naples--an untested young sorcerer from the Order of Napthol--a volatile but critical support to its creation.

Amid these plans, Dahlia Indathrone’s arrival in the city shouldn’t matter. She has no magic and no royal lineage, and yet, Henna immediately knows Dahlia is important. She just can’t see why. 

As their lives intertwine, the four will learn that they are pawns in a larger game, one played by the forces of the Abyss and of the Numen—the infernal and the divine. 

A game no mortal can ever hope to win.


An Excerpt 
The ocean that covered most of the Numen’s first level was clear and sweet. It lapped against diamond sand where tiny long-legged birds spread wings the color of honey as they raced back and forth, plucking drifting seeds from the air. The Numini—those perfect, beautiful sentinels who ruled the divine realm by might and decree—watched the birds’ antics with gentle amusement.

One Numini looked past the white sands and crystal waters below to a realm where the ocean was cold and tasted of salt, where verdant green cascaded across rich earth, and where the mortal creatures lived.

Soon, she thought. She was one of the three arbiters who ruled the Numen, second only to the high justice of her kind.

“I am concerned about the Abyssi,” remarked one of her brothers, a lesser judge. “We have worked for generations to nurture these lines of power, and now they could all be—”

“Have faith,” she assured him. “Abyssi scrabble at the mortal realm like dogs at a closed door. They always have. They lack the wisdom or discipline to do more than that.”

“But do the mortals have the wisdom to keep the door closed?” he challenged.

“Faith,” the arbiter said again. This time it was a clear chastisement.

She knew their children in the mortal world were defenseless. Humans had minds barely capable of comprehending their own existence, and as a consequence lived short and brutal lives. They needed their divine guardians to guide and nurture them. The Abyssi—vicious, mindless beasts of the infernal realm—could fight for sovereignty all they wanted. In the end, it wouldn’t matter.

In the mortal realm, all things served the divine.

Buy Link
https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Mancer-Book-Two-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01N2JHW9X



About the Author


Amelia Atwater-Rhodes wrote her first novel, In the Forests of the Night, when she was 13 years old. Other books in the Den of Shadows series are Demon in My View, Shattered Mirror, Midnight Predator, all ALA Quick Picks for Young Adults. She has also published the five-volume series The Kiesha’ra: Hawksong, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror List Selection; Snakecharm; Falcondance; Wolfcry; and Wyvernhail.
Wikipedia ... Website ... Twitter ... Facebook

The Interview


* Did you use any of your own experience as inspiration?

I often use my own experiences as inspiration, sometimes in obvious and direct ways, and sometimes more generally.

One example of an experience that translated directly to a story was when I spent several hours in the hospital with a friend of mine (yes, I have his permission to tell the story). His insurance company had recently dropped coverage for a key medication he took, and as a result, he was having severe hallucinations. As we waited in that small hospital room, him trying to stay chill and calm and me trying to keep him distracted, I kept watching his eyes dart around the room-- behind me, the ceiling, the floor, the door. At one point he interrupted our conversation and just asked in this absolutely deadpan voice, “You don’t see them, do you?”

Of course I said no. Logically, I knew what was happening, and I knew it was important for me to stay calm and be his touchstone in that moment. On the other hand, I grew up with paranormal horror stories. The moment made my skin crawl. So I put it into a book-- specifically, Promises to Keep. Many of Erin’s lines in that book (and things that are said to Erin) come directly from conversations I had with that friend.


* On average, how long does the writing process take?

I’m not sure there is an “average.” I gather I’m different from most authors, in that I do not like to propose a book or sign a contract until I have a complete first draft (better yet, revised draft) of the book in question. I never realized this was unusual until I was talking to my publisher about deadlines for the Mancer trilogy, and they were surprised to realize I had written the entire thing already.

That being said, I don’t have a neat calendar of propose idea -> contract -> draft -> revise -> publish. I may play with an idea for months or years before I get around to writing it, or I may start a book, set it aside, and finish it years later. All Just Glass and Persistence of Memory, two of the books in my YA Den of Shadows series, are examples of books where I tinkered on the idea for many years before finishing a draft and considering publication.

In the case of Mancer, the idea and first draft came very quickly; I started the first words of Mancer 1 on November 1, 2006, and I finished the last words in the summer of 2007. I then experimented with other areas of the world, shared with friends, got a lot of beta-reading feedback, discussed the possibility of publishing with my agent in 2010, went back to the drawing board and reconsidered the main themes and genre of the stories, started and stopped rewriting Mancer 1 about a dozen times as other works too precedence-- and only decided to actually publish in 2015, almost a decade after the first drafts were written. After that, it took a little under a year to finish revisions and bring the book to print.

In other cases, such as Hawksong (the first book of the YA Kiesha’ra Series), the first draft took about half a year (around 2000-2001). I remember I was actively revising it around the time of 9/11, which affected the themes (war, inherited hatred) of the story a great deal. That book was released in 2003, which meant the final, revised version was submitted to my publisher in 2002.

*  When did you realize you wanted a career in writing?
I decided in seventh grade that I wanted to publish a novel, but at the time, I never considered it “a career.” In fact, I was determined (and still am) to have another career. I never wanted writing to be my one and only focus, partly because I need other things in my life in order to keep the writing flowing, and partly because I never wanted to reach the point where I felt I needed to keep writing just for the money if I decided I didn’t want to any more.

Of course, over time I needed to admit that it was a career-- just not my only career.

* If you weren't an author, what other career paths would you have taken?
In addition to my writing, I am also a full time teacher. I teach mostly English (and some biology and computers) and mostly high school seniors at a school for students with language-based learning disabilities.

If it hadn’t been for my writing career, though, I probably wouldn’t have realized how much I loved teaching. Writing put me in touch with other aspiring writers and both struggling and proficient readers; the conversations I had with them and the work we did together are among the influences that pushed me toward teaching. Without the writing or the teaching…

I considered for a while becoming a Constitutional Lawyer, like my grandfather. Civics and civil rights are passions of mine still today, and I love to debate, but I decided I didn’t have the temperament to make it through law school. Other pet interests of mine are marketing and industrial/organizational psychology, which I probably would have pursued if my heart hadn’t already been taken by teaching. I would have enjoyed working in advertising or company organization-- you know, those fields that tend to be completely hated by everyone!  

* Out of the characters that you created, who is your favorite?


* What advice would you give to someone looking to be a writer?
That depends where you are in the process. If you haven’t written a book yet, my advice is: write the book first! That makes you a writer. Don’t even think about publishing until you have written your book, handed it to several people, received feedback, and done revisions. That’s how you can tell if you are just writing for the love of writing (a perfectly valid thing to do!) or if you really have the stomach for publishing. If you’re not ready to handle the gritty details of publishing, trying to jump into it took quickly is the fastest way to ruin your love of writing.

True story: I had a friend was querying agents and publishers, and finally received a response asking for the manuscript! I was so happy for him-- some people try for YEARS and never receive a request. The problem? He hadn’t finished it yet! In fact, he wasn’t able to finish it in time to meet the publisher’s request, which meant he finally got the call most authors wish for, only to waste it. Write the book. Edit it. Then think about publishing.

If you have already done all that, then my biggest advice is not to rush. Take your time to do real research. Don’t let a vanity publishing house take advantage of you because you either don’t know the difference, or because you’re too impatient to handle the long process of submission and (usually) rejection.

* What kind of research (if any) was required for any of your books?
The research required for my books and the research I do don’t entirely line up, because I love doing research. Sometimes what I need is to spend five minutes checking on a quick fact, and what ends up happening is six hours of in-depth study of the topic.

That said, I do a lot of research. Much of it is historical-- do you have any idea how many things weren’t invented before the 1850s? Toilet paper and window screens are among them. When I wrote a book set in 1804, this mattered a lot.

Mancer is a fantasy series, so it doesn’t rely on real-world history, but I do draw on the real world as a basis. When I write sea travel or trade, it is roughly analogous to mid-1700s. Agriculture and seasons in Kavet are more or less based on Maine (mostly coastal, since Kavet is an island). Where it gets more complex is where I need to synthesize multiple sources to account for an essential different between the worlds. For example, iron is scarce in the Mancer world, unlike in our own. I had to consider how this would affect trade, technology, agriculture, and weaponry.

Other research I’ve done ranges far and wide. How does low gravity affect the development of chickens? What fruit trees could be grown in a small-space aquaponics environment? How do riots start, and what it is like to be in one? What was the earth like in the pre-cambrian age? How could you kill a vampire (aka, completely destroy the heart) using only your bare hands? What are the largest species of migratory fish that one would find in a tropical ocean environment, and what are their patterns? How do you prevent scurvy? Each and every one of these has been a truly essential question, and that’s only scratching the surface.

*How long after you finish a book do you start another one?

As I mentioned before, my process isn’t entirely linear; I am usually working on a couple books at the same time, most often with one primary book and a few that I play around with. When I start a new book therefore has very little to do with scheduling or logic or even common sense. There’s nothing so inspiring as the busiest time of the year to want to start something new!

The Givaway
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes will be awarding a limited edition print copy of the book *U.S. only* to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.



Thursday, October 19, 2017

Blog Tour: Her Duke at Daybreak


Meet the Author:

Wendy LaCapra has been reading romance since she sneaked into the adult section at the library and discovered Victoria Holt & Jane Aiken Hodge. From that point on, she dreamed of creating fictional worlds with richness, intrigue and passion. Her stories have placed in several contests, including the 2012 Golden Heart® and her debut series, a trilogy about three Ladies who refuse to play by society’s rules, was released by Entangled Scandalous. She lives in NYC with her husband and loves to hear from readers. For new release and sale alerts, sign up at http://bit.ly/GetWendyNews

Connect: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

About the Book:

Infamous for his pedigree of madness and murder, the reclusive Duke of Ashbey believes he cannot feel until a mysterious woman unlocks a world of sensation in a single, shattering moment of connection. He casts a desperate bid for more.

Recent widow Alicia Stone has long been reviled as the chief impediment to a love affair that captured the nation’s imagination. Publicly, she settled for respectability’s cold comfort, but, secretly, she longs to experience what she never found with her famous husband—uninhibited passion.

When a devilish duke proposes a discreet three-night assignation, Alicia shocks herself by accepting. But will their explosive union cost them both far more than they bargained?

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Add to Goodreads


Giveaway:

A Wendy LaCapra Prize Pack featuring the following:
  • A "Live the Life you Love" Make Up Bag
  • A $15 Barnes and Noble Gift Card
  • A Pair of Blackthorn Earrings made by Mythospheria at Etsy
  • Signed Copies of Lady Vice, Lady Scandal and Duchess Decadence

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Blurb Blitz Tour: Sweets & Treats


The Blurb
This book contains 25 deliciously simple chocolate treats without all the stuff that will wreak havoc on your digestive system. The ingredients are less refined, as well as being dairy, gluten and soy-free.  Many are also grain-free, peanut-free, vegan, vegetarian, or Paleo (noted as such on each recipe). A dream come true for chocolate lovers who crave clean, yet decadent chocolate delights!


About the Author 

Carrie Lombardi is a Certified Health Coach, wife, and mom to three wonderful grown children. She loves chocolate! She strives to make her recipes tasty and tries to include ingredients which may be beneficial for the body. In addition to her recipes being gluten, dairy, and soy-free, she uses the healthiest ingredients possible that will maintain the integrity of the dish and will be fun, delicious to eat, and keep the belly happy and healthy!

Carrie struggled for many years with digestive issues. .A diagnosis of sensitivities to dairy, gluten, and soy set her on a journey to optimal health and wellness through food and adopting a healthy lifestyle. She decided to become a health coach to fulfill her passion of helping people with food
sensitivities to improve their health and to feel their best. Carrie received her training at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She enjoys the challenge of creating recipes reminiscent of the old gluten and dairy-filled dishes she loved growing up and finding healthier ways to make sweets that are just as indulgent.Through her website,www.happyhealthybelly.info, Carrie helps educate people on finding balance in their life through nutrition and healthy lifestyle strategies. She offers fun tips and recipes for those wishing to follow a gluten, dairy, and soy-free diet.

Links

The Giveaway 
Carrie will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.