lunedì 29 ottobre 2012

Unguarded by Ashley Robertson Book Blast!!


We have an amazing Book Blitz for Unguarded by Ashley Robertson!
The author is offering 3 fabolous swag packs with Autographed books and
a 10$ Giftcard, so what are you waiting?! Fill out the Rafflecopter below!

Unguarded
Author: Ashley Robertson
Published: 1st July 2012; self-published
Puchase: Amazon (Kindle, Paperback)

Guardian angel Selene was so close to becoming an archangel—the supreme of all beings—until she fell in love with Cole, a forbidden dark one. Once she discovers her vampire lover has been kidnapped and the only way to save him is by abandoning her number one priority—Caitlyn, her human charge—there really is only one answer in Selene’s mind, even though leaving Caitlyn unguarded will most likely cause Selene to fall from grace. But her choice to save Cole doesn’t come without a price…and now Selene is racing against time to not only save her dark lover, but find a way to keep Caitlyn alive as well. With the help of a new vampire ally, Luke, Selene will push her diminishing angel abilities to the point where her very existence lies in the balance. Now threatened with the chance of becoming a fallen angel or even dying, Selene can only pray she’ll have enough time—and good grace—to save the ones she loves
About the author:

 Ashley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, Florida and loves reading and writing about everything urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When she isn’t writing you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, traveling and exploring new places, drinking fine red wines, and making gourmet coffees with her Nespresso machine.

 Follow Ashley Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads Blog 




The Give@way!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

sabato 27 ottobre 2012

Showcase Sunday #12 DVDs Edition!


Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Book, Biscuits and Tea
               The aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag
                and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought
            in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week.

Physical books and DVDs


Wow! That's what happened this week: a shop who rented DVDs next to my house is closing so all DVDs can be bought for just 2.50 Euro per unit! That's amazing! I bought the entire Narnia series: (yes, I'm a looser but I've read all the books)

-The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
-Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
-The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
So proud of them! *w*

I also got Foundation, a fantasy debut novel by author Marco Guarda for review!
To know more here's the GoodReads page for it.



Ebooks




Unfortunately this week I've been very busy with school and I'm pretty
sure this week will be no different; my only post was:
I know a lot of you probably have already read Shallow so, I 
will be very happy if you'll stop to say what you thought of the book.


What did you get this week?



giovedì 25 ottobre 2012

Blog Tour: Shallow by Georgia Cates [Review + Interview]

Shallow
Going Under #2
Author: Georgia Cates
Published: 21st September 2012
Publisher: Georgia Cates, self-published
Format: eARC
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Smashwords

From Goodreads:
Nick Hawke likes his car fast and his girls even faster. He blows through females quicker than his muscle car races down the "The Strip" in Collinsville and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Determined to avoid the devastation he has watched his father endure in the aftermath of his mother leaving, he believes there is no room in his life or his heart for a relationship lasting more than one night. He seeks happiness in things that won’t let him down...fast cars, adrenaline and one night stands. To his absolute dismay, all of that changes when he unexpectedly runs into an old friend and is introduced to Payton Archer, the first girl he ever wanted for more than one night. There’s only one catch...she is completely immune to him and his smooth talking ways. 

My review


Shallow is the story of two teenagers, Payton and Nick, who accidentally meet due to a car accident: since that day they couldn't remove each other from their mind. Nick has always been a Playah, the typical guy who has always played with girls without caring about the consequences; Payton instead is a direct and impulsive girl, with a breastplate of iron but a very sensitive and tender heart. It is she, with her directness and impulsiveness who will upset Nick's world; but can Nick forget all about his past and move on? Or will the past overwhelm him, ruining his plans?

I really liked Shallow: it was fluent, funny, romantic and captivating. I think the author has done an amazing work in describing the love between Payton and Nick because it was so dynamic that I found myself completely caught by the story; infact I finished the book in three days: I've read it during school lessons, on the bus, at work, everywhere! I'm really surpised by the effect this book had on me because I usually don't like love stories, but this one was different: it felt authentic, sincere, spontaneous. Even if, sometimes I didn't like how melodramatic Nick/Payton seemed; I thought that some phrases were too serious to be said by a teenager of about 18 years. Speaking of authenticity, I liked the fact that the author remained down-to-earth, meaning, that often love stories are set in unlikely circumstances, that make you dream for a while, but then you have to realise something like that can never happen to you. The love story of Payton and Nick instead, is within the reach of all: it's the story of two teens who casually meet, like each other and arrange to meet, even if with some difficulties in the middle. I mean, to those can't happen something like this? (:

One particular part of the book that I loved was the final part, in which Payton reads and comments Nick's diary; I thought it was ingenious! During the book there is no lack of descriptions of the psycology of the characters, but the reading of the diary completely shows to the readers the true feelings of the characters, their suffering, their reactions, their past.

Speaking of the characters, I really liked Payton personality because I really think we have something in common: I'm know for being just as impulsive as her (if not more!) and for using a really strong language, sometimes. But I also know that this is just a facade, instead; it is evident that Payton's personality has been greatly influenced by the scars of the past. In this case, a bad break-up has deeply marked her and threatened to influence her following relationships. For this reason, she finds it hard to trust Nick, at the beginning, and the minimal hint of his past is enough to make her take a step back.
Nick is a little stereotyped, in my opinion, so I was not as impressed by his character as for Payton's. As always he's the bad guy who is suddenly changed by the meeting with a girl, who dares to refuse him for the first time; this wound him up in the pride and the hunt for Payton becomes a sort of a personal challenge; he will soon realise it is not just this. What I liked about him is his fragility: infact, once he's in love, there's nothing left of his bad boy previous attitude and he's completely vulnerable. Oh, adorable! I know I've said he may seem a little stereotyped but I know for real that this is what usually happens to guys and this is exactly why I think the author has done an amazing work in describing an everyday story, but not without adding that little touch of magic and uniqueness.

I highly recommend this book to all of you who would like to read a good romantic, contemporary novel. I bet you'll end it up even before starting it!

Rated 4,65


Interview with Georgia Cates

Hi Georgia! Thank you for stopping by! ^^
Let's start with the questions:

-First of all tell us a little about your book; where did you get the idea of writing it?
Let me begin by saying this book wasn’t my idea. The credit belongs to my readers because I never intended on writing a second Going Under novel. They loved Payton so much in Going Under, they asked for her story. No, they demanded it.
In Going Under, we have Claire and Jessie’s story. Shallow is simply a continuation that picks up with the same characters after high school graduation. It’s Payton’s story of how she meets Nick Hawke, a guy she believes could never be enough yet at some point he becomes the one thing she can’t live without. Unfortunately, he has a past that rears its ugly head in an attempt to snuff out any future he might have with Payton.

-Payton really seems to have changed Nick completely. Can you tell us what intrigued him most about Payton's personality?
Initially, it was her obvious disdain for him. He had never experienced a girl that didn’t immediately fall for his bull. Secondly and most importantly, he was taken back by her smart ass mouth. He took her for a rich, pampered princess so he was intrigued every time something less than lady-like came out of her mouth.

-I really liked the immediacy of Payton in speaking and in interacting with other people; can we say she has a little bit of you personality? Or are you quite different from her?
We are kindred spirits. I’m not as vocal as Payton, but we share the same thought processes. Just know that although I might not say it, I’m certainly thinking it.

-While reading the book I noticed music has greatly influenced you; can you name the top 5 songs which inspired you more in writing Shallow?
Music is without doubt my biggest muse and any emotionally charged scenes had a song that inspired them. It was TOUGH narrowing this down to 5.
1. Heaven- The Fire Theft
2. Beautiful Disaster- Kelly Clarkson
3. You’ll Ask For Me- Tyler Hilton
4. Take A Bow- Rihanna
5. Kiss Me- Ed Sheeran







-Which actor would you choose to play Nick? I bet an hot one! (:
And for playing Payton?

I’m always terrible at choosing actors/actresses because I rarely watch television and although I may write about teen boys, I don’t watch them on television. With that being said, I would choose WillIam Levy as Nick. Yeah, I know he’s older than Nick, but I’m the one choosing, right? And I would choose Brittany
Robertson as Payton. She has a certain Barbie Doll characteristic about her that be so fitting for Payton.

-If you could be a character in your book who would you be? Why?
I would be Payton, of course. Who wouldn’t want to be gorgeous and witty with a mouth that can spout off insults like a machine gun? (And get away with it.)




-Is there something you regret about Shallow? Something you think you could have done better?
I wish I had given Dane a bigger role with some kind of conflict in his life. He is such a sweetie but the reader didn’t get to see a lot of him. I’ve had a lot of requests for Dane and Dallas’ story so I think we’ll be seeing more of them in the future.




-Are you working on any other book in the Going Under series? Or have you other work-ing projects?
I’m currently working on a non-Going Under project I haven’t revealed to anyone. I hope to have it out by Christmas. I chose to do this book a little differently. Instead of making an announcement with a blurb, cover art and date to release, I decided to play it by ear and let it develop on its own without the pressure of sticking to a synopsis and date to release. I think this could be the way to go for me. I’m so much more relaxed in my writ-ing and I feel like I have freedom with it that I haven’t had in the past because of sticking to a blurb.

Again, I have had requests for Dane and Dallas’ story so I definitely see that happening in the future. I also have The Vampire Agape Series I have to wrap up soon.





-Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
You’ll be seeing some definite changes in my writing style with my next project. I’ve been afraid to take chances in my early writings, but that’s all in the past. Be prepared.
It’s going to get a little wild.

Find Georgia Website | Facebook | GoodReads


What do you think of Shallow? Have you read it already? Are you planning to read it? Leave a comment!


domenica 21 ottobre 2012

Showcase Sunday #11 Freebies edition!


Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Book, Biscuits and Tea
               The aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag
                and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought

sabato 20 ottobre 2012

Guest Post with Jaimie Admans + Give@way!

Today I have the pleasure to have on my blog the lovely Jaimie Admans!
After having partecipated in the release day party for her novel Kismetology,
she kindly offered me a review copy of her book; you can find my review here.
And now I leave the word to Jaimie, enjoy!

5 tips to find the Perfect Man

Hello, lovely readers! I’m Mackenzie, and anyone reading Kismetology will know that I’ve been on my fair share of dates lately, all in an attempt to find the perfect man! It’s harder than you think, especially considering the fact that most men never grow up!

Here are my top tips for finding the perfect man!

1. Know what you want.
You can’t look for the perfect man if you don’t know what constitutes the perfect man! Sit down and have a think about it. What are you looking for? Does he have to have perfect teeth or nice hands? Hands are my personal deal breaker – if he doesn’t have nice hands then he can pack his bags! Do physical attributes matter as long as he is kind and caring? Does he need a good sense of humour? Does he have to like animals and be kind to small children? You have to know the answers to this kind of question, otherwise you’re stumbling around in the dark.

2. He doesn’t have to be perfect perfect!
No one is perfect. Not even us girls! While some things are absolute deal breakers, like rudeness and bad manners, surely some things can be overlooked? It doesn’t really matter if he has dark hair instead of blonde, does it? So what if he leaves the toilet seat up no matter how many times you tell him not to? Some things are worth compromising for! But only some things. If he crosses a line, don’t give him a second chance!

3. Don’t ignore flashing neon signs.
Does he smell bad? Is he looking scruffy? Ladies, if he hasn’t made an effort for your date, then he won’t make an effort ever. First dates are about first impressions, and if he doesn’t care what you think of him on a first date, try getting him to care about your relationship. It won’t work. He doesn’t need to look pristine or spend longer getting ready than I do, but a quick shave and a dab of cologne won’t go amiss!
Other flashing neon signs to look out for are: welly boots at the dinner table, the jangling of change as he lugs along a big bag of it to pay for dinner, and you may want to run a mile if he produces a porn film mid-meal! Oh yes, I have met my fair share of charmers recently!

4. Don’t be afraid to walk away.
If he’s not going to make the grade, don’t waste your time with him. Don’t be afraid to tell him “You’re no good. Next!” If you waste time with someone who clearly isn’t the one, you could miss the perfect man right under your nose.

5. Never give up.
The most important tip of all. Never, ever give up. Even when you meet men who make Freddy Krueger look attractive, men who think insulting you is acceptable date behaviour, and men who make you want to stay single forever.
Your ideal man is out there, and you will find him. You have to find him. Kismet, fate and destiny will bring you together eventually. And isn’t it true that the harder you look for something, the less likely you are to find it? So stop stressing, he’s out there, and maybe he’s looking for you just as much as you’re looking for him!

- Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Sara!

Jaimie is a 27-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, drinking tea and watching horror movies. She hates spiders and cheese & onion crisps.
Kismetology is her first novel but there are plenty more on the way! She wants you to know that the mum in this book is nothing like her own mum!


Giveaway:

Jaimie is offering 2 e-copies of Kismetology.
Open Internationally!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Kismetology by Jaimie Admans

Kismetology

Author: Jaimie Admans
Published: 8th September 2012
Publisher: Jaimie Adams; self-published
Format: eARC
Source; Received from the author
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Smashwords

From Goodreads:

Finding the perfect man isn't easy. Especially when it's for your mother...  Mothers. Can't live with them, can't live without them, can't live three doors down the road without them interfering in every aspect of your life.  Fed up with her mum meddling in her love life, Mackenzie Atkinson decides to turn the tables and find love for her lonely mother.  Her lonely and very fussy mother. Surely finding an older gentleman looking for love won't be that hard, right?

Wrong.  If you've ever thought that boys grow up, here's the problem: They don't. Ever. And Mackenzie is about to learn that the hard way.

Review:

Kismetology is an amazing chick-lit that tells the story of Mackenzie, who recently moved with her boyfriend Dan, leaving her mom alone..or almost. Infact, she has moved just three house further on the same street where her mother lives. She couldn't have done worse: her mother is always sneaking in their house, complaining about her boyfriend, her furniture and the color of the walls; but worst, she's not alone, she has a little plants-killer Yorkshire with her.
Mackenzie realises that for saving her relationship with Dan she needs to do something to keep her mom busy: find her a date. That's how she will start her own activity: first she needs to know what kind of man/woman the customer wants to date, then she organises several dates in which she knows more about the candidate and then, if he/she is compatible with the customer, she set up a real, final date between the two. Through the hard work to find her mother a date, Mackenzie will discover the meaning of the real love and this intuition will upset her ordinary life.

WOW! I loved this book SO much! It had all the ingredients for the perfect romance: it was fun, fluent, well-written and full-packed with irony, comedy and romanticism. As all my readers knows I usually don't like romantic books but this one was an exception, especially because the author mixed romanticism with parody, in order to make the book more interesting, not boring at all. The framework was excellent, and I immediately thought, from the first page "This is going to be fun"; the idea of a mother always sneaking with her little dog peeing everywhere, really scares me to death!

In its simplicity and humor the book deals with some important issues: love, family relationship, the realisation of our working ambitions. The attempt of Mackenzie was not a simple way to get rid of her mother, but she wanted to find her the man of her life, maybe because she realised that she's never found hers; I think it was very sweet of her and the idea of a direct approach with the candidates, symbolizes how careful Mackenzie is toward her mother and how she wants to avoid her disappointments. In the middle part of the book the author describes a long variety of men of all kinds: from the man who has porns in his pockets, to the one who likes to watch people urinate; apart from being a hilarious description, it really tells the reality of nowadays. I mean, is or is not true that today it has become increasingly difficult to find the perfect man? And that's where the book focuses: sometimes it is necessary to overlook some details because nobody's perfect. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, we just have to valorise our strenghts and try to learn how to deal wit the weaknesses; it is also true that sometimes some details can't be overlooked and in this case we need to give up about that persone and move on: like Mackenzie did, she's always thought Dan was the love of her life but when all his defects start to become unbearable she decides to break up; it is never too late to find happiness!! Awwwww, how positive this book is? 

Speaking of the characters, Mackenzie is a really strong girl! She's not scared about meeting people she doesn't actually know anything about ( and some of them really are perverts!) and she puts her family above all, even if that mean arguing with her boyfriend. What I really liked about her personality is that she's so corageous in changing her life completely and in following her dreams and ambitions; even if some of her friends don't support her in her decision to start her own activity, she doesn't give up and in the end she savors the taste of victory.
Dan was SO irritating! At the beginning he seemed to be okay, I mean supportive, sweet and everything a guy should be. But then he's revealed to be rude and discouraging, a real couch-potato. Just the fact that he was always with his feet on the coffee table was unnerving; I think Mackenzie wasn't quite up to him so she'd totally taken the best decision for her future by breaking up with him. I though he was also quite aggressive sometimes and I didn't like how intolerant he was about Mackenzie's mother situation: someone who talk like he did, about my mother doesn't deserve a minute more of my affection!
Mackenzie's mother was a difficult character to understand; she's the incarnation of a lonely middle-aged woman who searches for consolation in her daughter; I thought that sometimes she liked to annoy the couple,especially Dan but in the end I realised that, with her own manners, she just wanted to let Mackenzie understand that she wasn't living the life she's always dreamed about and that she deserved a better one.

I think "Kismetology" was a really good book, and I think all of you who love comedy mixed with romanticism will love it. Also, for all the singles, you may find some really useful advices!

Rated: 4.50


My favourite quotes
"If I could give one piece of advice to every teenager in the world, it would be this: when you move away from home, move far, far away, and never look back. My biggest mistake? I didn't move far enough."

"I know but accident do happen. You are using a good brand name of condoms, aren't you? Because those cheap ones..."
"Mum!"
"Eleanor."

"You could have been having a three course meal by candlelight, and you opt for a skinny latte and a doughnut, all because of a damn dog?"
"He's not just a damn dog, Mackenzie. This is my..."
"Let me guess," I interrupt." Your Baby?"
"My baby."

"You're not a pimp Mac. Maybe she's just gone to see his collection of coins or something equally enthralling."
"Yeah. Or his collection of condoms."
"If they use one."
"Dan..."


martedì 16 ottobre 2012

Release Day Party: Violet Midnight by Lynn Rush

Violet Midnight
Violet Night Trilogy #1
Author: Lynn Rush
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Purchase: Amazon, B&N


Let the Hunt begin….
Blending in with her college co-eds proves difficult for vampire Hunter, Emma Martin, considering the mystical tattoo on her wrist glows whenever Vamps are near. And after three months of silence, the glow is back with a vengeance.
Jake Cunningham witnesses Emma, a violet-eyed beauty, using unimaginable powers to fight off a fanged creature. Finally, after two years of searching, he may have found out what he’s become—a Hunter, like Emma.
Thankful for an ally in the fight against the Vamps, Emma finds hope and comfort in Jake’s arms. As she learns more about her new love’s family and its dark heritage, she may be forced not only to hunt them but to sacrifice her life to save Jake’s soul.
“Rush hooked me from page one! Fast-paced, gripping, this tale of vampire hunters is full of action and suspense. A great read! Buffy had better watch out…Emma Martin is one hunter to watch!” -Cynthia Eden, National Best-selling Author

***A portion of all proceeds benefits cancer research and awareness***

About the author:

Driven to write, Lynn Rush often sees her characters by closing her eyes watching their story unfold in her mind. Lynn Rush is a pen name that is a combination of two sources – Lynn, the first name of her mother-in-law, who passed away and Rush – since the author is a former inline speed skater and mountain biker. All of Rush’s books are dedicated to Lynn, her namesake, and a portion of the proceeds benefits cancer research and awareness.
Rush holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's degree from the University of Iowa. Originally from Minneapolis, Rush currently enjoys living in the Arizona sunshine by road biking nearly 100 miles per week with her husband of 16 years and jogging with her two loveable Shetland Sheep dogs.

lunedì 15 ottobre 2012

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa


The Iron King
The Iron Fey #1
Published: February 1st 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Number of Pages: 363
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, TBD

From GoodReads:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

My Review

I had very high expectations for this book, especially because I've heard so many good things about it and most of the reviews I've read gave it 5 stars. As soon as I started the book I wasn't particulary caught by the plot, which proceeded quite slowly and I really couldn't get into Megan's world; it resembled way too much a fairytale and at the beginning it seemed to me like a banal story. Fortunately things changed a little with the introduction of the NeverNever; I really liked the world the author created and what I enjoyed most was the distinction between the Winter and the Summer court but my favourite realm was the Iron court. I thought it was so particular and it made me reflect also about the destructive nature of men. Infact, I'm sure the author created that particular realm with a purpose, considering it had been created by men's desire for power, for control on the world through technology.
The great variability of landscapes made the book more vivid, easy to be imagined and while I was reading it I could easily imagine all the places where the story took place. This was certainly one of the points who made the book more interesting to read.

Another thing that I really liked was the variability of the characters, of all kind, from cats to pixies, from iron creatures to trolls. I'm always fascinated by authors who dare to put in their books many fantasy elements because it is quite difficult to develop a story who knows how to contain all that material withouth seeming too far-fetched. I think that the author, in this case, has done an amazing job: there were many fantasy elements, true, but they didn't load the story; their presence was slight and it contributes to make the NeverNever appear more magical but also more dangerous. Infact, another aspect that I really liked is that in this book the fairies are mean, they really are! For those of you who've read Shadowhunters you'll probably remember the Seelie Queen (God, I hate her) and I've always liked characters like her because I've always thought about faeries like angelic, good beings. But they're not, as Julie Kagawa demonstrates in her book, they're naughty, resentful, always in search of revenge and they don't give absolutely nothing for nothing in change.

Speaking of the characters I LOVE Ash; he's mysterious and full of secrets. It's like he has a double personality and he wants to hide what he really feels toward Megan but also toward Puck. Just in the final part of the book something of his past started to come out but then, as usual, it is never enough. He's certainly been hurt in the past and now he's torn between the desire to forgive Puck and the desire to avenge his beloved; he also wants to save Megan but it's like he's bound to obey his queen, even if it is evident he doesn't want to. I think he is one of the most interesting ( as well as the most charming) character of the book because the moment you think you know him, it is the moment you realise you've never really known him; that's what I like, his unpredictability.
Neither Megan or Puck have really caught my attention; they were kind of ordinary, like many other protagonists I've read about. There was nothing unusual or original in their personality, in my opinion. There was just one thing that I noticed about Puck: he always smiles and jokes, even when he's in pain. I think he's a very sensitive character, very sweet and this emerges when he tells Megan about his and Ash's past and why they were in war; I can't remember a moment in which Puck did not have a smile or a ready joke outside of this particular moment.

Overall, the story was good even if it had its weaknesses; nevertheless I'm really curious about what will happen in the Iron Daughter, also because the Iron King can't be dead so easily, can he? 

Rated 4,40

Favourite quotes:
"Of course I won't forget about Ethan! He's my brother! Are you really that inhuman, or just stupid?"
To my surprise, a grin spread over his face. He dropped the bottle, caught it, and put it on the floor. " The first," he said, very softly.

"Shit", I whispered, falling back against the wall. I stared at Robbie with new eyes. " Robbie Goodfell. Robin... you're Robin Goodfellow."
Robbie grinned. "Call me Puck."

"But if the NeverNever dies. won't you disappear, as well?"
"I am a cat," Grimalkin replied, as if that explained anything.

"So," he murmured, grinning as he tilted my chin up, "before I march off to battle, how 'bout a kiss for luck?"

" I would have gotten you there!" Puck roared."Me! You don't need his help! Don't you trust me to keep you safe? I would've given everything for you. Why didn't you think I'd be enough?" 

"Saggind down the wall, I pulled my knees to my chest and joined them in their grieving, feeling I'd left my heart in the tunnel where Ash had fallen."

Promo: The Indigo Butterfly by Lisa Schoonover [Interview]

The Indigo Butterfly
Author: Lisa L. Schoonover
Date Published: 27th June 2012
Publisher: Balboa Press
Number of Pages: 392


The Indigo Butterfly is the true and inspiring story of a young writer’s journey of self-discovery and a yearning for her place in the world. On the eve of college graduation the author has a revealing dream that leads to an epiphany. At the same time, Desert Storm is causing a recession throughout the country, leaving few opportunities for a new writer. 
Forced to make some difficult decisions, the young woman rejects conventionality in order to follow her dream of becoming a writer. But she soon discovers that the outer voyage is interwoven with her inner journey to understand herself. While she is on the road, the writer encounters fellow travelers, teachers, mystics, artists, and unique individuals who welcome her into their communities.
The Indigo Butterfly chronicles the author’s fifteen-year odyssey across North America as retold through vignettes culled from her journals during that time. From Seattle’s lush rainforest to the mysterious islands of South Carolina, no region of the country goes unexplored in the determined writer’s quest. 

Interview:
What inspired you to write The Indigo Butterfly?
Initially, I was inspired to tell the story of my becoming a writer, as well as the people and experiences that were the most prevalent to me. However, it quickly became clear that the book was not just about myself and the people that I knew, but about the Human Condition of which we are all a part. I was also inspired to write the book as a travel narrative rather than a straight memoir or travelogue. I wanted readers to not only experience my travels firsthand, but I really wanted to write a book that went deeper than for purely entertainment or informational value. I strove to create a book that people would feel inspired by.

Summarize your book in three sentences or less.
That’s tough: The Indigo Butterfly is an inspirational travel narrative about a young writer [me] who embarks on a fifteen-year odyssey across North America. As she strives to find her place in the world, the young woman discovers that her inner and outer journeys are interwoven with each experience she has and every person that she encounters.

What is the overall theme of your book?
There are several universal themes throughout the book. However, the main theme is Transcendence, meaning to rise above ordinary limits. This is the impetus for the beginning of the protagonist’s journey, although she doesn’t know it yet. Transcendence usually encompasses existentialism, which is why there is spiritual-type writing throughout the book. Over time, her life becomes transcended by the wealth of experiences that she encounters while on the journey.

Where does this book take place?
The book is set in North America with the exception of the chapter on Ireland. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific city and region of the country where I lived. The cities themselves are also characters in the book. As a travel writer, I also wanted to expose people who may not have travelled that much to a sampling of each area. It was important that each city have a well-developed profile. I wanted readers to experience the cities where I lived through my eyes.

Who are the main characters and why are they important to the story?
The main character is a younger version of myself. I retell the story through present-day vignettes created from my travel journals. The other characters in the book are the people I met while I was travelling. They are just as important to the story as my character because they are on parallel journeys. The book wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Why do you think this book will appeal to readers?
I wrote this book without a specific target audience in mind because I wanted it to appeal to a variety of readers. The book reaches across the genre divide and appeals to several universal themes that anyone can relate to. One reader told me she thinks the book is ‘everyone’s story’ and I like that. I also think that even if a person hasn’t travelled that much, the book will be an enjoyable read. I made sure to include info and cultural anomalies about each region of the country.

How is your book relevant in today’s society?
The book is timeless in its message. The themes that are explored and the challenges that the main character faces are common with people of every culture on the planet. Certainly, individual circumstances will be different, but the book serves to remind people to remember our commonalities and allow various beliefs. Existential thinking is sprinkled throughout the book because I think that’s a common practice when people begin to explore the truth of who they are.

What makes your book different from other books like it?
My personal mantra with the book was ‘go deeper’. I wanted this book to explore the mystical essence of personal travel. Though the book is about travel, it also includes the sociology of a region as well as the cultural relevance of the people who inhabit the area. I also introduced a lot of factual, non-mainstream material as told to me by the people who were born into those lineages. There are many interesting characters in the book that I think readers will enjoy.

What do you want readers to take away from your writing?
I hope they enjoy reading the book as much as I did writing it. I also hope that readers are able to take away some positive messages or information from having read it. I designed the book to be a learning tool. It is my desire that people read the book not only to learn, but to also look at one’s life from a grander perspective. Are old beliefs holding us back? Are we truly living the life we desire? How do we co-exist with others? These are Lie's real questions.

How did you learn about your book’s topic?
As stated previously, the book’s topic(s) was taken directly from my personal experiences from that particular time.

Do you have a favorite quote from the book?
There are so many... but this quote appears in the last section when I am talking to the Teacher. This quote encompasses the book’s entire essence:

This is the key to self-discovery: Experiences of our true nature come and go like every other experience, but… to know that everything you could ever want or need is already here, frees you from needing to have a particular experience in order to be happy.



About the author
Lisa L. Schoonover is an experienced writer, aquisitions editor, curriculum developer, and independent travel contributor. With twenty years of combined teaching and educational publishing experience, she has worked as a senior editor and project manager for Houghton Mifflin, Pearson Education, McGraw-Hill, Riverside Publishing, as well as several other development houses and publishers across the country. Her work appears in texts, ancillary materials, testing materials, and educational curriculum.
Lisa is also active in the literary community as an advocate and writing facilitator. Her work with Headstart and Homeschooling was one of the early after-school literacy programs in the country. She has worked as an ELL instructor, ELA TA, Laubach Literacy instructor, and has taught in both private and public schools throughout the country. Lisa is the former editor of Schoolwisepress in San Francisco, and has worked for CK-12 in Silicon Valley. She has been a contributing writer to many literary journals, anthologies, and publications. Lisa is currently involved with literacy projects of merit.
As an independent travel writer, Lisa is provided with the opportunity to experience other cultures in a more personally engaging way than with pleasure travel. Lisa has written for Conde Nast Traveller, Transitions Abroad, Budget Travel, Boots 'N All, as well as other independent and mainstream publications. Her travelogue for children, entitled A Day in Florence, will soon be re-released in e-book form. Her travel articles have also been published in periodicals and magazines across the country. Lisa was also a stringer for the MV Times, Martha's Vineyard Magazine, and BermudaMagazine.
She has written for neighborhood publications, non-profits, and start-ups. Her curriculum development experience assisted in the transition to technical writing. Lisa has provided educational services for Adobe, Cisco, Upside Magazine, NFA, and The IrishIndependent when Lisa lived abroad in Ireland. She has been a freelance reporter and contributor to a number of political, business, and trade organizations. Lisa's writing skills were honed at the Iowa Writers Workshop and her short stories have appeared in anthologies nationwide. She is currently promoting her new release The Indigo Butterfly.
Stalk Lisa
Twitter @lisa_schoonover
Twitter@lisa_schoonover


domenica 14 ottobre 2012

Showcase Sunday #10

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Book, Biscuits and Tea
               The aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag
                and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought
            in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week.

Won:


Netgalley:

For Review:



Library:

What I posted this week:

Leave me a link of your post and I'll make sure to visit back! ^^



 
Images by Freepik