venerdì 31 maggio 2013

Blogoversary Celebration Day 3! Stephanie Judice author of Rising and Resistance + Give@way!

Celebration Day 3!

Today's host is Stephanie Judice, author of Rising and Resistance! The amazing authos is going to reveal us the songs that helped her write both books.

If you missed the previous posts:
Megan Thomason, Daynight
Laura DeLuca, Destiny and Destiny Unveiled
Sharon Sant, The Sky Song trilogy



Playlist with Stephanie Justice
Author of Rising and Resistance

RISING Soundtrack:
  1. BACK IN BLACK by AC/DC (Opening scene—Gabe late for school)
  2. MISERY BUSINESS by Paramore (Gabe and Clara driving in car)
  3. I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN' YOU by KISS (Gabe, Clara, and Jeremy going to meet Theresa)
  4. TOXICITY by System of a Down (Jeremy reveals his power)
  5. A WARRIOR'S CALL by Volbeat (Riot/panic at football game)
  6. WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE by Guns N Roses (Ride back from Canebrake Island—meeting Homer)
  7. MONSTER by Skillet (Battle at Jessie’s house)
  8. SEVEN DEVILS by Florence and the Machine (Clara heading home alone, knowing the reapers are there)
  9. THE TROOPER by Iron Maiden (Gabe and Jeremy battle their way back to Pop’s cabin)
  10. MOONLIGHT SONATA by Beethoven (Healing wounds and hearts at Pop’s cabin)
  11. WELCOME HOME by Coheed and Cambria (Final battle on Canebrake Island)
  12. RESISTANCE by Muse . . . . . .Closing credits ;)

RESISTANCE Soundtrack:
  1. FAR FROM HOME by Five Finger Death Punch (Leaving Louisiana--Clara's dream)
  2. HEAVY IN YOUR ARMS by Florence & the Machine (Trouble in paradise)
  3. FIRE WOMAN by The Cult (Michael's view of Clara)
  4. SALLY'S SONG by Amy Lee (Walks in the snow--Jessie's return)
  5. FADE by Staind (Growing apart)
  6. BRING ME TO LIFE by Evanescence (Jeremy's concert--intro of "Flight of Icarus")
  7. THROUGH GLASS by Stone Sour (Heartbreak)
  8. I ALONE by Live (Driving/Riding into NYC; Gabe's perspective)
  9. ALREADY GONE by Puddle of Mudd (Shadow Scout abduction)
  10. IF I HAD A HEART by Fever Ray (Battle at Mount Haven--Grief and Loss)
  11. LACRYMOSA by Evanescence . . . . . . . . Final Chapter


Rising
Saga Of The Setti #1


Having waited a millennium to return to the fertile feeding ground of earth, the dark giants break through a portal and storm out into the world in the guise of a massive hurricane—famished and fierce. Across the ocean, seventeen-year-old Gabriel Goddard is being plagued by terrifying nightmares about creatures that singe and burn the flesh then absorb the life energy of humans and devour the ashes. A chance meeting with Clara Dunaway immediately distracts Gabe from bad dreams. He has always had a sort of sixth sense—to feel the emotions of others around him. Clara’s presence numbs his other sense, nearly knocking him into a hypnotic state. Bewildered and fascinated, he is lured in by her. When Clara finally confesses that she has a similar gift to see auras around people, a spark flames between them, ignited by a paranormal force. Fate soon reveals that there is a higher purpose for their attraction. Along with Jeremy, the head-bangin’ metal head; Ben, the air-headed golden boy; Melanie, the kind- hearted Creole; and the old hermit named Homer, they must face this enemy as one. Discovering that they are descended from an ancient clan of Norse warriors, they awaken their dormant powers, preparing for the dark giants' imminent invasion of their home. A shadow of darkness veils the land. Will the Setti rise to fulfill their long-awaited destiny?

Resistance
Saga Of The Setti #2


The world is covered in darkness. A constant gray pall reminds the Setti that reapers are still here—watching, waiting, hunting. Gabe, Clara, and their clan must leave the relative safety of Beau Chêne, Louisiana, in order to train with others gathering in the north. No one knows what lurks when night falls. Yet, Gabe and Clara both know that they must chance the danger in order to fulfill a dark destiny.

While Gabe grows in confidence, Clara begins to doubt everything, including her feelings for Gabe. Looming between them is a growing chasm. Clara’s constant defiance against Gabe begins to sever the bond between them. New clansman and fellow Guardian, Michael, steps in all too willingly to take Gabe’s place as her confidant and more. Good-looking and self-assured, Clara finds his charms difficult to resist. She wonders why she should resist at all.
Jessie, now a shadow scout, defies the reapers’ malevolent power. She reaches out to Clara, yearning for the impossible—to be free of the reapers’ enslavement.
Beyond Clara’s battle to save a lost loved one and to keep Gabe close to her heart, another threat stirs, whispering to Clara in the dark. Something evil hunts her. Will she listen to the one who calls to her in nightmares and eventually finds her in the flesh? Will she succumb to his will or will she cling to her human soul and her human heart?



Stephanie Judice calls lush, moss-laden New Iberia, Louisiana, home where the landscape curls into her imagination creating mystical settings for her stories. She shares her small, southern lifestyle with her husband and four children. As a high school teacher of English and Fine Arts, she is immersed in mythology, legends, and art that serve as constant inspiration for her writings. Some of her favorite things are autumn leaves, southern accents, Gothic architecture, Renaissance festivals, family movie nights, and, of course, William Shakespeare. Writing is her haven for self-expression where imagination rules and dreams do come true.





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Blogoversary Celebration Day 3! Sharon Sant author of +Give@way!



Here we go with day 3!
Today's host is Sharon Sant, the author of the Sky Song trilogy, which is composed by Sky Song, The Young Moon and Not Of Our Sky.

If you missed the previous giveaways:
Megan Thomason, Daynight
Laura DeLuca, Destiny & Destiny Unveiled



Interview with Sharon Sant
author of The Sky Song trilogy

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

This is a long story, it would need a novel! Briefly, I was born in Dorset, England and now live in Staffordshire. I’ve always made up stories but it wasn’t until I went to university as a mature student to study English and creative writing that I completed my first novel, Runners. Since then I haven’t stopped writing! I also work as a freelance editor and try to run a house and raise my two daughters without major disaster, which is often a distinct possibility as I’m not very good at turning my head to practical matters!


2. Where did you get the idea for the Sky Song Trilogy?

I’ve been asked this a few times and I honestly don’t know where the original seed of the idea came from. But the tale started off about a small girl whose father watched the skies every night. She didn’t know why, but soon figured out that he watched for someone, rather than something. As I worked on the idea, that’s when the little girl became a teenage boy and Sky Song, the novel, began. The tale kept growing until I realised that one book was not going to be enough to tell it and so The Young Moon and Not of Our Sky followed.


3. Is this a genre you prefer to write in or is there any others you would like to try?

I love writing YA with a passion. I have just finished a first draft of a NA story, but I’ll be diving straight into another YA soon. I do read in lots of other genres, though.


4. Favorite Scene or quote from your book?

Strangely, my favourite scene from Sky Song is one where the central three characters are just sitting in the park eating fish and chips together. Without giving away spoilers, a lot of drama has happened up to that point, but then they have this really quiet, normal moment, and the scene says so much about their friendship and where it has ended up after everything they’ve been through together.


5. Describe Jacob in three words.

Intense, loyal, stubborn.


6. Name one thing you love and one thing you hate.

I love quirkiness and I hate marshmallows.


7. If you could work with any author who would it be?

Because I work as an editor as well as a writer, I do work with a lot of authors all the time, but mostly online as I’m usually accepting a manuscript from someone who doesn’t live nearby. I love writers with a unique style and way of putting words together, and I love beautiful imagery and great character development. Those sorts of manuscripts are a joy to work on. Working with them, though, I suspect I’d have to like them as people too as I’m a very emotive person and need to be around people I trust and feel comfortable with. In that case, I’d have to say that I think someone like Jacqueline Wilson or Anthony Horowitz would be nice to work with.


8. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

There are so many great authors out there right now. I read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern recently and fell in love with her vision. There are lots of great indie authors coming through at the moment too, and that’s exciting, because I think that is something we’ve not seen on this scale before. Recently I’ve read books by Jaimie Admans, Jack Croxall and Lindsay Leggett – all relatively new indie authors and all fantastic reads.


9. Print or eBook?

That’s a harsh question! I’m never going to stop loving print books, but I’m quite attached to my kindle for the freedom it gives me – I can carry it around easily and never have to spend a spare moment without a story to read ever again. So I want both! Can I have both please?


Sky Song


A strange-eyed boy with no memory of his true identity or real parents, Jacob could have no idea of the mortal danger he has been in every day of his fifteen years. Now that danger has found him and suddenly he doesn’t know who he can trust and what is real anymore. All he knows is that his new identity is almost as terrifying as the peril unleashing it has brought. Caught in the universal power struggle of an ancient race of beings and a destiny demanded of him that he does not want, he must fight to protect his own life and everyone he holds dear. 

But when the time comes, will he be strong enough to make the sacrifices that saving them will demand?





The Young Moon


'It is a prophecy, Watcher. And it foretells your destruction.'

So comes the stark warning from Astrae. But what does the prophecy that tells of the young moon actually mean? 

Two years have passed and Jacob’s search for the second Successor brings him back to Earth. But his Watcher powers seem to be useless as the other Successor remains shrouded in mystery… And he soon discovers that his bitter uncle, Makash, is also hot on the trail. 
Jacob’s quest takes him and Luca halfway across the globe in a race to get to the other Successor first. As they get closer to their goal the body count starts to rise and Jacob and Luca are dragged deeper into Makash’s deadly game as the net closes around them.

All Jacob has to do is cheat death, yet again, find another like him amongst the seven billion people that swarm over the face of the planet before Makash does, and thwart the prophecy that spells his doom. No pressure then…


 Not Of Our Sky


Jacob fights for his life and Ellen faces her toughest decision yet: whether to finally reveal his true identity to his parents. For Jacob is one of the Watchers of Astrae, a race of beings with extraordinary powers, and sworn to protect the natural order of the universe. But Jacob has broken one of Astrae’s oldest laws and chaos threatens to cover the Earth. 

Alex faces the fall into darkness that has long been prophesised. Her only ally is Makash, their bitter and twisted uncle, and Jacob has already succumbed to the shadows. Who will be there to catch her? 

With the first part of the ancient prophecy already coming to pass, it seems their only hope lies in the second part – the riddle of the star that will bring them back to the light. But what does it mean? And why do Jacob, Alex and Ellen all dream of the same lighthouse, night after night?


Sharon Sant was born in Dorset but now lives in Stoke-on-Trent. She graduated from Staffordshire University in 2009 with a degree in English and creative writing. She currently works part time as a freelance editor and continues to write her own stories. An avid reader with eclectic tastes across many genres, when not busy trying in vain to be a domestic goddess, she can often be found lurking in local coffee shops with her head in a book. Sometimes she pretends to be clever but really loves nothing more than watching geeky TV and eating Pringles.

To find out more you can follow her on twitter: @sharonsant or find her on facebook:
You can also go to her website: www.sharonsant.com
You can check out the Sky Song trilogy on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/series/98301-sky-song-trilogy to find out more about Jacob and his friends. Or you could even read the books!

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giovedì 30 maggio 2013

Blogoversary Celebration Day 2! Laura DeLuca author of Destiny & Destiny Unveiled! +Give@way

Blogoversary Day 2!

Today's host is author Laura DeLuca, who is offering us the possibility to know more about her and about her novels. Laura is also offering to one reader the possibility to win an eCopy of Destiny and Destiny Unveiled!

Don't forget also to enter yesterday's giveaway, enter here!



Interview with Laura DeLuca
Author of Destiny and Destiny Unveiled

1. Describe yourself in one sentence.
 I am a quirky, imaginative, spiritual mom of four who loves to write books. 

2. When did you realize you had the passion for writing? 
I was writing for as long as I can remember. Back in grade school I used to make the other kids act out plays I wrote in the schoolyard. I finished my first YA novel, Player, when I was only sixteen and that novel was just tweaked a bit and published this year.


3. Can you tell us a little about your YA books, Destiny and Destiny Unveiled? 
The Destiny series was another book I started when I was in my teens, but I got stuck about 70% through and put in aside for 20 years. Once I started studying Wicca, I finally knew how the first story would end. Shortly after I finished it, one of my coven sisters gave me the idea for the second book.


4. Name one thing you love and one thing you hate about your books. 
I love when someone gets the underlying message that I was trying to send. I hate the advertising—tweeting, facebook, pinterest etc.  I would rather be spending that time writing but it’s the only way to get your work seen. 


5. I saw you have written a lot of books, is there a character you became more attached to while writing?
I am definitely attached to Lord Justyn from the Dark Musicals Series. Even though I just finished the series, he still haunts my dreams.

6. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
 I was born wanting to write, but Christopher Pike was my inspiration to write in the YA genre. He is one of my favorite authors and will always be an inspiration. 


6. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
 My best experience was having a 16 year old girl email me on face book and tell me I inspired her to become a writer. I wrote a similar note to Christopher Pike when I was her age, and it gave me the feeling of coming full circle.


7. What's the craziest writing idea you've had?
  You’ll have to read the Dark Musicals series to find that out. 

9. Give us an inspirational quote. 
This one my favorite quotes from Destiny Unveiled:  “Monte, look out at the ocean. It’s vast and eternal, and it sustains life, as we know it. Imagine for a minute that the ocean is the essence of creation, the collective essence of divinity that every living being is a part of. Now look at the waves. Each one rises, shifting away from the collective, taking on a life of its own. The same way each soul rises to take on a physical body and live out their lives. Each wave, like each soul, is unique. Some are strong and powerful. Some are small, and need to be carried by others to reach their destination. Some carry the life giving forces of nature, and some bring nothing but destruction, like a tidal wave that annihilates everything in its path. But in the end, when its time is over, the wave is welcomed back into the collective. It’s accepted without question or judgment, back into the whole. Our souls are like those waves. No matter what choices we’ve made in our lives, whether we were good or evil, the Goddess welcomes us back into the fold of Her arms because we’re all Her children, and She loves every one of us. Equally and unconditionally, as only a mother can. We may need to make amends in our next life for our mistakes, but we aren’t lost. We’re never lost when we have Her to guide us. So no matter what choices he made,” Gabriella finished, “I believe that Adam will be all right.”

Destiny 
by Laura DeLuca


Gabriella is a witch. The problem is, she doesn't remember. She repressed the memories of her powers years ago when her mother was murdered. Now, the warlock who was responsible for her mother's death has set his sights on Gabriella. He is determined to use her fear to turn her to the dark side of magick…even if it kills her. Her mother's spirit is reaching out to warn her, but even that she pushes away. Desperate to save her daughter, the spirit finds a male witch–one that just happens to be in love with Gabriella. Darron is more than willing to help but the two young witches will have way more to battle than just an evil warlock. There are overbearing jocks and petty rich girls who get tempers flaring and often set Gabrielle and Darron at odds.


There is more to the story than Gabrielle and Darron could even imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged, and lives will be lost. Only after Gabrielle and Darron both come to terms with who they really are, and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can they have any hope of fulfilling their destiny.


Destiny Unveiled
by Laura DeLuca


Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella's help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands.


Laura "Luna" DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and three children. She has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. Old high school friends would tell you she was always scratching in her notebook instead of paying attention in class and the children she used to babysit for always loved to hear her scary stories at bedtime. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.




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mercoledì 29 maggio 2013

Blogoversary celebration Day 1! Megan Thomason, author of Daynight + Give@way!

Yay! The day has finally come! Today is the first day of my one week celebration for Sara In Bookland's first blogoversary! *w*

Each day I will be hosting some amazing authors with special contents and super-awesome giveaways!

So stay tuned and come back each day to have a chance to win some great prizes!


Today's host is Megan Thomason, the author of Daynight,
a dystopian novel. The author has gently accepted to write a guest
post about her top 5  favourite Dystopians and after the post, there 
will be also an amazing giveaway for two lucky winners! 



Megan Thomason's top 5 dystopians

You are stuck in traffic for ages due to some grisly accident. Your patience went out the window forever ago. Perhaps you are even cursing the idiots who slow down to see the aftermath. Yet when you are finally there—firetruck, ambulances, police cars and the shattered remains of the vehicles in sight—you’re just like every other idiot. You slowly make your way by and look at the carnage. You feel guilty as hell about it, but it’s impossible to turn your head the other way.

Reading dystopias gives you the thrill of the wreck without the aggravation of the traffic or guilt of holding up miles worth of traffic. Dystopias are heart-wrenching, disturbing, and unfair—yet despite the grim circumstances people show strength, resilience and determination.  

The dystopia category is pretty broad these days. By definition a dystopian world must have extremely bad living conditions due to deprivationoppression, or terror. I personally prefer dystopias that explore interesting societal and moral dilemmas to catastrophic conditions/survival stories (though, if the entertainment value is high, I’ll still read the latter). 

The very best dystopias make you think—not just about the book, but about how our own society compares (there are often eery parallels). Good dystopias will have a well formed government enforcing extremes. The conditions created are by design and not circumstance (for instance, scarcity caused by an apocalypse isn’t really a dystopia, it’s a setting—however if a Government rations resources in such a way that certain castes have more than others that’s definitely a dystopia). I’m fascinated by dystopian entities, and in particular:

- What events drove them to shift the way they governed? 

- What results are they looking to achieve?

- What methods do the governments use to achieve the desired result? 

- Equally interesting is how the characters in the novel react to the dystopian government. Do they acquiesce? Do they rebel and in what ways? Outwardly? Inwardly? Each well done dystopia will have characters that question the status quo and their actions will cause us to reflect upon our own, and how we would react in a similar situation. 

I had a hard time deciding on my favorites. I have read an obscene number of dystopian novels. Numbers 1-3 were no brainers for me, but there were a lot of contenders for the #4 and 5 slots.
  1. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. High entertainment value, great dry sense of humor, and a moral extreme so ridiculous that you can’t help be both disgusted and intrigued by its brilliance. In Brave New World the government desired peaceful coexistence and happiness for its citizens so they created a society where “everyone belongs to everyone.” Deviant thoughts are controlled by drugs. The government breeds and then conditions (through their sleep) citizens to be in (and only desire to be in) a certain caste, to be sexually promiscuous, hate solitude, and to down the drug ‘soma’ if any contrary thought occurs. Those who prefer to be with one person are ostracized. John (the Savage) in Brave New World is so disgusted when he caves to societal immorality that he takes extreme measures to escape.
  2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Action, violence, humor, romance and characters with flaws and depth equals perfection in my book. In The Hunger Games the government instituted the games to punish and remind the districts of their former rebellion (and failure to succeed). The capitol in The Hunger Games uses the games to terrorize its citizens into subservience, and tightly controls resources by segregating districts and limiting what each could produce. Katniss in The Hunger Games defies authority by bringing out a handful of berries and in essence, depriving the Capitol of a winner—and ultimately, forcing her desired outcome on them. There are literally more themes in The Hunger Games than there are in an onion and that fascinates me. Even fashion and food are used as forms of political control.
  3. 1984 by George Orwell.  In 1984, the desired result was control over every action and thought. The Inner Party uses surveillance (telescreens, microphones everywhere), controls information (in fact, rewriting history to support claims in the ultimate form of censorship), and all citizens are indoctrinated to be whistle-blowers on those committing “thought crimes” (any thought contrary to the government). Winston and Julia in 1984both commit thought crimes and engage in an illicit affair, but are outed by an informant and tortured into both subservience to Big Brother and ratting out each other. Just think of how many concepts and modern terminology are a result of this book!
  4. Wool by Hugh Howey. Wool 1 is one of the best short stories I have ever read. The entire omnibus is mesmerizing and I never would have thought I’d be mesmerized by people walking up and down the stairs of a silo. Wool 1 starts with a sheriff trying to solve the mystery behind his wife’s death. Wool is the perfect title as the government does indeed pull the wool over people’s eyes in a very literal sense—and while the “why” of the silos and the government are very slowly revealed over the course of the omnibus, it’s an excellent journey to follow. 
  5. Divergent by Veronica RothOk, so I had a hard time picking #5 and went back and forth between The Giver, The Handmaid’s Tale and Divergent. None are perfect, but given that Divergent had great entertainment value, action and romance on top of being a well thought out dystopia (plus it was good enough that I read it twice in a row), I’m giving it the nod. Divergent’s government is split into five factions—Abnegation (selfless), Amity (peaceful), Candor (honest), Dauntless (brave), and Erudite (intelligent). At sixteen all kids are tested and told what faction they belong to, but are given the choice of which they join. Whatever faction a person joins, they have to live by the “quality” (eg. honesty) of that faction and forsake everything else. Beyond ridiculous—but fascinating to see in action. If a person tests high in more than one faction they are divergent. It has the perfect setup and strong main characters. Tris in Divergent rejects the faction she grew up in (Abnegation) to be part of the daring and brave (Dauntless). The direction it goes at the end is bizarre and my only issue with the book.
Other excellent choices: The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Breeders by Katie French, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, The Scourge by A.G. Henley, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Legend by Marie Lu, Cinder by Marissa Mayer, Shatter Me by Taherah Mafi , The Selection by Kiera Cass, Wither by Lauren DeStefano, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster, Rebel Heart by Moira Young, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.




Daynight
by Megan Thomason

Amazon || The Book Depository

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance™. Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving—forced lifetime union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI edicts? Immediate Exile or death.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother’s death, Blake’s been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner—Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan’s forced to do his SCI elite family’s bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is Megan Thomason’s debut young adult dystopian novel and first in the daynight series.






Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone—over 600 in the last year—or attending to the needs of her family. Megan’s fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac. Daynight is Megan's first published novel, but fourth written one.




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giovedì 23 maggio 2013

Tour: The Sevy Series by Sarah-Jane Lehoux [Guest Post+ Give@way!]


Guest Post with Sarah-Jane Lehoux
What Helps Her Write

If you do a Google search on writing, you will find hundreds if not thousands of posts on how to beat writer’s block. Guess what? I don’t believe in writer’s block. I believe in hard work and maintaining motivation. Sometimes it can feel impossible to just sit down and let the words flow out of you, but you know what? I couldn’t run a marathon without practicing first, and that is exactly what writing is like.
Writing is exercise for your brain. You have to do it on a regular basis, even when you don’t feel like it, to see any appreciable results. So I approach writing like I approach a physical workout: lots of high energy music, lots of water, and lots of cursing.
But the amazing thing is that it does get easier. It becomes routine. It becomes something that you HAVE to do in order for your day to feel complete. Even if all you end up writing is utter garbage, it’s still working that great big grey muscle in your noggin.
Another thing that’s a must: support from your loved ones. Sometimes you need a cheerleader to boost your morale or give you a good swift kick in the bum. My husband is my biggest support system and always ready to tell me to stop whining and just do it!
Coddling yourself with thoughts of “Oh, I can’t write because I have writer’s block right now,” is the single biggest obstacle you have to get over if you ever want to call yourself a true writer.


The Books

Thief

Happily Ever After Doesn't Come Without a Price
In the crumbling city of Eloria, there are two indisputable facts. First, everyone has a dream. Secret, seemingly unattainable, altogether irresistible, it is the kind of dream that aches and, at times, burns. For most, it will forever remain a teasing enigma, but there are those for whom dreams grow into obsession. Which brings us to the second indisputable fact: everyone has a price. Protestations of morality have little meaning when confronted with the all-consuming passion of the soul. Better judgment is pushed aside for the chance to obtain the unobtainable. The only question remaining is just how much a person is willing to sacrifice in order to get what they want.
Sevy has always been a quick study in the wicked ways of Eloria. Since childhood, she has eked out a living for herself with the help of her sticky fingers and her indomitable spirit. She has no qualms about taking what she desires, and when the unrequited love of her life is mysteriously murdered, Sevy will stop at nothing to get him back. Elvish black magic, necromancy and demonic pacts are of little consequence if it means she can once again have her beloved at her side. But is she willing to murder her only friend to get the job done? Is there a line that even this selfish, self-proclaimed bitch is not prepared to cross?


Shades of War

There is More Than One Road to Redemption
Sometimes the past can't be forgotten. Sometimes the truth refuses to be buried. And sometimes the dead won't stay dead.
It began as a simple request: Journey to the Northern Jungles and bring a wayward son back to the safety of his farm and family before the racial tension that is building between humans and dark elves erupts into civil war. But life is never simple for Sevy, and she soon finds herself entangled in a bloody battle of good versus evil, love versus hate.
Old friends and enemies reunite, familial bonds are broken, and loyalty is tested. And in the midst of the steamy, sultry jungles, the ghosts of a serial killer's victims come out to play. Sevy, as petulant and irascible as ever, must overcome her personal demons in order to expose a madman and bring peace back to the kingdom. But just how much of her sanity must she sacrifice to help her friends? And how can she save anyone when she can't even save her own soul?




Masquerade


Never Trust a Liar, especially when they're telling the truth.
Starting over isn’t easy, especially when the world isn’t ready for you to change. Sevy, thief turned assassin turned mercenary, isn’t having any fun adjusting to a normal, law-abiding life. Luckily for her, an old partner in crime arrives with an irresistible proposition: a getaway to a tropical island, an adventure of a lifetime, and an amazing friendship ready to blossom into an even more amazing romance.
Things are looking up for Sevy. That is, until a pack of maniacal fairies with a taste for human flesh arrive on the scene.
Now she must unravel a web of magical intrigue hidden behind the outwardly idyllic atmosphere of the islands of Belakarta. Nothing is as it seems, and no one can be trusted. Trapped under the spell of a handsome and mysterious stranger, Sevy must fight fairies and tricksters to regain her freedom.
Or spend an eternity as a sorcerer’s plaything.


The Author
Sarah-Jane Lehoux has always had a passion for storytelling. From grade school tales of cannibalistic ghosts, to teenaged conversations with God, to her rebellion against adulthood with fantasy kingdoms and fairy magic, she has attempted to share her love of the quirky and unconventional with her readers.
She currently resides in Southern Ontario with her husband and her horde of Machiavellian cats. In addition to her own writing, Sarah-Jane works as an editor and freelance cover artist.


The Give@way!

Sarah-Jane Lehoux is currently celebrating the re-launch of The Sevy Series. Originally published in 2010, readers have called the series imaginative, captivating, beautifully detailed, and an emotional roller coaster. The eponymous main character of the books battles demons and dragons, ghosts and ghouls, fairies and fiends. Sound exciting? You bet your sweet bippy! Follow Sarah-Jane’s blog tour to read guest posts, interviews, excerpts and enter to win free copies of the series! Also get sneak peeks at the artwork for the upcoming Sevy Series Graphic Novels!!

To have a chance to win an entire set of The Sevy Series eBooks, just leave a comment about the guest post or the books, Good luck! ^^

mercoledì 22 maggio 2013

Tour: Root Bound by Tanya Karen Gough [Interview]

Interview with Tanya K. Gough
Author of Root Bound

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

Of course! My name is Tanya Karen Gough (Gough is pronounced “Goff,” like “cough”). I was born in Canada, grew up in the United States, taught overseas for a while and then ended up back in Canada. I currently live in Toronto. I’ve been writing as long as I can remember: poetry and short stories when I was young, academic work (I studied English Literature in school), and marketing copy through work. I also helped write textbooks when I was teaching. 

2. Where did you get the idea for Root Bound

ROOT BOUND came from a number of places. About 10 years earlier, I was playing around with the idea of a fairy tale mashup, with characters in the present who had no idea they were modern day versions of these iconic heroes. And no, it wasn’t at all like Once Upon a Time. I never really did anything with the storyline, but I did write a scene that stuck with me over time. Later on, when I started thinking about ROOT BOUND, the mashup idea was still there, but it had evolved into the world in my book – a place where all the fairy tales and books come to life in unexpected ways. By making this change, I found I had more freedom to explore themes of perception, memory, and finding one’s place in the world.

3. Who or what inspired you to become an author?

As I’ve said, I’ve been writing all my life. I’ve also been a voracious reader all my life, as well. I turn to books for information, for pleasure, and for escape. And writing has always been the way I best express myself creatively. My mom and sister both paint, my father plays guitar, and I write. It’s how I’m wired.

4. The character of your book you feel most attached to?

Ack, this is one of those “which one of your children do you love best” questions. As soon as I pick one, the others will get upset, and then I’ll end up with a head full of angry characters that don’t want to play with me anymore. However, I will say that the know-it-all brownie Mat is the most fun to write. It’s just plain fun to write about a know-it-all who doesn’t understand that they don’t really know anything. I also really like the way the goddess Ceres turned out. 

Ceres is the Roman goddess of earth and agriculture (for a quick, kid-friendly version of the story, click here: http://rome.mrdonn.org/romangods/ceres.html). She goes dormant for six months when she’s mourning her daughter, so I imagined her spending winters in a cave, deep underground, not far from her child. Without her daughter, Ceres has no personality of her own, so she physically goes dormant like a seed, too. 

5. Looking back at Root Bound, is there anything in the story you might have written a little differently? Something you would like to change?

I’m sure ROOT BOUND would be different if I had gone the traditional publishing route. Having access to a high end editor and the whole publishing machine might have smoothed out a few rough edges and made the book more commercially mainstream. But you lose some of the idiosyncrasies and unique features of the book in that process, too. On the other hand, self-publishing means I had the freedom to write the story I really wanted to write, on my own terms. I’m ok with that.

5. Any other books in the works? Goals for future project?

I'm working on Book Two in the Emma & the Elementals series. It's called Water Works.  

Water Works is about ways of thinking about the world. Things that were true in Book One may not be true in Book Two, or they may have changed because things change over time,especially in a world that operates with a different set of logic rules. And because this book is about changing realities, she won’t be travelling in the classic Greek and Roman mythological world this time.  She’s going someplace less familiar. I’d like the reader to discover new worlds, too.


6. What book are you reading now? 

I have a couple of things on the go right now. I just started Guy Gavriel Kay’s superb fantasy novel Under Heaven, set in ancient China. I’m also looking at Oliver Sacks’ books Hallucination and Mind’s Eye because I’m very interested in perception and how we see the world around us. I’m also working my way through Philip Pullman’s recent update of the Brothers Grimm stories.  

7. What do you do when writers block strikes?

It depends. If I can’t write because I have no ideas, then I go to the movies, or a museum, or read a book. If I can’t concentrate, I walk. I tend to think a lot before I sit down to write, though, so once I have pen in hand, I just have to figure out how to translate the idea into story. 

Root Bound
Emma And The Elementals #1
Genre: YA/Fantasy

How far will you go to find your way home?
Emma and her father are always on the move, travelling from place to place as her father’s work demands. Their new home, however, is different. There’s a frightening woman who lives down the hall: she bears an uncanny resemblance to a witch. A mysterious light comes from her apartment, and a small boy seems to be trapped inside.
School in this town is no happy place either, with an odd principal and a gang of girls who make tormenting Emma their special project. And strangest of all is the fact that there seem to be brownies – basement brownies, in the air vent in her bedroom.
Haunted by visions of her mother, Emma travels through the brownie burrow to the valley of Hades to visit with the goddess Ceres, following a series of clues that lead her across the sea of memory to the centre of the world.
There, on an inhospitable rock floating in a sea of steaming lava, Emma must find a way to release her mother from the sea of memory and restore magic to both the brownie burrow and the human world above.

The Author
Tanya Karen Gough owned and published The Poor Yorick Shakespeare Catalogue from 1997-2007, earning a strong international customer base of world class academics and high school educators. Tanya was also a contributing editor for the Internet Shakespeare Editions at the University of Victoria (BC), audio advisor for the Sourcebooks Shakespeare textbook series, and theatre reviewer for Playshakespeare.com. Tanya grew up in New Hampshire and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.

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Images by Freepik