Saturday, 12 October 2013

Book Blitz: Darkness Watching by Emma L. Adams + Giveaway


Today I'm really excited to take part in Darkness Watching book blitz organized by Grapevine Book Tours For a Chance to win some really 1 ebook +  $10 Amazon Gift Card, the Rafflecopter is located at the end of this post.

Title: Darkness Watching

Author: Emma L. Adams

Series: Darkworld #1

Publication: October 10th, 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press

Category: Upper Young Adult/New Adult

Genre: Paranormal | Urban Fantasy



 
Synopsis:

Eighteen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she's losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits—and the darkness is staring back.

Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone, in the middle of nowhere—little knowing that it isn't coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world.

All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life—but demons never give up, and their focus on Ash has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she's looking for. The demons want something from her, and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is.

In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be ...

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18071001-darkness-watching



Darkness Watching Excerpt

 At that moment, the lights in the hall went out, as did the projector, plunging us into dusty darkness. Cara let out a shriek.

 "It's happening!" she wailed, clutching at her garlic clove which, not being securely fastened to her jacket, fell to the floor. With another shriek, she dived underneath her seat to retrieve it.

 "Calm down! It's just a power cut." I furrowed my brow, trying to read my notes. Everyone talked amongst themselves as Mr Darton struggled to turn the projector back on. I couldn't see any lights outside in the corridor, either. A whole school power-cut. Great. And why did I feel so cold?

 A stream of faint winter sunlight shone through gaps in the blinds that covered the windows, lighting the myriad dust motes in the air. I sighed and tilted my head back, rubbing my eyes to stop them from closing. I could feel a headache building behind my temples.

Then a pair of eyes appeared amongst the rafters, and stared right into mine.

They gleamed violet, with vertically slit pupils like a cat's. They blinked, looking down at the confusion below. Then they locked onto me.

Once, when I'd cut my finger on a kitchen knife, I'd gone into shock and nearly passed out. My vision turned blue around the edges, and everything acquired an odd, blurred quality. Right now, looking into those sinister, alien eyes, I felt exactly the same.

I'm going mad. It's not real. Cara's superstitions have made me start seeing things.

That, or the lack of sleep. I realised I'd stopped breathing. I could feel sweat on my forehead, but at the same time I felt cold all over, cold as the frigid December air outside. As if fresh snow covered me, slowly seeping into my skin through my hoody and jeans. But at the same time, it felt more like the kind of paralysing chill I associated with that moment in horror stories when someone saw a ghost.

Was it a ghost? I'd always thought ghosts would look…human. If I believed in them, which up until now, I thought I didn't.

All around me, I could hear the other students chatting, laughing. No one screamed, cried, or ran for the doors. It was as though my own private bubble of horror enclosed me like the cage I'd envisioned earlier. Trapped.

Then I heard a faint whisper, almost like a breath.

"Ash."

I would have screamed if I'd been capable of making a sound. I knew beyond doubt that those eyes, that voice, belonged to something which wasn't human.

The eyes blinked again, becoming part of the shadow once more, as the hall lights came back on. For a moment, a swathe of blackness remained in the rafters, like a single patch of mist left behind after a fog has lifted. Not a single speck of dust disturbed the area around it.

Then it vanished.

I still couldn't breathe. Those cold eyes remained imprinted on the insides of my eyelids, light purple, glowing and staring.

Staring at me.

I blacked out for a minute. When I came to, I heard Mr Darton's low mutter into the microphone-not that anyone listened. Whispers filled the air, ordinary conversations. People talked about their plans for the weekend, not about monsters with violet eyes or piercing, unnatural coldness. The more studious skimmed through revision notes. I looked down and saw mine scattered all over the floor. I didn't remember dropping them. I didn't remember anything but those awful eyes.

 I've cracked. Did staring violet eyes fall under the category of stress-induced hallucinations?

Cara tried to laugh off her moment of panic.

"I didn't really think it was the end of the world," she insisted.

 The end of the world. Maybe that was what I'd seen. A sign.

 Ridiculous.
 

Author bio:

Emma L. Adams spent her childhood creating imaginary worlds to compensate for a disappointingly average reality, so it was probably inevitable that she ended up writing fantasy and paranormal for young adults. She was born in Birmingham, UK, which she fled at the first opportunity to study English Literature at Lancaster University. In her three years at Lancaster, she hiked up mountains, skydived in Australia, and endured a traumatic episode involving a swarm of bees in the Costa Rican jungle. She also wrote various novels and short stories. These included her first publication, a rather bleak dystopian piece, and a disturbing story about a homicidal duck (which she hopes will never see the light of day).

 Now a reluctant graduate, she can usually be found in front of her writing desk, creating weird and wonderful alternative worlds. Her debut novel The Puppet Spell, published in 2013 by Rowanvale Books, is a fantasy tale for young adults and the young at heart, inspired by her lifelong love of the fantastical, mythology, and video games. Emma also writes supernatural fantasy novels for older teens and adults. Her next book, Darkness Watching, is the first in the upper-YA/New Adult Darkworld series, and will be published in September 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press.
 
 
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, 9 October 2013

What inspires you?

Hey guys!  It's been a while since I blogged so today I wanted to let you take a peek inside my mind..LOL. It's a bit chaotic in there right now but I'll try to calm my thoughts long enough for you to get a quick look.

Today I'm talking about what inspired me to write Homecoming, my upcoming paranormal romance with steam punk and fantasy elements, but first just a quick announcement. My critique Partner, Priya Kanaparti is looking for bloggers & authors to help with the cover reveal for her YA Paranormal Romance, Dracian Legacy. If you have time and would like to help out, here is the signup link:


**Warning**: Homecoming is a little bit steamy so it's not recommended to readers below 18 years so I will refrain from talking about the degrees of the stories' steaminess...:D

Homecoming is set in a fictional shifters world called Anndesia. The story is set 75 years after WWII. Here is a short prologue taken from Anndesia History, a written by  Solomon Drakovic. (one of the founders even though this  is not mentioned in the story. I will be releasing more excerpts from the book in the full length novel.)


PROLOGUE

 
Seventy-five years ago, Earth was a place thriving with humans. Shifters lived among them, albeit hiding their true nature, until one morning when the world woke up to find everything had gone to hell. World War II had begun. A group of human scientists invented bacteria that would “scare” the population. They were wrong. The plague that emerged as a result of these scares almost eliminated the entire populace. Only the blood from shifter clans could save the survivors.

Now Earth is a wasteland. Uninhabitable. Gifted humans, very rare and valued highly, live alongside the various shifter races in Anndesia, under the protection of the clan leaders.

Excerpt from Anndesia History by Solomon Drakovic

So this world is scattered with humans with some amazing powers. The first we meet is Uriel who manupilates both fire and air elements, powers he inherited from his ancestors. He's a pain in the Hero's butt, but also quite funny. My Inspiration for creating the elementals was Avatar: The Last Airbender.  As you all know, I am a HUGE fan of this series. I've been known to rave one too many times about it..LOL. But yeah...

Then for the shifter panthers...I LOVE cats. Have you seen how sleek and beautiful and powerful they are? How their muscles move as they prowl around? I've watched several videos featuring panthers. I never seem to get enough. But that's not all. The story has all Kind of shifters, even Antelope shifters!! yeah I know, I just had to include them. They are so cute and kinda fast. They also play a part in this Society.

When it came to adding the steampunk elements--although there aren't so many in this installment-- I love steamships and everything else the steampunk era. The difference is that my ship in this short story is steered partly by humans who possess the air element and the other part by steam. Ah, it was fun planning and plotting this story.

So what is your inspiration? What inspired you to write your current WIP or published book or writing blogposts? What elements of in a story inspire you to pick a book and read it?

Friday, 4 October 2013

Paperback release blitz - Colors Like Memories by Meradeth Houston

Hi everyone!! My wonderful friend and author, Meradeth is releasing her book, Colors Like Memories in Paperback. If you haven't read this book, you should. I read it last year, it's fantastic. A completely different take on Angels

So without further ado, I'll hand over the reins to Meradeth.


Hi! *waves* I'm incredibly excited to announce the paperback release for COLORS LIKE MEMORIES. The ebook release has been a blast, and it is especially awesome to actually hold the book in my hands :) Here are three things I think you might find fun about the book:

1. It's got a pretty sweet cover :) And I'm rather partial to the blurb:

 Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.


2. There have been some pretty awesome things said about it (if I do say so myself, but I may be a bit biased). See:

 -"...I applaud the author for providing a writing that has the power to encourage, inspire, help, heal and simply serve as a platform to stimulate communication for any reader (regardless of age), who is feeling hopeless. If you are looking for an interesting read, this book is well written, interesting and has several positive messages that the reader can take away from the story. I would recommend this book to any reader." TWC Amazon Review

 -"Colors Like Memories was an amazing YA paranormal romance. It will make you soar with wings then drop you off and catch you once you get near the ground." Michelle Kullman Amazon Review

-"COLORS LIKE MEMORIES is an achingly beautiful tale of love, loss, and new beginnings. Meradeth Houston writes with a clean, clear prose that packs a punch. She carries her characters through the full spectrum of emotions, and the reader is swept along in the journey." RunningnWriting Amazon Review

3. You don't have to wait for book #2! THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE, also set in the Sary world, is already available, and you can grab a copy at Amazon, B&N, or my publisher MuseItUp Publishing. Book #3, SURRENDER THE SKY, will also be released soon :)

 You can pre-order COLORS LIKE MEMORIES at my publisher's site: MuseItUp Publishing, or find it on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Ebook copies are also available on all vendor sites!

 Those are my three things, and if that's not enough to interest you, well, I've also got a little giveaway running for a book of your choice. Check out the rafflecopter below :)



A bit about Meradeth:

>She’s a Northern California girl, but now lives and teaches anthropology in Montana.
>When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
>She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to get to share her work!
>If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.


Find her online:


Website : Blog : Twitter : Facebook : Pinterest : Goodreads


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Direct link to Rafflecopter.

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Cover Reveal: The Ghosts of Aquinnah by Julie Flanders



Blurb:


A brilliant flash of light transcends through time.

Another freezes a cloaked figure within a frame of salty mist as waves crash against a rocky shore. Her harrowing expression shadows the beacon to a pinprick.

By the next blaze, she is gone. Only the lighthouse remains.

Hannah’s eyes blink in step with each heartbeat. Images of her deceased parents and Martha’s Vineyard explode like firecrackers inside her mind.

She shakes her head.

 
For weeks this eerie woman dressed in nineteenth century garb has been haunting my webcam, but tonight she stared into my soul.

Why? ...

Who is she? ...

Casting aside months of research on historic lighthouses, Hannah drives to the coast and boards a ferry.

What is the strange connection she has to this mysterious woman suspended in time?

Hannah finds out.

But, it’s not at all what she expects ...

Hannah unravels a century old murder.

Author Bio:


Julie Flanders is a novelist and freelance writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a life-long love affair with the ocean and has spent more summer vacations than she can count on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. When not writing, Julie can be found reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and watching too much television. She is an animal lover and shares her home with her dog and cat.

Find Julie at:







The Ghosts of Aquinnah will be released by Ink Smith Publishing on December 5, 2013

Monday, 23 September 2013

Promo Blog Tour Stop: Kinetic by S. K. Anthony


Welcome to my stop for the Kinetic blog tour, organized by Grapevine Book Tours. For a Chance to win a copy of Kinetic, please leave a comment. Winners will be choosen on October 15th, 2013.

 


Title: Kinetic

Author: S.K. Anthony

Series: The Luminaries #1

Publication: September 20th, 2013

Category: New Adult (NA)

Genre: Urban Fantasy (UF)





Synopsis:

Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.

 Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake. Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding.

 A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything …

** Kinetic is a stand-alone novel. All books in series are part of the same world with the characters intertwined. **



BUY LINKS
 

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kinetic-sk-anthony/1116875167

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/kinetic-3

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/354677

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kinetic/id703563804
 
 


Author bio:

S.K. Anthony is a writer, a reader and a make-stuff-up-er who lives in New York with her husband and toddler twins. She is a wine connoisseur, which just really means she knows she loves it, and a caffeine addict. When she isn’t busy with her family she finds herself being transported into the world of imagination. Well, either that or running away from spiders…she is convinced they are out to get her!
 
 
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Goodreads

Excerpt:


I opened eyes to bright lights. I covered my face with my arm and propped myself up to sit on the bed. I was in the new infirmary. Oh jeez, I’d have to deal with Derek now.

 “Annie?”

I squinted enough to see Jenny standing by my side.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Blind.”

“Give it a minute for your eyes to adjust.”

“Or you can turn off the lights.”

“Big baby,” I heard her chuckle.

“What happened? Did he get away?” I asked.

“Yes, Andrew and I had to take care of you. We had no choice.”

“What is it with me lately? I can’t seem to get a good fight in.”

“Stop complaining. You kicked major butt with all of those guys,” she said.

“What happened with everyone? Are they okay? Lisa was on the floor...”

“Everyone is fine. Lisa and one of the guards were tased. And the other one was shot, but he was wearing a vest.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “The Lumins are fine. Their personal safe was missing all of the documents they kept inside, but their money and jewelry were left behind.”

“Yes, I was there when they took the contents out.”

“Nick has everything, then?”

I nodded. “It was in the backpack. We got his team, though, so maybe we can get Nick’s location from one of them.”

“That’s not going to happen,” she mumbled as she looked down.

“Why not? We captured them. Lisa can get the information for us.”

“They’re all dead,” she said.

“WHAT? No, most of them were alive, we can get the info—” I stopped when she shook her head. “What are you saying?”

“They had kill chips connected to their hearts. When the team arrived to take them in, all they found were dead bodies with blood running out of their eyes. We found the chips. It looks like they were remotely activated.”

“I can’t believe he would do that! Next time— no matter who he hurts— we have to take him down, Jenny. We cannot worry about each other. If we keep letting him slip away, we’re all going to be dead soon enough.” I stared at my hands, lost in thought.

Saturday, 21 September 2013

More Than Just A Kiss Blogfest Winners

 
 
 
 
First I'd like to say that I had so much fun reading your entries. Each was different: From innocent kisses, to steamy to desperate kisses and first-time kisses as well. Loved them!
 
Thank you to everyone who took time to participate in the blogfest.
 
So Christine, Laurelin, Kyra and I chose the winners. It wasn't a very easy decision because as I mentioned every snippet was fantastic.
 
Without further ado, here are our top three:

Our first place winner of a critique (not exceeding ten pages) from  Kyra, Christine and I is

 L.G. KELTNER

Our second place winner of a critique (not exceeding five pages) from Laurelin and Christine is

MICHELLE WALLACE

 Our third place winner of a one page critique from Christine and I is

ADRIANNE RUSSELL


We also have some Bonus prizes picked by each of us the judges.

 Kyra's pick to win IF I LET YOU GO:   SUMMER ROSS

Laurelin's pick to win FIXED ON YOUROE

Christine's pick for all six volumes of The 13th Floor seriesSHAH WHARTON

 
My pick TRULY MADLY DEEPLY YOU and REAPER'S NOVICE.:   ALEX TANNER

 
Congratulations to you all!


And thank you again to every participant. Every single snippet was fantastic. :)

Have a great Weekend!!!
<3


Thursday, 19 September 2013

Teaser 2: Homecoming

EEP! I am over-the-moon about my upcoming release, Homecoming. :) Today I would like to share with you a teaser from the book. Homecoming releases on 25th October.
 
 
 
So how's everyone doing?