BLOG TOUR: Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honour his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more gruelling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

PURCHASE
(amazon) (kindle) (chapters/indigo) (the book depository)

Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR MIRANDA KENNEALLY

Recently, there has been a huge trend with dystopian YA novels. Why do you choose to write realistic fiction? 
To tell you the truth, I would love to write sci-fi or fantasy, but I've never been all that great at world-building. I love reading contemporary fiction, and people say you should write what you love reading.

Your characters often crossover in your novels. Is this your way of giving your characters a sequel or a happy ending?
Yes, I chose to write companion novels rather than sequels, because to write a sequel, you have to create drama. If I've already given my characters a happy ending at the end of a book and they have grown and developed, I don't want to take that away from them by creating unnecessary drama. I also loved the idea of creating a community in which kids influence each other in different ways throughout the books.

Running the marathon for Kyle was Annie’s way of coping with her stress and grief. What advice would you give others in similar situations of grief or stress?
I would say give yourself time to heal. Recognize that everyone's healing process is different. Don't beat yourself up if you don't feel better in a certain amount of time; everyone heals in different ways. If you need to, talk to good friends, your guidance counselor, or a therapist.

Why do you choose to write YA books? Have you ever considered writing other genres?
I'd love to write adult romance or historical romance. I might try writing adult romance one day, but I'm just too busy with my YA books right now. I also love sci-fi, and would love to try writing another one. I've written 3 sci-fis, but they aren't exactly publishing material! :)

Your books take place in a small town. Is your hometown similar to the one in your books?
Yes, my books take place in Franklin, Tennessee, which is near where I grew up (Manchester, TN). I use real restaurants and landmarks from Franklin, Manchester, and the surrounding towns in my books. Only a couple of the schools I mention are real. Most of them are named after shopping malls in TN.

FOLLOW MIRANDA! (goodreads) (twitter) (website) (facebook)

Thanks for stopping by!

BLOG TOUR: Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki (Interview!)

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.

Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win. The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me. I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

THE INTERVIEW

1. If you could live in any Dystopian world, which world would you choose and why?
Oh, this is a tough one! I think it’d be hard to live in any dystopian. Maybe Ann Aguirre’s Razorland Series. At least her characters have the chance to fight back. Her main female is pretty kickass too. Abi- None. I would never want to have to endure any of those places.

2. Did you listen to music while writing or do you find the silence helps more? 
Missy- While music can sometimes inspire me, I like it completely quiet while I write.
Abi- I run on my elliptical so I can close my eyes and let my blasting music take my mind where it wants. So when I write I will listen to the song that inspired that scene for me. Now when it’s a chapter Missy wrote, and it’s my turn to add to it. I usually just have noise in the background. Or I’ll read it and find a song that will help inspire me. It’s funny, I have ADD but I can’t write in dead silence.

3. If you could choose three songs to describe the book, which songs would they be? 
Missy- The three songs that come to mind for me are 1) Linkin Park’s Castle of Glass, Third Eye Blind’s Wounded, and Needtobreathe’s Something Beautiful.
Abi- Kelly Clarkson. Dark Side & Honestly. And the ones Missy already talked about.

4. What were some books or stories that inspired you to write? 
Missy- I’ve always been a bookworm, but writing was mostly a private outlet for me. I didn’t want to write a story until Abi & I started meeting to talk about books we were currently reading.
Abi- We always found something with a book that we read that bothered us. We always agreed on the parts that we would change. So totally joking I said to Missy. “You know the only way we will ever be 100% happy with a book, is if we wrote it.” After that talk I went home and started listening to music and wondering what I would want to write about. And when Branded to came to me, of course Missy loved the idea. We click like that! It’s pretty amazing.

5. What authors do you look up to, currently and in the past? 
Missy- for me, it’s Bodie Thoene and Ann Rinaldi. Their books inspired me when I was a young girl and kept me reading! Currently, I respect all writers… because now I really know how much work it is to be one!!!
Abi- Nicholas Sparks, his story telling blows my mind. And the same as Missy, now that we have gone through the process of writing a novel, you have to respect everyone who tries.

FIND ABI & MISSY: (twitter) (website)

BLOG TOUR: The Troop by Nick Cutter (Q&A)

THE TROOP by Nick Cutter

Once a year, Scoutmaster Tim Riggs leads a troop of boys into the Canadian wilderness for a weekend camping trip—a tradition as comforting and reliable as a good ghost story around a roaring bonfire. But when an unexpected intruder stumbles upon their campsite—shockingly thin, disturbingly pale, and voraciously hungry—Tim and the boys are exposed to something far more frightening than any tale of terror. The human carrier of a bioengineered nightmare. A horror that spreads faster than fear. A harrowing struggle for survival with no escape from the elements, the infected . . . or one another. - 

Thank you for stopping by Mr. Cutter! I hope you're well.

1. What was your favourite book as a child?

Where The Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls. It was a real heartbreaker, and still does a number on me to this day.

2. What inspired you to write The Troop? 

I’d written another novel just before starting The Troop, which dealt with two characters as boys. I liked writing that part of the novel, and wanted to write about boys at that age again.

3. Where were you when the idea of The Troop hit you?

I was at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, and they had an exhibit on WATER. How we use it as a species, how it’s used around the world … and the things that live in it. There was a tiny little area set off one side of the sprawling exhibit, a dark little room with a video tape running on a loop. A doctor talking about the little creatures who take the villain role in this book … one of those roles, anyway. I was fascinated. That was the novel in its germination.

4. Other than writing, what do you like to do?

You know, judging by the reaction to this book that some readers have had, you’d think I spent my downtime murdering hobos and tossing old people down rickety flights of stairs! And while I do enjoy doing both those things, primarily I spend time with my family, play basketball a few times a week, and read a lot. And sure, sometimes on a rainy Sunday we might murder a hobo as a family—but that’s a little something called BONDING.

5. What are you currently reading?

SHARP OBJECTS, by Gillian Flynn. I, like a billion-squillion other people, was rocked to the core by GONE GIRL, so I’m going back and reading her earlier books. This one may not be quite the same as GONE GIRL, for my money at least, but it’s a helluva good book regardless.

FIND NICK ONLINE

MORE ABOUT THE TROOP

Thank you Simon&Schuster for having me part of the tour!!!!

THORNHILL BLOG TOUR: Q&A + Review!

I am thrilled to be hosting the next stop of the Thornhill by Kathleen Peacock Blog Tour!!!

THORNHILL (Hemlock #2) by Kathleen Peacock
Release Date: September 10th 2013

Mac can’t lose another friend. Even if he doesn’t want to be found.  

The ripple effect caused by Mac’s best friend Amy’s murder has driven Mac’s new love, Kyle, to leave Hemlock and disappear from her life forever. But Mac knows that Kyle plans to enroll in a rehabilitation camp, where he can live with other werewolves. She refuses to accept his decision, especially since the camps are rumored to be tortuous. So she sets out in search of Kyle with a barely sober Jason—and Amy’s all-seeing ghost—in tow.  

Clues lead Mac to find Kyle in a werewolf den in Colorado—but their reunion is cut short by a Tracker raid. Now Mac and Kyle are trapped inside the electric fences of Thornhill, a camp for young werewolves. As she devises an escape plan, Mac uncovers dangerous secrets buried within the walls of Thornhill—and realizes that the risk to the people she loves is greater than ever before. (goodreads) 

Boy oh boy! What a read. I absolutely loved the first book in the series, Hemlock, so I jumped at the chance to be able to review it and be a part of the blog tour.

I love werewolf stories. I've read a ton and I've watched a ton and I have to say, the story of Hemlock is very original. Thornhill builds on that and makes Kathleen's werewolf lore a force to be reckoned with. It would be so easy to go awry when dealing with werewolf stories but the story of Mac and the other characters we first met in Hemlock rolls right along wonderfully.

Mac is one of my favourite female heroines. She has this strong can-do attitude that is just so endearing. She will literally do anything to protect the people that she loves and that is something that I very much admire. She put her life in danger many times throughout Thornhill to help those that she loves. Hell, she got stuck in the rehabilitation camp willingly even though she knew it was dangerous because she wanted to help. Mac is a badass. 

I loved Jason and Kyle as much in Thornhill as I did in Hemlock. Both boys are fantastic in their own ways and bring out different sides in Mac. As a love-triangle, I'm not sure how I feel about who I ship with who but I love them both as their own person which is rare for me in dealing with love triangles! I always very much like one of the boys than the other but when it comes to Kyle and Jason, Kathleen writes them so well that I can't help but love both of them.

There were also new characters introduced like Amy. I won't dive too much into her because I don't want to give too much away but I loved her. She was such a fierce, feisty character that I found myself excited whenever she showed up.

Thornhill definitely kept me on my toes and I know it will do the same to everyone who reads it, new fans and old fans alike. I breezed through it in a day because I had to know what Mac and co were going to get into next. Kathleen weaves the romance and the action together seamlessly as well as bringing new werewolf lore to the table. Do yourself a favour and pick up Thornhill immediately!

★★★★★ 

I LOVED IT

PURCHASE 

(amazon) (amazon canada) (the book depository) (chapters/indigo)

AUTHOR Q&A

1. How did you come up with the idea for the Hemlock series? Where were you when it happened?

I had the idea while walking to work one morning. I was crossing a long bridge and listening to music and "It's been Awhile" by Staind started playing. As I listened to the song, a scene with Mac, Jason, and Kyle unfolded in my head.

2. What other werewolf novels/television shows/movies do you enjoy?

My favorite werewolf movie is Ginger Snaps, but I also have a huge soft spot for An American Werewolf in London. When it comes to werewolves on television, the first season of Being Human (UK) is brilliant, and I've always had a mad crush on Oz from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I haven't actually read too many werewolf books because I made a conscious effort not to read them while working on the Hemlock trilogy. I did break down and read the first few Mercedes Thompson books by Patricia Briggs and quite liked them. I actually have a whole list of werewolf books to read after the third Hemlock book goes to copyedits.

3. Do you believe in the supernatural? 

That there might be more to our world that meets the eye? Sort of. I don't believe in werewolves or vampires, but I do believe in hauntings, ghosts, and psychic abilities. My parents let me watch Firestarter when I was six and I spent an entire week trying to light things on fire with my brain. 

4. Would you rather be infected with LS or be a reg? 

A reg. Being a werewolf would be terribly inconvenient and you'd spend a fortune on clothes. 

5. What have you been reading lately? 

I FINALLY got around to reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer and I absolutely adored it. I've also been reading a few non-fiction books for research.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen spent her teen years crushing on authors and writing short stories about vampires. She put her
writing dreams on hold while attending art school, but tripped over them when office life left her feeling restless. Kathleen is Canadian and likely to perish in the first wave of the zombie apocalypse. Connect with Kathleen: Website - Twitter - Goodreads - Facebook

Be sure to follow @HCCFrenzy on Twitter and hashtag #ThornhillBT, they have a giveaway going on all week- 

YOU COULD WIN A HEMLOCK/THORNHILL Prize pack, guys!

 Good luck to you all! 

Be sure to stop by the awesome blog hosts for the OFFICIAL THORNHILL BLOG TOUR 

Sept. 9th: Juhina from Maji Bookshelf 

Sept. 10th: Hayley from Booking It With Hayley G 

Sept. 11th: Giselle from Xpresso Reads 

Sept.12th: Rebecca from OMFG books 

Sept. 13th: Lindsay from Me on Books

A very big thanks to HarperCollins Canada for allowing me to participate in this blog tour!

BLOG TOUR: Dark Halo by Shannon Dittemore

Welcome to my stop on the Dark Halo blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

 Dark Halo (Angel Eyes Trilogy #3) by Shannon Dittemore 
Release Date: August 20, 2013
320 pages

Summary from Goodreads: One halo brought sight to Brielle. Another offers sweet relief from what she sees. Brielle can’t help but see the Celestial realm. Even without the halo, it’s everywhere she looks. And with the heavens above Stratus ravaged by war, Brielle wishes for another gift, any gift. Because Jake is gone. The only boy she’s ever loved has been taken by the demon, Damien— and she knows if she ever wants to see him again, she must fight. But fighting is so hard when everything you see makes you afraid. 

When she receives instructions from the Throne Room leading her to Jake, she unknowingly walks into a diabolical and heartbreaking trap. Then the Prince of Darkness himself offers Brielle a halo of his own making. With the dark halo, she won’t have to see the fear and brokenness that surround her. She’ll be free of that unbearable burden. And it comes with a promise: the guarantee of a life with Jake. 

When confusing details about Jake’s past emerge, and the battle above reaches a fever pitch, Brielle is forced to make a choice. Will she choose the dark halo and the ignorance that comes with it, or will she choose to live with her eyes wide open and trust the Creator’s design—even if it means a future without Jake? (goodreads)

Available from:

   

DARK HALO DELETED SCENE

Jake’s gone deathly still next to me. I move closer. I want to know what someone without my gift makes of the sight before us.

“What do you see?” I ask.

He take two steps forward, his hand outstretched like some bizarre version of Sleeping Beauty heading for the spindle.

“Jake?”

“I see the impossible. A light in the darkness. Rays of gold against the night sky, that’s what I see.”

A Sabre stands beyond the veil. Just one. His mouth is open, a song growing in curling vines of cherry-red from his lips, but the words are peculiar, unclear. Gaelic sounding. The massive blades that make up his wings move softly, sending quiet vibrations across the sky. As I watch, a sheer thread snaps free—the veil that much thinner.

“Do you see the Sabre?”

Jake leans forward, squints. “I see a silver shape, a dim light that doesn’t quite match the gold, but that’s all.”

I slide my hand into his. “Can you hear him?”

We step forward. Three, four, five steps. The closer we get, the easier it is to see through the veil. “I can see his outline now, see his wings. But I can’t hear… wait… maybe. Yes. I hear his song.” Jake’s face lights up. “It’s soft. Foreign.”

I squeeze his hand. He’s hearing what I’m hearing. Maybe not as loud, maybe not as clear, but I’m sure we’re hearing the same song.

A gust of wind smacks me from behind. Hot, celestial wind. I turn to see Virtue in all his silver glory. Around us the night sky turns orange. My piecemeal celestial vision trades up, giving me the whole picture.

“Virtue.”

Jake whips around. “He’s here?”

“Yeah.” I tip my face up. “And I think he’s grown.”

Virtue smiles and inclines his head. “Jake, Brielle.”

His voice is loud in my mind. In Jake’s too, it seems. He lurches back like he’s been punched, and then he laughs at himself. It’s been a while since I’ve heard him really laugh. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.

“I’d show myself to you, Child of God,” Virtue says, “but the skies are not safe just now.”

“That’s okay,” Jake says, “I understand.”

His eyes move right and left, trying to find the invisible. It’s got to be weird talking to something you can’t see. But then, I guess Jake’s had more practice than most. After a moment he blinks and his eyes still.

“You took my mom,” I say. My words are out of place, but I don’t know when I’ll get another chance to talk to Virtue, and I need to know.

“I did.”

“Where?”

“Is that important?”

Everything’s tight now: my throat, my chest, my gut.

“Yes.” Jake answers, squeezing my hand. “It’s important.”

“Then I will show you,” Virtue says. “Not now, but soon. Our work is nearly done here.”

I have questions to ask, so many, but I’m still reeling from the very blunt, very final revelation of moments ago. Mom’s gone and I have only my nightmares and the smell of worship to remember her by.

“You’re almost through the veil,” Jake says. “What will you do after that?”

“What we always do,” Virtue’s voice is firm, matter-of-fact. “We’ll continue to worship.”

His answer forces the questions from my lame tongue. “Will the veil remain torn? What will that do to Stratus?”

“The fallout is not mine to consider. I was created to worship, so I do that. Wherever I go, whatever I do. The consequences of obedience are out of my hands.”

“But the Celestial light…”

“Is the glory of God.”

“Yes, but without the veil what will happen to the people of Stratus? Will they… burn?”

“Do you fear the unbridled glory of the Creator?”

It’s a minute before I respond and not because I don’t know my answer. It’s just that I can’t help feeling it’s the wrong answer.

“Yes. I think I do.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shannon Dittemore is the author of the Angel Eyes Trilogy. She has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. When she isn’t writing, she spends her days with her husband, Matt, imagining things unseen and chasing their two children around their home in Northern California. ANGEL EYES was Shannon’s debut novel and the launch of a young adult supernatural trilogy. It was published in the summer of 2012 by Thomas Nelson. The sequel BROKEN WINGS hit shelves in February, 2013 and the final novel in the trilogy, DARK HALO, will be available August 20, 2013. Shannon Dittemore is having a Live Twitter Chat August 27th at 6pm (Pacific) where she will be giving away a Kindle Fire HD and other prizes! Enter here: http://shannondittemore.com/win-a-kindle-fire/

Author Links:

    

GIVEAWAY

5-sets of the Angel Eyes Trilogy including Angel Eyes, Broken Wings and Dark Halo. US only.

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BLOG TOUR (Guest Post + Giveaway!!): Solstice High by Ardash Vartparonian

SOLSTICE HIGH by Ardash Vartparonian

Matt, Rochelle, Daphne and Jonas are four students starting their senior year of high school, but suffer a freak-accident the very first day and start to realize that they are developing superhuman abilities. They quickly realize that the school principal, Mr. Devlin, has in fact more than just education on his agenda, and is using the school for his own purposes. 

Not only must the four friends try to figure out what Devlin’s plans are, but when he will strike, and seeing as how they cannot turn to grown-ups for help without exposing themselves, must themselves grow-up in order to stop him. As well as learning to cope with these developing powers, the four teenagers must deal with the day-to-day muddles of being a teenager, such as volatile emotions, infatuations and family issues.

(goodreads) (amazon)

Hi Rebecca, 

Thanks for allowing me a spot on your blog! You asked me what songs I would choose for the soundtrack if Solstice High were to become a movie, as well as my dream cast, and these are my picks:

PLAYLIST

(SPOILER ALERT! I want to show how the songs would go hand in hand with certain scenes or plot points in the novel)

Sour Cherry – The Kills
The fun and strong beat this song starts off with would be a great way of showing the nerves and excitement of the first day of school, and this would only be emphasized by the off-beat rhythm of the song. It would be easy to imagine this song as the very first thing you hear, while the first thing you see is this horde of students marching into a large assembly room.

9 Crimes – Damien Rice
The bittersweet sound of this song would complement chapter three nicely; the moment when Daphne is pouring all her rage into the punching bag and ends up bursting into flames. The melancholic voice of the song would be a reminder that there is no going back for these kids; their world has definitely changed for good.

Cities in Dust – Junkie XL
This fun song would be ideal for when the four friends try to break into the lab for the first time; none of them except Jonas seem to take it very seriously, and this song would echo that sentiment. If the song were to end abruptly when Jonas realizes something is wrong and the twins appear it would show how quickly a situation can change.

I Love It – Icona Pop
This tune is such a party anthem it would go great with the scene of Rick Brody’s party. The song is basically about being young and care-free, to the point where consequences are not an issue, and though personally I don’t condone this, it would reflect the atmosphere of the party with a huge group of underage kids drinking and going crazy. Also, the fact that the song seems to promote a sort of care-free lifestyle with no regard for consequences would be a foreshadowing of what will happen to these kids and what has just happened (Daphne accidentally burned her mother’s hand before the party for example).

Thoughts of a Dying Atheist – Muse
The sorrow and bleakness of this song encapsulates all of chapter thirteen perfectly in my opinion. Matt’s growing pessimism and detachment, his uncertainty about himself and his budding relationship with Julius would be a great moment for a Muse song. Not just because Matt is a declared Muse fan, but because I listened to a lot of Muse while writing this book, particularly Matt’s chapters, and I think the music influenced the tone and voice of his personality in a way. (Disclaimer: I was a fan of Muse before the Twilight-mania)

Stripper – Soho Dolls
This song is incredibly sexy and would be ideal for the dare game that Rochelle plays to try and get Jonas to kiss her. A secret bonus would be that the song is actually from the Gossip Girl soundtrack, and Rochelle is a big fan of that TV show.

Creep – Radio Head
When Daphne manipulates events in order to discredit her brother and send him back to rehab in order to cover up after herself and protect her friends, the numbness that covers the self-hatred she is feeling would make Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ an ideal fit. Daphne loves Radiohead, and the feeling of self-deprecation voiced by the song would mirror Daphne’s own feelings quite fittingly, I think.

In For the Kill – La Roux
Some sort of Electronica remix of this song would be ideal for the club scene after Daphne has her brother sent away because it would foreshadow the terrible event that occurs in that same chapter between Daphne and Matt, with the subtle hint of a predator going ‘In For the Kill’ an ominous warning, though the upbeat tempo would fit right in with a nightclub track.

Someone Like You (Live) – Adele
This would be the best song for the scene when Matt and Julius fight because Matt thinks Julius has cheated on him. I can even imagine Matt playing this song on his laptop or something while the fight between them unfolds. The heartbreak one can feel in the song would be in contrast with Matt’s idea that Julius cheating on him isn’t an issue (a result of his terrible self-esteem) but work well with Julius storming out and calling Matt out on how he can never truly care for Julius if he doesn’t care about himself. Matt seems to love wallowing in his own pity-parties and I can totally imagine him listening to this song on repeat during and after the fight.

Bangarang – Skrillex feat. Sirah
The pulsating energy of this song would be great for when the four friends go through the tunnel after the Winter Formal trying to get to Devlin’s house before him, and the fast-paced fight between Daphne and Matt against a super-strong Rufus would get an extra layer of exhilaration and anticipation as the three brawled in what seems to be a fight to the death.

I Wish I Was the Moon – Neko Chase
Neko Chase’s song would be a haunting farewell as the four friends lay the bodies of DeMona, Rufus, Devlin and Helena around the house as well as when Daphne sets the house slowly on fire under the night sky and, thinking that they have failed in their mission to save their school-mates, the main characters trudge their way back through the tunnel towards the school with heavy hearts.

DREAMCAST

Matt Decene: Ezra Miller 

There is a kind of darkness around Ezra Miller that would go great for playing Matt, and the fact that I kind of based Matt physically on myself and Miller and I have some similar features would only add to that. 

Rochelle Dubié: Lucy Hale 

Lucy Hale has a fresh, doe-eyed look that I think would make for a great Rochelle, contrasting her seemingly sweet and beautiful appearance with the temperamental and often rash and even selfish traits that encompass Rochelle.

Daphne Redgrave: Holland Roden 

I didn’t pick Roden just because she is a redhead but because seeing the work she’s done on the TV show Teen Wolf, I think she could take on the moodiness and brooding that make up Daphne (though her character on the show is more similar to Rochelle). 

Jonas Knight: Colton Haynes 

Jonas Knight is supposed to be physically incredibly looking, and I think Haynes shares that kind of look. It would be interesting to see how someone who is so clearly good-looking could play the shy, reserved character that is Jonas.

Hunter Spencer: Alex Pettyfer 

I think Pettyfer could easily pull off the cocky, almost arrogant person that Hunter is, while at the same time showing a softer side of himself during his intimate moments with Daphne. 

Helena Spencer: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Whiteley has that sort of ethereal look I had in mind when writing about Helena, the sort of gentleness that can easily but mistakenly be confused for weakness.

Harmony Kendall: Amanda Seyfried 

Seeing Seyfried’s work on the movie Jennifer’s Body I have no doubt that she could play the meek side of Harmony as well as her vindictive and more aggressive side 

Julius Fontaine: Dave Franco 

Franco is a charmer, and his smile is contagious, and that sort of laid-back, effortlessly cool attitude he seems to have would make for a perfect Julius. 

Aleister Devlin: Alexander Skarsgard 

I always had Skarsgard in my head when writing about Devlin. Physically he was my inspiration for the character. Tall, blonde and powerful. Enough said, lol.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ardash Vartparonian was born in London but raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the age of 18 he began his debut novel, Solstice High, and continued writing throughout his last year of school and first year of university, where he moved back to the UK to study English Literature at Edinburgh University. Now a fourth year student, Ardash enjoys going out with his friends, watching horror movies and reading fantasy book while trying to keep up with his university work. Find out more at http://sbpra.com/ardashvartparonian/ 

Ardash on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SolsticeHigh?ref=hl 

Google+: https://plus.google.com/100558471915520443621/posts?hl=en

GIVEAWAY

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BLOG TOUR (GUEST POST!): Arrow of the Mist by Christina Mercer

Arrow of the Mist by Christina Mercer 
Publication date: March 21st 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy

Terror strikes the Celtic inspired kingdom of Nemetona when barbed roots breach the veil of a forbidden land and poison woodsmen, including 15-year-old Lia’s beloved father. Lia and three others embark on a quest to the forbidden land of Brume to gather ingredients for the cure. But after her elder kinsman is attacked and poisoned, she and her cousin, Wynn, are forced to finish the quest on their own.

Lia relies on her powerful herbal wisdom and the memorized pages of her late grandmother’s Grimoire for guidance through a land of soul-hungry shades, trickster creatures, and uncovered truths about the origin of Brume and her family’s unexpected ties to it. The deeper they trek into the land, the stronger Lia’s untapped gift as a tree mage unfolds. When she discovers the enchanted root’s maker, it forces her to question everything about who she is and what is her destiny. Ultimately she must make a terrible choice: keep fighting to save her father and the people of the lands or join with the power behind the deadly roots to help nature start anew. (goodreads) (amazon) (b&n)

TOP TEN FAIRYTALES/FABLES

Cinderella

I must’ve read this a thousand times as a child, and I still love it

Wizard of Oz

Monkeys scare the hell out of me, but I love everything else, especially the witches.

Sleeping Beauty

Love the fairies bestowing gifts, and of course, the prince. 

Peter Rabbit

Oh, all those yummy veggies.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Love the witch, the magic, and of course, the prince. 

The Last Unicorn

My validation that unicorns DO exist! 

Alice in Wonderland

An imagination’s theme park.

Repunzel

Saved by her glorious hair.

Peter Pan

Take me to Neverland where kids rule.

Winnie the Pooh

Honey, cuddly bear, bouncy tiger, what more could you ask for?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christina Mercer writes fiction in addition to mothering two young adults, a pack of large dogs, and

about 100,000 honeybees. Her varied interests prompted her to study creative writing, earn her official degree in Accounting, become a CPA, acquire a certificate in Herbal Studies, and keep honeybees. She took Writer’s Best in Show at the 2012 SCBWI CA North/Central Regional Conference and was a semi-finalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakout Novel Award Contest. You can find her at www.christinamercer.com or working as the Reviews Director at www.indie-visible.com

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BLOG TOUR - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY!: Uprising by Jessica Therrien

Title: Uprising (Children of the Gods #2) 

Publisher: ZOVA Books 

Release Date: May 28, 2013 

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 384

Jessica Therrien follows up her bestselling novel OPPRESSION with UPRISING, the second book in the Children of the Gods series.  

OPPRESSION, translated and sold around the world, was one of the best selling YA novels of 2012. UPRISING continues the story of Elyse, William and the Descendants. 

Elyse has been in hiding for most of her life. Only now she’s hiding with William, and she knows who she’s hiding from. The Council wants a child Elyse and William have yet to conceive, a child who will be the next oracle, and who will provide the final piece to a plan Christoph has been organizing for years. Charged with leading the rebellion against Christoph and his Council, Elyse feels well out of her depth. But she has good friends and strong allies who are willing to fight with her to the end, regardless of how far they have to go, and how many lives will be lost in the process. They have one goal: to live freely and openly with the rest of humanity, out from under The Council’s oppressive rule. The stakes could not be higher for Elyse and the Descendants longing for freedom. They'll have to learn to fight if they want to stand up against The Council, and to find allies in a world ruled by their enemies. The hardest part of waging a war is knowing who to trust. Elyse knows their uprising will change the world. She doesn’t realize it will change her, too.

FIND THE BOOK

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OPPRESSION (Children of the Gods #1)

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First off, thanks for having me over, Rebecca! I’ve been really looking forward to this post. Not only do I love sharing my music with other people, but I’m always looking for new writing songs. I’m hoping some of your blog visitors will share some of their favorites as well. 

Some writers need coffee. Some need a routine. Some like the bookstore or their favorite café. Me? I’m all about the music…

Here is my Uprising (Children of the Gods #2) playlist: 

Pull My Heart Away – Jack Peñate 

Titanium – David Guetta (Feat. Sia) 

Cosmic Love – Florence + The Machine 

Bloodstream – Stateless 

Crosses – Jośe González 

Skinny Love – Bon Iver 

I Go To Sleep – Sia 

Get Higher – Paper Tongues 

Wide Awake – Katy Perry 

Sweet Disposition – Temper Trap 

Almost Everything – Wakey! Wakey!

What are you listening to these days?

Well me personally, right now I can't get enough of Paramore and Fall Out Boy. They're all I've been listening to for months!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Therrien is the author of the young adult paranormal fiction series Children of the Gods. Book

one in the series, Oppression, was published by ZOVA Books in February of 2012 and became a Barnes & Noble best-seller shortly after its release. The second book in the series, Uprising, will be available in May of 2013.

Aside from her Children of the Gods series, Jessica’s work can also be found in a published collection of flash fiction stories called Campaigner Challenges 2011. 

Out of over 350 submissions her story, The Soulless, won first place for people’s choice and fourth place in the judging round of Rachael Harrie’s Writing Campaign Challenge. Her story, Saved, is also available as part of the anthology. 

Jessica currently lives in Chula Vista with her husband and is working on book three in her Children of the Gods series. (goodreads) (twitter) (website) (facebook)

Jessica was also lovely enough to offer up a signed copy of Uprising and some bookmarks for giveaway!!

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BLOG TOUR: Awakenings by Hally Willmott (giveaway!)

Welcome to my stop on the Shadow Chaser blog tour hosted by YA Bound. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

Awakenings (Elemental Series #1) by Hally Willmott 
Release Date: May 2013
From Limitless Publishing

When sixteen-year old Jacey Adison’s parents tell her they must move again, she has never questioned their life style. Until now. When Jacey was two, her parents fled the protection of their birthplace, the mystical dimension of Nemele. Leaving was the only solution her parents believed might allow them to keep their family together and alive.  

The Adisons have been running from a sect of iniquitous beings from Nemele who covet Jacey. Her parents have repressed their adversaries’ relentless tracking efforts by not utilizing their own mystical powers. They have chosen to conceal themselves within the only realm they knew they’d be able to survive. They are living under their self-imposed powerless sanctions on Earth, which constitutes the nineteenth nation of Nemele.  

Her parents have never revealed their true identities to Jacey, consequently keeping her true lineage and unique birthright from her. Jacey’s family has pretended to be non-magical humans as a ploy to prevent an ancient omnipotent entity from killing more innocent beings in its relentless quest to possess Jacey.  

Born as an anomaly, Jacey possesses rare abilities that both virtuous and corrupt entities seek to use as their own. Should either side prevail, Jacey may be the saviour or downfall of every world within Nemele’s domains. Blindly thrust into life and death situations, Jacey learns of her true powers within her dreaming and conscious states.'

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Awakenings: Character Spotlight

Character: Daichi
Age: Unknown but appears to be a teen
Home: Charta Zone
Quirk: Onyx eyes filled with sparks
Family: Unknown
Friends: Faith
Powers: Fly, float and brand people
Alliance: Impartial - supposedly

Likes 

Being unseen by others
Having the ability to observe others while they are oblivious to her presence
Having the ability to float – not walk – and fly
Being the conduit for Faith to reach out to family
Jacey

Dislikes 

Having beings see her when she believes she is invisible
Everyone assuming she is corrupt
Having a chaperon every time she leaves the Charta zone
Heathe

Personality 

Daichi is a Seeker – They are beings within the realm of Nemele who are supposed to be observers. They are well known for being deceptive and doing more than just observing. Daichi is unlike most of the other Fundamentalist Seekers. She is curious to a fault. She has the ability to brand beings so she can follow their energy patterns. Her brand is the symbol depicted here. Daichi is considered a double agent in Awakenings. Most of her kind are bound to Yietimpi nations – the corrupt element within Nemele. Daichi is a vessel for a message which is delivered to Jacey from a long lost relative.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author for Limitless Publishing. Wife, mother and Police Officer:)
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