The second installment of The Primordial Principles is available now, and a big thank you to Xpresso Book Tours who is hosting the Blitz.
Blurb: Boulder, Colorado is too quiet, and no one needs to remind Cole Spires how unnatural that is.
In the aftermath of Dracon’s death, the Daemoneum have gone into hiding. Every known Hive has been shut down and evacuated, and for the first time in Cole’s memory, the Brotherhood, Kinship, and all common houses across the country and abroad are considering lockdown. Leygates are being systematically closed around the world, and the Primordial are waiting …
In the bunker underneath the Brotherhood, Kade Sparrow is as safe as she can possibly be, or that’s the idea, but no one can explain how her Astrum necklace found its way into her bedroom. There were no footprints, no traces of breaking and entering, no evidence of any kind that someone had infiltrated the Brotherhood common house. Yet the necklace still sat on her night stand, wound in a perfect circle of gold, the tiny star glinting on its chain. And the only person who could have put it there … is dead.
In the second installment of The Primordial Principles, strange occurrences are happening across the globe. Relationships will be tested, old players will become new, foes will turn into allies, and an unlikely adversary will force Cole and Kade to go on the run.
As the fallen rise, the Primordial must unite as one.
Or all could be lost.
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BOOK ONE:
BLURB: For years, Kade’s true nature has lurked behind an illusion, so when her dad gets another job transfer, she knows the drill: no close friends, no boyfriends, and most importantly: don’t expose what she is. Ever. Keeping secrets is easy. Lies are second nature. So is the loneliness-and the fear, but when the Shadows attack, and Kade meets Cole Spires, she could expose everything she’s trying to hide.
As one of the Celestial Children, Cole lives by an oath: defend the Ward, protect the Primordial race, guard the gateways, and stick to his own. Everything else is a distraction, and besides, he’s lost enough. Cole’s job is clear, and no one his age does it better. So, when he meets Kade in a club downtown, he assumes she just wants his attention. Most girls do, but Cole soon realizes … Kade isn’t like most girls.
The children of heaven and hell are living among us, fighting an age-old war. And falling for someone from the opposition is not an option. But a chance encounter between Kade and Cole will blur the rules, as Kade’s journey to keep her truth hidden catapults them together and into a web of lies, forcing her to not only face the demon inside her, but to answer the hardest question of all.
Which is thicker-blood or water?
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And the GIVEAWAY
I am giving away ebook copies of Crystallum and Daemoneum
the first book in the Primordial Principles series,
CRYSTALLUM,
is here.
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Early Reviews for CRYSTALLUM:
“As I’m sitting down to write this review, I can’t think of enough words to explain to you, how CRYSTALLUM blew me away. Laney has done it again and she’s one amazing, skilled and creative writer.” ~ A Bookish Review
“When I first encountered Laney McMann, it was when i read her ‘Fireborn’ series. I remember being thoroughly impressed, the lady can write a heck of an original plot and spine tingling- clean romance that will leave you with a goofy smile on your face. This one didn’t disappoint!” ~ The Book Herald
“Crystallum is one of those CAN NOT PUT DOWN novels that gets you all excited. Every time I thought I could read to the end of the chapter and finally close my eyes to sleep for the night, McMann would throw in a surprise that made me say “aaawwww heeellll nooo”and I’d have to continue reading on into the wee hours of the morn.” ~ A Tiny Voice In The Crowd
“I really enjoyed this author’s Fire Born trilogy, so when I had the chance to check out her new one I was pretty excited about it. And what a great start!” ~ Net Galley reviewer
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November 30
Kadence Sparrow wasn’t born a devil’s child—she was turned into one. Now, she’s hiding from the truth, and running for her life.
For years, Kade’s true nature has lurked behind an illusion, so when her dad gets another job transfer, she knows the drill: no close friends, no boyfriends, and most importantly: don’t expose what she is. Ever. Keeping secrets is easy. Lies are second nature. So is the loneliness—and the fear, but when the Shadows attack, and Kade meets Cole Spires, she could expose everything she’s trying to hide.
As one of the Celestial Children, Cole lives by an oath: defend the Ward, protect the Primordial race, guard the gateways, and stick to his own. Everything else is a distraction, and besides, he’s lost enough. Cole’s job is clear, and no one his age does it better. So, when he meets Kade in a club downtown, he assumes she just wants his attention. Most girls do, but Cole soon realizes … Kade isn’t like most girls.
The children of heaven and hell are living among us, fighting an age-old war. And falling for someone from the opposition is not an option. But a chance encounter between Kade and Cole will blur the rules, as Kade’s journey to keep her truth hidden catapults them together and into a web of lies, forcing her to not only face the demon inside her, but to answer the hardest question of all.
Which is thicker—blood or water?
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GIVEAWAY!
There are 5 e-book copies and 2 paperbacks up for grabs!
Laney McMann is the author of The Fire Born Novels (TIED, TORN, & TRUE) and The Primordial Principles series (CRYSTALLUM, book #1 ~ 2015).
She is the product of very creative parents and the most imaginative grandmother ever. With an untapped passion for the supernatural and all things magical, her voracious appetite for reading fantasy started really young ~ and so did her love of words.
She writes young adult dark urban fantasy novels mixed with a spike of romance, a hint of history, a dash of mythology, and lots of paranormal.
On the non-writing side of life, Laney is a former classical dancer, music snob, chef, and a right-brained thinker to a fault. When she’s not dreaming up new dead ends to torture herself with, she spends her time running.
Laney is published by J. Taylor Publishing and Booktrope Publishing.
>>>>>>>>> If you’d like to check out the Book Blitz stops you can find the link here: Book Blitz
Today, I am excited to share Alexander Nader’s newest release,
HERO ENGINE
About the Book
Age: Adult
Genre: fantasy, detective, super hero
BLURB:
‘Cool’ Jim Quig has one love : his job. And he likes it that way. While Jim protects the streets, the heroes take all the credit. He’s fine with that, all cops are. Sort of. So when the director of the Super Hero Initiative (SHI) asks Jim to help solve a mystery plaguing SHI headquarters, he’s not interested. Who cares if an ancient artifact known as the Hero Engine has been destroyed? Or if every super hero in existence was altered into their superhuman state by the device? It’s not Jim’s problem. The ‘capes’ can solve their own mystery.
The director doesn’t take no for answer and Jim’s task is to not only find out who destroyed the Engine, but why one hero has gone AWOL. For the last fifty-two years, SHI has protected the world, but with the destruction of the Engine, and a rogue killing super humans, the golden era of heroes has ended. Cool Jim Quig is about to find out what happens when a cape goes nutso.
If only he had just said no to the guy in the flashy suit.
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Check this book out, guys. It’s quick-witted, fast paced, and well written. Worth a read, along with Alex’s other books as well.
About the Author
Alex lives in the tourist infested hills of east Tennessee with his amazing wife/muse and three superb children. He would tell you more about how awesome they are, but you probably wouldn’t believe him. When he’s not hanging out with them he’s making pizzas. When he’s not doing that he’s working at a bookstore and occasionally he jots a few words down. He’s a big fan of good music, good storytelling, and mixed martial arts.
He once wrote a short story about pirates to his wife via text message that blossomed into a full length novel and never stopped after that.
How far would you go … to protect the one you love?
Hosted by:
TRUE,
the final installment in the Fire Born Novels trilogy,
is LIVE.
BLURB:
Nothing in Layla and Max’s world will ever be the same.
Since Max left, and joined his father in the Shadow Realm, everything in Layla’s life has changed. The Demon Gods threaten to destroy the Otherworld, and an inconceivable darkness has awakened—a darkness that wants control of Layla’s will. It also wants Max … dead. Not only must Layla face the true fire simmering inside her, but fight the one she loves most.
And this time, with her friends and family left behind, she’s completely on her own.
Leaving Layla nearly destroyed Max, but it was his only choice. Now, he must play the part—stay in control of his end goal, his actions, and the poison coursing through his veins, clouding his thoughts, and turning him into what he fears most, a Demon God. But even with his Oghams fighting the toxins, his control is slipping. Living in the Fomore castle with his Vampyre Fae ex-girlfriend isn’t making it any easier to stay sane, and waiting to face off against Layla is taking its toll.
In the final installment of the Fire Born Novels trilogy, the legendary Battle will be fought, and Layla and Max stand to lose everything. How far will they go to save each other and protect the ones they love? Even they don’t know the answer.
No one can win.
From the ashes of old,
They shall rise.
The last of the Ancients,
Foe and Ally.
The Legend lies in wait,
And bides its time.
Until at last the day comes,
For the children born of fire.
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The Fire Born Novels
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If you’d like to follow the Book Blitz for TRUE, including giveaways, interviews, and the playlist for the book, it is being hosted by Xpresso Book Tours and the stops are listed here:
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Xpresso Tours is also hosting the GIVEAWAY!
I am giving away the complete Fire Born Novels trilogy in paperback.
In celebration of TRUE’s release, TIED & TORN (books 1 & 2) are on sale for $.99 at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iBooks. 🙂
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With a passion for the supernatural and all things magical, Laney developed a voracious appetite for reading fantasy at a young age. A vivid imagination helped set the stage for creating her own worlds and placed her onto the writing path.
By the time she reached her teens, she’d accumulated notebooks full of poems, which led to short stories and finally novels. Young adult dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and mythology are among her favorite genres.
A former classical dancer and chef, she grew up in sultry Florida where she still resides.
Excited to share the final installment of Alexander Nader’s Beasts of Burdin trilogy,
Burdin’s End
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
BLURB:
Ty Burdin, the retired demon hunter who just can’t stay retired.
In the final installment of the Beasts of Burdin trilogy Ty has found himself roped into working for the Agency, a top secret organization with the sole purpose of eliminating all demon activity, yet again. Demon hunting is a full time job, but luckily
Ty has managed to work his way down to a ‘consulting’ position in the Agency after a few disagreements and a couple dead superiors.
Ty’s part-time position becomes far more hands on as the demon activity in his region cranks up to eleven. Demons are crawling out of peoples’ minds and into the real world at an alarming rate and it’s up to Ty, once again, to step in and save the day. First step: get over last night’s hangover
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Check out the first two installments in the trilogy:
Author Bio:
I’m a writer. I know these about things are usually written in 3rd person, but I have this thing about hating people that talk about themselves in 3rd person. So I’m going to talk about me. I am a married father of three. My wife and kids are awesome and I love them. I’ve got a couple day jobs. When I’m not working at those, I work on my writing.
I’ve completed a handful of novels ranging in quality from ‘extremely awful’ to ‘not too bad’. My Beasts of Burdin trilogy is being published by the wonderful folks over at J. Taylor Publishing.
One day I aspire to be a full time writer or at least only have one job plus writing. That would be a dream come true. Until dreams come true, I’m going to keep jotting my thoughts down around this here internets and see if something catches on.
the 6th installment in her Wilderhark Tales series.
Danielle has a giveaway and another goodie in store for the launch:
First up:
Danielle has agreed to write a piece of Flash Fiction for her stop on the tour. 🙂
The Sea’s Judgment
“Waters of land.”
The Moon’s voice fell on the southern seas, otherworldly as his light glinting off their waters, weighty as his pull upon their tides.
“The Great Sea’s time draws near,” he said. “It will not do that she should die with none to take her place. Who among you has a daugher? One born of sea and neighboring sea?”
Seven such daughters came forward, all thrilling at the prospect of so grand a destiny. They rode in the hold of the misty South Wind to the nethermost shore, where waited Aesóryna, the first and greatest Sea.
She looked the daughters of inland waters up and down and deep inside, senses testing at their cores. “My role is vast,” she told them sternly. “My ways are wild. Only the fiercest hearts have a hope of holding my power. Too gentle,” she dismissed one. Another, “Too meek.” A full half, rejected for being too shallow.
At last, she studied the final pair, unsure how best to choose between them, for each seemed the other’s equal in strength.
“Then do not choose,” the South Wind spoke smoothly from his humid haze, “but divide your sea between them.”
The first maiden’s eyes brightened; even half of Aesóryna’s power was far more than that of any inland sea. But the second maid said, scowling, “No! The essence of the Great Sea is not a piece of meat to be shared among sharks! If it is not whole, it is not true. I would sooner have another claim it in full than see it thus diminished.”
Aesóryna smiled at the South Wind. “Thank you, clever Austeryn. Though you cloak this length of shore in fog, you’ve shown me my choice clear.” She turned her gaze onto the indignant sea maiden. “Who are you, child?”
The maid answered, “Neredeth.”
“One name too few. Henceforth, you are Neredeth Aesóryna, heir to my sea.” Her eyes and waters sparkled bright. “For you shall be a great one.”
And we have a GIVEAWAY:
Thank you, Danielle for stopping by the blog today!
Thrust out of their homes by a human High Priest on a vengeful mission, the Natives of Derlund no longer have a place to call their own. One escaped capture, however, and now she, Hyla, is the only one who can save her people.
For, Hyla, though, saving her nation isn’t her ultimate goal—returning to the Pool of Souls is. Becoming its Guardian and preserving their faith is her heart’s desire. The perils of her current journey, though, could leave her unable to fulfill that dream.
To find her way back to the Pool, Hyla must live among dangerous, powerful humans willing to defend the Natives, and must submit herself—her Talents—to them. While her protection is paramount, plots to end Hyla’s life will push her to her physical and emotional limits.
On the edge of sanity, her courage tested, and convictions nearly broken, Hyla’s final test of loyalty to her faith comes with the death of one she could have loved.
I asked Terri to share her top 10 fantasy movies. Here goes:
LotR – is there any other??
The NeverEnding Story – FAV movie as a kid. Couldn’t get enough of it. I used to dream Falkor would come pick me up & take me to meet Atreyu. Le sigh.
Stargate – while this might fall more on the Sci-Fi side, it’s a must-see for all adventurous dreamers.
The Hobbit – duh.
I’m going to cheat here and say Game of Thrones, cuz it’s MY list and I can!
FROZEN!!! Love me some Olaf. Besides, I have two little girls. What did you expect?!?
The Polar Express. The hubs would be sad if I didn’t add this one. It’s a Christmas must-see. Every. Year.
Star Wars – all 6 movies. Again, it’s more sci-fi, but hey…I grew up BEING Princess Leia.
***** For the record, and being a HUGE fantasy fan myself, I concur with Terri. There is no other that could ever take the number one spot. LOTR reigns supreme. 😉
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And to celebrate the launch, Eye of the Soul (book #1) is on sale!
Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.
Thrust out of their homes by a human High Priest on a vengeful mission, the Natives of Derlund no longer have a place to call their own. One escaped capture, however, and now she, Hyla, is the only one who can save her people.
For, Hyla, though, saving her nation isn’t her ultimate goal—returning to the Pool of Souls is. Becoming its Guardian and preserving their faith is her heart’s desire. The perils of her current journey, though, could leave her unable to fulfill that dream.
To find her way back to the Pool, Hyla must live among dangerous, powerful humans willing to defend the Natives, and must submit herself—her Talents—to them. While her protection is paramount, plots to end Hyla’s life will push her to her physical and emotional limits.
On the edge of sanity, her courage tested, and convictions nearly broken, Hyla’s final test of loyalty to her faith comes with the death of one she could have loved.
Purchase Links:
~~~oOo~~~
In celebration, Eye of the Soul, Pool of Souls #1, is on sale for only .99 cents from now until October 17th!
That should be Hyla’s first thought as her people are chained and imprisoned for no imaginable reason.
Instead, Hyla finds herself traveling through a land void of Natives, with human soldiers pillaging in desperate pursuit of her, and in search of the mystical Pool of Souls—home to the one man who can save her people.
Or so she believes.
Led by her faith in the deity Fadir, Hyla is met along her journey by Jadon—a human male and fierce King’s warrior, and his childhood best friend Conlin—one of the few Natives aware of his Fadir-given Talents.
Protected by Jadon, guided by Conlin, and with an unfailing belief in the purpose of her pilgrimage, Hyla carries on.
Like her, though, another searches for the Pool, and should he gain access first, everyone she loves, and everything she knows, could be lost.
Forever.
~~~oOo~~~
Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.
No purchase necessary, but you must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter, and announced on the widget. Winner well be notified by emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Terri Rochenski.
In honor of TORN’s release, I have a ton going on.
Check it all out:
September 8, 2014
BLURB:
Find Max.
That’s all Layla cares about. Not healing from the Fomore attack. Not finding answers to how she survived a fall that nearly killed her. Nothing will stop her. She will find him. She’ll even pair up with an overbearing Fallen Angel who’s hell bent on making everything harder than it needs to be if she has to.
Protect Layla.
For Max, nothing else matters. Not the bruises covering his body. Not the pain radiating from his broken bones. Not even his hands tied behind his back. He will find a way to save Layla, and the Fomore will pay if they’ve hurt her.
Every. Single. One of them.
In the second installment of The Fire Born trilogy, a new breed of villain looms—one Layla and Max will never suspect, and this killer has nothing to lose. Better yet, with Max and Layla’s deaths, victory is in the grip of the enemy.
Will Max and Layla find each other in time, or is it already too late for them both?
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The Book Tour is happening now, and here’s the schedule for anyone who wants to see what I’m talking about: TORN Book Tour
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The TORN Book Blast and Book Blitz are also happening all over social media for the next few days. Thank you, thank you to all the awesome bloggers/readers, and writers who are participating!
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Also, as I mentioned a few days ago, TIED (Fire Born 1) is one sale until September 15th to celebrate its ONE YEAR book birthday. : ) (Plus, it gives you guys a chance to pick up the book if you haven’t yet, before you read TORN. They kind of need to be read in order.)
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And finally, the GIVEAWAY!
I have several giveaways happening across the board, three to be exact.
The TORN Book Tour giveaway and the Blast I’ll be hosting alongside my publisher, as well as all the other bloggers participating. The Book Blitz Giveaway is being hosted by Itching For Books (click the banner)
HERE’S WHAT’S UP FOR GRABS on my blog for the Book Tour:
Signed paperback copies of TIED and TORN to ONE winner (U.S. & Canada), E-book copies of TIED and TORN to ONE winner (Int), and signed bookmarks of TIED and TORN to FIVE winners (U.S., Canada, and U.K.)
Demon hunter Ty Burdin hung up his guns, knife, trench coat and fedora a year ago. Bags packed, hands washed of all demon politics, he’s done. Forever.
In fact, to get far far away, he dragged Nora, his rockabilly secretary, from Miami to the Tennessee mountains where he’s lived a life of peace—if peace can be defined as drowning in scotch and taking private eye jobs to keep the lights on. Jobs for real people. Not demons.
No demons.
He’s retired from that. Remember?
Demon hunters aren’t a dime a dozen, though, and when Ty’s brother asks him for a favor—just one—what’s a brother to do? Agreeing to take down one hillbilly demon shouldn’t take that long. In. Decapitate. Out. Favor complete. Back to the office where Nora and his bottle of whiskey are waiting.
Unfortunately for Ty, staying retired doesn’t seem to be in the cards, and an avalanche of bad luck draws him right back to an agency he despises and the career that nearly cost him his sanity.
This time, Ty has no way out and will have to face his own demons just to survive.
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Yeah, it’s a good read, but let’s hear what Alex has to say about the series and other stuff:
LM: The story line around Beasts of Burdin contains a good number of demons. Did you pull from mythology, your imagination, or both?
AN: All of the demon names in B.o.B. are real and most of the abilities are too. I took some liberties with the physical descriptions to make them suit my needs. There really is a demon made of eyeballs, though. I didn’t make that up. As soon as I read about it I was like, “I have to find a place for this guy”.
LM: Researching is one of my favorite aspects of writing. It’s crazy what you come across. Was is it the demons that inspired the story or something else? And I really liked Ty Burdin, he isn’t your ordinary demon hunter, where did the idea of his character come from?
AN:The idea for the story came from a twisted version of a song lyric. The original lyric was, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing me that I was him”. I played around with that in my head until I ended up with, “The greatest trick humanity ever pulled was convincing itself the devil existed”. From there it rolled into people creating demons with their minds. All of the demons just came from ideas. Human mythology is pretty deep, so when I needed a war-demon, I just searched until I found something.
As far as Ty goes, he is the adoptive child of this whole hard-boiled noir phase I’ve been going through lately. It started when I read a comic book re-imagining Wolverine as an old school private eye. After that, I read The Maltese Falcon and then moved on to Philip Marlow. The brutal honesty of the characters struck me enough to want to make that modern. Hopefully, that’s what I’ve accomplished.
LM: I like the idea of reinventing a song lyric to suit your story telling needs. And speaking of writing itself, how long have you been writing? Did you always aspire to be an author?
AN: I was born to be an author! *Looks around to see if anyone is buying it* Nope. *Slumps* Well, I wrote a comic book about a cat with super powers in third grade and I may or may not have dabbled in some terrible song writing over the years. Other than that I started my first novel a little over two years ago. (Not Beasts of Burdin, it was actually the third novel I wrote. The first two sucked. (I put them in the corner to think about what they’d done)
I’ve always kind of jumped from hobby to hobby, but writing is the first one that has really felt right. It’s the first thing I can actually see myself doing.
LM: 🙂 Looks like you found your calling. Any of those hobbies you care to share with your readers? And speaking of hobbies, what else do you do with your time when you’re not writing?
AN: As a kid it was mostly extreme sports of one sort or another. BMX, rollerblading, snowboarding, skateboards. I was never any good with the board sports though. Most of my teens were wasted on video games and cars, if you can call that a hobby. Then it became guitar. I would probably still be playing guitar if I didn’t hate the sound of my own voice. I go through spurts where I exercise a lot followed by long periods of physical dormancy. A little bit of everything really.
Nowadays, when I’m not writing I’m usually just trying to catch up with my wife and kids. I work a lot, so any time not working is family time. I’m currently learning a lot about Pokemon and Beyblade, while teaching about Mario and super-heroes. It’s a pretty awesome trade-off.
LM: That’s a great trade-off. So, for anyone who might not know, Beasts of Burdin is a series, can you tell us anything about book 2?
AN: Burdin 2 (Burdin of Choice) is done. When this is posted I think I will be working with the my publisher on the cover art. It should hit the shelves November 10th. It’s definitely going to feel a little different, but the story gets bigger. There are more characters, more suspense, more intrigue, more jerkwaddery (<- I don’t know how Laney feels about language on her blog, so that’s a nifty little bit of self-editing.), more demons, more alcohol, and more cigarettes. Don’t worry though, all of that stuff is in the first book too, there’s just more in the second book. People will be able to pick up Burdin of Choice and feel like they were right where they left off; listening to the drunken ramblings of a vaguely retired demon hunter.
LM: Thanks for the self-editing on my account. 😉 I think we’re good. Any tips you can give other writers hoping to be published one day?
AN: Write for you and no one else. When you stop worrying about whether or not someone will publish your writing is when you’ll write something worth publishing. That’s how it worked for me anyway.
LM: Couldn’t agree with you more on that. Plotter or Pantser?
AN: Little bit of both. I make a thoroughly detailed outline of about twenty sentences and go from there. I guess I vaguely plot the entire book and then kind of pants the individual chapters. If that makes any sense.
LM: ‘Pants’ the chapters is one I haven’t heard yet. 😉 Coffee or Tea?
AN: BOTH! Green tea only though, I’m not big on black tea anymore. I prefer my coffee with chocolate, but have been known to drink it straight, no chaser, when in a bind.
LM: Tea for me, unless it’s iced coffee. E-Book or Print?
AN: BOTH. I like to have books on my shelves. It looks good and makes me feel all accomplished and such, but it’s hard to argue the convenience of ebooks. I keep the Kindle app on my phone and try to sneak in a couple pages every time I’m waiting for something.
LM: Me too. Introvert or Extrovert?
AN: An introverted extrovert. HA! How’s that for clarity. Yeah, I’m a little on the fence. About everything, apparently. Anyway, I seem to be okay at talking to people and functioning in groups, but I don’t really like it and try to avoid it at all costs.
LM: I think that sways you pretty far into the introverted group, like so many writers. 😉 Thanks for taking time out to talk with me, Alex. It was fun.
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Excerpt:
Chapter 1
“Ty Burdin! Answer the phone already. It’s your brother.” The voice comes from the next room in a tone usually used by stress-fried mothers, not twenty-something-year-old receptionists. The harsh words crack through my whiskey-soaked brain like someone snapped a bullwhip in my ear. I pick my head up off the desk and wipe the drool from my mouth, as she bursts in the door.
“He’s adopted, and good morning,” I say, opening the drawer to my desk and digging through it.
“It’s not morning. It’s past noon, you lazy drunk.” Her tone is accusing, but there’s a slight smile to her ruby red lips. I really do think Nora gets enjoyment from trying to keep me in line. Her rockabilly style, all tattoos and polkadots, might scare some people off, but honestly, I think it’s kind of cool.
“Fine, I was wrong about the time, but you’re wrong, too,” I say.
“Oh, yeah? How’s that?” Nora kicks her hip to the side and props a hand on her leopard print skirt.
“I’m not drunk. I’m hungover.” I pull out a flask full of scotch and take a long drink. “I’m working on getting back on track, though.” I tip the flask toward her.
“I swear someone’s gonna find you in a ditch one day.” Her voice has a trace of concern, but it’s mostly drowned out by annoyance.
“In my line of work, that’s almost a guarantee. Now, can you tell me why you disturbed my ugly sleep?” Ugly sleep is a gross understatement. No amount of alcohol ever seems to drown out the vision of the young, innocent girl burned into my memory. The scene is even more ominous in my dreams than it was in real life.
A thunderclap breaks the silence of my memories. Nora stares down at me, hands stuck together. “Wake up, drunkard. Hartnet’s been trying to reach you on the phone for the past fifteen minutes.”
The pocket of my jacket buzzes, probably been ringing the entire time. Nora walks over to where it hangs by the door and withdraws the phone. “Jesus, Ty. You’ve got four missed calls, ten new messages, and over twenty emails. Do you ever check this thing?”
“No.” I have the phone, but honestly, I hate it.
Nora sets the still ringing phone on my desk, puts her hands on her hips and, using only facial expressions, guilts me into picking up.
“Hello,” I say into the phone that smells of smoke. I use my free hand to dig out cigarettes and a lighter.
“Ty! Finally, man, where you been?” Hartnet asks.
“Oh, you know me. I just got back from hiking the Swiss Alps with Edmund Hillary.”
“Real funny, Ty, but I imagine you’ve been spending more time with Jim or Jack.”
“God, no, I hate southern whiskey,” I say. “I prefer a fine scotch, Macallan to be specific.”
“You prefer whatever’s in front of you as long as there’s a proof label on the bottle,” Hartnet says.
I don’t have any argument for that. “So, what do you want?”
***********
Here’s my review of the book:
4 STARS.
Still grinning.
I could say that the plot was tight, the story moved at the speed of light, and I liked the new approach on demons versus the world, and that would all be true, but even more than that— what kept me turning the pages was Ty. His voice is fresh and witty and sarcastic, and I found myself getting wrapped up in his words, the way he talked, the way he saw life. Really a great book that pulled me out of my own head and put me in someone else’s. For me, that’s the benchmark of a good story. Can’t wait to see what Ty gets into in Burdin 2.
******
So go on, check it out for yourself.
And here’s a chance to win a signed copy along with a few other book goodies, and an Amazon gift card:
Alex lives in the tourist infested hills of east Tennessee with his amazing wife/muse and three superb children. He would tell you more about how awesome they are, but you probably wouldn’t believe him. When he’s not hanging out with them he’s making pizzas. When he’s not doing that he’s working at a bookstore and occasionally he jots a few words down. He’s a big fan of good music, good storytelling, and mixed martial arts.
He once wrote a short story about pirates to his wife via text message that blossomed into a full length novel and never stopped after that.
January 6th marked the release of Darkest Day by Emi Gayle, the final book in the 19th Year Trilogy.
(Is everyone sad yet?)
To celebrate the release, we have a big Giveaway, a quick 10’s List with Suze, and a fun poll about Mac.
Let’s check the book out first:
Blurb:
Mac Thorne’s time as a Changeling is coming to an end.
It may have taken eighteen years, but Mac did finally manage to do what the Council wanted: she chose a teacher and renounced the in-between.
There’s just one last step. She must say goodbye to her human. Forever.
After being challenged in every way possible, Mac leaves what she thought would be the easiest task for the last possible moment. As midnight on July fourth draws near, though, she hasn’t found a way to give up Winn Thomas.
Nor does she want to.
With time running out, Mac stands at a literal crossroads.
Choose Winn, and she’ll be stripped of the only family she’s ever known—vampires, dragons, and her favorite demon. Even her own mother. Accept her position on the Council and rule as an equal to her twelve peers, and she’ll forget Winn ever existed.
Independence and freedom have never before been so limiting.
In this final chapter of the 19th Year Trilogy, it’s time for Mac to decide.
Responsibility? Or Love?
*********
Now let’s hear what Suze’s Top 10 favorite TV shows and movies:
Starting today, I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, is hosting the TIED Book Blast Giveaway.
First, about the book:
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BLURB:
Normal people don’t believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either.
Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares.
Or is that all in her head?
Layla doesn’t know what to believe any more because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken.
No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible?
The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever—if it doesn’t kill them both first.
In TIED, book one in the Fire Born trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction.
Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves?
The answer may never be far enough … away.
********
Excerpt:
My window opened easily. The same way it had so many times before. Climbing out on the ledge, I found the ground empty and dropped from the second floor—a jump I’d made a hundred times. In another life.
My feet sunk into the sand, and I followed the well-worn pathway through the dunes. Even the strong evening winds hadn’t misshaped the deep gully. The ocean’s breeze lashed at my hair as the moonlight glinted off the water’s surface. Seagulls flew up from their nesting grounds. They should have recognized me, since I’d been wandering at night for so long. Wrapping my arms around my knees to block the slight chill, I settled in the sand, and the birds quieted in a tight huddle, the wind blowing their feathers in awkward angles.
My gaze fell on a figure standing beyond the dunes edge, a shadow hidden within the darkness. My pulse quickened, but I didn’t move. Another trick—an illusion. Weary of the games my mind continued to play, I bit back tears and the catch in my throat. I should have been immune to them—the hallucinations—the way they haunted me and followed me, but I wasn’t.
Forcing myself to blink, I turned my head away. The visions had grown worse as I’d become older. I’d tried to convince myself they were nightmares—or weird dreams. Hoped for years they were, but only people who sleep dream.
Unable, or unwilling to stop myself, I glanced back over my shoulder, thoughts flooding my brain. Memories I knew couldn’t be memories but I cherished all the same. For years I’d tried to shake them away. To make myself forget.
I couldn’t.#**#**#
A stone raps against my bedroom window. I creep over and peer through the blinds.
“You’re late.” I lean out over the sill, grinning at the boy staring up at me.
“Come on, let’s go before she comes,” he says.
I climb onto the window ledge. “Be nice. She’s my friend.”
“Okay. Jump.” He waves at me to go faster.
“Move, and I will.”
He takes one casual step to the side.The jump isn’t too high; I make it all the time.
He grabs my hand when I land beside him in the soft sand. “Ready?”
I nod.
“One, two …”
“I’m going to tell!” Benny runs across my yard toward me, her blonde pigtails flapping in the wind. “You’re not allowed to talk to that boy, Layla! Your mom said!”
Max tightens his grip on my hand.
“Shut up, Benny! I’m old enough.”
“You’re only nine. Don’t go! “
“Three!” Max and I leave the ground.
“You’re going to get in so much trouble.” Benny’s yell rings in the distance.
Our feet touch down in the wet grass of the Otherworld, icy sea air whipping at my face.
“Hopefully, she won’t follow us again.” Max lets go of my hand.
“She won’t. I told her not to.” I lead the way down the cliff face to the ocean.
“She never listens to you.”
*******
**********
Up second? The Giveaway.
What’s up for grabs? A $50 Amazon Gift Card or Pay Pal Cash.
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com/” target=”_blank”>http://iamareader.com</a> and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Today I have the pleasure of hosting fellow author, Terri Rochenski and showcasing her awesome ‘just released’ adult fantasy novel, Eye Of The Soul. We have a group Giveaway and an interview! But first let’s see what the book is about:
That should be Hyla’s first thought as her people are chained and imprisoned for no imaginable reason.
Instead, Hyla finds herself traveling through a land void of Natives, with human soldiers pillaging in desperate pursuit of her, and in search of the mystical Pool of Souls—home to the one man who can save her people.
Or so she believes.
Led by her faith in the deity Fadir, Hyla is met along her journey by Jadon—a human male and fierce King’s warrior, and his childhood best friend Conlin—one of the few Natives aware of his Fadir-given Talents.
Protected by Jadon, guided by Conlin, and with an unfailing belief in the purpose of her pilgrimage, Hyla carries on.
Like her, though, another searches for the Pool, and should he gain access first, everyone she loves, and everything she knows, could be lost.
Forever.
******
Excerpt:
Cursing her arthritic fingers, Miri squeezed out a rag and draped it over the human man’s hot forehead.
“I’ve seen a lot more harvests than you, old goat,” she muttered, lifting his eyelids. “I’m thinking you’ll never catch up either. Doubt you last another half-moon’s phase.”
Miri pushed to her feet and stretched her hunched back. A heavy sigh slipped past her wrinkled lips as she glanced around the sick house. Keeping the night watch wasn’t too bad—she’d volunteered often since her old bones wouldn’t allow much sleep.
“Joints wasted, hearing all but gone …” Miri yanked on the long white braid lying over her shoulder. “I’m the old goat.”
She shuffled down the aisle, woolen kirtle swishing in the silence. A cool, autumn breeze rustled the crimson leaves of the magnolia and palm fronds overhead, drawing her gaze upward. Violet streaks lit the pre-dawn sky.A dog barked, yipped, and fell silent.
Miri peered across the village green to the thatched buildings beyond. A shadow passed between two cottages. Another three hurried toward the neighboring dwelling.
“Sight fading or my mind, too?” Miri rubbed her watery eyes, blinked, and leaned forward. Light flickered through the palm trees behind the outlying homes.
Torches?
The flames drew closer, weaving between the trunks.
Humans from the mainland? Miri’s hand clutched at her throat. Soldiers. Fadir have mercy.
The men crept through the village, taking up positions at every doorway. Two brutes, more horse-like in size than human, approached the sick house.
Sputtering torch held high, the first strode forward, dark eyes intent upon Miri. A green surcoat covered broad shoulders and fell to his thighs. The golden wheat sheaf of the city of Varosh adorned his chest.
Cold sweat beaded upon Miri’s brow. Breath burst from her lungs, and she moved back, clutching the door jam.
The second soldier stepped closer, chains and shackles clanking in his hand. He stopped two paces away from Miri, and a smile stretched his stubbled cheeks, revealing rotted teeth. “Good morning pointy-ears.”
Miri stared, heartbeat thundering in her ears. She’d been called worse in her eighty-three birth passings but never with such malice.
A single cry rang out across the village, and doors crashed inward. Screams rent the air.
A scowl narrowed his gaze, and his fist shot forward.
Bursts of light and pain exploded through Miri as she crumpled to the floor.
#
Miri’s people huddled on the village green as fall’s pale sun crested the trees. Cold metal had been clasped around their necks and ankles. Many trembled in the cool air, little more than night clothes covering their nakedness. Miri held to her braid with a white-knuckled grip, her head and its egg-sized bump throbbing in time with her pulse.
A handful of other battered Natives who had attempted flight were the last to join them, the soldiers tossing them forward like sacks of potatoes.
***********
Let’s hear what Terri has to say:
So tell us, Terri, how long have you been writing?
TR: I started a true passion in 8th grade when Gundi, a little gnome in my brain, decided that I needed to share his story. Kinda took off from there.
Characters chattering in the brain. I get that too. 😉 Did you always aspire to be an author?
TR: Actually, no. My journey didn’t truly begin until I met Anne Tyler in my mid 20’s and she encouraged me to write a story I had in my mind. She mentored me through 2 historical romance novels and even wrote letters of introduction to a few agents. I received a ton of rejections and gave up on both novels to move onto my passion – fantasy.
Tell me about Eye of the Soul. Was there anything in particular that inspired you to write the story? Do you have a favorite character? Why?
TR: A few year’s worth of personal experiences inspired Hyla’s story. You’ll have to check out my stop at J.A. Belfield’s blog to read my post about that. As for a favorite character … I suppose Jadon. He’s the too-good-looking-for-his-own-good soldier who all the ladies salivate over. Well, all but ONE lady. He learns a few humbling things which make him a better man.
I like Jadon, too. Probably my favorite. Do you have any other projects in the works you’d like to share?
TR: Other than book #2 that I’m still slaving over, I have another standalone fantasy novel in the works. The tentative title is The Crystal Portal. The world has a Tuscan feel to it, one I can’t wait to dive back into one of these days.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
TR: Total plotter. I have binders with tabbed sections, timelines, outlines, character interviews … you name it, I plan it. NO writing begins until these are done. Have to have my eggs in order!
Fantasy fan or paranormal?
TR: I’m actually a fan of both. I prefer fantasy, but I’m extremely picky about books in that genre. Medieval & high (WELL WRITTEN) tug at me more than others. As for paranormal, if the story is engaging I’ll read it.
Are you reading any books other than your own?
TR: I’ve read a handful in the past few months, but the best worth mentioning? Fantasy – A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr. Paranormal – Caged (Holloway Pack #3) by J.A. Belfield.
Any tips you’d like to share with other writers hoping to be published one day?
TR: It’s funny how many times I’ve been asked this one! LOL! Be stubborn. Keep writing. Keep submitting. Don’t give up.
Agreed!
Thanks so much, Terri.
***********
On to the Giveaway!
Paperback of Eye of the Soul, notebook, pen and bookmark.
Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with the fantasy genre.
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her two young daughters allow. When not potty training or kissing boo-boos, she can be found on her back patio in the boondocks of New Hampshire, book or pencil in hand.
And lastly, I too am giving away a copy of Eye of the Soul to celebrate the book’s release for the October New Release Giveaway. If you’d like to win an e-book copy, here’s the Rafflecopter to enter: Enter HERE!
Katherine Skye YA Author asked what types of characters I enjoy writing most. Hmmm. Can you guess?
*****
October 4:
Brooke at The Cover Contessa wanted to know who my favorite character is in TIED. Easy one.
And Alex and I, over at, Alex Nader Writes, talk about one of my favorite things—mythology, and how I like to twist it to my story lines—along with a few other things on his blog.
**********
Thank you so much to all the readers, authors, and bloggers who hosted me this past week!!
The last week of the blog rounds out on Wednesday. 😉
As we round out week three of the TIED Blog Book Tour, I must say Thank You to everyone who participated thus far.
Here’s a recap of this past week’s posts:
**********
September 23:
On Monday I was talking Strangest Nightmares with Kayla over at Bibliophilia, Please
September 24:
On Tuesday Danielle and I were talking Inspiration, and she has a beautiful 5 Star review of TIED as well on Known To Read
September 25:
Hump Day came in with two of my fellow authors. Linda wants to know, Why Fantasy and Paranormal? at L.S. Murphy’s Blog
And what’s my favorite food?J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer finds that out as well as a few other things about me in our interview.
September 26:
Jen At Random is continuing on with the TIED Giveaway that is still in full steam and getting an awesome amount of entries. (Thank You to all who have entered so far)
September 27:
And lastly, Bookworm Lisa is also sharing the Giveaway festivities.
As the first week of the TIED blog tour winds down, I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who shouted, blogged, interviewed, and took the time to review.
Here’s a quick recap of where I was, and who I was talking to, this week.
************
September 9:
First up, of course, my publisher, J Taylor Publishing has the honor of announcing TIED’s release.
*******
September 10:
Next, I was over at Kindle Obsessed talking about what I believe makes a worthy read.
*******
September 11:
Over at Musings of a YA Reader I had a great interview, and discussed inspiration for the book, as well as mythology. 😉
*******
September 12:
Fellow Author, Terri Rochenski hosted me on her blog, Scribbler’s Sojourn where I counted down my favorite fantasy books. There are some great ones.
Author, Danielle Shipley had some really fun questions for me, including how I fell into the author thing backwards, in her interview at Ever On Word
*******
*******
And I can’t leave out Known To Read who wrote a staggeringly awesome 5 Star review of TIED on her book blog. I will be over there on September 24th talking about inspiration. Can’t wait.
*******
Thank you so much again to all who hosted me this week.
Next week the GROUP GIVEAWAYcontinues, as well as a few more interviews with yours truly and probably a guest post or two. 😉
Tomorrow marks the official launch of TIED, the first book in The Fire Born Novels trilogy!
Here’s the last teaser before the book goes live. 😉
*********
I unlocked the front door, and he rested his head against the side of the house, eyes downcast. My hand dropped from the lock. “It really is bad—what you need to tell me. Isn’t it?”
He glanced up, grey eyes finding mine. “It still depends on you.” His voice was raw, almost a whisper.
I reached for his hand, caressing it with my thumb. “If it brought you back to me, I’ll take it.”
**********
Hope you guys liked the week of samples.
Tomorrow starts the launch of TIED, the blog tour, and a big giveaway to honor the book’s release.
As another special treat on the blog today, I have J.A. Belfield here to talk about her newly released
Adult Paranormal novel,
CAGED
The third book in The Holloway Pack Stories.
Let’s hear what she has to say:
Me: How long have you been writing?
J.A.: Hi, Laney. I started writing mid-2009, when I knocked out a werewolf (surprise, surprise) tale called Changes within 2 weeks (no, you can’t read it *shudder*). And, within 7 weeks of writing, I had a complete trilogy that I thought would ROCK THE BOOKISH WORLD!!!! Yeah, I kind of got over that attitude pretty quick.
Me: Ha! Yeah, I think a lot of writers can relate to that. 😉 Did you always aspire to be an author?
J.A.: I didn’t actually, and I’m sad about that. I started writing because I’d decided to jot down a dream I’d had, which had evolved into a bunch of daydreams, and I once I did, I realised I’d actually been daydreaming up stories my entire life.
So much lost potential for stories because I didn’t recognise my musings for what they were.
Me: It’s interesting how our daydreams and dreams finally shake us hard enough so we hear them saying, “hey, I’m asking to be written.” You made up for lost time with The Holloway Pack Stories, though. 😉
Since Caged is part of the The Holloway Pack Stories, can you tell us what inspired you to write the series?
J.A.: I was only actually inspired to write the first book: Darkness & Light, when Sean Holloway started yelling for attention to tell me his tale. Once I’d completed that, I realised I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the pack, and within a few weeks, the beginning of Blue Moon was in a document.
However, it wasn’t until partway through writing Caged that I truly recognised the stories’ potential as a series, because when I first ‘blinked-up’ the idea for Caged, I assumed I was aiming for another trilogy. Funny how we can create something without fully understand its scope.
Me: I can completely relate to that. So, who is your favorite character in Caged and why?
J.A.: This is a tough one because I have so many—though I can’t name them all without giving away spoilers as there are some new introductions to the group with this tale. So Ethan, definitely! And Kyle comes a close second, because his relationship with Ethan can make them seem like a double-act at times. 🙂
Me: Are you working on any new projects you’d like to share with us?
J.A.: Well, anyone who’s been reading my blog will know that the fourth Holloway Pack title, Unnatural, is already written and contracted for a spring 2014 release. However, my next goals are writing Holloway Pack 5, discovering if I have it in me to write a YA or NA, or maybe even contemporary romance, and definitely much farther into the future, a freshly-built paranormal romance world.
So, I might be taking a small writing break until autumn, but I’m going to be busy with a lot to figure out once I head back into the writing cave again.
Me: With all your future writing plans, tell us, are you a Plotter or Pantser?
J.A.: I used to be 100% pantser, but now I kind of do pantsering with the odd bit of plotting interspersed. 😉
Me: Me too. I think they call us Hybrids these days. 😉 What books are you currently reading, if any? (I know your TBR list is a mile long 😉 )
J.A.: Right now, I’m just about to finish Camp Boyfriend, a YA by J.K. Rock—which is pretty cool, btw—and after that I’ll be reading Roar and Liv, an Under the Never Sky short by Veronica Rossi, and tomorrow, my plan is to start Lisa Amowitz’s Breaking Glass. 😀
Me: Do you prefer Twitter or Facebook?
J.A.: Facebook—but only on my personal profile because my page(s) drives me nuts with all its advertising offers and mixed up comments.
Me: 😉 Fantasy or Paranormal?
J.A.: Hmmmm … Well, I love urban fantasy, and I LOVE fantasy books like Throne of Glass, but I’m also a HUGE paranormal fan—so, can we call it a tie?
Me: We can definitely call it a tie. Any tips you’d like to give aspiring writers hoping to be published one day?
J.A.: Write until your fingers bleed and you’re so exhausted you want to cry. Once you’ve reached that point, congratulations, you’re on the first rung of the ladder to the right path.
And around that, RESEARCH! Yes, research the industry. Don’t assume everyone else is going to give you all the answers. Get up off your hide and find them for yourself. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to be educated in something you’re hoping to be part of? Surely it’s better than going in blind?
Me: Good advice. When you’re not writing, you are?
J.A.: Easy one: READING!!! 😀
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurb:
If the meek can become deadly, the strongest can be weak.
For Ethan Holloway, his mission to find a missing werewolf should be simple. Crack a few heads, bust a few chops and the solution always reveals itself. Always.
Not this time.
Ethan’s reputation precedes him, and because it does, someone is ready. Waiting. Unbeknownst to Ethan, he’s about to go down. Hard. Against a foe he never suspected and in a world he never imagined could be real.
What awaits Ethan is a fight not only for his reputation, but also his pack, his female, and his life. If he survives, damage control will become priority number one.
If he survives.
Because even Ethan’s not sure he’s strong enough to take on an entire race all by himself.
Especially one hell bent on exposing who and what he is in the name of sport.
One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.
One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She’s yet to stop.
J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.
The blog tour for TIED is just around the corner, and I want to say Thank You to all the bloggers/reviewers who have signed up for the tour, as well as give readers (and writers) the schedule to follow if you want to check it out. 😉
We start on September 9th. The day TIED releases onto the masses. 😉
Sera isn’t living. She’s existing—barely. Bedbound by illness, she has no memory of life before the freezing barn she now calls home. A mournful song haunts her dreams and hints at a past not completely buried—one she’s desperate to uncover. Yet Father’s whirlwind visits to draw blood and administer medication don’t provide answers. He only confirms the one thing she already knows; she’s dying.
A lonely death without ever knowing her past seems inevitable until a sudden, mystifying return to health coincides with the arrival of a boy in the opposite out-building. The inextricable pull to the stranger, and the broken memories that storm her mind when he’s near, warn of a history quite different to any she could have imagined. If she’s to uncover the truth she craves, she’ll have to decide whether knowledge of the past is worth forfeiting her second chance at life.
Amaleen Ison is a married mother of one. She lives with her family in Hertfordshire, England, along with her cats (Oscar and Winston), guinea pig ( LouLou), and gerbils (Blackberry and Pumpkinseed). She writes Young Adult fantasy stories that meander into a variety of sub-genres.
As a child, Amaleen lived most of her life in her head. She imagined herself in mystical lands populated by the weird and wonderful. She still spends way too much time daydreaming, but now she writes about her imaginings and weaves them into stories. The fantasy element is always important, but more so the hodgepodge of emotions that arise from her characters first time experiences.