tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226049269914062062024-02-19T09:48:22.690-05:00Author Diana StagerDiana Stager writes young adult fiction for Evernight Teen.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-22666209939509887532014-01-24T00:00:00.000-05:002014-01-24T00:00:03.878-05:00Happy Birthday Evernight Teen! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwN1XHL6iuOgutkF17UzoJnU6vhE2j5nLXovcd6eXw_qLmUg7kqxmmMcvCWBubhBDVHrf00gQ54bgal5CdIqQadVcRhjjBoG5L_glqknxhIHnej9EN4aP47TcAIqI1ZzUUuR4Sr0vqZT4/s1600/bday+blog+hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwN1XHL6iuOgutkF17UzoJnU6vhE2j5nLXovcd6eXw_qLmUg7kqxmmMcvCWBubhBDVHrf00gQ54bgal5CdIqQadVcRhjjBoG5L_glqknxhIHnej9EN4aP47TcAIqI1ZzUUuR4Sr0vqZT4/s1600/bday+blog+hop.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It's Evernight Teen's first birthday and we're having a blog hop to celebrate!<br />
<br />
One year ago, ET launched with the publication of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Phoenix: The Rising</i> by Bette Maybee. Since then, they've acquired a couple dozen titles, including my book, <i style="font-weight: bold;">X5</i>. Many of my fellow authors are participating in this hop, as well as other book bloggers and reviewers, and there are prizes to be had at every turn!<br />
<br />
The grand prize being offered by ET is a $100 iTunes gift card. Did you know you can purchase ET's books on iTunes?<br />
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In addition, ET is offering 25% off all their books <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/" target="_blank">at their website</a>. And there are some amazing books to be had.<br />
<br />
For my part, I'm offering a $10 Amazon gift card. Wanna win? Read on!<br />
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ET has a Pinterest account and boards for all their books, including mine. Check it out <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/evernightteen/x5-by-diana-stager/" target="_blank">here</a>. I've selected some pictures and snippets from the book to go with them. For your chance to win, let me know which pic you liked best and why. Don't forget to leave a valid email address otherwise I can't contact you if you win. There are lots of prizes at the other stops and don't forget to use the Rafflecopter to enter for the Grand Prize.<br />
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And as a special treat, I've posted the first chapter of <b><i>X5</i></b> under the Free Reads tab above (<a href="http://dianastager.blogspot.ca/p/free-reads.html" target="_blank">or just click here</a>).<br />
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Happy Hopping!<br />
<br /></div>
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<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-84792040440978370482013-11-26T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-26T00:00:01.705-05:00Evernight Teen Feature: Prevailing Life by Amaris Chapman<i style="font-weight: bold;">Prevailing Life</i> by Amaris Chapman is my feature today (and yes I know it's Tuesday - cut me some slack!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mg8aJCuQs46fBl3D4GQdv9L7dAwG1aQaAlxYnlbQSWdPZGTREWj3HL5ZCl2uK1qt0jRXGvR4gbrbrmyWxyOcENhs016qRHLNDY-5sy8bqIXlo1MyL0GWYV-biyPRIGzpJUlsZMz8Rqw/s1600/prevailing_life2__56810.1379618044.300.450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mg8aJCuQs46fBl3D4GQdv9L7dAwG1aQaAlxYnlbQSWdPZGTREWj3HL5ZCl2uK1qt0jRXGvR4gbrbrmyWxyOcENhs016qRHLNDY-5sy8bqIXlo1MyL0GWYV-biyPRIGzpJUlsZMz8Rqw/s1600/prevailing_life2__56810.1379618044.300.450.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Angels Mercy, 1</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Maggie is a teenager with a secret. The strangest part of her life isn’t that she works in a graveyard—it’s the fact that her best friend is an Angel named Dina. They have lived thousands of years together, but as a mortal, Maggie must die, leaving Dina to find her in each new life and start again.</strong></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Someone has been setting fires, and the town is ablaze—literally. Someone or something is fueling the flames, and one of the suspects is the devilishly handsome Justin. With the memories of past lives coming back to her and Justin vying for her attention, Maggie may get more than she bargained for.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">14+ for adult language and situations</strong></span></em></span></div>
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Where to buy: <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/prevailing-life-by-amaris-chapman/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prevailing-Angels-Mercy-Amaris-Chapman-ebook/dp/B00FAV5OC8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385430545&sr=8-1&keywords=amaris+chapman" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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<b>My Review</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This is a unique story and I'm impressed with the creativity. It's got themes of friendship, reincarnation, soul mates, and finding oneself, all woven together. I haven't read a lot of angel stories before and I wasn't sure what to expect. The idea of an angel being friends with a mortal who she has to keep finding in all her incarnations was intriguing.<br />
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Maggie is a very likeable character who is trying to figure out who she is, and was, and how those around her fit into her present life and her past. There are a lot of suprises along the way, some of them absolutely heartbreaking, and I found myself getting very emotional. I'm pretty emotional anyway, but Amaris does a fabulous job of bringing out those feelings.<br />
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Keeping all of Maggie's past lives straight was a bit difficult for me, and I found that this was a book I had to reread in order to fully appreciate everything that was going on, but it was well worth it! Amaris is hard at work on book two in the series and I look forward to reading more!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-68714301860604872332013-11-18T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-18T00:00:07.800-05:00Evernight Teen Feature: Incarnation by Susan NolanIn the world of ebooks, where everything is done by email, you can be a member of a publishing house with authors from around the world, and Evernight is no exception. I have many author friends on Facebook who I've never met personally, so it's exciting when you can say you actually know an author! And that's the case with Susan Nolan!<br />
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Susan and I were classmates in a course offered by Brian Henry, a writer, editor, and teacher. For more information <a href="http://quick-brown-fox-canada.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">click here</a>. I was hard at work on revisions for X5 and Susan was in the process of writing <i style="font-weight: bold;">Incarnation</i>. Wish I could say I told her to submit to Evernight Teen, but she discovered how to do so all on her own and we were so excited when it was accepted! And it was so neat to finally read the book that I'd only seen in bits and pieces come together as a whole story!<br />
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Today I'm featuring her book, but I also did an interview with Susan.<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>Why did you
decide to write a book?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">I have
always had stories inside me, just bursting to come out. I actually started my first novel when I was
12 years old! When characters and plots
come alive inside my head, they arrive with an overwhelming insistence on being
shared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>How did you
come up with the ideas for Incarnation?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Incarnation
came from my enjoyment of and fascination for YA Fantasy. When I look around me, I see magical elements
everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>What was
your biggest challenge with this book?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Just
finding the time to sit down and write.
I found that once I joined a writers’ group, my priorities changed and I
began to put writing ahead of some of the other activities that had been
getting in the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>What do you
like to read?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I love
mysteries…. especially ones that get psychological and deep. I also enjoy Fantasy, and finding a place
inside a magical world is addictive.
Like most avid readers, I feel completely lost if I don’t have a really
good “read” on the go. I couldn’t possibly go a whole day without getting into
a book. Historical fiction is another genre that can consume me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>Who are
your favorite authors? Have any of them influenced your own writing?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA">I have lots of favourite authors. Minette Walters, Martha Grimes, Philip Pullman,
Cornelia Funk, George R.R. Martin, J.R.R. Tolkien, P.D. James, just to name a few of the more prolific ones. For me, finding an author who writes a series
is huge, because I become really fascinated with the characters I enjoy and love
to follow their adventures. Other authors whose works I couldn’t put down are
Carlos Ruis Zafon, Diane Setterfield, Timothy Findley and Sarah Waters. I could actually go on and on and I am sure
they have all had their influence on my own writing. That is one lesson I have learned… write what
you love to read!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><b><u>Fun Stuff<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>Coffee or
Tea?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Tea…. for
sure, and I love the exotic ones. Having
said that, I never say no to a Pumpkin
Spice Latte.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>Cats or
dogs?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dogs…. I
grew up always having a dog in the house and continue to do so to this
day. You will probably always see a dog
in my books.</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>Flats or
heels?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">LOL…. I
can’t balance in heels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>Cruise or
resort?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I have
never been on a cruise but would LOVE to change that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b><i>Half empty
or half full?<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Absolutely
half full. Every day is a gift and there
is wonder in the universe. You just have to be able to see it (and then write
about it) !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK8YKBN0iCaulhFoeqMVM0UIIMkCjsvK_foRoYCyviZzUqg0jCNCMqMaxWsbTXouwjsU-V0ORMtfbopqqDFdnU16AQS2hR4ThbeZ9i7tfQF86xfRKXnW4fxT-tkPnweFbbZDOHX91DAA/s1600/incarnation__26383.1383867336.300.450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK8YKBN0iCaulhFoeqMVM0UIIMkCjsvK_foRoYCyviZzUqg0jCNCMqMaxWsbTXouwjsU-V0ORMtfbopqqDFdnU16AQS2hR4ThbeZ9i7tfQF86xfRKXnW4fxT-tkPnweFbbZDOHX91DAA/s1600/incarnation__26383.1383867336.300.450.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Katherine Blair has no idea she possesses supernatural abilities. Not until Richard St. James, an intriguing and mysterious classmate with powerful skills of his own, initiates her into his world. Wanting to explore her newfound shape-shifting powers, she spends time getting to know Richard, only to find herself increasingly drawn to him as time goes by.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Haunted by dreams of ancient times, she is caught in a desperate struggle against past injustice. The link to this unknown past experience sends her own life plummeting into the dark realms of revenge and murder, as she attempts to reconcile her feelings for the young man she’s come to rely on to protect her and keep their shared secret.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Will Katherine and Richard be able to break the spell that has held her captive through the years, before it consumes her? Can their budding young love survive tragedy, or will they be torn apart?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">14+ for brief violence</em></span></strong></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></em></span></strong></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: times new roman, times; font-size: large;"><b>My Review</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: times new roman, times; font-size: large;">I have to say that I'm completely biased here, not only because I saw the work in progress, but because Susan is a friend, so bear that in mind!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: times new roman, times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: times new roman, times; font-size: large;"><i>Incarnation</i> has all those elements that make for a great YA book: isolation, romance, rejection, friendship, mean girls, bad boys, tragedy. Mix that up with a supernatural story-line and this book is a real winner. Readers will be able to identify with Katherine as she struggles to find her place in a strange school and while strange things happen to her. She is a strong heroine who tries to hide her vulnerability. Richard is a typical alpha male. He wants to be in charge, he's overprotective, and just a bit dangerous. But Katherine gives him a run for his money. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: times new roman, times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: times new roman, times; font-size: large;">One of the things I like best about Susan's writing is her beautiful descriptions. She paints a picture with words and it draws you deep into the setting, perfectly capturing the visual details and the mood. And, as usual, I wish the book had been longer! I got so into the story that I was sad when it ended because I could have spent a lot more time in that world. However, Susan tells me that she's planning a sequel and I can't wait to read it!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-52031563402847078482013-10-14T22:10:00.000-04:002013-10-14T22:10:33.241-04:00Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Teen Reading Week!Today is Thanksgiving here in Canada, and I'm thankful for so many things!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>a wonderful family</li>
<li>shelter, food, and a good job</li>
<li>good friends</li>
<li>people who bought my book (LOL!)</li>
</ul>
<div>
That's not the entire list of course, but I think I got the most important things. So for my Canadian friends, Happy Thanksgiving! And for all you Americans, I hope you had a great Columbus Day! </div>
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In other news, it's Teen Read Week!</div>
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<br />
<a href="http://teenreadweek.ning.com/">Teen Read Week™</a> is a national adolescent literacy initiative created by the <a href="http://www.ala.org/yalsa/aboutyalsa">Young Adult Library ServicesAssociation (YALSA)</a>. It began in 1998 and is held annually during the third week of October. Its purpose is to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users.<br />
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<div>
Seek the Unknown @ Your Library is Teen Read Week’s theme this year. Explore and learn about the unknown through mystery, adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy books!<br />
<br />
Evernight Teen authors are playing a game of hide and seek this week with a fun Scavenger Hunt you can even play in your pajamas!<br />
<br />
What’s up for grabs? Evernight is giving away an All-New Kindle Paperwhite eReader randomly chosen from all correct entries!<br />
<br />
Plus, <b>three</b> lucky commenters will be randomly chosen to receive $10 Evernight gift certificates!<br />
<br />
Ready to play? <a href="http://evernightteen.blogspot.com/2013/10/teen-read-week-scavenger-hunt-trw13.html">Click here</a>!<br />
Visit participating authors:<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://sashahibbs.blogspot.com/">Sasha Hibbs</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://bjmaybee.blogspot.com/">Bette Maybee</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.sxbradley.com/">S.X. Bradley</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://stephanielawton.com/">Stephanie Lawton</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://theeternalwritingoptimist.blogspot.com/">Trakena Prevost</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://dianastager.blogspot.ca/">Diana Stager</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://christinekloceklim.com/">Christine Klocek-Lim</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.amarischapman.com/">Amaris Chapman</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/melissahosack/home">Melissa Frost</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-32423315901482830682013-10-07T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T00:00:01.517-04:00Evernight Teen Feature: The Dating Tutor by Melissa Frost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I'm telling you about one of Evernight Teen's newest books, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Dating Tutor</i> by Melissa Frost. It's the story of Ellie, an inexperienced girl who needs help when the most popular boy in school asks her on a date. She turns to her best friend, Alec, for dating "lessons" and quickly discovers that her feelings for Alec may be more than friendly.<br />
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I loved this story! It's a quick, fun read with an interesting take on the "falling for my best friend" trope. Ellie is an entertaining character who finds herself plunged into the mysterious world of relationships when Jake, the handsome, popular soon-to-be-prom-king asks her out. But the dating lessons she gets from best friend Alec leave her feeling more confused than ever.<br />
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Melissa's writing style is light, but man is the sexual tension heavy! She does a superb job with the romantic scenes without dragging the pace of the story. As with any story I enjoy, I thought it was too short, but it's perfect if you want something fast. This book would be a fantastic addition to any bookshelf.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ellie is hardly the most sought after girl at Noble High, so she is completely surprised when the boy most likely to become prom king asks her out. Her short-lived glee quickly turns to panic as she admits to herself that she doesn’t know the first thing about <span class="il" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">dating</span>.</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">After a fair amount of wheedling, she convinces her best friend and hockey star, Alec, to<span class="il" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tutor</span> her in the ways of love. Only once things start, she finds she knows even less than first suspected. <span class="il" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Dating</span> is full of more codes and unspoken rules than she ever imagined.</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Even more difficult is the effort not to cross lines with Alec. Every lesson brings her closer and closer to the boy next door whom she’s never had a romantic thought about before in her life. Each caress and playful scenario has Ellie wishing more for her best friend’s affection than the boy he’s teaching her to woo.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">14+ due to sexuality and adult situations</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Buy Links: <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/the-dating-tutor-by-melissa-frost/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Dating-Tutor-ebook/dp/B00F55KBEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380479363&sr=8-1&keywords=the+dating+tutor" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-80236380571970237722013-09-30T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-30T00:00:03.494-04:00Evernight Teen Feature: Shrapnel by Stephanie Lawton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Shrapnel</i> by Stephanie Lawton is my feature today. This is a cool concept for a book - a reality show about teenagers who have psychic abilities and are thrown together in a haunted house for the weekend. Stephanie writes with a fresh, funny voice that had me laughing. Her characters are complex and interesting, and the story is original.<br />
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While the story seems to be mostly about Dylan, the book is written in the first person alternating between Dylan, Jake, and Ashley. For me personally, I found that a bit difficult to follow, though Stephanie did a great job of giving each character their own unique voice, and the story was so good that it didn't really slow me down much. This is definitely a book that you'll enjoy!<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Blurb</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">It’s been six years since Dylanie and her family visited a Civil War site and the place came alive with cannon fire. Problem was, no one could hear it but her. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Now she’s sixteen, her dad’s moved out, her mom’s come out of the closet and Dylan’s got a spot on <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Paranormal Teen</em>, a reality TV show filming at historic Oakleigh Mansion. She’ll spend a weekend with two other psychic teens—Jake and Ashley—learning how to control her abilities. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">None of them realized how much their emotional baggage would put them at the mercy of Oakleigh’s resident spirits, or that they’d find themselves pawns in the 150-year-old battle for the South’s legendary Confederate gold. Each must conquer their personal ghosts to face down Jackson, a seductive spirit who will do anything to protect the gold’s current location and avenge a heinous attack that destroyed his family.</span></strong></span></div>
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Buy Links: <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/shrapnel-by-stephanie-lawton/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shrapnel-ebook/dp/B00B2DGRC4/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2" target="_blank">Amazon</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-41729811238628738102013-09-23T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-23T00:00:11.939-04:00Evernight Teen Feature: Unraveled by S.X. Bradley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't say enough about <i style="font-weight: bold;">Unraveled</i> by S.X. Bradley! The book opens with our main character Autumn, finding her sister murdered in their home. Absolutely heart breaking. I think I started bawling before I finished reading the first page, and didn't really stop throughout much of the book. But that's not a bad thing! it's a mark of a great writer that she can move her readers to tears. Bradley writes emotion extremely well and the the book is as much about Autumn's journey of emotional healing as it is about her desperate search for her sister's killer.<br />
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This book is a fabulous mystery that will keep you guessing to the end, and Autumn's abilities as a sleuth are admirable. Throw in a touch of romance, and the whole thing is a winner. This is one you won't want to miss!<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.5837611644528806" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sixteen year old math whiz, Autumn, spends her days reading about serial killers and dreaming of becoming an FBI Profiler. She never dreams her first case will be so personal. Her world is shattered when she comes home from school and discovers her murdered sister’s body on the living room floor. When the initial evidence points to a burglary gone wrong, Autumn challenges the police’s theory because of the personal nature of the crime. Thinking that finding the killer will bring her family back together, she conducts her own investigation using her affinity for math and forensics, but her plan backfires and her obsession with the case further splinters her family.<br class="kix-line-break" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />When her investigation reveals the killer is someone she knows, Autumn offers herself up as bait and sets a dangerous trap to unmask his true nature and to obtain a confession for her sister’s murder.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">14+ for brief violence</strong></span></em></span></div>
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Buy links: <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/unraveled-by-s-x-bradley/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unraveled-ebook/dp/B00BCRL8ME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379868787&sr=8-1&keywords=unraveled+s.x.+bradley" target="_blank">Amazon</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-31247887918557633702013-09-22T13:39:00.000-04:002013-09-30T09:05:11.435-04:00Going on a Blog Tour!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sizzlingpr.com/tour-x5-by-diana-stager/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkwUUuqaI0LpYD6gebmFaa1U8AV6u_sJGlDzmEtONQwckf4EBDkh7JQBJRaUjbK1cFmBb9nJUlmpVyJZsP-spZPddS-y4-08SC_21L6qKGe9QnsqVg8zmKPc1CUmBqdPOoYSkCWf1f_k/s1600/X5+-+Diana+Stager+-+Banner.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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The lovely folks at Sizzling PR have coordinated a blog tour for me from September 23 - September 30. At each stop you'll find information about my book, plus interviews, guest posts, reviews and more!<br />
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And to bribe you to check it out, I'm offering a prize! One lucky winner will receive a signed paperback copy of <i style="font-weight: bold;">X5</i>, AND $25 to spend at Amazon, where you could pick up some of the other great offerings from Evernight Teen. They've got a slew of new titles just released or coming soon. </div>
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Below is the schedule. I hope you can stop by! Each of these bloggers has a host of other treats on their blogs that you won't want to miss. Plus, I've got the Rafflecopter below for my awesome giveaway!</div>
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23 – Guest Post @ <a href="http://lbdiamond.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/x5/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Laura Diamond</a></div>
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23 – Guest Post @ <a href="http://jessicatornese.com/x5-diana-stager/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Jessica Tornese</a></div>
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24 – Spotlight @ <a href="http://indieauthorsbooksandmore.blogspot.ca/2013/09/x5-by-diana-stager-spotlight-and.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Indie Author Books and More</a></div>
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24 — Interview @ <a href="http://www.selfpublishordie.com/2013/09/25/x5-blog-tour-and-interview/" target="_blank">Self Publish or Die</a></div>
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25 – Spotlight @<a href="http://kasonndraleigh.blogspot.ca/2013/09/giveaway-and-spotlight-on-x5-by-diana.html" target="_blank"> <span style="color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit;">The Seraphine Muse</span></span></a></div>
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25 — Interview @ <a href="http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.ca/2013/09/x5-by-diana-stager-interview-and-excerpt.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews</a></div>
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26 – Spotlight @ <a href="http://newagemama.blogspot.ca/2013/09/book-spotlight-giveaway-x5-by-diana.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">New Age Mama</a></div>
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27 – Interview and Review @<a href="http://sizzlinghotyabooks.com/interview-giveaway-review-x5-by-diana-stager/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> Sizzling Hot YA Books</a></div>
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28 — Top ten list @ <a href="http://www.kaylasplace.com/2013/09/top-10-excerpt-giveaway-x5-by-diana.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Kayla’s Place</a></div>
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30 — Spotlight @ <a href="http://lebooksquirrel.blogspot.ca/2013/09/blog-tour-stop-x5-by-diana-stager-with.html" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Le’ Book Squirrel</a></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/044d692/" id="rc-044d692" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-3621996805626359932013-09-16T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-16T00:00:09.881-04:00Evernight Teen Feature: Blood Hex by Erin Butler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISpnla0VVZAS6FRmN0VhoeMp7gfQpYSjJS-1qZIHXJI06r3tBED-hgYd0d_wgiFmyJMqn7SHo8QeA_kizZ0uq5Kj0cr0Z_WHeU6Qas-AbgQaPcaOGVOg5e__lRxinkOIdYqdQ2plYMsM/s1600/bloodhex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISpnla0VVZAS6FRmN0VhoeMp7gfQpYSjJS-1qZIHXJI06r3tBED-hgYd0d_wgiFmyJMqn7SHo8QeA_kizZ0uq5Kj0cr0Z_WHeU6Qas-AbgQaPcaOGVOg5e__lRxinkOIdYqdQ2plYMsM/s1600/bloodhex.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Today's feature is <i style="font-weight: bold;">Blood Hex</i> by Erin Butler. This book is about a girl named Sarah who discovers her dead father's journal and learns of an aunt she hadn't known about. Annoyed with her mother for keeping this a secret, Sarah takes off to find the aunt and learn more about her dad. But the town she ends up in is full of strange secrets, and Sarah feels as though she's caught up in something much bigger than herself.<br />
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Sarah's story is interspersed with the tale of Isabella from centuries earlier, and her fight for the boy she loves amid a town obsessed with witch hunts.<br />
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Although the alternating story lines confused me a little at first (and let's face it, I confuse easily!), once I got my head around it, I was drawn in and had to keep going to figure out how Isabella's story and Sarah's connected. In the beginning, it doesn't seem as if they do, but little by little, Erin tosses out crumbs to keep you searching for the truth. It's very well written, and the author does a great job of stringing the reader along on this intricate and well-planned story. The ending is a bit surprising, but makes complete sense when you arrive there. Definitely check out this amazing book from Evernight Teen!<br />
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<b>Blurb</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.39492907049134374" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Two girls. Four centuries. One curse. </em><br class="kix-line-break" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Isabella started it—all because a boy fell in love with her—but it ends with Sarah. <br class="kix-line-break" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Isabella and Thomas meet in secret during the witching hours while the rest of the villagers hide behind locked doors. And even though Isabella's scared, she wants Thomas more. He'll protect her from the night, from his father who'll decide her future, and from the paranoia-fueled hunting parties taking away innocents. <br class="kix-line-break" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Centuries later, seventeen-year old Sarah runs away to an aunt she never knew she had. Her dad? Dead. Her mother? A liar. She wants the memories of a father she never got, but instead, discovers her father's death wasn’t innocent. Everyone—the Wiccans, the townies, even her quasi-boyfriend—is hiding something. The history-rich town has a secret they will kill to keep, entangling Sarah into a centuries old witch curse.</strong></span></div>
<em style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">14+ due to violence and adult situations</strong></span></em><br />
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Buy Links: <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/blood-hex-by-erin-butler/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Hex-ebook/dp/B00C2T65DS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379298809&sr=8-1&keywords=blood+hex" target="_blank">Amazon</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-16687918288405091362013-09-09T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-09T00:00:13.331-04:00Evernight Teen Double Feature: Phoenix: The Rising by Bette Maybee & Elysium by Sylah Sloan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQnaGkeOTu2fVOpbYoUW6pKhb2x7ke1qjBPpJ6pIdwNjfmRi_TdZIFIKRmbw_cjEAOZ2CxTfGf9pGZ3CrkNRaMfPdIsZByORTQLo-6HjbeLl8VzwKUXxvKpD042HEfQJ8W05Jg_vTg2U/s1600/teen_phoenix2__32894.1357863191.300.450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQnaGkeOTu2fVOpbYoUW6pKhb2x7ke1qjBPpJ6pIdwNjfmRi_TdZIFIKRmbw_cjEAOZ2CxTfGf9pGZ3CrkNRaMfPdIsZByORTQLo-6HjbeLl8VzwKUXxvKpD042HEfQJ8W05Jg_vTg2U/s1600/teen_phoenix2__32894.1357863191.300.450.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Phoenix: The Rising </i>is Evernight Teen's first book, and they certainly picked a great one to get started with. The story revolves around Julie, a seventeen year old girl who is struggling with illness, family issues, and being accepted at her new school. Then she meets Eli, and suddenly her whole world changes, because now she's trying to escape from the Nephilim, fallen angels who've gone on a killing spree in search of the Phoenix.<br />
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Once I started this book, I only put it down because I literally could not keep my eyes open. It's fast paced and gripping. I love the way Bette's taken actual mythology and created her own modern take on it. The writing is excellent and will keep you hooked throughout. And though the story is complete in itself, its ending hints at a sequel and I'm looking forward to reading that as well!<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Blurb</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Every 300 years, the immortal Phoenix returns to Mono Lake to be reborn—but this time it didn't return alone. The Nephilim are back in force, trying to keep it from being reborn so one of them can claim its immortality. But first they have to figure out who the Phoenix is—and any red-haired, green-eyed, seventeen-year-old in the area is fair game. And so, the killing begins...</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Julie Mason doesn't believe all this <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">legend</em> crap until she falls for Eli Sullivan, whose hallucination-inducing kiss not only saves her, but makes her the Nephilim’s prime target. But, it's worth the risk. Her death is inevitable...not even Eli can prevent it. All she has to do is keep the Nephilim off Eli’s trail until The Rising. Once Eli is reborn and forgets his past life, Julie’s life is over, whether she’s dead or not. At least that's what she thinks...</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">14+ for brief violence and sexuality</em></span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: times new roman, times;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Buy links: <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/phoenix-the-rising-by-bette-maybee/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-The-Rising-ebook/dp/B00AZQ80II/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378662247&sr=8-2&keywords=bette+maybee" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-5SYUnWSvSwNE4UAVrpGnYMclAlz4Ced0nehzQtSKWXM6zhfe_Le5aHrSk0Gg-GMUQrXsXCb4FoFP_aimvqDHNIHzD9uGzV-clw1rANoLrVzYbVMRZOZJOHHbScDsWQny-ue8MlJsbA/s1600/teen_elysium2__12477.1359067630.300.450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-5SYUnWSvSwNE4UAVrpGnYMclAlz4Ced0nehzQtSKWXM6zhfe_Le5aHrSk0Gg-GMUQrXsXCb4FoFP_aimvqDHNIHzD9uGzV-clw1rANoLrVzYbVMRZOZJOHHbScDsWQny-ue8MlJsbA/s1600/teen_elysium2__12477.1359067630.300.450.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: times new roman, times;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Elysium</i> is not to be confused with the recent movie. It's the story of a girl who suddenly finds out that her life is not what she once thought it was. She's taken to a new school for paranormal people such as herself, and discovers that she is a pawn in a new power play.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: times new roman, times;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I really enjoyed Sylah's book. It was the first of the Evernight Teen books that I read, even before I had considered submitting my own work to them, and it got me interested. Yes it's paranormal, yes there are vampires, but Sylah has given us a unique take on the existence of the paranormal in our own normal world. Her descriptions are brilliant, and the tension between Meadow and Caedon leaps off the page. Sure he's a couple hundred years older than she is, but when you hit the triple digits, it's hard to find someone your own age. The author makes the romance work. I'd love to read more from Sylah, though she's terribly busy at the moment, both personally and professionally. This book is one of my top picks!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Blurb</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Meadow Caldwell is about to learn a very dark secret about herself. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">When she is taken away from the only family she has ever known and thrust into the world of the paranormal, she learns not everything or everyone is what it seems. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Arcane Manor, a school for creatures of myth and lore, is all Meadow knows now. The only person she can rely on is herself in this strange, new world, especially with the secret of her true identity. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">When Dr. Cadeon Frost, an enigmatic vampire, helps her unravel her past, Meadow finds herself falling for the quiet, intelligent doctor. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">When she is thrust out of reality and into the arms of a mysterious man, she is trapped between the world she knows and one that nightmares are made of. It is up to her to stop not only an evil that threatens her, but everyone she cares for.</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">14+ for brief sexuality</span></em></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Buy links: <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/elysium-by-sylah-sloan/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elysium-ebook/dp/B00B5KVLT8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378663297&sr=1-1&keywords=sylah+sloan" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-65963342020179984712013-09-03T20:13:00.002-04:002013-09-03T20:13:33.141-04:00Back to School MadnessWell folks, today was the first day of school and things have been crazy!<br />
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First off, I work in a brand-new school. We weren't able to actually get into the building until last Friday meaning I spent a good portion of the weekend getting stuff organized. It's a beautiful place and I love it, but parts of it are still under construction. Ack! It'll be an interesting few weeks until that's all finished and I can actually find all my resources. Many of them are on the stage, but there are no steps to get to the stage and all access points are blocked off because they're still under construction. It would be great if I could find some reliable transporter technology to zap it all up to my room, but I think I'm stuck waiting until we can get on the old-fashioned way.<br />
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Second, we had a houseguest all last week and that always throws everyone out of routine, especially because we made a few day trips, one of them to Fort George in Niagara on the Lake. Check out these pics!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcpEwYkrE1JrXrGvPJVw7FCrfRm6dc58K3TfW2zb1DyCVfJjyDYMtks6ja3Zaju03OuRRoyglBI2LGpYjqanZIxFxRMUGwDNaw6w4U8lsmNgAskh64I1YVY2O4-jucED2OEhoP-zWgQE/s1600/20130828_153335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcpEwYkrE1JrXrGvPJVw7FCrfRm6dc58K3TfW2zb1DyCVfJjyDYMtks6ja3Zaju03OuRRoyglBI2LGpYjqanZIxFxRMUGwDNaw6w4U8lsmNgAskh64I1YVY2O4-jucED2OEhoP-zWgQE/s1600/20130828_153335.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The music teacher in me loved this! On the right is an old-school bassoon. I mean REALLY old-school, from around 1812. The weird instrument on the left is called a Serpent. Fitting really. It's sort of a precursor to the modern tuba. It was neat to hear an ensemble of musicians playing on replica instruments.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgs5p0EDplT_kWQy1Olf3MOHlCS1Ix4awKhUB1zd55IcWLQyGAZUt_Nkl0klzQKNNrjx6beET90xRcEpyJ340f98H5Mbj0io-HQLUJB9lcV7DK0pCCgzkeiR5KWhLMbGG6IDab5e6xZM/s1600/20130828_130709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgs5p0EDplT_kWQy1Olf3MOHlCS1Ix4awKhUB1zd55IcWLQyGAZUt_Nkl0klzQKNNrjx6beET90xRcEpyJ340f98H5Mbj0io-HQLUJB9lcV7DK0pCCgzkeiR5KWhLMbGG6IDab5e6xZM/s1600/20130828_130709.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know it's kind of hard to see, but the dude in this pic is firing a musket which was heavily used during the War of 1812. He didn't fire actual shots, just blanks, but it still created a lot of smoke!</td></tr>
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And on top of that, I had to get my own kids ready for school, and couldn't find half their school supplies because I bought some stuff weeks ago and put it aside for safe keeping. It's very safe because no one can find it.<br />
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So of course, I forgot to get my Evernight Teen feature done on Monday, so to make up for it, next Monday will be a double feature! Stay tuned!<br />
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I hope all of you had a relaxing Labour Day weekend and are getting back into your own school routines.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-59808066989052698562013-08-30T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-07T16:59:20.585-04:00Release Day! Giveaway!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMrkRGaCEnb0sUgBGlyLD-5yrsgTSM8jSUWOkT-acR7HEwjH5DR6LhdiFFdC9rw-lVAgOddXF6atrr7tzP3CGbXoIG_eJWnk61ovz2mFKdiuNB5DSC8RFiOwEGQFY67dc2HqGgamlDsk/s1600/ID-10093820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMrkRGaCEnb0sUgBGlyLD-5yrsgTSM8jSUWOkT-acR7HEwjH5DR6LhdiFFdC9rw-lVAgOddXF6atrr7tzP3CGbXoIG_eJWnk61ovz2mFKdiuNB5DSC8RFiOwEGQFY67dc2HqGgamlDsk/s1600/ID-10093820.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from www.freedigitalphotos.net</td></tr>
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Well ladies and gentleman, it's finally here!<br />
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RELEASE DAY!<br />
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I am officially a published author. Hard to believe! And I'm so happy to be able to share this exciting day with you! Well, truthfully, I'm celebrating at a staff meeting and finishing up my classroom for the first day on Tuesday. But I may crack open a bottle of wine tonight! And I'm definitely not cooking!<br />
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I wanted to share the celebration, so I'm having a giveaway! A signed print copy of the book is the prize! If you want to enter, all you have to do is answer this simple question by doing a little searching on my blog.<br />
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What is the NUMBER (hint, hint) of words from the original manuscript that ended up in this final version? Check out the blog archives on the sidebar to find the entry and then use the Rafflecopter below to submit your answer. Once you've done that, you'll unlock the bonus entries which you can earn by following me and Evernight Teen on Twitter and Facebook.<br />
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Oh, and in case you'd like to buy my book, it's available on the <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/x5-by-diana-stager/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a> site and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/X5-ebook/dp/B00EVA5Q7M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377870563&sr=8-1&keywords=diana+stager" target="_blank">Amazon</a> so far. More links to come!<br />
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Thanks once again!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-38116044540985914452013-08-26T00:00:00.000-04:002013-08-26T00:00:10.232-04:00Evernight Teen Feature: X5 by Diana StagerToday I'm featuring a fantastic, amazing, wonderful, stellar book from Evernight Teen. Okay, I'm a bit biased because it's MINE! It's a surreal experience to know that very soon, people will be reading a book that I wrote, and hopefully enjoying it. Clearly, I won't give a review because I can't judge my own work objectively. Instead, I'm giving you the official blurb and excerpt!<br />
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I should also tell you that I've done a guest post over at the official<a href="http://www.evernightteen.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"> Evernight Teen Blog</a>, so pop over there for even more goodies!<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">X5 </i> by Diana Stager<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkUBrBPcXsuvr0MY-BT2aL86mHrSmdtMp-Au0rowS3vhXHVSiqs3GQEBVLSHU18VSTDES4_jaNnHA2eS81F1GgOGF-KZfhzK7H_pqmj2jwssbnufMaEwyHmfS3DuppGf9xhBotsbNtjs/s1600/X5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkUBrBPcXsuvr0MY-BT2aL86mHrSmdtMp-Au0rowS3vhXHVSiqs3GQEBVLSHU18VSTDES4_jaNnHA2eS81F1GgOGF-KZfhzK7H_pqmj2jwssbnufMaEwyHmfS3DuppGf9xhBotsbNtjs/s1600/X5.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Being a socially awkward geek with anger management issues has made Travis Armstrong an outcast, but on top of that, he has visions of the future. Not that he can tell anyone, except in an anonymous online forum. When he takes a chance and meets with another group member, he winds up at The Bunker, where everyone is like him, and where, finally, he feels like he belongs.</div>
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Tara Gage has been at The Bunker since she was thirteen years old. Even among the residents there, she’s unique, and her special talents lead her to discover that The Bunker is not the safe haven it seems to be. She’s determined to escape and get back to her family.</div>
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When they each have visions of the other’s death, Travis and Tara know they have to run. With their captors desperate to get them back, they must rely on each other to get away before their visions become reality.</div>
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<b>Excerpt</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">My foot jiggled in time to the song running through my head as I waited for my turn at the polygraphs. Travis was nowhere to be seen, and I was glad of that. Or that's what I told myself whenever I became aware of my disappointment at not seeing him. He drove me crazy, and really didn't seem at all exceptional, but a growing part of me didn't care about that, and just longed to be near him. Disgusted with myself, I tried to think of something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">My thoughts were cut short when Travis and Mike entered the hallway, both looking upset about something. Their friendship puzzled me. I know Mike was trying to prod Travis into being more of a leader than a loner, but as far as I was concerned, it wasn't working. He was too introverted, too willing to follow along with what the rest of us were doing, or else go off by himself. Both of them sent anxious glances my way, setting me on edge, and just as I stood to go talk to them, the attendant called my name. Casting a last look their way, I turned and entered the polygraph room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I tried to get through it as quickly as I could so I could find out why Mike had looked so worried. Of course, because I was in a hurry, things took twice as long as normal, and every second wasted irritated the crap out of me. By the time I returned to the hall, Mike was nowhere to be seen, and Travis was pacing back and forth. It seemed I had no choice but to talk to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Taking huge strides, I made it to Travis's side quickly and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned, I hesitated for just a moment when my eyes locked with his, my stomach fluttering. <i>Pull it together, Tara!</i> I took a breath and then said, "What's up with Mike?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Travis's eyes darted around and he turned to look over each shoulder before giving me a weird look. "Not much," he said finally, though he seemed to be trying to communicate something with his eyes. I frowned, and watched as his eyes widened, then darted to the side, his eyebrows lifting and then drawing together. <i>What the hell?</i> I shrugged and shook my head. Whatever he was trying to tell me wasn't coming across at all. He sighed and opened his mouth to say something else when something behind me caught his attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Turning, I saw a couple of armed security guards rushing into the polygraph room Mike had gone in. Remembering Cam, a band tightened around my stomach as my heart began to pound. Security only came to the polygraph rooms for one reason, and my fears were confirmed a moment later when they exited, holding Mike in between them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">"Mike!" I screamed, leaping forward to try to get to him. They couldn't be taking him away! What had he seen? My efforts to reach his side were blocked when Travis grabbed me from behind and wrapped his long arms around me. "Travis, let me go! Let me go!" I struggled against his grip, but it was like iron and I was getting nowhere. Lifting one foot, I kicked backward and connected with his shin. I heard him swear, but he didn't loosen his hold on me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">"Tara, stop," he whispered in my ear. "He knew this was going to happen."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I ignored him and screamed after Mike again. The security team nearly had him to the entrance to the administrative section of The Bunker. "No!" I yelled. "No, you can't take him! Mike!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">His eyes were full of pain when he turned to look at me one last time. I saw his mouth form the words, "I love you." And then the door slammed closed behind him. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks, my heart ached, and though my throat was raw and sore, I couldn't stop screaming. Travis wouldn't let me go no matter how hard I pulled against him. My squirming and wiggling wasn't doing any good, but I couldn't stop. The rational part of my brain knew that Mike was gone and nothing I did would help, but at the same time if I didn't try, I'd be giving up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my arm and when I turned my head, I saw one of the infirmary staff standing with a syringe in her hand. I tried to say something to her, but the edges of my vision were going fuzzy, and then everything went dark.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-92116323556145471872013-08-23T00:00:00.000-04:002013-08-23T15:00:56.221-04:00X5 Cover RevealGetting a release date was great, but finally seeing the cover makes it real! So....<br />
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Here it is!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YIjdMSoiGTgj2Bsz1ODwPHHAn34rRJOy4bjcW-tGVczT81lICI-KAK9BgjyRW01X5_ZKff4Fat98HlP6AIq4xdeLbhOYM-c8CnmQUQqRVKUSg0xgf5vbln0CrIjUJENpfAMAb8reCwI/s1600/X5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YIjdMSoiGTgj2Bsz1ODwPHHAn34rRJOy4bjcW-tGVczT81lICI-KAK9BgjyRW01X5_ZKff4Fat98HlP6AIq4xdeLbhOYM-c8CnmQUQqRVKUSg0xgf5vbln0CrIjUJENpfAMAb8reCwI/s1600/X5.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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Isn't it awesome? Sour Cherry Designs did a fantastic job and I'm thrilled with it! On Monday, I'm posting the official blurb and teaser excerpt so make sure you stop by.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-64452082653396953172013-08-19T00:00:00.000-04:002013-08-22T15:26:15.871-04:00Evernight Teen Feature: Black Amaranth by Sasha Hibbs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Umm...I'm still trying to figure out this whole Blogger thing and thought I had this scheduled to go live on Monday, but apparently not. Oops. Anyway, here's my review and feature of Evernight Teen's latest release, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Black Amaranth</i> by Sasha Hibbs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlFQsvjQNZoOMovZbUpZGyziJgFxrxTs-yHXQHS36iUxy66UYEUAmQ2bjyR2uFuKRJdf6u_lKf_QIoCtm12mcCEKy0cgZ_lYGzpUf52QxgN1U-NxMeswwEFM3_v-SRa2Y6LeEm-jkfeU/s1600/black-amaranth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlFQsvjQNZoOMovZbUpZGyziJgFxrxTs-yHXQHS36iUxy66UYEUAmQ2bjyR2uFuKRJdf6u_lKf_QIoCtm12mcCEKy0cgZ_lYGzpUf52QxgN1U-NxMeswwEFM3_v-SRa2Y6LeEm-jkfeU/s1600/black-amaranth.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today's feature is Evernight Teen's latest release, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Black Amaranth</i> by Sasha Hibbs, which was only released last Friday! Needless to say, I had to do some fast reading to get it done, but it was worth it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The excerpt below had me intrigued, and right away, Sasha's writing sucked me into the story and wouldn't let go. It's easy to identify with Ally as she struggles to figure out who she is, and contemplates the impact of her decisions (which are VERY far reaching) on the people she cares about, and really, the entire world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I think the thing that astounds me most about this book, is the intricate mythology that Sasha has created. She's pulled from a variety of traditions to make a whole new world and that is not easy to do. It could get a bit hard to follow at times, but I think that mostly had to do with the fact that I was up all night reading and therefore very tired! I just didn't want to put it down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The climax of the book was extremely powerful, though I can't say much about it or I'll spoil it. Let's just say that there are a lot of twists and surprises. And I can't wait for book 2!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blurb</span></b><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Eighteen-year-old Ally Watson arrives home from high
school graduation, more than a little annoyed that her Uncle Argyle—Ally’s
legal guardian and only surviving relative—didn’t even bother showing up. But instead of berating him for his
forgetfulness, Ally finds him in a life-or-death battle with a monster. Argyle
manages to kill the creature, and gives Ally a parcel containing a destiny she
never knew existed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Ally, along with her best friends Michael, Jessica,
and David, hurry to Georgia to uncover the truth of Uncle Argyle’s secrets, and
the meaning of the mysterious marks that Ally bears. Are the marks related to
the blacksmith mythology of her ancestors? Who are these heavenly warriors who
show up in the oddest of places? And will an ancient gypsy curse destroy the
very things Ally fights to save? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Black Amaranth: a simple flower, a symbol with an
ancient legacy, a conduit for prophecy…while faith and hope are essential to
the journey, Ally soon discovers that love is the most powerful force of all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Where To Buy</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/black-amaranth-by-sasha-hibbs/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Amaranth-ebook/dp/B00EKUCBUI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376756124&sr=8-2&keywords=black+amaranth" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">About Sasha Hibbs</span></b></span></div>
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<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By age 5, Sasha Hibbs' favorite movie was Gone With the Wind. By age 12, she completed her 7th grade book report on the sequel, Scarlett. By 18, she met and married her very own Mr. Rhett Butler and as it turns out, she never had to worry about going back to Tara to win the love of her life back. Fortunately, he stuck with her. </span></span></em></div>
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<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">With a love of all things paranormal, the ambiance of the South with its gigantic antebellum mansions and canopies of Spanish moss, and a love for her husband’s rich storytelling of blacksmiths and the mythology surrounding their origins, it wasn’t long until the world of her debut novel, Black Amaranth, was born.</span></span></em></div>
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<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When not working her day job as a nurse, you can find Sasha dreaming of her next beach trip, reading the latest YA novel, and drinking more white chocolate mocha than she should. </span></span></em></div>
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<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sasha lives in mountainous West Virginia with her husband, Tim, and their two daughters, Aeliza and Ava. She is currently hard at work on book two in The Vulcan Legacies series.</span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Blog: </span></span><a href="http://sashahibbs.blogspot.ca/" style="background-color: transparent;">http://sashahibbs.blogspot.ca/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Website: <a href="http://www.sashahibbs.com/">http://www.sashahibbs.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Twitter: </span></em><a href="https://twitter.com/SashaHibbs" style="background-color: transparent;">https://twitter.com/SashaHibbs</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“LOU’S HOUSE OF
BLUES?” Dave read the large neon sign in disbelief. “You’re taking us to a…<i>bar</i>?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“To the Gypsies,
and the one I am seeking out in particular,” Parthenia looked straight ahead,
“happens to spend most of her time in this bar.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mom thinks
we’re going to church camp.” Dave’s face spread into a big smile. “I wonder
what she would say if she knew we were going to a bar.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We’re
eighteen,” Jessica said, reminding him. “Just once, Dave, please be cool.”
Jessica winced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Cheer up,
Jessica.” Brandi patted her mockingly. “There’s a first time for everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Whatever. I’m
sure this beats your lame keg party,” Jessica said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nothing
surprised Ally anymore, not even the rough-cut lumber bar staring back at her. Motorcycles
and beat up trucks lined the gravel parking lot. A wraparound porch with live
oaks bordered the outside. Looking determined, Parthenia motioned for them to
follow her up there. As Ally ascended onto the creaky porch, her eye caught a
slumbering black dog. She sidestepped to miss treading on the dog.
Instinctively, Ally bent down and brushed her hand along the thick black coat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Good Lord,
Miss,” a voice said. Ally looked up into an old pair of friendly brown eyes.
“You must be somebody special,” he said, swaying back and forth in a
dilapidated rocking chair, the ripened wood groaning with each sway, paint
chipping up the back spindles. “Miss Elma doesn’t like anybody,” he said. His
deep Southern accent drew out each syllable slowly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sorry,” Ally
apologized. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“No need to be
sorry, Miss.” Ally could see a warm smile through the grey stubble wrapped
around his aged features. “That there dog showed up one day and she’s been
laying here ever since like she’s been waiting on someone.” He turned his head
out to the horizon, pulling out a battered harmonica and bringing it up to his
lips, he paused and said, “You have a good day, Miss.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ally looked down
at the dog. Lids slowly peeled back revealing deep-set hazel eyes. The dog
stretched out her tired limbs, stood to her full height, and nudged Ally’s
knees, placing her head under one of Ally’s open palms. Her long silky hair
fell between Ally’s fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Looks like
you’ve got a friend—a very large black German Shepherd friend,” Michael said,
his eyes smiling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Ally,”
Parthenia interrupted, “please tell her to sit. I’ve got a feeling this one’s
going to follow you.” Parthenia met Brandi’s gaze, their intense eyes implying
something they weren’t saying. “Eli, perhaps it would be best if Solomon and
Jeb waited out here with Lucy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eli turned,
instructing them to wait and watch over his little sister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“There are three
Ravenscraft women: Denaulda, Griselda, and Irini.” Parthenia looked deeply into
Ally’s eyes and then shot a look of caution to Michael and the twins. “Denaulda
is the eldest sister, and by right, the acting leader of the Gypsies. She is
the most powerful next to their holy woman, Belle Crow. Let me caution you now.
Do not cross them. They prove to be useful and good allies, but can also prove to
be fearful enemies if you’re not on the same side as them. Remember, the curse
of the elder Gypsies coupled with Vulcan crossing them is what caused all of
this to ensue in the first place. Their magic runs deep, it’s old, and just as
the blaxxmiths have a particular affinity for a single element, Gypsies have a
strong affinity for magic.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Ooo, this
should be fun,” Brandi purred mischievously. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Try to curb
your enthusiasm, will you?” Parthenia glared back at Brandi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’ll not say a
word.” Brandi winked and said, “Promise.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Are they
witches?” Jessica asked, a noticeable trace of anxiety in her voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“They’re worse
than witches,” Eli barked out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What is your
problem? Considering how you treated me last night, I doubt that your dislike
is exclusive to Gypsies. I’m guessing that you hate everyone and everything.”
Jessica’s face flushed with anger. Eli fumed, but said nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“No, they are
not witches,” Parthenia said, interrupting the awkward silence. “They are
Gypsies, and if you want to get on their bad side quick, call one of them a
witch.” She turned and looked down her nose at Dave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Gotcha,” Dave
said, seeming to understand she worried most about what might come out of his
mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Stay behind me
and try not to stare at anyone,” Parthenia said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Stay, girl.”
Ally pointed her finger down at the porch. Miss Elma was obedient, sliding her
long muscled legs down, crossing them over top each other and resting her head
on her large paws. “Good girl.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ally stepped in
behind of Parthenia, leaving the rest to trail in after her. Ally looked around
in awe. She had never been in a bar before, and wasn’t too disappointed by the
one she was standing in now. Red booths lined the unevenly cut board and batten
walls, and a few were occupied by men and women who stared directly at them.
Round tables just big enough for two were scattered throughout, leading up to a
large empty dance floor. Strings of colored bulbs hung down low from the walls,
casting dim shadows that mixed in with smoky air. Bar stools surrounded the
long slab bar, while behind it a large, intimidating man eyed them up as he
casually wiped his hands off on a white towel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Hello, Lou,”
Parthenia said. “Denaulda around?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He jerked his
head in the direction of the stage, Parthenia following the line of his gaze,
sighed softly and said, “Great.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Remember me
just saying that Gypsies were gifted with a particular talent? Strong magic?”
Parthenia whispered close to Ally’s ear.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Uh-huh,” Ally
said, looking straight ahead to the empty stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Well, you’re
about to find out what Denaulda’s is,” Parthenia said, sitting on a barstool
and turning to face the stage. “Might as well have a seat and try to stay
there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael and Dave
eased down into an empty booth, leaving the opposite side open for the girls.
Eli and Brandi opted to sit with Parthenia on barstools. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the corner of
the wooden stage, men were pulling out and tuning guitars and harmonicas. As a
slow sultry rhythm played out of their instruments, a petite, dark-haired woman
emerged from behind beaded curtains onto the stage. She slinked her way up to
the microphone stand like a snake closing in on its prey. She curled her
slender fingers around the mic as she cocked her head to the side, looking at
her audience with thoughtful, heavy-lidded eyes. Ally’s arms erupted in goose
bumps, a surefire warning that something otherworldly was about to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She began to
sing, sound floating dreamingly out of her mouth, weaving in and around the
crowd like an invisible serpent, creeping up around their heels, sliding up and
into their souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael and Dave
twisted around, their heads following the direction of the eerie tune as
Jessica mechanically stood up from the bench. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What are you
doing?” Ally whispered between her teeth while tugging on Jessica’s sleeve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Just
one…dance.” Jessica didn’t look down at Ally; she walked slowly onto the dance
floor as though the melody willed her to do so. Problem was, Jessica was a
wallflower, or at least when they went to the prom Ally couldn’t peel her away from
the wall if her life depended on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ally looked
around wondering if Denaulda’s music was having the same effect on everyone
else. Brandi smiled naughtily which told Ally there must have been some part of
her that expected this. Beside her, Eli watched Jessica through burning eyes. A
few patrons joined Jessica on the dance floor, swaying back and forth to the
beat, their bodies sweeping in and out in circular motions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From the wall, a
steely gaze followed Jessica. A boy with a shock of blond hair materialized
from the shadows and inched his way towards the dance floor. He didn’t look
much older than they did but he carried himself like a prowling marauder. His
arms encircled Jessica’s waist as he closed the distance between them. To
Ally’s surprise, Jessica welcomed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Denaulda’s lips
curled up into a wicked smile. The tune hung in the air, like a poisonous gas.
Ally couldn’t ignore the soothing, rich words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we were
young and full of life<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">you reached in
deep, and pierced my heart with a knife.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The night cries
out, sweet and high,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">weeping for her
children with a gentle sigh. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Young nights,
young nights, where did you go?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I can smell the
night air, and how the moonlight glowed. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Young nights,
young nights, come back to the home we both know.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Where’s Lucy?”
Dave kept his eyes fixed on Denaulda. “I think I should…” Dave’s words drifted
off into the chorus. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jessica reached
her hands up and tangled her fingers into the thick blond hair of the boy she’d
glued herself to. They appeared to only have eyes for each other as though no
one else existed in the room. Ally was ready to get up and separate the two
when another wave of lyrics poured out from Denaulda, nailing Ally to her seat.
<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have loved you
tender and loved you long,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">but you were
caught in the crossfire, we got it all wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Can we ever go
back to the way it used to be?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Young nights
under the Spanish moss, just you and me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I can smell the
night air, and how the moonlight glowed.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Young nights,
young nights, come back to the home we both know. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ally couldn’t
budge. “Michael?” She looked up, knowing he would fix this, but when she met
his eyes, her breath caught in the back of her throat. Heat spread up through
her face as his blue eyes bored into hers. The Michael staring at her now
wasn’t looking at her as friends look at one another, but as something much
different: as a man who looks,<i> really</i>
looks, at a woman. Without Denaulda’s enchanting music, Ally wondered if his
penetrating gaze would have bothered her or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eli crossed the
floor in long strides, catching Ally’s attention. She sat there unable to move,
nervous, knowing that the direction Eli was currently going in wasn’t a good
one. Eli’d had a chip on his shoulder since they all met, but more so towards
Jessica than the rest of them. Ally just didn’t know why, though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Enough.” Ally
could barely hear what Eli was saying to Jessica over the music. Denaulda
looked entertained by what was transpiring on the dance floor. Jessica paid no
attention to him, moving in closer to her partner, so close you couldn’t wedge
a piece of paper between them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eli’s lips
twisted into a snarl as he grabbed Jessica’s wrist. The next few moments
happened before Ally could fully register what she was seeing. The blond boy
swung at Eli, whose hand cupped the boy’s fist, holding him there effortlessly.
He jerked Jessica to the side, causing her to rock on her heels, attempting to
balance herself. He flung the boy’s fist down in disgust. “You’re done here,”
Eli said to the boy through clenched teeth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh, no we’re
not,” Jessica said, seething and stepping away from Eli, going back into the
arms of her dance partner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eli growled as
he grabbed her arm. Jessica spun around and slapped Eli across the face,
sending an echo throughout the bar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Do not ever
touch me again!” Jessica’s face reddened, almost matching the color of her
hair. “Do you understand me?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eli stood there
blinking in disbelief, raising a hand up to where hers had just been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Okay, boys.”
Denaulda motioned for the band behind her to stop. “I think it’s time for a
break.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As soon as
Denaulda quit singing, her spell dissolved. All those affected shook their
heads, clearing up the lingering fog, all except Eli. He stood still, tracing
the outline of where Jessica’s fingers touched him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Um…” Jessica looked
back and forth between Eli and the blond boy staring at her and said, “Hmm,
this is awkward. Excuse me.” Jessica quickly brushed past them and darted back
to sit down. “What was I doing?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Let’s just say
that you gave Brandi a run for her money,” Ally said, sugar-coating the truth
as Jessica slouched down further in the booth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Parthenia,” the
words were rich, alluring, “what brings you to my neck of the woods?”
Denaulda’s eyes slid past Parthenia and landed directly on Ally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Denaulda tilted
her head, studying Ally through suspicious eyes. “I read the stars last night.
Do you know what they told me?” Her eyes, the color of ash, rounded as she
studied Ally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ally couldn’t
speak, her voice was jammed. Looking at this sorceress was unnerving. Ally just
shook her head no. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “They told me Death would be coming to
visit me today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-15438859265542404892013-08-17T13:07:00.000-04:002013-08-17T13:07:51.650-04:00It's Almost Time! On Thursday night, I got the final edits for my book from the publisher at Evernight Teen. And I was shocked when she told me the release date would be August 30.<br />
<br />
Two weeks!<br />
<br />
In e-publishing, everything moves much quicker than with traditionally printed books, but wow!<br />
<br />
I thought I would share a bit about the process for those who aren't familiar with it, or at least the way it's worked for me.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Write a book. (okay this really involves about 50 steps, but I thought I'd condense)</li>
<li>Submit book to publisher via email. This is very cool because it saves tons of trees, not to mention the expense of printing out a whole manuscript, copying it, and mailing it off to who knows how many agents and publishers.</li>
<li>Hopefully, get book accepted. I was extremely lucky because I know most authors have to do step 2 a whole bunch of times before finding a publisher to take the book. Believe it or not, Evernight was only the second publisher I submitted this book to, and that's probably why it was so hard when I got the first round of edits back! Harper Voyager was the first publisher and I fully expected that rejection.</li>
<li>Sign contract and wait for first round of edits. In my case, there was a large gap between the contract signing and the first round because of some changes in personnel. My book got shuffled from one editor to another, and then re-evaluated by the acquisitions editor.</li>
<li>Complete first round and send back. Except this part took me 3.5 months! There were major issues identified with the original manuscript, especially concerning the target audience. Essentially, the way I had written it was more suited to an early teen audience rather than the upper YA target. Hence, the massive re-write.</li>
<li>Receive second round of edits and send back. Thankfully, the second version of the book fit with what they were looking for, and I had just a few things to smooth out. That took me less than a week!</li>
<li>Receive final edits and send back. The first two rounds have to do with the content and continuity of the story more than the grammar, spelling, punctuation. The editor will correct those too, but the last round focuses on it. Of course, I still found some mistakes that not only I had missed in all the times I'd gone over it before, but the editors had missed as well. This happens. And I bet the readers will find others that we missed along the way, too! Sorry!</li>
<li>Formatting and uploading to retailers. This is the part that I don't have anything to do with. The publisher will take the Word document and format for all the reading formats (e.g. pdf, epub, mobi, lit, etc) along with the cover (which I'm hoping to receive soon!) and then they send it to the retailers. </li>
<li>Release day! It may not get to all retailers right away, but will definitely be available on the Evernight Teen site and Amazon. Don't worry. I'll post links :)</li>
</ol>
<div>
For me, the process from step 2 when I submitted to Evernight, took just over 7 months. And that's only because it took me so long to do the revisions. With a traditional publisher, it would have been over a year, or more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you'd like a print copy of my book, they'll still be available, but they use a print-on-demand system. This works out well because it means there aren't piles of the book sitting around gathering dust in stockrooms and warehouses. The retailer prints only a few at a time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So now, I'm just waiting and counting the days! I should be receiving the cover in the next week or so, and I'll do a cover reveal when I get it. Stay tuned!</div>
<div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-24512285944663071872013-08-12T00:00:00.000-04:002013-08-12T00:00:08.791-04:00Evernight Teen Feature: Slayer for Hire by P.E. Cunningham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dHcCyIkKMmCWgpXSegTWH9DStN8_2Z9EpkVDp26pGhJErtjckcef9c9j-XNRS-2JZDwQ2c7YVSiU1wLnkOmWdL72ZvVVwUJ0QcXMb29mWYHfbyK_duf1gVcurKrOjf-ycYJGyz3gCsc/s1600/slayer+for+hire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dHcCyIkKMmCWgpXSegTWH9DStN8_2Z9EpkVDp26pGhJErtjckcef9c9j-XNRS-2JZDwQ2c7YVSiU1wLnkOmWdL72ZvVVwUJ0QcXMb29mWYHfbyK_duf1gVcurKrOjf-ycYJGyz3gCsc/s1600/slayer+for+hire.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today I'm featuring the Evernight Teen book, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Slayer For Hire</i> by P.E. Cunningham.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This book was a terrific read! It was easy to identify with Billie, the girl with a huge crush on her favorite TV star. She read all the books, watched every show, knew everything there was to know about the show. So naturally, when they come to her town to film the movie, she gets excited. As someone who keeps stalking the filming of the TV show <i style="font-weight: bold;">Bitten</i> (based on the Kelley Armstrong book) in my own town, I completely get it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's hard to tell you what I liked best about this book because it would be a spoiler. So I'll simply say that there are some interesting plot twists, strong characters, and excellent writing in the book. Highly recommended!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blurb</span></b><br />
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.3560493737459183" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nineteen-year-old Billie Eshleman loves the TV show Slayer for Hire, and has a major fangirl crush on its hunky star, Dylan Garber. When the show comes to her home town to film a movie version, it’s her greatest dream come true. Unfortunately, she’s not the only fan trying to crash the set. A real vampire has fixated on the fictitious “slayer,” and is determined to make Dylan her mate—like, for the rest of eternity.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />With help from Dylan’s co-star, Matt—an actor with vampire-related secrets of his own—it’s up to Billie to keep her idol from joining the ranks of the undead long enough to finish the movie. And, incidentally, keep herself alive in the process.</span></span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/slayer-for-hire-by-p-e-cunningham/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Slayer for Hire Excerpt</span></a></strong><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">About P.E. Cunningham</span></b><br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.7822486778743658" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pat (P. E.) Cunningham was born in New Jersey and grew up in Pennsylvania. Raised on a diet of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Star Trek</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and Marvel Comics, she naturally gravitated toward a career as a writer. She’s published in the science fiction, fantasy, and romance genres, and is currently considering horror. She lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where the movie</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Witness</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> was filmed, but never got to see Harrison Ford in person. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Slayer for Hire</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> is her first YA novel.</span></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><b>Where to Buy</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/slayer-for-hire-by-p-e-cunningham/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Slayer-for-Hire-ebook/dp/B00BFYKXTS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376276325&sr=8-1&keywords=slayer+for+hire" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/slayer-for-hire" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/slayer-for-hire-pe-cunningham/1114669534?ean=9781771302852" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-290970150108590632013-08-05T03:00:00.000-04:002013-08-05T03:00:06.571-04:00Evernight Teen Feature: Disintegrate by Christine Klocek-Lim<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in April I did a cover reveal for <i style="font-weight: bold;">Disintegrate</i> by Christine Klocek-Lim. Since then I've had a chance to actually read the book and I loved it!<br />
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The book has such an interesting concept. Emily, the main character, has the ability to manipulate matter and as a result she can do things like walk through walls. When she is in her first year at college, she meets a guy, Jax, who seems to have the same powers. The book follows the adventures of these two as they try to get away from the mystery bad guys pursuing them. In addition to the neat twist on the kids-with-super-powers theme, the book is well-written, fast paced, and engaging. I loved Emily's voice, and I thought she was a believable character. I'm sure you'll enjoy <i style="font-weight: bold;">Disintegrate</i> as much as I did. I think I sense a sequel, too, and I can't wait!<br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Disintegrate</b> by Christine Klocek-Lim</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Young Adult, Paranormal, Suspense, Romance</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Word Count: 51,000</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Published By: Evernight Teen</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">an Evernight Editor's Pick!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">an ARe Bestseller!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Description:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Emily just wanted a normal life: a boyfriend, college, two parents who loved her. Instead, her dad disappeared when she was fourteen and her life at college is anything but ordinary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When you can manipulate matter like putty and you have no idea why, how do you pretend to be like everyone else? What happens when you meet a guy who has the same powers? Do you trust him to help you find the answers you need?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Emily desperately wants to believe that Jax can help, but the stakes grow higher than she’d ever expected: someone is after them and they’re not afraid to use violence to get what they want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">________________</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Author Details:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Christine Klocek-Lim spends most of her time daydreaming—which isn't much different from what she did as a girl in northeast Pennsylvania, as a college student in Pittsburgh, as a twenty-something technical writer in New York City, and as a young mother in suburban New Jersey. For the past decade or so she's been dream-surfing in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She's published a pile of romance novels, a few poetry chapbooks, and a bunch of short stories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">website: <a href="http://christinekloceklim.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">christinekloceklim.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">twitter: @chrissiemkl</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/christine.kloceklim" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/christine.<wbr></wbr>kloceklim</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">________________</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Where to Buy: </span></b></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/disintegrate-by-christine-klocek-lim/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Evernight</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.bookstrand.com/disintegrate" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">BookStrand</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.omnilit.com/product-disintegrate-1166824-140.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">OmniLit</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/307976" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Smashwords</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Disintegrate/book-Oq2FYKKZ0kylyANWfnDB-g/page1.html?s=7-vbS3InP0SkYJkZV4yMSQ&r=1" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kobo</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disintegrate-christine-klocek-lim/1115182518?ean=2940044482326" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Barnes & Noble</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/disintegrate/id639401663?mt=11" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">iBookstore</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Disintegrate-ebook/dp/B00CF6NBIA/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366392836&sr=1-2&keywords=disintegrate" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazon Kindle</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Disintegrate-Christine-Klocek-Lim/dp/1771303670/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365809340&sr=1-1&keywords=Disintegrate+%22klocek-Lim%22" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazon paperback</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.createspace.com/4242493" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Createspace paperback</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">________________</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Excerpt:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“I … think you’ve got the wrong impression of the two of us,” she mumbled. “We’re just friends.” <i>And that’s all we’ll ever be</i>, Emily told herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The woman shook her head. “No. I don’t think I do.” She wiped at the bar, nodding once as though making up her mind. “He’s a good kid.” She moved off, pouring a beer as she made her way down to the other end of the bar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Emily blinked, confused by the bartender’s confidence. Jax sang on, oblivious to the conversation they were having about him only a few feet away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">And then the wall by the door exploded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Emily froze for a split second while the bartender looked stupidly at the mess, then rushed for the stage, shoving through the few people beginning to realize something was very, very wrong. Jax hadn’t reacted and her first instinct was to get him to safety. She knew they were there for her, and she also knew they wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anyone near her in an effort to get to her. The best thing to do was get out.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Heart pounding, she grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him down and off the stage. His guitar strap broke and the instrument hit the floor with a harsh twang. She winced, knowing it was his dad’s guitar, and important to Jax, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t afford to do anything about it. Her skin was jumping and buzzing and she yanked—</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jax fell over her, hands raised, and Emily chanced a look back. There were three of them, huge and intent. Their faces were covered. One had a shotgun, oh God…</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“Get down!” Jax yelled, shoving her over.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She ignored him, pulling until he had no choice but to follow. It was that or step on her. He still had his hands up. Something went boom—<i>the gun</i>, she thought—and then the staccato crunch of wood splintering around her bled through her panic. She shoved Jax ahead of her, hard. The door behind the stage hung ajar, and she stumbled for it, skin prickling as static arced around her fingers.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“Get back!” she panted, and Jax tripped. She tried to pull him up, but his muscular frame was too much for her thin frame. “Jax, you’ve gotta get up.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He stared at her from the floor, dazed. A trickle of blood ran from a cut near his eye.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Was he hit? “Jax, get up!” she hissed.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, he shoved off from the floor and staggered to his feet, falling against her. <i>Not shot then</i>, she thought, relieved. He wouldn’t be standing if he’d been seriously injured.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She tugged him down the dark hallway. When she looked back, she couldn’t believe they hadn’t been followed. Or at least not yet. Swallowing hard, she grabbed his hand, ignoring the electric tingle of his skin, and dragged him into the wall. He oofed as his head hit the paneling, but she had no time to worry about it. She pressed her fingers to the dirty surface and <i>pushed</i>, concentrating on dissolving the bonds of matter in her body and his. It wasn’t easy. She had to sort of push her energy into it, harder than she’d ever had to before. It felt a little like juggling upside down. She needed to hang onto him and release everything else, simultaneously. She had to keep his hand solid in hers while phasing their bodies out. For a moment, she thought she would fail or go mad, and then something clicked—</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thank God</i>.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">—her hands sank into the wall. She shuddered, hating the sticky feel of molecules sliding into her like this. One finger, one hand, no problem, but her entire body? That was creepy and weird. What she was doing wasn’t natural. Humans weren’t supposed to be able to shove pieces of themselves into pieces of other stuff, and here she was trying to shove her entire body, and Jax’s too, into the filthy inside of a bar wall. She almost sobbed … it was taking too long, they were coming—</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">—and then Jax’s fingers tightened around hers and it felt like electricity shooting into her bones. He gasped and then they fell into the wall together, their matter pressed into and within the wood and concrete and insulation.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Nausea rose. She fought it down. <i>No time for that</i>, she snarled to herself. <i>No damn space for barfing.</i> She gripped Jax’s hand, trying to keep still and quiet and think while also somehow conveying to him the need for calm. He could freak out later.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">And he would, she knew. They were completely hidden, existing half in reality and half in the shadowy space between atoms that she’d been able to manipulate since forever. He would want to know how she did it. He would want do know why she’d dragged him into this.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A short, sharp boom echoed weirdly through her. They’d made it to the hall, though she couldn’t see them. She couldn’t see anything. Her eyes didn’t work inside the wall. Jax’s iron-willed calm filtered slowly through her veins, as if she could feel his emotions. God, this was completely horrible, she thought, willing the men to just go away. She needed to run—</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">—and then there was silence. She didn’t know how long it had been quiet, but Jax was pulling at her. She forced herself to think <i>move</i> and <i>let go</i> and<i>enough</i> and she stepped forward and out—</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">—and they fell into the hall, coughing. She stifled a gag, her right hand burning from the rough flooring. She’d just caught herself before her head hit the opposite wall.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“Jesus, what—” Jax choked, turning to her. He wouldn’t let go of her hand.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“We need to see if they’re gone,” she managed, rubbing her face on her shoulder. Her knees hurt. She felt filthy, as if she’d ingested the dirt that penetrated every portion of the wall.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jax leaned down and put his free hand flat on the floor. He closed his eyes.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Emily stared. What was he doing?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A second later he shook his head. “Everyone is gone.” He grimaced. “Or dead.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“How—” she began to ask, but then the skin on her hand prickled, the one he still held. Jax looked at her arm. She looked at his palm. Tiny sparks arced between them, silver stars that made no sense.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-55155880986725509712013-08-02T03:00:00.000-04:002013-08-02T03:00:08.379-04:00X5 by the Numbers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRkss8mZup_BWadbj4DGrrJg7sPoCzyFV6bpXDGqPcKRn0mKyDdWyPrZ_ZWil-wvZMVcl-JhCNzmMG1BjlJ4xep8nrU5w_7dip1xgkcRL1DwZ6-ovfMNlKvVMFtMH2o80dJ7HZD9epno/s1600/ID-10083481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRkss8mZup_BWadbj4DGrrJg7sPoCzyFV6bpXDGqPcKRn0mKyDdWyPrZ_ZWil-wvZMVcl-JhCNzmMG1BjlJ4xep8nrU5w_7dip1xgkcRL1DwZ6-ovfMNlKvVMFtMH2o80dJ7HZD9epno/s1600/ID-10083481.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from www.freedigitalphoto.net</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I must have done something right, because after submitting my revised MS to the editor, I received it back within a week and the publisher had this to say:<br />
<br />
"The editor was impressed with your revision and thoroughly enjoyed the book"<br />
<br />
Wahoo! There were a few areas where I had to make changes, which I did, and I sent it back, so now I believe it's going to the copy editor, and I may soon have a date for release. We shall see, and I will definitely keep you posted.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I have some trivia for you about my book, <i style="font-weight: bold;">X5</i>.<br />
<br />
30 - number of days to write the first version<br />
70, 588 - number of words in the original submission to Evernight Teen<br />
5,000 - approximate number of words from the original that made it into the new version<br />
55,000 - approximate number of words of new material (we'll see how much makes it into the final version!)<br />
16 - number of weeks to re-write<br />
3 - number of different Prologues written<br />
3 - number of new first chapters written<br />
35 - approximate number of Starbucks' Chai Lattes consumed while re-writing<br />
13440 - approximate number of hairs lost during the re-write<br />
<br />
It's been much more of a process than I bargained for! What a learning experience, but I know in the end it will be worth it!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-27744883307544515162013-07-29T10:19:00.000-04:002013-07-29T10:19:17.622-04:00Evernight Teen Rocks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK6cJSy2knBEUEngRElyngxkYEItuYGELRkj902gyuoubJ3E87OMK4uQZ4mi2vEGzthVfjkTSydSKzO6WLOe_Xycrie5MB1ugdxzb_mDeZNVP82IaBFBSAFhHsaGjGCXDH16NU64-OYI/s1600/evernight+teen+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK6cJSy2knBEUEngRElyngxkYEItuYGELRkj902gyuoubJ3E87OMK4uQZ4mi2vEGzthVfjkTSydSKzO6WLOe_Xycrie5MB1ugdxzb_mDeZNVP82IaBFBSAFhHsaGjGCXDH16NU64-OYI/s1600/evernight+teen+family.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Hi all! So after anxiously biting my nails for a week waiting to hear about my revised manuscript, I got an email yesterday from the publisher saying that the editor "was impressed with the revision and thoroughly enjoyed the book."<br />
<br />
WOOHOO!!<br />
<br />
So I just have to smooth out a few more things, which shouldn't take too long, and get it back to them. I hope to hear soon about release dates and I'll keep you posted!<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I've also finished reading all of the other offerings from Evernight Teen and I am amazed by the talent they've managed to recruit so far. I'm going to do a feature on Mondays telling you about these fabulous authors.<br />
<br />
Here is a list of the Evernight Teen line-up so far:<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Phoenix: The Rising</i> by Bette Maybee<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Shrapnel </i>by Stephanie Lawton<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Elysium</i> by Sylah Sloan<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Unraveled </i>by S.X. Bradley<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Slayer for Hire</i> by P.E. Cunningham<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Blood Hex</i> by Erin Butler<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Disintegrate</i> by Christine Klocek-Lim<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Black Aramanth</i> by Sasha Hibbs (coming August 16)<br />
<br />
You can find all of these titles by visiting <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/">www.evernightteen.com</a>.<br />
<br />
I've also noticed a couple of new author names on the list, and I can't wait to hear details about their books.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-14438509322679688252013-07-26T03:00:00.000-04:002013-07-26T03:00:11.021-04:00X5: New and Improved<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtixxZ5hSqgZ7p_mjHDLoxu4AGC899FA2Sc8BU9rQOmyBVJf4OSr-TenUjwJ6UuAoGgcxS-bQpZL5B87tkpGMe7a_pK6YIlSdZwXGQYXYRLH-xRr64MEyBb7AiGhxv-KTztpW-p_ZwlSw/s1600/new+and+improved.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtixxZ5hSqgZ7p_mjHDLoxu4AGC899FA2Sc8BU9rQOmyBVJf4OSr-TenUjwJ6UuAoGgcxS-bQpZL5B87tkpGMe7a_pK6YIlSdZwXGQYXYRLH-xRr64MEyBb7AiGhxv-KTztpW-p_ZwlSw/s1600/new+and+improved.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>The book is done, sent to the publisher, and now I'm just waiting for the next round of edits, hoping that I have pleased my ninja editor. But I'm thinking positively!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>And in the spirit of positive thinking, I have some treats for your reading enjoyment! Here is the new blurb for the book:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Being a socially awkward geek with anger management issues has
made Travis Armstrong an outcast, but on top of that, he has visions of the
future. Not that he can tell anyone, except in an anonymous online forum. When
he takes a chance and meets with another group member, he winds up at The
Bunker, where everyone is like him, and where, finally, he feels like he
belongs.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Tara Gage has been at The Bunker since she was thirteen
years old. Even among the residents there, she’s unique, and her special
talents lead her to discover that The Bunker is not the safe haven it seems to
be. She’s determined to escape and get back to her family. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><i>When they each have visions of the other’s death,
Travis and Tara know they have to run. With their captors desperate to get them
back, they must rely on each other to get away before their visions become
reality.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b>You may also remember a few weeks back I participated in a blog hop. Well two of the book bloggers who took part featured excerpts from the new & improved version, for which I'm very grateful. The first was Amy of Amy's Book Den, and you can read that excerpt by <a href="http://amysbookden.blogspot.ca/2013/06/evernight-teen-summer-kick-off-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. The second was The Hope Chest Reviews, and that excerpt is <a href="http://www.thcreviews.com/cgi-bin/vts/evernight_teen_summer_kick-off_blog_hop.html" target="_blank">available here</a>.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Both of those excerpts are from my heroine's point of view. Today I have one for you that's written form the point of view of my hero, Travis. Enjoy (but please remember that it's unedited)!</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Get
a grip!" Travis muttered to himself as he entered the bathroom. At the
sink, he splashed some water on his face, and then gazed at his reflection in
the mirror. <i>I can do this</i>. It was his
first real chance with a girl and he didn't want to ruin it before they had the
opportunity to get to know each other. He gave himself a quick pep talk, tried
to think of a couple topics of conversation, and then headed back into the
dining area feeling more confident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
he slid back into the chair, Kate was on her cell phone. "Not too much
longer...I know...Okay, I have to go." She turned it off and shrugged her
shoulders. "Sorry. My mom just wanted to know how much more time she had
to shop."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"No
problem," Travis said. "You'll have time to finish lunch,
right?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Yes,"
she replied. "I told her I'd call her. So, have you thought about
university yet?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
took a long sip of his soda before he answered her. "My dad's a prof at
Columbia, so I'd get a discount on tuition there. But I need to get in first
and that might not be so easy."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
crinkle appeared on her forehead. "But you said you get mostly decent
grades."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"I
do. Except for history. But the problem is staying out of trouble. I'm off this
week because I got suspended."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Suspended?"
Her eyes went big and round. "What would you get suspended for?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
took another drink while he thought about the best way to phrase the answer.
"A guy tripped me in the cafeteria and we got into a fight. And it wasn't
the first one last week." He shrugged. "The principal felt I needed
the time to work on my anger management." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Wow!"
Kate said softly. "What will you do if you don't get in at Columbia?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Well,"
he said as he set his drink back down. "Maybe NYU would be a good choice.
If you were here, I would already know one person." To his surprise, he
actually winked at her. He was starting to relax at last, and his confidence
was growing. Boldly reaching out for her hand, he said, "I would like to
get to know you, better."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her eyes widened
again, but she didn't withdraw her hand. She leaned over to take a drink and he
did the same, draining the last of the cup. When he set it down and looked at
her again, she seemed to be studying him. Her face began to swim in and out of
focus, and his head felt like it was spinning. He turned to look out the window
and felt the world tilt. The last thing he remembered seeing before he blanked
out was a self-satisfied smirk on Kate's face.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-42261910897046933432013-07-18T21:48:00.000-04:002013-07-18T21:48:16.692-04:00The Light At The End of the TunnelSo when I first entered the tunnel labelled <i>Write A Book, </i>I had no idea what I was getting into. Lots of people dream about someday being able to see their writing in print, and I'm one of them. For many years though, stuff kept getting in my way. I've always been a writer, but I was horrible for starting things and then having them fizzle out on me. It usually went something like this:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>You know, that idea would make a neat book.</li>
<li>Oh, and it would be great if events X, Y, and Z happened!</li>
<li>I love this idea & I'm going to write it down!</li>
<li>(after approximately 5000 words) I'm just not feeling it anymore.</li>
<li>Why can't I just finish it already?</li>
</ol>
<div>
There were variations on this of course, but finishing was my problem. Don't ask me why. I'm an avid reader, and a decent writer, and I have a good grasp of story construction, but for some reason I just couldn't ever get it done.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was a little over a year ago that I started getting really serious about writing again. An idea hit, I sat down, and voila, 20,000 words later I had a completed story. Now that's barely novella territory, but that story had one thing going for it: it was finished!</div>
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That was when the challenge landed in my lap. Harper Voyager was having an open submission extravaganza for the first two weeks in October 2012. They were looking for books that were a minimum of 70k. I had a nugget of an idea. Could I turn the nugget into a full 70k? And more importantly, could I do it in a month, because I only found out about it at the beginning of September. You never know if you don't try right?</div>
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Well imagine my astonishment when I did it! Now, I only finished it on October 14 (the last day of submissions) so I didn't have a chance to do much in terms of revising. I wasn't at all surprised when I got my nice rejection email in January. But now I was free to take the book somewhere else, so after going through it again, I sent it to Evernight Teen. </div>
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And they wanted it! Yay for me! So I signed my shiny contract and waited for the edits. At the end of March I received them and it inspired my <a href="http://dianastager.blogspot.ca/2013/03/books-are-like-salad-in-bag.html" target="_blank">Salad in a Bag post</a>. It was then I began the process of revising. Well, I use the term "revising" lightly. More like completely rewriting. </div>
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So what originally took me a month to write, took me three and a half months to re-write. But guess what?</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I'M DONE!!!!!</b></span></div>
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The re-writes are finished and in the hands of my trusty beta-reader, and I will be sending it in to the publisher soon. This is not the end of the tunnel, but I can see the light! I will still have to do more edits, but the most difficult part is done. </div>
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Thank you to all of you who have been on this journey with me!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from www.freedigitalphotos.net</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-5075549870952218322013-06-20T23:46:00.000-04:002013-06-21T09:01:45.662-04:00Evernight Teen Summer Kick Off Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://evernightteen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwM4r5Z25v3VSwiXzrtOQMeI3o7nhQnXVzoY2fYbKimnNluxOYcRxiV_StGyZ56FCNXIlKliyO7NVs9EK7Ly9QutDojeovOWDT8twn0hZCkq5Onwxi8uee1FgovzSJ5U_ryLVXFMvm88/s1600/et+summer+blog+hop+graphic.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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I don't know about you, but I am totally stoked for summer! The last month of school is absolutely crazy, and with my change of school coming up, I have to pack <i>everything</i> I own at school and bring it home. Plus I have to mark a gazillion assignments, write an insane number of report cards, and try not to wander the halls muttering to myself and pulling out my hair. Next Friday cannot come soon enough!<br />
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But what to do with this lovely vacation coming up? Well, my first priority is to finish re-writing my book. It's damn hard to be a writer when you've already got a full-time job and a family, so the revision just isn't happening as fast as I'd like it to. I plan to give it my full attention beginning next Saturday, and hopefully it'll be in to the publisher around the middle of the month.<br />
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Then what? My To-Be-Read pile has become a teetering pile which is bound to fall on the cat the next time he rubs his face against it. Okay, not really because these days I buy mostly e-books and read them on my phone. They're just so much more portable, and I don't have to throw my back out lugging around a hundred books or more.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from www.freedigitalphotos.net</td></tr>
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So what's at the top of my list? Kelley Armstrong. The final book in her Darkness Rising trilogy was released in April and I haven't read it yet. *hangs head in shame* I'm a bad fan. But I wanted to reread the first two books, and I couldn't find my copy of the first one, so I tried to borrow it from the school library, but someone already had it so I had to wait... Well, you get the picture.<br />
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Also taking up space in the TBR pile are the books by my fellow Evernight Teen authors. I've already read <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/elysium-by-sylah-sloan/" target="_blank">Elysium by Sylah Sloan</a>, and <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/phoenix-the-rising-by-bette-maybee/" target="_blank">Phoenix: The Rising by Bette Maybee</a>, both of which I strongly recommend. I've begun <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/shrapnel-by-stephanie-lawton/" target="_blank">Shrapnel by Stephanie Lawton</a> but haven't had time to finish it yet. I own all the other books currently in the ET line-up and I'm getting anxious to finally have time to read them!<br />
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What's in your summer reading pile? I'd love to hear some recommendations, and as a reward, I will give one lucky commenter a $10 gift card to Evernight Teen! If you want, you can hang onto it until my book comes out, but if you're anything like me and desperate to spend anything you get, you can use it to pick up one or two of the fabulous books written by my colleagues.<br />
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But wait! There's more!<br />
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<li>One lucky hopper will win a KINDLE PAPERWHITE eREADER sponsored by Evernight Teen!</li>
<li>Every book blogger/reviewer site is giving away one free eBook from Evernight Teen (winner's choice of any eBook from <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/" target="_blank">Evernight Teen's website</a>).</li>
<li>Each author offers their own unique prize! So visit each blog hop stop for a host of fabulous prizes to win. You may even find some exciting excerpts from my book at a few of them!</li>
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Be sure to leave your answer and your email address in the comments below to be eligible to win a prize, then continue hopping to the next stop!</div>
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Happy Reading!</div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-30930203446951968032013-05-25T21:07:00.000-04:002013-05-25T21:07:35.225-04:00Shout Outs and UpdatesI know it's been a while since I've done any new blog posts and figured I'd better fix that. So here are some shout-outs, and updates on the book, and life in general.<br />
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<b>Shout-outs</b><br />
<ol>
<li>Nick, Jello, and Rachel for reminding me that blogging is an effective way to communicate, whether you're qualified or not.</li>
<li>Brian Henry and The Thursday Night Writing group for the helpful information and suggestions, and for giving me something to look forward to every Thursday. </li>
<li>Hubby and the kids for understanding when I get a little grumpy because something isn't going well with the writing, and for not bugging me when I'm in the zone. I love you!</li>
<li>Evernight Teen for their unending patience with me and this protracted editing phase. Thank you!</li>
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<b>Updates</b><br />
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<li>The Book - What I thought would be a few simple changes has so far yielded almost 38, 000 words of brand new material, complete with a change of setting, characters, time period, and major plot points. And I'd say I'm about half done. Right now I'm just debating a change in voice from 1st to 3rd person for some of the sections. I'll keep you posted!</li>
<li>Work - It's the end of an era. After 9 years at my current school, I am transferring for next year. I have loved almost every minute, I have been privileged to work with an amazing staff and wonderful students, and I am sad to leave. However, I am excited about the chance to go to a brand new school and build my program from scratch. September will be a new adventure!</li>
<li>Life - Hosted a shower for my sister last weekend. She's getting married in June and I couldn't be more thrilled for her! Next weekend we're going to look for shoes and a dress for my daughter for the event.</li>
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And now, for no reason in particular, a picture of my kitty.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22604926991406206.post-8843444653809509332013-04-25T03:00:00.000-04:002013-04-25T03:00:12.363-04:00The Fallen Stars Book TourToday I'm featuring <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Fallen Stars</i> by Stephanie Keyes. Check it out! There's even a giveaway you can enter for some cool swag!<br />
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<a href="http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Fallen-Stars-Book-Tour.jpg"><img alt="Fallen Stars Book Tour" class="size-full wp-image-3214" src="http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Fallen-Stars-Book-Tour.jpg" height="215" width="470" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/The-Fallen-Stars-by-Stephanie-Keyes-1.jpg"><img alt="The Fallen Stars by Stephanie Keyes" class="wp-image-2345 alignleft" src="http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/The-Fallen-Stars-by-Stephanie-Keyes-1-682x1024.jpg" height="286" style="margin-right: 15px;" width="191" /></a><br />
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The Fallen Stars (The Star Child #2)</h2>
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by <a href="http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/">Stephanie Keyes</a></div>
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Paperback, 530 pages| Expected publication: April 12th 2013 by Inkspell Publishing</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Stars-Stephanie-Keyes/dp/1939590027" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">A</span></span>mazon</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fallen-stars-stephanie-keyes/1114819925?ean=9781939590022" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Fallen-Stars-Stephanie-Keyes/9781939590022" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> | <a href="https://vimeo.com/62011819" target="_blank">Trailer</a> | </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17293205-the-fallen-stars" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
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<em><strong>When all is lost, he will have to make the ultimate decision.</strong></em></div>
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Kellen St. James was just your average seventeen-year-old prodigy, until he eighty-sixed the Lord of Faerie and proposed to the Celtic Goddess, Calienta. But then everything in Kellen’s life gets turned upside-down when he and Cali end up on the run from a seriously irritated group of faeries. The worst part? They have zero idea why they’re being hunted.</div>
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Suddenly, Kellen is stuck in the middle of another prophecy that foresees him turning away from Calienta and embracing the dark. He’ll be forced to take sides in a struggle to claim his birthright, while discovering secrets about his father’s past. Meanwhile, his passion for Cali grows stronger, even as the prophecy threatens to tear them apart.</div>
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<strong>In the end, will Kellen and Cali survive the fates? When the ultimate power is within reach, which side will he choose?</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Stars-Stephanie-Keyes/dp/1939590027"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="28" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy6._V192207736_.gif" width="120" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Keyes/e/B006GEJZ8C" target="_blank">Also available: The Star Child (The Star Child, Book #1)</a></div>
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Playlist</h2>
<strong>Song:</strong> Into the Fire (Acoustic)<br />
<strong>Artist: </strong>Thirteen Senses<br />
<strong>Inspired: </strong>Kellen learns that Calienta has been keeping secrets from him - one big secret that could put him in danger. Calienta searches the Stewart home to find Kellen and apologize. This new version of their original theme song seems to suit the moment well. The video is a fan-made one, but the audio quality is great and so are some of the band pics.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UNX88_kA69I" width="420"></iframe></div>
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Giveaway</h2>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/41527014/" id="rc-41527014" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
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Follow the Tour</h2>
Want to know where the tour is heading next? Check out the entire schedule here! <a href="http://fictionaddictionbooktours.com/2013/04/03/fiction-addiction-book-tours-tour-details-for-the-fallen-stars-by-stephanie-keyes/" target="_blank">Click to view the schedule</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/steph17m.jpg"><img alt="steph17m" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3183" src="http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/steph17m-300x200.jpg" height="200" style="margin-right: 15px;" width="300" /></a>About the Author</h2>
Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. When she's not writing, Stephanie is also a graphic designer, international speaker, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she's best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years.<br />
Keyes is the author of the YA Fantasy series, The Star Child, which currently includes The Star Child (September 2012) and The Fallen Stars (April 2013), both released by Inkspell Publishing. She is currently hard at work on the third book in the trilogy, The Star Catcher. (Author photo courtesy of Kristina Serafini Photography)<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large" href="https://twitter.com/StephanieKeyes">Follow @StephanieKeyes</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05257340277371228182noreply@blogger.com1