Tuesday 31 October 2017

Truthers by Geoffrey Girard Nerd Blast and Giveaway!


Hardcover: 360 pages
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab TM (August 1, 2017)


Synopsis
Katie Wallace has never given much thought to 9/11. She was only a year old when terrorists struck American soil. But now her dad has landed in a mental institution after claiming to know what really happened. He insists the attacks were part of a government conspiracy. And he claims that Katie is living proof: the lone survivor of a massive cover-up.
Hoping to free her dad, Katie sets out to investigate his bizarre claims. Soon she's drawn into the strange and secretive world of 9/11 conspiracy theorists known as the "Truthers".
Wading through a dangerous web of fact and fiction, questions and distortion, Katie no longer knows what to believe. But she does know that she's being followed -- and that someone is determined to stop her search for the truth.
A novel for teens, exploring 9/11 & our conspiracy culture...

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for TRUTHERS

"In this intense thriller... Girard takes readers down a disturbing, provocative path; both sides start to make sense as information is revealed and theories are debated. It's a fast-paced nail-biter with a resourceful heroine, packed with surprises that force readers to question every revelation and take nothing at face value." ―Publishers Weekly [Starred Review]

"A beautifully written, captivating must-have that will hook readers from beginning to end. Girard has created a well-developed, quirky, tenacious main character for whom teens can't help but root." ―School Library Journal

"[Truthers] moves at a fast clip, and readers will get caught up in both the conspiracy construct (actual Truther theories are explored) and the romance that is as tangled as the web of confusion surrounding September 11." ―Booklist

"A book teens will love. History, mystery, romance, action, and intrigue--all in one!" ―YA Books Central

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Geoffrey Girard writes thrillers, historicals, and dark speculative fiction. His first book, Tales of the Jersey Devil, thirteen original tales based on American folklore, was published by Middle Atlantic Pressin 2005, followed by Tales of the Atlantic Pirates (2006) and Tales of the Eastern Indians (2007). Simon and Schuster published two Girard novels simultaneously in 2013: CAIN'S BLOOD, a techno thriller, and PROJECT CAIN, a companion novel for teen/YA readers which was nominated for a Bram Stoker award for "Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel."

In 2017, Carolrhoda Books published TRUTHERS, a YA novel about the 9/11 conspiracy, and Adaptive Books published MARY ROSE, a psychological thriller/ghost novel.
Girard's short fiction has appeared in several best-selling anthologies and magazines, including Writers of the Future (a 2003 winner), Prime Codex, Aoife's Kiss, The Willows, Murky Depths, Apex Horror & Science Fiction Digest, and the Stoker-nominated Dark Faith anthology. The debut collection of his short fiction, first communions, was published by Apex Books in May, 2016.
Born in Germany and shaped in New Jersey, Geoffrey currently lives in Ohio and is the English Department Chair at a famed private boys' high school. Prior to teaching, he worked as an advertising copywriter, web developer and marketing manager. He has a BA in English literature from Washington College and an MA in creative writing from Miami University, where he is now working on an MFA. He has presented and led workshops on creative writing at schools, bookstores and various writers' conventions/events.

Photo Content from Geoffrey Girard

WEBSITE: http://www.geoffreygirard.com/
TWITTER: @Geoffrey_Girard
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/226368.Geoffrey_Girard
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheGeoffreyGirardPage
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/geoffrey_girard/



--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

- 5 Winners will receive a Copy of THUTHERS by Geoffrey Girard.
- 1Winner will receive a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

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Monday 30 October 2017

T.O.E. Trilogy by Al Stone Sales Blitz and Giveaway!

https://cbybookclub.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-blitz-giveaway-toe-trilogy-by-al.html

Talisman Of El
T.O.E. Trilogy, Book 1
Author: Al Stone
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Centrinian

Book Description:
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?
One Planet.
Two Worlds.
Population: Human ... 7 billion.
Others ... unknown.
When 14-year-old Char-lie Blake wakes up sweat-ing and gasp-ing for air in the mid-dle of the night, he knows it is hap-pen-ing again. This time he wit-nesses a bru-tal mur-der. He's afraid to tell any-one. No one would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died.
Char-lie doesn't know why this is hap-pen-ing. He would give any-thing to have an ordi-nary life. The prob-lem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home.
He belongs with the others.

On Sale for $0.99 for a limited time on Amazon!

Buy Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13419125-talisman-of-el

Blackout
T.O.E. Trilogy, Book 2

Book Description:
What was shall no longer be. What was not shall now become.
Despite having the protection of the talisman and the Legion, a reforming force of warrior angels and elementals, guarding his every move, things are not looking good for Charlie Blake. Tasked with the responsibility of saving mankind, finding the four diamonds to restore the talisman is all he can think of, but when his prophetic visions start to invade his reality and he suddenly can’t distinguish the dream world from the real world, the pending extinction of mankind becomes the least of his problems. Everyone assumes Charlie’s dormant powers are activating, until he starts showing symptoms of a deadly disease.
With his nemesis, Gaddis, threatening the lives of his loved ones, he faces a race against time to locate the Stone of Raphael, the air diamond, before an imminent pandemic destroys civilization. As he ventures into dangerous lands once again, he unearths shocking revelations about his past life that forces him to question his allegiance. With no one to turn to for answers, he can’t help but wonder if his purpose is truly to save mankind.

On Sale for $3.99 for a limited time on Amazon!

Buy Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495579-blackout

Ground Zero
T.O.E. Trilogy, Book 3

Book Description:
It happens every 26,000 years.
Only a few ever survive.
This time ...
No one will.
That is unless Charlie Blake can locate all four diamonds to restore the Talisman of El and receive his calling from the remaining three elements before the Annus Magnus strikes. With both Arcadia and the mortal world in a state of unrest, his life quickly spirals out of control as it seems everyone has put a bounty on his head. Maybe even his closest allies.
Not knowing who to trust, Charlie starts to dig up the past. When new revelations arise, he begins to question whether the Legion of Light really is what it claims to be and whether he's been fighting for the wrong side all along. The line between good and evil is no longer as clear-cut as it used to be, especially when it appears Charlie's destiny could very well be to destroy everything he loves.
Hero or villain? Charlie isn't so sure anymore.

On Sale for $4.99 for a limited time on Amazon!

Buy Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495593-ground-zero 

About the Author
Al Stone is the author of the YA fantasy trilogy T.O.E. After graduating with a BA in Film & Television, Al had worked in the television industry for a short period before a disabling injury caused her to turn her hand to storytelling. Talisman Of El is her debut novel. The sequels Blackout and Ground Zero are currently available for sale.
When she isn’t writing, she enjoys going to the movies, listening to music and travelling. At present, she lives in England, United Kingdom with her family.

Author Links:

***GIVEAWAY***

$25, $15 and $10 Amazon Gift Cards up for grabs. 3 Winners. Open internationally.


Book Blitz Organised by:

http://cbybookclub.blogspot.com/

Thursday 26 October 2017

Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz Blog Tour and Giveaway!


Series: The Rains Brothers (Book 2)
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (October 17, 2017)


Synopsis
The Rain brothers fight for the survival of humanity in Last Chance, the thrilling sequel to New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz's YA debut, The Rains.
The New York Times bestselling author of Orphan X, Gregg Hurwitz, returns to Creek's Cause to follow the Rains brothers as they fight an alien threat that has transformed everyone over the age of 18 into ferocious, zombie-like beings, in this thrilling sequel to The Rains.
Battling an enemy not of this earth, Chance and Patrick become humanity’s only hope for salvation.
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for RAINS


“The Rains is one of those all-too-creepy-and-believable stories that leaves you looking in your backyard for the next strange weed to poke through the ground. Chilling!”—Ridley Pearson, New York Times bestselling author

My Thoughts: 

My poor heart!!! This book broke me at times, but it was also.... I don't know.... emotional I suppose is the word I'm looking for because so many of them ran through me while reading.

I so want to talk about the plot but I can't because it will spoil it!! This one sees the clock ticking closer and closer to Alex's birthday and they now know for sure that she isn't immune to the virus. Patrick and Chance know as well, that they are humanities last hope, but surviving isn't easy, and with the hatchlings running around, it just became a whole lot harder!!

As I said in my review of the first book... how had I not heard of this series before!! It was amazing. This book was everything. It was action packed, exciting, thrilling, edge of your seat and an absolute rollercoaster. It broke my heart, gave me hope and then just went and broke it all over again! I laughed, I cried (a lot) and I shouted and swore at some of the characters.. well one in particular! It was an entertaining and exciting read and I want to shout at everyone to go read it.

These characters were amazing. The brothers are among my favourite characters ever and I absolutely adored their relationship. I loved how they looked after each other, I loved how strong Patrick is for both Chance and Alex and I loved how Chance tried to protect Patrick too. They have had to grow up really quickly but there are times they still act like kids, and it felt real.

In all, a brilliantly written and developed book and one that will firmly stay on my favourites shelf. I devoured this and even though I think it's a duology, I'm really hoping we might see the characters again. I definitely need to check out more from this author.



EXCERPT from LAST CHANCE by Gregg Hurwitz
Tor Teen, 2017
“Chance,” Patrick said. His voice was dead calm, like the time he told me to hold still before he shot a rattlesnake coiled two feet behind my heel.
I knew he was trying not to panic me, but it had the opposite effect.
I didn’t know what was wrong, but his and Alex’s eyes were locked on a spot a few inches to my side.
And then the smell hit.
Rancid. Like rotten eggs.
I knew I had to turn my head. But I really didn’t want to.
Something detached from the bark of the tree beside me—it seemed to be made of the tree itself. A shadow flickered toward me.
A long, three-digit hand.
Even as it reached for me, I could see the color of the skin changing from a barklike pattern to a familiar orange.
A single word spun at me through the panic whirl of my thoughts: chameleon.
The hand clamped over my forearm, singeing my skin. I yelled. I couldn’t help it.
You would’ve, too.

Copyright 2017 by Gregg Hurwitz

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

.Gregg Hurwitz is the New York Times bestselling author of 18 novels, including HELLBENT (2018). His novels have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 30 languages.
He is also a New York Times Bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). Additionally, he’s written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios (including the upcoming THE BOOK OF HENRY), and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Gregg resides in Los Angeles

Photo Content from Gregg Hurwitz

WEBSITE: http://gregghurwitz.net/
TWITTER: @GreggHurwitz
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/82570.Gregg_Hurwitz
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gregghurwitzreaders
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/gregghurwitzbooks/

GIVEAWAY: 



--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

- 3 Winners will receive a Set Copy of LAST CHANCE Series (2 Books in Total) THE RAINS and LAST CHANCE by Gregg Hurwitz.

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The Rains by Gregg Hurwitz Review!

28220778Title: The Rains
Series: Rains 1
Author: Gregg Hurwitz
Pages: 352
Published: October 18th 2016 by Tor Teen
Source: For Review for Blog Tour
Purchase: Amazon / Book Depository 
In one terrifying night, the peaceful community of Creek’s Cause turns into a war zone. No one under the age of eighteen is safe. Chance Rain and his older brother, Patrick, have already fended off multiple attacks from infected adults by the time they arrive at the school where other young survivors are hiding. Most of the kids they know have been dragged away by once-trusted adults who are now ferocious, inhuman beings. The parasite that transformed them takes hold after people turn eighteen—and Patrick’s birthday is only a few weeks away. 
Determined to save Patrick’s life and the lives of the remaining kids, the brothers embark on a mission to uncover the truth about the parasites—and what they find is horrifying.
Battling an enemy not of this earth, Chance and Patrick become humanity’s only hope for salvation.
My Thoughts:

Chance Rain and his brother Patrick have already lost their parents, but they will never forget the day that their life changed, again, forever!! It starts with meteorites hitting earth, where they hit stalks start growing. Within days these are feet high and the growth on the top pops, which releases these spores. The farmer that was there breaths in some of the spores and..... changes! From then on, every adult changes, the male's become "mappers" and the females "chasers".  Chance and Patrick figure out quickly that there's no saving the adults and shot to kill is the only option. Collecting some survivours along the way, the boys try to find a safe haven in the midst of the insanity.

How have I not heard of this series before!!! This book was awesome!!! I loved the plot. The idea of the spores and how easily they are spread was frightening. I've seen pictures and heard about the ant thing and it is truly terrifying. The way the adults turn too, gave me chills. We learn that this isn't natural and once we do, we get a sense of what the kids are up against. I also loved the fact that once you turn 18, down to the minute, you turn. It gave a sense of urgency to everything with the clock ticking!!

I think the one thing I loved most was the characters. JoJo, Rocky, Alex, Dr. Chatterjee and even Ben, were all well written and developed, but my favourite were definitely the brothers. Patrick is so strong and reliable and always looking out for Chance. He is what I always thought a big brother should be. Chance was smart, brave, strong and incredibly awesome!! He grew the most in the book. He is willing to do anything to try to save Patrick from turning into one of those things! I absolutely loved their relationship and the bond they have.

In all, this was an action packed read. I was on the edge of my seat till the very end and loved every minute!! It was a breathtaking read and I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I pretty much devoured this and am so glad I have the next book. Loved everything about this and can highly recommend.


Wednesday 25 October 2017

Joined by Mara Gan Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Joined
Mara Gan
(Joined #1)
Published by: Inkspell Publishing
Publication date: September 12th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Duty and prophecy get in the way of everything.
All I ever wanted to do was read my books, play my sports, and help people. Life and prophecy had other things in mind.
Helping people is what I do; as an empath and semi-frequent telepath, I can easily sense and understand people’s needs and emotions. Sometimes even before they do. Being able to read everyone’s thoughts and feelings all the time can drive me crazy with anxiety, but that moment when I can finally make someone’s life better makes everything worth it.
Unfortunately, I’m also the next in line to rule the galaxy, I’m the only diplomat most planets will listen to, assassins try to kill me on an annoyingly regular basis, and a much-vaunted Prophecy has decreed that I’m going to die. Oh, and someone blew up my home planet.
Kind of a lot to deal with, right?
Too bad I just got another problem: a big, irritating, overbearing bodyguard with serious anger management issues.
And I think I’m falling for him.
EXCERPT:

“Great, Clee,” I said. “Job’s all yours. I’m going to bed.”
Kenzi covered a snicker as Synie rolled her eyes. “Princess, you know the Yurilians will only talk to you.”
I leaned back in my chair and stretched my neck. “Yeah, yeah.”
Kenzi tilted his head at Synie. “Why will they only talk to the princess?”
Synie shifted uncomfortably. “King Cepheus was….” She paused, searching for the right word.
“A jerk,” Clee supplied unhelpfully.
“Clee!” Synie barked. “That’s practically treason.”
Clee shrugged. “Yep. But I already told him that to his face. He agreed with me.”
Cepheus had a weak spot for Clee, as did we all; her tendency to tell the truth and lighten the mood at the same time was curiously refreshing. And she was right: Cepheus was a terrible diplomat.
With another reproachful glare at Clee, who was no longer paying attention, Synie continued, “King Cepheus was less than sympathetic toward their grain dispute with us. Andromeda smoothed things over and managed to talk them down from outright war.”
Kenzi’s eyes bugged. “They were going to declare war on us, just for some grain?”
“Food is a common reason people go to war,” I said. “Or, rather, lack of it. When people starve, they feel they have nothing left to lose.” Perseus’s words came back to me: people who have nothing to lose, fear nothing.
That was true on a global scale as well as a personal one, I supposed.
Kenzi’s dark eyes turned to me and he gave me an awed smile. I really hated being an object of awe. I liked doing my job—a lot—and I loved helping people, but at heart, I was an introvert who wanted as little attention as possible.
Just my luck, I got the most high-profile job in the galaxy.

Guest Post:

Five Favorite Movie Scenes

I have so many favorite movies, so I had a difficult time picking five scenes that I would be happy to call my favorites. A big part of me wants to pick the entirety of Wonder Woman or The Force Awakens, but that’s no fun and hardly an analytical exercise, so in no particular order, here are my five favorite scenes. I chose these because the combination of great writing, acting abilities, directing, and sheer ingenuity stands out to me.

1. Anything from Themyscira in Wonder Woman! I think I’m still on an adrenaline high from watching that movie, even if it was months ago. The part where Antiope jumps off a shield and shoots three men at once was goosebumpy to me. She was so good.

2. The scene from Office Space when they smash the fax machine. In that moment, that was everyone and anyone who had ever had a frustrating day with technology. I thoroughly enjoyed the use of the gangsta rap for these guys, too, as it added another layer of hilarity.

3. I’m especially partial to a scene in the original 1930 version of All Quiet on the Western Front. The soldiers are sitting around on what seems to be a sunny, warm day, and they’ve finally had their first good meal in goodness knows how long, and they start wondering what started this war in the first place. None of them feel any anger toward the enemy, even confessing to have never met the enemy before, and Kat finally suggests a Hunger Games-esque scenario: “Whenever there’s a big war coming on, you should rope off a big field…. And on the big day, you should take all the kings and their cabinets and their generals, put ‘em in the center dressed in their underpants, and let ‘em fight it out with clubs. The best country wins.” It was so sad, and such an excellent commentary on what wars do to people.

4. The opening credits of Deadpool. The rest of the movie was hysterical, certainly, but making the opening credits to be that funny, just by replacing the names of the cast and production staff with snarky commentary, was brand new to the Hollywood scene and an awesome, risky, stroke of genius.

5. The scene on the train from Spirited Away. The sense of loneliness that permeates that scene was a haunting depiction of the isolation you can feel even when you’re surrounded by millions of people. Trains are a kind of simulacrum of that. When we ride trains, we are usually in a small space with dozens of people, and yet we so rarely communicate or make eye contact with any of them, locking ourselves away on our phones or in our books. Spirited Away has so many beautiful moments, but having lived in Japan for several years, that one on the train stuck with me the most.


Author Bio:
A Pacific Northwesterner by birth and disposition, Mara has lived in Washington DC, Oregon, Japan, and most recently the beautiful Pacific Grove, California, before returning to her roots in Seattle. By day she teaches history to unsuspecting teenagers, and by night she writes books and travels to far-flung places. She loves to be with animals, read, play sports, and drink more London Fogs than is likely good for her.

GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

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Tuesday 24 October 2017

Marked by Fate Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Marked by Fate: A Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction Collection
Publication date: October 24th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Marked by Fate is now enhanced with Augmented Reality! Read, Watch, Listen. The new ultimate reading experience!
Step into adventure with Marked By Fate; the ultimate reading experience. Be immersed in twenty-six fantasy & science fiction worlds with state of the art Augmented Reality technology. Read, listen, and watch bonus content inside to bring the characters and story to life around you.
Enjoy the added features of this special edition, which allow you to enjoy bonus content right from your reading device. See character artwork. Listen to your story’s soundtrack. Watch book trailers and bonus videos. Experience behind the scenes like never before, thanks to Augmented Reality technology. Immersive Fantasy™; bringing fantasy worlds to life.
25 COMPLETE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY NOVELS BY 26 BESTSELLING AUTHORS. PLUS, A SPECIAL BONUS NOVELLA.
Embark on fantastic journeys through magical realms, dystopian lands, and faraway galaxies in this exciting collection of fantasy & science fiction novels brought to you by some of today’s hottest authors. Encounter werewolves, robots, angels, time travelers, shifters, and more in this action-packed box set that will leave you breathless.
Authors:
Kristin D. Van Risseghem
Rhonda Sermon
Kelly St. Clare
Raye Wagner
Ednah Walters
Erin Hayes
Siobhan Davis
Jamie Thornton
Debra Kristi
Sarah K. L. Wilson
Hilary Thompson
Ingrid Seymour
Jeanne Bannon
Melle Amade
Lena Mae Hill
C.J. Anaya
Jackson Dean Chase
D. L. Armillei
Emily Martha Sorensen
Amalie Jahn
Dionne Lister
J.L. Weil
Alisha Klapheke
Angela Fristoe
Meg Cowley
Brandon Barr
99¢ for a limited time only!


Welcome to Marked By Fate:
An interactive Immersive Fantasy™reading experience!

The authors of Marked By Fate are thrilled to share this ground-breaking novel with you!
Think Harry Potter and Kindle in Motion. Moving, singing books,and all the excitement of a truly enriched reading experience.
We call it Immersive Fantasy™, because that’s what it does. It draws you into our stories and brings our worlds to life!
The titles in Marked By Fate use this revolutionary technology to bring you the best reading experience of your life.

How does Immersive Fantasy™ work?
Immersive Fantasy™ utilizes what’s known as Augmented Reality (AR). Using a smart phone/device, you can scan secret cues in the stories, and extra AR content will pop up on your device, streamed direct from the cloud (internet connection required).
See amazing, exclusive character artwork. Watch video content.Listen to the soundtrack whilst you read. Discover behind the scenes with the authors in bonus content.

Would you like to try it?
Then keep reading! You have already downloaded the Immersive Fantasy edition of Marked By Fate, and you just need to bring the magic to life.
The simple instructions overleaf will help you easily access this astonishing new world of fantasy that will delight your every sense.
Start your Immersive Fantasy™ adventure today!

Immersive Fantasy™ Instructions

Getting set up
These three steps are crucial to ensure you can access the AR content.
1.On your smart phone or tablet, download the Aurasma app from your app store.
2.Login to the app, and register your account.
3.Search for the user ‘MarkedByFate’, and click follow.

Accessing the Immersive Fantasy™ Augmented Reality content
Follow these steps carefully to access the AR content. Additional help can be found on the Aurasma help desk.
1.Read and enjoy the story, and watch for clues to the AR content. These will appear in the form of images with a symbol next to them, denoting the type of AR content. Content viewable includes images (camera icon), videos (movie clip icon), or music (music icon).
2.You will need one device/format to read on, and a smart device to access the AR content.
3.When you spot an Immersive Fantasy™ clue, open the Aurasma app on your smart device.(Navigate to the viewfinder screen if the app does not automatically do this.)
4.Centre your viewfinder on the trigger image. Make sure to include all of the trigger image in the screen. You can view the content vertically/in portrait or horizontally/in landscape.
5.The app will display the AR content in the form of an image overlay, video overlay,or music overlay, as denoted by the symbol next to the image.
6.Enjoy!You can zoom in and out and tilt your camera to fully explore each piece of content. Make sure you have your sound turned on so you can listen to the video and audio content! You will have to continue focusing on the content to keep listening to music/watching videos/viewing images.
7.It might take a little practice – don’t worry if you struggle on your first try.

Troubleshooting
What to try if it won’t work.
1.No AR content is popping up: have you registered an Aurasma account,and followed ‘MarkedByFate’? You must do this to access the content.
2.No AR content is popping up: have you made sure all of the trigger image is in your viewfinder?
3.No AR content is popping up on my kindle/e-ink device: please adjust your device screen brightness. If the screen is too bright or too dim, the image cannot be recognised by the app.
4.I can’t hear any sound: check the icon. Only video/music AR content has sound.
5.I can’t hear any sound, and it should be playing some: please ensure your volume is not muted,and turned up.
6.The content keeps disappearing: ensure you keep the viewfinder focused on the trigger image so that the AR content will remain overlaid on your screen.If you move too far away from the trigger image, the AR content will disappear.Activate it again by re-scanning the trigger image.
7.Can I access the eBook and the AR content on the same device? No. Aurasma uses your device camera, so you will have to read the book on a difference device to the device you are using Aurasma with.
8.It’s just not working – I’ve tried everything: Please refer to the Aurasma help files,and contact their help desk if you are still having issues. Whilst extensive testing has been performed to ensure maximum device compatibility, regrettably not all devices may be compatible. Best compatibility will be found on pixel based screens with good brightness levels.


GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • A Court of Thorns and Roses Boxed Set by Sarah J Maas

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Better Off UnDead by James Preller Nerd Blast and Giveaway!


Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (October 31, 2017)



Synopsis
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired James Preller's Dead (But Cautiously Optimistic), pitched as The Walking Dead meets The Mysterious Benedict Society. In the “not-too-distant future,” a seventh-grade undead boy has to adjust to middle-school life as a zombie, and with three unlikely friends, he navigates a mystery involving global warming, disappearing bees, and billionaire developers... and more zombies.

It's slated for fall 2016; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for North American rights.
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for BETTER OFF UNDEAD
"Adrian Lazarus is a middle school zombie, the result of an accident that left him “as undead as a toenail and not really thrilled about it.” ...This cautionary tale is more than just a brain-eating gross-out. Set in the not-too-distant future when humanity is suffering from numerous self-inflicted woes, this story’s villains are the Bork Brothers, owners of K & K Industries, “the richest, most powerful corporation on the planet” and also the source of much of the planet’s environmental troubles. ...This uproarious middle grade call to action has considerable kid appeal and a timely message." ―School Library Journal

Praise for THE COURAGE TEST
"Preller stirs doses of American history into a first-rate road trip that does traditional double-duty as plot device and coming-of-age metaphor. . . . Despite the many plot threads, the story never seems overstuffed or weighed down by agendas. . . . Additionally, not only does the author slip cogent historical facts and insights into his simply told narrative without disturbing its flow, he offers more detail, plus sources of information, in an afterword." ―Booklist, starred review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Preller (born 1961) is the children's book author of the Jigsaw Jones Mysteries, which are published by Scholastic Corporation. He grew up in Wantagh, New York and went to college in Oneonta, New York. After graduating from college in 1983, James Preller was employed as a waiter for one year before being hired as a copywriter by Scholastic Corporation, where he was introduced (through their books) to many noatable children's authors. This inspired James Preller to try writing his own books. James Preller published his first book, entitled MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue, in 1986. Since that time, James Preller has written a variety of books, and has written under a number of pen names, including Mitzy Kafka, James Patrick, and Izzy Bonkers. James Preller lives in Delmar, New York with his wife Lisa and their three children.

Photo Content from James Preller

WEBSITE: http://www.jamespreller.com/
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8664.James_Preller
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Preller/107866669235740



--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter
- 3 Winners will receive a Copy of BETTER OFF UNDEAD by James Preller.

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Monday 23 October 2017

The Night Realm by Annette Marie Book Blitz and Giveaway!


The Night Realm
Annette Marie
(Spell Weaver #1)
Published by: Dark Owl Fantasy Inc.
Publication date: October 20th 2017
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Clio would love nothing more than to go home. But as the illegitimate daughter of the nymph king, she’s stuck in the human world, exiled until she can earn a place in the royal family. Then her half-bother offers her a chance to prove herself. All she has to do is acquire some magic … by stealing it from the most dangerous spell weavers in the Underworld.
Lyre prefers to go unnoticed, which is a tricky objective for an incubus. He can’t hide his looks or his coveted spell weaving skills, but he’s learned to mask his true intentions. As an unwilling pawn of the tyrannical Hades family, he stays alive by keeping one step ahead of his masters.
Now he’s been assigned to watch over a visitor from the Overworld—one who’s definitely hiding something. And with her unholy talent for triggering chaos and catastrophe, his job just keeps getting more perilous. Clearly, she’ll never survive this world.
The thing is, he’s no longer sure he can survive it either.
Goodreads / Amazon

On sale at Amazon for 99c, release week only!! 
EXCERPT:

As she stepped up to the last rack of shelves, she realized she hadn’t quite reached the end of the room. Tucked beyond the last shelf was another door—solid steel with no visible handle or lock. A web of magic crisscrossed the metal and complex runes filled four overlapping circles that shifted in a spiraling pattern.
She raised her fingers, keeping a safe several inches between her skin and the steel, and traced a glowing circle. That. She’d never seen anything quite like that before, but she knew it would react to touch. How it would react was another matter.
Intrigued, she leaned in closer, peering intently at the weaving’s underlayers as she tried to work out what it did.
“Don’t touch that.”
Lyre’s voice shattered the silence right behind her. A squeak of fright escaped her as she jerked backward from the door. But, with her sudden movement, her hand went the wrong way. And her fingers, already so close to the door, slapped against the metal.
She cringed in terror, fully expecting the door to explode or her bones to melt or her skull to burst open. Nothing happened—until she tried to pull her hand away.
It was stuck.
She yanked on her hand, but it was fused to the metal as though her skin had been superglued in place.
“I told you not to touch it.”
She shot a glare at Lyre, standing two paces away. “I wouldn’t have touched it if you hadn’t startled me!”
He tucked his binder under his arm and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Why would you touch anything in here without permission?”
“I told you—” She bit off the words. “Unkey the spell.”
“Hmm.” He rocked back on his heels and a downright evil little smirk curved his lips. “Not sure I know how.”
“What?”
“That lovely bit of work predates me. It’s pretty complicated. Since you fancy yourself a spell expert, if you look here, you’ll see—”
He started to point, and she had no idea why, but she flinched back as though he might hit her. Her elbow bumped the door—and got stuck too.
Lyre’s hand paused. “Now look what you did.”
“I didn’t—you—get me off this!”
“As I was saying, you can see here that the weaving amalgamates anything that touches it, so it’s embedded into your skin now—”
“Get me off this door!” She jerked helplessly, her immobilized wrist and elbow twisting awkwardly.
“Well, I could pull you off, but you might lose some skin. Though, since the weaving is spreading into your flesh the longer you stand there, you might leave more than skin behind.”
Her heart kicked up to a full gallop from her growing terror. He, however, seemed perfectly calm. Amused, in fact. Humor danced in his amber eyes, softening the color to something closer to buttery gold.
He was laughing at her.
“Oh.” His eyebrows rose. “That’s quite the scowl.”
She gritted her teeth. “Get. Me. Off.”
Those irresistible lips curved up and her stomach dropped to her feet. The air heated. Why was she suddenly kind of dizzy? Shadows slid through his eyes, dimming the amber to shimmering bronze.
“Get you off?” he repeated, and his tones were all purring honey, warm and deep and sensual. “With pleasure.”
A hot blush swooped through her cheeks as she realized what she’d said. “I—I didn’t mean—I was—”
In a panic, she lurched away from him—right into the spelled door.


Author Bio:
Annette Marie is the author of the Amazon best-selling Steel & Stone series, which includes Goodreads Choice Award nominee Yield the Night, and fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast- paced urban fantasy and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • 3x $10 Amazon gift cards

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Heroines & Hellions Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Heroines & Hellions: An Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Collection
Publication date: March 13th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

NO DAMSELS ALLOWED! @nodamselallowd #heroinesandhellions #urbanfantasy http://heroinesandhellions.com/
22 Kickass Heroines.
22 Exclusive, Full-length Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Novels.
0 Damsels in Distress.
Do you like your leading ladies to save the day…or raze it?
No matter which you prefer, this set is brimming with 20 magical stories (many BRAND NEW) told by some of the leading voices of urban fantasy and fantasy in the industry, including several New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors!
If you want strong female leads who strike back against the captivating worlds of vampires, elementals, fiends, and paranormal monsters, then you’re ready to charge into the adventures of HEROINES & HELLIONS, a pure Urban Fantasy/Fantasy collection!
Grab your stake, silver bullets, and your limited edition copy of HEROINES & HELLIONS today!


GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $20 Amazon eGift Card

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Sunday 22 October 2017

Curse of Weyrmouth by David Longhorn Review!

36222802Title: Curse of Weyrmouth
Author: David Longhorn
Series: Curse of Weyrmouth Series #1
Pages: 154
Published: October 7th 2017 by ScareStreet.com
Source: Bought
A centuries old curse lusting for blood… Weyrmouth, a small town in Southern England, is replete with quirky, well-meaning residents. Everyone is cheerful and friendly, but the quaint seashore province is not what it seems. 
A deep and dark magic has captured the townsfolk of Weyrmouth in its clutches since the medieval times. Under stormy skies, a menacing cathedral looms over them, its history unknown … and everyone who has tried to disentangle its mysteries has come face to face with death. 
In spite of this, Weyrmouth Museum is up and running, acting as the local repository of history and all things spooky. It finds a new employee in wayward American Erin Cale, who winds up in town looking for a job, in desperate need of a fresh start. But it doesn’t take long before Erin feels the pull of something deeply unsettling. 
Apparitions of ghastly hooded children appear out of thin air, warning of impending doom. Unexplained deaths begin to occur with ever-mounting frequency. And yet, Erin can’t bring herself to leave. 
Her curiosity gets the best of her as Erin begins to unravel the ancient and nefarious secret buried within the heart of the cathedral. She feels the undeniable pull of something tying her to the structure and its history, and is desperate to unlock the mystery. 
All the while, the stones of the landmark cathedral seem to be breathing with a life of its own…

My Thoughts:

This starts in medieval times with the building of a Cathedral. The Bishop wants it to be as big and grand as can be, but every time they get to a certain level, the thing collapses. On night the Bishop is ordering people to get someone to build it when someone enters and tells him that he can build the tower and it will last for 7 centuries. His name is Nick and he delivers. But things aren't as they seem and the Curse of Weyrmouth starts. 

Fast forward a few centuries and we meet Erin Cale, who ends up in Weyrmouth when the love of her life splits with someone else. She isn't willing to go back to the US with her tail between her legs, so when she somehow hears about a job at the Museum, she applies. But soon Erin realises that this sleepy town isn't as lovely as it appears and something sinister is happening. How is Erin involved?

This was all kinds of awesome!! Well written and developed, it held my attention till the very end. I loved the history and diving into the past, I loved the whole feel of the cathedral and the tower and the kids freaked me out!! They were seriously scary. The authors imagination was awesome and the whole story gripped me. 

I liked Erin, she was a strong lead and I'm intrigued to find out more about her. which I presume we will since this seems to be book 1. All the other characters were well developed, but I think my favourite was Joe. His back story was so sad but it was very much needed! 

In all, a great read and it makes me want to check out more from this author. It's not a book that is "jump out scares" kind of horror, it's more subtle and creepy and will make you shiver. I had to turn on the light a few times when reading. 





Saturday 21 October 2017

Audiobook Review: Dark Hunt by Grace Hamilton!


  • In the post-apocalyptic aftermath, Megan Wolford is settling in with her makeshift family at the safe haven of their lodge, but she remains wary of trusting others. Despite her growing feelings for Wyatt Morris, the leader of the group, she still feels most secure on her own. But when she becomes separated from her beloved daughter Caitlin in a storm, Megan is in danger of losing the one thing keeping her fighting to stay alive. Injured and desperate, she must fight every instinct within her to rely on the others for help when they find evidence that Caitlin has been kidnapped. Wyatt is determined to do everything he can to bring her home, and he organizes a search party to visit a set of old adversaries in the guise of traders to try and find the missing girl - but Megan would rather take matters into her own hands. With Megan setting off alone to face unknown enemies, she is more vulnerable than ever. When a mysterious stranger known as the Green Woman appears to be a lead in finding Caitlin, she'll have to track her down. Can she put aside her stubborn need for independence and accept help from her newfound community before it's too late?

My Thoughts: 

I enjoyed the first book but thought things were a little too easy for Megan, but I still decided to give book 2 a go to see if the series would redeem itself. Well, it did a bit. This one was more tense and action packed, but I still felt... I don't know, everything was, again, still too easy. 

Plot wise, it's a lot more fast paced than book 1. Megan and Caitlin decide to go out hunting, but a storm comes in and they fall down a cliff. Megan loses consciousness and when she awakes she realises she can't see Caitlin. She's hurt too so searching for her is hard. Meanwhile Wyatt feels like something is wrong and goes in search of Megan. They find her badly hurt but can't find Caitlin. Taking Megan home, Wyatt knows he will have to do everything in his power to bring Caitlin back!  

As I said, the plot was faster, but there were a few things I didn't like. One of which is a spoiler so I'm not going to talk about (Caitlin). Another thing is the fact that I disliked Megan in this!! She acted like a spoiled little so and so. I know she is out of her mind with worry but why would you treat Wyatt like that?? God forbid but if something were to happen like that to any of my boys, I'd be frantic and out of my mind, but I'd also know that people can only do their best, and Wyatt was going above and beyond for her, yet she blanked him. Her decisions left a lot to be desired!!

Wyatt was and is awesome. He does what he can for the people he loves!! I would love to see a bit more of him in the books. The rest of the family are great too. We get to see some more new characters too.

In all, a good story. I really hope the author realises that not everything would come  easy during the apocalypse. I have yet to see them really struggle, which, unless you were a prepper, would be impossible. Though I reckon even being a prepper you would still struggle some. 

Andrew Tell was clear and easy to listen to. He has plenty of tones and voices and read this well. 

I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.

Story: 

Narration: 

Friday 20 October 2017

Ambrose Ibsen Author Feature and Giveaway!

On the blog today, I have an interview with another of my favourite authors!! I've pretty much devoured every book he's written and loved them all! It's a treat for me to have him here, so please welcome Ambrose Ibsen!! 

About the Author:
Once upon a time, a young Ambrose Ibsen discovered a collection of ghost stories on his father's bookshelf. He was never the same again.

Apart from horror fiction, he enjoys good coffee, brewed strong.

His favorite authors include: H.P. Lovecraft, Yukio Mishima, Koji Suzuki, William Hope Hodgson, Algernon Blackwood and M.R. James

Website: https://ambroseibsen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ambrose-Ibsen-867837259919312
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmbroseIbsen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14031995.Ambrose_Ibsen
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2gKc9Iv

Before we get to the interview, check out some of my reviews below. 
29208705
Some Places Should Stay Abandoned... Dr. Siegfried Klein has vanished on a mysterious pilgrimage to an abandoned infirmary in the ghost-town of Moonville. The locals in the surrounding areas are tight-lipped, hostile to outsiders. Local legend has it that the old Sick House is packed with spirits, none of them friendly, and that to set foot in it is to enter Hell itself. 
Enter Harlan Ulrich, private investigator and skeptic. 
Traveling to the site, the detective begins the long process of separating truth from grisly local myth, and during his investigation stumbles upon certain frightful evidence that tries his nerve. He wants to find the doctor in one piece and weathers the hostilities of the locals even as their stories keep him up at night. But the longer he spends in the ghost town of Moonville, the more he feels the influence of something sinister in the shuttered infirmary. 
When finally the truth is revealed and the infirmary's sordid past comes to light, will Ulrich manage to escape with his life? Join him as he braves the myth-shadowed unknown and seeks out the missing doctor in The Sick House, a full-length novel of paranormal suspense and horror.


30329153
A Voice From Beyond The Grave? College students Kenji and Dylan stumble upon a strange recording in the background of an obscure song. It's a woman's voice, uttering a string of seemingly random characters. Upon further inspection, the song appears to have been embedded with a hidden message. Attempting to crack the mysterious code and becoming obsessed with the recording, Kenji and Dylan set off in search of answers. With every turn in the road however, the puzzle only seems to grow more complicated. And sinister. 
Retired Vietnam vet Reggie Cash is also drawn in by this message, and before long both he and the two college students are on the trail of the mysterious woman featured in the recording. But who is she, and where is she leading them? 
As things fall into place and strange events unfold, the three of them begin to wish that they'd never heard the recording at all... 
TRANSMISSION is a full-length novel of supernatural horror and suspense by Ambrose Ibsen.

35353683
What lurks within Chaythe Asylum? College professor Stephen Barlow needs cash. Badly. When a student asks him to head a new campus organization that centers around paranormal research, he puts his skepticism aside and signs on in the hopes of scoring a fat bonus. 
Enter Chaythe Asylum—a long-shuttered and controversial institution where patients were allegedly subjected to unethical experiments. Closed in 1989 after a series of grisly murders, Stephen deems the old building as good a place as any to explore the possibility of the supernatural and arranges to take a tour with his students. 
But it turns out that the asylum is not as abandoned as it seems. There is something sinister in the building. It has watched and waited for nearly three decades, and when Stephen and his students enter, they find themselves at the center of a nightmare 28 years in the making. 
ASYLUM is the first novel in the Afterlife Investigations trilogy.

He has plenty more to offer, so please, check out his Amazon page HERE. Now onto the interview, and I'm also giving away an ecopy of any of Ambrose's books, so don't forget to enter! 

Where do your ideas come from?
I'm most often inspired by the goings-on in my day-to-day life. Interactions with others, long drives through town, things like that. I'll be minding my own business and will just so happen to notice something commonplace at the right time. When viewed through the right lens, virtually anything can appear frightening or novel. I tend to come up with a lot of ideas while out grocery shopping at 3 AM, too.

How do you develop your writing ideas?
Usually, when I have a kernel of a story in mind, I sit on it for a bit. I let it grow mentally, then shear away the extraneous bits until it grows into something I'd like to write. If the growth gets out of hand, I trim it all the way back to the initial idea and start the process over again. I very rarely start out with a fully-formed idea for a story. Usually it's a single character, or a setting I'd like to explore, or a mood or style I want to convey. The other things grow naturally from that initial spark, but there's a lot that ends up on the cutting room floor before I even put pen to paper.

Where do you find inspiration for your characters?
All over the place! Books I read, movies I watch, people I used to go to school with, old co-workers, family members, passersby at the mall... I try not to incorporate myself into them, but characteristics of mine sometimes slip in anyhow.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I think I was in 2nd grade. Probably 7 years old. I recall very clearly sitting at my desk in school after having just finished one of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books. I set it down and thought, “Man, I'd really like to do that!”

What makes you unique as a writer?
This will seem like a cop-out answer, but the things that make me unique as a writer are the same things that make every writer unique; voice and vision. I don't feel that the topics I write about are particularly groundbreaking; frankly, they've been covered for a long, long time, and by far more talented writers than myself. But I can do something that all of those greats can't, and that's tell a story like Ambrose Ibsen, from Ambrose Ibsen's point of view. Anyone can tell a ghost story, can go through the tropes, but what draws us in to any given story is the writer's unique vision. When one tells a story of any kind, the storyteller's unique perspective is put on display, and I think that's what we really take an interest in as readers. In my opinion, the rest of it—the ghosts, the haunted houses—is all window dressing, relatively speaking.

You write a lot of Horror books, is this your preferred genre and what about the horror genre interests you?
Yes, horror is my preferred genre. I've been drawn to it since I was old enough to read. When I was young, exploring works of horror was exciting to me because it gave me an excuse to read about terrible or scandalous things while still being a well-behaved kid. I was not a brave child, not well-liked by my peers, but reading about things that went bump in the night made me feel brave. Reading about ghosts and murders felt very “adult” to me. From an early age, too, I've been obsessed with death. I grappled with the idea of my own mortality, and diving headlong into horror over the years has been a valuable way for me to explore both the concept of death and other tangential subjects. Perhaps I could have explored the subject through theological or philosophical studies, but those fields don't offer mind-bending eldritch horrors or skeletons popping out of closets!

Do you have any fun Halloween experiences you can tell us?
Halloween is my favorite holiday, hands down, so I've got a fair few I could share. The one that comes to mind lately takes me to my junior high years. Bear in mind, I went to a Catholic school from ages 6 to 13. I was probably in 7th grade, 12 years old, at the time of this story. I'd been invited to a Halloween party, and the person throwing it had gotten ahold of The Exorcist on VHS—without informing her parents. Now, it was a big party, probably fifty or sixty kids, and most were interested in dancing, eating and debauchery. Me? I was glued to the screen. I'd never seen The Exorcist up to that point, but was familiar with its infamy. I was transfixed by the maturity of the storytelling. It wasn't garish like so many popular horror films. It was genuinely frightening and approached its subject matter with a level of intelligence I'd not known possible. Eventually, the host's mother walked in, threw a fit because we'd dared watch such an “evil” film, and made us turn it off half-way through. Nonetheless, I left that party on cloud nine. The viewing felt like a badge of honor.

What scares you?

Large, deep bodies of water are something that frighten me terribly. I can't swim, but even if I could, there's something incredibly eerie to me about deep water. Not knowing what lurks under the surface... It's a primal sort of fear.

What was the first horror book/story you remember reading?
The first? Probably Alvin Schwartz' In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories. It's an old picture book, and it may have been my earliest introduction to horror literature. I adored the illustrations by Dirk Zimmer. I owned a dogeared copy for years, and bought a new one recently for my own children to enjoy.

What is your favorite horror book?
Now, that's a tough one! It's difficult to narrow it down to just one. Koji Suzuki's Ringu has been a massive inspiration to me, and I would list it among the very best books I've ever read, regardless of genre. The works of H.P. Lovecraft, especially The Call of Cthulhu and The Shadow Over Innsmouth could easily fill this spot. Though some would contest its inclusion in the horror genre, Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Grey is also one of my very favorites.

What is your favorite horror movie?
Another tough one to narrow down. The Ring (2002)—the American version directed by Gore Verbinski, is probably my all-time favorite. It reignited my interest in horror as a teenager. Then there's Noroi: The Curse (2005), directed by Koji Shiraishi and Pulse (2001) directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. When I was a teenager and my interest in horror cinema began to blossom, the major cinematic movement at that time was “J-Horror”—that is, Japanese horror. For that reason, most of my favorites hail from Japanese directors or source materials. I saw them at a particularly impressionable time in my life and they left a tremendous impression.

What is one stereotype about horror writers that is absolutely wrong?
I think there's a stereotype that we enjoy nothing but horror, or that we're all obsessed with gore and violence. Personally, I have varied tastes, and I enjoy books and films from many different genres. And the obsession with gore and violence couldn't be any more off the mark for me. I have to be in the right mood to enjoy gory stuff. Too often, it comes off as low-brow. Give me taut atmosphere over shocking gore any day of the week.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in any of your books?
Truthfully, they'd all end up as completely different books if I did. I'd change one thing... and then another... and another, etc. If I allow myself, I can sit down during the editing phase and never run out of things to tweak. I'd make this scene scarier, or flesh out this character more. There are some books I probably wouldn't have written, too. From a publishing or business standpoint, there are a lot of things I would change. But from a writing and creativity standpoint, I think it's healthier to leave the books as they are. Every one of my books represents the absolute best I was able to produce at the time of publication. I could go back and rewrite them, and it's possible they'd end up better, but it would be a betrayal of that older work, too.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love reading and movies, of course. Sitting down with a good cup of coffee and enjoying a book is bliss. Music is very important to me, so going for long walks or drives while listening to music is extremely enjoyable to me. I love spending time with my family, sharing good meals with them or going out on trips to the zoo or science center. Walking around bookstores or libraries and getting lost in the stacks is something I enjoy from time to time. When I'm not writing, I'm often seeking out new coffee shops or breweries in town.

What’s the best vacation you ever had?
I must have been about 12 or 13 years old. My family and I went up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and stayed in a little house on the shore of a lake for a week or two. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has been a vacation spot for people in my family going back a generation or two, at least, and I have fond memories of fishing with my dad and brother, of swimming in the water and plucking leeches off of my legs. I haven't been there in years, but hope to go back soon.

What’s your favourite rainy day movie?
Either Last Life in the Universe (2003) or All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001). The former is a Thai film, and has the most sumptuous cinematography. The latter is a moving (and depressing) Japanese film. Both have a great, rainy aesthetic.

If you could be any age again for a week, which would you choose and why?
Any age? Tough call. I'd say maybe 18 years old. That's the age when the whole world gets blown open and you end up stranded in “adulthood”. I wasn't ready for it, then. Or maybe 21. I'm currently 29, so I suppose my real answer would be “Between 14 and 21”. I think there's a lot of interesting stuff I overlooked in those years because of teenaged angst and whatnot.

If you could have personally witnessed one event in history, what would it be?

This is a really hard one to answer. There are a ton of “right” answers to this, but in the interest of picking a more obscure event that has some personal importance to me, I'd pick the suicide of novelist Yukio Mishima.

What's you favourite place to read?
Currently, my favorite spot is at my kitchen table. The light from the nearby window is just right—not too harsh, not too faint—and my coffee is always within arm's reach. When I was a kid, my absolute favorite place to read was on my grandmother's bed, next to the window. I have fond memories of laying out across her bed and reading piles of library books.

When you walk into a book store, where do you head first?
The cafe! But once I've got a coffee in hand, I often skim the new releases and the literary fiction. The sections with the cheap paperback versions of the classics, too. I will say, most of the bookstores in my area look more like gift shops than bookstores these days. I suppose it isn't profitable for the folks at Barnes and Noble to strictly sell books anymore. I happen to like the variety, though. When I'm done looking at books, I take a gander at their selections of vinyl records and candles—and let me tell you, I love a good hand-poured candle!

If you had a million dollars, what would be the first thing you would buy?
I was tempted to respond to this by quoting a bit of the old Barenaked Ladies tune, but seriously, I'd probably buy a house. My family and I currently rent, and it's not the greatest situation. I'd stamp out a good bit of debt and buy a nice, big house on a decent lot of land where my wife and I could keep some chickens and plant some vegetables. And perhaps I'd pick up a fur coat—but not a real one, as that's pretty cruel, haha.



Thank you Ambrose for stopping by!! So guys, have you anything you want to ask Ambrose? Comment below if you do. The giveaway is for any eBook by Ambrose for 2 people. 

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