Blogiversary Feature: The Heroes of Arcania Series by Liz Long and Giveaway!

Welcome to another Blogiversary Feature! This time I have the pleasure of welcoming Liz Long to the blog. See her books and interview below and enter to win an eCopy of the first book in her Heroes of Arcania series as well as an eCopy of Gifted.  

The streets of Arcania are overrun with crime, deteriorating as a madman named Fortune makes himself at home. He shows no mercy, striking down anyone in his path – including Nova Benson’s little sister. Devastated, Nova vows to seek justice for her family, but aside from her freak strength and impenetrable skin, how is she supposed to stop a monster like Fortune?
Cole Warner wants to help people. Entrusted to keep his family’s secret, he’s also frustrated at having to hide his gift. He knows he could do more to help in the fight against Fortune. If he could convince his sister Penelope to join him, they might even have a chance at beating him. When Cole meets Nova, he realizes his whole world is about to change. And he’s going to welcome it with open arms.
Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan.
Then again, neither was becoming a superhero.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29473487-supernova
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/SuperNova-Heroes-Arcania-Liz-Long-ebook/dp/B01FKR0FPM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469115503&sr=8-1&keywords=supernova+liz+long

Check out Liz's other books HERE

Author Interview:

Where do your ideas come from?

I know this sounds so cliche, but sometimes a character or story idea comes to me in a dream. If the idea sticks with me for the day, I'll write it down and, in a few cases, end up outlining an entire plot that turns into a story :) 

How do you develop your writing ideas?

Every novel has its own notepad - I do rough outlines, character profiles, etc by hand first. Then I tend to dive into writing the first scenes that come to mind (usually a big turning point or action scene). I almost always have the end written first so I know how it goes, and just have to figure out how the characters get there!

Where do you find inspiration for your characters?

I find a lot of inspiration from movies and TV characters, even if it's just a personality quirk. I also scan through Pinterest a lot for character ideas in terms of descriptions and facial expressions. 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

In 8th grade, I was the editor in chief of my middle school newspaper. I knew then I wanted to be involved with it to some degree. Fiction was always off and on (and my favorite) but journalism started very early for me! 

What makes you unique as a writer?

I'm also a magazine writer, so I get to interview a lot of people. Hearing their stories is always helpful when thinking about characters and their stories. Everyone has such a unique perspective that I get to hear about things I never would otherwise (for example, last week I learned about cabinetry, landscaping, war veteran stories, and travel tips). The broad topics give me a little taste of everything which adds to my fiction. 

Describe your book in 140 characters or less.

Heroes of Arcania trilogy:

Comic book readers and fans of CW Network smash hits Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Netflix's Daredevil will root for Liz Long's bestselling YA summer series as the HoA's gifted teen superheroes attempt to save their city from its impending demise.

Tell us about the main character(s).

Nova Benson and Cole Warner are the narrators in Heroes of Arcania. They're gifted (superpowers) and both on the hunt to save their city from Fortune. For Nova, it's about getting revenge for the murder of her little sister. For Cole, it's about saving his own little sister from Fortune's clutches. I really loved writing their relationship, as it grows stronger with every obstacle, but seeing how the two of them deal with separate issues and their opinions on how to save the city. 

What writers inspire/d you?

JK Rowling, for all her details; James Patterson for his cliffhanger chapters that keep you turning the page. 

How has your writing career changed since you started?

My writing is stronger, I know that for sure. I think I write much faster now and can put the pieces of a story together quicker than I used to; lots of practice!! 

What does your writing process look like?

The best day for me is a Saturday with no plans ahead, and a cool morning. Coffee and outlining on my screened-in front porch with my dog, followed by a few hours of writing. Probably with Skittles and a lot of snacks in between. 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I LOVE having Skittles while I write. I can eat a pack in no time. 

What are your writing goals for the next year?

I plan to write the 5th book of the Donovan Circus series, hopefully out next spring sometime. I'd also like to put out my gifted spy standalone that's just a lot of fun if you're into those action type of books. 

Name the five biggest distractions from your writing.

Facebook. My dog. My husband. Facebook. Happy hour.

What character would you most like to be stuck in an elevator with?

Hermione Granger!

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I'm hearing more and more great things from them by the day. A UK reader emailed me yesterday to say HoA1 was "brilliant" and many are just responses to my newsletter telling me about their weekends, which is awesome. I love feeling so connected to them, like we're truly friends! 

Some Get to know me Questions

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

I watch my favorite movies, catch up on the TBR pile, and cuddling with my dog.

What’s the best vacation you ever had?

My husband and I celebrated a honeymoon at Hogwarts :) I spent my 27th birthday there in Harry Potter heaven, including being chosen for the wand sorting at Ollivander's! (I also hung out with the Marvel superheroes which was great!) 

What’s your favourite rainy day movie?

Any action movie, really, especially of the Avengers variety!

If you could be any age again for a week, which would you choose and why?

I'll go back to that week I turned 27 at Hogwarts ;) 

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

The day the suffragettes won the right to vote.

What's you favourite place to read?

My bed! 

When you walk into a book store, where do you head first?

The magazines, since I'm always looking for mine :) (I'm the Associate Editor at a magazine publishing company and editor of a wedding magazine)

 My name is Liz Long and I’m a writer, photographer, dreamer, and Twitter stalker (you can also put “nerdy” in front of all those things). Whether you’re looking for a new fantasy read, need marketing and social media tips, or want some writing advice from an indie author, I promise to provide in the best way possible.
I am lucky enough to have my dream job as the Associate Editor at LeisureMedia360, where I write for magazine publications: The Roanoker, Blue Ridge Country, and bridebook. I love my job and it’s truly the best of both worlds as I both share others’ stories and create them.

You can also contact me here:

Email Me
Twitter: @LizCLong
Facebook
Pinterest

Giveaway: 

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The King in the Stone by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban Book Blitz and Giveaway!

The King in the Stone
Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
(Two Moon Princes, #2)
Publication date: July 25th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult

A full moon,
A silver key,
And the unbending passion of two young lovers
will bring hope to a defeated kingdom
and, through their sorrow, deliver a king
who will change its fate.
Vivid visions have haunted Andrea since her arrival in northern Spain. In her visions, the ruins of the medieval village she’s excavating comes alive, and, around the fires burning in the no longer buried hearths, she sees people dressed in furs sharpening old fashioned swords.
Even more upsetting for her that the headaches her visions leave is the fact that Julián appears in them—Julián, the king from her world whose rejection she is trying hard to forget.
But when a slide bury Andrea under the mountain, Julian comes searching for her. Soon after they are reunited under the mountains, the full moon opens a portal and sends them back a thousand years into the past, to a time right after the Spaniards have been defeated by the Arabian invaders.
Separated by a bitter winter, Andrea and Julian are caught in opposite sides in the battle between the Spanish last unconquered settlements and the Arabian army. A battle for survival that will determine the fate of a kingdom and demand of them the ultimate sacrifice: As the Arabs close on the mountains, Julián makes a decision that will break Andrea’s heart and change them forever.

Goodreads / Amazon

Sequel to:

—

EXCERPT:

In the following excerpt from The King in the Stone, Julián makes a fateful decision.
I don’t know how long I remained by the cliff staring down at Andrea’s broken body, so unnaturally still in her white shroud of snow. I don’t know how long I remained by the cliff lost in a world of my own. A world beyond feelings, beyond reason. A world in which, I came to believe, time could flow backwards, and as long as I didn’t move, didn’t breathe, it was still possible to reverse its course. Andrea would rise from the ledge and climb to my side, and her blood would be warm again inside her body and not a red stain over the snow.
I don’t know how long I remained by the cliff dreaming impossible dreams. Then somewhere down in the valley, a horse neighed and broke the spell.
I shivered. The rush of the fight had left me by now, and the bitter wind blowing through the mountain had covered my body with a frozen dust. If I didn’t leave soon I would freeze to death. Forcing my stiff legs to move, I turned my back to the ledge and started walking.
I didn’t remember going back into the cave and retrieving the sword and the knife from the bear’s body. I didn’t remember grabbing the cloak or picking up Andrea’s arrow from the ground or walking down the mountain. The next thing I remember is someone calling my name.
I shook my head to clear my mind and looked around. I was back in the oak grove where we had tethered the horses, and Irene stood in front of me.
I let go of the hilt of the sword I’d instinctively grabbed, and nodded to the girl whose waif-like face was tense with fear.
“Julián?”
I tried to talk. But no words came.
Irene moved closer and reached for my face. “You’re hurt, Julián. Let me help you.”
“There is no time. We must go. Now. Get the horses ready. I’ll get Theodorica.”
Turning my back on her, I entered the copse.
Her feet and hands bound, a dirty rag over her mouth, Theodorica was sitting on a stump. Her eyes full of contempt didn’t leave mine as I approached her, and when I removed her gag, she spat at me.
In anger, I lifted her and held her against the closest tree. Theodorica struggled like a wild animal trying to break free, and as I fought her back, something snapped inside my mind, turning the throbbing ache at Andrea’s loss into a feral urge to make Theodorica mine. Forcing her face still with one hand, I kissed her. I kissed her long and hard. Not because I cared for her, but because Andrea was dead and she alive, and in the aftermath of death we crave life.
I kissed her out of pain, out of anger and despair. Out of hate. I kissed her until her body grew willing under mine. Only then, I pulled back.
Without a word, I cut her bonds.
Theodorica stared at me.
“You got your wish, my lady,” I said in answer to the question she had not asked. “I’m coming with you to the Arab’s camp.”

Author Bio:
Carmen Ferreiro Esteban is the author of the medieval fantasy Two Moon Princess (Tanglewood Press 2007), and Immortal Love (Crimson Romance 2012). Her own translation into Spanish of Immortal Love can be found under the title Bécquer eterno.
Carmen was born in Galicia (northern Spain) and went to college in Madrid, where she finished her Ph.D. in Biology. She worked as a researcher in Spain and California, before moving to Pennsylvania, where she now works as a writer, editor and translator.
For more information, please visit her website www.carmenferreiroesteban.com/, or reach her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorCarmenFerreiroEsteban?ref=ts.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

• 5x eBook copies of Two Moon Princess
• 5x eBook copies of The King in the Stone

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Knight's Apprentice: Knight's of the Immortals by Catrina Taylor Blog Tour!

Knight’s Apprentice: Knights of the Immortals (book 1) by Catrina Taylor 

 Genre: YA Scifi, Alternate Reality, Space Colonies 

 Published May 24th, 2015 61 

Pages Published by Midnight Rose 

Life altering reality, hidden in plain sight. Ralph has a problem. The Grand Council of Atlantis, the council who rules the twelve hominid tribes, has chosen his apprentice for him. This unusual move has one obstacle. She doesn’t know what it means to be Atlantean. Cerita Guzman is the oldest child in a struggling, single parent home. She doesn’t have time for world shattering reality to interfere with life. She has work, school, siblings, her mom, the house and now, of all things, Atlantis wants her time too. How is that even possible? James has lived among the homo-sapiens, on the surface, for most of his life. He’s training though, to serve his people in Atlantis. His heart is torn when his master knight requests him to bring in the young woman selected by the Grand Council to train with him. She’s in a lot of his classes. She’s beautiful. She’s human.   When Atlantis calls, he listens. As Cerita resists the call to serve Atlantis, James must find a way to help her accept the truth about the world around her, about herself. He does. He forces her to activate her internal nanites. She’s forced to accept whole new hominid species exist. If that’s not enough, she’s also forced to accept she’s one of them, when her nanites come to life, and she opens a wormhole into space. Join Cerita, James, and Ralph on the first adventure into the world of Atlantis. Knight’s of the Immortals is a Young Adult Scifi – Adventure that’s loved by readers of all ages. Knight’s Apprentice is free. Download it so you can start reading it today.

Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/knights-of-the-immortals
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Knights-Apprentice-Immortals-Catrina-Taylor-ebook/dp/B00Y7E6B4E
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knights-of-the-immortals-catrina-taylor/1122232944
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/554400
This book is currently free on Amazon!

  About the Author: A unique author with a passion for her family, Catrina Taylor is in love with the written word. As an avid reader she finds her mind enjoys the worlds created uniquely in Fantasy, Science Fiction and various crossover genre. As an author, she most often plays in a universe of her own creation. Introducing us to the imaginary worlds of Xarrok and Atlantis, she has hooked readers, waiting to see where her imagination takes us next. When she is not playing in the universe of her mind, she is playing with her children who she encourages to follow her passion for words, and excel in every area they show interest. In fact, this talented word smith finds that life through their eyes is a constant lesson in self discovery, happiness, and curiosity. Inspired by her everyday world of family, infused with an unquenched curiosity, and gifted with the ability to take us to places we could never have imagined, Catrina Taylor is an author who promises to keep you fully immersed in a world of wonder and intrigue, waiting for more. 

  The Tour Schedule: 
July 13^th Fiction Dreams – Guest Post July 14^th RoloPoloBookBlog – Promo Post July 15^th Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books! – Guest Post Lisa Loves Literature – Author Interview July 16^th The Book Beacon – Review July 17^th Bookishjessp – Author Interview July 18^th YaReads – Top Ten Post July 19^th The Red Pen of Doom – Promo Post July 20^th Sleeps on Tables – Guest Post Adventures in Writing – Promo Post July 21^st Let Me Tell You a Story – Promo Post July 22^nd The Cozy Little Book Nook – Top Ten Post July 23^rd Just One More Chapter – Promo Post July 24^th Roxy’s Book Reviews – Promo Post July 25^th Crossroad Reviews – Promo Post July 26^th Rockin’ Book Reviews – Promo Post July 27^th Mindjacked – Review Rachel’s Book Reviews – Review July 28^th YA Book Divas – Review Owl Always Be Reading – Review

Blogiversary Feature: Pandemic by Yvonne Ventresca and Giveaway!

Hi guys, welcome to another Author feature for my 3 year Blogversary!! This time I'm featuring Yvonne Ventresca. Below are details of her books. I read and loved Pandemic, see my review below, and am excited to read her new book!! 

Even under the most normal circumstances, high school can be a painful and confusing time. Unfortunately, Lilianna's circumstances are anything but normal. Only a few people know what caused her sudden change from model student to the withdrawn pessimist she has become, but her situation isn't about to get any better. When people begin coming down with a quick-spreading illness that doctors are unable to treat, Lil's worst fears are realized. With her parents called away on business before the contagious outbreak-her father in Delaware covering the early stages of the disease and her mother in Hong Kong and unable to get a flight back to New Jersey-Lil's town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread illness and fatal disaster. Now, she's more alone than she's been since the "incident" at her school months ago.
With friends and neighbors dying all around her, Lil does everything she can just to survive. But as the disease rages on, so does an unexpected tension as Lil is torn between an old ex and a new romantic interest. Just when it all seems too much, the cause of her original trauma shows up at her door. In this thrilling debut from author Yvonne Ventresca, Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.

Book Depository | AmazonUK |Indiebound (US) | Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

My Review:

Lilianna is your typical girl except she likes to be prepared and stock food and emergency things. Her father works in a place that deals with diseases etc. He often comes home with stories for her so she hears it all first hand. She wasnt always like this. She was a model student and happy go lucky girl but when a traumatizing thing happens to her she draws into herself. She becomes the person she is. 

She hears on the news that a flu has shaken some parts of America. People are coming down with it fast and a lot are dying. She is worried but not very. Then she starts hearing more and more news of deadly outbreaks closer to home and her parents are called away to cover the outbreak. She starts to get more food and essentials just in case. Then the flu hits home. Neighbours and friends are coming down with it and many are dying. School and businesses close down and the whole place grinds to a halt. 

Lil is walking one day when she hears a baby crying non stop. She goes to the door only to find the mother dead and a baby in a crib. She has no choice but to take the baby home with her till she can find someone to card for him. She knows she has enough food and water for a while and that she will be ok, that is until she goes home to find she was looted. They took everything. What will she do? Who can she trust and with everyone dying will she be next?

Well, this surprised me. I really really enjoyed it. It felt like something that could happen so was really creepy to read.

I felt for Lil. After what happened her she finds it hard to trust. She has become a food hoarder because she feels the need to be prepared since she wasn't before. When the flu hits she struggles with staying indoors and being safe or going to help people. She finds it hard to share her food and medicine because in her mind its the only thing she can control. Even with her internal struggle she does what she has to and I admire her for it. She overcomes a lot of her fear. 

There's a bit of romance through all the heartache. I didn't like the kinda love triangle. She doesn't know if she wants to get back with her ex or to go for the new guy. Im glad with who she did choose because he was awesome. The romance isn't a main issue of the book but I enjoyed it all the same. 

I loved that the author put so much detail into the flu. It was realistic and down right scary. The idea that a Pandemic can happen is something we all think about every time we hear about an outbreak, like the birdflu or swineflu. What would we do and how would we survive. This is exactly what Pandemic is about, its a story of the struggle and heartache of a Pandemic. Its heartbreaking when Lil looses people close to her but yet she has no choice but to go on and survive. It definitely makes you think. 


Pandemic is well written with pleanty of action. The pacing is fast and the plot is believable. When I started reading it was so hard to put down because I needed to see what happens next. Its a story of survival and beating the odds. I will definitely keep an eye on this author. Highly enjoyable and I've no problem recommending.

Coming in October

Her father died before she was born, but Ella Benton knows they have a supernatural connection. Since her mother discourages these beliefs, Ella keeps her cemetery visits secret. But she may not be the only one with secrets. Ella’s mother might be lying about how Dad died sixteen years ago. Newfound evidence points to his death in a psychiatric hospital, not as a result of a tragic car accident as her mother always claimed. After a lifetime of just the two of them, Mom suddenly feels like a stranger.
When a handprint much like the one Ella left on her father’s tombstone mysteriously appears on the bathroom mirror, at first she wonders if Dad is warning her of danger as he did once before. If it’s not a warning, could her new too-good-to-be-true boyfriend be responsible for the strange occurrences? Or maybe it’s the grieving building superintendent whose dead daughter strongly resembles Ella? As the unexplained events become more frequent and more sinister, Ella becomes terrified about who—or what—might harm her.

Soon the evidence points to someone else entirely: Ella herself. What if, like her father, she’s suffering from a breakdown? In this second novel from award-winning author Yvonne Ventresca, Ella desperately needs to find answers, no matter how disturbing the truth might be.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28695529-black-flowers-white-lies

Author Interview:

Where do your ideas come from?

Since writing and revising a novel can span a year (or more), I like to choose situations and characters that fascinate me. For example, because a worldwide contagious disease can actually happen, the idea of a pandemic and its repercussions was intrinsically interesting. How would teens handle that type of disaster situation, and how would it differ from the way adults react? I also wanted to incorporate a main character (Lil) who is damaged before the onset, so I could develop her emotional journey throughout the novel.

Describe your book in 140 characters or less.

Here’s my Twitter length description of Pandemic:

During a contagious outbreak, one teenage girl must face disease, death, and her personal demons in order to survive. Contagion for teens.

Tell us about the main character(s).

LILIANNA SNYDER is a 16-year-old student in a New Jersey high school. She’ll tell you her style is “Lazy Goth” and only be half-joking. It’s a big change from the floral skirts she wore six months ago. Her obsession is staying safe. She follows news alerts on anything potentially dangerous and stockpiles emergency supplies, but that won’t be enough. Megs is her BFF. She’s smart and loyal. Lil’s secret: She won’t talk about it with anyone except Megs.

JAY MARTINEZ is the new boy in town with a secret of his own. He’s tall, dark and lanky, with brown eyes, brown hair. His actor look-alike would be Alex Bechet, who plays Demi Lovato’s boyfriend in the video for “Give Your Heart A Break” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zfzka5VwRc). His obsession is keeping his younger brother, Tyler, safe from the flu and other dangers. Jay’s secret: When he moved from Phoenix, Arizona, he purposely left his past behind.

THE DISEASE: H5N1, or as the media calls it, The Blue Flu. It’s deadly, it’s spreading rapidly, and it doesn’t care about anyone’s secrets.

I’ve created a Pandemic Pinterest board if you’d like to see some images of the characters.

If you could be any age again for a week, which would you choose and why?

I would definitely be a teenager again, around sixteen – it would be a great research opportunity for my writing!

Name the five biggest distractions from your writing.

1. My two dogs (loving but demanding!)
2. Household chores and errands
3. My ever-growing “to read” pile. I add books faster than I can possibly read them.
4. Marketing my YA novels. With my debut novel, Pandemic, published (newly released in paperback as of July 5th), plus another book, Black Flowers White Lies, on the way (out October 5th), marketing takes a lot of time. It’s necessary, and often fun (with interviews like this!), but it can take hours away from working on the next story idea.
5. Social media is the biggest diversion! If you’d like to help distract me, you can find me here: Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Instagram | Pinterest

More about Yvonne:

Yvonne Ventresca’s latest young adult novel, BLACK FLOWERS, WHITE LIES will be published by Sky Pony Press in October 2016. Her debut YA novel, PANDEMIC, won a 2015 Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. School Library Journal called PANDEMIC "an engrossing apocalyptic story” and Booklist said “this fast read will appeal to fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s LIFE AS WE KNEW IT. Her other works include the short story, “Escape to Orange Blossom,” which was selected for the dystopian anthology PREP FOR DOOM (2015), along with two nonfiction books, PUBLISHING (Careers for the 21st Century) and AVRIL LAVIGNE (People in the News). You can visit her website for more information: YvonneVentresca.com.

Giveaway: A paperback copy (US/Can only) 

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Daemoneum by Laney McMann Book Blitz and Giveaway!

Daemoneum
Laney McMann
(The Primordial Principles #2)
Publication date: July 22nd 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Boulder, Colorado is too quiet, and no one needs to remind Cole Spires how unnatural that is.
In the aftermath of Dracon’s death, the Daemoneum have gone into hiding. Every known Hive has been shut down and evacuated, and for the first time in Cole’s memory, the Brotherhood, Kinship, and all common houses across the country and abroad are considering lockdown. Leygates are being systematically closed around the world, and the Primordial are waiting …
In the bunker underneath the Brotherhood, Kade Sparrow is as safe as she can possibly be, or that’s the idea, but no one can explain how her Astrum necklace found its way into her bedroom. There were no footprints, no traces of breaking and entering, no evidence of any kind that someone had infiltrated the Brotherhood common house. Yet the necklace still sat on her night stand, wound in a perfect circle of gold, the tiny star glinting on its chain. And the only person who could have put it there … is dead.
In the second installment of The Primordial Principles, strange occurrences are happening across the globe. Relationships will be tested, old players will become new, foes will turn into allies, and an unlikely adversary will force Cole and Kade to go on the run.
As the fallen rise, the Primordial must unite as one.
Or all could be lost.

Goodreads / Amazon

Sequel to:

—

SNEAK A PEEK AT DAEMONEUM:

“Promise me something?” Cole whispered against her mouth, his hand gripping hers tighter.

“Anything.”
“Don’t let go.” His free hand whipped to the side, and a geyser of pure red energy erupted from the ground at their feet. The sound rushed in Kade’s ears like hurricane force winds, and her free arm immediately went around Cole’s waist, holding his body tight against hers. “Close your eyes.”
She did, and he kissed her again, hard. His warm lips parted her own, his tongue found hers, and Kade yielded to him completely, their bodies molding together. The swirling gush of energy consumed them in a spinning crackle of deafening electricity.
Kade’s body lifted from the ground, and spun, pressed against Cole’s, and he never stopped kissing her, only pulled her closer, tighter, as they disappeared from the field, from Colorado, from everything she knew.

Author Bio:
Laney McMann is the author of The Fire Born Novels, The Primordial Principles, and The CrossWorld Chronicles (coming soon)
The product of very creative parents and the most imaginative grandmother ever, she has an untapped passion for the supernatural and all things magical. Her voracious appetite for reading fantasy started really young ~ and so did her love of words.
She writes young adult dark urban fantasy novels mixed with a spike of romance, a hint of history, a dash of mythology, and lots of paranormal.
On the non-writing side of life, Laney is a former classical dancer, music snob, chef, and a right-brained thinker to a fault. When she's not dreaming up new dead ends to torture herself with, she spends her time running and playing her music way too loud.
Laney is published by J. Taylor Publishing and formerly by Booktrope Publishing.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

• 3x ebook copies of Crystallum and Daemoneum

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vampire Creed by Rain Grey Book Blitz and Giveaway!

Vampire Creed
Rain Grey
Publication date: May 21st 2016
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Barnaby Blaine Rice was a Vampire born in the depression with a very special power to see who people truly were. After a long, empty existence of witnessing the darkest points of humanity, Blaine happens to encounter a beautiful married woman named Mary Slate. Unable to handle his love for the beautiful human, Blaine accidentally kills another Vampire over her and is put under a serious debt with the Vampire Council.
Blaine reluctantly forces himself to forget the woman and allows her to live her life without his intervention. It wasn’t until 50-years-later that the distant memories of the captivating Mary are brought back to the surface. Blaine has the pleasure to encounter the young Wendy Slate, granddaughter of Mary Slate after a criminal vampire keeps her hostage. Blaine got there in time to stop the criminal, but not to stop the beginning of Wendy’s transition into Vampirism.
As he was forced to sire her into this new world, he discovers that Wendy is the most amazing person he’d ever met. Wendy has to make a life-altering decision as Blaine has to deal with his blooming feelings for a woman who was identical to his first love. This modern love story introduces the most influential turning point of these lover’s lives.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes

Grab your copy today for FREE!

—

EXCERPT:

Wendy Slate

I got to the library minutes before nine thirty, Archer walking a few feet behind me.

“You don’t have to act like my vampire bodyguard,” I murmured as I caught a small group looking at him with scared gazes, knowing he could hear me.
“Of course I do. I’m a vampire and your bodyguard.”
Rolling my eyes, I paused, letting him catch up to me before wrapping my arm around his. “It wouldn’t hurt to smile. Next thing I know, someone is going to report you to campus security and have you kicked out. Then you won’t be much of a bodyguard, will you?”
This time he rolled his eyes, but he did relax his facial features.
Together we walked up the steps. My group was meeting in a study room on the third floor. When we arrived at the room, only Jason was there. Opening the door alerted him of our arrival and he looked up with a smile.
Wait a second. For a split second, it looked like he was glaring at Archer. His expression changed so fast I wasn’t too sure I saw right, even with my keener eyesight since becoming a vampire.
“Who’s this? New boyfriend already?” he asked, a smile on his lips.
Brushing away my suspicions, I shook my head. “He’s a friend. He goes to school here too. Engineering major. Fifth year.”
I was quite impressed with myself having come up with a lie on my toes. I was going to introduce Archer as a friend anyway, but Jason question kind of caught me off guard.
Jason nodded, accepting my words. “The other two said it will be a while before they get here. They wanted to stop by their dorm first,” he spared another glance at Archer. “Will he be staying?”
In response to that, Archer plopped himself into a chair in the corner of the room. “You won’t even know I’m here,” he said before taking out his cell phone.
I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the truth if he planned on continuing watching his wrestling show. Ignoring him, I sat at the table across from Jason.
“I started developing some samples for the project,” I stated as I took my notebook and laptop from my backpack.
I started to go over what I had so far with him briefly as well as sharing our other ideas. Though, honestly, I was ready to leave before I even got here. I still had yet to convince Archer to take me to where Theo had brought me. And by not convince, I meant not even approach to the subject. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I was guarding my thoughts so Archer would be none the wiser.

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Blogiversary Feature: H.D Smith and Giveaway!

Hi guys, welcome to another Blogiversary feature! This time around I have author H.D Smith and she is offering up one copy of any of her books (eBook or Audio). Check out her books below and her awesome interview, then enter to win! 

The Devils Assistant Series: 

Claire, the Devil’s assistant, knows very little about the world she was dropped into five years ago, when she inherited her mother’s unpaid debt to the Demon King. She certainly didn’t expect to be a contender for the Fallen Queen’s throne, a target for the Druid King’s mafia, or a suspect in the murder of Junior, the Devil’s oldest hell spawn.

In a last ditch effort to save her life and get out of her deal with the Devil, she sets out to solve Junior’s murder only to be taken prisoner by the four most dangerous immortal hell spawn alive.
Not to be out done, the Pagan Queen Mab, claims Claire for entering her realm uninvited. She has an old debt to settle with her brother the Devil. Taking Claire from him after losing her years ago is just icing on the cake.
Will Claire win her freedom, and save herself from the Devil? Or be trapped by Mab forever?

Last spring Claire’s seemingly normal—if not totally screwed up—life was tossed on its head. For five years she’d been one of the damned—a human that knows the truth about the otherworldly among us. She’d worked for The Boss—the Demon King himself—as his administrative assistant, handling everything from early retirements, to Maintenance’s incessant requests for dental.
No one gets dental.
Then she walked into Purgatory—totally not her fault—went back in time, and awakened powers she never knew existed. Now Claire has a prophecy hanging over her head, a diamond ring hidden in her sock drawer, and the blood of a long dead royal running through her veins.

And it’s only going to get worse.
Her vow to live free or die takes a serious hit when she’s forced back under The Boss’s protection. Of course, there’s no protection from fate, or the Bounty Hunter sent to deliver her to Purgatory. And as if being “the girl” in the prophecy wasn’t enough, Claire soon discovers there are three other contenders for her role—two of whom want her dead.

Follow more of Claire’s adventures in Dark Awakened, the second installment of the Devil’s Assistant Series, to find out if she’s lucky enough to escape with her life, or if she’s just the first notch on the next contender’s belt.

Last Spring, Claire was framed for the murder of Junior, the Devil’s oldest hellspawn.
Last Summer, she reawakened the fourth realm, saved the world (after almost destroying it), and wound up with the worst job ever.

Now, Claire’s been locked out of her realm, given an assistant that doesn’t actually assist, and told to handle a small problem in Underworld that might just get her killed.

And to top it all off, Mab’s made one of the contenders her untouchable. So, yeah, you could say Claire’s having one of those days.
Follow more of Claire’s adventures in Dark Forsaken, book 3 of the Devil’s Assistant Series, to find out if Claire can defeat the latest contender, survive the quads, and replace the curator before Harry figures out she’s stolen his blood.

The Good Bad Guys Series: 

Yesterday 12-year-old Charlie Parker would have given almost anything to see Keegan’s Point, the island estate built by the reclusive billionaire Marcus Keegan. Keegan died the same year Charlie was born. His body and twenty passports were the only things removed from the island—leaving a mystery and the unanswered question, who was Marcus Keegan?
But that was yesterday. Charlie’s biggest problem this morning was his presentation in fourth period. Since then he’s been beaten up by a bully, he’s lied to his mother, and he’s been kidnapped by three total strangers. And, as if the day couldn’t get any worse, no one even knows he’s missing.
Nick, one of the strangers, is one job away from finding the lost treasure he’s searched for his entire life. The plan is simple: go into Keegan’s mansion and follow the cryptic clues to the prize. There’s plenty of time, and his team is resourceful. He never expected that Charlie would overhear his plans or that he’d have to kidnap him to keep him quiet. Now there’s only one way forward, and that means risking everything. Soon, Nick realizes that Charlie’s involvement in his mission is the key to whether he’ll succeed or fail—because there’s much more at stake than a lost treasure.
From the author of the Devil’s Assistant books, Keegan’s Point is the start of a new adventure series where not all the bad guys are bad, where you just might find yourself rooting for both the bad guys and the good guys as they work together to survive.

 Fourteen-year-old Matty Dunmore and his gang live in Nowhere, NJ, and their world of mobsters and crooked cops is about to be turned on its head. When Matty—a runner for the local Mob boss, Mr. Hill—is attacked and robbed during a delivery, he soon discovers the package he was carrying wasn’t the only one taken. The boys are told to keep watch for anything suspicious, but after the death of a higher up in the organization, their surveillance is discovered by one of the traitors. Now the friends must make a choice—tell Mr. Hill and risk the safety of their families, or keep quiet and live.
Flash forward to the present. Matthew Larson is now a legitimate businessman in Florida, but his past is about to catch up with him. No one—not even his wife and son—know the truth about who he was. The Matt Larson they know is a loving husband and father, not a ghost named Matty Dunmore with a secret so big it could get Matt and everyone he loves killed. Matty needs to stay buried in the past if Matt has any hope of surviving in the present.
When his former gang of friends, still tied to the Mob, discover he’s alive, Matt’s world comes crashing down around him. His son, Pete, is kidnapped by the new Mob boss in Nowhere—his former friend Lenny. Matt has no clue why Lenny would do this, but for some reason Lenny’s determined to make Matt pay. The stakes are high, life and death decisions are made at every turn, and the sins of Matt’s father threaten to doom him to a similar fate. Is there anyone left he can trust?

Author Interview:

Where do your ideas come from?

Life experiences and the people, things, places, and events around me.

How do you develop your writing ideas?

I’m a Discovery Writer (or Pantser). I do a minimal amount of plotting (big picture, not detailed) and then start writing. I learned early on that too much plotting will pull me out of the story and not make me want to write it. Book 4 in the Devil’s Assistant series has been more challenging because it is an ending of sorts for a major character arc and it requires a lot more planning to make sure all the loose ends are tied up.

Where do you find inspiration for your characters?

I don’t envision taking my characters out to lunch (they aren’t that real), but I do know them well enough to put them in situations that aren’t expected and know what they would do or say. None of my characters are people I know, most start out as a concept … I need a villain, then they grow as the writing starts to take shape. I have a lot of characters and they all have their own goals.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

After starting my first “real job” after college, I worked for a year and then decided to get my masters degree. After that, I thought, is this it? I’ve always had hobbies, but writing really came out of nowhere. I started (and didn’t finish) two books before I figured out I needed to toss out any kind of outlining. After that it was much easier, but there is always room to grow. I’m still growing as a writer.

What makes you unique as a writer?

I’m not sure anyone is truly unique, but my style in writing is not for everyone. I tend to have complicated plots, lots of characters, and a little chaos. My stories have romantic elements, but are not anything close to romance (although book 5 may try to be a romance). Some romance readers like the series, but others don’t. I have a decent number of male fans, but that may be because of the lack of romance.

How has your writing career changed since you started?

When I first started writing, Indie publishing was more vanity press than anything else, and of course everyone wanted a book contract with a NYC agent. Now there are lots of small press options (although I don’t recommend most of them), robust indie publishing options, and the big five. My first book was picked up by a small press, but I have sense gotten my rights back and now publish my own, which I prefer. 

What are your writing goals for the next year?

To finish book 4 and get it released before the end of the year!

Name the five biggest distractions from your writing.

The DAY JOB.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

When is book 4 coming out ;)

 HD Smith has been writing for over ten years. She is a software developer by day, working for an awesome cruise line in Celebration, FL.
HD grew up in South Carolina, but has called the Sunshine State home since 1997. She has Computer Science degrees from Clemson University (BS) and Florida Institute of Technology (MS). Her other hobbies include painting and screen printing. She enjoys creating t- shirts inspired by the places in her books. For more information, visit HD’s website at http://www.hdsmithauthor.com/.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/floridaHeather

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