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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Last Call for Free Signed Hardcopy of The Namesake & Motley Education Cover Reveal

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Barnes and Noble. Amazon. Indiebound

I need a BIG favor. If you haven’t already added Double Negative on your TBR Goodreads list, I’d really appreciate it if you would now. I’m #47 on the LISTOPIA. THANK YOU 3X!



This is the last week to opt in for a chance to win a signed hardcopy of The Namesake by my September Featured Follower, Steve Parlato. If you like good writing, interesting characters and a story that probes the human heart, you’ll love owning this book. Sign up on my Email Connect and ask for your copy. Once the winner is pulled out of that lovely hat, Steve will see that your signed copy is on the way. Good luck.
The next Email Connect will come out at the end of this month (fingers crossed), announcing my October Featured Follower, How I Mine Goodreads for Reviews, and some interesting links I’ve discovered this past month. 
And now here’s a new book by my friend, S.A. Larsen. This is your chance to congratulate her on her new book! And enter her giveaway.
Title: Motley
Education (Book One: The URD Saga)
Author: S.A.
Larsen
Release Date: October
10, 2016
Forget having a lively after school social life, Ebony Charmed is fighting
to keep the entire Afterlife alive.
Ebony’s less-than-average spirit tracking abilities are ruining more
than sixth grade at Motley
Junior High: School for the Psychically & Celestially gifted. Her parents
argue so much her dad moved out. And, even though he’s scared of his own shadow
and insists on bringing his slimy, legless lizard everywhere they go, Ebony
wouldn’t survive without her best friend, Fleishman.
When Ebony’s Deadly Creatures & Relics’ project goes missing, she
learns her missing project is one of the keys to saving the spirit world. Now
Ebony and Fleishman must battle beasts from Norse Mythology to retrieve her
project before spirits are lost, the Well of Urd dries up, and Ebony loses all
hope of reuniting her family. But someone lies in wait, and he has other
plans…including creating a new world of spirits without them in it.
ADD TO
GOODREADS
Motley
Education has been aligned with Core Standards for grades 4-7. A guide will be
available on the author’s website
to download for FREE after the book’s release date.



About S.A. Larsen
S.A. LARSEN is the author of Motley Education, the first book in a middle grade fantasy-adventure series.
Her work has appeared in numerous local publications and young adult
anthologies Gears
of Brass and
Under A Brass
Moon by
Curiosity Quills Press.
Look for her
debut young adult novel, Marked
Beauty, set
for release in 2017. Find her in the land of lobsters, snowy winters, and the
occasional Eh’ya with her husband of over twenty years, four children, a
playful pooch, and two kittens.
You can visit her online at www.salarsenbooks.com.
Follow her on Facebook
| Twitter | Instagram and connect with her
on her Website & Blog.

Rafflecopter Giveaway Code
Five lucky winners will each
receive a signed bookmark and assorted swag! Contest runs from 09/15/16 to
09/23/16. Winners will be chosen my random.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct link to giveaway


Quote of the Week: “Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you’re willing to practice, you can do.” Bob Ross, Painter and TV Host

I’m Guilty and I Don’t Care!

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#InkRipples is a monthly meme created by Kai Strand, Mary Waibel, and Katie L. Carroll. We post on the first Monday of every month with a new topic. The brains behind this meme are all authors, but you don’t have to be to participate.
You can also spread your own ripples by blogging about the topic any day of the month that fits your schedule, just be sure to include links back to Katie, Kai, and Mary.



This month’s topic is Guilty Pleasures.

I have one Guilty Pleasure that I will confess to. I love books and everything about them. So when people say, “Hey, guess what? I’m publishing a new book,” I have no choice but to indulge that GP and tell everyone who will listen that there’s another book for them.
So without more twiddle-twaddle on my part, here’s my Featured Follower for August. Mark Noce and his debut book. Keep reading. There’s a special Cover Reveal, too.

Saxon barbarians threaten to destroy medieval Wales. Lady Branwen becomes Wales’ last hope to unite their divided kingdoms when her father betroths her to a powerful Welsh warlord, the Hammer King. But the fledgling alliance is fraught with enemies from within and without as Branwen becomes the target of assassination attempts and courtly intrigue. A young woman in a world of fierce warriors, she seeks to assert her own authority and preserve Wales against the barbarians. But when she falls for a young hedge knight named Artagan, her world threatens to tear itself apart.

Caught between her duty to her people and her love of a man she cannot have, Branwen must choose whether to preserve her royal marriage or to follow her heart. Somehow she must save her people and remain true to herself, before Saxon invaders and a mysterious traitor try to destroy her.

Branwen’s story combines elements of mystery and romance with Noce’s gift for storytelling.


I’ll be posting more about Mark and his book August 15. My review for his book is coming soon.

What does Featured Follower mean?
It means that I:
  • buy, read and review the book.
  • post about the book on my blog.
  • post on facebook with a link to my review.
  • post three tweets each Wed. for the month.
  • add the cover to my Pinterest folder: Covers that Catch My Eye.

Sign up on my Email Connect (top right margin) to have a shot at being featured, receiving gifts for followers, news about my copywriting class and what I’m learning about how to sell more books. This month, Effective Book Descriptions.


Bish Denham’s cover for her next story from the island paradise of St. John.


The Bowl and the Stone Cover Reveal
Book Blurb

Pirates. Explorers. And spooky ghost hunters.

It’s 1962. Sam and her best friend, Nick, have the whole island of St. John, in the U. S. Virgin Islands, as their playground. They’ve got a 240-year-old sugar plantation ruins to explore, beaches to swim, and trails to hike.


But when a man disappears like a vapor right in front of them, they must confront a scary new reality. They’re being haunted. By whom? And why? He’s even creeping into Nick’s dreams.


They need help, but the one who might be able to give it is Trumps, a reclusive hunchback who doesn’t like people, especially kids. Are Sam and Nick brave enough to face him? And if they do, will he listen to them? 


Their carefree summer games turn into eerie hauntings, and Sam and Nick learn more about themselves and life than they could ever have imagined.

Pre-order today and enter the ghostly tale as soon as it releases.

Bish Denham


About the Author

Bish Denham, whose mother’s side of the family has been in the Caribbean for over one hundred years, was raised in the U. S. Virgin Islands. She still has lots of family living there whom she visits regularly.
She says, “Growing up in the islands was like living inside a history book. Columbus named the islands, Sir Francis Drake sailed through the area, and Alexander Hamilton was raised on St. Croix. The ruins of hundreds of sugar plantations, built with the sweat and blood of slave labor, litter the islands. Then there were the pirates who plied the waters. It is within this atmosphere of wonder and mystery that I grew up. Life for me was magical, and through my writing I hope to pass on some of that magic.”
The Bowl and the Stone: A Haunting Tale from the Virgin Islands, is her third book and second novel. You can find Anansi and Company: Retold Jamaican Tales and A Lizard’s Tail, at Amazon.com.
To learn more about Bish, visit her blog, Random Thoughts
She can also be found on Facebook
Twitter @BishDenham

And Goodreads





Sign of the Green Dragon is about to poke its nose into the world. August 3!
Still time to pre-order for only .99 if you haven’t already. And if you want to lend a hand with this birth, send up some smoke. I can use all the help I can get. To those who’ve already held up their hands, thanks so much.

I’ll be at Robert Kent’s super Middle Grade Ninja blog today, so stop by and read how I feel about being a hybrid author.

So there you have it. My Guilty Pleasure and a few of new books, too. Now for the Quote of the Week: “Poor is the man whose pleasure depends on the permission of another.” Madonna

Yolanda Renee’s Murder & Obsession Cover Reveal

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COVER REVEAL


 MURDER & OBSESSION
Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and a gifted artist, but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into an inferno of desire, driving him to destroy the object of his madness.
To be Released March 10, 2016
As wedding bells echo like the ring of toasting champagne glasses in the ice carved mountains of Anchorage Alaska, detective Steven Quaid rehabs his grandfather’s cabin into a honeymoon cottage for his new bride.
When he returns from a hunting trip, Steven’s faced with five police officers, who “Want to talk.” Plagued by two unsolved murders, the Department is searching for answers.
The conversation comes to a deafening halt as the team finds a bloody crime scene in the bridal suite. “Where’s her body?” is a question Steven cannot fathom. 
Steven’s jaw clenches and his heart races. Images of Sarah streak through his mind.
The silence breaks as an explosion of accusations vibrate through every fiber of his being.
Steven bolts…
Although running is never the smart thing to do, Steven’s not thinking clearly and his escape into the wilderness of the Brooks Range proves almost fatal.
This Steven Quaid mystery is both personal and heartbreaking.
*****
   Yolanda Renee
At one time Alaska called to me and I answered. I learned to sleep under the midnight sun, survive in below zero temperatures, and hike the Mountain Ranges. I’ve traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and the memories are some of my most valued. The wonders, mysteries, and incredible beauty that is Alaska has never left me and thus now influence my writing.
Despite my adventurous spirit, I achieved my educational goals, married, and I have two wonderful sons. Writing is now my focus, my newest adventure!
You can find Yolanda at:
Blog: Defending the Pen
Facebook
Twitter 
Pinterest
 Amazon
New Covers:

Murder, Madness & Love

After a gritty detective becomes involved with a beautiful widow suspected of murder, rumor and obsession obstruct his quest for justice.
Memories of Murder
World damnation is a psychotic man’s goal, but two obstacles stand in his way, greed and a dedicated detective. 

Good News, A AtoZChallenge Theme Revel and Hat’s Off Corner Welcomes Patricia Lynne and Heather Gardner

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A Great Use For Legos

Good News: This amazing 13-year-old is from near where I live, and what a piece of good news this is. Shubham Banerjee created a Braille printer out of Lego pieces for a school science project. 

After researching Braille online and discovering that printers for the blind cost $2,000 or more, he set out to create one that was less expensive.  He has already received financial backing from Intel Corp to start his own company. 

If you haven’t signed up yet, click HERE and add your name.

The Great and Powerful A to Z Theme Reveal Blogfest!

Sign-ups for the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge are already under way. If you have done it before, you know how much fun it is (good for you!) and if you have not, this is your chance to give it a try! You can sign up to participate here.

One of the most burning questions participants ask themselves every year is: 

“Should I have a theme?“

Themes are not mandatory, but definitely fun. They let your visitors know what to expect, and help you create posts that line neatly up from A to Z. They also have an added bonus: They let you participate in a whole separate blogfest!

Two years ago A to Z participant Mina Lobo started the Theme Reveal, and we thought it was such a great idea that we made it tradition. It’s now our very own, grand and festive way of rolling out our themes together!

Here is how the Theme Reveal Blogfest works:

Sign up on the Linky list below, and on March 23rd (Monday) publish a post on your blog in which you reveal your theme, tell us why it’s exciting, and give us a hint of what to expect from it! Then, once your post is up, use the Linky to visit all the other blogs announcing their themes. Enjoy!

This is a great opportunity for all of you to get a jump start on your A to Z experience. You can link up with fellow bloggers, scout out and bookmark themes that you look forward to, and set out delicious themed bait on your blog to lure in wandering participants! This way, by the time the frenzied posting begins on April 1st, you will already have an audience eagerly awaiting your posts.

Sign up below, ready your theme, and post March 23rd on your calendar!

******

www.matusic.com

The Muffin Commando Squad now has 9 members. Here’s the gang: Tara Tyler, Donna McDine, Tammy Theriault, Yvonne Ventresca, Carrie Butler, Patricia Lynne, Elizabeth Seckman, Tyrean Martinson and Me!


Hat’s Off Corner Welcomes Patricia Lynne and Heather Gardner



 Michael
Path of Angels Book One

photo Michael 2.jpg
Add to your Goodreads shelf

There is only one path.

Born mortal along with his three brothers, Michael is an Archangel with a specific role: hunt fallen angels and send them back to Hell. He is determined in his mission, never straying from his appointed path, until he meets Lake Divine, and discovers there may be more to his beliefs than blind duty.

But Lake is not who he seems. Offspring of a human and a fallen angel, a Nephilim, Lake must choose his own destiny: give in to the coldness and embrace the dark, or seek the light and rise above the sins of his father.

Two paths lay before them, but only one has the potential to destroy them both.

About the Author

photo PatriciaLynneAuthorwithbook.jpg
Patricia Josephine never set out to
become a writer. In fact, she never considered it an option during high school and
college. But some stories are meant to be told and this one chose her. Patricia
lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a
small petting zoo and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the
rainbow.

Patricia Josephine writes young adult under the name Patricia Lynne.

Follow Patricia on Twitter | Goodreads | Google+ | Website | Wattpad



















One Good Catch

A Maguire’s Corner novel

Title: One Good Catch
Author: Heather M. Gardner
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs
Release Date: March 13, 2015
~~~)
Ignoring a recent trauma that is affecting her everyday life, ER Doctor Kate Maguire engages in some high risk activities, but putting herself in these dangerous situations isn’t enough to feed her edginess. She needs something more. When her brother’s high school best friend comes back to town, it’s her chance for a ‘no strings attached’ fling with the man who still headlines in all her best dreams.

Rhys MacGrath’s days of one-night-stands are long over. The pro-football player might be side-lined at rehab for a shoulder injury, but that doesn’t mean he can’t admire and desire the all-grown-up, so-damn-hot, version of the tomboy he once knew. His sudden interest in Kate might be aggravating his best friend, who doesn’t approve, but it’s her indifference that’s driving Rhys crazy.

Everything heats up when Kate’s nosy nature sets her in the line of fire of an arsonist forcing them to deal with more than just the sparks igniting between them.

~~~)(~~~
Heather M. Gardner’s love of books began on the hand-woven rugs of her small town library where her mother worked. There she had a never-ending supply of stories to read at her fingertips. As a teen, her favorite genres to curl up with were romance and mysteries. When she started to create her own stories, they were the perfect fit.

Heather resides in New York with her best friend who is also her husband, plus her talented and handsome son. She is currently owned by four stray cats. Heather’s a full-time mom, works part-time from home, a chocolate enthusiast, coffee junkie, cat addict, book hoarder and fluent in sarcasm.

Blog: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
Twitter: @hmgardner

Goodreads: HMGardner  
Facebook: HeatherWritesRomance 


Quote of the Day: “A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.” Jack Dempsey.

Celebrating the Small Thing and Darkness Cover Reveal

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VIKLIT


LG KELTNER @writing off the edge
KATIE @TheCyborg Mom
CAFFEEMAGGIEATO @mscoffeehouse
I have one small thing to celebrate today. I had one day this week that I only concentrated on writing. That was wonderful and long overdue.
Now we have a new book with a splendid cover to reveal. Ta da!

YA Supernatural Thriller
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Seventeen-year-old Carly Lopez suffers from post-traumatic stress, though the “post” part technically doesn’t apply…not when the killer’s still out there. 
As the only survivor of the killing spree that left four dead girls in its wake, Carly fails to unearth her buried memories of that day and is consumed with guilt. After a year of silence, the killer’s back, and Carly will stop at nothing to stop him. 
With each new death, Carly’s reality shatters, propelling her deeper into the darkness where the dead haunt her and where the truth lies. Her only firm grasp of reality is Hunter Jackson, whose mysterious overprotectiveness of Carly forces her to doubt the reason behind her guilt.    
But Hunter has a secret.
And when she discovers a horrible truth, Carly questions her involvement in the murders. Was she directly responsible? Did she help the killer? Carly soon learns that finding answers may mean risking more than just her sanity.

About the author:

Elizabeth is the author of THE SECOND SIGN and THE SECOND SHADOW, a dark young adult paranormal romance series. Elizabeth currently teaches writing to teens at a local community center. You can find more information about Elizabeth at: 
Blog: http://chandarawrites.blogspot.com

How to Ratchet Up Tension In Your Novel

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What is tension? 

I love this definition: “Delicious moments of anxious uncertainty.” Doesn’t that grab you and make you want to create those kinds of moments in your stories? So how do you do that? 

  • You make your characters want something.
  • You create obstacles for them.
  • You don’t let them have what they want.
  • You keep them trying to get it. . .for a while.

To enhance this tension of WANTING BUT NOT GETTING, Carol Kilgore has added the TICKING CLOCK. A perfect tension heightener. With character trying to overcome obstacles against the clock, readers have to turn the pages, and that’s exactly what writers want.

By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple.
As an operative for a covert agency buried in the depths of the Department of Homeland Security, Kat is asked to participate in a matter of life or death—locate a kidnapped girl believed to be held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since the person doing the asking is the wife of the president and the girl is the daughter of the first lady’s dearest friend, it’s hard to say no.
Kat and Dave quickly learn the real stakes are higher than they or the first lady believed and will require more than any of them bargained for.
The kicker? They have twenty-four hours to find the girl—or the matter of life or death will become more than a possibility.

CAROL KILGORE
Crime Fiction with a Kiss
Carol writes grocery lists, texts to her family, new lyrics to old songs for her dogs, love notes to her husband, and novels for herself. And for you. In between, she blogs weekly at Under the Tiki Hut and is active on Facebook and Twitter.

She sees mystery and subterfuge everywhere. And she’s a sucker for a good love story—especially ones with humor and mystery. Crime Fiction with a Kiss gives her the latitude to mix and match throughout the broad mystery and romance genres. Having flexibility makes her heart happy.
You can connect with Carol and her books here:
*****
WRITE CLUB STARTS TODAY
*****
“Do what you have to do resolutely, with all your heart. The traveler who hesitates only raises dust on the road.”
I’m guilty of hesitating and raising dust, but I’m working on being resolute.  How about you? And will you visit The Write Club today and cast a vote? I’m off to do that. Also don’t forget Secrets of Honor is waiting for you. 

Celebrating the Release of COME BACK by Melissa Maygrove

By 72 Comments

MELISSA MAYGROVE
Available May 12, 2014 from Truelove Press
Cover design by Carrie Butler,
Forward Authority Design Services

Sometimes a single choice alters the course of a person’s life forever.



Left behind by everyone she loves…
Rebecca Garvey had the promise of a California future dreams are made of, until the wagon train her family was traveling with left her behind. Now she’s slowly dying in the wilderness, abandoned and stripped of her self-worth. Once the shock of her desertion turns to embittered despair, she doesn’t want to be found. Then a handsome stranger challenges her convictions and changes her mind. 
Does COME BACK sound just a little delicious? 
I see you nodding, so you’re only a click away from starting to read it.
Amazon / Kindle / Barnes and Noble  / Nook / Kobo  
Thanks VIKLIT

Now to help with this Friday’s Celebration, here’s something more from Melissa. She’s very generously shared her plan for marketing her book. Take it away, Melissa!

“C. Lee asked me to tell you how I organized my book’s cover reveal and release tours and delivered the info to my blogging friends. Below is my list of tips…

First, you have to have blogging friends. You get them by building a writer’s blog and visiting other writers’ blogs on a regular basis. It seems simple, but you’d be surprised how many writers don’t bother building a social media platform or don’t know how.

By the time I published my debut, I had been blogging for over 2 years and had nearly 2000 followers on Twitter.

Next, a few months before release day, you have to come up with a plan. 

Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Timing matters. Ex: Your book cover has to be finished before you can reveal it. Plan your tours (your whole publishing schedule, for that matter) accordingly.  I made a document with weekly tasks for myself and struck them through when they were done.
  • Writers have different blogging schedules. If you give them a choice of dates, they’ll be more likely to help you. You also need to take the state of the blogosphere into consideration. (I had to do my cover reveal early to miss AtoZ.)
  • Same thing goes for content. I do my promo ‘buffet style.’ I send lots of options (short post, long post, big cover image, small 3D render, sample tweets, sample Facebook posts, etc.) and let my helpers choose what they want.
  • Sending out one mass email with images and details is easier than sending 30, 40, 50 individual ones. Create some kind of sign-up form and kill a flock of birds with one stone. 
  • BUT get permission from bloggers before contacting them with promo. If you don’t, it’s spam. (All I did to get folks to sign up was post a link to a Google form along with a humble request. Then I BCCd their addresses in the emails to protect their privacy.)
  • Create a press page on your blog or website (if you’re to the publishing stage, you should really have a website) so promoters can find all your author stuff in one place. For official bio, links, and head shot, you can simply send them there.
  • Prepare guest posts and excerpts ahead of time so, when people request them, you can quickly pull them from a file and attach. Be sure to make note of word count (I include that in the document’s title). Doing both will save you a TON of time.
  • Compile a list of bloggers who are posting for you (by date) and mention / link them on your blog. Show your gratitude! Posting promo for them in return is fair play, too. 

If you’re organized and if you make it easy for your writer buddies, they’ll be much more likely to help. :)”

Thanks so much, Melissa. Did her step by step plan help you? Do you have other suggestions to add? Hope you’ll support her release.

Julie Musil Reveals Her Cover! AND Great UncommonYA Giveaway.

By 12 Comments

THE BOY WHO LOVED FIRE
by
YA contemporary with a splash of ghosts!

Manny O’Donnell revels in his status at the top of his high school food chain. He and his friends party in the mountains on a blustery night, sharing liquor and lame ghost stories around a campfire. The next morning, as a wild fire rages in those same mountains, Manny experiences doubt. He was the last of the drunken crew to leave the cave, and he’s uncertain if he extinguished the flames. Within hours, he becomes the number one arson suspect.
Santa Ana winds + matches = disaster. You’d think he would’ve learned that the first time he started a fire.
As he evades a determined arson investigator, Manny, a modern-day Scrooge, is visited by ghosts of the past, present, and future. He’s forced to witness the fate of his inadvertent victims, including Abigail, the scarred beauty who softens his heart. Manny must choose between turning around his callous, self-centered attitude, or protecting his own skin at the expense of anyone who gets in his way.

Julie Musil, author of YA fiction, is a chocoholic and obsessive reader. As the mother of three teen boys, she’s immersed in teen speak, drama, and gym socks. She loves to chat! Connect with her on her blog, Twitter, or Facebook. 


******






We are a collective of YA authors who have come together to spread the word about the newest, bold, gritty fiction. Our genres include realistic, contemporary, historical, magical realism, and paranormal–with a healthy dose of suspense woven through all of them. 









Uncommon YA features not only the latest titles from the above montage but it has heaps of other features that will interest you. Whether you are a reader, writer or both, there is something to suit all interests.

Shout out! Saturdays.
BLAST events
Meet my Main Character.
Behind the Scenes in Publishing. 
Interview an Agent.
Talking to my Teenage Self
+ more!
For a short time Uncommon YA is offering YOU the chance to choose your prize. Click on the titles below to learn more about each one. 
You can add it to your Goodreads shelf while you’re there!
WARNING. It will be a tough choice choosing just one to win!
The 6 titles you can choose from.
Sliding on the Edge    
 Escape from Eden Vigilante Nights

ENTER NOW!

ENTER NOW!
Rafflecopter giveaway link 
3 people will win their choice of 1 Ebook of selected titles. Or a 10 page critique of your work-in-progress is also available from an UncommonYA author!

What do you think about Julie’s cover? Are you excited to see covers revealed? What catches your eye on a book cover? Color? Design? Are you going to enter to win an UncommonYA book? Hope so.

Cover Reveal Crystal Collier’s Moonless & Then There’s the Small Things to Celebrate

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QUITE A COVER!

MOONLESS: Alexia’s nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless. 

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.

Release Date: November 13

Visit Crystal Collier’s Website for more about her and her books.



******
VikLit’s LINKY



CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS


My regular readers know this year has been a little hectic. It seems that all the small things started snowballing into rather LARGE things. 
Then I had this break through and I’m managing much better in October than I was for the previous few months. I even took an unexpected trip. It was only a week, but that was enough to set me right again. Want to guess where I went? Bish is disqualified from guessing because she knows.
Here’s where it happened.

Turtles Hatching. Hundreds of Them.
The Reef Only a Few Minutes Out–Great Snorkling 
At Last! Sand Between My Toes

Thursday! And I Have a New Book For You! Plus a Grammar Grappler. Ready?

By 31 Comments

It’s Paranormal. It’s Romantic! And you can win one.

I stuck my neck out and interviewed Rena. She’s the main gal in Carrie’s book and one tough cookie. Want to see what she says? Read on.
Rena, you are a petite blonde who seems to be very active. Besides working out with that punching bag, what’s your favorite exercise?
I used to be in gymnastics, and then I was on a martial arts kick, but the only exercise I’ll have time for is running between classes this semester. Seriously. I scheduled a couple back to back, and they’re on opposite ends of campus. Bleh!
You’ll be buffed by end of term!
Can you tell us how you met that hunk, Wallace Edwin Blake?
Oh God. Are you going to lecture me, too? We ran into each other—as in, a face meets chest collision. Everyone thinks I had this dangerous run-in with the madman, but it wasn’t that big of deal at all.
No lecture from me! But I’ve heard “madman” bandied about. Just . . . well onward.
What is there about him, not including the fact that he’s gorgeous, that attracts you to him?
Attracts me? Easy there, lady. We just met yesterday morning. I mean, he seems pretty considerate, and he wears this tortured expression that makes me want to jump his bones, but I wouldn’t say I’m attracted to him. I hardly know the guy!
Er, sorry. But… well… jumping bone…. Never mind. Let me move on to another touchy question. I’m fearless, you see.

I notice a few bruises on your arm, and I hate to be nosey (not in the least), but how did you get those?
Ugh. Don’t remind me. I swear, I’m vitamin deficient or something. Wallace grabbed me once, and I’m still wearing his handprints. Isn’t that ridiculous?
Aha! I mean, of course. Ridiculous. Absolutely.
There’s a rumor that this guy Wallace Blake is kind of a . . . how should I put this . . .wild guy. What do you know about that?
So help me, if I hear one more person bring up those stupid rumors. Yes, there are screams and growls and… God knows what else coming from his room every night, but that doesn’t mean Wallace is crazy. We let those stupid rumors get out of control, and now looked at what’s happened. The guy is a freakin’ pariah. I’m sick of it.
You got a little defense just then. I’m sorry, but my readers really like to know what goes on behind those closed doors on campus. Hope you don’t mind if I ask one more rather personal question.
*Sigh* It’s okay. I’m just… never mind. Let’s continue.
Do you have any reservations about being up close and personal with Wallace? Is there any hope for a relationship? I’ve heard rumors, just so you know. 
I’ll say this: I don’t know what goes on in that room every night, but I refuse to write him off because of it.
Well, there you have it. I need a drink. Not water.


What people are saying:

“Carrie Butler is now on my must read list.” ~Lynn Rush, author of Violet Midnight
“I carried Strength with me everywhere. Grocery shopping, the dinner table, you name it. The storyline was addictive, and the characters were hilarious. I couldn’t put it down.” ~Jessica Therrien, author of Oppression

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Her Grammarness Grapples with Gerunds . . . sort of.

Here’s a riddle: What looks like a verb, but acts like a noun?
Ans:  (Surprise!) A gerund.
Writing can be hell. Editing can be tedious. Re-writing is the pits!
See? Each underlined word looks like an -ing verb, doesn’t it? But they’re subjects in sentences, so they’re nouns. So what’s the big deal?  *Ho hum. *Yawn.
Well, here are two reasons to know about this versatile (aka tricky) grammar bit.
1) Create sentence variety. Use a gerund form once in a while to vary your sentence structure.
2) To be grammatically correct, use the possessive form with the gerund. Instead of writing, 
“Dear Editor, I appreciate you making all those red ink marks on my manuscript.” 
You’ll write (and correctly so), 
“Dear Editor, I appreciate your making all those red ink marks on my manuscript.”
Ta! Off to find some red ink.