Happy Holidays!!!

I just want to say have a happy holidays and Merry Xmas to everyone, and I'm just going to take a little break and be back on the 5th January with a new resolution to post more regularly to this blog. YAY! So, in the meantime enjoy the holidays.

Special Promotion: Shinigami Eyes only $0.99

In honor of Shinigami Eyes book blitz that is running over at Dark World Books at the moment, I am holding a special promotion for Shinigami Eyes.

From now until 12/22 you can Shinigami Eyes for only $0.99:

http://bit.ly/1zraWHU

Shinigami Eyes Book Blitz

Today is the day! The Shinigami Eyes Book Blitz, hosted by Dark World Books, starts. Come on over and stop by all the stops over the next week. Just click here to find out all the fantastic blogs that are participating in this book blitz.

Since it's such a big day, later on I'll also be announcing a special promotion for Shinigami Eyes that will last throughout the entire tour, so stay tuned.

Things not turning out as expected...

I know I have been absent for a while, but I have needed to work out some health issues of late and haven't been in the right mindset to blog about anything substantial. But now I'm back and ready to jump back into blogging, and writing, and just letting my creative juices fly.

Anyone that knows me is well aware that I have become obsessed with photography. These days I'm literally thinking of as many photographic ideas as I am story ideas, but don't worry, that's not getting in the road of my writing. In fact, I'm actually thinking about how I can photograph several scenes (even the covers) of the stories I'm writing.

One thing that I'm learning from being behind the lens, as opposed to just writing out the words to describe a scene, is that not everything will turn out as expected. Yeah, I can write a scene and mold the words to fit the story in my head, but sometimes for photography the picture in my head does not even come close to matching the final outcome. There are lots of obstacles that can occur when trying to create a piece of art through the lens, whether it be the sun (yep, the damn sun coming out and ruining the shot), limited props, location or even some things might be an impossible feat. Where it's easy to write about someone walking on the roof, it's a totally different thing when trying to photograph it, still mucking around with trying to get the right angles of the model's hair and movement.

The above image is one that really didn't turn out like how I pictured. For one, we were meant to find the ocean baths to fully submerge the model in water, but didn't feel like lugging all the equipment down all the stairs in the midday heatwave. Two, the damn sun. Yeah, I didn't check that my shadow wasn't in the picture before calling it a day. The editing of this photo made me one very proud girl as it was the first intensive Photoshop experiment and I was happy to be able to remove the shadow from the picture (even if I'm the only one that likes it).

Things might not turn out as expected, but it's always good to try and put a positive spin on what you have and perhaps it will turn into a good thing. Well, I'm out of here for the night, but don't worry, you'll be seeing me around a lot more, with a lot more images, and a lot more stories as my brother and I continue working into the new year to bring you more stories.

How do you turn unexpected things into positives? Do you have any hobbies or skills that you are proud of?

Book Blitz: Mistletoe & Hollywood

Today I'm proud to be a part of the 'Mistletoe & Hollywood Book Blitz', hosted by Dark World Books. To view other stops on this tour just click on the banner.

Mistletoe & Hollywood

Jack Eversea and Evan Weston, two of Hollywood’s hottest young actors had their hearts stolen by regular down to earth girls, and we lived and laughed and loved their stories in the Eversea Series and in the Desire Resort Series. But what happened when the books were over?

How did each couple choose to spend their first Christmas? Was it sexy, emotional, stressful or heartwarming?

Perhaps it was everything and more…

My Star, My Love (An Eversea Series Novella) by Natasha Boyd

Movie star, Jack Eversea, has decided to brave his history with England and take the love of his life, Keri Ann Butler, home to meet his mother for Christmas. He’s been back in California and Keri Ann’s been busy with art school, and they are desperate to spend three weeks together over the Holidays.

But Jolly Old England does weird things to Jack. And despite his super sweet “twelve days of Christmas” gift giving, Keri Ann can’t quite work out of he’s about to propose or regrets bringing her home. Is he still questioning whether she can handle a few paparazzi, or is he doubting Keri Ann’s commitment to their future?

The magnetic couple is back in a fun, sometimes poignant, and super sexy story about acceptance, love and how to make love quietly in a creaky old house with one’s mother down the hall.

Many Times, Many Ways (A Desire Resort Series Novella) by Kate Roth

Vacation is over.

Danielle was escaping her monotonous life at a sexy beach resort when she first fell under the spell of Hollywood hunk, Evan Weston, but now they’re trying to make their relationship work in the real world.

While they’re both hopeful for what lies ahead, the only question is whether or not their desires for the future are one and the same.

Things have always moved quickly between Evan and Danielle, but Danielle can’t stave off the lingering anxiety she has once she finds out about Evan’s big plans—and even bigger Christmas gift. Can she continue to let go of the worry that plagues her so the man of her dreams can give her the life she never imagined she’d have?

Amazo US – Amazon UK – iTunes – Kobo

Add Mistletoe & Hollywood to your Goodreads list!

_________________________

Check out the previous books in the Eversea series!

Grab your copy of Eversea (Book #1) for ONLY $0.99!

*OFFER VALID FOR A LIMITED TIME*

Amazon

 

Check out the previous books in the Desire Resort series!

Grab your copy of Last Resort (Book #1) for ONLY $0.99!

*OFFER VALID FOR A LIMITED TIME*

Amazon

 

Author Interview

1. Where did you come up with the inspiration behind the book? 

-->

NB: I wanted to write a book about how it feels to fall in love; when every single interaction, look and thought regarding the other person takes on monumental impact. When it’s all you can think about. I also wanted it to be part Cinderella story, but where Cinderella doesn’t really need to be saved and the prince is not exactly perfect. 

KR: 

--> When Natasha brought me the idea of bringing my characters from Last Resort back for a holiday novella I knew I had more to show for them. The novella for Mistletoe & Hollywood came so easily. It proved to me how much I love Evan and Danielle.  

What inspired you to write your first book? 

-->

NB: I’ve always written. I love to write.  But recently we moved to a new area and I wasn’t working, my youngest was in school, and I didn’t know many people. So one day I sat down to write and just kept going. 

KR:  

--> --> My debut novel, The Low Notes, is the first book I ever finished. I started writing versions of it as far back as high school. Forbidden love has always called to me and The Low Notes is my take on the ultimate forbidden romance.

--> What books/authors have influenced your writing?
-->

NB: Every book I read inspires me in some way.  I read across so many genres that I don’t believe I specifically have much of anyone’s influence in my writing.

KR: 

--> So many authors! Everyone from Emily Giffin to Joe Hill. My very first inspiring author was Katherine Applegate. She wrote a YA series I devoured as a teen and it really propelled my love of fiction.

What was your favourite scene to write?

-->

-->

NB:

-->It’s funny. I get asked this question a lot, and every time I really need to think about it.  I think the scene when Keri Ann and Jazz get drunk together. It comes right after Keri Ann gets kicked in the gut (metaphorically) and inspired to get her a** into gear about her art and her future and life in general.  There’s some great banter between the two friends too when Jack shows up. 

KR: 

--> Ooh, well my favourite was a scene I can’t share without giving major spoilers! But I loved being able to write a few more love scenes for Evan and Danielle. Those are always fun and they are one of my favourite couples I’ve written—their chemistry is off the charts.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

-->
-->

NB: 

--> Believing I could do it.  And trying to write it as if no one would ever read it. You know that phrase ‘dance like nobody is watching’? It’s the same with writing. 

KR: 

--> It was hard for me to just tell the holiday story. A part of me wanted to keep going and show their entire life but that would’ve made for a long and incredibly fluffy read since I want them to be happy.

How do you overcome writer's block?

-->
-->

NB:

-->The best solution for me is to open a new document and write my characters in a totally made up, stupid situation. That way I usually find out where they actually want to go (instead of where I was forcing them to go). 

KR: 

--> I usually try to read something or see a movie. Unwinding and getting my mind on something else usually breaks me out of a block.

What are your current projects?

-->  
-->

NB: Finishing Jazz and Joey’s story.  I had to put that aside for a while to work on Deep Blue Eternity (formally known as The Cottage). It will be out in March 2015. 

KR: 

--> I’m currently working the next book in the Desire Resort series and a novella in my Confession Records collection.

--> What book are you reading now?  

-->

NB: 

-->The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell 

KR: 

--> I’m reading Stronger With Him by JA Hensley. I’m loving it so far!

If you could have dinner with any fictional character who would it be and why?

--> 

-->

NB:  It would be a dinner party because I could never pick just one.  Can you imagine a dinner companion who was a “good” vampire, and who had been stuck as a teenager for a hundred years? Fascinating.  What about President Snow (Hunger Games)? He would be a totally scary dinner companion but man, do I have some questions for him.  I’d really love to have dinner with Mrs. Weaton, the elderly neighbour from my Eversea series. Boy, she lived a life. I’d love to know more!
KR: 

--> I have a sick love for Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby. I’d love to meet him!

Do you have any advice for other writers?

-->
-->

NB: Ha ha!  Write like no one is reading, but publish like everyone will.  Give yourself permission to write an imperfect first draft, but don’t release anything less than what you deem to be perfect. There’s a long road between the two, don’t get pressured to take a short cut, and don’t quit because it’s a long road. 

KR: 

--> Keep writing! I always say be a writer first and an author second. Your passion and your love for writing should be what keeps you going.

 About the Author

Natasha Boyd

Natasha Boyd is a writer with a background in marketing and public relations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and lives in the coastal Carolina Lowcountry, complete with Spanish moss, alligators and mosquitoes the size of tiny birds. She has a husband, two sons and a cat named Tuna. Eversea is her first full-length novel.

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads

 

Kate Roth

Inspired by music, film, art and the wealth of stories she has heard through her career as a professional hair stylist, Kate Roth decided to get real about her love of writing in 2008. She signed up for a course after-hours at the local high school called ‘So You Want To Write A Book?’. Indeed, she did! For years Kate had been dreaming up love stories in her head and she’d even managed to write a few of them down but it was that class that gave her the drive to finally do something more with her ideas. The ideas haven’t stopped flowing since. She enjoys writing in all sub-genres of romance and even has a few surprises up her sleeve for the future. She is a small business owner and lives in Indiana with her husband, Adam and their dog, Sampson.

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wait a second... It's Free!!!

I can't believe it's almost the end of October already, just two days until the big day... yep, all the anxiety is building, and the pressure of getting everything perfect is just hitting me...

HOLY CRAP!!! It's nearly release day!!!

And I must be losing my mind, because I'm holding a special promotion to offer readers the chance to read my first novel, Shadow Embraced, before Shinigami Eyes is released. 

What's it going to cost? Well, nothing... Then what's the catch? Actually... nothing. I'm just feeling in a generous mood.

That's right, head over to Amazon between now and 11/1 and you can get Shadow Embraced.

And for those who have already read Shadow Embraced, I can let you into a little secret... Scar's story will definitely be continuing, and that journey will be able to be read early next year (but sshhh, it's a secret).

Back to Shadow Embraced, if you want a chance to get Shadow Embraced at this bargain then head over to Amazon: http://amzn.to/1zf80Ai before the 1st November.

The Executioner at the Institute for Contaminated Children Review Tour

Welcome to my stop on the What Gifts She Carried tour hosted by Dark World Books.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

The Executioner

at the Institute for Contaminated Children

16 The deciding age of contamination.

30 The number of coin flips it takes to prove that Donna may have subconsciously used her genetically enhanced abilities to excel in school.

24 The number of hours Donna has to board a train to the Institute for Extraordinary Children.

14 The flights of stairs she must climb to get to her room.

700 The number of pages in the rule book that will determine how she eats, sleeps, and…well…smells for the remainder of the school year.

2 The number of members in her squad. Good thing Dan’s there to help get her abilities in shape and avoid Donna’s worst fear—humiliation. Her abilities skyrocket. Until the day she learns exactly what Dan is capable of.

1 The number of bodies that turn up dead.

0 Her chances of getting out alive.

Amazon (Kindle) – Amazon (Paperback) – Barnes & Noble

Add The Executioner at the Institute for Contaminated Children

to your Goodreads list!

My Review:

When I first picked up The Executioner of the Institute for Contaminated Children I had no idea what I was in for, and I wasn't sorry. The idea of children developing powers has always been an interest of mine, and Donna was a fantastic character to follow into this story.

Donna is a smart character, and that is actually her power. She has the ability to always pick the right multiple choice question and she has the ability to predict things in games of chance. That is why Donna is sent to the "special" school.  Soon Donna learns that something is not right, especially since there are no phones, TV or internet at the school. When students start turning up dead, Donna is determined she's going to find out what's going on.

Margaret E. Alexander has written a thrilling story that will keep the reader guessing until the very end about who the executioner is. Donna is a strong character who really develops as the story moves. In the beginning she was very timid and she definitely morphed into the butt-kicking heroine that I love, and she will do anything to stand up for what she believes and protect the ones she loves.

The Executioner of the Institute for Contaminated Children was a thrilling read and I recommend this to anyone who loves superhero stories.

_________________________

Margaret E. Alexander

Margaret E. Alexander grew up in Miami, FL. Ten years of frizz and hurricanes chased her away to sunny San Diego, CA. While in college, studying biomedical engineering didn’t stop her from pumping out novel drafts every year. She found her escape in storytelling and others like her who sometimes preferred the world of fiction to the real one. The Executioner at the Institute for Contaminated Children is her first YA novel with Crescent Moon Press. She loves blogging about thrillers with young protagonists and is putting her art minor to good use with a graphic novel project on the side. Her wandering focus is the fault of her cat.

Blog – Twitter – Goodreads

Blog Tour: Adventure on Nemesis Mountain

Annie McMahon’s Blog Tour – October 15-31

Today I'm very excited to be a part of the blog tour to celebrate a fantastic author who I have had the privilege to be a part of the same critique group of. As someone who read some of the earlier drafts of this story I'm glad to be able to pass on the word that now people can read this great story.

Blog tour post: http://anniemcmahon.blogspot.com/2014/09/volunteers-needed-for-blog-tour.html

One-sentence pitch

When nature-loving Emilio and athletic Hans get lost in the forest during a fifth grade field trip, they have no choice but to put their differences aside to survive the harsh wilderness.

Back Cover

Emilio would rather eat a slimy worm than miss the fifth grade field trip. Nemesis Mountain must be full of rare leaf specimens and bugs for his collection. Besides, he needs a break from the playground and Hans’s nonstop teasing. His excitement is squashed when he gets lost in the woods with his worst enemy.

Alone in the forest, the two boys battle to survive the harsh wilderness, facing challenges that will change their lives forever.

About the Author

Annie McMahon is originally from Canada but now lives in New Jersey. She has a degree in computer programming, but her life took an unexpected turn and she ended up writing stories and articles instead of computer programs. Now she uses every spare minute to write children’s novels and to help other writers succeed.

Her three children have been the inspiration behind many of her short stories, over forty in total. Her flash fiction story, Paradoxical Neighbor, has been published by Nelson Education in a book for 10th graders, Nelson Literacy 10.

Annie has a certificate in copyediting, moderates a critique group for children's writers, and is the editor at UK Children's Publishing.

Links

Twitter: @anniemcmahon20

Blog: anniemcmahon.net

Goodreads: Annie McMahon

Author page on Amazon:  Annie’s author page

Novel on Amazon: Adventure on Nemesis Mountain

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anniemcmahon20

Blog: http://anniemcmahon.net/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7839742-annie-mcmahon

Author page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Annie-McMahon/e/B00MPSBCYI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Novel on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Nemesis-Mountain-Annie-McMahon-ebook/dp/B00MP2PF7E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412173310&sr=8-1&keywords=annie+mcmahon

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