Spring into Projects

With spring right around the corner and warmer days ahead, it's that time of year when people turn to yard work, spring cleaning, and fun DIY projects. I've been busy with a few projects of my own!

For starters, I spent days trying to give my blog a "new look." It's so different from what I had before that I'm still trying to decide if I love it. What do you think?

Also, over the weekend I FINALLY hung pictures I've been meaning to hang for over two years, ever since we moved into our new house. I knew I wanted to create a picture wall, so I found the box of pictures, grabbed a few other wall decorations I've been saving, and spent Saturday afternoon creating it. I still need to update the pictures, but I figure I have at least another two years before I start to feel guilty! :)

Here's how it turned out.


BEFORE:

AFTER: 

To achieve this look, buy lots of frames (I found most of mine at Michael's and Home Goods), print off your favorite pics (I decided to use black and white because I love how they look with the black and white frames), add a few other wall decor items (ampersand, giant 'S', clock, quote blocks, etc), and Voila! 

I think the key is to lay it out on the ground first, exactly like you want it. Make sure you measure the wall you want to put it on as well as the actual display on the ground. I quickly realized that my arrangement was a lot larger than some of the walls I considered putting it on. That's how it ended up in the hall at the top of the stairs, which turned out to be the perfect place for it. :)

And the great thing about a picture wall is that it doesn't have to be perfect! If you look closely (er, don't, actually) you'll see that mine isn't perfectly symmetrical. And that's okay. At least, that's what I tell myself. :)

So, that's it for me. What have you been up to? Are you working on any fun projects? Are you ready for spring?

The Darkness Within Trailer Reveal

I'm excited to be able to reveal Kelly Hashway's trailer for her latest novel, THE DARKNESS WITHIN. And check out what people are saying about the first novel in this series—THE MONSTER WITHIN.

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The Darkness Within:

After dying of cancer at seventeen and being brought back to life by an evil witch who turned her into a monster, Samantha Thompson thinks she's finally gotten past all the tragedy in her life. Now she's part of a coven of good witches who are helping her and her boyfriend, Ethan Anderson, learn to use the powers they received from other witches. Aside from the fact that Sam and Ethan are still in hiding from their old lives--the ones they had before Sam was brought back to life--things couldn't be better. Sam and Ethan are inseparable. What could go wrong? 

Magic. 

Ethan's magic came from a witch who'd turned as evil as possible, and though his coven thought he'd be fine, the more he uses his magic, the stranger he starts acting. The magic inside him is changing who he is. One minute he's Sam's sweet, perfect Ethan and the next, he's a complete stranger. Even with all her witchy power, Sam is helpless against the magic corrupting Ethan. Can Sam find out what's wrong with him before she loses him to dark magic forever?

Title: The Darkness Within (The Monster Within #2)

Author: Kelly Hashway

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

ISBN:  9781633920217

Release Date: 6/2/2015

Formats: Paper, e-book 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23420876-the-darkness-within

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Darkness-Within-Monster/dp/1633920216

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-darkness-within-kelly-hashway/1120636036?ean=9781633920217

And here's the first book in the series:

The Monster Within

The moment seventeen-year-old Samantha Thompson crawls out of her grave, her second chance at life begins. She died of cancer with her long-time boyfriend, Ethan, by her side—a completely unfair shot at life. But Ethan found a way to bring her back, like he promised he would. Only Sam came back wrong.

     She's now a monster that drains others' lives to survive. And after she kills, she’s tortured by visions—glimpses into her victims would-have-been futures had she not killed them. Barely able to live with herself and trying to make things right, Sam ends up a pawn in a vicious game of payback within the local coven of witches.

     But when the game reveals what Ethan had to do to save Sam, she must make a choice that will change all their lives forever.

Title: The Monster Within

Author: Kelly Hashway

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

ISBN:  978-1-937053-85-7

Release Date: 6/17/2014

Formats: Paper, e-book 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15839932-the-monster-within

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-monster-within-kelly-hashway/1117263103?ean=9781937053857

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Within-Kelly-Hashway-ebook/dp/B00KE4RL72

What people are saying about The Monster Within:

"An intense read and original plot. Kelly Hashway's THE MONSTER WITHIN carries a noir vibe that will leave you in chills." ~Jen Murgia, author of Forest of Whispers

"Hashway does a great job creating characters that stir your emotions and a mystery you want to unravel."  Cherie Colyer, author of the EMBRACE and HOLD TIGHT

“Witches, lies, black magic, murder…and the ultimate act of selfless love. Kelly Hashway has a spellbinding hit with “The Monster Within…” ~Michelle Pickett, Bestselling author of “PODs”

"Resurrection has a dark price. The Monster Within is a fast paced and twisted read that will keep you guessing to the end." ~Heather Reid, author of Pretty Dark Nothing

About Kelly Hashway:

Kelly Hashway grew up reading R.L. Stein’s Fear Street novels and writing stories of her own, so it was no surprise to her family when she majored in English and later obtained a masters degree in English Secondary Education from East Stroudsburg University. After teaching middle school language arts for seven years, Hashway went back to school and focused specifically on writing. She is now the author of three young adult series, one middle grade series, and several picture books. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she isn’t writing, Hashway works as a freelance editor for small presses as well as for her own list of clients. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and volunteering with the PTO. Hashway currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, daughter, and two pets. Hashway is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency. 

Find Kelly Online:

Website: www.kellyhashway.com
Blog: http://kellyhashway.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellyhashway 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyhashway
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KellyHashway 

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kellyhashway/ 

And if you get a minute, be sure to stop by Unicorn Bell and read my interview with Lori MacLaughlin, author of LADY, THY NAME IS TROUBLE. Lori shares a quirky habit she has and what she would most like to do if she wasn't afraid. Stop by to find out what she said! 

Oh, and what do you think of my new blog design? Tell me, tell me please!

March IWSG and Teaser Interview with Megan Miranda

Today is the day for an IWSG posting but it also happens to be the day I'm posting a teaser interview, so I decided to mesh the two posts and see how it turns out! :)

Hosted by the amazing ninja himself—Alex Cavanaugh—the IWSG is where we post our insecurities, fears, triumphs, etc. It's never too late to join the IWSG, and if you're interested, you can go HERE.

Today on Unicorn Bell, I'm featuring my interview with acclaimed YA author Megan Miranda. I'm super excited because Megan happens to be one of my favorite YA authors! Some of her books include: FRACTURE (which I LOVED), VENGEANCE (another great one), HYSTERIA (in my TBR pile), and her latest release, SOULPRINT (currently reading).

I met Megan a few months ago at the SCBWI writer's conference in Charlotte, and when I realized she and I lived not too far from one another, I was ecstatic. We recently met and chatted over coffee and hot cocoa, and through sharing her stories and experiences, she inspired me to keep on this writing, querying, and publishing journey.

Everyone's journey is different. And I have to accept that. I truly believe (and hope) that if I don't lose sight of my dream, one day I can call myself a published author. Especially with wonderful people like Megan (And all of you!) in my cheering corner.

So, without further ado, enjoy the teaser interview and don't forget to stop by Unicorn Bell to read the rest!

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I absolutely love the premise for SOULPRINT. What inspired you to write the novel?

Thank you! The idea for Soulprint came from a question I had years ago, when I was studying science in school. We had been learning about the human genome project—where scientists were mapping each section of our DNA to what it coded for—and I wondered: what if scientists found the soul? What would that look like? What would that mean? How could we use that….and, in the case of this story, how might that be used against us?



Tell us something nobody knows about you.

Oh man, that nobody knows? Okay. *I* am the one who ate all that missing Halloween candy, kids.

List five adjectives to describe yourself.

Type-A. Caffeinated (at the moment). Uncoordinated. Short. Not-a-morning-person.

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

Well, not to be totally creepy, but…. Pretend to be a ghost? Levitate objects? Move things around and freak people out? All in the name of book research, of course!



To read the rest of my interview with Megan, please visit Unicorn Bell! Thanks!

Book Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Alina Chase has spent her entire life imprisoned on a secluded island—not for a crime she committed in this lifetime, but one done by her past self. Her very soul is like a fingerprint, carried from one life to the next—and Alina is sick of being guilty.

Aided by three teens with their own ulterior motives, Alina manages to escape. Although she’s not sure she can trust any of them, she soon finds herself drawn to Cameron, the most enigmatic and alluring of the trio. But when she uncovers clues from her past life, secrets begin to unravel and Alina must figure out whether she’s more than the soul she inherited, or if she’s fated to repeat history.

This stunning “new world” romance from acclaimed author Megan Miranda will leave readers wondering how far they would go to escape the past.

Author bio:

Megan Miranda is the author of the young adult novels Fracture, Hysteria, Vengeance, and Soulprint (all from Bloomsbury). Her debut adult suspense novel will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2016. Megan has a degree in Biology from MIT and currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two children.


You can find Megan here: Website

You can buy SOULPRINT here: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Teaser Interview with Lisa Buie-Collard

It's that time again! It's my week to host Unicorn Bell, and I had the opportunity to interview some amazing authors. Sooo, here's a little sneak peek of my interview with Lisa Buie-Collard. Lisa's novel The Seventh Man released in January, and she was kind enough to answer some of my crazy questions!

Here's your teaser...

What was your inspiration for the story?

First it was my infatuations for the actors Sean Bean and John Hannah. If it ever made it to the big screen, it seemed like a movie they might actually do. Second, I read a story about the amount of CCTV (over 1 million) cameras used in the UK, more than in any other country thanks in part to the IRA. Here is one article similar to what I read:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/02/cctv-cameras-watching-surveillance  Third, I love mysteries. I love London. I love York. I wanted to write a mystery tied to those places.

What are some books in your TBR (To Be Read) pile?

Oh boy, sure you want to open that pandora’s box?

I want to read some YA like

Woven, co-authored by David P. King and Michael Jensen

Sudden Secrets and The Great Timelock Disaster by C. Lee McKenzie

The second in the series about Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Sci Fi; Dragon of the Stars by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Romances like,

Indiscreet by Mary Balogh

Laughing Hawk by Linda Katmarian

Anything by Kristi Gold

And we haven’t even gotten to the suspense or mysteries, of which there are more than too many.

What makes you unique?

My DNA? Ha ha. Seriously, I think if there is one thing that makes me unique, it might be my take on life and emotions. I’ve been called naïve before and probably will be again, but I pay attention to my “emotional” intelligence more, sometimes, than my brain. Besides that? You’d have to ask my husband, my kids and my mom.


If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Hmmm… “That 70s Girl?” or 80s or 90s? I don’t know. I find it hard to think in terms of my entire life. I think the times we live in do define us to a point. I’ve just finished watching a program done in the UK that started in 1964 and follows 14 seven year-old children right up to present day. It’s called the “Up Series” and I found it fascinating. In the last installment they were 56. The next installment doesn’t come out for another three or four years. I’ll be looking for it.


To read more of my interview with Lisa, please visit Unicorn Bell.

When a young writer is kidnapped by a man who can't be seen, her only hope of escape rests on the one London cop who believes in ghosts.

On a cold, white, before-Christmas day, an assassin completes a job only to be pursued by police. Dodging through crowded city streets, the assassin nabs a young woman for cover.

Celia Wight, a reclusive American writer is shopping between engagements during a book tour. When a knife is pressed against her back, she loses her tenuous grasp on her carefully controlled existence.

Assigned to the homicide case, Detective Alban Thain, of the Metropolitan Police, suspects an assassin he calls the Wraith. The problem is, only Thain believes the assassin exists. Disregarding the consequences, Thain, who is the only one who believes there is a connection between the murder and the kidnapping, will do whatever it takes to exploit the Wraith’s first and only mistake: the kidnapping of an innocent bystander—if she is innocent.

Available now in EBook and TreeBook (soft cover) on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RUE8GOG

About the Author:

Lisa is a mother, wife, sister, and daughter, has waited tables, been a dental assistant, teacher, journalist, gardener and architectural administrative assistant. She's traveled in Europe, New Zealand, and the US. French and English are her languages of preference, with a little Spanish on the side. She grew up in Florida, lived four years in Georgia before moving to Texas for eighteen years. For the moment, she once again lives in Georgia. She writes full time and has completed six novels.

Review: This gripping story of revenge, passion, and longing is no mere police procedural but an exciting page turner that will have you wondering, to the end, who will outwit whom. Not to be missed! Linda Ellis, The Editing Place

Photo credit: Steven Heddon

Links:

Facebook:  http://tinyurl.com/mo4rs6n

Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/m8paj8a

Twitter:  http://tinyurl.com/m8paj8a

Website: http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lisabuiecollard/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/lisabuiecollard

Choose Your Characters Wisely

Writers spend hours upon hours choosing their characters, plotting scenes, and crafting the perfect story. And as a writer, I respect the art and craft of writing. However, we need to make sure that the message we're sending to our young readers is a positive one.

I'm not usually one to rant and complain, but there is a common theme I keep noticing in the books I read to my children that I feel needs to be addressed.

How many of you are familiar with the original version of The Three Little Pigs? Or even the Disney version?

I imagine many of us are. In the 1890 version of English Fairy Tales written by Joseph Jacobs (and most of the versions thereafter) the three little pigs are male. However, today when I pick up a modern-day version of the Three Little Pigs, the one who builds the house of bricks or the sturdiest material (aka the "smart one") is female.

For example, there's this one:

Source

And this one:

Source

And this one:

Source

And I'm sure there are more...

Now, don't get me wrong. I love all these books and own every one of them. But the other day as I was reading one of them to two of my sons, the older one asked, "Why do all the stories have the girl as the smart one and the boys as the dumb ones?"

His question broke my heart. Of course, I had noticed this common theme with these modern-day retellings of the three little pigs, but I guess I'd hoped my boys wouldn't notice. But no, they are too SMART for that.

I'm sorry, I'm all for diversity in books, heck if it doesn't seem diverse enough to have three male pigs, then by all means put some females in there. But when boys are bombarded over and over with books claiming that they are the dumb ones, what kind of impression are we leaving on them?

Obviously, I'm a little more sensitive to this since I'm a mother of FIVE boys. And I want them to grow up knowing they are good, smart, and kind. And after all I try to teach them in my own home, I don't want them to ever question it—not because of a book, or a movie, or the media. 

And hopefully, if you've never taken the time to think about the kinds of messages we're sending to the young people of the world through our books and media, perhaps this blog post will inspire you to.

Over and out.

Defying Reason Blog Tour: Guest Post by Elizabeth Seckman

As a big fan of Elizabeth's romance novels, I feel especially lucky to help celebrate the release of her latest novel, Defying Reason. And you guys are in for a treat because Elizabeth is here on my blog today. So, take it away, Elizabeth!

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Hi Kristin! Thanks for having me over!

People always ask me why I write romance. I really only have one good reason- I love love. It's a little word, but it is the basis for all the good in life- like families, friendships, relationships....

But as adults, we sometimes complicate things. What about heart breaks, unrequited love, co- dependent, selfish love...? Doesn't that ruin my love illusions?

Nope. I will still bet my money on love. Yes, we humans can figure out a way to muck up almost everything. We can take something as simple as love and turn it into a whole self-help section.

That's why, when life is complicated, we need to rely on children to guide us. They have a better grasp of the complex things, like computers and love....

If you don't have time, or are in a public place and can't watch the video...here are my favorite statements by these wise children:

~Love makes you feel brave and mighty.

~If you take someone to Hawaii, they'll fall in love with you.

~Love just happens...no one invented it. 

The Blurb:

Jo Leigh Harper comes from a long line of trouble-making, white trash stock.

Tanner Coulter comes from a longer line of wealth-creating, blue blood stock.

Jo graduated college top of her class, moving toward a future full of possibilities.

Tanner dropped out of college, trading a law degree for drinking games and one night stands.

A family crisis throws the rich party boy and the poor genius girl together. The attraction is immediate, though neither one is a heart-in-the-sand- drawing believer in true love. But as the summer sun heats up along the shores of the Outer Banks, so does the connection between them. Maybe, just maybe, they can win at love by defying reason.

Author Bio:

Elizabeth is a multi-published author of books for people who are believers in happily-ever- after, true love, and stories with a bit of fun and twists with their plots. The mother of four young men, she tackles laundry daily and is the keeper of the kitchen. She lives along the shores of the Ohio River in West Virginia, but dreams daily of the beach. 

Facebook/ Blog/ Website/ Buy Link

IWSG February: Never Give Up

Greetings, IWSG friends and followers! It's time for another group posting of the IWSG. Created by the amazing Alex Cavanaugh, this monthly blog hop is a way for writers to offer encouragement and support to one another while airing their own insecurities and sharing their successes. It's not too late to sign up if you want to join our group! Click HERE to join.

                                     

The main thing I want to accomplish with this blog post today is to inspire anyone out there who might be feeling down about their writing, who might be ready to quit, or who might be feeling the beat down of rejections or bad reviews.

This business is hard and sometimes you have to have super tough, rhinoceros-hide type skin. If you take anything away from this IWSG post, it's that you should never give up. If you love to write but aren't yet published—don't give up. If you're an author who has a publishing contract, but your readership is low—don't give up. If you're a writer who's struggling to make it to the bestsellers list—don't give up. And if you're wondering why I'm repeating the same words over and over, it's because I need to hear them more than anyone else. So, as you read through these quotes, commit yourself to move forward, work harder, and NEVER GIVE UP.