Cover Reveal! Unbreakable: The Deception Game #4

This has been a long time coming, but I finally, FINALLY, get to share with you the cover for the 4th and final book in the Deception Game series. This book should have released months ago, but I've had some issues with my editor meeting deadlines, so hence the delay. I'm excited to share with you the cover, blurb, and (dun, dun, dun) a GIVEAWAY! Who doesn't love free stuff, amirite?

This book is the culmination of 5 years of writing and revising and editing (and blood, sweat, & tears). I mean, I wrote a freaking book series! From multiple POVs! :) After more than 2 years, I finally have a book that wraps up the entire Deception Game series. Questions will be answered, and yes, you will finally know who Sienna ends up with (YAY!). I sincerely hope my readers love it (and if they don't that they pretend they do, lol)! Thank you for being on this journey with me, and for loving the first 3 books enough to read the 4th. My readers are seriously the best! Love to you all! <3 <3 <3

Of course, I also have to thank my very talented cover designer, Marya Heidel, with Strong Image Editing. She always does such a fantastic job on my book covers!

So, without further ado, I present the cover for UNBREAKABLE, the 4th book in the Deception Game series!

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Book Blurb:

From best-selling and award-winning author Kristin Smith comes the riveting fourth and final book in the Deception Game series.

A terrible discovery that will rock all their futures.

Armed with valuable information, Trey and the other members of the Fringe seek refuge in Pride, a neighboring province. But unable to trust his presidential host, Trey sets out to uncover if this new place holds friends or foes. In the end, it might not matter. Because he will do anything to save his people, including fighting a war for a government he isn’t sure he can trust.

Zane blames himself for the accident that incapacitated Sienna. He’s driven to recreate Re0Gene 2.0, the healing serum his father was working on shortly before his death. But not all ailments are meant to be fixed, and he must accept that he might not be able to cure everyone.

Sienna struggles with her new condition. When a highly experimental cure is offered, she doesn’t hesitate, despite the dangerousness of the situation. It’s her one chance to feel like herself again, no matter how risky the procedure might be. However, nothing can prepare her for the outcome.

Trina finds herself in unexpected circumstances when she and a small group survive the Zenith Camp bombing. Unfortunately, the place she thought would be a haven turns into a nightmare. As she cares for the wounded, she and the others devise a plan for escape. But with no weapons or resources, the chances for success are slim.

Pre-Order the Book!

***

I know I'm a little biased, but I just love how they all look together! My teenage niece guessed that the last one would be green, and she's right, lol. What do you think? Do you love the cover as much as I do?

About the Author:

Kristin Smith is the best-selling and award-winning author of the Deception Game series. Her first book, Catalyst, was a 2018 IAN Book of the Year Award finalist for the Young Adult category. When she's not writing, you can find Kristin planning her next trip (she LOVES to travel!), beating her boys at Just Dance, or belting out karaoke (from the comfort of her own home). She lives in North Carolina with her husband and sons. For more information on Kristin or her books, please visit her website at www.kristinsmithbooks.com.

GIVEAWAY!

Well, it wouldn't be a cover reveal without a Giveaway, so let's get to it! Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! And remember, the more things you do (like Follow me on Instagram or Subscribe to my Newsletter, etc) the more entries you get. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Michelle I. Mason, Author of Your Life Has Been Delayed

 I am so excited to have my good friend, critique partner, and former Pitch Wars mentee on the blog today, sharing about her debut YA novel, YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED, that released in September 2021. It's about a teenage girl who gets on a plane in 1995 and gets off 25 years later, and she hasn't aged a day.

 Now, this was not the book I read/critiqued when Beth Ellyn Summer and I chose Michelle to be our Pitch Wars mentee back in 2017. It was another amazing book. However, I did get to read an early draft of YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED and fell in love with the concept and story. It's such a unique premise (and it was actually written BEFORE the show Manifest even came out). I loved all of the 90's references and differences between then versus today. And then there's Michelle's VOICE, which is spectacular and so perfectly YA.

Okay, enough gushing, let's get on to the interview! Thank you, Michelle, for agreeing to come on my blog and be grilled. :)

INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE I. MASON

First question: How long have you been writing or when did you start?

For as long as I can remember. I loved writing stories when I was a kid, especially when they’d bind them for you at school. For some reason, I was especially fond of horror stories when I was young (must have been all those RL Stine books!). Then as a teenager I was into romance novels and thought I might write those, but I didn’t truly find my niche in YA until I was, ironically, an adult.



Your writer's origin story sounds a lot like mine! :) If you had to describe yourself in just three words, what would those be?

Organized, Encouraging, Persistent



I wish I was a little more organized! What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?


Isn’t that the million-dollar question? Honestly, my to-do list—and it’s most effective if I have deadlines associated with every item, including drafting/revising/submitting manuscripts.



I love a good to-do list. If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?


Ally Carter! I’ve met her at signings a couple of times, and she’s so fun. I’d love to hang out with her for a whole day and pick her brain about all her books.



Ally Carter would be a great person to hang out with! In YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED, what was the hardest scene to write, and why?

The climax of the book, which is technically a few scenes. I had a lot of fun writing it originally, but it was a bit… over the top. That’s about all I can say without spoilers, but my editor warned me before offering on the book that we’d need to change it, and I was fine with that. But it still took three tries before we landed on the right climax for the book.



I didn't realize you wrote the climax three different times! If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?

I was totally picturing Melissa Joan Hart as Jenny while writing—but as she was in the nineties, of course ☺. For Jenny, I’m going to say McKenna Grace in a couple of years (since she’s only 15 right now) or maybe Kiernan Shipka. I had absolutely no actors in mind for Dylan while writing, so I just now went and searched teen actors on IMBD. Maxwell Jenkins or Jace Norman would work!



I had to go and search those actors, lol. I can totally see them as Jenny and Dylan! :) Okay, if you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which would you pick?


It would probably be someone else from Flight 237, like Valerie Wen, who returned to find her husband remarried with kids. On top of that, one of her former students asks her out. It’s such a great setup for a romance novel! Alas, I am not the one to write this story.



Me! Pick me! I volunteer as tribute. That would be such a cool concept to write about. ;) Let's get into the nitty gritty. What’s your favorite and least favorite part of publishing?

Favorite: Notes from readers who love my book. It’s the best feeling ever!


Least favorite: Waiting! Everything just takes a long time.



I agree, the waiting is the worst. But those notes from readers sure do make it all worth it! I know you're an avid book reader. What book (or books) are you currently reading?


Right now I’m working through my Christmas book haul. I just finished (and loved) SUNKISSED by Kasie West. Of course, I may have read three more books by the time this posts, so check my Instagram to see what I’m loving!



Ooh, I haven't read that one by Kasie West yet. Thanks for the rec! What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?


Find other writers you trust to exchange manuscripts with and work together to improve your craft. When you’re first starting out, that’s the most important thing you can do. And finish writing that book! For me, getting to the end was one of the hardest parts with the first book.

***

This is great advice! Thank you, again, Michelle, for sitting in the hot seat and answering my burning questions! Let's take a look at Michelle's book info, including where you can purchase your own copy.

Book Blurb:

It’s August 1995, and seventeen-year-old Jenny Waters is flying back home from an exciting trip to New York City. The biggest things on her mind are applying to Columbia and reuniting with her brand-new boyfriend. But when she and the other passengers disembark in St. Louis, they’re told that their plane disappeared . . . twenty-five years ago.

The world has fast-forwarded. Three of Jenny’s grandparents are gone, her parents are old, and her “little” brother is now an adult. There’s so much in the world she’s missed out on.

When a shocking revelation comes to light, she feels betrayed by her family and once-best friend. She’s also fighting her attraction to Dylan, a cute and kind classmate who has an unusual connection to her past. And then there are the conspiracy theories, coming from a group of people determined to prove that Flight 237—and Jenny’s own existence—is a hoax. Will she figure out how to move forward or will she always be stuck in the past?

BUY THE BOOK!

About the Author:

Michelle I. Mason is the author of Your Life Has Been Delayed and the forthcoming My Second Impression of You (September 2022), both from Bloomsbury YA. Michelle spent ten years as a PR manager promoting everything from forklift rodeos to Hotel Olympics before deciding she’d rather focus on made-up stories. When she isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, watching too much TV, cross-stitching, baking amazing brownies, or playing the violin. Michelle lives in St. Louis with her husband, two kids, and color-coordinated pets. 

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE!

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Fearless Release Day!

Hi everyone! I know I'm horrible at blogging, but I do try to share when there's something exciting happening, like... A NEW RELEASE! That's right, folks, I have another book baby entering the world today, and I'm super excited to share it with you! FEARLESS, the 3rd book in the Deception Game series, is here! And here's the post my publisher put together to celebrate:

NEW RELEASE AND SALE!!!

Clean Teen Publishing is excited to share that the third book in the exhilarating DECEPTION GAME Series by Kristin Smith is finally available! Grab your copy of FEARLESS today! If you haven't started reading this series yet, now is a great time to do so as the first book— CATALYST— is currently free for two days only on August 28th and August 29th to celebrate this new release. Readers can grab their free copy on their Kindle or on the Kindle App through Amazon. In addition, this entire series is currently available in Kindle Unlimited, which means that Kindle Unlimited readers can borrow all three books in the series and binge read them for free!

FEARLESS (AUGUST 28, 2018)

READ FEARLESS TODAY: AMAZON

On the run from the government, Sienna and her Fringe companions seek refuge in the primitive Zenith Camp, until a government decree draws them out of hiding. They're ready to resist, but it may be too late.

Praise for the Deception Game series by Kristin Smith: 

"The heart-pounding plot twists and turns rival that of any roller coaster and I DID NOT WANT IT TO STOP." – Amazon Reviewer

"This has everything fans of dystopian YA love: suspense, action, plenty of twists and turns, and a love triangle!" – Amazon Reviewer

"These books are soooo good. They are a perfect balance of everything. Science fiction romance suspense action, they've got it all." –Amazon Reviewer

CATALYST IS FREE ON 8/28 AND 8/29 ONLY!

CATALYST Kristin Smith (The Deception Game, #1)

Too pretty. Too smart. Too perfect.

In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in. As a normal girl surrounded by genetically modified teenagers, all of her imperfections are on display. But after the death of her father, everything she’s ever known and loved changes in an instant.

With little skills to help provide for her family, Sienna clings to the two things that come easily—lying and stealing. But not all thief-for-hire assignments go as planned. When a covert exchange of a stolen computer chip is intercepted, she becomes entangled with a corrupt government official who uses her thieving past as leverage, her mother as collateral, and the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for as bait.

In order to rescue her mother, there may only be one option—joining forces with the Fringe, an extremist group, and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad. Problem is, these revolutionaries aren’t what they seem, and the secrets they’re hiding could be more dangerous than Sienna is prepared for. In the end, she must be willing to risk everything to save the one thing that matters most.

Catalyst is a thrilling adventure of danger, romance, intrigue, and deception.

GRAB CATALYST FOR FREE ON 8/28 OR 8/29 THROUGH Amazon!

Author Bio:

Kristin Smith is the best-selling author of the Deception Game series. When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming about the beach, beating her boys at Just Dance, or belting out karaoke (from the comfort of her own home). Kristin currently resides in the middle-of-nowhere North Carolina with her husband and five incredibly loud but extremely cute boys. To read more about her obsession with YA novels or her addiction to chocolate, you can visit her at kristinsmithbooks.com.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Cover Reveal: Marked Beauty by S.A. Larsen

Today I get to share a very special cover reveal with you. The author, SA Larsen, is not only my CP (critique partner) but she's a dear friend and probably one of the kindest people on social media. I'm super excited to be be able to help celebrate the gorgeous cover for her YA debut novel, MARKED BEAUTY! Seriously, I'm in love with it! Are you ready to see it??

Okay, here we go!

MARKED BEAUTY by S.A. Larsen
Title: Marked Beauty
Author: S.A. Larsen
Publisher: Ellysian Press
Release Date: October 2017

Book Blurb:

Uncovering hidden secrets can sometimes kill you . . . or worse, steal your soul.

Anastasia Tate has a secret. She can feel the emotions of others through their life energy auras. Not a welcome gift for a teenager. Especially when a sinister presence begins stalking her.
Viktor Castle also has a secret. He’s tasked with protecting humanity yet cursed by an ancient evil to destroy it.

After Viktor saves Ana’s life, her abilities grow stronger. Drawn together, she senses Viktor has answers to lifelong questions. Only he shuns her at every turn, knowing he has saved her only to put her in more danger.

As Ana struggles with her attraction to Viktor, he tries everything to bury his unexpected feelings for her. But they must find a middle ground. For only together can they combat the dark forces threatening both their lives . . . and their souls.

ADD to GOODREADS


About the Author

S.A. LARSEN is the author of the award-winning novel Motley Education, the first book in a fantasy-adventure series for middle grade readers. Her work has appeared in numerous local publications and young adult anthologies Gears of Brass and Under A Brass Moon by Curiosity Quills Press. Marked Beauty is her debut young adult novel. Find her in the land of snowy winters and the occasional Eh’ya with her husband of over twenty-five years, four children, a playful pooch, and three kittens. Visit her cyber home anytime at www.salarsenbooks.com.

Connect with her on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Blog | Goodreads



GIVEAWAY!!!

This is a #hashtag giveaway, where two lucky winners will receive a FREE eBook of Marked Beauty upon its release.

To participate:

• Share one of the premade images via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or write up a blog post using one of the images.
• Include #MarkedBeauty in your description.
• Optional for extra entry: include Add to Goodreads (with link) in your description.

***Posts MUST contain the hashtag #MarkedBeauty for entry into the giveaway or we won’t be able to find you.

Pre-made tweets (you add the image)

"A lust 4 life energy. An ancient curse. One soul's journey thru death 2 find the cure." #MarkedBeauty #CoverReveal http://bit.ly/2qdE0q0

"Uncovering some secrets can kill you, or worse ... steal your soul." #MarkedBeauty #CoverReveal http://bit.ly/2qdE0q0 #YAlit

An ancient race. A timid girl. And a journey to the in-between. #MarkedBeauty #CoverReveal http://bit.ly/2qdE0q0 #YAlit

The giveaway begins May 17^th and will be open until May 23^rd. Winners will be announced May 24^th via social media.

HUGE CONGRATS TO SA LARSEN!!! I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE FALL!!

Author Interview with Nicky Peacock

Today I have YA author Nicky Peacock here to answer some fun questions. And check this out—today I'm over on HER blog answering some of her questions. So be sure to stop by and say "hi"! You can find me HERE. Now on to the interview!

Welcome, Nicky! :)

What are you currently working on?

I'm doubling my writing efforts at the moment and working on the last in the Battle of the Undead series, Bad Karma and also the next book in The Twisted and the Brave series, The Assassin of Oz. I'm also still promoting the first in this series, Lost in Wonderland. So it's all go!

What is your favorite go-to snack when you’re writing?

I enjoy a good ol' slice of cake, but to be honest I'm not all that fussy when it comes to snacking. Chips, sandwiches, fruit, anything smothered in chocolate and I'm happy :)

If you could be anyone other than yourself for a day, who would you be?

If it's just for a day, I wouldn't want to be another person as a day isn't long enough to appreciate who they are and what you can learn from them. I'd rather be an animal, like a wolf in the wild. I'm a bit of a wimp, so a day would be perfect to experience what it's like to hunt and run free with the pack.

Name five favorite movies. Why are they your favorite?

Only five? Hmm. I guess all time top 5 would have to be:

Aliens - my older brother and I bonded over this movie, and it was such a great idea for a sci-fi/horror - I watched it again recently, and it's still not dated.

Sinister - best horror movie I've seen in a long, long time. Atmospheric and original concept. Some of the images in it are truly terrifying!

We are the Night - German vampire movie that depicts female vampires at their best, without them being overtly over the top and degradingly lusty.

Big Business - my favorite Bette Midler comedy. Every time I'm home ill; I watch this movie, and it still makes me laugh.

Ant-Man - The best Marvel movie out there right now. Not just superhero antics but a super-powered heist movie too.

As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?

It was always an author with a teacher being a close second. I grew up in a working-class family, and although I tried to go to college to study to become a teacher, unfortunately, I couldn't afford to stay for more than a year. I'm now finishing my degree through distance learning. It's taking a while, but will be worth it in the end.

Tell us something you hate doing. Why?

Exercise. I know it is good for you and pretty necessary if you want to live beyond 50, but I hate it. Everyone tells you that endorphins take effect when you exercise, and I've waited for them, but they are noticeably absent every time I get on that treadmill! I also get frustrated, as I'll use the time to think through scenes or plot devices and inevitably have to get off the machine to write stuff down.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

To have boundless energy and be completely motivated all the time! Wow, what a life I'd lead then...I'd be unstoppable!

If you could plan your ultimate vacation, where would you go?

I'd do a three location themed hop: New Orleans for Mardi Gras, Mexico for the Day of the Dead and Venice for their carnival. Lots of tasty food, music, dancing and cool costumes. I'd also like a stop at Loch Ness to do some monster hunting.

If you had the opportunity to live one year of your life over again, what year would you choose and why?

I never lie in interviews, so I have to tell a hard truth on this one...2002. I met a great guy that year, but the timing wasn't right, and I didn't give him the chance he deserved. I'd go back to that year to change this. Nothing might have come of it, but it is one of my biggest regrets. Great guys are hard to find.

Please share with us your favorite quote (or one you find inspiring).

"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." Muhammad Ali

What books would we find in your TBR pile?

Oh, far too many. The ones that are to be read next are Tremors by Bonnie S Calhoun, Autonomy by Jude Houghton, Much ado about the shrew by Elizabeth May and The Diabolical Ms. Hyde by Viola Carr.

Listener or talker? Beach or mountains? Sweet or salty?

Listener

Beach

Sweet

 Thank you, Nicky! It was great to get to know you! :)

Happy Release Day & Giveaway! Such A Daring Endeavor by Cortney Pearson

I'm super excited to have Cortney Pearson on my blog today sharing with us her latest release, the second book in the Stolen Tears series, Such A Daring Endeavor. Not only is Cortney an extremely talented writer, but she's also the SWEETEST person in real life. I was fortunate enough to connect with her at the LDStorymakers conference I attended in May, and meeting her was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Utah.

So, without further ado, I'll turn the time over to Cortney so she can introduce her AMAZING new book! And don't forget to enter her awesome Giveaway for the chance to win a $30 Amazon gift card! Take it away, Cortney!

I'm so excited to have this story out! It's been probably the hardest thing I've ever written (or edited!), which makes it all the more satisfying to FINALLY have it ready for release.

Things I love about this book:
Magic
Romance
Adventure
Refusal to give up hope, even when things seem dismal
Loyalty between friends and siblings
The kissing ;)

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. There's something about characters, after spending so much time with them, fleshing them out and making sure their wants and needs are evident that presses them deeper into my heart, and I hope you'll come to love them too.

If you haven't read the first book yet, NOW IS THE TIME! Be sure to grab your copy for 99 cents this week and learn all about Ambry, Talon, and the tears that bring them together! 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | 24 Symbols

GIVEAWAY!

Be sure to enter the giveaway for $30 at Amazon. Who DOESN'T want that?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tweet about the Release! 

Hope fades only if you allow it to. https://goo.gl/Ef8SPS #kindle #YAFantasy #Books #NewRelease

Forbidden feelings, enchanted tears & an epic conflict between 2 nations. Such a Daring Endeavor is out now! https://goo.gl/Ef8SPS #Books

The ever-growing need to protect a vial of enchanted tears. Such a Daring Endeavor = OUT #Kindle #YA #Fantasy #Books https://goo.gl/Ef8SPS

Whether she likes it or not, drinking those tears changed her. #kindle #YA #Fantasy #Books #NewReleases https://goo.gl/Ef8SPS

Sappy Part!

Huge thanks to my beta readers on this project, Emily R. King and Danette Hansen, as well as my incredibly talented editor, Charity West. She has the plot-eyes of a deathly hawk, you guys, and is out to scalpel any and every detail that absolutely doesn't make the story better out of that ms! Seriously, she's amazing. So thankful for my friends who've supported me, my mom, my husband and sons, and always always always, my Heavenly Father.

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | iTunes 

Big hugs to you! (And go get your copy! *winks*)

Release Day and Giveaway! The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse

I'm excited to share with you my CTP sister's new release of The Neverland Wars. I've been looking forward to this release because I love the cover SO much! And I think the premise is fantastic. (Who doesn't love a good Peter Pan story. And Peter as a teenager? YES!) I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this. *grabby hands*

The Neverland Wars
Audrey Greathouse
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: May 9th 2016
Genres: Fairy Tales, Retelling, Young Adult

Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That’s what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.
However, Gwen doesn’t know this. She’s just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn’t know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she’ll discover she’s in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.
She’ll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won’t be the only one. Peter Pan’s constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she’s going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she’s going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes / Smashwords

EXCERPT:

A flash of lightning electrified the sky, shooting light through the forest with a jarring pang. The boom of thunder followed immediately after. The sky was grey and the clouds shifted like a swarm of dark fish in a pond. Gwen feared she would be caught in a storm, but not a drop of rain had fallen yet.
All at once, Gwen found herself in a meadow. She had never been here before; she knew that. Wildflowers cropped up in sporadic clumps, and the long, green grasses were uncut at her calves. The tree line had suddenly broken. One minute, she was racing through the forest, the next, she was floating here. Pausing to catch her breath, she ironically felt safer in this open area than in the claustrophobic security of the forest. She landed gently, unthinkingly. Turning her head to the sky, she saw the faint grey clouds blowing and rolling away. Darker clouds seemed to be coming to take their place.

On the other side of the meadow, Peter burst into the clearing. Bramble was leading him, guiding the boy to poor, lost Gwen. If Gwen had understood the fairy language, she would have already known that.

“Gwenny!”

“Peter?” Gwen shouted. She ran to him, and between her bounding strides and his quick flight, they met in the middle of the meadow, cornflowers and lilacs growing up around them. Perhaps if he had been on the ground initially, she would have hugged him. Peter lingered in the air for just a moment though, and by the time he landed, the impulse to hug each other had melted away into urgent discussion. “What are you doing out here?” His voice carried the sort of anger that only accompanied concern.

“I got lost in the woods; I was trying to come back. Is something wrong, Peter?”

Bramble flitted back and forth, pacing in the air, objecting to Peter and Gwen having this conversation now, rather than when they were safely underground.

“The opposition, they’ve launched an attack. We’ve got to get to cover.”

“What? No, it’s just a storm.” Gwen didn’t understand what Peter was telling her, but she had already made up her mind that she didn’t believe it.

“Gwen-dollie, we’ve got to go. There’s—”

The sky was suddenly drained of light. The thin, grey clouds that had blocked the sun were eclipsed by darker, brooding storm clouds, and as the daylight faded, small, grey flecks began to rain down. As they drifted softly, Gwen knew it wasn’t rain. Her attention was as captivated as Peter’s was, but she did not understand what it was the way he did. “Snow?” she asked quizzically, looking at the grey and dirty powder as it started to fall around her.

Peter held out his hand and caught a flake of it, crushing it in his hand. It left a smoky residue on his palm. “Ash.”

The winds picked up, and more of the ash furiously fluttered down. It became larger, and Gwen could hardly comprehend the charred flecks of paper that were plummeting down. Peter zipped up into the air, jumping more than flying, to grab a large square of it. He came back down immediately, a look of horror on his face.

“Peter, what is it?” Gwen pled, hoping that her fear was born of her unknowing, that if she only had answers she wouldn’t be afraid, but from the look on his face, she knew that answers would only bring more fear.

The invisible hand of the wind grabbed the paper from out of Peter’s hold. It blew straight to Gwen. Catching it, she realized it was a page from out of a newspaper; the title read—ISIS ATTACK ON ERBIL; HUNDREDS DEAD.

She had seen newspaper headlines before, but this news did not belong here. Not in Neverland. It was too dark, too terrifying of a thing to read amid the lilacs and cornflowers. Again, she begged, “What is this, Peter?”

The page was torn out of her hand by the vindictive wind. Peter answered her, with a word she had never feared so greatly. “Reality.”

Author Bio:

Audrey Greathouse is a lost child in a perpetual and footloose quest for her own post-adolescent Neverland. Originally from Seattle, she earned her English B.A. from Southern New Hampshire University's online program while backpacking around the west coast and pretending to be a student at Stanford. A pianist, circus artist, fire-eater, street mime, swing dancer, and novelist, Audrey wears many hats wherever she is. She has grand hopes for the future which include publishing more books and owning a crockpot. You can find her at audreygreathouse.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Tumblr

GIVEAWAY!
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Book Spotlight—Thirst: Blood of My Blood & Interview with RP Channing

Today, I have author RP Channing here to share with us his debut novel, Thirst: Blood of My Blood. Read on for an excerpt, a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card, and an exclusive interview!

~Kira Sutherland~

After a near fatal accident (and getting cheated on by her 'boyfriend'), and beating up the lead cheerleader (with whom the boyfriend cheated...), and being labeled as having 'issues' in her school because she, uhm, sees ghosts, Kira is left with two choices:

1. Continue her 'therapy' (where she's told the ghost is a hallucination and also gets her legs ogled too often...)

Or

2. Go to Starkfield Academy, a boarding school for "Crazies and Convicts" (as the social media sites call them.)

She chooses the latter...

~Cory Rand~

Cory Rand has not had an easy life. His mother died in a car accident when he was twelve, and so did his mother's best friend...sort of. You see, Janice made a promise to take care of Cory just before she died, and so she lingers. Undead. A ghost that watches out for him.

Brought up in an abusive home, Cory quickly falls into a life of disreputable behavior. After his third offense (which was prompted by a girl, as usual - he has a weakness) he's left with two choices:

1. Be tried as an adult and share a cell with a guy named Bubba (he thinks...)

Or

2. Go to Starkfield Academy, which Cory is pretty sure is run by vampires. But, hey, at least he'll get an education.

He chooses the latter...

It's at Starkfield that Kira meets Cory Rand, a boy with an insatiable Rage who sees ghosts, too. As well as other things, other things from his past, things that confuse him, things like fire and witches and demons.

Things he's always ignored.

Until now.

Genres

Young Adult Romance

Paranormal Romance

High School

Vampires, Demons, Witches

Dark Fantasy

Horror

Buy Links

Amazon US

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018M5GTLI
Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018M5GTLI

Kindle Unlimited

$20 Amazon Gift Voucher Giveaway

At the back of the book there is a giveaway link. Once the book hits fifty reviews on Amazon, one of those reviewers will win a $20 (US Dollars) Amazon Gift Voucher!

Author Bio

R P Channing started writing three years ago, but never published anything even after churning out over a million words of fiction. Thirst: Blood of my Blood is the first book he dared to publish. When asked why, he said, “Because it’s the first thing I wrote that my wife actually enjoyed reading.” When not hammering away (most literally) at his keyboard, he can be found buried in a book, reading anything from romance to horror to young adult to non-fiction to comedy.

Author Links

Website
http://blog.rpchanning.com

Twitter

@rpchanning

Amazon

http://amazon.com/author/rpchanning

Excerpt from Thirst

My life was perfect.

I had the perfect shoes and the perfect friends and I lived in the perfect house.

My nails were perfect and my hair was perfect (except on Sundays, it was always
windy on Sundays) and I had the perfect clothes. My lips were a perfect red and my
hair perfectly straight. My eyeshadow was perfect, my hips were...okay, and my
waist...well...also okay. Nothing was wrong in my life.

But then there was Jack.

Jack was a problem.

He needed to go. I mean, when you’re dead, you’re dead! I had told him this endlessly. Somehow, Jack didn’t get it. I mean, I felt sorry for the guy. Sure. Being stuck between this life and the next. But just because I found him, does that mean I needed to keep him?

I think not!

Sadly, when Jack got that look in his eyes, that weary, almost teary (if his tear-ducts worked) look, I melted. I just couldn’t send him away. Not even Jack knew where he would go after he died.

Would he, like, die? As in — dead, nada, kaput, finito, gone, no more? Bye bye, sayonara, ciao, hasta la vista baby and all that?

I couldn’t have that on my conscience. No way.

Interview with RP Channing

Q: What is a typical Friday night like for you?

A: Hah! You’ll usually find me dug into a story until about midnight. I was pretty wild as a kid (understatement of the century), and I think I got all the partying out of my system back then. If I’m not at my computer, I’m usually buried into a Netflix series (Jessica Jones or The Last Kingdom).

Q: What are some books we might find in your TBR pile?

A: You’ll find everything from Stephen King to Nora Roberts to John Green. I read pretty much anything.

Q: If you could describe your novel with a song, what song would it be?

A: Seven Devils by Florence and the Machine. I’ll let you read the story to figure out why. :)

Q: What is one thing you want to do before you die?

A: Write a bestselling novel. Oh, wait, you said one thing, I want to do that several times. Err...drive a Ferrari...fast. Super fast.

Q: What is your motto for life?

A: Take it as it comes, and don’t sweat the failures.

Thank you, RP! Great answers, and I love the excerpt. Best of luck with Thirst! :)