Happy Halloween!

Tonight is the night of spooks and goblins. Or in my kids case, teenage mutant ninja turtles and zombie doctors. It's HALLOWEEN!!

If you're like me, you LOVE Halloween—I mean, endless amounts of chocolate, what's not to love?!

And then there are the cute little kids who come a' knockin' at the door. Little girls dressed in Elsa and princess costumes, and little boy ninjas, superheroes, and anything remotely scary.

Of course, trick-or-treating is the highlight for my kids, who by the time Halloween rolls around have already been to 2 or 3 other trunk-or-treating events and gotten a mother-load of candy.

After the hours of trick-or-treating, we all arrive home with weary feet and bundles of candy which is quickly scattered on the living room floor as the boys begin "the trade."

Once they are all sugared up and bouncing off the walls, it's time for bed. Chocolate-stained fingers and lollipop-coated hair that desperately needs a bath will have to wait until morning. Because this mom is pooped, and her little kiddies too.

Have a happy Halloween! And save me your Reese's peanut butter cups—they're my favorite! :)

This Writer Mom...

In an attempt to shake things up a bit and mesh three things I love—writing, being a mother, and design, I decided to create these posts titled "This Writer Mom." Based on color and style, I will match pictures of "mothers" to their ideal writing (and perhaps lounging or dining location). It's a fun way to incorporate design elements into my blog while still maintaining a focus on writing. Hope you enjoy!


This stylish mother...

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Sleeps here...                                                                   Writes here....

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What is your preferred place to write, read, or just unwind after a long day?

Soulless Blog Tour—Crystal Collier

SOULLESS IS HERE!! That's right, you read correctly. For all those who have been looking forward to the release of Soulless, Book 2 of the Maiden of Time series by Crystal Collier, you don't have to wait a moment longer!

I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Review Copy of Soulless in exchange for an honest review. And honestly, Soulless is EVEN BETTER than Moonless (if that's possible). I know sometimes sequels fall short of their destination, but not this one. It is a truly captivating read! To see my full review, click HERE.

And now, here's SOULLESS! And don't forget to enter the awesome Giveaway hosted by Crystal and several other authors.

Title: SOULLESS
Series: Maiden of Time
Author: Crystal Collier
Pages: 263
Pub Date: October 13, 2014
Publisher: Raybourne Publishing
ISBN: 9781629830032

The Soulless are coming.

Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her people have—she’s forced to unleash her true power.

And risk losing everything.

BUY

What reviewers are saying:

"5 Stars." - Invincible Love of Reading Book Blog

"I LOVED it! So good. Seriously...exceeded my expectations." -Kristin Smith, advanced reviewer

"Entirely unique and chilling." Gabby @ What’s Beyond Forks

"Unputdownable." T.C. Mckee, BookFish Books

Excerpt:

John offered Alexia a chair. “Perhaps you would hate me less if you knew my story?”

She scowled but took a seat, gratefully. Mae bustled about the kitchen, a comforting presence to counter his.

“Before all this,” he motioned down his form, “I was like you—raised among humans, oblivious to our differences. I had a family—a wife, sons, even a daughter, all human, or mostly so.” He rubbed a hand over his mouth. “He did not find me until well after I came of age, for I did not possess enough of the blood to be noticed. What I did have was a gift for healing—not as strong as his, mind you. It started as a talent for seeing what was wrong, and thus an ability to prescribe the correct treatment.” He dropped into a chair across from her, elbows landing on his knees. “I served a small community as their doctor.” A sad smile tugged at his cheeks, eyes far away. “In Wilhamshire.”

She closed her eyes. The bustling town reared up in her mind, the winding streets and shop fronts, the tavern where she’d once weathered a night after Miles saved her and Sarah from the Soulless, the house on the hill where Kiren had imprisoned Bellezza—Haunted House of Stark.

“My given name is John Stark, after my father, and after his father.”

Alexia gasped and sat back.

His brows scrunched down. “I met him over a patient one day. He observed my treatment and informed me I had rare gifts. I belonged to a secret race. To prove his point, he healed the child I had been treating, and proceeded over the next many weeks to teach me how.

“His home had been discovered by the Soulless, and he had been forced to vacate. While passing through Wilhamshire, he heard stories of my successes, and came to investigate. For a time, he resided in my home, until he was able to establish a new residence I have yet to discover. He became my…my children’s godparent.”

His fingers clasped into his knees. “But one day, after spending the night at a patient’s sickbed, I returned home to find my wife and children murdered in a most brutal manner.” His eyes darted from one wall to the other, cheek twitching. “The Soulless had come in search of him.” He met Alexia’s gaze. “My entire life was gone.”

She shivered. It couldn’t be true. John’s family had not been massacred because of Kiren, had they?

“I went after them. He told me not to,” his head shook, “but I was determined to have my revenge.”

She straightened up, but couldn’t look at the man, the person who had lost everything because he showed kindness to a vagabond.

John mimicked her. “He spared my life even after I became one of the Soulless, and we have danced the dance ever since.”

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your free copy of book 1, MOONLESS, October 13, 20, 27, 31 or Nov 7.

Author Bio:

Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese.

You can find her on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, or follow her on Twitter.




                             

Book Review—Soulless by Crystal Collier

I've been looking forward to this book for quite some time, so when I received an eARC copy, I was excited! The following is my review for Soulless, Book 2 of the Maiden of Time series by Crystal Collier.

*****

Soulless by Crystal Collier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an Advanced Review Copy of Soulless in exchange for an honest review. So, here it is (in all honesty).

I loved Moonless, but I was completely captivated by Soulless. I couldn't put it down! High tension, unforgettable romance, and unique characters make Soulless an enthralling read. In Moonless, Alexia Dumont discovers the power she has, but in Soulless, she unleashes it. She recognizes her true potential and works toward becoming the powerful person she's meant to be. Dubbed as the Maiden of Time, she is confident, brave, and in love, making her an extremely relatable character. And then there's Kiren. He's totally swoon worthy, but you see his weaknesses in this book, and that's a good thing.

Bellezza is once again a show stopping character. We learn more about her past and why she is the way she is. She's like an old spirit trapped in a young body. But don't be fooled by her girlishness. There's nothing childlike about that girl other than her appearance! She is truly an unforgettable character.

My absolute favorite part of the book is the romance between Alexia and Kiren. They have such a powerful connection and I LOVE *spoiler alert* how Alexia saves him time and time again by shifting time (forgive the pun). It was the perfect blend of romance and action, and the ending itself gave me chills. The best ending ever! Now I can't wait for the next book to come out!! Hurry up, Crystal!

View all my reviews

Tune in next week for Crystal's Blog Tour! I will feature her book on Wednesday, October 15th. Be sure to stop by and enter the amazing Giveaway hosted by Crystal and several other authors.

**Also, here's a shout out for a blogging buddy of mine...


Week long book sale! Beginning Sunday, October 12th, Loni Townsend's, Thanmir War is only $0.99 on Amazon! Don't miss out on this great deal!


Any other exciting news?

Have a great weekend!! :)

IWSG Co-Host, Anniversary, and Anthology

The first Wednesday of every month is reserved for the Insecure Writers Support Group (also known as the IWSG). If you are interested in joining this awesome group where we post our insecurities and triumphs, as well as offer encouragement to fellow writers, you can sign up HERE. Created by the amazing Alex Cavanaugh, the IWSG is a wonderful group to be a part of.

I am honored to be a co-host for the IWSG this month! My other amazing co-hosts are: Elsie, Suzanne Furness, and Fundy Blue. You should stop by and say hello!

Also, HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY to the IWSG website!!! As part of an IWSG eBook anthology to assist other writers on the journey of writing, publishing, and marketing, my post for this month will include my submission for the writing section of the book. I had big plans to give some brilliant writing tips, but when I sat down to write this excerpt, this is what came out instead. I was inspired by a friend of mine who desperately wants to write a novel, but is so scared she'll fail, that she refuses to try.

*****

So you want to write a novel?

After all these years, you're finally ready to do it. Don't be scared. Don't think you'll fail, even though at times you might. Don't be too hard on yourself, you are, after all, still learning.

Allow yourself to be inspired by the things around you—conversations you hear, people you meet, songs on the radio, maybe even a perfect sunset. That's what will make your writing unique—everything YOU see, hear, experience, feel, will be different from someone else. The story you have to tell, will be different.

Hour after hour you will plug away at your laptop. You will fill pages upon pages of words that only you will see. Line by line, page by page, a story will unfold. A story that captivates you, leaves you sleepless and longing for more hours with the characters you've created. And then one day, it will be done—and yet, far from finished. You will spend hours, days, weeks, even months polishing your manuscript. Rewriting scenes, taking out characters, adding motivation and ensuring there's a visible character arc. You may find that you need to step away from this novel for a while and come back with fresh eyes and a new perspective. Do it. That time away will be invaluable.

In the end, you may think your writing is no good. You many want to burn that manuscript or erase that document, but don't. Celebrate what you HAVE accomplished—you finished a novel. Something many aspire to do, but few are able to achieve!

Now is the tough part. You have to let your baby go, out into the world for other eyes to see. You need other's perspectives. You need to know what works, what doesn't, and where lie the plot holes, and the lack of characterization. Don't be offended if your best friend or critique partner has a very strong opinion about your main character. Don't get upset if your spouse or beta reader thinks your story "needs some work." Take the advice, thoughts, opinions of others and sit on them. For a while. You'll know what advice to take and what to leave behind. Think about what feels right for your story. And don't forget, most importantly, that this is YOUR story. Not theirs.

And after all that polishing, all that work, your manuscript will finally be ready. Will you choose to query agents? Or will you submit to publishers? Or perhaps the indie route is the way for you. Whatever you choose, you will celebrate the moment you can share your work with the world.

In the end, it comes down to one thing, and one thing only. If you want to write a novel, then write.

Author Interview—Rebecca Belliston

Today, author Rebecca Belliston is here to talk about her latest novel, Citizens of Logan Pond: LIFE. She was kind enough to answer some of my questions and share what she does to overcome writer's block.

Here's a little about Rebecca and her NA novel Life.



Author Bio:

Rebecca Lund Belliston is the author of the romantic suspense novel, Sadie, and it's sequel, Augustina. Rebecca also composes piano and vocal music. When she's not writing fiction, music, or chasing her five kids, she can be found cuddled up with a good book. She and her family live in Michigan.

Find her online: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Book blurb: Citizens of Logan Pond: LIFE

Her home. Her parents. Her freedom. Gone.
His dreams. His sister. Himself. Lost.
Two people.
One future.

The economy crashed, the country is floundering, and Carrie Ashworth struggles to keep her siblings alive. She has two jobs in her newly-formed, newly-outlawed clan: growing crops to feed thirty-six people, and keeping Oliver Simmons, their local patrolman, happy. Carrie’s life is almost content when Greg Pierce shows up. A man with the ambition to help them survive. A man determined to hate her.

When a government raid nearly wipes out their clan, Greg realizes the true reason behind their safety. Patrolman Simmons has fallen for Carrie. Greg takes it upon himself to give the socially-awkward patrolman what he wants. Only Carrie doesn’t like Greg throwing her in Simmon's path, especially when Greg’s brusque exterior melts, and she catches a glimpse of the real man underneath. Carrie is forced to choose: follow her heart or save her clan.

Life won’t let her choose both.

*****

Now on to the interview! Welcome, Rebecca!

Thanks for having me! I’m excited to be here and share a little about my new book.


Tell us a little about Life. Is it a stand alone book or part of a series?

This is the first book in a trilogy about a little band of neighbors in a small Midwest town who pull together after a global financial disaster wipes out their money, jobs, transportation, food supply, and basic way of living. At the heart of the story is quiet, unassuming Carrie Ashworth (23) who struggles to raise her siblings after her parents’ deaths. Without meaning to, she’s caught between two men: one with the power to destroy her clan, and the other with the power to crush her will to survive.

The series is entitled Citizens of Logan Pond, and the books are subtitled Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit.

*Oh wow, I love the premise of this series! -K.S.


What inspired you to write the series Citizens of Logan Pond?

Six years ago, I got stuck on a single question. “What if the end of civilization as we know it doesn’t come from some huge war or catastrophe? What if it comes from the absence of one small thing: the dollar?” This question wouldn’t leave me alone and has grown into this series.

I also wanted to explore what kinds of things would survive if everything is taken away from a person. Namely family, friendships, and love.

*What a great 'what if' question! And those can lead to some stellar novels! -K.S.


Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

Definitely! I want readers to remember that the human spirit is strong and amazing. That love goes on, regardless of circumstances. That people can be good, in spite of what life throws at them. As a race, we are natural-born survivors. I want my readers to believe in people and themselves.

*Love this message! -K.S.


When writing a novel, do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, what do you do to overcome it?

Yes. More often than I like. A few things have helped me push through it.

1) Walk away and let the scene stew in my mind for a while. Sometimes months.

2) Jump ahead and write what comes next in the story. This works really well. Usually after I figure out what happens later in the story, the earlier parts come more easily. I can go back and fix the scene that has me stumped.

3) Stop and dissect what I’m trying to write. The best advice I heard is that when the writing is coming slow, it’s probably not good writing. This is because when the story is awesome, amazing, and engaging, we can’t wait to get it onto paper. We can’t type fast enough. So if the story isn’t coming, the key is to figure out why. Easier said than done, right?

*I tend to jump ahead too! It does help, doesn't it? -K.S.


If you had a book club, what would they be reading, and why?

Hmmm. I have so many favorite books. I’m not sure I’m intelligent enough for many book clubs, though. They often read really deep, or profound books. Personally, I love reading sweet YA romances, so I’d have to have friends in the book club who also enjoy those. My favorite series I’ve read lately is “Cinder” by Marissa Meyer, or “The False Prince” by Jennifer Nielsen. Both are well written and fun reads, so I’d start with them.

*Oooh, sweet YA romances are the best. Good choice! -K.S.

And now for some FUN questions! :)

If I came to your home and looked in your fridge, what would I find?

A mess. Sorry, but it’s true. I’m getting to it eventually, I really am. Just not until after I get this book release out of the way.

Oh, you meant food? Milk. Cheese. Fruit. You know, the basics. Hopefully enough to keep my kids out of my hair. ☺

*Lol. Too funny! -K.S.


What is your favorite quote?

Non-writing quote: Men are that they might have joy.

Writing quote: Good books aren’t written. They’re rewritten.

*Love both of these quotes! -K.S.


If given a chance, what would you like to be for a day?

Do I have to pick one thing, because it’s really hard to choose? You didn’t specify, so here are a few: A sky diver, a film-score composer, a world traveler, and a NYT bestselling author. All at the same time. ☺

*Haha! Yes, all at the same time. Although with your plethora of talents, it might be possible... ;) -K.S.

What takes you out of your comfort zone?

Social settings. I’m not exactly shy, but I’m not a big-group kind of person. I tend to sit on the edge of the crowd and find one or two people to talk to.

*I'm not a big group person either! I prefer small groups or one-on-one. ;) -K.S.


What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer? Fall? Winter? Spring?

Summer: beach with the family and a good book
Fall: park with the family and a good book
Winter: couch with the family, blanket, and a good book
Spring: starting my flower garden

*I get the feeling you like books... :) -K.S.


Thank you, Rebecca! It was great having you on Unicorn Bell today!

Thanks for having me, and thanks for the fun questions!


You can follow Rebecca on her Blog Tour. And be sure to sign up for the Giveaway and a chance to win a signed copy of Life AND a $25 Amazon gift card! Sounds awesome, right?

And now for the Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Elevator Pitch & Teaser Interview with Elizabeth Briggs

So, I'm headed to the SCBWI Carolinas Conference in TWO days!! Very excited and feeling a little nervous. 

Why nervous, you ask? 

Because of this darn elevator pitch that I need to have ready in case someone asks me what I'm working on. Thankfully, I have the BEST critique partner in the WORLD, and she helped me iron out the wrinkles, but I wanted to test it out on you guys. If it makes you want to read the book, then my work here is done. If it doesn't, then I guess it's back to the drawing board!

Here's what we came up with: (BTW, this is a Young Adult dystopian with romantic elements)

Long Pitch:

Eighteen-year-old Sienna Preston becomes involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse when her most recent liar-for-hire assignment—to steal an important computer chip from a genetic matchmaking facility—goes awry. Forced to flee her life as a Drifter she seeks protection from the young leader of the infamous terrorist organization, the Radicals.

Short pitch:

When an assignment to steal an important computer chip from the genetic matchmaking and modification facility goes awry, eighteen-year-old liar-for-hire Sienna Preston is forced to flee her life as a Drifter and seek protection from the young leader of the terrorist organization, the Radicals.

What do you think? Any suggestions?

**Updated Pitch: (Decided to change it a bit...what do you think? Better? Worse? Too long?)

In a society where the Government tries to force people to Conform, eighteen-year-old Sienna Preston clings to the one thing she knows she's good at—the art of lying. But when her liar-for-hire assignment to steal an important computer chip from the genetic matchmaking and modification facility goes awry, she's forced to abandon her free-spirit lifestyle and seek refuge in the underground Radical Compound.

**Most Recent Updated Pitch:

Eighteen-year-old Sienna Preston is a liar for hire.

But when her covert exchange is intercepted, she becomes entangled with a Government official hell-bent on taking her down. She now has two choices—kill the father of the genetically modified boy she’s falling for, or be sent to Solitary Seclusion for the rest of her life.

**********

Also, this is my week to host on Unicorn Bell, the writing and critique blog I'm honored to co-host with several other AMAZING writers and authors. I interviewed several authors this week and I've decided to give you a teaser interview to entice you to want to head over to UB to check out the full. Hope you stop by! 

And now, here's a teaser interview with New Adult author Elizabeth Briggs.

MORE THAN MUSIC blurb

Music major Maddie Taylor just finished her junior year of college and has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, yet every night she practices guitar and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation – and that he’s just as big a geek as she is. With each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore, but when the show pressures them to stay single they’re forced to keep their relationship secret.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Book Depository

Author bio:

Elizabeth Briggs is a full-time geek who writes books for teens and adults. She plays the guitar, mentors at-risk teens, and volunteers with a dog rescue group. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a pack of small, fluffy dogs.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter 

Even though you have an agent, you decided to self-publish MORE THAN MUSIC. What influenced that decision?

When I wrote MORE THAN MUSIC I’d already been on submission for years with my YA books and was pretty burnt out by it all. I decided MORE THAN MUSIC would be a perfect book to self-publish since New Adult generally does better in ebooks than print anyway. Also, the book has a lot of pop culture references in it and I wanted it to come out now instead of two years from now or more. I knew that by self-publishing I would have control over the content, the release date, the price, the cover, the interior format, and so forth – and I’d keep all the rights and the profits, too! Giving up all of that for a traditional deal didn’t seem worth it for this particular book.

*Sounds like a smart decision, especially considering the circumstances. -K.S.

What inspired you to write MORE THAN MUSIC?

I went to high school for a short time with Adam Levine and the other guys in Maroon 5, back when they were called Kara’s Flowers. They played at our school dances and I sat behind them in class and was completely in love with them. Of course, they had no idea I existed! Many years later I saw Adam Levine on The Voice, and had the idea of a geeky girl joining an up-and-coming rock band at her school and going on a show like The Voice, and MORE THAN MUSIC grew from that.

*Wow, such a cool inspiration and fun story! I wish I knew Adam Levine in high school... -K.S.

If you had to wear a T-shirt with one word on it for the rest of your life, which word would you choose? Why?

“Rawr!” This word just works for so many different situations.

*Lol. Great word! :) -K.S.

To read the rest of Elizabeth's interview, please head on over to Unicorn Bell. Thanks!