Tuesday, February 24, 2015

News, Tips, & Tuesday Teasers: Careful what you wish for. HOLD TIGHT

News:

There's less than two months to the release of ENTWINED, book three in my series. I'm currently in the quiet before the storm. The manuscript is with the copy editor. The cover is with the design department. My publicist is on top of the cover reveal and blog tour. To keep myself busy, I've been focusing on ways to spread the word about the series and working on a new project. Both are going good.

Writing tip:

At my critique meeting this month, Susan Kaye Quinn reminded me that a transition scene - a scene that is important to the plot but doesn't necessarily have a lot of action - should talk about the emotional state of the character at the beginning of the scene and at the end, and that there should be a change in the emotional tension from the beginning and the end. This advice was exactly what I needed to hear to help me recognize what I need to focus on in the scene I shared with the group, and I thought I'd share the tip with my followers.

Teaser:

Today's teaser is from HOLD TIGHT, book two in the Embrace Series. Enjoy!

Teaser 1:


Teaser 2:

He regarded me with the patience that only came with age. I wondered just how old he was, and I was dying to know if his skin was as soft as it looked. More than anything, I really needed him gone for a few minutes because the feeling of vertigo returned.
[…]
“Fine. I’ll admit I feel different lately.” I placed my hand flat on his chest and pushed him further away from me. “And it’s worse when you’re this frickin’ close, but you already know that.”

He smirked devilishly.

You can read HOLD TIGHT today
for only $2.99

Friday, February 20, 2015

Meet Kat Ross author of SOME FINE DAY

Congrats to Kat Ross on the release of her young adult novel, SOME FINE DAY! Kat's here with us today, and to celebrate the release of her book, Kat is giving away a Kindle Paperwhite and more! 

SOME FINE DAY
by Kat Ross

Synopsis: A generation ago, continent-sized storms called hypercanes caused the Earth to flood. The survivors were forced to retreat deep underground and build a new society.

This is the story that sixteen-year-old Jansin Nordqvist has heard all of her life.

Jansin grew up in a civilization far below the Earth’s surface. She’s spent the last eight years in military intelligence training. So when her parents surprise her with a coveted yet treacherous trip above ground, she’s prepared for anything. She’s especially thrilled to feel the fresh air, see the sun, and view the wide-open skies and the ocean for herself.

But when raiders attack Jansin’s camp and take her prisoner, she is forced to question everything she’s been taught. What do her captors want? How will she get back underground? And if she ever does, will she want to stay after learning the truth?

Please help me welcome Kat.

Cherie: Tell us about your novel, Some Fine Day, in your own words.

Kat:  Hey Cherie! Let me first say thanks for having me on your blog, I’m a big fan of your books. As to mine…well, it’s set towards the end of the century, at a time when runaway climate change has left the surface of the planet largely uninhabitable. The problem isn’t only extinction of species and major sea level rise, but permanent superstorms (think Hurricane Sandy times a hundred). They’re such an integral part of the story and the psychology of the characters, I sort of imagine them as characters too, really scary ones. Anyway, the narrator and hero of the tale is a 16-year-old girl who’s grown up underground. When she does finally go above, she’s in for a lot of surprises.

Cherie: I'm so glad you enjoyed my books. =) And I can't wait to read yours! Those are some scary storms! Can you tell us about your writing process?

Kat: I wrote Some Fine Day entirely during stolen moments: train rides, waiting rooms, a few hours late at night when my daughter was sleeping. It went in fits and starts, like most books do, but I finished a draft in about a year. Now I’m more ruthless about making the rest of my life fit my writing schedule, so I set aside time first thing every day to write before the world comes crashing in. I feel less guilty that way!

Oh, and I’m a total plotter. I really need to know what is going to happen and how it ends, although of course spontaneity happily creeps in along the way.

Cherie: Funny how us writers have to steal time to write. Where did you get the idea for Some Fine Day?

Kat: Believe it not from The Onion!  December 2008. Hurriphoonado Cuts Swath Of Destruction Across Eastern, Western Hemispheres.

It was funnier seven years ago, granted, but at the time I thought it was brilliant. I didn't start writing Some Fine Day just then, but that article always stuck with me. It became one of those "what if" moments.

As in, what if something like that actually happened? And what if it didn't go away?

When I knew I wanted to write a story about that (the folder with all my booky wook stuff is still called hurriphoonado), I did throw myself into research (Google), and discovered that in fact, there is something called a hypercane. Theoretical, yes, but so is fiction. I emailed the very smart man at MIT who ran the computer models and he patiently explained to me how they form and other cool tidbits.

Yeah, the book pretty much wrote itself after that.

*JK!*

Anyway, if you're intrigued by hypercanes, I have a little page devoted to them, in all their glory, on my website.

Cherie: Hurriphoonado is just fun to say! What was your favorite (or most difficult) chapter to write?

Kat: I struggled with the end, and the love scenes. Those are hard! The line between romantic longing and cheesiness is so razor thin. I asked Mama Google for advice and found some great tips from writers that steered me in the right direction.

Cherie: Thanks for the link. Can you share with us something about Jansin that we don’t learn about them from reading the book?

Kat:  She’s actually very playful with a mischievous sense of humor. During the editing process, I had to lose one of my all-time favorite scenes in the book which really showed that side of her because it wasn’t working with the pacing very well, but if I do finish the sequel, I hope that aspect of Jansin’s personality comes across. With all the insane things that happen to her in the first book, she can be very serious!

Cherie: Good to know there is a very good chance there will be a sequel. What are you working on now?

Kat: Oooh, I’m almost done with the first draft of a new manuscript but I haven’t told anyone the plot yet, not my husband, agent or editor. I will say it’s set in Maine, Budapest and Siberia and is a twist on the usual paranormal romance. It also has rare book collecting, Zoroastrianism, and a truly horrifying villain.

Cherie: I'll just have to stalk you on social media to find out more (when you announce it, of course). Now that we know about your book and you as a writer, I have some fun questions for you. Try to answer in five words or less:

Favorite color? Green

Secret crush? (It can be anyone real or fictional.) Sherlock Holmes, as played by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Yep. I’m living proof.

Have you ever experienced that head-over-heels, tingly, have-to-get-to-know-someone feeling yourself? My husband. (see above)

Who are you drawn to the good guy or the bad guy? Damn. Bad guy.

What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? If they make me laugh.

If you had all the money and time in the world, where would your dream vacation be? New Zealand.

Are you a morning person or an evening person? Morning!

Favorite author? Jonathan Stroud. Brilliant!

Favorite movie or television show? Anything with zombies.

Guilty pleasures that get you through the writing/revising process? Gum & chocolate.

Favorite place to write? My local coffee shop.

Who is your mentor (or hero)? My dad.

What book are you the most excited to read? The Wicked Will Rise.

Are there any types of books you don’t read? Very few; contemporary fiction only if it’s super, John Green-ish good.


I'm drawn to the bad guys too.

Thanks you so much, Kat, for taking the time to be with us today! Best wishes for a great launch!


READ SOME FINE DAY TODAY:
Some Fine Day is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
You can find more reader reviews on Goodreads.


ENTER TO WIN


About the author:
Kat Ross was born and raised in New York City and worked several jobs before turning to journalism and creative writing. An avid traveler and adventurer, she now lives with her family—along with a beagle, a ginger cat, and six fish—far enough outside the city that skunks and deer wander through her backyard.
You can find Kat on Twitter and her website.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Teaser Tuesday: You have to taste the power... EMBRACE

News/Updates:

I got word from my publisher that the cover for Entwined is with the design department. I was even given a sneak peek at what they are planning to do, and I like it so far. This new cover will go nicely with books one and two. 

With edits done and the cover in the capable and talented hands of the cover designer I'm focusing my energy on polishing my latest work-in-progress. It's slow going, mostly because I'm too tired after a full day of work to focus on writing in the evenings. I'm not worried, though. I know I'll get through them soon enough.



I hope you enjoy today's teasers. They're from EMBRACE, the first book in the series.

Teaser 1:


Teaser 2:


     Kaylee’s fingers tightened like a vise as she took a step closer to me so that our shoulders touched. Kaylee’s eyes were wide and focused on the far end of the parking lot. My gaze followed hers. “What is it?”

     The street lamp flickered on and off, creating odd shadows among the cars parked there.

     “Who is that?” Kaylee whispered.

     I squinted, looking between and inside the distant vehicles. “Who’s who?”

     She raised her free hand and pointed toward the darkness in front of us. “Right there, standing in front of the pick-up truck.”

     It was one of those work trucks with the racks for ladders.

     “Kaylee, there’s no one there.”

You can read a sample of EMBRACE on Amazon  | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble


What are you working on? Do you find it hard to write after a long day at work? 


Tuesday, February 10, 2015

News, Events, and Two Teasers

Where I've been the last few days:
This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating in the Elgin Literary Festival. I participated in a panel, presented a workshop, met readers, chatted with aspiring writers, sold books, and caught up with friends. A big thanks to Karly Kirkpatrick and the other facilitators who put the event together.

Today, I'm over at Uncommon YA telling Two Truths and a Lie. Stop by and see if you can pick out the lie!

Update on ENTWINED:
Developmental edits are complete for ENTWINED. I can now kick my feet up and relax.

Okay, not really, but it's a good feeling to know my amazing developmental editor and I met our deadline. Entwined is now in the heads of the head editor. Time will tell if additional tweaks are needed.


Today's teasers are from EMBRACE, book one in the series.




Teaser #1: 

I followed two chatty sophomores into the classroom and almost lost what little control I had left over my emotions when I saw Mark sitting at our table. I was sure my face turned a few shades of red as I fought the urge to throw something at him and snarled, “Hello.” […] It took me a few seconds, but I managed to pull myself together after that. This would be my only chance to yank out Mark’s hair. The thought cheered me up.






Teaser #2:


Get EMBRACE today!
Only $2.99 


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Thursday, February 5, 2015

Read it today! FOUR SOMETHINGS & A SIXPENCE by Rumer Haven


Congrats to Rumer Haven on the release of her novella
FOUR SOMETHINGS & A SIXPENCE

Adult Contemporary Romance
Available February 3, 2015 
from Battered Suitcase Press
(an imprint of Vagabondage Press)

SUMMARY: One wedding. Six participants. Be they sitting in the pews or standing at the altar, bearing witness in person or only in spirit, each of them knows something about the unsmiling bride. Go ahead—offer them a sixpence for their thoughts, and they'll make you these vows:
  • One would love to declare this woman his “awfully wedded wife.”
  • One fears what she already has and will have to hold—if not from this day forward, then soon.
  • One takes her to be richer, not poorer.
  • One is better for what she told him this morning, worse for betraying a friend to get to this point.
  • One worries whether today finds her in sickness or in health.
  • And only one already knows that not even in death will they part.
Whether they speak now or forever hold their peace, they all give the bride a little something she didn’t register for. One wedding. Six participants. Whether they speak now or forever hold their peace, they all give the bride a little something she didn’t register for. With romance, resentment, faith, fear, mystery, and the mystical, Four Somethings & A Sixpence is a loaded yet light read just in time for Valentine's Day! Add it to Goodreads. Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and batteredsuitcasepress.com.

ENTER TO WIN!

In celebration, Rumer is giving away 4 free ebooks of this 9,000-word novelette, and a lucky 5th winner will receive the ebook PLUS an authentic silver sixpence coin struck by the Royal Mint in London! 

RSVP at the Rafflecopter for your chance to win (runs from 2/3 - 2/14).   


About the author: Rumer Haven is probably the most social recluse you could ever meet. When she’s not babbling her fool head off among friends and family, she’s pacified with a good story that she’s reading, writing, or revising—or binge-watching something on Netflix. A former teacher hailing from Chicago, she presently lives in London with her husband. She made her authorial debut in 2014 with the novel Seven for a Secret, where historical fiction meets contemporary rom-com. Rumer has always had a penchant for the past and paranormal, which inspires her writing to explore dimensions of time, love, and the soul. 


Author Links: 

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Teaser Tuesday: Catch up with Madison Riley in EMBRACE

Hi everyone!

If you're near Elgin, Illinois this weekend by sure to check out the Elgin Literary Festival. I'm participating in the Exploring Other Worlds - Science Fiction / Fantasy / Paranormal / Dystopian Panel on Saturday, February 7th, from Noon-1:30pm and presenting my workshop, Magic, Mystery, and Afterlife of Literature on Sunday, February 8th, from 12:30-1:30pm. Both presentation will be at Next Door Theater. Click here to see the full schedule and all the amazing author that will be there. Plus, most author will be available to sign books.


Book news....

With the upcoming release of ENTWINED just a few months away, I thought it would be fun to share teasers from the series, starting with book one. And what better day to do this than on Teaser Tuesday? I hope you enjoy.




Today's teaser:

Isaac looked at me, his eyes smoldering as he leaned over the stick shift and brushed my lips with one of his feather-soft kisses that sent a warm tingling sensation all the way to my toes.


No one who could get my heart beating as fast as it was with such a brief kiss could possibly be bad. I was sure of it.



Discover the magic of Embrace for yourself.
Only $2.99 on Kindle and Nook
Amazon  | Amazon UKBarnes & Noble


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