Love,
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Little Hiatus.
Hi everyone! I'm going on a Little Hiatus from this blog for now. I've got so much life changes this year. Including, flying out to the US for the Indie Bookfest for work. (SO EXCITED) So, I don't have time to schedule posts for blog tours and such. BUT I'll be back! I don't know when but I will! You can follow me on Twitter or my Design Facebook Page where I'm more active, for now. See you all when things slow down in the next few months.
Love,
Love,
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Swoon-worthy Excerpt: Stay by Jennifer Silverwood
I am thrilled to welcome a wonderful person and author and her book to my blog. She is a growing author and I cannot wait to see her name displayed in every bookstore around the world. But first, let's start with her latest release, Stay! Check out this swoon-worthy excerpt!
I tensed when he came to stand behind me. His chin brushed my shoulder as heleaned over and guided my hand in the proper movements. I wanted to shout at him, “Is that necessary?” but held my tongue. I could not help being unnerved by him. The metal lid rattled a bit because of my flustered and unsteady grip. A glance over my shoulder revealed his eyes fixed not on the lid, but my face. And most startling of all, the same draw I felt for him was reflected in his wonderment. “Orona,” he whispered, swallowed and perked up as the songs switched on thestereo again. “Do you want me to show you how we dance?” I fought the urge to grip that metal handle even more tightly, to run and snatch mycloak and rush to Lissa’s aid as quickly as possible. I knew this was dangerous territory. But thus far I had been flying blindly and was still unconvinced this man was not Seid in human disguise. So I grinned as he pulled me away waiting for my reply. He knew I had already given it, just as I knew I could never say no to him. We stood as we had before, with his hand on my waist and our fingers claspedtogether, up and away from our bodies. I clutched the square muscle of his shoulder and followed as he stepped back, then led me side to side. Something strange filled and broke through my defenses, unbidden. A flurry ofsweet thrills laced up and down my spine as we danced. It was like floating on water once I caught the rhythm in the steps, as I learned to follow his silent cues. The words were out of my mouth before I could rein them in. “How did you learn to dance like this?” His coppery skin flushed that unfortunately familiar shade of rust. I had only seenit once or twice, before Seid revealed his true nature to me. He skipped a step and nearly stumbled as he formulated his answer. “It’s reallyembarrassing actually. But I had a crush on this girl back in high school. She used tocome to my uncle’s club with her folks on weekends and she knew how to dance. So…” He shrugged and looked over my shoulder, anywhere he did not have to see my reaction. My skin boiled at the thought of another girl in his arms. “You learned for her?” Stop it! He does not belong to you! “My aunt taught me,” he confessed. When he smiled I saw the almost perfectrows of white teeth. “When my cousin caught me practicing with a door and laughed, I punched him in the face. But in the end, I got the girl.” Through our bond I saw flashes and images of a honey-skinned, brown-eyed girlagainst the lights of the club, dancing in his arms. I could feel his pride in that moment and felt inexplicably sour because of it. His smile died when he noticed the tension in my steps and chuckled. “Guess youhad to be there to laugh. Thanks for not calling me a dork and laughing in my face.” I forced a smile but was unable to block the memory of that girl, or of the way hefelt about Lissa. His blue eyes narrowed intently on me. He bowed his head then and frowned atour feet. I bit my lip, wondering how I was going to explain the whole supernatural grace thing. “You’re freakishly good at this, babe,” he said with raised eyebrows. “You pullmy leg earlier or something? Here I was thinking you only knew that sexy ethnic dance.” He winked and then it was my turn to blush. At the same moment, his hand shifted slightly higher against my waist andprickles of pleasure darted to my lower abdomen. Fresh air was suddenly in short supply and I had the strangest feeling I was falling past the point of no return and powerless to stop it. Tripping over my feet on purpose, I feigned a fall in order to push him away. “Gotcha!” he gasped and then laughed as our foreheads knocked together.Instead of escaping the human’s grasp, I found myself in an even morecompromising position, with our chests pressed together. Suddenly everything wasentirely too much and too real: the way his lips parted to take in badly needed oxygen, how perfectly our hips fit into place, despite our different heights, and how the feel of another human’s skin made mine come thrillingly alive. His pale blue eyes clouded just like Seid’s did when he was about to kiss me. What terrified me wasn’t his resemblance to my former love, however, but the fact I wasgoing to let him. Two thousand years spent hating the one who had cursed me and I was about to give in, just like he had wanted all along
Blog Tour for STAY by Jennifer Silverwood
April 28th
– May 9th, 2014
4Word Press Publishing and Gliterary Girl are proud to
present the release of Jennifer Silverwood’s STAY.
Synopsis
Rona believes love is nothing more than a myth,
a tale for little girls. Until the immortal ruler of the seas appears from thin
air and she is swept into a dark and dangerous affair, turning myth into a
grave reality.
Commanded to work as the savior of true love,
Rona realizes that love is just an illusion as grandiose as magic and after two
thousand years, she is ready to give up. Until the night a human, deep in the
underbelly of the city that never sleeps, sees her. She recognizes him
instantly, a lost love. Trouble is, he has no memory of her.
Tasked with mending a relationship between the
love she lost thousands of years ago and another woman, Rona will have to learn
what it means to be human all over again when past and present collide.
Can love transcend time or will Rona be forced
to roam the earth alone, forever?
About Jennifer Silverwood
But it was many years later, after dabbling in all the arts, that I realized writing was my greatest passion. I grew up on the far outskirts of the Metroplex of Texas, a busy world of cities within cities. It’s easy to get lost in a place like this. Some might argue that Dallas is the “New York” of the south and I might agree. Rather than worry about being a little fish in a big pond, however, I made up my mind long ago to follow my dreams. The funny thing about dreams is they have a tendency to come to life in unexpected ways.
My best friends were my twin next-door neighbors. (Inspiration for the three main ladies in Silver Hollow) We made up our own little book club, complete with readings and brainstorming sessions. I loved reading to them and they loved “the story,” as we dubbed whatever project we were working on. As we grew up and went on to different careers and schools, and I tried three different universities. Needless to say, college didn’t pan out well for me. So I did the next sensible thing and decided to write “for real.”
By day I am personal assistant and simple childcare worker at the local Learning Center for preschoolers. But by night, I moonlight as an independently published author of Young/New Adult and fantasy novels. My hope is that you enjoy my books and are encouraged to follow your dreams as well.
Social Media Links
Facebook - www.facebook.com/silverwoodj
Twitter - https://twitter.com/JennSilverwood
Website - http://jennifersilverwood.com
GIVEAWAY
In honor of this celebration, 4Word Press Publishing is
hosting a GIVEAWAY. One Grand Prize
Winner will receive a $25.00 Amazon Giftcard.
Three runner-ups will receive a digital copy of STAY.
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Monday, April 28, 2014
Book Excerpt: Fractured Truth by Rachel McClellan
Chapter One
“You have four minutes, Llona,” Liam said through a microphone in my ear. His voice, like the ringing of a great bell, pounded my already aching head.The small plane’s engine shrieked, a high-pitched sound different from the steady hum of the last twenty minutes. Everyone had boarded a while ago. It was a silent crowd, not one likely to converse with each other.
I shifted my weight in the plane’s cramped closet. I could’ve come out as I’d just turned invisible, but I wanted to wait until the speed of the plane increased, covering any sounds the closet door might make when opened.
It was shortly after Cyrus kidnapped my aunt Sophie from Lucent academy that I taught myself to turn invisible. I’d practiced every day, sometimes for hours, until I could do it without the accompanying paralyzing weakness. And although the pain hadn’t gotten any better, I was able to increase the time I could maintain invisibility to several minutes. I’d accomplished all this in just the few short months since Christian’s death.
Just then the plane lurched forward, picking up speed on the runway. I opened the door and peered into the plane’s small kitchen. Empty. Perfect. I quietly slipped out and closed the door behind me.
The front wheels of the plane bounced. The cabin, as I suspected, was full of Vykens sitting in their seats, their backs to me, as if they were regular passengers. Most of them looked like normal humans, which meant they’d fed on Auran blood recently, but a few were in their purest form— facial features deformed and gray with moldy skin peeling back from their faces.
There was only one different from the rest. Jackson. He sat three rows up to the right of the center aisle.
With the Deific’s help, Liam had finally received a tip on Jackson’s whereabouts. It was the closest we’d come to finding out where Cyrus was keeping Sophie. I glanced to my left, to the emergency exit. By the way the plane was vibrating, it was close to taking off.
A Vyken stood and slid into the aisle. I pressed myself against a seat to keep him from bumping into me. I had yet to learn how to let matter pass through me. That may be a trick only my mother knew.
After the Vyken passed by, I went to Jackson. He was looking down at his bloodied knuckles. How did that happen? Jackson used to be a guardian. He (and a bunch of others who had followed him) had joined the Vykens against the Auras months ago. I’d been training harder than ever to stop them all and restore the Auras to their former strength. The strength only a few knew about.
The plane lifted. Still plenty of time to make my move.
I reached down, careful to avoid touching Jackson, and undid his seat belt. He glanced to his lap, brow twisted together. I smacked the back of his head, hard. He turned around and stared at the Vyken behind him.
“What’s your problem?” Jackson asked.
The Vyken ignored him.
Jackson stood and confronted the Vyken again. “Hey, I’m talking to you!”
The Vyken lifted his gaze from the sports magazine in his hand. “I know Cyrus said we can’t kill you, but he didn’t say we couldn’t hurt you. Sit down, guardian.”
Liam’s voice spoke again in my ear. “Hurry up.”
Several Vykens looked around. His voice, this close to so many of them, must have drawn attention.
Time to pay for your crimes, Jackson.
I drew my fist back and punched Jackson in the face. His hand came up to his bloodied nose. “What the . . . ?”
A few Vykens stood up.
I punched him again. He stumbled back toward the exit, arms outstretched as though to steady himself.
Blood ran onto his chin.
“What’s going on?” he yelled.
I answered with a swift kick to his chest. It took just a second for him to recover before he started blindly throwing punches. “Someone help me!”
Vykens looked around as if they didn’t know what to do.
I dodged Jackson’s fist and punched him again. He was in position. I took hold of the emergency latch and pulled it as hard as I could. The door flew open, sucking air from the cabin.
Papers and all kinds of debris flew past me. Jackson scrambled backward, his eyes darting around until he was pressed against the wall separating the kitchen from the cabin.
The others stood alert, some in a fight-ready stance. But who were they going to fight? They couldn’t see me. No one could.
Grabbing Jackson, I spun him around until he was facing the open door; his clothes and hair whipped around violently. He stuttered.
His fear excited me, sending a wave of adrenaline through my blood stream.
I was about to reveal myself to him, just so I could see the surprise in his eyes, but Liam’s voice sounded in my ear. “Get out of there—now!”
Jerking into action, I wrapped my arms around Jackson’s chest and jumped from the plane, spiraling into a black abyss.
As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.
April 21st | What the Cat Read (Review, Excerpt)
I dodged Jackson’s fist and punched him again. He was in position. I took hold of the emergency latch and pulled it as hard as I could. The door flew open, sucking air from the cabin.
Papers and all kinds of debris flew past me. Jackson scrambled backward, his eyes darting around until he was pressed against the wall separating the kitchen from the cabin.
The others stood alert, some in a fight-ready stance. But who were they going to fight? They couldn’t see me. No one could.
Grabbing Jackson, I spun him around until he was facing the open door; his clothes and hair whipped around violently. He stuttered.
His fear excited me, sending a wave of adrenaline through my blood stream.
I was about to reveal myself to him, just so I could see the surprise in his eyes, but Liam’s voice sounded in my ear. “Get out of there—now!”
Jerking into action, I wrapped my arms around Jackson’s chest and jumped from the plane, spiraling into a black abyss.
Fractured Truth
(Fractured Light #3)
Llona is determined to end the fight with the Vykens once and for all. All she needs is to find and destroy the Shadow–the ultimate source of dark power. But when she makes a startling discovery about someone she loves, Llona has to fight the toughest battle yet in this exciting conclusion to the Fractured Light series.
---
About Fractured Light (Book #1)
Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.
As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.
About Fractured Soul (Book #2)
Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat.
This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!
Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she’s not in her writing lair, she’s partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel’s love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…
April 21st | What the Cat Read (Review, Excerpt)
April 22nd | Sapphyria’s Book Reviews (Guest Post, Excerpt)
April 23rd | Vaempires (Review, Author Interview)
April 24th | Ash Krafton’s Demimonde (Guest Post)
April 25th | The Avid Reader (Author Interview, Excerpt)
April 28th | Unputdownable Books (Excerpt)
April 29th | The Ferryman’s Wife (Review, Excerpt)
April 30th | Much Loved Books (Excerpt)
May 1st | Gracen Miller (Excerpt)
May 2nd | White Sky Project (Excerpt)
May 5th | Bittersweet Enchantment (Guest Post, Excerpt)
May 6th | Fuonlyknew (Excerpt)
May 7th | Mind Reader (Guest Post)
May 8th | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace (Excerpt)
May 9th | Nicky Peacock Author (Author Interview)
May 12th | Mean Who You Are (Guest Post, Excerpt)
May 13th | Kindred Dreamheart (Guest Post)
May 14th | Tower of Babel (Guest Post)
May 15th | Lusty Penguin Reviews (Character Interview, Guest Post, Excerpt)
May 16th | Justified Lunacy (Excerpt)
May 19th | Happy Tails and Tales (Review, Excerpt)
May 20th | Behind a Million and One Pages (Review, Excerpt)
May 21st | Shah Wharton’s WordsinSync (Guest Post)
May 22nd | Chapter by Chapter (Excerpt)
May 23rd | Mythical Books (Author Interview)
May 26th | Reader Girls (Review, Excerpt)
May 27th | Tana Rae Reads (Guest Post, Excerpt)
May 28th | Darkest Sins (Guest Post)
May 29th | Kayla’s Place (Guest Post, Excerpt)
May 30th | Mind Reader (Excerpt)
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Release Day Blitz: Stay by Jennifer Silverwood
Mark Your Calendars
4Word Press is releasing it's first title
Stay
by, Jennifer Silverwood
AVAILABLE Tuesday APRIL 29, 2014
release day only $.99
Rona believes love is nothing more than a myth, a tale for little girls. Until the immortal ruler of the seas appears from thin air and she is swept into a dark and dangerous affair; turning myth into a dark reality.
Ordained a savior of true love, Rona realizes that love is just an illusion as grandiose as magic and after two-thousand years she is ready to give up. Until the night she is seen by a human, deep in the underbelly of the city that never sleeps. She recognizes him instantly, a lost love. Trouble is, he has no memory of her.
Tasked with saving this man's relationship with another woman, Rona must to learn what it means to be human all over again when past and present come full circle.
Does love transcend time or will Rona be forced to roam the earth alone, forever?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Everyone has to begin somewhere. I began my journey to becoming an author long before I published anything. Storytelling was something I did every night before bed with my father. We would create such wonderful tales together, far better than anything in books. It sprung from our imaginations. My mother ingrained a love for the written world early on. Then my grandpa gave me his first type writer when I was in elementary school. You can guess the rest.
But it was many years later, after dabbling in all the arts, that I realized writing was my greatest passion. I grew up on the far outskirts of the Metroplex of Texas, a busy world of cities within cities. It’s easy to get lost in a place like this. Some might argue that Dallas is the “New York” of the south and I might agree. Rather than worry about being a little fish in a big pond, however, I made up my mind long ago to follow my dreams. The funny thing about dreams is they have a tendency to come to life in unexpected ways.
My best friends were my twin next door neighbors. (Inspiration for the three main ladies in Silver Hollow) We made up our own little book club, complete with readings and brainstorming sessions. I loved reading to them and they loved “the story,” as we dubbed whatever project we were working on. As we grew up and went on to different careers and schools, and I tried three different universities. Needless to say, college didn’t pan out well for me. So I did the next sensible thing and decided to write “for real.”
By day I am personal assistant and simple childcare worker at the local Learning Center for preschoolers. But by night, I moonlight as an independently published author of Young/New Adult and fantasy novels. My hope is that you enjoy my books and are encouraged to follow your dreams as well.
Connect With Jennifer Silverwood on
FACEBOOK/ TWITTER/ WEBSITE
Monday, April 21, 2014
Giveaway + Excerpt: Before the Storm by Claire Ashgrove
“Halle.” Kale sighed. “We can’t have this conversation here. There’s too many ears around. Come with me, and I’ll explain in private.” It was all I could do to not burst out with a derisive laugh. Seven years of living on the streets taught a girl that private encounters with would-be kindly strangers usually left girls dead. “Do you think I’m stupid? I’m not going anywhere with you.” “I’m afraid you don’t have much choice.” He rose to his feet, his voice strangely low and hushed. Instinct warned me to step back as he approached. My heart kicked several beats, and I reached for the knife I usually kept in my back pocket. My fingers fumbled with the button that held the pocket closed. Before I could work it free, Kale had invaded my personal space. One large hand reached for me. I whirled to run. He caught me by the wrist. I skidded to a stop after less than a foot. Panic infused me, and I jerked on my arm. I couldn’t overpower this guy, not like the skinny, crack-addicted street thugs who gave me trouble now and then. Everything clicked into place in one, heart-stopping burst of reality. He had been chasing me. Now he had me. And I couldn’t get away.I was not going to die out here in the woods, damn it! With all my strength, I kicked my leg back, hoping to connect with some vital part of his body and he’d drop to the ground. Instead, my heel jammed into his calf, but he’d moved so close I couldn’t have possibly done him significant damage. He didn’t even let out a grunt. Instead, he moved into me, wound both arms around my torso, and trapped my back against his chest. “Halle, be still,” he whispered, “Look.” Releasing one arm, he pointed at the hilltop in front of us. I lifted my gaze and met the unblinking stare of two, glowing red eyes. I had to be imagining things. Or the absence of light was playing tricks on my eyes. I blinked, shook my head, and looked again. Now, two sets stared down at us. Kale’s hand fisted around mine. His hushed voice filled my ears. “Run!” I stumbled as he jerked me sideways. But two steps later, I matched his ground-covering stride, my long legs an easy pairing with his. Sapling branches snapped against my shoulders, whipped alongside my cheek. I didn’t feel them. For the first time in my life, I was afraid.
She held no faith in magic. Now, fate is calling her…
Halle Rhoads has a terrifying gift--she can kill with the fury of the storm.
She should have known that kind of power wouldn't go unnoticed. Thrust into a world full of dark magic with a handsome stranger who claims he can teach her, she struggles to master her abilities and stumbles onto a dangerous truth. She's a windwalker, the chosen vessel of the ancient dragons who once ruled the world. Many will stop at nothing to possess the power in her blood, should they discover her secret. With necromancers hunting her and Halle's closest allies guarding secrets, mastering her magic becomes a matter of necessity.
But accepting her destiny is altogether different. For doing so means she must sacrifice everything.
In her non-writing time, she’s runs Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.
Keep in Touch via:
Claire Ashgrove Website / Tori St. Claire Website / Sophia Garrett Website / Untamed Spirit Blog / Twitter / Facebook
As part of Before the Storm’s release celebration, Claire’s
sponsoring a giveaway of a $15.00 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift
Certificate. All you have to do is enter
the Rafflecopter below. In addition, she
have several other opportunities over the next two weeks to win more
prizes. To see complete tour dates, and
the other release-week events, check out the BeforeThe Storm Tour Schedule!
