It's the most wonderful time of the year!
What are you doing with your holiday season?
Tis the season to be more loving, more compassionate, more patient. Tis the season to be better. Some people have gotten away from the reason for Christmas, and enjoy the commercial aspects. For me, this season is a time for refocusing. It's a time for remembering people outside of my normal circle. It's a season for family.
Because of that, I'll be on break until the new year, but before I go, three things:
1. There's an AWESOME book up for grabs below. (Don't miss out on the Truth or Lie game.)
2. As a very "Merry Christmas", my publisher has dropped the price of my Maiden of Time trilogy by 40% through December 21. You can get the entire series in eBook for ONLY $9. (Regularly $15.) And this:
3. My blog tour rocked! I can't tell you how incredibly blessed I feel to have such wonderful friends on the blogosphere who shared, shouted, reviewed, and made me feel like a rock star. (Almost 100% 5 Star reviews. What?!?!) You are the best! Before you go, here's a quick run down of the posts and people who deserve epic cheese this season. Thank you, friends! (And thank you to everyone who participated. Winners will be notified via email, and prizes are going out December 1st.)
November 1
November 2
The Narcissistic Rose: Medieval Funnies--Food Fascination
I Think: Therefore I Yam: Excerpt--What's Beyond the Stars
I Think: Therefore I Yam: Excerpt--What's Beyond the Stars
November 3
November 4
November 5
Thoughts in Progress: 4 Tools for Gauging Your Book's Pace
Bish Denham: Medieval Funnies: Hobbies
November 7
Thoughts in Progress: 4 Tools for Gauging Your Book's Pace
Bish Denham: Medieval Funnies: Hobbies
November 7
November 8
November 9
November 10
November 11
November 12
November 14
November 15
November 16
Lidy Wilks: Doppelganger Time! Who is Yours?
November 17
November 17
November 21
Two weeks ago, Rachel Schieffelbein shared DON'T FALL along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to an eBook.
The game:
1. I caught a Snorlax in my living room.
2. I almost died when I was four.
3. I saw Patrick Swayze at a horse show.
The lie: #1.
From Rachel: I still don't have a Snorlax and I'm kinda bitter about it. Lol.
From Rachel: I still don't have a Snorlax and I'm kinda bitter about it. Lol.
Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Julie Flanders!
Congrats, Julie!
And now, here's a giveaway for a wonderful author who is super supportive of other authors and whose debut novel JUST came out. Ooh!
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 teens, 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.
Ready to meet the author?
You might find Kristin pretending she's in a fancy restaurant while sitting at her scratched-up kitchen table, eating goat cheese on a cranberry, walnut salad.
Kristin gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out either lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook (open internationally):
You have until Tuesday, January 3 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer (and some FUN trivia) on January 4, 8 a.m. EDT.
You have until Tuesday, January 3 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer (and some FUN trivia) on January 4, 8 a.m. EDT.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. I'm the mother of five boys, and when I was pregnant with my oldest son, we were told by the ultrasound tech that she was 99.9% sure we were having a girl. Surprise! We ended up with a bouncing baby boy.
2. By the time I was 18, I'd traveled from the east coast to the west coast 3 times, but the first time I ever rode in an airplane was when I left home for college.
3. I once chatted for five minutes with Woody Harrelson outside of a bathroom in a casino in Las Vegas and didn't realize who he was until after he walked away.
So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Kristin? Love sci-fi thrillers? What does the Christmas season mean to you? What are you doing with your holiday season?
Jesus is the reason for the season!
ReplyDeleteGlad the tour was a success and congratulations on those five star reviews.
I'm going to guess the second one is a lie.
That's right! And what a wonderful season it is. Cheese to you, Alex!
DeleteWhoo hoo for a successful tour and wonderful reviews!
ReplyDeleteHave wonderful holiday, Crystal! Enjoy the break! :)
Thank you, Madeline. I'm wishing you the same.
DeleteCongratulations on your blog tour! Hope you have a lovely holiday.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to guess the lie... I'd say #2!
Thanks so much, Deniz. I'm wishing you the best holiday as well!
DeleteHave a wonderful holiday season! :) Your tour rocked! I'm going to say the lie is #3.
ReplyDeleteAw, you're the best, Christine.
DeleteWell, you essentially could have caught a Snorlax in your living room now that they have Pokemon Go, right? :)
ReplyDeleteRachel totally could have. It was plausible. She's so tricky.
Deletesadly, I don't have a family, so for me December is work work work month since most bestsellers come out in February and March and need to be translated on time :)
ReplyDeleteCatalyst has a nice cover!
Dezmond, if I lived closer I'd adopt you. Everyone deserves to have family.
DeleteThank you SO much, Crystal, for having me on here! :)
ReplyDeleteYour blog tour was AWESOME! I loved the Doppelganger Quiz and spinning the prize wheel. So fun! You always do such great book tours, and you excel at book promotion! I need some tips from you. :)
LOL. Kristin, you're doing plenty awesome on your own. Honestly. And it's a joy to have you here today.
DeleteYay for Kristin! Totally looking forward to Catalyst :) I'm going to guess #1 is the lie. As for the holiday season, I'm just looking forward to 2017. '16 has been a long hard year and I'm hoping the new one brings better things!
ReplyDeleteHey wait, aren't you supposed to be on break? ;) 2016 has definitely had its challenges, but I think over all it has been a pretty great year. Or at least I'm choosing only to look at the highlights and appreciate the journey.
DeleteI'm guessing number 2? Awesome tour Crystal!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Tiana.
DeleteYour blog tour really did rock. I saw your book everywhere. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I hope the measure of rocking-ness is in how fun it was...rather than just how wide spread it was.
DeleteGlad your blog tour went so well. Have a great break! I'm only posting twice in December and plan to take a break too.
ReplyDeleteSmart woman!
DeleteWhat an awesome blog tour! And congrats on the reviews! I have a few more posts to do, but I'll be taking a break midway through December.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. We all need to step back on occasion, eh?
DeleteHi Crystal,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though your blog tour was a great success, I shall be checking out some of the sites you visited, but many Congratulations on the excellent reviews and ratings.
My Christmas day will be spent with family, but apart from that we shall probably relax at home and as I work in retail, I don't get more than a couple of days break before I am back to the grindstone!
I hope that you enjoy your extended break and find plenty of time to sample some of those lovely cheeses you so enjoy.
I too am something of a cheese lover (apparently we are called turophiles), with the only variety I can't stomach being goats cheese.
See you in the New Year :)
Yvonne
Yvonne! Retail is a beast this time of the year--wishing you much sanity and cheese while you combat the crowds. Oh, and yes, turophiles--but only those of us who belong to the club know what that means. Most people probably assume it's some kind of fungal condition. Here's wishing cheese for both of us through the crazy weeks to come!
DeleteMay the holidays bring you peace--and some books sales :-) 2017 will be the best year for us wordsmiths yet.
ReplyDelete@mirymom1 from
Balancing Act
Agreed! Wishing you a peaceful season as well.
DeleteI need to come visit more often! So much going on here, including love and support. That video is so good, and may you have a blessed Christmas season Crystal!
ReplyDeleteYay! Lynn, I'm so glad you stopped by. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas season in return!
DeleteEnjoy your time away, Crystal. Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeleteWow, Rachel, Patrick Swayze......
I'm going to say the lie is #2. Tough ones....
Thanks so much, Sandra. Are you taking a break? (Seems like everyone else is.)
DeleteI'm still scarred from my 11 Seasons at the evil toy store. Christmas is mostly endured...
ReplyDeleteThe lie, I'm going to guess #3. Which means it's probably not the lie, considering my track record.
LOL. Liz, you guess more right than wrong.
DeleteI wish you a blessed Christmas with your lovely family.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Thanks so much, Janie. Same to you!
DeleteThanks for the intro to Kristin! Wishing her well. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd say you've more than earned your break! Enjoy your time with the family. Sending love and blessings your way!
With your blessing, I totally will. Thanks!
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. Wishing you a peaceful time away and a very Merry Christmas celebrating our Lord's birth.
ReplyDeleteThanks a ton! Wishing you the same.
DeleteCongrats on such a successful blog tour. So many sites each day! I'm in awe.
ReplyDeleteWhen we do things around here, we do them. Full storm. =)
DeleteLook at all those posts!! Have a great Christmas, Crystal! I'm leaning towards taking a break myself. :)
ReplyDeleteCatalyst sounds great! I'm going with #2 for the lie?
I know! There's a reason I didn't list the whole tour out at the beginning, because it is SO huge, but it was truly awesome.
DeleteKrystal, you totally should take a break. And write. We can both give ourselves that gift for Christmas, eh?
I think the lie is #3, but I’m not a very good sleuth, so I’m probably way off the mark.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your very successful blog tour.
Have a wonderful Christmas, see you in the New Year, Barbara.
Thank you, Barbara! You'd be surprised how often you get the lie right when you just take a stab at it. I'm wishing you the VERY best Christmas as well.
DeleteEnjoy your break and have a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa. Same to you!
DeleteCongrats on the blog tour and the good review, and have a great holiday! I don't really have many plans for Christmas, other than to relax, recharge, and eat Christmas cookies (especially gingerbread ones). :)
ReplyDeleteLol! Eat all the cookies you want, eh? It's the holidays.
DeleteCongrats to Julie! I love the premise of Kristin's new YA book! Wishing the entrants good luck!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful break, Crystal. I wish you and your family a blissful holiday season!!
Thanks so much, Lexa. I'm wishing you and yours the very best too!
DeleteI think many of us have forgotten the real reason for Christmas and I think it's great to take the time off until the new year... I actually have time to keep blogging now that I am working from home, however; I too am working on enjoying the Christmas season this year. Merry Christmas to you and your family Crystal ... see you in the New Year xox
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the take most have on the season nowadays. It should be a mix of both in my opinion...refocusing on the important things in life while allowing for some of the commercial mirth and fun to have its way too. Merry Christmas! We'll see you upon your return! ^-^
ReplyDeleteA very well-deserved break. This time of year can be crazy busy and we miss it all when we take on too much! Congrats on a great 2016 and see you after the holidays!
ReplyDelete#3 really seems like the lie, so I'm going to guess #2 in case you tried to trick us. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
ReplyDeleteWoo! Glad your blog tour went well. Enjoy your holiday season, you deserve a bit of a break.
ReplyDeleteAs for the lie, hmmm, I'm going with #2. Also, who is Woody Harrelson?
I am so happy to hear that your blog tour went well! I wish you all the best for the holidays, 2017 and always! :)
ReplyDeleteNice! I can only imagine how tiring yet fulfilling that is.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Julie as well.
Happy Holidays, and congratulations on all the 5 star reviews and an impressive blog tour!
ReplyDeleteAs for Christmas, while I see the commercial stuff as somewhat entertaining (in moderation, please), to me, it's mostly about family, and close friends who feel like family.
I wish you the happiest of holidays and see you soon!
ReplyDeleteYeah, a better way to go as one refocuses and enjoys the time of year. Screw all the commercialized crap.
ReplyDeleteI love that it's now December. We need a reminder of what matters in this world.
ReplyDelete#3 is the lie.
Happy holidays! Have a great break.
ReplyDeleteYou've been so busy with your release and very successful blog tour that you deserve a nice long break. Enjoy your time off and have a wonderful holiday season.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear your tour was a great success and your ratings were all so positive. Congrats! Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy your time with your family! Much love and hugs!
ReplyDeleteI'm going with number two as the lie.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your blog tour was a success!
Have a great break! Well-deserved for all your hard work :)
ReplyDeleteHave a nice break! Hope there is much compassion, fun, and light in your life this season. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful break, Crystal. I'll be joining you soon.
ReplyDeleteHave a very happy break! I am sure you need it after your buys blog tour! :) Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI think the lie is #2. Tough one for sure. :)
~Jess
This is a wonderful time for a break! Enjoy. And I think #2 is the lie this time around.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break, Crystal!
ReplyDeleteI think #1 is the lie, although they all sound like they could be true.
Thanks for the Christmas reminder – y'know to be a better person. Sometimes we get so busy that it's easy to forget!
ReplyDeleteAlso, congrats on the amazing book tour and success of your book! Nearly 100% of 5 stars is amazing! :)
I love this time of year. I have my tree up, and my 5 nephew's gifts are wrapped. I still need to wrap the kiddos presents.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great video! Have you seen the commercial with Frankenstein? Oh my gosh I love that one too!
Another fun post! Enjoy your winter break, have fun. Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your 'break' from blogging.
ReplyDeleteThe story here sounds very interesting. Being normal in a genetically modified world. That could make one think everyone but you is perfect. In fact, it just makes you unique. And there is nothing wrong with that.
As for the lie - I will be guessing #2. Not sure why, they all seem fairly reasonable.
Love the Light!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful break and enjoy all the amazing light of Christmas!!!
Congratulations! I’m worn out just reading your tour schedule, Crystal. I saw Timeless everywhere. It was an awesome tour, but you definitely deserve a break.
ReplyDeleteMay your holidays be filled with light and shine brighter than the stars.
VR Barkowski
Enjoy a wonderful Christmas season! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a fabulous book tour and all those reviews!!!
Awesome on the wonderful tour all over the blogosphere!
ReplyDeleteWe're guessing the second one is the lie. All the best for this Christmas, your book tour looked fabulous! <3
ReplyDelete~ Pendragons
That was definitely an epic tour! Your break will be very well deserved. Hope you have a lovely Christmas. I'll go for #2 for the lie.
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal .. you've certainly travelled with your tour - time to rest up and enjoy 'the season' and being caring and compassionate - which you are ... we are in a blessed blogging group. I'm going for #1 as the lie ... cheers and have a lovely time - Hilary
ReplyDeleteYay, still so excited I won! Thanks again to you and Rachel both.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!!
Wow! That was an amazing tour. I can believe how many you did in a day! I hope you saw lots of sales as a direct result from your hard work!
ReplyDeleteGeez, Crystal, you practically wrote the equivalent of a book during the tour. Get some rest.
ReplyDeleteI'm going with #1 as the lie.
ReplyDeleteHave a great break and enjoy your family time!
I love, love, love this post. It's so inspiring. Congratulations on a successful tour. Have a wonderful, restful holiday. Congrats to Kristin on the new book. I think #1 is the lie. Merry Christmas to all.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your mammoth book tour :-)
ReplyDeleteHave an awesome break! Congrats to Kristen!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Kristen. Enjoy your time off Crystal. I'll be taking about two weeks off from blogging nearer to Christmas. God bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break!! Make the most out of it!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blogging break and Christmas! It's good for everyone to have a little break away every now and again. I'm thinking of trying out some Italian Chanukah recipes this year, like pasta latkes, potato dumplings with sheep cheese, and deep-fried fritters packed with currants. I'm hoping someone has a Chanukah party on my Hebrew birthday, the fifth night.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Crystal! Enjoy your break with your family and friends. Wishing you all the best of the holiday season.
ReplyDeleteSorry I dropped the ball with the blog tour. Last month was so stressful and overwhelming I dropped a lot of them. But I'll make it up to you, promise!
Such a beautiful video!
ReplyDeleteHave a great time away. ^_^
I think #1 is the lie.
I love that video. Congrats to Kristin!
ReplyDeleteYou are a beautiful person. Thanks for being here to brighten my day.
ReplyDeleteI am happy you are taking some time off from writing for a few weeks. Congratulations on your successful tour. I am guessing number 1 is a lie.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and Kristin!
ReplyDeleteMay you and your family have a Blessed Christmas!!!
Cheers and an early Merry Christmas to you! It's not just a month to enjoy buying needless crap; it's so much more than that! Glad to hear you'll be making the most of it. We'll see you next year!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the break.. I plan on doing that shortly myself :) Congrats on the tour being so successful.
ReplyDeleteThe last one was kind of obvious. I'll be the insensitive man and guess #1.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the break. You were so busy!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great tour!
ReplyDeleteHope the tour was legend-wait-for-it-cause-this-is-cheesy-DAIRY!
ReplyDeleteYay for Kristin! Love her book:)
ReplyDeleteAnd "amen" to spreading the love and compassion around this holiday season:)
I am glad that you had such a great blog tour :)
ReplyDeleteHave a Merry Christmas :)
Have you on my mind -
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas - Tidings of Great Joy!!
love & love,
-g-
Happy Holidays, Crystal! Hope you've been enjoying your break.
ReplyDeleteGonna guess that #3 is the lie...
I hope you're enjoying the holidays! I'm having a blast with my family. <3
ReplyDeleteHappy wishes for 2017!
Enjoy your break. I hope your X-mas was as good as mine :))
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
DeleteJust stopping in to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year! And all the best with Timeless!!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year. You made me smile,
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Happy New Year. You made me smile,
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit