Sacrifice a Faery to the Hunger Games, and a Giveaway

Are you up for a laugh? (Aka, some cheese?)

And now it's time to meet a new author and enter to win an amazing book. 

Last week, the very cool Mary Waibel shared FAERY MARKED with us, along with two truths and one lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a book of their choice from the grab pool.

Mary's game:

1. When Mary was little she got her head stuck in the fence around the White House, and although they were able to get her out without issue, it makes for a great story.

2. She has a ton of useless facts stored in her mind that make for interesting conversations at the dinner table. (Like the reason weddings are in June is that was when everyone took their yearly bath.) 

3. She wanted to be a nurse until she learned you had to work in the ER and decided she couldn't handle seeing someone she knew come through the doors.

And the lie is: 

#1. While this is a true story, it was actually Mary's cousin who stuck her head inside the fence and got it stuck. They were able to get her out, without any issues, but it's sure made for a funny story to tell.

Way to guess those of you who got it right! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

C. Lee Mckenzie!

Congrats Lee! 

And now to today's feature:

When a city is at stake, is the life of one sixteen-year old girl worth risking thousands? 

Deidra Moore goes on the run after escaping from a group of human sacrifices for Bane: God of Gore. She doesn't believe he exists and sees uncertainty in the scorching desert as a better alternative. But Faux City isn't finished with her and their leader Lord Brinn is ordered by Bane - through one of his maiden worshipers- to bring her back or face dire consequences. 

In the desert Deidra meets a wanderer named Kale and as feelings spark can they find a safe place to lead a new life before Lord Brinn and his soldiers catch up with them? Yet the question remains. Does Bane really exist and if he does what will happen if either side succeeds or fails? 

Told in alternating perspectives of both the runaway servant girl and the blonde strong willed leader.

This is book one in a YA Dystopian novella series set to release Fall of 2014. Add it on Goodreads HERE.

Now let me introduce you to this spunky author: 

Sheena-kay Graham was never meant for a traditional job behind a desk. Her childhood career plans included becoming a ballerina, actress or someone who helped people. So naturally she decided to be a writer who writes from her bed. Yes, no desk for this Jamaican book lover. No matter if it’s reading, writing or using the computer....you get the gist. The love of the written word has always been with her, leading to stories, novels, poetry and way too much fan fiction. This Christian woman can be found trolling Amazon online, in local book bookstores, watching movies on the big screen, or in her bed reading/writing/on the laptop. Sheena-kay mainly writes YA fiction and is ready to unleash her creativity to wow the masses.

Her favorite cheese is good old Cheddar, and she loves eating it (surprise, surprise) in bed. Yes, she enjoy doing a lot of things in bed. 

Sheena-Kay gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat to win one of these books*: 

(*US participants only. If the winner lives elsewhere, I have two alternate eBooks the winner may choose from.)

You have until Tuesday, June 3, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on June 4.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Sheena-kay has written song lyrics but can’t sing at all.

2. She won a three legged race against her brother at a family picnic.

3. She thinks it's creepy burying someone at sea without permission, even if it’s a terrorist.

Sign ups are still open for the

(This is just a logo.)

cover reveal (book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy) July 14-19.

Sign up HERE

(Revealers will have first dibs on ARC's as soon as they're available, and one lucky participant will win their choice of $10 to Amazon or a signed copy of MOONLESS.) 

Which is the lie? Does book logic ever astound you? Did you read Hunger Games? Love it? Hate it? Do you like dystopian books? Looking forward the Sheena-kay's awesome novella? 

Giveaway and How I Found the Write Path

Are you ready for a boatload of awesomeness?

Today I'm participating in a hop/endeavor I hope will benefit writers, or really anyone in their journey. I've given permission for this piece to be published in a book to help up and coming authors, but I think you'll find the advice applies to anyone with a life-long goal. 

Sprinting Vs. Jogging

Dear Past Self,

I know you're excited about this publishing thing, I mean, you did it! You finally finished writing a novel. That is by far the hardest step. BUT, before you jump off a proverbial bridge make sure you've got a bungee cord attached, because you're going to do a TON of springing back and forth. I hope you're ready for the emotional roller coaster that comes with the rest of the journey, although I know there's no way you can be.

If I told you you've got another 11 years before your first book is published, and this won't be it, would you be discouraged? If I told you you're going to write six more books before you get published, would you give up? If I told you you're going to completely rewrite THE book 7 times and go through over 100 minor drafts, learning a new principle with each one, would you grow too agitated about the road ahead? 

What if I told you about the amazing critique partners you will meet? About the way your heart will break with each well-meaning suggestion as you learn how to take criticism? About the the wonderful bloghops and online support groups you will come to know? About the beta readers who will cheer you? About the literary agent who will encourage you to keep going? About the contests you will enter and lose? About the queries for short stories that will end in rejection? About other literary agents who will kindly refuse, not so kindly refuse, or not answer at all? 

And after all that, life will get in the way. You'll look for fulfillment in other ways, but you'll always come back to your writing. 

Regardless, here's what I really want to tell you: enjoy this path. Once you cross the finish line, you'll find there's another line over the next hill, and another, and another. The race never ends once you're officially entered, and all this jogging beforehand will give you the stamina, skills and fortitude to press through the downpours and steep inclines ahead. They will get steeper. The demands will feel nearly unbearable. You'll watch friends pass you by on all sides. You'll question why you can't be more like them, what you lack, and how you can possible do better. 

Persist, and you will find that golden moment of triumph. 

You have a difficult and long road ahead, but it's a journey worth taking. I hope you know that, and I think you do. Don't rush. Savor each step. Be patient with yourself and your circumstance. You'll never be in this place again. Face the trials bravely, and when all else fails, eat cheese and be happy. 

Sincerely,

Crystal Collier

Author of the Maiden of Time Series

Find all the participants HERE. 

Are you ready to meet a new author and enter to win an out of this world book? 

Last week, the genuinely nice Kurt Springs shared PRICE OF VENGEANCE with us, along with two truths and one lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a $5 Amazon giftcard.

Kurt's game:

1. Kurt originally wrote a fantasy novel entitled the Queen of Thieves. 

2. He doesn't like beer, but not for a lack of trying. 

3. He loves tequila. 

And the lie is: 

#3. Kurt thinks that tequila is vile stuff. 

Way to guess those of you who got it right! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Le&ndra Wallace!

Congrats Leandra! 

And now to today's feature:

When Callie Rycroft wakes to purple flames on the ceiling, she discovers that not only does the Faery realm exist, but she is the human who must save it. Chosen as Champion by the Faery Queen, Callie is tasked with finding the Cordial, a magical elixir needed to prevent a dangerous curse from bringing war to the Human and Faery realms.

The upside? Reece Michaels, the boy she's been crushing on for years, is assigned as her Guardian. Callie hopes by spending time together, he'll start to see her as more than just his best friend's sister.

The downside? She's in a race not only against time, but another Champion and Guardian-a Guardian who stands to threaten her developing relationship with Reece.

Magic, mistaken identities, and hidden agendas are the least of Callie's worries when she learns the Cordial requires a sacrifice. Will Callie be willing to risk all, even Reece, to complete her task as Champion, or will she let the curse free?

Faery Marked releases this summer! Add it on Goodreads HERE.

Now let me introduce you to the sweet and very cool author: 

Mary Waibel lives with her husband, son and two cats. When she isn't twisting fairytales, she enjoys reading, playing games, watching hockey, and camping. Her Princess of Valendria series (Quest of the Hart, Charmed Memories, Different Kind of Knight) are available from MuseItUp Publishing and other major retailers. Her Faery Marked (book 1 in the Faery Series) will be available from BookFishBooks this summer.

She loves all kinds of cheese (except Swiss which she only likes in fondue) and will eat it anywhere she can, but enjoys it most when sharing with the good company of family and friends. 

Mary gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat to win one of these books*: 

(All rated 4 star and up by me.)

(*US participants only. If the winner lives elsewhere, I have two alternate ebooks the winner may choose from.)

You have until Tuesday, May 27, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on May 28.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. When Mary was little she got her head stuck in the fence around the White House, and although they were able to get her out without issue, it makes for a great story.

2. She has a ton of useless facts stored in her mind that make for interesting conversations at the dinner table. (Like the reason weddings are in June is that was when everyone took their yearly bath.) 

3. She wanted to be a nurse until she learned you had to work in the ER and decided she couldn't handle seeing someone she knew come through the doors.

Sign ups are still open for the

(This is just a logo.)

cover reveal. (Book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy.) 

Sign up HERE for any day the week of July 14-19.

(Revealers will have first dibs on ARC's as soon as they're available, and one lucky participant will win their choice of $10 to Amazon or a signed copy of MOONLESS.) 

Which is the lie? Are you running the race and feeling discourage/encouraged? What major goal are you trying to reach? Are you going to help with my cover reveal? Are you as excited as me about Faery Marked? 

Broken Characters

Some characters a like a train wreck.

Yup.

No, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's true.

The only thing more amazing than watching a train wreck, is seeing if the train can be put back together after the fact, and if it will survive.

Today my blog tour continues, and you get to meet a couple reassembled wrecks.

Christine Rains presents Excerpt #4 in the Mystery Sentence Game: Unravel the mystery of the Moonless night! Gather all 8 hidden words from the excerpts and figure out the sentence to win a free copy of Moonless. Send your mystery sentence to crystal (AT) crystal-collier.com with the subject MYSTERY SENTENCE before December 10, 2013, and you will be entered to win one of 10 copies of MOONLESS—just in time for Christmas. Happy hunting!

Kiren agrees to sit down with Mary Waibel, although he may not be especially forthcoming. Go meet this tortured soul!

Bethany Kaczamarek holds an exclusive interview with Miles. Who is Miles, you ask? (See the above reference to train wrecks?)

Who is your favorite broken character? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today I'm happy to be a part of the cover reveal and sneak peek blog hop for Mary Waibel's novel, Charmed Memories, the second book in the Princess of Valendria series. Here is the lovely cover, designed by the talented Marion Sipe.

Blurb:

Prince Trevor has always placed duty to his kingdom above the desires of his own heart. But when his betrothed is lost at sea, he finds himself torn between honor and love.

After four years of searching for the missing princess, he begins to secretly long for Lady Bri, the Woodland Guide he works with each day. But the law says he must marry a princess, and Bri is barely a noble.

When Trevor learns that Bri was shipwrecked at the same time and place as the princess, he begins to believe he has finally found his bride-to-be. But his happiness is

short-lived. Bri has no memory of her past, and the princess wasn't the only girl who disappeared from the ship.

Desperate to prove Bri is his princess, Trevor unwittingly places the two of them

in grave danger. Buried in Bri's memories are deadly secrets someone wants kept

from the light of day, and learning who she is may cost more than either is willing to

pay.

Sneak Peek:

Prologue

Another roll of thunder rumbled as he halted before the large door at the end of

the hallway. Laughter and chatter drifted out through the iron barred window. Every

time the ship dipped, Princess Elsbeth and Lady Lisabet squealed, their voices highpitched and grating. As if their screams would help them if the ship broke apart in this storm.

Charmed Memories is releasing this Friday, August 9th. More details are available at http://marywaibel.blogspot.com

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Book Giveaway and a Game

Hey friends, it's game time! (Will you be a winner?)

Writerly Wednesdays here are dedicated to writers and readers. If you've published anything for Young Adults with a fantastic twist (fantasy in all varieties, paranormal, specultative ficiton, horror, sci-fi, dystopian, cheese, etc.), shoot me an email (crystal AT crystal-collier DOT com). I'll be shouting about awesome books, sharing new covers, or participating in book releases every week--and I'd love to share yours. Spots are filling up quick, so schedule a date now. 

Today's amazing feature is:

A reverse Sleeping Beauty tale where the princess goes on the quest to save the prince.

Princess Kaylee has never had to fight for anything. Her entire life has been arranged, even her marriage. But when Prince Devlin falls under an enchantment, she finds she is willing to do anything to save him, even if it means fighting a dragon.

Devlin's own sister, Princess Arabella, is behind the deadly plot. She wants the throne and will use any means necessary to gain it. Her perfect plan unravels, leaving Devlin caught in a magical sleep that is slowly spreading through the kingdom of Breniera. All Arabella needs to finish her spell and claim the crown is a drop of Kaylee's blood, but obtaining the single drop is proving more difficult than expected.

To save her betrothed, Kaylee embarks on a quest to find an ancient sword and gather a drop of dragon's blood, while trying to stay out of Arabella's traps. But Arabella's traps aren't the only danger. Time is everything. For once the last inhabitant of the kingdom falls asleep, the spell will be sealed, and not even true love's kiss will break it.

Quest of the Hart is on sale for $2.99 through the 28th--don't miss your chance to get it at this awesome price.  

Now shall we meet the author?

Let me introduce the wonderful Mary Waibel--if you haven't met her already.

Mary lives with her husband, son and two cats. When she isn't twisting fairytales, she enjoys reading, playing games, watching hockey, and camping. Her debut novel, Quest of the Hart, is available from MuseItUp Publishing and major retailers. Charmed Memories, a companion novel, will be available from MuseItUp Publishing in August 2013.

Join her on facebook to learn about her upcoming release and future giveaways.

Eek! Can you feel the excitement? That's right, you only have a month to read her amazing first book before the second will be begging for your attention.

And now for the fun! *rubbing hands*

I asked Mary gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win a copy of Quest of the Hart. You have until Tuesday, July 30 at 1 p.m. to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on July 31st!

TRUTH OR LIE

1. While at college, Mary flew a plane over Lake Erie at night.

2. Mary was in a national beauty contest while in high school.

3. Mary obtained a degree in medieval history.

Okay human lie detectors, which is it?