Out of this World Announcement, Writerly Wednesday, and a Laugh

HUGE NEWS!!!! 
(At the end of the post, but first...)

Kiren is being interviewed at Kimber Leigh Wheaton's place.

And...

A laugh for you today--if you get into a dry and somewhat sadistic sense of humor: Portal 2, the most hilarious game I've ever seen. You wake up in testing center where humanity is dead and all that's left are the machines running the place, one of which is arguably evil. This is the song from the end credits, and it totally cracks me up. (The lyrics, oh the lyrics...)

Have you played/seen any video games that make you chuckle?

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

Last week, the fabulous Medeia Sharif shared SNIP, SNIP, REVENGE 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 Kindle copy of her awesome new book.

Medeia's game:

1. Medeia used to be terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West. 

2. Her favorite number is eight and she counts everything in eights. 

3. Her first unfinished drawer manuscript was about a magical Rubik's cube. 

And the lie is: 

#2. As cool as counting 8's would be, it's just not true. 

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

...DRUM ROLL...

Mason T Matchak!

Congrats Mason! 

And now to today's feature:

What is the Price of Vengeance? One could understand why Liam was angry. He was orphaned at a the age of two by a group of giant carnivorous insects called the chitin. Taken in by High Councilor Marcus and his wife, Lidia, Liam was raised with their older son, Randolf in New Olympia, the last remaining city on the planet Etrusci. As an adult, Liam becomes a soldier. After being cut off from the city, Liam finds that there is an alien intelligence behind the chitin. To defeat it, he must discover who he is and how to use his powers. Then, Liam discovers that a traitor, responsible for his birth parents’ deaths, had murdered his beloved foster parents. Will the price he has to pay in his quest for vengeance prove to be an even more unbeatable foe?

Pick up your copy HERE.

I had the opportunity to review this book, and I really really enjoyed it. See my review HERE. Now let me introduce you to the wonderful and genuinely nice author: 

Kurt D. Springs is presently an adjunct professor of anthropology and archaeology in New Hampshire. He holds a PhD. in anthropology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, as well as a Master of Literature in archaeology from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and a Master of Liberal Arts in anthropology and archaeology from the Harvard University Extension School. His main area of interest is megalithic landscapes in prehistoric Ireland.

Kurt also writes reviews on Kurt's Frontier for Invincible Love of Reading.

Professor Springs currently lives in Manchester, New Hampshire, where you might run across him consuming mass quantities of Kerrygold Dubliner while tucked discretely away in his kitchen. 

Kurt 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 for a chance to win a $5 gift card to Amazon. You have until Tuesday, May 20, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on May 21.

TRUTH OR LIE

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.

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 

The day has come. It's time to break out the cover reveal for

(This is just a logo.)

book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy, 

and I'd love your help! Sign up HERE for any day the week of July 14-19.

The post will be prewritten in HTML and easy to adapt, but it's more than a "cover reveal." Each participant will receive an exclusive FUN FACT, SINGLE LINER, or UNEXPECTED DETAIL at the end of their post. Revealers will also 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. 

So what are you waiting for? Go sign up! (After you guess the lie.)

Which is the lie? Have you played any laugh out loud games? Are you going to help with the cover reveal? What do you think makes a really great cover? Any favorites? Do you like Sci-fi?

Hairless Dragon Bunnies, IWSG, and Writerly Wednesday

Here thar be dragons! Or the figurative variety. So I survived the A to Z Challenge, I think. I still have brain cells that may or may not recover. 

Have you ever been to the point where your brain completely burns out and you literally crash, mentally speaking? I'm not talking for a day or two, I'm talking months. The first time that happened to me was while living in NYC, with an infant, a 2 year old, and 6 year old home schooler, no family nearby, 850 square feet of living space, being in charge of a HUGE charitable undertaking for Christmas, and some pursuit of a musical and book career. 

After the holidays I completely crashed. It was like a dragon had trounced across my brain and charred everything that didn't get smashed. Yeah, think 6 months to get back to not feeling tired ALL the time, 2 months before I could really write again. I don't advise ever running yourself that far into the ground.

Source

NYC was when I really learned to say "no." I'm still not great at it, but we have to realize each of us has limits. They may not be the same as neighbor Bob (who appears to be the energizer bunny), but it's important to know where your limits are and not push beyond them. At the same time, it's good to stretch yourself, try new things, and take a chance.

This is why I say to anyone fostering a writing career, take your time. Don't rush to publication. Enjoy the early part of the journey because once you add "author" to your writing career, life can get pretty, erm, overwhelming. It's good, so good, but there's a reason the scientists locked in my basement are now working on harnessing the power of the sun so that I can feed it directly into my veins. 

Are you ready to meet a new author and enter to win an awesome book? 

Last week, the funny Heather Letto shared IMPERVIOUS 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 signed ARC of her awesome new book.

Heather's game:

1. Heather has abnormally large feet and is afraid to get pedicures because women will laugh at her in their native tongue.
2. As a preschooler, she was the self-appointed guard of their front yard. She yelled at the mailman to, "Get off my property!" He told on her. A lot. She got spanked. A lot.

3. Her cat's name is Charlie... 'cuz he bit her finger.

And the lie is: 

#1. Sorry, no large feet and fear of pedicures. 

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

...DRUM ROLL...

Elizabeth Seckman!

Congrats Elizabeth! 

And now to today's awesome feature:

Beautiful, confident Tabby Karim has plans for the winter: nab a role in her school’s dramatic production, make the new boy Michael hers, and keep bigoted Heather—with her relentless Ay-rab comments—at bay. When a teacher’s lie and her father’s hastiness rob her of her beautiful hair, her dreams are dashed. The fastest barber in Miami Beach has made her look practically bald. 

With all her pretty hair gone, Tabby doesn’t believe she fits the feminine role she’s auditioning for. Michael is still interested in her, but he’s playing it cool. Heather has taken to bullying her online, which is easier to do with Tabby’s ugly haircut. Tabby spearheads Operation Revenge, which proves satisfying until all of her problems deepen. After messing up, she sets to make things right.

Pick up your copy HERE.

Let me introduce you to the amazing author, one of my wonderful blogging friends who reviews Middle Grade books like a boss: 

Medeia Sharif is a Kurdish-American author who was born in New York City, who presently calls Miami home. She received a master’s degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. After becoming a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer dabbling in many genres in college, she found her niche writing for young people. Today she's a MG and YA writer published through various presses. In addition to being a writer, she's a middle school English teacher. Her memberships include Mensa, ALAN, and SCBWI.

Medeia loves cheddar and can be found munching on the perfect avocado-cheddar-tomato sandwich at one of her favorite restaurants. 

She 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 for a chance to win a Kindle copy of SNIP, SNIP, REVENGE. You have until Tuesday, May 13, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on May 14.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Medeia used to be terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West. 

2. Her favorite number is eight and she counts everything in eights. 

3. Her first unfinished drawer manuscript was about a magical Rubik's cube. 

Which is the lie? Have you ever completely burned yourself out? Any tips for recovery? Doesn't SNIP, SNIP REVENGE sound awesome? How far have you gone for revenge? Met any dragons lately?