Opposition=Awesome Stories, or Babies Crushing Babies

Got you to look? GOOD. So this is the end of my new cover reveal. Sweet, right? (You're sitting there wondering what I'm talking about, or glad my posts will suddenly disappear from your feed.) I've got a mind blowing thought for you today, but first...

A HUGE shout and thank you to all the wonderful people helping to share my new cover today: Juenta Key, Marcy Hatch, Christine Rains, Bish Denham, and Lynda Young. 

And now it's funny time:

 

So I found this while looking up "funny time memes." It probably doesn't appeal to you as a time meme, and you may not even think it's funny--in which case you need to spend more time with babies.

But this totally says "TIME" to me.

Let me explain.

In the Maiden of Time series, there can only be one to govern the flow of time--meaning if twins with the gift to manipulate time were born...well, you get the idea. What if this was the case in reality? There could only be one person of any particular skill or expertise? How sad a world would that be? How much amazing diversity would we lack? How many twists and alternatives would we lose?

Celebrate your uniqueness and know that no matter what you feel on the bad days, you are a valuable addition to the human race.

Oh, and let's count our blessings that ONLY in fiction can people alter the timeline.

*sneaks down to the basement for a quick ride in the time machine*

It's BLOG TOUR TIME!!!

Help spread the word in November via social media or with a fun guest post from moi, a character quiz, medieval funnies and more. Sign up today! There will be cheese in abundance, and prizes. You know it!

And remember to enter the giveaway to win

Release Date: November 1, 2016

Get an email notification of the book's release on November 1 by shooting me your email address HERE.

TIME IS THE ENEMY

In 1771, Alexia had everything: the man of her dreams, reconciliation with her father, even a child on the way. But she was never meant to stay. It broke her heart, but Alexia heeded destiny and traveled five hundred years back to stop the Soulless from becoming.

In the thirteenth century, the Holy Roman Church has ordered the Knights Templar to exterminate the Passionate, her bloodline. As Alexia fights this new threat—along with an unfathomable evil and her own heart—the Soulless genesis nears. But none of her hard-won battles may matter if she dies in childbirth before completing her mission.

Can Alexia escape her own clock?

(THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AND ONE MORE THING!

Want to win a PRINT copy of the book?

ENTER NOW ON

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Timeless

by Crystal Collier

Giveaway ends October 11, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "There can be only one"?

TIMELESS Cover Reveal (With a Giveaway)

Are you ready for this gorgeousness? It's been so SO hard not spilling the beans early, but the day is FINALLY here, and I couldn't be more stoked.

First of all, a HUGE shout and thank you to all the wonderful people helping me share my cover today: L.G. Keltner, Sandra Cox, Jennifer Lane, DL Hammons, Patricia Lynne, Lidy Wilks, Shannon Lawrence, Kai Strand, Cathrnia Constantine, Annalisa Crawford, Nicki Elson, Jessica Haight, A. A. Chamberlynn, Sherry Ellis, Nick Wilford, Kristin Smith, Kristine Hall, Murees Dupé, Meradeth Houston, and Lynne Fickling.

And here it comes!

Are you ready?

Are you sure?

HERE

IT

IS!!!

Book Title: TIMELESS (Maiden of Time #3)

Author: Crystal Collier

Genre: YA Paranormal Historical

Release Date: November 1, 2016

TIME IS THE ENEMY

In 1771, Alexia had everything: the man of her dreams, reconciliation with her father, even a child on the way. But she was never meant to stay. It broke her heart, but Alexia heeded destiny and traveled five hundred years back to stop the Soulless from becoming.

In the thirteenth century, the Holy Roman Church has ordered the Knights Templar to exterminate the Passionate, her bloodline. As Alexia fights this new threat—along with an unfathomable evil and her own heart—the Soulless genesis nears. But none of her hard-won battles may matter if she dies in childbirth before completing her mission.

Can Alexia escape her own clock?

AWESOME, right?!?

So two quick things. You know how I love giving away things? You can enter to win a eARC of TIMELESS RIGHT NOW. Yay!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OR

You can get a notification of the book's actual release on November 1 via email (and get the first chapter FREE shortly), by shooting me your email address HERE.

Lastly, it's BLOG TOUR TIME!!!

If you're willing to help spread the word at release time, sign up today! There will be cheese in abundance, and prizes. You know it!

What do you think of the cover? What makes an awesome cover to you?

In Which You Win Book Cash and Women Kick Trash

Say hello to our special guest today, Stephen Tremp (and his fabulous Halloweeny read + GIVEAWAY)! Take it away, Stephen.

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” ~ William Shakespeare 

Thank you Crystal for hosting me on my Salem’s Daughters Blog Tour! I love the action, adventure, fantasy and thrillers genres. In these stories not all heroes are heroes; some are heroines who demonstrate greatness in a variety of ways such as courage, inner-strength, or pressing on to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. 

Not all leading and supporting female characters are tough girls like Wonder Woman (most famous and hottest heroine of all time), Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones), Buffy (Vampire Slayer), Hermione Granger (Harry Potter) or Xena (Warrior Princess). These women were born with innate powers or they achieved advanced abilities through discipline, practice, sacrifice and a support group. Then there are the women who are not born into nor do they achieve greatness. Rather, they have greatness thrust upon them, often against their will. 

There are three such women in Salem’s Daughters, one born with greatness, another who achieved greatness, and a third who had greatness thrust upon her. 

Emily Livingston: The antagonist is born with greatness. Emily is the leader of her early 17th century coven and possesses each individual power of her followers, as long as they are alive. Together they terrorize the bed and breakfast. 

Erma Dempsey: Debbie’s meddling Irish whiskey drinking, dark witted, sharp tongue spitfire of a grandmother who co-signed on the three-and-a-half million dollar loan to build Murcat Manor achieved greatness through seven decades of working hard and fighting for everything. Born into poverty, she and her husband Ross never gave up on anything and had to scratch and claw to become successful. These traits help set the stage for a showdown between Erma and the thirteen cats. 

Debbie Stevens: The protagonist has great power thrust upon her against her will. She only wants to start a family, but instead has to give up her dreams to fight the evil threat killing her guests at Murcat Manor. 

These three bad-ass ladies were fun to develop using each of the three forms of greatness Shakespeare mentioned in Twelfth Night, or What You Will. 

Question: Do you have a favorite bad-ass female character in books or movies? 

Short Blurb: A four hundred year old evil is unleashed when the daughters of those killed during the Salem Witch Trials find a new generation of people to murder at a popular modern-day bed and breakfast. 

Stephen Tremp writes Speculative Fiction and embraces science and the supernatural to help explain the universe, our place in it, and write one of a kind thrillers. You can read a full synopsis and download Salem’s Daughters by Clicking Here. 

Stephen Tremp posts weekly blogs at his website Breakthrough Blogs. 

Next Stop: Friday October 16th Lexa Cain.

 

And now how about some giveaway action?

Last week Carol Riggs shared with us THE BODY INSTITUTE, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a signed print book with bookmark!

Carol's Game:

1. Carol once met singer Harry Chapin, got his autograph, and kissed him on the lips.
2. Carol’s family owned a Mexican restaurant when she was 13, in which she washed dishes and reluctantly played waitress. 
3. Carol lived on an island once, in Sitka, Alaska.

THE LIE: #2. Carol’s family owned a PIZZA restaurant, which was awesome because a)she got to eat pizza all the time, and b)it involved lots of CHEEEEESE. 

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Julie Flanders!!!

Congrats, Julie! 

And now how about our giveaway for the day?

Stephen 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 the chance to win A $25 GIFT CARD TO AMAZON. 

You have until Tuesday, October 20 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on October 21. 

TRUTH OR LIE

1.    Stephen once met Los Angeles Laker basketball player Kobe Bryant.
2.    He does not like meatloaf.
3.    He still likes to color with crayons.

Oh, and one quick note from me. Chrys Fey interviewed me for my birthday. How cool is that? Check it out HERE. (And drop us some cheese in the comments, eh?)

So sleuths, which is the lie?  Do you have a favorite bad-ass female character in books or movies? 

This World Bites Fairy Tales!

Do you love fairy tales?

Today I'm excited to share in the

with a GIVEAWAY! But first...

Several months ago I was contacted and offered the opportunity to contribute to a fairy tale retelling anthology, and seriously, it's about fairy tales. How could I not? So today, let me introduce: 

Enter the world Of Mist And Magic, where fairy tales are reimagined under the influence of Really Slow Motion and Epic Music Vn’s inspiring music, in this enchanting anthology of short stories. Proceeds of the Amazon exclusive ebook will be donated to Elevate Life and Art studios, an amazing youth organization in Asheville, NC.

To celebrate, I'm sharing an excerpt of my contribution, THE FOURTH WISH:

Belina could not believe her luck. Fresh out the gate, wings still glittering and she had her first chance to use her powers! She zipped past clumps of knotted thorns, glimpsing the sleeping castle through twists and brambles.

Her fairy mentor’s words still rang in her head: “Give. Always give, and you will find joy. The greatest happiness comes from giving.” 

The prince was already in the tower when Belina reached the window. She wanted to clap for joy as he settled onto one knee, bending over an eternally-slumbering girl in rose satin. So gallant. He didn’t notice Belina, hovering just behind his shoulder, or the sparkles of light gathering at her fingertips. 

This was it, her chance to shine. She reached into her heart and summoned the strength, the life beating within. 

The prince’s lips lowered.

Belina focused on the sleeping princess, on her stilled heart. Make it live again! She begged silently, and touched a single finger to the prince’s neck. Her magic, her strength flowed into him, and through his kiss, into the sleeping girl. 

He pulled back, jolted by the shock. 

Belina fled to the drapes, hiding as he turned, but peaking from just behind the musty fabric. She wanted him to believe the power came from true love, not the gift of a fairy child recently set free to spread miracles upon the earth. True love would lead to his happily ever after.

His gray-green eyes scoured her corner. She tilted her head, wondering what his happily ever after would look like, how adorable he would be—brown hair mussed as he bounced a newborn on his hip. Age would turn his chocolate tresses white, and he would hold the hand of his dainty bride, still as in love with her as the day they first kissed.

But of course he would be happy—he was fairy-touched. All things fairy-touched prospered.

He squinted, eyes narrowing on her location.

She gasped. Had he seen her? 

He jerked back around. The slumbering girl’s hand rested on his, a dazed, but happy smile curling her lips. 

For half a second, Belina wondered what it would be like—to be human, to have only one life and to love so deeply that no other person would ever do. 

The prince assisted the princess from bed and Belina slipped out the window. Her cheeks ached from her wide grin. She couldn’t help it. The couple would have the joy of a lifetime because the princess lived again, and Belina had been the one to grant their wish. A little corner of her felt empty, as if she’d given them both a piece of her in the process, but that was okay. Her sparkles had disappeared. They had gone to a good cause.

Get your copy now, support the youth & arts, and read on for just 99 cents. 

Now let's give away some reading joy!

Last week Sheena Boekweg, Melanie Crouse, and Sabrina West shared their co-authored release, PROPHECY OF THE SIX, along with three truths and one lie Those who guessed were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win book 1, ALCHEMY and PROPHECY OF THE SIX.  

The game: 

1. They all got to go to lunch together for the first time this last summer.
2. For a long time, Sheena didn't know which girl (if any) Sam would eventually end up with.
3. Melanie chose Carlsbad, CA as the location for book 2 without knowing that Sabrina's day job is based in Carlsbad.
4. Nothing cheers Sabrina up quite like a random animal riding a rumba. Except maybe baby owls.

And the lie is:

#1. Despite being collaborative geniuses, these ladies have never all been in the same state at the same time.

Way to guess everyone who got it right! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Sherry Ellis!

Congrats Sherry! 

And now for the blog tour and FUN!

It’s her first day on a new world and Cera’s already found trouble. Michael, her guardian, has been bitten by a zombie and will soon join the undead ranks.

Everyone tells her there’s no cure, but Cera isn’t one to be deterred. She’s willing to face off with zombie hordes, demon slavers, and black market informants if it means she’ll find a cure for Michael. But she’s not the only one hunting for something.

Something is hunting her.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author? 

By day, she writes code. By predawn darkness, she writes fantasies. All other times, she writes in her head. People call her peculiar with a twisted sense of fashion, but don't let those understatements fool you. Her behavior is perfectly normal for a squirrel disguised as a human. That's part of being a ninja—blending in.

She makes her home in Idaho with her sadistically clever—yet often thwarted—husband, two frighteningly brilliant children, and three sneaky little shibas.

Find her on her blog or social media.

Loni 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 the chance to win an eBook of THIS WORLD BITES!

You have until Tuesday, February 17 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on February 18.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Loni has dyed her hair every color from midnight blue to Tostito yellow to fire-engine red. She saved purple for last because she held the opinion only old ladies had purple hair. Occasionally, she changes her hair color just to match her outfit for the day. It currently has silver, pink, and blue highlights.

2. Her two favorite cassettes growing up were New Kids on the Block and The Ninja Turtles' soundtrack (the latter, she stole from her brother). You could find her singing "Hangin' Tough" and "Turtle Power" at the top of her lungs in her bedroom. 

3. She has an uncanny sense of direction. It really saved the day when her car's oil pump went out and the engine seized. She had to walk 3 miles along the freeway to get to the closest off-ramp and gas station, and then deliver directions over the pay phone to her dad. 

So which is the lie? Are you a fairytale lover? Fantasy fan? Have you snagged yourself a copy of either of these books? (And if not, what's wrong with you? Get to steppin', eh?) What is your favorite fairytale?

IWSG and Time Travel

Insecure Writers Support Group is celebrating the one year anniversary of the website launch. Yay, IWSG! (How the flip did a whole year go by already?!?) To celebrate, we're launching a book to help other authors get their careers rolling. I'll be contributing a wonderful piece about the benefits of (and how to) run a promotional blog tour. 

Speaking of which, did you know SOULLESS releases in 11 days? (Yup--see the sidebar?) 

I'm so totally stoked, there are no words. But I'll make up a few anyway. (Because that's what I do!) Come check out my blog tour because it's going to be epic, and there will be an amazing giveaway. Mark your calendar and then get inspired about how to run your own tour with the IWSG book!  

Ready to guess the lie and win a book? 

Last week I shared one of my favorite characters, Miles, with everyone, and chatted about his free short story in a free Super Hero anthology. This week, we're getting back on track. 

Today's feature:

Katia jumps at the chance to go to England with her best friend after Rose ditches her deadbeat boyfriend. While walking through the market, she spies a large mansion and recognizes the guy out front as her high school friend Tony. Just as they start to reconnect, Katia passes through times and lands in the arms of Lord Landon, who looks like Tony but certainly doesn’t act like him. 

Soon, Katia learns that this 1815 is different from the one in history books. Trapped in a parallel world, Katia struggles to not fall for Landon but his charm proves too much for her. Just when she is about to confess her love for him, Katia travels through time yet again. 

The course of love never did run smooth and if Katia can’t figure out and master the test of time, she’ll never see her friends again, or worse, never be reunited with Landon.

Get your copy HERE.

Nicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranormal, or regency. She's also an editor for MuseItUp Publishing and works as a freelance editor.

When she's not writing about knights, superheroes, or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking Dead.

To learn more about Nicole and her work, visit her blog. She can be found on most any social media site under Nicole Zoltack. Stalk away!

When asked her favorite cheese, Nicole said she's never tasted a cheese she didn't like. Good reply. Very good reply. 

Nicole 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 the chance to win an eBook of MASKED LOVE. How awesome is that?

You have until Tuesday, October 7, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on October 8.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Nicole is a better shot than her husband.
2. She likes to collect dragon, unicorn and horse figurines...and swords too.
3. She just tested for her yellow belt in Karate.

Which is the lie? Have you ever considered doing an online tour? Do you love time travel stories? What are you feelings on authors online promotions? 

Catch Up

I'm playing catch up today. How about you? After an exciting first two days of cover reveal, I'm announcing the BLOG TOUR for SOULLESS. 

SIGN UP FOR THE BLOG TOUR

Ready to win a book? 

Last week, the fabulous Elizabeth Seckman shared BELLA'S POINT 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 her ebook. You can get a copy of her book HERE. 

Elizabeth's game:

1. Elizabeth was a resident advisor at Marshall University.

2. She is amazing at Call of Duty.

3. The beach is her happy place.

And the lie is: 

#2. Despite being a mom to four boys, she hasn't yet overtaken the world of Call of Duty. 

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

...DRUM ROLL...

Meradeth Houston!

Congrats, Meradeth!

NOT TO BREAK TRADITION, but I'm breaking tradition. No truth or lie today, but my giveaway this week continues from Monday. You don't have to guess a lie today to be entered! *gasp*

SOULLESS, Book 2 in the Maiden of Time trilogy

Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her people have—she’s forced to unleash her true power.

And risk losing everything.

COMING October 13, 2014

PREORDER your copy (and get TONZ of extras)

or

Sign up for my newsletter to receive release news and freebies. (Seriously. I always give away awesome stuff with my newsletter.)

How would you like to win an eARC? (Advance Review Copy) Just tell me about your favorite supernatural creature in the comments below.

Oh, and to help celebrate, my publisher has put MOONLESS on sale now! (But get it quick. The price goes up on the 18th.)

So friendlies, what is your favorite supernatural creature? Are you into time manipulation? What's your favorite time-travel story? Are you catching up on anything today?