A Funeral, A Wedding, and A Baby Blessing: IWSG Edition

It sounds like the title of a book or movie, right? 

Have you ever had a season where EVERYTHING hit at once? When you've had a long stretch of calm, beware of earthquakes.

My baby was a week shy of 2 months old when we received word that my grandmother passed away. Now this wasn't a sad thing. She was 94 and bed-ridden for over a decade. We knew it was coming. Regardless, I needed to be there for the funeral...even if it was beyond crazy to fly across country with a baby. My sister-in-law was getting married 1.5 weeks later and we already had plane tickets, so we changed my flight, along with my daughter's--so she could be a second mommy. 

Ouch to the pocketbook.

The funeral happened. It was sweet. Being with so many wonderful family members--people I haven't seen in about 10 years--was awesome. Saying goodbye to Grandma, that was bitter-sweet. Singing with my sisters and cousins to honor the woman, such a great experience.

The next week was a whirlwind of family visits, clingy baby, and bouncing between "hotels" (AKA, houses)--until the wedding. With all of the family close, we blessed our baby. (60 people + a special dinner afterwards.) 

Needless to say, the last two weeks have been insanity--but a good kind of insanity. Every life experience improves our grasp of the world and teaches us how to share the human experience through our writing. The key is knowing when to pause on writing in order to live.

How was your May?

Now that we're caught up, how about the chance to win a book?

For this week's game...

Rowena thinks the Grimm’s infamous podcasts are simply another teen fad until she finds herself trapped in a land of nightmarish storybook characters. She tries desperately to flee Mezzanine and return home, but Dresdem, Mezzanine’s wicked monarch, plans to use Rowena’s access to her world to bring dark magic and absolute rule into Georgia and beyond.

But when Rowena’s dear friend Madeline falls into Dresdem’s grasp, her battle with him becomes war, and all hopes of home are temporarily thwarted. With the help of an invisible hero, a beast, and an owl, she sets out to free Madeline from a deadening sleep. But Rowena must become her own hero when she finds herself bound by the kingdom’s darkest family. She must make the ultimate choice – align herself with her enemies or live on the run forever.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author? 

Vanessa K. Eccles graduated Troy University with a degree in English. She currently serves as executive editor of Belle Rêve Literary Journal and is founder of the book blog YA-NASisterhood. When she’s not writing or devouring books, she enjoys the lake life with her Prince Charming and their four dogs.

You might find her eating pepper jack (or any spicy variety of cheese) while sitting on her couch watching one of her many favorite TV shows.

Visit her online HERE.

Vanessa 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 FABLED.

You have until Tuesday, June 16 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on June 17.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. As a child, the Grimm fairy tales where Vanessa's favorite bedtime reads.
2. When she was seven, she played a magician's assistant for her best friend's brother. When he couldn't remember how to get the handcuffs off, she pulled her arms over her head. It was the first time she realized she could dislocate her shoulders on command. Still can, in fact. 
3.) She was an avid X-Files fan as a kid, which resulted in an immense terror of being abducted by aliens.

So which is the lie? What have you been doing with May? (What has May been doing with you?) Do you love Grimm's fairy tales? Which is your favorite?

Oh, and a quick shout: The True Diary of Melanie Jane, AKA Runaway Jane
(My most recent FREE read on Lightning Quick Reads. Leave me your thoughts, eh?)

Gratitude as Big as 80's Hair & IWSG

Anyone worried about confidence? Let me straighten you out, because you're not rocking any of these looks:

Big Hair

There have been some TRULY awful fashion trends through the ages, but I think the 80's trump them all (especially for men). Seriously. What were we thinking?

Rats Tails

High Top

The Mullet

The Mohawk

I PITY THE FOOL...

Ahem.

So there you go. If you've avoided these...um...blunders, you're on the right path.

So speaking of gratitude...

I just want to say a HUGE thanks to Cathrina Constantine and Nana Prah for their amazing reviews of MOONLESS. It was a total surprise, and you should check out these fabulous ladies if you haven't before. (And then you should TOTALLY read Moonless if you haven't. Because you're missing out.)

So, since we skipped a week, who is ready for a book giveaway?

Today's Feature...

We didn't know how much we had to gain by being infected with magic. We found a purpose, we found a destiny, and we found each other.

But California isn’t the new start we were promised. Dr. Child may be gone, but now we must face a military school, dangerous secrets, and a prophecy that has half the country wanting us dead. When the line between enemies and allies blurs, Sam, Juliette, Ana and I need to choose between love and sanity, between magic and survival.

Paradise has a cost. When the authorities are suddenly giving you whatever you want, they’re going to demand everything in return. And that’s a price not all of us are strong enough to pay.

Freedom feels like safety, but it’s not. There are no walls here. No place they won’t be coming for us.

No place we won’t destroy.

PROPHECY OF THE SIX is a sequel to ALCHEMY.

We didn’t know how much we had to lose until we were infected with magic. Sam was in love, Juliette was the main caretaker for her siblings, and Ana and her dad planned the best parties in New York. But we lost it all when we were shipped to Chebeague, an exclusive school for newly infected mages.  

Everyone knows about the mages, those who survive the infection and end up with magical abilities. We’ve seen the power of magic, the high-paying jobs, and the world fame. But we never saw the cost. We didn’t know we’d be forced to give up everything: sanity, family, even the right to talk on the phone. 

We didn’t know mage was just another word for prisoner.

Buy Alchemy

HERE

Buy Prophesy of Six

HERE

Ready to meet the authors? 

Sheena Boekweg, Melanie Crouse, and Sabrina West met online, (which isn't as weird as it used to be) and blog together at theprosers.blogspot.com. Their first collaborative project, Alchemy (Prophecy Breakers #1), was voted one of the top fifty self published novels worth reading by Indie Authorland. 

Sheena Boekweg is the author of Funny Tragic Crazy Magic, and The Waxling (forthcoming). She is a mom of three from Utah and is prepared to survive a zombie apocalypse. 

As a mom of four, Melanie Crouse thinks that parenthood is exactly like a zombie apocalypse. Melanie Crouse is the author of excuse notes, thank you cards, and the novel Hidden Magic. 

Sabrina West is a writer and wildlife biologist living in San Diego, California. Her short fiction has appeared in markets such as Cover of Darkness; Strange, Weird and Wonderful Magazine; and Kayelle Press’s Night Terrors Anthology.

These ladies gave me three 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 ALCHEMY and PROPHECY OF SIX!!!

You have until Tuesday, February 10 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on February 11.

TRUTH OR LIE

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.

So which is the lie? What are your thoughts on 80's fashion? Have you come across any outrageous hairstyles that make you question humanity's viability? Did you check out Cathrina & Nana? (And if not, what's wrong with you? Get steppin', eh?)

Goals, Gatling Guns, and IWSG

Happy New Year!!!

Are you having the most fabulous 2015 so far?

Quick intro for any new friends here... I'm a total book nerd who dabbles with writing for theater, novels, poetry, short stories, flash fiction, lyrics and orchestral compositions. I LIVE on cheese, home school 3 kids (shortly to be 4) and answer to the title of "Chicken" with pride. Two of my book babies are out in the world, and I've contributed to several story compilations (see the Books section). Today I'm ravishing an orange, counting baby kicks, and desperately trying to remember what it was I wanted to say. (Ah, pregnancy brain...)

Really, it was something like this:

The beginning of the year is such a fabulous time--a time to look at our lives, reevaluate what is working and what isn't. As I've reflected, I've been missing how I used to run this blog: 3 posts a week, deep thoughts on Monday, Writerly stuff on Wednesdays, Funnies on Friday. I've also missed how I used to spend a minimum of 2 hours a day writing. Alas, life doesn't stand still for blogging. (Or maybe I should say the 3 kids and 1 on the way.)

With limited energy/time I'm finding I can't handle the precision of one of these:

I need the precision of one of these:

Now a sniper rifle requires patience, setting up exactly the right shot, breathing correctly and pulling the trigger with a steady hand. Much of what goes on is in silence, behind closed doors, whereas the Gatling allows for all out warfare, spur of the moment.

Do you see what I'm saying?

My goal this year is to welcome a new life into the world and follow a very precise calendar of specific deadlines to make sure my next novel makes its debut on time. (Hah!) Wish me luck. My other goal is to form a deep and positive mental dialog about everything--and I do mean everything. You get a TON further on positive mental vibes.

What are your new goals this year?

Now, on to the fun and games!

Last month Suzy shared LOOKING FOR LUCY JO with us, along with two lies and one truth. Those who guessed the truth correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win an eBook.  

Suzy's game: 

1. Suzy once sat next to Robert Pattinson on a train ride from London to Bath. He was super cool and chatted for a while before he was distracted by a much younger lady with bright blue hair and a tattoo on her wrist that read Stamus Contra Malum.
2. She celebrated her birthday one year with Kiki Dee - you might remember her from the 60's? She was particularly famous for singing Don't Go Breaking My Heart with Elton John.
3. She has a belly button piercing. (Yes, it hurt!)

And the lie is:

#1. Suzy didn't meet Robert Pattinson, but wouldn't that make for a fun story if she actually had?

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Susan Gourley/Kelley!

Congrats Susan! 

And now to today's feature...

Sugar’s not so sweet and secrets can be deadly …

especially with matters of the heart

Sienna’s bestie, Harper warned her not to intern for famous bad boy artist, Casper Mason. After all, he just fired Harper who helped Sienna get the interview. But the moment Sienna sees Casper—or Caz—sweaty and practically shirtless and swinging from chains while he works on his sculpture, she’s hooked. He’s the richest, hottest artist in New York, and he lives in the fabulous Williamsburg Sugar Factory. But he’s also an incorrigible game-player, who seems to relish testing Sienna’s loyalty with a string of unsettling tests.

She knows she should get away fast. But by the time Sienna sneaks into his locked storage room and begins to unearth his dark and terrifying secret, she’s fallen way too hard for the handsome, charismatic Caz.

Bloggers and readers are saying:

“A must read!” -Amazeball’s Book Addicts
“Sexy, smart, compelling!” -Booklover 
“Moving, even heartbreaking” - 5-stars from The Phantom Paragrapher
“Believable characters who show emotional growth” -Summer’s Book Blog
“Killer analysis of the NYC art scene” -reader review

Get your copy HERE.

Kitsy Clare lives in Manhattan. A romantic at heart, she loves writing about the sexy intrigue of the city and of the art world. She knows it well, having shown her paintings here before turning to writing. Her new adult Art of Love series - Model Position and Private Internship - is all about artist Sienna and her friends. Living in a Bookworld says: “Beautifully written! We learn things about art & painting. Colorful stories from a promising NA author.” The books can be read in any order.

She also writes award-winning YA as Catherine Stine. Novels include futuristic thrillers, Ruby’s Fire and Fireseed One. Her YA horror, Dorianna, a twist on Dorian Gray for the Internet age, just won Best Horror Novel in the 2014 Kindle Hub Book awards.

Kitsy (aka Catherine) 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 PRIVATE INTERNSHIP. How awesome is that?

You have until Tuesday, January 13 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on January 14.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. She had a lively discussion with Blues musician Buddy Guy, where he talked about getting musical inspiration from listening to rain on his tin roof.

2. She hung out with Marilyn Manson at one of his after-parties and munched on black marshmallows. 
3. She met all of the 2014 top ten Idol singers and took selfies backstage after the concert. 

So which is the lie? What are you prioritizing for this new year? Have you build a plan with deadlines? What did you do to celebrate the holidays?

Epiphany, The Bone Treaty, and Easter Bunnies?

Some days you know you're maturing, right? Like the days you get slammed with a piece of wisdom that belongs with wrinkles and white hair? (Not that I've anything against my wrinkles or white hairs...)

I was teaching a group of teen girls, ages 12 to 18, about things that really matter in this life. Now I've accomplished some pretty cool stuff--been a studio singer, written a musical, finished nine full-length books (the second of which will be published this fall), rubbed shoulders with producers and lived through the big city AND small town experience. It's been amazing to hear people rave about my performances, music, and books, but in truth, it's terribly fleeting. I'm SUPER stoked about those things one day and down in the dumps the next. Do you know what gives me a lasting high?

My kids.

When one of them accomplishes something that was difficult for them, or does something nice for someone else, I swell up with pride. My heart nearly bursts with joy, and it doesn't go away.

Long after the accolades of professional accomplishment fade, I know where my happiness will stem--from seeing the little people I've devoted so many years and so much effort to succeeding in life. Will I be happy about my own successes? Sure. But nothing measures up to seeing them excel.

Ready to guess the lie and win a book? 

Last week, we broke from tradition to celebrate my new cover reveal. Everyone was given the chance to share their favorite supernatural creature for a chance to win an eARC of SOULLESS, and the winner is...

...DRUM ROLL...

Gary

And his supernatural creature, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar.

Congrats Gary! You'll be receiving your book as soon as ARCs July 28th.

And now to today's feature, from my amazing and incredibly supportive buddy:

A power as old as King Solomon awakens when a seventeen-year-old girl marks the brooding-hot abductor ordered to seize her.

Addie Heaton’s not your average high school student. Orphaned at two, she’s spent most of her life reading the emotions of others. It’s a little trick she likes to call color-vision. But lately, a stranger has been trailing her, putting off shades of black and red—colors Addie hasn’t seen since the night her parents were killed—colors Addie never wanted to see again.  

But when Addie comes face to face with Conal Reed, owner of the terrifying shades, she learns her stranger’s a little different too. He’s brooding hot, mysterious, and all too elusive. Conal loves to materialize, and then vanish at all the wrong times. Nice.

 Not.

After years of keeping her ability a secret, Addie’s found another person with gifts, someone who may know what she really is. But Conal’s not talking. He’s having more fun showing up uninvited, teasing her senses, and disappearing at all the wrong times. Instead of finding answers, Addie finds herself reconsidering ever being alone and naked again.

This is where I confess I got to critique some of this book early on, and it was  AWESOME. So much attitude and voice. I can't wait to get my copy. Add it now.

T.C.Mckee is the author of The Bone Treaty. She loves fiction, Great Danes, laughing babies, oatmeal cookies, and coffee. Owns two small business, one that has absolutely nothing at all to do with writing, and BookFish Books, a small publishing house that has everything to do with writing. She lives with her family in Virginia.

Her favorite cheese is Muenster. She can be found munching on it at home or at this local sandwich shop that melts two slices of it over a ham sandwich with cole slaw. (She says: "OHMIGOSH! It's heaven.") 

T.C. 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 The Bone Treaty. 

You have until Tuesday, July 29, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on July 30.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. When T.C. was seventeen, her friend stole 50 plastic Easter bunnies from a nearby neighborhood and stuffed them in the back seat of her car. They rode around with them for a week. Sometime she can still see their faces staring at her from the rear view mirror.

2. She reads the labels of almost all products and if she can't pronounce the name or doesn't recognize the ingredients, she won't buy it. Her house really is all natural.

3. It took her one whole year and seventy-seven days to write The Bone Treaty. 

LASTLY, sign up for my blog tour. 

DO IT! (There will be cheese.)

Which is the lie? Have you had any epiphanies lately? Where do you find your greatest happiness? Doesn't The Bone Treaty sound great? 

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?