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?)

Vanished Awesomeness...

What are your feelings on the elderly? 

Image courtesy of Ishai Parasol

I met a gentleman this last week at the grocery store who had to be in his seventies. He was alone and purchasing a quick meal. I got the sense he didn't have anyone to go home to. His sunken cheeks were a testament to his ill heath and his clothing bagged over him, but when he spoke there was a dignity in his words. 

I was reminded of my World War II veteran grandfather. Here was a man who had lived and worked his days to help build society. He was probably a husband and father at some point, but for whatever reason in this last season of his life, he was alone. My heart broke a little for him.

I've heard an attitude expressed by some, a fear of this older generation. That kills me. I grew up at the feet of my grandparents, listening to their stories and benefiting from their love and wisdom. Those who've experienced a full life have so much to give. Why would anyone deprive themselves of that? Do we just get so busy we forget? And what can we do to slow down and benefit from these wonderful individuals?

Well, enough with deeper thoughts. It's time for a game.

Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books. 

Last week, Cathrina Constantine shared her BRAND NEW BOOK COVER along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win TALLAS in eBook! --It releases Feb 1, so mark your calendars!

Cathrina's game:

1. Cathrina danced on a Vegas stage.

2. A horse fell on top of her when she was 16.

3. When an icy snowball hit her mouth, she needed 3 stitches.

And the lie is: 

#3. This actually happened to her daughter. She did actually have a horse fall on her while performing a jump. Luckily she only broke her shoulder bone. OUCH! 

Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Loni Townsend!

Congrats, Loni!

Today I'm super excited. I've been bloggies with Misha Gericke for YEARS, and I adore her. SO, when I heard about her debut novel, I jumped for joy, and then I read it. And loved it. The blurb:

Since the death of her parents, Callan Blair has been shunted from one foster family to another, her dangerous secret forcing the move each time. Her latest foster family quickly ships her off to an exclusive boarding school in the Cumbrian countryside. While her foster-brother James makes it his mission to get Callan expelled, a nearby ancient castle holds the secret doorway to another land...

When Callan is forced through the doorway, she finds herself in the magical continent of Tardith, where she’s shocked to learn her schoolmates Gawain and Darrion are respected soldiers in service to the king of Nordaine, one of Tardith's realms. More than that, the two are potential heirs to the Black Knight—Nordaine's crown prince.

But when the Black Knight fails to return from a mysterious trip, the realm teeters on the brink of war. Darrion and Gawain set out to find him, while Callan discovers there is more to her family history than she thought. The elves are claiming she is their princess. 

Now with Darrion growing ever more antagonistic and her friendship with Gawain blossoming, Callan must decide whether to stay in Nordaine—where her secret grows ever more threatening—or go to the elves and uncover the truth about her family before war sets the realms afire.

Pick up your copy HERE.

And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author: 

M. Gerrick (AKA Misha Gericke) has been creating stories since she was a young child and is now creating better ones to get published. 

She now lives on a farm in the Western Cape, South Africa, featuring a two-hundred year house, awesome scenery, horses, cows, sheep, dogs and her five muses (also known as cats). 

Misha 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 an eBook of The Vanished Knight. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, January 28, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on January 29.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Misha and her mom own about 8000 paperback books.

2. She wanted to learn how to fence and speak French after reading The Three Musketeers. She learned both, although her French is rusty.

3. Her first ever published piece of writing was a poem she wrote in Eleventh Grade

Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest. Details HERE. Oh, and heads up! I'm hosting a Valentines giveaway with this blogfest. If you'd like to participate by offering up a book or swag, shoot me an email before by January 29th. crystal AT crystal-collier DOT com

Okay, what is the lie? And what are your feelings about the elderly? Did you grow up with grandparents in your life? 

Cheesiest Post of 2014

You love cheese, right?

My posting schedule has changed. I'm only posting Wednesdays (with minor exceptions) until further notice, so my Motivational Mondays and Funny Fridays are going to appear every other week at the head of these posts. That said, who's ready to laugh?

You've probably seen this floating about, but I must have created it in my sleep. That, or my spiritual twin accessed her/his prowess and channeled our collective genius into a single statement.

Yup. Epic, right? Want some more?

Source

If your cheese meter hasn't been filled yet, how about a giveaway?

Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books. 

Last week, Julie Flanders shared two truths and one lie about herself and those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win The Ghosts of Aquinnah.

The options were:

1. While work as a psychiatric social worker, helping with assessments for the county jail, she was nearly strangled by an inmate who was having a psychotic episode.

2. She was in drama club as a teen and loved performing in plays and musicals.  

3. Julie desperately hates pie and can’t understand why anyone would choose it for dessert.

And the lie is: 

#2. Yeah, no drama club for Julie. Sorry, folks. As much as you don't want it to be true, Julie is a pie hater.  

Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Alex J. Cavanaugh!

Congrats, Alex!

Today I'm super stoked because I get to unveil Cathrina Constantine's NEW book cover. Say hello to Tallas!

In a decimated world, setting foot outside the protected village of Tallas is certain death—or so they say. Mutations caused by those in the wilderness have plagued Tallas’s citizens—or so they say…

For Doogan and Keeyla their belief in a Free Tallas has lost its glimmer. And when their young son, Fabal, is given a very dangerous assignment, they risk everything to protect him. Fleeing Tallas, they head for the wilderness. But when they are ambushed by cruel Mediators, Doogan is recaptured, and while Keeyla and Fabal escape, she is severely injured.

Can the two of them survive in the wilderness? Will Doogan getaway from the clutches of the Mediators? And are the terrible legends about the monsters beyond the walls of Tallas true?

Mark your calendars folks, because this one will be up on Amazon February 1st!!! 

Super cool, right? I love the color scheme, and the blurb? *drooling* And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author: 

Cathrina Constantine, the author of Wickedly They Come and Tallas, resides in Upstate New York with her husband, five children, two Labrador Retrievers and two cats. Constantine is represented by The Belcastro Literary Agency. When not with her family, baking, crafting, reading, or stationed at the computer writing, you will find her walking in the backwoods with her dogs, conjuring up a new tale. 

Her favorite cheese if Yancey's Horseradish. (It's kinda spicy hot and sweet rolled into one.) You might stumble across her eating it while watching a good movie.

Cathrina 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 Tallas in eBook. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, January 21, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on January 22nd.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Cathrina danced on a Vegas stage.

2. A horse fell on top of her when she was 16.

3. When an icy snowball hit her mouth, she needed 3 stitches.

And now, enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest and celebrate something wonderful with my cohosts and I. Details HERE.

Okay, what is the lie? What's the best cheese joke you've ever heard? Did you get enough cheese?

The AWESOMENESS Continues...

Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? I'm an advocate of moderation in all things, except for the overwhelming awesomeness of this tour! Huge thanks again go out to all the wonderful people helping. 

What is that? You haven't heard of MOONLESS?

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.

"MOONLESS is powerful, compelling, and packed with soul." --Bethany Kaczmarek, editor at A Little Red, Inc. 

"I fell head over heels for the characters." --TC Mckee, BookFish Books 

"Power-packed action, heart stopping mystery, unpredictable twists and turns..." --I Am a Reader Not a Writer

Buy MOONLESS HERE or add it on Goodreads.

Special Events: 

Mystery Sentence Game: Unravel the mystery of the Moonless night! Hidden in each of the 8 blog tour excerpts is a single word. Gather all 8 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!

Truth or Lie Game: It's Writerly Wednesday on STERIODS! (Minus the Wednesdays...and the steroids.) You'll have 6 chances to guess the lie and win a copy of MOONLESS. Each post has different truths and lies, so here's a chance to really test your human lie detector skills. Winners will be announced here December 11th. Are you a human lie detector?

TODAY:

Cathrina Constantine shares Excerpt #4 in the Mystery Sentence Game.

D.L. Hammons unearths the story of how MOONLESS came to be.

A short "get to know you" and Excerpt #3 in the Mystery Sentence Game with Libby Heily.

The BLOG RING OF POWER with T.W. Fendley. How do you brand a book that doesn't fit beautifully in a shiny prefabricated genre package?

Are you playing the Mystery Sentence Game? What is one thing you could never get enough of?

Oh, and enter my giveaway, eh?

a Rafflecopter giveaway