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The Aldar Dominion Cover Reveal

5/16/2017

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​I'm so excited to share this with you all! I started working on this cover literally months ago, and damn has it ever come far! The process will deserve an entire post in itself, but for now, here is the cover
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The cover was designed by myself! Incase you didn't know, I have a design background, so making the covers for my books has been beyond fun!

ABOUT THE ALDAR DOMINION

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The Aldar Dominion saved the world.
Then they damned it. 

After solar flares decimated Earth’s population, the alien corporation gave humans a recipe for immortality and hope for the next generation. Cloning and the technology to transport consciousness from one body to another saved the human race from extinction. But the value of human life plummeted.

In an age when animal conservation no longer exists, Selene smuggles animals to safety. While fleeing Dominion drones during a mission gone wrong, Selene suffers a debilitating head injury. The pain unlocks memories from twenty lost years: stark labs and human experiments. These nightmares could hold the key to why natural-born human children are disappearing. But worse—they reveal a sinister plot centuries in the making.

Can Selene decipher her dreams in time to avoid enslavement to the aliens? Or will she witness the end of the human race?

Read the first book in the Dominion Rising series to find out!

The Aldar Dominion will be released June 13th, and is now available for pre-order!
Pre-order on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, or Barnes & Noble

Add The Aldar Dominion on Goodreads!

Can't wait to start reading?
Sign up for my mailing list and get the first 3 chapters of Savages NOW!








​Need your dose of sci-fi in the mean time? Try The Stowaway Experiment, a tie in short story taking place before The Aldar Dominion.

 

The Smugglers Legion is gone.
Captain Eria is in a work camp.
Rikkard is all that’s left.

After the Smugglers Legion disbands, Rikkard Gunnar is left to captain the few remaining members. With no credits left, and only one hovercraft, Rikkard risks everything when he takes a mission to infiltrate a Dominion laboratory. He gets way more than he bargained for when he meets a young woman with no memory of who she is or where she’s come from.

Try it now for only $0.99 cents! Get it on Amazon, iBooks, or Barnes & Noble. Coming soon to Kobo.

The Stowaway Experiment_cover_2.jpg

The Smugglers Legion is gone.

Captain Eria is in a work camp.

Rikkard is all that’s left.

After the Smugglers Legion disbands, Rikkard Gunnar is left to captain the few remaining members. With no credits left, and only one hovercraft, Rikkard risks everything when he takes a mission to infiltrate a Dominion laboratory. He gets way more than he bargained for when he meets a young woman with no memory of who she is or where she’s come from.
Try it now for only $0.99 cents! Get it on Amazon, iBooks, or Barnes & Noble. Coming soon to Kobo.
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Great Middle Grade Giveaway!

4/3/2017

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For a limited time only, grab top notch middle grade books at their lowest prices ever, including AWARD WINNING TITLES, like The Storytellers and Ennara and the Fallen Druid! Also, one lucky winner will receive a bundle of 5 of the titles listed below! Scroll down to enter. But hurry! The giveaway ends on April 10th!!!



THE ROCK OF IVANORE (Book I: The Celestine Chronicles)
by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price:  .99 cent (ebook)

The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is at it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.


THE LAST ENCHANTER (Book II: The Celestine Chronicles)
by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price:  .99 cent (ebook)

Months have passed since Marcus and Kelvin succeeded in their quest to find the Rock of Ivanore. Kelvin is living as royalty in Dokur, and Marcus is studying magic with Zyll. When Fredric is murdered and Kelvin becomes king, Zyll and Marcus head for Dokur in hopes of protecting Kelvin from meeting the same fate, though it quickly becomes apparent that none of them are safe, and Marcus has had disturbing visions of Zyll's death. With the help of his old friends Clovis and Bryn, joined by new friend Lael, a feisty girl in search of her mother, Marcus uncovers a powerful secret that will change the course of his life forever.




THE STORYTELLERS
2016 Spark Award Winner
for Best Non-Traditional Middle Grade Book 
by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price:  .99 cent (ebook)

12-year-old Elena Barrios' father has AIDS, a new disease in 1992 with a 100% fatality rate. Rather than face certain ridicule and ostracism, Elena tells her friends anything but the truth, fabricating stories about him being a writer and researcher. But the reality is Elena resents her father’s illness and can’t face the fact that he is dying.

When she is befriended by an older black woman named Ang who tells stories about her own father and the history of prejudice against African Americans in the years before the civil rights movement, Elena is transported into these stories, allowing her to experience them first hand. With Ang's help, Elena discovers the value of every individual, but will that be enough to help her say good-bye to the person she values the most?



ENNARA AND THE FALLEN DRUID
2013 Moonbeam Silver Medalist
for Best Preteen Book
by Angela Shelley
Sale Price:  .99 cent (ebook) / $5.00 (print)

Ennara has always been told she'd have legendary magic when she grew up, but she felt like the most normal girl in the world...
 
Until one night when she is attacked by a shadowy demon on her farmstead. Suddenly, Ennara is thrust into a world of magic, alchemy, and monsters, and she is charged with a quest to find an ancient sword that can end the shadowy curse--just as it ended the Fallen Druid centuries ago. To succeed, Ennara must confront pirates, servants of the Fallen Druid, and those who would use her magic for their own ends. In the end, she must learn to rely on the strengths of her friends and herself, and the deepest truths of life in the world of medieval Lan.


CAMP OMIGOSH
by Wade Bradford
Sale Price:  .99 cent (ebook) / $12.55 (print) 

Connor's summer is off to a rough start: the camp bus almost crashes, his cabin mates don't trust him, and the girls on the other side of the camp constantly outsmart him. But when he and his friends Tasha, Parker, and Kimberly investigate the mystery surrounding the "Ghost of Dead Billy," they begin a hilarious adventure that is worlds away from your typical campfire story.








TWEAKS: THE BEGINNING
by Terry Deighton
Sale Price:  .99 cent (ebook)/$5.99 (print)


Henry Johnson has a best friend, a crush, a life-long enemy, and no idea his life is a science project.
Then other people’s thoughts start popping into his head. He thinks he’s going crazy until he discovers he’s one of several kids with genetically modified abilities, including the school bully. To find out how they got tweaked, Henry faces betrayal, his parent’s abduction by a greedy scientist, and becoming frenemies with the bully. Can the Tweaks use their new abilities to avoid the greedy scientist on their trail?




CLEOPATRA'S LEGACY SERIES
Books 2, 3 and 4
by Dorine White


[Book 1: THE EMERALD RING is available HERE]

THE RUBY PENDANT (Book 2)
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print) 

Welcome to New Orleans, home of Mardi Gras, jazz music, and voodoo. 8th grader Melanie Belaforte is home for Spring break and itching for excitement. Late one night she discovers a hidden chamber and a secret journal in her deceased Aunt Florence’s bedroom. The diary contains the writings of a mad woman, along with vague clues to the whereabouts of a ruby necklace that once belonged to Cleopatra. The ruby bestows upon the wearer the power to hear other people’s thoughts- even the thoughts of the dead! And so the hunt begins. Melanie, her best friend Sybil, and a haunting specter unravel clues that take them from crumbling graveyards, to the busy streets of the French Quarter, and then into murky swamps, all to find the prize. But they need to watch out, because a murderous cult is matching them step for step, and they won’t give up, ever.


THE DIAMOND LOOKING GLASS (Book 3)
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print)

The world knows it as a cartoon with dancing teacups and broomsticks. To twelve year old Claire La Fleur, it is family history, and the power behind Belle’s mirror is real. Every ten years her family gathers to see if the mirror will awaken, and for the last two hundred years it has slept. This time, Claire’s touch awakens the magic within the diamond looking glass, a direct portal to the past and a way to communicate with Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt. The lure of power brings with it many perils, and a betrayal close to home thrusts Claire into a treacherous underworld. To protect the mirror, she travels into the Louvre museum in the dark of night, searches abandoned subway tunnels, and walks the catacombs of the dead.


THE SAPPHIRE BLADE (Book 4)
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print) 


Travel with past heroes and a new adventurer to the historical romps of London and the scorching sands of Alexandria. Fourteen-year-old Akmir, raised from birth to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of Cleopatra’s magic gemstones, holds within his hands the secret location of the fifth and final mystic gem: the blue sapphire. His quest leads him to England, where four other gemstone searchers: Sara, Melanie, Kainu and Claire, are on the hunt. A pawn of the Roman Brotherhood, Akmir must choose his own path, whether to follow in his father’s brutal footsteps or stay true to his mother’s Egyptian heritage. Clues, puzzles, and danger rule the day. What will happen when the power of all five gemstones are brought together? This is a battle for life and death, and only one side can win.



THE MAGICIAN'S DREAM 
by LeAnn Mathis
Sale Price:  .99 cent (ebook) / $5.95 (print)

Franklin dreams of a life with equality, but thinks it will never happen. When he transfers to a new school and meets Maddie, he realizes he has access to more power than he thought. It's the 60s and time to make some changes.









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Interview with Megan Haskell, Author of Sanyare

8/4/2016

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Today I have the pleasure of sharing a guest interview with a fellow member of O.C. Writers, Megan Haskell. Megan writes dark YA fantasy, and her books look amazing. I can't wait to read them. Welcome, Megan!
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B.R.A.G Medallion Winner! A woman torn between honor and survival…

Raised in a realm where humans are no better than slaves, Rie Lhethannien has struggled for decades to earn a meager post in the High Court messenger service. Even training as an elite fighter isn’t enough to earn the respect she craves. Scorned by the high elves who rely on her loyalty, Rie’s closest allies are the fierce carnivorous pixies who travel by her side.

When she’s attacked on a routine delivery by assassins from the enemy Shadow Realm, Rie’s martial prowess keeps her alive…and frames her as a traitor. Facing execution at the hand of an unmerciful king, Rie must forsake her oaths and flee into enemy lands to prove her innocence.

With surprising help from a bastard prince and an ambitious blood sidhe, Rie searches for the truth behind the attack. The secrets she uncovers may threaten more than her honor or even her life…for war is looming in the nine faerie realms.

Sanyare: The Last Descendant is the first book in The Sanyare Chronicles, a fast-paced dark fantasy adventure. If you like kick-butt heroines and action-packed fantasy filled with mythological creatures, then you’ll love the first novel in Megan Haskell’s debut series. Start your journey across the nine faerie realms today!

Interview with Megan

How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve read fantasy. Dinotopia was one of my favorite children’s books (which I’m currently reading to my four year-old), and I read The Hobbit in elementary school. Then I discovered Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, and later the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton. If I wasn’t reading a textbook for class, I was reading a fantasy novel with a female lead, the darker the better.

It only made sense, then, that I would choose to write dark fantasy adventures featuring a tough but vulnerable female protagonist. I write what I want to read, and I love magic, mayhem, and monsters!

What inspires you?
I’m inspired by my characters and by the work of other authors. Reading is an escape for me, a way to forget about the stress of everyday life. A skilled author can make me believe I’m really in the pages of the book, allowing me to live vicariously through the actions and adventures of the characters. My goal is to provide that same experience for my own readers. If I can make them forget about the dishes, or stay up past their bedtime just to read, then I’ve done my job.

How did you get to be where you are in your life today?
I’ve had a circuitous route to becoming an author. I graduated college with a degree in finance and worked for seven and a half years at a major accounting firm. I started writing during my hour plus train commute during that time, but didn’t really take it seriously until I finished my first (terrible, unpublished) novel.

After giving birth to my first daughter, I decided to leave my job and become a stay-at- home-mom, but I still had characters rattling around in my brain begging to have their stories written. Eventually, I succumbed to the pressure and started writing what would become Sanyare: The Last Descendant.

My girls are still young, just four and one, so time is a precious commodity. My writing happens in the quiet hours when the kiddos are asleep or in school. I don’t watch tv during the week, instead using the evening for writing and the business of publishing.

As they get older, however, I want to build a real career as a science-fiction and fantasy author, turning my after hours hobby into a full-time author-preneurial business. Ideally, with normal business hours.

Free Book: The Pixie Tamer

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It’s Nuriel “Rie” Lhethannien’s twenty-fifth nameday. She should be celebrating her rise to maturity, not sweating in the training hall. But life isn’t fair, and humans aren’t equal to the elves, at least not in the High Court.

After losing a practice bout to the one man she wants to trust, Rie is thrown into the most challenging test of her life. Will the rewards outweigh the risks?

Pixie Tamer is the short story prequel to Sanyare: The Last Descendant, a dark fantasy adventure with epic themes and a new adult tone. The stories are complements, but can be read independently.

Get Your FREE copy of Pixie Tamer!

To get your FREE copy of Pixie Tamer, the short story prequel to Sanyare: The Last Descendant, PLUS three excerpts from the novel featuring Rie's tiniest allies, just sign up for Megan Haskell’s newsletter at www.meganhaskell.com/newsletter-subscription. All newsletter subscribers receive a once a month email from the author, packed with information about upcoming releases, events, and even snippets from the work in progress. What's more, one lucky random subscriber each month will win a free signed print copy of Sanyare: The Last Descendant!

About the Author

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Legend has it, I was born with a book in my hands. When I was a kid, my mom would ground me from reading in order to get me to do my chores. To this day, I can readily ignore the real world in favor of the imaginary one lurking between the pages of my current addiction. My dad — also an avid reader — introduced me to Tolkien in my late elementary years, and I never looked back. I love escaping to worlds where magic and monsters are real, especially stories with kick-butt heroines and dangerously attractive heroes.

Despite my voracious book appetite, I didn’t start creative writing until I was working as a number cruncher in a big accounting firm. With an hour plus commute by train every day, and a demanding left-brain occupation, I needed a mobile creative outlet. A pen and paper are about as mobile as it gets! As the pages began to fill, I quickly moved onto a tiny laptop, and a writer was born. Now I get to create my own fantasies!

In addition to writing fiction, I am also the Program Director for O.C. Writers, A Network of Published and Aspiring Authors. Visit www.OCWriters.Network for more information about the community.

I currently live in Southern California with my wonderfully supportive husband, two daughters, and a ridiculously energetic dog. Sanyare: The Last Descendant is my first published novel. The sequel, Sanyare: The Heir Apparent, will be released in September 2016.

Sanyare: The Last Descendant
Amazon (US): http://www.amazon.com/Sanyare-Last- Descendant-Universe- Book-ebook/dp/B00ROBHMFY/
Amazon (UK): http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ROBHMFY
Amazon (CA): http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00ROBHMFY
Amazon (AU): http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00ROBHMFY

Megan on Social Media
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter or @meganphaskell | Pinterest | Google+ | Goodreads

Thanks for joining me today, Megan! For more information on O.C. Writers, visit http://ocwriters.network/.
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Sign of the Green Dragon by C. Lee McKenzie

7/28/2016

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When a wall of their cave hideout crumbles, three boys discover a skeleton, clutching a treasure map. They set off to trace the story of an old murder, but stumble into a modern crime, and confront ancient Chinese dragons.

An Excerpt from the Book

Sam inched forward and aimed the flashlight inside. “Uh oh.”

“What?” Joey gasped.

“It’s a ... well, kind of a ... skeleton.”

“Awww,” Roger screamed, ran, tripped, and sprawled on his stomach.

“It can’t hurt you, Roger,” Sam said. “Come on.

Take a look.” One thing about being in a family of paleontologists, you got used to bones.

Roger quick-shook his head. “No. No. No.”

Joey took three slow steps and stood next to Sam. “Sweet. A dead guy. Man, let’s get out of here.”

“Hold this.” Sam handed Joey the flashlight. “Keep the light on him, okay?”

The skeleton was partly covered by a tattered shirt and pants. Bony fingers clutched a wooden box with a piece of thin metal about two inches long on its top.

Reaching inside, Sam tried to pry the box from the skeleton’s grasp, but the finger bones fell through the rib cage and clattered to the bottom of the chest. The box lodged between the ribs.
The light jiggled in Joey’s hand. “Come on Sam, enough already.”

Sam picked up the thin metal piece from the top of the box, and held it under the light. One end of it was bent at a right angle. A faded red tassel looped through the other end.

“Here, take this.” Sam handed Joey the strange object, then reached inside the chest and gripped the box. He lifted it slow and easy. It could be a trap. It could be dangerous. His hands twitched and the edge of the box caught on a rod that held the chest lid open. He barely snatched the box free before the lid crashed down.

What sounded like an angry dragon exploded around the cave.

The walls trembled, and the floor heaved under foot.

About the Author

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C. Lee McKenzie has a background in Linguistics and Inter-Cultural Communication. Her greatest passion is writing for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is her third Middle Grade novel. Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were her first two. She has traditionally published four young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

I'd like to highlight the fact that I always have a free ebook (a different one every few months) available on my website for visitors. http://cleemckenziebooks.com

Website: http://cleemckenziebooks.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzie    
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/signofgreendragon/     
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleemckenzie/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cleemckenzie/movie-cast-for-sign-of-the-green-dragon/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sign-Green-Dragon-Lee-McKenzie/dp/1532721250
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sign-of-the-green-dragon-c-lee-mckenzie/1123482000 

C. Lee McKenzie will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Two Brothers, One Redhead, and a Stolen Giraffe by Sarah Mandell

5/25/2016

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​The McElroy brothers find trouble easily. Dylan plunges headfirst into it, while Daniel cleans up behind him. That’s the way it’s always been, ever since their mother left them to be bounced around the foster system, causing trouble wherever they went. The soon-to-be euthanized giraffe they just stole from the Northside Animal Park may be their biggest predicament yet, in more ways than one, but there's no undoing what's been done.

Lost in Nebraska without a plan, clueless how to care for the ornery old beast in the back of the trailer, the well-meaning brothers stop to rest at an abandoned-looking barn. A pretty redhead with a snappy temperament and a shotgun discovers the boys and their sixteen-foot stowaway. Her name is Josephine, she lives on this farm with her father who is spoken of, but never seen, and her root cellar has more locks than a bank vault. She’s got a way with animals and plenty of secrets, not to mention the interest of two brothers who swore they’d never let some girl come between them.

​Please help me welcome the author, Sarah Mandell!

​Exclusive post from Sarah Mandell

Today I’m sharing an excerpt and recipe from my new coming-of-age novel, Two Brothers, One Redhead, and a Stolen Giraffe. 

In the story, Daniel and Dylan McElroy, along with the soon-to-be euthanized giraffe they just stole from the Northside Animal Park, trespass for the night in an abandoned-looking barn, but are soon discovered by Josephine Larsen, a redheaded farmer’s daughter with a snappy temperament and a shotgun. The brothers end up staying on to help Jo with the harvest, since they need to earn some money and she could use a few extra hands around the farm. One of the many crops the boys help her with that summer is rhubarb. 
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Jo’s extremely book smart, she’s got a green thumb and a way with animals, but has absolutely no idea how to cook, so one night after a long day of working in the fields, Daniel bakes a rhubarb pie from memory, something his grandmother taught him when he was a kid, a few years before he and his brother ended up in the foster system. Daniel isn’t baking to impress Jo, or to show off. He’s just doing what he does best: being quietly helpful. 

Excerpt from Two Brothers, One Redhead, and a Stolen Giraffe

“Does anyone actually eat these things?” Dylan asked, holding up a stalk of rhubarb. He inspected the thing like it was from some foreign planet, apt to explode at any minute. 

Wiping sweat from her brow, Jo said, “You’d be surprised.”

“I wish you grew good stuff, like blueberries and strawberries. Seems like all we harvest around here is healthy stuff nobody likes.”

Daniel chimed in from a few feet away, diligently plucking rhubarb at a faster rate than his brother, “I’m gonna make one of Grams’ rhubarb pies tonight. Remember those?” 

Daniel’s Rhubarb Pie (from his grandmother’s recipe)

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Ingredient list (filling): 
  • 6 tablespoons of sifted flower
  • 1 1/3 cup of sugar
  • 8 large stalks of rhubarb cut up into small pieces
  • 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
Ingredient list (crust): 
  • 12 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 3 cups of all-purpose flower
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 8 tablespoons of ice water
  • 1/3 cup of refrigerated vegetable shortening 
Make the crust:
  1. Mix flour salt and sugar in a large bowl, then add diced butter and shortening. Mix well, until butter is broken up into small crumbles. Add ice water and continue to mix until dough forms a ball. 
  2. Use rolling pin to roll the dough flat on cutting board covered in flour. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate 20 minutes.
Make the filling: 
  1. Cut dough into two equal parts, and roll each piece into a circle on the cutting board. Place one piece of dough in pan, and trim off edges if needed. 
  2. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flower with 2 tablespoons of sugar and sprinkle over pie crust in pan, and then add rhubarb. Mix together remaining flour and sugar to sprinkle over rhubarb.
  3. Place second piece of dough overtop, and pinch edges together. Pierce the top of the dough in the middle to vent, and sprinkle with sugar. 
Bake the pie:
  1. Bake pie for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, then reduce heat to 250 degrees and bake for 45 minutes. If edges start to brown, you can use aluminum foil to cover the edges. 
  2. Set aside to cool, then cut and serve. ​​

(A note from Angela: Yum! I love rhubarb pie, and this one looks amazing, Sarah. Thanks for sharing!)


About the Author

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Sarah Mandell is a professionally trained artist with a background in commercial interior design.

She's also the brains and busy hands behind a thriving indie craft business called Once Again Sam in Greenville, SC. Even with an ever-expanding collection of creative outlets, she's truly the happiest when she's writing. Two Brothers, One Redhead, and a Stolen Giraffe is Sarah’s second novel. Her debut novel was Celia on the Run (Untreed Reads, 2012).

Website: www.sarahmandell.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/theshyauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahmandellauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com//Sarah-Mandell- Author
Newsletter Signup: http://www.sarahmandell.com/newsletter

BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Redhead- Stolen-Giraffe- coming-ebook/dp/B01F4ND9ZU

Sarah will be awarding 5 of her handmade laser etched wooden pendants that she is launching as a new collection in conjunction with the release of the book to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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The Children of Darkness by David Litwack

6/22/2015

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Children of Darkness
The Children of Darkness, book one of the dystopian trilogy, The Seekers by David Litwack
"But what are we without dreams?"

A thousand years ago the Darkness came--a time of violence and social collapse when technology ran rampant. But the vicars of the Temple of Light brought peace, ushering in an era of blessed simplicity. For ten centuries they have kept the madness at bay with "temple magic," eliminating forever the rush of progress that nearly caused the destruction of everything.

Childhood friends, Orah and Nathaniel, have always lived in the tiny village of Little Pond, longing for more from life but unwilling to challenge the rigid status quo. When their friend Thomas returns from the Temple after his "teaching"—the secret coming-of-age ritual that binds the young to the Light—they barely recognize the broken and brooding man the boy has become. Then when Orah is summoned as well, Nathaniel follows in a foolhardy attempt to save her.

In the prisons of Temple City, they discover a terrible secret that launches the three on a journey to find the forbidden keep, placing their lives in jeopardy. For hidden in the keep awaits a truth from the past that threatens the foundation of the Temple. If they reveal that truth, they might release the long-suppressed potential of their people, but they would also incur the Temple’s wrath as it is written:

"If there comes among you a dreamer of dreams saying 'Let us return to the darkness,' you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the light."

AMAZON * Barnes & Noble

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Praise for The Children of Darkness

“A must-read page turner.” Kirkus Review

“Litwack’s storytelling painted a world of both light and darkness–and the truth that would mix the two.” Fiction Fervor

“The Children of Darkness is a dystopian novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.” C.P. Bialois

“A fresh perspective on our own society...[an] enjoyable read that will make you wonder just how society will judge us in the future.” Lexie

Author David Litwack

David Litwack
The urge to write first struck when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter's editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.
Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.

After publishing two award winning novels, Along the Watchtower and The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky, he’s hard at work on the dystopian trilogy, The Seekers.

David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.
Website * Facebook * Twitter

  100_Amazon_Paypal

BookBlast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/12/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Interview with Author Cindy Freland

4/7/2015

1 Comment

 
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Cindy Freland writes the Chesapeake Bay Adventure series, teaching children the wonders of the Bay and how to care for it, the creatures and the land. The series also teaches children to be brave, helpful, patient, resourceful, loving, friendly, unselfish, respectful, careful and forgiving. Books are for children 3-10 years old.

How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your books? 
I have lived in Bowie, Maryland, since 1967. I love the Chesapeake Bay and the animals of the Bay. The gorgeous fields of sunflowers, children playing at the beach, soaring bald eagles, and majestic blue herons give me wings to fly into each story I write.
 
What were your goals and intentions in these books, and how well do you feel you achieved them? 
My goals in writing the first book, Jordan the Jellyfish, were just to write a fun story about the adventures of a jellyfish and to teach children about a misunderstood creature. Then I decided to write a series of books about the Chesapeake Bay and I wanted children to learn life values. I included stories to help with bravery, unselfishness, and helping others.
 
What are the future plans for your books? 
I have three books, including Jordan the Jellyfish, Curtis the Crab, and Heather the Honey Bee. I am planning at least 10 books in the Chesapeake Bay Adventure series to be published by 2017. A few of the other titles are, Oakley the Oyster, Olivia the Osprey, Chester the Chipmunk, and Christmas with Marco. I am very happy with the results of the books as they are in 25 retail locations and three library systems so far.

Can you share some stories about people you met while researching these books? 
While I was a vendor at a craft show in the fall of 2014, I met another vendor who told me about a manatee who swam from Florida to the Chesapeake Bay. The vendor asked if I had written a story about him. I said “no” but I would think about it. I am now planning a holiday book called Christmas with Marco, based on the true story of the manatee the vendor told me about.

What are some of the references that you used while researching these books? 
I do a lot of research for my books about the Bay. I love searching online and using just about anything I can find, but I especially love the website for The Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
 
Are there underrepresented groups or ideas featured of your books?  
The stories I write are to help everyone, especially children, understand the benefits of the Bay and the animals. Some of the animals are misunderstood, including the jellyfish. They sting but jellyfish are very beneficial to the beauty and the bounty of the Bay.

What inspires you? 
I love children and animals and they are my inspiration. I have two adult daughters, Alyssa and Andrea, to whom I dedicate all of my books. I also enjoy traveling to the many places around the Bay, including Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland, where I saw my very first bald eagle.

How did you get to be where you are in your life today? 
I am determined and a survivor of many personal obstacles. I take after my 85 year old mother as she is very determined too. I try to help people along the way in hopes they will help someone too.

Cindy Freland can be found at www.cbaykidsbooks.com, and cindy at marylandsecretarial dot com. She lives in Bowie, Maryland.

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Princess Madeline Trilogy by Kirstin Pulioff

3/5/2015

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Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be hosting a Book Blast showing off the new covers of the "Princess Madeline Trilogy" by Kirstin Pulioff.

Princess Madeline Trilogy The Princess Madeline Trilogy

About the Books

The Escape of Princess Madeline by Kirstin PulioffTitle: The Escape of Princess Madeline (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #1) * Author: Kirstin Pulioff * Publication Date: November 4, 2012 * Publisher: Caliburn Books * Number of pages: 138 * Recommended age: 10+ Summary: Madeline, princess of Soron, awakens on her sixteenth birthday to find that her father has already made preparations for her betrothal. When she disappears unexpectedly, her suitors and knight champion rush to the rescue. But all is not as it seems, and the errant princess’s flight has put the kingdom at stake… Can Madeline find freedom or does it come with too high a price? Follow Princess Madeline in this adventure full of twists and turns as she tries to find her freedom and answers to her questions about life and love.

Amazon

  The Battle for Princess Madeline by Kirstin PulioffTitle: The Battle for Princess Madeline (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #2) Author: Kirstin Pulioff Publication Date: May 21, 2013 Publisher: Caliburn Books Number of pages: 159 Recommended age: 10+ Summary: Princess Madeline rejected Prince Paulsen’s advances, but he’s not about to take it lying down. In the middle of Soron’s festival preparations, when his obsession jeopardizes the kingdom, mysterious figures from the kingdom’s past arrive. Can Madeline risk accepting their help or will their information about a family secret be too much for her to handle? Can Madeline trust anyone or will saving the kingdom come down to her own bravery?

Amazon

    The Dragon and Princess MadelineTitle: The Dragon and Princess Madeline (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #3) Author: Kirstin Pulioff Publication Date: November 26, 2013 Publisher: Caliburn Books Number of pages: 135 Recommended age: 10+ Summary: Princess Madeline is ready to celebrate. With the foundation of her future in place, it seems nothing can hurt her. Then the return of a mysterious green dragon threatens her kingdom and king. Will this challenge prove to be too much for Princess Madeline and Prince Braden or will they find the answers they seek hidden in cryptic messages from the past? Can Madeline save her kingdom from the dragon or is the real danger something else?

Amazon

The Buzz

Book 1: "Well-written, fast-paced, and entirely appropriate for its target audience (middle grade fantasy), this short but succinct novel (novella? It was maybe a little between a novella and a novel) tells a delightful tale of a naive princess who learns the real meaning of freedom. Kirsten gives her characters a sufficient amount of depth to make them genuinely likeable, and she leaves room for much, much more to come." ~ 5 Star Review, Ally, Amazon

Book 1:
 "An inspiring thought provoking, and wonderfully written fairy tale by an author who transports us to a time in our imagination where everything is magical and possibilities are real." ~ 5 Star Review, kathyls, Amazon

Book 2: "Fairy tales are filled with knights and princesses and castles and a special magical feel that takes the reader far, far, away into another world, another place, another time. The Battle for Princess Madeline fits the bill to a tee! Author Kirstin Pulioff has created a special feel to the tale of Princess Madeline with her own special talent for using words to paint pictures in our minds." ~ 5 Star Review, Dii, Amazon

Book 2: "The story is well developed and easy to follow. The vivid scenes will transport young readers into the magical world of fairy tales with thrilling characters that have come to life. Another splendid read for young readers! I can hardly wait for a new book, Princess Madeline and the Dragon. " ~ 5 Star Review, Mrs. D., Amazon

Book 3: "The story is engaging on many levels, as is Pulioff's writing, but on this occasion I was mostly drawn into the action and the mystery as how to prevent the worst from happening. This is great entertainment and should do well across a wider age range." ~ 5 Star Review,ChristophFischerBooks, Amazon

Book 3: "Kirstin Pulioff has saved the best for last. 'Princess Madeline and the Dragon' is the final instalment in the 'Princess Madeline Trilogy'. I thought the first two books were finely wrought stories, but this novel surpasses its predecessors. Prophesies, family tragedies, magic and - of course - dragons, combine to produce a tale that is an instant classic. Written with a great deal of charm, 'Princess Madeline and the Dragon' will not disappoint Ms Pulioff's young fans. I look forward to seeing where next her imagination will take this natural storyteller. " ~ 5 Star Review, Diogenes, Amazon

About the Author: Kirstin Pulioff

Kirstin Pulioff Kirstin Pulioff Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in the foothills of Colorado. When she’s not writing an adventure, she’s busy living one.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

   

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Amazon 25 gift card Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 4, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Kirstin Pulioff and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway MDBR Book Promotion Services
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New PWP Release: The Taking by Terra Harmony

2/27/2015

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Eighteen-year-old Serena reigns as queen of both the Undine of The Deep and the wolves of The Dry. The alliance between her maidens and the werewolves is shaky when all at once the basic necessities of food and shelter are taken away and both their worlds fall apart. After decades of war, the two societies must work together to face what lies ahead. A promised land is theirs for the taking, but first, they must survive each other.

Amazon | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords 

About Terra

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Terra is author of the eco-fantasy novels in the Akasha Series, 'Water', 'Air', 'Fire' and 'Earth', as well as the Painted Maidens Trilogy. Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia. Terra has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has earned her bachelor's and master's degree and presently runs the language services division of a small business.

Terra currently lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of sixteen years and three children.

terra (dot) harmony11 (at) gmail (dot)com | facebook.com/terraharmony | harmonylit.com | twitter.com/#!/harmonygirlit

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Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen by Barbara Becker Holstein

2/16/2015

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Following in the footsteps of The Truth, Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen begins as the thirteen-year-old protagonist makes a move with her family to a new town. She has grown up a lot over the past year—and has made a list of everything that’s important to her now that she doesn’t want to forget when she gets older. But now, as she enters her early teen years, she begins to write down the secrets she wants to keep—and the ones she has no one to tell about. From new school experiences to a new baby in the family to a new crush, this new teen finally feels empowered on making her own decisions with confidence and keeping those secrets she holds dearest for herself.

In a positive and supportive diary-entry format, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein encourages tween and early teen girls to carry the most precious parts of themselves into adulthood. A great book for mothers and daughters to read together, Secrets is aimed to improve communication, understanding, and self-esteem for young girls as they enter the rocky road of teenager-dom.

An Excerpt From thE Book

Date: June 27
Dear Diary,

I can’t believe it. Today we moved, and I feel like I’m in a dream. I just keep walking around our new house and wondering when we will go home. It feels so different and strange.

 Everything is on one floor (that’s called a ranch house). The floors are all bare wood. My mom said our rugs would look terrible here so she let the people who bought our old house keep them. I think she was probably right. They were a dark maroon and the walls here are a light cream. I don’t think that would look good.

I went to the bathroom three times since we got here and every time I used a different bathroom. I can’t believe it. Three different toilets in the same house! Only my friend Susan, my rich friend, had more than two bathrooms in her house. And four bedrooms! And a family room. I can’t believe we have this much space now.

 When I look out of the windows I expect to see the shrubs and the Hudson’s house who were next to us on the left, but I don’t. Instead, I see a big open field that will probably have houses built on it by next year. That’s what my dad said anyway. And when I look out to the right I expect to see our clothesline and the Dixon’s driveway, but instead I see rose bushes and a wooden bench under a tree that the last owners said we could have.

Tonight, we had to eat supper off paper plates and use plastic forks, knives, and spoons because our boxes are still packed. My aunt made us a big picnic basket full of food and that’s what we ate for supper. It was delicious. There was fried chicken, potato salad and potato chips, cupcakes for dessert, and fruit salad. And at the bottom of the basket under the ice was a whole package of Hershey Kisses. Yum!

My brother already started to play with a kid next door who’s about a year older than he is. He’s so lucky. I have no new friends yet and that’s the truth!

About Barbara

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I have been a positive psychologist in private practice for the past thirty years. In the course of working with my clients, I originated the idea of THE ENCHANTED SELF(R), a positive psychology therapy where I teach people how to recognize and utilize their strengths, talents, skills and even lost potential. I have developed a number of methods, including using our memories to rediscover what is right about ourselves and our lives, rather than what went wrong, helping people to overcome adversity, experience positive emotions and live the good life!

Since developing this concept, I've been able to use many tools to bring the Enchanted Self to everyone, particularly women and girls. I've written many books, starting with THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy, and then Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!  My books for girls are very popular, as they are great fictional reads and also help deal with many of the questions that trouble kids as they move into the tween and teen years.  The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween and Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen are the first two books in this series.

I really love to teach and educate about happiness and how to benefit from positive psychology in ways that let us lead lives of meaning and happiness. You can find me all over the place on the web. In particular, www.enchantedself.com, www.thetruthforgirls.com, on Facebook at Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein: Psychologist & Author, on Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/barbarabeckerho/ and on You Tube. Just look for me on You Tube via Barbara Becker Holstein.

During this tour, Barabara will be giving away a $20 Amazon/BN Giftcard. Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  Goddessfish Promotions Blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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