Review Day: Such Is Life

It's Review Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Such Is Life
Author: Angel A. Walker
Rating: 5 stars (I wish I could give it more!)
Type: Chicklit, Women's Fiction

(description from Smashwords)
Melissa Jones has never had a problem with being single. That is until she receives an invite to her ten-year high school reunion, and then her ex’s wedding, both events falling on the same weekend. As Melissa debates whether to cancel or suck it up, her assistant, Brett Thomas, decides to step in to “assist” her. Melissa figures once her date problem is solved the weekend will run smoothly. Not exactly. Her family will stop at nothing to embarrass her, her exes will stop at nothing to try and win her back, and using Brett as her arm candy gets a little sticky when buried feelings are brought to the surface. By the end of the weekend Melissa will have to make decisions she always read about, but never experienced. She’ll dream of the day when being single was her only problem. (end)

Such Is Life is a witty, romantic-comdey movie styled novel.  Angel took the classic elements from a rom-com movie and flawlessly twisted them into even more melodramatic and awkward situations (but in a good way).  Every single character was perfect and fit together so effortlessly it really felt like you were reading someone's life story.  There was the eccentric mother, the troubled but very loving father, the obnoxious and protective brother, the very obnoxious sister-in-law, the best friend whom you love/hate all at once, the crazy exes that always try to ruin your life, and of course the lovely main character who was a former chubby girl.  I couldn't get enough of the characters.  They sucked me in and made me believe in them, feel for them, and want to slap them around at times too.

THEN you have the plot that was so ridiculous and weaved such a strong story of adventure, love, friendship and drama that you just couldn't say no.  I barely put this book down!  It rose and fell perfectly without any issues.  I could easily see this book being turned into a movie (I imagined the whole thing in my mind like it was a movie while reading it).  I can't express enough how outstanding the writing is in this novel.  Angel took such a simple and overused idea- a girl who wasn't popular in high school, grows up to be successful, goes back to her hometown and sees all of her exes only to have her life turned upside down by her assistant! - and turned it into a completely magical adventure.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone  who likes a light hearted novel that is not only superbly well written but takes you on an adventure that you would never imagine.  AND some of the best news is, THIS IS ONLY BOOK ONE!!!!  This novel is officially on my favorites list and I plan to read it again whenever I need that extra dose of something special.  To purchase Such Is Life, go to Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Smashwords, or for paperback visit Angel's blog.  Happy Review Day!

Authors Not-So-Anonymous Week #21

Welcome everyone to the twenty-first Authors Not-So-Anonymous weekly meeting!! This weekly series is about authors from Twitter and Facebook!  This week, I would like to introduce Jason Gale into Authors Not-So-Anonymous!

Jason Gale is an Australian native, works an IT project manager during the day, and is happily married with children.  He's an author who loves to write in a few different genres, such as urban science fiction, horror, and thriller, catering to the YA and Adult crowds.  Jason turns his dreams into his stories..."I dream a lot, most of my ideas come from dreams.  In 2008, I had an extremely vivid dream which sparked an urge to write it down.  That one scene turned into an entire novel, somewhere around 150,000 words.  I mostly wrote technical bits and bobs for work, having never produced anything of serious tree killing weight since school."

Are you addicted to writing?  "I love to write, its very liberating and there's plenty of fun to be had playing god and messing about with interesting characters.  I find if I don't write I miss it and become all edgy.  I guess I'm hooked!"  His writing inspiration comes from other novels that truly just take him into another world, time, or frame of mind.  Some of Jason's favorite authors are Matthew Reilly, Duncan Lay, Kim Falconer, Mary Victoria, and Clive Cussler.

Jason's short stories and a few excerpts can be found on his blog here.  Jason is absolutely hilarious, loves to meet new people and can talk about books for hours.  I highly recommend that you follow him on his blog, Twitter, or Writers-Unite.  Have an author to nominate?  Send me a message via Twitter or leave a comment with the author(s) name and Twitter name and the tag #ANSA.  I'd love to add new members!  Happy Reading!

Aristeia Blog Tour!!!

Welcome to the Aristeia Blog Tour!!!

Aristeia: A Little Rebellion
Unlike her brother, Saracasi Ocaitchi has always known that her loyalties belong to the ideals of freedom and democracy, not the government of the Alliance, and that protecting
those ideals would require a fight. But now that the rebellion she has dreamed about has finally begun, she must come to terms with what that truly means: for herself, for her brother, and for all of the people who will die in the coming war.

The second novel in the Aristeia Series by Wayne Basta. Available June 1, 2012.

You can visit the authors website at http://waynebasta.com for more information and to enter a contest to win free books or ebooks!


There are several contests being held for this blog tour, so make sure to stop by Wayne's site and enter them all!! It's super easy to enter and follow all of the stops on the tour.   Here is some information about the pre-release contest:

Aristeia: A Little Rebellion Pre-Release Contest

From now until June 15th, Wayne Basta will be running a contest in which you can win the following:

1. My publisher, Grey Gecko Press, has offered to contribute a hardback copy of every book currently in publication (Dying of the Light: End, Aristeia:
2. Revolutionary Right, Aristeia: A Little Rebellion, A Fancy Dinner Party)
3. A signed hardback copy of both Aristeia: Revolutionary Right and Aristeia: A Little Rebellion.
4. A signed hardback copy of Aristeia: A Little Rebellion
5. A signed paperback copy
6. An ebook copy
7. An ebook copy of my short stories “Lonesome” and “Peace Meal”

Winners will be chosen via random drawing from among all participants.  How can you
enter, you ask?  There are several ways.  For each of the following that you do, you will be
entered into the drawing.  You can enter as many times as you like.

• Leave a relevant comment on Wayne's blog (commenting on my blog will just be for fun...so make sure you comment on Wayne's blog to enter) during the remainder of the contest.  Make sure your comment is relevant to the comment discussion or the post and voila! You're entered! (No spam posts you dirty spammers! We'll be watching.)
• Participate in the Aristeia Blog Tour. This will net you 5 entries.
• Participate in the Pre-Launch Purchase Blitz. This will net you 5 entries.
• Tweet about the book to your friends on Twitter. Use the hashtag #Aristeia. (Max 5 Tweets during the contest per person, I don’t want to be the cause of Twitter Spam.  You also get one extra entry per retweet your tweet gets.)

You can find the first book, Aristeia: Revolutionary Right on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo in ebook, paperback and hardback.  Happy Blog Tour Day!!

Freebie Palooza!!!!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!

Because authors are going crazy with having free ebooks all weekend long...I've decided to tell you all about them.  So...here are the links to the ebooks that are free and the dates they are free.  Just click on the author's name to see the ebook title(s) being offered for free.

This list will be updating every time I get a new link, so make sure to check back!!

Dr. Paul - All weekend; a new title every day until May 28!

Troy Ratliff - runs May 26-27 midnight to midnight!


JD Stockholm - ends at midnight May 26!


Michelle Wright - ends at midnight May 26!

Have a Facebook account?  Head over to the  Free Kindle and Nook Ebooks for Readers.  A group that authors, writers, bloggers and readers are all welcome in!  Authors will post links to their free ebooks here.  I highly recommend it for both Kindle and Nook users!

Happy Freebie Palooza Weekend!!

Review Day: Ginnie Dare

It's review day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today's book is Ginnie Dare by Scott Roche!

Title: Ginnie Dare
Author: Scott Roche
Rating: 3.5/4 stars
YA/MG

(description from Amazon)
Ginnie Dare is the communications officer for her family’s space faring shipping company. They arrive at Eshu for a routine supply drop and discover that the entire settlement’s population has vanished. Their search of the site reveals nothing out of place, except the people, but ends in a tense confrontation with the natives. During the conflict, Ginnie discovers an alien artifact that may be the key to diffusing the conflict. Can she decode the artifact before it’s taken by the Sector Defense Force? Will it help them to discover the missing colony’s fate? Or, will the whole thing spark an interstellar war? (end)

The novel takes place in space aboard a shipping company's (The Dare Company) space craft.  It's an adventure of Ginnie, her father, and their crew.  Ginnie is an excellent character.  She's young, adorable yet tough, inquisitive, sweet, very intelligent and extremely brave.  She's everything I wanted to be when I was younger! The entire novel is such a fun, creative story.  The Eshuans, the Dares, the Commonwealth/military, all of the characters were well thought out and very well developed.  The story line was very interesting as well.  I loved trying to figure out what was going to happen next, what little adventure Ginnie was going to take the reader on.  Scott did a remarkable job of keeping the reader intrigued, while keeping the story light and friendly.

Why only 3.5/4 stars?  This book lacked the plot twist that I was hoping for.  Although the twist IS quite good, it's not what I wanted.  However, this novel is perfect for YA/MG readers and anyone who wants a light and fun read.

Ginnie Dare can be purchased for $.99 on Smashwords using this code: YB49F  until December of 2012.  It can also be found on Amazon here.  Don't forget to say Hi to Scott this week on ANSA!  Happy Reading!

Authors Not-So-Anonymous Week #20

Welcome everyone to the twentieth Authors Not-So-Anonymous weekly meeting!! This weekly series is about authors from Twitter and Facebook!  This week, I would like to introduce Scott Roche into Authors Not-So-Anonymous!

Scott Roche is an author and IT guy who loves to write in multiple genres.  " I've written horror, science fiction, fantasy, alternate histories, and young adult. I also love to mash all of them up.  So if I had to say what type of author I am I'd call myself a blender."  He began writing in middle school, but seriously began writing about ten years ago.  Scott's inspiration comes from Stephen King and his children- "I love the way he mixes genres, always injecting his own style into whatever he writes.  My biggest inspiration these days though are my three kids. They seem to be natural born story tellers, which reminds me that all of us are born that way."

King, Tolkien, Koontz, J.C. Hutchins, and Ted Dekker are Scott's favorite story-tellers of all time.  He's a been a huge fan or horror and occult fiction from a young age.  Scott contributes to the Flying Island Press as one of the editors.  Scott strives to use all of his real-world experiences/knowledge in his books.  He is currently trying to put out one novella a month as part of the Children of Legend series.  The series currently has one novella and three short stories.

Ginnie Dare is one of Scott's novels annndddd because he such a sweet guy, he has given me a discount code for you!  Purchase Ginnie Dare for only $.99 from Smashwords here using the code: YB49F  This code is valid until December, so make sure to share it with your friends!! You can purchase the Nook, Kindle, iPad, Sony eReader, etc. compatible versions of thee book from Smashwords with no hassle.  Thank you, Scott!!

Ginnie Dare (description from Smashwords)
Ginnie Dare is the communications officer for her family’s space faring shipping company. They arrive at Eshu for a routine supply drop and discover that the entire settlement’s population has vanished. Their search of the site reveals nothing out of place, except the people, but ends in a tense confrontation with the natives. (end)

All of Scott's novels, novellas and short stories can be found on Amazon, Smashwords, and Scott's website. Have an author to nominate?  Send me a message via Twitter or leave a comment with the author(s) name and Twitter name and the tag #ANSA.  I'd love to add new members!  Happy Reading!!

A reference desk and a little tiny dachshund

I've been using my spare time to read my latest addiction - a comic featuring a reference desk librarian named Dewey (heh) and the many adventures of working at the library. (Thank you Rob for starting this addiction!)  You can imagine how hilarious these are if you have ever gone into a library, spent any sort of time around people who think they are smart, OR have worked in customer service...ever.

This comic is written by Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes.


Photo from Unshelved online by Gene Ambaum & Bill Barnes

And the sad thing is...many of these interactions are similar to what actually happens at the libraries I have worked in.  (sigh) Good and bad.  Rest assured my friends, we do not treat our patrons like THIS (psstt...look down)

Photo from Unshelved online by Gene Ambaum & Bill Barnes

 Although we might want to sometimes


Photo from Unshelved online by Gene Ambaum & Bill Barnes

Whoever told this guy it was a good idea to go looking for a significant other in a library should have their head checked... Although you'd be surprised how many people actually do this. (sigh)

There are 10 years worth of these lovely little comic strips!! 10 YEARS!!! Now, promise yourself you won't procrastinate too much reading them and head over to the site to read more.  Happy Library Day!

Nook Tablet vs. Kindle Fire: FIGHT!

I've been asked by numerous people,  which eReader tablet is really better?  Ereader tablets are becoming very popular, especially because they are cheaper versions of the ever popular iPad and Android tablets.  Here is my comparison and my overall opinion of which tablet eReader is really the best to purchase.  *Please note: this is my opinion not that of any company.*

How this works: I'll give a category, and then what each tablet does in that category.  Then, I will tell you based on the differences which is better for that category.  At the end, I will tell you which tablet I would purchase.  All information was found from either Amazon or Barnes&Noble's websites to ensure accuracy.

Photo from B&N.com

1. Size and Weight
Nook Tablet: 14.1 ounces total weight; 5.8 inches across

Kindle Fire: 14.6 ounces total weight; 4.6 inches across
Winner: Nook Tablet - This tablet is larger and lighter than the Kindle Fire.  But don't let this be the biggest deciding factor for you, the weight and size is very close (.5 ounces and 1.2 inches difference? yeah...not much).

2. Screen: Size and Color
Nook Tablet: 7 inch display screen; all touch and home button; 1024 x 600 pixel resolution at 169 ppi, 16 million colors
Kindle Fire: 7 inch display screen; all touch (no home button); 1024 x 600 pixel resolution at 169 ppi, 16 million colors
Winner: Draw - These devices have the exact same screens (on the outside) no matter what either company tells you, so don't be fooled!  One screen is not better than the other.

3. Battery Life and Charging Time
Nook Tablet: 11.5 hours of reading or 9 hours of video playback (with wifi turned off); 3 hours to recharge
Kindle Fire: 8 hours of continuous reading or 7.5 hours of video playback (with wifi turned off); 4 hours to recharge
Winner: Nook Tablet - The Nook Tablet hands down has a better battery - it lasts longer and charges faster.


4. Device Storage
Nook Tablet: 8GB or 16GB (with some needed for Nook Store) with expandable storage of 32GB microSD
Kindle Fire: 8GB internal (approximately 6GB available for user content) plus free endless space on the Amazon Cloud server
Winner: Kindle Fire - The Amazon Cloud is what causes the Fire to win.  The Cloud server is free, has endless memory and can be accessed easily from any Amazon account.  The Cloud also provides safe and secure memory storage, if you lose your device your books are still there.

Photo from Amazon.com

5. Speed and Internet
Nook Tablet: WiFi only; 1GHz TI OMAP4 (dual-core) processor with 512MB RAM; Adobe Flash Player enabled browser
Kindle Fire: WiFi only; 1GHz TI OMAP4 (dual-core) processor with 512MB RAM; Amazon Silk Browser
Winner: Kindle Fire - The Amazon Silk browser is faster than the Adobe Flash Player enabled browser (yes, I have tested this out in person).  The Silk browser is also supposed to be more secure.

6. Supported Data/Files
Nook Tablet: EPUB, XLS, DOC, PPT, TXT, DOCM, XLSM, PPTM, PPSX, PPSM, DOCX, XLX, PPT, MP4, or Adobe Flash Player format, 3GP, 3G2 MKV, WEBM, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, MP3, MP4, AAC, AMR, WAV, OGG.
Kindle Fire: Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, non-DRM AAC, MP3, MIDI, OGG, WAV, MP4, VP8.
Winner:  Nook Tablet - Because this device supports more Adobe files than the Kindle Fire, it wins hands down.

7. Bonus Features: Microphones, Pre-loaded Apps, Audio Ports, USB ports, etc.
Nook Tablet: Pre-loaded with Netflix, Hulu+, Pandora radio, Chess, Crossword, Sudoku, Media Gallery, NOOK Friends, Email; built-in microphone; 1 3.5mm headphone jack; 1 charging port; 1 expandable memory slot; parental controls on everything, Nook Kids
Kindle Fire: top mounted stereo speakers; 1, 3.5mm headphone jack; 1 USB port; pre-loaded with email (Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOL, etc.); best tablet eReader for gaming; best tablet eReader for music/audio; parental controls on everything
Winner: Draw - Both have their perks, it depends on what you want your tablet for.  If you're going to game, watch music and videos, Kindle Fire is the best way to go.  If you want to record anything, have pre-loaded apps, and be able to just "plug and play" when your device arrives, the Nook Tablet is better.

8. Lending/Borrowing
Nook Tablet: Nook Friends
Kindle Fire: Kindle Owner's Lending Library, Public Library Lending (limited locations), Kindle Lending
Winner: Kindle Fire - Multiple outlets for lending and less restrictions are placed on the Amazon lending policies than with B&N.  Nook Friends is more like a social network, Kindle lending is more about the books.

Here is the final score:
Nook = 3
Kindle = 3
Draw = 2

If I were to buy a tablet eReader today, I would purchase the Nook Tablet.  This tablet is going to function more as a tablet, can read more files formats, and has similar perks as a Kindle.  I am a die hard fan of Amazon and the Kindle.  Don't get me wrong, the Kindle Fire is worth the price, BUT know it will be more of an eReader with a few tablet features instead of a tablet with an eReader feature.  Most people who purchase these tablets expect them to function as exactly that, a tablet.  If you're going to purchase one, take some time and consider what you are going to use it for.  That is what will truly help you decide between the two tablets.

Happy Comparison Day!

Authors Not-So-Anonymous Week #19

Welcome everyone to the ninteenth Authors Not-So-Anonymous weekly meeting!! This weekly series is about authors from Twitter and Facebook!  This week, I would like to introduce Jonathon D. Fluck  into Authors Not-So-Anonymous!

Jonathon Fluck is a children's author from New Jersey.  He began writing children's books after he realized how much fun it was telling original stories to his son each night.  "About a year a go my oldest son asked for a bedtime story and each night I came up with a new story but used the same characters.  It was at this point that I realized how much fun it would be to write a children's story."  A children's author inspired by his very own children! So sweet!

Photo from Amazon.com

" T-Bot and Peabody Explore is a series where the two main characters explore and learn. T-Bot and Peabody are based off my two sons.  T-Bot like my oldest son loves to learn, study facts, and figure the world out.  Peabody is like my youngest son, he just wants to have fun and if he learns along the way; that's nice.  I co-author these stories with my wife and I do the illustrations.  It has been awesome sharing this with her. Even our muses help with brainstorming ideas, it's a family affair!"  Such a fun family project!
His inspiration and support came again from his two sons and the his loving wife.  "The characters, T-Bot and Peabody, are based on my two sons.  T-Bot is based of my oldest son and Peabody is based on my youngest. My two sons started me down the writer's path, but I start new "projects" all the time, it's finishing them that is an amazing feat and had it not been for the encouragement and help of my wife Karen, T-Bot and Peabody would have remained an oral story that never made it outside of our house."

Jonathon's favorite novels include numerous classics such as The Count of Monte Cristo, 1984, Beowulf, and Cyrano De Bergerac.  "I love Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain, and Oscar Wilde."

Photo from Amazon.com

T-Bot and Peabody Explore the Zoo is the first book in the series and the second book is T-Bot and Peabody Explore the Ocean.  The series will continue with T-Bot and Peabody exploring different areas of the world in depth taking you on a new adventure every time
Purchase a copy of T-Bot and Peabody here and enter the coupon code WET48E4B to save 15%!

Keep up with Jonathon and T-Bot and Peabody on Facebook, Twitter (@TBotAndPeabody) or Twitter (@JonathanFluck) or support them through Kickstarter!  T-Bot and Peabody can be purchased from Amazon, Createspace, Powell's Books and can be ordered through any bookstores.


Have an author to nominate?  Send me a message via Twitter or leave a comment with the author(s) name and Twitter name.  I'd love to add new members!  Happy Reading!

Speak Your Heart Giveaway (closed)

This giveaway has ended!!

Congratulations Anubha!! You are the winner!!

 I told you there would be another giveaway. aha!

What am I giving away you ask?  Well..... 

a print copy of Speak Your Heart signed and personally hugged by miss Deanna Julbe!!

Original poems comprise the heart of Speak Your Heart. This wonderful compilation includes poetry both happy and sad, but nonetheless, all the poems are inspiring. Deanna M. Julbe speaks from her heart and hopes others will also be so inspired. She includes poems from her teen years, love poems and inspirational poems to name a few. "I hope they inspire you to speak your heart." She adds, "Poetry is raw emotion, words that you may never say out loud or share." Be thankful she has chosen to share and advises everyone to Speak Your Heart.

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Speak Your Heart can be purchased from Barnes&Noble here or Amazon here.  Happy Giveaway Day!!

A special little message...

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there!

Here's a little song for you...

(from one of my favorite movies!)

Photo by Karyn Lewis

To My Mom: I love you! You truly are the best mother I could have ever wanted or hoped for.  I hope you have an outstanding day and I wish I could be there to share it with you. *hug through computer*

Have a wonderful day everyone, and tell your Mother, best friend or someone who is a mother how much they mean to you!

Knee Deep Blog Tour!

 Welcome to the Knee Deep Blog Tour!!!  Jolene Perry is back with her latest book, Knee Deep.  Follow the rest of the Knee Deep blog tour here.

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of Night Sky and The Next Door Boys.

Isn't this a gorgeous book cover?!

Knee Deep description::


Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.

Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.

Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both. (end)

Excerpt:

My front door opens. “Hello?” Shawn calls.

“In here!” I say back. Suddenly this feels weird. Why would this feel weird? This is just what happens when one of us is stuck at home. Why would today be any different? But my heart’s beating against the inside of my ribs, trying to tell me this is different.

Luke scoots away from the couch. Does he feel it too? That maybe him and me hanging out alone for the day might not have been the best idea?

Shawn steps through the hallway and scowls when his eyes meet mine and then pass to Luke. This shouldn’t be a big deal. Except...I’m so stupid. I was just thinking how I needed to make Shawn’s life outside of his house less stressful, and part of me
knew it was weird that Luke was here without Shawn. I thought it, and did nothing. But again, it is just Luke.

“What’re you doing here?” Shawn asks. His dark eyes fix on Luke.

“I figured you’d be here, man.” Luke stands up. “It’s like we always ditch together, right?” 

Romeo and Juliet kissing in the pool on the TV screen probably isn’t helping anything. Maybe Shawn won’t notice, or maybe it’s just sending my heart into crazy flutters because this tension between Shawn and Luke and, I guess, me, is happening during the most romantic scene of the movie.

“Uh, I don’t know.” Shawn’s still scowling, his brows pulled low and his jaw tight.

“You would’ve hated it,” I say. My eyes catch his, but his are as black as his mood seems to be. I’m so stupid. Why did I have to let Luke stay?

“Yeah, maybe.” Shawn’s narrowed eyes go from Luke to me, back and forth, as if judging the situation. Really? What did he think could possibly happen between Luke and I? Even if this is suddenly on my top three ‘most awkward moments’ ever. I can’t even think about what the other two might be. Maybe I’ve just found number one.

“Romeo and Juliet all day.” Luke laughs, but I know him well enough to see he’s trying really hard to be relaxed. His shoulders are too stiff, and his normal stance is too rigid. I wonder if Shawn sees it too. “Guess I’ll leave you two alone.” Luke’s trying hard to keep his voice light.

“Yeah.” Shawn has yet to return Luke’s smile. “I almost never see my girl anymore.” 

It’s like I’m on the edge of my seat, tension pinpricking every part of me. I’ve never seen Shawn like this.

“Well, I should get my ass to rehearsal anyway.” Luke gives Shawn a friendly pat on the shoulder before heading outside. 

I don’t watch him go. My eyes are on Shawn, trying to figure out what to expect next.

“What the hell was that?” His sharp gaze is now pointed directly at me.

I stand up and lean to the side, trying to be relaxed. “It didn’t seem like a big deal this morning.” Maybe if I play it off as nothing Shawn won’t be so mad. He knows Luke and I are friends. No big deal, I tell myself again. But I don’t know if I’m trying to convince myself or Shawn.

“Was he here when we were texting?” he asks. His voice may be low, but not in a good way. It’s low in a way that makes him sound like he’s past the edge of reasonable anger.

My body’s screaming for me to take a step back, which makes no sense. This is Shawn. My Shawn. “No.” But I’m weakening by the second, almost shaking inside. His jaw tightens again.

My eyes close as I remember, and dread fills my chest. “He got here as I sent my last one.” Is that bad? Good?

“And you didn’t think to tell me? What the hell is that?”

I jump at the sharpness of his voice. Shawn doesn’t need this stress. I know this. I reach forward to put my arms around him. We just need to hold one another for a minute, then it’ll all be fine.

He stops me, grabbing my arm—hard—just above my wrist.

“This is not okay.” His jaw is set.

“Hey.” My voice shakes. My body shakes. I’m actually scared of Shawn for the first time ever. I jerk my hand once, but he tightens his grip...impossibly tight. My lungs can’t pull in a breath; there’s just not enough air in the room anymore. “Shawn, you’re hurting me.” He can’t mean to hurt me. He can’t.

His face is stuck in a sharp scowl.

“He’s your friend.” My voice is crying. I want to try and pull my shaky arm out of his grasp again, but I’m afraid to; he’s squeezing so hard. Tears are hot against the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over. 

“How would you feel if I spent all day with some chick?” The words come out as angry spit from between his teeth. 

I open my mouth to answer but can’t, the lump in my throat has taken over. All I can think about is that I need to find something to say so he’ll let me go. Some way to get the air through my throat to form words. “It’s just Luke,” I plead, sucking in a breath.

“Whatever.” He throws my arm back at me, turns, and walks out the door, slamming it hard behind him. My body jumps at the sound.

I stumble backward onto the couch. I’m like a leaf battered about in the wind. Nothing’s working right. I need to sit. Normally I’d run after him, but I have no idea what to expect. And I’m afraid. Of Shawn.

He’s never been that way before. Ever. He’s moody and particular, but this seems...extreme. I’m cradling my wrist with my other hand, afraid to look at any possible damage. It hurts to move it. What just happened here? How did it happen?

It’s like there suddenly must be something fundamentally wrong with the universe. But the TV’s still on. My house looks normal and quiet. I’m still breathing, but Shawn, my Shawn, just hurt me. Lying down seems so anti-climactic, but I can’t bring myself to do anything else.

When Juliet realizes Romeo’s dying the sobs take over, and I pull my knees to my chest as if making myself smaller will somehow dull the pain. 

It doesn’t. (end)

Knee Deep can be purchased on Kindle, Nook, Google, Smashwords, and .PDF.  Follow Knee Deep and Jolene Perry on the Knee Deep website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Jolene's website, and  Jolene's blog.  Happy Blog Tour Day!

Authors Not-So-Anonymous Week #18

Welcome everyone to the eighteenth Authors Not-So-Anonymous weekly meeting!! This weekly series is about authors from Twitter and Facebook!  This week, I would like to introduce Stephen Winterflood into Authors Not-So-Anonymous!

Stephen Winterflood is an Indie author who loves to take his readers on a wild adventure - "I would say the type of author I consider myself is one who tries to present tales of vivid imagination, that will take the reader on a wonderful journey regardless of age."  He began seriously writing about ten years ago.  "I was experimenting with an idea for a comic book and it suddenly occurred to me that in the time it would take me to do a single issue of the comic I could probably have written the whole series as a novel. So from that point on I abandoned the comic idea and began to develop various novels."  I wonder how many other novels were originally comics? (something to ponder)


When Stephen's not writing, he's dreaming up ideas for new video games or toying with digital painting.  "I believe you shouldn’t limit what you do, you should always try and push your imagination to new levels and never settle for a second rate finish. The world of our imagination has no budget so why limit what it produces."

Because of his visual background, the majority of Stephen's ideas begin with an image or painting.  "I tend to imagine the story as a film in my head, I can see the images unfolding and then it is just a matter of trying to come up with the words to put that image in the readers mind."  This backwards method has given Stephen's writing a unique touch that definitely stands out amongst the many Indie authors.

Stephen's favorite book is..."The Lies of Locke Lamora is one of my favorite novels and the only time I actually started to read a book and could see why they had got a publishing contract. It stands out with its great characters and a very dark, but entertaining story. It is a fun book that draws you into the world that is well crafted."

The Last Mask is a trilogy series that Stephen is currently working on.  Book 1 has been released on Kindle in the US and UK.  He hopes to have book 2 out in 2012, and the final book out shortly after.

Here is an excerpt from Stephen's novel The Last Mask - Tradition (book 1):

Dark tendrils of mirth crept out of the shadows and wove their way across the green fields towards the big top; the merriment of the show within the circus drawing them towards it like a bright flame

.

He was approaching. His black claws reaching out into this world like a slithering death, exploring this fresh realm that was full of new sensations, but also held many old memories for this ebony clown.

The Harlequin moved with a grace that was not a part of this world, his dance a thing of sardonic joy and his smile a sneer of pain. His every step brought dead flowers to bloom for the briefest of moments, restoring their life back to vivid colour, before withering them once more to dried dead husks. Death passed in his shadows for he was the master of their dark depths and none would escape his decaying gaze. No mind would be left whole again on this day.

Beside him crept silence, the pale shattered ghost of the twisted mime called Sile. Her face a distorted work of art that bore no resemblance to the beauty she once wore, a visage now twisted by the cruel humours of the Joke. Wisdom and madness lurked within her mind as her baleful eyes sought out their goal, broken pits of raven dark scanning the land with a hunger for this soul.

And before this grim pair trotted a dog wearing a big, frilly white collar, a pug whose face also bore the marks of the Joke. A snout made red and an eye circled in blue, highlighting the face of the one called Rex, a compatriot of the dark who knew where the true power was.

Across the fields they moved, this grotesque trio, leaving a wake of death in their path. The Harlequin knew their goal was now near, as this was the time and the place of which they had told, but the clown still remained out of reach, his face unseen by Sile’s dark eyes.

The music of the circus continued to draw the shadows near, but for others the missing of the performance would cost them very dear. (end)

Follow Stephen on Twitter.  Have an author to nominate?  Send me a message via Twitter or leave a comment with the author(s) name, Twitter name or contact information and the tag #ANSA.  I'd love to add new members!  Happy Reading!

ABC News: Kindle vs. Nook

My friend sent me this video from ABC news about the big differences between the $99 Kindle and Nook.  Watch the video, and let me know what you think.  Do you agree with what they said are the *big* differences?



If you don't have time to watch the video, here is the article that goes along with it.

While I'm partial to Amazon and the Kindle, I must say...the new Nooks are starting to give Kindle a run for their money!  (watch out Amazon!)  Have you seen the Nook/B&N solution to back-lighting/screen lights?  Pssstttt....Amazon!  If you come out with this on Kindle...I'll upgrade RIGHT NOW!  How cool is that lighting!?  (jealous)  So...the debate continues!  Happy Debating!

Shadow on the Wall Giveaway!

CLOSED!

Winner: Deanna @SpeakYour_Heart!!

 Oh look! You've found the giveaway! yay!

What's that?  What are we giving away this time?

Prize: One winner will get an ebook copy of Pavarti's fantasy romance, Two Moons of Sera: Volumes 1 & 2 (both ebooks)

Click on either picture to read more about the books.

To enter the giveaway:

1. You must follow Novel d'Tales using either email, Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs.
2. Follow Pavarti on either Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, or Tumblr (can do more than one).
3. Leave a comment on THIS post with:
• Which method you used to follow.
• A message for either Pavarti, Tirbute Books or HilyBee (that's me!)
• keep it clean please!
• Your email address *disguised* example: eehsiuqs(at)gmail(dot)com or eehsiuqs(at)gmail
• Which method you used to follow Pavarti (if you do not have an account for any of these sites, please let me know in the comments).

May the odds, be ever in your favor!

Shadow on the Wall Blog Tour and Giveaway!

Welcome to the Shadow on the Wall Blog Tour, Release Party and Giveaway!!

Shadow on the Wall was written by Pavarti K. Tyler.  The novel was released on May 1, 2012 in both Kindle ebook and paperback.  Click here to keep up with the tour stops.

Pavarti and Tribute Books have teamed up with me to offer you a giveaway!  Click here to be taken to the giveaway!

Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She graduated Smith College in 1999 with a degree in Theatre. After graduation, she moved to New York, where she worked as a Dramaturge, Assistant Director and Production Manager on productions both on and off Broadway.

Later, Pavarti went to work in the finance industry as a freelance accountant for several international law firms. She now operates her own accounting firm in the Washington DC area, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and two terrible dogs. When not preparing taxes, she is busy penning her next novel.

Throughout history, literature and the art of story-telling have influenced politics, religion and culture. The power of the epic tale is universal. Why is it that those who never read The Iliad know Helen of Troy? Her story, Homer’s story, transcends the written word and has become a part of our human lexicon. The power of the written word is undeniable and Pavarti is honored to be part of the next wave of literary revolution.

Description:
Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?

Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.

In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss. (end)

Here is an excerpt from Shadow on the Wall:

Recai Osman awoke slowly, flickering in and out of consciousness, the sun scorching his bruised and exhausted body.

Where am I?

His foggy mind struggled to remember the last twenty-four hours.

Gritty particles shifted in sympathy as he rolled to his side. Sunlight assaulted his closed lids shooting pain through his head. Sand clung to his long lashes and hair. When the disorientation passed, Recai wiped his eyes with sand-infested hands, only adding to what clung to his fingers, pressing the grains deeper into his dry eyes, abrading them. Recai was covered in particles so fine they filled his shoes and ground into his scalp between each follicle of hair.

Recai pushed his hands into the warm sand, lifting himself to a sitting position and looked around. The night before was still a blur. He remembered the bar at Bozooğulları Hotel and sharing a drink with a Kurdish woman who reminded him of his mother. Women who lived in Elih knew better than to be seen in a public bar, but the hotel staff looked the other way; money could buy many freedoms. Her eyes had been deep-set and so dark they may have genuinely been black. Their mischievous glint and the sound of his mother’s language had drawn him in. A thin veil tight around her hairline, she’d caught his attention with the modern style of having it pulled back and away from her shoulders, allowing him to clearly see the neckline of her dress.

His head spun from last night’s drink and a dull throb built within his skull. Recai swallowed; his dry tongue thick from dehydration. Usually a soft bed and a forgiving shower greeted him upon waking. How had he gotten out here, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but sand? He hoped the dunes he saw were the ones that resided to the south of the city and not a feature of some farther, larger wasteland.
He didn’t remember leaving the bar, or traveling anywhere. How much had he drunk? Surely not more than any other night out, but his memory was hazy as he attempted to peer into the past. There were rumors of nomads kidnapping, robbing and abandoning the bodies of affluent Turks in the desert, but he would remember if he’d been kidnapped, wouldn’t he? Instead, all he remembered was drinking bourbon while admiring the curve of the mysterious woman’s collarbone peeking seductively above her blouse.
The dunes just outside of Elih, Turkey, were not large. The expanse of emptiness made it easy to become disoriented and lost in amongst the shifting terrain. If he was lucky, he’d have awoken at night and followed the light of the city toward home. But now, with the blazing sun above him, luck was something he simply didn’t have.

Men didn’t last long in the dunes without water and supplies. Recai was resourceful; his conscription in the Turkish military had been short but very educational. If he’d had a canteen and some salt tablets, he’d be capable of surviving without food or shelter for a few days. But not like this…
He shook his head, and streams of sand fell to the ground around him. Negativity wasn’t going to help him get home.

Recai blinked back the encroaching fog in his mind. The sun and lack of water already affected his focus, and the temperature was still rising. Recai took off his shoes and socks, knowing that despite the burning sand this terrain was best traversed the way his ancestors had. He needed to feel the earth below him, listen to the sand as it fell away from his steps.
He undid his belt and jacket and made them into a satchel to carry what few possessions he had. Searching his pockets he found them empty. He was as penniless as a wandering Roma seeking his next fortune. Soon he had his designer button-up shirt tied up on his head like a Jain turban, and his worldly possessions hanging from his belt over his shoulder.

The scruff of his untrimmed beard protected his face from the sun, and the turban kept him somewhat shaded. Recai took in his surroundings and the placement of the sun and set off in the direction he hoped was north.

Recai walked for what seemed like miles, resisting the instinct to second-guess his direction. The sand moved between his toes but soon he found his footing, and his body responded to the landscape as if from some genetic memory. He remembered his father’s words from a trip he took to the Oman desert as a child: Never take your shoes off; the sand will eat away at your feet. Recai had done it anyway, then and now, feeling more in control with that connection to the ground, its movements speaking to his flesh directly.
His father had always been full of surprises: one moment the strict disciplinarian, the next, he would wake Recai in the middle of the night to see a falling star. Recai had never had the chance to get to know him as an adult. Instead, he lived with the enigmatic memory of a great man lost.

Recai stood in the middle of the desert—every direction would eventually lead to Elih or one of the smaller villages scattered around the city. But who would take in a stranger? A stranger with a Hugo Boss turban and a bruised and bloodied face? In’shallah, he would be delivered to safety.

The sun hung high overhead, beating down so no living thing dared venture into the desert. If Recai had a tarp or blanket, or anything at all, he would have dug himself a hole and conserved his strength until night. Instead, at the crest of the next dune he sat on his bundle to keep his body away from the sand, refusing to allow it to siphon the remaining moisture from his system. He stared out at the expanse of desert before him. Emptiness had never been so tangible to him, nor solitude so deafening.

From his vantage point he saw the crescent shape of the wind-carved dune. Recai’s face was wind-burned, his shoulders screamed from the assault of the sun’s rays. The city remained out of range; all human life seemed to lie well beyond the line of the horizon.

As he stood, the ground shifted softly beneath him. It reminded Recai of when he’d been a child on his father’s yacht. He used to love going out on the water, taking the helm when they reached the open sea. The city of Elih was landlocked. It was the place where his father had made his fortune and helped establish a sophisticated Arab beacon for the rest of the Middle East, a place where Turks and Kurds co-existed peacefully. When his family needed to escape from the day to day running of the Osman Corporation, a private jet would fly him and his parents out to Iskandarūn where they docked the boat.

Reaci walked on with his thoughts. He hadn’t been to Iskandarūn in years. Not since he’d witnessed his mother jump without warning from the helm of the yacht. Her thin hijab blew in the evening breeze before she leapt. It had been blue and Recai remembered the way it seemed to float in the air when she took that final step. Not long after that his father disappeared, leaving paperwork that named Recai the heir to the multi-billion-dollar empire he ran. Recai had been only eight years old. Since then, Elih had fallen into the hands of Mayor Mahmet Yılmaz and his RTK henchmen—terrorists hiding behind the thin veil of faith. It made Recai sick to his stomach, the way the city was falling apart, devolving into crime and ignorance, but there was nothing he could do. He simply was not his father.

Walking along the crest of the dune, hoping to find a way to the flat area below that didn’t involve sliding down the great sand wall, Recai felt a rumble in his chest. A vibration surrounded him, calling to him from the air itself. A deep roar rose from the earth. The pitch rose as the noise intensified, now a screaming growl like the Jinn’s song.

The dunes were collapsing.

Recai ran, hoping to keep ahead of the avalanche. The awesome physics of the phenomenon would have been breathtaking were it not so deadly. Dropping the satchel that held the last remnants of his modern life, Recai scrambled across the crest, unable to get ahead of the avalanche. The dune song reached a crescendo and Recai screamed back at the spectacle of Mother Nature’s power. He lost his balance and fell to his hands and knees just as the top of the dune swept out from beneath him, sending him rolling, swimming in the sea of sand, which enveloped him then whisked him away. (end)

Shadow on the Wall can be purchased here from Amazon or by clicking on the "shop Amazon" tab above (search Shadow on the Wall).  Follow Pavarti on Facebook, her website, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and Goodreads.  Do you love blog tours?  Follow Tribute Books on Facebook to know when new tours will begin!  Happy Blog Tour Day!

Authors Not-So-Anonymous Week #17

Welcome everyone to the seventeenth Authors Not-So-Anonymous weekly meeting!! This weekly series is about authors from Twitter and Facebook!  This week, I would like to introduce RG Lawrence into Authors Not-So-Anonymous!

RG (Roger) Lawrence is an author who truly follows his heart and brain.  He lives in Kansas, loves to golf, is a Jayhawk fan, has three children, two grandchildren due in July and has been married for 28 years! (Congraulations!)  "I am an author who writes what is bouncing around in my head. My stories haven’t just appeared, but my characters have.  I can sit down and create a character who I really like, or who I hate, and then the story kind of takes off, with the character (or characters) leading the way. The story is often crafted around the background of the character. It’s a strange process, but that’s how it works."  This unique way of crafting stories makes his characters stand out and makes the story captivating in a way that grabs you and never lets go.

An example of how his characters shape his novels..." In Summer With Fidel, Danny Lester started out in Columbus, Ohio, an abused and sad child. Cuba was never, ever in my thoughts when the book started, but Danny needed to be somewhere where he could find the fostering that a child in crisis needed. He ended up in Cuba. It was a strange trip getting there."  Many of RG's novels have young adults as the main characters.  "I think my books appeal to all ages, with no demographic targeted."

RG has always written something, but realized his true writing passion when writing for a biker's magazine.  "I’ve always been able to sit down and write in some semblance of order.  I could always write a term paper in nothing flat, or write a good short story for my own amusement. 20 years ago, I wrote several short stories that were published in bikers magazines, and that was when I realized that people were moved occasionally by my words."

His writing inspiration comes from his closest family, friends, children and parents.  "Having the public read my work and show their appreciation with comments and reviews is extra…and very much appreciated."  

RG also loves to read a wide array of books - "I read authors, not titles. If I find someone I like, I get everything they have done, and then mourn when I reach the end of the stack. Some of my favorites are WEB Griffen, Lee Child, John Sandford, John Locke, Harlan Coben, Rachel Caine, D.B. Reynolds. Right now I am reading Charles Dougherty and Victoria Limbert, two indies that I think are great."  Do you read authors, not titles?  I've done this before, and really miss it!

Find RG's novels exclusively on Amazon here --> The Circle, Golden Boy, and Summer with Fidel - in both paperback and Kindle ebook.  Connect with RG Lawrence on Twitter @RGLawrence23.

Have an author to nominate?  Send me a message via Twitter or leave a comment with the author(s) name and Twitter name and the tag #ANSA.  I'd love to add new members!  Happy Reading!