Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Authors Not-So-Anonymous Week #13

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

Judah Lee Davis is an adult book author.  She was an avid reader growing up.  She taught herself how to read at the age of three, and by the age of seven was reading books such as The Hobbit and The Yearling.  "On many occasions I attempted to write similar novels, but all I ended up with was a three ring binder full of stories about elves that had my Mom in stitches. Not the intended effect."  Judah filled journals with morbid poetry as a teen, like Emily Dickinson - which later became her inspiration.  "Fifteen years later when I began writing my first novel, I pulled out those space savers and used them for inspiration.  It was like an archeological excavation of PMS."


Judah gave up becoming a doctor to be a writer - "At 21, I thought I had it all figured out.  I was poised to apply for medical school that fall. I had a serious boyfriend, and I could easily wear my size seven CK jeans.

Two months later my boyfriend dumped me, and I gained fifteen pounds worth of jelly roll that poured out over the buttons of my once-so-friendly jeans.  Throwing my hands up in the air, I canceled my plans for graduation, took a long look at the jelly roll in the mirror and began to realize several important truths about myself.

I suddenly realized that deep down inside, I had strong desire to tip the couch over in search of change for the rest of my life.  I wanted to live off of Ramen noodles and take toilet paper from the gas station.  I wanted to be that person who came back for a free refill six hours later, but yet wrote stories for a living and could maybe even be considered happy.

So I decided to be a writer.

I changed my major to journalism, graduated form Auburn University in 2001, and have since been working as a corporate journalist.  My series of novels are written in my free time, which is usually only earned by the constant sacrifice of a little thing called SLEEP."  She turned her sadness into something much more happy and bright.  Judah's favorite authors include Heidi Ruby Miller, Ayn Rand and Chelsea Handler.  "I love so many different authors for so many different reasons."  Her novel She Tells All was released in 2009 and the sequel Evey Women's Hero was just released in February in 2012.


**Warning: Some content not appropriate for readers under the age of 17.  Read at your own risk.**


Here is an excerpt from She Tells All:
Seven and a half brown shots later, I stood on the rickety stage and looked out over the sea of horny cowboys.  I was certain I could smell sperm in the air.
There were only two other girls who were brave enough, or might I say, dumb enough, to enter the redneck festivity, and I stood sandwiched in the middle with a girl on either side.  It was a slut sandwich. It was a stupid sandwich.  It was a stupid slut sandwich.
“Welcome to our annual wet T-shirt contest,” a redneck drawled drunkenly over the loud speaker.  I could tell he listened to Hank Williams Jr., participated in lawn mower racing, and had the Blue Collar Comedy tour on DVD.
“We’re going to go ahead and get started now, and y’all cheer real loud, ‘cause the girl with the most cheers wins the money!”Not surprising that those morons couldn't think up a more sophisticated system.  
Out of the corner of my eye, I attempted to assess the competition.  The girl to my left was considerably fatter than me and had large pendulous breasts.  Her mousy brown hair fell over her shoulders like silly string and her face appeared to be experiencing an onslaught of angry freckles.  I wondered how many shots of liquor it had taken to talk her into entering.
The girl on the right looked exactly like a Britney Spears impersonator wearing a cowgirl hat and boots.  She had already taken her white T-shirt and flipped it over her bra -- Pamela Anderson style -- to show off her tan and muscular flat stomach.
I quickly decided I didn’t have a hope in hell to beat her as I glanced down at my pudgy white jelly roll lapped over my pants.  She looked like a Playmate dressed up for Halloween and I looked like I belonged in a Jenny Craig waiting room.  It was all said and done.  I would be second place and I knew it, but it was too late to back out.
The redneck DJ cranked up Shake Whatcha Momma Gave Ya and called the first contestant.  She waddled out to the front and started vibrating her droopy ass as they tried to put out her flabby fire with a garden hose.
She looked like a Teletubby on meth. She got low and humped the air like a horny Chihuahua.  Then she flopped around like a fish out of water as her pendulous breasts followed two seconds behind every move she made. Honestly, I was a little concerned that she might be having a seizure, but I wasn't feeling too judgmental because I knew I was next.
The liquor congealed in my stomach when they called for contestant two.  I timidly stepped out into the spotlight and braced myself for impact.  As the freezing cold water blasted over my body, I was overcome with the strange and unfamiliar feeling ... The cold water had rendered me completely sober. Despite my horrifying realization, I tried to start shaking what my momma gave me, but I had two things working against me:  I was white AND I was SOBER. I bent my knees and tried to stick my butt out, but I knew if I got too low, I’d end up on the flo. I felt like a fat grasshopper takin’ a dump.
I ran out of booty shakin’ moves within the first ten seconds and started doing some really strange stuff, like the Charleston, the robot, those silly Vogue hands, the Roger Rabbit, the Hammer, and a ten-year-old dance routine from middle school cheer leading tryouts.  About the time I broke into the Cabbage Patch, the redneck asshole running the show finally took pity and re-directed the hose to the next poor victim – Britney Spears.
Britney didn’t seem to mind the cold water as much.  She pranced out there, stuck her tiny round ass out and then started working her hips like she was riding something very large. She could have never guessed what was about to happen next. (end)

Purchase She Tells All in paperback from Amazon here or Kindle format here  Pick up the sequel Every Women's Hero in paperback here or Kindle format here.  Judah also wrote and published the third book in the She Tells All series, The Diary of Dion.

Check out tons of hilarious stories on her blog, AND the Q&A on GoodReads here - so stop by and ask Judah any questions you have!

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!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Night Sky Blog Tour!

Welcome to the Night Sky Blog Tour!  For the blog tour, I decided to interview the author of Night Sky - Jolene Perry!  Click here to read more about the blog tour and the rest of the stops it will make.

Jolene Perry is a YA author who began her writing career in late 2009.  She grew up in Alaska, is an expert chaser of two kids, plays the guitar, currently lives in Alaska, loves to be outside and loves to be going fast - in a car, on a boat, on a bike, etc.  "I started writing my first book for fun, not thinking it would be a whole novel.  When I finished it, and knew I could write a whole book, the next came much more quickly.  Her favorite authors include John Green, Laurie Halse Anderson, Stephanie Perkins, and Kendare Blake.  "John Green, Ockler and Anderson are people whoe writing I HOPE to emulate - eventually...one day..."

She began writing Night Sky after watching numerous rom-com movies where the guy always gets the girl in the end.  "Jameson came from the idea that at the end of the movie, where the guy's in love with his best friend, and he DOESN'T get her, what happens then?  So, I wanted to write a "nice guy" in high school, and Jameson came to me pretty quickly.  I didn't know Sky existed until Jameson was in his Dad's porsche driving in the middle of the night.  I tried to think of someone who was the opposite of Sarah.  And then Sarah came from the idea of the all-American high school girl."  Each character was built on the previous character, creating a perfect group for Night Sky.

description for Night Sky
Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.
(end)

Night Sky was just released on March 1, 2012.  You can purchase it on Amazon.  Jolene's books can be found on Amazon, Goodreads and Barnes&Noble.  She is currently working on another YA novel, Knee Deep, that is due out in May.  Follow Jolene and Night Sky on Facebook, the Night Sky website, on Twitter or tweet with the #NightSky, Goodreads, her blog, or on Jolene's website.  Happy Blog Tour Day!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Review Day: What A Demon Wants

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


Title: What A Demon Wants
Author: Kathy Love
Rating: 3 stars

* This book is not suited for readers under the age of 18 50 due do the very sexual content.  I do not recommend this novel to anyone who does not like books with multiple scenes of nudity and sexual behavior.*

This review is for the TBR Challenge.  Click the pretty button on the top right side of the page to read more about the challenge.
Photo from Amazon
Side note: This ebook currently costs $8 from Amazon.  I was able to get this ebook for free from Pixel-of-Ink.  If you want to read this ebook, I can loan it on Kindle.  The print copy is actually cheaper this time than the ebook edition; however, you will have a hard time finding it new.

(description from Amazon) 
She's No Angel
A bodyguard?  Why in the world would a demon need a bodyguard?  Yes, it's true Ellina Kostova is only half demon. . .and an author with a cult following, but that just means strange stuff happens. She isn't in real danger.  Heck, she's in more danger from Jude Anthony, the guy her brother has hired to protect her.  In big danger, actually.  Because she just cannot be attracted to. . .well, anyone.  She's too much of a demon in bed.  No, really.


Jude has grown accustomed to being an outcast, adrift in both the mortal and preternatural worlds.  Being a paid fighting machine isn't glamorous, but he does it--and many other things--spectacularly well.  And man does Ellina Kostova need a lot of protection.  But he needs protection, too. She's making him remember what it feels like to be human.  And he's already learned no good can come of that.  Especially when he's been hired not only to protect her--but also kill her. . .(end)

I started reading this book thinking it was going to be another dramatic, intriguing fantasy novel.  Boy was I wrong!  This novel has some serious...uh...scenes in it.  At first, I thought it would just go away after the a while...but it got more intense.  It became so descriptive I felt like I needed to rub Purrell on my brain after reading a couple sentences... so...descriptive...(shudders).  It was good, outstanding even, but it was intense.

Now...on to the rest of the novel.  I really liked it.  The characters, Ellina, Jude, Maksim, Jo...made me want to be part of their lives.  They were lovable, believable, but also completely different than the average fantasy/demon-y character.  The plot was outstanding - an author, Ellina, who writes about a demon hunting cake decorator, gets a bodyguard after as series of break-ins and then falls in love with him all while being hunted (SPOILER ALERT!) by her gay, bestfriend neighbor!  Such a drama filled story...


Why 3 stars/  The author did an incredible job of keeping the story alive and making you believe this could actually be happening right under your nose.  Creepy, but awesome.  I just wanted more of actual story and less of the overly descriptive sex scenes.  Happy review day!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

To My Indie Authors and Readers!

Have you heard!?!  The 2012 Kindle Book Review Contest is now taking entries!  What does this mean for you?  Only something amazing!!

Authors can enter to win some serious prizes.  The Kindle Book Review holds this contest to help Indie authors get their name out there (just like I try to...but way faster).  Click here for more information about entering and the rules.  Make sure you read carefully the rules about what types of files they accept, it's pretty specific!  There is a $15 fee for authors, but the end results is worth it!

What's at stake for the authors? The five winners will receive $100 cash each and an advertising package with The Kindle Book Review. The categories are:
  • Mystery/Thriller
  • Romance 
  • Suspense/Horror 
  • Literary Fiction
  • Sci-fi/Fantasy
Readers can enter to win a Kindle Fire loaded with tons of the best Indie ebooks of 2012 AND each week there will be a weekly drawing for FREE Indie ebooks!  It is completely free for readers to enter - go here to see more and enter.

The deadline for ALL entries is May 15, 2012.

Good luck to everyone and please let me know if you enter!  I'd love to how many of my author friends and reader friends enter the contest.  Happy Kindle Review Contest Day!