Teen Read Week GIVEAWAY!

WIN IT!

The third week in October is Teen Read Week™, celebrating all books that are Young Adult. Hooray! To mark this wondrous event, we'll be giving away a whole heap of teen ebooks to one lucky winner:

BECOMING EDWARD - Faye Meredith

CROSSROADS (Crossroads Saga #1) - Mary Ting

DECEMBER MOON (The Raven Saga #2) - Suzy Turner

DEFY (Firstborn Trilogy #1) - Raine Thomas

FAIRY CIRCLE (Fairy Circle Series #1) - Johanna Frappier

HIDDEN (Marchwood Vampire Series #1) - Shalini Boland

PARADOX - The Angels are Here - Patti Roberts

THE BLEMISHED (Blemished Trilogy #1) - Sarah Dalton

 

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to deejay23!

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment 
in the box below telling us your favourite ever YA read.

The winner will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

 

 

TWEET IT!

On October 17, help YALSA celebrate Teen Read Week™ by joining the conversation about teen reading and young adult literature! They’re encouraging people of all ages to Tweet their YA lit reading recommendations, thoughts and ideas on YA lit and more via the hashtag #TRW12 any time on Oct. 17.

Don't forget to leave a comment below telling us your fave YA read

to be in with a chance of winning all those lovely ebooks.

Good luck!!

 

Fractured Light Tour - Giveaway & Guest Post

Fractured Light

Author: Rachel McClellan

Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy

I’m dying, I thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of ice.

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After a Vyken killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake. 

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Abby Flores!

For your chance to win an ecopy of Fractured Light,

just leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

Good luck!

The Power of a Critique Group

Rachel McClellan

If you want to be a writer, then you must join a writers group. This is essential. You need a place where you can go to have your work reviewed. If you can't go to a local writers group, then join one online. Just Google "online writers group" and you'll find plenty. It doesn't matter how many books you've read on writing, there is nothing like reading your work out loud to strangers for review.

My first time terrified me. I'd just completed a novel and really thought it was something special, but I had yet to share it with anyone. I drove thirty miles away, arriving a few minutes early, and thought, "This isn't so bad." There were only three of us. The other two were an elderly couple who could've been my grandparents.

I settled into a floral sofa fully expecting positive feedback. But ten minutes later, eleven more people arrived, all carrying fancy writing satchels, lap tops, and one guy even set up a miniature desk including a fancy pen he removed from a wooden box. Each of them looked at me like I was fresh meat, and all I wanted to do was scurry beneath the old couch cushion among the crumbs of oatmeal raisin cookies and fruit cake.

But I couldn't hide, and my turn came. I shakily held up my paper and began to read. I was so nervous that I became a motor mouth and was asked to slow down several times. It's a good thing I was sitting down. When I finished the room became a coffin: silent and suffocating. It took a couple of minutes for anyone to speak as they were too busy marking up my story.

And then the critiques came.

"Your writing in the passive voice", "Too many echo's", "Your telling not showing". I had no idea what they were talking about, but I just nodded and smiled, while tears flowed backwards down my throat. This was my first "rejection". It stung but was very much needed. I researched all that I could and really started to study others books. In fact it's still hard for me to just read a book and not study the writing style or plot structure.

I learned all of this because I joined a writers group. I'd read plenty of books on writing, but somehow seeing those skills in action made all the difference. Feel the power of a critique group and grow.

~

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Abby Flores!

Don't forget to leave a comment below if you'd like to win an ecopy of Rachel's novel.

Giveaway for Dystopian Coming of Age Novel - Project Hope by Sean Joyce

This relentless monsoon summer we're having is the perfect weather to get all cosy by the fire (in July!!) with a good escapist read. And I've just heard about a great dystopian book by debut novelist Sean Joyce which could fit the bill nicely.

Sean is a 31-year-old British writer currently living in Toronto. In addition to obsessing over his next novel, he's usually hopping around the planet teaching English. His new novel Project Hope sounds like it has all the makings of a fantastic read. . .

In the Zones, a troubled society walled off from the outside world, nineteen-year-old Dylan lives in the crossfire between rampaging gangs known as hoods, and tyrannical government guards.

Trapped in a brutal reality, he confronts the helplessness of his situation the only way he can—through his art. By day, he takes on the role of protector, caring for his little sister, Lil. By night, he lives a secret life, breaking the curfew and braving the dangerous Zones to paint the perimeter wall with his subversive images. But with the eye of the warden upon him, and the hoods tightening their grip on the Zones, inaction is no longer an option. He must do the one thing no one else has dared to—unite the downtrodden residents and reawaken their hope.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Malvina!

If you'd like to get your mitts on a copy of Project Hope, all you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this blog post and one lucky winner will receive an ebook, courtesy of the author!

But if you're the impatient type like me and want to buy a copy straight away,

here are the links:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Smashwords

Sean can be found in these places:

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

First 5 Chapters -Try before you Buy (YA Paranormal)

Here's the next volume of First 5 Chapters available free from Smashwords

Read the first five chapters from these

YA paranormal/fantasy authors:

Hunting - S.M. Hineline
Hidden (Marchwood Vampire Series #1) - Shalini Boland
Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles #1) – Julia Crane
Progeny Of Innocence - Patti Roberts
Ties To The Blood Moon - Robin Waldrop
Fire Sprite - Lenore Wolfe


Click here to download for free

First 5 Chapters Blog Tour - Character Interview from Crossroads by Mary Ting

I'm taking part in a great new author initiative called First 5 Chapters, where readers can sample large chunks of  novels from their favourite genres for free before they buy them.

Great idea right!

You download the volume of your chosen genre and can then decide which books you love enough to buy. The first volume features six authors who write YA Fantasy:

Carolyn Hockley - Arazi Crossing
KaSonndra Leigh – When Copper Suns Fall
Mary Ting – Crossroads
Starr West – Tomorrows Child
Lenore Wolfe – The Fallen One
Patti Roberts – Paradox – The Angels Are Here

                                                                                                                          I've been lucky enough to snag Mary Ting, author of bestselling novel, Crossroads, for an interview with one of the main characters in her book.






About Crossroads:
Claudia Emerson has a good friend who shares the same first name and last name. That friend unfortunately dies in a tragic accident during homecoming dance. Claudia is distraught at the loss of her friend, but is even more disturbed by her dreams, which seem to take her to another place called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth. It is where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander.

There, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn't her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia. Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her.

Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should? The answer awaits you. Follow the exciting path to Crossroads!

Character Interview with Austin

We are so glad to be able to talk with you, Austin. Before your story began, what were your hopes for the future?

I really didn’t have any hopes for the future besides being the leader of the venators. My mother, Katherine, she is very proud. She hopes one day I will take a seat by her side as one of the Twelve.  

What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is that I would disappoint my friends. When I say friends, I mean the venators. They are the only friends I have besides Andrew. You can’t really count him because I don’t get to see him that often and he doesn’t know who I really am. 

What music do you listen to most and why?
I listen to all kinds of CDs. Currently my favorite songs are Good Life from One Republic and Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO.

What one act in your past are you most ashamed of?
I don’t know if I’m ashamed of it. I guess I shouldn’t have done it. You see… we can project our thoughts into your mind, creating a mental picture of what we want you to see. I kissed Claudia in her mind and I wanted her to know how it would feel like if she kissed me back. “Short cough” Hmmm…I think she liked it. “Wink”

If you were a regular person, what would you do with your life?
I would go through the school system, date girls, find a job and get married I suppose. 

What went through your head when you first saw Claudia? 
I could tell right of the bat she was sheltered. Very innocent and sweet. She has this natural beauty and her smile lights up the sky. Or I should say, her smile lights me up. I really can’t describe it. She was like a magnet, pulling me in. I couldn’t think of anything or anyone besides her and that was unlike me. I couldn’t think straight. Thoughts of her consumed my mind. 

Do you have any feelings in general that you are disturbed by? What are they? Why do they disturb you?
I don’t agree with everything the Twelve says or does. I’m not sure what we did to Claudia was right. My gut feeling tells me she’ll find out one day and I don’t know what she’ll do or think. We all played a part, whether we thought it was wrong or right. I guess we’ll have to find out what happens. 

What is something about you that no one else knows? 
I enjoy watching sports. My favorite color is black. I love my car. “Chuckle”

Thank you!!! Is there anything else you need?
This was fun. Thank you for having me. Would you like me to fly you around? “Wink”

That would be awesome! *winks back*

 * * *

Don't forget, you can read the first five chapters

from Crossroads and the other YA fantasy novels for free!

Just download to your ereader from here.

And the Winner is...

Sam Bella! 

Congratulations, Sam. You've won an ebook copy of 

STOLEN by Catherine Stovall.

 

Sam, Catherine's publisher, Untreed Reads, will be contacting you shortly.

Thanks to all those who entered. Do keep checking back

 as I plan to host more giveaways in the future xx

December Moon, Virtual Book Tour

I've just finished reading Book Two in the Raven Saga. It's called December Moon and is a great fun novel with all kinds of interesting and mysterious characters who find themselves in precarious situations. Author, Suzy Turner, does a great job of keeping the pages turning right up until the end. I'm thrilled to welcome her to the blog today, with her vamp-tastic guest post:

Author, Suzy Turner. (Someone you wouldn't mind running into in a dark alley)

When I was a wee lass, my sister and I were taken to the cinema to see a kids film (I think it was Neverending Story, but I'm not entirely sure)... unfortunately, we couldn't get in to see that and our only other option was a vampire flick called The Lost Boys. We ummed and ahhed (or rather our parents did... it's not exactly suitable for kids under ten!) and decided to go for it. I'm so glad we did. It's now one of my all-time favourite vampire movies.

What is it about vampires that are so appealing? I mean, they're usually evil blood-sucking creatures who go from beautiful to grotesque in a matter of seconds? They want to drink our blood, kill us or turn us into fellow blood-suckers, don't they?

In The Lost Boys the vampires were undoubtedly the bad boys, unlike Twilight where Edward is just so totally swoon worthy and the epitome of a real gentleman. Granted, it has its fair share of the nasty variety but the Cullens are just, well, to die for, right?

In today's YA stories, many of the lead male characters are vampires. They're usually breathtakingly beautiful and falling for the female protagonist. Now there's nothing wrong with that... it makes for a fabulous story, I say. In December Moon, I have my own loved up vampires who happen to be far from evil. Carmelo and Jo are simply a lovely couple who would do anything for anybody... not your usual, run of the mill, vamps! However, there is something evil lurking beyond those pages. Something so frightening and deadly. Actually, okay, okay... it's a another vampire. The bad kind. His name is Duran (Olivier Duran, to be precise) and he's not exactly a very nice lad. He's extraordinarily good looking though so that makes it all right, doesn't it?!

If you love a great vampire story with a good variety of other paranormal elements thrown in for good measure, then give December Moon a go... I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

Thanks so much for joining me, Suzy. the Lost Boys is one of my fave films too. I bet someone will remake it one of these days.

For more information about December Moon and The Raven Saga, visit:

Suzy's website: http://suzyturner.com

Blog: http://suzyturner.blogspot.com

Amazon AuthorPage:http://www.amazon.com/Suzy-Turner/e/B0050BSH1I/