Book Blitz & Giveaway ~ Black Amaranth by Sasha Hibbs

Black Amaranth

by Sasha Hibbs

Release Date: 08/16/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Eighteen-year-old Ally Watson arrives home from high school graduation, more than a little annoyed that her Uncle Argyle—Ally’s legal guardian and only surviving relative—didn’t even bother showing up. But instead of berating him for his forgetfulness, Ally finds him in a life-or-death battle with a monster. Argyle manages to kill the creature, and gives Ally a parcel containing a destiny she never knew existed.

Ally, along with her best friends Michael, Jessica, and David, hurry to Georgia to uncover the truth of Uncle Argyle’s secrets, and the meaning of the mysterious marks that Ally bears. Are the marks related to the blacksmith mythology of her ancestors? Who are these heavenly warriors who show up in the oddest of places? And will an ancient gypsy curse destroy the very things Ally fights to save?

Black Amaranth: a simple flower, a symbol with an ancient legacy, a conduit for prophecy…while faith and hope are essential to the journey, Ally soon discovers that love is the most powerful force of all.


Excerpt:


“There are three Ravenscraft women: Denaulda, Griselda, and Irini.” Parthenia looked deeply into Ally’s eyes and then shot a look of caution to Michael and the twins.


“Denaulda is the eldest sister, and by right, the acting leader of the Gypsies. She is the most powerful next to their holy woman, Belle Crow. Let me caution you now. Do not cross them. They prove to be useful and good allies, but can also prove to be fearful enemies if you’re not on the same side as them. Remember, the curse of the elder Gypsies coupled with Vulcan crossing them is what caused all of this to ensue in the first place. Their magic runs deep, it’s old, and just as the blaxxmiths have a particular affinity for a single element, Gypsies have a strong affinity for magic.”


“Ooo, this should be fun,” Brandi purred mischievously.


“Try to curb your enthusiasm, will you?” Parthenia glared back at Brandi.


“I’ll not say a word.” Brandi winked and said, “Promise.”


“Are they witches?” Jessica asked, a noticeable trace of anxiety in her voice.


“They’re worse than witches,” Eli barked out.


“What is your problem? Considering how you treated me last night, I doubt that your dislike is exclusive to Gypsies. I’m guessing that you hate everyone and everything.” Jessica’s face flushed with anger. Eli fumed, but said nothing.


“No, they are not witches,” Parthenia said, interrupting the awkward silence. “They are Gypsies, and if you want to get on their bad side quick, call one of them a witch.” She turned and looked down her nose at Dave.


“Gotcha,” Dave said, seeming to understand she worried most about what might come out of his mouth.


“Stay behind me and try not to stare at anyone,” Parthenia said.

Available from:

About the Author

By age 5, Sasha Hibbs' favorite movie was Gone With the Wind. By age 12, she completed her 7th grade book report on the sequel, Scarlett. By 18, she met and married her very own Mr. Rhett Butler and as it turns out, she never had to worry about going back to Tara to win the love of her life back. Fortunately, he stuck with her.  

With a love of all things paranormal, the ambiance of the South with its gigantic antebellum mansions and canopies of Spanish moss, and a love for her husband’s rich storytelling of blacksmiths and the mythology surrounding their origins, it wasn’t long until the world of her debut novel, Black Amaranth, was born.

When not working her day job as a nurse, you can find Sasha dreaming of her next beach trip, reading the latest YA novel, and drinking more white chocolate mocha than she should.  

Sasha lives in mountainous West Virginia with her husband, Tim, and their two daughters, Aeliza and Ava. She is currently hard at work on book two in The Vulcan Legacies series.

***Author Links***

   


***GIVEAWAY***

1 print signed copy of Black Amaranth (US only)

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Book Blitz & Giveaway ~ Falling From The Sky by Nikki Godwin

Falling From The Sky

by Nikki Godwin

Release Date: 02/21/14

Summary from Goodreads:

All stability in sixteen-year-old Ridge McCoy's life crashed and burned in the plane crash that killed his dad. This summer-long basketball camp is his chance to improve his skills and escape his problems back home. But his summer plans take a turn in an unexpected direction when he meets Micah Youngblood, the guy who runs the carousel at the local mall and has a reputation for devouring straight boys' heterosexuality for breakfast, alongside his chocolate chip pancakes.

Ridge needs a way to avoid the guys at camp, whose only quest for the summer is to drown in beer and hook up with girls. So when Micah offers to explain how the ten unique horses on the carousel are significant to his tribe, Ridge takes him up on it. Still, Ridge can't decide if this is a bad thing or not. All he knows is that he hasn't felt this alive since his dad fell from the sky, and as the horse adventures come to an end, Ridge finds himself falling as well – for Micah.


Excerpt 1
He reaches an arm out from under the towel and grasps my forearm. He pulls me closer to him, and everything in my brain says to fight him off, but my body screams out for him to just hold me close to him and not let me go. His other hand brushes over my bare shoulder, and I glance toward the sky to avoid eye contact with him. I see the towel fall from his shoulder out of the corner of my eye, and I know he’s inches away from pulling his bare chest against mine.


In this second of almost touching, I realize that falling for Micah – or any guy for that matter – will be a thousand times worse than falling from the sky. I have a girlfriend, and never in my life have I been attracted to a guy. At least not before now. No one has ever gotten to me like Micah does. His hands run along my arms, and I take the chicken way out.


“Will you jump with me?” I spit the words out quicker than I process them in my head.


Micah pulls back and inhales deeply. He’s not smiling with excitement or dragging me to the top of the bridge. He just stares at me with those sad puppy dog eyes filled with disappointment. He almost had me, and he knows it. That’s the point of a toxic green elephant – everyone sees it, but no one talks about it. However, he’s not talking at all, and the hurt in his eyes actually hurts me in return.


I look back to the bridge so if those brown eyes of his start pouring, I won’t see the raindrops. His hands leave my arms, and he steps beside me. He’s in my peripherals, but I don’t dare turn my head. It looks like he’s staring at the bridge, which means he’s either debating jumping with me or he’s refusing to look at me for the same reasons I won’t look at him.


“You sure you’re brave enough?” he asks.


I nod, even if he isn’t looking. “Yeah. As long as I don’t have to jump alone,” I say.


“If you jump, I jump,” he replies.


I really wish this hadn’t made me laugh. “Did you like Titanic?”


He laughs too, and I feel a world better. “I admit, I did…except for when Jack died. I mean, I get that it kind of made the movie, but I prefer happy endings.”


Hopefully this falling from the sky experience will have a happy ending for me, as in not smashing my head against a rock or drowning or being eaten by an alligator. Now is a good time to let my “what if” scenarios play out, and it’s an even better time to talk myself out of this.


I look over at Micah to suggest my many wild reasons on why I shouldn’t jump, but he’s smiling. Damn it. Why does he have to smile and actually want to jump off a bridge?

Available from:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

About the Author

Nikki Godwin is a Young Adult author from the southern USA. She is a city girl who can't live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, Hawthorne Heights, and candles from Bath & Body Works. When not writing, she's not-so-secretly internet-stalking her favorite bands. She is slightly obsessed with rock stars and surfers. She no longer hides her love for One Direction.

***Author Links***

   

***GIVEAWAY***

2 ebook copies of Falling from the Sky (INT)

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Book Blitz & Giveaway ~ The Arrival by C.M. Doporto

The Arrival (The Eslite Chronicles #1)

by C.M. Doporto 

Release Date: 11/15/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Can Miranda save the human race?

An elegant, sophisticated alien species on the verge of extinction has invaded Earth and confined an entire generation of young women, after negotiating a treaty with the world’s governments. Eager to help the aliens reproduce, but frightened by her imprisonment at Nidus, the Eslite medical compound, sixteen-year-old Miranda Mays endures callous scientific experiments in the Eslite’s quest for survival.

When Miranda discovers the ultimate consequences of her egg donations, she organizes a rebellion, enlisting fellow donors in her cause. But soon she realizes the mysterious headmaster, Dimas, knows of her plot. And there’s something about him that bothers Miranda, though she can’t describe it. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance, so she can’t back down. But will Dimas expose her defiance?

Teen Sci-Fi/Dystopian ages 12 and up.

CM Doporto The Eslites, The Arrival

“Yes, thank you. It’s nice to be out of the scrubs.” For whatever reason, I grinned when our
eyes met. I’d never paid much attention to Dimas’ features, but the more I stared at him, I
noticed how young he looked. If not for the slight five o’clock shadow, I’d have to say he wasn’t
older than twenty. I wasn’t sure, though, because all the Eslites had flawless skin.
“You are quite beautiful.” He arched a brow and sipped his water. 
“Thanks.” No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tear my gaze from his. It was as though he
had me in a trance. I noticed everything about him. From his debonair smile, to his square jaw,
and his perfectly sculpted body that belonged in a Calvin Klein underwear ad. The guy was hot.
What the heck was wrong with me? 
That freakin’ alien might rape me.
I had to be losing it. He was pure evil. Wasn’t he? 
I dug my fingernails into my palm, and the pain broke our connection. 
“Consider them an early birthday gift.” 
What? How did he know my birthdate? Oh, wait, they’d poked and prodded every hole in
my body, of course he would know my birthday. But why would he observe an earthly custom?
For half a minute I didn’t say anything, just kept staring at the shaggy, black rug beneath my
feet. Hoping and praying he would let me leave as soon as possible, virginity intact.
I managed to squeak out another, “Thank you.” 
“I also have another gift for you. I thought it would be better if I told you in person.” 
I immediately glanced at him but didn’t meet his gaze, directly. 
Please don’t rape me.
Please don’t rape me.
“What’s that?” I asked, feigning courage, even though my entire body shivered. I tapped my
CM Doporto The Eslites, The Arrival
feet repeatedly, and I leaned forward, ready to make a run for it. Every muscle in my gut
clenched, my thighs tensed, and I pressed my knees shut. 
“I thought—”
“No matter what you do to me, I’m not going to copulate with you,” I blurted. “At least, not
willingly.”
For several seconds, Dimas said nothing. Then, he did something I hadn’t expected. He
laughed. “Well, that’s fine, because I didn’t invite you here to have sex with me.”
“Oh.” I felt the color drain from my face as I almost died of embarrassment. 
“I’m allowing you to go home for a few weeks, unless you would rather stay here and have
sex with me.” His playful tone was disarming and unnerving, at once.
“What?”  Excited and relieved, I did the unthinkable. I started to consider his offer.  
With a chuckle, he glanced at the glass in his hand. Slowly, in small movements, he swirled
the water, the way my dad did a fine wine, and for some strange reason I focused on it. The urge
to flee subsided, and I relaxed, as the tension in my shoulders seemed to evaporate. Gradually,
my heart rate slowed, my ears no longer rang, and my mouth was no longer dry. I imagined
brushing my fingers through his soft, sandy blonde hair. Allowing the warmth of his breath to
tickle the curve of my neck as he pressed his full lips to my skin. Feel his strong arms wrapped
around me as my body melted into his. When Dimas set the glass on a nearby table, I snapped to
attention.
What the heck just happened?
How did I let my mind go there? I couldn’t possibly have the hot’s for the guy. Yet, I was
crushing on him, I knew it, and I hated myself for it.
“You are scheduled to depart Nidas on Sunday afternoon.” He smiled, and my stomach flip-
CM Doporto The Eslites, The Arrival
flopped. “I’m sure your family will be happy to see you. Besides, I think you need a little break.”
Through some invisible haze his words came to me, and I blinked a few times to make sure I
was still in his living room. Then my mind processed what he had said, and though I should have
panicked, I remained eerily calm. Was the warden really offering me a prison break? 
Crap. Did he know about my plans for escape? 
Was it some sort of trap? Were there conditions tied to his surprise? 
“That’s—um, great. Thanks. When can I leave?” I tried my best to act cool. I started to
stand, but he stayed me with an upraised hand, so I sat on the couch, clutching the edge.
“You will return to your quarters in a few minutes, but I want to set a few ground rules,” he
said, as he rose from his chair.
Although I tried not to study him, I couldn’t stop admiring the ripples of muscles beneath his
tight fitting shirt, not to mention the spandex-type pants that outlined every curve from the waist
down. And I mean every curve. When he paused before an unlit fireplace, I glanced at my glass
of water and noticed silver speckles floating on the surface. 
Had he given me something?
Had I been drugged?
Because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t fight an uncontrollable desire to watch him.
The lights dimmed and the fire ignited behind him, bathing the room in a fiery orange glow, but
the air remained bitterly cold. A frightening chill shivered over my arms and legs.
Was I hallucinating? 
“Okay, sure.” I set the glass on the coffee table and rested my arms on my knees. Clasping
my hands, I prayed for strength.

About the Author

CM Doporto lives in the great state of Texas with her husband and son enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua, Mexican Redhead Parrot, and several fish.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from The University of Texas at Arlington. She briefly worked in the area of Public Relations and Advertising and then pursued a career in the field of Human Resources. CM considers herself a life-long learner and returned to school and earned her Master of Art’s Degree in Organizational Development from Dallas Baptist University.

She writes Young Adult and New Adult Sci-Fi/Urban Fantasy stories about ordinary women who do extraordinary things, become a heroine, and find love along the way.

***Author Links***

   

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Blog Tour ~ The Knife’s Edge by Matthew Wolf & Giveaway

Tour Schedule

The Knife's Edge by Matthew Wolf

When legends come to life the world trembles from a single name. Ronin. Once-heroes from a different age, they wield elemental powers… wind, water, fire, stone, forest, sun, moon, flesh, and metal.

At the same time, a young man discovers his best friend with a sword in her stomach, and dark wings sprouting from her back. Guards rush onto the scene, accuse him of the act, and he is forced to flee. In a new world without his memories, Gray must find his way amid legends and darkness, as he wrestles with an elemental power inside himself.

A power all too similar to the infamous Ronin…

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Praise for The Knife's Edge

"A truly engaging story!" - Tracy Hickman, New York Times Bestselling Author and creator of the Dragonlance Series

"Amazing, I am so happy when I find books that keep me up all night. This is a tome of light, among darkness. Never a boring page, action packed and loved the story. Can't wait for the second book. And I want to know more about all the characters." - Tor-Ole Halverson

"This book has everything any epic fantasy lover is looking for in a book, mesmerizing characters, fantastical creatures, sword fights, magic, mystery and even comedy. For some the beginning of the book might seem to be slow, but the further you read, it gets better on each page. Matthew Wolf does an excellent job describing every scene, every character, every feeling and the consequences the character take to submerge you into this wonderful world he has created. I just can't wait for book 2 to continue with this epic saga that I just fell in love with!" - Dominique

Author Matthew Wolf

Matthew Wolf is the author of the Ronin Saga. Or maybe he's a Ronin. Either way, he's involved somehow. Aside from epic fantasy, he enjoys woodcrafting, outdoors, a bit of a health nut (Kale is good!), and trains in Kung Fu. His childhood of traveling the world and studying Old English and Japanese influenced the schemes of the Saga, and the world of Daerval. He is a graduate from UCSB with a Literature degree with a specialization in Medieval Literature and Japanese.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/3/14

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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Release Blitz ~ Fighting for Love by L.P. Dover

Book Info-

Title- Fighting for Love

Series- Second Chances # 4 (Standalone)

By- L.P. Dover

Genre- Adult Romantic Suspense

Expected Publication Date- March 9th, 2014

Blurb-

Fighting for someone’s heart is more challenging than fighting for a title.

For a time, many years ago, love had grown, love was made, and in the end … love was lost. The decision to leave had been the worst mistake Shelby Dawson could have ever made. However, at the time—ten years ago—she felt her secret needed to stay hidden, even if it broke her heart and the heart of the man she loved. Back then, he was all hers and she was all his, but now things have changed and he isn’t the same guy she knew.

He happens to be the well-known MMA Heavyweight champion and famous bad boy, Matt ‘The Destroyer’ Reynolds, who once before struggled to help his family pay the bills. Now, he has money flowing with each undefeated win and an insurmountable number of women filling his bed. Everything is perfect for the illustrious fighter, until one day it all changes. In walks the girl from his past, the same girl who promised to stick by him but left and never looked back.

Their second chance to make things right will not come easy, for when one mistake is made an unwelcome consequence soon follows. Someone out there wants to rip them apart and they won’t stop until Matt and Shelby pay the ultimate price … their love.

Links-

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20317145-fighting-for-love?bf=1000&from_search=true

Kindle- http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Love-Second-Chances-standalone-ebook/dp/B00IVSF77Y/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1394379249&sr=8-14&keywords=L.P.+Dover

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can't forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Links-

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/lpdover

Website- http://www.authorlpdoverbooks.com/

Blog- http://www.lpdover.blogspot.com/

Twitter- https://twitter.com/LPDover

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6526309.L_P_Dover

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/L.P.-Dover/e/B00AFVV8TG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1380503353&sr=8-2-ent

Pinterest- http://www.pinterest.com/LPDover/

Blog Tour ~ Interview with Flawed Perfection by Cassandra Giovanni & Giveaway

  

Bobby Beckerson was the American All-Star hockey player--he was the spitting image of perfection to his family. Goofy, sweet and undeniably gorgeous, he had everything but the one girl he wanted: River Ahlers.

River Ahlers is successful in everything but love. She's been in love with Adam Beckerson since they were kids. Worst of all she's stuck right in the middle of the brother's dueling over everything and anything, and she doesn't even know she's the ultimate prize.

Adam Beckerson was a boy with a guitar, a smile that sunk girl's hearts and a stone wall around his own. He was anything but perfect, and no matter how hard he tried he was nothing compared to Bobby. Sweet, damaged, with boyish good-looks, nobody thought Adam loved anyone but himself.

Bobby loved River, River loved Adam and Adam only loved himself--or so everyone thought. Then one night everything changes, and as it threatens to destroy everyone involved a tragedy strikes that will break them all...

GENRE: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Kobo ~ Google Play

By the time I finished drying my hair I could hear Adam’s voice echoing through the apartment and the smell of bacon wafted through the air.

I came out wrapped in a towel and leaned over the island that separated the kitchen and the living area. Adam stood at the stove, spatula in hand, nodding his head as he sang.

“I didn’t know you could sing,” I teased, but his voice was so low now I could barely hear it.

He turned and kept singing to himself. Behind him I saw there wasn’t only bacon, but pancakes simmering in the pan.

“You should come over here more often,” I commented as I stood, hands on hips.

Adam’s voice slowly drifted off.

“Go put some clothes on,” he ordered, pointing the spatula at my bedroom. “You’re becoming more of a tease every day.”

“I didn’t think it was a tease unless it was something you wanted,” I found myself flirting back.

Adam bit his lower lip before turning back to the pancakes. His voice cracked as he repeated, “Get some clothes on.”

When I returned, Adam still had his back to me as he finished cooking.

“Better?” I asked, hands on hips.

“Much,” Adam replied looking over his shoulder at me in my jeans and band t-shirt. “Love that band.”

“Too bad I’ve never seen them,” I commented, taking a seat at one of the white plastic bar stools.

“Poser,” he teased as he poured me a glass of coffee, added sugar and creamer and handed it to me.

I took a sip and closed my eyes as the creamy taste washed over my tongue. “It’s scary you know exactly how I take my coffee.”

“It just shows I pay more attention than you think,” Adam commented as he took a sip out of his own cup.

“I can’t for the life of me understand how you know how I take my coffee.” I shook my head at him as I took another deep sip.

He piled two plates with bacon and pancakes, balancing them as he grabbed the syrup from the fridge and came to sit next to me.

“You love mangos, but they make your lips itch…your favorite drink is black cherry seltzer water. Your favorite wine is Kangaroo Moscato. If you could eat anything it would be fish and chips—a true New Englander. You hope fireflies are fairies that grant wishes, you’re scared of the dark, and,” Adam nodded down at my pancakes as I stared at him in shock; “You love your pancakes a little gooey in the middle, which is gross by the way.”

I couldn’t hold his gaze anymore and I found myself staring at his hand holding his fork mid-air.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” I finally whispered.

He leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

There was that word, but did friends really act like this?

Cassandra doesn't remember a time when she wasn't writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character's stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. In 2012 she became a published Young Adult author, releasing In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1) and the Amazon bestselling thriller, Walking in the Shadows. In 2013 she branched out by using her artistic illustrating talents to publish her first Children's novel, The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy: Tales of Friendship (Skippy Tales, #1). Cassandra released her first New Adult novel, Love Exactly, which became an Amazon Bestseller overnight in June of 2013. She's currently working on her new New Adult Contemporary Romance, Beautifully Flawed. The first novel in the series, Flawed Perfection is scheduled to be published on March 7, 2014.

Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is the owner of Gio Design Studios Photography and Gio Design Studios Publication Marketing . She is currently studying to receive a degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other loves of her life their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.

Cassandra can be found on:

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ @cgiovanniauthor

Interview

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

~Hot misunderstood guitarist, beefy hockey player, romance, love triangle—what more could you want?

What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

~Knowledge is your best friend—research your avenues for publishing and truly understand where you want to go as an author. It’s not going to be easy, it takes a lot of work, but in the end the readers are worth it.

What is your favorite Quote?

~ “I can’t drown my demons, they know how to swim” -Bring Me the Horizon

Who are your favorite authors of all time?

~Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, the Bronte sisters.

In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?

~Goodness, I have no clue. I’m not sure who my style would mesh with, honestly. Co-authoring is tricky, especially if the reader has read books that each author has written individually. I’ve read some co-authored books and I knew exactly who was writing where—I wouldn’t want that to be in a book I co-authored. Plus, I’m a total control freak and I think it would ruin whatever relationship I had with the author. That being said I am technically co-authoring a children’s novel with my best friend, Carley. She’s illustrating and I’m writing, but we’re working together on making it flow.

How did you go about publishing your book?

~The first book I published was because of my father. He (as well as myself) is a strong believer in things happen for reasons. I’ve been writing since anyone can remember, and my dad kept getting these emails on self-publishing, and they had no relevance to him. He figured they were meant for me, and he gave me the push I needed to put something out there. It wasn’t completely a success; actually, it was draining and stressful. I’m not one to give up though, so I kept going and learning and researching until I figured it out. I’m continually learning, and it’s still stressful, draining and frustrating—but I love every second of it.

How do you go about revising/editing?

~There are usually 5-10 drafts. I write the first draft, go in and add in flow paragraphs, then go through it again for an overhaul. Then after that I identify commonly misused words—then vs. than, their vs. they’re, etc using the search feature in Word. Then it goes to my editor for her first round, and a copy editor or as I call her my Alpha reader. Then I take it back with the redlines and look through the editors comments and update as needed—then it goes back to my editor, Alpha and additional Beta readers. The whole process takes about two months.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

~I don’t really believe in Writer’s Block—don’t get me wrong there are times when I don’t want to write. If I don’t feel inspired I don’t write. I don’t believe in the tenant ‘write so many words a day’ or ‘write even if it’s crap’. I never force it out—which is one of the reasons I am often working on a few novels at once.

Describe your book in 5 words.

~ Tear- jerking, swoon worthy, heart melting

Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?

~ <Character’s Name> is my new book boyfriend. I LOVE hearing that!

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Book Tour & Giveaway ~ The Orphan and the Thief by M.L. LeGette

Tour Schedule

The Orphan and the Thief

An adventure that will keep you and your kids spellbound.

Toad thought it’d be easy to steal from Mr. Edward P. Owl. Unfortunately for Toad, he isn’t the best of thieves. Caught in the act, he’s in more trouble than ever before. Now to save his hide, Toad must track down five rare potion ingredients for Mr. Owl. Or else.All Melena Snead wants is her family back, but after the Miggens Street Fire, that isn’t very likely. Orphaned and miserable, forced to work in an apothecary, she’s determined to find Milo, her missing brother. No matter what.

When Melena finds Toad ransacking her apothecary, Toad gets a nasty shock: apothecaries don’t carry Mr. Owl’s ingredients. Luckily, Melena’s willing to help, for a price.

With Melena’s pet Spit-Fire dragon and Toad’s enchanted talking beer mug, they embark on a fantastical journey, traveling the country in search of the potion ingredients. But can they gather all of them in time, what with monsters, pirates, and axe-wielding thieves? And if they do, is there an even greater danger waiting for them at the end?

Excerpt

Panicking, Toad rushed, “Come on, Gent. There’s gotta be somethin’ that ya want! My prices are reasonable!”

            “The price is your life,” Mr. Owl stated, gently placing the dragon statue upon the desk.

            Mr. Ogg stopped again, his ham-sized hands falling back to his sides. Toad fell silent, too stunned to dare hope that he wasn’t about to be killed.

            “Let me explain how this will work, Mr. Toad. If tonight was like any other night I would happily see your neck snapped and toss you out like the bit of filth that you are.” He gave a heavy sigh. “However, the Hickory Guard have become annoyingly tedious ever since that upstart became Captain.”

            “Ya mean Dowell?” asked Toad.

            “The man has become so inflated with self importance that he’s actually having me followed. Can you imagine? Me?”

            “That’s … awful?” said Toad awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

            “So, you will forgive me for not wanting to waste Mr. Ogg’s talents on you with so little preplanning.” He gave the window a casual glance. “I’m sure a guard is stationed outside somewhere and disposing of your body without detection will be troublesome to say the least.”

            “Pardon me, sir,” Mr. Ogg interrupted, “but it would be no trouble.”

            “Ah, Mr. Ogg! How I like you!” Mr. Owl cheered. “Always ready to break a neck. Good fellow!”

            “We can stash him in one of the upstairs rooms,” Mr. Ogg continued in his deep, ocean floor voice. “I’ll make sure he won’t bleed.”

            “But a body, even in such a large house, will be difficult to hide if Dowell decides to search the place, as he has been hinting at for the last fortnight. No, no, my man. We cannot afford the risk of housing him here.”

            Toad sat still in his chair. It wasn’t every day that his own murder was discussed in such a light, conversational manner.

Amazon

Praise:

[LeGette is] able to twist her unique fairy-tales to fit the imagination of children and the attention of adults. Five stars ... The Orphan and the Thief is definitely worth reading! -- Abigail / Goodreads Review

M.L. Legette conjures up a captivating magical tale in The Orphan and the Thief. I loved this story and I could not put my Kindle down until I finished the last page. This charming story is so good that it may very well become a classic. -- Karen Dowdall, Author of Delphi Altair: Strange Beginnings

M.L LeGette:

Melissa Lee LeGette has been writing seriously since she was a teen. She loves an old world vibe with a magical twist, and she puts her full focus on creating believable characters--even if they happen to be a talking beer mug. Her books are targeted for children and teens, but have been enjoyed by adults of all ages.

She lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright.

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