Sunday, June 29, 2014

Blog Tour {2 Book Reviews} Love After Dark by 9 Bestselling Authors

 


9 Authors. 9 Novels. Only 1 Love After Dark


Love After Dark is a YA/NA Paranormal Romance Bundle featuring 9 Full Length Novels!


 


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About the Authors


Reveal by Brina Courtney
Connect with Brina Courtney
Facebook / Twitter


Shay could be the key to ending a war that humans don't know exist. Of a race of beings that aren't real, or are they? Shay Tafford's childhood has been fatherless, filled instead with memories of speaking to the dead. She is forced to hide her unique ability from those living around her. That's why it's been comforting to have Jeremy, a child ghost, as her confidante. But recently he's been absent, perhaps lost as her father is. When Shay meets Hugh, the guy she's had a crush on for weeks, and finds he can speak to ghosts too she's just starting to find a normalcy in her life. But as Hugh reveals the truth to Shay, about who she really is and about what it is she can do, he erases all chances she had at a normal existence. Turns out talking to ghosts is just scratching the surface of her genetically engineered gifts. Shay learns she may be part of an age old prophecy that could save the entire race of cryptids. But can she?

Here by Ella James
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Milo Mitchell's life used to be charmed, but that was before her family dissolved, she went a little crazy, and her best friends started acting more like strangers. Spending Saturday morning in a treehouse with a stun gun for company and a herd of deer for friends is the only exciting thing in her life...until she shoots a fawn and finds her dart stuck in a guy. Her gorgeous victim is dressed in a Brioni tux and armed with a hanky. He has no idea who or where he is. Afraid her dart caused his amnesia, Milo takes him in, names him Nick, and vows to help him solve his mystery. Soon the pair find Nick's face in a newspaper obituary, and Nick beings to have strange, ethereal memories of Milo--who is sure she's never met him. Suddenly Nick knows things he shouldn't know and is doing things he shouldn't do. When the Department of Defense shows up, Nick and Milo run--toward a shocking conclusion that could destroy both their worlds.

Illumine by Alivia Anders
Connect with Alivia Anders

For the past five months Essallie Hanley has been trying to forget about the frightening murder of her boyfriend. Haunted by vivid nightmares and hallucinations of the event she does anything she can to pretend she's like every other normal girl in High School. Only Essallie is far from normal. Able to conjure blue fire and a shimmering silhouette of wings from her body, she seeks the only known solace left to her name; her first home in Belfast, Maine. But she soon realizes that her return home is only the beginning of a long and twisted road taking her as far from her humanity as possible, with Kayden, the demon originally summoned to slaughter her, leading the way. Unable to touch her but oddly curious, he joins Essallie in her search to find out just what she is. But neither of them were prepared for the secrets they've begun to unravel, secrets that will change Essallie and everyone around her forever.

Elfin by Quinn Loftis
Connect with Quinn Loftis

Before tonight Cassie Tate’s biggest concerns were whether she could pass Algebra and how she was going to keep Elora, her best friend, from dressing her in a skimpy fairy costume for Halloween. Her feet were firmly planted in suburban reality and she had no reason to believe her life would be anything but that of a typical teenager. That is until tonight, when Cassie saw something that no human was ever supposed to see; in the blink of an eye she was thrown into the world of the Light and Dark Elves. He comes from a realm where light and dark have fought for millennia. He is of a race known to humans only in myths and legends. The darkness that lives inside him is a part of both who and what he is and it makes him the most gifted spy and assassin in the history of his time. His life is not his own; he lives in the service of the Dark Elf King. He slays who he must, has mercy on no one, is relentless in his hunt, and never tires of seeing his prey fall. He is Triktapic, assassin, spy, most feared of the Dark Elves. Now, in the midst of his King’s complicated plans to expand the Dark Elves’ holdings into the mortal realm, for the first time, Trik finds his loyalties divided. For no Elf, Dark or Light, can turn away from their Chosen. Unbeknownst to the mortal realm, the battle between Light and Dark is being brought to their doorstep. The only one who can keep it at bay holds darkness in his heart like a lover, and the one who can sway that heart must decide if she can look beyond his black past, beyond his evil nature and see the man he is destined to be. The questions must be asked, does love really cover a multitude of sins? Can true love actually conquer all or will his darkness consume those around him until all that stands is an assassin with the blood of the mortal realm on his hands?

Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand
Connect with Heather Hildenbrand

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up. Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.

Anna by Julia Crane
Connect with Julia Crane

Follow Anna from Keegan's Chronicles on her own adventure! Seventeen-year-old Anna is an unskilled, natural witch still seeking a way to access her magick. When she moves to Seattle for college, she encounters two powerful witches who need her as much as she needs them. For the first time, Anna believes she's found someone who can help her explore her own magick. Her dream quickly turns into a nightmare. Creatures of the Light have gone missing, and the witches she admires so well are a part of the mystery. Before she knows it, Anna is knee deep in the disappearances and trying to forge a relationship with a certain soldier named Tommy, all while trying to find her way. Will she have time to save the creatures of the light or will she become the next victim?

Forged by Greed by A.O. Pert
Connect with A.O. Pert

Two Seattle 16-year-olds, Jatred and Jasmira, are not your typical star-crossed lovers. They are not even your typical Shape Shifters. Sure, they try to live an ordinary life. At least, as ordinary as the Prince and the Princess of the rivaling ancient Races--the Winter wolves and the Summer leopards--can live. But eventually they learn that not much about their existence can be normal. Especially when the Races' two commanding Goddesses are involved. One of the Goddesses is on a quest to tilt the scale of power to her side. The other will never let it happen, even if it means kicking Jatred and Jasmira's love to the curb. Nothing is off limits, including removing Jatred's memories of Jasmira. To complicate things even more, there are the Universe's powers to consider. They are trapped in an ancient Amulet in order to protect the stability of the world. But the Universe has a mind of its own, and when the powers are unleashed, the forces of nature are disturbed; earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions shake the Earth. All Shifters of both Races are summoned by their respective Goddesses to fight in the name of, or against, the normalcy of the world.

Set In Stone by Anna Cruise
Connect with Anna Cruise

Fifteen year-old Valerie is used to losing things–she lost her dad to his job ages ago and her best friend moved with no warning...and hasn't been heard from since. During a weekend camping trip with her emotionally distant parents, she stumbles upon a hidden, mysterious stone and she finds herself desperate to keep it, to possess it. Two strange and beautiful boys have other plans, however. They follow her home–Leo, warm and seductive, who covets the stone and will stop at nothing to get it; and Noel, dark-haired and wise, who pledges to protect her and keep her safe. As she delves deeper into the magic of the stone and the Celtic lore that surrounds it, Valerie realizes that she's losing. Again. But this loss might involve more than a magical stone – this time, she just might lose her heart.

Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Connect with Melissa Pearl

Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place. While “across the line,” her training and skills are put to the test as she completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has selected. Gemma's parents are adamant that secrecy is paramount to her family’s safety. If people knew what they were capable of, they could be "used and abused", as her mother always says. Afraid she might accidentally utter the truth and break the ancient oath of her people, Gemma spends her school days as a loner. Only one thing can throw her sheltered life askew... Harrison Granger. Harrison never expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can't stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his life.


~~~My Review~~~
Anna


I received this book for an honest review. Love this story. I like with all the characters. Julia Crane is a fantastic author and has an amazing talent for creating real and believable characters. I’m grateful to read her book.


Anna (Keegan's Chronicles Spin Off)
About the Book

Follow Anna from Keegan's Chronicles on her own adventure!

Seventeen-year-old Anna is an unskilled, natural witch still seeking a way to access her magick. When she moves to Seattle for college, she encounters two powerful witches who need her as much as she needs them. For the first time, Anna believes she's found someone who can help her explore her own magick.

Her dream quickly turns into a nightmare.

Creatures of the Light have gone missing, and the witches she admires so well are a part of the mystery.

Before she knows it, Anna is knee deep in the disappearances and trying to forge a relationship with a certain soldier named Tommy, all while trying to find her way. Will she have time to save the creatures of the light or will she become the next victim?

Excerpt

Tommy folded the canvas bag and placed it on a chair at the table. “So, how have you been? I’ve been counting the days ‘til I’d see you again.”

“You have?” Anna asked, surprised. “You could have called or texted you know,” she blurted, and then regretted it the moment the words flew out of her mouth. Didn’t she learn anything from the movie How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days?

“I was such an idiot; I lost my phone and wasn’t able to get my contacts back.” He smiled sheepishly.

He lost his phone? That sounded like something that would happen to her. “Well, I’m glad you remembered how to get here.”

“Actually, Rourk remembered. I think he has some kind of freaky photographic memory. I swear he never forgets anything.” Tommy opened the lettuce and washed it in the sink, and then turned to grab the chopping board that was hanging on the wall.

“I’ll have to remember to thank him.” Anna felt heat rise to her cheeks. “I wasn’t sure I would ever see you again.”

Tommy glanced over his shoulder, and his clear blue eyes met hers. His gaze was serious. “Anna, I would have found you if I had to knock on every door in Seattle.”

~~~My Review~~~
Forged by Greed

I received this book for an honest review. This is a young adult paranormal/urban fantasy romantic thriller and a great fantasy novel. If you like shifter novels as much as I do, I highly recommend this book to you. The book was action packed which I loved.


Forged by Greed (The Forged Series)
About the Book

Young Adult (teen) paranormal/urban fantasy romantic thriller.

Two Seattle 16-year-olds, Jatred and Jasmira, are not your typical star-crossed lovers. They are not even your typical Shape Shifters. Sure, they try to live an ordinary life. At least, as ordinary as the Prince and the Princess of the rivaling ancient Races--the Winter wolves and the Summer leopards--can live. But eventually they learn that not much about their existence can be normal. Especially when the Races' two commanding Goddesses are involved.

One of the Goddesses is on a quest to tilt the scale of power to her side. The other will never let it happen, even if it means kicking Jatred and Jasmira's love to the curb. Nothing is off limits, including removing Jatred's memories of Jasmira.

To complicate things even more, there are the Universe's powers to consider. They are trapped in an ancient Amulet in order to protect the stability of the world. But the Universe has a mind of its own, and when the powers are unleashed, the forces of nature are disturbed; earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions shake the Earth. All Shifters of both Races are summoned by their respective Goddesses to fight in the name of, or against, the normalcy of the world.

Excerpt

“Prince Jatred!” The Winter Goddess’s voice sounded angry. She marched fast toward him. A deep frown settled between her brows.

Watching her, the wolf lowered his head between his shoulder blades, his tail between his hind legs. A quiet growl rumbled in the back of his throat. Freezing gusts whipped at her hair and clothes. The Goddess’s long black dress trailed behind her, loose sleeves flapping in the wind. Her nails were painted black and matched the series of complex black tattoos covering her face. She appeared as the Celtic goddess Morrigan.

“You know why you’re here.” Crystal’s voice reverberated in the wolf’s head.

Her lips were pressed together.

He didn’t answer but kept his eyes on her. The Goddess stood in front of him, glowering, her hands on her hips. Her body stretched and grew until she was over ten feet tall, muscular and commanding. The wolf crouched down, baring his teeth.

“You are going to leave her today!” The Goddess’s voice boomed in the air. It echoed several times, bouncing off the mountains. Her face contorted in anger. She waved her hand, and a wave of freezing air hit him like a tornado. He tumbled uncontrollably, clawing at the snow. Crystal moved her hand again, and Jatred stopped rolling. He tried to stand up but he felt too dizzy. His body ached as if it was bruised all over.

“Prince Jatred,” the Goddess hissed. Her eyes were furious. Jatred got up and stood, panting, his legs wobbly. He took an unsure step forward, testing the ground. A low snarl escaped him, his ears flat.

“No,” he said with his mind, growling louder.

Crystal flicked her wrist once more, and the wolf flew back several feet, as if hit by a truck going at full-speed. He yelped and fell, sliding in the snow on his side.

Gasping, Jatred snapped his eyes open and bared his teeth. He growled and wrinkled his muzzle. The Goddess walked up to him. She stopped and folded her arms over her chest.

“Stop resisting. I don’t really want to hurt you.”

“We have a different understanding of the word ‘hurt’,” he wheezed with his mind.

“You will obey me this time, my Prince. Don’t make me summon you here again to remind you of your duty. Or it will be more than physical pain that I will inflict on you. Think of those you love that are my Shifters.” The Goddess’s voice was calm, barely above a whisper. “Now go back to the Human World.”

Crystal stretched her arms, palms flat over Jatred. Shimmering dust rained from her hands down to his fur. The pain in his body subsided, and calmness enveloped him.

He squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to shift into his human form, before she let him return to the Human World.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Blog Tour {Interview & Giveaway} Prismatic by Sarah Elle Emm


SarahEmmAuthorPhoto

Sarah Elle Emm is the author of the HARMONY RUN SERIES, a young-adult fantasy and dystopian series, released in May 2012 by Winter Goose Publishing. (PRISMATIC, May 2012, OPALESCENT, February 2013, CHATOYANT set for release August 2014, NACREOUS release TBD) Her debut fiction novel, MARRYING MISSY, an Amazon Best Seller in marriage, was published by Bird Brain Publishing in October 2011. Sarah is a graduate of The University of Evansville, she has lived and worked in Mexico, Germany, England, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has traveled extensively beyond. Her love of journal writing, travel, and multicultural experience have all influenced her novels. Sarah lives in Naples, Florida with her family. When she’s not walking the plank of her daughters’ imaginary pirate ship or snapping photos of Southwest Florida scenery, she is writing.

Hi, Sarah. Whenever I interview people I like to delve a little into their background to find out what makes them, well … them. With that said, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I’m certain your readers will be happy to learn more about their favorite author!

So, let’s start with the basics… You mentioned in your bio that you’re an “Evansville, Indiana native.” Stated like that, I can only presume you enjoyed living there. Would you share some of your experiences with us? As a child, what did you do for fun? Were there any unique hobbies? What was growing up, in a fairly large city, like for you?

I definitely enjoyed growing up in Evansville, a city founded along the banks of the Ohio River in southern Indiana, and I suppose you could say, growing up in a river town is fairly unique. My childhood revolved around the river. One of my earliest memories of family time is Dad fastening my life jacket and tossing me into the murky brown, turbulent currents of the river and forcing me to learn how to water ski. Yes, I said forcing. Dad, always the adventure seeker, wanted my siblings and me to try everything. And Dad has a wicked sense of humor. When he tossed my older sister in the same water a few years before me, he started chanting the theme music to JAWS; you know “da-dum-da-dum-da-dum,” over and over and told her to make sure she got up out of the water on the first try. Mom always found his fear tactics amusing or maybe she just couldn’t control him, so she encouraged us to conquer fear alongside her. By the way, he made her jump in and learn to ski in that same water the year they got married.

Once I conquered my fear of the Ohio’s undertow and learned how to water ski, I loved the river. We spent every free moment there either skiing, tubing, wake-boarding or swimming. We did a lot of swimming in that nasty water and loved every second of it. My grandpa from north of Evansville always referred to my siblings and me as river rats, and we didn’t mind at all. I admit. I’m a river rat through and through. Some of the best memories I have are from my river days. We went on boat trips and locked through dams as we traveled the Ohio and often went by boat for dinner to restaurants like the local favorite, “Dog Town,” located along the river banks.

When the family wasn’t on the river, we were seeking adventure elsewhere. White water rafting in West Virginia, hiking through mountains in Whistler, Canada, scuba diving and snorkeling in the Virgin Islands, camping, and house boating on a lake in Tennessee, were just a few of the things we did for fun. On summers we spent at the lake, Dad would travel back and forth for work, and Mom would stay alone with us in the middle of an inlet, where Dad would secure the boat to trees along the shoreline. We didn’t have phones, internet, or TV. Once a day, Mom would drive us by speed boat into the local dock, about a fifteen minute trip, and we would call Dad using a pay phone just to check in. Mom would protect the boat from invading raccoons in the middle of the night with a broom, (we never had any weapons), and nudge copperhead snakes away from our boat during the day with that same broom. We wouldn’t bath in fresh water for weeks and would jump in the lake, get out, lather up with shampoo, and jump in the lake again. That was our bath. At the end of the summer when we’d go home and shower, we’d wash off most of our “tans” AKA dirt.

When we weren’t traveling we still had fun in town. Dad built tree houses for us in our backyard, two to be exact, and we played hard all day outdoors. The Hadi Shrine Circus is in Evansville every Thanksgiving holiday, and my grandpa at one time hired the acts. We spent every Thanksgiving afternoon watching the circus and getting to go backstage and meet the performers before getting together for a family feast. Dad plays drums and the bagpipes, so we went to a lot of rock-n-roll band gigs, and marched alongside him in bagpipe parades nearly every Saturday. Sundays, we’d be at church where Mom taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. Mom has the most infectious laugh, and she is known to lose herself hysterically laughing from time to time.

I’ll never forget the year she was in the Christmas play at church, and the three wise men messed up their lines so many times. Mom was sitting in the middle of stage and just started laughing uncontrollably. The entire congregation was speechless at first, waiting for her to pull herself together, but then a chain reaction started. Mom had the entire place hysterical, laughing to the point of tears, for a good ten minutes before the show could go on. The pastor hugged Mom after and thanked her for providing the most memorable and entertaining Christmas play he had witnessed in his entire career. So, yes, growing up in Evansville was a blast and I proudly call myself a native, but to be honest, I believe my parents could have made any spot on the globe exciting.

In perusing your bio, I did notice that you have traveled extensively. Did you and your family travel when you were younger, or did this desire to travel come from books you might have read?

As I touched on briefly, my parents took us everywhere. Whether the five of us were piling in the Dodge Ram van to drive twenty hours to the Florida Keys or driving four hours to the lake, we were on the go. We went to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands many times, and also to British Colombia, Vancouver Island, Toronto, Niagara Falls, and many places around the U.S.A. I remember looking through Dad’s old photo album from one summer he spent backpacking through Europe, and I definitely wanted to do something like that. When I was twelve, I got my first opportunity to go overseas. Mom accompanied as a chaperon on an educational tour of Germany and Austria, and that’s all it took. Suddenly, I needed to go back to Europe, and I had the travel bug bad. If there was a study abroad opportunity through school, my parents encouraged me to apply.

I was accepted into the Indiana University Honors Program when I was sixteen and spent that summer living with a German family in Krefeld, Germany. That was followed by a summer studying in Puebla, Mexico with my university and then a semester in Grantham, England. While in England, I traveled to many British cities, but I also explored other countries, such as Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Scotland, and Austria. Later, I traveled with Eastern Tennessee State University to Germany for the summer. After I finished college, I lived in Freiburg, Germany for six months and attended the International House. A few months later, I flew to Mexico. During my one year in Mexico, I lived in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, and worked in a coffee shop, taught English, learned Spanish, and volunteered in an orphanage.

When I met my husband, Charles, we discovered we had a “Crucian” connection. He had spent many years working on the island of St. Croix, where the natives are called “Crucians”, and where my family had spent a decade vacationing. The next thing you know, I’m moving with Romeo to St. Croix and getting married. We lived in St. Croix for one year and then St. Thomas, for another year. Before moving to Naples last year, we spent a year on Sanibel Island, and I promise you, I don’t want to move ever again. But you can’t take the travel bug out of this girl. Next summer, my husband is taking me and the kids with him as he teaches cooking classes on a cruise ship traveling around Greece. I can’t wait to cross Greece off of my bucket list.

Are there additional places/countries you have visited that aren’t listed in your bio? Which one is your favorite, and why? (As an aside, I’ve been planning to visit Sanibel Island myself. Are the beaches truly covered in shells or is that completely exaggerated)?

First off, to answer your question, Sanibel Island, where I spent one year, is definitely worth the visit. Yes, there are shells everywhere. Sometimes you’re not sure they are, but then you wade into the water a little and can feel them in the sand. You can collect quite a variety, or even visit the Shell Museum, which is huge and full of shell history and information about the various types found around Sanibel. Sanibel is eighty percent wildlife refuge also, so be sure to visit one of the refuge centers to go hiking and see exotic birds, bob-cats, reptiles, manatee, and even alligators. Or maybe you’ll be lucky, as I often was, and have an alligator or three cross the road in front of you.

As I rambled about earlier, I’ve traveled to a few places, but let me be thorough … I’ve visited Denmark, where my best friend, Sonja, is from, Holland, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, England, Scotland, Mexico, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas, and the U.S.V.I., including St. John. Some of my favorite cities are Bath, London, and Cambridge, in England and Freiburg and Munich in Germany, and Sevilla, Spain, where I had front row seats to a Flamenco show.

Probably, my favorite country I’ve visited so far is Italy. I’ve only been to Milan, Florence, Rome, and Venice, but I’ve traveled back to Italy on three separate occasions. Venice just really stood out in my mind as unforgettable. I loved when I went to mail postcards how water was lapping into the post office. Venice is on water, and the architecture is amazing with canals and bridges connecting the city. It’s like stepping into a painting, which reminds me, one of my favorite things about Europe in general is exploring art museums and seeing classics from history books up close in person. It’s magical.

So, childhood came and went; you graduated from high school and when you decided to further your education, you opted for The University of Evansville. This brings up two questions for me. Firstly, why did you stay in Evansville versus a campus further away from where you grew up? Secondly, why a University versus a College?

Well, I love my family, so to be honest; I wanted to stay close to home. I could visit my parents and grandparents whenever I wanted, meet up with them for Sunday family dinners, and find time to go cruising down the river with them too. Also, the University of Evansville has a tremendous amount of study abroad opportunities, including the British manor and campus they own in England, Harlaxton College, which I mentioned I attended for one semester. So, I actually spent a great deal of time out of the country while earning my college credits and degrees. Another reason I suppose I ended up there was because my grandfather and dad both attended UE before me. My grandpa actually attended UE when it was called Evansville College, before it became a university.

To answer your second question, I never really considered universities versus colleges. I only wanted a program big enough to get my four year bachelor’s degree and one that meant I could keep traveling.

Sarah, I have found that almost every single author has had a love of reading begin at a very early age. Do you remember when and how yours started?

While I can’t recall the exact moment I became obsessed with reading, which I certainly was, I do recall one of the first books that left an impression on me… The Secret of the Mansion, a Trixie Belden mystery by Julie Campbell pulled me in from the start, and I remember feeling as though I were part of the story and wanting to have that feeling again. I remember making the connection while reading it that words strung together in sentences on paper could actually take your imagination to wonderful places, and I wanted to not only keep reading but also write my own stories one day.

Some of my favorite childhood books were A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter, (who was an Indiana author by the way), The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss, Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman, Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

I’m also guessing that somewhere along the way, you discovered the joys of writing. When did that happen?

My mom was always writing short stories in her notebook or on her typewriter, and I remember walking past her typewriter when she wasn’t sitting behind it and feeling this urge to go over and create my own story. Blank sheets of paper had the same effect on me, and I finally attempted my first story on Mom’s typewriter at age seven. I didn’t get very far, being distracted by the adventures to be had outside my door, but I wrote my first poem that year. In my heart, from age seven and on, I always knew that one day, if I had it my way, I’d write my own books. Over the years, I kept travel journals and wrote short stories, and I finally finished my first novel-length story in my late twenties. I’ve been writing ever since.


Moving on to your books, it looks like you have published three, with a fourth currently in the works. Let’s talk about Marrying Missy first. What sparked the idea for this novel? Based on what I’ve read, this looks like a fun read. Did you enjoy writing it? Being that this was your initial book, did you have any issues arise due to lack of experience and/or know how? (And … I just have to share that I chuckled at the name of the publishing company. Love it).

Marrying Missy was the second novel I actually completed although my first to be published. I wanted it to be fun, like chick lit, while at the same time giving people a seriousness that is found in some women’s fiction. It is a story of an unlikely friendship, set in the days leading up to a wedding.

The main character, Tate, and her best friend, Missy, come from different backgrounds, which often lead to disputes between them. The story follows Tate as she struggles with her own marriage and the impossible demands of Missy as the wedding approaches. Some of the themes are marriage, prejudice, racism, loyalty, and materialism, but at the heart of the story, the main point I wanted to leave with readers is that we should think about how we judge people around us.

Missy’s character is an extreme example of how each of us, in our own ways, can be quick to assess strangers based off of appearance alone. Missy doesn’t just hate a certain group of people. She hates everyone who isn’t exactly like her. And as far as inspiration for this story, I suppose I’ve met one too many “Missy” types on my travels, and I have witnessed prejudice in a multitude of settings and countries. I wanted this to be a fun read, but one that might make people take a moment to think about how we treat one another.

I too had to laugh when I first discovered the publisher, Bird Brain Publishing, but felt certain they would have a good sense of humor, which you’d have to have to appreciate this novel. Even though they are a small press, I felt quite impressed with their knowledge and handling of my manuscript from the editing stages to publication. I am so happy they were the ones to publish my first novel.


Your next book out was: Prismatic, which is not only the first book of the Harmony Run Series, but also a YA (young adult) read. Did anything prompt the change from adult to YA? Being that this is part of a series; did you experience any difficulty with the writing, the plot, and/or knowing how/where to end each book?

I think YA is such a popular genre for adults and teens alike, and as an adult I enjoy reading YA from time to time. I wasn’t sure I ever would try writing in this genre, but then one afternoon I dozed off on my loveseat and had this crystal clear dream about the teenagers from the Harmony Run Series. I woke up and literally ran to my kitchen table and opened up my notebook and started filling it with notes about the characters and the plot. I had never been so inspired to create a story. So, I guess I didn’t really a have a choice. I had to write this YA series.

Knowing where to end each book hasn’t really been an issue. I’ve just gone with my instincts, but I have to admit, this has been the most challenging and rewarding story I’ve ever written. Though I want each book to leave the reader satisfied and excited, each book is ultimately part of a puzzle that won’t be complete until the end of book four, which I am currently writing.


Opalescent is the second book of your series, and also your most recently published. The books/series sound quite interesting (even though I’m no longer a young adult) and I’m curious if you have based any of the characters on people in your life? How fun is this series to write? Will you continue writing YA books once the “Harmony Runs Series” is completed, or will you vacillate between the two genres?

The main character is a multiracial girl named Rain and the cast of characters are from varying cultural backgrounds. The main message in this series is that is doesn’t matter what we look like on the outside, we’re all just humans. The story deals head on with racism in a futuristic segregated dystopian society, and it is important to stress that this series is about good overcoming evil and love and hope finding a way.

While none of the characters are based on people specifically, many friends, family, and experience have all helped shape the characters. Unfortunately, I’ve seen and heard a lot of racism around the world, and it has bothered me my entire life. I never understood why anyone would teach their children that one skin color or one religion or one culture was better than another. It was brought to my attention growing up, that my family is a little more diverse than the average family. I have cousins, nieces, and relatives that are Korean, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, African American, Mexican, Multiracial, Taiwanese, and I have German, British, and Welsh ancestry. I’ve witnessed and heard of too many ugly incidents my family and friends, especially multiracial ones, have dealt with, and it makes my heart hurt.

Other inspirations for this story were the Holocaust, apartheid, slavery, post WWII division of Germany, Checkpoint Charlie, and present day concentration camps in North Korea. I grew up learning about history and my travels allowed me to visit certain places like concentration camps and Checkpoint Charlie, which helped mold the world of the “Harmony Run Series.” When my own multiracial children were born, people made comments about my daughters; suggesting they weren’t white or black enough and asking what kind of baby doll they would identity with since they aren’t one specific “race.” The subject was brought up by strangers at the grocery store; even trying to figure out what ethnicity their dad is since something about them was “different” than me…

I guess shortly before I had that dream that I have previously mentioned, I was toying with the idea… What if I wrote a story where multiracial characters could help teach the world about how we treat one another? I know it’s just a fiction series, but I at least wanted to attempt to get the conversation started. It really, truly does not matter whether we are purple, pink, blue or orange… And, I honestly believe that.

This series has been so much fun and very intense to write. I genuinely care about these teens unlike any characters before. I think about them all of the time, and since this series has taken me literally years to write, I’ve thought about them a lot. When I’m finished with the fourth and final book, which I am writing now, I will be sad. No doubt about it. However, I have already started taking notes for another YA fantasy I plan to write. I also still enjoy women’s fiction, and I’ve written one suspense manuscript, yet to be published, so I am keeping myself open to writing in a few genres.

In closing, is there anything else you would like to share with our/your readers? Words of wisdom? Funny happenstance?

Well, I don’t feel as if I’ve reached a point yet where I can dish out ‘words of wisdom’ per se, but … I’ll leave you with one of my favorite inspirational quotes.

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” ~ George Eliot

I just love that. I keep it beside my desk. For me, it gives me a feeling of hope. It’s never too late. Thank you so much for taking time to interview me!

You’re so very welcome Sarah. I truly enjoyed learning more about you and your experiences as well as seeing your concern for others voiced so passionately.


Join her website blog for book updates and enjoy her photo blog, Sarah’s View from the Bottom. Sarah is also on Twitter and Facebook.

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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Book Blitz {Giveaway} The Lost Kingdom by Stephanie Beerden


The Lost Kingdom
The Elements Series #1
By- Stephanie Beerden
Genre- YA Fantasy
Release Date- April 28th, 2014

A Prophecy made long ago, announced the arrival of the new Ladies of Elements.

And now almost a millennia later, it finally came true …

All her life Arima thought she knew who and what she was. That is until the day of her sixteenth birthday came and her world is turned upside down, when she’s told she’s not a White Witch but Lady Spirit. And that she is the one that has been foretold, will unite the Five Ladies of Elements once again and save Ilendia and the Other Lands from Ahriman, the Demon King.

At first Arima refuses to accept her new fate, but when Shanums come and destroy her village and kill her loved ones, she has no choice but to flee and fall right into the destiny she never wanted.

As she grudgingly starts her journey into the unknown, she is accompanied by her unicorn familiar Sirrim, Blythe, a Vampire with a dark past and Myrddin, a mysterious Ljosalfar.

And the longer her journey lasts, the more Arima begins to realise that she can’t escape her own destiny and she must learn to control her powers and learn to be a Lady for the sake of the Sisters she doesn’t know and the people of Ilendia and the Other Lands.

However, things get more complicated when Arima comes into the possession of a key. Her instincts compel her to go towards danger when she discovers that the key she holds, can unlock the legendary kingdom of Eléssima, the home of the Ladies of Elements.

She will have to make the choice to follow her instincts …

…or stay on the path that has been laid out for her.

  
   


About the Author-
Stephanie Beerden was born on Friday the 13th (no joke, she really was) in a small city called Genk and has always been fascinated with the occult, magic and books.

Her childhood and teen years were filled with reading lots and lots of books and imagining what life would be like as a vampire.

Until one day she decided that she wanted to try her hand at writing her own books and that was the beginning of her writing adventure.

Her first book is a YA Fantasy called De Elementen – Het Verloren Koninkrijk and after many, many trials and tribulations, one small Dutch publisher decided “Hey, let’s give this girl a shot”. Her second book De Elementen – Archandir was published in July 2013 and in April 2014, she indie-published The Lost Kingdom (The Elements Series #1), the English edition of her book.

Stephanie hopes to keep writing for as long as she can and already has several writing projects in the works for the future.