Sunday, April 26, 2015

Cover Reveal - Beyond the Sea by Emily Goodwin

 
 
 
Release Date: April 28th 2015
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
 
Here's the Summary:
 
Stay away from the surface. Remain hidden at all times. Never fall in love with a human…but rules are meant to be broken.
After the brutal murder of her sister, Melia is forced to flee from the only place she’s ever called home, the Pacific Ocean, leaving her life as a merrow behind and pretending to be human.
Peter Anderson is just trying to get through college when Melia walks into his life. He knows there is something different about her, and it’s not just that she lives alone in a mansion overlooking the ocean, spending all her time with Jamie Forester, the only goth girl in the sunny town of San Morado.
Worlds collide when Melia must make a life or death decision, and risk being seen in order to save Peter from drowning. Knowing that falling in love with a human is forbidden, Melia resists her attraction to Peter, but soon she finds herself in love with him…and in danger.
Melia knows love might not be enough to protect them from the dangers that lurk in the deep waters she once called home.
They say love knows no boundaries, but can it survive the darkest depths of the ocean?

 
About the Author:
 
 
 
Emily Goodwin is the author of the award winning Contagium Series published by Permuted Press as well as many independently published novels, including the internationally bestselling novel, STAY. Emily writes in a wide variety of genres, from horror to romance. She holds multiple degrees in psychology and nursing and has worked in mental health and general healthcare. Emily resides in Indiana with her husband, daughter, and German Shepherd named Vader. Along with writing, Emily enjoys riding her horse, designing and making costumes, and Cosplay.
 
 
Connect with Her:
 


Saturday, April 18, 2015

Book Blitz and Giveaway - The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen

Happy Saturday, Angels!!! I have a brand new Young Adult, Science-Fiction novel to introduce by Laura Liddell Nolen, and you guys know how I love my Young Adult Sci-Fi's ;) Check out the summary and purchase links below, and don't forget to enter the giveaway for an e-copy of the book!

Love to all
xoxo


  
 
Release Date: March 26th 2015
Genre: Science-Fiction, Young Adult
  
Where to buy:
 
 
 
Here's the Summary:
 
There’s a meteor headed for Earth, and there is only one way to survive.

With her criminal record, sixteen-year-old Char is never going to get a place on an Ark, one of the five massive bioships designed to protect Earth’s survivors. The Arks are reserved for the real goody-goodies, like Char’s mom, dad, and brother, all of whom have long since turned their backs on her.

With Earth on the brink of destruction, Char must use all her tricks of the trade to swindle her way into outer space, where she hopes to reunite with her family, regardless of whether they want to see her or not.

Once she arrives on the North American Ark, Char discovers that the remnants of humanity haven’t achieved the egalitarian utopia they’d planned for. For starters, the “Officers of the Peace” are anything but peaceful, especially since stealing a spot on an Ark is a crime punishable by death…
 
 
The Giveaway!!!
  
 
 
About the Author:
 
  
Laura grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she spent an excellent childhood playing make-believe with her two younger brothers. The Ark is the direct result of those stories and a lifelong devotion to space-themed television. It received a Work in Progress Grant from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Laura has a degree in French and a license to practice law, but both are frozen in carbonite at present. She lives in Texas with her family.
 
 
Connect with her:
 

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Author's Corner - Polishing Your Manuscript, Post One: Get a Beta Reader



Morning, Angels! I've decided to start a new series of posts about one of the most grueling, sanity trying, beautiful, wonderful things in my life - being a self-pulished indie author. lol I won't be using this as an opportunity to rant about my woes, or brag about successes, because let's face it, while it would probably make me feel better, it's not very productive. Besides, that's what my friends' ears are for. :) What I WILL be focusing on is what I've learned after publishing six novels (with many more in the works), thus helping my fellow indies out (hopefully).

The idea of beginning this new series of posts came to me because I've started accepting novels for review, and as I've waded through them, I see so many things I wish I had the time to help other authors with, but don't, unfortunately. Everything from cover designs to summaries to author bios to prose and even email etiquette. So instead of trying to help each of them one on one, I figured weekly posts (that you can subscribe to on the right side of my page) would be more realistic for me, and I'll leave these posts up on my website indefinitely. I want to say, though, that while I know (believe me, I know) I'm not the authority on such things, or even an expert, having been through the process many times already, I have a pretty good sense of what works, what doesn't, and where your oh-so-precious money is best spent.

Long story short, I like helping others, especially budding indies. I also know how daunting it is to have so many decisions ahead of you, down to the title of your book and how in the world you're going to get your work in front of readers in a saturated market. It's scary. It's exciting, and most of all, it's AMAZING that you're willing to bear your heart and soul and are brave enough to try and do it all on your own. *stands and claps*

That being said, a couple times a month I'll post helpful tips about each stage of the self-publishing journey, and hopefully you'll take something away from each of them that will help your work shine a little brighter.

Today's nugget of semi-wisdom?

Polishing your manuscript.

Let me start by saying, please, PLEASE, my self-pubbing little angels, if you get anything right, please let it be the quality of your manuscript. Please! I can't tell you how many MS's I've passed over for review simply because of typos or a lackluster beginning. Because, after all, you could have a killer cover and a dynamite summary, but when a reader goes to sample your writing and it's just eh, chances are, they'll pass. And when potential readers pass, that's no bueno.

That brings me to the first subject I'd like to cover when polishing your MS: GET YOURSELF A BETA READER. Or two or three or five.

So you've finished your story. Check. Read and reread a dozen times. Check. Put the manuscript away for while, then read and reread a dozen times more. Check check. So you MUST be ready to hit the "publish" button on Amazon and Smashwords, right?

WRONG!

You might think you're done with your MS, but there's oh so much work left to do. Writing a book is one thing, having it fit for public consumption is quite another.

But... but I've waited so long already and I just want to get it out there for others to read!!!

Patience, my lovelies. The extra effort will pay off. How do I know this? Because I released a book too soon, started soliciting for reviews, and guess what? Reviewers kept dinging me for things a beta reader and an editor would have caught. So much so, that it started showing up as a "similar comment" on Amazon. Yeesh. That hindsight can be a b*tch, can't she? lol So lesson learned. Learn from me - get you some beta readers. They'll catch your inconsistencies. Tell you where they started nodding off. Let you know if your beginning needs more work or if your ending didn't satisfy. Anything you need feedback on, really. I wouldn't rely on them for grammar and punctuation errors (I'll cover finding an editor in another post), but sometimes they'll point out glaring ones if they feel so inclined.

So where can you find one of these lovely beta readers, you ask? A couple places.

Friends and family. Two of my friends beta read for me, but they already like to read and have no problem telling me the truth (important qualities in a beta reader, obviously). So make sure if you approach someone you know with the request to read and critique your work, make it clear you want them to be honest and point out things they like and didn't like. You're not looking for someone to tell you it's the most amazing thing they've ever read and that it's absolutely perfect. Though we all secretly want to hear that, it's not helpful.

Strangers. No, I'm not suggesting you run around your local Barnes and Noble and shove your MS in people's faces until one of them agrees to give you feedback. I have no intention of getting any of you arrested. lol What I am suggesting is that you consider finding a writing group where you live, though I'm too dang busy to even consider it  myself at the moment, but I know several writers who have and swear by them.

On the internet. Beta reading groups on Goodreads is another fantastic place. I found a fellow writer on there and we critique each other's work. Finding her has been priceless for my writing!!!  I've heard World Literary Cafe is a good place to go, as well, though I've never tried looking there myself.

In conclusion, whether you ask friends, family, find someone on the internet or in a writing group to critique your work, just make sure you find a handful of people to give you feedback. Two at the very least. And when you do, make sure you let them know what feedback you're looking for; and again, make sure they know you're looking for absolute honesty. How else will your work get any better?

On the flip side, while their opinions are helpful, please remember that YOU have the ultimate say on what changes with your manuscript. I've also seen writers get overwhelmed with all the feedback and don't know what to do. I'll tell you what I told them: always trust your gut. If you feel like the suggested changes better your work, then do it. If you don't, it's okay to silently disagree and keep something as is. What you're ultimately looking for with a beta reader is a different perspective; sometimes you'll agree, sometimes you won't. And all of that is okay.

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Is your manuscript where you want it? What about your promotional materials? They're important too! Find me on Fiverr to help with anything from proofreading to formatting your eBook for publication.
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Did you find this post helpful? Share it with friends and fellow authors by clicking on one of the social media buttons below (hit the "share" button first if you're viewing this via mobile). And don't forget to comment if you have something to add or want to share your experiences on this topic!!! I'd love to hear from you. 

xoxo

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Book Review - Sleepless by Michael Omer


Release Date: January 10th, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Thriller
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Where to Buy:

Here's the Summary:

Don’t fall asleep. Don’t dream. Don’t get caught.

At the beginning of her freshman year of high school, Amy can think of nothing worse than moving to the boring, suburban town of Narrowdale. And that's before she starts having the same nightmare over and over again, waking up every night to a creepy whistle outside her window and being haunted by a mysterious, menacing presence. Getting used to the new school becomes the least of her problems.

As she delves deeper to uncover the truth, she unknowingly edges closer to mortal danger. Terrible events that took place years ago threaten to happen again, but now Amy’s life is on the balance. Unfortunately, the one guy who is supposed to protect her, nineteen year old Peter, doesn't believe her.

Some things seem to happen only in Narrowdale, where dark secrets hide beneath the surface...

As she confronts the mysteries of Narrowdale, Amy documents her experiences in her blog. The book contains live links to this blog.

My Review:

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.


The Good:

Straightforward writing, no dragging plotlines or stilted dialogue. I like that the main character Amy was relatable and believable as a teenage girl who'd moved to an unfamiliar town. And not just any town; Narrowdale, where anything weird and creepy can happen. And, boy... does it ever. Amy starts having dreams of being abducted by some creepy, whistling guy during the night, only to find out her dreams are tied to real life events that happened years ago. I won't say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that one of the best/ creepiest scenes is when Amy and her friends talk to a woman they believe is tied to said events and invites them in for a talk. What they find out about her later sufficiently disturbed me. lol The mark of great writing!!!

And speaking Amy and her storyline being relatable (minus the creepy happenings, of course lol), I LOVED that the book didn't follow the usual trend in Young Adult novels these days. Almost EVERY YA book I pick up has the protagonist moving to a new school/ town and they are automatically fawned over by all the popular kids and accepted into their circles without a hitch. (Dang you, Twilight! It's all your fault!!!) I'm a touch guilty of that myself in my own novels *sheepish grin* but it was refreshing to see the new girl struggling to fit in and then, well... not giving a crap when she realized she didn't. Kudos to Mr. Omer, because we all know that's more realistic.

Also, I liked that Mr. Omer didn't have romance at the forefront of the story. Sure, Amy was attracted to the security guard guy, and sure, you could tell he was attracted to her (and protective), but they didn't obsess over it twenty-four hours a day. Refreshing!!! Don't get me wrong, I love me some romance. Heck... it's in all of my own novels. But sometimes it's a nice change of pace to read a novel where the conflicts in the story supersede teenage hormones.

Lastly, I liked that most of the questions in the story were answered, but the author left some of them unanswered to keep you looking forward to the next book. Like why did Amy have the dreams in the first place? And why is her neighbor and his dog so creepy? And why is there a need for the security guards at night? And why is the one she has a crush on so evasive when she asks him about it? I'll happily pick up book two to find out when it's ready!


The Bad:

At times I felt we needed more descriptions about what the characters look like. I'm still not all that certain what Amy looks like other than what she wore or her hair color. I like a little more development. I also don't know much about her. I know she's new to Narrowdale and that she's a typical teenager brimming with curiosity and stubbornness. But who she is as a person, what's shaped her into who she is now, I don't have much of an idea. Maybe her character development will strengthen in future books.


The Ugly:

Nothing to say in this category.



About the Author:


Michael Omer is a writer, journalist and game designer. He wrote and published his first novel when he was sixteen, and figured he’d keep at it, why not. Since then, he has published two more novels. He is happily married to a woman who keeps pushing him to write more, and has three kids who insist he should stop writing and come play with them. He also has two dogs. Let’s not mention the fish. He should really do something about the fish.



Connect with Him:

WEBSITE

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Taking a Break for Vacation this Week!!!

Happy Easter, Angels!!! Tomorrow we'll be headed out of town so no more Spectacle Web Series posts or book reviews until I return. But don't worry, I'll be posting first thing next Monday the 13th, so you'll find out then why Mira passed out!!! Also, here are some reviews to look forward to:

Sleepless by Michael Omer
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Until then, I leave you with a song that inspired a scene in the Spectacle Web Series, but don't try reading into it too much. I'm mostly posting because it's about Mary, Jesus' mother, and her loss the day He was crucified. The song is for all mothers who've lost a son.

With love xoxo

Mary by Patty Griffin


Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Cover Reveal - House of Royals by Keary Taylor




Release Date: June 21st 2015
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult


Here's the Summary:

Every town has its history and skeletons, but Silent Bend, Mississippi’s are darker than most. Ruled from the shadows by the House—the immortal Born and their aging, enslaved Bitten—everyone knows not to go out after dark and that the police will never look into crimes involving blood.

Alivia Ryan didn’t know the man who claims to be her father through a will even existed until she inherits the Conrath plantation. Instead of the sleepy house she expects, she finds a mansion and a staff who look at her with fear in their eyes.

Ian Ward tried to kill Alivia the first time they meet, and then insisted he train her to defend herself against the House, who he claims will try to manipulate and take her in for their own political reasons. And the growing attraction between them will threaten their lives—Ian is a sworn enemy of the House.

In Silent Bend, people disappear, the threat of a demented King and the legend of his resurrecting Queen hang over everyone’s heads, and proving loyalty means far more than blood. You’d better watch who you trust in this town…


About the Author:



Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of THE EDEN TRILOGY, the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY. To learn more about Keary and her writing process, please visit www.KearyTaylor.com.
 
 
Connect with Her: