Wednesday 31 July 2013

GUEST POST: The Hero's Lot by Patrick W Carr - BLOG TOUR


Today I have a guest post from Mr Carr about heroes, check out The Hero's Lot and a giveaway at the bottom.

Title: The Hero's Lot
Series: The Staff and the Sword #2
Author: Patrick W Carr
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: 15th July 2013
Genre: Fantasy


When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne.

In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol’s home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.




Guest Post

Heroes and Anti-heroes:

What makes a great hero?
I believe it’s mostly us. I don’t mean to imply that we are all heroes in the classic sense, far from it, but in the privacy of our comfy, over-stuffed reading chair we soar. The writers who paint their characters most deftly find a way to color their characters with a little bit of our personality. In the pages of their prose, we recognize ourselves, our own struggles and desires, the weaknesses and flaws that we are forced to call our own if we are being honest. By pirating a bit of his reader and blending our DNA with that of his protagonist, the author pulls us deeper into their story. Nowhere is this practice more readily apparent than in the Fantasy Novel.

Yes, I capitalized it.

After the author has built a world that is strange and unfamiliar to us, he must then populate it with people we recognize, but the one we must adopt as ourselves, in some measure, must be the hero, or even the antihero. And so many have done it so well. Consider Frodo Baggins. A hobbit, the least of the peoples, tasked with the impossible: to destroy the one ring of power. How many times have I felt the tasks of life were too much for me? More times than I can count. We not only identify with Frodo’s despair, we identify with his circumstances. He can’t quit. Well, in the journey through life, neither can we. Until the moment we shake off this earth-suit, we have no choice but to continue on the quest, despite everything the enemy (or enemies) throw against. If I can be so bold as to offer an interpretation, I think this might be one of the meanings behind Paul saying “present yourselves as a living sacrifice.” Simply put, it means you force yourself out of bed each day and crawl up on that altar, doing whatever it is your supposed to do. Sometimes it’s joyful, but a lot of times, it’s just hard.

How about another more extreme example: Elwin Ransom in C. S. Lewis’s book “Perelandra.” Who in their right mind would want to be the one to journey to a different planet and have the fate of its souls rest on them? Yet this is exactly the plot Lewis creates and the hero, an ordinary man who studies the origins of words for a living, must confront Satan himself to keep Venus from becoming another, more horrific version, of fallen earth. Ransom’s internal monologues teem with the fears and mental tricks of an ordinary man confronted by inescapable necessity. How many times have I tried to rationalize away a decision because I was afraid or embarrassed or untrusting? More times than I can count. And this is exactly the connection with us that Lewis explores through his protagonist in excruciating fashion. It is fiction at its best, a light that not only illumines its hero, but us as well.

The list of heroes I identify with could fill a book all its own: Frodo, Bilbo, Belgarion, Pug, Errol Stone, Elwin Ransom, The Pevensie’s. The list goes on and on, but they all share something in common; deep down they are all basically good. Scarier by far is when we identify with the anti-hero, when the author reaches into the dark places inside us through his prose and says, “this is you as well.” The list abounds here as well: Harry Dresden, Phillip Marlowe, and Thomas Covenant.

What do they have in common: They refuse to be “good.” They are driven, almost unwillingly, to fight for the right cause, but they do it on their own terms. Perhaps the best of these is Stephen R. Donaldson’s anti-hero, Thomas Covenant. He is aptly named. His first name is taken from the apostle who doubted while his last name implies an agreement made with God. [SPOILER ALERT] But Covenant is a leper and when he is transported to another world, there to save or doom it, his first act is to rape a 16 year-old girl. For over a thousand pages afterward we inhabit the mind of a man filled with self-loathing so deep not even the redemption of the land can purge it. In the 70’s this series sold over 6 million copies. Why? Because through Covenant, Donaldson takes us through an incredibly deep examination of something we all have in common: The struggle to forgive ourselves.

Of course, a lot of this is in the eye of the beholder. I was surprised to read a review for “A Cast of Stones” in which my protagonist was described as an anti-hero. I’d never thought of him that way. To me, Errol was the quintessential fantasy hero: born and living in humble circumstances, he must find a way to survive and save those around him. Yet when I considered his starting point, drunk and literally sprawled in mud and filth, I conceded the interpretation. That’s the wonderful thing about stories: They meet us halfway. Our past and our emotions give life to the words on the page and the story is ours and ours alone because the heroes…

…are us.

What about you? Who are your favorite heroes and antiheroes? Drop me a line sometime. I’d like to know what you think. Patrick@patrickwcarr.com

A Cast of Stones (The Staff and the Sword #1) by Patrick W Carr

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.




About the Author

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.



Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 8/14/13

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Tuesday 30 July 2013

BOOK BLITZ: You Are Mine by Janeal Falor


Today I am helping with the blitz for this fantastic book, You Are Mine by Janeal Falor. Check out the book below and a giveaway at the bottom.


You Are Mine (Mine #1) by Janeal Falor
Released: 6th May 2013
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.



PLEASE NOTE: You Are Mine is currently on sale for only $0.99

Excerpt

“May I kiss you now?”

No. Kisses leave me feeling sick. “I suppose it would be for the best.”

He leans closer. I want to pull away. Thomas's kisses were callous. Painful even. The thought of more of that makes me feel queasy. But giving my permission somehow makes it harder to pull away.

His hand reaches up and brushes my face. Flecks of gold are mixed with the green of his eyes. Suddenly, he scoops me into his arms and plops me on his lap. I yelp.

“Sorry, I guess I should have warned you first.”

After straightening my skirt with quivering fingers, I hold myself stiff. His nose nuzzles against the side of my neck. Warm lips brush my jaw and sweep along my cheek until they reach the corner of my mouth. My breath comes in shallow gasps. He smells lightly of citrus.

I don't move. His fingers tangle in my hair. His lips hover over mine. A nervous flutter grows in my chest. The creak of the door opening spurs him into action.

His lips touch mine. Flowing and sunny. They grow firmer. It feels so much better than I thought it could. His fingers run through my hair, the tendrils falling out of their confinement. Heat grows between us. He pulls me closer to him. Not only do I manage to refrain from fighting him, but I want to draw even closer.


Praise for You Are Mine:

“I was blown away by the beautiful writing, haunting themes, and chilling visuals.” ~Becca at Nawanda Files

“There were times when I had to fight back my tears and the emotion that this book drew from me made me feel so connected to what was going on as if I was actually there. You Are Mine should be on everyones to-read list and I cannot wait to see what Janeal Falor comes up with next.” ~Danielle at Coffee and Characters


About the Author

Janeal Falor lives in Utah where she’s finally managed to live in the same house for more than five years without moving. In her spare time she reads books like they’re nuts covered in caramel and chocolate, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and enjoys the outdoors. Her husband and three children try to keep up with her overactive imagination. Usually they settle for having dinner on the table, even if she’s still going on about the voices in her head.



Giveaway


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Monday 29 July 2013

BOOK BLITZ: Now or Never by A.J. Bennett


Today I am helping with a blitz for Now or Never by A. J. Bennett, check out this new adult contemporary below and a giveaway at the bottom.


Now or Never by A.J. Bennett

Release Date: 19th June 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Twenty-one year old Grayson Alexander finally breaks away from an abusive relationship and finds herself free for the first time in three years.

Determined to enjoy her new-found freedom, Grayson is intent on sticking with ‘no strings attached’ relationships—one-night stands, and steamy sex.

But she didn’t plan on Derrick.

Her attraction to the sexy man in uniform quickly turns into an unhealthy relationship. They both try to resist the pull, but neither can stay away.

When tragedy strikes, Grayson realizes it’s now or never—walk away or make it work.


Excerpt

Grayson’s stomach flipped when the dark-haired man pulled up a stool beside her. She had no idea what her sister had said to the blond, who in turn had brought this sexy stranger to her side. Thankfully, the bar was dimly lit so he couldn’t see how red her face was.

He leaned towards her resting his forearms on the table holding her gaze steadily. “What’s your name?”

Grayson froze, she didn’t want to give her real name. She looked around for inspiration, and then glanced down at the amber and carnelian bracelet around her wrist. “Amber.”

“Amber.” He rolled the word around as if he was tasting it. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Todd.”

Grayson raised the glass to her lips finishing her drink, and then pushed it to the side to pick up the next. She wasn’t sure why she’d lied about her name, but it was too late now anyway. Maybe if she pretended like she was someone else, she could actually go through with the madness?


About the Author

A.J. Bennett lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and bulldog. She’s addicted to coffee, popcorn and books. Becoming an author has been a lifelong dream, and she’s extremely excited about her debut novel Now or Never.

Website ~ Goodreads ~ ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Giveaway

One (1) eBook copy of Now or Never by A.J. Bennett
Open Internationally
Ends Midnight 5th August 2013

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Sunday 28 July 2013

BOOK BLITZ: Spirit by Shauna Granger


Today I share with you the latest book in the Elemental series by Shauna Granger, Spirit. Check out the series and a giveaway at the bottom.

Title: Spirit
Series: Elementals #5
Author: Shauna Granger
Release Date: 30th April 2013
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Summary from Goodreads: Not even a guardian angel is more powerful than Death.

Always careful to watch out for others, Shayna put too much trust her abilities to keep herself safe and has been cut down by crazed man. Now she is trapped in the land of the dead, watching as her two best friends suffer the consequences of her death; their powers are fading and soon they will too. Shayna is desperate to return to the land of the living to save them from a similar, cold fate. To save her friends Shayna must turn away from the Light and, in doing so, sacrifice her wings.

But the longer Shayna stays among the dead, the further she slips from sanity. If Shayna cannot find her way back she will be condemned and lost forever among the restless souls of the dead. With nothing left to lose, she will do whatever it takes to fight her way back, with or without her wings.


Excerpt

In the distance, I heard something echoing my screams. I had a moment of panic and looked right and left, but the monstrous cries stopped. I held my breath to listen, not even daring to move. In the sudden quiet, the snuffling breath and breaking twigs behind me sounded like gunfire.

I was no longer alone.

My mouth was dry, and my hands were suddenly shaking. I dared not breathe for fear of giving myself away before I knew what the noisy thing was. Whatever it was, it was too close to be whatever had roared in the distance. Great, two things to worry about. Slowly, I inched around the tree, bracing myself with one hand, to try to see what was creeping up on me. I kept my face pressed against the smooth trunk, trying to keep myself as small as possible. Dead leaves crunched and twigs snapped as the thing made its way through the dark forest. It finally came around another group of trees, and by the weak moonlight, I made it out.

For one heart stopping moment, I thought it was the Hell Hound Ian had set on me so long ago, but this thing had thick, coarse fur, so white it nearly glowed. Its paws were as big as both my hands put together, shoulders as high as mine, and its tail swished back and forth, back and forth as it snuffled against the ground, looking for a scent to follow. I might’ve thought it was beautiful until he picked up his head and swung his face in my direction. It reminded me of a snow leopard after a bloody battle.

His black lips stretched wide over a mouth full of razor-like teeth, each one as long as my finger, and saliva foamed and dripped from the corners of his mouth. His eyes were black and beady, nearly lost in the ruff of fur around his squashed nose. His ears were flattened against his head as he galumphed through the trees, snuffling the ground. He got ever closer to me, and I knew my chances of escaping dwindled as I stood frozen in place. I chewed the inside of my cheek, trying to think of what to do. Yes, I could run, sure, but to where? The trees seemed to go on and on, and I had no idea where I was. I would’ve climbed a tree, but all of the branches were too high for me to reach, and the trunks were smooth in the winter hibernation.

Laying the flat of my hand against the tree, I tried to make contact with it, asking it to open up and take me in, to hide me from the monster. But the tree remained quiet and firm against my hand. I had hoped the pain returning meant I had some of my powers back, but if I couldn’t get a tree to hear me, then I definitely had no Earth powers here. I cursed silently before edging to stand up, keeping my body pressed tightly against the tree.

Risking another glance around the trunk, I saw the creature turn left, away from me, sniffling and snuffling as it went like a pig looking for truffles. Just as I was about to turn and sneak away, my foot slipped on some loose dirt, and the toe of my boot scraped against a root. In the quiet, it sounded absurdly loud, but not so loud as the beast’s surprised snort. Its ears shot straight up and turned toward the sound, toward me.

Our eyes met, mine round and unblinking, its narrowed and angry. It craned its head back, its neck lengthening as it did, and howled so long and loud that I cringed away. Before it dropped its head, I spun on the spot and ran.

Other books in the series:


   

About the Author


Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, but it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago, Shauna started work on her Elemental Series. She released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011 and has since released four sequels, with the series coming to an end with Spirit. She is currently hard at work on a new Urban Fantasy series, staring a spunky witch with a smush-faced cat named Artemis.



Giveaway

1 – Signed Paperback of winner’s choice of books 1-5 in the Elemental series. (US only)
1 – e-book of winner’s choice of books 1-5 in the Elemental series. (INT)

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Saturday 27 July 2013

BOOK BLITZ: Summer Love by Marysue G. Hobika


Today I am participating in the blitz for Summer Love, have a look at the great cover! Check out the book below and two giveaways at the bottom.

Title: Summer Love
Series: Senior Year #1
Author: Marysue G. Hobika
Publisher: Onehiplitchick
Release Date: June 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Carly and her best friend Becca are ready to drop a nuclear bomb on summer. It’s the last one before reality sets in and they’re off on their own. Carly is ready to break the mold and stop being known as a goody-two-shoes. In order to get the ball rolling, she agrees to a double date with Gavin – her good-looking, yet moody, lab partner.

Gavin doesn’t have summer plans except to work at his two jobs and hang out in his room drawing. He likes to keep to himself, but lets his brother Nate talk him into going on a double date. Carly isn’t like the rest of the girls at school that drive him crazy. She doesn’t ask a lot of questions and seems to know when to give him the space he craves. Gavin always thought that she was beautiful, but he believes that relationships and love are a lost cause.

Will their date prove that summer love is right around the corner or will it be a dead end?

This book is intended for audiences 17+


Excerpt

The band played and I held my breath, waiting to hear Carly’s voice. I thought maybe she’d lost her nerve. I was ready to rush in and rescue her, even if she didn’t want me to, when, like magic, she began to sing. The notes that came out of her mouth were full and sensuous, changing the band’s sound completely. It was harmonious, free flowing, and full.

I’d heard the band last summer, and even though they were good, something had always been missing. That something was Carly. Her voice fit and molded perfectly with Nate’s, and I felt another tinge of jealousy. Their sound filtered through the cracks and walls of the garage and into the night air. For a second, I forgot how to breathe. I found myself slinking back into the garage as the song came to an end. I felt empty and lost when she hit the last note, and every cell in my body craved more. I’d been wrong. So very wrong.

Everyone in the garage was silent, as if the music had cast a spell on them. All of a sudden, led by Ed, claps and cheers echoed. Carly looked elated until her gaze landed on me. I read in her eyes that she thought I was a jerk for not believing in her, and I couldn’t blame her. I was a jerk.

“Damn!” shouted Ed. “That gave me goose bumps.” He hugged himself, rubbing his hands over his arms.

“I told you Carly could sing,” Becca said, directing her words toward Nate.

Giveaway

Blog Giveaway

One (1) eBook copy of Summer Love by Marysue G. Hobika
Open Internationally
Ends midnight 3rd August 2013

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Blitz Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card
Open Internationally

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Friday 26 July 2013

BOOK BLITZ: Bittersweet Junction by Ivy Sinclair


Today I am participating in the book blitz tour for a new adult romance, love this cover. Check out the book below and a giveaway for 2 winners at the bottom.

Title: Bittersweet Junction
Series: N/A
Author: Ivy Sinclair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: 10th July 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance


Best friends once, lovers never, yet an attraction that can’t be ignored.

Five years ago, Julia Bell walked away from her life the moment her high school diploma was in her hand. She left her family and friends behind to start over and escape the chokehold of small town life in Benton Hill. But an urgent call from her little sister brings Julia back to her hometown wholly unprepared for what awaits her.

Ben Miller was always the nice guy. Just before high school graduation, he stepped out of that role hoping to capture the heart of the woman he loved. Instead, in quick succession he lost the girl, and the future he worked so hard to achieve.

Even though Julia and Ben are drawn to each other, echoes of the past block them at every turn. Secrets are exposed, and reality needs to be dealt with if they can ever hope to move past the bittersweet junction that ripped them apart.



Interview


  • Regular or decaf? Regular, fully loaded. Coffee is my friend. :)
  • Swimming in the ocean or a pool? I’m not a swimmer at all, but I do enjoy splashing in the ocean.
  • Candles or spray air fresheners? I always have a candle burning in my office when I write.
  • Do you have a green thumb for plants? No. The only success I’ve had with plants are ones that can grow and thrive despite the fact that I forget they’re there and don’t water them for two weeks.
  • Do you like feather pillow or foam? I have a foam pillow right now. Pillows are tricky- a bad one has such an impact on getting a good night’s sleep.
  • What do you collect? Trinkets? Books? Gadgets? I am a gadget girl. I am definitely an early adopter when it comes to technology.
  • Coke or Pepsi? I can go either way on the regular stuff, but I definitely prefer diet Coke over diet Pepsi.
  • Tell us about the first story you ever wrote and how old you were. I was twelve the first time I remember trying my hand at fiction. The story was about two sisters who were trapped in their house as it was shifting in time between the present, and a disturbing event in the past. Of course, some ghosts came to visit as well.
  • Do you prefer to live in a big city or in the country? I live in a suburb of Minneapolis. I feel like that’s a nice balance. I have access to all the city has to offer, but live in a neighborhood with wetlands and lots of greenery.
  • Who is your favorite actor? Robert Downey Jr. or Ryan Reynolds. I can’t choose between them.
  • What is your favorite movie? We own more than 500 movies- we’re big movie buffs so it’s hard to pick just one. Gone with the Wind has inspired a lot of trends in my writing though.
  • Do you play an instrument? If so what? I’ve played the flute and the French horn in my time. I wasn’t very good at either one.
  • Besides writing what other artistic talents, do you have? I’m a singer from way back. In school I was in choir, show choir, and always participated in the school musicals. Now I settle for karaoke nights at one of our local dive bars.
  • What was your first job? I started delivering newspapers when I was fourteen. I did some babysitting as well.
  • Have you ever gone to work wearing house shoes? Only when I’m working from home. :)



About the Author

Ivy Sinclair cut her romance teeth on classics like Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, and Sabrina. She is a firm believer in true love, a happily ever after ending, and the medicinal use of chocolate to cure any ailment of the heart. Ivy’s guilty pleasures include sushi, endless Starbucks lattes, and wine. Readers of Ivy’s stories can expect smoldering sweet stories of romance that tug at the heartstrings.




Giveaway

Two (2) winners will receive an eBook copy of Bittersweet Junction by Ivy Sinclair
Open Internationally
Ends midnight 3rd August 2013

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Thursday 25 July 2013

COVER REVEAL: Dream Girl by S.J. Lomas


Blurb:

For Christine, dreams have never meant much. Until she meets Gabriel. Everyone thinks Christine should stay away from her new coworker at the library—thanks to his bad reputation—but when her dreams grow more vivid and she becomes entangled in a dangerous dream world with Gabriel every night, she can’t stay away. Soon it’s clear there is far more to dreams than Christine ever imagined, and now she’s on the path to making the biggest, and strangest, decision of her life. 


Look for it in November 2013 from Scribe Publishing.

"An intriguing debut, DREAM GIRL introduces a world where simply falling asleep can bring you anywhere – including into danger. Readers will never think of dreams the same way again!" - Laura Ellen, author of BLIND SPOT


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