The Places You Don’t Want To Go: A guest post by author Kourtney Heintz

Before I get started, I just want to thank Kayla for letting me write a guest post on her blog! *Big Wave*

Writing about a world where out-of-control telepathy existed sounded so cool; but writing from the point of view of an out-of-control telepath named Kai didn’t.

I had no idea how to get inside her mind and not get lost there. So I stayed on the periphery telling everything from the perspective of my other protagonist, her husband, Oliver.

It was easier to learn about her powers from him. To understand her through his eyes.

So I let Oliver be the point-of-view character for most of The Six Train to Wisconsin. As her abilities came under control, I reached a point where the story required her to be the narrator. Only then did I plunge into Kai’s point of view. And it was thrilling. Her powers affected her perception and her thought patterns. Her abilities intertwined with her so deeply and enriched her character so much.

I fell deeply in love with her character and realized I was doing a huge disservice to Kai. By refusing to go into her point of view in the beginning, my readers missed out on a key element of who she was. Or at least who she could be in her worst moments. The telling moments.

After I finished my third round of revisions, I knew Kai so well, I felt nearly certain I was up to the task of capturing her at her worst and still telling the story. I struggled with how much of her powers would eclipse a scene and how to not have the powers front and center all the time.

This wasn’t simply a story about telepathy. This was a story about a woman whose out-of-control ability threatened her life and a husband whose secret threatened their future. So I had to pick and chose the moments where her ability took center stage and the moments that it had to be a background player to the emotions or the plot.

There were times I had to go back and add more details about her abilities and other places I had to scale back. Sometimes I got so into how the powers worked I’d lose myself in them. It’s a dangerous path for a writer. Just because you’re enamored with the mechanisms of your world building doesn’t mean anyone else is.

One of the hardest things was figuring out ways to limit her abilities. I played with the idea of shield. The telepathy could reside in the background when she formed a psychic shield. Others could block her out with their shields. I didn’t want her powers to remove the opportunity for confusion and misunderstandings. In fact, I wanted them to exacerbate them.

In the end, the character that was the hardest to write became my favorite one. She challenged me and made me a better a writer. And I am so grateful that I stepped outside my comfort zone and into hers.

Author Bio:

Kourtney Heintz writes emotionally evocative speculative fiction that captures the deepest truths of being human. For her characters, love is a journey never a destination.

She resides in Connecticut with her warrior lapdog, Emerson, her supportive parents and three quirky golden retrievers. Years of working on Wall Street provided the perfect backdrop for her imagination to run amuck at night, imagining a world where out-of-control telepathy and buried secrets collide.

Her debut speculative fiction novel, The Six Train to Wisconsin, was a 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semifinalist.

The Six Train to Wisconsin Back Cover:

Sometimes saving the person you love can cost you everything.

There is one person that ties Oliver Richter to this world: his wife Kai. For Kai, Oliver is the keeper of her secrets.

When her telepathy spirals out of control and inundates her mind with the thoughts and emotions of everyone within a half-mile radius, the life they built together in Manhattan is threatened.

To save her, Oliver brings her to the hometown he abandoned—Butternut, Wisconsin—where the secrets of his past remain buried. But the past has a way of refusing to stay dead. Can Kai save Oliver before his secrets claim their future?

An emotionally powerful debut, The Six Train to Wisconsin pushes the bounds of love as it explores devotion, forgiveness and acceptance.

My Links

Website: http://kourtneyheintz.com

Blog: http://kourtneyheintz.wordpress.com

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kourtneyheintzwriter

Twitter: http://twitter.com/KourHei

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomkourtney_heintz

Amazon Author Central Page: http://amazon.com/author/kourtneyheintz

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kourhei

Buy Links

Paperback available from:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Ebook available from:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Kobo

iTunes

Gateway to Reality: Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour and Review!

Hello! Today I am hosting Becca J. Campbell for her Gateway to Reality Blog Tour. This tour is a little different since there is also a scavenger hunt included. You can get your Clue below, but first I'll post the blurb and my review!

The Blurb:

Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.

Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn't real. A harrowing truth presents itself--the real world lies in his dreams, not when he's wide awake.

The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes's parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.

Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.

But now he has feelings for the real Emily.

Available on Amazon

The Review:

Gateway to Reality is an amazing read. There is so much here that makes you think twice about the world we live in.

Becca J. Campbell's world building is especially remarkable. The craziness of the "real world" is close to what we would associate as a dream and our main character quickly discovers that unexpected things happen quite often and the people in the Existence have to be ready for anything at any moment.

The main character is easy to relate with. He's just figuring out that everything he knows is flip-flopped.

The story is full of twists and turns and keeps you interested. I read this book very quickly because I had a hard time putting it down!

The science fiction aspect is awesome. There is a little mystery and romance. There is action and adventure. The book is very well-rounded, I'd say.

This book will challenge your mind and I can't wait to see more from the series. I give it 5 stars and recommend this book to people who like psychologically challenging science fiction.

The Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour

You can enter the giveaway now, but to really amp up your odds at snatching one of these prize packs, check out each site along the blog tour.

April 1^st Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews

April 2^nd The Peasants Revolt

April 3^rd Catharsis of the Bogue

April 4^th The Pen and Whisk

April 5^th Write for Life

April 6^th S.M. Boyce

April 8^th Paranormal Lounge

April 9^th Lisa Is a Bookworm

April 10^th Jade Kerrion

April 11^th Paper Book Princess

April 12^th Now is Gone

April 13^th Worlds Away Book Blog

April 15^th FU Only Knew

April 17^th Sarcasm and Lemons

April 18^th Brandon R. Luffman

Your Seventh Clue:

Wes visits many worlds in the Existence. Here’s your challenge in this scavenger hunt:

Collect the names of the fifteen worlds in Gateway to Reality (one will be revealed each day).

Following the schedule above, collect a world name at each stop, and when you have them all, plug that list of 15 worlds into the giveaway below to win a BONUS TEN ENTRIES.

HERE’S YOUR SEVENTH WORLD: Sea Clearly

Continue with your hunt tomorrow at Lisa Is a Bookworm. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find Becca J. Campbell:

Find me at Inspiration for Creation: http://www.beccajcampbell.com

Twitter: @beccajcampbell

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beccajcampbell

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5287392.Becca_J_Campbell

Want to write a novel in June? Check out http://junowrimo.com/

Infernal Machines Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway!

Today, I'm posting for the Infernal Machines Blog Tour! Infernal Machines is written by Will Millar and I'll be posting the blurb for the book, my review, and a giveaway!

The Blurb:

Paulie and Stoner aren’t bad seeds; they’re just a little too smart for their own good. They stole their first car in kindergarten, and as for the homemade rocket launcher in Stoner’s garage … well, it’s best just not to ask.

With 9th grade just around the corner, Paulie and Stoner find themselves on the wrong side of some real bad kids, an older band of w​hite supremacists that go by the name of “Twisted Cross.” When a rumble at a high school keg party turns fatal, it sets off a chain of events that test the limits of Paulie and Stoner’s friendship, and their very sanity.

Welcome to Chapel Harbor, a town where everybody buries their secrets deep, and nobody is quite who they seem. A town where the ghost of a serial killer known as The Junkman is rumored to stalk the woods at night, and where an unassuming magic shop and its mysterious proprietor, Arthur Cardiff, may possess the key to an ancient and terrible evil.

Packed with hairpin turns and twists that will keep you guessing until the very last page, Infernal Machines is a blood drenched, adrenaline fueled, roller-coaster of a horror story that’s at once a paean to the Pulp Horror classics of the early 80’s and a meditation on the enduring power of friendship.

Available Now:
Amazon
All other formats

My Review:

Infernal Machines has a lot of elements to it. It's a long book, but the author keeps you interested with action, mystery, horror and the P.O.V. switches help too.

The characters: There is a large cast of characters, but I feel that they each were developed very well. Getting into their heads is easy when you can see things from their P.O.V.  Each character has a whole world of their own while they are simultaneously dealing with the strange happenings in their town.

The setting: The town almost seems like a character on it's own. The setting is described so that you can understand the type of world these characters are living in and easily picture the town in your head.

The story: Infernal Machines is filled with a lot of different elements, as I said above. There is a lot going on, but I feel that the way the story is told, it's easy to keep up with everything. It takes talent to work so much into a story, yet still have your reader be able to keep up and Will Millar has this talent.

The action: This story has some great action and these scenes are written very well. The book as a whole is written well, but the action scenes are some of my favorites.

Overall I'd recommend this to those who like horror from 20-30 years ago. It seems to be set in that time period or before and that is also another great thing about the book. I'm going to give it four stars, just because I felt the length could have been cut down a bit and there were also some minor editing mistakes peppered through-out. Nothing that really detracts from the story or writing, just things like double words, transposed words and some little oddities here and there that could have been caught with one last read-through.

The Giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Find the Will Millar on Twitter or on his blog!

After the Fear Blog Tour: Review and Excerpt!

I have had the opportunity to read a very good book recently. It's not paranormal, but you might want to check it out anyways, especially if you are a fan of The Hunger Games. The title of the book is After the Fear by Rosanne Rivers. This novel is set in a Dystopian world that is described by the author in a way that makes you feel like you're there. Before we jump head-first into the review, let's read the blurb and the excerpt.

Blurb:


You have not attended a Demonstration this month.

In Sola’s city, everyone obeys the rules. Stay away from the trigger cameras and regularly update your Debtbook, and you just might survive. But having to watch the way criminals are dealt with—murdered by Demonstrators in the Stadium—is a law Sola tries to avoid. When a charming Demonstrator kisses her at a party, however, she’s thrust into the Stadium and forced into the very role she despises.

Armed with only natural resourcefulness and a caring nature, Sola narrowly survives her first bout. Her small success means she’s whisked off to a training camp, where she discovers a world beyond the trigger cameras and monitoring—a world where falling in love with a killer doesn’t seem so terrible.

Yet life as a Demonstrator has no peace. Sola must train her way through twenty-five more Demonstrations before she can return home to her father. At the end of each battle, only one survivor remains.

Sola could face anyone in the Stadium . . . even a loved one.

Buy:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
All other formats

Excerpt:


The low voice sends sharp impulses through me. I jolt up, trying to find purchase with my hands on the trampoline. They skid on the leaves, making my whole body bounce. After what seems like an age of making a fool of myself, the springs steady and I look out toward the voice. The outline of the Demonstrator’s jagged hair is silhouetted from the lights of the house. He stands at the edge of the trampoline, facing me.

‘You startled me,’ I tell him. Witty, I know, but it’s all I can think of.

His eyes are on me once again, and I get that same gasping excitement he stirred in me earlier. I try, unsuccessfully, to lean back onto the trampoline with grace.

‘Aye, but you scared me too,’ he replies.

‘How on earth did I scare you?’ I hope he doesn’t notice the wobble in my voice or that my breathing hasn’t calmed yet. He moves around the trampoline, getting closer.

‘Well.’ The leaves rustle once more. The trampoline dips slightly. Risking a glimpse over, I see he’s leaning both elbows on the surface, palms cupping his face. ‘I saw you jumping around with all those leaves and I thought you were being attacked by some sort of bush monster.’
I laugh a little too hard.

‘So you came out here to rescue me then?’

‘Hmm. Unfortunately, I came out here to rescue myself.’

Ah, Coral and her gaggle. No doubt they’re scouring the house to try and find him right now.

‘She’s not that bad really,’ I say. I don’t know why I’m defending her, but I know how horrible it is to like someone only for them to dismiss me.

‘I think you’re being kind, Sola.’

He remembers my name. The sound of it in his voice makes my skin tingle, like every hair on my body is jumping up. For some reason, I’m not even surprised that he’s nothing like the other people from Victor. I wonder what they say about our city where he’s from.

Dylan pats the surface beside me.

‘Can I?’

I swallow and shuffle over. Suddenly I don’t know what to do with my body. How was I lying before? Everything seems unnatural; nothing fits into place like I want it to. Thankfully, he doesn’t lie down, just sits up near my head, his legs dangling over the edge. He brings with him the faint smell of dirt and metal. I sense his eyes are on mine so I look directly ahead, acting as though I don’t notice.

‘Grand night, isn’t it?’ he asks. I keep my gaze upwards. I can’t believe a killer is making small talk with me. Then again, he doesn’t act like a killer. Ignoring him would be rude.

‘It would be nicer if we could see the stars.’

‘Aye. You’re not wrong there.’ He tilts his head back so I take the opportunity to glance over. His wild brown hair sprouts in layered tufts, sticking out in an adorable way. His cheekbones are high, his jaw set, and those deep blue eyes look through such long, thin eyelashes. His only imperfection is what looks like a twice-broken nose. Unfairly, it makes him more beautiful.

Without warning, he brings his gaze back to me. I let my lips part in surprise, unable to take my eyes from his. Maybe it’s the leaves which surround us, the night which hides us away, but when he whispers that maybe one day he could show me the stars, I close my eyes.

His lips are on mine.

I don’t have time to think, I just move my mouth gently. He tastes sweet and bitter all at once.

With a jolt in my stomach, my senses kick in. What on earth am I doing? One sweet line and I’m kissing a stranger? I push him off me in a violent movement and sit up straight, my breathing quick and shallow.

His eyes dart around wildly. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was—you just looked so—ah. I’m sorry.’ He grabs the edge of the trampoline and pushes himself off in a fluid motion, before turning to me once more. His mouth opens. Nothing comes out. Eventually, he runs his hand through his hair and hurries back inside.

For the second time tonight, I’ve been left alone. But for the first time in my life, I’ve been kissed. I touch my bottom lip. When I look up, I swear I see two stars twinkling in the distance.

The stars move. An outline solidifies and Coral steps out from the shadows. She stares at me with eyes so narrow all of the light I saw before disappears.

A moment later she stalks back inside the house and it’s as if I had never seen her at all. Yet I know I’m going to pay for my kiss with the Demonstrator.

A million different words jam into my mind, vying for my attention. Demonstrator, killer, murderer, sweet-talker, party-goer, rule breaker?

Or maybe, a strange part of my brain murmurs, just Dylan.

Review:

This book was on my mind so much as I read it; I actually had a dream about it.

Let's start with the characters:
Sola is likable, caring and smart. She makes some mistakes along the way, but that just shows the reader that no one is perfect.
Dylan is also likable. He's strong and we don't always know what is going on in his head, but we know he always has a plan. His character is also very consistent and he's unlike any other hero I've read. I love it.
Coral is the antagonist. Obviously, we hate her from the get go and she proves to be evil over and over again.
As for the rest of the characters, they all seemed very real.

The story and pace:
The story is unique. Even though it is similar to The Hunger Games in some ways, it's also very different. A world of politics and secrets is behind the scenes and we occasionally get a glimpse at it through Coral's father and Shepherd Fines.
The twists that happen both in Sola's life and in the demonstrations are creative and well-thought out by the author. There is so much going on, but the way that Rosanne Rivers writes makes it easy to understand.
Pacing was perfect. The story moved along at just the right speed.

The writing:
I thought the writing was great. One thing that threw me off at first was the use of single quotes instead of double, but I quickly got used to that and didn't even notice it by the end of the book. The romance scenes were great, the action scenes were great and everything in between was great!

The ending:
I did foresee part of the ending, but I feel that it was the only ending for this book. There were a few pieces of the puzzle that kept me guessing and made the ending very enjoyable

Overall, I would give this book 5 stars. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes dystopian, romance, action, science fiction or books like The Hunger Games.

If You were a Character in a Novel, What Role would you Play?

 

Today I'm hosting Rachel McClellan during her Blog Tour for Fractured Soul--the sequel to Fractured Light. In this post you'll find her guest post on characters in a novel, an excerpt from Fractured Soul, and a giveaway for an ebook of Fractured Soul.

 

If You were a Character in a Novel, What Role would you Play?

Part Three – The Sidekick

(To read part one and two, go here: “The Author”,“The Hero”)

Sidekick’s play a vital role in every novel. They are the character who strengthens and builds up the hero whenever he/she is down. They provide comfort, advice, a shoulder to cry on, whatever the hero needs. Author Bronwyn Williams explains, “The sidekick tends to be the more passive, literate character who fulfills the groundwork in order to free his or her hero to perform the action.”

A primary relationship between a hero and the sidekick is trust and loyalty. This bond should be unbreakable. And what often happens is when the hero is at his darkest moment, it always seems to be the sidekick who steps in to build the hero back up. So in some ways, the sidekick is also a hero.

Think about your life. Who are you a sidekick to?

For me it’s often my husband and my children. I want to support them. I want to make them feel good about themselves. But most importantly, I want them to know that in their story, they are the hero. And as a sidekick, it’s my job to encourage them to make the right choices, to stand up for what they believe in, and to never waver, thereby helping them to achieve hero status.

One of my favorite quotes regarding sidekicks is from Rachel Hawkins book Spellbound:

“Okay, fine. But just so you know, following me into hell means you're all definitely the sidekicks.”

Who are some of your favorite sidekicks?

To read part four, “The Villain” visit Angela Brown’s blog on February 21^st.

--
Rachel McClellan
www.RachelMcClellan.com

Excerpt from Fractured Soul

As soon as the Vyken appeared in the doorway, I tossed a ball hard. He dodged it by jumping up along the side of the wall, his nails and bare toes somehow finding a hold in the thin cracks of the wall. I threw another one, but he was already moving, scrambling alongside the stones like a spider. He was grinning.

I rolled away from the wall until I was in the middle of the room. I lost sight of him for just a fraction of a second, but that was enough. The Vyken was gone, or, I should say, hiding. He was still here. I could feel him. I looked up toward the rafters of the tower roof. It was pitch black.
At the bottom of the tower, I heard Christian begin to ascend the stairs. “I’m coming, Llona!” he yelled.

Still staring up, I created Light again in the palm of my hand and willed it to rise. The closer it got to the rafters the faster my heart beat. Sweat rolled down the small of my back.

Light began to fill dark spaces, exposing that which wished to remain hidden. My Vyken was there, but he wasn’t alone. Another sat crouched on a beam. Where his left eye should’ve been there was an empty hole.

I screamed when my Vyken dropped from the ceiling, extinguishing the light. He fell onto my stomach, pushing my shoulders into the floor. I tried to create Light, but it was as if he knew what I was going to do because his hands slipped up and pinned my wrists together. He bent forward and inhaled my skin. The warmth of his breath steamed my ear when he said, “I’m going to eat every part of you.”

About Fractured Soul (sequel to Fractured Light)

Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat. This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!

 

What others are saying:

“I love these books! A kick-butt heroine and a hottie love interest, with a refreshingly original concept. Be prepared—once you start, these are hard to put down.”

—Paula Cotton, book reviewer at ReadingLark.blogspot.com

“Fractured Soul is a brilliant sequel, exceeding even the remarkable first book in the series. It will haunt your every waking moment between the times you’re reading it, and it will stay with you long after you’ve finished. It’s an amazingly well written and engrossing story that I highly recommend—after you’ve read the first one, of course.”

—Cindy Bennett, bestselling author of Geek Girl and Rapunzel Untangled

Author Bio

Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel's love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was...

Find Rachel

Facebook  |   Blog   |   Website   |   Twitter   |   Goodreads  |  Book Trailer

Buy Fractured Light

Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble

Buy Fractured Soul

Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble 

 

About Fractured Light

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

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


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Aurora Sky SupaGurl Tour!

Today I'm hosting Nikki Jefford for her Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter blog tour! We're posting an excerpt and a giveaway with some awesome prizes!

First, I'll post the blurb and cover:

If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it’s to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn’t hurt either.

Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora’s life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter. In Alaska. Basically she’s a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type, which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis right before she has to finish the job… by hand.

Now Aurora’s only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire. And if he’s a vampire, will she be forced to kill him?

For ages 16+


. . . and here's the excerpt:



Fane grinned as I walked past. “Shouldn’t you be in class?”

“Shouldn’t you?”

He pushed off the wall and walked toward me. “We’ve missed you in gym. I enjoyed your little performance the other day.”

I turned my head to follow Fane’s movements as he circled me.

“I’m glad to see that you’re feeling better,” he continued.

“Yep. Never better.”

He stared at the red scarf around my neck. I didn’t take my eyes off him.

“Good,” he said slow and sensual. He stepped in my path as I tried to walk past.

My heartbeat quickened. There had to be something seriously sick about feeling aroused by a person who pissed me off.

My jaw tightened. “Get out of my way, unless you want me to drop you the way I dropped Clayton.”

Fane’s teeth flashed when he grinned. He stepped aside. “Careful, Aurora, I might take you down with me.”

I hurried past him, feeling his smile on my back the entire way. Now I had a whole other reason to avoid gym besides loathing the class.

To think I actually wanted to dance with the scoundrel at winter ball. I’d sooner dance with a viper.




Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

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The Forever Girl Anniversary Tour with Character Giveaway and Ebook Giveaway!

Alright! Author of The Forever Girl, Rebecca Hamilton is being very generous this month in honor of The Forever Girl's Anniversary. From today through January 35th she will be giving away these awesome character packs on participating blogs. You can see the schedule for that and pictures of the amazing prizes HERE.

You can also enter to win an ebook of The Forever Girl below, but first I'll show you the cover and the blurb!

"Whatever you do, fight."

Sophia's family has skeletons, but they aren't in their graves.

At twenty-two, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, a pariah after a string of unsolved murders with only one thing in common: her.

Sophia can imagine lots of ways to improve her life, but she'd settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. When the spell she casts goes wrong, the static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.

One of them is a man named Charles, who Sophia falls for despite her better judgment. He has connections that might help her unveil the mystery surrounding her ancestor's hanging, but she gets more than she bargains for when she finally decides to trust him.

Survival in his world, she learns, means not asking questions and staying out of the immortal council's way. It's a line she crossed long ago. If Sophia wants to survive the council and save the people she loves, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.

Go to this link to see all available formats.

Now for the ebook giveaway!

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Obsidian Blog Tour Opening Post #2!

Two years ago today, I started writing my first novel, Obsidian. So, to celebrate the anniversary of the conception of my novel, Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1 is going on a blog tour! The tour will have lots of fun stuff you normally don’t see on a blog tour, so make sure you don’t miss a day! The tour goes Monday-Friday for the next three weeks, ending on January 25th!

 There is one giveaway that you can enter daily, so each time you read a post, be sure to go to the bottom of it and enter the giveaway and be sure to do the daily entries for more chances to win! There are even chances to be mentioned in upcoming books!



Also, starting tomorrow you will be able to collect all 12 of the Monthly Desktop Calendars featuring Obsidian and the characters of Obsidian. You’ll notice there is even a white space for your desktop icons to go so you don’t have to cover up the calendar or the image!

Today I will be on Twitter all day to answer questions, have conversations, run games and maybe even giveaway an ebook or two. Just use the hashtag #ObsidianBT to join the fun! Below I will also be posting an excerpt that I have never posted on the internet before!

On the tour you can expect to see a few videos, a review or two, meet characters and even a few surprises here and there. My first host will be the lovely Rebecca Hamilton, author of the Forever Girl. She wrote an endorsement for the back of my book and she will be introducing you to the main character of Obsidian, Ava Tanner and revealing the January Desktop Calendar! Here is the link to her Blog!



The tour schedule is as follows:

January 7th (today) Paranormal Lounge – Opening Post/ Excerpt/Twitter Party

January 8th Rebecca Hamilton – Meet Ava Tanner!

January 9th S. M. Boyce – Meet Tom Walker!

January 10th Jen McConnel – Tour the Set: Hawaii

January 11th Natasha – Tour the Set: Psytech

January 14th David J. Kirk – Meet Hiu and Alani PLUS Tour Hiu’s Boat!

January 15th A. D. Trosper – Meet Nalani and Moana

January 16th Tom Winship – Introduction to Being a Vampire of the Mystic Stones Series

January 17th CJ Listro – Meet Jesse Sutton

January 18th Rachel McClellan – Review of Obsidian

January 21st Nikki Jefford – Meet Alani Kalei

January 22nd Fel Wetzig – Vampire Hierarchy of the Mystic Stones Series

January 23rd Laurie – Spoiler Alert! Discussing the Paranormals!

January 24th Alyson LaBarge – Questions From Readers

January 25th Mystic Stones Series – Closing Post and Giveaway Winners!



Now, as promised, I will give you an excerpt that has not yet been posted on the internet!

“I suppose I should be glad your eyes looked at the ring on the night stand and not the dagger on the dresser,” he said. He practically spat the word dagger at her.

“I don’t want to kill you, Tom,” Ava said, backing away towards the bathroom.

“I don’t want to kill you either, Ava.”

“No, you just want to change me, which is pretty much the same thing.”

“I only wanted to protect you.”

“Well, I can protect myself. Your protection is not what I would consider convenient. Becoming a vampire is not in my five year plan.”

“And becoming a fugitive is?” Tom raised his voice a little. Ava backed up another step. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Go ahead and put your ring on if it will make you feel better. I’m only here to talk; I wouldn’t try to change you on the boat. I didn’t bring any blood with me and I’m sure you wouldn’t want your friends as a snack. Oh, and you guys should tie your feather pennant a little tighter next time,” he said.

Ava went for her ring. She thought it would push him away from her, but it didn’t. He still stood only a few feet away. She looked at him. He looked very calm.

“Why isn’t this ring pushing you away?”

“I have to mean you harm or you have to be afraid of me. I mean you no harm and you are a little afraid of me. I can feel its force, but you must trust me a little because it’s not pushing me through the window or anything.”

“What did you come to talk about? I’m not coming with you. You can’t change my mind.”

“I came to tell you that Hiu has been branded a slayer and as his accomplice you are in danger. The other two are in danger as well. I can protect you if you just let me change you, Ava.”

“We’re fine, we have rings and daggers. We’ll be fine.”

“You don’t understand, they will send the drudges after you. Those rings only protect you from vampires, not humans,” Tom said, raising his voice again.

“We can handle humans. I can’t just leave them, Tom. They are my friends. They are my family,” Ava corrected herself, “And I’m staying with them. I will not abandon them and if you succeed in changing me someday I will not drink one drop of human blood. I refuse to cause my kind harm.”

“If I change you, and you do not drink blood you will die. You will have to drink human blood at first in order to stay alive.”

“Then I guess I’ll die if you change me. That’s all there is to it,” Ava said stubbornly.

“You will drink blood. After a while you will get so weak that you won’t be able to think straight, you will drink blood thinking its water. I’ve seen it happen.”

“No, I won’t do it. I’m very strong willed and I’ll make sure of it. I’ll drive an obsidian blade through my own heart before I would drink human blood.”

“I’m not going to argue with you right now, Ava. I just wanted to tell you that they have yours and Hiu’s picture and they’ve already sent it out to all Psytech employees. I don’t know if the loners are aware of you yet, but they will be soon enough. Even the rogues might want to kill you just to get on the Emperor’s good side.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Ava said. “This is all gibberish to me.”

“All you need to know is that all vampires and their drudges are going to be after you. You must especially avoid all Psytech buildings,” Tom warned.

“Vampires can’t hurt us, not with these,” Ava said, gesturing to her ring.

“The human drudges can, and they will. This is just the sort of thing that could get them accepted into the guardianship.”

“What is that?”

“Drudges are humans that have had the guts to seek out vampires in determination to become one. The vampires see them as very brave and put them through a training period. If they pass the training period they become our guardians.”

“Oh, so, killing one of us would be like an initiation test.”

“Yes, I guess you could put it that way,” Tom replied, shrugging.

“Well, I’m still not worried. We can take care of ourselves.”

“Ava, I just want you to be safe. Please, come with me,” his eyes were pleading and he was leaning towards her. Her ring kept him from closing the short distance between them. Ava felt herself ache for his touch, but she pushed past the feeling. She broke her gaze on him and looked away.

“Why don’t you come with us? Leave the other vampires. Be with me.” Ava could feel her ring let up on Tom a little. He felt it too because he came even closer.

“I wish I could, but that would make things even more dangerous for you and I would be hunted as well. We can’t be together as long as you are human, Ava,” Tom’s voice was quiet. Ava’s heart sunk. Their forbidden love was too much for her emotions. She let down her guard completely and so did the ring. She now trusted him. She trusted him more than she probably should, but she didn’t care, she wanted to touch him. She wanted to be in his arms.

Tom opened his arms and she hugged him. She started to cry and he held her tighter. Then she looked up at him. She could tell that he was sad too. He was hurting. Ava wanted to take away his pain. She kissed his lips. First she kissed them tentatively, making sure that he wanted her kisses. Then, after she decided that he did, she kissed him more passionately. He kissed her back and his hands moved down her body. They went down to her lower back.

“This is our only night,” Ava said between kisses. Then, she looked at his eyes. They were staring right back. They wanted her. She wanted him. He pushed her down on the bed, gently but playfully aggressive at the same time. Ava’s ring put out a short burst of force field, but it ended and Tom kissed her again with a little chuckle. Ava pulled off Tom’s shirt with a little help from him. Then her robe opened with a little more help from him. She hadn’t put anything on underneath and Tom’s excitement grew. His kisses were more and more urgent and one of his hands ran down her ribcage.


Obsidian buy links:

Amazon Kindle

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Kayla Curry links:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook


Don’t forget to visit Rebecca Hamilton ‘s blog tomorrow to meet Ava Tanner!



Before you go, enter the giveaway!



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Obsidian Blog Tour Opening Post!

This is opening post #1 for the Obsidian Blog Tour. Below you'll find the schedule for the tour. Be sure to return tomorrow for an excerpt that has never been posted online before. For now, here is the tour schedule:

First Here is the Giveaway. Once you enter scroll down to the schedule to see what fun stuff is going on!

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January 7^th Paranormal Lounge – Opening Post/ Excerpt/Twitter Party

January 8^th Rebecca Hamilton – Meet Ava Tanner!

January 9^th S. M. Boyce – Meet Tom Walker!

January 10^th Jen McConnel – Tour the Set: Hawaii

January 11^th Natasha – Psytech Orientation Video

January 14^th David J. Kirk – Meet Hiu Kalei!

January 15^th A. D. Trosper – Meet Nalani and Moana

January 16^th Tom Winship – Introduction to Being a Vampire of the Mystic Stones Series

January 17^th CJ Listro – Meet Jesse Sutton

January 18^th Rachel McClellan – Review of Obsidian and short interview.

January 21^st Nikki Jefford – Meet Alani Kalei!

January 22^nd Fel Wetzig – Vampire Hierarchy of the Mystic Stones Series

January 23^rd Laurie – Spoiler Alert! Discussing the Paranormals!

January 24^th Alyson LaBarge – Obsidian in Numbers--An infographic!

January 25^th Mystic Stones Series – Closing Post

Treason Blog Tour! Video and Giveaway!

The Treason Blog Tour!

 

I am so excited to be a stop on the Treason Blog Tour! I got to ask the Grimoire a question! You can see the question and answer in the video below! And don't forget to enter both giveaways at the bottom of this post!

 

 

 

Lichgates


Grab Your Copy:

 Amazon: USA | UK | Germany | France | Spain | Italy


 Buy the Paperback



Bonus Features

 Goodreads | Book Trailer | VIP List 


  Win a guest appearance in Heritage (The Grimoire Trilogy #3)





Treason


Grab Your Copy:

 Amazon: USA | UK | Germany | France | Spain | Italy


 Barnes & Noble | Smashwords


Buy the Paperback



Bonus Features

 Goodreads | VIP List 


Win a guest appearance in Heritage (The Grimoire Trilogy #3)





About Boyce

S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries, and she updates her blog a few times each week to keep you entertained.


Connect with Boyce

Website | Blog | Advice for Writers


Facebook | Twitter | Google + | Pinterest | Youtube


Goodreads Page | Amazon Page

There are two giveaways with this tour, the Grand Prize giveaway, (click on the banner below) and the Ask the Grimoire giveaway in the rafflecopter below!
 

 

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Questions for the characters of Obsidian?

Hey everyone! Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1 is going on tour in January and one of the posts is going to be questions from the readers for any of the characters in the book.

So if you want to ask Ava Tanner  or any other character a question, here is your chance.

A list of the characters (just to refresh your memory):

Ava Tanner (Main Character)
Tom Walker (Antagonist)
Alani Kalei (Ava's Best Friend)
Hiu Kalei (Alani's Brother)
Nalani Kalei (Alani's Grandmother)
Moana Kalei (Alani's Mother)
Jesse Sutton (New love interest for Ava)
Latoria Gray (Friend of Jesse)
Perry Eberly (Friend of Jesse)
Kassidy Marsdon (Friend of Jesse)
Edison Marson (Friend of Jesse)

You can also ask me questions if you haven't read the book yet! So post your questions in the comments section below! The answers will come during the tour on January 24th!

Tour spots open! Obsidian Blog tour!

I have one more spot open on the Obsidian Blog Tour in January. They are on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.

If anyone would like to help out and host me please email me at lil87blue (at) hotmail (dot) com! Hosts will receive a digital copy of Obsidian if you don't already have one.

There will be one giveaway that everyone will post and I will have the posts made up for you, so all you have to do is copy and paste and place a few pictures!

This tour is going to be different from most tours, with lots of fun stuff to see along the way!

UPDATE

I have filled all the spots! Thanks to everyone who has agreed to help!

The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar Blog Tour! Interview, Review and Giveaway!

Today I am hosting the awesome Gothic Horror novella, The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar by Steven Katriel as a part of his blog tour!

The plan was to do a character interview with Gabriel Holland,  but unfortunately, he couldn't make it today but will try to make it sometime in the future. So, instead you can check out my interview with Steven Katriel and my review of this wonderful novella HERE!

Here is the blurb for The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar:

When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for her disappearance and the death of several friends. Once in the town of Carliton, Gabriel finds only malice and mystery in the tales told by the few brave enough to speak ill of Salazar and the sinister Cousin Beatriz. And within shadows, in the guise of night, walks Alatiel, the creature Helena has become.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

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Hop around to the other blogs hosting the tour HERE!

Find Steven Katriel on Twitter:  @StevenKatriel
Website: http://stevenkatriel.wordpress.com/
Book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Portrait-Alatiel-Salazar-Novella-ebook/dp/B008UVAEXO/