So I quickly posted all the information about this book and the blog tour yesterday, but I didn't have the interview with the author yet. I really enjoyed her answers to my questions, and I think you all will, too :)
1.) Would you consider yourself a plotter, a pantser, or something in between?
My stories come to me almost like videos and conversations in my mind that won’t leave me alone until I put them on paper. So, when I sit down to type, I usually have a basic concept, often a very loose basic concept, of where I’m starting and where I’ll land in the end. But, I typically have no idea the path that I’ll take to get there, or what might pop up along the journey. It’s this wonderful and beautiful, and sometimes shocking, thing. It’s like I’m riding the story and it can completely surprise me!
2.) Do you feel like you have control over your characters, following strict outlines, or do they tend to evolve over time?
I don’t feel like I have a tight rein on my characters. They definitely have minds of their own and I watch them grow and change, sometimes just as the reader will. I let them flow, as I do the story. Who they are at the core doesn’t usually alter drastically, but it’s incredible for me to watch their development.
3.) Can you give us some behind the scenes info about any of your characters that isn't mentioned in the story? For example: favorite music, color, food, celebrity crush, etc?
This question made me smile.
Will is hard core rock and roll, all the way. He loves black, as is apparent by his wardrobe, and he prefers comfort food from home. He couldn’t name a celebrity, let alone have a crush on one.
Rayne loves the color grey, because it makes her think of Will’s eyes. She loves anything Will cooks for her, and, like me, she adores indie pop. She loves Mark Wahlberg, because he’s tough and sexy, but a super sweet guy to his wife and kids.
4.) Speaking of celebrities, who would you cast for your major characters in a film version of your story?
I’ve never thought about this and am struggling to answer. I find it hard to picture my characters any other way than the way I created them. Maybe Lucy Hale could play Rayne and Zac Efron could be Will.
5.) If you were stranded on a deserted island, which of your characters would you like to have by your side and why?
Will, all day long. Yes, Will. Could it be Will??? I must admit, I truly adore him as a character. He developed in my mind before any of the other characters and even with his flaws, he’s pure perfection to me.
6.) Is there anything else you would like to share?
I love being a writer. Becoming a self-published author has been like this fantasy ride that I don’t want to ever end. I am truly grateful for anyone and everyone who has taken the time to read my work. I still get all giggly, like a 5-year-old, when someone mentions that she’s reading my book. So, for everyone out there who is giving me any of your time, I’d like to say thank you, truly, thank you.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Immer Blog Tour
Wow, seems like ages since I've done one of these blog tours. I'm hoping to have an interview to add as well, but thought I would at least get the basics up now. I still haven't had a chance to read the story, but it is up next on my list. Looks like quite an interesting one :)
Title:
Immer
By: Denise McFarland
Synopsis from Amazon.com:
The world has evolved. Fairies exist and have the power to heal. Vampires are real and aren’t to be trusted. Wolves have revealed their ability to shift into human form. Will Jaxon is both man and wolf.
He is the Alpha of his community’s Wolf Force, the agency that provides security and protection for all mankind.
In addition to his role as the head of his pack, Will has been working undercover to infiltrate an illegal drug organization that is trafficking women. When Will is coerced to take the lead in an abduction, he agrees in order
to preserve his cover. But one look into the terrified, green eyes of the woman he attacks leaves him powerless
to continue.
As Rayne Daniels stares into the face of the man restraining her, she sees a shift, for a fraction of a second he changes and his true form is revealed. She realizes he is a wolf, a protector, and almost before she knows what
is happening, he releases her. Rayne escapes physically, but emotionally she continues to be haunted, held prisoner by the trauma of that night. When Will discovers that members of the organization are still looking for Rayne, his entire world is altered. Now, Will spends his days undercover and every other free moment keeping Rayne safe, because her survival has become critical to him in a way that he cannot explain.
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33950142-immer
Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Immer-Denise-
McFarland/dp/1542326079/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498283638&sr=8-2&keywords=immer
Chapter 1 Excerpt:
Rayne Daniels was tired. It felt like a long week and it was only Wednesday. But she'd promised herself she'd exercise three times a week and she hadn't cheated at all for the last four weeks, so she wasn't going to start now. After locking her ground floor apartment, she jogged down the first part of the path, around the corner and three blocks over, heading for the park in her neighborhood. She slowed as she crossed the street and made her way around the corner, with the park in view. The sun was just starting to think about setting, telling her she'd have to do more jogging than walking to speed up her trip around the park and be back home before dark.
Exercise was her attempt to get a little healthier. Following her 25th birthday Rayne had noticed her curves were getting a little softer and she'd heard about women's bodies betraying then after 30.
She'd decided she should get a head start on beating back the clock. She was in the process of congratulating herself for heading out into the cool dusk, despite her exhaustion and the later start, as she rounded the higher bushes on the edge of the park. She'd trained herself to speed up the jogging to a run in this area because as a single girl who ran alone, it wasn't wise to linger near large shrubbery that blocked you from view. Automatically running faster, she continued to think about this new phase of her life.
She was in a new city, with a new business, and now she had a new exercise routine. She was like an entirely new woman. Rayne was so caught up in her thoughts that she failed to notice the bent branches and scattering of leaves around the bushes.
If she'd been paying attention, this would have warned her that something was wrong. As it was, she never slowed, never even suspected danger, until she was caught in the grip of it.
Rayne stopped short as she felt firm hands reach out and pull her off the path. She lost her breath as it was jerked from within her and was so shocked that the attack was really happening that she forgot to struggle for the first 3 heartbeats. But then reality set in and she pulled back, opening her mouth wide to scream.
At the same moment anticipating her reaction, her attacker clamped both of her wrists in one vice grip, and he used the other hand to cover her mouth as he pulled her deeper into the shrubs.
Rayne knew no one was coming for her. The path had been empty as she'd entered the park and with every passing moment the darkness was settling around her. People didn't come to the park after the sun set. She was completely on her own. She silently prayed, please God, please no, please help me.
They were totally surrounded by the high growing bushes and as she continued to struggle, she began to feel helplessly like she was about to live every nightmare she'd ever had.
It was becoming harder to breathe through her panic and she tried to turn her head to find some form of escape. That was when she saw the ground behind her attacker. There was a whole cluster of men watching her world end. She couldn't make out features, but they were standing there, witnessing her terror like it was some new sporting event. She couldn't help the whimper that made its way up from her throat, as she finally looked up into the face of her assailant. She pleaded with her eyes, because her voice was still trapped behind his hand, begging him silently to let her go. Watching his eyes she saw a slight change, so quickly she thought she must have imagined it. He leaned in toward her and almost growled, "Stop. Quit fighting me." He lowered his voice further and tears burned into her eyes as he roughly whispered, "Use your knee and push me away. Do you understand? Make it look convincing. Look at me. Do you understand?"
The words were starting to penetrate her terror. Was he telling her he was going to let her go? She barely tilted her head forward, watching his eyes, momentarily paralyzed by her hope. She watched him match her movement, and saw the spilt second difference in his eyes again as he tilted his head forward, acknowledging that she'd truly heard him correctly.
Louder again he said, "Stop struggling." The words were barely out of his mouth when she reared her head back and slammed it into his face. Feigning that he was caught off guard, his head snapped back on impact and he released her hands. Rayne used that moment to thrust her knee upward and then shove him off balance. The second her hands left his shoulders she turned and ran. She ran with everything she had, her panic and adrenaline pushing her forward faster than she'd ever run. And she was screaming as loudly as she could.
No words would form, she just screamed and ran for her apartment. Nearing her door, she briefly wondered if she was leading the monster right to her home, but a quick glance behind her showed no one was following.
_____________________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denise McFarland is thrilled to introduce her very first publication, Immer. As a voracious reader from childhood, she found herself frequently being drawn into paranormal fantasy novels, falling in love with the interesting quirks and powers that made the characters "para" and the stories fantasy. It's not surprising that when she finally jumped into the author pool, she dove toward her favorite genre. She has dreamed for years of being a novelist. So, when she developed a story that she couldn't get out of her head, she knew she had to start typing. Denise is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Florida. She spends her summers soaking up the Florida sunshine and the rest of each year teaching 4th grade.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33950142-immer
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/author.denise_mcfarland
_______________________________________________________________________________
GIVEAWAY:
a
Rafflecopter giveaway
_______________________________________________________________________________
TOUR SCHEDULE:
June 24th:
Jen (http://www.happylilbooknook.com)
June 25th:
Sarah (http://www.transientdrifter.blogspot.com)
June 26th:
Paige (http://justonemorepage.wordpress.com)
June 27th:
Nikki (http://www.instagram.com/asreadbyginger)
June 28th:
Elizabeth (http://www.instagram.com/throneofshatteredbooks)
June 29th:
Jordan (http://www.readbyroe.com)
June 30th:
Jess (https://xlittlebookwormx.wordpress.com)
Melissa (https://melimimi.blogspot.com)
Blog Tour Organized by:
Happy Lil Book Tours *Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest reviews and opinions.*
Title:
Immer
By: Denise McFarland
Synopsis from Amazon.com:
The world has evolved. Fairies exist and have the power to heal. Vampires are real and aren’t to be trusted. Wolves have revealed their ability to shift into human form. Will Jaxon is both man and wolf.
He is the Alpha of his community’s Wolf Force, the agency that provides security and protection for all mankind.
In addition to his role as the head of his pack, Will has been working undercover to infiltrate an illegal drug organization that is trafficking women. When Will is coerced to take the lead in an abduction, he agrees in order
to preserve his cover. But one look into the terrified, green eyes of the woman he attacks leaves him powerless
to continue.
As Rayne Daniels stares into the face of the man restraining her, she sees a shift, for a fraction of a second he changes and his true form is revealed. She realizes he is a wolf, a protector, and almost before she knows what
is happening, he releases her. Rayne escapes physically, but emotionally she continues to be haunted, held prisoner by the trauma of that night. When Will discovers that members of the organization are still looking for Rayne, his entire world is altered. Now, Will spends his days undercover and every other free moment keeping Rayne safe, because her survival has become critical to him in a way that he cannot explain.
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33950142-immer
Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Immer-Denise-
McFarland/dp/1542326079/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498283638&sr=8-2&keywords=immer
Chapter 1 Excerpt:
Rayne Daniels was tired. It felt like a long week and it was only Wednesday. But she'd promised herself she'd exercise three times a week and she hadn't cheated at all for the last four weeks, so she wasn't going to start now. After locking her ground floor apartment, she jogged down the first part of the path, around the corner and three blocks over, heading for the park in her neighborhood. She slowed as she crossed the street and made her way around the corner, with the park in view. The sun was just starting to think about setting, telling her she'd have to do more jogging than walking to speed up her trip around the park and be back home before dark.
Exercise was her attempt to get a little healthier. Following her 25th birthday Rayne had noticed her curves were getting a little softer and she'd heard about women's bodies betraying then after 30.
She'd decided she should get a head start on beating back the clock. She was in the process of congratulating herself for heading out into the cool dusk, despite her exhaustion and the later start, as she rounded the higher bushes on the edge of the park. She'd trained herself to speed up the jogging to a run in this area because as a single girl who ran alone, it wasn't wise to linger near large shrubbery that blocked you from view. Automatically running faster, she continued to think about this new phase of her life.
She was in a new city, with a new business, and now she had a new exercise routine. She was like an entirely new woman. Rayne was so caught up in her thoughts that she failed to notice the bent branches and scattering of leaves around the bushes.
If she'd been paying attention, this would have warned her that something was wrong. As it was, she never slowed, never even suspected danger, until she was caught in the grip of it.
Rayne stopped short as she felt firm hands reach out and pull her off the path. She lost her breath as it was jerked from within her and was so shocked that the attack was really happening that she forgot to struggle for the first 3 heartbeats. But then reality set in and she pulled back, opening her mouth wide to scream.
At the same moment anticipating her reaction, her attacker clamped both of her wrists in one vice grip, and he used the other hand to cover her mouth as he pulled her deeper into the shrubs.
Rayne knew no one was coming for her. The path had been empty as she'd entered the park and with every passing moment the darkness was settling around her. People didn't come to the park after the sun set. She was completely on her own. She silently prayed, please God, please no, please help me.
They were totally surrounded by the high growing bushes and as she continued to struggle, she began to feel helplessly like she was about to live every nightmare she'd ever had.
It was becoming harder to breathe through her panic and she tried to turn her head to find some form of escape. That was when she saw the ground behind her attacker. There was a whole cluster of men watching her world end. She couldn't make out features, but they were standing there, witnessing her terror like it was some new sporting event. She couldn't help the whimper that made its way up from her throat, as she finally looked up into the face of her assailant. She pleaded with her eyes, because her voice was still trapped behind his hand, begging him silently to let her go. Watching his eyes she saw a slight change, so quickly she thought she must have imagined it. He leaned in toward her and almost growled, "Stop. Quit fighting me." He lowered his voice further and tears burned into her eyes as he roughly whispered, "Use your knee and push me away. Do you understand? Make it look convincing. Look at me. Do you understand?"
The words were starting to penetrate her terror. Was he telling her he was going to let her go? She barely tilted her head forward, watching his eyes, momentarily paralyzed by her hope. She watched him match her movement, and saw the spilt second difference in his eyes again as he tilted his head forward, acknowledging that she'd truly heard him correctly.
Louder again he said, "Stop struggling." The words were barely out of his mouth when she reared her head back and slammed it into his face. Feigning that he was caught off guard, his head snapped back on impact and he released her hands. Rayne used that moment to thrust her knee upward and then shove him off balance. The second her hands left his shoulders she turned and ran. She ran with everything she had, her panic and adrenaline pushing her forward faster than she'd ever run. And she was screaming as loudly as she could.
No words would form, she just screamed and ran for her apartment. Nearing her door, she briefly wondered if she was leading the monster right to her home, but a quick glance behind her showed no one was following.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Denise McFarland is thrilled to introduce her very first publication, Immer. As a voracious reader from childhood, she found herself frequently being drawn into paranormal fantasy novels, falling in love with the interesting quirks and powers that made the characters "para" and the stories fantasy. It's not surprising that when she finally jumped into the author pool, she dove toward her favorite genre. She has dreamed for years of being a novelist. So, when she developed a story that she couldn't get out of her head, she knew she had to start typing. Denise is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Florida. She spends her summers soaking up the Florida sunshine and the rest of each year teaching 4th grade.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33950142-immer
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/author.denise_mcfarland
_______________________________________________________________________________
GIVEAWAY:
a
Rafflecopter giveaway
TOUR SCHEDULE:
June 24th:
Jen (http://www.happylilbooknook.com)
June 25th:
Sarah (http://www.transientdrifter.blogspot.com)
June 26th:
Paige (http://justonemorepage.wordpress.com)
June 27th:
Nikki (http://www.instagram.com/asreadbyginger)
June 28th:
Elizabeth (http://www.instagram.com/throneofshatteredbooks)
June 29th:
Jordan (http://www.readbyroe.com)
June 30th:
Jess (https://xlittlebookwormx.wordpress.com)
Melissa (https://melimimi.blogspot.com)
Blog Tour Organized by:
Happy Lil Book Tours *Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest reviews and opinions.*
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Thoughts on Book Reviews
As a writer, book reviews are critical. I have taken it upon myself over the past 6 to 8 months, to become a reviewer. I want to help my fellow writers draw attention to their work. I also hope that others will do the same for me.
It is said that there is no such thing as a bad review. Every review adds to the author's visibility, and since each reader is different, each review will likely focus on a different aspect of what the writer has to offer. There is definitely truth to this. The more numbers you have, the higher you go up the list. Simple math, and all of that. (Remember, I'm a writer, not a mathematician, but I still get the basics ;)
There is nothing like the feeling of getting a five star review. Even if the person knows you, and is biased because they gave birth to you, or have been sharing their deepest secrets with you since your tweens, these reviews are amazing. Then there are those ones you get from people you've never met, and you think, "wow, I've actually managed to touch someone. This is going somewhere."
On the other hand, there are also one star reviews. Imagine getting kicked in the stomach, then having an elephant sit on your chest. That's sort of what a one star review feels like. It's bad enough to know that someone really didn't enjoy what you were trying to say, but it doesn't end there. I'll never forget reading a blog post by mega selling indie author, Amanda Hawking. She has finally released the final book in her "My Blood Approves," series, but doing so took her years because of negative reviews. People who reviewed her book, rather than simply saying how they felt about the stories or the characters, turned to talking about what a horrible person she must be for even writing such trash. In turn, that made her feel like these books that she enjoyed sharing with the world somehow made her less of a person.
Not everyone will like every book. You can't make everyone happy. It's not possible, even if you write a book that is a best seller, or that wins awards left and right. Even if your book is published in more languages than you knew existed, and has millions of five star reviews, there will be someone who reads it and says, "meh." And it is totally okay for people not to like a book, or to think it is poorly written, or to be unable to identify with the characters, but why do they have to make it personal? Why do they feel the need to belittle the author, just because they didn't like what that person wrote?
I have some theories about nasty one star reviewers, but they aren't overly positive. Personally, I think they're probably compensating for something, and rather than dealing with their own issues, they're using their powers of good for evil. Okay, you can write a scathing review, but maybe you shouldn't pat yourself on the back for the fact that you took someone's dream and crushed it in the cruelest way imaginable.
I could go on and on about this topic, but I'd rather switch to something more positive and save the rest for another time. I'm going to do a talk about my book next week. I have no idea if anyone will show up, but it's the first time I've done anything like this, which means I'm filled with that weird mix of excited nervousness that won't settle until I'm driving home at the end of the evening. I've done plenty of public speaking as a teacher, but it's different when you have to go up and be vulnerable about a topic that is dear to your heart: your precious book baby. So here's to hoping I have an audience, and that they're open to hearing about what led me to write One Week In November.
I'm also hoping to have fresh publication news really soon as I re-release The Darkening Dragons. I'm definitely squirrely with excitement about that, so stay tuned :)
It is said that there is no such thing as a bad review. Every review adds to the author's visibility, and since each reader is different, each review will likely focus on a different aspect of what the writer has to offer. There is definitely truth to this. The more numbers you have, the higher you go up the list. Simple math, and all of that. (Remember, I'm a writer, not a mathematician, but I still get the basics ;)
There is nothing like the feeling of getting a five star review. Even if the person knows you, and is biased because they gave birth to you, or have been sharing their deepest secrets with you since your tweens, these reviews are amazing. Then there are those ones you get from people you've never met, and you think, "wow, I've actually managed to touch someone. This is going somewhere."
On the other hand, there are also one star reviews. Imagine getting kicked in the stomach, then having an elephant sit on your chest. That's sort of what a one star review feels like. It's bad enough to know that someone really didn't enjoy what you were trying to say, but it doesn't end there. I'll never forget reading a blog post by mega selling indie author, Amanda Hawking. She has finally released the final book in her "My Blood Approves," series, but doing so took her years because of negative reviews. People who reviewed her book, rather than simply saying how they felt about the stories or the characters, turned to talking about what a horrible person she must be for even writing such trash. In turn, that made her feel like these books that she enjoyed sharing with the world somehow made her less of a person.
Not everyone will like every book. You can't make everyone happy. It's not possible, even if you write a book that is a best seller, or that wins awards left and right. Even if your book is published in more languages than you knew existed, and has millions of five star reviews, there will be someone who reads it and says, "meh." And it is totally okay for people not to like a book, or to think it is poorly written, or to be unable to identify with the characters, but why do they have to make it personal? Why do they feel the need to belittle the author, just because they didn't like what that person wrote?
I have some theories about nasty one star reviewers, but they aren't overly positive. Personally, I think they're probably compensating for something, and rather than dealing with their own issues, they're using their powers of good for evil. Okay, you can write a scathing review, but maybe you shouldn't pat yourself on the back for the fact that you took someone's dream and crushed it in the cruelest way imaginable.
I could go on and on about this topic, but I'd rather switch to something more positive and save the rest for another time. I'm going to do a talk about my book next week. I have no idea if anyone will show up, but it's the first time I've done anything like this, which means I'm filled with that weird mix of excited nervousness that won't settle until I'm driving home at the end of the evening. I've done plenty of public speaking as a teacher, but it's different when you have to go up and be vulnerable about a topic that is dear to your heart: your precious book baby. So here's to hoping I have an audience, and that they're open to hearing about what led me to write One Week In November.
I'm also hoping to have fresh publication news really soon as I re-release The Darkening Dragons. I'm definitely squirrely with excitement about that, so stay tuned :)
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
New Cover Reveal
I am so excited to be able to help C.E. Dimond share the new covers for her books Awakening and Wandering in her Lost Legacy series. I was privileged to receive free copies of both of these books for review, and really enjoyed them. I also appreciated the author's willingness to listen to feedback, and how hard she worked to improve her writing. The new covers look absolutely fabulous, and I wish her great success as she works on the sequel. If you're interested in reading more about her books, as well as a fun interview, please check out my blog post from September 29, 2016.
There is also giving away copies of Awakening, so please follow the link :)
https://instafreebie.com/free/p7Z4I
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Surrender Blog Tour
Wow, two posts in a week. I'm really going wild or something ;) Today I get to share a little with you about the book Surrender, by GR Thomas. I actually haven't started reading it yet, because I'm still in the middle of book one, Awaken, which I am enjoying thus far. The stories are an interesting take on Angels, with bits of fantasy woven in for good measure. Once I have a chance to finish both the books I'll be putting up my reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, but for now, I'll let the author introduce things to you herself :) Be sure to read all the way to the end for insights directly from the author.
Title: Surrender (The A'vean Chronicles : Volume 2)
Author: G.R. Thomas
Summary from Amazon.com:
Sophia Woodville's life is anything but ordinary. You can't be ordinary when you've discovered
you're an Earth-born Angel. Alone and suddenly powerless in the stinking heat of the Daimon
realm, Sophia has been betrayed by the one person she trusted most. She must find a way to escape and continue her quest to unravel the clues left for her eyes only, fighting the Zombie-like Rogues to preserve the prophecies of Enoch. Only then can the Fallen Angels return to their homeland and humanity be released from the grip of Yeqon and his evil horde.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Avean-Chronicles-2-
Thomas/dp/0994506910/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1484549250&sr=8-1
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33146650-surrender
________________________________________________________________________________
Prologue
Syracuse 212 BC
The stench of the narrow, dusty streets made Lucius wish for the battlefields more than ever. The smell of human waste rolled his stomach until the acid of bile lapped at the back of his throat. It mercilessly gnawed at him more than seeing the entrails of a dead soldier. His protracted reposting under General Marcellus was nothing short of mind-numbing. Running meaningless errands for that tyrant not only left his body lacking its former battle strength, but had driven him to the evils of too much wine and women for the lack of adventure. He grimaced with disgust at himself as he wiped strands of amber hair and sweat a third time from his brow with the back of his battle-scarred hand.
He smoothed down his well-kept tunic after a wind gust and re-adjusted his beloved sword across his waist. A gift for bravery, his thumb rolled across the top of the hilt as he made the last turn into the small cobbled street, barely two soldiers wide. The effort of dragging up his right leg with any semblance of dignity slowed him down considerably. The damn injury that saw his last battle a career-ending one. He resented this lameness and ground his teeth in an almost permanent scowl.
Barely twenty-five with a young family back on the outskirts of Rome, who were barely sustained on his paltry wage, the pressure to provide well for them was immense. He could envisage the look of shame in his late father's face when he stared into a looking glass during his morning ablutions.
This extra job though, bringing in the old rogue, Archimedes, would see an extra one hundred
Denari in his eager hands. Yet to lay eyes upon his two-year-old daughter, the monetary reward was all that pushed him to accept such menial tasks so far beneath a centurion of his standing. He growled to himself, but pushed on towards his destination. Lucius found the ramshackle frontage, stopping to rub his temples before he announced himself. Frustrated, he kicked out a stray dog, sniffing for a scrap of food. Headaches had plagued him of late. None of the poultices had worked, not even an entire night's worth of drinking could calm it.
He'd resorted to Vitriola recently, using far too much of his precious wage to acquire the addictive painkiller. It did work somewhat, but left him with nightmares of hellish proportions. Be sure and also pick up a copy of "Awaken," the first book in this incredible series.
SOME PEOPLE AREN'T DESTINED TO BE ORDINARY.
With a special gift held close to her heart, it was always going to be hard for Sophia Woodville tolive an ordinary life. As a 20 year old nursing grad, she thought she had her future all sorted.
However, destiny was about to intervene. Her secret was not so secret. The gift she possessed was just a hint of something far beyond her wildest imagination.
Sophia will be pulled, kicking and screaming, into an unseen, ancient world that challenges all that she thought to be true of herself, her family and the origins of humanity.
Original sin, forbidden love and her life in constant danger.
Will Sophia survive this dark twist of fate?
Will the devil be her saviour?
Will an Angel be her downfall?
________________________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Growing up in the burbs of Melbourne, Australia, in the 1970's, I had little in the way of technology to entertain me. I loved horses and books. When not riding my pinto pony I devoured fantasy books. I loved Enid Blyton with all the fairies and make believe. Over time, those fairies became darker as I delved into richer, more adult and scary fantasy and paranormal literature. These books mirrored a vivid dreamscape that comes almost nightly to me. Stories swirl about whilst I sleep, both delighting and frightening me. After a wonderful career as an I.C.U nurse and having an amazing family, I finally put pen to paper and began pulling out some of these stories. History and fantasy are what I love to read now, and especially when intertwined together. Anything that takes my mind away from the daily grind is fair game. I am a great fan of diverse and immensely talented authors, some of these being, Ken Follett, Phillipa Gregory, Tolkien, Julie Kagawa, Cassandra Clare, Amy Plum, Rochelle Maya Callen and the very talented Aussie author Matthew Riley. The list could really just go on forever.
Awaken is my debut novel, the first in a three book series.
Follow me on Instagram at grthomas2014 for regular updates on my current writing
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website: www.grthomasbooks.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/grthomas2014
________________________________________________________________________________
GIVEAWAY:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/050c6a3b15/
TOUR SCHEDULE:
January 16th:
Jen (http://www.happylilbooknook.com)
January 17th:
Jordan (http://www.readbyroe.com)
January 18th:
Misty (http://www.mistysbookspace.wordpress.com)
January 19th:
Wilmarilys & Melisa (https://bookalmighty.wordpress.com/)
January 20th:
Camille (http://www.instagram.com/cami_simply_reads)
January 21st:
Julieanne (http://ephemeralwriting.wordpress.com)
January 28th:
Tracy (http://www.thepagesinbetween.com)
Sarah (http://www.transientdrifter.blogspot.com)
January 29th:
Sarah (http://www.sarahinzombieland.wordpress.com)
Blog Tour Organized by: Happy Lil Book Tours
1.) When it comes to writing do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (someone who just writes by the seat of their pants)?
I am a bit of both. I always plot out important milestones of the story but do a substantial amount of flying by the seat of my pants over a latte at my favourite cafe. I find a skeletal framework with a whole lot of room to move in between allows my mind to wander far. I have had some quite substantial changes occur by letting the story and characters take charge.
2.) When you started writing Awaken, were you already anticipating writing a sequel? If not, at which point did you decide you would need to write more than one book, and do you have plans for more in the series as well?
I always knew this would be a trilogy, with a very clear destination. I’ve had the ending written for a long time so I know exactly where I’m headed. I just have to fill in all the bits in between. This can sometimes make it tricky because I have so much swirling through my mind at once. I have to keep a clear focus on not trying to put too much in too soon. Balancing out the reveal of the story is key.
3.) My readers always love a chance to go behind the scenes with the characters. Can you share any background info that doesn't appear in the story? For example favorite color, style of music, celebrity crush, favorite food, etc. about any of your characters.
Background of a character, this is interesting. I had to have a good think on this. I’ll go with Ben because he’s is fairly under-represented in Awaken.
Ben was always a loner until Jaz came into his life. His words are few and to the point. He is keen on keeping his hands and mind busy with the least amount of intrusion by others. He loves to fix things. He picks up what is broken, works out how to fix it and then brings it back to life. He particularly likes motorbikes but also loves the complexity of repairing computers. Ben eats blandly. Food does not interest him. He is at home with an open can of beans and a piece of dry toast any day. Food to him is a means to an end, not a pleasure. Likewise, he is disinterested in fashion but plain and black suit him just fine. Jeans, a t-shirt and a jacket are all he needs. He is often found wandering the local forests, secretly he likes taking Sophia’s dog, Shadow for walks when she is at work. He doesn’t advertise the fact that he has a soft spot for animals. He works out....a lot. At least twice a day he lifts weights giving him an impressive appearance.
He does however like music, hard rock and heavy metal played loud to drone out his worries is not uncommonly heard through an open window at his home. Ben continues to prefer to keep to himself other than his friendship with Sophia and sister, Jaz. He socializes with them, does what they want to do, adapting himself to please them regardless of whether he’s interested in the activity or not. He has always been fiercely protective of them both and has been known to enthusiastically pick a fight to defend them, even for something as simple as a glance in their direction. His fuse is shorter than his calm demeanour infers.
4.) Which of your characters would you most love to spend a day with and what would you do on that day? I would love to spend a day with Brennan. He’s my favourite character. I adore his wit, his light hearted nature, he is the best friend that we always want. Brennan is an irrepressible gossip and people person so I think a night out around the town, taking in the nightlife would be hilarious with him. He’s a decent and respectful guy who would keep you feeling safe whilst blowing your mind with his total lack of modesty and perpetual clowning around.
5.) Was there anything that surprised you, or came out differently than you anticipated when you were writing Surrender?
Surprises did evolve whilst writing Surrender. The biggest was wrestling with a character that really wanted to write their own dialogue. It was quite a shock. Here I was thinking I was in charge, but every time I tried to write this character a certain way it was like they were screaming up at me from the computer screen to let them be themselves. Suffice to say, the character won.
6.) Do you have any writing rituals, favorite places/foods/music to accompany your writing?I have developed a ritual of writing daily at my local coffee shop. I love the white noise of the cafe sounds, I don’t mind all the coffee too. I find it hard to write at home because I see all the housework I’m supposed to be doing Ha Ha! I use post it notes too, a lot of them.
I’ll share a little of my writing inspiration. Awaken evolved from a dream I had many years ago where I was drowning in a flood and I was saved by an Angel. From there, the places I’ve visited both around the world and in my own back yard have been rich with characters and locations that appear vividly in both my books. In particular, I adore the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne and feature them in Awaken. I really wanted to highlight the beauty of this magical place that is only a short distance from where I live. Since I began writing, everyone and everything is potential writing fodder.
*Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest
reviews and opinions.*
Title: Surrender (The A'vean Chronicles : Volume 2)
Author: G.R. Thomas
Summary from Amazon.com:
Sophia Woodville's life is anything but ordinary. You can't be ordinary when you've discovered
you're an Earth-born Angel. Alone and suddenly powerless in the stinking heat of the Daimon
realm, Sophia has been betrayed by the one person she trusted most. She must find a way to escape and continue her quest to unravel the clues left for her eyes only, fighting the Zombie-like Rogues to preserve the prophecies of Enoch. Only then can the Fallen Angels return to their homeland and humanity be released from the grip of Yeqon and his evil horde.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Avean-Chronicles-2-
Thomas/dp/0994506910/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1484549250&sr=8-1
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33146650-surrender
________________________________________________________________________________
Syracuse 212 BC
The stench of the narrow, dusty streets made Lucius wish for the battlefields more than ever. The smell of human waste rolled his stomach until the acid of bile lapped at the back of his throat. It mercilessly gnawed at him more than seeing the entrails of a dead soldier. His protracted reposting under General Marcellus was nothing short of mind-numbing. Running meaningless errands for that tyrant not only left his body lacking its former battle strength, but had driven him to the evils of too much wine and women for the lack of adventure. He grimaced with disgust at himself as he wiped strands of amber hair and sweat a third time from his brow with the back of his battle-scarred hand.
He smoothed down his well-kept tunic after a wind gust and re-adjusted his beloved sword across his waist. A gift for bravery, his thumb rolled across the top of the hilt as he made the last turn into the small cobbled street, barely two soldiers wide. The effort of dragging up his right leg with any semblance of dignity slowed him down considerably. The damn injury that saw his last battle a career-ending one. He resented this lameness and ground his teeth in an almost permanent scowl.
Barely twenty-five with a young family back on the outskirts of Rome, who were barely sustained on his paltry wage, the pressure to provide well for them was immense. He could envisage the look of shame in his late father's face when he stared into a looking glass during his morning ablutions.
This extra job though, bringing in the old rogue, Archimedes, would see an extra one hundred
Denari in his eager hands. Yet to lay eyes upon his two-year-old daughter, the monetary reward was all that pushed him to accept such menial tasks so far beneath a centurion of his standing. He growled to himself, but pushed on towards his destination. Lucius found the ramshackle frontage, stopping to rub his temples before he announced himself. Frustrated, he kicked out a stray dog, sniffing for a scrap of food. Headaches had plagued him of late. None of the poultices had worked, not even an entire night's worth of drinking could calm it.
He'd resorted to Vitriola recently, using far too much of his precious wage to acquire the addictive painkiller. It did work somewhat, but left him with nightmares of hellish proportions. Be sure and also pick up a copy of "Awaken," the first book in this incredible series.
SOME PEOPLE AREN'T DESTINED TO BE ORDINARY.
With a special gift held close to her heart, it was always going to be hard for Sophia Woodville tolive an ordinary life. As a 20 year old nursing grad, she thought she had her future all sorted.
However, destiny was about to intervene. Her secret was not so secret. The gift she possessed was just a hint of something far beyond her wildest imagination.
Sophia will be pulled, kicking and screaming, into an unseen, ancient world that challenges all that she thought to be true of herself, her family and the origins of humanity.
Original sin, forbidden love and her life in constant danger.
Will Sophia survive this dark twist of fate?
Will the devil be her saviour?
Will an Angel be her downfall?
________________________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Growing up in the burbs of Melbourne, Australia, in the 1970's, I had little in the way of technology to entertain me. I loved horses and books. When not riding my pinto pony I devoured fantasy books. I loved Enid Blyton with all the fairies and make believe. Over time, those fairies became darker as I delved into richer, more adult and scary fantasy and paranormal literature. These books mirrored a vivid dreamscape that comes almost nightly to me. Stories swirl about whilst I sleep, both delighting and frightening me. After a wonderful career as an I.C.U nurse and having an amazing family, I finally put pen to paper and began pulling out some of these stories. History and fantasy are what I love to read now, and especially when intertwined together. Anything that takes my mind away from the daily grind is fair game. I am a great fan of diverse and immensely talented authors, some of these being, Ken Follett, Phillipa Gregory, Tolkien, Julie Kagawa, Cassandra Clare, Amy Plum, Rochelle Maya Callen and the very talented Aussie author Matthew Riley. The list could really just go on forever.
Awaken is my debut novel, the first in a three book series.
Follow me on Instagram at grthomas2014 for regular updates on my current writing
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website: www.grthomasbooks.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/grthomas2014
________________________________________________________________________________
GIVEAWAY:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/050c6a3b15/
January 16th:
Jen (http://www.happylilbooknook.com)
January 17th:
Jordan (http://www.readbyroe.com)
January 18th:
Misty (http://www.mistysbookspace.wordpress.com)
January 19th:
Wilmarilys & Melisa (https://bookalmighty.wordpress.com/)
January 20th:
Camille (http://www.instagram.com/cami_simply_reads)
January 21st:
Julieanne (http://ephemeralwriting.wordpress.com)
January 28th:
Tracy (http://www.thepagesinbetween.com)
Sarah (http://www.transientdrifter.blogspot.com)
January 29th:
Sarah (http://www.sarahinzombieland.wordpress.com)
Blog Tour Organized by: Happy Lil Book Tours
1.) When it comes to writing do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (someone who just writes by the seat of their pants)?
I am a bit of both. I always plot out important milestones of the story but do a substantial amount of flying by the seat of my pants over a latte at my favourite cafe. I find a skeletal framework with a whole lot of room to move in between allows my mind to wander far. I have had some quite substantial changes occur by letting the story and characters take charge.
2.) When you started writing Awaken, were you already anticipating writing a sequel? If not, at which point did you decide you would need to write more than one book, and do you have plans for more in the series as well?
I always knew this would be a trilogy, with a very clear destination. I’ve had the ending written for a long time so I know exactly where I’m headed. I just have to fill in all the bits in between. This can sometimes make it tricky because I have so much swirling through my mind at once. I have to keep a clear focus on not trying to put too much in too soon. Balancing out the reveal of the story is key.
3.) My readers always love a chance to go behind the scenes with the characters. Can you share any background info that doesn't appear in the story? For example favorite color, style of music, celebrity crush, favorite food, etc. about any of your characters.
Background of a character, this is interesting. I had to have a good think on this. I’ll go with Ben because he’s is fairly under-represented in Awaken.
Ben was always a loner until Jaz came into his life. His words are few and to the point. He is keen on keeping his hands and mind busy with the least amount of intrusion by others. He loves to fix things. He picks up what is broken, works out how to fix it and then brings it back to life. He particularly likes motorbikes but also loves the complexity of repairing computers. Ben eats blandly. Food does not interest him. He is at home with an open can of beans and a piece of dry toast any day. Food to him is a means to an end, not a pleasure. Likewise, he is disinterested in fashion but plain and black suit him just fine. Jeans, a t-shirt and a jacket are all he needs. He is often found wandering the local forests, secretly he likes taking Sophia’s dog, Shadow for walks when she is at work. He doesn’t advertise the fact that he has a soft spot for animals. He works out....a lot. At least twice a day he lifts weights giving him an impressive appearance.
He does however like music, hard rock and heavy metal played loud to drone out his worries is not uncommonly heard through an open window at his home. Ben continues to prefer to keep to himself other than his friendship with Sophia and sister, Jaz. He socializes with them, does what they want to do, adapting himself to please them regardless of whether he’s interested in the activity or not. He has always been fiercely protective of them both and has been known to enthusiastically pick a fight to defend them, even for something as simple as a glance in their direction. His fuse is shorter than his calm demeanour infers.
4.) Which of your characters would you most love to spend a day with and what would you do on that day? I would love to spend a day with Brennan. He’s my favourite character. I adore his wit, his light hearted nature, he is the best friend that we always want. Brennan is an irrepressible gossip and people person so I think a night out around the town, taking in the nightlife would be hilarious with him. He’s a decent and respectful guy who would keep you feeling safe whilst blowing your mind with his total lack of modesty and perpetual clowning around.
5.) Was there anything that surprised you, or came out differently than you anticipated when you were writing Surrender?
Surprises did evolve whilst writing Surrender. The biggest was wrestling with a character that really wanted to write their own dialogue. It was quite a shock. Here I was thinking I was in charge, but every time I tried to write this character a certain way it was like they were screaming up at me from the computer screen to let them be themselves. Suffice to say, the character won.
6.) Do you have any writing rituals, favorite places/foods/music to accompany your writing?I have developed a ritual of writing daily at my local coffee shop. I love the white noise of the cafe sounds, I don’t mind all the coffee too. I find it hard to write at home because I see all the housework I’m supposed to be doing Ha Ha! I use post it notes too, a lot of them.
I’ll share a little of my writing inspiration. Awaken evolved from a dream I had many years ago where I was drowning in a flood and I was saved by an Angel. From there, the places I’ve visited both around the world and in my own back yard have been rich with characters and locations that appear vividly in both my books. In particular, I adore the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne and feature them in Awaken. I really wanted to highlight the beauty of this magical place that is only a short distance from where I live. Since I began writing, everyone and everything is potential writing fodder.
*Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest
reviews and opinions.*
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Kindness Matters
It's a simple thought, really. Through every age, every era, every part of the world, if we take a closer look at people, not politics, we can see the truth shining up at us. We are not a world made of politics, scored by border lines, races, and religions. We are a world full of people. People who live their lives every day, through good times and bad, war and peace, prosperity and poverty, sorrow and joy. While history may chose to focus on the battles and rebellions that shaped our modern governments and divisions, it is our humanity that continues to draw us together.
I started out 2017 full of inexplicable hope. The number 17 is one of my favorite numbers, you see, and so I wanted to truly believe that this would be a year that would be somehow more amazing. But thus far, well, let's just say, not so much amazing. From frozen weather that shut down the city where my business is, to protests that have continued to divide, to the continued daily struggle of figuring out all the "what next" decisions we are facing, it has honestly been hard.
I was encouraged through a challenge on Bookstagram (the obsessive lovers of books portion of Instagram) to choose a word for this year, and in my desire for positivity, I picked the word "Believe." I've put aside my naivety, but I refuse to completely give up on the dream that despite the challenges we all face, I will believe that things can be better. I will believe that I can push myself forward every day to be more of the person I want to be. I will believe that despite the things that appear to divide, we are all people, and we all matter. Kindness matters.
That is really the core of the book I published back in October. It is so easy to see what we want to see in others and in ourselves, but is that really fair? Are we really allowing people to be who they genuinely are? And if they exhibit their true selves, are we willing to accept and love them, even if we don't agree with them or the decisions they make? Does kindness really matter?
Well, this morning, I experienced kindness in a simple but compelling way. I was out of coffee creamer, and so I decided to pick up a Dutch Bros coffee on the way into work. (Yeah, I like my coffee to taste like candy.) After waiting patiently in line, my punch card and money ready to go, I was greeted by a smiling girl handing me my coffee and explaining that the gentleman in front of me had paid for my drink. And here's the thing, this is not the first time this has happened to me. Even as I was sitting in line I had been remembering the kind soul who had done that very thing for me a couple of months ago when I was on my way to a book signing event. It touched me then, and it touched me again today. I will never see either of those people and know who they are, but their kindness mattered to me, more than they will probably ever even realize.
So wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, whatever your abilities, just remember that even the smallest acts of kindness really do matter.
I started out 2017 full of inexplicable hope. The number 17 is one of my favorite numbers, you see, and so I wanted to truly believe that this would be a year that would be somehow more amazing. But thus far, well, let's just say, not so much amazing. From frozen weather that shut down the city where my business is, to protests that have continued to divide, to the continued daily struggle of figuring out all the "what next" decisions we are facing, it has honestly been hard.
I was encouraged through a challenge on Bookstagram (the obsessive lovers of books portion of Instagram) to choose a word for this year, and in my desire for positivity, I picked the word "Believe." I've put aside my naivety, but I refuse to completely give up on the dream that despite the challenges we all face, I will believe that things can be better. I will believe that I can push myself forward every day to be more of the person I want to be. I will believe that despite the things that appear to divide, we are all people, and we all matter. Kindness matters.
That is really the core of the book I published back in October. It is so easy to see what we want to see in others and in ourselves, but is that really fair? Are we really allowing people to be who they genuinely are? And if they exhibit their true selves, are we willing to accept and love them, even if we don't agree with them or the decisions they make? Does kindness really matter?
Well, this morning, I experienced kindness in a simple but compelling way. I was out of coffee creamer, and so I decided to pick up a Dutch Bros coffee on the way into work. (Yeah, I like my coffee to taste like candy.) After waiting patiently in line, my punch card and money ready to go, I was greeted by a smiling girl handing me my coffee and explaining that the gentleman in front of me had paid for my drink. And here's the thing, this is not the first time this has happened to me. Even as I was sitting in line I had been remembering the kind soul who had done that very thing for me a couple of months ago when I was on my way to a book signing event. It touched me then, and it touched me again today. I will never see either of those people and know who they are, but their kindness mattered to me, more than they will probably ever even realize.
So wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, whatever your abilities, just remember that even the smallest acts of kindness really do matter.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Betraying Xaverique Blog Tour
On time this time! Wahoo! I'm trying to cram this in before things get busy here at work. I'm about 80% through with this book, and so wish I could just sit and read, but tisn't the season for free time :P At least I managed to get this put together, so hopefully I can copy and paste it all before we get busy again. Loving this story, by the way. I really liked the first one, and book two does not disappoint!
Title: Betraying Xaverique
Author: Karyn Sepulveda
Summary from Amazon.com: Gabby Valis is a Xaverique. Sois the boy she loves, Noah; he’s also her enemy. Gabby and her family are once again thrown into battle with Zlanythe and his crew after they seek revenge by killing one of their own. To defeat evil though, one must first understand it and delving into Zlanythe’s past initiates the ultimate fight between good and evil. ‘Before this week ends, I will lose three people I love. Two will die and one will succumb to the darkness that has been assailing them for so long. If I went back in time, I’m not sure there’s a thing I could have done to stop any of it.’
Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Betraying-Xaverique-Karyn-Sepulveda-
ebook/dp/B01N2KAFQ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481518725&sr=8-
1&keywords=betraying+xaverique
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33153601-betraying-xaverique
EXCERPT:
This excerpt is taken from www.karynsepulveda.com
Prologue March 1961, Sydney
Sophia gripped the metal handrail, watching the veins in her thin hands pulsate rhythmically. Soon, the flow of blood would stop, she thought. She would never have to worry about the fighting, the screaming, the hatred, ever again. Sophia closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air. It smelled oftrees, of rain and of peace. She wasn’t scared now; the pain would soon be gone. She would soon be gone. Sophia opened her eyes, gazing at the thick bush that filled the deep valley beneath her. She quickly glanced behind her, to make sure no-one was around. She didn’t want to traumatise anyone by dying in front of them. But the bridge was deserted. Sophia looked straight up into the drizzly grey sky and then she simply stepped off. As she fell, Sophia didn’t think of anything. Her life didn’t flash before her eyes; she didn’t feel regret or fear. She just fell; completely aware of the wind rushing through her, the tiny droplets of rain splattering her face, the weightlessness of her empty stomach and then... Nothing. It was over. ‘Hold still. Don’t try to move. Not yet.’ A deep voice filled the darkness. Sophia was thrashing
about, lying amidst broken branches and thick wet grass. Her arms and legs seemed to be moving by themselves. Her back arched, creating a nauseating crunch. She opened her eyes, but everything was blurry. She managed to focus on her hand, staring at the blue veins that had not changed. She was still alive. How? ‘OK, now, let’s take it slowly. Can you try to sit up?’
That voice again.
Sophia squinted. Someone was hunched over, cradling her in his slender arms. The stranger brushed the hair from her eyes and helped ease her to a sitting position. Their faces were close now and hewas wiping something wet from her cheeks. He was an angel, she realised. He had to be. All the crap she’d gone through in her life had been worth it. She was in heaven and this was an angel greeting her. ‘Well, you must beOKif you’re smiling. I’m Nathan; it’s nice to meet you, Sophia.’ The angel put his arm around Sophia and guided her to her feet. Sophia looked down at her body. She was soaked, muddy, and her clothes ripped to shreds. But there was not a scratch on her. She’d felt crushing pain for a moment, she remembered, before she’d blacked out. But now, here in heaven, everything was OK. Sophia, for the first time in many years, felt OK. She must have been smiling again because the angel was smiling too. ‘Sophia, do you feel OK? ’he asked.
She nodded her head. ‘Are we going to stay here?’ She asked, wondering where the fluffy white clouds she’d heard about in primary school were. ‘No, I’m going to take you back to my place. Is that OK?’
‘Is it a cloud?’ Sophia asked as Nathan took her hand in his and began walking up the steep, bushy wall of the valley.
Nathan chuckled. ‘No, just a regular flat I’m afraid. Are you sure you’re OK? How much do you know about transitioning? Physically, you regenerated perfectly. But it must be a lot to absorb.’Transitioning, regenerating – what funny ways to describe death, Sophia thought. ‘I’m OK. I wanted this. I didn’t want to live anymore, so I guess that’s why I regenerated ortransitioned or whatever so well. I’m happy tobe dead. I didn’t think it would feel so, real.’
Nathan stopped walking and turned to face her. He was higher up and toweredover Sophia, but there was not a single intimidating feature in this man. Everything about him was gentle and calm. His soft brown hair fell easily around his delicate face. And blue eyes that Sophia imagined herself swimming in radiated kindness. Sophia felt an odd sensation around him; trust. ‘
Sophia, you’re not dead. You’re sixteen today, you’ve transitioned.’
‘I jumped from a bridge. I’m dead,’ Sophia said. Of course she had tobe dead. But as Nathan shook his head, she couldn’t explain why she knew that she wasn’t. That something else had happened.
‘You’re not dead,’ Nathan repeated. ‘Actually, your real life has just begun. You’re a Xaverique, Sophia.’
March 1963, Sydney
Sophia held Nathan tightly. ‘Why do you have to go?’
Nathan wrapped his arms around Sophia. ‘I’m going to the shops, we need groceries.’
‘We can survive without food, we’re strong enough,’ Sophia said and kissed Nathan firmly on the lips. He returned her kiss, but pulled away when she started running her fingers through his hair.
‘Soph, I’m hungry. I’ll be back in an hour OK?’
Sophia sighed loudly and threw herself onto the huge bed. She laid her head on the soft pillow. ‘Fine, but get me some chocolate.’
Nathan laughed and kissed her on the forehead. ‘I forget how young you are sometimes. Chocolate it is.’
Sophia sat up and threw one of the pillows at him. ‘Eighteen is not that young!’
‘Of course it isn’t.’ Nathan threw the pillow back and Sophia ducked. ‘I’ll see you soon,’ Nathan said and whistled ashe closed the door to their apartment behind him.
Sophia smiled and lay back down on the comfortable bed. She still wasn’t used to feeling so happy. She and Nathan had been living together for over two years, ever since the day he found her broken, under the bridge. She could barely remember the desperate misery she had felt during the days before she decided to jump. The life she’d had before Nathan was now just a blur. She continued to smile as she ran a hot bath and began undressing. As she slipped her dress off and stepped into the steaming water, she thought about Nathan’s eyes. They were blue, but not just any blue; they were the dark blue of the ocean. Every time she looked into them she felt she would always be happy. Sophia bunched up a dry hand towel and placed it under her head to act as a pillow as she lay in the lavender-scented bath. She breathed in deeply and felt happiness reach every part of her body. Yes, she was undoubtedly the luckiest Xaverique that ever existed.
Sophia woke with a start. The water was cold and the bathroom had darkened. She was shivering and reached for a towel. She wrapped it around her body and rubbed at her arms, trying to warm up. She heard the front door close. ‘Nathan?’
Sophia called out and opened the bathroom door. Nathan was standing in the entrance. He was looking around the apartment. ‘Sophia, ah, hello,’he said in his deep voice. He had no shopping bags with him. ‘Where’s the groceries?’
‘Oh,’ Nathan glanced at his empty hands. He looked up again and this time he smiled. ‘I must have forgotten them.’
‘But you were so hungry. Did you eat out? Where have you been?’
‘I had something to attend to.’ Nathan walked slowly towards Sophia and she got the goose bumps. She wasn’t sure ifit was because she was still cold from the bath or if it was a warning. Something about Nathan was different. He stood in front of her and looked her up and down. She pulled the towel tighter and shivered. ‘So what did you do?’ she asked again.
Nathan glared at her. ‘None of your business.’
Sophia took a step back. Something was very wrong. Nathan had never spoken to her like that before. His voice was different too; it was coarse and cold. He threw his head back and laughed. ‘Take a joke will you? Actually, I think I will go back out and eat. See you.’
He looked into her eyes for a moment, then turned and stormed out. Sophia’s body froze, as she realised his eyes were no longer blue; they were black.
Before this week ends, I will lose three people I love. Two will die and one will succumb to the darkness that has been assailing them for so long. If I went back in time, I’m not sure there’s a thing I could have done to stop any of it. The guilt lies with one person; Sophia. And I will never forgive her.
Click HERE to read Chapters 1 & 2
About the Author
Karyn comes from a background in teaching and theatre. Teaching drama, and writing and directing Theatre in Education productions. She’s always loved creating stories and characters, so completed a Masters in Creative Writing at Macquarie University. It was here that her journey of writing Choosing Xaverique began. Now, six years later, she is just a little bit thrilled it has finally been published! Karyn is currently working on the sequel to Choosing
Xaverique, slated for production later this year.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website:
http://www.karynsepulveda.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/karynmsepulveda/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/karyn_sep/
________________________________
GIVEAWAY:
a
Rafflecopter giveaway
TOUR SCHEDULE:
December 12th:
Jen (http://www.happylilbooknook.com)
December 13th:
Sarah (http://www.transientdrifter.blogspot.com)
December 14th:
Priyanka (http://abooklionshideaway.blogspot.in)
December 15th:
Maia (http://silver-dagger-scriptorium.weebly.com/)
December 16th:
Jordan (http://www.readbyroe.com)
December 17th:
Suhani (https://nicheofabooknerd.wordpress.com)
December 18th:
Misty (http://www.mistysbookspace.wordpress.com)
Blog Tour Organized by:
Happy Lil Book Tours
*Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest reviews and opinions.*
Now for my favorite part, the Author Interview :)
1. How long did you take off before writing book 2? Was it hard to get back into the characters of did it feel like coming back to hang out with friends?
I wrote the bones of book 2 (about 25,000 words) just months after completing my final draft of Choosing Xaverique - so about five years ago now. I didn't read it again until after Choosing Xaverique had been published (early 2016) and it honestly felt like reading someone else's book, I didn't remember writing most of it. So that made editing a lot of fun, as it was all fresh and new. I absolutely loved returning to my characters and creating more of their story. They certainly felt like old friends.
2. I noticed on Instagram that you think you're done with this series after book two. Is there any possibility that you might leave things open enough that you could come back and revisit the series in the future, or at least tell more about other Xaveriques?
I was originally planning to write a third book in the series and did write some rough plans for one. But not long ago I had a very strong feeling that I should end the story with book two. I had the idea for the epilogue and wrote it in one sitting. I'm so content with how my story ends, so, while I'll miss my Xaverique characters, it's time to leave them alone :)
3. I am really enjoying learning more about the history of the Xaveriques. What inspired you to create this unusual group of super humans?
I don't know! I just had that initial idea of a young girl finding out she had powers once she dies and comes back to life and the species has evolved from there. Writing the history pieces was so enjoyable - but I wrote them all separately, so fitting them into the novel in a sequence that made sense felt like attempting an impossible puzzle. I still can't believe I managed it!
4. What most appeals to you about the idea of being a Xaverique?
Gabby's ability to heal is the most appealing element of being a Xaverique to me - wouldn't that be an incredible power to have.
5. Are you working on any other story projects?
I am just about to start my newest project - it will be a novel in a completely different style. It's all just ideas swirling around in my mind at the moment and a whole lot of notes in my book.
Title: Betraying Xaverique
Author: Karyn Sepulveda
Summary from Amazon.com: Gabby Valis is a Xaverique. Sois the boy she loves, Noah; he’s also her enemy. Gabby and her family are once again thrown into battle with Zlanythe and his crew after they seek revenge by killing one of their own. To defeat evil though, one must first understand it and delving into Zlanythe’s past initiates the ultimate fight between good and evil. ‘Before this week ends, I will lose three people I love. Two will die and one will succumb to the darkness that has been assailing them for so long. If I went back in time, I’m not sure there’s a thing I could have done to stop any of it.’
Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Betraying-Xaverique-Karyn-Sepulveda-
ebook/dp/B01N2KAFQ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481518725&sr=8-
1&keywords=betraying+xaverique
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33153601-betraying-xaverique
EXCERPT:
This excerpt is taken from www.karynsepulveda.com
Prologue March 1961, Sydney
Sophia gripped the metal handrail, watching the veins in her thin hands pulsate rhythmically. Soon, the flow of blood would stop, she thought. She would never have to worry about the fighting, the screaming, the hatred, ever again. Sophia closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air. It smelled oftrees, of rain and of peace. She wasn’t scared now; the pain would soon be gone. She would soon be gone. Sophia opened her eyes, gazing at the thick bush that filled the deep valley beneath her. She quickly glanced behind her, to make sure no-one was around. She didn’t want to traumatise anyone by dying in front of them. But the bridge was deserted. Sophia looked straight up into the drizzly grey sky and then she simply stepped off. As she fell, Sophia didn’t think of anything. Her life didn’t flash before her eyes; she didn’t feel regret or fear. She just fell; completely aware of the wind rushing through her, the tiny droplets of rain splattering her face, the weightlessness of her empty stomach and then... Nothing. It was over. ‘Hold still. Don’t try to move. Not yet.’ A deep voice filled the darkness. Sophia was thrashing
about, lying amidst broken branches and thick wet grass. Her arms and legs seemed to be moving by themselves. Her back arched, creating a nauseating crunch. She opened her eyes, but everything was blurry. She managed to focus on her hand, staring at the blue veins that had not changed. She was still alive. How? ‘OK, now, let’s take it slowly. Can you try to sit up?’
That voice again.
Sophia squinted. Someone was hunched over, cradling her in his slender arms. The stranger brushed the hair from her eyes and helped ease her to a sitting position. Their faces were close now and hewas wiping something wet from her cheeks. He was an angel, she realised. He had to be. All the crap she’d gone through in her life had been worth it. She was in heaven and this was an angel greeting her. ‘Well, you must beOKif you’re smiling. I’m Nathan; it’s nice to meet you, Sophia.’ The angel put his arm around Sophia and guided her to her feet. Sophia looked down at her body. She was soaked, muddy, and her clothes ripped to shreds. But there was not a scratch on her. She’d felt crushing pain for a moment, she remembered, before she’d blacked out. But now, here in heaven, everything was OK. Sophia, for the first time in many years, felt OK. She must have been smiling again because the angel was smiling too. ‘Sophia, do you feel OK? ’he asked.
She nodded her head. ‘Are we going to stay here?’ She asked, wondering where the fluffy white clouds she’d heard about in primary school were. ‘No, I’m going to take you back to my place. Is that OK?’
‘Is it a cloud?’ Sophia asked as Nathan took her hand in his and began walking up the steep, bushy wall of the valley.
Nathan chuckled. ‘No, just a regular flat I’m afraid. Are you sure you’re OK? How much do you know about transitioning? Physically, you regenerated perfectly. But it must be a lot to absorb.’Transitioning, regenerating – what funny ways to describe death, Sophia thought. ‘I’m OK. I wanted this. I didn’t want to live anymore, so I guess that’s why I regenerated ortransitioned or whatever so well. I’m happy tobe dead. I didn’t think it would feel so, real.’
Nathan stopped walking and turned to face her. He was higher up and toweredover Sophia, but there was not a single intimidating feature in this man. Everything about him was gentle and calm. His soft brown hair fell easily around his delicate face. And blue eyes that Sophia imagined herself swimming in radiated kindness. Sophia felt an odd sensation around him; trust. ‘
Sophia, you’re not dead. You’re sixteen today, you’ve transitioned.’
‘I jumped from a bridge. I’m dead,’ Sophia said. Of course she had tobe dead. But as Nathan shook his head, she couldn’t explain why she knew that she wasn’t. That something else had happened.
‘You’re not dead,’ Nathan repeated. ‘Actually, your real life has just begun. You’re a Xaverique, Sophia.’
March 1963, Sydney
Sophia held Nathan tightly. ‘Why do you have to go?’
Nathan wrapped his arms around Sophia. ‘I’m going to the shops, we need groceries.’
‘We can survive without food, we’re strong enough,’ Sophia said and kissed Nathan firmly on the lips. He returned her kiss, but pulled away when she started running her fingers through his hair.
‘Soph, I’m hungry. I’ll be back in an hour OK?’
Sophia sighed loudly and threw herself onto the huge bed. She laid her head on the soft pillow. ‘Fine, but get me some chocolate.’
Nathan laughed and kissed her on the forehead. ‘I forget how young you are sometimes. Chocolate it is.’
Sophia sat up and threw one of the pillows at him. ‘Eighteen is not that young!’
‘Of course it isn’t.’ Nathan threw the pillow back and Sophia ducked. ‘I’ll see you soon,’ Nathan said and whistled ashe closed the door to their apartment behind him.
Sophia smiled and lay back down on the comfortable bed. She still wasn’t used to feeling so happy. She and Nathan had been living together for over two years, ever since the day he found her broken, under the bridge. She could barely remember the desperate misery she had felt during the days before she decided to jump. The life she’d had before Nathan was now just a blur. She continued to smile as she ran a hot bath and began undressing. As she slipped her dress off and stepped into the steaming water, she thought about Nathan’s eyes. They were blue, but not just any blue; they were the dark blue of the ocean. Every time she looked into them she felt she would always be happy. Sophia bunched up a dry hand towel and placed it under her head to act as a pillow as she lay in the lavender-scented bath. She breathed in deeply and felt happiness reach every part of her body. Yes, she was undoubtedly the luckiest Xaverique that ever existed.
Sophia woke with a start. The water was cold and the bathroom had darkened. She was shivering and reached for a towel. She wrapped it around her body and rubbed at her arms, trying to warm up. She heard the front door close. ‘Nathan?’
Sophia called out and opened the bathroom door. Nathan was standing in the entrance. He was looking around the apartment. ‘Sophia, ah, hello,’he said in his deep voice. He had no shopping bags with him. ‘Where’s the groceries?’
‘Oh,’ Nathan glanced at his empty hands. He looked up again and this time he smiled. ‘I must have forgotten them.’
‘But you were so hungry. Did you eat out? Where have you been?’
‘I had something to attend to.’ Nathan walked slowly towards Sophia and she got the goose bumps. She wasn’t sure ifit was because she was still cold from the bath or if it was a warning. Something about Nathan was different. He stood in front of her and looked her up and down. She pulled the towel tighter and shivered. ‘So what did you do?’ she asked again.
Nathan glared at her. ‘None of your business.’
Sophia took a step back. Something was very wrong. Nathan had never spoken to her like that before. His voice was different too; it was coarse and cold. He threw his head back and laughed. ‘Take a joke will you? Actually, I think I will go back out and eat. See you.’
He looked into her eyes for a moment, then turned and stormed out. Sophia’s body froze, as she realised his eyes were no longer blue; they were black.
Before this week ends, I will lose three people I love. Two will die and one will succumb to the darkness that has been assailing them for so long. If I went back in time, I’m not sure there’s a thing I could have done to stop any of it. The guilt lies with one person; Sophia. And I will never forgive her.
Click HERE to read Chapters 1 & 2
About the Author
Karyn comes from a background in teaching and theatre. Teaching drama, and writing and directing Theatre in Education productions. She’s always loved creating stories and characters, so completed a Masters in Creative Writing at Macquarie University. It was here that her journey of writing Choosing Xaverique began. Now, six years later, she is just a little bit thrilled it has finally been published! Karyn is currently working on the sequel to Choosing
Xaverique, slated for production later this year.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website:
http://www.karynsepulveda.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/karynmsepulveda/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/karyn_sep/
________________________________
GIVEAWAY:
a
Rafflecopter giveaway
TOUR SCHEDULE:
December 12th:
Jen (http://www.happylilbooknook.com)
December 13th:
Sarah (http://www.transientdrifter.blogspot.com)
December 14th:
Priyanka (http://abooklionshideaway.blogspot.in)
December 15th:
Maia (http://silver-dagger-scriptorium.weebly.com/)
December 16th:
Jordan (http://www.readbyroe.com)
December 17th:
Suhani (https://nicheofabooknerd.wordpress.com)
December 18th:
Misty (http://www.mistysbookspace.wordpress.com)
Blog Tour Organized by:
Happy Lil Book Tours
*Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest reviews and opinions.*
Now for my favorite part, the Author Interview :)
1. How long did you take off before writing book 2? Was it hard to get back into the characters of did it feel like coming back to hang out with friends?
I wrote the bones of book 2 (about 25,000 words) just months after completing my final draft of Choosing Xaverique - so about five years ago now. I didn't read it again until after Choosing Xaverique had been published (early 2016) and it honestly felt like reading someone else's book, I didn't remember writing most of it. So that made editing a lot of fun, as it was all fresh and new. I absolutely loved returning to my characters and creating more of their story. They certainly felt like old friends.
2. I noticed on Instagram that you think you're done with this series after book two. Is there any possibility that you might leave things open enough that you could come back and revisit the series in the future, or at least tell more about other Xaveriques?
I was originally planning to write a third book in the series and did write some rough plans for one. But not long ago I had a very strong feeling that I should end the story with book two. I had the idea for the epilogue and wrote it in one sitting. I'm so content with how my story ends, so, while I'll miss my Xaverique characters, it's time to leave them alone :)
3. I am really enjoying learning more about the history of the Xaveriques. What inspired you to create this unusual group of super humans?
I don't know! I just had that initial idea of a young girl finding out she had powers once she dies and comes back to life and the species has evolved from there. Writing the history pieces was so enjoyable - but I wrote them all separately, so fitting them into the novel in a sequence that made sense felt like attempting an impossible puzzle. I still can't believe I managed it!
4. What most appeals to you about the idea of being a Xaverique?
Gabby's ability to heal is the most appealing element of being a Xaverique to me - wouldn't that be an incredible power to have.
5. Are you working on any other story projects?
I am just about to start my newest project - it will be a novel in a completely different style. It's all just ideas swirling around in my mind at the moment and a whole lot of notes in my book.
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