Book Tour Excerpt PLUS Giveaway: Eve Hallows and the Book of Shivers by Robert Gray

Tour Schedule

EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHIVERS (BOOK 3)

So far, Eve's summer vacation has been uneventful, but when her grandparents—traveling all the way from the monster world known as Gravesville—appear at her doorstep, she learns that the URNS Director has gone missing. Worse, a new director, bent on destroying humans, has taken over URNS.

Eve and her family are no longer safe in the human world, and as they race to escape this new threat, Eve stumbles into a trap, which forces her back to Gravesville along with her family and friends. But once there, everything goes adorably wrong, and her best chance to get out of this mess is to seek out The Book of Shivers and the elusive author Sedrick Creach—the only creature who knows the secrets of the Nightmare Books. Unfortunately for Eve, searching for Sedrick and the next book in the series will reveal uncomfortable details about her own murky past.

Once again, Eve and her friends find themselves on an incredible adventure—one that involves underground battles with bloodthirsty creatures, a lightning-fueled train, and some unexpected new allies.

Hilarious and bone-chilling, this third book continues the story of an unlikely hero trying to save not one, but two worlds … This time around, though, Eve's not sure she can even save herself.

Purchase
Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

Mom's eyes seethed with anger. “And who exactly is this he?”

“The Director,” Dad said in a whisper that I couldn't even hear—and I was sitting right next to him.

“Who?” Mom asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Dad cleared his throat and gazed at Mom imploringly. “The Director.”

Though Mom was the one that could turn creatures into stone—petrifying she liked to call it—it was Dad's words that seemed to have that effect on Mom. Even her snakes recoiled at the sound of that name. “But he promised to—”  She cut herself off and flashed a worried glance at me. Then, her gaze returned to Dad. “He promised us, Bill.”

I noticed a whole exchange going on between the two of them with their eyes, and I became angry. I hated being left out of a conversation, especially one about me.

“Hello ...? Promised what?” I demanded. 

Dad placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “There's something you should know about The Director.”

“What?” I asked. I didn't like his coddling tone one bit. It reminded me of the way he'd told me about us moving here. And that bit of information changed my life forever.
  
As he decided on the words to say, his face grew increasingly pale.

“Go ahead, Bill. Tell her. She needs to know,” Mom said. She had calmed down considerably, which did nothing to help the adorable feeling of ice-cold worms squiggling through my belly. Now I knew the news couldn't be good.


Dad grabbed my hand in both of his. “Eve, you see, the Director is the Grim Reaper. And—there's really no easy way to put this, sweetheart—but when you first came to us, he wanted you dead.”

EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHRIEKS (BOOK 1)
For fourteen-year-old Eve Hallows, life can be summed up in one word—horrible. She has the most horrible friends. She lives in a horrible old castle. Even her family is a bunch of horrible monsters.

However, in the monster-inhabited world of Gravesville—a world where messages are sent through Ouija boards, jack-o’-lanterns get facials to suit their moods, and the worst thing Eve has to deal with are those annoying zombie tourists who overrun her favorite graveyard during the Halloween season—horrible means wonderful. And everything for Eve is perfectly horrible.

But her life is about to go head over heels when a mysterious group known as The Source starts terrorizing Gravesville. Now she must move to the human world—where everything is opposite ... and for Eve, that's absolutely adorable!
Praise for Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks:

"Move over, Neil Gaiman’s CORALINE and THE GRAVEYARD BOOK … make room, Lemony Snicket’s A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS … you’ve got company and competition for shelf space!" -- THE HORROR FICTION REVIEW"WOW! What an absolutely horrible book (horrible meaning fantastic!) ... This book was laugh out loud funny. I loved when Mom accidentally turned people to stone. Dad's crazy attempts at running a pizza store were just hysterical." -- KIDS 'N' BOOKS

"This is the perfect book to be read aloud, read at night under the covers or simply devoured in one sitting. Robert Gray’s Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks simply shines with all of its fun creepiness, compelling characters and stellar writing. A MUST read for any MG fan!" -- WORD SPELUNKING

"Eve Hallows is highly imaginative without being too complex for its target audience. Fall in love with Eve, her friends and her family of adorable monsters. Lose yourself in a light read that will remind you of those days when your English teacher just want you to read something, anything. This book is it. The one that you wish you read when you were in grade school." -- JOYOUS READS

"Overall, this book was fantastic. It presents an admirable role model as well as a strong family unit which will benefit young readers. When so many books right now have presented teens in a not-so-flattering light, it is so wonderful to find a book like this one." -- BOOK COVER JUSTICE

Purchase

Kindle * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHADOWS (BOOK 2)
Ever since encountering The Source and its minions on Halloween, Eve Hallows has found life surprisingly quiet … not to mention adorably boring! So when Dad receives a Ouija message that she must return to Gravesville, Eve couldn't be happier—at least until she discovers the Director of URNS, also known as the Grim Reaper, has a special job for Eve … one that will lead her to New York City and to the true identity of The Source.With The Book of Shrieks offering zero help and a new URNS agent driving the school boys—and Eve!—crazy, Eve's beginning to realize this whole saving-the-world nonsense isn't what it's cracked up to be.All this and she still has to find The Book of Shadows....

Praise for Eve Hallows and the Book of Shadows:

"This book was perfectly horrible! Horrible meaning amazingly awesome, of course. Eve's world once again sucked me in and would not let go until this part of Eve's story was finished" -- LILI LOST IN A BOOK

"This is a perfect combination of YA, Horror, Paranormal and Fun!" -- BOOK LOVERS PARADISE

"I love love love Eve. She's a strong, awesome, female character that I would be delighted to recommend to any little girl. (No sexism at play here, boys will love this book too!)" — MUST READ FASTER

"I absolutely love this series and cannot wait to keep reading the fun adventures of Eve Hallows. Mr Gray has such a fantastic style of writing and his books are such fascinating tales, that everybody should read them for the fun factor. The topsy turvy lingo, adorable creatures and imaginative Gravesville, make one horrible book." — TURNER'S ANTICS

Purchase

Kindle * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Robert Gray

Robert Gray is a writer. If that job description doesn’t impress you, how about fantasy writer? Too general? Well, he doesn’t get insulted if you call him a horror writer. If horror’s not your thing, then scratch out horror and replace it with suspense. And for the kiddies, you can slap on a YA or MG in front of that title.

Gray lives in Bushkill, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Blog Tour Giveaway Details

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/8/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



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Cover Reveal: True Colors by Melissa Pearl

Today we're participating in the color reveal of TRUE COLORS by Melissa Pearl. Wow, pretty!

True Colors by Melissa Pearl
Publication date: February 16th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Caitlyn Davis always cruised through life, not being the type to ruffle feathers or involve herself in high school drama…until a chance encounter with a strange, homeless man changes everything.

Suddenly, Caitlyn has the ability to see behind people’s masks. She discovers that her life isn’t as simple as she imagined and her high school is filled with secrets…some very sinister ones.

Unable to ignore her new gift, Caitlyn embarks on a mission to learn why one of her friends now appears terrified, but masks her fear behind a bright, smiling veneer. Will Caitlyn’s new ability lead her into hot water? Or is her new found vision a blessing that will expose her friends’ true colors?

Her quest will lead Caitlyn to lose friends, stand up for those in need, and even find love.

At Palisades High School every face tells a story…


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19367518-true-colors


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AUTHOR BIO

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan… not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. “Best. Year. Ever!!” She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has produced four more books and has a YA fantasy trilogy coming out this year. Unknown and Unseen (The Elements Trilogy) out now!

“I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love.”.

Author links:
http://melissapearl.blogspot.ca/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5314516.Melissa_Pearl
https://twitter.com/MelissaPearlG

Book Blitz: PODs by Michelle Pickett PLUS Giveaway and Excerpt

Today we're featuring author Michelle Pickett's PODs, published by Spencer Hill Press. Check it out!

PODs

by Michelle K. Pickett

Release Date: 06/24/13

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Paperback/ebook

312 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

Excerpt

“Who ate all the damn strawberries?” Aidan yelled. “I was saving them for my cereal.”

“I did. Use the banana,” Josh said.

“A banana isn’t a strawberry. I marked the container with my name. You’re a jerk—”

The container hit the metal wall of the chute with a crack. I always jumped when it did that. I hated it. It reminded me of the banging and crunching we’d heard when Cam’s sub-POD was cut off from the main.

“It’s not time for our blood checks,” I said.

“Maybe it’s strawberries. I’d really like some strawberries… Josh,” Aidan said, an edge to his voice.

“Drop dead,” Josh replied, never looking up from his computer.

David got up from the table where we were having breakfast. Taking the container from the chute, he pulled a manila envelope out of the basket.

He dumped the contents on the table for everyone to see. Inside were ten name badges, one for each of us. Our photos— except Faith’s— and names were printed on one side; the other had barcodes. David scanned the label on the envelope, his face growing pale. “What’s it say, David?” I whispered.

“‘The seals to each sub-POD will be broken tomorrow morning. Do not attempt to leave your sub-POD. Officers will give residents directions and escort them to their appropriate area topside.’ That’s all it says.”

“It’s over,” Tiffany murmured, pulling the baby close.

“Hot damn! Finally, I’m free of this tin can,” Josh jumped up and hurried to the guys’ bedroom.

Well, at least Josh is happy. Why aren’t the rest of us? I thought we’d be excited. But instead everyone looks… anxious. What will we find up there? What has the world become?

“Well, guess we should start packing up our stuff,” Aidan said.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Seth agreed, rising slowly from his seat, rubbing his hands up and down his thighs.

One by one, everyone walked to their sleeping areas and started packing their belongings— except me. I sat in the living room alone, flicking the corner of my name badge with my fingernail. The lanyard wound so tightly around my fingers they turned red. My insides were quivering, jittery. Something wasn’t right. For fifteen months we’d all looked forward to the moment we could leave, but now that the time was here it felt… wrong.

Praise for the Amazon
Bestselling PODs:

"5 Stars! I
loved this book. I have been kind of bogged down with dystopias lately, but
this was amazing. It was so cool to see life before the 'event', to see Eva
wrestle with her choices and then, to watch her change as she lived inside the
PODs...Yes, there are zombies. Yes, there's a little romance. But I think, at its
heart, PODs is a coming of age story about Eva and how she grows from a girl
into a strong, decisive woman during this period of absolute destruction. And
Pickett writes it beautifully." ~ Sherry Ficklin, author of "Extracted"

"I was blown
away by this debut novel from Michelle Pickett! Rather than feeling like I was
reading a book, I actually sometimes felt like I was actually watching the
characters' lives progress; it was kind of weird! The emotions that Eva felt
were so raw and real, and I think Michelle really captured the emotions that
one would be feeling in a post-apocalyptic world...PODs may very well be one of
the next big things in YA, so I am very happy to have been one of the ones that
was part of the beginning of it all! Congrats Michelle on your YA debut and I
am looking forward to more by you!  I gave PODs a
well-deserved 5/5 stars!  " ~Phil book reviewer at
Stack of Hardbacks

“5
glowing, sparkling stars for this one!...I absolutely adored every character
Michelle introduces us to. This book isn't just about a romance, or two people
fighting some battle. This book allows us to get to know several, amazing,
diverse characters who all grab your heart (even a few who have attitude
issues). They all held such an important place in the story… Now for the plot.
Holy crap!... Michelle did a flippin' fantastic job giving us each piece of
this puzzle… I won't go into details about what happens after they are
removed from the POD but O-M-G! The action never stops…This book seriously
needs to be a movie. I could picture every detail and already see it playing
out on screen. PLEASE SOMEONE MAKE THIS HAPPEN!”  ~Jessica of Total Bookaholic

Buy Links:

  

Also Available from:
Books-A-Million

Wal-Mart

About the Author:

I'm a wife, mother, author, reader, although not always in that order.  I write young adult urban fantasies, science/fiction and paranormal romances and have recently started dabbling in young adult contemporary romance. Reading was one of my earliest passions, writing soon followed. I began writing seriously during college where I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. Why I chose a career that frowns on creativity remains a mystery.

I’m addicted to Reese’s peanut butter cups and eat way too many while I write, have an abnormal obsession with hoodies and can’t write without one, and I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows on television. An unabashed romantic, I love a swoon-worthy ending that will give me butterflies for days.

I wrote my debut young adult novel, PODs, in 2011. PODs, a science/fiction, post-apocalyptic romance, will be released June 4, 2013 through the amazing Spencer Hill Press.  My second young adult title, Milayna, a paranormal romance, will release through Spencer Hill Press beginning in March 2014. Milayna is a standalone, with series potential. It’s meant to be a trilogy. The Infected, a PODs novel, will release November 2014. It is the second, and last, book in the PODs series.

I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan.  I now reside in a small community outside Houston, Texas with my incredibly supportive, not to mention gorgeous, husband, three amazing school-aged children, a 125-pound lap dog, and a snooty cat.

Keep up-to-date with my current, future projects, appearances, and fun giveaways at www.michelle-pickett.com.

I always love to hear from readers, bloggers and other authors!

Find me here:

Website│Email│Blog│Facebook│Twitter│Goodreads

Giveaway

First place: Signed copy
of PODs, tote bag, and swag (US only see note for international)

Second place: Signed copy of PODs and swag (US only see note for international)

*International winners will receive a print copy of PODs only if www.Bookdepository.com
delivers to their country. Otherwise they will receive an e-book. Swag will not
be included.

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Book Blitz: A Date of Godlike Proportions by Tellulah Darling

We Do Write is please to take part in the Book Blitz for author Tellulah Darling's A DATE OF GODLIKE PROPORTIONS. Take a look at what it's all about.

A Date of Godlike Proportions by Tellulah Darling
(The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #2.5)
Publication date: December 20th 2013
Genres: Comedy, Mythology, Young Adult

Synopsis:

There’s bound to be pressure when it takes 2500 years to get to a second date. Which is exactly why Theo Rockman, a.k.a. Prometheus, would rather not go. With his best friend gravely injured and the fate of humanity still on the line, Theo has all sorts of creative excuses to avoid dating swoon-worthy god and love of his life, Hephaestus.

YA romantic comedy gets an epic mythological twist in the free (at select retailers) short story A Date of Godlike Proportions (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book 2.5). Being human hasn’t killed Theo, but this date just might.

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Free at Kobo 

----

AUTHOR BIO
Tellulah Darling
noun
1. YA Novelist
2. Alter ego of former screenwriter and instructor
3. Sassy minx

Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.

Author Links:
Website: http://welcome.tellulahdarling.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6429243.Tellulah_Darling
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tellulahdarling
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TellulahDarling

Book Blitz: Wasteland by Lindsay Leggett

We are taking part in the Wasteland Book Blitz! Wasteland is the second book of the Flight series by Lindsay Leggett and today we have an exciting excerpt of the book for you to read.

Wasteland by Lindsay Leggett
(Flight #2)
Published December 7th 2013
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Wasteland, the next book in the FLIGHT trilogy, takes place a few months after the ending of book one.

Trapped in a cell and experimented on, Piper Madden’s only hope is remembering Asher. Then, Elder Corp President Rupert Elder gives her new orders: to be a leader in a war against the Harpies. Without a choice, Piper must obey Rupert’s commands or suffer from paralyzing and painful Nanomachines. But the war is just beginning, and Asher has gone missing. The resistance is slowly building, and the upcoming war will be larger and bloodier than anything seen since the Devastation that ruined the earth. Throughout all of this, Piper remembers the time before she ran to Ichton, when David was alive and her hope in Elder Corp was still strong.

Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

Light shines on me, and I groan as shocks of pain spread behind my eyes. I realize I’m lying in the corner of the cell, curled up into a ball. My hair is knotted and dirty, and almost all of the red dye has now faded. I squint toward the light, seeing only a dark figure smudging its bright rays.

As my eyes adjust, so does the outline of Rupert Elder. His suit is ebony and spotless, and gold earrings capture his ears. He’s alone, and shuts the cell door behind him, leaving us in momentary darkness before the cell’s faint lighting flickers on.

He stares down at me, an arrogant grin across his lips. He has me exactly where he needs me; weak and pumped full of whatever he’s had his techs administering into my system. My arms are covered with tract marks and bruises from the large needles. I hate what he has reduced me to, but I am losing my will to keep moving.

Just remember him. Think of how he is fighting for you. Fight for him.

“Piper Madden,” Rupert drawls. He crouches down to my level and runs his fingers across my cheek. I shudder involuntarily. His hands are cold as ice, and his breath stinks of stale cigar smoke. His many rings glint in the fluorescent light.

“What do you want from me?” I gasp. My voice is sparse; my mouth is dry. I can’t even scream as he lifts me from my armpits and drags me up onto the bench where I usually sleep. He drops me on the far corner and then seats himself, swiping his pants as if he were infected just from touching me.

“I just wanted to show you some of the new initiatives the Hunter program has begun,” he says, his voice shallow and cheerful. He pulls a small tablet from his pocket, presses a button, and it lights up. It’s a portable vid-screen, I realize. Must be new technology. I can’t help but wonder how many citizens now own one, the Corp monitoring their every move, their every transaction.

Rupert slides his thumb along the screen, then presses down. A video pops up onto the screen, and he holds it in front of me for me to watch.

At first I just hear voices; the usual sounds of rush hour in Central, but then the video comes into focus, and the voices turn to chants and vicious shouting. The video was taken at one of the town squares. The area has been cordoned off, and in the middle of the intersection, there were two people chained to large metal posts.

But then the camera zooms, and I realize that the figures are not people; they’re Harpies. Their wings have been pinned around the posts, and their eyes are listless, broken. One of them looks to be a child. Tears spring to my eyes, pulling from the last dredges of hydration I have left. The young one is a little girl, looking up to the fake sky in search of some kind of rescue. A rescue I know never came.

The chanting grows louder; the people of Central throw bits of rubble at them. Then Rupert appears. In the video he is dressed as he is now, only with a microphone set clipped onto one of his jeweled ears.

“My dear people of Central. In front of you I have brought the enemy. The ones who wish to kill and eat your children. The ones who threaten your lives every day. But we will not let them frighten us. We will show them how strong we are, that we can bring them down. Who is the superior race?” he shouts.

“Humans!” the crowd launches back. My teeth are clenching, but I can’t take my eyes away.

“Let us prove to the Harpies that Elder Corporation has the control of this world. We will rise and take over the planet, just as we were meant to!” he growls. The crowd grows rowdier.

Two Hunters march into the square in full Hunter dress regalia; stiff jackets with the Elder crest. They wear helmets, so I cannot tell who they are, but they look young. New. Malleable. Both are carrying large guns. They stand before the Harpies, who do not protest, who are not vicious or feral, but who tremble with fear.

Then there is fire. Everywhere, flames as the Hunters discharge their weapons. The flames are tinged red, diluted with augmented Hunter blood. After a few moments the Hunters back away, and once the fire subsides, all that is left of the two Harpies is ash.

My stomach turns, and I fight the urge to gag.

“You’re sick,” I spit at Rupert. He raises his eyebrows.

“Oh, really? I was under the impression that you were the one who was sick; your mind, torn apart by anguish and a disgusting affair with a monster. I am a savior to these people, Piper. I protect them. All I’m doing is giving them proof that they are safe,” he says.

And there is nothing that I can even say, because I know that is what the people believe. Everyone believes Elder Corp. What other choice do they have? To them, life is perfect here. They may live underground, but they want for nothing. They have their holo-sky and their Pure Air generators and lab-grown food, and now, they have Harpy executions, to remind them that the only reason they live in this utopia is Elder Corporation.

“Why don’t you just kill me?” I say finally. Rupert furrows his brows for a moment, and then bursts out laughing, his chuckle ringing hollow from the cell walls.

“I would never kill you, Miss Madden. You are far too valuable, don’t you see?” he replies.

I don’t see. What use am I to him trapped and broken?

“What have you done to me?” Fear pervades my voice as I say this, as I look over the bruises from so many needles. He’s been experimenting on me, I know this. But what is his plan? What does he expect me to become?

“You will see, soon enough. Now get up. Your muscles have been wasting away. You look like you’re on your last legs from radiation poisoning. I thought you were stronger than that,” he commands.

I try to stand, but my body is slow to obey me, and my muscles are weak. Rupert stands up and reaches his arms over, forcing me off the bench and onto the ground. My face lands first; blood drips from my nose.

“Now stand, Hunter.”

I try my hardest not to groan as I push myself up. Blood flows from my nostrils over my lips and off my chin. I grit my teeth, the metallic taste of my own blood filling my mouth. Once I’m upright, Rupert pushes me into the cell wall, and I slide down to the floor, the blow causing me to lose my wind.

“Again.”

I refuse to let him beat me. I can hear Asher’s voice in my mind, telling me to be strong, telling me not to break, because I’m better than that.

I stand up, faster this time. I clench my muscles, expecting another blow, but instead Rupert just grins. If I could right now, I’d punch that stupid smile from his mouth.

“You never fail to disappoint, Piper. You shouldn’t even be able to breathe from the amount of drugs in your system. I couldn’t be more proud,” he says.

I glare at him.

“What are you doing to me?” I say again, fiercer this time.

He walks slowly toward me, menacing and somehow comforting at the same time. He lifts his hand to my face, and I turn away, but he strokes my cheek softly, lovingly.

“I’m making you stronger. It might seem like hell now, but when the procedure is over, you’ll be the best Hunter the world has ever seen,” he whispers. His breath on me is toxic.

“After all of this, why me? I’m not a Hunter anymore,” I say. He steps back, only the hint of a smile left on his face.

“I’ve never lost faith in you. You have always been… like a daughter to me,” he says.

He gathers his things, and I keep my body pressed against the wall. Before he leaves, he turns back to me.

“I want you to work on your strength, every day. The stronger you get, the closer you will be toward gaining your freedom.”

The word echoes from his lips and reverberates throughout my body. Freedom. Is there such a thing?

He leaves, closing the door behind me. Soon my next meal will come; I’ve lost count of what time it is, so every meal is the same. Then Evan will come and administer the drugs, and my world will reset.

But what Rupert said doesn’t leave me. I can almost taste fresh air on my tongue; real fresh air, damp and drizzling from the sky.

And even though my body aches and my face is bloody, I start to work it, to gain back the strength I have lost. If it means freedom, I would do anything. But in the back of my mind, I know that this freedom will come with a steep price, and I need to be ready to pay it, or flee.

AUTHOR BIO:
Nearly every writer struggles to put together information about themselves, perhaps because we’re so used to detailing the lives and ways of others. For the most part I am a writer, editor, photographer, and all-around artist living in the wilds north of Toronto, Ontario. I thrive on the juxtaposition of beauty and grit, enjoy urban crawls, indie everything, and time well-spent in the woods.

Author Links:
Website / Goodreads / Twitter

Interview With R. Barri Flowers + GIVEAWAY

We Do Write is happy to be a part of the OUT FOR BLOOD blog tour and today we happen to have the author of the series, R. Barri Flowers, here answering questions. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy.

Welcome to We Do Write! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hello. I am an award winning, bestselling author with more than seventy published books, including fiction and nonfiction. I love to travel with my wife, play tennis, watch foreign television series and movies, and read history books and contemporary fiction.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing for more than two decades now. Started off writing short stories and graduated into books, which I now write full time.

Tell us about OUT FOR BLOOD. What’s the story about?

OUT FOR BLOOD is the sequel to COUNT DRACULA’S TEENAGE DAUGHTER, the first novel in
the Transylvanica High series.

Sixteen-year-old honor student Kula Lockhart is in her second year at Transylvanica High School in Harbor Heights, Michigan. It is one of several integrated pilot schools across the country where human and vampire students peacefully coexist.

Kula recently learned that she is the half human, half vampire daughter of Count Dracula. This has made her a target for those who hate her powerful Dad and vamps in general.

As she comes to terms with her heritage and newfound abilities, things begin to heat up between Kula and her mortal boyfriend, Eriq Pratt. She also has her vamp guardians Ivan and Amelia, as well as several human and vampire friends, to balance her evolving life and times.

When Kula suddenly finds herself being pursued by a new handsome half vamp at school, Sebastian LeBlanc, she is strangely drawn to him, even if her heart belongs to Eriq. Yet Kula can’t help but wonder if it is more than coincidence that Sebastian just happened to arrive in town at around the same time that a vampire or vampires began killing humans. Could Sebastian be behind these vicious attacks?

Another new vampire, Gabryela Roswell, befriends Kula, but has a hidden agenda.

In the meantime, Kula has competition from an attractive human girl, Yvonne Elwood, who has her eye on Eriq. She also has to deal with the gorgeous and mean-spirited cheerleader vamp, Jacquelyn Brossard, a member of the rival Doerzic clan.

As Kula grapples with these issues and the changes in her life, she tries to learn more about her mother, who died in childbirth, from the only person who can give her answers--her dad, Count Dracula.

A spine tingling cliffhanger will have readers eager for book three in the series, KULA’S REVENGE.

Awesome! There's nothing like a good cliffhanger. How did the idea of the story come to you?

As a big fan of the old classic Dracula vampire movies with such stars as Lon Chaney and Bela Lugosi, it occurred to me that updating the Dracula mythology with a book series that revolved around his modern day teenage daughter would make for compelling young adult fiction.

It was fun creating the storyline for COUNT DRACULA’S TEENAGE DAUGHTER and even more fun crafting the tale and subplots for OUT FOR BLOOD.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I self-edit largely, but my wife does go through it as well to catch anything I may have missed.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A plotter, for sure. I favor developing a lengthy outline of story and detailed character sketches before taking on the novel, as opposed to jumping right into the flames, so to speak.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Finishing a novel. It is like watching a movie, where you really get into it and when it ends there is a sadness, as though it ended much too soon.

I love the process of developing the characters and storyline, then diving right into writing the book and sticking with it till the end. That is when I start to miss the characters and setting, as though real.

Fortunately, I then get to create new settings, characters, and story –that I can delve into, staying upbeat till it too comes to an end.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

My cell phone. Apart from that, a bottled water.

What are you reading right now?

Dolled up to Die by Lorena McCourtney. And after that, I will read Allegiant by Veronica Roth.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

The power to fly. I have had many dreams over the years of flying like Superman and think that would be so cool.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Let’s see... I think it was what insects are native to Arizona, as I was curious, for no reason in particular.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: blood, allow, and binoculars.

Using binoculars, I watched as the blood flowed into the stream, allowing the evidence to literally wash away.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... sitting on a lanai, sipping on a tropical drink and watching the sun rise and fall over the mesmerizing ocean.

Wow! What I would give to do that too when I'm not writing. Who would you like to thank for supporting you?

I would not be where I am today without the strong support of fans, family, and friends. As such, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and ask for your continued support as my career moves forward. – R. Barri Flowers

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

I can be found and followed on Twitter @RBarriFlowers, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Goodreads, YouTube, Flickr, LibraryThing, Wikipedia, and http://rbarriflowers.net/.

Like Official Facebook Fan Page of Award Winning and Bestselling Author @RBarriFlowers at: http://ning.it/18U48Ey

My books can be found in Amazon, as well as Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Audible, Books a Million, and Smashwords.

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Book Blast: Dream Killers by SM Blooding

The Dream Killers

“The Dream Killers” is geared for fans of “Once Upon a Time”. The first season (2013-2014) consists of 6 novellas called episodes. It follows River as he tries to escape the pirate Captain Bo, the guardians of the Sea of Dreams, the runners, the elders, and the master mechanics.

Captain Bo is after the dreamnet that River stole from him. He uses it to capture dreams to power devices for all those who sail the Sea of Dreams. They’re all the Nightmare Realm’s failures. They have no place and no purpose. Some are good. Some are bad. Most are just in it for themselves. Bo doesn’t care what price he has to pay in order to get the net back from River.

The guardians of the Sea of Dreams are also after that net, and all those like it. The nets are dream killers, and the guardian Teandra has sworn to destroy any who hold it.

The runners, elders, and master mechanics are searching for any rogue Dreamlander. They need strange gifts, anything of power they can use to bring down Dreamland and rebuild her in their image.

As River struggles to figure out who and what he is, he also has to protect Bo from the sea’s guardians, the kids he’s collecting from the rabid dreamplanes, and himself from a mysterious force that seeks to send him back to where he came from–wherever that might be.

Each episode takes River, his merry crew, and our set of villains through adventures where we discover nuggets of information that will help the heroes in the main novels (Dreamland Stories – Nightmare’s Dream). Each “Dreamland Story” novel can be read as a stand-alone, but there are tons of compelling nuggets that will be revealed through reading each book, and the supporting stories of “The Dream Killers”.

Graveyard of Dreams (The Dream Killers #1)

My name’s River, and I’m a dream killer.

The Sea of Dreams spat me out without any memories of who was or where I came from. I’ve spent years traveling Dreamland in our gypsy caravan, searching for clues. All I’ve discovered is that the all-powerful elders are collecting people like me—Dreamlanders who don’t fit in.

Then I met a man who sails the Sea of Dreams, the one place all Dreamlanders fear. One touch of those ocean waves could shred the soul. Yet, he’s like me. He can hear the water’s whispers, touch her waves, and watch her dreams. My answers are out there—on his ship, on that sea.

Somewhere out there is the graveyard of dreams.

Dream Killers will be FREE from January 8th to 11th.

Download your copy from Amazon.com

Author SM Blooding

SM “Frankie” Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and Jack the Bird. Jack has refused to let her to take up the piano again, but is warming to the guitar. It might help that Frankie has learned more than two strings. She’s added a few more Arabic words to her vocabulary, but don’t invite her into conversation yet—unless, of course, you’re willing to have a very . . . slow . . . conversation.

She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/31/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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