Blog Tour: Death Becomes Me by Elizabeth Holloway @eholloway300

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Holloway for the blog tour of DEATH BECOMES ME, book two in the Call Me Grim series. I've had the honor of reading this book while in its development stage, and let me tell you, it's awesome! For the low-down on the first book, click here. Let's dive right into the interview, shall we?

Hi, Elizabeth! Congrats on your second book! Tell us what the sequel to Call Me Grim is about.

Thanks, Dorothy!

Death Becomes Me picks up where Call Me Grim ends. Libbi and Aaron have broken their vow to be Reapers of their hometown, Carroll Falls, and have escaped. Now they are on the run from Abaddon, aka Death himself, and he’s not one to let things like that go.

Without giving too much away, how have your characters changed in this book?

Libbi has grown a lot since the last book. In this book she struggles with her devotion to her family and friends and her need for survival. It’s a hard path. And when her relationship with Aaron comes into question it becomes almost impossible.

Aaron also has his struggles. But, I’m afraid if I say anything about them, I’ll give too much away, so I’ll shut up now.

What is the biggest challenge for you when writing a sequel?

For me, the biggest challenge was writer’s block. I hate it. So. Much.

I also fought with trying to condense the series into a duology, but I ultimately found that I just couldn’t fit the whole story into two books. That was the hardest thing, I think, deciding the story needed to be a trilogy. It caused a lot of trouble for me. ☺

How have you changed as a writer now that you are published?

Writing as a published author is completely different from writing as an aspiring author. First, there are those dreaded deadlines, which somehow manage to drain me of all of my creativity. Then I worry about the readers and what they’ll think of the story. Self-doubt is my biggest enemy. But I do love the editing process. I love going over the story with an editor and shining that thing up.

What are your writer aspirations for the next five years?

I’m about to start working on the third and final book in the Call Me Grim series, which is untitled at the moment. I also have a YA thriller in the works called Drive. It’s about a teen petty thief who finds a girl tied up in the back of a van and decides to follow the van. I hope to have that one finished next year. After that, I may take a break. I have to go back to school for my job, so I’ll likely have all of my spare time taken up with that for a while.

Thanks for letting us take part in your tour, Elizabeth! Good luck with Death Becomes Me!

Thanks, Dorothy! It was a pleasure being here!

T4T: Call Me Grim and Predator

 

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy, and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway and Predator by Janice Gable Bashman

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

The truck should have turned Libbi Piper into a Libbi Pancake—and it would have, too, if Aaron hadn't shown up and saved her life. The problem? Aaron's the local Grim Reaper . . . and he only saved Libbi's life because he needs someone to take over his job. Now, Libbi has two days to choose between dying like she was supposed to, or living a lonely life as Death Incarnate. Talk about a rock and a hard place. And the choice goes from hard to sucktastic when her best friend shows up marked: condemned as a future murderer. Libbi could have an extra week to stop the murder and fix the mark . . . but only if she accepts Aaron's job as Reaper, trapping herself in her crappy town forever, invisible and inaudible to everyone except the newly dead. But, if she refuses? Her best friend is headed straight for Hell.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | iBooks | Google Play | BAM | Indiebound

 

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

 

“Call Me Grim is humor, brilliance and a success altogether.” – Paula, Her Book Thoughts

 

“Okay, just the story line over all was GENIUS. I have NEVER EVER read a book like this before. It was just so original and plain awesome. MEGA props to the author. I'm still grinning from what I've read.” – Rachelann, Goodreads Reviewer

 

“Call Me Grim is one of those books that you do not want to put down. At the same time there is something about it that makes you just want to savor it - you want to know what is going to happen next but at the same time you do not want it to end.” – Mike, Goodreads Reviewer

 

Elizabeth Holloway is a writer of young adult fiction living in Southern Pennsylvania with her two teen children and their growing number of pets.

In addition to writing, she is a registered nurse, an avid reader, an out-of-practice artist, a karaoke singer, and music lover. She is still trying to decide what she wants to be when she grows up.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

The hunt is on! Sixteen-year-old Bree Sunderland must inject herself with an untested version of her father’s gene therapy to become a werewolf in order to stop a corrupt group of mercenaries from creating a team of unstoppable lycanthrope soldiers.

When Bree went with her scientist father to Ireland, she thought it would be a vacation to study bog bodies. She never expected to fall in love with a mysterious young Irishman and certainly never expected to become the kind of monster her father said only existed in nightmares. Dr. Sunderland discovers that lycanthropy was not a supernatural curse but rather a genetic mutation. When they return home, her dad continues his research, but the military wants to turn that research into a bio weapons program and rogue soldiers want to steal the research to turn themselves into unstoppable killing machines.

Bree’s boyfriend Liam surprises her with a visit to the United States, but there are darker surprises in store for both of them. As evil forces hunt those she loves, Bree must become an even more dangerous hunter to save them all.

Bree will become the thing she hates, to protect those she loves!

'Predator' gives the werewolf legend a couple of new spins by introducing the Benandanti (an actual folkloric belief that certain families of Italy and Livonia were werewolves who fought against evil), as well as a modern scientific approach to mutation and the science of transgenics.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Kobo | TBD

 

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

 

“Predator is a fast-paced, creepy page-turner! Bashman had me at the opening sentence and she's still got me. I want more!” – Nancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling Author, The Rules

 

“Every twist and fascinating revelation fell into place smoothly, with an ending that will leave readers wanting more. With this kind of originality on the page, it is exciting to speculate at the surprises Bashman will unveil next.” – Suspense Magazine

 

“Predator" by Janice Gable Bashman is clean-teen fiction at it's best. It's smart, scary and suspenseful. The main character Bree is a super positive role model for teen girls--no mater what shape she takes” – Jennifer, Author

 

Janice Gable Bashman is the Bram Stoker nominated author of Wanted Undead or Alive and Predator. She is managing editor of the The Big Thrill (International Thriller Writers’ ezine). Janice lives with her family in the Philadelphia area, where she at work on her next novel. Visit her at janicegablebashman.com.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Fall 2015 YA Scavenger Hunt: TEAM PURPLE

Eep! It's that time of year again! Time for the Fall 2015 YA Scavenger Hunt! For fans of the Call Me Grim series, I'm so excited to reveal the cover for the next book in the series, Death Becomes Me, which releases in November! But you won't find it here... You'll have to HUNT for it! :-D Also, don't forget to enter the extra contest at the end of this post!

Before we jump into the fun, here's a bit about YASH. This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!


Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PURPLE TEAM--but there is also a red team, a gold team, an orange team, a green team, a blue team, a pink team, and a teal team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and to see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Somewhere below, you'll notice I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the PURPLE team, and add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by DATE, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I'm hosting Marci Lyn Curtis for the YA Scavenger Hunt! Her debut novel, THE ONE THING, just released last month and it sounds amazing!

Marci Lyn Curtis grew up in Northern California, where she went to college and met an amazing guy in a military uniform. Two college-aged kids and one dachshund later, she lives in Maryland, where she laughs too loudly and eats peanut butter off spoons. Her YA contemporary debut, The One Thing, released September 8th, 2015, via Disney-Hyperion.

Find out more information by checking out her website or find more about the THE ONE THING here!


EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.

Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.

Then Maggie's whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she's ever met. Ben's life isn't easy, but he doesn't see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn't have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she's currently dreaming of is Mason Milton, the infuriatingly attractive lead singer of Maggie's new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben's brother.

But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future...before she loses everything she has grown to love.

And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Marci Lyn Curtis, and more! To enter, you need to know that I have 12 Halloween spooks floating around my house. Add those spooks to the rest and you'll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT

Ready to move along? Onward and upward to Ryan Graudin!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz – Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway and Into the Fire by Ashelyn Drake with Giveaway #T4T

Hello and welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway and
Into the Fire by Ashelyn Drake

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

The truck should have turned Libbi Piper into a Libbi Pancake—and it would have, too, if Aaron hadn't shown up and saved her life. The problem? Aaron's the local Grim Reaper . . . and he only saved Libbi's life because he needs someone to take over his job. Now, Libbi has two days to choose between dying like she was supposed to, or living a lonely life as Death Incarnate. Talk about a rock and a hard place. And the choice goes from hard to sucktastic when her best friend shows up marked: condemned as a future murderer. Libbi could have an extra week to stop the murder and fix the mark . . . but only if she accepts Aaron's job as Reaper, trapping herself in her crappy town forever, invisible and inaudible to everyone except the newly dead. But, if she refuses? Her best friend is headed straight for Hell.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | iBooks

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
“Call Me Grim is humor, brilliance and a success altogether.” – Paula, Her Book Thoughts

“Okay, just the story line over all was GENIUS. I have NEVER EVER read a book like this before. It was just so original and plain awesome. MEGA props to the author. I'm still grinning from what I've read.” – Rachelann, Goodreads Reviewer

“Call Me Grim is one of those books that you do not want to put down. At the same time there is something about it that makes you just want to savor it - you want to know what is going to happen next but at the same time you do not want it to end.” – Mike, Goodreads Reviewer

Elizabeth Holloway is a maternity nurse living in Southern Pennsylvania with her two teen children and their pets, Bam-bam the dog and Tinkerbell the cat. In addition to nursing and writing, she’s also an avid reader, an artist, a karaoke singer, a music lover, and a kick-ass Pictionary player. Her debut YA novel, CALL ME GRIM, will be released from Month9Books in Fall 2014.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Cara Tillman’s life is a perfectly normal one until Logan Schmidt moves to Ashlan Falls. Cara is inexplicably drawn to him, but she’s not exactly complaining. Logan’s like no boy she’s ever met, and he brings out a side of Cara that she isn’t used to. As the two get closer, everything is nearly perfect, and Cara looks forward to the future.

But Cara isn’t a normal girl. She’s a member of a small group of people descended from the mythical phoenix bird, and her time is running out. Rebirth is nearing, which means she’ll forget her life up to this point—she’ll forget Logan and everything they mean to one another.. But that may be the least of Cara’s problems.

A phoenix hunter is on the loose, and he’s determined to put an end to the lives of people like Cara and her family, once and for all.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | iBooks

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“You witness a major loss to the main character that does not involve a death, and also fully understand just what is about to face the main character. It was such a hook for me and I just had to find out what would happen next.” – Maria, The Paisley Reade


“I love finding series about unique paranormals, and Ashelyn Drake did a really good job with this one.” – Michelle, Book Briefs

“Kelly Hashway aka Ashelyn Drake has created an impeccable story surrounded around mythology, romance, family and deceit.” – Nay Denise, Nays Pink Bookshelf

Ashelyn Drake is a New Adult and Young Adult romance author. While it’s rare for her not to have either a book in hand or her fingers flying across a laptop, she also enjoys spending time with her family. She believes you are never too old to enjoy a good swing set and there’s never a bad time for some dark chocolate. She is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read 'Em & Reap Blog Hop! Tons of Grim Prizes!

All of this week Dorothy and I are participating in the Read 'Em & Reap Blog Hop! Why let witches, vamps, and ghosts hog all the Halloween fun? Grim Reapers need some love too! That's why author Lisa Medley put together this reapers only blog hop. So, if you like stories about Death Incarnate, hop around to all the different participating authors, play games, read interviews, and enter to win tons of reaper-esque books, plus a $100 dollar Amazon GIFT GARD! You can also enter to win a special prize from me (details below).

For those who are new to me and my book, here's a little tidbit about Call Me Grim!

"His icy eyes penetrate mine and a chill prickles over my arms, despite the early summer heat. I don't believe in ESP, or mind reading, or crap like that, but there's something deep in his eyes. He knows something. More than he should."

The truck should have turned Libbi Piper into a Libbi Pancake—and it would have, too, if Aaron hadn't shown up and saved her life. The problem? Aaron's the local Grim Reaper . . . and he only saved Libbi's life because he needs someone to take over his job. Now Libbi has two days to choose between dying like she was supposed to, or living a lonely life as Death Incarnate. Talk about a rock and a hard place.

In order to participate in this blog hop I must answer three questions, then I'd like to play a game with you all (there will be a PRIZE!). But first, the questions!

• What first piqued your interest in writing about reapers?

There's something very intriguing about a creature whose sole purpose is to deal with death and the souls of the freshly dead. It seemed to me that watching people die, possibly in horrific ways, and not being able to do anything about it would be an awful existence. I am a Registered Nurse, so I guess it's not surprising that powerlessness in the face of death frightens the heck out of me.

That nugget of an idea festered in my brain. I decided that Death Incarnate would be a really crappy job and that whoever had it probably wouldn't want it for long. That's how Aaron, my reluctant Grim Reaper, was born.

• What makes your reapers different?

In the world of Call Me Grim, there are many Reapers all over the world, but they are all alone, isolated in the territory they are required to reap. Reapers are invisible to the living (unless that person happens to be scheduled to die within twenty-four hours), so their only interactions with other living people are with the soon-to-be dead. So, yeah, pretty sucky, but that's the point.

• Are your reapers Heroes or Villains?

The Reapers in Call Me Grim are 100% human. And every human (good or bad) is the hero of their own story.

And now, time for you to put on your WRITER HAT for a chance to win a PRIZE!

It's Halloween, so how about something spooky? In the comments, leave the creepiest, funniest, or most horrific ghost story you can squeeze into 300 words or less (real or fiction, but please, keep it clean). Leave your email in this format: email at server dot com, then spread the word about the giveaway. That's it! At the end of the Read 'Em & Reap Blog Hop (Oct 31st) I will choose a winner and post that entry on the blog, PLUS the winner will get a signed copy of Call Me Grim, a book mark, creepy candy, and a plastic skull (US entries ONLY, please)!

An InLinkz Link-up

Also, don't forget to sign up for the Read 'Em & Reap blog-hop-wide Rafflecopter giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Call Me Grim Blog Tour: Interview with Libbi Piper @eholloway300 @month9books @chapterxchapter

Today we're joining the Call Me Grim blog tour by chatting with main character Libbi Piper. Let's get to know Libbi and find out what her "life" is all about.

Hi, Libbi! Thanks for stopping by and chatting with us. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hello! Thanks for having me.

My name is Libbi Piper and I’m a sixteen-year-old aspiring artist, though the aspiring part sort of went out the window recently. You see, I was supposed to get hit by a truck and die, but the local Grim Reaper, Aaron, saved my life. He gave me the chance to either take over his job—which pretty much sucks, by the way—or die like I was supposed to. Not much room for moving up in the art world in either of those scenarios.

He wants you to become a Grim Reaper? What a horrible job! But I guess it’s better than death, right?

I guess … if you don’t mind being trapped inside Crappytown, U.S.A., invisible and inaudible to every living person, forced to see death daily (including the deaths of the people you love), plus you have to deal with the worst boss in the history of worst bosses. Seriously, only Hitler can compare. So, to answer your question, I’m not sure.

What is your worst fear?

This one’s easy. My worst fear is knowing someone I love is about to get hurt and there’s nothing I can do about it. Oh, and heights. I’m terrified of heights.

If you could make one wish, what would it be?

Honestly, I wish I didn’t have to make this choice at all. I wish that truck just passed me by without Aaron’s help. I wish I could finish high school, go to college, have a family, and a career, and a life. I want to live. But, I guess that’s too much to ask.

If you could turn back the hands of time, what one thing would you change?

Barring the answer to the above question, I would probably go back in time a few months and NOT kiss my best friend. Big mistake.

How do you plan to get out of this mess?

I think, if I decide to stick it out with Aaron, I might be able to find a loophole. Only time will tell, I guess.

Any last words?

Wow! That sounds so final, like we’re already at my funeral! I haven’t given up hope yet, people. Give a girl a chance!

ABOUT CALL ME GRIM:
Call Me Grim
Publication date: September 9, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Elizabeth Holloway

The truck should have turned Libbi Piper into a Libbi Pancake — and it would have, too, if Aaron hadn’t shown up and saved her life. The problem? Aaron’s the local Grim Reaper… and he only saved Libbi’s life because he needs someone to take over his job. Now, Libbi has two days to choose between dying like she was supposed to, or living a lonely life as Death Incarnate. Talk about a rock and a hard place.

And the choice goes from hard to sucktastic when her best friend shows up marked: condemned as a future murderer. Libbi could have an extra week to stop the murder and fix the mark… but only if she accepts Aaron’s job as Reaper, trapping herself in her crappy town forever, invisible and inaudible to everyone except the newly dead. But, if she refuses? Her best friend is headed straight for Hell.

a Rafflecopter giveaway