There Once Were Stars Blog Tour & #Giveaway

There Once Were Stars

YA Dystopian

Month9Books, LLC

April 26, 2016

Peace. 

Love. 

Order. 

Dome. 

That’s the motto that the Order has given the residents of Dome 1618 to live by. Natalia Greyes is a resident of Dome 1618, a covered city protected from the deadly radiation that has poisoned the world outside for four generations. 

Nat never questioned the Order, until one day she sees a stranger on the outside of her dome. 

Now Nat wants answers. 

What else might her government be hiding from the good and loyal people of Dome 1618?

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Tour Schedule:

Week 1:

6/6: Fiction Fare - Q&A

6/7: The Irish Banana Review - Review

6/8: The Petite Book Blogger - Mood Board

6/9: Reading Is Better With Cupcakes - Review

6/10: The Story Sanctuary - Q&A

6/11: The Plot Bunny - Review

Week 2:

6/13: Arctic Books - Top 10

6/14: Quite the Novel Idea - Review 

6/15: The Cover Contessa - Guest Post

6/16: Cosying Up With Books - Review

6/17: Resch Reads & Reviews - Playlist

6/18: Wandering Bark Books - Review

ABOUT MELANIE McFARLANE:

Whether it’s uncovering the corruption of the future, or traveling to other worlds to save the universe, Melanie McFarlane jumps in with both hands on her keyboard. Though she can be found obsessing over zombies and orcs from time to time, Melanie focuses her powers on writing young adult stories to keep the rest of the world up reading all night.

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Giveaway:

5 ebook copies of THERE ONCE WERE STARS  (US Only)

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Shadow of Deception Blog Tour: Interview with Sophia L Johnson @AuthorSLJ

Today we're taking part in the SHADOW OF DECEPTION blog tour by chatting with author Sophia L. Johnson. Come get to know all about Sophia and her book, and don't forget to enter the rafflecopter at the bottom of the post.

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

Hello We Do Write readers, it's a pleasure to be here. I'm a Chinese Canadian living in Toronto. I have a young daughter and about to have a baby boy :) I've only began writing professionally about six years ago and I'm loving it. I do however have another job that keeps food on the table because I'm not J.K. Rowling or Suzanne Collins yet. I'm a Registered Massage Therapist and I teach Massage Therapy at a college.

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Tell our readers a bit about SHADOW OF DECEPTION.

SHADOW OF DECEPTION is my debut novel. It's a YA science-fiction although some might call it speculative since it's happening in the future with a dystopian feel. It's largely about a girl's struggle with her true nature. She has lost her memories in a plane crash and from there she is exposed to the

hidden world of the genetically advanced humans. She learns their craft and falls in love. But when she gets her memories back, all hell breaks loose. Layers of deception run deep and Kazumi finds herself trapped in a web of lies. Sorry I know it sounds kinda generic but there are plot twists that can easily be spoiled if I say too much. The synopsis on the back of the book does a better job. Oh and I'd like to share that this novel has just won the gold medal in the YA Sci-fi/Fantasy category of the 2015 Moonbeam Children's Book Award.

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How did the idea of the story come to you?

Kazumi the main character came to my mind first. I knew that she'd be flawed and a little evil. So I created a world around her and obstacles for her to overcome. I also wanted to highlight in the book the notion of nature versus nurture. Would you choose the same path or action if you don't have past experiences and teachings to guide you and you only have your basic instinct?

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I'm a bit of both. I start off as a plotter by having at least the frame of the novel thought out and who the main character is. From there I become a pantser where I'd just let my instinct guide me.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Grammar! And I think this stems from the fact that English is not my first language. I didn't grow up learning all the various slangs and different ways of saying one thing. So I'm constantly learning.
What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Nothing but silence. I can't stand even a whisper when I'm trying to concentrate. So definitely no music for me.

I'm a silence girl as well, so I can relate. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Invisibility for sure! I'd like to snoop on people. I'm very nosy.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I'd have to say it'd be a Chinese name that brought up some unexpected images. I'm currently working on a YA fantasy novel set in imperial China so naturally I was trying to come up with some Chinese names. I had narrowed down to one which was Yulin. My husband googled its meaning because he's Canadian and doesn't read Chinese. What came up was unexpectedly horrific. I had no idea that “Yulin”, which is a legitimate Chinese name meaning “Jade Forest”, was a slang for dog eating festivals in China. So there! Oh and please do yourself a favor and don't look it up.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... on my phone playing Candy Crush.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

My husband is the first person I need to thank because I practically ignored him for the four years I spent writing this book. Not to mention he gave me a lot of creative ideas. And he was the first person to tell me I can make this happen no matter how discouraged I was feeling at the time. So thank you my love!

Next I'd like to thank everyone who endured reading through my first draft. You guys know who you are so I won't list all their names here.

Lastly I need to thank everyone who has purchased a copy. Your support means that the thousands of hours I spent typing away was not a waste. It is the most heart-warming validation for a new author. And to those who gave nice reviews, your words are my driving force. Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart!

Thanks for stopping by the blog, Sophia!


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Book Launch: MINDERS by Michele Jaffe

Today marks the release of the young adult thriller/mystery/sci-fi/dystopian/romance MINDERS by Michele Jaffe. This book sounds so good, and it seems like it has everything! Take a look.

"A dark, dangerous and twisty near-future mystery from the incomparable Michelle Jaffe. Don't miss this book!"--Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times Bestselling Author of Blue Bloods

Q: If the boy you love commits a crime, would you turn him in?

Sadie Ames is a type-A teenager from the wealthy suburbs. She's been accepted to the prestigious Mind Corps Fellowship program, where she'll spend six weeks as an observer inside the head of Ford, a troubled boy with a passion for the crumbling architecture of the inner city. There's just one problem: Sadie's fallen in love with him.

Q: What if the crime is murder?

Ford Winters is haunted by the murder of his older brother, James. As Sadie falls deeper into his world, dazzled by the shimmering pinpricks of color that form images in his mind, she begins to think she knows him. Then Ford does something unthinkable.

Q: What if you saw it happen from inside his mind?

Back in her own body, Sadie is faced with the ultimate dilemma. With Ford's life in her hands, she must decide what is right and what is wrong. And how well she can really ever know someone, even someone she loves.

A high concept, cinematic read with a surprising twist, MINDERS asks the question: who is really watching who?

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Happy Book Birthday: Through Glass by Rebecca Ethington

Title: Through Glass

Author: Rebecca Ethington

Genre: NA Dystopian

Everyone remembered the day the sky went black. The day the sun was wiped from the sky. They remember the wind as it brought in the darkness; the way the earth shook and everything changed.

Everyone remembered the screams as the darkness ate those who were out in the open, those who had surrounded themselves by light, and those who made noise.

Everyone remembered the voice from the sky and the way food disappeared.

At least, that’s what I hoped. I hoped that there was an ‘everyone’ that would remember because I am not sure how many are left, how many survived. Or if anyone did.

I hoped that I wasn’t alone.

I remembered that day.

I remembered because it was the day I became alone.

It was the day that everything was perfect until the monsters took it away. Then the house went silent and the birds stopped singing. It was the day when everyone disappeared, everyone except the boy, the only person I have seen in two years.
The boy I talk to through the glass.

Teaser

I looked up as the screech of the Ulama ended, as the monster fell to the ground of my room, the dark blood of the two dead creatures spilling over my once white carpet.

I stared at the monsters as I panted and my heart beat a frantic pulse against my skin. I stared as my pulse slowed until I could pull my eyes away from the thing that tainted my room to look into the eyes I had dreamed about every night for as long as I could remember.

I couldn’t move, I couldn’t make my tongue work. I just looked at him, knowing that tears were sliding down my cheeks; knowing and not caring.

I wasn’t sure why I was crying, I wasn’t sure if it was because of the panic that still surged through my body or the joy that I felt at seeing him there.

“Alexis,” he said, his voice as deep and rumbling as I remembered it. It shot through me and for the first time in years I felt alive.

It was him.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t trust my mouth enough to form coherent words. I just moved. I moved as he moved, our hands meeting for the first time in two years as we hovered over the body of the monsters that had attempted to kill me.

I grasped his skin, my heart beating so fast I was sure I couldn’t take it. A shaking breath moved out of me, his own breath moving across my skin. He moved closer as his frantic breaths rolled over me—the heat of his breath, of his touch—igniting a fire across the surface of my skin. His fingers trailed their way up my arms, over my face, across my neck…

I had forgotten how good this felt. I had forgotten what touch was like; what it did to my body.

Everything felt like it was on fire. I smiled through the tears as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me toward him. I let him, letting my own arms wrap around him in my desperate attempt to get closer to him, to feel more of him.

I felt his lips graze against my skin, the touch dry and foreign, but incredibly welcomed. I turned into it, my fingers digging into his tattered shirt and into his shaggy unkempt hair as the scruff on his chin moved against my face.

I gasped at the prickly sensation that cut into me, the gasp deepening into a groan as his lips made contact with mine. The feeling of ecstasy I was now feeling grew into something I couldn’t ignore.

I clung to him, I pressed into him. I felt every part of him as he did the same to me. No words had passed between us since he had said my name, but we didn’t need them. I could feel his happiness in the way he clung to me, sensed his relief in the way he breathed and his joy in the taste of his lips.

I felt it all and I knew he felt it all from me. He pulled away from me slowly; his hands unwilling to leave my body as he moved back to look at me. His cheeks were stained with tears as he moved my hair out of my face and stared into my eyes.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he said again, the same words from all those years ago sounding even more beautiful.

“Two years, one month, thirteen days and a few hours?” He smiled as I spoke, his fingers running over the skin of my face like he would never let me go.

“And a few minutes,” he gasped, the sounds of ecstasy heavy in his deep voice. He smiled and I couldn’t help it, I laughed. I laughed loud and deep and let the sound carry around us.

Cohen smiled as his laugh filtered through mine like a silver ribbon. The happy sounds surrounded us and, for that moment, I was happy. I was free.

I couldn’t feel the pulse of fear that still beat through me. I didn’t see the monsters that lay lifeless in my room. It was Cohen and me, and everything was perfect.

Until the sound that would ring in our death rent through the air.

The screech of the Ulama broke through the sound of our laughter and destroyed the perfect peace we had created. The sound left as quickly as it had come, the warning received. We didn’t have much time.

They were coming.

About Rebecca Ethington

Rebecca Ethington has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then in stage with years of theatrical performances. The Imdalind Series is her first stint into the world of literary writing. Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. She was born and raised in the mountains of Salt Lake City, and hasn't found the desire to leave yet. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her amazing family.

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Happy Book Birthday: Choke by S.R. Johannes

Today marks the launch of CHOKE, the second book in the BREATHLESS novelette series by SR Johannes. First let's take a look at the first book in the series, SUFFOCATE.

Suffocate #1 in The Breathless Novelette series

Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.
For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. 

It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy in her perfect bubble. If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.

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And now, the exciting sequel, CHOKE.

Choke, #2 in The Breathless Novelette series

When Eria escapes her home in the Biome, she uncovers more about her features and specifications as a HumaNot. Following her father's instructions, Eria embarks on a journey into a dangerous and unpredictable world.

Along the way, she encounters a young rebel, Dirk, who explains he's from the Anarchy, an underground human resistance rising up against the BOTs--advanced man-made robots gone wild. Together, Dirk and Eria battle underground serpents, desert dingos, sand storms, and advanced Bots that are always hot on their trail. As they become closer, Dirk reveals his hatred of machines, forcing Eria to hide the secret of what and who she really is.

When the truth of her identity comes out, Eria is forced to become the very thing she hates the most.

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Amazon

The two novelettes will be available on ebook only for only 99 cents! The 3rd novelette in the series, Exhale, is scheduled for Nov/Dec 2013 just in time for the holidays.

If you loved Wool, Never Ending Sky, Mila, or Across the Universe, you will enjoy this mini-series.

Interview with Sean Joyce

Today we're chatting with author Sean Joyce about his book, PROJECT HOPE.

Welcome, Sean. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m originally from Preston in the North West of England, though I’ve been living in Toronto for some time, and will shortly be moving to Shanghai. I’m an English teacher by day and a writer by evenings and weekends. Literature is my greatest love, but I also have a passion for music and film, and spend much of my time hopping from one country to another.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since the age of five or six. For some unknown reason (I certainly didn’t inherit any of my writing ability from my parents – they will tell you this themselves) I started writing stories in small notebooks, and continued to do so until my early teens when I laid down the pen for a while in favour of a music obsession. I mostly plagiarised in those first years, writing my own versions of established stories such as Treasure Island and Peter Pan. I also drew my own book covers and illustrations, though this drawing ability seems to have deserted me in adulthood.

After I realised I probably wasn’t going to become the next Noel Gallagher, I hung up my music ambitions and dove headlong into a poetry obsession that lasted quite a few years, until I realised my original love i.e. writing prose, was the way forward.

Tell us about PROJECT HOPE. What’s the story about?

It’s a contemporary dystopian story set in the Zones, a troubled neighbourhood walled off from the outside world. The reasons for this exclusion are hinted at, though I wanted the reader to also draw their own conclusions. The story focuses mainly on Dylan, a nineteen-year-old artist, and his little sister, Lil. Left to take care of her after their parents die at the hands of an epidemic, Dylan does his best to protect her from the harsh realities of life in the Zones. In addition to the rampaging gangs known as hoods, who terrorise the residents, he also has to contend with the guards, the government-assigned security force led by the tyrannical warden.

By night he feeds his burning need for expression, as well as his anger at the world, by secretly painting subversive artworks on the wall. But as the hoods and the warden begin to single Dylan out and tighten their grip on the Zones, he realises he must do whatever it takes to protect his sister, and is forced to move out of the shadows and unite the downtrodden residents.

Sounds cool! How did the idea of the story come to you?

I’m pretty sure the story is a convergence of many different sources, only some of which I’m aware of. I know for sure that I was inspired in some way by Cormac McCarthy’s novel ‘The Road’, and the central relationship in Project Hope is certainly a reflection of the relationship between the boy and the man in McCarthy’s story. I was fascinated by the strength of their bond, and the lengths to which they go to in order to survive and to maintain their faith. I’m not yet a father, but I do have a little sister. And so on some unconscious level, I think I might have decided to write a version that reflected my own life experience and homeland.

I believe my time as a Library Assistant in some of North Manchester’s toughest areas also informed parts of the story. The Zones might be a distorted and exaggerated setting, but it was definitely informed by inner city problems that I see all over the country.

But for the most part, I have no real idea where the story came from. I’m just glad it did, and that it came to me first.

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

I employ a combination of the above. I do as much self-editing as I can at all stages of the writing process. At some point I’ll deem it ready enough for my very smart and trusted girlfriend to read it, along with another close friend who knows his stuff. After that, I’ll do as much as I can before handing it to a professional editor.

For Project Hope, I had an excellent editor who made a very significant contribution to both the story and the writing style. Without his help, it certainly wouldn’t be half as good.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

I start with a very basic situation or idea and go from there. I’ve never planned a book at the starting point. I think you have to let it breathe and gain its own momentum before you start fiddling with a plan. With Project Hope, I had Dylan and Lil and The Zones; that was it. The story followed from these two characters and the setting. However, once you’re past the halfway mark, it might be acceptable to start mapping a route to the finish, but even then there are bound to be plenty of unexpected turns, as well as a few dead ends.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The writing itself is rarely hard. The hard part for me is keeping out external distractions i.e. the internet, TV, people, life.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A coffee. Or else an empty cup, which signifies the promise of future coffee. Headphones, in case I’m in a public place and need to block out terrible music and/or unnecessarily loud conversations. For some reason, I tend to work well in cafes, so perhaps a few strangers chatting at tables nearby is a pretty good writing prop.

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

Most people say flying, because let’s face it, flying would be incredible. But if I had to give an original answer, I’d say that the ability to speak any language would be a fairly useful super power.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Mahatma Gandhi’s moustache.

LOL, okay. Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: gratitude, embargo, and manipulate.

The Italians were overcome with gratitude when the worldwide pizza embargo was finally lifted after some cunning political manipulation at the hands of their Prime Minister.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I’m obviously grateful to my girlfriend and all the other friends/family members who’ve always helped me with my writing. I’m also very grateful to my editor Harry Dewulf of Densewords, as well as to all the bloggers and book reviewers who are currently helping me bring Project Hope out into the world.

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

You can find me at:
http://www.seanjoyce.net/
https://twitter.com/seanjjoyce

And you can find Project Hope at:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/LCS2ZE
Amazon Uk: http://amzn.to/Mq7Qhn
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/MBDzbY
iBooks: http://bit.ly/NYu6MN
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/MNcPVq

Thanks for chatting with us, Sean. And good luck with your book!

Thanks a million to Dorothy for giving me the excuse to talk about myself freely!

New Release: SUFFOCATE by S.R. Johannes

It is May 21st and guess what that means?

S.R. Johannes’ Suffocate is out today!

Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.

Here’s a little about the novelette…

“For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes. 

If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.”

The 2nd novella in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.

You can purchase Suffocate for only 99 cents at
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Suffocate-The-Breathless-Novelette-ebook/dp/B008450Q70/ref=la_B006CBEBAQ_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1337350161&sr=1-4
B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/suffocate-sr-johannes/1110921228?ean=2940014429108

Also you can add it on Goodreads! - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13648347-suffocate

And in case you were wondering here is a bit about the author –

S.R. Johannes is author of the Amazon Bestseller Untraceable and a current nominee of the Georgia Author of the Year in the Young Adult category. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her goldendoodle Charley (notice he is listed first :), her British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.  You can find her hanging out online and visit her at srjohannes.com

Twitter- https://twitter.com/#!/srjohannes
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/srjohannes
Pinterest- http://pinterest.com/srjohannes/
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes

Tweet about it!
“Today is the release of @srjohannes’  novelette, Suffocate! Check it out on we-do-write.blogspot.com”