Release Celebration: Stone of Destiny by Laura Howard

Happy Friday, folks! It's a beautiful spring day. The perfect day to celebrate the release of Laura Howard's newest novel in the Danaan Trilogy, Stone of Destiny! Have a look.

Stone of Destiny (The Danaan Trilogy Book 2)

by Laura Howard

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Allison thought it was crazy enough when she found out her father, Liam, wasn't entirely human. But now she has to join his magical allies to unravel his former mistress's plans. Aoife wants to keep Allison's parents apart forever.

Despite Allison's efforts to keep Ethan, the only guy she's ever cared about, out of this supernatural mess, fate keeps throwing him back into the mix.

Will Allison be able to find the amulet that holds the enchantment Aoife placed on Liam and destroy it? Are Ethan' s feelings for Allison strong enough to endure the magic of the Tuatha De Danaan?

          

The Forgotten Ones

Book One in The Danaan Trilogy

About Laura:

Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known.

Interview with Jessica Arnold, author of The Looking Glass

Today we interview our fabulous pub sister, Jessica Arnold, whose debut novel, The Looking Glass, is out now! I'm so excited to read this book! It sounds spooky, creepy, and full of awesome!

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

Thank you! And thanks for letting me digitally drop by! I’m Jessica and I love writing, puppies, and fuzzy striped socks. I write YA and also work in the publishing industry, where I code and develop digital books. I am good at Boggle. I stink at Chess. My dearest ambition at the moment is to learn to do a handstand. That about sums me up.

Good luck with the handstand! How long have you been writing?

I decided to become an author the way I make most of my important life decisions—on the spur of the moment. When I was little, I swore I'd grow up to be ANYTHING BUT an author. Then one day (about six years ago) I woke up and thought, "Hey, I should write a book." Rational? Hardly. But no one has ever claimed that people who put themselves through the madness of trying to publish are particularly same.

            

Tell us about THE LOOKING GLASS. What’s the story about?

The Looking Glass is about Alice, a fourteen-year-old girl who is visiting a “haunted” hotel with her family. After hitting her head on the bottom of the pool, Alice wakes up in the hotel lobby with no clue how she got there. And, when she happens to glance into a mirror, she sees her body being rushed to the hospital. Trapped, alone, and only able to see the real hotel through the mirrors, Alice realizes that the place she’s in is nothing more than a copy, and she herself is no better. The real Alice is in a coma.

As Alice explores her prison, she realizes that the hotel she’s stuck in isn’t an exact copy of the modern one. Everything here is older, and everywhere there are portraits of the same woman—an actress named Elizabeth Blackwell. When Alice discovers Elizabeth’s bloodstained diary, she finds herself delving into the hotel’s horrifying history, a never explained murder, and a curse from the 1800s that might still be intact. And if Alice can’t find a way to break the curse before it’s too late, her real body, still comatose in the hospital, will die.

          

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Ooh! That sounds SO good! I can't wait to read it! How did the idea of the story come to you?

Sadly it was inspired by the tragic death of my roommate’s niece, who drowned in a swimming pool. She was kept alive on life support for a few days, much as Alice’s body is kept alive in The Looking Glass while she searches for a way to break a deadly curse. I also happened to be reading “The Yellow Wallpaper” in one of my classes at the time, which heavily influenced the character Elizabeth’s mental decline.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I plan like a plotter, but write like a pantser, which I’m pretty sure is not a good approach. I plot out whole story arcs and then, in the middle of writing them, change my mind, start making different decisions, and have to map the story out all over again.

I think a lot of writer's do that. What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Starting! Once I can sit myself down, close my Internet browser, remember where I left off, and actually start writing, I do pretty well. The first five minutes are the most crucial.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Unfortunately … Google. And Google always is nearby. Which doesn’t do wonders for productivity, let me tell you … even when you’re searching in the name of story research.

If only Google could search for the things we need and not let us get distracted. Right?

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

I want to write something wise and philosophical here, but honestly all I want is the ability to fly. Because that would be AWESOME.

Speaking of Google, what's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I don’t remember the exact search terms, but at one point I had to figure out how one of my characters was going to murder another one. Several searches for deadly poisons later … I think it’s safe to say I’m on the NSA’s watch list.

Oh, me too. Don't worry! Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Dead. Not to be melodramatic, but … you know, actually I’m just going to be melodramatic. I do have periods where I take a break from writing, but if I’ve stopped writing permanently, I’m probably dead or dying.

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

My website is www.iamjessicaarnold.com and I tweet @jess_s_arnold. I love digital friends, so don’t be shy!

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Review: Creators by Tiffany Truitt

 Creators, the third book in Tiffany Truitt's dystopian saga of love, loss, and survival, Tess' story delves further into questions that matter not only to a young woman trying to survive in a world that has decided her kind is worth less than nothing, but resound in modern daily life as well: what does it mean to be a family, what makes someone human, how does love change a person, and what exactly is this thing called womanhood, and how can or should it define one. Interestingly, Creators probes myriad faces of womanhood from political, emotional, and social perspectives, all within the context of a world in which pregnancy, as often as not, is a death sentence. 

As with many books that deal with women's sexual roles set in post apocalyptic patriarcal dystopias, Creators deals heavily with issues of bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and consent in a way that, at times,  reminds me of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Truitt has an interesting way of addressing the social programming and propaganda that conditions people who are systematically being abused into not even realizing they're being abused through the kind of rape culture Tess observes as a direct result of the health crisis facing pregnant women in Tess' world.  In dealing with Tess and her father's relationship, it put me in mind of Dearly Departed, while raising the question, once again, at what point does one's responsibility to one's blood family stop, and their wider responsibility to one's species begin? Aside from the social justice issues which permeate Creators, Truitt writes with momentum and energy, propelling the story from one confrontation to the next. 

Of course, as Creators is the third book in the Lost Souls trilogy, you'll want to start with Chosen Ones, work your way through Naturals, and finish with the unexpected and rather breathless plot twists in Creators. Yes, I'm admitting that I was surprised, and it was good to be surprised. 

    

Book Blast: Shadow Fire by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Shadow Fire Blog Tour Schedule

Shadow Fire

Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.

Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.

Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.

All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.

Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal

As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?

Each installment of The Light Chronicles is a standalone story.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords

Praise for Shadow Fire

"This book contains monsters, magic, majestic creatures, and a evil guy that wants to destroy the world. If you love hot guys.....Zane is all that plus a few tricks up his sleeve. Just read it!" Venture ~Amazon Reviewer
"Adventure, magical creatures, fun characters, and romance make this book a perfect read for all ages." James ~Amazon Reviewer

 "I thought the writing was strong; it had me turning the pages quickly to see what would happen next. The characters were engaging and the dialogue well-written." Lisa Temple ~ Goodreads

 "Oh, I truly loved this one! Shadow Fire, by Kimber Leigh Wheaton, is a snappy, sassy, sweet, all-that-kind-of-awesome-and-then-some YA read. I couldn't put it down." ~Sasha Hibbs ~ Amazon Reviewer

Excerpt 

When we reach the deck, everyone stops to stare at me. Trying to ignore the blatant curiosity, I follow Hanna down the aft stairs to the brig. Zane and Taranis occupy cells across from each other. They're both sitting on the floor glaring daggers at each other. Hanna hands the key to me and slips away. Inching closer, I'm careful to remain out of reach of the two prisoners. As soon as they see me, both men jump up and start talking over each other.

"Ashlyn! How are you feeling, Love?" Zane asks.

"Ashlyn, my fiery angel, you are a ray of sunshine in this dank prison!" Taranis says.

"I'm gonna let you both out, if, and only if, you promise to behave," I threaten. Both men nod their agreement. "That means no fighting. It also means we never, and I mean never, speak of what happened last night." When I get no argument, I free Zane first and then Taranis.

"Do you even know what happened last night?" Zane asks, taking me into his arms. I stand rigid in his embrace, not sure if I'm ready to forgive him quite yet.

"Only what Hanna told me," I snap at him.

"I saved your virtue from this raving lunatic," Taranis says, pointing at Zane.

"Then you decided to take it for yourself!" Zane yells back at him. "Did you not hear me?" I shout. Pulling myself from Zane's embrace, I back up and glare at both men. "No speaking of last night. Period. End of discussion."

"Yes, Love," Zane replies.

"Yes, virtuous virgin," Taranis replies.

"Taranis!" I release a menacing growl, and wince when my right eye starts to tic.

"Yes?" he asks, eyes full of mock innocence.

"Run," Zane says. Taranis listens to Zane's advice and takes off up the stairs to the deck with me hot on his heels.

About the Author

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.  

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Blog

        

Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/15/14 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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Dorothy's Dream Team

So, I decided to start a street team.

What's a street team? According to Wikipedia: A street team is a term used in marketing to describe a group of people who 'hit the streets' promoting an event or a product. 'Street Teams' are promotional tools that have been adopted industry-wide as a standard line item in marketing budgets by entertainment companies, record labels, the tech industry, corporate brand marketers, new media companies and direct marketers worldwide.

What does this mean for authors? Participation in an author's street team usually consists of tweeting, retweeting, sharing on Facebook, blogging, spreading word-of-mouth promotion, handing out flyers, requesting the author's books from local book stores, etc. Members are asked to participate in cover reveals, blog tours, commenting on promotional posts, and basically helping the author out in a promotional venue.

And I've decided to start one. I don't know how much it will help, so this is very experimental for me. I already have a few members, and I would love to add some more, from those who have great social media reach to those who simply tell a few friends to check out my books. Every little bit helps, right?

I've decided to call my street team: Dorothy's Dream Team

Interested in joining my team? I'd love to have you! Members of Dorothy's Dream Team get special access to my secret group on Facebook. They will get sneak peeks, advance notice of special events, and occasional special swag and goodies provided by yours truly. Top promoters get a mention in the acknowledgement page of my third book (and future books, too, I hope).

To become a member, fill out this form, and I'll contact you soon.

Happy Book Birthday: The Looking Glass by Jessica Arnold @jess_s_arnold @month9books

Today we celebrate the book launch of THE LOOKING GLASS by Jessica Arnold, published by Month9Books. Check out this creepy-sounding young adult paranormal, and make sure to come back on April 24th to read an interview with the author.

The Looking Glass
by Jessica Arnold

Find the diary, break the curse, step through The Looking Glass!

Fifteen-year-old Alice Montgomery wakes up in the lobby of the B&B where she has been vacationing with her family to a startling discovery: no one can see or hear her. The cheap desk lights have been replaced with gas lamps and the linoleum floor with hardwood and rich Oriental carpeting. Someone has replaced the artwork with eerie paintings of Elizabeth Blackwell, the insane actress and rumored witch who killed herself at the hotel in the 1880s. Alice watches from behind the looking glass where she is haunted by Elizabeth Blackwell. Trapped in the 19th-century version of the hotel, Alice must figure out a way to break Elizabeth’s curse—with the help of Elizabeth's old diary and Tony, the son of a ghost hunter who is investigating the haunted B&B—before she becomes the inn's next victim.

Happy Book Birthday: House of Ivy and Sorrow by Natalie Whipple @nataliewhipple

Today marks the release of HOUSE OF IVY AND SORROW by Natalie Whipple, published by Harper Teen. This one definitely goes on my TBR list.

House of Ivy and Sorrow
by Natalie Whipple

Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered, magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves.