Book Blitz: Hold Me by LJ Baker @authorljbaker

Today we're taking part in the HOLD ME book blitz. Check out this YA Dystopian by LJ Baker.

Hold Me
Life after the outbreak, book 3 by LJ Baker
Genre: YA Dystopian Romance
Published: April 16th, 2014

Nothing comes easy in a post-zombie-apocalyptic world and Andi is used to losing the people she cares about. But when Will gets infected so soon after getting him back, she can’t accept the possibility that her life may have to go on without him. She clings to Dan for support through one impossible situation after another, and although there are some bright spots, the darkness just keeps rolling in.

When finally things seem to be settling down, and she thinks she might actually have a shot at a normal life, the unthinkable happens. She struggles with knowing nothing will ever be the same again and moving on to honor the memory of the one person she thought would always be there. But that’s easier said than done, and Andi finds has to fight harder than ever just to hold on.

About the Author:

L J lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband, four kids, two cats, and an inherited dog from hell (a.k.a. the sewer gremlin). Though writing has always been her first passion, she got a degree in psychological counseling and worked in the mental health field for awhile, which she finds very helpful in dealing with her crazy family. She is a lover of all different types of music and books, switching between genres so wildly it sometimes makes people wonder if she has multiple personalities. She is most likely to be found writing romance stories of all kinds (contemporary, erotic, new adult, young adult, fantasy, etc.) and enjoys jumping genres just for the fun of it. When she’s not writing, she prefers to spend her time reading, taking photos, or spending time with her family.

The Giveaway:
One print copy of Hold Me: life after the outbreak, book 3 by LJ Baker. US only.
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Cover Reveal: The Devil Made Me Do It by Shawna Romkey

We're happy to take part in the cover reveal for author Shawna Romkey's THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT. Check this awesome cover out!

The Devil Made Me Do It

The demons strike back.

Lily is now working with the angels to stifle the last of the demon outbreaks and to figure out how to stop the Silence of God, so life can get back to boring normality. But all hell breaks loose when she’s stolen from school and brought face to face with the devil himself. Lily has to find her way back home and to Luc, crack the prophecy that breaks the curse silencing God, and figure out how she and Luc can ever really be together; but Lucifer has other plans for her that don’t include her ever getting out of Hell in tact.

About the Author

Shawna grew up around farms in the heart of Missouri but went to the University of Kansas, was raised in the US but now lives on the ocean in Nova Scotia with her husband, two sons, two rescue dogs and one overgrown puppy from hell. She’s a non-conformist who follows her heart.

She has her BA in creative writing from the University of Kansas where one of her plays was chosen by her creative writing professor to be produced locally, and two of her short stories were published in a university creative arts handbook. She earned her MA in English from Central Missouri State University where she wrote a novel as her thesis.

She’s taught English at the university and secondary levels for close to twenty years and can’t quite fathom how all of her students have grown up, yet she’s managed to stay the same. She’s a huge geek and fan of Xena, Buffy and all kick ass women, and loves to write stories that have strong female characters.

Book Blitz: Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne

Today we're joining the book blitz for NOT QUITE DEAD by Lyla Payne. Take a look at this new adult paranormal mystery.

Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne
(A Lowcountry Ghost Story)
Publication date: April 1st 2014
Genres: Mystery, New Adult, Paranormal

A broken engagement sends Graciela Harper crawling back to Heron Creek with her tail between her legs, but finds the sleepy little town too changed to set her life right. Not even her budding drinking problem can obscure her Gramps’s failing health, or erase the mental picture of her first love happily married to her childhood best friend. To top it all off, she’s having a heck of time convincing the town’s dashing young mayor of her unfit-for-dating status.

When the ghost of 18th century lady pirate Anne Bonny starts insisting on a near daily audience, Graciela has to confront something else she never expected—being certifiably nuts at twenty-five years old.

Her brand new “I don’t give a crap” attitude makes it easy to dismiss the mysterious threats that seem to be tied to her search for more information on the long dead pirate, but when her family becomes a target, Gracie knows she needs to find out why the ghost insists on being a constant, reeking companion.

If Graciela can put aside her prejudice against people without a pulse, she may discover that Anne Bonny’s problems are intricately linked with her own. The past harbors answers could help the cantankerous spirit find closure, but she is, after all, already dead. If Graciela doesn’t move fast, she might find herself doing the haunting, instead of the other way around.

AUTHOR BIO

Lyla Payne has been publishing New Adult romance novels for a little over a year, starting with Broken at Love and continuing with the rest of the Whitman University series. She loves telling stories, discovering the little reasons people fall in love, and uncovering hidden truths in the world around us - past and present. In her spare time she cuddles her two dogs, pretends to enjoy exercising so that she can eat as much Chipotle as she wants, and harbors a deep and abiding hope that Zac Efron likes older women. She loves reading, of course, along with movies, traveling, and Irish whiskey. Lyla's hard at work, ALWAYS, and hopes to bring you more Whitman University antics and at least one more Lowcountry ghost tale before the end of the year.

Lyla Payne is represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

If you want to know more, please visit her at http://lylapayne.com

If you're a fan of Young Adult fiction--science fiction or otherwise--please check out her work that's published under the name Trisha Leigh. http://trishaleigh.com

Interview with Kimber Leigh Wheaton, author of Shadow Fire

Today, We Do Write is privileged to take part in the Shadow Fire blog tour by featuring an interview with the author, Kimber Leigh Wheaton! Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY at the end of this post!

Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton 

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, video games, 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.

         

   

Welcome to We Do Write, Kimber. How long have you been writing?

I've been writing fiction off and on for years. Up until two years ago, I lacked the drive and passion needed to finish a manuscript and find a publisher. Funny, once I finished Shadow Fire, the momentum didn't let up. I just completed my fourth manuscript.

Wow! That's fabulous! Tell us about SHADOW FIRE. What’s the story about?

Shadow Fire is a lighthearted, fun adventure with a touch of whimsy and a sweet romance. Ashlyn is Chosen by her town to go on a deadly journey to recover a stolen relic infused with the power of a goddess. Lucky for her, she has a rather capable mercenary, Zane, to help her on the quest. Together they will fight the evil force trying to obtain the relic's power for his own nefarious purposes.

That sounds great! How did the idea of the story come to you?

My inspiration for the story came from playing a few too many RPG video games—it's quite apparent in the plot.

No fault in that. ;-) Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I am a bit of both, but mostly pantser. I wrote an outline for Shadow Fire, and it ended up scrap paper. The plot took off on a major tangent and the entire story changed from the original outline. Before I start writing, I spend several weeks brainstorming and meditating on the plot and characters, so I suppose I do have the outline in my mind.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest thing for me is trying to schedule writing time versus family time. My muse whispers and cajoles nonstop, especially when I'm trying to go to sleep at night. It's virtually impossible for me to set a block of time aside for writing. If I do, I'll probably stare at a blank screen for hours. It seems I have to write on my Muse's terms. This creates all sorts of challenges like waking in the middle of the night for a writing session. My husband wants to kill me some nights when I wake him because I had some brilliant idea that I'll forget by morning if I don't get up and write it down.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Diet Coke is really the only thing I can't write without. I learned the hard way to stay away from snacks. I once ate an entire can of Pringles with no memory of doing it. I also like Tic-Tacs and buy them buy the dozens. I go through a lot of Tic-Tacs while writing.

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

I want to fly, no question! I think I'd look adorable with a set of black feathered wings poking out of my back.

Totally adorable. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I think the strangest things I Googled were all related to being a new mom. "Is green and orange a normal color for something found in a diaper" Yep. Mushy baby food spinach and carrots will do that. "How do I dislodge x, y, or z from toddler's nose and/or ear" "Is cat food harmful for a toddler". The list goes on…

Oh, I remember those days ...

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

…playing video games.

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

My family puts up with a lot from this temperamental writer. I'd like to thank my husband for proofing and my son for beta reading. My mother-in-law is my staunchest supporter, so a big shout out to her. My publisher, Astraea Press has been great. Thanks to my three editors and my awesome cover artist, Amanda. And I can't forget my parents who hear about everything good and bad— they probably think I'm bipolar with my ups and downs. 

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

Links to all of my books can be found at my author site Kimber Leigh Writes

http://www.kimberleighwheaton.com 

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.
         

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

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/25/14 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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Fledgling Blog Tour: Interview with Nicole Conway (Stop #21) @chapterxchapter @ANConway @TantrumBooks @month9books

Today we've got an exciting post for you. We're interviewing author Nicole Conway for the FLEDGLING blog tour, which includes Scavenger Hunt Stop #21! Keep reading to find out more. But first, let's chat with Nicole.


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

Glad to be here! Well, as you know, my name is Nicole Conway. I’m twenty-five years old, and I currently live in South Georgia. I’m married to an Air Force pilot, so we move almost every year. So far, we’ve lived in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Arizona, and Georgia. We never know where we’ll end up next, but that’s just part of the adventure, I guess.

Since we move so often, it’s difficult for me to have a career of my own, so writing has become a full-time occupation. I get to make up stuff all day, how cool is that? We don’t have any children yet, but that doesn’t stop me from going to see all the new Disney movies that come out. We do have two cats, Love Nugget and Mr. Darcy, and a dog named Phoebe.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I was homeschooled, and my mom strongly encouraged writing and reading from a very early age. She took time to read to us every morning—but none of that Goodnight Moon stuff. She read us the Chronicles of Narnia, Tarzan, and Little House on the Prairie books. Those were the stories I first remember ever imagining in my mind, and naturally it translated into my writing. I finished my first 700 page novel in the 6th grade. Yes, it was horrible.

Yikes, 700 pages! Tell us about FLEDGLING. What’s the story about?

Fledgling is about a boy named Jaevid Broadfeather. It’s the first step of his journey into manhood as he works to stop two warring kingdoms from destroying each other. When we first meet Jaevid in this book, he is a very small, very fearful child who comes from a mixed racial background. He’s the last person in the world anyone expects to wind up in Blybrig Academy, the place where dragonriders come to train. Normally, his mixed race would be enough reason for the brotherhood of dragonriders to shun him, but Jaevid has luck on his side. A wild dragon chose him voluntarily, which hasn’t happened in a very long time. The other dragonriders can’t refuse him entry into their academy, no matter how much they hate him. But that doesn’t mean they have to make it easy on him . . .

Dragons = ♥. I'm sold! How did the idea of the story come to you?

Well, as I said before, my husband is a pilot in the Air Force. I’ve been with him since his first day of training, and I’ve watched how it has changed him. I’ve always wanted to write a book about dragonriders, and I already had Jaevid in mind, so all I needed was the right angle. A new, fresh way of seeing them that no one else had tried yet. I attempted to start the book three or four times without success. I wasn’t getting that “warm fuzzy” feeling that told me I was on the right track, and I knew it was because I was still missing that key element. So I decided to take my husband’s experiences as a fighter pilot, which tends to be a very private world steeped in its own traditions, and marry that to the idea of dragonriders fighting in the king’s forces. Voila! I knew I had it, then. It felt right from the very start, and it was fun to write every step of the way.

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

Initially, I had a regular army of close friends who would line up to read my books and edit them. They were all very good, I think, and probably saved me from a lot of negative criticism. I also read the books over and over myself. Now that I have an agent and a publishing company backing me, the dirty work of editing has been (mostly) taken out of my hands. On the one hand, it’s a relief. But I am an extreme perfectionist, so not being able to go through it a dozen times or so before handing a new manuscript in makes me really anxious.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a little of both, I think. I have this journal that is beat up and rather sad looking, but it’s full of my ideas for stories. I usually keep maps, rough outlines, etc. tucked away in there. The outline is in my head for the most part, though.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Oh boy. The hardest part is getting past my own brain, most of the time. I have this meticulous need to be as accurate as possible when describing or designing something. I overthink the snot out of everything, even if it doesn’t really matter. I even grilled my husband over saddle designs for dragons—animals that don’t even exist—but it would drive me nuts if the design didn’t make sense or didn’t seem plausible. This is the reason I’ve never written any scifi books.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

My phone or some other music-making device. I can’t write without listening to music, and I tend to listen to the same songs over and over again for hours without realizing it.

What are you reading right now?

I’m actually not reading anything right now, unfortunately. I can’t read and write on a book at the same time. One tends to bleed over into the other if I do. But the last book I read was the Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.

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

Ooh, that’s a tough one. Probably shape-shifting. I’d love to be able to turn into any animal I wanted. Who wouldn’t want to fly to work as an eagle and then spend the afternoon leaping around through the water with dolphins?

Sure does sound like fun. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Hah! Let’s narrow this down to recently, because remember I am the girl who wants my dragon saddles to be logically sound. Um, recently the weirdest thing is probably the “walkthrough answers” for these interactive manga romance games I like to play on my phone. They’re kind of like those choose-your-own-ending stories . . . except the stories are all corny manga romances. They’re my guilty pleasure.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably . . .

. . . out jogging with my dog. I love jogging! It’s how I decompress or clear my head if I’m stuck on something.

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

I’d like to thank Katie Hickernell for editing Fledgling. She did an awesome job! I’d like to thank my husband being my constant cheerleader whenever I get discouraged. I’d also like to thank my family, and especially my grandmother-in-law! She is an incredible lady who has been extremely supportive. Aileen Looby, thank you for listening to all my ideas (the good, the bad, and the ugly). Couldn’t have done it without you all! Finally, a huge thank you to you for having me here! It was my pleasure and honor!

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

My books will be available from a multitude of stores including but not limited to Amazon.com, Books-A-Million, Barns & Noble, etc. To find out more, get updates, or participate in fan activities, look for me on:
- Twitter as @ANConway
- My author webpage at http://anconway422.wix.com/anconway
- Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JaevidDragonriderChronicles
- Deviantart at http://www.greybird4.devianart.com


Now for the Scavenger Hunt Portion of the post. The contest is based on "secret words" found throughout the tour. Be sure to enter the contest and search for all the secret words for better chances at winning.

Stop 21:  Scavenger Hunt - We Do Write (WORD = DECEPTION)

“Jae,” she started. I could tell by the tone of her voice she was about to ask me something serious. “Do you really want to go to the coast?”

I’ve never been a very good liar. When it came to Katty, well, she could smell deception on me like a hound. I couldn’t lie to her if I wanted to. I quirked my mouth while I thought about the ocean, about ships, and about eating fish.




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