A Life Through Books

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Blog Tour: Elfin Nights by @Brantwijn #interview #giveaway
8:24 AM1 Comments

Fantasy Erotic Romance
Chronicles of the Four Courts, Book 2

Date Published: May 1st, 2017

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A fae Knight’s life belongs to the monarchies, but for Finn of the Morrigan, his life comes second to his heart. And his heart belongs to his ladies.
The changeling princesses of the Springtime elves share a unique bond with their Knight—a bond that must remain perfectly secret. When the Queen of the Elves discovers their passionate love, she curses and exiles Finn from the elfin lands forever. With their guardian sent away to a lifeless wasteland, the royal changelings have no defense when the unseen enemies of the Four Courts attack, and the House of Elves falls.
To save his loves, Finn will need to break out of prison, undertake a perilous journey across the lands of Thairy, face wicked creatures, rogue Knights, and one of the most dangerous monsters in the fae world.
The enemy will soon learn what it means to provoke a true Son of War.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?
There is always, inevitably, a point at which I look at what I’m writing and think, “It’s all wrong.” In the beginning, before you get the eyes of your beta readers or your editor on it, it’s a bit like walking the plank. I’m so unsure about how everything will turn out. Is it just a harmless diving board with an exciting plunge awaiting me? Or are there sharks in the water ready to tear me apart? There’s just always a period—sometimes more than one—of really frustrating doubt.


What songs are most played on your Ipod?
Since Blood and Fire, Book 3 is currently on my writing desk, I’m listening to my “book soundtrack” a lot. That means quite a bit of Within Temptation and Sirenia, some Sonata Arctica, and a few Lady Gaga numbers, all of which have in some way helped me build this story out. The list is pretty much on repeat while I work.


Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
I have two to three “consultants” I turn to when I hit a snag here or there. I can usually get some beta readers for a short story or a novella, but when it comes to full-length novels, I tend to take them straight to the editor. I put a lot of work into polishing a manuscript before my editor sees it; I want to know I’m putting my absolute best foot forward. That usually means at least two extra passes after the book is done. With that sort of schedule, I really only look for beta readers if I’m feeling something isn’t quite right.


What book are you reading now?
I’m wrapping up a re-read of The Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks. Pretty deep fantasy with some very dark moments—today’s read included a king performing a bit of magic date-rape, and I had a hard time getting through that scene—but overall I really enjoy the plot and characters. Lots of assassins and spies, anti-heroes and just enough of the truly pure, noble, and valiant. After Night Angel, I’m not sure what I’ll be turning to. The Dresden Files tend to be my go-to re-reads, when I don’t have anything new at hand, and Harry Dresden’s adventures really give my creative side a jog, if I’m feeling a lack of inspiration.


How did you start your writing career?
I got started in erotic and romantic anthologies. Once I was accepted for an anthology with Breathless Press, I tried submitting my first erotic novel, Lotus Petals. My editor at the time decided to give it a chance, and I became a house author from that point forward.



Well, now that Elfin Nights is out I had intended to work on and submit the third book in my Blood and Fire series, titled Winter Hearts, next. But the manuscript just isn’t ready, so I’ve switched my immediate efforts to polishing a sequel for The Pact, so I can submit it to my editor and keep my release schedule active. That sequel is already written and only needs the last few passes for editing, though, so soon enough I’ll be back to focusing on Winter Hearts. I think, as much as I love writing my fae stories, and getting Finn’s book out has been one of my favorite journeys so far, the Blood and Fire books have a lot of fans who are very eager to know where the story goes. So I’m excited for that, and I hope my readers are too.


About the Author

When she isn't visiting the worlds of immortals, demons, dragons and goblins, Brantwijn fills her time with artistic endeavors: sketching, painting, customizing My Little Ponies and sewing plushies for friends. She can't handle coffee unless there's enough cream and sugar to make it a milkshake, but try and sweeten her tea and she will never forgive you. She moonlights as a futon for four lazy cats, loves tabletop role-play games, and can spend hours pencilling naughty, sexy illustrations in her secret notebooks.
Brantwijn has two romance series currently in-progress with Champagne Books. She's also had short stories published in several small press anthologies. She has author pages on GoodReads and Amazon, and loves to see reader comments on her work. Her short stories and audio readings occasionally pop up her website, www.brantwijn.com.


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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Spotlight: The Orphan of Mecca
12:00 AM1 Comments


Literary Fiction
Date Published: 9/17/2014
Publisher: America Star Books

America Star Books Presents The Orphan of Mecca, Book One by Harvey Havel

Frederick, MD October 16, 2014 – America Star Books is proud to present The Orphan of Mecca, Book One by Harvey Havel from Albany, NY.

A brief synopsis of the book: "Amina prepares for college on what is expected to be an exciting first day of higher learning. When she steps onto the university campus for the first time, however, she bumps into Raja Gupta, a young, persuasive, and hot-headed university intellectual who lures her into joining a student group whose cause is the liberation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan. What follows is a stormy and passionate romance detailing the lives of both Raja Gupta and Amina Mitra as they both attempt to survive from one of the worst genocides of historical record—a genocide that ultimately leads to the birth of the poor and crippled nation known today as Bangladesh. This novel is written with historical accuracy and is Book One of a trilogy that charts the rise and fall of these two characters, as well as the son that is orphaned after Amina Mitra is forced to abandon him in the Great Mosque of Mecca."
Visit us online at www.americastarbooks.comFacebook and Twitter.

Book 2

In Book Two of The Orphan of Mecca trilogy, Amina Mitra has no choice but to abandon her newborn child to the Great Mosque of Mecca, Islam's holiest place. The child is then taken to an orphanage by the religious police (mutawaffs) and stays there until he is of good enough age to live on his own. The orphan, Ekaja, finds work in a Meccan tourist bazaar that is well known for its wealthy international travelers and global corporate visitors. There, he meets an American who wants Ekaja to work for him. But this is not ordinary work. The American wants to turn him into a spy for the Central Intelligence agency. Ekaja then must choose between loyalty to the CIA and loyalty to his own people regardless of how perverted their view of Islam has become.


Book 3

After being accused of raping the Commanders daughter, Ekaja is thrown out of the house and is forced to leave. He goes to New York where he discovers a Jewish painter who needs his help. Together, they make an important contribution to the New York artists' scene for those who have mental disabilities.







Harvey Havel is a short-story writer and novelist. His first novel, Noble McCloud, A Novel, was published in November of 1999. His second novel, The Imam, A Novel, was published in 2000. 

In 2006, Havel published his third novel, Freedom of Association.  He has published his eighth novel, Charlie Zero’s Last-Ditch Attempt, and his ninth, The Orphan of MeccaBook One, which was released last year.  His new novel, The Thruway Killers is his latest work.  The Orphan of Mecca, Books Two and Three, will be released next year as well as a book, An Adjunct Down, which he just completed.  His work in progress is called In the Trenches, about a Black American football player.
He is formerly a writing instructor at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey.  He also taught writing and literature at the College of St. Rose in Albany as well as SUNY Albany.
Copies of his books and short stories, both new and used, may be purchased at www.barnesandnoble.comwww.amazon.com, and by special order at other fine bookstores. 


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Monday, May 8, 2017

Blog Tour: d4 by @cinnabar01 with a #interview and #giveaway
12:00 AM1 Comments
Speculative Fiction 
Date Published: Jan. 31, 2015
Publisher: Cinnabar Press

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A clairvoyant young woman finds her visions of the future to be a nuisance, until she discovers that she is hardly unique. An entire group of seers has learned how to profit from their knowledge in ways that Ariel has never considered. Another group is obsessed with using their talents to understand a dark future they cannot ignore.
An alliance with either crowd looks dangerous, given that they both seem a little crazy. There is no possible way to help them both. Worse yet, each group is convinced that Ariel is more than a potential asset; she’s the one thing that they must have in order to fully succeed.


Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?
Getting started. Literally. The first word is the most difficult thing for me. To get around that, I went ahead and selected a starting word for each of the six books in this collection before I ever began writing it. I know it sounds goofy, but it worked pretty well.



What songs are most played on your Ipod?

The songs without lyrics. I like all kinds of music, but I have trouble shutting out words when I’m writing, editing, or even just trying to think. I have a couple of playlists (slow, fast) that mix classical, jazz, new age, world, soundtrack and electronic selections.


Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
Both. Critique partners kind of come and go for me, as it’s a relationship that is so situation dependent, and during each book I’ve been in a different situation. On the other hand, my group of beta readers just keeps growing because when I’ve turned to people to lend me specific expertise on one novel, they’ve often asked if they could be a beta reader for the next one as well.   


What book are you reading now?
Most of my reading these days is research for my own writing so I’ve got I book on judo and Steven Pinker’s “The Language Instinct” on my reading pile. I did take a break recently and let myself read Charles Yu’s “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe.” I loved it.


How did you start your writing career?
By making up bedtime stories for my little sister.



It’s the final novel in a six book collection. Each of the previous five books featured the story of an individual family member, and this one is the story of how they all five learn to combine their superpowers and work together.


About the Author

Sherrie Roth grew up in Western Kansas thinking that there was no place in the universe more fascinating than outer space. After her mother vetoed astronaut as a career ambition, she went on to study journalism and physics in hopes of becoming a science writer.
She published her first science fiction short story long ago, and then waited a lot of tables while she looked for inspiration for the next story. When it finally came,  it declared to her that it had to be whole book, nothing less. One night, while digesting this disturbing piece of news, she drank way too many shots of ouzo with her boyfriend. She woke up thirty-one years later demanding to know what was going on.

The boyfriend, who she had apparently long since married, asked her to calm down and  explained that in a fit of practicality she had gone back to school and gotten a degree in geophysics and had spent the last 28 years interpreting seismic data in the oil industry. The good news, according to Mr. Cronin, was that she had found it at least mildly entertaining and ridiculously well-paying  The bad news was that the two of them had still managed to spend almost all of the money.

Apparently she was now Mrs. Cronin, and the further good news was that they had produced three wonderful children whom they loved dearly, even though to be honest that is where a lot of the money had gone. Even better news was that Mr. Cronin  turned out to be a warm-hearted, encouraging sort who was happy to see her awake and ready to write. "It's about time," were his exact words.

Sherrie Cronin discovered that over the ensuing decades Sally Ride had already managed to become the first woman in space and apparently had done a fine job of it. No one, however, had written the book that had been in Sherrie's head for decades. The only problem was, the book informed her sternly that it had now grown into a six book series. Sherrie decided that she better start writing it before it got any longer. She's been wide awake ever since, and writing away.

Contact Links

Twitter: @cinnabar01

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Friday, May 5, 2017

Virtual Book Tour: 5 Essential Dimensions by @lightphilosophy with an #interview and a #giveaway
12:30 AM1 Comments


Nonfiction Self Help
Date Published: August 2016


This book unveils an amazing theory. Our lives have five dimensions that are essential for living a healthy, successful, and tranquil existence. These are our financial, social, internal, physical, and spiritual affairs. This book offers insight into helping us recognize the five life dimensions. It will teach us how to bring these dimensions into balance. We cannot reach our potential as individuals unless all five of these life dimensions are balanced. If we neglect any one of them, the ensuing disharmony destroys our tranquility and can wreck our lives. The 5 Essential Dimensions is an attempt to prevent this happening.








Interview

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The most challenging part of writing this book was writing the section about internal equilibrium. I spent many years of my life reading psychology books. I wanted to create a pattern for people to allow them to understand internal equilibrium and it was not an easy task. The other parts of the book were less challenging.

What songs are most played on your iPod?
I mostly listen to nonfiction audiobooks. I enjoy learning.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
Of course. After I wrote the first draft of my book, I gave it to around 10 or 12 of my friends and collected comments. I also used editors and probably revised the Arabic version about 200 times and the English version another 200 times because I seek perfection and that is my nature.

What book are you reading now?
I am listening to the audiobook, Real Food, Fake Food by Larry Olmsted.

How did you start your writing career?
In 2012, I started as a column writer for one of the leading newspapers in Kuwait. Some friends kept suggesting that I write a book as they liked what I was writing in my columns. Also, I am a good analyst with a nature of pattern recognition, so I decided to write a book about life. I didn’t know at the time that the book would turn out as it did, it evolved along the way.

I am busy writing my next book in Arabic, which should hopefully be finished by the end of this year. I will then begin working on the English translation. I hope it will be available in English in mid 2018. I am trying to answer one question in this next book: What is the meaning of life? You need to wait for the book to know more J




A.A. Alebraheem is a column writer for Kuwait’s bestselling newspaper, ALQABAS. Alebraheem writes about philosophy, spirituality, ethics and politics. His theory, “5 Essential Dimensions”, builds upon a strong argument that life consists of 5 elements: finances, sociability, internal aspects, physicality, and spirituality. He offers a perspective that will help us to recognize these elements, and provides suggestions to keep them in balance for a better life. Alebraheem’s writing attempts to see things from alternative angles, searching for patterns and creating successful habits for life.


Contact Information



Purchase Link
On Sale $2.99 Regularly $5.99


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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Book Tour Sale and Giveaway #sale #giveaway
12:00 AM0 Comments
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RABT Book Tours is Officially 5 Years Old! 


We are celebrating by offering our Biggest Discount to Authors + a Reader Giveaway!

Book Your Tour by May 6th and Receive 50% Off any Tour by using the Discount: Code RABT50 ! 
Tours can take place anytime between June - September!

Blitzes are 20% Off All Summer Long!
Any Blitz Booked and Taking Place between May-September! Use Code: SummerBlitz


You can find out more about our services, read testimonials, and see current tours at our website www.readingaddictionvbt.com






Are you an Author who has a FREE novel this Summer or a novel on Kindle Unlimited? 

We are running a Mega Blast Promotion for Free and KU reads this June! 

This Blitz will take place June 7th and your novel will need to be free at that time. 






Help us celebrate and enter the Giveaway! 

Signed Novels + $50 Amazon Gift Card


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Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Blog Tour: Matchmaker Abduction by @scifiwoman13 author #interview
7:51 AM1 Comments


Science Fiction Romance/Romantic Comedy
Date Published: 3/13/2017

True love is said to defy time, but can it survive space, aliens, and being abducted? Angus MacNamara and Erin O’Shea are about to find out.
The big blue planet that most call  Earth desperately needs matchmakers. There is only one small—okay, BIG—problem. No one wants the alien dating service job. No one. The original matchmakers are dead, and much worse, their DNA is no longer viable for cloning. 
Solution? Go back in time to some of Earth’s other—thankfully slower spinning—versions, and retrieve the alternates of the one couple in any universe who seems able to do the job.
Far easier said than done though, especially when the alternates are anything but a loving couple, and both are none too pleased to be thrown into the future. 
What does oil and water create? Salad dressing or a real mess of aliens, humans, and matchmaking fun!


Interview


What is the hardest part of writing your books?

I’ve never had a problem with the creative parts. Thinking of ideas and writing the stories—those things are easy. The business side of being a self-published author is far more challenging.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

I like upbeat songs from singers like Natasha Bedingfield or Pharrell Williams to lift my mood. When I’m writing I like silence. To chill, I listen to instrumental Celtic or Native American flutes.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have two author critique partners, J.M. Madden and Robyn Peterman, but we really don’t use that term. Critique sounds like we criticize each other. Instead, we call ourselves Mystery Science Theater partners and most commentary starts with “Dude, you’re not going to like this but…” Recently, in book Number 50 for me, I had a scene where I jumped POV. I don’t even know why. The creative mind is strange. They both stopped me from sending it out in that condition. I ADORE them.

What book are you reading now?

Reading is a luxury for me, but I love to read. Right now, I am reading my way through the entire Call Of Crows series by Shelly Laurenston. I just finished The Unyielding which was totally awesome. Paranormal with immortal Vikings… what’s not to love?

How did you start your writing career?

I’ve been a writer in some form since I was a child. I wrote romance for years, but the books didn’t really meet the business needs of any traditional publisher. I got many, many soft rejections over a 10 year period. In 2011, I published my first indie title and have never looked back. I’ve now published over 50 books totals. I love writing stories that entertain and make readers laugh.



Book 1 released April 24. The next release, Never Say Never, Book 2 in The Perfect Date series will be available for sale on May 15. Book 3 is on pre-order and will be releasing June 19. This is a new series so I wanted to make them available fairly quickly. 



Donna McDonald published her first romance novel in March of 2011. Forty plus novels later, she admits to living her own happily ever after as a full time author. Her work spans several genres, such as contemporary romance, paranormal, and science fiction. Humor is the most common element across all her writing. Addicted to making readers laugh, she includes a good dose of romantic comedy in every book.


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Monday, May 1, 2017

Release Blitz: Elfin Nights by @Brantwijn #excerpt & #giveaway
12:00 AM 3 Comments
Fantasy Erotic Romance
Chronicles of the Four Courts, Book 2

Date Published: May 1st, 2017

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A fae Knight’s life belongs to the monarchies, but for Finn of the Morrigan, his life comes second to his heart. And his heart belongs to his ladies.
The changeling princesses of the Springtime elves share a unique bond with their Knight—a bond that must remain perfectly secret. When the Queen of the Elves discovers their passionate love, she curses and exiles Finn from the elfin lands forever. With their guardian sent away to a lifeless wasteland, the royal changelings have no defense when the unseen enemies of the Four Courts attack, and the House of Elves falls.
To save his loves, Finn will need to break out of prison, undertake a perilous journey across the lands of Thairy, face wicked creatures, rogue Knights, and one of the most dangerous monsters in the fae world.
The enemy will soon learn what it means to provoke a true Son of War.

Excerpt

“Finn.”
I spun at the note of dread in Nineva’s voice. Her eyes gone wide, she stared at me. The flower dropped from her fingers, unnoticed. “You have to go back,” she said in a harsh whisper. “Back home…to the apartment. You have to go now.”
I tightened my arms around Neri. “What do you mean, lass? I don’t aim to go anywhere until you and Nerissa are well!”
“We will be fine, our Knight! In Tír na nÓg we will recover, but you must go!”
Neri twitched in my arms. Whatever spooked Nina, she caught onto it now too, and she turned her face up to me.  “Finn, she is right! You must go, quickly, before—”
I glanced up, distracted from her by a sudden discordant hum, somewhere up above us. It drew my focus for a brief instant, but then seemed to fade.
“I’m sorry, milady,” I mumbled. “What did you say?”
“Finn, please!”
Nina was practically shouting at me, and Nerissa’s fingers grasped at my collar. I blinked at them, confused. Then the damned humming snagged my attention again. I glanced up and around in agitation.
“Can you stand, Neri?” I asked in a low tone. I eased her down to her feet, all the while keeping an eye on the sky. The sound never increased in volume, but all the same it intensified. My instincts bristled along the back of my neck. Sidling a bit to keep both girls behind me, I sunk into the simmering heat of my magic, letting it bubble and boil up through my limbs. Ready for attack.
“Girls,” I murmured, hardly noticing Neri’s small hands tugging at my arm. “When I say so, you must go back through the circle and close it.”
“Finn, no!” Neri squeaked. “Ignore them! She is distracting you!”
“Knight, you must run!” Nina pleaded. “Please, you must!”

“We’re about to be ambushed,” I explained. The humming surrounded me. It resolved itself, turning into…

Buzzing.

“Wasps,” I grated, and I whipped around to shoo the princesses back through to Connlas Hall.

I realized then that I’d been trapped.

About the Author

When she isn't visiting the worlds of immortals, demons, dragons and goblins, Brantwijn fills her time with artistic endeavors: sketching, painting, customizing My Little Ponies and sewing plushies for friends. She can't handle coffee unless there's enough cream and sugar to make it a milkshake, but try and sweeten her tea and she will never forgive you. She moonlights as a futon for four lazy cats, loves tabletop role-play games, and can spend hours pencilling naughty, sexy illustrations in her secret notebooks.
Brantwijn has two romance series currently in-progress with Champagne Books. She's also had short stories published in several small press anthologies. She has author pages on GoodReads and Amazon, and loves to see reader comments on her work. Her short stories and audio readings occasionally pop up her website, www.brantwijn.com.


Contact Links



Purchase Link





Reading Addiction Blog Tours
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