Goodbye October

Whew! I can hardly believe another month has already come and gone.  And while it's with a bit of sadness that I say, "Goodbye October!" *waves*, it's also with a healthy gulp of excitement *quickly turns with open arms* that I also say, "Hellooooo November!" *winks*

I know! It's totally wrong of me to talk about the months like they were some old recurring fling who comes in and out of my life on an annual basis, like some winter cold, or bronchitis. But don't judge me, because in my defense they ALL know the score well beforehand. (And Tawna, if you're reading this...NO SNICKERING!)

But I have to admit that October definitely gave me a run for my money, the little stinker. Let's just say it was pretty crazy around here, with the opening of the Texas State Fair (which was a BLAST by the way), Octoberfest, Fall festivals, the first cool front and for some of you first snows, the World Series (which I DON'T want to talk about, let's just say I'm still a little sore about it) and now, finally...  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!  

BOOOOoooooOOOOOOooooo!

So with the last day of October on the cusp of flinging us ruthlessly into November, I can't help but dwell on a few very exciting events that await me in November.  Of course there's Thanksgiving, which is always a pleasant given this time of year and a thoroughly anticipated holiday in my household. There's also the birthday of my baby brother (Nov. 1st), Happy (early) Birthday Josiah!!! But what makes this year's November even more special, is that it brings something completely new and unexplored for me...NaNoWriMo!!!

That's right readers, this will be my FIRST year participating in the craziness that is NaNoWriMo.  And I have to admit that while I'm not all that sure what to expect, I'm pretty positive that this will be both an interesting and unforgettable experience for me as a writer.  Not to mention I'm a little on the petrified side at the idea of trying to write 50k words, basically an entire novel in one months time, I definitely feel a rush of adrenaline at stepping up to the plate and accepting this challenge.

After reading numerous blogs about how best to approach this, I'm still unsure of what the best method of going about this may actually be that will gain me actual success in reaching the 50k mark.  But I did at least make it a point to think about and flesh out my story plot and character in advance with hopes of making this as smooth an experience as possible.  So after all the brainstorming and tweaking I did manage to squeeze in over the last week or so, I think, if nothing else, this will be a very revealing process for me as a writer.

For those who have never heard of NaNoWriMo and would be interested in learning more or possibly participating please visit the NaNoWriMo website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/.

And to all the 2011 NaNoWriMo participants, GOOD LUCK & let the writing begin!!!

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!!!

Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla

Such a beautiful song & I love this video!

Sigur Ros - "Hoppipolla"

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

The Broken Destiny Blog Tour

 

Welcome all!

I am both thrilled and honored to be the fourth stop of The Broken Destiny Blog Tour, featuring the wonderful and gorgeous Carlyle Labuschagne, and am giddy with excitement for the release of her debut novel, The Broken Destiny!

So without further ado, I present for the first time ever an EXCERPT (woo-hoo!) from the much anticipated debuting novel, The Broken Destiny.
 

The Broken

Destiny

Excerpt from

Chapter 6

Breaking Out

 Walking beside Sam, who was tugging at and straightening my hair, I tried to wash away the memories of the attacks. I thought of Maya and pain shot through my stomach. I felt nervous for some reason unknown to myself. Usually I loved night classes. I was more of a night owl than a morning person, but the dark shadows were playing tricks on me. All around me the shadows seemed to reach out to me. I grabbed Sam’s arm and she held my hand, sighing to herself. At first I did not notice the ample amount of guards that had been posted at each unlit corner of the school yard, but after a while their calls for Sam made them impossible to ignore.

“Popular are we?” I asked her, a bit jealous.

“Yes, because of you,” she said bluntly.

I frowned.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Ava. Everyone now knows that you’re special.” The tone in her voice suggested she was bitter.

“Look, Sam…” I started, but she interrupted me as she came to a halt beneath a dim lamp that hung low from the corridor ceiling.

“I’ll get over it,” she said, trying to sound sincere.

“I never asked for this.”

“I know.” 

“Why the hostility?”

“No hostility,” she said, blinking.

I wanted to believe her. 

“I know my best friend and I know when she is lying to me,” I said bluntly. 

I looked down at our shadows, feeling empty as the words spilled out of my mouth.

“I said I’m working on it,” she spat and hugged me tight.

I didn’t believe that gesture either. As we made our way to the lecture hall, I wasn’t thinking about math or dreading every boring hour. I was thinking about Troy, Maya and Enoch. Had it all been a dream? I wondered, quickly caressing my right cheek. There was a smooth, thin line where the crusted blood had been. I looked at my fingers, expecting to see the odd-colored blood again, but there was none. I had a nagging feeling that I was more unusual than anyone could imagine. I needed some closure. I needed the truth. Am I even human at all? My mind was whirling out of control. I felt my chest tighten. I closed my eyes and got ahold of myself. When the lecture hall doors swung open almost everyone in the room turned to look at us.

Excerpt form The Broken Destiny a Novel by Carlyle Labuschagne

Release Date: Early 2012

Carlylelabuschagne.com 

Book Trailer:

THE BROKEN DESTINY

BONUS GIVEAWAY:  For the lucky person who can write the BEST conclusion to Carlyle's excerpt, you could stand the chance of winning an actual copy of The Broken Destiny.  Totally awesome, right?! So get to writing and please submit all entries in the comments section of this post.  The last day to submit will be Friday, November, 4, 2011. Good luck everyone!

To read any previous stops on The Broken Destiny Blog Tour, check out the following links:

Stop #1 - DH Nevins Blog - Interview Exchange

Stop #2 - Reflection and Motivations - Book Trailer Revealed!

Stop #3 - Movie Star Eyes - Author Interview

For more information on Carlyle please visit her website! For other updates and news you can follow this lovely chica on twitter (@CarlyleL) , Facebook, and Goodreads!

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

Way Back When...

Lately I can't help but feel the ever increasing gap between myself and the current generation of teens.  With a teenage brother (18 yrs old) it becomes more clear with each family get together that I am quickly becoming part of that demographic of society I once called, "Ugh. Old people!"

And while I would love to say that I am embracing the aging process with arms wide open, while it woos me into my 30's. *gulp* I must confess that, um...I'M FREAKIN' OUT OVER HERE!

So being that I'm a YA writer and felt that maybe I wasn't as in tuned with some of the more common trends of today's teen, I decided to create a twitter list that I call, GLOBAL Generation XY POWER! (aka. Teens of TODAY!) And boy, I must say that...I HAD NO CLUE! Now while its very clear that somethings NEVER change.  One of those things being a teenagers bottomless ability to obsess over just about eveything, especially boys, girls, relationships and sex....wait...maybe this isn't so much a teen thing as a life thing. But I will say that the formatting of these obsessions has definitely gotten an upgrade, especially with this generations easy access to social media and technology.

But as I tried to process all the many ways teens interact and exist today, my brain undoubtedly detoured and I couldn't help but wonder...what sort of things did I obsess over as a youth and into my teen years?

Here were a few things I came up with from WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY BACK WHEN...

Fashion/Gadgets:

                                                  

<-- The Michael Jackson "Glove"



Scrunchies


Slap Band Bracelets

<-- Hammer Pants


Friendship Bracelets


Cabbage Patch Dolls

<-- Trolls (Oy!)

The Boombox

The Walkman --> Look how HUGE that thing was! Where were you Steve Jobs?

The Internet (Yes, I DO remember a time when there was no Internet, Email, IM.)

Cellphones 

Sports:

Michael Jordan...because EVERYONE wanted "To be like Mike." - I wanna I wanna be like Miiiiikkke.

Bo Jackson and the whole "Bo knows....EVERYTHING!" campaign that got passed around more than bare-breasted women during Woodstock.

Andre Agassi

Tiger Woods

Wayne Gretzkey

TV Shows:

MTV -- which eventually gave us reality TV & THE REAL WORLD!

TGIF -- Can't forget the Winslow Family & their pesky neighbor Steve Urkel!

The Cosby Show

Saved By The Bell

Full House

Blossom & her uber cute brother Joey, WHOOOOAAA!

90210 (The Original)

Cheers

Dallas

Music:

I think something that still remains a common trend that influences and molds most teens is the music they listen to. So here are some of the musicians that GREATLY influenced me growing up.

Michael Jackson & his baby sister Janet Jackson

MC Hammer with "Hammer Time" & those Hammer Pants. Does anyone else remember those? O_o  The originator of --> "U Can't Touch This"

New Kids on the Block - the start of Boy Bands, such as N'Sync, Back Street Boys, 98 Degrees, among NUMEROUS others.

Popular Rock/Pop - Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Pearl Jam, U2, Dave Matthews Band, Nirvana, Metallica, AC/DC

The Beastie Boys & Limp Bizkit

Madonna <-- When she was still just, "Who's that girl" I LOVED this song! Okay, okay, okay *sigh*...I STILL love this song.

Tupac, Dr Dre, Biggie Smalls, Snoop Dog

Boys 2 Men, Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child

Sir Mix-A-lot & all those BIG BUTTS! 

Spice Girls (Yes! We had The Spice Girls!)

Ace of Base - I can't help but laugh at this one...boy, I saw the sign (and I should've made a u-turn and drove away!).

Sisqo & Dru Hill and all his... thong tha-thong thong thongs! Yes, we had the THONG SONG, no, it was literally called THONG SONG. *snickers*

Wow! Talk about traveling back in time. But I really loved my childhood, even with all the weird, awkward, wacky-tacky things that I once thought were cool (and kinda still do). But I am sure there are plenty of trends that I missed, so please feel free to share some of the things that you remember from your youth (whenever that may have been or may be now)?

Well that about closes me down, so what better way to end this post then with one of my ALL time favorite MJ tunes of my yesteryears.  THIS is the Michael Jackson of MY youth, loved this guy. He was SO GREAT!

Enjoy!

Michael Jackson - "Rock With You"

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

Coldplay - "What If"

Love this song. *sigh* Nuff said.

Boom.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Movie Trailer

Okay, so I couldn't resist posting the trailer for this upcoming film, which is based on the Internationally Bestselling novel series, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson.  I can't tell you how excited I was when I learned the English version of this film was finally coming out, but after seeing this trailer, I am totally sold on seeing this film when it hits theaters.  So dark, edgy, and suspenseful. Just how I like it.

Starring: Daniel Craig & Rooney Mara

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Release Date: 12.21.11 (US)

 

Happy Friday!!!

BIG NEWS FEATURE FRIDAY

Well, it's definitely been quite a week, and I must confess I'm a little on the burnt out side.  But not in that, "Ugh, I'm SO exhausted. And if you don't get your hand off that body part in about two seconds you're gonna lose it!" sort of way. More like the, "CRAP, there's so many AWESOME things I want to do and wish that there were five of me instead of one so I could do them all!" sort of way.

*Que creepy off-key caffeine induced laughter*

Clearly it's been a pretty good week.  No, make that a great week.  We had some wonderful weather, and I even managed to clock in some pretty good productive time on my manuscripts (hurrah!), as well as watching the opening games of the MLB's WORLD SERIES! Woot woot! Go RANGERS! *ahem* So, with today being basically the wrap up of this fantastic yet semi-crazy week, I thought I'd sort of break form a bit and only feature two authors for today's BIG NEWS FEATURE FRIDAY post.

So without further ado...

BIG NEWS:

My first #BNFF author is simply a sweetheart with a wicked creative mind.  Jennifer N. Simas is the acclaimed author of the series Until Dawn.  Her debut novel, UNTIL DAWN: LAST LIGHT being the first book of her series, which readers are calling "A must read!" and "An excellent start to a new series," that "...will leave you wanting more!"

With a 4.9 firmly held rating on Amazon, this ROCKSTAR gal is definitely proving she has what it takes to be a solid bestseller. 

Jennifer's book is now available at: Amazon.

"Until Dawn: Last Light"

"When darkness falls, whose side will you be on?

For the past six years, Zoë has been anything but “normal.” Struggling to accept her immortality, she finds herself thrown into a war that’s been waging in the shadows for over a thousand years. Zoë must now become who she was meant to be, joining the other Chosen to save what’s left of humanity.

When the endless night falls over the Earth, will she be able to save the one man who reminds her what it is to be human or will it be too late?"

If you want more then check out this teaser!

BONUS: Check out Jennifer's suh-weet book trailer for UNTIL DAWN: LAST LIGHT!

For more information about Jennifer you can visit her blog or follow her on twitter (@AuthorJenNS).

****

WARNING: This author may cause uncontrollable laughter that could induce involuntary muscle spasms, which could THEN lead to massive loss of bodily fluids. Pee, people, I mean PEE! You've been warned.

My last author is a lady for whom two words instantaneously come into mind...FREAKIN' FABULOUS! That's right, Jenna McCarthy is, to put it simply, one of the realest and by far funniest writers I've ever encountered.

A writer of non-fiction, Jenna is an internationally bestselling author that has, over the past twenty years, had her work featured in over fifty magazine.  A candid writer of life, love, marriage, parenting and all the funky parts in between, she is definitely a chick who will give it to you straight with a style and flavor that's all her own.  A self- confessed social media addict, who blogs regularly for iVillage, Betty Confidential, and many others, Jenna currently lives in Santa Barbara, California. 

 "If It Was Easy, They'd Call the Whole Damn Thing A Honeymoon: Living With and Loving the TV-Addicted, Sex-Obsessed, Not-So-Handy Man You Married"

 "Jenna McCarthy presents an uproarious but insightful peek behind the curtains at the unholy state of matrimony. With ballsy wit and bawdy humor, she explores everything from male domestic idiocy and the frustrating misfires in spousal communication to how to stay true to the peskiest of vows: forsaking all others. Part in-your-face guide, part brutal confession, this book is a must-read manifesto on surviving marriage in an age when everyone seems to live forever and getting a divorce is as easy as ordering a latte." 

BUY this laugh-out-loud book at: Amazon, B&N, Powell's, Books-a-Million and Penguin.

BONUS! Check out Jenna's brilliantly HILARIOUS book trailer:

"If It Was Easy, They'd Call the Whole Damn Thing A Honeymoon: Living With and Loving the TV-Addicted, Sex-Obsessed, Not-So-Handy Man You Married"

For more information on Jenna and her books you can visit her website.  But for other stalker purposes you can also follow Jenna on twitter (@JennaWrites) and Facebook!

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

AUTHOR ALERT: J.C. Fiske

Today's Author Alert features a young, up and coming author who not only possesses a wicked creative mind, but who is also just an all around good guy.  American author J.C. Fiske was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2008.  Currently residing in New Hampshire J.C. is an avid reader, martial artist, metal fan, lover of comic books, movies, and the likes. He is also a self-described "lover of all things geek!"

But gosh...isn't he just uber cute?! *ahem* What I meant to say was...now isn't this the face of an author on a mission?

But in my opinion, and to put it bluntly, things are only just beginning for this up and coming star, who recently released the first book in his Young Adult Fantasy series, Renegade Rising, published through Tenacity Books, in 2011. And who, from the looks of things, doesn't appear to be showing any signs of slowing down in the near future.  For while also putting the final touches on the next book in his The Renegade series, due out early 2012, this young writer, with his deep passion for stories and the art of story telling has already completed and released the first book of his SECOND SERIES (oh, my gosh!), HELL 'TIL HEAVEN (The Man-Angel).

Ugh, I know. Total. Writing. Machine.  But I LOVE these book covers!

"Hell til' Heaven"

"It's Christmas Eve in Boston, Massachusetts and a man is about to die . . .

After losing all he loves by his own hands, Joseph McCarley is a changed man. In most social circles (none of which he belongs to), he is now known as a drunk, a womanizer, and, to put it nicely, an asshole. But there are some, mostly his patients, who know him to be something else. A therapeutic genius.

Joe can save you, but only for a paycheck. He'll listen to your grievances, put on a caring face and spout advice faster then Buddha on a bender, but at the end of the day, the one thing he can't save is himself. That is, until a car does it for him.

In an unexpected, selfless act, Joe saves the life of another at the cost of his own and severs his soul from his body. Now a ghost, stranded on the streets of Boston, he has only his guardian angel, Lara, to protect him from the demonic hordes seeking to claim his soul.

However, all is not as it seems. A mysterious dark fire flickers within Joe, waiting, watching, and preparing him for a fate heaven can't predict and hell can't prepare for . . . "

Wow! Two words. Edgy and wicked! And I'm totally loving this storyline. *Squeeee* Can't wait to get into this series. J.C.'s books are now available at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.

So get your copies TODAY!!! Do it. NOW. (Hehe.)

For more information on J.C. Fiske and his work you can visit his website! For updates and his other shenanigans you can also find this author lurking on twitter (@GisboFalcon) or Facebook!

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

Intro. + 25 Random Things About ME!

So I woke up this morning, stepped outside and discovered it was actually quite brisk out. It was COLD people!  Now if you didn't know, we don't usually get many "brisk" mornings around this time of year, at least not in Texas.  Though for the most part, our winters are pretty mild for most of the season and only get slightly more severe for the last couple of months.  But I really enjoy this time, with the changing of colors and weather.  Especially when our temperatures finally drop from 110+ degrees into the 50's and 60's. Lovely.

I don't know why or what it is, but this time of year always puts me in mind of newness and fresh starts, and with Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all bundled into a couple of months, it always gets me in a very excited and generous sort of mood.

And so does Perry Como! (I know, it's random.)

 

So needless to say, all this talk of transitioning and change got me pondering.  For those of you familiar with my sometimes random posting topics, does anyone have any special post ideas/requests that you would like to see thrown into the mix?  Something you'd like to see me try writing about and incorporate into future posts.  Keeping in mind that I am a VERY enthusiastic holiday season's kind of gal.  So feel free to include any special holiday events/concerts/festivals (International as well!) requests that you'd like me to blog about.  You can leave your request or ideas in a comment below or shoot me an email.  You can also find all my contact info under my Contact Info page.

And since I'm always up for a good challenge, I will also view your suggestions as a great learning opportunity. Being that I enjoy learning about new things & giving myself justifiable cause to (possibly) travel and research for an up coming book or series.

For a bit of help and encouragement when sending your suggestions...here's a list of 25 Random Things about ME:

#1 - I love movies. I am a complete movie geek/addict/freak-of-nature.

#2 - Love HOLIDAYS and almost everything about them. The music, the shows, parades, festivals, all the FANTASTIC events...really get's my mojo flowing.

#3 - Books (Well, duh!) ;-)

#4 - I must confess to having an odd fascination/obsession with the theme and style of storytelling in Graphic Novels/ Comic Books/ and Manga ~ John Constantin, Hellblazer (Jamie Delano), The Sandman (Neil Gaiman), V for Vendetta (Alan Moore & David Lloyd), 300 (Frank Miller), Fullmetal Alchemist (Hiromu Arakawa) <= Many of these (well all, actually) have been pivotal in inspiring me to create and write my own series, THE CREED.

#5 - Music (I enjoy all sorts, so would love suggestions on possible groups I may not have heard of or special music events going on around the world!) Of late have really been getting into Irish folk/pop bands.

#6 - I love to BAKE! Cookies, Pies, Cakes, Cheesecakes!, Breads!!! Though to be honest, I haven't exactly mastered any of the particular desserts listed above. Hehe!

#7 - Holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years...FUN TIMES!)

#8 - Languages. Though I only speak English (and very poor Spanish) I would love to learn at least two new languages. Part of my whole bucket list thing.  So any suggestions, along with your why-Blaire-should-learn-??? are very welcomed!

#9 - Travel (Love seeing new places & would love to experience as many other cultures as I can!)

#10 - Musicals, Opera's, Broadway plays...really dig LIVE performance art!

#11 - I have a genuine interest in learning how to sail a wooden sailboat. See post Don't Be Afraid To Challenge Yourself.

#12 - SPORTS! ~ College Football (Americano), Baseball, Soccer (Futbol), and Basketball

#13 - Russian, Greek, and Chinese Culture particularly fascinate me, especially on the literary level.

#14 - Lakes, Oceans, Beaches, Puddles, Rain...I simply love the water!

#15 - The Arts, Crafts, Museums, Paintings, great Illustrators, Sculptors...

#16 - BIG family person, being that I come from a semi large family. 5 brothers (no sister), 24 aunts and uncles, 50+ first cousins, and it goes on and on....yeah, definitely makes for VERY loud and animated holiday get-togethers! O_o

#17 - I don't have a favorite color.

#18 - I know I'm liable to get harpooned for this one but...I've never actually read any of the Harry Potter series! None of them. *gulp* Yes, I've seen all the movies (which were fantastic), but I've never read the books.  I don't know what it is, but every time I start to read the first book I find my eyes glazing over which leads to me having to re-read each page. O_o *sigh* Maybe someday.

#19 - TOP 10 Favorite film Producers/Directors/Screenwriters - Billy Wilder, John Hughes, Ron Howard, Will Smith, Nancy Meyers, Nora Ephron, Christopher Nolan, Guy Ritchie, Zack Snyder, and Tim Burton.

#20 - My favorite season is the Fall...and I would love to personally discover the top 5 places in the world that offer the BEST call climate.

#21 - I love listening to people with accents! Though I may not be able to understand them, there's just something about them that strikes me as mysterious and fascinating...a real novelty. (Yes, I need to get out more.)

#22 - My all-time FAVORITE Christmas film is "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" with Chevy Chase. Hilarious!

#23 - Favorite Fall/Winter meal: Chili-Beans & Cornbread!

#24 - So, yeah...I am literally THE MOST unphotogenic person alive. There, I said it.

#25 - Finally....I LOVE WRITING! <= Okay, it's not exactly random or a secret but I had nothing else.

Well, there you have it people! And boy was it long, hope it wasn't too much to endure...was feeling kind of gabby today. Wow, I can't believe I actually finished it. I've been compiling this list for a few months now, because FYI, I'm terrible at making lists (obviously) about myself.

But any who...if any of YOU would like to comment and/or share any peculiar or unique facts about yourself, PLEASE DO! I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

BIG NEWS FEATURE FRIDAY

Happy Friday!

Another week has officially come and gone, but at this point I'm having a hard time trying to imagine why it even matters when my brain apparently never made it out of September! I feel like I'm living in some freaky twilight-zone-world with the way time is passing so blasted fast! I believe some extreme *fist shaking* will ensue immediately following the writing of this blog.

But I guess what they say is true,"Time flies when you're having fun!" Because I am definitely having fun, despite the mental brain lag.

And you know it's kind of funny, because I initially began my foray into the world of blogging, in June of this year, almost grudgingly.  But in all this time my feelings and opinions have strangely grown from being just a simple curiosity into what I can now categorize as one of the true enjoyments in my life.  And I don't know why it is, but I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I hit that publish button.  Maybe that's why I continue to blog, because at least I can see some notable progress with each post I write. More so than in my still unpublished work. *gulp*  I never would've thought that I'd last this long or would now be part of one of the most AWESOME community of writers and readers that I am.

Yes, the GLOBAL world of blogging has undoubtedly gobbled me up...and I've become stuck in its GI Tract. That's right folks, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not budging, which (actually, in no way) leads me into today's...BIG NEWS FEATURE FRIDAY!

Today's featured authors, I think are as diverse and unrelated a group of writers that I've ever written about in one post. So clear your mind, sit back and I hope you enjoy this roller coaster ride of a post.  

BIG NEWS:

My first #BNFF author is not only one of the ABSOLUTE funniest guys I've come across, he is also a brilliantly funny writer.  Brian P. Borcky (pronounced BRY-in BOR-kee), is, as he so poignantly states on his blog, "an avid writer, an avid reader, and an avid user of the word 'avid.'"  Who was born and raised in Philadelphia but currently resides in Northwest New Jersey.

Being a longtime writer, focusing heavily on the comedic side of things and an interest in the classic detective novel as well, Brian has merged the two into his Detective Clarke series of eBooks - Kindle, NOOK, Smashwords, and Diesel eBooks!

So if you're into detective novels & comedic writing, then this series is definitely an interesting blend of both these genres. I'M DETECTIVE CLARKE is a definite gut-busting-laugh-out-loud read in MY book!

 

"I'm Detective Clarke"

"R.D. Clarke is the anti-Sherlock Holmes. 

R.D. Clarke is a loser.

It's mere days before his 27th birthday and R.D. still lives in his childhood bedroom and works as a secretary for his father - renowned detective Jerry Clarke. R.D.'s malaise is lifted when the beautiful Lauren Welbourn drops by without an appointment to urge the elder Clarke to find her missing brother.

Showing uncharacteristic guile (and stupidity), R.D. pretends to be Detective Clarke and takes the case, which provides more excitement and danger than he bargained for.

Armed with nothing but his wits and hilariously limited detective skills, R.D. must navigate through an endless procession of lies, double lives, family feuds and love triangles to uncover the secrets behind a young couple's sudden disappearance."

You want more then check out this excerpt!

For more information about Brian and his other work you can visit his website! And for updates and other shenanigans of his you can also find him on twitter (@BrianPBorcky) and Facebook!

****

This next author is a true lover of all things Paris and French. Which is suiting because she's also a French Professor and positively gorgeous to boot! (A part of me almost wonders if I should be wearing a paper sack over my head as I write this section of the post.)  But nonetheless women's fiction author Juliette Sobanet is (in my opinion) the equivalent of a french baker (witty writer) offering us up one of the most rich and decadently scrumptious éclairs (SLEEPING WITH PARIS) for all you true dessert eater's appetite (reading). Are you still with me people?! I am leaving cliff notes after all. 

SLEEPING WITH PARIS is Juliette's debut novel, only the first of her Paris themed love stories that is now available at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Amazon UK, Amazon France, and Amazon Germany.

And since I'm a total book cover sucker I found this one simply to fun to resist!

"Sleeping With Paris"

"Charlotte Summers is a sassy, young French teacher who is two days away from moving to Paris with the love of her life and from fulfilling her dream of studying at the prestigious Sorbonne University in France. But when she discovers her fiancé’s online dating profile and has a little chat with the busty red-head he’s been sleeping with on the side, she gives up on committed relationships altogether and decides to navigate Paris on her own.

Determined to stop other women from finding themselves in her shoes, Charlotte creates an anonymous blog on how to date like a man in the City of Love—that is, how to jump from bed to bed without ever falling in love. But, with a slew of Parisian men beating down her door, a hot new neighbor who feeds her chocolate in bed, and an appearance by her sleazy ex-fiancé, she isn’t so sure she can keep her promise to remain commitment-free.

And, when Charlotte agrees to write an article for a popular women’s magazine about her Parisian dating adventures—or disasters, rather—will she risk losing the one man who’s swept her off her feet and her dream job in one fell swoop?"

SLEEPING WITH PARIS sounds like a fun, witty, great for chocolate nibbling sort of read!  And I'm looking forward to all of the above!

For more information about Juliette and other work you can visit her website! And for updates you can also find her on twitter (@JulietteSobanet) and Facebook!

**** 

My last author is Alaskan born Alma Katsu.  Alma graduated from Brandeis University, where she studied writing with novelist John Irving and children's book author Margaret Rey, and received her MA in Fiction from the Johns Hopkins University.  She currently resides in Washington, DC with her musician husband, Bruce Katsu.  

Her debut novel THE TAKER has been called "A powerful evocation of the dark side of romance",  and also "Gothic and richly in detailed".  Talk about fan worthy praise.

THE TAKER is now available at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound, Amazon UK, Bookshops.co.uk, Waterstones, and WH Smith. *Also available in audio book*

 "The Taker"

"Dr. Luke Findley is on the midnight shift in the emergency room when the police bring in a young woman. Few strangers come to this remote town in northernmost Maine in the winter, and this stranger is accused of a bizarre crime: killing a man and leaving his body in the Great North Woods. The young woman, Lanny, tells the doctor that she and the man in the woods lived in this town at its founding two hundred years ago, until fate sentenced them to an eternity of unhappiness until they atone for their sins.

The man in the woods is Jonathan, son of the town's founder, and the love of Lanny's life. After Lanny commits a terrible sin in the hope of claiming Jonathan for her own, she's banished from town and sent to Boston to serve her penance. In Boston, she falls in with a beguiling yet frightening man, Adair, who has otherworldly powers, including the ability to confer immortality. His world is one of unknown sensual pleasures and seemingly limitless power, but at what price?

Adair wants to add Jonathan to the collection of treacherous courtiers who do his bidding (but for unknown ends) and sends Lanny back to Maine to collect him. It seems like the answer to Lanny's deepest desire—to be with Jonathan forever—but once Jonathan has joined Adair's pack of immortals, she sees that Adair is not what he seems and his intentions toward Jonathan are far worse than she imagined. And now it is up to her to save her beloved—and herself—from a terrible fate designed to last for all eternity."

Talk about WOW! Go pick up your copy TODAY!

For more information on Alma and her work you can visit her website! You can also follow Alma on twitter (@almakatsu) and Facebook!

MY FAVORITE BOOK TRAILER of the WEEK:

This weeks favorite book trailer feature goes to #BNFF author, Alma Katsu for her novel THE TAKER. Enjoy!

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

AUTHOR ALERT: Raine Thomas

Today's Author Alert features not only a great author but someone I consider to be a dear friend of mine.  And for whom there are not enough words (well, that I know of) to adequately describe exactly how much she has come to inspire and mean in my life.  Especially to me as a writer.  Raine Thomas began her epic journey into the world of writing in the fourth grade after winning Honorable Mention in a writing competition.  Residing in Orlando, Florida this writer/wedding planner is seemingly on a very fast track to literary success.

With such passion for writing and her obvious love of sharing and mentoring to other aspiring writers, Raine Thomas is what I like to call the literary world's version of the double-whammy.  She's not only a brilliant author with the title Best Seller shining back bright and clear from her future, she's also one of the most sweet and down to earth gals you'll probably ever get to know.

Plus, she's pretty gorgeous! *wink*

Raine's original series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorians currently holds a solid 5-star rating on Amazon.  And after buying and reading, BECOMING, book one of her series, I found myself from page one to finish completely hooked and engaged by the characters and plot of this story.  And this opinion held true with every book in her series.

The Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy is now available for e-readers at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBookstore, Diesel eBook, Smashwords, Kobo and Sony Reader.

***And soon to be coming out in PRINT!***  

I seriously LOVE these book covers! So. Gorgeous!

Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy

What are they?

"They aren’t gods and goddesses. They aren’t angels. They’re the beings upon which human myths and biblical stories are all based.

They are Estilorians.

Humans and Estilorians once shared the earth. Over time, humans realized they could never have the powers and abilities of the long-lived Estilorians, and began warring against them as well as each other. To save humanity from themselves, the nine Estilorian elders joined together to create their own plane of existence, removing all Estilorians from the human plane and becoming beings of legend.

In so doing, they doomed themselves to an emotionless existence. No happiness or joy. No optimism or hope.

And no love.

Millennia later, their possible salvation comes in the form of three teenage, half-human girls…the daughters of one of their own. 

The Daughters of Saraqael."

And check out the amazing book trailer for BECOMING, book one of the series!

And due to the fact that (in my opinion) Raine is a textbook workaholic, she is of course currently hard at work on her next series.  Go Raine!  With her latest series actually being the sequel to the Daughter of Saraqael Trilogy, titled the Firstborn Trilogy.  Oh yes, folks! There is still more to come of the Estilorians.  And having completed the initial draft of book one, she is already onto her first round of edits with this book.  I tell ya, she's one seriously determined storytelling machine on a mission.

For a sneak peek at book one of the coming Firstborn Trilogy check out this teaser!

For more information about Raine you can visit her website! And for updates and other stalking purposes you can also find her on twitter (@Raine_Thomas) and Facebook!

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

I watch way too many MOVIES!

For a bit of fun I thought I'd spend today sharing with you another BIG part of my world.  So as much of a reading addict that I am, I'm also just as much of a movie and DVD addict. No, really, I am.  One reason may have something to do with the fact that I also write screenplays (as well as novels), part of the whole "and other stuff" aspect of my bio.  And with that being said, I own just as many movies as I do books, which really tells you nothing of what that number could be. LOL!

But with so many fun and interesting end-of-the-year films coming out I thought I would share with you a few of the films I'm currently anticipating, because well...I LOVE sharing the LOVE!  And being that I'm a movie trailer fanatatic, I figured for kicks I would share a few trailer on my blog of the films I'm UBER excited about as 2011 gradually rolls to a close.

***WARNING: Release dates are subject to change and may vary based on country.***

Here. We. Go!

So first up, I offer fair warning to all you non-twilighters because things are about to get SPARKLY! LOOK AWAY or just skip to the next trailer. Hehe! ;)  (Total fan girl moment coming, and this is one of those purely irrational joys in my life). Yes, I am a Twilight fan who in fact owns and has read the entire series.  Yeah, yeah I can see some of you out there flinching. No worries though, I'm still me, but (yes) I can be a TOTAL fan girl when the mood strikes me!

Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part I

Release Date: 11.18.11

Having loved the first Sherlock Holmes movie and being such a die hard Guy Ritchie fan...I'm thinking Sherlock Holmes 2 is likely to be just as epic as the first. I LOVE WATSON!

Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows

Release Date: 12.16.11

For all you Greek mythology fans this may intrigue you as much as it has me.

Immortals

Release Date: 11.11.11

I'm definitely a big action pack film girl...so I can't help being anxious for the last (supposedly) film in this series.

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol

Release Date: 12.16.11

I simply can't resist a comedy film with such a DIVERSE cast! This is the part of me that my husband lives with grudgingly. LOL! What can I say? I'm a cheap laugh sort of gal.

Tower Heist

Release Date: 11.4.11

And being that I'm a complete sucker the for the contemporary romantic comedy I'm definitely looking forward to this little end of the year bit of fun! *Squeeeee!*

New Years Eve

Release Date: 12.9.11

So please share your personal picks, whether they're foreign or domestic (to you or me).  I am always interested in learning and hearing about new up and coming screewriters and/or directors. So if you'd like to share some indie films or your own personal picks, I'd love to hear them.

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

Don't Be Afraid To Challenge Yourself

Something some of you may not know about me is that I have a strangely irrational love/fascination for sailing and old wooden sailboats.  Yes, I know.  It's weird.  But seriously, I buy calendars, I have screen savers,  I even find myself sneaking onto Google and searching for little interesting facts and drooling over photographs.

Honestly, I have know idea where this fascination came from being that 1) I've never set foot on a sailboat, wooden or otherwise and 2) I've never even seen the ocean.  *covers face in shame*


I KNOW! It's totally lame.


Alas, this is one of the sad truths of my life (for now at least).  But nonetheless, over the years I've come to have quite an unrequited love of this unique (and from what it appears) nearly lost art form of sailing and wooden sailboats.  In my mind there is simply something completely romantic and timeless and dangerously adventurous about them and everything they represent.  In my mind they represent a time when the true journey and discovery of ones worth were based on the challenges you chose to face. No matter the risk and often without fully knowing the exact outcome of your course.  It was about the work and effort that was required and put forth without the guarantee of ever finding that treasure or reaching that destination.  For there is always something to be said about the process of learning to master something, especially something as majestic as one of these sailboats out on the unpredictable high seas (do they still call it that, the 'high seas'?).

But the fact is just like any challenge or project we take on in our lives there is always the initial fear of the unknown that we must inevitably face.  Especially when many of us take on this idea that if something is truly meant to be in our lives then it should undoubtedly come easily to us. Or we take that as "proof" that it's simply not meant to be.  Well what I have to say to that is...*pinch, slap, poke* WAKE UP!!!  Unless you're Aladdin with Robin Williams doing voice over for your blue genie in a bottle, than nothing could be further from the truth.  While some people may be gifted with a certain talent and skill that surpasses others that alone does not guarantee success.

Just like with a sailboat I know that there are things that I will need to learn and be trained on in order to better understand the parts and the proper way to sail. That is, if my true intent is to master this skill in order to (hopefully) one day achieve the experience that I've long sought.  Because I'm pretty sure if I were to simply run out this moment and jump onto one of this magnificent structures I would quickly find that I have KNOW IDEA what the heck I'm doing or how it even works.  In other words, I'm ultimately setting myself up for a big disappointment and more than likely failure.  Unfortunately, simply loving and possessing some secret passion for something isn't usually enough.  For just because you love something doesn't mean there won't be challenges to face in the process.

And I hate to admit it, but sometime when I feel like something will be too much of a challenge for me I'll immediately want to back off.  Because in most cases I'm afraid of failing, but not only am I afraid of failing, but even more so of realizing that eventuality of void and listlessness that would come when a long held dream is ultimately loss.  What would I do if I felt I could no longer write? A truly scary thought for me.

But as the old adage goes, "Nothing in life worth having is ever easy...."

Just like any pursuit in life, our dreams and passions require (and deserve) the same sort of diligence and focus that we give to the other facets of our lives.  Whether its education, sports, a hobby...all these things typically require time in training, practicing discipline or some sort of conditioning.  Have you ever heard of any gold medalist in the Olympics boasting afterward of never having to train a day in their life to get where they are? NO! So what makes you think you should be any different in your writing, your art, hobby, or any other pursuit in your life?

I wrote a post not too long ago called What would you do if you weren't afraid?  And I think I want to pose this question again...if fear were completely removed from your mind what would TODAY look like in your mind?  What would your future look like?

In mine...I would finally have my day on one of these beautiful boats after the proper attitude adjustment, training, discipline and conditioning.  Oh, and OF COURSE to be a published author!

Now whether these experiences will in the end live up to my dreams or expectations, who knows...but I believe one of the really great things about having dreams and passion is that they can still be exactly what we need them to be, despite what we might initially think or expect of them.

Happy Writing, Happy Reading!

And FYI! If any of you lovely readers are interested in helping this land fairing lame-o find her sea legs...please give me a shout!

Happy Sailing!

BIG NEWS FEATURE FRIDAY

Happy Friday ALL!

I hope you've all had a productive and pleasant week! Because if you're anything like me than you're definitely ready to cut lose and relax for the weekend.  I'm personally extra excited about this weekend because of one particularly long standing tradition in this lovely old state of mine.

It's the RED RIVER SHOOT OUT y'all!!! Hook 'em Horns!  If you didn't know, now you know...I'm a Texan.  And for those of you who don't know, college football is sort of a BIG DEAL here, and the RED RIVER SHOOT OUT is one of the most anticipated games of the college football season in these parts.  So along with the Texas State Fair being in full swing things have been pretty nuts and crowded around here.

    The Horn's             vs.       The Sooner's

I LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL! *sigh* Sorry, I really get pretty worked up about this stuff. Moving on!

For this week's BIG NEWS FEATURE FRIDAY I have quite an interesting group of authors that I'm proud to feature today.

BIG NEWS:

This first author is not only a cool gal pal, she's also a great up and coming indie author.  Tiffany King is a graduate of Daytona State College, in Daytona Beach, Florida. A teacher by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream as an author. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids.  Her debut novel MEANT TO BE, the first book in her Saving Angels Series, made a big splash when it released in March of this year, and is now FREE on Kindle.  Yes, FREE!   Her latest novel (book two of her series), FORGOTTEN SOULS released August 2011 and has received numerous 5-star ratings, being called "A beautiful story of good vs. evil", "Truly unique" and "A fantasy series not like any other series out there!"   

Tiffany's books are available at Amazon and  Barnes and Noble.

"Forgotten Souls"

"Any chance Krista Miller had at a normal teenage life is now gone. Less than a year ago she lived under the radar, avoiding any relationships that would send her emotional sensitivities out of control. Little did she know that her life was destined for something more. Something that will test her very soul. 

After facing certain death at the hands of the man responsible for their mysterious past, Krista and her friends learn the truth behind their origins and the purpose for their newly discovered abilities. Now, they must band together to fulfill their inherited, sacred duty. As Guides and Protectors, they must save Mankind's Forgotten Souls before they are lost forever."

 For more information on Tiffany and her books you can visit her blog and also follow her on twitter (@AuthorTiffany)!

****

This next author is most likely one of the funniest people I've come across in this wacky world of books.  Luke Romyn is a globe trotting Australian who has spent numerous years in the security industry and taking on a variety of other roles, which included protecting Mickey Mouse and the Disney crew from the overzealous jaws of tenacious toddlers.  But this best selling horror novelist definitely found his calling when he decided to change courses and write his first novel, THE DARK PATH.  Romyn's solid 5-star debut novel is being raved over by its readers, calling Romyn the "The 21st centuries newest master-of-horror".

THE DARK PATH is available at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble and Indie Bound.

"The Dark Path"

"New York's underworld quivers at the mention of his name. Evil courses through his veins like blood and his conscience has lain dormant for over a decade while he has slashed and burned his way to the top of the food chain. Vain. 

The Dark Man, born of torment into an existence of death. In the underworld of killers he reigns supreme. And yet he is chosen for a task of supreme benevolence. Why would he be selected to save a young boy, the Avun-Riah, and then protect him against a horde of enemies, both mortal and demonic? Because he is the only one with any hope of success. 

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have risen from the pits of Hell and, along with a fanatical army of cultists, are ranged against Vain. If the boy is slain then Sordarrah will be raised to destroy the Earth, a feat even Lucifer never managed.

Evil is being used to fight evil in the ultimate battle for the outcome of all existence. Armageddon sits upon the horizon and all that stands in its way is a man whose path has always been dark."

For more go check out the EXCERPT!

For more on Luke and his anticipated upcoming releases you can visit his website.  You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter (@LukeRomyn)!

****

And last but NEVER least I present to you all D.H. Nevins, author of the post-apocalyptic thriller, WORMWOOD that released Sept. 26 2011.  As a teacher she spent years encouraging students to write before deciding to follow her own advice.  WORMWOOD is her debut novel and is available at Amazon, CreateSpace, and Smashwords (for all e-readers).  And this cover is seriously EPIC!

"Wormwood" 

"Against a devastated landscape, a legion of one hundred fierce half-angels is hell bent on purging the Earth of all humans. But one of them, the tormented Tiamat, struggles against his mission, and when he rescues a beautiful woman named Kali, he finds the attraction as troubling as it is miraculous. Can Kali trust the one creature who could be responsible for her ultimate demise? Beautifully written and excitingly told, Wormwood creates a world that is as strange as it is compelling. Filled with brilliantly executed twists and turns on every page that are guaranteed to keep you guessing, Wormwood is one of the most exciting debuts of the year." 

Check out these sample chapters for more!

For more about D.H. Nevins you can visit her website and follow her on twitter (@dhnevins)!


MY FAVORITE BOOK TRAILER of the WEEK:

This week's favorite book trailer award goes to the witty Luke Romyn for his debut horror novel THE DARK PATH. ENJOY!

Well, I'm off for now...but have a safe and pleasant weekend, and also HOOK 'EM HORNS!

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!