Write. Write! WRITE!!!

I can happily say that my life is gradually returning to normal.  Well, as normal as I can imagine the randomness in my life to be.  I'm writing again and feel as if I don't have enough time or space in which to get everything that's going on in my head out...but I'm definitely giving it my best go.

At this point my intent is to simply write. Nothing more.  I'm taking out the pressure of publishing and release dates and focusing purely on telling the stories I want to tell, and ultimately to see each one through to completion. Simply put, you can't publish what you haven't written. So for those who have been wondering about my more recent absence, it's simply due to the fact that I'm spending a great deal more time on my writing than I am on here. I won't lie, I do find myself feeling quite guilty about not being around as much as I once did, but hopefully my efforts will allow me to finally reach the goal that in reality started me down this path in the first place.

The goal of sharing my passion and work with all of you.

And speaking of passion, being that I've been pretty remiss in my #BNFF I thought I'd be a little tacky and include a few pretty awesome features in today's post that I find crazy exciting.

BIG NEWS:

I have to say that in the time I've come to know this guy he has grown to become one of my favorite writer tweeps who challenges me (whether he knows it or not) to step up my game and push myself to achieve my goals.

M.R. Merrick is the brilliant writer of The Protector Book series.  With his debut novel EXILED having received rave reviews upon its release, it's unsurprising that his latest novel, SHIFT (book #2 of TPB series) would receive the same reaction.  SHIFT has been called "Epic, Emotional, Pure Brilliance!" and "An adventure like you've never experienced!!" by its readers.

And I highly suggest both books be added to your MUST READS list!!

 

 "Shift"

Devastated by the loss of his mother, Chase is trying to balance the life he’s been left with, a family he’s still getting to know, and power he never thought he’d have. He doesn’t understand why the Goddess has named him the Protector and granted him two gifts: the Mark, a tattoo that now covers his back, and the ring. But between getting interrogated by the Circle and psychic attacks from Riley, the Mark is the least of his concern. There’s a demon inside Rayna that’s fighting to be released, and it’s not her inner witch. It’s something else–a monster threatening to tear her apart.

As Chase struggles to control his magic, his enemies are closing in. Everyone has staked a claim on his ring, and destroying it may be his only chance to stop Riley. But Chase must decide if stopping him is worth risking the lives of everyone he cares about, or if protecting the ring will be enough to save his world.

EXILED & SHIFT are both available on Amazon! GET YOUR COPIES TODAY!!

For more information on M.R. Merrick please visit his website! You can also find him on twitter (@MRMerrick) and Facebook.

*****

I must admit that it's writers like Samantha Young that (as a reader) keep me coming back for more. Having stumbled across her on twitter a while back, I've become quite a big fan of her work. Author of paranormal and fantasy fiction, Samantha is a brilliant young Scottish book addict who has been writing for as long as she can remember.  The creator of multiple trilogies, Samantha continues to prove that some writers truly do get better with time.  

The latest of her series that I've come across, BLOOD WILL TELL book 1 of her The Warriors of Ankh trilogy has definitely drawn me in and has left me anxious for more. 

  

"Warriors of Ankh Omnibus Edition"

(includes "Blood Will Tell", "Blood Past" & "Shades of Blood")

When the heroine and the villain are one in the same…

Eden is a Soul Eater. While that hasn’t meant much to her in the past, she’s pretty sure any minute now she’s going to go all "Carrie" on her eleventh grade class.

Noah is an Ankh. As an immortal Warrior, his purpose in life is to hunt down and kill Soul Eaters.

Together they are about to embark on a journey that will change their lives forever...

... A journey in search of Eden’s redemption.

But with enemies and tests of morality and strength around every corner, it will be a journey that pushes them both to their very limits.

Can the promise of honor, purpose and love be enough to temper the monster within?

Find out in this special omnibus edition of the Warriors of Ankh trilogy.

The entire The Warriors of Ankh trilogy is now available at Amazon US & Amazon UK.

BONUS! Book Trailer:

For more information on Samantha and her books you can visit her website! You can also follow her on twitter (@SYoungSFAuthor) and Facebook.

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

BIG NEWS FEATURE FRIDAY

Boy, do I looooove Fridays!  Not only because it signifies the start of yet another weekend of me lying around the casa hoping a morsel of inspiration will enthuse me to produce brilliant works of literary genius. But mostly because weekends are really a great time of deep thoughtful reflection AND most importantly guilt-free shenanigans! YUP! I can be a total spooze-ball on the weekends, and apparently an inventor of words. ;-)

So with that being said, let's check out today's #BNFF feature authors. 

BIG NEWS:

Annmarie McQueen is a UK indie author, who writes YA romance and paranormal novels. A bit of a weirdo (her words, not mine), she's also a die-hard Starbucks fanatic. But one of the things that really stood out about this brilliant, bubbly young author is (she's probably gonna hate me for this) SHE'S ONLY 17!!! No, it's not a typo....17.  Makes me feel like a total slacker. And OLD! Ugh. Moving on. Annmarie's debut novel COLD WATER was released June 2011 and is now available in Kindle stores.

"Cold Water"

"Hope Weller, sixteen year old cynic, has a grudge against the world. After years of living with her oppressive older sisters, she takes matters into her own hands and runs away from home. What she didn’t anticipate was waking up in a stranger’s house to a pair of curious, chocolate eyes: a boy named Ash. Yes. Like the tree.

By a strange twist of fate, she is roped into staying with this strange boy and his mother for the whole of the summer holidays. At first his outrageously cocky and happy-go-lucky attitude annoys her. But when Ben Hastle, Ash’s rival and resident pyromaniac, suddenly takes an interest in her, she finds herself caught in an old feud that was never settled.

There’s more than one person keeping secrets in this seemingly perfect village, and when the truth comes out chaos and broken plates are sure to follow. But from the shattered porcelain, can something else blossom as well?"

COLD WATER is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

For more on Annmarie & her novel got to her Facebook page & Twitter (@fanaticwriter1).

***

Samantha Young is a Scottish book addict, who writes paranormal and fantasy fiction for young adults.  Samantha is also the author of numerous series which you can read more about on her blog or clicking the following links: Chronicles of The Fade, Warriors of Ankh, and her latest The Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy.

 

"Moon Spell" Book 1 of The Tale of Lunarmorte series.

"Enter a world of fierce wolves, stunning magic and romance...

It’s bad enough feeling different among the human crowd, but feeling different among wolves?

No one said returning to her pack would be easy, especially after ten years without them, but seventeen year old Caia Ribeiro is unprepared for the realities of the transition. Raised in a world where kids aren’t scared by bedtime tales of the bogeyman but by the real life threat of enemy supernaturals who might come creeping into their community to kill them in their sleep, Caia is used to the darkness; she’s used to the mystery and the intrigue of the ancient underworld war she’s bound to by chance of birth. What she’s having trouble with are pack members treating her with wary suspicion, the Elders tucking secrets behind their backs, and her young Alpha, Lucien, distracting her with a dangerous attraction from her decision to discover the truth.

But as the saying goes ‘the truth will out’ and when it does, Caia will only have so long to prepare herself before the war comes pounding on their door threatening to destroy the safe, secret lives of the wolves… and the girl they protect."

Samantha's novels & novellas are available at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

Website: http://samyoungyafantasyauthor.blogspot.com/ 
Twitter: SYoungSFAuthor
Click HERE for her Samantha's Facebook Author Page.  

***

Zannah Kearns is a YA author who lives in Berkshire with her husband and two young children.  Her first novel is NO USE CRYING, published by Francis Lincoln. 

"No Use Crying"

"Secrets, secrets, secrets, she thought. Itʼs just another word for lying.

The discovery of a grandfather Niki thought had died years ago means a sudden move to London and the start of a whole new life.

Niki has to learn quickly to fit in and survive in the school halls and on the tough streets. And at the same time she must get to know her grandad and come to terms with the fact that her mum has been hiding the truth.

But when Niki suddenly discovers her mumʼs biggest lie of all, could it change their relationship – and Nikiʼs own sense of identity – for good?"

**To read the first chapter of Zannah's debut novel NO USE CRYING click HERE.

NO USE CRYING is now available on Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Website: http://zannahkearns.com/
Twitter: @ZannahKearns
Click HERE for Zannah's Facebook Author Page.

***

And my last #BNFF author of the week is the lovely Tammara Webber! Woot woot! Tammara is an avid reader, a hopeful romantic, coffee addict, and a recovering cat magnet.  She is also the author of the contemporary YA novel BETWEEN THE LINES, her FIRST young adult novel.  The second book in the series (Where You Are) is due out October 2011.  Sooo close!

"Between the Lines"

"When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always—film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so. His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions. The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he’s confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.

Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies. Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her. The Problem? Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels—opposite the very hot Reid Alexander—isn’t going to advance that aspiration.

Graham Douglas doesn’t fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he’ll do it. Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star. Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid’s costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance."

**Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults + (language, drinking, sexual situations)

BETWEEN THE LINES is available at Amazon US, Amazon UK, and Barnes and Noble - NOOK.

Website: http://tammarawebber.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @TammaraWebber
Click HERE to view Tammara's Facebook Author Page.

MY FAVORITE BOOK TRAILER of the WEEK:

This week's favorite book trailer goes to N.B. Charles for their novel The Tender Kiss, book 1 of The Darkest Kiss series. Enjoy!!! (Release date TBA)

Website: http://nbcharles.weebly.com/index.html  Twitter: @NBCharles
Click HERE for N.B. Charles' Facebook Author Page.

"The Tender Kiss"

 

Well peeps, I hope you've enjoyed this weeks featured authors and FABULOUS book trailer!  Make the world a better place and go buy these books NOW! Have a fantastic weekend and I'll catch you all on the flipside!

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!