Publisher Interview & Ebook Giveaway: Tribute Books

Today I am welcoming Nicole Langan owner of Tribute Books.

ABOUT TRIBUTE BOOKS:

Tribute Books celebrates its 7th year in 2011 as an independent publisher for independent writers.
I am proud to provide e-publication and book promotion for writers with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Publishing a book takes guts. An author needs to possess the courage to share his or her voice with the world. It is an investment of time, money and energy to transform a rough manuscript into a polished work. I applaud risk takers and strive to provide them with an outlet for their creations.
In many ways, it takes one to know one, and I too have rolled the dice throughout my life.
After graduating from Marywood University and time spent as an associate editor for a local magazine, I set up a publishing company - in of all places - Archbald, Pennsylvania - where I was born and raised.
Why did I do such a crazy thing?
Because I love the behind-the-scenes process of creating your book cover, formulating an attractive layout for your pages, coordinating blog tours to announce your book launch – that's what gives me a thrill.
The best part of my job is when you see your book for the first time on Amazon.com or when you read your first positive review. I love to see people realize a dream they thought to be impossible.
Because even in these crazy times – isn't that what America's all about?

Interview:

What is one book everyone should read?
I'd have to say I've been pretty taken with Lauren Oliver's work - Before I Fall and Delirium. Her ability to translate such an intensity of emotion onto the page really impressed me. Even though her books are marketed to a young adult audience, the quality of her writing is strong enough to stand on its own in comparison to any genre.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
My hope is that we are able to recruit some talented writers of well-written, well-crafted stories in order to develop an eager fan base for the titles we publish. We want readers to be excited about the ebooks we produce. Young adult authors have the most devoted fan followings out there, and we'd like to introduce that audience to a whole new host of talent.

Pet Peeves?
Unedited, poorly written manuscript submissions and authors who don't promote their work

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your books.
Take a chance of falling in love with the work of an author you never heard of before.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
In 2012, Tribute Books will transition into being an ebook publisher for young adult titles.

Manuscripts that have already been professionally edited will receive greater consideration. Our preference is to work with authors who have already been published through a royalty-paying press and who know the ins and outs of book promotion. An established social media platform is a must, and we will not consider writers who do not have a well-followed blog, Facebook page or Twitter account.

Our preference is for damn good writing, the particular topic is secondary in importance. However, books written with a series in mind or those that delve into the paranormal will have a slight edge.

Interested authors can submit their manuscripts via email to info@tribute-books.com. There will be no charge for the authors we select to work with, and they will receive 50% of the net profits of their ebook sales in quarterly royalty payments. We're looking for Microsoft Word documents with a maximum of 350 pages of text with no photos, charts, illustrations, graphs, etc.

What inspired you to want to become a publisher?
On a personal level, I thoroughly enjoy a good young adult novel and review many on my blog at http://tributebooksreviews.blogspot.com.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since becoming a publisher.
Tribute Books began in 2004 and we've published over 30 titles since that time. Some of our books have gone on to win awards such as the Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year and the Mom's Choice Award while others were endorsed by PBS and The Thoreau Society. We've covered a wide range of genres from children's picture books to history to sports.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
I am a big believer in the power of social media. I even conduct monthly blog tours for outside publishers and authors in order to help them increase the online presence of a book. Book bloggers are a powerful force in the book industry. With more and more book stores closing and book review columns being cut from major newspapers, readers are depending on bloggers to help them find the books they want to read. They are turning to the internet as a reference point to fill this information gap.

In my opinion, social networking is the bread and butter of any author's promotional efforts. Without it, it's like trying to paddle upstream without a canoe. Readers want to connect with the person who wrote the book. They crave interaction with an author. Nothing beats getting a writer to comment on a blogger's book review post or getting a personalized thank you tweet from your favorite author. The days of authors being isolated from their fans is over. They're now able to build an online following and receive instant feedback for their work. They have the opportunity to take part in creating their own literary community.

We try to keep an active online presence with our web site (http://www.tribute-books.com/), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks) and blog (http://tributebooks.blogspot.com/). We'd love to have anyone who loves young adult literature to join us for the ride.

What is your favorite Quote?
"Failure is not an option."
- Apollo 13 space mission

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Do what you love and work with like-minded people.

Call Me Kate

Coming of age amidst the seething unrest of the Civil War era, feisty fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty infiltrates the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish organization, to rescue a lifelong friend. Under the guise of "Dominick," a draft resister, Katie volunteers for a dangerous mission in hopes of preventing bloodshed. Katie risks job, family, and ultimately her very life to intervene. A series of tragedies challenge Katie's strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can she balance her sense of justice with the law? Call Me Kate is suitable for readers from eleven to adult. The story is dramatic and adventuresome, yet expressive of daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. This novel will appeal to readers of the Dear America series, as well as more mature readers who will enjoy the story's rich context and drama.

The Evolution of an Identity

Preserve native culture or assimilate into America s melting pot? Indian immigrants respond to this age old dilemma.

Identity Crisis

They are known as the turbaned tide. Novelist DIYA DAS explores the journey made by Indian immigrants from the subcontinent to America s shores. Weaving the narrative as historical fiction, the novel focuses on a young girl who uncovers the American roots of her Indian family tree.

The story unfolds in three venues. The protagonist discovers a Californian ancestor, a scholar-turned-farmworker who participated in the 1917-18 Ghadr movement to gain Indian independence from Great Britain. She then follows the voyage of a doctor aunt who immigrated to Chicago in the 1970s and was also a newspaper columnist. Finally, the narrator explores how to merge her Indian and American identities as she attends a Hindu festival in New York City.

The novel is filled with rich cultural details, solid historical references and fitting literary allusions. Diya's research ended up taking her on a personal journey. The narrator s odyssey mirrored that of the author. Where facts and imagination did not create a coherent story, Diya employed elements of her own life as a first generation Indian American immigrant.

Book Giveaway:
Tribute Books is offering an ebook copy of 2 of their titles Call Me Kate and The Evolution of an Identity
Open Internationally
Ends 11/28/11

Winners
Call Me Kate: Beverly Archer
Evolution of an Identity: Charissa

Book Giveaway & Author Interview: Pyxis by K.C. Neal

Welcome to Author K.C. Neal.


Bio:

Most of K.C. Neal's days are filled with some combination of writing, reading, gardening, working, and watching stuff on Netflix with her husband and their maltipoo, Oscar. She has an irrational fixation with L.A., and during occasional trips there she pretends her life is more glamorous than it really is ("Entourage" is her guilty pleasure). She likes to surf and hang out on sandy beaches, where drinks are served adorned with tiny umbrellas.

Blog: http://kcneal.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KCNealTweets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCNealFanPage
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5163997.K_C_Neal


Interview

If you were a superhero what would your name be?
Actually, a friend of mine, author M.R. Merrick gave me a superhero name: Bruiser! Which I think is funny and ironic because I’m kind of a wallflower. I’m probably the last person who’d actually get physical and hit or attack someone else!

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Hmm, I think it’s a toss-up between invisibility and mind reading. I think it would be so fascinating, and probably kind of scary, to know people’s true, unfiltered thoughts. But it would also be a lot of fun to spy on people undetected!

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?
I’d like to meet my maternal grandparents, both of whom passed away before I was born. There’s actually a character in Pyxis--Great Aunt Dorothy--who is named after my maternal grandmother.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
The main character, Corinne, faces the ultimate task: to learn how to protect not only our world, but also another world that she’s just discovering.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Absolutely! Pyxis: The Discovery is the first book in the Pyxis Series. Book 2 in the series, Alight: The Peril, has been outlined, and I’m beginning writing in November and plan to have it published by next summer. I’m not sure what I’ll work on after the Pyxis series. Possibly a sci-fi/dystopian story I’ve been thinking about for a year or two.

In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
Orson Scott Card. I read Ender’s Game for the first time a few years ago, and looking back I think that book may in some way have inspired me to start writing novels. I love sci-fi, and Ender’s Game just blew me away on so many different levels.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
The most rewarding part of the process definitely has been connecting with other people involved with writing, publishing, and books. The writing part of the process--actually putting down the words--is very solitary, and when I was drafting my book it never occurred to me that I’d make so many friends because writing and publishing. It’s been an amazing surprise to meet tons of great people through this process. Since writing my book, I’ve met a bunch of local writers and people in publishing, and lots of awesome authors and book bloggers online through Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
Oh, this is a great question. I actually made a mix in iTunes with songs that represent different emotional spaces within the story. Mason’s song for Corinne is “Strange and Beautiful” by Aqualung, a really beautiful, haunting song with lyrics that couldn’t be more perfect for the way he feels about her. “Let Go” by Frou Frou is another song that was a frequent companion while I was writing, and I often had it on repeat; it really captures Corinne’s internal struggle over accepting her fate and responsibilities.

Hidden talent?
Ballet. If I could do my life all over again, I would seriously pursue dance.

Favorite Food?
Pizza. No self-control when it comes to pizza!

Favorite Candy?
Ooo, I have to pick just one? Hmmm… red licorice. No wait! Peanut M&Ms. No, no - Snickers! Okay, obviously I can’t pick just one. One strange thing about me: I don’t like chocolate. I know, I know…..

Favorite places to travel?
Los Angeles. My husband and I both have this sort of fixation with LA, and we’ve taken several trips there. We’re really into music, and you can’t beat the amazing number of historically-significant music venues in LA. There are tons of great places to eat, and there’s so much to see in LA. Confession: we’ve gone to a few restaurants because we saw them on Entourage, one of our favorite shows.

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I’m equal parts nervous and excited for The Hunger Games movie. The book is in my top 10 of all time, so I’m a little apprehensive because I don’t want the movie to reduce the book in my mind at all. But I’m dying to see how certain scenes, characters, and visuals will be portrayed on film.

What do you do in your free time?
I do a lot of reading, of course. I take ballet classes, and I spend tons of time gardening spring through fall. This past summer I grew my first veggie garden with over 30 different vegetables and herbs. My husband and I have an adorable, spoiled dog named Oscar, and we play with him a lot. My husband is a musician and songwriter, and I’m learning to play the drums with some help and pointers from him. I don’t practice very often these days, but every once in a while I’ll play by myself or jam with him.

Stop by K.C.'s Blog to find out how you can win a Kindle as part of her blog tour which starts tomorrow.
http://kcneal.blogspot.com/p/win-kindle-tour-dates.html

Pyxis by K.C. Neal

Two worlds... one 16-year-old girl must learn to protect them both.

The nightmares haunting Corinne and her friend Mason hint at a universe that exists beyond the one they know. Her destiny is to protect a weakness between the two worlds, but her mentor is dead. As Corinne and Mason search for answers, she tries to ignore the sparks igniting between them, but can't deny she feels safe only when he's nearby. Will they find help before their nightmares break free?

Giveaway Details:
1 ebook copy of Pyxis
Open Internationally
Ends 11/29/11

WINNER: Liz @ Fictional Candy

Book Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Released: February 10, 2009
Publisher: Putnam
Tags: Historical Fiction

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

I participate in a neighborhood book group each month. November's book was The Help. I'm so glad it was chosen because I doubt I would have gotten around to reading it if I didn't "have to".  It took me 4 days to get through this audio book and I literally finished minutes before book group started last night.

This book is fabulous! Well written with great characters.  I listened to the audio version and thought the narrators did an amazing job.

I can't add much to the thousands of reviews that are already out there other than to say I think this is a book most adults should take the time to read.

Content: some language throughout and "adult" topics are all through this story.

Rating: 5 Stars

Source: Audio download from Audible.com

Book Giveaway & Author Interview - Abish: Mother of Faith by K.C. Grant

Welcome to Author K.C. Grant.

Bio:

K.C. Grant was born in rural Idaho, but has made Utah her home for most of her life. After serving an LDS Spanish-speaking mission to Anaheim, California, USA, she returned and continued her studies at Weber State University, participating in a study abroad program that allowed her to study at the Centro Mexicano Internacional in Michoacan, Mexico. She has been a freelance writer for eight years. Much of her work appears in family-oriented magazines such as LDSLiving, Latter-Day Woman, Back Home, Parents & Kids, and Natural Life and The Deseret News/Mormon Times. She is currently the president of the Bountiful chapter of the League of Utah Writers and is a member of the Association for Mormon Letters and LDStorymakers. Though raising her children is still her most important task, she combines it with the demanding job of working out the numerous plots she has for future novels. She and her husband of sixteen years love to travel and scout out new settings for books. While ancient Mexico was the setting for her first published novel, Abish: Daughter of God, which was released by Covenant in 2010 and its sequel, Abish: Mother of Faith, released March 2011--modern Mexico was perfect for her suspense novel titled, Venom, to be released January 2012. Other publications include a short story recently published in Covenant's seasonal compilations, How Will Christmas Find Us? and A Christmas to Remember by various LDS authors.

http://www.kcgrant.com/

Interview:

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
To be honest I always feel like I’ve been born in the wrong time and that I could find a certain amount of happiness in the simpler, more tranquil way people lived about 100-150 years ago. Though there are certain technological advances I would miss, I think that they would more than be made up for. There was a love of language and correspondence was thoughtfully engaged in. There was a gentility and politeness that existed among people. Plus I think the dresses (not the corsets!) would have been fun to wear all the time.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose? 
William Wordsworth, Marie Curie, Shakespeare, Einstein and Marilyn Monroe. I think we’d find a lot to talk about.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? 
I’ll forego the obvious like food, water and a cell phone with GPS. Instead, a Kindle with an endless power supply and all of my favorite reads. A notebook so I can write my memoir. And a chocolate bar for when I get writer’s block.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? 
I love peppermint stick ice cream and only allow myself to eat it in December.

Night owl, or early bird?
Night owl—it’s the only time the house is quiet and I can write.

Pet Peeves? 
At the risk of offending anyone, I can’t stand it when people don’t signal when they change lanes while driving. I can’t read minds!

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 
I wanted to tell a familiar story from The Book of Mormon with a new perspective: through the eyes of one of the few women mentioned by name. I felt this would give me a chance to examine ideas that could only be related because of her unique experiences as a woman and wife and mother.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 
My next release is a suspense novel due out in January. I hope to make Venom a series by exploring other significant drug trafficking problems in and near the U.S. After my husband and I returned from a “research” trip to Vancouver, Canada, I’ve been working on the sequel.

What inspired you to want to become a writer? 
I've always loved to both read and write and though it takes some time to learn how to become a writer, I knew it was something I had to work toward. Having my third book published is almost as exciting as the first. It’s something I still love to do.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. 
I had a woman from Hawaii email me that Abish: Daughter of God, my first book, helped her understand a blessing that Elder Kikuchi had given her many years ago. She understood that Abish had been a woman of great faith and courage and that she was being blessed with that.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be? 
Though I could live without the war part, I’d have to say that I could spend a week or so in the pre-Civil War pages of Gone With the Wind. I’ve always wanted to see if I could talk some sense into Scarlett. Ashley over Rhett? Come on!

What is your dream cast for your book? 
For some reason I always have Ashley Judd pop into my mind when I’m writing my female heroines. I think she’s really versatile and could play a variety of parts.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? 
Hands down the Anne of Green Gables series.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 
Here’s two: Read, read read. Write, write, write.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 
I love the ocean and think I could be really inspired if I lived in a house somewhere along the West Coast where I could hear the waves crashing in while I wrote.

Who are your favorite authors of all time? 
I admire the Brontë sisters for their courage in writing during a time when women were still seen as decoration.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters? 
That’s a dangerous thing to admit to. I’m sure there’s plenty of similarities.

Hidden talent? 
I once hula-hooped for two hours straight. OK, I was nine at the time.

How do you react to a bad review? 
After I’ve written a scathing response and torn it up? I calmly remind myself that they’re just jealous.

Favorite places to travel? 
Does it matter? I’ll go anywhere.

In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
Jane Austen

Book excerpt:

Perhaps my story should have ended that glorious day when my life found its purpose. On that day, my Creator saw fit to use my weakness as His strength so the truth of His gospel could surge across the land, enveloping my people from the east to the west, from the sea to the wilderness. That wave of righteousness, I knew even then, would never again be at the mercy of one person’s hand. I also knew that I would never again have such a role to play as I did that fateful day in King Lamoni’s court.
So I must admit that it is only my own vanity that wishes the rest to be told. After all, how could the fulfillment of a heart’s desire compare with the deliverance of a nation? I can only hope that an old woman will be forgiven for her shortcomings because there are things one can’t help but remember: the look on a husband’s face when he calls you his own, the softness of a baby’s skin when he is put into your arms for the first time, and the inevitable joy that comes when the anguish of death is softened by time.
How could I not add these memories to the ones that have come before? Especially now. Especially when the past is all I have left.

Book Giveaway:
1 copy of Abish: Mother of Faith
Open to US & Canada
Ends 11/28/11

Winner:
TV Mc Arthur

Know Me Better 11/3

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"Know Me Better"

Each week I will pick 5 questions off of my author interview list to answers. In trying to figure out how to share more about myself I got to thinking that I would love to get to know the readers of my blog better too.  I invite you to share your answers to these questions as well.  You can share them as a comment on this post or share them on your own blog and link up to this post.

This Week's Questions:

What's your favorite season/weather?
PC or Mac?
When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
Favorite music?
Facebook or Twitter?
What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

What's your favorite season/weather?
Fall & Spring - not too hot and not too cold.  I love rain and wind.

PC or Mac?
PC but that is probably because that is all I've ever had or used.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
A stay at home mom and a teacher.
Edit: Whoops! We did this question already! Thanks Jinky for paying attention!
Here's a new one:

Favorite music?
Anything quiet. I have a low noise tolerance when it comes to music. I'm always turning it down. I like "soothing" music. Too loud and my skin crawls.

Facebook or Twitter?
I try to avoid both of them because once I get on I have trouble getting off.  I've used facebook for a couple years but I'm slowly trying to figure out Twitter.

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?
I don't watch TV (we don't even have cable or even an antenna).  I love old classic movies and Disney movies but I'm not embarrassed by that.  As far as books I'm slightly embarrassed to admit a few years ago I was completely obsessed with Twilight and read the series 5 times in a row.

Now it's your turn! Share an answer to one or more of these questions as a comment or post your answers on your blog and link up here!

Got Great Giveaways 11/2

Got Great Giveaways is a weekly feature hosted here on I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.  This feature will be posted each week on Wednesday.

I love book giveaways.  When I first started blogging I entered book giveaways on a daily basis.  It was a great way to find new books to review.  I then used those books as part of my Nearly New Books for You giveaways.  I was often asked how I was so "lucky" and won so many giveaways.  There is really no luck involved.  It's just a numbers game.  Enter enough giveaways and you are going to win them.  Just be sure to follow the giveaway entry rules so you have a valid entry and don't get disqualified.

To win a giveaway you've got to be able to find it and enter it.  Thus I created Got Great Giveaways!  If you are hosting a giveaway on your blog or come across a great giveaway you want to share please link it up here.

Got Great Giveaways? Book Giveaway Link Up Rules:
Giveaways must be book related (books, gift cards to stores that sell books, swag, etc.)
Please do not link up to Blog Hop Giveaways that are hosted on this site.
Link directly to your giveaway post.
Please include as much info as possible such as the genre, book title & ending date of your giveaway, shipping info, etc.

Example: Young Adult - In The Forests of Night by Kersten Hamilton ends 10/28 (US)

Many of the giveaways from Last Week's Got Great Giveaways are still open: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2011/10/got-great-giveaways-1026.html

You are welcome to grab the code for this linky and add it to your site, just be sure to mention it is for book related giveaways only so it doesn't get spammed with unrelated giveaways.
BOOK & BOOK RELATED GIVEAWAYS ONLY - others will be deleted.

Book Giveaway & Author Interview: Fateful, Fair Maiden or Fractured by Cheri Schmidt

Welcome to Author Cheri Schmidt


Bio:

Cheri is a mother of four beautiful girls, a wife to a loving computer geek, a writer, an artist, a photographer, a lover of words, and a lover of reading books.
Cheri went to Brigham Young University in 1988 where she majored in photography and design. She has worked as a portrait photographer and artist for twenty years. She has only recently realized that she can share the stories constantly playing through her thoughts, and added writing to her list of creative endeavors. She always did well in English, but never realized she could write as her other talents seemed to overshadow that hidden skill.
She has always had an interest in fairies, mermaids, vampires, witches, and, in truth, just about any type of fantasy or myth. She started out in elementary school drawing mermaids, fairies, and witches, and has since sold paintings of them on eBay. As computer technology advanced, she began digitally enhancing photographs into those magical creatures as well.
When stories of these beings continued to entertain her thoughts, to the point of almost haunting her, she decided it was time to start writing them down. FATEFUL is her first finished work, though other stories had come to her before that. She has seven other books in the plans, including: some on vampires, some on fairies, and all of them with a romantic twist.

Website: http://www.cherischmidt.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cheriaschmidt

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cheri-Schmidt/170239616364397

Blog: http://cherischmidt.blogspot.com/

Interview:

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
I’d go back to the past, for sure. I’d love to see what life was like in Victorian times, especially in London.

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?
My great, great grandfather, Edward Pugh. He was the first of my family to come to the USA from England at the age of 17. He bought a wheat thrasher, some cattle, and horses, and drove those to Utah to help settle there. He was a real cowboy, and an American hero in my book.

Night owl, or early bird?
Totally a night owl.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
At the moment, I’m working on Forever, book 3 in the Fateful trilogy. I have plans for at least 9 or 10 more books, all of them will be YA fantasy romance.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?
Disappoint in the books I had been reading, and the stories constantly haunting my thoughts. It took me a while to figure out those weren’t just for my own personal entertainment.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
When I found that people had actually put me as their favorite author in their profile. I never really thought I would ever be anyone’s favorite author.

What is your dream cast for your book?
I’d love to see Ed Speleers play Ethan Deveroux, and Leighton Meester play Danielle Darcey.

Favorite places to travel?
England, or anywhere in that area, like Ireland or France...

What do you do in your free time?
I love to take pictures of my girls, make beaded jewelry, decorate, cook, and read.

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
Definitely the movie Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows. I’ve watched the trailer a few times.

If you like vampires, you may like Fateful:

A huge fan of Jane Austen, Danielle hopes to find her own Mr. Darcy when she leaves Colorado to attend art school in London. Of course she knows it’s silly to wish for that, naive even. But she’s met enough males who lacked respect for women, a growing trend it seemed. And at nineteen...well.... However, on only her second night there she gets lost and is threatened by a stalker who proves to be immune to her martial arts training. Before she is completely overpowered, she is then saved by Ethan Deveroux.

While Danielle does find the romance she seeks in Ethan, he’s no Mr. Darcy. Her hero is held by a spell which fractures their chance at a happy ending. During the day Ethan is closer to mortal than immortal and can date her like any other man. Yet, as the sun sets, the powerful magic of an ancient curse returns and the evil of that spell is revealed. When that magic begins, Danielle's fairytale romance ends because Ethan Deveroux is a vampire.

If you’re kind of done with vampires, you might prefer Fair Maiden:

It's the Victorian era in England, but Tessa is from the medieval past. She awakens within a castle she has never seen before. Knowledge of her name also evades her. However, even worse than not knowing who or where she is, she cannot recall how she died or why she is dressed as a bride.

Along with Christian, the earl of the castle she haunts, Tessa tries to discover who she is and break the spell holding her in a prison of death. They never imagined the curse keeping them apart is the only thing protecting her, until it's too late.

Fractured:

The Fateful Trilogy continues with Fractured. No, it’s not called Fractured because Ethan and Danielle break up...in case you were wondering.
They had thought they’d escaped most of the danger surrounding them, when in truth they’ve made it worse by unintentionally sparking a civil war amongst vampires. Many vampires want to protect them for discovering the cure to the curse binding their kind. However many more want to destroy them for that same discovery.
Ethan’s and Danielle’s struggle for survival intensifies while they sink deeper into the midst of this danger. The romantic fairytale bliss they once had will soon fracture under the pressure of the curse....

Giveaway Details:
1 signed copy of Fateful or Fair Maiden + a matching beaded bookmark open to US only
1 Kindle copy of Fateful, Fair Maiden or Fractured sent as a gift through amazon.com (you must have an amazon.com account to claim it).
Ends 11/28/11

WINNERS
Paperback: Sierra(:
Ebook: Memory Aviles

Book Giveaway & Author Interview: The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack

Welcome to Author Mandi Slack.

Bio:

Mandi Tucker Slack was born in Price, Utah, and grew up in Orangeville, Utah, where she developed a great love of the outdoors. She enjoyed adventure novels as a child and has always been fascinated by books and writing. Mandi attended Utah State University, where she completed a four-year degree in special education. She currently resides in Santaquin, Utah, with her husband and family. In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking, and rock hounding with her children.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MandiSlack 
Blog: http://heyyouslackers.blogspot.com/


Interview:
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
The past, definitely! I love antiques and anything old. I’d travel back to the 1800’s just to see what it was like to live during that time, then I’d stock pile a wagon full of antiques and travel home again.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
I would want my Ipod, sunscreen, and a giant bag of candy. I can’t seem to get through a day without a handful of candy. Right now I’m hooked on Sugar Babies.

What is one book everyone should read?
Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Butter Zinger from Kroger’s.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
I love to eat left over pizza for breakfast! I know… that’s strange.

Night owl, or early bird?
Definitely a night owl. I hate waking up in the morning. I always have.

One food you would never eat?
Kalamari. My Grandpa is Greek and every Christmas he’d try to convince me to eat a piece of Kalamari. I just can’t bring myself to eat it. I’m not sure why.

Pet Peeves?
I hate seeing my husband’s dirty socks left next to the couch. I know that sounds cliché, but I can’t stand picking up his socks. I use tongs to carry them to the hamper.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?
The desire to become a writer just sort of came naturally. I devoured books as a young girl and I just sort of fell into writing as I grew older. I loved to create my own worlds, my own adventures, and build new and exciting characters. I wrote my first novel when I was 12. I’ve wanted to be a published writer ever since, but I sort of let that dream fall to the wayside as life grew busier. I finished school, married and had children and then when my husband returned to school, I realized that dream once again. I wrote The Alias his first semester and took a chance on having it published. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I’m glad I took a chance.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
I love to meet new people. I have made some amazing new friends and met people I had only ever dreamed of meeting. Authors have always been my idols and when I get to meet an author that I’ve read before, I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?
My favorite book when I was a girl was a book my mother made for her preschool class. It was titled “Hermie the worm”. It was about a little caterpillar that ate his family and loved peanut butter sandwiches.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
Whenever I write, I make playlists. I chose music that inspires me and matches the mood of the book. I wrote The Alias while I listened to the Transformers soundtrack, believe it or not. I have never liked the movie Transformers, but I loved the music score.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Greece. My Grandpa was Greek and I’m very proud of that heritage. I have always wanted to visit that country and live by the Mediterranean Sea.

What is your favorite Quote?
“My ideas usually come not at my desk writing, but in the midst of living.”…Anais Nin.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
I wanted to be everything that ended in “ogist”. I wanted to be a Geologist, a Zoologist, a Paleontologist and even a Biologist. I loved science, especially Earth Science. I studied text books just for fun.

Who are your favorite authors of all time?
Dorothy Keddington and Jennie Hansen. I discovered these authors when I was a young girl and I love their books!

How do you react to a bad review?
I eat ice cream to help me feel better and then I just keep writing.

If you were a bird, which one would you be?
A crow. These birds fascinate me. They are very intelligent, graceful, and mysterious.

What do you do in your free time?
I love to rock hound. I drag my children and my husband out nearly every weekend in search of new fossil or mineral locales.

The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack

After a long and difficult divorce, Jacey thinks the worst is over. Little does she know she'll soon be forced to go undercover to protect her family, and in the process, she'll risk losing her identity, her future, and her heart. With a lightning pace, a good dose of humor, and a plot that's full of suspense, this thrilling novel is an edge-of-your-seat read.

Book Giveaway:
1 paperback copy available to US only
2 Kindle copies that will be gift through amazon.com
Ends 11/28/11

WINNERS:
Paperback Ashlyn Williams

Kindle Ebook Janet Duffey & Shannon Dagesse

Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to the Winners of
My Spooktacular Giveaway

The winners were selected using Random.org

Irene Jackson - $10 in books
Kimberly Krey - Past Midnight Series
Mandy Anderson - The Fragrance of Her Name



Congratulations to the Winner of
My Monster Mash & Bash Giveaway

The winner was selected using random.org

Laura E.


Congratulations to the Winner of
My Zompacolypse Giveaway

The winner was selected using Random.org

Gloria Schumann




Congratulations to the Winner of
Garbology Kids



The winner was selected using Random.org

Pamalot

Congratulations to the Winner of
The Upside of Down Times



The winner was selected using Random.org

Missy O'Malley



Congratulations to the Winners of
The Butcher's Boy




The winners were selected using Random.org
Paperback 
Dave Kolan


Ebooks
Fishgal
William Cook
Jules Sybert



Congratulations to the Winner of
In the Forests of Night



The winner was selected using Random.org

Nedra Whittemore

The winners have been notified. Thanks to all who entered.

Are You Looking For Books To Review?

I wish I could say yes to every author who approaches me to review their book. Unfortunately there are not enough hours in the day to read as much as I want and with the craziness of my life I'm falling further behind everyday!

When I can't accept a book I like to provide the author or publisher with a list of bloggers who are accepting books for review.

If you'd like to be included on the spreadsheet that will be given to authors/publishers looking for book reviewers just fill out the form below. They can check out your site to see if it's a good fit for their book and contact you. Please be aware that I simply send them the entire spreadsheet and allow them to choose who might be a good fit for them.

This is a new updated spreadsheet. If you filled out the spreadsheet from a couple months ago please update your information on this one.

If you are an author or publisher and would like to view this list just send me an email.

Thanks!!

Thanks for the Books Giveaway Hop

The Thanks for the Books Hop is hosted by Grace @ Livre De Amore - Books of Love Blog.  This hop runs from November 1st to 14th.

When I think of books I'm grateful for Marcia Lynn McClure's books are tops on my list. If you're a follower of this blog you know I adore Marcia & her books. I stayed up way too late this weekend reading The Haunting of Autumn Lake.  I loved this book but since it is a sequel it most definitely must be read after reading The Visions of Ransom Lake.  So thanks to Marcia I have a signed copy of The Visions of Ransom Lake for giveaway.

My Giveaway:

A signed copy of The Visions of Ransom Lake by Marcia Lynn McClure.

The Visions of Ransom Lake by Marcia Lynn McClure

Youthful beauty, naïve innocence, a romantic imagination thirsting for adventure-an apt description of Vaden Valmont, who would soon find the adventure and mystery she had always longed to experience-in the form of a man.
A somber recluse, Ransom Lake descended from his solitary concealment in the mountains, wholly disinterested in people and their trivial affairs. And somehow, young Vaden managed to be ever in his way-either by accident or because of her own unique ability to stumble into a quandary.
Yet the enigmatic Ransom Lake would involuntarily become Vaden's unwitting tutor. Through him, she would experience joy and passion the like even Vaden had never imagined. Yes, Vaden Valmont stepped innocently, yet irrevocably, into love with the secretive, seemingly callous man-Ransom Lake.
But there were other life's lessons Ransom Lake would inadvertently convey to her as well. The darker side of life-despair, guilt, heartache. Would Ransom Lake be the means of Vaden's dreams come true? Or the cause of her complete desolation?

Giveaway Details:
Open to US only
Ends 11/14/11
To enter just follow this blog then fill out the form below.

Optional Extra Entries:
+1 Follow Marcia's Blog: http://distractionsink.com/blog/
+1 Sign up for Marcia's Newsletter: http://distractionsink.com/join-mailing-list-3/
+1 Follow Marcia on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MarciaLMcClure



There are a dozen other blogs participating in this hop, although I must put in a little disclaimer - I didn't realize when I signed up for this hop that some of the participating blogs are "adult" oriented and not "family friendly". With that warning the other stops can be found here: Livre De Amore - Books of Love Blog.

Nearly New Books For You 11/1

I love to receive free books in the mail. Unlike most avid readers I don't have a huge personal library. I believe books should be read and then shared instead of sitting on a shelf collecting dust. This belief could mean free books for you.

Each Tuesday I will be hosting a Nearly New Books For You Giveaway.

First Congratulations to last week's winner:

Susan Schleicher won my copy of

Sleepless by Cyn Balog (ARC)

This Week's Giveaway:
Click on book covers for book summaries:

Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou (ARC)


OR


Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern (ARC)


Giveaway Details:
Following appreciated but not necessary.
Open to US only.
Ends 11/7/11.
These are ARC copies and by entering you are agreeing to not sell these books - Respect the ARC.


I've seen several other versions of this on the web... Secondhand Saturday on Reading Teen, and Emptying the Nest on Reading Lark are two that come to mind.  I'm sure their are others.

I invite you to join me by sharing books that are just sitting on your shelf with others.  If you live in the US it only costs about $3 to send a book via media mail.  You are welcome to use my Nearly New Books for You title & image or create your own name for your used book giveaway.

If you host a giveaway for previously read books please link it up so others can find it.