Author Interview & Book Giveaway: The Flight of the Griffin by C.M. Gray

Welcome to Author Christopher Gray

Blog:
http://flightofthegriffin.blogspot.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/cgray129

Interview:
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

A fire starter machine thingy... a fishing outfit and Maria Kirilenko to ...errr... play tennis with:)

What is one book everyone should read?

Anything by John Steinbeck. It was only after reading his writing that I realised there really is a difference between an average writer and the very best. I can only aspire to one day come close to his level of work.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Green tea Ice cream available from my local sushi shop, it’s incredible!

One food you would never eat?

Meat. I’ve been vegetarian for over thirty years ... cant quit remember why it all started now but it must have been a good idea at the time and the thought now of eating bits of cow etc just.... I’m pretty messed up on my food likes as I do eat fish. I guess Maria Kirilenko and I wouldn’t starve on that island at least.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

You should read The Flight of the Griffin because it won’t be like any other book you’ve read, its getting a bunch of five star reviews, will entertain you from start to finish and the author is a really great guy!

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 

The Flight of the Griffin is my second book, my first book is also available, it’s called Shadowland and is the story of Uther Pendragon, father of Arthur; he of the Knights of the round table and Sword Excalibur. I’m about four chapters from finishing a sequel to The Flight of the Griffin. The first book is stand alone but I loved writing with these characters so much I just knew there was another story with them, and there is!

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

I got bored with television. Coming home from work and sitting down so my brain could rot in front of the tube. The final straw was when I realised, when watching the commercials one day that I had no idea what show I was watching! I had heard for years that ‘everybody has a book or two inside them’ so I thought I would see what was in me. Im so glad I did because writing is so much more fulfilling that watching tv or even reading a good book, it’s a combination of them both with a little computer gaming thrown in for good measure!

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Getting the first reviews that weren’t from friends or relatives. People that I didn’t know that had bought my book and were telling me how great it was. This was a real confirmation that I was on to something. Writing is awesome, but it’s like cooking a great meal, you may think it tastes good but it’s when a stranger dips in and tells you that you can cook that you can smile and start to celebrate.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

I would advise anyone that is thinking of writing to just jump right in and start taping away at a computer. Some people plot things out and have a good plan as to what they’re writing but my style is just to write and see where its going. Find a great first line and then see where it will take you. I would also advise, very strongly, to get and editor as soon as you’ve finished your own attempts at editing. The biggest complaint for Indie authors is that their work is badly edited and contains lots of typos and spelling mistakes. The author goes blind to these so you need an independent professional t really go through your work. Don’t think you can do it yourself.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

I’ve been very lucky to have lived all over the world. I’m English but left home when I was seventeen to live and work in France, then down to Greece. I then lived in Israel, India, Hong Kong, The Philippines, back to Europe into Amsterdam then France again and now I live and work in Spain. I love living here and have a house in the woods just outside Barcelona. My only neighbours are the wild boar yet I am only half hours drive from one of the greatest cities in the world!

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

When I was young all I wanted to do was travel. My grandparents had a book showing pictures of all over the world and it was fascinating to me. I’ve now seen a whole lot of those places, travelled into some crazy scenes and had my fare share of ‘narrow escapes.’ I think some of these experiences come across in my writing. I have a whole catalogue of strange happenings to draw upon!

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?

Turn off the television.

Favorite Food?

I love spicy hot food after living for so long in Asia and if it is my choice would eat Thai or Indian food every night. When I came back from India the first time I couldn’t eat anything that didn’t have chillies in, normal European food tasted like cardboard! I also like Sushi with lots of wasabi:)

What do you do in your free time? 

I love to go fishing, yet catch very little. Not by design its just that I’m not that bothered. I just love to be with my son, he’s eleven, out in the countryside watching the river gently slip past. Living in the woods means we also spend a lot of time walking with our two dogs, exploring the hillsides and forests of Catalonia. I also play guitar, but you may not want to listen as I’m no talent!

Favorite places to travel?

Anywhere ‘off the beaten track.’ When I went to India, I took a copy of the lonely planet guide, the most popular guide for travellers, and then ignored all the recommended places!

The Flight of the Griffin

Living in their old boat ‘The Griffin’ five young characters become the unlikely heroes at the end of time when a burglary sets them on the path to finish the ‘Last great Spell’ - a spell to stop the balance of the World tipping into Chaos...

They become the Magician, Thief, Priest and Fighter when a magical book guides them upon a quest that pits them against magic, demons and ‘The Hawk,’ an evil hunter of men.

Join a race against time to find three crystal skulls that must be brought together, while all the forces of Chaos try everything to stop them!



Giveaway Details
1 paperback of The Flight of the Griffin
1 ebook of The Flight of the Griffin
Open Internationally
Ends 9/16/12


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Got Great Book Giveaways

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.  Enter enough book 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 5/28 (US)

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.


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Author Interview & Book Giveaway: The Zephram Tales by Leslie Susskind

Welcome to Author Leslie Susskind

Although I'm new to the "book" author business (I've written tons of advertising over the years), I have loved reading since I conquered "Meet George Washington," in kindergarten, and I have loved writing since I got a gold star in 6th grade on a sonnet I wrote!
(However, reading it many years later, I think I got the gold star more because I managed to handwrite it in pen without any mistakes than because of its literary awesomeness!)
Being very shy growing up, the stories I read offered me wonderful playmates and fantastic worlds in which to lose myself. I hope my children's stories, such as "The Zehpram Tales," will bring the same contentment to everyone who reads them.
I have stacks of notebooks, paper scraps, post-it notes, even napkins on which I jot down ideas as they pop into my head. I can't wait to share them with you here as they become available.

http://www.lesliesusskind.com/
http://www.zephramtales.com/
https://twitter.com/GoodMannersMom

Interview:
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
I would travel to the past and hopefully I would land in a Jane Austin or Georgette Heyer novel setting.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
A pad of paper, a pencil and a pillow.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Although they are fantasy middle grade books about a magical kindgom, the books really celebrate children's non-magical ingenuity.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I am currently working on the third Zephram Tale, Wednesday when the Rock Field Rang and finishing up another book, The Abercrombie Family Business.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?
I was very shy when I was growing up and I found so much joy in reading that it made me want to write my own stories and share them with others.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
A mom who personally emailed me to tell me her son wanted to know when The Tale of Time Warp Tuesday was coming out.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?
There were several, depending on how old I was.  I really loved The Chronicals of Prydain (Lloyd Alexander) and Moonraker's Bride by Madeleine Brent  and April Lady by Georgette Heyer... when I was much younger, I loved Ozma of Oz.

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?
Hestia, because she stands for hearth and home.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
I always wanted to be a writer.  I've spent many years in marketing, writing tv commercials and other advertising and now I'm finally writing books.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
There's a little bit of me or what I wanted to be growing up in each of my Royal Quadruplets:  Tom is the oldest (like I was) and feels responsible for everyone; Lizzie loves to sing and is more shy (like I was); Ned and Nell are very outgoing (like I wish I could have been) and I admire their spunk and personality!

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something.

Hidden talent?
Singing (I used to sing opera!)

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I'm really looking forward to Mark of Athena, The Iron Prince, The Crimson Crown and Girl of Nightmares

How do you react to a bad review?
I cry.

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?
This is pretty boring:  central air conditioning for my house!

Which authors have influence you most how?
The way Georgette Heyer used humor and dialogue in her regency novels really influenced my writing style.

Give us a glimpse into a typical day in your day starting when you wake up till you lie down again.
Wake up; get my daughters up and off to school; feed the cats; get ready for work; go to work (my day job in advertising); check my sales stats; work on Wednesday when the Rock Field Rang or plan book marketing over lunch; work; leave work and take daughters to activites and work on projects in car or building; late dinner (or dinner on the go);  watch a little tv with my husband, read, go to bed. And then it starts again!

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
My family went out to dinner.

Regular or Diet? Coke or Pepsi?
Diet Pepsi

The Month of Zephram Mondays

In the Kingdom of Zephram, everyone is magical - everyone except for the Royal Quadruplets: Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell. It's tough to be different, even if you are a prince or a princess. And Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell are treated differently by everyone in the kingdom! 

But when evil Prince Persius takes over the kingdom, it's the non-magical Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell who are the only ones left to try and save the day. Through their funny and challenging adventures they and those around them come to a better appreciation of the children's skills - and the big difference you can make by being different!

The Tale of Time Warp Tuesday

In the second of The Zephram Tales (after 'The Month of Zephram Mondays'), Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell, the Royal Quadruplets and non-magical Heroes of the magical Kingdom of Zephram, have settled back into their same old boring routines after the excitement of saving Zephram and the rest of the world from evil Prince Persius.

Then, suddenly, the children realize why everything is so incredibly boring: it's because everyone's repeating the same day, over and over again!

Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell are the only ones who know what's happening, and it looks like they're the only ones who can do anything about it. But why has it happened? How are four non-magical children going to start the magical world turning again? And what will they find out about themselves in the process?



Giveaway Details
2 winners will each receive a copy of both of Leslie's books
Open to US & Canada
Ends 9/14/12


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Excerpt & Book Giveaway: Dark Promise by Julia Crane & Talia Jager

Author Talia Jager

Talia Jager has been writing as far back as she can remember. As a child, her summer vacations were spent writing stories. Bedtimes were ignored when she hid under the covers with a flashlight, a notebook and a pen. At school, she kept her works-in-progress under her classwork.

She took creative writing and journalism in high school and graduated with a major in English and a minor in French. She later earned her college degree in early childhood education. Writing was pushed to the side when she fell in love and had a family.

Now, with the support of her family, she has several published books and continues to write young adult dramas.

Talia lives in Texas with her husband and six children. Her published works include Damaged: Natalie's Story, Teagan's Story: Her Battle With Epilepsy, If I Die Young, The Ultimate Sacrifice, Secret Bloodline, Lost and Found and Roots and Wings. She co-wrote Mesmerized with Julia Crane. She has also contributed to two short story collections, The Halloween Collection and The Holiday Collection from the Indie Eclective. She hopes to have her next book out by the end of 2012.

Author Julia Crane

Julia Crane is the author of the YA paranormal fiction novels: Keegan's Chronicles, Mesmerized and Eternal Youth. Julia was greatly encouraged by her mother to read and use her imagination, and she's believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Julia has traveled far and wide to all the places her grandmother told her about, gaining inspiration from her journeys to places like Nepal, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Italy, France and many more. And who knows? Maybe the magical creatures she writes about are people she met along the way.

Julia Crane has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Although she's spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Julie Crane’s website: http://www.juliacraneauthor.com/

Facebook for Julia Crane: http://www.facebook.com/julia.crane.5

Twitter for Julia Crane: @JuliaCrane2, https://twitter.com/#!/JuliaCrane2

Twitter for Talia Jager: @TaliaJagar, https://twitter.com/taliajager

Talia Jagar’s blog: http://taliajager.blogspot.com/

Facebook for Talia Jagar: http://www.facebook.com/authortaliajager

DARK PROMISE

Rylie has it all - great friends, dream boy, loving family. But on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, her perfect little world shatters. A stranger claiming to be her real mother appears with a secret: Rylie is a faery whose powers will be unleashed on her birthday. Captured and forced into a new life, Rylie struggles to keep everything she loves and discovers a terrifying truth: some promises cannot be broken.

MESMERIZED

Seventeen-year-old succubus Lily Anderson can’t have a normal life: She isn't allowed a boyfriend, she has no friends, and school is just one mess-up after another.

Lily’s parents send her away to the prestigious Emerson Academy. It doesn’t appear to be any different from the others. That is, until she meets her roommate, Hannah, and a blue-eyed boy named Jake.

Lily makes an almost deadly mistake, and Jake has a mysterious past that has come back to haunt him. Together, they must go on the run from things neither of them understand in order to save the people they love—and each other. But, Jake’s foe is more dangerous than they realized, and it will take the help of friends and family to save the man Lily loves.

She must learn to use her powers for good before it’s too late.

*This is a mature YA. Due to sexual content and some language it is not recommended for younger teens.

Dark Promise

Excerpt

My mother led her into the living room. The lady’s piercing green eyes rested on me, sending a chill down my back. My father followed her gaze. “Rylie, do you know this woman?” Dad asked.

“No.” I shook my head slowly. “I’ve never seen her before.”

“Rylie, maybe you should go to your room,” Dad suggested, his gaze demanding I do as he said.

“No. If this has something to do with me, I want to hear it.” I crossed my arms and sank against the back of the couch.

Mom and Dad exchanged a worried glance, but turned back to the lady on the couch. “Please, go on.”

Without taking her eyes from me, the lady calmly stated, “My name is Azura, and I am Rylie’s birth mother.”

My father, who was always a level-headed man, was on his feet in seconds, his face hard. “What are you talking about?”

I felt like I had fallen into some kind of parallel universe. Did this woman just say she was my birth mother? How could she be my birth mother? That would mean I was adopted, but wouldn’t my parents have told me something like that?

My mother shook her head. “Birth mother? Rylie isn’t adopted.” She reached over and took my hand. “Believe me, I’ll never forget the eleven hours of labor.”

The woman sat perfectly still in the blue armchair across from us, with her hands clasped on her lap. “I know it’s hard to accept, but it’s true. Your daughter died shortly after she was born. I switched the infants. Rylie is mine.”

The wind left me as if I had been punched in the stomach. I couldn’t breathe, and the room spun. I gripped the pillow next to me with my other hand as I clung to my mother.

Silence filled the room for a moment, and then my father exploded. “You need to leave now!” He pointed to the door. “Get out of this house and don’t come back without a court order.”

The lady smiled sincerely, her face still as calm as it had been when she walked in the door. “Please, hear me out. I realize this is a lot to take in.”

“No! This is preposterous! Nobody died. Rylie is ours.” Dad’s voice was like thunder.

I studied the lady. She seemed so honest and soft-spoken. Why would she pretend something like this? Why would she ruin our family if it weren’t true? And if was true, why was she coming clean now? Something in me believed her even though I didn’t want to. I swallowed hard and rubbed my sweaty palms on my shirt.

“Let her talk,” I said hoarsely.

“Rylie, you can’t believe her.” Dad looked stricken.

“I’m curious as to why she thinks I’m her daughter. Let’s hear her out.” I crossed my arms and scooted closer to my mother, comforted when she wrapped an arm around me.

Dad turned back to the woman called Azura, and his frown deepened. “Fine.” He sat back down in his seat and glared. “Talk.”

“Thank you. I’m going to tell you something not many humans know, and I have to trust you to keep it secret for Rylie’s sake.” She addressed the statement to my parents.

Humans? Who talks like that?

Giveaway Details:
Ebook of either DARK PROMISE or MESMERIZED

Open Internationally

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Release Day Blitz: Their Promise by Brinda Courtney

Their Promise (Novella)

One moment can change your life forever.

One moment to find love.

One moment to lose it.

About the Author:
Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher. She currently spends a lot of time coaching high school cheerleading and teaching first graders how to love books. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs.


http://www.brinacourtney.com/
https://twitter.com/BrinaCourtney
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brina-Courtney/270546116309774

Book Review: Sisterhood of Strength by Diony George

Title: Sisterhood of Strength: True Stories of Miraculous Service
Author: Diony George
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Website: http://diony-george.blogspot.com/

Book Summary:

Experience for yourself the pure love that inspires ordinary women to serve and accept service in a truly extraordinary manner. This inspiring collection of true stories from the lives of women just like you is told with heartwarming sincerity. Perfect for sharing, this remarkable book is sure to uplift, encourage, and cheer any woman, whether it’s her turn to serve or be served.

Sisterhood of Strength is a compilation of touching stories of sisters who serve each other.  You can pick it up and read just one story at a time or read through the whole thing in one sitting as I did.  Of the nearly three dozen stories in this book about half are by published LDS authors.

The stories are varied, some are accounts of acts by visiting teachers, other of service to neighbors, friends or family members.  A great reminder that sometimes it takes just a small act to make a huge impact in the lives of others.

Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book

Content: Clean & Uplifting

Source: From Publisher for Review

Excerpt & Book Giveaway: Dark Summer by Lizzy Ford

About the Author:

Lizzy Ford is the self-publishing phenom, author of the sweet paranormal romance series: "Rhyn Trilogy" and "War of Gods" series; and the young adult fantasy trilogies, “The Foretold,” and “Witchling.” She has also authored multiple single title young adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Lizzy's books have reached the bestseller lists on Amazon, Apple and Barnes and Noble in multiple categories. Widely considered a freak of nature by her contemporaries for her ability to write and publish a new book every 30-45 days, Lizzy attributes her success to a team that consists of her editor, graphics artist, I.T. Sherpa, and her rabid readers.  

Lizzy released ten books in 2011 and intends to release another ten in 2012, including launching two more series. Lizzy’s books can be found on every major ereader library, to include: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Sony and Smashwords. She lives in southern Arizona with her husband, three dogs and a cat.  

Lizzy’s links online

Website: http://www.guerrillawordfare.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LizzyFord2010
Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/106728579413949863215/#106728579413949863215/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4558309.Lizzy_Ford
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lizzy-Ford/e/B004XTTYOC/

Dark Summer (The Witchling Trilogy)

 A girl with a broken past and a dark secret. A boy with a twisted future and no second chances.  When they meet, it just might cost them their souls.

Sixteen-year-old Summer doesn’t expect the new boarding school to be any different than the rest: a temporary stay where everyone will turn against her after a few weeks. Until she meets the rest of the students at this special school and realizes she’s not the only one with magic in her blood. Accustomed to the concrete jungle of LA, she gets lost one night in the forests of the Rocky Mountains and meets Decker, the boy who will become the Master of Night and Fire on his eighteenth birthday. Their connection is instant and dangerous, for both will be forced to choose between Light and Dark, life and death, love – and their souls.

One choice. One soul. One price.

DARK SUMMER EXCERPT

“This is simple. Decker, you lead. When he steps forward, Summer you step back.”

They stumbled through the first few steps, with Decker mumbling apologies as he stepped on her toes. Summer’s body felt like it was on fire. Her breathing sounded too loud in her ears.

“Step back, Summer,” Jessie said again. “Let Decker lead!”

Decker smashed her toes, and she stumbled. He caught her as she crashed into him.

“Careful, Decker!” Jessie called.

Summer looked up, instantly caught in Decker’s gaze. His grip stayed around her, pressing their bodies together. As if something clicked, she sensed his next move before he made it. She stepped back with her right foot as he stepped forward with his left. They made it through another step, then another. Their moves grew faster as they began keeping up with the music.

“Excellent!” Jessie exclaimed. “Now you’ve found the rhythm. One, two, three. One, two, three.”

Summer couldn’t look away from him. Their bodies moved as if they belonged together. Decker’s warmth and magick made her feel like her insides were shaking. Jessie’s voice broke through Summer’s trance.

“Sorry, guys, but I can’t find any of my other music. I’ll download some for tomorrow. You want to come back in the morning, after your class, Summer?”

Summer broke eye contact with Decker. Immediately, they fell out of sync and stumbled. He released her and stepped away.

“Sure,” she managed.

“You, too, Decker. You guys are naturals together.”

Summer flushed and turned away, avoiding Decker’s gaze. She’d felt it, too, the instant connection that went too deep to be normal.

“Thanks, Jessie,” Summer said and hurried out of the room. She ran once she entered the hallway and sprinted up the stairs to her room.

Her hands shook. Her heart felt like it was doing cartwheels in her chest. She’d never felt this way for any guy, even Beck.

Decker was off limits. He was aligned to the Dark. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—be falling for him! Yet their connection was unlike anything she’d ever felt. In his arms, she hadn’t been alone.

Giveaway Details
1 paperback copy & 1 ebook
Open Internationally
Ends 9/12/12


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Book Spotlight & Giveaway: PIP Goes to Camp by Donna L. Peterson

Pip Goes to Camp (The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn #2)

Summer camp won't know what hit them Pip's parents are sending him away on an adventure, but Pip's sure a whole week at camp will be more like torture Filled with fun comedy, eye-catching pictures, and an easy-to-follow storyline, this book is perfect for young readers and guaranteed to keep the whole family grinning to the very last page.

About the Author:

Donna Peterson has enjoyed writing stories and poetry since she was in the second grade. Donna had her first book, The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn: It’s Not Easy Being a Kid, published in 2011. She has also been published four times in the Idaho Magazine and wrote a weekly humor column, “Kaleidoscope,” for the Three Rivers Chronicle. Donna recently made a difficult decision to take an early retirement from her job of twelve years with the school district so that she will be able to spend more time doing what she enjoys most: writing for young readers. However, she has signed up on the sub list, so she plans on being involved with school activities.
Donna lives in Idaho with her husband, Brad, and their three beloved pets: Rusty, Sam, and Links. Her son Erik and his lovely wife, Shawna, live in Utah. Her other son, David, just joined them as a roommate while he plans on attending a nearby college in Utah.
Along with writing, Donna’s other favorite pastimes include Zumba and photography. Having her first children’s book published last year was a dream come true.

http://www.pipsmisadventures.com/



Giveaway Details
1 copy of PIP Goes to Camp
Open to US only
Ends 9/10/12



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ARC Giveaway: After Hello by Lisa Mangum

After Hello by Lisa Mangum

What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had? 

Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot camera, especially on her first trip to New York City. 

Sam is a finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find. 

When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for what they will find out about each other—and about themselves when they form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able to overcome fate? This new novel from award-winning author Lisa Mangum explores what happens after hello.

After Hello will be released on 9/4/12



ARC Giveaway
Open to US only
Ends 9/3/12

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Clearing My Shelves Giveaway - 12 Books

Last month I posted a Dirty Little Secrets motivated giveaway.

Since then I have continued to dejunk, clean and organize my home.

Today I'm offering up another stack of books.  These are mainly middle grade books.

Giveaway Details:
The 12 books pictured above
Open to US only
Ends 9/6/12


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Author Interview & Book Giveaway: I Am Me by Ram Sundaram

Welcome to Author Ram Sundaram

Ram Sundaram was born in India and has lived in several cities around the world. Having earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, he is now dedicated to pursuing a career in writing. He is now working on a novel that will follow up on the ideas presented in "I Am Me. He proudly calls Calgary, Alberta, his home.

Links:
http://www.iammeshortstories.com/
http://www.facebook.com/IAmMe.RamSundaram


Interview:
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
The past. The future will always find us one day, but the past will never return.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
By buying the second book.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Yann Martel; Priyanka Chopra; Roger Federer; Albus Dumbledore, and Hermione Granger.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
Notebook with attached pen/pencil; Mp3 player with a never-dying battery, and a best friend.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
For the same reason you should read anyone’s book: you get to know about one other person in this world.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
Taller. I also wanted to be a pilot, but my fear of flying kind of got in the way…

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Three books in the works. The first of which should be releasing in a few weeks. The second, which might perhaps end up being my favourite work of all, will hopefully release by Christmas.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?
Harry Potter. It’s such a beautiful world. Magic and fantasy aside, it’s an endearing world, full of possibility and friendship. Plus, what boy wouldn’t want a wand to play with?

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Start with an idea, not with a plot. Plots are fickle, and have a short shelf life. If you center your book around an idea, your book will live on in your reader’s mind for much longer.

If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why?
65 million years ago and a day, so that I can stand amongst the dinosaurs for a day or so before they either eat me, or I get destroyed by the same calamity that destroyed them.

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why?
Brad Pitt, because I’ve spent a lifetime not being able to look like him, so I’d want to see him spend a couple of hours not being able to look like me.

How did you know you should become an author?
I told someone a story and he said, “I might understand you better if you wrote that down.”

Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
In all of them. I think when you create you pour a part of yourself into the creation.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
“Don’t do it.” I love hearing that phrase, nothing motivates me more.

If you were a super hero what would your kryptonite be?
Hugs. They recharge me, comfort me, and make me stronger. I love getting and giving hugs.

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?
A lottery ticket. Reinvesting is the way to go.

Who or what inspired you to become an author?
My mother. I wanted to write stories the way she tells them. But now I realize I can never convey with words what she expresses so beautifully with her voice, her eyes and her depth of feeling.

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....
The Shining. Stephen King had a choice between making it a literary masterpiece, or a commercial bestseller, and I personally think he chose the latter. Not that I blame him, I would have done the same thing. But now, all these years later, I would love to revisit the brilliant work he did to craft the skeletal frame of the book, and then play around with the story a bit.

If you had 24 hours alone how would you spend it?
Counting the minutes. No seriously, I’ve spent ninety-five percent of my life in solitude, it’s time for a change.

Harry Potter or Twilight?
Do you like your left eye better or your right?

Spontaneity or Planning Ahead?
Spontaneity. The best way to plan for everything is to plan for nothing.

Cause or Effect?
The chicken came first.

Favorite quote from a movie?
“Children should never be sent to bed—they always wake up a day older.” From Finding Neverland.

Do you prefer a bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?
Whichever one comes from the heart.

What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?
Talking to a friend or loved one over a cup of coffee. Rain is a must for intimate conversations.

I Am Me

I Am Me is a two-way book that contains twenty short stories, divided into ten individual pairs. Each story in a pair has a corresponding "mate" on the other side, which shares the same title, theme, and to an extent the same concept, but is presented in an entirely different way. One half of the book examines reality, while the other half explores the realms of fantasy. The stories examine various aspects of life, from birth to friendship, love, desire, ambition, prejudice, spirituality, death and the afterlife.
Through the two-way structure of the book, I Am Me depicts each tale in two distinct ways, offering a reader a choice between residing in a realistic world, or being lost within the labyrinths of fantasy. The stories are populated by an eclectic group of characters, ranging from a lonely boy who attempts to determine the value of friendship, to two birds named Max and Macs that fight for territory on an apple tree.
I Am Me attempts to challenge the segregation of literature into "fact" and "fiction" as well as life into "reality" and "fantasy." These labels are not mutually exclusive, for there is as much truth to every lie, as there are lies in every truth. It is perception that paints the difference between these concepts.

Giveaway Details
2 copies of I Am Me
Open to US & Canada
Ends 9/11/12


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Cover Reveal: Blood Doll by Georgia Cates

Author Georgia Cates

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent thirteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author.

Blood of Anteros, Book One in The Vampire Agápe Series, was her first novel and it was released in September 2011. She decided to briefly step away from the paranormal genre to try her hand at a young adult contemporary romance when she wrote Going Under, but returned to the paranormal romance platform to complete the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series, BloodJewel.
Her current works in progress are Shallow (A Going Under Novel) which will release on September 27th and Blood Doll (The Vampire Agápe Series #3), to be released in January 2013.

Georgia Cates Links:
Georgia Cates Blog
Georgia Cates on Facebook
Georgia Cates on Twitter
Shallow on Goodreads

Blood Doll:

Solomon Alexander has faced huge obstacles during his existence, but they’re nothing in comparison to the one he’s about to hit head on. As leader of The Savannah Compound, part of Sol’s new position in the Coven of Landra is to guide the transition of fledgelings, newly turned vampires. It’s his job to save the unsavable. Being a Landra is what he’s done for over a century and he’s damn good at it, but everything he knows, practices and teaches is threatened when he is forced to drink from Avery Ferrand, a Blood Jewel.

The Blood Jewel is enshrouded with mystery, but one fact is known. There’s never been bloodmore desirable or addicting than Avery’s and there are consequences for any vampire that drinks it...including Solomon Alexander. Although he adamantly denies his need to feed from her, Avery suspects he’s lying but she has secrets of her own about the night he drank from her. She wanted him to and now she finds herself being drawn to Solomon in a way she shouldn't. As Avery’s desire to be closer to Solomon grows, she finds herself considering something more dangerous than being found by the dangerous covens hunting her...asking Solomon if she can become his Blood Doll.

Cover Reveal: