Join the Hop! Win Over $200 and TONS of Other Prizes!

Happy Friday! Yes, today's post is going up early, early! I have a HUGE surprise for you all. If you're in the mood to WIN an Amazon gift card worth over $200, get your clicking fingers ready! Here we GO!

☆¸.•*¨*★☆ S.A.S.S. Blog HOP ☆★*¨*•.¸☆

Here's what you have to do to enter to win the Grand Prize Gift card:

• Start here https://www.facebook.com/BookSmacked/ and hop through to each page.
• LIKE the page
• COMMENT on the post
• SHARE the post

If you go through to each one, you're entered to win the card. But wait! It gets better!

Each participant has a giveaway of some item or another on their page, so if you like the page, comment on the post, and share the post, you're entered to win that page's item!

HOP CLOSES SATURDAY, APRIL 8!

Good luck!

Well, that's all for today folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

BOD Zombie Crawl 2 Blog Party - Origin of the Zombie

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Short intro today; we're going right into the fun (I figured the title of the post and the next section were sufficient).

Zombie Crawl 2 - Blog Party

October 22 - 31, 2015

by Band of Dystopian Authors & Fans

How it works: Each day, the scheduled authors and bloggers will post awesome zombie-tastic content for your enjoyment along with a giveaway on their site/blog/page. You can hop around to all of the participating sites and enter as many giveaways as you like! If you would like to be emailed links to the new posts each day, join this Zombie Crawl Daily Digest list which will ensure you don't miss a post (or join the party on Facebook to get notifications). Make sure to leave comments and interact with the participating sites. Thanks for joining the party!

Origin of the Zombie

From Wikipedia:
The English word "zombie" was derived from the original form "zombi" that first appeared in a story written by Robert Southey.

Okay, well, that's where the word came from. But, the idea of the zombie goes way, way back. A zombie was not, traditionally, walking dead that feasted on the flesh of other humans. Voodoo rituals that turned a person (living or dead) into a mindless slave is where the premise for the "creature" comes from. In the Haitian rituals, these creations were called thralls.

Those slaves did whatever they were ordered to do by the person that performed the ritual. In pictures, the zombies were depicted as regular looking humans with purely white eyes. They did not speak, and they tended to move slowly, traits the modern-day zombies retained.

In literature, zombies have played a major role. As far back as 1818, when the original Frankenstein was published by Mary Shelley, you see various forms: patched together beings, those controlled by magic, people who've been brainwashed, the literal living dead, virus born illnesses causing insanity and rot, and many more.

In film, zombies have been sensationalized. From Night of the Living Dead to World War Z, there are plenty of full-length movies out there that all depict zombies in various ways.

Because zombies have been around so long, there's a small chance of them falling out of favor anytime soon. Who knows what form the creatures will take over the next two hundred years, but I'm intrigued!

Here's the article on Wiki if you want to take a look at it.

Now, we get to the fun stuff! First up, the list of the participants! Everyone will have prizes, so be sure you visit them all!

The Schedule:

OCTOBER 22 - Thursday

Band of Dystopian Authors & Fans (Party & Grand Prize Host)
Jo Michaels Blog (author)
Rissa Blakeley (author)

OCTOBER 23 - Friday
Claire C. Riley (author)
2 Girls & A Book (blog)
Emily Shore (author)

OCTOBER 24 - Saturday
Kathy Dinisi (author)
Us Girls & A Book (blog)
The Voluptuous Book Diva (blog 18+)

OCTOBER 25 - Sunday
Casey L. Bond (author)
THE KATY blog (blog)

OCTOBER 26 - Monday
Saul Tanpepper (author)
Warren Fielding (author)
The Leighgendarium (blog)

OCTOBER 27 - Tuesday
Kody Boye (author)
Rhiannon Frater (author)
ER Arroyo (author)

OCTOBER 28 - Wednesday
Allen Gamboa (author)
Armand Rosamilia (author)
Ethan @ One Guy's Guide to Good Reads (blog)

OCTOBER 29 - Thursday
Kate L. Mary (author)
aftershockzombieseries (author)
Eli Constant (author)

OCTOBER 30 - Friday
Aria Michaels (author)
Brian Parker (author)
Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps (blog)

OCTOBER 31 - Saturday
Cindy Carroll (author)
M. R. Pritchard (author)
Toni L.H. Boughton (author)
Digital Dirty Girl (blog)

To learn more about Band of Dystopian and/or to enter our Grand Prize Giveaway, visit BandofDystopian.com and don't forget to join the group on Facebook!

Now for my giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck to you all!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Get Ready - BOD Zombie Crawl 2 Starts Tomorrow

Happy Wednesday, everyone! EEP! Tomorrow is the super fantastic launch of the Band of Dystopian Zombie Crawl 2 Blog Party. Thought I'd warm you all up in preparation and give you the deets. Without further ado, here ya go!

Zombie Crawl 2 - Blog Party

October 22 - 31, 2015

by Band of Dystopian Authors & Fans

How it works: Each day, the scheduled authors and bloggers will post awesome zombie-tastic content for your enjoyment along with a giveaway on their site/blog/page. You can hop around to all of the participating sites and enter as many giveaways as you like! If you would like to be emailed links to the new posts each day, join this Zombie Crawl Daily Digest list which will ensure you don't miss a post (or join the party on Facebook to get notifications). Make sure to leave comments and interact with the participating sites. Thanks for joining the party!

The Schedule:

OCTOBER 22 - Thursday

Band of Dystopian Authors & Fans (Party & Grand Prize Host)
Jo Michaels Blog (author)
Rissa Blakeley (author)

OCTOBER 23 - Friday
Claire C. Riley (author)
2 Girls & A Book (blog)
Emily Shore (author)

OCTOBER 24 - Saturday
Kathy Dinisi (author)
Us Girls & A Book (blog)
The Voluptuous Book Diva (blog 18+)

OCTOBER 25 - Sunday
Casey L. Bond (author)
THE KATY blog (blog)

OCTOBER 26 - Monday
Saul Tanpepper (author)
Warren Fielding (author)
The Leighgendarium (blog)

OCTOBER 27 - Tuesday
Kody Boye (author)
Rhiannon Frater (author)
ER Arroyo (author)

OCTOBER 28 - Wednesday
Allen Gamboa (author)
Armand Rosamilia (author)
Ethan @ One Guy's Guide to Good Reads (blog)

OCTOBER 29 - Thursday
Kate L. Mary (author)
aftershockzombieseries (author)
Eli Constant (author)

OCTOBER 30 - Friday
Aria Michaels (author)
Brian Parker (author)
Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps (blog)

OCTOBER 31 - Saturday
Cindy Carroll (author)
M. R. Pritchard (author)
Toni L.H. Boughton (author)
Digital Dirty Girl (blog)

To learn more about Band of Dystopian and/or to enter our Grand Prize Giveaway, visit BandofDystopian.com and don't forget to join the group on Facebook!

How fun and exciting is this?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Utopia Go Fund Me Blog Hop - Without Utopia, I Never Would Have

As we jump into the FIFTH year of the amazing UtopiaCon, we want to giveback to the organizers who have given so much inspiration and support to us. A conference of this magnitude­­of this level of MAGIC­­is not cheap. Over the past few months, we’ve learned that organizers, friends, and even family have come forward and given from their own personal funds in order to help move Utopia forward another year and we want to pay them back. We want to FIGHT FOR OUR WRITE and do our part to help.

This year especially, we'd like to make sure they  go into planning sessions with an extra boost to it's bottom line. So if you've ever been touched by Utopia, or if you love any of the authors, bloggers, or readers who have, please take a moment to give a few dollars.

This will insure the inspiration continues.

We hope you'll be led to give from the heart, but to sweeten the deal we have some MAJORLY EPIC incentives! In addition to what you’ll get from the Go Fund Me organizers (see the donation page to read about those), you’ll also get entered to win any one of these amazing raffle prizes listed in the rafflecopter below!

Prizes like this one:

And in order to help convey the magical sense of community Utopia has instilled in its attendees, I want everyone to know that...

WITHOUT UTOPIA I NEVER WOULD HAVE....

There is no purchase or donation necessary to enter to enter the drawing, but we encourage you to give even just $10 in order to help move us toward our big goal. And don’t forget, every donation of at least $10 earns you free books!

How to enter:

1. Go visit #UtopiaLove’s Go Fund Me page and make a small donation (this isn’t necessary, but we would be so jazzed if you did this first! AND this earns you an automatic prize based on your donation level. Check your email to collect.)
2. Click through any one of the rafflecopter entry methods. Complete the necessary item and get entered for all of the raffle prizes listed below.
3. Click through to the list of other participating authors & bloggers to read how Utopia has changed them!

That’s it! Thanks!

Participating Blogs:
Karen Hooper
Kallie Ross   
Susan Burdorf
Jo Michaels 
Carlyle Labuschagne 
Shantella Benson
Shelley Custer
S.M. Boyce 
Komali da Silva
PK Hrezo
Elisabeth Kauffman
Patti Larsen
Michaela Mills
Ginny Gallagher
Liz Long
Raine Thomas
Stacey Marie Brown
Heather Hildenbrand
Amy Evans

Here's an amazing giveaway for you all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

No Blog Left Behind Thanksgiving Giveaway Hop

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! I'm so excited to bring you my post and giveaway for the No Blog Left Behind Thanksgiving Giveaway Hop, I have no words. First, I'll go into what I'm thankful for, then I'll post the giveaway. Easy to enter, easy to win! Let's get going.

To visit the other participants, head on over to the host's blog here!

What I'm thankful for:

• My husband. Without him, I shudder to think where I'd be today. He's super supportive and gives me great advice.
• My dearest and bestest friend. You know who you are. You make every day just a little bit brighter.
• Great followers on my blog. My readers are one of a kind.
• The ability to read. Thanks to school, I can read a book and get lost in another world.
• The ability to write. I love it. Life blood!
• Authors. All of them. What else would I have to read besides my own work if not for other authors?
• Art. Because it's inspiring and relaxing, all at the same time.
• UtopYA con. If not for that awesome conference, I'm not sure if I would've met my personal goals this year.
• Collaborative writing. Wow. I've been blessed with an opportunity to write with a handful of other women I shall be proud to call friends forever.

To show my thanks, I'm giving away some prizes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Big Thanksgiving hugs to all my readers. Thanks so much for following, subscribing, and trusting me to guide you in this crazy adventure called self-publishing.

Be sure and check out the other stops on the hop!

What are you thankful for?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

My UtopYA2014 Experience Blog Hop

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today, I'm participating in a blog hop and huge book giveaway from the authors of UtopYA. No, this isn't official! It's just a bunch of us that got together and decided to talk about our experiences at the con, and reward readers/followers with some awesome books. If you'd like to, you can join the Facebook event for the hop here. Now, sit back, relax, and let's get going!

My UtopYA 2014 Experience

by Jo Michaels

I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs about attending UtopYA Con 2014. I did a couple of things along the way to ease those fears (like my author interview series), but I still felt my knees knocking when I walked through the doors of the Millennium Maxwell House in Nashville, Tennessee, on the Thursday afternoon before the con began.

Those nervous moments didn't last long; there was too much to do/see. As soon as I walked in, I spotted the ever awesome Eva Pohler. Not long after, I spied Toni Lesatz, C. A. Kunz (both of them), and an hour or so later N. L. Greene, Kelly Risser, and Casey L. Bond arrived.

Then, I spied Carlyle Labuschagne. That's when the squeeing began.

There were many hugs, lots of "I know you! So good to put a face with the name." going around, and many, many business cards changing hands. This crazy (yes, I do mean bonkers) "moment" kept going all afternoon.

At six, Tia and I snuck out to the pool area with Kelly Risser, N. L. Greene, and Casey L. Bond. We worked from six until about nine on ideas we had for our YA anthology. There were lots of great things flying around that table, let me tell you. We'll be bringing you something never done before. Keep your eyes out for that.

Because I drove up to Nashville, I'd been up since around 5am. At this point, I was ready to pass out. After hauling our books down and setting up our table, Tia and I excused ourselves and ducked back to our room for some much needed sleep. We knew the next day would start earlier than we really wanted to get up.

At 6am, it began again. Breakfast took longer than it should've and we were late for the keynote speech. *facepalm* Yeah, next time, I get up at 5. After that, we literally talked non-stop, marketed our books, and met authors until 10pm. I also had the Friday night fan invasion to attend. With Sylvia Day there, the line was humongous. Moving books and swag off my regular table and out the door to another one (and back again later) was fun in a strange way. I chatted with the authors near me and made some new friends. Don't judge, I'm able to befriend darn near anyone. Yeah, we sang Baby Got Back in the hotel bar, but the networking never stopped. My face hurt from smiling so much. By 11, we were back in our room. Tia spent the nights working on an edit for a client of INDIE Books Gone Wild (now that's dedication), and I read a book in bed while decompressing from the day's craziness and trying not to have a nervous breakdown from being so on edge all day.

Saturday was just as nuts. I face-planted in bed after the awards and dance party. No, I only had one drink (it's good to be responsible) so that wasn't it. My throat was killing me, and I'd been running all day. If there was a moment to breathe in there, I missed it--or maybe I was moving so fast I got caught in a time-warp continuum and the moment came later than it should've.

By this point, I was missing my husband and my own bed fiercely. I left Sunday morning (early). While this guaranteed I missed out on some of the super fun stuff going on at the con, I couldn't help it. Remember, I had a pretty good drive ahead of me.

Was it worth it? YES. Will I do it again next year? YES. Why? Because, for the first time in my life, I felt normal. No one looked at me like I had ten heads when I talked about dragons, zombies, or mutated mushrooms that want to kill me. It was accepted, embraced, and even encouraged. Was it overload that'll wipe you out but leave you teeming with ideas? YES.

Do it. If you've been sitting on the fence about attending a writer's con, come to UtopYA in 2015. I can't speak for other cons; but this one treats every author (traditional or Indie) like a rock star. Get your tickets here.

Advice for newcomers:

• Sleep well before you come. You won't get much rest once the con begins.
• Bring cough drops or drink a lot of warm tea or coffee. Your voice will thank me later.
• Pack with intelligence. Remember! You need a dress or some nice clothes for the awards, and whatever clothes you're comfortable in for the other days. Trust me, sneakers are your friends.
• Don't drink so much you can't walk. I realize you're getting out of the house for the first time in forever, but be responsible; you never know who's watching you and noticing. This is a gathering of professionals. Be professional. Your career is in your hands here.
• Get to the con early (before Thursday). They'll let you set your stuff up the night before. You can thank me later.
• Find a friend with wheels. No, I don't mean a car. I'm talking about a wagon, cart, or something else that has wheels. Again, you can thank me later.
• Use the time every night after the con to decompress. You won't have time to hang out and relax during the day, so set aside some quiet reading time or something before you plan to sleep. Yes, this may mean you leave a gathering just a little early. But your body will be grateful, and you'll be happy you were responsible.
• Set an alarm. Don't be late for the prize giveaways every morning. If you aren't there, they give what you might have won to someone else. And they give fabulous prizes.
• Take the time to look at photos on Facebook and author websites or join me here for the author interview series I'm doing. You'll know at least a few people when you arrive if you bother to do this. It makes all the difference in the world.
• The Con will be here before you know it. Start prepping and buying swag and table decor now. That way, you aren't in a mad rush to get it all before the big day.
• Set aside boxes and label them UtopYA Con 2015. Put anything you buy for the con directly into the boxes so you don't forget to bring your goodies.

Well, that's all the nuggets of wisdom I have for you. I hope you enjoyed my little story!

~ The End

Now to tell you all about the blogs on the tour, the prizes up for grabs, and give you a Rafflecopter entry form!

Here's the hop list:
Christina Mercer - August 4th - Blog Link
Nichole Greene - August 5th - Blog Link
Delphina Henley - August 6th - Blog Link
Kelly A Risser - August 6th - Blog Link
Nanette Bradford - August 7th - Blog Link
Amy Evans - August 8th - Blog Link
Chelsea Starling - August 9th - Blog Link
Carlyle Labuschagne - August 12th - Blog Link
Anna Cruise - August 14th - Blog Link
Becca Vincenza - August 18th - Blog Link
Raine Thomas - August 19th - Blog Link
Casey L Bond - August 19th - Blog Link
Jo Michaels - August 21st - You're there now
Shelley Custer - August 26th - Blog Link
Nely Cab - August 27th - Blog Link
Chelsea Fine - August 28th - Blog Link
Rachel Harris - August 29th - Blog Link
Amber Garr - August 29th - Blog Link
Heather Hildenbrandt - August 30th - Blog Link
Susan Burdorf - August 30th - Blog Link

Now for the prize packs (there are FIVE!) and each has a Rafflecopter entry form that will follow the image:

Visit Delphinia's blog to enter to win the first prize pack.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

What are you waiting for? Get on it!

How many of these great giveaways did you enter?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

Blog Hop

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I bring you another blog hop. This one was sent to me by the fabulous L. K. Evans as well. It's a little bit of fun information about my work. It's just four questions and answers. Won't take you long to read. Check out L. K. on her blog/website here. Without further jawing on my part...

What am I working on?
I have so many projects in the pipeline right now it's crazy. Markaza, book six of the Mystic series. M, a standalone about a mutating drug. Desiree's Apocalypse, a standalone about a girl who can't remember her past. A short story for a Christmas anthology. My part of my own Young Adult Novella anthology titled Fractured Glass (we're doing this one a lot differently than others have done) about twins who can traverse parallel worlds. So, as you can see, there's a lot going on in my universe. Fit in reading, and you have a lady who doesn't know which end is up. *grin*

How does my work differ from others in its genre?
My work always has a strong female lead character. No matter what genre I write in, you'll find yourself cheering for my heroine. She'll never need a man (though she may want one), and she'll probably end up trying to take over the world at some point. M is my first novel with a male lead since Yassa (and even then I managed to stick a strong female in there). My girls won't let you down.

Why do I write what I do?
Because I believe in empowering women while telling a great story. I have a daughter who happens to be eight. Because I see so many books out there with weak females as someone for her to look up to, I write the things I want her to read and take something away from. I worry that she'll fall into the "I need a man or I won't survive" trap I see all too often in novels. My characters have their men, but my women are equally as strong and level-headed.  There's nothing wrong with that, and I want to get that point across to her before she's too late to save.

How does my writing process work?
I come up with an idea and jot it down, then I work my characters out. After that, I pants it. I've written an outline or two in my time, but they usually end up in the garbage before the first fourth of the novel is done. Meh, it works for me. I do write at the same time every day. I think that helps my muse know when to pay me a visit.

I tried to find people to pass this on to, but everyone I asked had already participated. I guess that happens when you take part in something like this, eh? Eventually, it makes the full round.

What do you think? Do you have a process?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo