I, Zombie Release Day Fun

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today's the big day! I've sent I, Zombie out into the world for you all to consume and enjoy. Let's get this party started right. Get your clicking finger ready!

First, be sure you've entered the Goodreads giveaway for your chance to win one of four signed, printed copies of the book.

Enter here:

I, Zombie Goodreads Giveaway

Second, read a couple of the fabulous reviews from my ARC reviewers! Just click the links to get to the whole review. And please leave these wonderful folks some love while you're there.

"It is a fun and beautiful story. An emotional read, with words painted to beautiful perfection. Unique and Intriguing. I loved every minute of it."

~  Casey L. Bond 5/5 stars!  ~

"This book rocks! You will fall in love with Trixie and several other characters. From page one, it's a constant thrill ride. But, more importantly, it's a story with heart and soul--a great read for action-seekers as well as those who want to connect with characters."

~  Mom in Love with Fiction 5/5 stars!  ~

"Seeing things from the infected's point of view? Different. This one pulls at the heartstrings, too - needed some tissues. I appreciate the author keeping the book fairly clean - although there were a few gory details, nothing was revolting or overdone."

~  Pauline Creeden The Book Ninja 5/5 stars!  ~

"Two-parts horror, one-part romance, this book is a great addition to any persons electronic book shelf."

~  Regan Claire 4/5 stars!  ~

"This novel was a quick and easy read that kept me turning pages –  With quirky banter between best friends, classmates hunting each other down, zombie themed chapter names, and of course a little bit of love."

~  Elyse Schramm Contagious Reads 4.5/5 stars!  ~

"Within the first few pages I found myself anticipating what was going to happen and anxious to get to the end so I could know the whole story."

~  Nichole Greene 5/5 stars!  ~ 

Last, we move on to informational type stuff; like where you can get a copy!

Title: I, Zombie
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: YA Horror
Length (print): 262 pages
Purchase Links: Createspace $14.99 Amazon Kindle $3.99 FREE!

Synopsis:
It's the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won't take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.

When she finds her dog's mutilated body and realizes she's to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they've been screaming about on the news isn't a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she's one of the infected.

Now it's a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?


What's a release day without something special to go along with it? For the next five days, you can pick up a copy of this book absolutely FREE. That's right, I said free. What are you waiting for?

My humble request is that you please leave a review after you finish the book. Easy peasy.

Thanks for popping by! And, if you'd like to share the zombie goodness with your friends, here are a few premade posts for you:

For Twitter:

Love #Zombies? Grab this #KindleFreebie today: http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 Plz RT & get one #FREE. #Horror #YA

Looking 4 a #FREE #YA #Horror novel? http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 only on #Kindle Please RT & get your own!

For Facebook:

If you love #zombies or #YoungAdult then you'll squeal over this free ebook - http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi

Thanks for joining me today for my release! If you've read it already, tell me your favorite part!

Don't forget to follow Trixie on Twitter while you're here. Some fun stuff coming from that account soon!

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

Jo

Book Review - Sir Edric's Temple

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today I bring you another book review. This is the first book from my Indie Fever 2014 Reading Challenge list to be reviewed here on the blog. If you don't know about Indie Fever, feel free to check it out and join up here.

Now, a little about the book on the table for massacre uh... review:

Title: Sir Edric's Temple
Author: Thaddeus White
Genre: Fantasy and Humor
Length (print): 124 pages
Purchase Links: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Synopsis:
When Sir Edric Greenlock, the Hero of Hornska, is summoned to attend the King in the dead of night he fears imminent execution. Committing adultery is frowned upon in King Lawrence's domains, especially when it's with Lawrence's wife. The King, however, has something else in mind. Priceless royal treasures have been stolen, and the King dispatches Sir Edric to retrieve them in a mission that could optimistically be described as suicidal.

Accompanied by his pathologically loyal manservant Dog, the prudish elf Lysandra, and a man called Colin, he must travel to the Unholy Temple to retrieve the royal treasures from a mysterious thief.


**Will not appear in review elsewhere

Thaddeus was one of the winners of a review from my 12 Days of Christmas contest at the end of last year. I do this once a year to fill my Kindle with books by authors I've never read (and some I have who've released new titles I haven't read). I ask each author to pitch their book to me in a comment and leave me a link so I can snag a sample. I have to admit, White had my attention with the pitch and once I dove into the sample, I couldn't stop reading.

And who wouldn't love this cover?**

Okay, on to the meat and potatoes!!

I grabbed a sample of Sir Edric's Temple after the author pitched the book on my blog. I have to say, I wasn't sure I was going to like it from the description; but, once I started reading, I was sucked in by the excellent writing and world-building going on. When the sample ended and I was upset there was no more to read, I knew I'd hit upon a winner. On the cover is exactly what you'd expect Sir Edric to look like (crossbow and all). Now for the review!

From a Reader's Perspective:
White now owes me a box of cleaning wipes. I can't tell you how many times I laughed while reading this book. Sir Edric's inner monologue will have you rolling on the floor while understanding this is probably what 9/10 of the male population is thinking at any given point in time. It's very true to life in that sense. You also start to actually like him by the end of the book, despite his womanizing ways. Plus, there are mystical creatures, zombies (yay!), and dragons (who doesn't love dragons?). When the end of the book came about, I was not only sad the story was over, but cracking up at the final outcome. It had the most beautiful twist!

From an Editor's Perspective:
This book was so well written, I found no errors. That's saying something. My brain is wired to find even the tiniest slip-ups, and this book had none. Kudos to the author.

Rating:
1 Star for making me laugh like a crazy person
1 Star for making Sir Edric so darned likeable
1 Star for great world building
1 Star for the fantastic ending
1 Star for editing and lack of errors
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars! Recommended to anyone who loves to laugh and finds humor in male inner-monologue.


I do hope you all check out Sir Edric's Temple. It's a fast, fun, humorous read that's well worth the $2.99 it costs.

As a little aside, I, Zombie went live and is available for purchase here. It's just $0.99 for a limited time, so I suggest you snag one! Party starts on the blog tomorrow so be sure you come on back for that!

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

Jo

A Truly Magical Engagement Story

Happy Tuesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'll be regaling you all with a little story of how The Best Fiance in the World proposed and showing you a few awesome photos to go along with. Tomorrow, we'll be back on our regular schedule, and I'll be posting my review of Sir Edric's Temple by Thaddeus White for the first Indie Fever Reading Challenge book of 2014. Be sure and come on back for that! Also remember, tomorrow is the official launch day for I, Zombie! I'll be posting reviews and links on Thursday! It's gonna be a fun-filled week here on the blog.

I don't usually share anything personal here on the blog, but this is a major life-changer for me, and I want to shout it from the rooftops!

Okay, I'll shut up and get to the great stuff!

So, TBBITW (The Best Boyfriend in the World) tells me we're going to Disney World for a couple of days last week. Let me tell you, I was super excited. It's one of my favorite places on the planet. So, we pack up and get on a plane Tuesday morning for a relaxing and warm few days further south.

Just in case you aren't aware, this lady hates the cold. Moving on...

Tuesday, we have an awesome afternoon roaming around Epcot (there were so many people there, I can't even begin to tell you how packed it was). This photo was when we first arrived and you can tell we're having a grand old time!

After braving the crowds, we head out to our first dinner reservation of the week. It was a Hawaiian show where they danced the hula and played with fire called the Spirit of Aloha at the Polynesian resort. Of course, we had to change!

Then, we went back to our resort (Port Orleans - Riverside) and rang in the new year at the bar. Did I mention it had begun to rain? Okay, not a big deal, at least it was kinda warm. I loved the Port Orleans resort because I grew up in Louisiana and it resembled the French Quarter. Yay! Kudos to TBBITW!

Awesome so far, right? Well, we woke up the next morning (New Year's Day) and headed off to the Magic Kingdom where we meandered around, rode some rides, and took in the sights. Now it begins to rain in earnest. Pouring. Buckets from Heaven are falling around us. No problem; we'd looked at the weather forecast and brought our umbrella! Go us! We pose for a few awesome photos and head back to the room to get dressed for that night's dinner. It's at Cinderella's Royal Table, situated in the top of that lovely castle you see in the background there.

How exciting is that?

We get all spiffed up and head back to the park for our amazing night. It, thankfully, stopped raining at this point and we look darn good. I'm stoked to meet the princesses and have an awesome dinner with TBBITW. I probably chattered way too much, but he never complained.

While strolling through the park, we happen upon a lovely place with a tiny studio. We stop and get the photographer to take a couple of shots. There's nothing quite like the Memory Maker package from Disney! The guy took our photos, scanned our magic band, and the pics were on the site in a matter of minutes.

Cool!

Our time to dine arrives and we're ushered through a line to have our photo taken with Cinderella. That was awesome. Then, we wait and someone leads us up a windy staircase into a grand dining room. We get to sit by the window where we can see the whole park spread out below us. Beautiful!

We enjoy the appetizer and our dinner with lively conversation and a lot of laughter. We're waiting on dessert. Our waiter appears carrying a lovely white plate with a cover on it. He puts it down in front of me and pulls off the cover. Here's what was inside (click on the photo and really look):

My first thought: How pretty this is! I'm pretty sure I even say that out loud.


Then, I look around the room and notice I'm the only one who got a pretty, crystal shoe. Hmmm... I leaned in and read the words down the side... Will you marry me, Sweetness? (correct punctuation and all!)

My eyes popped wide open and my heart began pounding in my chest. I look over and he's reaching for our backpack. I began to shake from head to toe as I'm pulled to my feet and he drops to one knee. Here's where the photos get a little funny. I'm betting you can see the utter bewilderment on my face, eh?

He says, "I love you so much. You've always been my Cinderella and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

I was speechless. Hey, there's a first time for everything, right?

What do I say? Well, the words yes and of course come to mind. But, no, I'm apparently neither that smooth nor suave when caught off guard.

I say, "Duh!"

Why? Because I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else, and I guess I figured he knew that without even needing to ask. *smack my head* So, he looks like a cool cat and I look like a goof. Hehe. Do I care? No. I have the best guy in the world who'll soon be my husband.

He slipped the ring on my finger and I kissed him until his teeth rattled. I have to tell you, that crowd of people went wild. TBBITW was upgraded to TBFITW, soon to be TBHITW.

On the way out, one of the ladies who worked there stopped us. She said, "I've worked here fifteen years and I've never seen a crowd go crazy the way they did tonight. Well done and congratulations!"

We thanked her, left, rode two roller coasters, posed for another photo with the castle in the background, and went through a haunted house. How frikkin perfect is that?

Night three, we took a walk through Hollywood Studios and got to see the awesome light display they had up. It rained all day, but it was warm and cleared up by the evening.

Day four was clear but freezing cold. What did you Floridians do to the weather? I could've sworn we chose your state for the warmth... But, we were having such an awesome time, and were still riding the high of getting engaged. So, who cares if it was a little chilly? I was still warm all over; I always am when I'm with him.

We headed back home that night and have been busy with wedding plans ever since. I'll be sure and share photos from that blessed event as soon as humanly possible.

I hope you all enjoyed reading our little story as much as we enjoyed living it. I'd like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for hanging around while I was away and returning to the blog now that I'm back. Having people who love to read what you write makes it worth the time spent doing it.

What's your best proposal story?

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

Jo

Casey Bond Author Interview

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! Sorry I haven't been around. I took a little vacation during which time The Best Boyfriend in the World became The Best Fiance in the World. I'll be telling you more tomorrow! In keeping with my Monday posts through June, 2014, I bring you another UtopYA Con 2014 unofficial author interview. Yeah to awesomeness! If you haven’t picked up your tickets for the event yet, click the name to grab yours today. It’s being held at the Millennium Maxwell House in Nashville, Tennessee. We’re looking forward to meeting fans of YA and NA books!

Let’s get this party started! Snuggle down into your footed jammies (because it's freaking cold!), relax on your couch, and meet author Casey L. Bond!

Jo: Welcome to the blog, Casey! Soooo good to have you here for this interview.
Casey: Thanks for having me, Jo!

Jo: I’m not gonna beat around the bush here, my readers want the juicy stuff and it doesn’t do to hold the red meat outside the cage when they’re feeling like tigers. Tell me about publishing with Tate Publishing. How did you get in, what you like, what challenges you’ve faced.
Casey: *Grins* As with most things in life, it’s a weird story. I wrote Winter Shadows in the last trimester of my second pregnancy when I couldn’t sleep, edited it as best I could and sent it out into the world. Several agents replied that the story was interesting but not for them. My uncle bought my oldest daughter a children’s book at a signing near his home and sent it to her. He had included a bookmark from Tate Publishing, so I decided to check them out online. When it said they were open to submissions, I uploaded the manuscript and sent it away into cyber land. A month later, when I had forgotten about the submission, I received a phone call from their acquisitions department saying that they wanted the book in their 2013 catalog and would like to offer me a contract. After discussing with the hubs, we decided to go for it. The rest is history.

Tate designed the cover (with my direction), edited and is currently marketing the book along with me. Winter Shadows just released on 10.29.2013 so I haven’t even seen my sales yet (*ducks head*). They will send a report every quarter. Until then, I guess I’ll just keep chewing my nails. Everyone at Tate has been extremely nice and professional. I love the cover. A couple of challenges have arisen with working with Tate. One is that a few typos that apparently slipped through the cracks. Once Tate publishes, there’s no going back to correct those, so that’s a bummer. I’m a bit of a perfectionist :) Another, is that I can’t control my own pricing. I wish I had more say in my e-book price especially, but I have zero control over it. Sorry y’all :)

Jo: Well, congratulations! Sounds like an adventure! What’s the skinny on the book you have planned for Spring 2014? Title and blurb, please!!
Casey: *Smiles* Well, since you’re special, I’ll give ya a taste. It’s a YA Fantasy entitled Pariah. Here is the blurb, which is still subject to change….

Pariah

The New Covenant Series

by Casey L. Bond

What are the things that you need most in life—the things you crave? Solara longs for freedom. Having been raised under the Kingdom’s lock and key since the age of two, she wants to see the world. Upon turning seventeen and receiving no mark from the Lord, she believes freedom is finally within her grasp. Unfortunately, she is wrong. The Kingdom has been fooled. She is marked by an angel of light and one of the fallen dark ones. Solara is God’s chosen, and with her birth, the new covenant made with mankind is made manifest.

Solara doesn’t want to be the Chosen. She longs for love, strong enough to last a lifetime, and beyond. Riven loves her. But he is one of the fallen, prophesied to betray her. Can she trust him? Love him? Prophecy states that she is the key. The fate of humanity rests with her decision, as she holds the ability to open either the doors of Heaven or the gates of Hell upon the Earth.

But how can a normal girl, who has been raised with no knowledge of either side, make such a decision? And how can she turn away from finally tasting those things for which she has craved so long. Still rough :)

Jo: WOW. I can't wait! You must let me know when it comes out. I do enjoy my "special" status. *grin* Tell me about West Virginia. Did you grow up there? What do you love/hate about the area?
Casey: I grew up in Hurricane, WV and now live about seven miles away in Milton! I love the rugged beauty of the area. I’m an outdoors kind-of-girl and our state is amazing. I’ve traveled quite a bit and love our hills and mountains. We are a bit remote and it’s expensive to fly just about anywhere, but it’s worth it. As much as I enjoy seeing the world, I love coming home even more. In WV, every mile is a country mile.

Jo: I'm from Tennessee but grew up in Louisiana. I know know my marsh from my mountains anymore. WV is somewhere I intend to visit soon. I see you have Pinterest boards dedicated to your books. What’s the reason behind that, what made you start, and how has it helped you?
Casey: Hello. My name is Casey. I’m a Pinterest addict. I’ve been pinning for a while now and looooove it. I have boards for each of my books and works under construction. There’s also a huge board for Writing Inspiration and y’all are more than welcome to follow along. When I write, I have an image in my head. Sometimes, I can find something similar on Pinterest and share my vision with readers. Pretty darn spectacular, if you ask me! :)

Jo: Oh my... You may need PA :P You wrote a review for I, Zombie recently. I have to say thank you (y’all can see it here)!! It was an awesome review. What are your favorite genres to read and have you ever considered writing about those particular topics? Why/why not?
Casey: *giggles* Weeeeeeeeeeellll. I am quite eclectic in my reading tastes. I love dystopian. Winter Shadows fits that bill and I’m working on a new dystopian book that I am extremely excited about. I think it’s my best idea yet and I’m really thrilled about this one! I read a lot of YA and NA romance. Devil Creek falls in the NA category and I hope you all love it  :) I also like paranormal, hot cowboys and highlanders, and anything sci-fi that is interesting…..think Mortal Instruments. I don’t know if I’ll branch out more one of these days. I just work on what inspires me at the time. I’m super stoked about the dystopian project I’m working on now (between edits of Pariah). Did I mention that? *grins*

Jo: I like all genres except autobiographies. Hey, can't be a hater. Hehe I read that you spent a summer studying in Europe. First of all, please share with my readers what your degree is in (I know this but they don’t). Then, tell us what your favorite place was that you visited while traipsing all over the country!
Casey: I graduated in 2003 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice (emphasis on Legal Studies) from Marshall University, home of The Thundering Herd! Who’s got a HERD on? Yep. I just said that. I lived in Lyon, France with a French family. They were spectacular and I loved them, by the way. I did attend school there at the Université Catholique de Lyon in French Language and Culture. In France, my friends and I traveled to Cannes, Nice, Monaco (yes, we went to the Monte Carlo Casino), Paris, and Annecy. I got to walk through lavender fields, go to amazing vineyards and walk through castles! We also went to Geneva, Switzerland and Rome, Italy. My favorite was old Paris. It was so breathtakingly beautiful. I want to take my family with me and go back sometime when the girls get bigger.

Jo: I'm left wondering if you'll ever write legal thrillers... *gets jealous of travels* One day, I'll get to see Stratford on Avon :) Quick, what’s your favorite drink?
Casey: Tie. Diet coke or Diet Sunkist. Nectars of the gods.

Jo: I can't do diet anything. The aspartame feels like fuzz in my mouth. LOL Favorite snack?
Casey: Chips & salsa.

Jo: YUM! I like Pace :) Now, I have to ask, why Christian Fiction for Winter Shadows? I haven’t read it yet (Casey sent me a signed copy! *sticks tongue out at readers*) but I intend to. It’s an interesting genre choice. What difficulties have you faced?
Casey: When I wrote the book, I never thought about the genre. The story just flowed. I didn’t make the book to be preachy at all. Claire, the main character is sheltered. She grew up in a small community with an overprotective, very devout father. She had been raised a Christian and had lost her faith after her mother died from cancer. But, her faith is only one part of Claire and the story itself. It’s a dystopian YA. The government declares a pandemic. Claire’s dad doesn’t buy it. He and some other families from their community decide to go ‘off the grid’ and live in a cave system in rural WV. It’s about survival. Claire finds her strength and fortitude. She battles with herself over feelings she harbors for her best friend Ethan and outsider Colin, who is a breath of fresh air. I hope ya like it :)

Jo: Makes sense. I'm sure I'll love it. Time for the alien question of the interview! UtopYA Con 2014 is centered around aliens, the general them being “Take Me to Your Reader” so I’ve been doing this with everyone. Do you believe aliens exist? Why/why not?
Casey: *Laughs* I’ve never seen one. But, who knows. It’s a big universe out there.

Jo: *nods sagely* Agreed. Do you ever say, “Bond, Casey Bond,” when introducing yourself to someone? If yes, what is the usual reaction? If no, why the heck not?
Casey: Heck yes! This is my married name, so I didn’t grow up being taunted with it. I’m using the heck out of that line !!!!

Jo: I freaking love that. How awesome! I see you married your high-school sweetheart (how sweet is that?). Tell us three of your favorite things about your husband.
Casey: He is extremely funny, somewhat quiet and an awesome dad!

Jo: He sounds great. Gotta love the humor! Now tell us about your featured book of the week! Why did you write it, what was the most difficult thing about getting it done, and were you nervous about publishing it?
Casey: Devil Creek * ominous music * is a new adult romance set in my home state of WV. I wrote it because the characters in my head wouldn’t shut up. The most difficult thing about getting it done was finding time to do it. Two kiddos keep me busy. I write during nap and bedtime, but try to do a few things in between. Also, wading through the self-pubbing process feels like trudging through mud. I’m new to all this, so everything takes longer than it probably will in the future, when I get the hang of it all. I am nervous about this one. I’ve never written in this genre before, though I read a lot of NA. I love the book and hope you all will, too :)

Jo: I totally read it and I loved it! Y'all can see the review here. Anything I didn’t ask that you wished I had?
Casey: What’s my favorite color? Teal. One weird thing about me? I hate to open biscuits from a pop-open can. It scares me and I flinch every dang time. :)

Jo: Those scare me, too! LOL! That’s all the time we have for today! Thanks for joining me here on the blog, Casey. This was fun. I hope I didn’t creep you out too much with my cyber stalking of your author self. I can’t wait to meet you at UtopYA.
Casey: Stalk away, people. Stalk away. I can’t wait to meet you there, too! And, that goes for all my UtopYA peeps! Can’t wait to see y’all!

Okay, everyone, time for the skinny on Casey’s featured book of the week:

Title: Devil Creek
Author: Casey L. Bond
Genre: NA Romance
Print Length: 185 Pages
Purchase Links: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Synopsis: What is your greatest fear? For Aislin, it is the fear of being alone. She grew up in and out of foster care along with her brother, Declan. When he is killed by an IED blast while serving in Afghanistan, she leans on her brother's best friend, Gabriel. The two become inseparable.

When she catches her fiancée in bed with another girl? She isn’t even that upset. Mad as hell? Yes. As angry as she should be? No. That's the moment she realizes that she isn't in love with her fiancée. She is in love with her best friend, Gabriel. The only problem is that Gabe doesn't think he should cross the boundary between friend and lover with his dead best friend's sister. He wants her. He just doesn't want to want her. And, therein lies the problem.

After Aislin is attacked by a man she tried to love with her head in an attempt to heal her heart from rejection, she and Gabriel have one night of bliss together. Only one though. Gabriel gets spooked and runs. He is afraid. Afraid that Aislin will hate him for taking advantage of her vulnerability. Three years and nine months later, Gabe comes home to find Aislin with a dark-haired wanna-be rock star and a three year old little girl with familiar blue eyes. Seeing her with Jude, makes his blood boil. But does Gabriel deserve her? No. Does he want her? With every fiber of his being. He will do anything it takes to win her heart. He wants a place in her life and in the life of her daughter.

What is in the cards for Gabriel and Aislin? Can love survive without trust? Welcome to Devil Creek.

Thanks for hanging around the blog today and meeting author Casey L. Bond! While you’re still clicking from your purchase above, why not give her a follow on social media AND enter her great giveaway?

Facebook: Author Casey Bond
Twitter: @authorcaseybond
Pinterest: CaseyB007

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Got questions? Ask them in the comments below!

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

Jo

A Guest Post by Kristina Circelli

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! In keeping with my Monday posts through June, 2014, I have a guest post for you all from author Kristina Circelli. She's one of the lovely ladies attending UtopYA Con in June. If you don't have tickets to that event yet, get them now before the price goes up in February! Just click on the name and you'll be taken to the page where tickets are being sold. Without further ado, I give you a lovely tale written by Ms. Circelli!

The Wild One Speaks

by Kristina Circelli

I found her as a child.

She sat at the window, cheeks stained with tears, flesh purple and tender. A broken silhouette, praying for an escape. Yet when I approached, she wasn’t afraid. No, the girl with the green eyes looked right at me, knowing me, challenging me.

I was just a boy then, one who didn’t understand what it meant to have those eyes locked on me. I was just a boy who loved to have fun, one who hoped those tears would dry with an adventure she’d never forget.

And our adventures were many.

Nothing frightened my new friend, my childhood playmate, my Arianna of the Stars. Over mountains she soared. Through trees she raced. Across pirate ships she battled, all with me by her side. Her laughter filled my soul, her gaze capturing my heart. Just as I was the boy who took away her pain, she was the girl who made me whole.

But I realized this all too late.

Each time she returned home, the sadness grew. There was a darkness there, a shadow waiting for her to return. And each time she returned to me, that sadness pushed us apart a little more. Eventually I learned what it was that frightened her so, but I was just a boy who could not save her from the darkness.

Soon, I could not coax a smile from her fresh face. I could not hear her laughter over the solitude. I could not open her eyes to the beauty that our world held – the world we created together.

And then one day, she disappeared.

The window where she once waited was closed, the sound of her voice but a whisper on the wind, the dreams we once shared slipping away into the darkness. I searched for her every night, never accepting that she was gone, even when the land, our shared world, began to suffer in her absence. I suffered in her absence.

But still I felt her, always there, always unreachable. Something was wrong, and it was up to me to save her, my Arianna. When I learned the truth of our separation, when I finally found her, many years had passed, turning me from boy to man – a choice I was forced to make to bring my Arianna to her salvation.

And with that choice came wanting.

It was then, when I first saw her wandering through the woods, that I realized how much had changed. No longer was she the gangly girl with wide green eyes and an impish grin. No, a woman stood before me, one that my mind and body and soul desired with burning passion. She was made to be mine, as I was made to be hers.

So I found a way through that barrier, found a way to bring her home. In the beginning, I worried she had forgotten me and our adventures, but then she looked at me, truly looked at me, I knew that she saw the man just as I saw the woman.

Our new adventures were just beginning. Adventures not of child’s play, but of passion. They call me Malachi, The Wild One. They call her Arianna, the Star Jumper. We created this world together, and together we make it whole.

I found her all grown up. And I’m never letting her go.

~Kristina Circelli

Wow! I hope you all enjoyed that as much as I did! Kudos for the entertainment, Kristina!

Find Kristina on her website or follow her on Goodreads! Also, be sure and check out The Never, the featured book of the week. Link is on the sidebar of the blog; just click the cover.

Why not leave this lovely lady some love in the comments or ask her a question or two about that story?

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

Jo

Book Review Devil Creek

Happy Friday, everyone! Today, I bring you a book review of Devil Creek by Casey L. Bond. If you remember from day twelve of the Christmas party, you'll see this title on the list. I have the very great pleasure of interviewing Ms. Bond for one of my special Monday spots on the blog in January as well. So grab your comfy slippers, a warm drink (because it's freaking cold outside), sit back, and read on!

As always, I'll start with information for the book on the chopping block today:

Title: Devil Creek
Author: Casey L. Bond
Genre: New Adult Romance
Length (print): aprox. 199 pages
Link to purchase: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Synopsis:
What is your greatest fear? For Aislin, it is the fear of being alone. She grew up in and out of foster care along with her brother, Declan. When he is killed by an IED blast while serving in Afghanistan, she leans on her brother's best friend, Gabriel. The two become inseparable.

When she catches her fiancée in bed with another girl? She isn’t even that upset. Mad as hell? Yes. As angry as she should be? No. That's the moment she realizes that she isn't in love with her fiancée. She is in love with her best friend, Gabriel. The only problem is that Gabe doesn't think he should cross the boundary between friend and lover with his dead best friend's sister. He wants her. He just doesn't want to want her. And, therein lies the problem.

After Aislin is attacked by a man she tried to love with her head in an attempt to heal her heart from rejection, she and Gabriel have one night of bliss together. Only one though. Gabriel gets spooked and runs. He is afraid. Afraid that Aislin will hate him for taking advantage of her vulnerability. Three years and nine months later, Gabe comes home to find Aislin with a dark-haired wanna-be rockstar and a three year old little girl with familiar blue eyes. Seeing her with Jude, makes his blood boil. But does Gabriel deserve her? No. Does he want her? With every fiber of his being. He will do anything it takes to win her heart. He wants a place in her life and in the life of her daughter. What is in the cards for Gabriel and Aislin? Can love survive without trust? Welcome to Devil Creek.

***Must be 18 to order due to adult language/situations.***

Will not appear in final review: I love the cover for this book. It's very captivating and pulls you right in. Lovely color choices on the designer's part. I also appreciate how large the author's name is. This is a chance for that name to shine and the cover artist did a great job of calling the name out.

Let's move on to why you're reading this, shall we?

I received an ARC from the author because I was one of the beta-readers for this book. I can assure you, all opinions are my own and honest. I'm not usually a fan of romance, but this book reads a lot like a coming-of-age story for the MC so I got into it. Enough rambling, let's get to the good stuff!

From a Reader's Perspective:
Devil Creek is told from two viewpoints: Aislin, the main female, and Gabe, the main male. Ms. Bond was wise to write it this way, because you get a deeper insight into what each character is thinking. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to reach into the pages and give them both a good shake. But making me care that much about the characters and their eventual outcome is something a good story does. I could connect with Aislin and wondered how many freaking men would have to betray her before she gave up on the gender for good. I was pulled into her world and felt what she felt as the tale moved forward. There are no loose ties left hanging at the end and that was something I appreciated a lot. Plot-wise, it was a brilliant tale and the pacing was really great. I sped through it in no time. There's no insta-love in this book. If that's what you're looking for, this isn't a story for you.

From an Editor's Perspective:
I have to say, I would've read a lot faster if not for the need for one more round of edits. It needs contractions, comma attention, and pronoun checks (I also found a couple of spelling errors - wrong word or wrong tense of word used). Because of those, I did get dissuaded a time or two. But they weren't so bad I couldn't read the book and the quality of the story outweighed these errors.

Rating:
1 Star for making me cringe at some of Aislin's situations
1 Star for a heartbreaking tale
1 Star for making me want to slap both of the MCs
1 Star for tying up all loose ends and lack of insta-love scenarios
-1 Star for the need for an editor
Overall, 4 out of 5 stars! Recommended for those who love romance or coming-of-age tales that make you want to choke men in general.

I do hope you all get a chance to check out Devil Creek.

Remember to come on back for my interview with Casey in just a couple of short weeks.

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

Jo

Writing What You Don't Know

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Wow, what a busy couple of weeks here on the blog, eh? For the next few posts, I'll be talking about some of the things suggested on day ten of the twelve days. If you missed that post, just click the name and you'll be able to see what I'm talking about. So, today we're gonna discuss writing what you don't know. I have some posts on writing what you know and using a memory bible to keep track of places you've visited and things you've seen. But what about when you want to put your characters in a fantasy land or have them visit a place you've never been? I'll give you some tips and tricks on how to keep that straight. Grab your pens and notebooks and let's get going!

I've said it a lot here on the blog: The best fiction is based in fact.

That will be a constant. No matter if you're writing science fiction, fantasy, or anything that requires you to think outside the box.

Rules:
In most works of fiction, the same rules that apply to the world around us hold true. Gravity, human survival (we need food, air, and water), human nature (reactions to things, love, betrayal, etc...) hold pretty constant, and other such things that are seen as everyday (sky is blue, leaves are green, etc...).

But what if you're writing about a world you've made up where the sky is pink, leaves are silver, and people no longer need air to breathe?

Well, you're gonna have to explain why those things are possible. What changed? How did it change? When did it change?

Here are a few tips that will help you when you're writing about something that isn't:

• Use your imagination to get an idea of the rules that will be broken in this world and make copious notes. If the sky is pink, write that down and say why.
• Google is your friend. Do research on why the sky is blue and what might change to make it perma-pink.
• Hunt down fantasy images that fit your vision of your world. If you can't find any, sketch out a few (don't try and be Rembrandt, no one is gonna see them but you). Keep them where you can see them as you write.

To give you an example, one of my works in progress is called M. In that not-so-distant future (2024ish), my characters get around their city on sidewalks that move at incredible speeds and are powered by the sun. Before I wrote that little bit of information, I did a lot of research. It seems there have been a number of attempts at making these fast moving sidewalks and detailed descriptions of just how they would work. Score! I could explain to my reader exactly how people would use it because I had a full grasp myself.

Make sense?

If you're going to break a "rule," be sure you have a reason and an understanding of how your fantasy idea could happen. Even if on another planet, be sure and explain why the world is the way it is or how we can survive there.

Now, if you're writing about a place that actually exists, you need to do some of the same research with a little modification here and there. Try these tips on for size:

• Pull up photos of the place you want to write about and curate them to a word document.
• List common temperatures of the area during the day and at night.
• See what other people are saying about the location and copy/paste those tid-bits into your document with the photos.
• Close your eyes and imagine yourself in the midst of the place. Without looking, type everything you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel into your word document. What do you think would be fun to do there? Write that down.

In The Bird, Stormy visits a place called Ringing Rocks National Park in Pennsylvania. I'd never been there, but I did a massive amount of research about the area and imagined how I would act if I were in her shoes. Turns out, I'm kind of a big ole kid. And she has that playful, whimsical attitude as well. I had her click the nails in her boots on the rocks to make them ring out.

Even though I'd never been there, I made it seem like I had. I was writing what I didn't know, but learned about.

What it all boils down to is this: If you're writing what you don't know, you must make it something you know before you can write about it.

It's all kind of an oxymoron.

You have to immerse yourself in the world and know every possible outcome of every action. If someone jumps and your world has light gravity, how much further will they go? Things like that. Be sure and keep a word or notepad document on every book. Yeah, even those that are based in fact. Dates and descriptions are important, too!

You don't want to say the sky is pink because there was an increase in dust and pollution in the atmosphere that causes the light of the sun to refract differently, only to contradict yourself in the next chapter.

What have you written that you didn't know?

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

Jo