The Gatekeepers Trilogy by Eva Pohler

Happy, happy Sunday, everyone! Man, do I have one heck of a deal for you all today from author Eva Pohler. Sit back, relax, and get your clicking finger ready! Here we gooooooooo!

Readers are calling this series, "Amazing," "Addicting," and "One of the best modern retelling of ancient myth." Kirkus Reviews wrote that it's "sure to thrill Hunger Games fans," and Midwest Book Reviews calls it "a powerful young adult fantasy." A teen becomes entangled with the gods of Mount Olympus when one of them, Thanatos, the god of death, wants his chance at love. He makes a deal with his father, Hades, but not all the gods want him to succeed. Part paranormal romance and part adventure story, this trilogy follows Therese's adventures as she struggles to overcome the challenges the gods dish her in her quest to become like them. For one week only, from June 7th to June 13th, the digital box set of The Gatekeeper's Trilogy, usually $5.98, can be downloaded from any ebook retailer for 99 cents! That's three full-length novels, a total of 230,564 words, for less than a buck!

Here are the download links: Kindle Nook iBooks Google Play Kobo Smashwords

To celebrate this one-week sale, Eva Pohler Books is also giving one lucky winner a $40 gift certificate of his or her choice, plus a signed paperback set of the trilogy. Keep reading to find out how to enter. This series was initially written as a trilogy and can end with the third book, or you can keeping reading through all six. This box set includes the first three books. If you want to keep reading, come back here to follow Therese's adventures as she strives to become a goddess in the ancient Greek pantheon. You can find the other three books in the series here:

  Kindle Nook iBooks Google Play Smashwords Kobo
 Kindle Nook iBooks Google Play Smashwords Kobo
 Kindle Nook iBooks Google Play Smashwords Kobo  

After you download your copy of The Gatekeeper's Trilogy, be sure to enter this international rafflecopter giveaway, which ends at midnight on June 13th. You can enter daily!

Then be sure to come back to this page to find out if you won and to get the other three books in the saga!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you think? Did you snag them? Awesome deal, huh? Get to entering!

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

Jo 

utopYA Con Survival Guide and Pre-Order Wants *grabby hands*

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm here to tell you about a lot of stuff going on! Authors with pre-orders and table goodies (and where you can find them), goodies I want personally, some pictures from last year, and a little tips section on what you might want to bring/wear to utopYA Con. Ready? Get those pens and notebooks, and let's get going!

First up, I'm sharing the link to the pre-order list hosted by the always awesome Maria Pease. You can check out what kind of deals/sales the authors are offering, and find some amazing swag.

Go HERE to visit Maria's blog page with the info.

Now, for some of the items I really, really want:

Preorder items:
GB7: Liz Long & Laura Howard - Liz is giving away a tote bag I have my eye on with every purchase. She'll be Thursday and Friday. Here's a pic of the design:

GB13: Mary Ting/M. Clarke & Alexandria Weis - Mary is giving away a tote bag when you pre-order a series (plus, it's buy three get one free). She also has a two-day table. Here's a picture of her totes:

Bella Roccaforte is giving away an original painting for every pre-order. You can find her at the Saturday ARMI signing. Here's a picture of one of them (each one is different):

Items in giveaways:
PT2: Carly Strickland & Amy Leigh Strickland - Raffling off this beautiful journal on Thursday:

GB20: Nadege Richards & Komali da Silva - Raffling this awesome game Thursday and Friday:

GB40: Christina Mercer is doing something different! You sign up to WIN her books via her Google Doc. She has a two-day table. Check it out here.

There are more! These are just a few of the ones that caught my eye. Get your pre-order on!

Here are a couple of tips from me to survive the con.

What you should pack clothing/personal wise:

• Well, there's a film premiere AND an awards ceremony, so you might want to pack a dress. This can range from a summer dress to a ball gown and includes everything in between. Some folks wore jeans. It's all about what you want your pictures to look like.
• For the daytime hours, dress comfortably and bring a jacket or sweater (sometimes the rooms get cold) unless you wanna step outside often (it's super hot outdoors). Most folks wear jeans and a nice shirt or a t-shirt. Again, this range is huge.
• Shoes are always a good idea (make sure they don't hurt your feet - you'll walk more than you think).
• Something steampunk for the Friday night karaoke (if you're dressing up).
• Curling iron if you use one (the hotel has hairdryers).
• Makeup if you wear it.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste (yeah, I didn't forget either of those last year...).
• Breath mints (you know, just in case).
• An extra (empty) suitcase for all the books you'll score!

What you should bring if you're an author:

• Books - Business wise, the rule of thumb is 1% of the total number of attendees - twice that for a new release.
• Swag - Stuff that's book themed that you can give away.
• Items - Stuff that's book themed that you can sell.
• A couple of good pens, and at least one sharpie.
• Something special for bloggers (they love prizes).
• Any raffle items you may have (see above).
• Table decor (including linens - those aren't provided).
• Something to set your books up on so they're showy.
• A big smile.
• A notebook for panel notes.

What you should bring if you're a book blogger:

• An idea/map of where the authors you want to visit will be sitting.
• A pen, and at least one sharpie (you know, just in case).
• Something to carry all your goodies in (see info about tote giveaways above - and you'll always have the one from utopYA con).
• Some way to post to your blog about all the awesomeness!
• Your outgoing side.
• A notebook for panel notes.

If you considered bringing an attitude, I'd suggest leaving that behind. You'll be shut down quickly. *grins*

A few survival tips to make it the best experience possible:

• Be sure and eat breakfast every day. I know the temptation to skip is there, but don't. You'll be out of energy before ten and won't have time to leave your table to grab something.
• When everyone breaks for lunch, GO.
• If you're approaching an author, just do it. Don't be shy, because they love, love, love meeting readers.
• Don't drink until you drop. I know you haven't been away from home without kids in a while, but just don't do it.
• Be a professional in everything you do and say. People are watching you, and news travels fast.
• Be kind. There's no room for cattiness. You'd be surprised how quickly you'll be shut down.
• Sleep! Get to bed at a reasonable hour. You'll be up early.
• Drink plenty of water. I know this sounds like a duh thing, but dehydration will kill your energy level as quickly as not eating.
• Get to know your fellow authors. If nothing else, read their interviews here on my blog so you'll recognize their faces (I have two year's worth on there, and many of them are repeat offenders).
• Attend the panels. Go to the sched app and set up your day(s). It's worth it.

Well, I hope these tips and tricks help you. Be sure and visit the other official bloggers this month for more tips and tricks!

Did this help at all? See you at utopYA!

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

Jo

Your Entertainment Until 6/15

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today, I'm gonna tell you all about the entertainment you'll be enjoying on the blog over the next two weeks. I'll be out of town for a few days, but I'm putting you in the capable hands of some fellow authors for the duration. Not tomorrow! Tomorrow is all about tips and tricks for utopYA con (my official post for the month). This is basically the schedule from now until I leave for the conference. Ready? Grab that coffee and let's get going!

6/5 (tomorrow) - UtopYA Con 2015 survival tips and tricks and pre-order awesomeness - What to bring, pack, and avoid, and what I really want from those pre-order lists (and where you can find them).
6/8 - Sheena Hutchinson takes over
6/9 - Tricia Zoeller is your hostess
6/10 - Elizabeth Kirke wows you
6/11 - Stormy Smith brings the rain
6/12 - Shawn McGuire will be guest posting
6/15 - An author interview with myself - no, I asked other folks for the questions (some of them).
6/16 - Time Traveling to utopYA 2014 - A look at last year
6/17 - My Travel to the con! Yes, I'll be putting up a blog post the day I arrive in Nashville.
6/18-6/21 - Be ready for utopYA stuff! Blog posts, maybe a video or two with interviews!

So, get yourselves ready! It's coming SOON!

Are you coming to the con? Looking forward to my takeovers?

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

Jo

Types of Blog Posts for Authors and Book Bloggers

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today, I'm gonna talk about alllll those different kinds of blog posts authors and book bloggers create. If you missed the fun yesterday, be sure and check it out here. That's a Cover Reveal post; one of the post types I'll be talking about here in a second. Please, keep in mind these are general posts and not every single one on the planet. Ready? Grab that pen and notebook and let's get going!

Blog Post Types for Authors:

• Excerpt - A little snippet of your current work
• Coming Soon - Title teasers that can contain snippets or other fun things (like the general idea behind the new work)
• Opinion - Something you feel bloggy/passionate about
• How-to - All about the sharing of techniques used to write a novel
• Cover Reveal - Exactly what it says
• Tour/Info Post - Sharing information about a title (yours or another author's) either in a blog tour or not
• Giveaway - Yeah, you know this one, too
• Interview - You talking with another author and them talking back
• Research - Stuff you looked up and found interesting
• Resources - Places readers can look stuff up
• Release Day Post - Yet another one that needs no introduction

Now, that's not all the post types for authors, but it's enough to help you understand some of the options out there. Let's get into the next topic!

Blog Post Types for Book Bloggers (reviewers):

• Excerpt - A snippet of an author's work
• TBR - A reviewer's list of books to be reviewed
• Book Review - Yeah, I don't think this one needs explanation, either
• How-to - Sharing where you got your books and where others can find them or how to write a review
• Tour/Info Post - Either part of a blog tour or not, putting out information about a title
• Stacking the Shelves/Book Haul - What books you added to your shelf over a week
• Giveaway - Again, you can glean the meaning here from the title
• Cover Reveal - Revealing the cover of an author's book
• Roundup - Some bloggers you love and recommend your readers follow
• Interview - An interview with an author or other book blogger
• Vlog - A video of your book review
• Photo - A picture of your books or shelves

Again, these aren't all the post options. I'm just giving you something to brainstorm over. *grin*

If you ever find yourself stuck without an idea (you're making a schedule, right?), I hope this kicks your brain into overdrive.

Any questions?

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

Jo

New Release - Crown of Smoke

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Yes, it's the second post for today! Woot!

Please enjoy absorbing the deets for this awesome new release by Snowa Fox.

Title: Crown of Smoke (Angel Marked Book One)

Author: Snowa Fox
Genre: YA Paranormal
Length (print): 416 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $3.99  ~  Paperback $14.99

Blurb:
A Life Bound
A Destiny Revealed
A Vengeance Unleashed

Dream Guardian Vaughn Khale is on the brink of gaining his redemption to claim the demon crown of Lucidity when his world is set ablaze.

Deception fractures his life of duty and honor, altering his younger brother’s fate forever.

Pragmatic. Archeology student. Angel Marked.

Lila Vanderhook leads a normal 22 year old life, until her nightmares attack her in the flesh.

Her brush with an ancient relic has ancient demons hunting her and she must flee to save herself.

The decision has grave consequences for her guardian, revealing a destiny neither of them are prepared for.

Will betrayal bury them or will they save each other?

Join in the Facebook party for the book's release, and follow Snowa on social media!

Facebook personal page: www.facebook.com/authorsnowa.fox

Facebook Author page for fans: www.facebook.com/snowa.foxauthor

Website: http://snowafox.wix.com/snowafoxauthor

Twitter: Https://mobile.twitter.com/snowa_fox

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/40213744-snowa-fox

What do you think? Gonna check it out?

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

Jo

Cover Reveal - M

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, it's all about the cover for my new novel titled M. What's the book about? Well, keep reading!

Title: M
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal/Urban Fiction
Publication Date: June 17, 2015
Length: 55k words
Blurb:
In 2026, it finally arrives, the drug promising to make life easier for the masses. One dose of M and anyone can gain an ability. There are no promises made as to what the power could manifest as, but people are crawling over one another to take a chance.

There's a problem: One pill costs a million dollars. Only those with extraordinary wealth are afforded the luxury of cleaning house with a click of their diamond-adorned fingers or solving a puzzle by talking to it.

A knockoff begins circulating in 2038 that does the same thing as M. Hundreds of thousands of people have mutated for a mere one hundred dollars.

Enter the year 2042.

Seventeen-year-old Griffin is a normal kid, who has a regular job, and dreams of going to college someday. When his girlfriend of three years succumbs to peer pressure, they break up. He believes the body is a temple not to be messed with outside of nature, and she wants to fit in. Once he meets the supplier, things take a turn for the worse.

He's left with nothing but pain in his heart and the desire to make them suffer when his plans for payback blow up in his face.

Thirst for revenge consumes him, and he finds himself locked in a battle he never anticipated with a merciless kingpin as they struggle to gain the advantage.

How far is too far?

***This book is a standalone novel, suitable for those over the age of thirteen. There is some violence that may not be appropriate for younger children.***

Ready for that cover? Wellp, here it is!

Now, it's time for the full wrap! Oooooooh yeahhhhhh baby!

Isn't it lovely?

Release date is set for June 17, 2015. That's right, you can pick up a copy at utopYA con or online at Amazon.com in June.

For now, you can keep an eye on its page on Jo's site!

What do you think? Like it? Interested in reading it?

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

Jo

Publication Spotlight - Erin Hayes

Happy Monday, everyone! Wow, I can't believe I've done a whole round/year of author interviews already. This is the last one for now (not sure if I'll bring it back after utopYA 2015 or not). I hope you've all had a ton of fun getting to know the authors attending utopYA this month. I can't believe it's only sixteen days away. Posts between now and then should be super fun. If you didn't get tickets, you're out of luck for this year, but you can still attend the Saturday signing event! Information here. Let's get to the spotlight fun, shall we?

I present to you, the bibliography of my featured author, Erin Hayes!

Her Wolf is a paranormal series that shows that lives of women in different packs who have to navigate the dangers and rules of being a werewolf, including who they choose to love. 

Title: Embracing Her Wolf
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length (print): 67 Pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb: Not everyone wants to be a leader.

So when werewolf Gemma Branford is expected to act as one for her pack, she wants nothing to do with the leadership and societal rules involved with being a werewolf. As a purebred Alpha female, her refusal to mate with any wolf in the pack has caused a stir, as this allows for any werewolf she chooses to become an Alpha male.

When a rogue Beta wolf tries to take advantage of this, she realizes she has to stand and fight back for her right to choose a mate. Suddenly, it looks like her chance meeting with Adam, the lowly Omega wolf from a nearby pack, is her best chance of saving both her pack and herself.

This is a paranormal romance novella with language, violence, and sexual content. Not recommended for readers under the age of 18.


Title: Rockin' Her Wolf
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length (print): 103 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

When rockstar Huck answers his phone, he's shocked to hear from his long-lost childhood sweetheart. Anxious to see her after all this time, he agrees to meet her and gets swept up in her crazy world, changing his life forever.

Annie's been on the run for a long time, and she's determined to protect her friend's son from the vicious werewolves of their own pack. Her hunt to find safety unexpectedly leads her to Huck. And he won't let her go until she's safe.

This paranormal romance novella is the sequel to Embracing Her Wolf. It has language, violence, and sexual content. Not recommended for readers under the age of 18.


Title: Becoming Her Wolf
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length (print): 98 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb: When hope is lost, the one thing you can trust is love.

Beta wolf Jon is dragged to Las Vegas to protect Gemma and Adam as they finally tie the knot. Yet when the wedding is sabotaged and one of their own is taken hostage, it looks like his only hope for answers is a human woman who was left behind as warning to the newlyweds.

Waking up in the hospital, Eva doesn’t believe Jon when he tells her about the world of werewolves. But when she turns into a werewolf herself and the attraction between them grows, she’ll find that her life has been changed more than they ever could have imagined.

This paranormal romance novella is the third book in the Her Wolf series. It has language, violence, and sexual content. Not recommended for readers under the age of 18.

Title: Jacob Smith is Incredibly Average
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Length (print): 228 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Blurb: Jacob Smith is an average thirteen-year-old boy.

He’s of average height, average intelligence, average looks. He even has a normal family, like an over-achieving brother, a rebellious sister, a kooky grandfather, and one or two family secrets. Maybe he was living too normal of a life.

When his mother announces she’s expecting another baby, Jake starts noticing that he’s being followed by strange beings. They want Jake because he is the most normal, average person on Earth. And they need him so they can take over the planet.

Can a boy like Jake save the world?


Title: Death is but a Dream
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Mystery/Thriller
Length (print): 310 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Blurb: Caught between life and death, all Callie wants is to live again.

Homicide detective Callie Saunders knows that death isn’t all pearly gates and angels. After being hit by a bus, she finds that it's the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who are in charge of everything.

So when Hades offers her a deal, she accepts. If she wants to be brought back to life, she’ll have to figure out who is trying to kill his son. But if she fails, both her soul and the world will be destroyed.

With the odds mounting against her, it’ll take everything she has within her to wake up from death. But the rules are constantly changing. And someone wants her to stay dead.


Title: Fractured
Genre: Horror
Length (print): 234 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb: Blinded by a mysterious seizure when she was three years old, Bash Martin has managed to carve out a normal life for herself as an adult. Yet she still yearns for a deeper connection with her twin sister Lily, who has always been jealous of the attention their parents bestowed upon Bash due to her disability.

A dream vacation seems like the perfect chance to heal their relationship, but Bash soon realizes there is something terribly wrong with Lily and that her sister is hiding a dark secret. And when a supernatural fire engulfs their hotel and corpses come back to life, the sisters are plunged into a nightmarish world that threatens not only their lives, but their very souls.


Title: Bedtime at the Zoo: An Illustrated Children's Picture Book
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Length (print): 32 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $1.49

Blurb: During the day, the zoo is busy and alive.
But you only see the animals 9:30 to 5.
The zookeepers lock up and turn off the lights.
But do you know what the animals do every night?

This is an illustrated children's bedtime story, perfect for the Kindle Fire and Kindle Apps. Recommended for children of all ages.



What do you think? Gonna check any of them out?

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

Jo