Monday, April 20, 2015

Author Interview - Mindy Ruiz

Happy Monday, wonderful people of the blogosphere! Today I have a super amazing guest to introduce you all to. Remember back in December when I had the awesome Kindle Fire giveaway going? Well, this lady donated in a big way to that event, so please give her a round of applause. Besides that, she's running a giveaway of epic proportions on the blog while she's my guest. How about a big note of thanks for that? Mindy is an amazing utopYA author, and she's involved in the con by both being an exhibitor and a panelist. If you don't have tickets yet, go get them now. Linky! Since I just saved you many tears from missing out on the fun, smile, grab a cup of coffee, and get comfy for my interview with author Mindy Ruiz.


Jo: Welcome to the blog, Mindy! I’m over the moon to have you here. You’re such an awesome supporter of other Indies, and I’m pleased you’ve agreed to grace us with your presence. You ready?

Mindy: Hell, yes!

Jo: Awesome! Let’s jump right in with both feet. Your series, Game of Hearts, heavily uses elements of Greek mythology. Why did you choose to include that genre, and what can we expect out of the rest of the series?

Mindy: Great question! The whole series came about because Lady GaGa’s song, Poker Face, played right after Katy Perry’s Waking Up in Las Vegas. I loved the idea of exploring the Suits in a deck of cards as if they were living, breathing people. Plus, I’m totally obsessed with anything Royal, so marrying the world of the Cards and Greek mythology was a no-brainer. I needed a back story and a nemesis and who better than to fill those shoes than the man obsessed with everything glittery and gold but King Midas himself.

Bam!

The House of Midas was born. But something was still missing. I needed a cohesive unit that tied the two powers together but still kept them under thumb. The myth of Midas and Dionysus provided the answer: I needed more Greek gods! The gods are the ultimate authority both The House of Midas and the ruling Cards fear and serve. The gods are to the Game of Hearts series what the shark was to Jaws.

In the final book, Cassie and the other Queens (Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs) uncover a devious plan that threatens all of humanities’ freedoms. Shadows and rogue factions play a huge part in the epic conclusion to free the Titans from Tartarus. Cassie has to make the ultimate decision whether to serve as the Queen of the House of Hearts or forget everything and everyone she’s experienced the last three years of her life.

Jo: I'm the biggest geek in the world, and that just made my inner-goddess sing! I can tell you love your novels. You heard it here, folks! Go check out this series! Moving on. How much is your character, Olivia, like you? Do you feel it’s a help or hindrance to be close with a character? Why?

Mindy: I’d like to say Olivia is all me, but not true. I based Olivia’s sass and in-your-face honesty off of a life-long friend, Rochelle Spears. Nothing, no past, no secret, no future prediction fazes Olivia. She’s going to experience life on her terms and be loyal to a freaking fault. Okay, the loyal to a freaking fault might be me.

I think it’s vital that you feel a connection or closeness with your characters because we all can write the paper cutout Disney prince or princess, it’s the complex tortured hero, heroine, and yes, villain, that really tugs at our and our reader’s hearts. I believe exploring those pieces, both the good and the bad, of you and those around you is how you create believable, likable, swoon-worthy characters.


Jo: Awesome picture! Great answer. I get asked all the time if I'm like my characters. I have to admit, they have a trait or two, but mostly they're based on people I know. I agree 100% on the need to be close to them. You must. *smiles* I know you’re a huge advocate of encouraging authors to keep learning. So, tell us, what writerly educational books grace your shelves? Which is your favorite and why?

Mindy: Albert Einstein said, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.”

If you think you know it all, then you really know nothing at all. I never want to be the smartest person in a room and luckily, I have yet ever to be. :) That being said, I have way too many writing books on my shelves. My favorites, because they’re totally like kids and I can’t choose one, are:
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. I was a pantser forever, and with C. J. Redwine’s online plotting & world building classes and Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat, I’ve cut down on the plot lines I chase down rabbit holes. Painless Grammar by Rebeca Elliott, Ph.D.

Why? I may have daydreamed through all my English classes when they didn’t relate to Literature. Seriously, where was my Grammar Godmother when I needed her?!

Last one, the www.ce.SavvyAuthors.com website because, truly, Liz Pelletier and the crew over there are brilliant geniuses that make the technical side of creative writing easy to understand. One day I will share a chocolate martini with the lady. Maybe even in Las Vegas. *giggles*

Jo: I haven't heard of either of those books. *adds to list* I love that quote; it's so dang true, huh? Sooooo, I hear you aren’t a girly-girl (don’t judge; a little bird told me). So I’d like to know what your perfect date-night outfit and location would be. Why?

Mindy: Buahaha! Your birds are crazy accurate! I’m so not a girly-girl. I was raised with four brothers, have three sons, a nephew who is my fourth son, and seven more nephews to top off my testosterone world of wonder. I would die a slow, GI-Joe death if I didn’t suppress my estrogen. LOL.

Perfect date outfit would be blue jeans, a rockin’ hot top that was comfortable but still screamed ‘oh, yeah, she’s a girl!’ and flip-flops to show off my hot-pink pedicured toes.

Perfect location: I’m a beach girl. Give me salted sea air, waves crashing on the shore, and a bucket of Dungeness crab legs and I’m all yours. The husband threw in peach mojitos and laughed when I bombed him with crab shell shrapnel. It was true love from there on.

Jo: I feed those birds lots and lots of cookies! *wink* Sounds like a fabulous date! I know all about suppressing the estrogen. Ha! Let's not get too far off the question line, because I could talk all day about being a tom boy. You have two books out in the Game of Hearts Series: Enchanted Hearts and Lying, Cheating Hearts. What’s next? Care to share a little snippet of the blurb?

Mindy: The last book in the Game of Hearts series is in the hopper right now.

I’m also working on a paranormal category romance called: Cupid’s Curse. Yep, that’s what I’m going to give to you.

Blurb snippet:
My name is Jack. Oh, don’t let the manly sounding nickname fool you; I’m all girl. From my waist length blonde hair, over every curve of my five-foot-six frame, down to my pedicured toes, I scream female. But when it comes to matters of the heart, well, I’m a bitch.

That’s not my technical title.

Officially, I’m a Cupid. Turns out the god of love, Eros, doesn’t like it when you curse amore. He gets down right bitter when you swear to never be a sucker for the swoon. That one phrase, “I’ll never love again,” with the right amount of fortitude behind it, will land you cursed in Eros’s Cupid Corps.

Yep, I’m totally cursed to play Cupid until I believe in love. If I don’t, well, my heart goes all petrified and I become immortal. Sounds damn good to me.

Ha! Looks like I really do have a thing for Greek gods.

Jo: That sounds fan-freaking-tastic! I can't wait to check it out. You did a marketing thing at UtopYA last year I thought was absolutely brilliant. Tell me about the Enchanted Heart screen cleaners, and how you came up with the idea, please! I still have mine.

Mindy: *big ole toothy grin* OH. MY. GAWD!!!! You have no idea how stinking happy that makes me! I would love to take all the credit for Enchanted Heart screen cleaners, but that fabulous find lies at the feet of my darling husband. Luckily, he is in real estate and is required to attend numerous conferences and conventions. I may sweet talk him into bringing home an extra swag bag. Seriously, I go through their swag bags like I’m discovering buried treasures.

Jo: Yeah, I totally do. People ask me about it all the time. *grin* Now that we’re on the subject of UtopYA, talk to me about the panel you’re on for newbies and introverts. What can people hope to take away from that experience?

Mindy: Confession time: I’m painfully shy and awkward. It took me a long time to shatter the wall-flower vase and really own who I am. Before writing became both my passion and my career, I was in the family business of selling Real Estate. Cold calls and open houses and strangers all around brought me face-to-face with my biggest fear, talking to people. Anyone who knows me knows I hate talking on the phone and the thought of face-to-face tends to break me out in hives. That being said, I knew I could either have my excuse of being shy or I could, full force and despite being shy, put myself out there and chase my dream. It came down to do I want the excuse or do I want the dream. I chose to chase after the dream.

At my first UtopYA conference, where I climbed back into my wall-flower vase, (no, really, sat up in my hotel room with flowered pajamas), my darling friend Megan Curd, kicked me out of the hotel room and told me to find my freaking mojo.

After the conference, I read online that there were so many people who had traveled to UtopYA and had done the exact same thing I did! The overall themes:
I don’t know what to say?
I don’t want to be “that” crazy fan-girl!
And, I’m new and shy.

That was it.

I embraced Janet’s “lift as you climb” mantra and decided to apply what I’d learned successfully practicing real estate and networking at conferences for twenty years to writers and share that knowledge. Megan and I tapped some amazing people who have successfully networked both online and at conferences to help: New York Times Best Selling Author: Rachel Harris, Misty Provencher, and Eva Pohler will be adding their tips and tricks to the panel.

The Newbie and Introvert panel is an interactive session.

You will leave knowing at least three people you didn’t before.

You’ll be armed with three open-ended questions to get your conversations past, “I love your book” and on to more substantial chats with authors and readers you love.

Finally, you’ll leave the panel with a starter toolbox with basic how to’s:
* How to comfortably step out of your comfort zone.
* How to be able to identify when you’re starting to slip back into your wall-flower ways and what to do.
* How to approach an author you love.
* How to spot a fellow wallflower and build your own wacky clump or tribe.

Jo: Oh man. Even seasoned veterans can benefit from that panel! I'm so stealing this (with credit, of course) for something the bloggers have coming. *grin* Rapid-fire question time! White, dark, or milk chocolate?

Mindy: *cue big pimpin’ music*
White Chocolate.
White chocolate Kit-Kats, if I’m totally honest.

Jo: Paper or computer (for writing)?

Mindy: Computer. I’d go through too many erasers and trees if I went the long hand route.

Jo: Up or Down?

Mindy: Up! The ever-eternal optimist says UP!

Jo: Right? Somehow, I knew you'd choose up. *grins* Time travel question! Because the theme of UtopYA 2015 is time travel, I’m asking everyone a themed question. *grins* If you built a time machine, where would you go, what would you do while you were there, and would you tell anyone of your creation? Why/why not?

Mindy: Ooooh. Yikes. The practical girl in me says time travel = bad. But the caution-to-the-wall hellion in me says, Hell, yes! Time Travel? Where be the seatbelts?!

I’d totally go to the past and whack some Eleanor Roosevelt spine into the people-pleasing girl I thought I had to be. I’d tell her she was fine just the way she was and she should totally chase after the story-telling dreams her dad told her were “useless lies.” Now, because I’d messed with the space-time continuum like Marty McFly’d done in Back to the Future, I’d leave my mom a note and picture of my uber hunky husband and tell her not to let me settle for anyone else except this man. One: Mom’s Italian and no matter what moxy I’d gain from my Roosevelt spine whipping I’d still fear the woman. Two: the man is truly the love of my life. He loved me when I was bald, filled with chemo, and begged him to leave. He stayed and fought for us both, and I’m so blessed.

Would I share the technology? Nope! Not even hesitating about that one. Refer back to my Marty McFly Back to the Future reference.

Jo: Okay, can I just say I LOVE that photo? It's awesome! I hope you had fun taking these. Haha! Heck yeah. I love answers that involve going back to your younger self and giving advice! Don't we all wish we could do that? Speaking of road trips, did you ever get to go to Vegas? If yes, what did you see while there? If no, what do you plan to see while there when (notice I didn’t say if) you get to visit?

Mindy: The lady who inspired Olivia moved to Las Vegas a few years ago, so I visit as often as possible. Plus, living in Southern California makes it all too easy to jump a forty-five minute Jet Blue flight to get lost in Sin City.

When I was plotting the Game of Hearts Series, I knew I didn’t want to highlight the typical Las Vegas sites. I wanted to explore the history and the off-the-beaten-tourist traps of the desert oasis. The catacombs were based on an article my girlfriend sent me about Las Vegas’s Homeless living in the underground sewers after the 2007 financial crash. The Neon Graveyard (they call it a boneyard) where we first meet Isaac actually exists. I HIGHLY recommend taking the tour. Freemont Street and the digital canopy, for realz. Umm, OOOH, the water preserve where A. J. introduces Cassie to the forgotten and the declaration stones, they’re for real. The quote from John F. Kennedy carved in the side of a boulder, totally in the water preserve. I’m still ninety percent certain he really was from the House of Hearts. ;)

Jo: I read a book recently called The Underground that was about the people living under Seattle after the city's destruction. Awesome story. I'll have to check out the spots you've suggested if I ever make it back to Vegas. I'm totally psyched you and Tia live in the same state. All I can say is: expect coffee in the future! *winks* I adore anything outside the box. Anything you’d like to throw out there that I didn’t already ask?

Mindy: Ummm, I wish I could say something really prolific, but … nope! I’m all good. Oh, wait! If you see me at UtopYA, Penned Con, Indie Bookfest in Orlando, or Great Lake Book Bash, please don’t hesitate to come up and squeeze me. I tend to walk around in a haze of “holy shiz! I can’t believe I’m here.” Enhance my experience and say Hi, Mindy. Send me over the moon and tell me you love my books or make my millennium and leave me a fun review.

Jo, thanks so much for having me. I just adore you and your readers and can’t wait to have a peach mojito with ya!

Jo: I do hope to see you this year. It's so crazy, I'm surprised I saw my table mate last year. HA! I've never had a peach mojito, but I'm totally blushing at your compliment. Thank you. Sorry to take up so much of your time! I appreciate you being here. I really enjoyed researching you for this interview. You sound a lot like me (low-maintenance, has many sons—I have four, and I’m someone who just adores books), and I can’t wait to see you at the conference! Not long now!

Now, it’s time to tell you all about the featured book of the week!

Title: Enchanted Heart
Author: Mindy Ruiz
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Length (print): 322 pages.
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99 US and UK  ~  Smashwords $0.99  ~  iBooks $0.99 US and UK  ~  B&N $0.99 US and UK


Blurb:
Cassandra Vera never ever broke the rules.

Ever!

She’s also had a nonexistent social life since her best friend moved to Vegas. Armed with a new set of resolutions, the promise of a hot date, and her adoptive parents out of town, seventeen-year-old Cassandra agrees to a road trip, which is the perfect way to celebrate her birthday and ring in the New Year. After all, she’s headed to Vegas, the city where secrets are meant to stay hidden. Little does Cassandra know her past is buried there as well.

Cloaked in the shadows of the glitz and gaudy lights of Vegas lies a power struggle centuries old. One wrong step and Cassandra could destroy the delicate web of secrets. Now an enemy she never knew existed is after her, and the one boy who may be the missing piece to the puzzle — and her heart— is the one person she can’t afford to trust.

While your fingers are in the clicking mode, why not give Mindy a follow on every social media platform I could think of when writing up the template for these interviews (plus some)?

Pinterest: Mindy Ruiz Books
Instagram: Mindy Ruiz
Google +: Mindy Ruiz Books
Facebook: Mindy Ruiz Books
Street Team: Heart Breakers 4 Ever
Twitter: @MindyRuiz
Goodreads: Mindy Ruiz
Website: MindyRuiz.com
Amazon Author Page: Mindy Ruiz
LinkedIN: Mindy Ruiz
Tsu: Mindy Ruiz

Time for the Rafflecopter giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have any questions, pop them into the comments below. Ms. Ruiz (pronounced Reese) will be around to answer and/or respond!

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

Jo

Friday, April 17, 2015

Pirates - Book Library and Extreme Deception

This is no happy Friday, authors of the digital realm. This is an extremely annoying Friday, full of strife and ill wishes for those deceptive enough to even think about what I'm gonna show you today. Hopefully, you get angry enough to report these slimeballs. I think it'll only work if we all work together. Ready to get your ire on? Let's get going.

First off, if you don't have a Google alert set up for your name, why not? It's FREE.

Do that now. Go here.

Remember, you can narrow down the results by adding quotes like this "for exact phrase" or AND to be sure both words are included when searched. It's also advisable to put in snippets from your book (between quotes so the whole phrase is searched and not just pieces), in case someone doesn't use your title or name.

Anyway, now that you'll be notified of stuff like this, let's move on.

I woke up to this in my e-mail:

Being the curious cat I am, I clicked. Here's what came up:








Awwww, I think. How nice it is of that person to come to the defense of Indies everywhere!


Then I see the mention of Book Library.

Book Library? I don't publish through them.

Tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I leave that browser window open and return to the e-mail. I click the link again. This time, I get this one:

Sound kinda familiar? Yeah, it did to me, too. So, I left both open and clicked yet again. And, lo and behold, lookie here:

Because I don't like viruses, I tend to click these things on my phone rather than my computer. My curiosity is massively piqued now, so I go see what this Book Library is really about. Here's what I see:
Yeah, it's a free download pirate site.

Now I'm pissed. After further investigation, I find every single one of my books on that site (which isn't Book Library, but Download Genius) and which I can now search for because I have the direct link. For free.

Please understand, my books being there isn't what has my hackles up. Piracy is piracy, and we can't shut all the websites down; more will pop up in their place. But this one goes the extra mile to be sure you, the author, think it's all legit.

Worse? They're pretending to be on your side, have your back, be your friend by appearing to be defending you and your loss of revenue.

Just... NO.

That's what made me the angriest. It's one thing to pirate my book, it's another box of bananas entirely to lead me on like you're doing me a favor or something and then pirating my book. They know exactly what they're doing.

You can't search the site directly unless you sign up for an account (NONONONO! Don't do it! It's a ripoff, credit card number stealing, bunch of bullshit). Wait for that all important Google alert and get to the link from there.

So, it's time to take action. If one or two people report this site, there may not be even a breeze ruffling these jerkoff's hairpieces. Let's create a hurricane and rip them into the ether.

Follow the steps here to create lots of fodder for your complaint. That's a Wiki How article.

Go here and follow the instructions. This is a brilliantly put together post by The Pirate Hunters.

And, for your convenience, here's the link to file the DCMA directly once you have your ammunition. (Link removed because I think it gave me a virus. :( GRRRRR)

Now, here comes the interesting part. If you've filed your copyright with the U. S. Copyright office, follow the steps above on creating your complaint fodder and contact the FBI here. No, you don't have to have your stuff registered to contact the FBI. :)

Too many times I've heard people say one person fighting doesn't make a difference. Damn right, but, like on the movie A Bug's Life, a bunch of people can create a real problem.

Let's give them the kind of problem they have nightmares about, shall we?

What do you think? Do you have a Google alert? Ever find your books on one of those sites? Gonna participate in this call to action?

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

Jo

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Creating Feelings Workbooks

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! It's writing tip day, and I've got some great exercises that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, and they'll keep you writing; that's the most important thing. If you've read my post titled "Indescribable, and Why it Cannot Work for a Writer," you'll be one step into this process already. So, grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!


Have you ever been in a rut? One of the ones that have you pulling your hair out and wishing you could meet that deadline with great words instead of mediocre ones you slapped on the page out of haste?

Sometimes, all you need is a little muse push. This exercise can help you frame your writing for drawing on later.

What the heck do I mean?

Stay with me.

If you're feeling something, anything, that's a great place for any novel to grow. Even if you're overwhelmed by the size and pressure of the task ahead.

Here's what I want you to do:
  • Open a new document
  • Center your cursor at the top
  • Think about how you're feeling in the moment
  • Type that word in
  • Hit enter
  • Left flush your cursor and use a cliche (angry = mad as a mashed cat)
  • Now hit enter again
  • Highlight those two lines (the one with the cliche and the blank one) and click numbered list
  • Create more than twenty-five sentences that tell how angry feels
  • Save the document as: Feelings_YourEmotionHere so you can find it when you need it later
I know what you're thinking. Twenty-five, Jo? Twenty-frikkin-five! You must be smoking crack.

But I'm not. Plus, I asked for more than twenty-five. *grin* If you stick with it, expand upon your few word descriptions to great phrases. I'll get to when and where this will come in handy in a few minutes. I think it goes without saying that I don't want you to worry about being grammatically correct. Just let it flow.

Let me go with depressed as an example.
  1. Empty nest
  2. Wrapped in a shroud
  3. In a dark place
  4. If the world explodes, I'll be one lucky bastard
  5. Rocks in my stomach
  6. Lead weights on my shoulders
  7. Fog obscuring my every thought
  8. Windows blackened so I can't see daylight
  9. As though a bat has wrapped me in leathery wings, stealing my breath
  10. Tiny and insignificant
  11. If I weren't around, no one would notice or care
  12. Numb all over
  13. Brain in a cloud that prevents me from thinking happy thoughts, as though I'll never find joy again
  14. Everyone is out to get me because I'm like the buzzing fly puking my acid on their food so I can slurp it up in my misery of short life
  15. Desire to step out of my mortal shell and walk where I might get a glimpse of the light my heart craves but has been denied for so long
  16. Scum on the top of a pond that only exists to be feasted on by parasitic insects determined to suck every ounce of nourishment out of me to feed themselves
  17. Hands shaking, brain racing, heart dead and unfeeling
  18. Life sucked out of me through a hole in my heart made, ripped, and gaping because of the cruelty of the people in my life
  19. A dark cloak descending from the sky, fluttering down delicately, inviting me in, promising me warmth and safety, only to choke me when I accepted its black embrace that siphoned the will to live
  20. Blank stares filled with thoughts of everything lost throughout the years is all my mind can focus on
  21. Tingles rushing through my fingers, up my arms, twining around my heart as they beg me to let go of my own soul; to free my spirit so it can glide away through the ether, leaving me in peaceful nothingness
  22. Weight pressing down on me, and a twenty-ton monkey on my back who insists on dragging me the wrong way--away from the success, happiness, and assurance I crave
  23. Back cramps that slowly make their way around my ribs, creating pressure on my abdomen I can't release, suffocating me as my breath is stolen and my lung capacity closing down inch by inch
  24. Heat in my head threatening to burst forth from my eyes in the form of tears I'm convinced will be crimson if allowed to flow
  25. No desire to move, breathe, or think as my senses shut down, one by one, leaving me bereft
  26. Every reflection of myself making me want to lash out at the person on the other side, because I know she's worth nothing
You don't have to stop there. Keep going until you can't. This is just to show you it can be done. It only took me about twenty minutes, so it's not a terribly time-consuming exercise. Yeah, I'm feeling a little depressed right now. Why? Because I had to step into it to make it come out. What I'm asking you to do is write about it when you're feeling it. You can probably see the progression above, yeah?

Now, I bet you're wondering how this can help you in your writing, huh?

This is the awesome part. If you ever need a way to describe how a depressed character is feeling, you just created more than twenty-five descriptions of depression you can copy and paste into your manuscript. Never just say your character was feeling depressed. Use what you know to bring that feeling to life on the page for your reader.

It can also help you by becoming an outlet, like a journal, where you know you can write stuff down honestly. If you get it out, it'll help you deal with those feelings in a positive manner.

Don't just write about being sad, depressed, or overwhelmed. Be sure you're sitting down to fill out pages for happiness, excitement, or curiosity. You need everything in your writing arsenal.

What do you think? Do you use methods like this to help your writing? Tell me, and other readers, how you do it and how it helps!

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

Jo

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Book Review - Chasing Forgiveness

Happy Wednesday! You know what today means, right? Not only a book review for all you awesome people, but there are just two more days until the weekend! I don't know about you, but I use that time to recharge my internal batteries. Let that put a smile on your face as we go along here. I'm including this in the roundup over on the Time for Books 2015 Review Team's page. You should check it out. Many reviews on there. Anyway, this is a book I worked on for INDIE Books Gone Wild. I did the edit, the formatting, and the cover. I have to tell you, Tia really blew my mind with this novella. There were so many questions in my head about these characters, and I was excited just to read this installment. Anyway, let's get going!

As always, I'll kick off with a little about the book up for review today:

Title: Chasing Forgiveness (Tala Prophecy Companion Novella)
Author: Tia Silverthorne Bach
Genre: YA Paranormal
Length (print): 110 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99 (limited time) ~ Amazon Paperback $7.99

Blurb:
When terror strikes, forever altering your life, it doesn’t ask permission or forgiveness.

Madeleine and Amélie’s quiet lives are ripped apart by a creature they never imagined could exist outside a horror story. Their mother is murdered, their father is missing, and the only safe haven is with a family full of secrets. But rescue comes at a price.

Ripped from the light of youth, the sisters are forced into the shadows—where they meet brothers Rafe and Rowan.

It’s not the time for infatuation or love, but the heart rarely listens to reason.

Now, the young women have decisions to make. Will they be able to achieve their unified goal of stopping evil, or will it consume them from the inside out?

They soon learn some choices can’t be undone.

~ Now, let's get to the review!

I grabbed a copy of this book on Amazon as soon as it hit the shelves. Yes, I'd already read it; I wanted a copy of it forever. It's that good. I'm sure, if you're a fan of the series, you've been wondering about the four characters featured in this story. I was drooling to learn more. Madeline is such a strong personality, and the way she acts around Reagan and Rowan has always had me questioning what was really going on there. Anyway, let's get to the good stuff.

From a Reader's Perspective:
I felt for the sisters, Madeline and Amélie, from the first scene. Of course, I'd already developed a little affection for them from the series. Being able to see how close they were to one another, and how protective Madeline is of her sister, brought me a new level of understanding of their characters in general. I like them a lot. They seem like the type of girls I want to hug and slap at the same time. Why slap? Because some of their actions had the "uh oh, this won't end well" feeling. I could see it, but they were clueless (isn't it always more difficult to see your potential errors when you're the one IN the situation?).

Rafe reached a new level of low for me in this story. I had a mad hate on for him before; now, I think I'd strangle him if I could. He's so very evil. I understand why (you'll have to read the books to find out), but that doesn't mean I have to let him off the hook for his actions.

Bach did a great job of pulling me in and showing me the angst each sister struggled with. Not only with one another, but also with their change of lifestyle. There's a sensitive topic in the forefront of this novella. While it's a clean (intimacy fades to black) book, it touches on some squeamish areas for some people. That being said, I think the author handled it with a magic touch. Pacing is great, and you can probably read through this story in an hour or so. It's everything a companion novella should be.

From an Editor's Perspective:
Dear me, I hope you don't find any errors. I didn't.

Rating:
1 Star for showing me how sisters can be at odds and still love one another
1 Star for giving me an emotional ride
1 Star for making me despise Rafe even more than I already did
1 Star for treating such a sensitive topic with a gentle touch
1 Star for writing style and pacing
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars! Recommended if you like a quick, YA paranormal read that isn't the usual stuff.

There's a giveaway of a paperback copy going on right now. Here's the entry form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you gonna snag it while it's on sale?

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

Jo

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

New Release - Chasing Forgiveness

It’s finally here!

Chasing Forgiveness is a prequel novella in the award-winning Tala Prophecy series.

About Chasing Forgiveness

When terror strikes, forever altering your life, it doesn’t ask permission or forgiveness.

Madeleine and Amélie’s quiet lives are ripped apart by a creature they never imagined could exist outside a horror story. Their mother is murdered, their father is missing, and the only safe haven is with a family full of secrets. But rescue comes at a price.

Ripped from the light of youth, the sisters are forced into the shadows—where they meet brothers Rafe and Rowan.

It’s not the time for infatuation or love, but the heart rarely listens to reason.

Now, the young women have decisions to make. Will they be able to achieve their unified goal of stopping evil, or will it consume them from the inside out?

They soon learn some choices can’t be undone.

Author’s Note: This novella can be read as a stand-alone.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway #2
8 signed paperbacks are up for grabs via Goodreads.


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing Forgiveness by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Chasing Forgiveness

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Giveaway ends May 20, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

About the Author


Tia Silverthorne Bach has been married to her college sweetheart for twenty years, has three beautiful girls, and adores living in sunny California. Her daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She believes in fairy tales and happy endings and is an avid reader and rabid grammar hound.



She is an award-winning, multi-genre author and an Editor for Indie Books Gone Wild. From an early age, she escaped into books and believes they can be the source of healing and strength. If she’s not writing, you can find her on the tennis court, at the movies, reading a good book, or spooning Jif peanut butter right out of the jar.

Connect with the Author:
Sign up for her Author newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bif19P 

Available Books:
Chasing Memories (Tala Prophecy, Book 1)
Chasing Shadows (Tala Prophecy, Book 2)
Fractured Glass: A Novel Anthology
Depression Cookies (women's fiction)

Coming Soon:
Chasing Destiny (Tala Prophecy, Book 3)

YEAH! Go get you one!

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

Jo

Monday, April 13, 2015

Featured Author - Natasha Hanova - Publication Spotlight

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, as every Monday, I'm bringing you information about an author. This time, it's Ms. Natasha Hanova! If you missed my interview with Natasha, you can check it out here. She's giving away a copy of the book below in paperback and a $10 Amazon gift card, but you gotta go to the interview to enter! Get your clicking fingers ready and let's get going!

Title: Edge of Truth
Author: Natasha Hanova
Genre: YA Dystopian/Paranormal
Length (print): 302 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $2.99  ~ Amazon Paperback $9.99 or FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Synopsis:
Citizens who report to work on time, obey the Overlord’s laws, and stay off the Synbot’s radar, live long lives. Long, dull, monotonous lives.

It’s not a bad plan for someone with a hidden, emotion-based ability to trigger earthquakes. In a world pitted against her, sixteen-year-old Rena Moon strives for a life beyond working herself to death at the factory. Seeing an alternative, she risks selling relics from the forbidden lands at Market. It becomes the worst decision she ever made. Someone kidnaps her best friend in exchange for the one thing that would end her oppression.

Driven by loyalty, Rena and seventeen-year-old Nevan Jelani, soulful composer, green thumb extraordinaire, and the secret love of her life, plot to rescue her friend and reclaim her salvage. Still, the thought lingers whether Nevan is a true hero or another thief waiting for his chance at her loot. Events spin wildly, deepening Rena’s suspicions and pushing her limit of control. With more than her chance for freedom at stake, she must decide if she’s willing to kill to protect what’s precious to her. For once, the Overlord isn’t holding all the power, but can Rena live with being reduced to what she’s trying so hard to escape?

Yes, she only has one book out right now, but another one is coming VERY soon!

What are you waiting for? Go check it out.

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

Jo

Friday, April 10, 2015

My utopYA Awards Eligible Books

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm talking to the utopYA academy about the books I have (or have worked on) that are eligible for an award and in which categories. Ready? Let's get going!

Title: Fractured Glass - A novel anthology
Authors: Tia Silverthorne Bach, Jo Michaels, Casey L. Bond, Kelly Risser, and N. L. Greene
Genre: YA Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Fantasy
Eligible for:
Best Cover (paranormal) - designed by Jo Michaels
Best shero - Sloan
Best bestie/buddy - Diego
Best Kiss - Sloan and Diego
Best Editing (edited by Tia Bach and Jo Michaels of INDIE Books Gone Wild)

Here's the cover:

Title: Chasing Forgiveness
Author: Tia Silverthorne Bach
Genre: YA Paranormal
Eligible for:
Best Cover (paranormal) - designed by Jo Michaels
Best shero - Madeline
Best Companion Novella - The Tala Prophecy Series
Best Editing (edited by Jo Michaels of INDIE Books Gone Wild)

Here's the cover:

Title: Renaria - Into the Adyton
Author: J. L. Wilson
Genre: YA Fantasy
Eligible for:
Best Cover (paranormal) - designed by J. L. Wilson
Best Paranormal book
Best shero - Leda
Best hero - Alex
Best Editing (edited by Jo Michaels of INDIE Books Gone Wild)

Here's the cover:

Title: Chasing Shadows
Author: Tia Silverthorne Bach
Genre: YA Paranormal
Eligible for:
Best Cover (paranormal) - designed by Jo Michaels
Best shero - Madeline
Best Book (paranormal)
Best Editing (edited by Jo Michaels of INDIE Books Gone Wild)
Best Series (paranormal) - The Tala Prophecy Series

Here's the cover:

Thank you to all the members of the Academy! Fingers crossed!

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

Jo