Monday, June 8, 2015

Spotlight - Discovering April by Sheena Hutchinson

Happy Monday, everyone! Today I have a little spotlight for you all. Please welcome Ms. Sheena Hutchinson to the blog. She's here to tell you about her novel, Discovering April. Plus, there's an excerpt for awesome coffee reading. Let's get to it!

Title: Discovering April
Author: Sheena Hutchinson
Genre: New Adult Romance
Length (print): 355 pages
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle $3.99

Cover Art by Cover Me, Darling

Blurb:
April Landau thinks she has everything she’s ever wanted. Her high school sweetheart, a house she can’t afford, her bipolar tabby cat, and she’s all set to begin her Junior year of college. Just when she least expects it, her life gets thrown for a loop. When things between her and her long time boyfriend unravel, she becomes stuck in a downward spiral of emotion. Finally, opening her eyes to the fact that she may have given up more than she ever could have imagined in this relationship. She finds herself struggling to keep her head above water.

Enter April’s next door neighbor— Jared Hoffman. He’s her complete opposite. A high school drop out who was forced to take over his parent’s business after their untimely death. It’s no surprise this tragedy affected him greatly, causing him to recede almost completely from society.

But he has one secret. A secret he’s been carrying around for years.

What happens when their worlds collide? Can an old friendship be the one thing that brings these two back to life?

A new adult love story filled with drama, sex, death, and the complications of all of the above.

Find it on GoodReads.

About Sheena:
Sheena is a born and raised New Yorker, even her writing can’t hide her hard sarcasm. She claims destiny lead her to writing again. She constantly strives to be a positive role model and write stories that empower and inspire.

Sheena always roots for the underdog, believes in love at first sight, and that everyone should have their happily ever after. While God is currently writing her love story she continues to put all her time into her writing as she is constantly getting new inspiration.

For more on Sheena and her books visit her website.

Get in touch!
www.SheenaHutchinson.com
Facebook Author Page
@Sheena_Hutch
Goodreads
Instagram: @Author_Shea

Excerpt:
My head is still pounding when my eyes flutter open the next day. My brain is throbbing inside my skull and I punch the pillow underneath me, scaring Jinx out of his slumber. He meows in protest before hopping off the bed. Looking around, I’m in my bed. How did I get here? I groan in pain as I prop my pillows up and lean my head back against them. It’s then that I feel the eyes on me. Tilting my head straight again, I glance out my window. My eyes lock with those big brown eyes of Jared’s across the way. He looks down to his phone and back up again. My phone chimes with an incoming text.

“UGHHH!” I moan, blindly reaching for it. It slips a few times before I grasp it between my fingers and look down to read.

How are you feeling?

Closing one eye, I text back, Like someone ran over me with a truck, then backed up and ran me over again.
Lowering my phone, I watch as he smiles from my text and disappears from view. I’m trying to piece last night back together; it’s like a fragmented mirror that has shattered all over the corners of my mind. I remember laughing with Ro about her sexual conquests and then I remember red and blue lights and… Jared. Starting to feel hot, I throw the covers off of me and lay like a starfish, trying to get my mind to focus. Glancing down, I notice I’m wearing my pajamas. Before I can process any further, the door to my room creaks open. Jared walks in with a cup of water and a closed fist.

“How did you get in?!” I yelp, trying to sit up in bed, and pulling the covers back over my braless tank top.

“I left the back door open when I left last night,” he informs me as he opens his fist to show me he brought a hand full of Advil.

“You brought me home last night?” I rub my head before reaching for the pills and water.

“Yup, after you called me to pick you up from the police station.”

“I WAS WHERE?!” I scream as water comes spraying out of my mouth.

“Police station. Apparently, you popped a guy in the face.” He smirks.

I squint my eyes, vaguely remembering the heavyset guy that tried grabbing my ass in front of the bar.
“Whoa!” I have to lean my head back against my pillows when the information begins to become too much for me. “If you took me home, how did I get into pajamas?!”

The smile that crosses Jared’s face is a mixture of a blush and a sly smirk that makes my insides twist with anticipation and excitement. “Jared…”

“That… you did on your own. I had nothing to do with that!” He holds his hands up in surrender.

“What? I just stripped in front of you!”

“Well, once you got your shirt off, there was really no stopping you…” he teases and my eyes widen in embarrassment.

“Oh my God!” I slump down, pulling the covers back up to my face. “Did we… ya know…” I mutter, completely mortified now.

“Uh, that would be a no.”

“Oh, thank God!” I sigh.

“Thanks a lot!” He comes to his feet now, turning to look out the window.

“Not like that, it’s just … I don’t like to do things I’m not conscious for.”

“Yea, completely plastered girls that get arrested and throw up in bushes are really sexy!” His voice drips with sarcasm.

“I threw up?!” This just gets better and better.

“Twice.”

“Twice?” I’m mortified, staring at his amused face.

“Well, after the first time I thought maybe you needed something to eat.”

“Oh no…”

“Yeah… I’ve never seen someone eat a Big Mac that fast before…” He stares at the wall as if remembering my weak moment.

“Oh my God!” I groan, throwing the covers over my entire body. I curl up in a fetal position, planning to never come out again. The room grows silent. It’s starting to get hard to breathe under the sheets when I feel the mattress by my feet cave slightly.

“Come on, it’s not that bad. We all have our moments.” He pats my feet through the sheets.

“Just when I think I’ve reached rock bottom, things just seem to drops out from under me and I’m at an all new low!” I roll over, trying to pull the covers with me, but Jared’s weight prevents it. My head comes peeking out as I roll over, facing away from him.

“April, I think I just determined your major.”

“What?” I curiously twist to look at him again.

“Drama. You’re such an actress. Now, put your big girl panties on and get up!”

I stare at him for a second; did he just say what I think he said? He waits about two seconds before getting up and opening a drawer to my dresser. “Are they in here? Nope!” He closes it and opens another.

“STOP!” I scream, stumbling out of bed, horrified.

“How ‘bout this one?”

“Okay! Okay! I’m up!” I slam the drawer closed just in time to save myself further embarrassment when Jared eyes my plain old undergarments. I sigh when the pounding in my head launches my stomach into action and I collapse onto the corner of the bed.

“You okay?”

“I refuse to puke again!” I respond, taking another deep breath. “Jared…”

“Yea…”

“I could use some donuts.”

“Okay.” He pauses for a few seconds, looking down at his feet before adding, “I’ll be outside then.”

And he leaves me in my room, alone.

~

What do you think? Gonna try it out?

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

Jo

Sunday, June 7, 2015

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!

GatekeeperBox

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!
The Gatekeeper's Trilogy Promo
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:

 Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00023] Kindle Nook iBooks Google Play Smashwords Kobo
 GatekeepersSecretEbookKindle Nook iBooks Google Play Smashwords Kobo
 GatekeepersPromiseEbook finalKindle 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 

Friday, June 5, 2015

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

Thursday, June 4, 2015

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

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

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

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

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

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