Announcement Post is TOMORROW - 12 Days of Review Requests

You guys. I'm SOSO excited about tomorrow I can't sit still.

The announcement post for the grand prize giveaway, the process outline, and the rules to play the game goes live tomorrow morning!

SQUEAL!

All the posts are linked up here, along with a short rundown of the rules for playing along. Bookmark it!

I'm gonna be inviting all the book reviewers I know, so get those pitches ready!

You're gonna just die when you see the grand prize!

Here's a list of author giveaways running each day of the event:

Karen Hooper	Signed book winner's choice
Tricia Copeland	tank top, book and book mark, necklace with swallow charm
Tara Benham	Free Ebook or signed print copy of At Night's End
Tia Bach	ebook of 1st four books in Tala Prophecy series
Kelly Risser	Signed copy of Always Remembered
Casey L. Bond	Ebook of Harvest Saga omnibus
Rachael Brownell	paperback copy of Holding On
M. H. Soars	ebook copy of Wonderwall
Elizabeth Kirke	Book Magnets or ebooks
Cadence Rae	Ebook of In Her Eyes Novella
Katie M John	swag packs
Suzanna Lynn	A set of all three of my books, signed (Bedwife series)
Christina Benjamin	ebooks, swag, giftcards (Geneva Project)
Mindy Ruiz	Enchanted Heart & Lying, Cheating Heart books, Vegas swag pack, and $25 Amazon gift card
Sharon Rose Mayes	1 each paperback copies of Blood Pact and The Broken Pact.
Casey Anderson	1 Signed copy of my book, $10.00 Amazon gift card, necklace with symbol from my book
Jo Michaels	$50 Amazon GC and Two of my books - winner's choice
K. J. Farnham,	One signed copy of Click Date Repeat, One signed copy of Don't Call Me Kit Kat (All Countries)

WOW, right?

How amazing will this party be?

Get ready, because it's COMING!

What are you most excited about?

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

Jo

Writing Prompts for Kids - 24 Writing Prompts to Spark Ideas for a Year

Happy Monday, everyone! I'm soooo excited today. I have been since last week, but I unplugged for the holiday so this is my first chance to share with you all. *squeal*

It's official! Writing Prompts for Kids is alive and kicking on Amazon. Here's the info:

Title: Writing Prompts for Kids: 24 Writing Prompts to Spark Ideas for a Year - A Child's Writing Journal (Writing for Kids Volume I)
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: Juvenile Non-Fiction / Language Arts / Writing and Composition
Buy Link: Amazon Paperback $19.99

Blurb:
If your child wants to write, but needs a little help (or just wants something to write IN), this book is the answer.

With 24 solid writing prompts and a guided setup, your little one will be pumping out words before you know it. From author Jo Michaels comes a fun and interactive journal style book that will spark your child’s imagination and get them creating amazing things in no time.

Your child will be asked questions like:
What is my character’s name?
How old?
Is he/she human?
If no, what is he/she?
What is he or she going to try to do?
What are Mom and Dad’s names?
Where do they live?

Prompt #1:
Think of a time you were scared. What were you scared of? How could you be braver? What power would you like to have to help?

With pages for drawing book covers and scenes, this journal will keep your child engaged for hours.

I bet you're wondering why the heck I created this book. Well, because I wanted something for my own daughter, and nothing I found fit the bill. She loves to write, but she has a difficult time with the nitty-gritty creation details. Then, she mixes up her writing journals or loses them.

I wanted something I could keep, too. Yeah, I know it's selfish, but it is what it is.

There are pages in there for drawing, too, because I thought about those kids who hate to write and figured a little art might go a long way in keeping their attention on the story. Plus, I get pages upon pages of her ten-year-old artistic self.

This book is for kids age 7-12. After that, they're too old for these kinds of writing prompts. A teen version will be coming sometime soon, so keep your eyes open for that!

My fingers are crossed your kids will enjoy it. I kept it as gender neutral as I could.

Check out the look inside option, and tell me what you think in the comments below.

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

Jo

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you have some awesome planned for the day, and my fingers are crossed all goes smoothly.

I have a little announcement to make (if you're still reading).

This week, a new kind of book I've written will go on sale. It's non-fiction, and it's for your kids (kind of).

Here's the dealio:

Your kids get a nice sized book to write, color, and draw in. But! What they'll be learning as they do these things is how a story is crafted on the most basic level.

What's in it for you?

You get a priceless keepsake, a record of your child's imagination at work at their current age.

Take a look at the cover:

Inside, there's space for your child to write 24 stories based on prompts provided. They get to draw their own book covers, doodle scenes, and flesh out their worlds with simple questions before writing.

If you think it's something you might like, keep an eye on the blog. I'll post here when it's ready to buy.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

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

Jo

Free Novella - The first Short Story of The Geneva Project: Prequel Series by Christina Benjamin

The first Short Story of The Geneva Project: Prequel series is finally here!!! And it’s FREE for a limited time.

Before the ancient legend of Lux was discovered, before she realized her power, before she had a destiny to fulfill: Geneva was just a lonely orphan at Christmas. Get a glimpse into the early days of Geneva and Remi's lives at the Troian Center. There's always a little bit of high jinx, mystery and magic happening on Hullabee Island and the holiday season is no exception. Discover how Geneva and Remi forged a friendship that bonded them for life and made them “thick as thieves,” in this heartwarming Christmas tale where we discover that sometimes finding true friendship is the greatest gift of all.

http://amzn.com/1519334435

About the Author:
Award-winning young adult author Christina Benjamin fell in love with the magic of words at an early age. Benjamin’s writing hooks fans of mega-hit YA fiction like Harry Potter and Hunger Games, and offers them a new series to obsess over. She paints a vivid world, where magic and imagination run wild in her epic tale of adventure, courage and friendship.

Christina now lives in Florida with her husband, and character inspiring pets. She spends most of her time writing. Benjamin is dedicated to giving back to the community and speaking at schools to inspire creativity in young writers. When she has free time she enjoys to read, listen to music, shop and travel.


Follow the author!
https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/TheGenevaProjectBook?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/AuthorCBenjamin
https://instagram.com/authorcbenjamin/
https://instagram.com/thegenevaprojectbook_fanpage
http://authorchristinabenjamin.tumblr.com/
https://google.com/+ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
https://youtube.com/c/ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
http://christinabenjaminauthor.com/
http://www.thegenevaprojectbook.com/
https://squareup.com/market/thegenevaprojectstore
http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Benjamin/e/B009UZM14O/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6588515.Christina_Benjamin

Link to Trivia Quiz on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/results/29658

Book Trailer




I do hope you all go grab this awesome little freebie!

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

Jo

Utopiacon Runs Black Friday Week-long Blitz Party

Happy freaking Tuesday, everyone! There's a HUGE party going on over on the Utopia Con 2016 event page on Facebook all week! TONS of authors have donated books, gift cards, swag, and more!

Up for grabs right now:
Signed paperback of Hear the Crickets by BJ Sheldon
Signed paperback of M and e-book of Fractured Glass by Jo Michaels (plus 4)
E-copies of the entire Tala Prophecy series by Tia Bach
Signed paperback of Always Remembered, a necklace, and lots of swag by Kelly Risser
Signed paperbacks of the entire Forces of Nature series by Elizabeth Sharp

Those links will take you directly to the giveaways.

What are you waiting for? GOGOGO!

Today, there will be another blogger giving things away, and Janet Wallace is popping in throughout the week with things like TICKETS to the con and SIGNING SPACE!

Plus, there's an amazing sale happening FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY ONLY for tickets to the conference. Check this out:

Regular/general admission tickets will also be on sale! But you won't know if you don't join!

I do hope you entered to win some amazing books.

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

Jo

Five Year Giveaway from Katie M. John

CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF THE KNIGHT TRILOGY by Katie M John SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY

This December marks the 5th Year Anniversary of 'The Knight Trilogy' and as part of many other things I am doing all over social media, I am giving away this lovely Birthday hamper to one lucky Rafflecopter winner. The giveaway is international and will be delivered by surface mail.

So if you fancy winning a collection of signed paperbacks, jewellery from the magical forest of Broceliande, and many other gorgeous hand crafted book swag goodies, enter the rafflecopter giveaway below.

The Knight Trilogy tells the story of Mina Singer, an ordinary seventeen-year-old college student whose life is nicely ordered until the arrival of the mysterious Blake Beldevier. With his arrival, Mina is catapulted into a world she thought only existed in fairy tales, but she soon learns that fairy tales aren't for children, and that Morgan Le Fay is the wickedest witch of them all.

In this contemporary Arthurian series, readers are taken on a fantastical adventure from the wilds of rural Cornwall, to the temples of Egypt, to the magical Forest of Broceliande, and to Templar Head Quarters in the savage mountains of Switzerland.

In a true romantic quest, Mina, Blake and her friends have to undertake quests, recover lost objects and under go heart break in order to slay their own personal dragons.

In its 5 years of publication, The Knight Trilogy has been a Number 1 bestselling YA series & Fairy Tale series in both the UK and USA. It has also been a bestselling Amazon.com title. Book 1, 'The Forest of Adventures' won Reviewer's Choice 2011 from The Kindle Book Review, and the series was a finalist in the Silver Ink awards 2013.

Book 1 The Forest of Adventures
Book 2 Immortal Beloved
Book 3 Star Fire

To celebrate, EVERYBODY can get a free eBook edition of 'The Forest of Adventures' on all eBook platforms. (Except for Amazon, but PLEASE let them know, using the button at the end of the Amazon page, that it is cheaper elsewhere and hopefully they will drop it to free there too)

iBOOKS https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1055548158
B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-forest-of-a…/1120893224…
KOBO https://store.kobobooks.com/…/eb…/the-forest-of-adventures-1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck all!!

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

Jo 

Romance Author Chelsea Fine on A Daily Cup of Jo

Happy FRIDAY! Hey, it's the weekend! Quick post today! I had the amazing Chelsea Fine on A Daily Cup of Jo yesterday as a Utopia Con Veteran. It was AMAZING!

You have to listen!

Do so here.

In other news, Chelsea recently gave a TedX talk on Why it's Okay to Throw Like a Girl.

See it here:

Isn't she inspiring?

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

Jo

Fallen Sorcery Collection

Happy Thursday, everyone! I can't even!!!! You're never gonna believe who got into the first ever paranormal/dystopian romance Fallen Sorcery collection releasing end of next year. That's right! ME!

Think I'm a little excited?

Yeah, that's an understatement.

You can get updates about the releases (and several awesome goodies) by subscribing to the newsletter here. First one will be published September of 2016.

Give us a like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter!

Here's the list of AMAZING authors in the collection:

USA Today Bestselling Author REBECCA HAMILTON
Amazon Bestselling Author SYLVIA FROST
USA Today Bestselling Author APRYL BAKER
USA Today Bestselling Author RAINY KAYE writing with NATASHA LARRY
USA Today Bestselling Authors CONNER KRESSLEY & REBECCA HAMILTON
USA Today Bestselling Author JC ANDRIJESKI
USA Today Bestselling Author CONNER KRESSLEY
Amazon Bestselling Author LISA SWALLOW
USA Today Bestselling Author NOREE COSPER
USA Today Bestselling Author ANGELA FRISTOE
Amazon Bestselling & Award Winning Author J.E. TAYLOR
Amazon Bestselling Author SHANNON ECKRICH
Amazon Bestselling Author AMY LEE BURGESS
Amazon Bestselling Author HEATHER MARIE ADKINS
Amazon Bestselling Author JARET MARTENS
Award Winning Author JO MICHAELS

Hello! How cool is that? 

I do hope you hopped on board with us and are looking forward to all the awesome.

What do you think? Are you excited, too?

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

Jo

UTOPiAcon 2016 Short Story Anthology Open for Submissions

Happy Tuesday! Yes, I know I missed my post yesterday. Funny thing about life, eh? You can't plan for everything. *grin* Anywhoooooo, that's not important! Stay with me here. Today, we're talking about a great opportunity for all you writers out there.

Ever wanted to be part of an anthology?

How about a revolution themed one?

Well, now's your chance! Here are the details:

REVOLUTION

1. a forcible change of a government or social order, in favor of a new system. synonyms: rebellion, uprising.

London-based ebook and paperback publisher, Little Bird Publishing House, has partnered with #UTOPiA2016 on a short story anthology contest, with proceeds benefiting Help Build A Library in South Africa, an organization that donates young adult books to schools and supports mentorships for aspiring young writers.

The upper young adult/new adult, revolution-themed anthology contest launched today. Writers can submit the first 1,000 words (of their up to 11,000-word short story). The submission window is open until Friday, December 11, 2015. The public votes on their favorites until mid-January, and the eight submissions with the most votes will be announced the winners on January 22, 2016, and will be included in the anthology titled #FightForYourWrite, as well as receive their own complimentary copy of it. One grand prize winner receives complimentary Titanium-level admission to #UTOPiA2016, and has the opportunity to get a future work published by LBPH.

More details can be found on the UTOPiAcon website here.

What are you waiting for? Get to writing!

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

Jo

New Release - Chasing Destiny

HOLY WOW! Happy Friday, everyone! *squeals* Today is the release day for Chasing Destiny! You just have to read on to see why I'm so excited. No, I'm gonna start you out with a teaser that'll have you drooling! In this post, you'll find the book trailer, Facebook event information and links, Tia Silverthorne Bach's bio, and information about the BIG release giveaways she has going. Don't leave until you've seen it all! Ready? Grab a cup of Jo, get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!

How about that? *grins* Now, let's get on to the:

An ancient prophecy set forth her ultimate destiny:

Destroy the lawless ones or Hell’s gate will burst open.

So much has changed since Reagan shifted for the first time. She found the grandfather and brother she thought were dead, reunited with her grandmother and aunt, met a twin sister for the first time, discovered a powerful magic pulsing through their family’s veins, fell in love, and became part of a pack.

Evil also came into Reagan’s life in the form of Rafe, a madman who commands a demon-werewolf army. He’ll stop at nothing to destroy everything good.

Destiny may have determined Reagan’s fate, but she refuses to allow it to define her path. To save the world, she must:

Gather powerful allies.

Call forth a team of angels.

Form an unholy alliance.

Discover an angel sword.

Survive devastating losses.

Along the way, Reagan will discover that strength comes from faith, from believing in the unbelievable, and a new battle cry emerges…

With Faith, We Fight

You simply MUST check out the trailer! SO GOOD!

About that 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Join the Facebook Release Party Here <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Starts at 1pm EST Today!

Books in the Tala Prophecy series: 

Chasing Memories (Book 1) FREE on Kindle 

Chasing Shadows (Book 2) On Sale for $0.99 (regularly $2.99) 

Chasing Forgiveness (Companion Novella) On Sale for $0.99 (regularly $1.99)

Chasing Destiny (Book 3) Available now for $2.99!

About Ms. Tia Silverthorne Bach:

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. 

Give her a follow (you know you want to)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Wattpad 

OR

Sign up for her Author newsletter

Fractured Glass: A Novel Anthology

Depression Cookies (Women's Fiction)

Seven (a novel from the award winning authors of Fractured Glass)

Chasing Eternity - the final installment of the Tala Prophecy series

To celebrate the release of Chasing Destiny, Tia is running 12 Days of Giveaways. Check out the post here, and enter to win daily!

I hope you all LOVE it! Cover was designed by yours truly *grin*

Go get it. Right now. You won't be sorry.

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

Jo

Goodreads Giveaways!

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today, I'm sharing a couple of awesome Goodreads giveaways you simply MUST enter, and the Facebook Release parties that go along with them.

First up, Chasing Destiny!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing Destiny

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Giveaway ends November 30, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Join the release party on Facebook here! Happens tomorrow!

Next, 7.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

7

by Casey L. Bond

Giveaway ends January 10, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

We, also, have a release party going on Facebook *grin* Join up here! This party doesn't happen until January 7, 2016, but get in while it's HOT!

Did you enter? Are you going? I'll see you there!!

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

Jo

Writing, Thinking About Writing, and Why Both Matter - A NaNo PSA

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Well, we're in the throes of NaNoWriMo, and I figured you could all use a little pep-talk today. If you're keeping up with the daily word count of 1,667, you should be at 18,337 words by the end of the day.

But what if you're not?

Well, I'm here to tell you that it's going to be okay. What you don't hit today, you can make up for tomorrow. Just don't let it go untended for too long (like, say... December 1), because it'll become impossible to catch up.

Let's look at it this way:
1,667 words per day to hit 50k
BUT
If you're a writer who typically hits 3-4k in a day, you'll only have to do 2,381 every weekday in November.
OR
You can write every other day, and set a goal of 3,334 words to hit that 50k.
AND
If you miss three days, your daily word count goal only goes up to 1,852.

So don't stress if you miss a day or two. It's not going to be the end of the world.

But what about that second part: Thinking About Writing?

When you're not writing, you should be creating your novel in your head, ironing out the kinks, and doing research. Basically, if you're not banging on the keys, you should be spending time with your characters and plot. Get to know them. If you figure out what makes your characters tick, you'll have an easier time creating words that help your readers connect.

Even though I'm not participating in NaNo this year, I'm still writing (as we all are). I still have a deadline I have to meet. So, I'm using the quiet time around the web (because it's rather dead out there this time of year) to do just that.

Yesterday, I took a much needed break to have coffee with other authors, and I ended up working out some of the issues I was having in my MS by talking out my thoughts. It was a 3k word day after that.

Why is thinking about writing important? Because it helps you solidify where your story is going and how your characters are going to get there. This makes anything easier to write.

What's been your biggest NaNoWriMo challenge this year?

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

Jo

Moon Crossed Season One Omnibus Giveaway

Happy Tuesday! I have an awesome announcement for you all today. Back in April of this year, I wrote a review for Moon Crossed - Crescent Hunter - Episode One by Bella Roccaforte. I gave it 4.5 rocking stars. You can read the review here. But that's not the point of this post.

Nope.

Not even close.

Today, I'm sharing with you all a giveaway from INDIE Books Gone Wild for a chance to win the complete first season of the Crescent Hunter series. So, without further ado, I give you the details:

Title: Moon Crossed - Crescent Hunter - The Complete First Season
Author: Bella Roccaforte
Genre: Upper Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Length (print): 570 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $3.99

Blurb:
★★★★★ 6 Incredible stars!!! This werewolf hunter series has it all! Wolves, magic, dark twists, humor, love, hate.... This story is a crazy roller coaster with all the twists and turns to keep you hanging on until the end." K. Solomon

"For Though we dwell in the same darkness our song will forever be a discordant symphony, barely perceived."
The first six books in the Crescent Hunter Series!

Claire O'Conlan is a hunter, her kind were created to protect humans from feral werewolves. She's desperate to find a cure for the moon-touch. Until she does, the hunt won't stop.

Despite being raised among supernatural creatures, Claire is determined to make college as normal as possible. But childhood habits die hard. She can't seem to stay away from the wolf-borne, and worse, she's falling in love with Cole Jackson, the big bad wolf.

Claire can't resist the undeniable fire Cole ignites within her. They are falling headlong into a forbidden love affair. Hunter and wolf, a dangerous combination inciting war between factions, action from the council and the biggest risk of all, Claire fulfilling her duty and being the hunter that kills Cole.

Will Claire find the cure? Or will their love end in tragedy?

UtopYA 2015 Nominee for:
Best Kiss
Best Serial Series

***This book contains some adult language and violence and is PG13***

Ready for that giveaway widget? Here ya go!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you think? Did you enter? How exciting is this?

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

Jo