Lullaby is an Amazon #1 Bestseller! YAY!
Click here to find it on Amazon!
Silent Night is NOW AVAILABLE!
Click here to buy it on Amazon!
I'm a little excited. Can you tell?

Friday, December 14, 2012

Book Release - The Stone Guardian


It’s amazing how with some people we just click, isn’t it?  That happened several months ago when I met a fellow author through Facebook.  She is one of the handful I have come to consider a friend.  She’s awesome really.   I’ve read her work and I wouldn’t lie to you.

Today is the release of her book, The Stone Guardian.  To celebrate the release, she’s hosting an “End of the World” book blast.  Yes, End of the World . . . because the Mayan’s say its coming and all . . . she has a twisted awesome sense of humor like that.  And if you read The Stone Guardian it will make more sense that she would term the book blast as such.  Seriously . . . go get it and read it.  Now.   Ok . . . after you’ve finished reading this post.

So . . . of course to go along with the release/book blast, there’s a GIVEAWAY!  Yay!  We all love winning things, right?  The prizes are a $50 Visa gift card and an e-copy of The Stone Guardian.  (you can enter at the end of the post)

Without further adieu . . . Here’s a little about my friend, Theresa McClinton, and The Stone Guardian (which you should immediately go get and read . . . seriously).

 

When myth becomes reality, reality becomes a nightmare.
 

Like any other teenager in America, Ashley just wants a normal life. But growing up in an orphanage for the insane is anything but normal. After endless therapy and increasing medication, her nightmares have only gotten worse.
 
Probably because they’re not nightmares.
 

When Ashley’s mysteriously abducted, she finds a reality even less normal than the orphanage. And she discovers something else—she’s no ordinary orphan. Faced with enemies thought to only exist in fairy tales, Ashley discovers she possesses a powerful Maya bloodline. She’s the daughter of an ancient Maya Guardian, whose duty is to protect the Stone of Muuk’ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. But first she must get it back from Sarian, a power-hungry demigod who slaughtered the last guardian—Ashley’s mother. Without the stone, all will be lost.
 
When she meets Arwan, a hot Belizean time bender, his delicious olive skin and dark eyes make her feel a little less alone. But his gentle whispers and reassuring touch might not be all they seem. How can she balance love and duty when it’s up to her to prevent the rising of the underworld? Especially when the guy she loves might be its crown prince…
 




To purchase, click on whichever link you need:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance e-Books


Theresa McClinton
 A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa started her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there.  After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and features articles to delve into the whimsical world of young adult paranormal romance.
 
Since then, Theresa has gotten married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family.  But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance.  Her greatest love is travel.  Having stepped foot on the soil of over a dozen countries, traveled to sixteen U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down.  But wherever life brings her, she will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

 
The Giveaway  



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Saturday, November 17, 2012

How Super is your Hero?



Ok, I’ll begin by saying - how awesome is my photo for this blog?  The moment I saw it, the wheels started turning.  Slow, curious, that’s-the-hottest-picture-I’ve-seen-since-Chris-Hemsworth wheels.  I couldn’t help it . . . there is just something about this photo that appeals to both my nerdy side and the swooning romantic that exist somewhere among the many facets of my inner female psyche. 

Best part . . . this is a photo of a guy I know, Darrell.  I batted my eyelashes and promised hoards of swooning women if he let me use it for my blog.  Oddly enough, he laughed.  I’m not so sure he believed me.  I swooned.  That’s one swooning woman anyway and since I have hoards of female characters rattling around in my mind, I think that would count as multiple swoons.  So there.  Oh . . . and I will be using Darrell later as an example, but first . . .
Back to the topic - Superheroes.

I admit, I’ve been on a superhero kick since Ironman came out.  Let's face it, Tony Stark/Ironman is a well written character.  But what does Tony have to do with his alter ego?  Well, what any man would really.  You see, the other day I came across an article (while hanging out waiting for an appointment) about men and superheroes.  According to Cosmo, the superhero a man tends to prefer says a lot about him.  I didn’t get to finish the article (yes, I contemplated asking the receptionist if I could take it with me, but I opted against it solely on the principle of being caught with a Cosmo in my possession), but it did spark a question or two.  I’ve never been one to scour the pages of Cosmo for advice on men – pretty sure Cosmo can’t help with the issues most of us have with men anyway – but I think they were on to something here. 

What can a guy’s preference for heroes tell us about him?

Let’s take Darrell, for example (yes, I will likely hear about this from Darrell later).  I happen to know for a fact that Superman is, indeed, Darrell’s favorite superhero.  So, what does that say about Darrell? 

Well . . . since Superman is the archetypical “nice guy” and a guy who  digs the Man of Steel usually has the same traits, it says that Darrell is most likely loyal, steadfast and inclined to believe that people are essentially good.  He’ll be there, ready to save the day if needed.  Oh . . . and he probably has a thing for women with a penchant for curiosity who love to write (I could be a Lois Lane, no problem).
So, while I may not need Darrell to save me from a burning building any time soon (although this is me – there’s no telling what I could get into and be in need of rescuing from) it does give me some insight into what makes him tick, maybe even tock. 

If he were more of a Batman kinda guy, I’d tend to think he would be a bit of a loner, prone to not letting people get too close to him and therefore only date superficial Barbie types who couldn’t hold a meaningful conversation if someone spoke for them. 
The Hulk?  Hmmm . . . maybe he lets his emotions get the better of him (or he’s just bi-polar . . . it could go either way).

My point is this.  If you want to delve a little deeper into the character you are writing – hero or not – try thinking about which superhero would be his (or her) alter ego.  Whom would he/she mimic if push came to shove?  (You could also turn the tables and use the super villain thought process on your antagonist)

I’d love to hear what superhero YOU would choose as your alter ego!  Or, you could just comment on Darrell’s photo.  After all . . . I did promise him swooning.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, November 9, 2012

Fall for fall - Autumn Harvest Blog Hop


Fall is my FAV season of the year.  For one . . . it means hot apple cider.  I loooove hot apple cider.  The real stuff, not the out of a can wannabe.  In addition to the delicious hot beverage, the leaves are changing, I get to wear my comfy, warm sweaters and scarves and there’s a chill in the air that screams “snuggle” weather. 

 

It doesn’t matter if you’re snuggling up with a cozy blanket, a good book, and a cup-o-joe or if you’re snuggling up with Joe himself.  Though, I’m sure most of us would prefer to combine all of the above, but we take what we can get, right?  So . . . for those of us who don’t have a “Joe” in our life . . . we are going to settle for the good book and whatever hunky Joe-hero we can get tangled up with in our minds.  (Which are sometimes the best kind.)

 

Some of my favorite Joe-heroes are the ones who make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside . . . like my sweaters and blankets.  But there are also those who keep it so hot you need to turn the thermostat down a few degrees.  I, for one, prefer the combination of the two.  It makes the chill in the air a little less noticeable.

 

What is your favorite thing about fall?  Comment below and be sure to leave your email addy so you can be contacted if you win.  What are the prizes you ask? 

 


We have THREE grand prizes.  You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

 

Those prizes are:

 

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains 10+ paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more
 
 
Here on my blog,
you can enter to win an ARC of Lullaby
 
(better get one now...there's an editor from a big name publisher reading it at the moment and I'll know next week if they are offering a contract...once that happens, I don't think they are going to let me dole it out freely - hey...I'm dreaming BIG!)
 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Something Wicked This Way...(After Dark Blog Hop)

Admit it . . . you love the bad boys.  At some point in a story, you’ve found yourself rooting for them.  There is just something about a steamy antagonist that is just oh-so-tempting.  (I can't help but think of Damon from Vampire Diaries)

And let’s face it.  You can’t have a story without one.  They drive the intensity; they propel the conflict all the way to climax.  If it weren’t for the villainous bad boys, the hero/heroine would lose their affect.  Not to mention, those bad boys are usually just, well, yummy.

And – if they are doing their jobs – they remind us of the darker parts of ourselves that perhaps we wish weren't really there, they make us secretly root for them or feel sorry for them – then they do something ungodly that reminds us why it really would just never work out, no matter how drop dead sexy they are.  The really great ones are those we can see as the protagonists of their own story, and perhaps –  if things had been a bit different –  they could have been the hero.

So . . . in honor of those oh-so-wicked bad boys, I'm doing a little giveaway. 


Leave a comment and tell me who your favorite bad boy is.  What character do you hate to love? 
(don't forget to leave your email addy so I can notify you if you win)
 
 
 
 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway






Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Winners - Alpha Male Blog Hop


...to all who participated in the Alpha Male blog hop.  It was GREAT fun & I loved reading what makes an Alpha so irresistable for you.
Thanks to Carrie Ann for hosting the hop!  To see the winners from the Grand Prize drawings...click here.

I have another hop coming your way later this evening.   Hope you'll join me for the "Wicked After Dark" blog hop. 

Without further adeu...

Winners - Alpha Male blog hop

 $15 Amazon and/or B & N gift card – Misha K.

eBook ARC of Lullaby – Sebrina C.

I'll be emailing you guys shortly!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Helllooo Alpha Male!











I was trying to decide what to say about Alphas and all I could think about was Thor.  Specifically, Chris Hemsworth as Thor. 

Let’s face it, as readers we are drawn to Alphas.  They are in control, but not controlling.  They are sexy, without being so full of themselves we’d kick them out of bed for eating crackers.  In otherwords . . . Thor.  Ok, ok.  I’m letting Thor go (for now anyway).

Ultimately, an Alpha is the ideal combination of “nice guy” and “jerk.”  I know, I know . . . right now some of you are thinking “I sooo do not want any element of “jerk” in my Alpha.” 

To that I say – Really? 

Every woman (who is honest about it) will admit that she doesn’t want a guy who is a pushover.  The same goes for our Alphas – fictional or not. 

I’d have to say, if I were to give my definition of an Alpha male, it would be a little something like this:

He’s a natural leader, doesn’t necessarily know all of the answers, but he’s wicked smart and exudes confidence.  He’s a problem solver, can figure his way out of a tight spot. He tends to not be outwardly emotional, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care deeply.  Just means he isn’t going to sit around eating from the carton of Ben & Jerry’s talking about his feelings.  He can sometimes come across as abrupt and insensitive, but that’s simply because he’s on a mission and goal oriented and that can be taken the wrong way.  Physically, he’s a force to be reckoned with.  Imposing, strong, athletically fit, tall and in general all around hotter and sexier than the average guy.  (Did I mention Thor?)
 
How about you?  What THREE characteristics do you think are imperative to have in an Alpha male?
Comment with your thoughts (and your email if you want to be considered for the awesome giveaways! - check out the prizes and swag pack up for grabs below)
Plus...click here  http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com to check out over 200 other Alpha Male related blogs on the hop (they have prizes too)
 
 





a Rafflecopter giveaway

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!
 
 

Thursday, October 18, 2012

ALPHA soup - take a bite

What is your favorite thing about Alpha Heroes?
 
Well, myself and a few (ok...over 200) authors are ready to share our favorite Alpha Males with you, our favorite things about them, and everything sexy and heated about those Alpha Males you can think of. ::wink wink::
Starting tomorrow (Friday the 19th) and ending on  Monday, Oct. 22nd, over 200 Authors and Bloggers will share their favorite things about those irresistable men we know and love.

And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways (one on each blog) hosted by that Author or Blogger.

But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!
 
 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Cover Reveal Giveaway

TaDa!!!

For those who haven’t heard me go on and on over on Facebook . . . and Twitter . . . and my Facebook Author page, ok, you get my point.  I’ve gone on and on.  But for those who haven’t heard it yet, Lullaby is currently in the running for the SoYou Think You Can Write competition being sponsored by Mills & Boon and Harlequin. 

Yes, I’m psyched and a little nervous.  Would be even more psyched if you all would go and (shameless plug) VOTE FOR ME!?!? (Keep in mind, you can vote every day until Oct. 12)

Since everything seems to be buzzin’ this week, I thought it would be a great time to reveal the book cover for Lullaby.  It is sooo close to being ready to publish.  I am uber excited about how bright the light at the end of the tunnel is getting.  BUT, you haven’t seen the COVER yet!  We need to do something about that, and we will.  TOMORROW @ 7 pm EST.

In honor of the Cover Reveal, I’m having a Giveaway.  Why?  Because I love giveaways.  Who doesn’t? 
  • $10 Amazon or B & N gift card (that could easily buy you 10 awesome eBooks)
  • 3 ARCs of Lullaby (just as soon as they are ready to go . . . which should be soon)

I’m not going to give away points for voting for me . . . I would prefer you do that just because you like Chapter 1 of Lullaby (or because you kinda like me, or maybe you just feel sorry for me . . . I’m not picky, I’ll take votes for whatever reason you want to give them).

So . . . enter the giveaway below.  Share with your friends. And I’ll see you back here tomorrow.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Why Chasing My Dream is Possible


I grew up in a military town.  Later, I was married to it for four years. I have seen how hard it is on families of those who have to leave for extended periods of time . . . sometimes without a guarantee that their loved one will even come home.

These men and women give their lives so that we have the option of chasing our dreams.  My dream is writing and I know that if I lived in a different country, I may not have the freedom to do what I love doing so much . . . at least not publicly pursuing it.

Today I’d like to take the opportunity to remember. 

Prisoner of War. Missing in Action. Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered.

Those are the categories assigned to those who never made it home from war, but they are so much more than just a status, more than just names carved in black granite on a wall in Washington. They are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, and friends.

And they all have their own stories to tell. 

In honor of those untold stories, I am holding a contest.  I’ll be giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (winner’s choice) and an ARC of my upcoming novel Lullaby when it’s available.

Also for every new follower the blog (join to the right) and my Twitter account receives from this post and every new “Like” on on my Facebook Author page, I’ll donate $0.50 to the POW Network. So by all means, share this post, the more sharing, the higher the donation.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Feel free to leave comments about your favorite service members, past and present, what dreams you have that are possible because of these men and women.  (Comments aren’t limited to these topics of course . . . feel free to comment however you like)

Then check out the other blogs remembering our POWs and MIAs the next few days.


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Week 12: The Next Big Thing


The Next Big Thing . . . we all like to think we will be.  I suppose there can only be so many Twilight’s in a lifetime, but you never know . . . right?

We are blog hopping our way through some new reads.  For those who aren’t familiar with a blog hop . . . to me it’s kind of like a treasure hunt – once you find something on one blog you hop on over to the next blog link for more treasure.  In this case, the treasure is a wealth of new and exciting books.  Some are still being written, some are just being released.  Either way, for fiction lovers . . . it’s a treasure and I’d like to thank Lisa Vandiver for tagging me to participate.

In this particular hop I answer 10 questions . . . you get to learn about my current WIP (work in progress), some of the characters I’ve come to think of as real, and how I got to the point of being nuts enough to write down over 70 thousand words worth of what the voices in my head have been whispering to me.  When it’s all said & done . . . comments and questions are always welcome. 

Q & A
 
What is the working title of your book?  Lullaby, it’s Book 1 in my Book of Dreams Trilogy.  Books 2 & 3 are: DreamWalkers and Awakening.

 
Where did the idea come from for the book? I know it sounds a little familiar, but I had this crazy dream.  Off and on for years I’ve written dreams down so I’d remember them, but this one was different.  I didn’t write it down . . . at least, not right away.  It was persistent.  It kept replaying in my mind all day through work.  When I got home, it was still looping over & over.  It demanded to be written down.  Finally, after doing the typical mom stuff, I sat down to write.  Literally write, not type.  When I stopped (notice I don’t say finished) I had over ten handwritten pages.  It was my “here’s your sign” moment.  After writing in some way for years, it was time to listen to the voices and REALLY write.
 
What genre does your book fall under?  This is tough.  I’ve had Beta Readers from the ages of 14 through 55 and they all keep wanting the next chapters before I’m done writing.  My story covers a lot of territory.  Let’s try this: it’s a supernatural edge-of-your-seat, what’s gonna happen next story with a decent dash of romance, a good bit of action and enough mystery to make you want to keep reading. (I hope)


Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  WOW . . . that’s a tricky question and I won’t lie, I’ve thought of it many times.  Truth is, this story plays like a movie in my head and I just write down what I see.  I’d say this:

Halle – (An ordinary, slightly mature for her age, 18 year old – on the outside – but far from ordinary . . . only she doesn’t know it yet) Possible actresses:  This is a hard one . . . maybe Grace Phipps.

Aedan – (Alpha male type Guardian all the way, has been all business for thousands of years, his hard shell of a heart was untouchable, until now) Possible actors:  Ian Somerhalder or Tyler Hoechlin.

Jenna – (Halle’s BFF since 7th grade, a bit of a wild child exterior with a knack for talking Halle into things) Possible actresses:  Chloe Moretz, Juno Temple or AnnaSophia Robb.

Matt – (Poster boy-next-door type, loyal friend, closest thing to a brother Halle’s ever had) Possible actors: Honestly . . . I imagine my oldest son in this role, Patrick Curren O’Grady.  He’s a pretty darned good actor.  You never know.

 
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  I came up with two but this one won out:

Halle Michaels feels like she’s on the brink of insanity, but balancing on the edge between insanity and reality is the one place where she will uncover more than any sane mind would ever imagine - about herself, her family, and her entire existence.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?  I intend to shop for an agent and see how that goes first, but I’m inpatient and will likely self pub while I’m shopping. After all, if I have readers already, doesn’t that make my story a stronger sell?


How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  It will have taken me just over 2 years when I’m done (within a few months), but I took about 10 months off in the middle of writing for personal / family reasons and I spent a few months on research.


What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  I honestly don’t know.  I have avoided reading books within the paranormal and supernatural genres while I have been writing.  I didn’t want any other storylines mixing in my mind and intertwining with mine.  I will say this . . . if you love paranormal/supernatural romances - I think you'll LOVE this series.


Who or What inspired you to write this book?   Hmmmm . . . I suppose my inspiration ultimately came from God since this spouted from a dream that didn’t want to leave me be.  Since then, inspiration to go on has come from my Beta Readers.  If they hadn’t loved it so much . . . I probably would have moved on to another story.


What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

 

~Halle~
For as long as I can remember, the voices have haunted me.  They used to be faint and encouraging . . . recently, not so much.  And my dreams . . . don't even get me started on the dreams.  It seems that my reality isn’t so realistic anymore.  The question is, am I going mad or is someone – or something – trying to get my attention?

 

~Aedan~
I am a Guardian and a Warrior of the Highest Realm . . . sworn to protect.  I allow nothing to interfere with duty.  Guarding Halle Michaels will be no exception.  Many of my kind would say that you have to feel in order to effectively protect.  I disagree.  Emotions are for the weak and I refuse to ever be weak again.

 

Normal is overrated.

Halle Michaels is on the brink of insanity, at least that what she thinks.  Each dream she awakens from is one step closer to the last ounce of normalcy she knows slowly seeping from her life.  But the edge of reality is the one place where she will uncover more than any sane mind would ever imagine - about herself, her family, and her entire existence.  Her world becomes a journey through discoveries and deceit, her past and a future no typical mortal could face, forbidden romance and the true meaning of selfless love.  Just when she thinks her sanity is lost - along with any hope of a normal life - she discovers she was never meant to be normal.

She was born to be so much more.

 

List of my tagged blog hop buds for next week.  Check out their blogs next Wednesday to read about their WIPs and New Releases:





Krissy Clowe