Sunday, December 8, 2013

The Second Annual Spencer Hill Press Holiday Cheer Giveaway - Happening Now!


It's back -  THE SPENCER HILL PRESS HOLIDAY CHEER AWAY HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!!!!!


The giveaway runs from Dec. 8th to Dec. 21st. 

We have books and books and even more books this year, along with gift cards, jewelry, and just awesome stuff.

Here is a list of the awesomeness up for grabs. Please note the pics don't show all of the prizes.




Grand Prize:
Keshia Swaim: BLOOD BOUND
JK Rock:  CAMP BOYFRIEND and Swag
JL Spelbring: PERFECTION and Swag
Kelly Hashway: STALKED BY DEATH and Swag
DK Mok: THE OTHER TREE Swag
Trisha Woolridge: THE KELPIE
Darby Karchut: FINN FINNEGAN
Jennifer Allis Provost: COPPER GIRL
Sarah Guillory: RECLAIMED
Rhys A Jones: THE OBSIDIAN PEBBLE
Michelle Pickett: PODS
Megan Whitmer: Writer Care Package
SHP Family: $25.00 Gift Card
Rich “Platinum” Storrs-SHP Editor: Query and 1st ten pages critique
Stocking full of candy













2nd Place:
Aubrie Dionne:  Paper Machete Box
JK Rock:  CAMP BOYFRIEND and Swag
JL Spelbring: PERFECTION and Swag
DK Mok: THE OTHER TREE Swag
Trisha Woolridge: DOORWAYS TO EXTRA TIME
Darby Karchut: FINN FINNEGAN
Michelle Pickett: MILAYNA notebook and pen
Brenda St John Brown: 2 Chapter Critique
Rhys A Jones: $5.00 Amazon Gift Card
SHP Family: $10.00 Gift Card
Stocking full of candy














3rd Place:
JK Rock:  CAMP BOYFRIEND and Swag
JL Spelbring: PERFECTION and Swag
DK Mok: THE OTHER TREE Swag
Darby Karchut: FINN FINNEGAN
Michelle Pickett: PODs necklace
Brenda St John Brown: $10.00 Amazon Gift Card
Kimberly Miller: Query Critique
Stocking full of candy













So, what do we need from you....

Absolutely nothing. You can do nothing and still enter. 

Well, you have to click. But other than that, there is nothing you have to do.

That being said, we would love if you would checkout our websites and follow us on twitter and facebook. Not much to do there, just more clicks. 

So click your brains out and enter to win.  

If you like, leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you!!

Have an awesome and safe HOLIDAY SEASON!!!!





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Cover Reveal - THE BOOK OF KINDLY DEATHS by Eldritch Black

THE BOOK OF KINDLY DEATHS
By Eldritch Black
 
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE MONSTERS IN A BOOK BECAME REAL? 
 
When twelve-year old Eliza Winter finds a secret room in her missing grandfather’s sprawling, Gothic house, her safe, sheltered life is blown apart. Inside, below a stained glass window where moonlight shines no matter the time of day, sits The Book of Kindly Deaths. 
 
In defiance of her controlling mother, who has always forbidden her to read anything strange or imaginary, Eliza takes the book. As night sets in, Eliza reads one haunting story after another. And the further she journeys inside the book, the more the boundaries between our world and a shadowy land of monsters and forbidden places begin to blur.
 
When the strange, crooked man from the book arrives on the doorstep claiming to be a rare book collector and demanding entry into the house, Eliza’s world is turned upside down. To escape him she must dive all the way into the spine-tingling world of The Book of Kindly Deaths to save her grandfather—and write an end to the nightmare she's caught inside. 
 
 
Title: The Book of Kindly Deaths
Author: Eldritch Black
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press Middle Grade
ISBN:  978-1939392954
ISBN Ebook: 978-1-939392-96-1
Release Date: 6/10/2014
Formats: Paper, e-book


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Cover Reveal - COPPER RAVENS

I think I've teased ya'll enough. Without further ado, here's the cover for the sequel to Copper Girl, Copper Ravens.





Sara should be happy.
She has what every girl wants: a man who loves her, a beautiful home, and wealth beyond imagining. She rescued her brother from the Peacekeepers, destroyed the Iron Queen, and doesn’t have to go to her boring job any more.
And yet… Sara still doesn’t know if her father is alive or dead. Her mother hides in the garden, brooding about her missing husband. Her sister, the Inheritor of Metal, is scared of her own shadow, and her brother spends his days fighting and gambling. To add to Sara’s misery, the new queen (gold, of course) is more than a bit crazy, she misses her life in the Mundane world, and, worst of all, Micah wants to have children. A lot of them.
As Sara wavers between happiness and homesickness, a conspiracy emerges against the Raven clan, implicating them in a plot to dethrone the Gold Queen. How can Sara prove her family’s innocence, and become the consort Micah needs her to be, without losing herself in the process? 


Remember, the Kindle edition of Copper Girl is only $2.99 for the month of November. Check it out here.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Where In The World Can You Find Me - And A Teaser!

Hi all!


Last weekend, I attended what is rapidly becoming the best convention in the Northeast: Anthocon, in Portsmouth, NH. I read from Copper Girl, spoke copiously about Copper ravens and my WIP, Gallowglass, and had more fun than such mere mortals should be allowed.

Saturday, 11/16 will find me at Books and Boos in Colchester, CT, talking about dark faeries. You didn't think they were all like Tinkerbell, did you? Learn more here: http://www.booksandboos.com/events-calendar.html

Remember that Copper Ravens cover teaser? Well, here's another, just to whet your appetites:

Could those be Sara's hands? Or maybe Juliana's, aghast at what she's done?



Yes, I'm evil. Keep your eyes peeled for the full reveal on November 20!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Cover Teaser - COPPER RAVENS

Here's the news - COPPER RAVENS, the sequel to COPPER GIRL and second in THE COPPER LEGACY, is scheduled to release in May 2014. The full cover reveal (yes, it's another awesome Lisa Amowitz cover) will happen soon. If you'd like to participate, fill out this form.

In the meantime, how about a teaser? Here ya go:


Hey, I said it would be a teaser! However, that just might be a raven's wing in the corner...

Don't forget, for the month of November COPPER GIRL is on sale at Amazon for $2.99!

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Trailer blitz - TOUCH OF DEATH



FACE OF DEATH

The third and final book in the TOUCH OF DEATH series.

By Kelly Hashway

Having fallen at the hands of Hades, Jodi's enduring torture like she never imagined. Worse, she has to watch her Ophi friends suffer along with her--the punishment doled out by the very people she'd sentenced to life in Tartarus. Hell. This is one reunion Jodi hoped would never happen, but now she must find a way to free them all. Except the underworld is nearly impossible to escape. Jodi's one chance may rest in raising the human soul she killed when she drank Medusa's blood. But splitting her human soul from her Ophi soul means living a double life: One as an Ophi experiencing unspeakable torture and the other as the human she could have been if she never came into her powers. With her two worlds colliding, Jodi will have to make the toughest decision she's faced yet.

Title: Face of Death (Touch of Death #3)
Author: Kelly Hashway
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
 ISBN: 978-1-937053-92-5
Release Date: 1/7/2014

STALKED BY DEATH (Touch of Death #2) - Available now!

Jodi knows that any slip-ups made by the Ophi--a special group of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac--will fall on her shoulders... and that Hades is just waiting for them to screw up so he can wipe out the Ophi line. Unfortunately, Jodi has only convinced one Ophi to join her school: A hot guy named Chase who jeopardizes her relationship with Alex. Jodi loves Alex, but Chase can enhance her powers with just a touch--making her stronger than any Ophi has ever been. Her mixed emotions send her powers surging out of control, and the dead start rising without her conscious summoning--exactly what Hades doesn't want! If she chooses Alex over Chase, she may lose the battle to Hades, leading the Ophi race to extinction. If she chooses Chase, she might be able to stop Hades for good but lose everything else. Jodi needs to figure things out fast--because death is stalking her at every turn.

TOUCH OF DEATH - Available now!

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know. After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins. Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Cover Reveal - THE LAST CHILD OF HAMELIN by Ray Ballantyne

         Sixty years have passed, and the people of Hamelin have yet
to heal from the loss of their children to the Pied Piper. Pieter has
grown up in a town without joy, without hope, without music. Yet his
heart is full of songs and tunes he cannot express.

          He often escapes to the side of Koppelberg Mountain, the
very spot where the children disappeared, and there he can hear what
he thinks no one else can—the notes of the Piper’s song still floating
on the air. But there is another who hears: Old Simon, who as a boy,
was left behind.

          Pieter’s musical gift creates a connection with the piper of
legend, but will Pieter be able to control the magic of his music or
will it control him, as it did the Pied Piper?

Title: The Last Child of Hamelin
Author: Ray Ballantyne
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.spencerhillpress.com)
ISBN: 978-1-937053-55-0
Release Date:  August 2014
Formats: Paperback, e-book

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Cover Reveal - THE ZODIAC COLLECTOR by Laura Diamond

For almost-16 year-old Anne Devans, the annual Renaissance Faire means
three things—her dad spending weeks in the smithy, her bipolar mom
doing some manic costume making, and another ruined birthday for her
and her twin sister, Mary.

This year, Anne wants things to be different, and she's going to do
things her way.

On the eve of the Faire, Anne (along with a reluctant Mary) conjures
up a spell that will make their 16th birthday party a whirlwind event.
Little do they know that it's a literal request.

After the mini tornado in their room subsides, the girls realize
they've invoked the power of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux.
That's the good news. The bad news is they also caught the attention
of a sorceress named Zeena who has been collecting children born under
each Zodiac Sign to enhance her power. Once she captures Anne and
Mary, Gemini twins, the entire Zodiac—and the world—will be hers.

Anne leads the fight against Zeena, but her one-sided decisions could
throw them into a world so far from home, even the Renaissance Faire
would seem like a brilliant vacation. Between managing their new
Zodiac powers, dodging their manic mother and trying to stop Zeena,
they'll get a 16th birthday they'll never forget.

Title: The Zodiac Collector
Author: Laura Diamond
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.spencerhillpress.com) Please feel
free to use any images, text. Links, etc. from our website.
ISBN: 978-1-937053-63-5
Release Date:  May 2014
Formats: Paperback, e-book

If you’d like to request an ARC, please use the reviewer form on our
website (http://www.spencerhillpress.com/reviewers.html). ARC’s will
ship in or around March 2014.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Cover Reveal: VISION by Lisa Amowitz

Ya'll know about Lisa Amowitz, author of Breaking Glass? Well, she has a new book, Vision, releasing in May 2014! Here's the blurb:
The light is darker than you think…
When seventeen-year-old Bobby Pendell begins to have blinding migraines followed by frightening hallucinations, he fears there’s something wrong with him. Then murder rocks his sleepy town and the visions that put him on trail of a killer—also make him the prime suspect.


And now, the cover:





Lisa's media kit where you can find bio and link information: http://lisa-amowitzya.blogspot.com/p/media-kit.html

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Giveaway Winner, and a *Free* Short Story!

I bet your all just itching to know who won the Copper Girl shirt! Well, after writing everyone's name down, sticking them into a Tupperware bowl, and having my twins yank one out... The winner is LISA AMOWITZ! Fitting, since she designed the cover :)

I'm also happy to announce that the short story A Raven in Queen Maeve's Court is up and available for download here. It tells us how Sara's parents, Maeve and Beau, met. We even learn why Maeve gave Beau his nickname.

Go check it out, and be sure to tell me what you thought. Happy reading!


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Teaser Tuesday - GALLOWGLASS

Today's teaser is rom my WIP, Gallowglass. Our heroine, Karina Stewart, is about to unleash something from the Otherworld. Read on...


“I can’t believe you’re dragging me to another old rock.”

I shot my older brother a glare; I was really starting to regret offering to bring him along on this trip. “It’s not an old rock. It’s a church. A kirk.” I would have said more, but I needed to concentrate. This driving on the wrong side of the road business was for the birds.

“Kirk,” he repeated, rolling the word around in his mouth. “And, what are ‘kirks’ made of?”

I scowled at him, almost went into a ditch, and jerked the car back onto the road. “Chris, do you have to be such a jerk all the time?”

“Rina, do you have to be such a bad driver?”

“Stop drinking all that complimentary Scotch, and you can do the driving.”

“When in Rome.”

He had a point there. Nearly every place we’d visited in Scotland either had few samples of the local whisky laid out for us, or a proprietor with a handy flask. Add this to all the pubs we’d visited in Britain, and my liver was starting to ache.

“Besides,” Chris continued, “if I was driving, you wouldn’t get to drag me to every known fairy sighting.”

“You liked Stirling.” My brother is a literature professor, with a doctorate in Shakespeare. He’d wandered the halls of the old castle, randomly quoting the Scottish play. Beyond Lady Macbeth’s demons, his feet were firmly grounded in reality. By contrast, I’d always been fascinated by stories about magic and fairies. I’d jumped at the chance to do some of my geology grad work in the UK, so I could tour the locations I’d read and imagined about since childhood.

“At least real people lived there,” he smirked as we pulled into the car park. “What kind of ghosts are in this kirk again?”

“No ghosts.” I pulled up the emergency brake, and jammed my water bottle into my daypack. “There was a reverend here in the seventeenth century who communed with fairies and elves.” Chris gave me a look over the roof of the car, raising a single eyebrow. That had always irritated me, since I’d never been able to do that. “He wrote a book telling everyone their secrets, and the fairies imprisoned him in a tree.”

“Anyone can write a book,” Chris grumbled. “I’ve written several.”

I bit my lip; Chris had just enough midgrade liquor in him to be itching for a fight, and anything I said about his crumbling career would just add fuel to the fire. After a few moments of silence, Chris wandered over to the Plexiglas encased signage, carefully positioned to catch a tourist's eye.

“Did you get a pamphlet about this place?” he called over his shoulder.

“Yeah.” I rooted around in my daypack, and pulled out the wad of information supplied by Spiritual Sites of the UK, the tour group I’d contacted. I was so glad I’d opted for the cheaper, self-guided package. I’d hate for any hapless tour guide to be saddled with by brother’s foul attitude for six days, seven nights.

I pulled out a slightly rumpled pamphlet and handed it over. Chris opened it, scanning the paragraph’s with an English professor’s ease. “This guy wasn’t taken by fairies!” Chris said. “He had a stroke while he was walking around the hill.”

“You know where the term stroke comes from?” Without waiting for his smart-ass reply, I continued, “It was thought that a fairy had stroked your cheek. That’s why only one side was paralyzed.”

“Thank god for modern medicine,” Chris muttered. We reached the remains of the kirk, and headed toward the graveyard. Chris might think I was a loon, but he admitted that gravestones were cool. “Look, he’s buried right here. Case closed.”

I walked over to where Chris was standing, and read the inscription. After a suitable moment of silence, I mentioned that we should climb the fairy hill.

“We’re here, so we might as well,” I said when he whined. “Besides, the walk will burn off some of that booze.” He grumbled, but followed anyway.

The tree at the top of the fairy hill was, in a word, magnificent. It was old and stately, like a Scottish version of Yggsdrasil, and prayers, printed on colored bits of cloth, were tied to the branches. More offerings surrounded the roots, and shiny coins were pounded into the bark.

“Some walk,” I grumbled, digging in my pack for my water bottle. The water was warm, but it was better than nothing.

“So, he’s in here, huh?” Chris leaned close to the trunk, and picked at a coin. “Why hasn’t anyone tried to chop it down, set the poor guy loose?”

I shrugged. “To keep from angering the fairies?”

Chris barked a derisive laugh. “Yeah. Or, they don’t want to kill this golden goose of a tourist trap.” I glanced around; Disneyland, this was not. “This stuff is all so lame, Rina. I don’t know what you see in all these bedtime stories.”

I fingered one of the cloth prayers. “They remind us of where we came from, where we’re going. They’re comforting.”

Another bark. I think Chris had had more whisky than he’d let on. “Comforting? That’s your explanation for this crap—that it’s comforting?”

“Of course,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. The booze would wear off soon enough. I hoped. “Why would people keep doing all of this-” I gestured at the tree, all of the flapping bits of cloth prayers and offerings “-if no one ever got anything out of it?”

Chris looked from me to the tree. “If all this goddamn magic shit is real, why is my life over?” he ground out. “You think I didn’t pray for an answer? A solution? You know what I got? Nothing. Because there’s nothing to get.”

He turned and stalked down the hill, over toward where we’d left the car. I watched him until he disappeared around a curve, then I turned back to the tree.

“Don’t worry,” I said, patting the rough bark. “I believe in you, Reverend Kirk. I know what really happened. And, I’d rescue you if I could.”

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Booktrader of Hamilton - A Most Excellent Bookstore

Here's a recap of my most excellent day spent at at Booktrader of Hamilton!
 
The first order of business was to collect my traveling companion, the lovely and talented Amy, in Queens. That leg of the journey went off without a hitch… until I went the wrong way on the BQE. Oops. Luckily, I had my trusty GPS with me, and after traveling in ever-shrinking concentric circles, I arrived at Amy's relatively unscathed.
 
Not wanting to tempt fate twice, Amy drove us out of Queens.
 
As soon as we arrived at Booktrader, I knew this event was going to be a success. First of all, there's a mermaid on their sign. Is that a good omen or what? And I finally got to meet Joan, proprietress of Booktrader, although there was evidence that we'd met at BEA. We had both been so overwhelmed, we'd forgotten! I also met Jen, who works at Booktrader and was a deciding factor in making my day awesome.
 
What a turnout we had! I read from Copper Girl, and then we had sort of a Q&A period. It gradually evolved into a discussion of trends in books, what authors we love to read, and the age old question: are any movies better than the book? And, I just might have dropped a few hints about the rest of the series :)
 
Pictures from the event are below. I can't wait to go back once Copper Ravens is out!
 
 
Me and D'vora



Was I revealing spoilers? Maybe!


 
Me and Barb! She loves Scotland as much as I do.
 
 

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Events, A Giveaway, And New York Comic Con!

First things first: the giveaway for a COPPER GIRL shirt is still running! Click here for details.

New Jersey-area peeps, I'll be at Booktrader of Hamilton, NJ TOMORROW from 2-4. There will be cupcakes, brownies...oh, and books. I'll even sign some for you :) Check out Booktrader's website for directions: http://booktrader.weebly.com/index.html

Can't make it tomorrow? No worries, I have lots of things planned. I'll even be debuting a short story set in COPPER GIRL's world at a little event you might have heard of called New York Comic Con. Dates are listed below!

 September 21 at Annie's Book Stop of Worcester MA http://anniesbooksworcester.com/
(this is a multi-author event, more to come!)

September 28 from 12-2 at Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT http://banksquarebooks.com/

October 10-13 at NEW YORK COMIC CON http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/About-NYCC/NYCC-Fan-FAQs/
I'll be at Booth 1058. Come say hi!

November 9-10 at Anthocon, Portsmouth NH http://anthocon.com/


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Giveaway time!

Here's the prize: A COPPER GIRL shirt!


Here's the rules: Follow this blog, and you're entered! If you're already following, leave a comment and you're entered too!

Want an extra entry? Follow COPPER GIRL's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/copperraven

Already following? Again, just leave a comment, either here or on FB, and you're in!

The winner will be chosen September 20.

Thanks, and good luck!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Cover Reveal - THE MONSTER WITHIN by Kelly Hashway

 
THE MONSTER WITHIN
By Kelly Hashway
 
 The moment seventeen-year-old Samantha Thompson crawls out of her grave, her second chance at life begins. She died of cancer with her long-time boyfriend, Ethan, by her side--a completely unfair shot at life.
            But Ethan found a way to bring her back, like he promised he would. Only Sam came back wrong.
            She's now a monster that drains others' lives to survive. And after she kills, she’s tortured by visions—glimpses into her victims would-have-been futures had she not killed them. Barely able to live with herself and trying to make things right, Sam ends up a pawn in a vicious game of payback within the local coven of witches.
            But when the game reveals what Ethan had to do to save Sam, she must make a choice that will change all their lives forever.
 
 
Title: The Monster Within
Author: Kelly Hashway
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN:  978-1-937053-85-7
Release Date: 4/7/2014
Formats: Paper, e-book
 
If you'd like to request an ARC, please use the reviewer form

Saturday, August 3, 2013

LEVITATE by Kendra L. Saunders

Do I have a treat for you guys today...
 
Kendra L. Saunders - you know, the one who interviews fashion icons, and the author of INANIMATE OBJECTS and DEATH AND MR. RIGHT - has a new novella coming out. Without further ado, I bring you LEVITATE.
 
 
 
Elise Wilde journeys into the dangerous reality of futuristic city New Canterbury's upper echelon, pretending to be someone she's not in an attempt to steal a much needed medicine for her best friend. She is aided in her deceit by Anders St. Rhys, a mysterious man who drifts in and out of the city's most secret places.

When Elise encounters Jameson Yorke, though, her plan is thrown into chaos. Jameson offers Elise access to everything she's ever wanted, including the antidote her best friend needs... but Jameson is a member of the royal family.
 
And the royal family is famously, terrifyingly cruel...
 
 
LEVITATE is a dystopian novella by Kendra L. Saunders, written as a gift for her fans. This exciting story will be shared chapter by chapter, once a week. Kendra’s goal with Levitate is to thank her fans for their support by providing them a complex female protagonist, a female-friendship driven story, plenty of action, intrigue, mystery and one (or three?) sexy guys, on top of all that.
 
Read LEVITATE, comment on it, share it with friends on social media using the hashtag #Levitatenovella and check back soon for the next update!
 
 
Book notes:
Title: Levitate
Author: Kendra L. Saunders
Publication Date: 7/2013-
Suggested age range: 13 & up

Monday, July 29, 2013

Cover Reveal - GIDEON'S SPEAR by Darby Karchut

GIDEON'S SPEAR
The sequel to FINN FINNEGAN
By Darby Karchut
 
Gideon’s Spear
(The Adventures of Finn MacCullen #2)
 
For Finn MacCullen, it’s time to Irish up.
 
With a shout, Finn held the spear aloft. “Come along, ye manky beasties,” he yelled, throwing every bit of Gideon-ness he could into his voice. “I’ve a wee point to share with ye!” Gripping the end of the shaft in both hands, he swung it around and around over his head, creating a whistling sound. “Faugh a ballagh!”
“The Spear!” Goblin voices screeched in panic. “The Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan!”
“Yeah, you got that right!” Finn yelled back.
When a power-crazed sorceress and the neighborhood pack of beast-like goblins team up and threaten both his master and his friends, thirteen-year-old Finn (not Finnegan) MacCullen does the only thing an apprentice monster hunter can do: he takes the fight to the enemy.
And woe to the foe he meets along the way.
 
Without further ado, here it is:
 
 
 
Praise
for
Finn Finnegan
(Book One of The Adventures of Finn MacCullen)
 
“Overall, a great choice for adventure-loving readers who prefer their battle scenes with a hefty dose of ancient weaponry, ground-fighting skills, and just a touch of magic." --School Library Journal
 
"If Lloyd Alexander had written The Ranger's Apprentice, the result might have been something like Finn Finnegan. Fantastic!" --Mike Mullin, author of Ashfall and Ashen Winter
 
 
"Finn Finnegan brings classic adventure into a modern day setting for a great read.”
--Dee Garretson, author of Wildfire Run and Wolf Storm
 
Title: Gideon's Spear (The sequel to Finn Finnegan)
Author: Darby Karchut
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN:  978-1-937053-94-9
Release Date: 2/4/2014
Formats: Paper, e-book

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Spotlight: SONGSTONE by Lena Goldfinch

Today we're spotlighting SONGSTONE by Lena Goldfinch! First of all, let's check out a truly beautiful cover:
 
 
About the Book  
Kita can meld song into stone. In a world with no written word, storytelling—the ability to meld (or magically impress) song into stone—is greatly honored. The village honors her master as their medicine man, but Kita knows he's secretly a sorcerer who practices black magic using drops of her blood. She fears he’ll use her beautiful gift for a killing spell, so she conceals it from him. Each day, his magic tightens around her neck like a rope. His spells blind the villagers, so they can’t see him for what he really is.

Not that anyone would want to help her. She was found in the forest as a baby and would have died if a village girl hadn't brought her home. But the villagers saw Kita's unusual coloring and decided she belonged to the mysterious tribe who lives in the forests of the volcano, a people feared for their mystical powers. So they fear her too. Now seventeen, she can barely admit her deepest longing: to know who she really is and where she belongs.

Then Pono, a young journeyman, arrives from the other side of the island. He's come to fulfill a pact between their villages: to escort a storyteller back to his village—a storyteller who'll be chosen at the great assembly. Finally, in Pono, Kita sees her one slim chance at freedom and she'll risk her life to take it.

A dark, twisty tale of sorcery, tummy-tingling romance, and adventure, inspired by the folklore of New Zealand's Māori people.
About the Author
 

Lena lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. She writes fiction for young adults, mostly light fantasy with a healthy dose of "sigh-worthy" romance. You can visit her online at www.lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com.
Author’s Links
 
 
 
There's also a sweet summer giveaway in conjunction with the blog tour! The giveaway is open internationally, and one winner (randomly drawn) will receive:
 
·         A signed copy of Songstone (Paperback)
·         A sea glass necklace with turtle charm (Picture will be included on the blog tour home page and in the introduction post)
 
 
·         A $10 Dairy Queen gift card (U.S.) or a $10 Amazon.com gift card (international)
 
Click the following link to enter the giveaway: SONGSTONE giveaway
 
 
You can find Songstone on:
 
~ Amazon (Kindle)
~ Barnes & Noble (Nook)
~ Kobo
 
Thanks to @SeasonsHumility @lena_goldfinch for letting me share in the fun! SONGSTONE looks like it will be a great read!

Monday, July 22, 2013

Authors and Amazon: A Strange Relationship, Indeed


If any of you follow me on Facebook and Twitter, you probably saw some of these pictures late last week:

 


I just about died when Copper Girl hit #37

And then, lucky # 13!
 

We had a bit of excitement there, with Copper Girl heading all the way up to #13 in the Fantasy Romance category on Amazon. I, for one, couldn’t look away. I mean, author rankings are updated every hour. Every freaking hour! Not so long ago, authors had to wait weeks or even months for sales numbers. Yet here these ranking are, in almost real time.

Is it any wonder, then, that no matter how much someone detests the large book store chains, or Amazon in particular, authors are always drawn to them? Yes, we should all be supporting our local indie bookstore (I highly recommend The Spiral Bookcase – ask for Ann, she’ll take good care of you!), but Amazon has so many guilty pleasures: reviews, sales rankings, even a little map showing how our work is selling in each state. It’s an information-starved author's dream.

But, what is this information really telling us? As a quick Google search on Amazon author rankings will reveal, next to nothing. When you log into your Author Central page you can see BookScan numbers, this much is true, but you don’t see all the numbers. What’s worse, you don’t know which retailer’s numbers you’re looking at, because it isn’t specified. And, Amazon’s numbers are specifically not included, because they consider their information to be proprietary. Unless you’re self-published and put your work up via Kindle Direct Publishing, you don’t even get Kindle sales.

Copper Girl may have reached #13, but for the life of me I have no idea how many copies it sold to get there. I do, however, have access to a lovely sales graph.

What does all this mean? Well, the numbers may not be complete, but they’re better than nothing. You can also do some lovely sprucing up via your author page, adding such things as book trailers, Twitter feeds, and other information. All in all, it’s not such a bad system.

And, I will never forget how great it felt to see my little book reach #13. Happiness is priceless.
 
 
Sara had always been careful.

She never spoke of magic, never associated with those suspected of handling magic, never thought of magic, and never, ever, let anyone see her mark. After all, the last thing she wanted was to end up missing, like her father and brother.

Then, a silver elf pushed his way into Sara's dream, and her life became anything but ordinary.