Christy Dorrity Author

Interview with a Festival Dance Teacher from Tir Na n-Og Irish Dancing School

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 28 May 2015 03:22:00 +0000

Festival Irish Dancers
Photos: Jackie White

I'm pleased to bring you an interview with Jackie White, owner of the Tir Na n-Og Irish dancing School, Belfast. Tir Na n-Og dancers dance in the Festival style.

Christy Dorrity: Tell me about Festival dancing. How is it different from other forms of Irish dance? What are the goals of your dance school?

Jackie White: I founded The Tir Na n-Og Irish Dancing School in February of 1998, along with my sister, Bronagh. We concentrate on celebrating the individuality of each child through development of style and technical ability. We are a small, friendly, school with very high standards, both competitively and in our performance work. We choreograph all of our own steps and have many champion dancers both locally and nationally. We are an Irish Festival dancing school, and as such, do not wear wigs. The use of fake tan and make up in young children is not permitted. In addition to our competitive work, we have a skilled performance troupe who perform regularly at many events.

Read more about the Festival style of dancing here.

Christy Dorrity: I've noticed that your dancer's appearances are very different than other Irish dance organizations'. Can you tell me what is different and why?

Jackie White: All of our female dancers wear soft velvet costumes with traditional Celtic embroidery. The softness of the full circle skirts reflect the movement and style of our dance, which is elegant and free flowing. We do not wear wigs or tiaras nor is makeup or fake tan permitted amongst our younger dancers. In fact, most of the competitions we take part in stipulate this as a rule on their syllabus. We try hard to celebrate individuality of appearance, and whilst we will ensure some standardization when performing as a team, we encourage dancers to celebrate their individuality in presentation at Festivals.

Christy Dorrity: Where have your dancers competed/performed?

Jackie White: We compete all over Northern Ireland at local Festivals, and also at the Northern Ireland Championships, and the FDTA Ulster Championships. We have also performed in the Republic of Ireland, and England. Our dream is to bring a Festival dance performance to the USA, to share what we do in person to wider audiences

Christy Dorrity: What's your favorite part of teaching Irish dance?

Jackie White: My favourite part of teaching is a dancer’s journey from a tiny child through to a senior dancer. We try to get every dancer to be the best that they can be. For some that is many times a senior champion, and for others it is to simply enjoy their classes and stay fit and healthy.

Christy Dorrity: What plans do you have for the future of your dance school? How does the future look for Festival dancing?

Jackie White: We plan to continue teaching with high standards in our school. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved, and want to build on that ,as much talent exists in our younger school, so it will be nice to see how that unfolds in the coming years.

I think the future looks extremely bright in Festival dancing, as many in the Irish Dance world learn of its existence and are struck by its beauty and tradition. We currently have a Festival dancer (Lauren Smyth) as a lead in Riverdance. Lauren demonstrates how our art form translates particularly well to performance work.

Anyone wishing to find out more about Tir Na n-Og Irish Dancing School should visit the website www.tirnanogschool.weebly.com , or contact Jackie White at jackiewhite31@hotmail.com.

Camp Rince Ceol Irish dance camp welcomes adults of all ages

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 19:54:00 +0000

Camp Rince Ceol Irish dance camp
Photo: Courtesy Sheila Ryan-Davoren

For more than fifteen years, Camp Rince Ceol has been known as the camp “where Irish dancers spend their summers.” Two years ago, young adults, ages 19-24, were given a chance to experience the highly acclaimed Irish dance camp. And recently, the camp opened it's doors to adults of all ages.

Campers take a break from classes
at Camp Rince Ceol
Photo: Courtesy Sheila Ryan-Davoren

Camp Rince Ceol is a summer camp for Irish dancers who want to increase their knowledge of all things Irish dance. Sheila Ryan-Davoren, TCRG began the camp with her husband, Tony Davoren, after they both toured with Riverdance in the Lee Company. Together, they formed a camp that combines an intense study of the sport of Irish dancing with a fun summer camp experience. Sheila says, “I wanted to incorporate summer-time feeling with classroom instruction.”

After receiving many requests to allow older dancers to attend camp, Sheila and Tony decided to invite dancers ages 19-24 to attend Camp Rince Ceol. For the past two seasons, young adults have been able to participate in the training and fun. Now, for the first time, adults of all ages will come together to increase their learning of Irish dance and culture.

Adult dancers receive all of the benefits of their younger counterparts: a full curriculum of core classes (including TCRG training classes), bonus classes, amazing meals, clean rooms (no tents here), night-time activities, and an opportunity to showcase what they have learned.

In addition to the regular privileges, adults get a few extra perks. Housing will be provided on campus in a sorority house, where adults will be able to socialize and help each other practice during their down time, if they choose. Adults are allowed the use of cell phones, have access to a Wi-Fi network during camp, and are treated to an off-campus dinner with instructors. The adult camp and the camp for children will be kept separate from each other.

Sheila wants Irish dancers to have a great experience socializing, having fun and sharing the love of Irish dance. Sheila says, “Camp is fun, but we are there for a reason—the kids work hard." Sheila says that the adults work just as hard as the kids do. "We want adults to have the same opportunities as the kids."

Camp Rince Ceol campers "hand dancing"
Photo: Courtesy Sheila Ryan-Davoren

What you should know about Camp Rince Ceol:

All of the Irish dance instructors at Camp Rince Ceol are former touring group members from such shows as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. A list of instructors can be found on the Camp Rince Ceol website.

Camp Rince Ceol is open to campers ages 8 and up.

In addition to core Irish dancing classes, other classes include language, sports (hurling, rugby), show steps, behind the scenes, ballet, yoga, foot care, rhythm and timing, footwork, stage presence, and Irish dance and music history.

Camp Rince Ceol has been approved by An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha as an "Open Workshop" for 2015 and therefore is exempt from any association/affiliation rules.

There are two locations: Dunn School, Los Olivos, California and Union College in Schenectady, New York.

Camp Rince Ceol is open to all CLRG dancers. Dancers (including adults) from other organizations are welcome to attend the open platform camp that runs simultaneously with the adult course week.

Adults are invited to attend Camp Rince Ceol in New York during the week of July 5th through the 10th.

Family discounts are available.

For more information please see Camp Rince Ceol’s website.

Four reasons why the family that dances together stays together

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 18:23:00 +0000

My cute kiddos and I!

photo by Christy Dorrity

Mothers and fathers who have children in Irish dance, and are dancers themselves, know of the joys that come from sharing Irish dance together.

There are real advantages to having family members dance together. Here are a few:

1-Saving time and money

Can that be a typo? How could anyone think that including more children in dance would ever be less expensive?

Families who have many children understand how hectic life can be when each child is going in a different direction--soccer on Tuesday, dance on Wednesday, piano on Thursday, and so on. When a majority of the family does the same activity, there is less running around and juggling of schedules.
Many dance schools offer family discounts and most feiseanna have a family maximum on fees.
Expensive shoes and costumes can be passed down to younger siblings. Melissa Cleverly, an adult dancer, and mother of dancers in Utah says, "I just put shoes that are too small in a bin, and when a younger sibling needs a pair of shoes we go to the shoe bin to get pair of shoes."

2-Family bonding time

Not only do parents and children enjoy one another's company at practices and performance, but even the travel time can be a perfect opportunity for sharing and quality heart-to-hearts. Many families turn competition weekends into vacations, or family vacations into competition weekends. Rachel Joy, adult Irish dancer from Beaton School of Irish Dance in Maryland, says, "Driving to and from feiseanna is the best time; parent/child competitions are fun too!"
Performing together in recitals or in parent/child competitions strengthens relationships. Each family member feels the rush of cheering for a sibling or child and sharing in their triumphs and pitfalls.

3-Promoting Exercise

Dancing by its very nature encourages parents and kiddos to get up off the couch and do something active. Dance class fosters stamina, perseverance and endurance. Even practice time at home counts as a calorie-burning, heart-helping activity. When children see their parents doing something active to stay healthy, you can bet there are healthy habits forming.

4-Encouraging Dreaming

How great is it for kids to see their parents making goals, then working toward them with vigor? "We all practice together and are at dance together," says Cleverly. "It is so fun to have this common interest in our family. Everyone in our family has something in common with one another." Adults who go to practice and work toward a future goal give their kids the gift of ambition and the belief that they, too, can do anything they put their mind to.

Why every Irish dancer needs a chance to perform and compete.

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 22:59:00 +0000

Legacy Irish Dance Company in the Wizard of Oz.
Photo by Joe Rossi

Some dancers cringe at the thought of performing onstage, and others wouldn’t even think about competition. Both expressions of the art form have something in common—they are danced by people who love to Irish dance, and each of these avenues provide valuable experiences for both the dancers, and the dance schools they represent.

Advantages of stage performances in Irish dance:

Dance purely for the love of it. When you perform for an audience, no one is judging you, or telling you how to fix your technique.
A chance to use your talents to serve others. Dance and music can bless the lives of those you perform for. It lightens their load, and takes them away from their problems for a little while. Performing strengthens the community and spreads culture.
School unity. When younger dancers get a chance to perform alongside the older, more experienced dancers, a sense of belonging knits the school together. The younger set work hard with the hopes that they will be able to have one of the lead roles someday.
Dancing for friends and family. When a school performs, the dancers are able to show their friends and family what they’ve been working on. Parents always appreciate a chance to see how the hard work and lessons are paying off, and everyone likes to see their dancer onstage.

Advantages of competition in Irish dance:

Pushing past limits. Preparing for a competition often gives a dancer the push needed to master what they’ve learned and dance better than they ever expected to.
Focus. Competition dances hone a dancer’s skills and adrenaline, allowing them to focus intently the movement of their body to the music.
Team spirit. Schools that travel together as a team and cheer each other on find a bond that is rarely found elsewhere. Friendships born out of competition are likely to last a lifetime.
Travel. There are Irish dance competitions all over the world, and those who are lucky enough to travel widely to compete have the added bonus of going to places they otherwise would never visit.
Irish dance community. Competitive Irish dance is a part of a world-wide community of dancers who carry on traditions and pave the way for future generations of dancers.

A testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 23:02:00 +0000

My kiddos and I in the visitor's center at the open house
for the newly renovated Ogden, Utah Temple.

A friend of mine recently told me that she wanted to know what Mormon's believe. She knew that I was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of our friendship on social media.

I thought a lot about it before answering. There is so much misunderstanding of so many groups of people in our world. My friend was right to come to me and ask if what she had seen on TV about Mormons was true. No, we don't practice polygamy, and I am not expected to be a suppressed housewife, like so many people think.

So then, what do I believe?

My church is centered in Jesus Christ, as its name would suggest. We lived with our Heavenly Father before we came here to earth. He sent his son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins and provide a way for us to return and live with him again. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us to be happy, here on earth, and with him in the eternities. I believe that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings who want us to be like them.

Families are key to our eternal happiness. Everything that I do, I do for my family, and I know that I will be able to be with them, not just in this life, but forever.

Our church is structured the same way as Christ’s church was structured anciently, with a prophet, and twelve apostles. In the Bible we read that Christ gave the apostles the priesthood, the power to act in God’s name. When the apostles were killed, the priesthood was taken from the earth.

In the 1830’s, Joseph Smith, then only a fourteen-year-old boy, prayed to know which of the many churches in his day that he should join. Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to Joseph and told him that none of the churches were true. He later was given the priesthood and instructed to restore the gospel to the earth. He received the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ, a book of scripture that is a companion to the Bible.

The Book of Mormon is a source of great peace and comfort in my life. In its pages I have found answers to my prayers, and through reading it I grow closer to my Heavenly Father. Many times I have felt the spirit testify to me that it is true. It brings guidance and peace to me in all areas of my life, and I am so very grateful for the instruction and solace it gives. If you would like to read a copy and find out what it’s all about, I would be glad to send you one.

Not only was Joseph Smith a prophet, but there is also a prophet of God on the earth today. I had the opportunity to listen to him speak in a meeting that was televised, just last week. I know that he is a prophet of God. He is inspired to do the Lord’s work and bring other’s closer to Him.

We have temples on the earth today where families can be sealed together for eternity. I cannot describe to you how I feel when I enter the temple. It is a holy place where I can shut the business and craziness of the world out and feel the peace of Heavenly Father’s love. I love to go to the temple, and I go there often, when I am struggling, and even when I am not. The temple strengthens me and I always bring that peace home to my family.

I go to church weekly to take the sacrament, learn more about the gospel, serve others, and let others help me teach and train my children. My home ward is a place where I can make friends and receive help if I need it. The church is consistent worldwide, and whenever I travel, I love to find a meetinghouse and attend. I feel at home wherever I go.

My testimony of the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is focused on the love of my family, and my desire for them to be happy. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth, and that, because of His atonement, I can repent of the mistakes that I make, and live with my family forever.

I bear testimony of The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It makes me who I am, provides eternal perspective, and helps me find happiness.

If you would like to know more about what Mormon's believe, click here, or send me a note!

Irish Dancers flourish in South Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 22:41:00 +0000

Dancers from the Duncan Studio of Celtic
Dance in Standton, South Africa

When the Irish dance show, Riverdance, toured through South Africa in the 1990's many dance schools became interested in teaching the dance form. Irish dancing had been around in South Africa since the early 1900's, but it was limited to only a few dances taught in the traditional style. In 1997 contact was made with An Coimisiún le Rinci Gaelacha, an Irish dance association, and since that time, the teachers and dancers of some of those schools have found great satisfaction in teaching Irish dance.

Two of those schools include The Duncan Studio of Celtic Dance, and DanceTrax Dance Studio. Both schools teach Irish, as well as other forms of dance, such as highland, hip hop, tap, and modern. Sue Theron, director of The Duncan Studio, located in Paulshof, Standton, began her dance school in 1988, teaching highland dancing. She added Irish dancing to her repertoire in 1998. "Over the years, I have enjoyed being instrumental in helping to develop confident, outgoing children and young adults who have been guided through the many challenges dancing offers in terms of inter-personal skills, self-awareness and confidence, respect for others, and the value of perseverance," Theron says.

Wendy Mays, director of DanceTrax Dance Studio in Parklands, Cape Town tells her dancers to let the rhythm run through their veins. "Seeing the dancers achieve that 'bounce' that they need to get off the floor (in order) to excel, and teaching an outreach programme for underprivileged African children are very rewarding."

Outreach dancers with Dancetrax Dance Studio
in Capetown, South Africa

The Irish South African Association helps fund the outreach dance group that Mays volunteers her time to teach. The program serves ten dancers, aged 9 and 10 years old. Mays contributes costumes, and the dancers are currently awaiting their first batch of second-hand hard shoes, which are being collected by a generous sponsor. "This programme has made a huge impact on (the dancer's) lives," says May. "They now have structure, discipline and exposure to a different culture and dance form than what they are used to."

Dancers from both schools have had opportunities to dance in performances and test their skills in competitions, all of which has increased their confidence. Some of them have even qualified for and recalled at a world competition.

Dancers from the Duncan Studio of Celtic
Dance in Standton, South Africa

Teacher examinations will be held in South Africa in 2015, along with the first examination to test for adjudicators. Theron is pleased. "(The examinations) are a true reflection of the positive advancement and involvement of all our committed teachers," she says.

With each year that passes, South Africa is seeing growth in the Irish dance community. "I have no doubt that Irish dancing will continue to flourish in South Africa," Theron says. May agrees, "From where we started from, to where we are today, the dancers have accomplished so much," May says. "Irish Dancing in South Africa can only grow and get stronger from here."

Irish dancers from Dancetrax Dance Studio
in Capetown, South Africa

*all photos were used with permission from Sue Theron, and Wendy May.

Awakening on audiobook and giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 19:38:00 +0000

I'm so excited to tell you that Awakening: Book One of The Geis is out on audio! I can't tell you what fun it was to hear this story come to life! You will be thrilled to hear McKayla, Aunt Avril, Rourke, and all of the other many characters.

Christy Dorrity and Patricia Santomasso
Creators of the Awakening audiobook

If you click here, you can get a copy of the Awakening on audio free with your free 30 trial of Audible. And if you download the audio book on Audible, Amazon, or iTunes, you can enter my giveaway of a signed hardcopy of Awakening! All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter below. If you are chosen, I will ask for proof of purchase.

Last week I traveled with my husband, Devon to New York City. He has a sculpture on exhibit there, and it was a fantastic adventure! While we were there, we were able to meet with Patricia Santomasso, my narrator.

We met Patricia and her husband, Sean in a tea and book shop in NYC called Radiance Tea. It was so fun to see her in person, and it was a little surreal to hear McKayla's voice come out in our conversation. We had such a nice time. I can't wait for you to hear her amazing talent in the new audiobook!

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*Giveaway is US only.

Steampunk, My Way - Guest Blogger Jaleta Clegg and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 20:33:00 +0000

Dark Dancer by Jaleta Clegg

Steampunk, My Way- Guest Post by Jaleta Clegg

Steampunk as a genre has hit it big in the last few years, but it's been around for a long time. Ever read Jules Verne or H. G. Wells or Edgar Rice Burroughs? A lot of what they wrote would definitely fit into the genre. A lot of Japanese anime stories are steampunk, too. So what defines steampunk? That depends on who you ask.

For me, steampunk evokes mechanical contraptions leaking steam and powered by steam. Not just airships, but all of those weird and wonderful things people dreamed up during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Leonardo da Vinci would probably have written steampunk if he'd been a novelist. He certainly drew enough pictures of steampunk contraptions.

For most people steampunk is also about the Victorian era. I'm not a fan of stuffy societal rules and conventions. And I'm not a fan of fussy corsets and layers of petticoats. It's a good thing steampunk allows room for the engineers of both sexes who tend to wear sloppy coveralls and tool belts.

I'm calling Dark Dancer a steampunk fantasy because it involves strange mechanical contraptions powered by steam, a stratified stuffy social system, and it has airships. Airships have pretty much come to define steampunk. Mine are not large blimps but wooden sailing ships. And my power source is magic, stored in crystals, not coal or oil.

My biggest challenge in writing it is not dreaming up cool gadgets but in trying to keep it fresh and mine while at least giving a nod to the conventions of the genre. If you call a book steampunk, people expect a certain type of story and setting. If you stray too far from that conception, they get upset. It's like offering someone vanilla ice cream then feeding them gazpacho. They may both be cold and they may both be delicious, but if you're expecting vanilla ice cream and get a mouthful of tomato soup instead, it isn't pleasant for anyone involved.

So if you're looking for magical adventures in a world based loosely on Shakespeare's fairyland with added airships and mechanical men, Dark Dancer fits the bill. As long as you aren't set on corsets and Victorian mannerisms. I don't do those.

You can find a complete list of all my work at http://www.jaletac.com

Dark Dancer -
A strange prophecy haunts the Seligh lords, rulers of the Fey and controllers of all magic in the Summerlands, a prophecy that foretells their fall. At its heart, is a young human woman with no memory of her power or potential to destroy their world.

Available in ebook and print.
Smashwords
Kindle

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Triple book launch giveaway and interview with Jo Noelle

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 22:14:00 +0000

Two wonderful friends of mine, a mother/daughter writing team who write under the name Jo Noelle are launching three--yes, three--books this week! Enter below to win in their giveaway!

Newbie on Amazon

Damnation on Amazon

Lexi on Amazon

Interview with the authors:

1. What music do you like?
Deanna: I don’t know how to answer that. Do you mean today? I listen to everything, rock, classical, rap, alternative, opera. And I know the words and sing along—with the opera songs sometimes I sing gibberish until I know the words again.
Canda: Rock. I like rock. Not soft rock—it’s not really rock. I like alternative too. My favorite bands are (in order of their appearance in my life) KISS, Aerosmith, (I really liked the BeeGees but I’ll deny it in public), Nirvana, Good Charlottte, and Linkin Park.

2. Who is your favorite character?
Deanna: Tilly, Lexi’s best friend in Lexi’s Pathetic Fictional Love Life. I like sarcastic, pushy people probably because they’re more like me.
Canda: Marc, he’s Cassie’s love interest in Damnation. He’s a lot like my husband. I think he’d do the same kinds of things in heaven if he were at the Gate.

3. What kind of books do you like?
Deanna: I like “issue” book. I like self-helpy books. I like YA romance and Chick-lit. Oh and travel books especially the ones with itineraries that tell you what to eat where and give you maps.
Canda: I like snarky characters, romance is the story not the subplot, and paranormal is a big plus. I hate contemporary literary fiction. Gahhh! Too many issues to deal with in my spare time.

4. What is your favorite snack?
Deanna: chocolate covered macadamia nut with caramel cluster things you buy at Costco.
Canda: Peanut M&Ms

5. Teaser for your book in one sentence?
Damnation: Cassie is going to heaven—if she can get amnesty from hell in the next twenty days.

Newbie: The housing market is crashing, and Sophie’s life is crashing with it.

Lexi’s Pathetic Fictional Love Life: Falling in love is easy in fiction--
in high school, not so much.

6. Describe the book in 1 sentence:
Damnation: Drunk driver turns into do-gooder to gain entrance into heaven.
Newbie: Teaching school is not so bad when you have a friend and a hot co-worker.
Lexi’s Pathetic Fictional Love Life: In high school, sometimes it’s easier to choose to be invisible than to be forced to stand out.

7. What is your writing process?
We make an outline, chuck it out the window before chapter 2, we argue, negotiate, plead, pout, sometimes threaten to quit. Then we compromise and keep writing. And we laugh a lot.

8. What was your road to publication like?
We wrote the books, rewrote them a few times, got lots of feedback, rewrote them again, sent them to an editor, rewrote, another editor, rewrote.

9. Which character was the most difficult to write?
Talese! There were things we wanted her to be or to do, but it didn’t fit who her character is.

10. Favorite dessert?
Deanna: Muddy Buddies
Canda: chocolate mousse

11. Music or silence?
Deanna: Music, always
Canda: Either, but music only in the genres I like.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get the Details

1 winner will receive a $100.00 Amazon.com giftcard.

Blog hop and Rafflecopter registrations Begin 9/1/14 and End 9/7/14 MDT

This drawing is open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Card. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Check back on this blog between Sept. 8-10, 2014. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized and sponsored by Canda Mortensen & Deanna Henderson DBA Jo Noelle. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Blog Tour - Hellbounce by Matthew Harrill

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 19:00:00 +0000

Blog Tour for Matthew Harrill

Hellbounce. Demons don't always hide in the dark.

Want to know more about Matt? Find him on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Matthew.W.Harrill.Author

Currently living in the UK, Matt enjoys his free time writing. Married with children of his own, he enjoys writing fiction horror stories in hopes of scaring a reader! Hellbounce is his first novel.

Buy links!

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KNLZO4S/

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KNLZO4S/

Synopsis:

As a psychologist in a prison hospital, Eva Ross had always dealt with her share of sinners. The corrupt, the insane, their minds were all hers to unlock. But when those around her, those she trusted with her life start to exhibit the same characteristics, she is forced to turn to a stranger, a man whose name she is incapable of even remembering, for sanctuary.

Follow Eva as she crosses continents to unlock the answers, and her eventual destiny.

Crafting your happily ever after - finish the end of your story in five easy steps

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 07:00:00 +0000

How to craft your endings

You have a great idea for a story, and you've written two-thirds of it, leading all the way up to the climax. Now what? How do you get your protagonist through the final battle, defeat all of the bad guys, resolve all of the issues, and leave your readers satisfied in the end?

Readers love a good ending that brings everything full circle and leaves them with something to think about. Craft your endings carefully so that your readers will demand more as soon as they read "the end".

If you have heard of Blake Snyder's Save the Cat method (which I highly recommend), you may have noticed that, although he is very specific about the plot points leading up to the ending, Act III gets only a "wrap things up" treatment. What you may not know, is that Snyder went into detail about the finale in a later book: Save the Cat Strikes Back. Much of what I have to tell you about endings comes from Snyder's fantastic screenplay writing advice.

Storming the castle in 5 easy steps:

1- Gathering the team

Let your hero stop to gather everyone, and everything he needs for the final battle, whether it is storming a literal castle, landing that part in the musical, or stopping that girl from leaving without him.

2- Executing the plan

This is the time when the hero's team bands together and creates a plan that feels foolproof. Everyone is feeling positive about the battle.

3-High tower surprise

Now the hero reaches the final battle, only to find out that his plan isn't going to work like he thought it would. Here he finds that the bad guy knew he was coming all along.

4-Dig deep down

The hero has nothing to draw on--no mentor to help out, no plan to depend on. It looks like he is going to fail. But now he takes that leap of faith and digs deep down inside of himself. He recalls the great lessons he has learned along his journey and realizes what he needs to do.

5-Execution of the new plan

Now that the hero has awakened to see what needs to be done, he puts this last-ditch plan into action, and it works! All of the villains are systematically undone with this impromptu new plan.

6-Wrap up loose ends

I know I said 5 steps, but really, there is one more. You need to tie up all loose ends. Readers need to know what happened to all of the characters. Bring the story around full circle and show us how the protagonist really changed on his journey. Make sure you address every plot point that you introduced. And even if your story continues on in a series, satisfy this particular story's questions and your readers will be emotionally satisfied.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Authors-if you have wrestled and conquered an ending, what advice do you have?

Readers-have you ever read an ending that just didn't satisfy?

Five ways to use food as a tool in fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 19:26:00 +0000

I recently had a reader who told me she felt the need to recreate one of the recipes I described in my book. She said it deepened her experience as she read. The funny thing is, the reader wasn't talking about one of my cookbooks--she was referring to a tool that I love to use when writing fiction. Food in fiction can be used to draw your reader into the story.

Little Women

Here are five ways to use food as a tool in fiction:

1. Use food to create a sense of place or invoke a certain response from your reader.

Let's say that you are writing a scene showing a family at Christmastime, sitting around the fire, and sharing time together. To help your reader really feel that they are there, describe the yeasty smell of cinnamon rolls as they come from the oven, or the taste of wassail as it slips down your character's throat. Your reader will insert their own positive experiences with cinnamon rolls and sweet drinks by the fire, and be drawn into the scene.

2. A taste or smell can help connect a later scene to an earlier one.

If you want readers to recall parts of an earlier scene that is critical to bringing later loose ends together, use a food or a smell to connect the two. For instance, in Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the peculiar smells of lavender and lemons are mentioned in a garden early in the book, and then, when the character has a vision of an earlier time, the smell of lavender and lemons is mentioned again, pulling the two scenes together in the reader's remembrance and helping them make connections that the authors did not have to spell out.

3. Mealtimes are a great way to create a crucible that brings conflict to the fore.

Chocolate Frogs from Harry Potter

We all know that conflict drives the story forward. What better way to introduce conflicts than to sit all of your characters down at a meal and watch them duke it out? Think of Downton Abbey. You know as soon as you see them sit down for their fancy meal that the crap is going to hit the fan! And we are rubbing our hands in anticipation. Bring your characters together over dinner to form a crucible--a way to push characters into the same space and make them bring up the conflicts that are bugging them.

4. Food can spark the reader's imagination.

We all love to eat, and food can bring wonder to the world your characters live in. Think of Willy Wonka with his color-changing gum, and Harry Potter with chocolate frogs and puking pastilles. One of my favorite foods in fiction are the Lumba Berry Pies in In A World Without Heroes (Beyonder #1), by Jason Mull. The character encounters lumba berry pie--a delicacy that is so addicting that the diner will never want to eat anything again. The only problem is, lumba berries have no nutritional value and causes the addicted eater to starve to death.

Lumba Berry Pies from A World Without Heroes

5. Foods and their preparation can be used as a metaphor for what the character is going through emotionally.

Having your character eat an ice cream or bake something from scratch can mirror what is going on emotionally in the character's life. In one of my books, a character burns the batch of cookies that she makes after having a disastrous date. The ruined cookies reflect the emotional state of the character and it pushes her over the edge (as an added tool, I used the burned cookies to foreshadow a later event involving a burning building).

The next time you want to introduce a setting, fuel the reader's imagination, or bring characters together to create a conflict, search your recipe box--you may find the answer to your plot holes in your next meal.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Authors-have you ever used food as a device in your writing?

Readers-What's the most memorable dinner scene or food you've ever read about?

EuphoraYA Scavenger Hunt - Guest post by Anna Silver

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 07:00:00 +0000

I hope you are having a great time with the scavenger hunt, and that you are finding some great reads! Please welcome Anna Silver, author of ASTRAL TIDE.

There's a lot of hype these days about twisted, or retold, fairy tales. A prime example of this would be CINDER by Marissa Meyer. And while I'm not the type to jump on the bandwagon, especially when it comes to literary trends--because yesterday's bandwagon quickly becomes today's hearse, I've begun a new novel which I am toying with the notion of weaving into a twisted fairy tale.

Keep in mind, at this time, I'm merely toying. In fact, it may be so unlike the original that I couldn't even pitch it as a retelling, but I could still use the fairy tale I have in mind for the project to guide the plot. And the fairy tale I'm referring to is Sleeping Beauty, which was a childhood favorite of mine.

I know what you're thinking. And no, this was not Maleficent inspired. Okay, maybe it was a little Maleficent inspired.

But my setting would Sci-Fi and the genre is YA. And I have no intention of pulling a CINDER and writing about sleeping androids. In fact, there won't even be a character for the witch as you expect, because as I said, it would almost be more symbolic than a literal retelling.

Anyway, all of this is to say, how do you feel about twisted and retold fairy tales? Are they still in? Are they on their way out already? Is it even worth pitching as a retelling if the correlations are more implied than literal? And, above all, what are your fave twisted or retold fairy tales, so the rest of us can run out and read them?

My top fairy tale retelling is actually Intisar Khanani's THORN, which is a retelling of Grimm's The Goose Girl. Though I've never read the original version, and so cannot compare them much. That said, Khanani's brilliant narration swept me away, making me a lifetime fan. Which brought me into this whole EuphorYA mess. So without further ado, I bring you my special content, the working title and back cover copy for the third and final installment in the Otherborn series, ASTRAL RETURN.

Best of luck to all of you and thanks for reading!!!

Astral Return

Otherborn, #3

London
has been pushed to her limits. She’s lost the people she cares about most, been
forced into a fugitive’s life bouncing from camp to camp in the Outroads beyond
the safety and shelter of the walled cities, and even found herself at the very
edge of the Astral when confronted by Avery and the Tycoons after escaping the
Ward. But nothing has prepared her for waking up in New Eden.

Life in the Tycoons’ settlement is supposed to be paradise,
but for London,
Elias, and the rest of the Otherborn in Tycoon custody, it’s nothing short of
hell. About the only thing going for London is
her reunion with Rye.
But with Zen captured too, her heart is more torn than ever.

In New Eden, the Otherborn are subject to Avery’s deranged
experiments as the Astral Return wreaks havoc in the rest of the world. And the
stronger it grows, the more desperate the Tycoons become. Caught in the middle,
London is
growing less worried about saving the world and more worried about saving
herself and her friends. Will the Astral’s new beginning be their end?

EuphorYA Scavenger Hunt Blog Stops

Here's the schedule for the EuphorYA Scavenger Hunt. Each blog stop features exclusive content from one of our authors as well as a giveaway. Collect the blue / red / pink colored words to make the daily secret phrases. Then enter for your chance to win the Grand Prize Giveaway--$75 Amazon / Nook gift card (first prize only), books and swag (first, second and third prizes).

Day One Stops, Friday ,June 20 - Blue Phrase

Anna Silver | Chloe Jacob's World | Elana Johnson | Books By Intisar | Ali Cross

Day Two Stops, Saturday, June 21 - Red Phrase

Elisabeth Wheatley | T.L. Shreffler | RaShelle Workman | Kelly Walker | Hannah L. Clark |

Christy Dorrity

Day Three Stops, Sunday, June 22 - Pink Phrase

Rhiannon Hart | Natasha Hanova | Tracy E. Banghart | Kaitlyn Deann | Jadie Jones

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Torn Canvas by Donna Weaver

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Torn Canvas by Donna K. Weaver

I just love presenting new books by favorite authors, especially when the author is a friend of mine. Please welcome on the blog Donna K. Weaver's new TORN CANVAS, the second in the Safe Harbors series.

When I asked Donna what she likes to eat while reading and writing, here's what she said:

"Usually chocolate chips. Semi sweet. But I'm probably going to have to give those up since writing is making me so fat. :D" ~Donna

Even a hero needs rescuing sometimes

Modern-day pirates took more than Jori Virtanen’s friends; they stole his face. Not only does the twenty-four-year-old former model have to confront months of reconstructive surgery, he discovers his previous life was as superficial as his looks. Jori struggles to make a new life for himself as an artist while evading the press. They expect a hero, but he knows the truth. His beauty masks a beast.

Olivia Howard’s given up a normal life for her job, and the sacrifices are finally paying off. The twenty-six-year-old talk-show host’s ratings are heading to the top of the charts. Her dream is to make a difference in people’s lives, but the studio wants mind fluff—like interviewing hot model Jori Virtanen. When Olivia learns the guy helped rescue passengers on a cruise excursion from kidnappers, she knows this is the story she needs to make her case. The only problem is the hero was injured, and now he’s disappeared.

The more Olivia learns about the man behind the scar, the more intrigued she becomes. But Jori is no girl’s happily ever after. Once she finds him, Olivia has to free his heart and help heal the beast.

Links:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | iTUNES | KOBO | GOODREADS

Trailer on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07kxkS53Ys

Author of the Safe Harbors series and Second Chances 101, Book 5 in the Ripple Effect series. A wife, mother, grandmother, Harry Potter geek, Army veteran, and karate black belt.

Contact the author: donnakweaver@gmail.com

Find the author on:

New Release - Girls on Fire: A Dauntless Collection only .99!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 22:37:00 +0000

Girls on Fire A Dauntless Collection

Today is the launch of an amazing collection of books from fantastic authors. I am so thrilled to be rubbing shoulders with these ladies and tickled to tell you that AWAKENING is a part of this new boxed set!

Here's what the boxed set is about: Ten powerful YA heroines kicking butt and fighting for love.

10 novels. 1 buck.

Get your copy today!

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Click on each author's name to learn more about them and their individual books.

Amber Argyle

Cover Reveal for Heart & Soul by Lee Strauss

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 07:00:00 +0000

AVAILABLE July 7th!

Contemporary Romance

I read the first book in this series: Sun & Moon, and I recommend it!

She's heartbroken. He's heartless.

Gabriele
Baumann-Smith is deliriously in love with her young husband Lennon.
Except,
it turns out that Lennon Smith isn't his real name. In fact, he's full of
secrets: a cottage on the southern British coast, an old girlfriend and... an
identical twin brother.

Callum
Jones—not his real name—can't believe his brother's widow came to England. He'd
warned Mick—Lennon—that an inheritance could put the girl's life in danger, and
he was right.
“Mrs.
Smith” is the last thing Callum needs to worry about right now. She's
beautiful, sure, takes his breath away at times. But when she looks at him, who
does she see?

Gabriele's
heart is battered and bruised. Can one brother fix what the other left behind?
And will they live long enough to find out?

About The Minstrel Series:

every love story needs a song

The
Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in
the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared
settings and characters, but each is a complete stand-alone story with a
HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

The books include MP3 links to original music by talented Indie Artists, so you can hear the characters sing!

Books in the Minstrel Series can be read in any order, but are best enjoyed in sequence.

#1 - Sun & Moon (digital versions Free everywhere!)

#2 - Flesh & Bone

#3 - Heart & Soul (July 7th!)

- Peace & Goodwill (Christmas Novella coming fall of 2014)

http://theminstrelseries.blogspot.com

Lee
Strauss is the author of The Minstrel Series (contemporary romance),
The Perception Series (young adult dystopian) and young adult historical
fiction. She is the married mother of four grown children, three boys
and a girl, and divides her time between British Columbia, Canada and
Dresden, Germany. When she's not writing or reading she likes to cycle,
hike and do yoga. She enjoys traveling (but not jet lag :0), soy lattes, red wine and dark chocolate.

Lee also writes younger YA fantasy as Elle Strauss.

WEBSITE † FACEBOOK † TWITTER † TUMBLR † GOODREADS

Cover reveal for Girls on Fire boxed set

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 07:00:00 +0000

What happens when you bring together 10 award-winning, critically acclaimed authors?

Did you see that Awakening is part of this amazing set! I am so thrilled to be a part of this collaboration with so many wonderful authors!

The GIRLS ON FIRE boxed set, coming on June 16! And now we'd like to present you with the cover, designed by our very own, Rachel Morgan.

Here's a little about each of the stories included in Girls on Fire:

WITCH FALL – Amber Argyle

High Fantasy

Supreme in their dominion over seasons,
storms, and sea, the witches have forgotten the unmatched
destructiveness of mankind. And among the weapons men seek are the
magical songs of the witches. Born of witches but raised among their
enemies, Lilette searches for a way to heal the rift between mankind
and the witches. But it may be too late to save either. For if there
is one thing Lilette has come to know for certain, it’s that all
things fall.

ETERNAL STARLING – Angela Corbett

Paranormal Romance

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil
Stone have yearned for Evie Starling. When both men claim to be her
soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that
she’s not the person she thought she was, and her soul is about to
become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.

AWAKENING – Christy Dorrity

Fantasy

When an ancient curse threatens McKayla
McCleery's family, she must decide what in her life is real and what
is fantasy. Based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young
adult fantasy that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

INEVITABLE – Tamara Hart Heiner

Suspense

Visions of death plague Jayne, who
thinks watching her sister die is the worst that could happen to her.
But when she witnesses a murder, Jayne realizes that the next death
she sees might be her own.

WATCHED – Cindy M. Hogan

Romantic Suspense

Change. She longed for it.

A murder. She will never be the same.

THE FORGOTTEN ONES – Laura Howard
Fantasy

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.   What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his fairy tale about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

ELEMENTAL HUNGER – Elana Johnson

Futuristic Fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Gabriella Kilpatrick
can shoot fire from her hands, which would be great if she didn’t
get blamed for a blazing inferno that kills 17 schoolmates. Gabby
will have to learn who she can trust, how to control her own power,
and most of all, how to lead a Council of Elementals, most of whom
have more control over their power than she does. If she can’t,
she’ll find herself just like those 17 schoolmates: burned and six
feet under.

THE FAERIE GUARDIAN – Rachel Morgan

Fantasy

Kickbutt faerie Violet is about to
graduate as the top guardian trainee of her class, but when an
assignment goes wrong and the human boy she’s meant to be
protecting follows her back into the fae realm, a dangerous plot is
set in motion.

PERCEPTION – Lee Strauss

Dystopian/Romance

Eternal Life is to Die For.

A spoiled genetically altered girl
needs the help of a jaded “natural” boy to find her missing
brother.

INTRINSICAL – Lani Woodland

Paranormal

The gene that allows the women in
Yara’s family to see and communicate with spirits seems to have
passed her over. Until the night she rescues a local hottie from an
attacking ghost. Her act of heroism attracts the attention of the
evil spirit, and she finds herself entrenched in the middle of a
sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening her own life
as well as that of her friends.

Publication date: June 16, 2014

Price: 99 cents for 10 amazing
YA novels!

Links:

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22370438-girls-on-fire

About the
Authors:

Follow each author’s link to learn
more about them and their books.

Time of Death: Induction by Shana Festa

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 20:02:00 +0000

Time of Death by Shana Festa

A friend of mine has a new release out and I am excited to tell you about it! I haven't read it yet, but it looks like a fun zombie book!

When no one or nowhere is safe, where do you go to escape the monsters?
In a few short days, 37 year old Emma Rossi’s hard work will finally pay off. She will don her cap and gown and graduate with a degree in nursing, but not before she loses her first patient and is confronted with a new reality. In Cape Coral, Florida, a storm approaches. The dead are coming back to life.
And they’re hungry.
Infection ravages the Eastern Seaboard with alarming speed while attempts to contain the spread of infection fail. Within days, a small pocket of panicked survivors are all that remain of civilization. Fighting to survive the zombie apocalypse alongside her husband Jake and their dog Daphne, Emma comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare.
Relying on snarky wit and sheer determination, she is forced to commit atrocious acts to protect her family and avoid joining the ranks of the undead.
Time of Death is author Shana Festa's full-length novel debut.

Shana Festa was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 17, 1976 and grew up in Northboro, Massachusetts. She currently lives in Cape Coral, Florida with her husband and two dogs, Daphne & Casey.
Shana is a registered nurse with clinical experience in mental health, geriatrics, HIV and substance abuse. In addition to her clinical background, Shana possesses over 15 years of experience with project management and data analytics.
Under her alter ego, The Bookie Monster, Shana reviews horror and paranormal books, with an emphasis on (but not limited to) zombie fiction. With a background in Psych Nursing, Shay brings her unique perspective to the online reading community.
Introducing her own zompoc story to the genre, Shana’s debut novel, Time of Death, is the first in a planned series and is scheduled for release May, 2014.

Website: http://www.shanafesta.com

BUY THE BOOK
AMAZON: http://amzn.com/B00KLLB3V8/?tag=theboomon-20
SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/442239
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/time-of-death-induction
BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-of-death-shana-festa/1119613162

Cover reveal and Giveaway - A Beauty so Beastly by RaShelle Workman

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 07:00:00 +0000

A Beauty so Beastly
by Rashelle Workman

About A BEAUTY SO BEASTLY: “For your vanity, your cruelty, and your cold unfeeling heart, a curse I leave upon you . . .”

What happens if the beauty is also the beast?

The stunning Beatrice Cavanaugh is considered American royalty. She has everything except the ability to love. Cursed on her eighteenth birthday, she becomes more beastly than ever, having a newfound craving for raw meat, and an undeniable yearning for the night. Bitterness is her only companion.

After accusing a maid of stealing, a disgustingly kind and exquisitely handsome guy named Adam shows up asking Beatrice to drop the charges against his mother.

Infuriated by his goodness, Beatrice vows to break him. Destroy him. Make him hurt the way she hurts. So she agrees. On one condition: Adam must take his mother’s place as a servant in the mansion.

Because Beatrice won’t stop until he’s more beastly than she is.

Genre: Fractured Fairy Tale

Book 1 in the Beastly Series

Release date: July 3, 2014

Buy Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22055587-a-beauty-so-beastly?from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KHZ2F1A

Special Note: A BEAUTY SO BEASLTY will be available for 99 cents until its release date on July 3^rd! Then it'll go up to $2.99. So pre-order now!

About RaShelle Workman: RaShelle Workman is an international bestselling author. She writes fractured fairytales with bite and young adult science fiction that's out of this world. RaShelle likes cherry pie, movies, family adventures, and chocolate. If you want to get on her good side, send chocolate. RaShelle's sold more than 500,000 copies of her books worldwide. Sleeping Roses, Exiled, Beguiled, and Dovetailed have foreign rights contracts with a Turkish publisher.

Her books include: 
Sleeping Roses 
Exiled
Beguiled
Dovetailed
Blood and Snow (1-12) 
The Cindy Chronicles 
Vampire Lies (Blood and Snow Season 2)

Short stories: 
Rose, Undercover 
Cindy Witch 
The Hunter's Tale 
Gabriel
After the Kiss
Zaren's Travels

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rashelleworkman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaShelleWorkman

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/shells42/

Blog: http://www.rashelleworkman.com

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Dragons of Lore Book Blast - calling all dragon lovers!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 14 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Check out some awesome books featuring dragons! Many are discounted, or free. Buy or download the ones you like, and spread the word.

Trusted by Krista Wayment, Middle Grade

Get it FREE on Amazon.com

Renick, the fifth son of a dragon breeder, crashes into an unexpected adventure that challenges everything he thought he knew about dragons, history, and himself.

Stranded in the massive Helath forest, Renick meets two other passengers: Thane, a noble training to be a dragon knight, and Lainey, the orphaned niece of a healer. Together they survive an attack by vicious wolves, rescue a baby dragon with a broken wing, and escape from a band of dragon hunters as they make a perilous climb into the mountains. What they discover there will change everything.

The Dreamstone by Mikey Brooks, Middle Grade

Discounted to $1.99

Buy it on Amazon.com

“There is a world inside our own, but we can’t see it when we are awake—only when we sleep. It is then we find ourselves in Dreams.”

When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.

Alvor by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle Grade

Buy it on Amazon.com

Adarae jolted as the feeling surged through her. She looked carefully at not one, but two little faces and felt the warm power within them. No one suspected it could be two, but the strength pulsing from them was undeniable. They stared back into her eyes.

Fifteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, had never seen the secluded cabin in the woods by their home. Upon entering, they discover a magical world where pegasi, dragons and fairies are a reality.

The siblings soon find themselves with super-human powers, being taught the art of magic and sword play by mystical beings. It isn't long before they are struck with a realization they are training to become elves.

Faced with the decision to leave the life they have always known for a world of fantasy, Erin and Bain confront certain demons that threaten to tear them apart.

Alvor is a spellbinding blend of magic and mystery, enchantment and fairy tale, that asks the age-old question: Do you believe in magic?

Wings of Light by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle Grade

Buy on Amazon.com

Sixteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, have recently become immortal elves - but the search for their mother has just begun. With new information that their mother may be alive, Erin desperately seeks to bring her back home. But when old enemies threaten her quest, Erin must turn to new friends for help and learn that some magic is better left unexplored.

Awakening by Christy Dorrity, Young Adult

Get it FREE on Amazon.com

. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.

A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.

When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.

After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.

A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy, based in Celtic mythology that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

The Crystal Bridge by Charlie Pulsipher, Young Adult

Discounted to $0.99

Buy on Amazon.com

The Egg followed Kaden home from the hospital. This glowing shell only he can see transports him across the emptiness between universes to distant worlds, but he’s afraid to use it. This strange Egg may have saved Kaden’s life once or twice, but it failed to save anyone else he cares about.

Aren’s sight reaches deep into the souls around her, seeing more than she wants in her friends and teachers at school. When she turns her gaze on Kaden, his Egg responds by sending them spiraling across space and time to a world where dragons, elves, dwarves, and peculiar gods dwell. Separated, lost, and alone in a hostile world on the brink of war, these teens must come to grips with their unique gifts if they ever want to see Earth again.

Back home, a biotechnology company tinkers with the science of reality, hoping to cure death itself by any means. But their work and the intrusion into the void have awakened something shadowy and powerful, a being imprisoned there for millennia. This dark being intends to break free and devour everything and everyone it touches. Infinite universes are in danger. Kaden and Aren must decide if they can save more than themselves. Can they save us all?

The Sapphire Flute by Karen E Hoover, Young Adult

Discounted to $0.99:

Buy on Amazon.com

Buy from Barnes and Nobel

Or Get it FREE on Smashwords.com

Rasann is a world in dire need. The net of magic that has held her together for eons is eroding and the magi can’t patch it fast enough to prevent disaster. Volcanoes spew, waters rise, famine and flood and desolation threaten the world as they desperately await the coming of the Wolfchild to heal their home.

Three women begin quests for identity and freedom from the ties that have held them: Ember, from her overbearing and prejudice mother; Kayla, from the rigidity of the caste that has oppressed her family; C’Tan, from her dark and evil master, the Guardian S’Kotos. One will discover she is the first white mage born in three millennia, another will become guardian to the a keystone, the sapphire flute, and throughout it all the third will try to destroy them both.

Descendant by Nichole Giles, Young Adult

Discounted to $0.99

Buy on Amazon.com

Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted.

Blessed—or cursed—with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul.

Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not just Abby’s life at stake.

World Irish Dance Association sets the bar for competitive adult Irish dancers

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 01 May 2014 15:45:00 +0000

WIDA World trophies for young and old, alike.
Photo: Christy Dorrity

How old is too old to dance? Most people would agree that dancing can be enjoyable at any age.

"It's never too late to learn," says Johnny Cronin, owner of the Johnny Cronin School of Irish Dancing in Ireland, who recently certified to be an Irish dance adjudicator. "I've heard so many times from adults that they wish they had the means when they were young to dance and now as adults many now do."

There are a few adults in Irish dance that started their training as children, but many adults who Irish dance began taking lessons in adulthood—long past what most would consider a viable age for a champion. The World Irish Dance Association (WIDA) is changing the landscape of competition for adult Irish dancers, giving them a chance to compete for a world title.

Last week, at the World Irish Dance Association’s European and World Championships, held in Dusseldorf, Germany, more than 90 dancers over the age of 23 competed in six age groups. Annamariea Dardi, an adult Irish dancer from Ireland, is pleased to find that WIDA values adult dancers. "I always compare adult dancers to football or rugby players who are valued at the sport well after the teenage years, and it's nice that a dancing organization such as WIDA feels the same." The adult dancers, along with the younger age groups, gathered in Dusseldorf, Germany on April 19-21, 2014. Dancers hailed from thirteen countries and seventy-eight schools.

World Champions in the over35 category.
Séamus O'Rourke (1st), Catriona Newcombe (2nd),
and Christy Dorrity (3rd), with teacher Johnny Cronin
Photo: Christy Dorrity

Other Irish dance organizations offer only limited opportunities for advancement for adults, or require them to compete against teens at the major competitions. The comparatively young organization of WIDA allows adult Irish dancers to compete at high levels, and against athletes of similar age. "WIDA has not only opened doors for people to learn Irish dance outside of Ireland, but the organization has really encouraged older dancers and lets them take their dancing as far as they want to," Cronin says. One of his adult dancers, Séamus O'Rourke is the current World 2014 title holder in the over35 category.

Word is spreading about the positive treatment adult Irish dancers find in WIDA. Catriona Newcombe, an adult Irish dancer and teacher (Echoes of Erin School of Irish Dancing) from Hong Kong was impressed with the events. "WIDA is an extremely friendly organization," Newcombe says. "Everyone was there to support each other, and we all wished each other good luck and were genuinely please if someone danced well and placed. No where else have I seen everyone as enthusiastic about the senior dancers and cheered them on equally."

In recent years, attendance at WIDA's double major has increased, seeing a 25% rise between 2013 and 2014 alone. And it isn’t just the attendance of adult Irish dancers that is rising; the quality of the dancing is climbing as well. "The standard in WIDA is high and over the years it is going to get better," says Séamus O'Rourke, current World 2014 title holder in the over35 category. "I always felt that I was able to dance, but with other organizations I would have to compete against dancers in their teens or early 20's. WIDA changed that. I have been introduced to a new world."

As more adult dancers around the globe are given a chance to show what they are capable of, they will inspire many who have thought that they, also, were too old to dance. I have had the best experience of my life being part of the organisation WIDA," O'Rourke admits. "After 27 years away from the dancing world, WIDA has allowed me to go back to what is passionate in my life, that of dancing." And just because the Europeans and Worlds are over for 2014, doesn’t mean that the dancers are resting. They know that the standard will be even higher next year, and are already back to practice, the world over.

Adult Irish dancers await single dance results at the WIDA European Championships.
Photo: Christy Dorrity

Flesh & Bone by Lee Strauss and Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:13:00 +0000

Introducing Flesh & Bone

- a contemporary romance,

(The Minstrel Series #2)

Coming April 3rd! That's today!

She can’t remember. He can’t forget.

Eva Baumann is invisible. Sebastian Weiss is famous. In a perfect world Eva would be fearless and Sebastian would be guiltless.

It’s not a perfect world.

Another amazing cover by the very talented Steven Novak of Steven Novak Designs!

The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each is a complete stand-alone story with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

FLESH & BONE INCLUDES MORE GREAT ORGINAL MUSIC MP3s!

The Music for Flesh & Bone is amazing! View it here.

Haven't read #1 Sun & Moon? Get it here:

Barnes and Noble

Kobo | itunes

Amazon World

EXCERPT of Flesh & Bone - read to the end and enter to WIN a $20.00 Amazon gift card and songs!

The Scars They See

Gabriele had dared her to do this. “Just walk in, sign your name, and play a song for heaven's sake.” It was easy for her to say. Eva Baumann's sister didn't understand what it was like to be afraid. What it was like to be invisible. Gabriele oozed confidence, tall and lithe like a runway model, lighting up every room she entered. She was pretty, talented, smart.

And not handicapped.

Eva eyed the graffiti-marred entrance of the Blue Note Pub and watched as other musicians and-patrons strolled into the darkened room. Music pumping from the sound system escaped into the narrow corridor of four-story stone buildings every time the heavy wooden door opened and closed. Eva carefully set down her guitar case and rested her hand over her chest, willing her heartbeat to slow. The muscle pulsed erratically, and her stomach wanted to dry heave.

Eva gripped her cane with white knuckles. She'd learned to master the uneven sidewalks with careful steps, but the cobblestones were still a nemesis, especially in colder months like March. The rubber knob on the tip of her cane had to center on a stone, otherwise she could lose her balance and fall. It was necessary to wait for a break in traffic or to continue to the corner for a walk light before daring to cross the street.

She took a deep breath. She could do this. This was just an irrational fear—not real. Nothing bad would happen to her in that room. It was filled with people who loved music as much as she did. It was loud and crowded and dark, and no one would expect her to talk. When they called her name, she'd focus on the small stage, blocking out everyone in the room out until she safely stepped up. Then she'd just close her eyes and pretend she was at the street church playing to the people who came for the soup they provided.

She could do this.

A cold wind blew hair across Eva's face and she snapped to attention just as the little green man flashed on to indicate it was safe to walk. She lumbered across with a guitar in her left hand and her cane in her right. The weight of her instrument pulled her shoulders forward, her back arching slightly under her winter jacket. She caught her reflection in a store window and frowned. She looked like a crazy, old lady, not a nineteen-year-old girl.

Eva tucked her cane under her left armpit and reached for the door. It swung open sharply, a patron had exited at the same moment, and she was shoved against the wall, nearly losing her balance.

“Excuse me,” the guy said. He held the door open, waiting for her to go in. She wanted to turn around and head straight home, but the guy's eyes stayed on her, waiting. The cold air whooshed inside.

It would be impolite not to pass through. “Thank you,” she said softly. She leaned on her cane and entered. She'd been to the Blue Note before. Gabriele and her British boyfriend Lennon Smith had dragged her out one night, so she knew what to expect. There was a bar to the right and table seating to the left. A poster on the wall read: “If you want to chat with your pals while the band is playing, take your conversation outside.” The air smelled of beer and cigarette smoke clinging to damp wool jackets. At the back of the midsized room was a small stage lit by two lights hanging from the ceiling.

Her stomach churned, and once again she questioned herself. Why had she come? What did she have to prove? Why did she care so much what Gabriele thought? She stared back at the door.

“Hello, ma Cherie. Would you like to sign your name?”

The gruff yet friendly voice stopped Eva before she could leave. She knew the manager, Herr Maurice Leduc, by reputation, but had never spoken to him before. “I don't know,” she answered.

“Well—” His eyes darted to the guitar in her hand. “I just thought since you lugged that thing in with you.” He pushed the sign-up sheet closer.

Eva didn't have the heart to deny the man. She took the pen and scribbled her name.

“Wonderful,” Herr Leduc said with a sincere grin that filled a round face. “I look forward to hearing you play...” he glanced down at his sheet, “Eva Baumann.”

The room consisted of a lot of wood. Tables, chairs, benches and floors—all darkly stained, old wood. Even the ceiling had rough, open wood beams. Eva claimed a nearby empty chair and breathed in and out, long and slow. She was here. She'd done it. Wait until she told Gabriele. Wouldn't she be surprised?

A server arrived, and Eva ordered a cola. The other people who shared the long table gave her sideways glances at her childish drink and cheered each other as they lifted their beer glasses.

Herr Leduc walked on stage and welcomed everyone. He called the first act, a girl with long, golden hair, he introduced as Katja Stoltz.

Eva listened intently impressed with the girl's talent and the way she took over the stage like she owned it. That was what Eva needed to do. Own it.

The girl finished her song, and after much-deserved applause, she joined her friends at a table across the room. A guy in his early twenties with a peacock tattoo along one arm stood to give Katja Stoltz a hug. He had messy, dark brown hair and bristles on his face, like he hadn’t shaven in a few days. He laughed and high-fived her before sitting and draping the peacock around a thin girl with spiky hair.

A shiver ran up Eva's back. She recognized that guy. Last summer, when she was playing guitar for the homeless, many of them had raised their hands to God in praise. The outside metal blinds had been raised, they always were when the church was open, and a group of guys had stopped to watch from across the street. They began to laugh and then threw their arms in the air, mocking the people worshiping inside.

That was the first time Eva had seen that peacock tattoo, and she'd never forget the laughing face of the handsome boy who went with it.

Her short-lived confidence shriveled at the thought of being the guy's next target. Oh, why did she come? She'd leave right now if she thought she could do it without making a scene. The room had filled, and there was no way she could slip out unnoticed with her guitar and her cane.

She sipped her cola and kept her eyes focused on each act as it was called. Every time Herr Leduc stepped to the mic to call a name, Eva’s heart filled with nervous dread and emptied with a flush of relief when she didn't hear hers.

“
Sebastian Weiss,” Herr Leduc said.

The guy with the peacock tattoo hooted, shifted out from behind his table and grabbed his guitar.

So that was his name.

He hopped onto the stage and strapped on a guitar with an over-confidence Eva envied. She wanted him to be terrible so that she could add self-delusion to his other obvious traits of conceit and insensitivity, but unfortunately he wasn't. His voice was smooth and strong, and he had great range.

She also happened to notice the flex in his biceps that poked out of the short sleeves of his dark T-shirt and how his jeans fit nicely on slender hips.

He finished his song and fisted the air like he just won a boxing match. The audience went crazy. Eva couldn't help but join in the applause. Something about Sebastian was electric. His aura and competence, his popularity—she couldn't peel her eyes off him. His arm returned to its position around the girl beside him who hadn't smiled once. Such a contrast to Sebastian who couldn't stop smiling. He seemed quite taken by the pixie girl and kissed her excitedly on the cheek.

“Eva Baumann.”

What? Eva had been so busy watching the table of cool people, she hadn't been paying attention.

Herr Leduc's accented German bellowed again. “Eva Baumann.”

Eva's heart stopped. Then raced. Her hands broke out into a sweat, and she blinked back the tears welling up behind her eyes, which were opened far too wide. Her head prickled hotly, and she swallowed hard. She could sense the attention of the room, necks craning, everyone searching, waiting for the next act to stand.

Herr Leduc stared at her, and all she could do was shake her head. He gave her a gracious nod and called the next name.

A girl with short, dark hair bounced out of her seat, and within seconds Eva was forgotten. She took advantage of the swirl of commotion that occurred between acts, grabbing her guitar and cane, and limped to the entrance.

It was a terrible mistake to come, she thought as she hobbled down the crusty street. She kept her head bowed low against the cold, and gripped her guitar case and her cane. If she'd had a third hand, she'd swipe at the bitter tear that slid down her cheek.

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Irish Dance Diet - The Costs of Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 17:35:00 +0000

Me in my solo dress. It's not blinged out yet, and I want to wear it with socks, but I love it!
Photo: Christy Dorrity

What does it really take to be an adult competitive Irish dancer?

As I've been training for the World Irish Dance Association's European and World Championships, I've had a lot of different reactions from people. Those who don't dance are fascinated that a mom of five kids could qualify for and compete in something like a dance competition. Many of the dancers I meet tell me that they are inspired--they want to compete at World's someday.

How do you do it? They ask? Is it hard to juggle? I bet you are excited, and that is so cool that you are working so hard. Yes, I say, it is hard work, it's a daily struggle to balance family life with my dreams, and I am so very excited.

But for those of you who really are considering pursuing dancing as more than just exercise and a little fun, I want to go into a bit more detail.

I'm going to share with you the real, nitty gritty details of what lies ahead of an adult Irish dance competitor. That way, you know right up front what you are getting into.

1-Time

Are you willing to devote the time that it takes to really get yourself ready? In addition to regular classes, if you decide to go to a world competition, you will likely attend extra classes and private lessons, spend many weekends at qualifying competitions, and you will need to set aside time every day for practice.

2-Money

Competition can be very expensive. Yes, you can cut costs if you are smart. But if you consider that you will need to purchase a dress, a wig, shoes, socks, and accessories, and then factor in the travel costs it takes to attend qualifying feiseanna throughout the year, not to mention to the World competition itself, you might find that you can't quit your day job!

3-Family

Your hobby will be a sacrifice for your family. If they are supportive, and they know that this is your thing--your dream, hopefully they will be willing to sacrifice their time and maybe some of the family's money for you. My teenagers are often at home, babysitting, instead of with their friends while I dance. My husband sacrifices date nights and goes without soda when money gets tight. Many times my entire family travels, waiting all day to watch me dance for just a few minutes. They know it is important to me, and I strive to make the same sacrifices for their dreams.

4-Emotional

I had no idea when I began training for World's that I would go on such an emotional roller coaster. Daily I swing between confidence and the satisfaction that my body does what I tell it, to wondering what in the world I'm doing, and why I am putting so much time, energy, and money into a sport that is dominated by young girls. There are days when I hang my leaps and I feel on top of the world. And then other days my body screams at me, telling me that I'm not as young as I think.

5-Body

Champion level Irish dance competitors are athletes. If you expect to become an athlete, you need to treat your body accordingly.

When I started dabbling in competition as an adult, I had given birth to two children, and I wasn't in the best shape. I continued to dance through 3 more pregnancies. My body was worn out, a stomach hernia kept me from using my core muscles, and a slipped disc in my back further complicated things. Time after time I pushed my body to its limits, injuring myself over and over. Two years ago I came to a crossroads: either I needed to step back and do Irish dancing as a weekly adult class, or I could really make the changes in my life that were necessary in order to be a true competitor. I feel like I could have chosen either path and been happy. I chose to get my body in shape and push myself. I hired a personal trainer, and began conditioning my body for Irish dancing. Cardio, weights, and nutrition, in addition to extra dance classes are a part of my weekly regimen.

I don't mean for this list to sound overwhelming, or discouraging. Quite the opposite! I couldn't be more pleased with the journey Irish dance has taken me on later in life. But competition is not for everyone.

If you decide that this is your passion, and you want to pursue competition (like me), I have some advice for you.

Make a plan

What is it you really want? Are you doing this to get in good shape? Or is the love of performance pushing you? Do you dream of being on the big stage, or are you simply wanting to what happens when you develop your talent? Deciding what your goals are, and what success looks to you is critical.

Gather a team

Recruit friends and family members as a support system. You will depend on them emotionally, and even financially. Make sure that they are okay with your goals and that they are willing to help you get there.

Go for it!

Put your whole self into it. Do what it takes to get where you are wanting to go. When you are tempted to quit, remember why you started.

Enjoy the ride

You've probably heard the phrase, it's not about destination, it's about the journey. Allow yourself to make mistakes, to feel deeply, to celebrate the small victories along the way. The end result isn't what you truly gain in the end--it's what you've learned on the journey that counts.

Are you an adult Irish dancer? What have you done to reach your goals?

Mega Book Sale - Free or .99

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Yay! It's time for another book sale! We've got 14 great titles here. Books included are a few by Rachel Ann Nunes, me, Andrea Pearson, and Anita Stansfield, so make sure you scroll clear to the end.

Some of these books have never been discounted before, some are new, and some are back because readers keep asking for them. You should find several great reads! We have everything from children's books to adult novels, from romance to speculative fiction.

If you do find a book you enjoy, we hope you will take the time to give the author a nice review and maybe check out their other books. These prices are good through April 1st unless otherwise stated, so feel free to pass them along!

Samara: A Kilenya Romance by Andrea Pearson

Genre: YA romance

Buy for Kindle here (99 cents)

When Samara Oldroyd takes a break from her somewhat insane family to browse a music store, she meets the funniest, most attractive and awesome guy ever. A phone call interrupts their conversation, and she has to leave before she can find out anything about himówhat his name is, where he's from, and why his smile is so familiar.

Her wishes that they'll run into each other again come true, but not how she expects. When her older sister finally lets the family meet her new boyfriend, Samara is shocked to see it's the guy from the music store! Awkward and hilarious situations thrive as Samara tries in vain to undo the crush she's formed. Inspired by the film Dan in Real Life, this novella will tickle you pink.

The Cure by Teyla Branton

Second book in the Unbounded Series

Genre: Contemporary Urban fantasy

99 cents on Kindle (reg. 3.99) or buy for print

Has over 100 four- and five-star reviews!

Erin Radkeyís life has altered completely since her Change made her one of the Unbounded. Yet she has learned the hard way that some things never change.

Over the centuries the long-lived Unbounded have divided into two groups, the Emporium who craves money and power and will do anything to achieve its ends, including experimenting on its own people, and the Renegades who protect humanity. Erinís new abilities are tested as she and fellow Renegades fight the Emporium in a struggle that soon becomes all too personal, and where lines of loyalty are blurred by relationships of the past. Everything is at risk, including the lives of her friendsóand the love of Ritter Langton, the Renegade Unbounded who both infuriates and excites her.

The Ember Gods by Andrea Pearson

Second book in the Kilenya Series

Genre: Middle grade fantasy with 19 five-star reviews!

99 cents on Kindle (reg. 3.99) or buy for print

Jacob Clark has just returned from the world of Eklaron, where he frustrated the evil plans of the Lorkon and returned the magical Key of Kilenya to its rightful owners. His quest is far from over, thoughóAloren is trapped in Maivoryl City by the Ember Gods, and Jacob can't return to save her until he receives the potion that will protect his team from the corrosive influence of the Lorkon.

Balancing between this new world and his own proves tricky. Not only has he started his first year of high school, but his magical abilities are bringing him too much attention. He feels pulled by both sides, hoping he'll figure out his special powers to save Aloren in time. BTW, the first book The Key of Kilenya is FREE on Kindle March 26-28th during this promotion.

To Love and to Promise by Rachel Ann Nunes

Genre: Inspirational Romance

99 cents Kindle (reg. 3.99) or buy for print

When Brionney Fields marries handsome and charming Derek Roathe, she feels like her life is a fairy tale come true. And when baby Savannah comes along, she's sure of it. Then, with a horrifying discovery, the dream is shattered and her fairy tale begins to unravel. Trying to pick up the bits and pieces of her life, she wonders if she'll ever be able to take a chance at love again. The answer finally comes, but is Brionney ready for it? Can she set aside a world of pain for the hope of true love? She's heard all the promises before, but they've been empty and tainted by lies. Why should she believe them now? Join Brionney as she learns that the road to true love and happiness is never easy . . . but in the end it's worth every prayer, every tear, and every leap of faith along the way.

A Heartbeat Away by Rachel Ann Nunes

Genre: Inspirational

99 cents on Kindle (reg. 3.99)

"You think it's never going to happen to you. I know because that's how I wasóuntouchable. Bad things only happen to someone else. Or if something bad actually did happen, it was always something the doctor could fix with fiberglass or a pill. That's the way it was with my familyóat least until the year I turned thirteen."

When their young daughter, Kristin, is kidnapped, Gary and Angie Marshall struggle to make sense of the unthinkable. Who could do such a thing? And why Kristin? As more time passes in their desperate search for their daughter, their hopes slowly dwindle. They are left with "if onlys" and a glaring uncertainty that damages their marriage and their relationships with their other children, especially their oldest daughter, Meghan. Meanwhile, Kristin's first job in her new "life" is to heal the hearts of her family. But doing so turns out to be more of a challenge than she ever expected. But time is running out. As she blames herself for Kristin's disappearance, Meghan turns down a road that can only lead to more unhappiness. Kristin must find a way to help her sister find healingóand perhaps love.

Behind the Mask Part 1 by Anita Stansfield writing as Elizabeth D. Michaels

Genre: Historical romance

FREE for Kindle (reg. 99 cents - Free March 26-30 only)

Part 1 of Behind the Mask for an introductory price. There are three parts of this extended saga and each part is like a full book.

Abbi has the gift of dreams. But her uncanny ability to see glimpses of the future has no apparent purpose or meaning until a dream leads her to a man on the brink of despair and destruction. Cameron is a man without a name and without a country, framed for a crime he didnít commit. Long ago forced into exile and believed dead, the passing of years have defaced him of all hope. The country of Horstberg suffers beneath the weight of tyranny, and only Cameron holds the secret that could see her ruler undone and restore the people to peace and prosperity. While revolution brews and whispers of treason threaten all that is dear to Abbi, she remains unaware of her own ability to answer a nationís prayers. Trusting only her heart and the power of her dreams, Abbi gives all that she has to lead Cameron back into a civilized world, where love is real and freedom comes only in facing what hides behind the mask.

Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston

First book in the Secret Sisters series

Genre: LDS Cozy Mystery

99 cents on Kindle

Ida Mae Babbitt, president of the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society, didn't
mean to become a spy. But when visiting teaching stats are low and she
learns that one family under her care is in financial trouble, she'll do
whatever it takes to make sure they have what they need. If that
includes planting surveillance cameras in their home and watching them
from a parked car in the woods, well, isn't that what any caring Relief
Society president would do? With the help of her counselors Arlette and
Tansy, Ida Mae soon learns that there's more to the situation than meets
the eye. It's all in a day's work for the Relief Society. This is an
update of the original version published in 2010 with a purple cover.

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

Genre: YA Romance (over 400 five stars on Amazon!

99 cents on Kindle

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when youíre the ugly stepsister, and your obnoxiously perfectóread pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly niceóstepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you've had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattieís secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. Sheíll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattieís going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

Breathtaking Box Set - 7 Full Novels!

Genre: Clean Romance and Suspense

99 cents on Kindle through March 29th only

Books included:

Baggage Claim by Amanda Tru - A weekend trip to New York takes a dangerous turn when Rachel's luggage is lost and she is accosted by an infuriating Homeland Security agent.

A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis - Cami DiCarlo wasn't happy about being coerced to work at her father's latest hotel in the Rocky Mountains, but her expectations of a boring year are blown away by sexy landscape architect Vince Talmadge, and someone in the shadows who is out to bring her family down.

Home Before Dark by Christy Barritt - When country music star Daleigh McDermott digs deeper into what she believes is the murder of her father, the only person who gives credence to her concerns is small town mechanic Nick Shields. As they dig deeper into things best left alone, they realize they must rely on each other or the darkness they discover will swallow them whole.

You Belong With Me by Shannon Guymon - Love could restart a stalled heart. Love could comfort and cleanse. Love could renew. Love was a miracle. Burned out social worker, Layla Kendall is about to learn exactly what love can do.

Unbelievable by Sherry Gammon - Unbelievable, Book 2 in the Port Fare Series. A firestorm named Delilah Dreser is about to ignite Cole Colter's quiet little world. But will he and his friends survive?

Blog This by Cami Checketts - In a race against time, can Natasha evade a hitman and expose her enemies before the assassin murders her family and shatters her world?

Cassie's Cowboy Crave by Kimberly Krey - This fun western romance features a Seattle editor, a handsome cowboy, and a witness protection program that has them posing as husband and wife.

Fair Catch by Cindy Roland Anderson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

99 cent Kindle (reg. 2.99) or buy for print

Ellie Garrett never planned on being a divorced, single motheróshe also never planned to get married again. Ever. Her ordinary life changes when the house across the street is sold. The new owner is Nick Coulteróquarterback and MVP for the Sacramento Defenders. Oh yeah, heís also one of People magazineís top 100 most beautiful people and Americaís most eligible bachelor. So why would she pick him to have her first crush on since her divorce? Recently retired from the NFL, Nick is more than ready to find a wife and start a family. He's tired of his high-profile lifestyle and moves to Pleasant Wood, Colorado, hoping to finally settle down and focus on his foundation Kids Come First. It would just feel nice to be a normal guy. Of course being rebuffed by Ellie the first few times he meets her makes him feel a little too normal. As Nick and Ellie become acquainted, their mutual attraction is hard to ignore. But Ellieís been hurt before by her womanizing ex-husband. Sheís not sure that Nick has left behind his playboy reputation. Can she risk falling in love with the celebrity football player or will she miss her chance at scoring big in the game of love?

Gathering Storm by Kenneth R. Tarr

The Last Days Series

Genre: inspirational apocalyptic

FREE on Kindle (reg 3.99 - Free until March 26-30 only) or buy print

THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY IS UPON US

Steven Christopher struggles to make sense of his life after his wife abandons him and their three children to join a polygamous cult. He meets Mary Fleming at his new LDS ward, but his bitter experience with marriage makes him feel unworthy and afraid to give his heart to another woman. Mary, recovering from her own failed relationship, sees something in Steven that even he doesn't realize exists, but how can he trust her? Then the first great catastrophe strikes. Steven and Mary soon find themselves in the midst of apocalyptic prophecies regarding latter-day eventsóboth terrible and marvelousóthat unfold shortly before the Second Coming of the Lord. As natural disasters, plagues, anarchy, and the collapse of the American government lead to the degradation of civilization throughout the world, a great worldwide secret combination expands its evil influence. The people of God are the only power that can stand against this evil, people like Steven and Maryóif they will accept the challenge.

The Whispering Ruins by S. Jackson Rivera

Jungle Series

Genre: YA fantasy

99 cents on Kindle (3.99) Or buy for print

A mysterious whispering from ruins deep within the jungle pulls Sunna from the trance that has been holding her mind hostage for years. Kael, the young prince, seeks adventure outside the palace walls and is also drawn to the jungle. There he meets Sunna, and their fates become intertwined. When three dangerous men come to their land and begin their hunt for a missing fugitive, the secrets that have shielded both Sunna and Kael are nearly revealed, and supernatural events threaten to destroy everything they've worked to createóleaving their lives in ruins.

At Midnight by Stephanie Fowers

Twisted Tales Series

Genre: YA fantasy

99 cents on Kindle (Reg. 2.99) or buy for print

Stop the Clock from Striking Twelve!

Bridgette has Cinderella complex big time. She has to find true love's kiss to get some weird guy off her back who claims to be her faery godmother. But who is she really? Loser of Omak High? Victim of the evil stepmother who runs the group home?

Not-so-proud owner of a hearth where fire-starting goblins live?

Asylum wannabe with occasional schizophrenic episodes? Not even Bridgette knows. Even if her faery godmother wasn't some guy who knows nothing about romance, how is Bridgette supposed to get true love's kiss if everyone she cares about disappears? Bridgette must find out who she really is in the faerytales or she'll lose everything.

Mansfield Ranch by Jenni James

The Jane Austen Diaries - YA Romance - 144 pages

99 cents on Kindle (reg. 4.99)

Does true love really prevail?

All Lilly Price has ever known is living in the shadow of her widely successful foster family. But when a twist of fate deals Lilly the hand of Harrison Crawford, the most popular guy in Bloomfield, NM, everything flips upside down. Sean Benally is a hard worker, heís funny, heís generous, and heís kind. Heís also the most amazing guy Lilly has ever known. And she's totally fallen in love with him. But heís her foster brother . . . Now she must choose between the unavailable love of her lifeóor the guy who promises to be available forever.

Awakening by Christy Dorrity

The Geis Series

Genre: YA fantasy

FREE on Kindle (Reg. 3.99) or buy for print

. . . because some Celtic stories wonít be contained in myth.
A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's familyóat least thatís what sheís been told. McKaylaís eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is realóitís just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesnít need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way. When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities. After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.

A Challenge for Brittany by Lisa J. Peck

CTR Club ages 6-10

99 cents on Kindle FREE on Nook

Brittany Stevenson, her little sister Christine, and her best friend Meagan have been asked by their bishop to be friends with Parkeróa new kid in the ward. But Parker is autistic and loves to play with Brittany's braids. He even tries to stick them in his mouth! Brittany isn't sure anyone can overcome that kind of embarrassment! Or is there a way?

That's all for this time! I hope you find a lot of enjoyment in these books. If so, please pass word on. And remember that a kind review really helps authors spend more time writing and less time begging random people to buy their books. :-) Thanks for your support!

Boxed set novels of love and suspense

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Breathtaking: Seven Bestselling Novels of Love and Suspense

Boxed set is only $.99 March 24th through March 29th.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords

Unbelievable by Sherry Gammon

Deliah Dreser's in town to take care of family business. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but there's more to Lilah than meets the eye. Cole's in danger of losing his heart when this firestorm throws sparks his way. Is she simply playing him for the fool in order to exact revenge for her brother's murders?

Bestselling author Sherry Gammon's reviewers exclaim; "She has a gift for touching her readers with beautiful, gripping stories that you can’t put down."

Home Before Dark by Christy Barritt

Nothing good ever happens after dark. Those were the words country singer Daleigh McDermott’s father always repeated.

Now her father is dead, and Daleigh finds a hidden journal hinting that his death was no accident. Small town mechanic Ryan Shields is the only one who seems to believe Daleigh. As the two work to unravel the mystery, it becomes obvious that someone wants them dead. They must rely on each other—and on God—if they hope to make it home before the darkness swallows them whole.

Award-Winning Suspense Novelist and Bestselling Amazon Author, touted as "scary, funny, passionate, and quirky" by USA Today.

Baggage Claim by Amanda Tru

Rachel Saunders is looking forward to her all-expense paid weekend trip to New York. But, when her luggage is lost and she is accosted by an infuriating Homeland Security agent, events take a dangerous turn.

Amanda Tru, Bestselling Amazon Author of Romance and Suspense. Discover the author who, as an Amazon reviewer raves, “continues to impress me and dominate my time with a book I can’t put down even after it’s ended.”

Cassie's Cowboy Crave by Kimberly Krey

In a moment of weakness, Shane steals a kiss.

In return, Cassie steals his heart…

When Cassie is forced to join the witness protection program, she fears her life is over… but then she meets Shane Emerson — the hunky cowboy posing as her husband. Will this sham marriage turn into the real thing, or will a hidden danger put it all at risk?

Kimberly Krey writes romance that’s clean without losing the steam. What’s Beyond Forks calls this Best-selling Western Romance author “the master of romantic tension.”

A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis

Cami DiCarlo is not happy when her father forces her into heading up guest services at his newest five-star hotel and unveils the existence of four half-sisters at the same time, insisting they live together while they launch the new resort.

When she meets Vince, the sweet, sexy landscaper her father would never have approved of, Cami can’t say no. If only she could be sure she is on the right track—and that they will be able to stop the person who is trying to destroy everything.

You Belong with Me by Shannon Guymon

Layla Kendall is a burned out social worker one step away from a major depression. When she and her sisters inherit their grandmother's bakery, she doesn't know if she can trust her good fortune or not. But the chance to be with her sisters and get away from the heartache and pain she's faced day in and day out is a chance she's going to take. With Layla's new life, come new friendships, including Michael Bender, a single dad. She doesn't trust men but Michael's little girl grabs her by the heart and won't let go.

Shannon Guymon is an Amazon Bestselling Author of lighthearted and clean romance who according to her many fans, has the ability to paint pictures of her characters so real that readers would know them if they saw them walking down the street.

Blog This by Cami Checketts

Devastated by the loss of her brother, Natasha Senecot exposes the dangers of Matthew Chrysler's violent video games, bankrupting and humiliating him. Chrysler sends a hit man after her. In a race against time, can Natasha expose Chrysler before his assassin murders her family and shatters her world?

Bestselling author Cami Checketts has been touted as, "A genius! She writes about topics that aren't widely discussed, and she does such a brilliant job of crafting these things into wonderful stories that touch your heart and remain with you for days afterwards."

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