Bonnie Erina Wheeler

A New Author You Need To Discover

2015-10-15T13:59:00.003-04:00

I am so thrilled to share this with you. D.A. Roach is a very talented author with a strong connection to the illness her character has in her novel. Her passion for the cause shines through her writing and brings a reality to her characters that many authors miss out on.

Rarity
by D.A. Roach
Release Date: June 5th 2015
Limitless Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

Brogen Mathers can’t deal with teen drama… As an empath, she is constantly bombarded with other people’s energies. Despite coping techniques taught by her psychologist mother, it’s often too much to bear, forcing her to avoid most activities a typical high school junior would enjoy. Jay Wilken won’t let his past define him… A dead mother and an alcoholic father brought Jay to Stanton, but he doesn’t want pity. His good looks, charisma, and friendly nature quickly win over the whole student body, but he has his eye on one girl…Brogen. Brogen can’t believe anyone could be so genuinely nice. It has to be an act, right? But when Jay literally saves her from deadly jaws, she has to admit he’s exactly what he appears, and he’s worth risking the potential emotional upheaval. “Drama” might as well be Becca Grant’s middle name… Another newcomer to Stanton, Becca’s blonde beauty and abundant attitude shoots her straight to the top of the popularity charts—and she believes Jay belongs right there beside her. Accustomed to getting exactly what she wants, she launches a relentless mean-girl campaign to shake up Brogen and claim Jay for her own. Everything changes with a devastating diagnosis… When Jay learns he has a rare and potentially fatal disorder, he keeps it secret and begins to push Brogen away to spare her future pain—which is exactly the sort of opening Becca is waiting for. As Jay’s well-meaning deception unravels, Brogen realizes there is much more than her heart at stake… But how far is she willing to go to fight for someone she loves?

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Amazon UK

Excerpt

Our eyes were locked on each other, and I was glad to see he seemed lighter. He took a step closer, closing the space between us so our bodies were touching each other. I felt my heartbeat quicken, and butterflies fluttered about my stomach. This was an intimate space, and he clearly entered it. The air between us changed, it was more electric. He put his hands on each side of my face, and then gently but possessively, he took my mouth against his. He kissed gently at first, and I felt my knees grow weak. His lips were soft, and his breath was hot. I let my mind go and became enveloped in the overwhelming love that Jay exuded. He urged my mouth open and our kiss became more intimate. I felt the heat rising in my cheeks and followed Jay’s lead. His hands trailed down my arms and wrapped around my torso. The kisses returned to gentle nibbles, and then to sweet pecks before he pulled away to look at me. All traces of sadness were gone from his face, from inside of me. There was light and love there instead. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” he said.

About the Author

D.A. Roach has been telling stories since she was a young girl in the suburbs of Chicago. In college she met the man of her dreams, her happily ever after, and married him 2 weeks after graduating. They have 3 kids together and a pet cockatiel named Gimli. D.A. did not find a love for books until after college. Her parents were immigrants from Lithuania and found tv and radio easier ways to hear stories so they did not do much reading or encourage it. But once she finished college and D.A. had free time, she discovered how amazing it was to get lost in a story.

D.A. is a full time mom and wife. When she is not doing domestic things (laundry, bills, etc) she is writing, reading, creating mixed media art, and helping beautify her kids’ school landscape. Oh, and she is ALWAYS listening to music. Her favorite authors include Rebecca Donovan, Richelle Mead, Larissa Ione, Stephanie Meyer, E.L. James, and Sylvia Day. Reading great works from authors like these has motivated D.A. to write her own stories. She hopes to make positive changes in the world with her art and writing.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

― George Bernard Shaw

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Will You Vote?

2015-10-08T14:04:00.000-04:00

Can You Help Me Out?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have submitted my latest novel to be published to Kindle Scout. Today begins its 30 day campaign and I need Your help! Yes, You!

Kindle Scout is Amazon's new reader powered publishing program. Authors like me, who have a completed novel they are proud of, can submit their manuscript to Kindle Scout and if they think readers will like it, they will create a campaign page for you and all of the others they choose. Your campaign will ONLY run for 30 days and if a writer doesn't get enough "nominations" - they get their manuscript back. HOWEVER, if they get many nominations, Amazon will offer them a publishing contract for five years.

My novel is listed under my pen name, Bonnie E. Ruane, and it is titled Fragile Broken Things. If you would click on the link HERE and vote for me, I would be so thankful. Also, if I am selected to have a contract with Amazon, they will send a free copy of the book to each person who voted.

Again - I wish to thank all of my readers who have sent well wishes to me during my illness over the last two years. When I feel healed enough, I plan to revisit my Eris Coven novels for all of you.

Where Have I Been?

2015-10-06T13:11:00.000-04:00

Where Have I Been You Ask?

That is a well deserved question with a complicated answer.

While in the process of writing Book 3 in the Eris Coven Series, I became deathly ill. So ill in fact, that I didn't expect to pull through. After months of hospitalizations and physical rehabilitation to learn to walk again, my thought process left me incapable of communicating with my family, let alone writing novels. After my aorta dissected and I was rushed into emergency surgery, my iliac artery ruptured leaving me with massive issues. Days later my body filled with infection and I almost lost my life and my leg. Then my poor spleen called it quits and when they removed that, my lungs filled with embolisms. Lots of other icky things took place after that, but let me just say, I felt like poor Lexi being chased by her evil stepbrother.

All the meds, all the anesthesia, and recovery left me weak and sad. I had to mourn my old life because I was suddenly forty and disabled. Wheelchair, walkers, bed rails - you get the point. It took a long tie before I thought I could go back to writing. My genetic disorder is called Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. It is a mean old nasty antagonist. I think I would rather hang out with Strix than live with this thing. My life expectancy is shortened now and I think that was another reason why I held back from writing - I wanted to live in the moment.

I am ready to start writing again. I just sent Fragile Broken Things into Amazonscout. I don't know if they will select it but of they do, I'll need everyone's support by nominating it. If not, perhaps I can publish it elsewhere. I am also working on Find Me (working title) and a memoir. Also, for my Eris friends, Soul Kissed will be completed but I need to reread those books and remember my own world I created so I don't accidentally have Liz married to Torin or some other mishap.

I do want to say how much I have appreciated all of the kind messages left here and through Goodreads or on my facebok pages. It was a wonderful thing to be reminded that I was missed while in the depths of recovering and learning to dress and walk again.

Until I write again, take good care and stay out of the woods at night. :)

Blood Twist: Available Early on Kindle

2012-08-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

It's official! Blood Twist: An Erris Coven Novel, Book 2 is available for sale on Amazon's kindle!

Get your copy HERE!

Working Cover Reveal: Find Me

2012-08-17T01:01:00.002-04:00

A working title and working cover for my next novel and first contemporary YA! Coming soon. Stay tuned for a blurb!

Blood Twist Teaser!

2012-08-01T13:00:00.003-04:00

An excerpt of the upcoming release!

Liz leaned back over, this time keeping her voice a hushed whisper. “You don’t."

“Don’t what?” he asked.

“You don’t disappoint,” she said honestly. “You’re just different than I expected.”

He smiled, causing her heartbeat to hasten. “What did you expect?”

She didn’t know whether to look in his eyes or at his perfect mouth. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I guess someone dark and dangerous.”

Braden’s hand snaked out and caught her wrist. Surprised with how quick he moved, she sat frozen and just watched as he trailed his fingers along the vulnerable flesh of her inner arm. His fingers left a wonderful warming sensation trickling deep into her skin.

“I can be dark and dangerous sometimes,” he whispered, his intense blue eyes holding her in place. The slight huskiness of his voice made her breath catch, but she gently pulled free from his hold.

Liz swallowed; completely stunned by the physical reaction she had to his touch. He wasn’t the first attractive guy she had ever been around, but he was the first to make her melt with a single stroke of her skin.

For a moment, she thought he might kiss her. What shocked her more was that she would have let him.

What was it about Irish guys? The only guy she allowed herself to fantasize about was Danny O’Donoghue, the lead singer from The Script. But he was unreachable and safe to have a thing for from a distance. Braden was right beside her and leaving her acutely aware of his presence.

As Liz sat back in her seat willing her heart rate to slow down, she couldn’t help but grin. The damphyr was full of surprises.

-Blood Twist: An Erris Coven Novel

What's New?

2012-08-01T09:55:00.001-04:00

Now that I have completed my contemporary women's fiction novel Body of Ash, I have determined to finish Blood Twist. How I have missed my young adult series!

There is a tentative deadline set and I hope to have Blood Twist released on Kindle September 1st. The release dates for Soul Kissed, Flame Played, and Fate Fallen are still unknown, but I hoping to be more productive with my writing schedule now that I have completed my studies at the amazing University of Connecticut.

My time studying creative writing at human development and family studies at UCONN was well spent. One of the surprising turns of events in obtaining my BA was the oportunity to study writing with poet Ira Joe Fisher and prose/ poet author Davyne Verstandig. While taking two full back to back semesters with Davyne, she pushed me to dig outside of my comfort zone and write a novel that didn't have vampires, damphyrs, werewolves, or magic. Instead, I explored a story where mother and daughter relationships are strained when a local pastor's sexual addiction sweeps them into a world of uncertainty and obsession. I would describe it as an observant novel about losing yourself and having it all. Motherhood, forgiveness, infidelity - coming home is never easy. Although I have sent out a few queries, I will probably self-publish Body of Ash. I would love to experience both traditional publishing and continue indie publishing. As soon as the decision is made, I will release my news here.

Thank you all for your continued support and friendship! As always, write and let me know any questions you may have about the Erris Coven and if you have any fan fiction you would like to share, send it along and I will post it here on my blog! Add me as a friend on Facebook and we can chat.

Until then - happy reading everyone.

On Writing

2012-04-02T20:17:00.001-04:00

One of my absolute favorite topics to read about is another author's story of how and why they entered the writing life. I find each unique story to be inspiring and insightful!

Tonight, I read Elizabeth Gilbert's (best known for her memoir Eat, Pray, Love) article on the subject. I am attaching the link, so please check it out. One important point she made is not to "pre reject yourself" - especially without ever having tried to share your work. I also love how she explains that writing is for all ages.

http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/writing.htm

Another author with extremely insightful writing on the process of writing is Dani Shapiro. Her blog "Moments of Being" is stuffed full of exquisite writer's life tidbits.

http://danishapiro.com/category/blog/

The Truth on Blood Twist

2012-02-21T08:41:00.001-05:00

So, lately I have been asked about Blood Twist and when my readers can expect Book 2 in The Erris Coven Series. I have decided to post here the update on the the status of my work in progress. As I posted late last fall, I was offered the opportunity to take a writing class with legendary author and poet Davyne Verstandig. Upon meeting her, she challenged me to temporarily put Blood Twist on hold until I have completed a few months of writing training. Reluctantly, I agreed - after all, I want to be a better writer of course. So, I put the mostly completed manuscript aside and began writing Body of Ash in class. My class will end in April - in which time I hope to begin working on Blood Twist again. The only problem is....the computer I have Blood Twist on has crashed and died. Yes, Yes, I know - how could I have not had it backed up times ten? I keep asking myself that same question. But, all that remains is a few sample chapters I have on email that were sent to beta readers early on. I have my notes and my outline - but I wonder how long it will take to rewrite and complete the new novel? I don't think it can be exactly the same, but hope the new writing skills I have developed and the love I have for Lexie, Torin, Braden and Liz, as well as the rest of the Erris Coven family will help me rewrite - revise - reinvision the novel that was almost completely done before.

In the meantime, I am going to finish writing Body of Ash for my University of Connecticut class. It is so different than Fate Fixed or Blood Twist because it is not paranormal or young adult, but a contemporary women's fiction novel about a small New England family that crumbles under the weight of a father's addiction and the need to break down appearances. I don't know if I will self-publish it or seek traditional publishing, most likely it will be self-published though.

After completing the new edition of Blood Twist, I will be working on Breaking Jade - a young adult paranormal novel I am very excited about writing.

I want to thank all of my readers for their passion about Fate Fixed. It means the world to me when I hear from each and every one of you. At this time, there are still five novels planned in the series - plus a few extra surprises as well. If anyone ever has questions about the series or characters, please feel free to email me at compellingread(at)gmail(dot)(com). I love hearing from readers. If anyone would like to send me any fan fiction they have written about Lexie and Torin, I would be happy to post it here on my blog.

Until next time!

Cover Reveal - EBook Edition - Glass Ashes by Miranda Wheeler

2012-01-14T16:34:00.000-05:00

It's absolutely gorgeous!!! The graphic artist who designed it designed my covers as well!!!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Tish Thawer!

2012-01-06T02:00:00.006-05:00

Today I have the lovely and talented Tish Thawer stopping by for an interview on her Scent of a White Rose tour! Be sure to also read the amazing 5 star review I gave her excellent book as well.

1) Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Absolutely! My official bio reads: I’m Tish Thawer and am currently working on The Rose Trilogy. A paranormal romance featuring a young woman named Rose, and Christian, the vampire who loves her.

Before becoming a writer I worked as a computer consultant, a photographer and a graphic designer. I also operate a custom glass etching business, in addition to being a wife and mother of 3 wonderful children.

I've been a fan of the paranormal for as long as I can remember. Anything to do with superpowers, myth and magic has always held a special place in my heart. From my first paranormal cartoon, Isis, to the phenomenon that is Twilight, this genre has always been a part of my life.

My unofficial bio is: I'm boring. I'm a complete a hermit. I love to stay home to read and write. I love watching movies and playing games with my family. I love doing landscape photography and taking road trips. My favorite food are mushrooms–I could eat them on almost anything. I'm a whip cream addict–can't drink my coffee or hot cocoa without it. I will only own arctic type dogs. I love all things fantasy and magical and have a thing for Ian Somerhalder. :p

2) Please tell us about your work?

The brief summary: The Rose Trilogy is a paranormal romance featuring a young woman named Rose, and Christian, the vampire who loves her.

The slightly longer summary: Rose is an "innocent" human girl who carries a secret. Christian is a vampire who's completely in love with her. They both face separate challenges, but when those challenges collide, they will change their relationship forever.

3) What is your favorite part about writing?

I love waking up with an idea in my head and then being able to create a new world based on that. For me when I sit down at my computer, it's almost like automatic writing; the story just rolls out onto the page and then suddenly I'm immersed in this new world where amazing things happen. It's the joy of being able to create something that can serve as an escape for anyone who reads it.

4) Would you say your work is character driven or plot driven?

I think both. I'm not sure you can have a good story without a combination of the two. My characters are driven because they know what they want, but it's the plot that has them battling to get there.

5) What inspired you to write your latest story? Did you experience any roadblocks while getting into your characters?

As clichés as it sounds, I had a dream and woke up with the title of the first book in my head: Scent of a White Rose. Within minutes I had the other two and knew that these would be about a girl named Rose. The first book portrays her as an innocent–hence the "white" Rose. The second; Blood of a Red Rose, will follow Rose as she explores a darker side of herself, and the third; Death of a Black Rose, is about the turning point where she becomes truly dark, and whether Christian will be able to save her.(Sorry, I know that's kinda vague, but did you really expect me to give too much away? LOL)

As for any roadblocks, not really. I knew who my characters were from the beginning, but there were a couple that I needed to flesh out more once I got to the end of the story. So I went back and added a little more background information and detail about certain characters.

6) If you could spend one day with any of your characters, who would you spend it with?

Evangeline. She's my favorite! She's beautiful, smart, caring and old...imagine all that I could learn.

7) What would you say your greatest strength as a writer is?

Oh wow! That's a tough question for me because I constantly think, "I can do better." But...my editor says that she enjoys my world building. The details I include and how I portray things so that they come across just as I imagined them. I hope she's right! LOL

8) How would you describe your writing process? Do you make an outline first?

No. I don't make an outline. As I mentioned above, things just tend to fly from my head onto the page. I can literally have the entire book's plot laid out in my head within hours, and then when I start typing the details just fill in–including my characters names. It's really a case of them telling me what their names are and what they're doing, not the other way around.

9) I love reading novels from independent authors and small publishing companies. Do you have a favorite you can recommend?

Nope. I can't answer that one. There are so many amazing authors out there that I enjoy, I couldn't possibly pick just one.

10) Do you have any words of wisdom for anyone considering publishing?

I would say...just go for it. Don't let the fear of not being good enough stop you from going after your dream. But instead, let it be the motivating factor for you to really strive to do your best work. Find a good cover artist, and a great editor–do not publish without having your work edited. It can make all the difference in the world.

11) Did you take an active part in creating your cover(s)? Do you enjoy that aspect of publishing?

I found Regina Wamba, owner of Mae I Design and Photography after seeing some of her work on another author's website. I contacted her with my ideas and sent some samples of what I was wanting to do and what "feel" I wanted my covers to have. Then, she blew me away. Her design took what I had envisioned and turned it into magic. I'm in awe of her talent and absolutely love her!

12) What are your future plans in writing?

I am actively working on books two and three of The Rose Trilogy, that is my first priority. But I was invited to submit a short-story for an anthology that I'm working on as well. I also have another trilogy that I'm 90% done with book one, and then have a fantasy series that I'll be working on that will consist of five short novellas. So my future plans? Just keep writing! ;)

13) Is there anything else you would like to share with us today?

Yes ma'am. In appreciation for all those who are taking the time to follow my blog tour I would like to share the details of my giveaway once again. At the bottom of this post, you'll find an image of smoking white roses (take note of how many). Click on the image and you'll be link to my contact page where you'll need to sent me comment (using the comment form), with the number of smoking roses that you found and where you found them. On January 28th, I will post a questionnaire on my blog and the first person who has found all the smoking roses, and who correctly answers the questionnaire will win the swag package that I've put together. It includes; bookmarks, a signed notecard, a magnet, a key chain, a coffee cup, a beautiful Scent of a White Rose journal, and a signed copy of the book.

(There will also be some bookmarks, key chains, signed notecards and some magnets up for grabs at specific stops along the tour. - Check my blog for details)

Smoking Rose Graphic! Treasure Hunt!

14) Also, please tell us where we can find your work online?

tishthawer.blogspot.com

www.tishthawer.com

facebook.com/TishThawer

facebook.com/TheRoseTrilogy.TishThawer

@TishThawer on Twitter

goodreads.com/TishThawer

Thank you Tish for the great interview. I loved your book and your covers are dreamy! Best wishes with the trilogy!

I invite all of my followers to check out her amazing book:

Amazon: Here

Barnes & Noble: Here

Smashwords: Here

Review: Scent of a White Rose

2012-01-06T01:00:00.002-05:00

Review: Scent of a White Rose by Tish Thawer

* * * * *

When my author friends have new books coming out, I love to support them by inviting them to guest post on my blog and to do interviews. When I learned that Tish Thawer’s novel, Scent of a White Rose, was being released, I wanted to do more than just invite her to make my blog a stop on her tour – I desired the pleasure of being able to drift away into her unique paranormal world with an ARC copy of my own to escape into! So, with my boys at school and hubby at work, (my afternoon free from distraction), I pulled out my new fleece blanket, favorite fuzzy socks, and a cup of gingerbread coffee and curled up by the fire with my Kindle Fire. Within moments of the very first chapter, I was swept into Thawer’s paranormal romance that was filled with suspense and bits of mystery, creepy antagonists and sexy vampires – all much to my liking!

This book had all of the elements I enjoy in a young adult paranormal romance.

1) The characters are multidimensional and interesting. Although there were times I wanted to chastise Rose for having the language of a truck driver or smack her Dad for being blind and controlling – the flaws Thawer crafted in her characters make them realistic and believable. She didn’t take a cookie cutter approach which was refreshing. For example – there were times I thought Rose was too immature for 20, but then, taking into consideration how much she and her father had been through – it made sense.

2) Excellent Pacing. This author has mastered her narrative drive which I personally appreciate. Her writing his crisp and to the point – there are no pages of nonstop scenery slowing down the action!

3) Steamy Romance. I loved the relationship between these two lovers. It wasn’t co-dependent and creepy, but they really had deep emotions for each other. How that will be resolved in the future books shall be interesting. (If Rose can’t be Christian’s consort – every available female reader will want the job!)

4) Multiple Points of View. Maybe I’m biased because that is a writing technique that I employ myself, but I find it refreshing to not just be in one person’s head. Of course, it will depend on the novel but I think the author gave us just enough insight into each of the main characters to provide an appropriate amount of structure and to further the plot.

5) Just the right length. We’ve all read books that have either ended too abruptly or went on and on long after the plot was dead. Not the case for Scent of a White Rose. It was a pleasurable quick read that left enough intrigue and care for the characters that I will want to read the others in the series without being overdone.

Overall – excellent book and I recommend it if you are a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, The Blood Coven Vampire Series by Mari Mancusi, Rachel Caine’s Morganville Vampire’s Series, and of course, my first novel, Fate Fixed. I highly recommend the read and give it five out five stars.

So, where can you buy this gem?

Amazon:Here

Barnes & Noble: Here

Smashwords: Here

In Leah's Wake Author Guest Blog!

2011-12-14T01:46:00.002-05:00

Announcing the In Leah’s Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour! As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the In Leah’s Wake eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including Amazon gift cards of up to $500 in amount and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 16th, so you don’t miss out.

To Win the Prizes

Purchase your copy of In Leah’s Wake for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

...And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Radio Interview with Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We interviewed Terri on our radio show Sunday night and have embedded the full podcast and blogged about its highlights. Give it a listen and then leave a comment on the blog post. This is a great chance to get to know more about this inspiring and friendly author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there! Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: In Leah's Wake has taken the publishing world by storm. Get the book for just 99 cents http://ow.ly/7ywpZ #whirlwind Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the In Leah’s Wake book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that? Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the In Leah’s Wake book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Win a $500 Amazon gift card, simply by leaving a comment on Terri’s most recent blog post. Yup, you read that correctly—$500! How easy is that? An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About In Leah’ Wake: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn’t want to be perfect anymore. While her parents fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah’s younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. What happens when love just isn’t enough? Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About the Author: Terri Giuliano Long grew up in the company of stories both of her own making and as written by others. Books offer her a zest for life’s highs and comfort in its lows. She’s all-too-happy to share this love with others as a novelist and a writing teacher at Boston College. She was grateful and thrilled beyond words when her award-winning debut literary novel, In Leah’s Wake, hit the Barnes and Noble and Amazon bestseller lists in August. She owes a lot of wonderful people – big time! – for any success she’s enjoyed! Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

What’s the Story, Morning Glory?

The Importance of Music and how it Inspired In Leah's Wake

Although I find it too distracting to listen to music while I write, inspiration for my stories often arises from music. While I was writing In Leah’s Wake, songs brought me into the emotional state necessary to write difficult scenes. Songs set a mood, which helped me envision places, and songs helped me to identify and shape the book’s themes. The novel opens with Zoe and Will listening to the Van Morrison song “Tupelo Honey,” a sweet love song that gives their relationship context by suggesting happier, better days. “Showdown at Big Sky,” which Will puts on the stereo next, foreshadows the problems on the horizon, and “Face in the Crowd” speaks to the profound loneliness Will feels as he waits up for Leah that night, imaging all the unthinkable horrors that might have befallen his daughter. Later in the book, the song “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” from Evita, gave me a glimpse into Zoe’s fractured emotional state—remorse compelled by abiding love—as she drives home, wondering what to expect next from her rebellious teenage daughter: “I still need your love after all that I've done . . . I love you and I hope you love me . . .” “Stardog Champion” from Stardog Champion by Mother Love Bone, suggests power, so appropriate to the post-fight euphoria felt by Todd and Lupo after a showdown with Will. Often, songs transport me to a place. Listening to Miles Davis one evening brought me, in my mind, to the coffeehouse Zoe visits with the policeman, Jerry Johnson. Music also helps me to clarify themes. One night, on our way home from dinner, my husband, Dave, played the Bruce Springsteen album Greetings From Asbury Park. The song “Growin’ Up” struck a nerve and I insisted on listening to it over and over. I saw Leah, a good kid, just trying to grow up and make her way in the world. I heard “Champagne Super Nova,” from the Oasis CD What’s the Story? Morning Glory, when I stepped out of the shower one morning. Our house was wired for sound and Dave was playing the new CD he’d just bought. As with “Growin’ Up,” I insisted that he replay the song, and then replay it again. The pivotal scene, where Justine asks Leah for a cigarette and Leah allows her little sister to smoke, blossomed as I listened to the music. As I wrote, music came to play a defining role in the book, and I would often search for the right music after writing a scene. The Liszt piano solo “Hungarian Rhapsodies” mirrors Zoe’s frenzied mind as she drives home from her motivational workshop, the day after Leah shows up drunk at 3:00 a.m., after a wild party. The same happened with “Paranoid Android,” from Okay Computer by Radiohead, “I’m On Fire,” from the Bruce Springsteen album Born in the USA, “Stardog Champion,” from Stardog Champion by Mother Love Bone, “I Loves You Porgy” from Porgy and Bess, and “Misguided Angel,” from The Trinity Session by the Cowboy Junkies. Without music, In Leah’s Wake would be a very different – and for me, the writer, much less compelling book. For those of you who, like me, find inspiration in music, here’s the soundtrack. Enjoy!

Soundtrack from In Leah’s Wake

“Growin’ Up,” Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ, Bruce Springsteen, Sony Records, 1972 “Tupelo Honey,” Tupelo Honey, Van Morrison, Polydor/Pgd, 1971 “Showdown At Big Sky,” Robbie Robertson, Robbie Robertson, Universal Int’l, 1987 “A Face In The Crowd,” Full Moon Fever, Tom Petty , MCA, 1989 “John Barleycorn,” John Barleycorn Must Die, Traffic, Island Records, 1970 “Not A Pretty Girl,” Not a Pretty Girl, Ani DiFranco, Righteous Babe, 1995 Hungarian Rhapsodies, Franz Liszt, Leslie Howard solo piano, Hyperion, 1999 “Testify,” The Battle of Los Angeles, Rage Against The Machine, Sony Records, 1999 “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” Evita (Music From The Motion Picture), Madonna, Warner Bros./WEA, 1996 “The Ride of the Valkyries,” Wagner Without Words, Conducted by George Szell, Performed by the Cleveland Orchestra, Sony Records, 1991 “Chase The Blues Away,” Morning Glory: The Tim Buckley Anthology, Tim Buckley, Elektra/ WEZ, 1966 “Champagne Supernova,” (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis, Sony, 1995 “The Candy Shop,” The Massacre, Fifty Cent, Aftermath, 2005 “Vital Transformation,” Inner Mounting Flame, The Mahavishnu Orchestra Jazz, Sony 1971 “Strawberry Fields Forever,” Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles, Capitol Records, 1967 “Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5,” Mozart: The Five Violin Concertos by Itzhak Perlman violin, Weiner Philharmoniker and James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon, 1995 “Surrey With The Fringe on Top,” Steamin, Mile Davis, Prestige, 1956 “Come As You Are,” Nevermind, Nirvana, Geffen Records, 1991 “Paranoid Android,” Okay Computer, Radiohead, Capitol Records, 1997 “I’m On Fire,” Born in The USA, Bruce Springsteen, Sony, 1984 “Stardog Champion,” Stardog Champion, Mother Love Bone, Mercury/Universal, 1992 “I Loves You, Porgy,” The Melody At Night With You, Keith Jarrett, EMC Records, 1900 “Hasta Siempre, Witchi-Tai-To, Jan Garbarek and Bobo Stenson Quartet, EMC, 1973 Records “As The Years Go Passing By,” Born Under a Bad Sign, Albert King, Stax, 1967 “Misguided Angel,” The Trinity Session, Cowboy Junkies, RCA Records, 1988 “Davidian,” Burn My Eyes, Machine Head, Roadrunner Records, 1994 “Here I Am, Lord,” Wonder, Love, and Praise, Daniel Schutte, New Dawn Music, 1981

Review: In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

2011-12-13T21:59:00.001-05:00

So, I just finished my fall '11 semester at UConn where I am a senior and the first thing I wanted to do after my last final exam last night was to sit down with a novel of my chosing. I had read the interviews and guest blogs regarding "In Leah's Wake" and truly hoped that the novel would be the perfect way to begin my winter vacation. Let me just say, Giuliano's literary novel did not dissapoint.

* * * * *

"In Leah's Wake" brings us into the small personal world of one little family that has struggled behind the scenes with their oldest daughter Leah's radical change in behavior. Going from a straight A student and star soccer player with her choice of colleges trying to recruit her to drinking, drug use, and reckless behavior - Leah struggles to create her own identity that is separate from that of the one her parents have always driven her to obtain.

The roller coaster of family drama taxes Will and Zoe's marriage which has never been a relationship of ease. One of the most haunting aspects is the unnoticed pain and suffering experienced by their youngest daughter, Justine. The reader becomes so engrossed in this family that their heart aches for this child - for all of them really - but especially Justine. Even when her beloved pet Dog dies, her grief and isolation pour off the pages.

Writing from five points of view, the author has created a distinct suspension of disbelief that makes you feel caught up in their world, buying into the tragedy that so many families in this country can identify with. Her ability to create characters who are so perfectly flawed that you can't help but love them is a true gift. She has fully dimenional characters with layers that do not feel flat in any way. The reader wants resolution, wants to see this family reunite, wants the family to recognize how very much they love each other - because the reader feels they know these people as well as themselves. A true writing talent I think.

Of course, I cannot write a review without commenting on the author's beautiful use of prose. I love her attention to detail, creating setting so vivid, one feels like they are there. Whether in a cold Maine hotel or a smoke filled room, the author brings her surroundings to life with the use of all senses.

Overall, if I could, I would give this novel 6 out of 5 stars. If you love Jodi Picoult or Alice Sebold - I highly recommend this novel. It is easily the best read that I have enjoyed in 2011.

To Win the Prizes

Purchase your copy of In Leah’s Wake for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

...And I can win too!

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Radio Interview with Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We interviewed Terri on our radio show Sunday night and have embedded the full podcast and blogged about its highlights. Give it a listen and then leave a comment on the blog post. This is a great chance to get to know more about this inspiring and friendly author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there! Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: In Leah's Wake has taken the publishing world by storm. Get the book for just 99 cents http://ow.ly/7WP5H #whirlwind Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the In Leah’s Wake book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that? Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the In Leah’s Wake book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Win a $500 Amazon gift card, simply by leaving a comment on Terri’s most recent blog post. Yup, you read that correctly—$500! How easy is that? An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

In Leah's Wake: Excerpt

2011-12-13T01:50:00.002-05:00

To Win the Prizes

Purchase your copy of In Leah’s Wake for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

...And I can win too!
Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

The Featured Events include:

Remember, it’s all about the books!

Now please enjoy this excerpt from the new edition of In Leah's Wake...

Leah’s head felt like a beach ball. She’d stay in bed all day if she could, cocooned in the blankets and sheets, but she had to pee. She dragged herself up, shivering as she threw off the covers. She’d never been this sick in her life. She probably had cancer. Oh God, she was going to barf. She dropped her head between her knees, staying put until her stomach had settled, and dragged herself to the bathroom. She could hear her father in the kitchen, fixing breakfast. The odor of maple bacon drifted upstairs, making her gag. In a minute, he would be up here, ordering her downstairs to eat. Her team had a game this morning, at ten, which meant she had to be on the field—she checked her alarm clock—in an hour. She flopped back onto her bed, and pulled the covers defiantly over her head. No way was she playing soccer today. Not after last night, after her father freaked out. She turned onto her side, burying her face in her pillow. Around midnight last night, Todd had retrieved a blanket from his truck, and spread it over a pillow of pine needles and leaves. She pictured him on his elbows, staring down at her, the planes of his face accentuated by the shadows. He pushed her hair away from her face. His hand slid from her shoulder to her hips. Todd, she whispered. Todd. Her shades snapped up, startling her. In the harsh light, Todd’s face vanished. Hearing her name—Todd?—she rolled onto her back. When she looked up, her father was standing over her bed. “Time to get up, Leah. The Harvard coach is coming today.” The nerve of that man. She curled into a ball, pulling the covers over her head. Her father’s hand slid under the covers, and he wiggled her big toe, the way he used to when she was little. She yanked her foot back. “Come on, kiddo,” he coaxed. “You have to get up.” He’d made blueberry pancakes. As if his stupid pancakes made up for last night. “Go away,” she spat, her words garbled by the mountain of blankets and sheets. “Leah, your team is—” Who cares if you’re tired? She heard in her head. The competition is practicing, even when you’re not . . . “depending on you, Leah.” . . . dedication is what counts . . . “talk to you, honey.” . . . suck it up . . . get up, get up . . . do it . . . time to get up . . . time for soccer . . . time . . . practice . . . do it . . . just do it . . . Just do it. Leah clapped her hands over her ears. “Go away,” she cried. “Get out. Get away from me.” Why did her father do this to her? Why couldn’t he let her be? “I’d like to talk to you, Leah. Please.” “I’m not playing.” She threw off the covers. “And you can’t make me.” The toilet flushed in the bathroom between her room and Justine’s. The faucet sputtered, and water splashed into the sink. Leah’s sister was washing her hands. Now she was brushing her teeth. Perfect little angel, never in trouble. Perfect little dork. Leah hated her sister. She hated them all—her mother, her father, Justine. Her parents didn’t care about her. They cared about controlling her. They expected perfection, wanted perfect robots for kids. Well, guess what? She wasn’t a robot. They’d have to be satisfied with just one. “Fine.” Her father, sighing, sat on her bed. “Stay home, if that’s what you want.” He leaned forward, dropping his hands between his knees. “I blew it, baby,” he said, staring at the floor. “I’m sorry.” Good. She had him right where she wanted him. Leah pulled the covers over her head, and raised her elbows, creating an air tunnel so she could breathe. She’d forgive her father. Eventually. First, she planned to make him suffer. Her father’s weight shifted. She felt the spring of the mattress. No. This wasn’t the way it went. Her father wasn’t supposed to give up. He never gave up. They talked until they’d worked things out. “Dad?” Leah shot of bed and darted out to the landing. “Dad,” she called, leaning over the railing. “Daddy?” By the time Zoe reached the office park, she’d worked herself into a funk. She parked her Volvo by the service entrance behind the building, in a spot reserved for tenants. Normally, she walked to her second floor office, a penitent’s offering to the exercise god she’d forsaken. This morning, anxiety fueling her fatigue, she waited for the elevator. She’d worked for Cortland Child Services for eight years. She used to love this job. Physicians trusted her, and rewarded her with a constant flow of referrals. Too popular for a while, she’d been temporarily forced to close her practice to new patients. Now she dreaded coming to work. Five years ago, patients treated her with respect; they’d listened eagerly and followed her advice. Today, everybody knew everything. Parents, armed with information from the Web, came to her seeking validation, letters attributing their child’s misbehavior to brilliance, drugs to give their child an edge. Zoe’s education and experience meant nothing. She was a service provider. She was tired of that game. If she and Will could afford it, she’d leave the counseling center, build her seminars and branch out, write a book, go on the lecture circuit, where she could help thousands of people. But that was a pipedream. She accidentally pressed “Down,” forcing her to ride to the basement and back up. The stress at home had ratcheted her anxiety, adding to her unease. The small things she used to let slide had begun to get her: a missed appointment, a defiant gesture, an insolent remark. Doing a half-assed job made her feel crappy; these days, she felt like crap most of the time. Zoe’s mood lifted as she opened her office door. This office, with its soft coral walls, was her sanctuary. Sunlight filtered through the blinds on the picture window, the flecks of sand in the carpet around the turtle-shaped sandbox glittering. Zoe’s grad school books lined the top shelf of a wall-to-wall bookcase. On the lower shelves were toys for the kids: cars and trucks, picture books, puzzles, stuffed animals, dolls. From her iPod, she selected a soothing Thai instrumental piece, and logged onto her antiquated desktop computer. Her refusal to upgrade to a laptop was a running joke in the office. Zoe still handwrote her notes and transcribed them at the end of each day, the inconvenience a small price to pay for the ability to give her patients her undivided attention. In no time, she’d printed and scanned her notes. With ten minutes to spare before her first appointment, she decided to run check on the Corbett boy. (Last night, in her drunken stupor, Leah had blurted his name.) Zoe typed Corbett’s name in the Google dialogue box; feeling guilty, she immediately back-spaced. A Google search felt invasive, like reading her child’s diary or listening to a phone conversation. Yet how else was she to obtain information? She could hardly rely on Leah to fill her in. Other parents Googled their kids’ friends. “I do all the time,” Sheila Li, a colleague, had confided one day. “Can’t be too careful these days.” Corbett had gotten her daughter drunk and driven her home at three a.m. That revoked any right to privacy. She tapped her desk, impatient for the page to populate. On the first page she spotted an entry, dated July 10, 1998, the keywords Corbett and Massachusetts emboldened. Something about a drug arrest. The URL linked to an article on the Dallas Star website. Dallas? Drugs? Had to be a mistake, a misnamed file, an erroneous entry. She hit the link, her pulse racing as she scrolled down the page. MASSACHUSETTS MAN ARRESTED IN TEXAS DRUG BUST EL PASO, Texas – A Massachusetts man was arrested early this morning outside the Roadhouse restaurant in downtown El Paso on suspicion of drug possession and trafficking. Todd Corbett, 21, from Massachusetts, works as a sound technician for the alternative rock band, Cobra. Jeff Jones, the band’s manager, was arrested on similar charges in November. Insufficient evidence in the Jones case forced the district attorney’s office in El Paso to drop the charges. “We expect to hand down an indictment later today,” said Assistant District Attorney Len Ahearn. Ahearn declined further comment regarding the details of Corbett’s arrest, citing a judge’s gag order. If prosecuted, Corbett faces a sentence of up to twenty years in prison and a $10,000 fine. A later article reported that the charges had been dismissed. Zoe had expected to find something—a DUI, a petty theft, a drunk and disorderly—nothing like this. Leah pushed boundaries. She’d been drinking last night; she’d come in at three a.m. No way was she was mixed up with a drug dealer. She was a good kid, a talented athlete, with a bright future in front of her. She was too smart to throw it all away. Zoe clicked back to the first article, reread it, and logged on to boston.com, the website for the Globe. In the “Metro” section of the July 11 edition, she found a single paragraph that began: “Todd Corbett of Cortland, Massachusetts, was arrested. . .” Reeling, she logged off. This was impossible. Zoe was a therapist. She worked with teenagers. If her daughter were involved with drugs, she would know. She’d recognize the signs. Moods? What sixteen-year-old girl wasn’t moody? Slipping grades? In high school, Zoe and Will had both flunked biology; maybe Leah had inherited the gene. Leah had missed her curfew a few times, until last night never by more than ten minutes. Granted, Leah had lied about being with Cissy. Yes, Cissy’s being MIA this last month was certainly strange. But girls fight. Junior year, Zoe’s best friend had dumped her cold, all because the girl’s crush had called Zoe “pretty.” Normal teenage behavior—all of this. Zoe’s stomach went hollow.

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

2011-12-12T09:10:00.001-05:00

On the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop...

...my favorite author gave to me...

A chance to win 2 eBook copies of Fate Fixed!

To Enter (all required):

1. Follow The Erris Coven Series Blog via Google Friend Connect

2. Leave a comment on this post with your contact email and the name used to follow via GCF!

3. Merry Christmas! Done! You're entered to win one of two eBook copies of Fate Fixed! Yey!

When Lexie's mother announces she is marrying a Romanian immigrant, Lexie leaves behind her life in Connecticut for her penance in "The Moose Capital of the World." Small town living is strange enough, now Lexie must cope with her overbearing stepfamily monitoring her every move. They disappear into the woods and keep a secret locked in their shed. Her calm mother is now having violent outbursts and Lexie's sister is hearing sinister sounds coming from the forest behind their home. She soon discovers the boy she has been dreaming about is living in Maine. Despite Torin's reputations, Lexie cannot resist the attraction pulsating between them. Animals and people are turning up dead and Lexie learns the strange, new world she lives in has real-life monsters. When she decides she wants to be with Torin forever, she must fight to protect her family from a formidable evil.

Check out the other fabulous stops for more chances to win book-related prizes!

In Leah's Wake: Author Interview!

2011-12-12T01:39:00.009-05:00

To Win the Prizes

Purchase your copy of In Leah’s Wake for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

...And I can win too!

The Featured Events include:

Remember, it’s all about the books!

Interview with Terri Giuliano Long

In Leah’s Wake and the Characters Who Make It a Story

Please tell us a bit about your book and what you hope readers take away from reading it. In Leah’s Wake tells the story of a family in collapse. Sixteen-year-old Leah, a straight-A student and star soccer player, has led a perfect life. When she meets and dates a sexy older guy, attracted to his independence, she begins to spread her wings. Drinking, ignoring curfew, dabbling in drugs—all this feels like freedom to her. Her terrified parents, afraid they’re losing their daughter, pull the reins tighter. Unfortunately, her parents get it all wrong, pushing when they ought to be pulling, and communication breaks down. Soon there’s no turning back. Twelve-year-old Justine, caught between the parents she loves and the big sister she adores, soon finds herself in the fight of her life, trying desperately to pull her family together. Parents, wanting the best for their children, often push their kids to be perfect – and push themselves to be perfect parents. It’s tempting to believe that only bad kids from bad families get in trouble. This attitude allows us to distance ourselves – this could never happen to us – and creates unhealthy competition. When families have problems, we judge and ostracize them, only adding to the difficulties they’re already facing. The truth is, when problems arise, the fallout affects the entire community. The epigraph from The Grand Inquisitor says it best: “everyone is really responsible to all men for all men and for everything.” As Hillary Clinton famously said, it takes a village to raise a child. For the sake of our children, we must all do our part to be supportive members of the village. Although the Tyler family is far from perfect, they love one another. Had the community rallied around and supported them, perhaps Leah would not have gotten as lost. Like adults, most teens just want to feel accepted and loved – not for what they accomplish or contribute, but for who they are. I’d be thrilled if my novel inspired readers to suspend judgment, to look less harshly at troubled teens and their families. I think we owe it to our teens, to our communities, and to ourselves to work harder to support and encourage all kids, not just those who conform.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters? LEAH TYLER: Leah is a strong young woman, beautiful, smart, a superstar in the community. As long as she lives up to their expectations, she’s accepted, even celebrated. As soon as she tries to take control of her own life, question the rules, spread her wings, she meets resistance. When she chooses her troublemaker boyfriend over a promising college soccer career, and heads down a path of drugs and self-destruction, she rips her once happy family apart. JUSTINE TYLER: Justine is twelve, in that awkward stage, not really a child anymore and not quite a teen. Justine is intelligent, faithful, and kind, and she sees the best in people, sometimes to her own detriment. Deeply religious, she sees God as Father and protector – a belief that will be challenged by her family’s turmoil. Her best friend is Dog, the family’s aging pet Labrador. Although only twelve, Justine is left to be the rock as the rest of her family plunges into depression. ZOE AND WILL TYLER: Zoe and Will are hardworking parents – too hardworking - who love and want the best for their children. Ambitious and strong, Will is willing do whatever it takes to help his children reach their full potential, even if it means alienating them in the process. He can’t sit back, watching his teenage daughter destroy her promising future. Zoe, a child therapist and motivational speaker, is a peacemaker who avoids confrontation, and thus easily falls into depression. Their divided approach to Leah’s rebellion drives a wedge into their marriage. Rather than listen to their daughter, accept that she’s growing up, that her choices may differ from theirs, and guide her down the path that’s right for her, Zoe and Will try to take control. This is a classic problem between parents and teens. The minute we put our foot down, say no, they can’t do this or that, they tend to focus all their energy in that direction. Zoe and Will’s escalating attempts to control their daughter result in her pulling away. This is a difficult cycle to break. JERRY JOHNSON: Jerry Johnson, the police officer, is the only non-family member with a voice in the novel. Jerry’s work as a police officer brings him into frequent contact with the dissolving Tyler family. Though flawed like all the characters, he takes his responsibility for others to heart. He’s the connecting force in this novel. TODD CORBETT: Leah’s boyfriend, Todd, a former roadie in a rock band, is a modern day James Dean, a rebel without a cause. He’s been arrested for dealing drugs, so it’s easy to blame him for leading her astray; really, he’s a conduit. He makes her feel comfortable and safe and encourages her blossoming independence. By the time Leah realizes that he wants to control her, too – albeit in a different way – it’s too late. If only she’d realized how deeply her family loves her, she might have avoided the dire consequences she suffers. That’s the central irony in the book – perhaps the irony in many relationships between parents and teens.

Q: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination? Bob Sullivan, the owner of Sullivan Farms Ice Cream, and Dorothy Klein, the beautiful woman who designs the button bracelets Zoe buys for Leah and herself, are real people. Every other character is completely imaginary. I did borrow gestures, habits, and physical characteristics from real people – the runaway arm belongs to my youngest daughter, KK; my husband is a darker physical stand-in for Will. Of course, borrowing sometimes results in unfortunate assumptions. I’m lucky – my family puts up with my thievery and ignores the conclusions readers draw. Personality, motivation, and behavior of my characters I’m fully responsible for.

Q: Your book is set in Cortland, MA. Can you tell us why you chose this city? Geographically, the town of Cortland is modeled after the town of Harvard, MA. In the fall, we used to go there to pick apples. Harvard is stunningly beautiful – with the rolling hills, the stone walls, the orchards. Sometimes, Dave and I would drive there and just ride around. This family is in tremendous pain; they’re struggling. That these fierce struggles might take place in this bucolic setting felt surprising, and that tension felt important to the book.

Q: Does the setting play a major part in the development of your story? Judging from the stories I hear, the social and political climate in the imaginary town of Cortland reflects that in many middle- and upper-middle class towns across the U.S., and perhaps outside the U.S. I’ve talked with parents who’ve expressed frustrations similar to Zoe and Will’s. Culturally – not always or only by their parents - children feel pressure to live up to impossible expectations. When children step out of line, the parents and families often feel judged. Community plays an important role in setting expectations and shaping and maintaining connections. The expectations, the constant demand to perform, can be overwhelming. In small towns, everyone knows everyone else, by sight if not by name. You can’t hide. If you or a family member is in trouble, everyone knows it. That claustrophobia and the constant feeling of condemnation, being watched, inform the inner lives of these characters and influence their behavior.

Q: Who are your favorite characters in the story? My characters are all imperfect - they behave badly and they’re sometimes, perhaps often, enormously irritating - but I love them all, for their strengths as well as their weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Justine is sweet and caring and kind, so she’s easy to love, but I also love Leah. Although Leah drives the parent in me crazy, her heart is in the right place. The same applies to Zoe and Will - they often make terrible choices; despite their failures, they act out of love. In the novel, Jerry Johnson, the police officer, is the only non-family member with a voice. Though flawed like all the characters, he takes his responsibility for others to heart. I’ve always admired Gail Mullen Beaudoin, a police officer in Chelmsford, MA. Gail brings strength, dignity and grace to a very difficult job. I see police officers as the connecting force in communities. Every day they put their lives on the line. To me, they’re our real life heroes. As the connecting force in this novel and for this family, Jerry is my favorite.

Q: Do you have a favorite line or excerpt from your book? In a chapter called “Sisters Redux,” Justine, the geeky, goody-two-shoes little sister, asks Leah for a cigarette. It’s almost painful to see her trying so hard to win her big sister’s acceptance and affection. At first, Leah scoffs; then it dawns on her that Justine is actually serious and her conscience takes over. Leah has made difficult choices and been ostracized for them; for Justine, that path would be wrong. In certain arenas, dorks have the advantage, she thinks. As she’s about to say no, it occurs to Leah that Justine has a right to make her own choices. With this insight, for the first time since they were young kids, Leah sees Justine as her equal. Despite her reservations, she gives her sister the cigarette. In a sweet moment, later in the chapter, Leah teaches Justine to dance. This love between the sisters is, to me, heartbreaking and special.

Q: If In Leah’s Wake were to be turned into a movie, who would you love to see play what characters and why? Will Tyler – Matt Damon. Mr. Damon exudes fatherly love and protectiveness and he’s also very intense. If his daughter were in trouble, I can picture him going into overdrive, like Will, and doing whatever it takes to pull her back. Zoe Tyler – Sandra Bullock. I see her as loving, driven and ditzy, a less strident version of Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mom she played in The Blind Side. Leah Tyler – For the role of Leah, I’d search for new talent. Caroline Wakefield, as played by Erika Christensen, in the film Traffic, reminded me of Leah, in her all-American beauty and stunning transformation from preppy to drug-addicted prostitute. Ms. Christensen is too old for this role, but she’d be the prototype. Justine Tyler – Abigail Breslin. Like Justine, she’s sweet and dorky and cute. She’s also precocious and strong. Jerry Johnson – Vince Vaughn. He’s not the guy who walks into a room and gets the girl, but he’s centered and responsible, the rock for the others to lean on. Todd Corbett (Leah’s boyfriend) – Jordan Masek. Jordan plays the role of Todd in my trailer. Jordan is actually a sweet guy, in real life. But he knows how to channel his inner bad boy. I can’t imagine a more appropriately cast Todd.

Author Excerpt: Kenneth Bennett's The Gaia Wars

2011-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of The Gaia Wars eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle Fire, Amazon gift cards up to $100 in amount, 5 autographed copies of the book, and 5 autographed copies of its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 9th, so you don’t miss out.

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase your copy of The Gaia Wars for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

...And I can win too!

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We’ll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of The Gaia Wars or its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there! Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Looking for a YA read that's full of adventure & intrigue? Check out The Gaia Wars. Reduced to just 99 cents http://ow.ly/7ywpZ #whirlwind Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see The Gaia Wars book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that? Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see The Gaia Wars book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Win a Kindle Fire or a $100 Amazon gift card, simply by leaving a comment on Kenneth’s most recent blog post. How easy is that? Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About The Gaia Wars: DEADLY SECRETS have been buried in the Cascade mountain wilderness for centuries. Hidden. Out of sight and out of mind. Until today… Warren Wilkes, age 13, doesn’t like what a greedy housing developer has done to his peaceful mountain community, so he vandalizes the developer’s property, flees into the wild, and stumbles upon an ancient human skeleton revealed by torrential rain. More than old bones have been exposed, however, and the curious artifact Warren finds makes him question his own identity, and his connection to an ancient terror. A terror destined to rise again and annihilate all that Warren loves. He must fight or see his whole world destroyed. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About Battle for Cascadia: When Warren Wilkes, age 13, stumbles upon a mysterious relic deep in the Cascade Mountains, wonder reigns. Brimming with secrets and sentient energy, the relic leads Warren to a fantastic chamber, and to shocking revelations about his identity. Now wonder has turned to dread. A forgotten terror—a demon that knows Warren better than he knows himself—has risen again and is assembling an army; gathering power with a singularly evil goal in mind: to capture and enslave the wild spirit of the Earth itself. As war erupts and the planet slips into chaos, Warren embraces his destiny and finds help where he least expects it. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About the Author: Kenneth G. Bennett is the author of the Young Adult novels The Gaia Wars and Battle for Cascadia (the second book of The Gaia Wars), as well as the forthcoming Exodus 2018, a paranormal thriller set in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. A wilderness enthusiast who loves backpacking, skiing and kayaking, Ken enjoys novels that explore the relationship between humans and the wild. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son. Visit him on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Now please enjoy this sneak peek of The Gaia Wars...

Chapter 3 The ground climbed steadily and Warren slowed but didn’t stop. He knew how to pace himself, and ran lightly over the soft earth, weaving between the pines. A plan formed in Warren’s mind. He would make for Pipestone Canyon, roughly two miles distant. He and his uncle had hiked, skied and snowshoed there dozens of times, and he knew it well. Perhaps he could hide among the canyon’s crags, cliffs and massive boulders. Perhaps. Warren topped a low ridge, entered a clearing, and heard the sudden rush of brawling Nine Mile Creek, two hundred yards ahead. Born in the snowy Cascades, the sparkling stream clattered across the meadow. It was roughly fifteen feet wide here, but shallow, gravel-bottomed and easy to cross. Now that he was out of the trees, Warren heard other sounds, too: the unmistakable baying of dogs, surprisingly close, and the low, steady whine of ATVs. The Finleys were after him, all right, and they were getting closer. For the first time, Warren felt truly afraid. He remembered the rage on Mr. Finley’s face. Who could guess what the big brute might do? Or maybe Finley Sr. would simply turn a blind eye as Finley Jr. pulverized him. Junior was a good thirty pounds heavier than Warren, after all. Wild thoughts flooded Warren’s mind. Maybe the Finleys would tie him up and drag him behind their ATVs, or let their dogs tear him to pieces. He couldn’t guess, and he didn’t want to find out. Warren had an idea. Instead of running straight across the creek, he would run in it for a while. His shoes and socks would get soaked, but perhaps the ploy would confuse the dogs—at least temporarily. It was a trick he’d read about in numerous adventure stories. Maybe it would help. He leapt into the clear, frigid water. It was only about a foot deep here, where it crossed the flat, open meadow, but shockingly cold. He sprinted upstream. Though June meant summer in other parts of the country, it was still early spring here in the higher elevations of the Clement Valley. It had snowed heavily all winter, and the meadows only recently had become snow-free. It had just rained, too, so everything had a fresh, new quality and the air was crisp and clean. Wildflowers carpeted the creek banks. Warren splashed on—the gravel stream bottom giving a bit under each sloshing footfall. He saw now that the snowmelt and recent rain had caused the clay soil of the stream’s banks to fracture. Here and there great slabs of creek edge had fallen into the water. In some spots, sections of bank teetered, like new islands breaking apart from the mainland after a catastrophic quake. Ahead, the creek jogged sharply to the right. Warren scanned the meadow. In another hundred feet or so, he’d climb out of the water and run uphill, toward Pipestone Canyon. He sprinted, following the sharp bend in the stream. That’s when he saw the skeleton. It was a human skeleton, no doubt about that, lying face up on the soft earth. Warren could see at once what had happened: the skeleton had been buried in the reddish-brown clay of the bank, but a section of creek edge had fractured and fallen away, freeing the skeleton from its tomb. It lay there in broad daylight, as neatly and cleanly as if it had just rolled out of a crypt. Warren stepped forward cautiously and gazed at the remains in silent wonder. He would have forgotten about the Finleys, his prank and everything else—only now that he’d stopped moving he heard the dogs and whining ATVs once more. Even over the joyful clatter of the creek, the sounds were unmistakable. The Finleys were coming through the forest, within a minute or two of the meadow. Warren stared at the skeleton. He’d been to enough museums and read enough books to know that it was very old. The bones were light brown and smooth, like aged ivory. It occurred to Warren they might even be fossilized. The skull, arm and leg bones were large, and the hips narrow, so he guessed he was looking at the remains of a man. The lower jawbone was missing, as were the bones of the right foot. Otherwise, the skeleton appeared intact. Warren leaned closer to the skull, but the empty eye sockets gazing skyward gave him a queer feeling. He took one last look and … There was something protruding from the dirt, near the skeleton’s right hip. Warren peered closely. The “something,” whatever it was, was encrusted with soft clay. It blended with the surrounding soil, and was nearly invisible. Warren gently traced the object with his fingers, pried some of the clay away, and understood. It was a pouch: leather, bound at the top with a fragment of cord. Warren teased more soil from the object, marveling that the leather was still supple and intact. Even the design on the face of the pouch—a fine red spiral—had somehow been preserved inside the clay tomb of the creek bank. Carefully, painstakingly, Warren lifted the pouch free from the soil, loosened the cord, and spilled the contents out. The first artifact to tumble onto the creek bank—into the sunlight—was a stone spear point. It was about five inches long, brownish-yellow and lovingly crafted. It was still razor sharp, by the look of it. The spear point made Warren gasp. But the object that thudded onto the bank after it stopped his heart. It was a heavy, flat medallion of gleaming, hammered gold, inset with sparkling blue gems. Dazzlingly beautiful, the medallion (medallion was the first word that came to Warren’s mind) could easily have been the centerpiece of a great king’s crown, or of a royal necklace. The object had seven equal sides. A heptagon, Warren thought. It was a term he’d learned in last semester’s math. Warren’s hand shook as he traced the perimeter of the heptagon with one finger. The object was about four inches across, and twice as thick as the old silver dollars in his uncle’s coin collection. In the center of the heptagon was set a perfect circle of highly polished obsidian. The dazzling blue gems—there were seven of them, as well—were embedded in the gold and placed evenly about the obsidian circle. Warren turned the medallion over and saw that the back consisted of gleaming, hammered gold only. He lifted the object slowly, reverently. It fit neatly in the palm of his hand and was so bright that it flashed in the warm morning light. It was beautiful. It was mesmerizing. It was … Warren heard sudden, frenzied barking from the forest below and jumped to his feet. How had they scaled the hill so fast? How long had he been kneeling beside the skeleton? With a leap up the bank, he was off once more, bounding across the meadow and toward the sheltering forest beyond. Warren had run perhaps fifteen feet when he realized he’d left the spear point with the skeleton. No time to retrieve it now. By the sound of it, the Finleys’ dogs would burst into the clearing at any moment. He had to make it to the trees—had to disappear into the forest—if he was to have any hope of escaping.

Guest Post: Kenneth Bennett

2011-12-06T01:27:00.002-05:00

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase your copy of The Gaia Wars for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

...And I can win too!

The Featured Events include:

Remember, it’s all about the books!

Now please enjoy this guest post from the author...

HOW A NASA SCIENTIST’S THEORY INSPIRED A PARANORMAL THRILLER THE GAIA WARS is fiction, but it was inspired—at least in part—by The Gaia Hypothesis. This hypothesis, proposed by NASA scientist James Lovelock, states that the Earth—the entire Earth—is a living thing. A vast, “super-organism.” I read an article about Lovelock’s theory a few years back and thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever heard. The Earth is alive. Think about it. If Lovelock’s correct, the Earth isn’t simply a chunk of interstellar rock hosting a collection of random ecosystems; it’s a cohesive entity. An organism. A being. I daydreamed about this idea, mulled it over; wondered how it might be incorporated into a novel. And in my imagination, I took the theory to the next level: What if the Earth is not simply alive, I asked, but also sentient? I did some reading, and discovered that a lot of so-called primitive cultures believed this very thing. Understood it in their bones. Our ancestors were in tune with the planet in ways that we’ve forgotten. They could feel her heartbeat. Interpret her rhythms. They created Earth Goddesses to worship and celebrate. Gaia (pron. guy-uh) is one of the principal deities of the Greek Pantheon. Other cultures used other names: the Tibetan people called the deity Chomolungma—Goddess Mother of the World. The Sumerians knew her as Ninhursaga. To Mesoamerican peoples she was Tlazolteotl. A fictitious Pacific Northwest culture called the Denelai is at the center of THE GAIA WARS. As readers learn, the ancient Denelai people believed in the Earth goddess so profoundly that she would sometimes appear to them in human form. At the start of the novel, troubled 13-year-old Warren Wilkes unearths a treasure deep in the Cascade Mountains while fleeing the law, learns about the Denelai and Gaia’s periodic visits, and finds that on one such occasion in 1550 AD, the tribe was attacked and the Earth Goddess wounded. The Indians were slaughtered and Gaia lost her memory and vanished into the wild. As Warren soon discovers, Gaia is still alive and still trapped in human form. What’s more, the beast that attacked the Indian village 500 years earlier is on it’s way back with an army bred specifically to capture Gaia, unlock her secrets, and seize control of the planet. Warren must fight or see his whole world destroyed. Readers seem to like the idea of a paranormal thriller with a thinking, feeling Earth at its heart. The feedback has been tremendous. Humbling. Yesterday (November 24, Thanksgiving Day) THE GAIA WARS rose to #17 on Amazon’s list of Top 100 Best Sellers in Children’s Action & Adventure. The Second Book of The Gaia Wars, BATTLE FOR CASCADIA, (just released) is also doing well. A huge thank you to all the wonderful readers giving these books a try!

New Reveal!

2011-12-05T11:42:00.000-05:00

From Bonnie Erina Wheeler, the author who brought you Fate Fixed, comes her first contemporary fiction novel, Body of Ash.

Angela Jones is preparing for her marriage to end. She knows her husband is having an affair and not living up to the expectations required of his position as a church official. During a family dinner, her husband’s lover shows up and complicates the already strained relationships. But when Angela’s daughter disappears, revenge is the last thing on her mind. In her attempts to find Rachel, Angela reluctantly seeks help from her domineering mother while Brian’s addiction to sin courses through everyone he touches, sweeping them all into a world of uncertainty and obsession.

Guest Interview with Author Kenneth Bennett!

2011-12-05T08:27:00.001-05:00

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase your copy of The Gaia Wars for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

...And I can win too!

The Featured Events include:

Remember, it’s all about the books!

Let's get to know Kenneth better through a rousing Q&A...

Where did you find the inspiration for this novel? The idea began with an article I read about The Gaia Hypothesis. This hypothesis, proposed by NASA scientist James Lovelock, says, in brief: “all organisms and their inorganic surroundings on Earth make up a single, self-regulating entity.” In other words, the Earth itself is a living thing. A vast, “super-organism.” I love this idea! And when I first read about it I wondered how it might be woven into a novel. In my imagination, and in conversations with friends, I took the Gaia Hypothesis one step further. “What if Gaia (the Earth) is not simply alive,” I asked, “but also sentient?” It occurred to me that a lot of so-called primitive cultures believed this very thing. Understood it in their bones. Then I was backpacking with my son Eli (age 9 at the time). After a few days in the wilderness, feeling more connected to the land, perhaps, I started to tell Eli the story of The Gaia Wars. He loved it. It took me about a year to write the book and refine it.

Warren Wilkes is quite the unexpected hero. Tell us about him. Is he someone you’ve met before, or is he completely fictional? My son and his friends are all pretty outdoorsy kids. They’ve backpacked and skied and kayaked and climbed since they were really little, so Warren (a sort of feral, wilderness boy) is probably a composite of the kids I see every day.

This story’s setting is incredibly vivid. How did the Cascade Mountains influence your writing? Do you believe you could have told the same story in a different setting, or would it have been missing something otherwise? North Cascades National Park is one of my favorite places on the planet, and I go there often. It’s easy to find inspiration in the ancient forests and high-alpine meadows of that region. I’ve also been heavily influenced by Olympic National Park, and by wild areas in Alaska, where I spent much of my childhood. The landscapes in the book contain elements of all of those places.

The Mendari aliens and their organic droids, the Fabrinels, mix-up the story in a way nothing else could have (not even the irksome Mr. Finley). How did you go about creating these other races and defining their culture and behavior? The Mendari are fantastically advanced, technologically, but suffer from a civilization-wide melancholy. They have every device and contraption imaginable, but in the process of acquiring all this stuff, they’ve nearly destroyed their lovely planet and suffocated their own wild souls. They venture to Earth out of desperation, and with newfound humility, hoping to regain the wisdom they lost millennia ago. The Mendari race is basically the Human race in a few hundred years—if we don’t get our act together in terms of taking care of our planet.

Gaia, or Onatah, is the living embodiment of the Earth Mother. Without giving anything away, tell the readers how she fits into the story. Gaia, the Earth Mother, represents the wild soul of the planet. She’s the wellspring of all life; the source of the DNA that animates everything from bacteria to redwood trees to homo sapiens. But we humans have reached the point where we think maybe we don’t need to be connected to this wild soul any longer. We see ourselves as separate from the natural world. I think this kind of hubris is a huge mistake, and that’s reflected in the story.

How much research did you have to do in order to learn about the Denelai people’s folklore and nature rituals? How did you find this information? I love to learn about Native American culture, modern and ancient, and have read a lot about what North America was like prior to European contact. I’m steeped in that history, but the Denelai culture is entirely a product of my imagination—not based on any one people or tribe.

Your cast of characters has very interesting names—ones I suspect were not chosen arbitrarily. Please tell us how you came up with the names for Ina, Mirra, Uhlgoth, and the others. I greatly admire the name-inventing abilities of authors such as Philip Pullman, J.K. Rowling, Ursula K. LeGuin and (of course) J.R.R. Tolkien. I worked really hard to come up with names that fit the various characters in The Gaia Wars.

You leave The Gaia Wars off on a very big cliff-hanger. What made you decide to take this gutsy literary move—channeling Warren, are you? The Gaia Wars ends at what felt to me like a natural stopping point (or at least a “pausing” point)--A slight break in the action before all hell breaks loose in Battle for Cascadia.

Battle for Cascadia picks up where the first book leaves off. What can we expect from the sequel? Are there any major ways in which the style or plot line is different than The Gaia Wars? Battle for Cascadia is a direct and immediate continuation of The Gaia Wars. Many of the storylines begun in Gaia draw to a conclusion in Battle—but not all of them! There are a lot of mysteries left to unravel in those rugged North Cascade canyons.

You’re going to give us more Warren Wilkes, right?! Please tell us you’re planning a third book in the series, and if you can, give us some clues about what happens next. Absolutely! Warren and company find themselves in a very dangerous place and in very perilous circumstances at the conclusion of Battle. There’s a whole lot of story left to tell.

Lauren Clark: Excerpt from Stay Tuned!

2011-11-30T05:00:00.004-05:00

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Stay Tuned eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including lots of Amazon gift cards (up to $100 in amount) and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 2nd, so you don’t miss out.

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of Stay Tuned for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble (You’ll need it for the big contest on Friday) 2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes 3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!

...And I can win too!

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Radio Interview with Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We interviewed Lauren on our radio show Sunday night and have embedded the full podcast and blogged about its highlights. Give it a listen and then leave a comment on the blog post. This is a great chance to get to know more about this fun and bubbly author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of Stay Tuned. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there! Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. The winners will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Take a break from the holiday frenzy, and read Stay Tuned. It's fast, fun, and reduced to just 99 cents! http://ow.ly/7zA1e #whirlwind Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Stay Tuned book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. Two chances to win with just one click! How about that? Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Stay Tuned book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Are you ready for some more fun? Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Stay Tuned either in paperback or on an eReading device, tag Lauren Clark’s Facebook page, and you can enter to win one of three Amazon gift cards! A $100 prize will go to the most creative photo, $50 to the best BFF photo, and $50 to the photo with the most people in it. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. If you need help learning how to tag a photo, you can visit Lauren’s Facebook page for detailed instructions.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About Stay Tuned: What happens when a #1 news team becomes the top story instead of reporting it? For TV producer Melissa Moore, crisis management comes with the job. From employee disputes to her high-maintenance boss, there’s not much she hasn’t seen or can’t handle. But no one—including Melissa—expects a fistfight during the ten o’clock news. When sexy-but-crazy Alyssa Andrews lands a punch on her co-anchor’s face, Melissa jumps on set to help. She’s determined that WSGA’s reputation won’t be destroyed on her watch. Both anchors are fired and Melissa agrees to fill in—but not before polishing her look from haircut to heels. While the new Melissa wows WSGA viewers, her personal life starts fraying at the edges. Melissa’s husband is away more than he’s home, leaving cryptic Post-it notes in his wake. Her mother’s antics spiral out of control at the nursing home and a stalker decides Melissa is her next target. What happens next? Stay Tuned to find out… Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About the Author: Lauren Clark has been a voracious reader since the age of four and would rather be stranded at the library than on a desert island. In her former life, she worked as an anchor and producer for CBS affiliates in Upstate New York and Alabama. Lauren adores her family, yoga, her new Electra bike, and flavored coffee. She lives near the Florida Gulf Coast. Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Now please enjoy this sneak peek of Stay Tuned...

Chapter 1

Alyssa Andrews was missing. Gone, vanished, MIA with just minutes to airtime. “Melissa, where is she?” Our news director, Joe, shot a harried look in my direction. After dealing with a broken studio camera, spotty satellite reception, and last-minute script changes, his nerves were fried to a crisp. “She’ll be here,” I promised, knowing my confidence was a front. Alyssa, one of WSGA-TV’s main news anchors, was a constant source of angst in my already-stressful job. She was young, talented, gorgeous…and chronically late. This lack of punctuality was a problem, especially when WSGA ran a show at exactly six and ten o’clock every night. Not a moment later. WSGA was Macon, Georgia’s number one news station and had been for two years running. If we wanted to keep it that way, timing was everything. Every second mattered. I produced both evening shows, which meant—among a dozen other tasks—organizing the day’s stories, writing copy, and checking video. Each segment had to run seamlessly between three-minute commercial breaks. Deep breath, Melissa. Send up a little prayer. She’ll show up. The red numbers on the clock continued to march forward. Another deep breath. Everything’s in place. Alyssa just needs to walk in and get on set… “Tighten up on camera one.” Joe peppered the room with demands. “Mic check, now, not yesterday.” Tim Donaldson, Alyssa’s co-anchor, obliged, counting backwards from the number five. Joe’s thick fingers punched buttons on the massive keyboard in front of him. “Bring up the live shot.” Still, no Alyssa. Joe raked a huge hand through his long gray hair. “Five minutes!” he growled, with a glare into his empty coffee cup. At this point, it was Joe’s show to run. He was in charge. I shuffled my scripts. “How about I call her?” “She’s an adult,” he grumbled. “You shouldn’t have to.” Joe expected nothing less than perfection. He was experienced, hard working, and a stickler for detail. Alyssa’s nonchalance made him crazy. Which, at 9:55:36 on a Friday night, gave him the patience of a gnat. On crack. This was particularly dangerous for an unsuspecting new employee, all of twenty years old and pimple-faced, who crept up behind us. Joe ignored him at first, barking an order to me instead. “Fine, fine. Melissa, tell Princess A. she’s needed in the studio.” On autopilot, I punched her extension, eyes focused on the row of monitors above my head in case she decided to appear. While the phone rang, the new kid rocked on his heels nervously. I flashed a smile and shook my head gently in his direction, hoping he’d get the hint. Not now. Nope. The kid stood there, coughed lightly, and waited for one of us to turn around. “What?” Joe finally snapped. The force of the word made the kid’s body jerk back. Jaw open, unable to speak, his face turned crimson. Joe waited about a second for the kid to talk, and then leaned back over the control panel. He pressed at switches, clearly annoyed. The kid looked sick. Joe rolled his eyes. My anxiety level cranked up ten notches. 9:58:09. Less than two minutes. Wait…a flash of an ivory suit and blond hair. “There she is,” I interrupted the tension with a cool nod toward the monitors. Front and center, Alyssa sauntered into the studio, lips puckered, blowing her shell-pink nail polish dry. She slid into her seat next to Tim, and gave him a playful pat on the shoulder. Joe muttered something I couldn’t repeat. I stifled a loud sigh of relief and glanced around the room. The new guy was the only one in the building unimpressed with Alyssa’s arrival. With a shaking hand, he reached out and tapped Joe’s burly shoulder. “Mr. Joe, there’s a problem with one of the machines—” Joe’s back stiffened. He turned a millimeter in the kid’s direction and exploded. “Get your butt back there. Get one of the engineers. Fix it. Call someone.” I caught the now-completely mortified kid’s eye, and motioned for him to come toward me. Grabbing the nearest piece of paper, I jotted down the engineer’s extension and held it at arm’s length with a kind smile. Poor guy. Lots to learn. With a grateful look, the new kid plucked the scrap from my fingers and darted away. Time to get started. I settled in, gripped my pen hard, and looked up. Okay. Alyssa’s collar was turned under. Minor detail, but sure to garner at least five viewer complaints. You wouldn’t believe what people called in about. I leaned toward the microphone to let Alyssa know. “Dare you not to tell her,” Joe muttered. It wasn’t a secret that the guys would willingly let Alyssa go on air with underwear on her head. She hadn’t made friends. Or tried to. Tim, her co-anchor and current boyfriend, didn’t count. “Just part of those darn producer duties, Joe. You know that.” I flashed him a smile and pressed the button to talk. “Alyssa, fix your collar.” Her mouth parted into an O. Alyssa frowned, glanced down, and straightened the pale edge. Just in time. Like a well-directed movie, the WSGA-TV opening video flashed across monitor one. Macon, Georgia’s skyline filled the screen. My body tingled with a familiar rush of excitement. It happened every time we went on air. The cameras and lights, the beat of the music, the thrill of live television. Here we go. Seconds later, Alyssa and Tim appeared under the lights, their bright anchor smiles pasted on. “Good evening, I’m Alyssa Andrews. “And I’m Tim Donaldson.” And on it went, without a blip, for the first ten minutes. I started breathing again after the third break. Stanley and Sunshine, the weather cat, were ready for the five-day forecast, check. Commercial break, check. Sports, check. I didn’t worry about that three-minute slot. Plenty to talk about, visual stories; the anchors could get away with jokes and ad-libbing. Viewers loved it. We rounded out the show with an inspirational kicker about a local scholarship winner, a kid first in his family to go to college. He’d won forty thousand dollars and was going to Georgia Tech to study astrophysics. The show wrapped with a standard goodnight, credits, and a wide shot of the WSGA set. The second the master control operator switched to break, Alyssa flounced off the set in silicone fashion. She barked into her jewel-encrusted cell phone about her min-pin puppy’s cancelled spa appointment and stomped out of the studio, teetering precariously in four-inch heels. Yikes! I climbed the flight of stairs back to the newsroom, relieved the night was almost over. The phones started to ring five seconds later.

Guest Blog: Lauren Clark

2011-11-29T05:05:00.002-05:00

To Win the Prizes:

...And I can win too!

The Featured Events include:

Remember, it’s all about the books!

Now please enjoy this guest post from the author....

Nine Myths and a Truth: The Real Story Behind the Scenes at a Local Television Station** 10. Reporters are paid tons of money! FALSE—Reporters at small television stations are paid a little more than minimum wage. They are required to have a college degree and many just-out-of-school jobs are classified as a “One Man Band, ” which means that the reporter carries the camera, shoots the footage, does the interviews, then writes and edits the story. 9. Reporters get to meet famous people! SOMETIMES—I was fortunate enough to meet Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro and many local senators and congress members. However, I did interview Eliott Spitzer while he was New York State’s attorney general. Now that’s just creepy! 8. Reporters and anchors get lots of perks! SOMETIMES—Reporters do often get sideline tickets and backstage passes to events. However, it’s often a reporter attends only AFTER her or she covers the actual event, which means working for at least the first part of the concert, fundraiser, or dinner. 7. It’s always glamorous! NOT REALLY—Often, reporting took me to crime scenes, car crashes, bad neighborhoods, dairy farms, voting polls, and raging fires. My most unique assignments included reporting on a lost Emu and covering cattle judging at a local fair. In Alabama—try to stay cool and look pretty in 105-degree heat! In Upstate New York, this meant trudging through the deep snow to get a story. 6. If you’re an anchor, people do your makeup and choose your clothes! FALSE—In smaller markets, you do your own makeup (MAC is the best!) and bring your own clothes. Sometimes, the television station might give you a small clothing allowance, but a few hundred dollars doesn’t go far when you work 5 days a week. 5. Viewers call in and tell anchors how wonderful they are! SOMETIMES—I admit, I did get some fan mail and it was pretty fabulous. However, most often, people called in to complain about (1) an outfit someone was wearing (which a viewer didn’t like it), (2) a story reported on (which a viewer didn’t like it), or (3) a story that didn’t get coverage. There was one particular viewer who didn’t like the way I said “Iraq.” (It’s not Eye-rack. It’s Ir-aq) 4. The hardest part of the job is interviewing people! FALSE—I loved that part! I thought it was so amazing to talk to people from all walks of life and find out why they were a farmer, a policeman, or a teacher. I liked asking questions that made people think. Some of the most rewarding stories were health-related (recovery from an illness) or the features about children. The hardest part for me was the shift I worked: 2 am – 10 am. (This meant getting up at 1:15 am every morning!!) 3. You always have to dress up! FALSE—On the weekends, in smaller markets, it’s pretty common for anchors and reporters to wear a formal suit or top, but have jeans underneath and casual shoes (hidden under the desk). I’ve known some sports guys to wear tennis shoes or flip-flops on set! 2. The camera adds ten pounds! FALSE—It’s actually more like fifteen or twenty! People often commented on how short I was or how much thinner I was in person. (Sigh!) 1. I’ve heard that anchors use Preparation H under their eyes to reduce puffiness!? TRUE—I’ve done it, anyway. When you’re working 2 am – 10 am, there’s only so much coffee and sugar can do! Overall, it was an amazing opportunity to work as an anchor, producer, and reporter at two CBS affiliates. I made some wonderful friends, worked with many talented people, and really enjoyed the experience. **These comments are solely the views of the author and do not represent the actual experiences of every anchor or reporter who currently works in or has previously worked in television news.

Guest Interview: Lauren Clark's Stay Tuned!

2011-11-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

To Win the Prizes:

...And I can win too!

The Featured Events include:

Remember, it’s all about the books!

Let's get to know Lauren better through a rousing Q&A...

Did you always want to be a writer? Yes. For as long as I can remember. Of course, my parents always remind that I also wanted to be an Indian princess named Tiger Lily, but that dream was more short-lived. On a serious note, I do have fond memories of spending my summer days toting stacks of books back and forth from my house to our town’s library. It always seemed like a magical place, with endless stories to get lost in. You worked as both an anchor and producer after graduate school. How did that influence the writing of Stay Tuned? So much! It was an accident, really, getting into broadcast journalism. I always thought of myself as a behind the scenes kind of girl, but after my first day on the job, I loved it and stuck with it for the next 6 years. Working in television is never boring. There’s always a story, always the next show. The camaraderie in the newsroom is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. It’s like living in a big, loud, mostly happy, very dysfunctional family every day. What gave you the idea for Stay Tuned? True story: A few months before I took my first television job as a part-time health reporter, the two main anchors at one of the local television stations (who were romantically involved) got into a fistfight. They were outside the building, in the station parking lot. Shortly thereafter, they were both fired. In the months that followed, the two of them bantered back and forth in newspaper editorials, threatened lawsuits, and fueled all sorts of crazy retaliation stories. I never forgot about that incident and always thought about what might happen if such a fistfight happened on air, during a newscast. What would happen? How would it be handled? Who would fix this kind of mess? What did you learn from being on air? It’s very humbling, really. As a producer, especially, you are in charge of what’s being put out there—the news stories people watch and talk about each day. It’s a big responsibility to get it right. Not just sometimes, but all of the time. There were many sobering days—car accidents, house fires, school shootings—and those stories should be told with sensitivity and care. It’s someone’s son or daughter or parent. Everyone matters. What was your most memorable experience as an anchor or reporter? I was on set during 9-11. I remember sitting there with our weatherman and waiting to be cued to go back on air after the commercial. CBS cut in and showed footage from a plane crashing into the Twin Towers. It was surreal and awful. We were all in shock. It didn’t seem possible. All I wanted to do was go home and hug my son. Was it a difficult decision to leave television? Yes and no. I loved so many parts of broadcasting. I was able to meet fascinating people – Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro, then-New York Attorney General Eliott Spitzer among many others. I adored the people I worked with, especially the folks behind the scenes. I was also fortunate enough to win several AP awards for anchoring and reporting. On the flip side, I worked crazy hours (2 am – 10 am) and, as is typical in the industry, I received very little vacation time. I anchored every holiday (Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, you name it) and wasn’t able to spend much time with my young son. After more than six years, I “retired” from TV news. It was then that I really started to get serious about writing fiction. How long did it take to write Stay Tuned? About five years, all said and done. I wrote several other novels before that—and those manuscripts will never see the light of day! When I began Stay Tuned, I had just given birth to my second son, so my writing time was very limited. After putting it away for several years, I picked it back up about 12 months ago, brushed it off, and had an editor-friend look it over. We made some changes, tweaked the story, and fine-tuned the plot. A few months back, I was offered a contract with a small publishing company. Another friend introduced me to the talented and fabulous Emlyn Chand at Novel Publicity, who helped guide me through the entire publishing process. It’s been a wonderful journey! What’s next? A sequel or a stand-alone novel? Dancing Naked in Dixie is next (stand alone title) and I’m so excited to share that it’s been selected as a finalist for the 2011 Chick Lit Writers “Get Your Stiletto in the Door” Contest (Winner will be announced December 20, 2011). Dancing Naked follows the story of a talented but scattered travel magazine writer who returns from overseas only to find out she’s on the verge of getting fired. To save her job, she reluctantly accepts an assignment in the Deep South. She’ll be writing an article about Eufaula, Alabama's annual Pilgrimage event, which is a long-standing spring tour of antebellum mansions (the location is featured in the Reese Witherspoon’s movie, Sweet Home Alabama). Upon arriving in Eufaula, Julia falls in love with the area, its cast of charming characters, and her handsome tour guide. When she discovers that a developer has big plans to buy up many of the historic homes and turn the area into a tourist site, it’s up to Julia to save the day. What is your writing schedule like? With two growing, active boys and a busy husband, finding time to write is like looking for a missing Lego piece in a houseful of toys (Moms should appreciate that!) I often get up very early and write while everyone else is asleep or go to the lovely campus of our local university and shut myself in a study room. I love it there because I have to shut off my phone and I don’t have the password for an internet connection! No distractions! Of course, I do frequent two or three local coffee shops and draw inspiration from my daily dose of caffeine and good friends! Who are your favorite writers? Favorite books? Gosh, there are so many! My all-time favorites include Emily Giffin, Sophie Kinsella, Jodi Picoult, Alice Hoffman, Jennifer Weiner, Chris Bohjalian, John Grisham, Amanda Eyre Ward, and Lisa See. I also love Lisa Scottoline, Janet Evanovich, and James Patterson. Favorite books include: Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, and Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (this is a children’s book that I’ve read over and over to my two boys). What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Read. A lot. Write. A lot. Revise. A lot. I’m not joking. Anyone can write. Writing well is different. It takes focus and tenacity and determination. I've heard Stephen King quoted as saying, "The first million words are practice. Malcolm Gladwell, in Outliers, says, "It takes 10,000 hours of purposeful practice to become expert at anything." Just to be clear, at 4 hours a day (28 hours a week), that’s 7 years. I’m not quoting the experts to scare anyone or be a harbinger of doom. It’s the truth. Pick up a copy of Stephen King’s On Writing. It’s brilliant and so true and funny in so many sections. If you’re serious about becoming an author, learn as much as you can. Read blogs and books about the craft, network with other writers, or go to a writer’s conference. Above all, write!

AUTHORity Review! Katrina: The Beginning

2011-11-27T01:48:00.001-05:00

*****

As you all know, I am a fan of YA novels. I am also a fan of vampire novels. Between my two loves, I had thought I had experienced the majority of what the genre could provide me, until I discovered independent author, Elizabeth Loraine!

In this delightful novel, based in the 1800s, we discover the amazing Katrina - a seventeen-year-old sword yielding, independent, compassionate, fascinating heroine who happens to be a vampire. But, don't get me wrong, she is not your everyday blood sucking variety! She has an amazing destiny to fulfill as one of the five and the watchers will help her see to it!

I don't believe in giving spoilers, but let me promise you this....If you like STRONG heroines who know how to fight for what they believe in as much as they love passionately, you will adore this novel. Also - although technically a YA genre novel, all you moms like me out there will sink into Loraine's dreamy world and enjoy the escape it provides. Full of beautifully written prose, this novel has a great narrative drive and you will fly through it.

Did I mention this is the first in the series??? Oh, go ahead and buy the others while you have the chance, you will want to read straight through.

This is an author you don't want to miss out on and if all becomes fair in the world, an agent will sweep her up and she will be published by Random house or one of the other big publishing companies.

I will be reading more from this author!

So, where can you get this amazing read? How about on Amazon here!