1. Have reviewed WATERFALL (or can by 3/15/12); no review copies available
2. Have reviewed CASCADE and TORRENT (or can by 3/15/12); PDF review copies available (no paper)
3. Can receive a PDF of BOURNE on your computer or e-reader or smartphone
4. Are willing to review BOURNE 2/28/12-4/1/12 (the earlier, the better)

This contest is for you!

BOURNE, in case you haven’t heard, is the follow-up e-novella that will pick up where TORRENT left off. What I’m hoping to gain from all of you, of course, is a collective announcement to the public. Ideally, you’d do a non-spoilery recap on the series–things you loved most–linking to your previous reviews, and review of BOURNE too.

If you are interested in entering this BOURNE Blogger Contest, please email me your blog site name and URL, as well as the address you want me to send the review PDF (Lisa @ bergrencreativegroup dot com). I’ll send you a PDF of BOURNE to review as soon as it’s been proofed. Unfortunately, I just don’t have the funds to print and mail paper copies; this contest is for e-friendly bloggers only. (If you want to review BOURNE, but not take part in the contest, that’s fine too! Email me a request for the review copy.)

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In addition, you can get extra points for the contest if you:

• Tweet about each version’s availability (Kindle, Nook, Sony) in March and April, with link
• Recommend the series and announce BOURNE’s birth on Facebook, with a link to the River of Time Series fan page
• Place one of the banner ads or buttons (like the one above) found on my site, with a link to Amazon or Barnes & Noble–the bigger the ad you place, the more points you gain!

Prizes: up to 3 x $50 USD Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift cards (your choice); or for international winners, the equivalent value in product on BookDepository.com (1 if 10 bloggers participate; 2 if 20 bloggers participate; 3 if 30+ bloggers participate)

Thanks, in advance, for your help in getting the word out!

Contest runs from now until April 15, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2) Found someone to help me get it uploaded for all major e-readers (Kindle, Nook, Sony, etc)! Woot!

3) Hoping we start rolling them out at the very end of February–stay tuned. I’ll announce here and on Facebook: River of Time Series

4) I keep posting teasers on the Facebook page–have you joined us there yet? “River of Time Series” (look for some from last Friday)

5) How does this impact TRIBUTARY’s release? I don’t know! It may be that I take the 40K words I’ve written on that and make it the NEXT e-novella if this goes well. We’ll see!

Thanks for your excitement, River Tribe!

1.     If you had to change something in your life what would it be?

Financial stability. The life of an author and freelance editor means it’s either feast or famine, rarely anything in between.

2.    If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be and why?

Winston Churchill. He was so frightfully smart and witty. I’d just want to sit in a corner and watch him work/interact. I’d be scared to talk to him because I’d likely say something stupid. I sound much better when writing dialogue vs. when I actually open my mouth. (P.S. Did you know he had an American mother?)

3.    What would describe your personality…as an inanimate object.

I’m like a 2008 Suburu—plain and serviceable on the outside, but with a steady, strong engine that will outlast more cars.

4.    Do have a special place to write or read?

The library to write. I hardly get anything done outside the library, anymore. Reading—in bed, all cozy. Ultimate luxury is to get up, pour some coffee, and go BACK to bed to read some more. *bliss *

5.    Have you ever experienced continuous writer’s block? How did you escape?

I’ve never had writer’s block. I’ve had writer’s resistance. Sometimes the words don’t come easy, but I just get my rear-end in the chair, headphones on, and force myself to write. After about 100 words, they start to flow. Or I pick a scene that’s already live in my mind and write that, then go back and fill in the transition later.

The Prizes

After 2/20/12, after midnight EST, I’ll award:

• 20 River of Time books (1 book of choice to each winner; autographed if in USA; unsigned if international winner)
• 3 Kindle Readers ($79 each, or USD equivalent in a gift card for international winners)

The Blog Stops/Scavenger Hunt Form

• Monday, January 23: Once Upon a Twilight (My bio, “In Her Own Words”)
• Where I go to get any serious writing done:
• Tuesday, January 24: Proud Book Nerd (Review: Waterfall)
• Quote a line from the review:
• Wednesday, January 25: Bookish Delights (Author Interview): 1/25 UPDATE: FIND IT HERE
• What inanimate object am I like?:
• Thursday, January 26: Diary of a Book Addict (Review: Cascade)
• Quote a line from the review/first line if you’re afraid of spoilers:
• Friday, January 27: YA Bibliophile (My Book Picks)
• One of the books calling to me the loudest to read:
• Monday, January 30: Good Choice Reading (Teenage Garage Sale)
• An item from my Teenage Garage Sale:
• Tuesday, January 31: A Girl, Books and Other Things (Review: Torrent)
• Quote a line from the review/first line if you’re afraid of spoilers:
• Wednesday, February 1: Proud Book Nerd (Author Interview)
• My least favorite thing about being an author:
• Thursday, February 2: Yara, even post-house-fire, posted a review of TORRENT 2/15! Please stop by and comment on Once Upon a Twilight!
• Quote a line from the review/first line if you’re afraid of spoilers:
• Friday, February 3: Diary of a Book Addict (Character Interview: Gabi)
• One thing you learned about Gabi:
• Monday, February 6: Poisoned Rationality (River of Time playlist)
• A song from the playlist:
• Tuesday, February 7: Mrs. Boswell’s Book Bag (Review: Waterfall) CANCELLED
  
• (You can skip!)
• Wednesday, February 8: A Girl, Books and Other Things (Author Interview)
• My favorite fantasy book as a kid:
• Thursday, February 9: YA Bibliophile (Review: Cascade)
• Quote a line from the review/first line if you’re afraid of spoilers:
• Friday, February 10: The Fiction Enthusiast (Author This or That)
• Are we Mac or PC?:
• Monday, February 13: One Book at a Time (When I’m Not Writing)
• My favorite outside activity:
• Tuesday, February 14: Bookish Delights (Review: Torrent) CANCELLED
• (You can skip!)
• Wednesday, February 15: I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read (Author Interview)
• One of my favorite reads from last year:
• Thursday, February 16: A Backwards Story (EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: Bourne)
• Quote a line from the excerpt/first line if you’re afraid of spoilers:
• Friday, February 17: Mrs. Boswell’s Book Bag (Character Interview: Marcello)
• A random fact you learned about Marcello:

What You Need to Do to Win

1. Copy the Scavanger Hunt “Form” above (the blog stop list and questions beneath each one) into a document on your computer, save, and fill out. You’ll need to send me the filled-out form with 24 hours of emailed notification in order to claim your prize. When you have it COMPLETED, mark this as “Did it!” on the Rafflecopter form. (25 POINTS!)
2. Stop at each blog (you can visit each one as they post, or in groups, or all at the end). Comment on each post, if possible. (25 POINTS!)
3. Extra Chance: Like River of Time Series on Facebook and comment about the Blog Tour or Scavenger Hunt (5 POINTS)
4. Extra Chance: Tweet about the Giveaway/Blog Tour and link to this post (1 POINT; can do so once a day for additional points)
5. Extra Chance: Tell your friends on Facebook why you want to read the River of Time Series, or if you already have, what you like best about it, and link to the @RiverofTimeSeries Facebook page. (5 POINTS)

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1. I sleep with three pillows, preferably four. One goes over my head when dawn comes streaming through my window. I have no love affair with morning.
2. The resulting bed-head hair is pretty ridiculous. My husband laughs, and calls me Anne Burrell (Food Network lady with crazy hair that stands on end).
3. I prefer pants with an elastic waist. Life’s too short to not breathe.
4. My favorite candy is anything in dark chocolate. If it’s a salty nut, I’m in heaven.
5. I adore movies. When I write, I see my stories as movies, playing out in my head. Along that vein, I listen to soundtracks as I write. The last movie we went to see was “Tin Tin,” and I’m dying to see “Sherlock Holmes” and “War Horse.” I like to see the epic movies on the big screen; anything else can be via DVD.
6. We’ve lived in the same suburban house for fifteen years. We might live here forever. I hate the thought of moving! Although I sometimes fantasize about a condo and no need for gardening/care of the exterior of the home. And a jacuzzi tub. Yeah. That’d be cool.
7. People call me “sweet,” but I think of myself as pretty tough. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is, don’t-play-games kinda girl. But I like to be kind to everyone I meet.

Now, it’s my turn to nominate 10 others…

Serena Chase at Edgy Inspirational Reads

Andye at Reading Teen

Relz at Relz Reviews

Katie at Mundie Moms

Nicole O’dell

Sophie Riggsby

Amber of Winterhaven Books

Katie McCurdy

Small Review

Logan Turner

Check ‘em out. They all deserve a cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top. And in the meantime, please let me know one random fact about YOU!

Isn’t it beautiful??? And yes, that’s Lord Rodolfo Greco on the front. The tale will be told from both Gabi and Lia’s POVs…

And here are some frequently asked questions (and answers):

1) When can I buy this? UPDATE: I’m hoping sometime by the end of February. I’ll announce it here and on the “River of Time Series” page on Facebook when we’re close. And it will only be $.99!! At least, for a while. So you’ll want to buy it ASAP to get the best price.

2) Where can I buy it? On Kindle, from Amazon, first. I know, I know, a lot of you don’t have a Kindle. But you can download the free Kindle app to your computer, smart phone, iPad, and other tablet devices. Want to be ready? Here’s the link to find your app; and you’ll need to register for an Amazon account to purchase. C’mon into the digital books pool; the water’s fine!! I, personally, love to be able to read on either my Kindle or in paper. Ultimate flexibility!

3) Will it be on Nook? Sony? Maybe. I’m checking on that. Amazon just makes it SO easy to upload to Kindle. UPDATE: YES! I FOUND SOMEONE TO HELP ME ON THIS!

4) Will it ever be out in paper? Not in the foreseeable future. Basically, David C. Cook, the publisher of Waterfall, Cascade and Torrent, want to see sales climb before they commit to any other River of Time books. I don’t blame them. They’ve invested a lot, and we do need more sales! Tell all your pals! Make your neighbors, cousins, sisters, aunties, friends read them!! In the meantime, I’m hoping these shorter books/novellas will keep my River Tribe appeased.

5) What about Tributary? Tributary is a full-length novel, #4 in the River of Time Series. OR it might be the next e-novella if Bourne goes well! I’m going to see how Bourne goes and I’ll let you know.

If you caught my review of The Girl of Fire & Thorns, you’ll know I was pretty captured by Rae’s story. So I thought I’d use my authorial superpowers to reach out to her and ask her some questions (okay, so I just emailed her). Here’s our chat:

There’s a vaguely Spanish feel to your fantasy world. If that’s right, why’d you choose Spain as a “lead” for landscape, language, names, etc? Have you been there before? And if it wasn’t Spain that inspired you, where did you draw your inspiration from?

Good observation! Yes, I took inspiration from historical Spanish Morocco. At the southern tip of Spain/northern tip of Africa, there’s this amazing marriage of culture and architecture and food. I was learning to speak Spanish at the time, and I knew I wanted a desert-based fantasy, so Spanish Morocco seemed the way to go.

Did you get to go to Morocco to research?

I did all my research via Internet. I love living in the future!

Me, too. But someday I want to GO there; reading about a rich locale always whets my appetite to see it for myself.

Agreed.

I was amazed at the amount of faith and religion in this book. What’s your own religious background?

I realize I’m taking a risk to say this to your audience, but I am not a religious person. I do, however, believe strongly that religion is a prime mover of history. In the U.S., 83% of the population affiliates with some kind of denomination. Of those, the vast majority are monotheists. It occurred to me that faith is an incredibly important part of the coming-of-age experience for a lot of teens. Why, then, don’t we find this experience explored more in teen literature? Or if we do, why are religious people so often portrayed as evil or crazy?

I decided that, in a world that showcases jihads and honor killings and church schisms right along with “See You At The Pole” and masterworks of religious-inspired art and CCM, that teens need more stories of kids coming to terms with their own beliefs while being hit with conflicting views from all sides. And they need those stories to be respectful and empathetic of their journey, not contemptuous or condemning of it.

We who practice our faith really appreciate that! But, hmmm…the fact that you’re not religious fascinates me, because a lot of what your heroine experiences, I could totally correlate with my own spiritual experiences. God’s urgings and warnings often feel like you describe when Elisa is feeling her “godstone” react–placed symbolically in her gut. How did you write that if you haven’t experienced it yourself?

Authors do this sort of thing all the time. Stephen King, for instance, makes me genuinely terrified–but I doubt he’s ever actually been chased by a mallet-bearing psychopath through a haunted hotel. It’s an author’s job to get inside the characters’ heads and offer up an authentic experience! It makes me so very happy that those moments resonated with truth for you.

Interesting. Someday I’d love to chat more about that.   Tell me…what did you learn, personally, through following Elisa on her journey?

I learned how very much I have to learn about writing, for one. I also learned that, like with Elisa, determination is often the key to success. My publication journey was fraught with obstacles!

What was behind you making our heroine a little pudgy with a serious taste for good food?

I was dating this guy who was obsessed with my appearance. He knew I would be the perfect girl for him—so long as I dropped about 5 lbs. Whenever I reached for seconds, he would say, “Are you sure you want to eat that?” I was a trim, athletic size 6 at the time. His standard of beauty was unrealistic and devastating.

After I broke up with him, I spent a day eating ice cream (Ben & Jerry’s chocolate chip cookie dough) and thinking about the qualities I admire in my girl friends. “Skinny” was not on that list of qualities. So I jotted down the fictitious diary entry of an overweight, foody princess who was destined to save the world with smarts and compassion and determination.

I adore an imperfect-looking heroine, when readers tend to like the perfect. That was super brave of you! Also brave of you? The one major I-Can’t-Believe-She-Just-Did-That scene. Avoiding spoilers, did you think twice about carrying through with it? What made you decide to move ahead?

I knew from the very beginning that XXX was going to die. I have an uncle who is a Viet Nam vet, and I felt it would be dishonoring to him and to all the people in the world who risk their lives in war to not acknowledge war’s tremendous personal cost. It was also important to me that Elisa experience loss and consequences for the decisions she makes. It ultimately makes her a stronger person to know that she can survive anything.

Agreed. But man, I cried! What scene made you weep as you wrote it? (Pg #)

Right after XXX dies, there’s a moment on page 337, when a girl who has shown Elisa nothing but contempt is the one to comfort her. It’s a major turning point in their relationship that signals forgiveness and acceptance, and for some reason, it felt even more poignant to me than XXX’s death.

It was powerful! What scene made you so excited you could barely stay in the chair as you wrote it? (Pg #)

I had sooo much fun writing the sandstorm scene starting on page 162. It felt like writing a set piece for a blockbuster action movie. I keep telling myself that one of these days I’m going to write a book that’s nonstop action—just for the fun of it.

That was a good one! Among many others…thanks for stopping by my blog to answer my questions, Rae. I appreciate it. And I look forward to your next book!

For more on Rae, check out her web site, RaeCarson.com.

Book 2, Crown of Embers, releases in September 2012.

The goodreads.com Summary:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

My Two Cents

So…it wasn’t an immediate love affair with this book. It took a bit of work to invest myself in a foreign world that was vaguely Spanish, vaguely medieval, and wholly High Fantasy. But I loved the pudgy second-princess heroine and her destined path of finding her inner worth, her inner heroine and truth among lies. Adored it, really. And the more I turned the pages, the more I fell in love…you will too. I laughed, cheered, wept. Truly. Give it a chance. It’s an amazing story and I’m so passionate about it, I’m going to interview Rae.

Mama Bear Warnings

The heroine has a “God stone” in her belly, making her a chosen one. This makes her more perceptive to God’s urgings, his warnings about evil, his pleasure when things are as they should be. I can read that as a power we all can share, promised to us in Scripture, but you have to be ready to go there…There’s also a deep, dark magic our heroes battle. Basically, think Lord of the Rings and you’re on the right track.

One last warning: A fair amount of violence and killing, as the country is at war. I love that suspense factor, but some many not.

Read this book? What’d you think?

In no particular order of adoration and thanks…

Reading Teen

Mundie Moms (multiple posts)

We Fancy Books

Edifying & Edgy

Southern Sassy Things

Edgy Inspirational Romance

Relz Reviews

Pageturners

Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Jennifer K. Hale

ModPodgeBooks

Once Upon a Twilight

Legacy of a Writer

Kahlan Alanna’s Reading Addiction

Tina’s Book Reviews

Musings of a YA Reader

Patricia’s Particularity

Book Goonie

Table of Contents

Novel Teen

If you’re a blogger and posted about River of Time (and I missed it), please send me your link (Lisa @ BergrenCreativeGroup dot com) and I’ll add it!

And if you are a reader who recommended my books in 2011, thank you. I appreciate you too!!

What were YOUR Top 11 of 2011??? Comment below!

The goodreads.com Summary:

In the beginning, there’s a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she’s part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn’t easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there’s another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara’s less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

My Two Cents

This book was seriously hard for me to put down. I loved the tale of two kids, learning that they have angel blood and are destined to become a version of Nephilim themselves. What a fascinating concept, based on the biblical verse, Gen. 6:4: “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the angels went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.”

Clara has received her angelic mission in a dream…to save a boy in a forest fire…and to fulfill that mission, the whole family moves to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Mix together the ingredients of fabulous setting, amazing call-to-arms, good vs. evil, intriguing romance, terrific action and oh…MAN, this was a great read.

Mama Bear Warnings

I’m okay on reading novels as fiction, a work of imagination, and I appreciated that the author noted that angels of old are only recognized as male. Taking the biblical verse and running with it? I can work with conjecture. Some may not feel the same. Your call. Personally? I like thinking that God is bigger than anything we can possibly imagine.

Read this book? What’d you think?