Curling Up by the Fire

Promo & Giveaway: Pride's Run by Cat Kalen

2012-02-02T19:42:00.000-05:00

Seventeen year old Pride is a tracker—a werewolf with a hunger for blood. Taught to trick and to lure, she is the perfect killing machine.

Kept leashed in the cellar by a master who is as ruthless as he is powerful, Pride dreams of freedom, of living a normal life, but escape from the compound is near impossible and disobedience comes with a price.

When she learns her master intends to breed her she knows she has to run.

But Pride soon learns that if she is to survive in the wild, she must trust in the boy who promises her freedom, the same boy she was sent to hunt.

With life and death hanging in the balance the two find themselves on the run from the Paranormal Task Force—officers who shoot first and ask questions later—as well as her master’s handlers.

Can Pride flee the man who has held her captive since birth and find sanctuary in the arms of a boy who has captured her heart? Or will her master find her first?

Buy Links

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Prides-Run-ebook/dp/B0062O0B3E/

Excerpt:
California Wine Country
August 23rd, six days until full moon
The click of the lock at the top of the stairwell is my only indication that morning is upon me. My ears perk up and I listen for the coming footfalls. The weight on the stairs combined with the creaking of each wooden step will let me know which handler has come for us this time, which unlucky puppet has drawn the short end of the straw and is stuck with letting the dogs out, or in this case, the werewolves.

Sure, he’ll come sauntering down the stairs sporting a brave face and looking at me with cold, dark eyes meant to intimidate. But the wolf inside me can smell his inner fear. Despite the fact that I’m the one caged, underneath the handler’s cool, superficial shell he’s the one who’s truly afraid.

A long column of light filters down the stairs and I blink my eyes into focus as the bright rays infiltrate the pitch black cellar. I don’t really need to blink. Not with my exceptional vision. But I do it anyway because sometimes I simply like to pretend I’m a normal seventeen year old girl, one who can’t see in the dark. It’s nonsense, I know. I’m not fooling anyone. Least of all myself.

The door yawns wider and before the first heavy boot, soiled with old blood that he’ll pass off as wine stains, hits the top step, my senses go on high alert. I never know what morning will bring—or who will bring it.

A breeze rushes down the stairs ahead of the handler, carrying the aroma of the grand estate with it. I push past the metallic scent of dried blood to catch traces of grape juice in the air, a common smell on the majestic vineyard—that and illegal drugs, the estate’s real source of income. Going beyond those familiar fragrances, I breathe deeper and get hints of fresh bread baking in the upstairs kitchen. It must be Thursday. Mica, the estate’s cook, always bakes on Thursday.

In my human form I roll onto my side and lean toward the smell. Wistfully, my tongue darts out and brushes over my bottom lip. There is something about that scent that always entices me and before I can help it I envision myself eating a warm slice covered in rich creamy butter, crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside.

My nostrils widen, but I know the bread isn’t meant for me and not even one delicious crumb will pass over my dry lips. Not unless Mica sneaks it to me. As much as I’d love to taste her offerings I don’t like it when she takes chances for me. Disobedience is far too risky for the aging housekeeper. Despite that, my stomach growls in response to the aroma and I fight off the cravings. I can’t hope for bread when it’s unlikely that I’ll even be given a scrap of food today, especially if I can’t please him.

My master.

A boot hits the second step—the handlers always descend slowly—and as I stretch my legs out on my dusty mattress I hear the waking groans of Jace and Clover stirring in their own cages beside me. I glance their way, and that’s when my attention falls on the one empty cage in the cellar. My mother’s den. I breathe deep and fight off a pang of sadness that I cannot afford to feel.

I turn away from the empty cage and stare at the gray cement walls. I can’t bear to look at her den any longer. It only reminds me of how they killed her and how all the pups were forced to watch—to learn that disobedience comes with a price. Guilt and sorrow eat at me to think that she’d died trying to free me.

When step number five creaks, I diligently try to shake off the memories. The handler is close which means I can’t think about my mother right now. I push all thoughts of her aside, knowing that right now I have to think about my father and what he taught me before the master killed him. Never let them see your fear.

I harden myself.

Prepare.

Before my master’s puppet even reaches the bottom step, I know it’s the one they call Lawrence, the handler I hate the most. The one with a weak mind, strong back, teeth like baked beans and beady eyes that fit his ugly rat face.

He likes to call me kitten. I have a few choice names that I’d like to call him in return, but I always bite the inside of my cheek to resist the urge. Partly because I’d be whipped and partly because Miss Kara educated me and taught me all about manners. I realize that an educated wolf with manners might sound laughable. In my line of work, however, education and manners are as lethal as a bear trap to those I hunt. That’s how I lure my marks, how I bait my prey. A pretty face and good grace go a long way for a trained killer like me.

My glance wanders to my leg, the one peeking out from beneath my ratty blanket, and my eyes are drawn to the long jagged scar tracking the length of my calf. I grimace. Even with my education and manners, I never forget what I really am. I’m never allowed to.

“Hey kitten,” Lawrence says. Most would think the nickname is a play on my birth name, Pride. But I know it’s the handler’s way of cutting me down, to find control where he feels none. My parents called me Pride because I was their pride and joy. Lions live in a pride and since lions are cats…
He tosses a collar and chain into my cage. “Leash up.”

I take note of the gun in his holster before my glance locks on his. As I give him a good hard stare, he flinches. The movement is slight, but I notice it. Dressed in my knee length nightgown, long hair loose around my shoulders, I might look like an average seventeen year old girl—harmless and innocent—but we all know I’m not.

Even though Lawrence keeps his face blank and stares down at me with those dark eyes of his, he reeks of terror. The scent is like a mixture of hot sweat and rotting compost. Oh, it’s not pretty by any means. Nevertheless, the werewolf slumbering restlessly inside me feeds off his fear, thrives on it, so I inhale and draw it deep into my lungs.

Without taking my eyes off his, I take my time to leash up. My movements are slow and deliberate as I position the collar. Metal grinds metal and the sound cuts the silence as I secure it around my neck. The handler winces. So do the older, more obedient wolves that I bunk with.

Jace cuts me a glance, chocolate eyes now milky from old age warn me to behave. I realize he’s doing it for my own good, but this morning I’m cold and hungry and in no mood for Lawrence’s insults.

Clover makes a noise to draw the handler’s attention away from me, and all sets of eyes shift to her.
As Clover tries to pacify Lawrence, averting her gaze in a show of respect and making small talk about the weather, Lawrence opens my mother’s former cage and pulls out her cot. He gives it a good hard shake and the breeze stirs the dust on the unfinished boards masquerading as our ceiling. The particles dance in the stairwell light before falling to the cold, cement floor.

When Lawrence tosses the cot into a corner I stiffen. It can only mean one thing. My mother has been gone for a little over a year now, and I know the master rarely keeps a cell empty for long, which makes me wonder when and how he’s going to fill it?

Who will he breed?

I cringe at the thought of bringing puppies into this world, but know it’s not something I have to worry about. The master would never breed a wolf like me. My mother always said I was a survivor, the only pup in a litter of three to make it, but hey, a runt is a runt. Thanks to Darwin and his theory of ‘natural selection’ a runt is a heritable trait that a pack can do without. When it comes to canine reproduction, only one motto dictates: runts need not apply.

Deep in the bowels of the estate’s basement, the master keeps other wolves, separating the strong and young from one another. I’m smart enough to understand that he distances us so we can’t conspire against him or speak telepathically. Wolves can only use telepathy when in animal form, however. Well, most wolves that is. Oddly enough, I along with Stone, an alpha wolf two years my senior are able to communicate while in our human forms.

Sometimes the master does in-house breeding, sometimes he sends us out to one of his associates—other drug-lords who also harbor werewolves. It’s like he’s running a regular old puppy mill in here. Except his puppies kill for him. Which begs the question, what does my master have in store for me today?

Author Bio:
Cat Kalen is a multi published author in the romance genre under two pen names, Cat is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and watermelon. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cat can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love.
A maritime native and former financial officer, Cat has lived all over Canada but has finally settled down in her childhood hometown with her family.

Links

www.catkalen.com

www.yabeyond.com

Twitter: @catkalen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002600082432

Giveaway: One lucky reader will win an ecopy of Pride's Run at Curling Up By The Fire.

1) Simply comment on today's post in order to be entered and don't forget to leave your email address below.

2) Open internationally.

3) Contest ends at 11:59 pm 12 February 2012.

If you are interested in a print copy of Pride's Run, simply go HERE to enter the tour wide contest. Good luck!

Guest Post: Nelle Davy

2012-02-01T20:58:00.000-05:00

Curling Up By The Fire would like to welcome Nelle Davy, author of The Legacy of Eden, who is here today to discuss a bit about the type of book she wanted to write.

Writing Has no Limits

by Nelle Davy

Imagination has no boundaries – it is a vast landscape without maps or limitations. I know the old axiom is ‘write what you know’ but why should it be? Why should female writers confine themselves to the domestic and the minutiae of life, while their male counterparts explore fresh new terrain? I decided when I started writing that I would do only one thing and that was write the kind of book I would read and I would not limit myself. Of course it is difficult taking on the voice and culture of another country that is not your own but that is what a library and research is for. I spent a lot of time doing research about America and Iowa in particular (I read a lot of Bill Bryson who described what it was like to grow up in Iowa and I found his anecdotes – particularly his description of the state fair really invaluable). I was also lucky that I had an agent in America who could look over my first draft and say to me ‘an American would not say this or do this’ about small things that I would never have thought over. But these were small changes really, by that point I had already captured (or hope I have) the American voice. Mostly I found it really exciting to do something so challenging. I think that is the beauty of fiction, that you can escape – and I really did – to a different time and completely different place. The ironic thing is I have been to lots of places in America where I could have set the book (Pennsylvania for starters) but I chose a state I had never even seen. I guess I just like to be difficult.

To participate in The Legacy of Eden Scavenger Hunt, head over to BookTrib for all the details and the blogs participating in this event. And check back here on February 15th for my installment of the scavenger hunt.

About the Book:
For generations, Aurelia was the crowning glory of more than three thousand acres of Iowa farmland and golden cornfields. The estate was a monument to matriarch Lavinia Hathaway's dream to elevate the family name - no matter what relative or stranger she had to destroy in the process. It was a desperation that wrought the downfall of the Hathaways - and the once prosperous farm.

Now the last inhabitant of the decaying old home has died - alone. None of the surviving members of the Hathaway family want anything to do with the farm, the land, or the memories.

Especially Meredith Pincetti. Now living in New York City, for seventeen years Lavinia's youngest grandchild has tried to forget everything about her family and her past. But with the receipt of a pleading letter, Meredith is again thrust into conflict with the legacy that destroyed her family's once-great name. Back at Aurelia, Meredith must confront the rise and fall of the Hathaway family... and her own part in their mottled history.

Big Kindle Giveaway & Free Books to Boot!!! Check it out!!

2012-01-30T20:55:00.000-05:00

WIN A KINDLE FIRE IN THE BIG KINDLE BOOGIE

10 Free Kindle Fires, 75 free ebooks, a $500 library donation. Entries for 10 free Kindle Fires are already underway at http://bigkindleboogie.blogspot.com. On Feb. 1-2, bestselling thriller authors J.A. Konrath, Blake Crouch, Scott Nicholson, Lee Goldberg, and Scott Nicholson are making 75 Kindle books free on Amazon. They are also making a $500 donation to the local library of one Kindle Fire winner. Contest is international, no purchase necessary. You can also join the Facebook party at http://www.facebook.com/BigKindleBoogie.

Three easy ways to enter:

Use the entry counters at http://bigkindleboogie.blogspot.com
You can also enter manually by tweeting: 10 free Kindle Fires. 75 free ebooks. http://bit.ly/xWOoKN #bigkindleboogie RT to enter for a Fire!
You can email bigkindleboogie@yahoo.com ONCE PER DAY with "Boogie entry" as subject line

Good luck!

The Apocalypse Gene Tour & Giveaway

2012-01-28T12:33:00.000-05:00

Authors Suki Michelle & Carlyle Clark are currently touring with Bewitching Book Tours to promote their newest release, The Apocalypse Gene.

Giveaway details at end of post.

Global pandemic is raging.

Olivya Wright-Ono's once loving home has been converted to a hospice for the dying. Her ability to see auras forces her to witness, with agonizing detail, the vibrant colors of life consumed by malignancy.

The beautiful and troubled, Mikah, is an elite Empath in the ancient Kindred clan, led by the brooding, ever-morphing, monster named Prime. Mikah has learned a terrible truth . . . the plague is linked to Kindred origins. When Olivya sees evidence of disease creeping into her mother's aura, she has no one to turn to but Mikah. Can he unearth the Kindred secrets and find a cure?

Can she trust this boy whose power allows him to manipulate her very emotions? With her mother's life, and that of the world, in the balance, Olivya and Mikah embark on a quest to stop the Pandemic, only to discover it is far, far more than a mere disease . . .

Links:

Goodreads Amazon Smashwords

Amazon Kindle

Excerpt:

Hot with fury, Mikah slammed the wall with his fist, hardly noticing the pain of torn knuckles. They'd heal in minutes anyway. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. He strode across the room and shoved the computer monitor to the floor, swept his arm across the shelves, scattered artifacts, books, graphic novels, puzzles. Prime. That cold hearted ghoul. That monster and his freakin' songbirds.

"Damn you, Prime," Mikah said out loud, glaring at the ceiling. "Damn you to hell."

It was almost funny, wasn’t it? Cursing a demon to hell? He wanted to wrap his fingers around Prime's stalk-like neck – if it hadn't already morphed into some other nauseating configuration – and choke the life out of that lumbering nightmare.

Prime's shuffling footsteps above stopped. The birds went silent. Mikah froze. Not two minutes ago, Changarai had reminded him that Prime can hear his thoughts. Had Prime heard Mikah speak his name? Felt the disgust in his words?

Mikah licked his lips. Prime was listening. He just knew it. A minute crept by. The ceiling didn't creak. Mikah was sure that Prime could sense waves of loathing coming from below. He was up there probing Mikah's mind, tasting his hatred.

Okay. Stay calm. Rein it in. Control yourself. Mikah sat on his bed and began to recite the litany he'd learned as a child, the names of Prime and his five Storied Siblings. Maybe Prime would think it was a fluke, that he'd heard Mikah say his name as part of a memorized lesson. Maybe he'd think Mikah was showing diligence to his studies.

"Prime," Mikah said, loud enough to be heard. "Tiamat Draconus, Kali Medusa, Scylla Kraken, Phoenix Roc, Sphinx." Breathe. Breathe. He began again at the beginning, "Prime, Phoenix Roc, Tiamat Draconus, Kali Medusa, Scylla Kraken, Sphinx."

He looked up at the ceiling, said it again, even louder. "Prime, Phoenix Roc, Tiamat Draconus, Kali Medusa, Scylla Kraken, Sphinx."

After the sixth time through, Prime's footsteps began again. Scrape. Clunk. Scrape.

Clunk. Scrape. Clunk. Different than the shuffling gait from before. Had Prime morphed again? Maybe he hadn't heard Mikah say his name at all, but stopped walking as his body jerked and twisted with yet another change. And what was making that clunking sound? Had one of Prime's legs suddenly become heavy, the other weak?

Mikah paced the room, glancing at the ceiling with every turn. Adrenaline pumped through his bloodstream. At last, the elevator doors squeaked open, and the monster began his descent to his sub-cellar lair. The freight elevator creaked and shuddered. When it reached the level of Mikah's room, waves of psionic power rolled from behind the walls, jagged and hot. Prime's laughter.

Mikah held his breath, gripped the edge of his desk, shut his eyes as the elevator passed.

Olivya . . . soon.

About the Authors:

Suki Michelle is a life-long Chicagoan, happily divorced and still good friends with her Ex. She lives and writes with her soul-mate, Carlyle Clark. She has one beautiful daughter, Bree, who is the first reader and critic of The Apocalypse Gene, and without her input, it wouldn't be nearly as cool! Suki's other children are of the four-legged type, Dahlia, the German shepherd; Kilala the lazy calico chub-cat; and Koney, the tortoise-shell demon cat from the Seventh Ring.

Carlyle is a burly dude from San Diego. He can look menacing at a glance, but as soon as he opens his mouth, pure intellectual. They are eternally grateful for the day they met at an on-line writer's workshop. They've been together for four years. On the outside. Suki and Carlyle are totally disparate. On the inside, they are the REAL Neo-Twins. You'll have to read The Apocalypse Gene to find out who the Neo-Twins are, but here's a hint: They are twisted devils with mirror-melded auras.

As writers, Suki and Carlyle have complementary skill sets. Lyle is plot master and edgy dialoguer. He is a huge fan of Japanese anime, and he draws upon this to choreograph fight scenes. Suki enjoys painting a character's emotional landscape and writing vivid descriptions. They both have wild imagination.

Suki and Carlyle treasure every opportunity to share their work.

Twitter: @Suki_Michelle

Website: http://www.TheApocalypseGene.com

Blog: http://www.TheApocalypseGene.com/cy-chi

Facebook FanPage: http://www.facebook.com/TheApocalypseGene

Giveaway: One lucky reader will win an ebook copy of The Apocalypse Gene.

1) Open internationally.

2) Contests ends at 11:59 p.m. 08 February 2012.

3) Leave a comment with your email address in order to be entered.

Guest Post: Exposing Children to a Variety of Literature Genres

2012-01-26T19:11:00.000-05:00

Growing Readers - Exposing Your Children to a Variety of Literature Genres

by Rivka Kawano

As adults who would consider ourselves “readers” we love to consume books like sweets. And of course who wants to eat just ice-cream all day when there is cake, chocolate, truffles, fudge, cookies, and more! While we all have our favorites - variety is the spice of life as they say.

So how do we teach our children to love all different kinds of books? If we want them to love reading more than one genre of literature as adults, we can set the stage by reading books with many different styles now.

Story Books

Want them to love the next great novel? Then make sure you read books that are not just strings of words such as many children’s books devoted to things like shapes or colors. Find true stories that include drama, tension, and resolution such as “The Little White Owl” by Tracey Corderouy.

Poetry

Stories are great, but children can begin to appreciate great poetry at a young age too. Try reading some of the classic to your infant. Babies will love hearing the rhythm and cadence of your voice as you read. As they get older introduce children’s poetry books complete with illustrations.

Picture Books

Aren’t all kids books picture books? Well, yes, and no. I am talking about books that are only pictures. David Weisner has drawn some great ones. These allow you and your child to tell your own stories, and really develop different ideas.

Different Styles

Take a minute to flip through a few books and choose lots of different kinds for your kids. Mystery, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, you can find a corollary to just about every genre in some kids book or another. Can you recognize the early patterns of your favorite? Share it with your child - and help them learn the literary terms in the process.

Read Aloud

Children’s books are great - but definitely don’t stop there! Children are never too young to start hearing books from all different “reading levels.” My boys are 4, 3, and almost 2, and have been loving listening to “The Hobbit” at night when they are going to sleep. Granted, we started with “Moby Dick” and that was just too much for them, which brings us to the next point.

Follow Their Lead

Never, ever, shove books down your kids ears so to speak. If they are not ready for that book yet, try something else. If it is too scary, try something else. If they are bored, or don’t want to read any more that day, or are wiggling and not listening, try something else. If they want to read a different book - let them! Your favorites might not be theirs and vice-versa. That is okay. Ideally, you will be able to find lots of books that you both enjoy. But remember, if you want them to love reading it has to be fun - for them! Make reading a wonderful time for snuggling and talking and learning together. Not just about the books, but about each other. Over time they will be interested in trying more new books. And someday they will be old enough to give you recommendations.

Author Information

Rivka Kawano is a mother and avid book reader who has read more books than she can count, and now loves sharing them with her three children too. You can read her children’s book reviews and ideas at www.BeautifulBooksforChildren.com. Visit her Facebook page to learn about live reading events and monthly book give-aways.

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

2012-01-26T16:49:00.000-05:00

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

The Young Adult Giveaway Hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer & Down

the Rabbit Hole. As usual, the goal of these hops is to visit as many blogs as you can and discover new friends, new blogs, find new books to read (as if most of us need new books to add to our TBR piles, but who can fight those addictions, eh?), and generally just have fun scanning and reading through the book world. I know I use these hops as an excuse to visit and comment and lurk. Fun, fun, fun!!

Contest: $10 Choice of book to the Book Depository.

Rules:

1) Fill in the form HERE.

2) Open internationally.

3) Contest runs from 27 January 2012 to 11:59 pm 31 January 2012.

Good luck everyone!

For more fun contests, check out the other sites here:

World Book NIght 2012

2012-01-26T10:48:00.000-05:00

Sign Up to be a giver for World Book Night 2012!!

Book-loving volunteers are needed to fan out across America on April 23 to give 20 copies of a free book away to people in your community. The idea is to give the books to light readers or non-readers in your community in order to encourage reading. Run by World Book Night, they will send you a box of books for FREE, as long as you register by February 1st, 2012, and try to deliver it to your door or as close as possible to where you live. You may have to pick up your box at certain designated locations, and this is dependant on where your live. Details are available upon registration.

The idea again, is to promote literacy. Some of the titles available are The Hunger Games, The Lovely Bones, Wintergirls, The Book Thief, plus many others.

World Book Night was first held in the U.K. last year and was a 'smashing' success. While World Book Night is hoping to expand into other countries in the future, unfortunately it is only available to U.S. residents at the moment. I am somewhat disappointed at this as I live in Canada, but I can assure you that the moment it comes to Canada, I will one of the first to sign up for such a great cause.

For more information and to register, go to http://www.us.worldbooknight.org.

Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

2012-01-25T22:33:00.000-05:00

The Future of Us

by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Release Date: November 21st, 2011
2011 Razorbill
Hardcover Edition; 356 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-59514-491-1
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary
It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

My Thoughts
The Future of Us was an enjoyable read, if anything for the great trip down memory lane. Although I was way past high school, even in 1996, I do remember the advent of the Internet in the workplace and the changes it brought to the job, and since I am a teacher I was thinking of the moments when the Internet was first introduced in school, and the impact it had on everyone, and the job.

I really thought the idea of this novel was fabulous. The idea of two teenagers discovering Facebook in 1996 would have been crazy and catastrophic, and the authors could have had so much fun with the storyline. But this is where is all stopped because as much as I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, the many references to pop culture grew old very quickly and I wanted to focus a lot more on the storyline. The story was rather interesting at first as Josh and Emma discover they are looking at something from the future, and finally realize it's their future selves. They both quickly learn that any action/reaction they have in the present will have repercussions in the future. For Emma this is a good thing as she is not happy with her future and spends a large portion of her time trying to change her future, while Josh is quite clearly happy with his and gets angry at Emma for changing everything. I have to tell you, the constant focusing on their own futures rather got on my nerves. Or maybe it's because I am too nosy as I know for a fact I would have spent a considerable amount of time looking up as many people as I knew in order to discover their futures. There was mention of this fellow student who promised to commit suicide if he wasn't a millionaire by age 30, and did they look him up? What is wrong with these two people??? What about lottery numbers, for heaven's sake!!! Or mutual funds and stock market numbers? Gosh, the possibilities are endless.

I enjoyed Josh as a character far more than I enjoyed Emma. To be honest, as the book progressed, I grew more annoyed with Emma and didn't really care for her a whole lot by the end. I actually found her to be somewhat shallow and selfish as a person, someone who cared more about appearances than true character, having boyfriends because of the way their hair looked. One of her decisions to dump a guy was based on the fact he shaved his head, and she mourned the loss of his hair. The final straw for me was when Emma kissed Josh knowing the crush he had on her just to see how her future would change. And then she got mad at him when he called her on it. I was not overly impressed with her reaction. I did however, like the interactions between Josh and Sydney and found Syd to be the more interesting character. There just seemed to be a bit more depth to her and while there were hints at some previous hurts, nothing really materialized.

The writing style actually flowed quite smoothly considering it was a joint effort and I was surprised at that as the collaborative thing doesn't always work. My main concern with the plot was the many interesting threads that were started, but then didn't go anywhere such as the one about Josh's brother, Sydney's relationship with Rick, Emma's sister Rachel, and so on. These were far more interesting that the shallow behaviours exhibited by Emma in her quest to date Cody. I just think if some of these more gritty threads had been developed, it would have been a different, more developed, deeper story.

Verdict
The Future of Us was interesting in that I got to go back and remember a few things about the 90s. There were some compelling moments in this novel and definitely some concepts and ideas that could have been developed and written about in more depth and with detail. The novel does carry a great message about choosing your own future, and being careful about the choices you make; only you can change your future so make the best of it. While I had trouble identifying with the main characters as well as the plotline, it won't stop me from reading another book by either of these authors as I did like their writing styles.

Interview: Robert Radcliffe, author of 180 Degrees

2012-01-22T13:58:00.000-05:00

Please welcome Robert Radcliffe, author of 180 Degrees, who took the time to answer questions with regards to his new non-fiction book, an inspiring autobiography of a once homeless kid addicted to drugs, turned sober, self-made millionaire by the age of 30.

To start off, can you tell me a little bit about yourself? How did you become interested in writing this story?

I went from being a daily-using drug addict and occasional ‘big shot’ dealer to, eventually, a homeless junkie living on the streets. Today I am a completely sober, self-reliant, self-employed husband, father, and self-made millionaire. I wrote 180 Degrees because a friend convinced me it was my duty to tell my story; and by doing so could save a life.

Can you tell us a little about your book? How difficult was this for you to write?

It took a few years to write 180 Degrees and it wasn’t easy. However, I have realized after a long time that sharing my story is in fact a great way to share my lesson’s learned. For years I hadn’t even considered writing an autobiography and it wasn’t until an acquaintance of mine turned on the light bulb one day by reminding me that a book like this would not be for me, rather it would be to help the millions of people that are struggling with the nightmare of addiction.

What was your greatest challenge while writing this novel?

With my wife, sons, and real estate career it was hard to find time to sit down and focus on writing. I got all my writing done early in the morning, sometimes even starting at 3AM.

What was the pivotal point in your life? And how did this change your life?

Many factors contributed to changing my life from being a drug addict to a successful business man. The trials, tribulations and consequences of addiction caused my life to spiral downward till I hit rock bottom. The moment I decided I actually wanted to change my life and get sober was the pivotal turning point.

As a teacher, I often see students who become addicted to drugs or alcohol. What would you say to these students in order to motivate them to turn their life around?

Read my story and you won’t want to experiment with drugs or alcohol.

Can you share with us any projects that you are currently working on or plans for the future? What can fans expect next from you?

My goal is to reach as many people as possible with my story, but I’m not sure what the future holds.

Favourite authors? Role models?

Some of my favorite authors include Rhonda Byrne, Napoleon Hill, Robert Kiyosaki, David Schwartz, Og Mandino, Anthony Robbins, Stephen R Covey, and Peter Lynch. You can check out my reading list here - http://www.the180blog.com/p/reading-list.html

If you could anything in your life over again, or do anything over again, would you? Or would that change the person you are now too much?

I wouldn’t change a thing about my life, it’s made me who I am today.

What do you like to do when you are not writing or selling real estate?

Meditate. Jog. Read. Surf. Check in with friends.

Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers?
I hope you enjoy reading 180 Degrees! It is currently available on Kindle for only $3.99. Be sure to check out the 180 Degrees website (http://www.the180blog.com/), it includes behind the scenes views and helpful resources.

Author Information

Robert abandoned the deadly path that drug abuse and drug dealing was leading him down. After considerable struggles, at the age of twenty-two (March 11, 1991) Robert was able to turn his life around "180 Degrees.” Robert soon realized that sobriety and hard work provided him inner peace and prosperity beyond his highest expectations, resulting in becoming a self-made millionaire by the age of thirty. Eternally grateful to everyone who helped him become and remain sober, Robert felt an
overwhelming duty to reach out to addicts like himself and hopes his story will inspire others battling addiction to find their own success.

Once achieving monetary abundance, Robert has been an active citizen and philanthropist. Deeply concerned for the well-being of young adults, Robert has been the speaker for drug and alcohol abuse classes at high schools, juvenile detention centers, recovery hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Also, he is a panel speaker and secretary at many twelve-step meetings.

In 1998, Robert was a Co-Founder of the Golf Tournament benefitting Habit for Humanity Charity at the Malibu Country Club. In 2000, 2001 and 2002 Robert sponsored the Charity Tennis Tournament benefitting Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the Riviera Country Club. And in 2003 and 2004 he co-sponsored the Tennis Tournament benefitting Chrysalis, which took place at The Riviera Country Club.

Some of Robert's business accomplishments include real estate office manager, agent coach, and has been the key note speaker at over fifty company office meetings, participated in agent training videos, and he has been featured in print and on television. With over twenty years experience in real estate, he is considered one of the nation's leading agents.

Now, at the age of forty, Robert is a successful business man and loving family man residing in Los Angeles, California with his wife and two sons.

Take a look at this video:

Review: Fighting to Survive by Rhiannon Frater

2012-01-17T11:09:00.000-05:00

Fighting to Survive (As The World Dies, Book #2)

by Rhiannon Frater
Release Date: November 8th, 2011
2011 Tor Books
Softcover Edition; 336 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-7653-3127-4
ASIN: B0056DTRL4
Genre: Dystopian / Science-Fiction
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

4.5 / 5 Books

Summary
The hundred or so survivors in the fortified heart of Ashley Oaks are running out of food and room. The newly renovated hotel seems a perfect sanctuary - if it can be emptied of zombies.

As search-and-rescue teams bring food, supplies - and more survivors - back to town, they draw unwanted attention. The bandits' first few attacks are minor skirmishes, but Travis and Juan, unofficial leaders of the community, know there is worse to come.

Outside threats are not the fort's only concern. The mayor's failing health spurs a battle for power. A vicious assault leads to vigilante action hat shatters the rule of law. Jenni's tenuous hold on sanity begins to slip. Juan is accused of murder.

And beyond the fort's walls the zombies shamble, moaning, eyes fasted hungrily upon the living.

My Thoughts
Fighting to Survive is the second novel in the trilogy As The World Dies, and focuses on the trials and tribulations the survivors face once the shock of the zombie apocalypse has now worn off and they are faced with the day-to-day living in a world that has turned upside-down. While I enjoyed the first novel in the series very much, I really enjoyed this one too, if for very different reasons.

The focus of this book is to deal first of all with the daily trials of living in a world that is completely different from what they once new, basically survival and using all of their skills to prepare for the upcoming winter. Woven through the threads of day-to-day living is the excitement of dealing with a vigilante who is taking steps to deal with people who can't cope with survival, bandits who are trying to steal ammunition, food, and women, as well as the inside politics of a mayor who is sick and trying to decide who will now lead their diverse community. Within all of this is the safety of the community and trying to protect themselves from the unrelenting approach of the zombies. While the focus was on character development and survival, I found the pacing of the novel to be quite fast and unrelenting, and I found it quite difficult to close the book at night.

The author focused quite a bit on character development and the coming to terms with the world around them. While it didn't have the same pace and tension of the first novel, for me I liked the change of pace and seeing how the survivors would cope with the new world. And I could sense a thread developing throughout the novel which bore fruit at the end, and it definitely sounds like the third novel is going to pick up pace again. Personally, I found the stresses and challenges of day-to-day living, and coping with the zombies, to be realistic and I know I wondered throughout the first novel how they would survive so this answered that question. I thought the author did a fantastic job with the multiple plot points, weaving them around great characterization, and blending them together seamlessly towards the end, in an ending that just makes me want to run out and grab the third book.

Nerit is one of my favourite characters in this novel as I like her no-nonsense approach to survival and her 'it has to get done' mentality. She's a bit frightening at times and I've often wondered if I would be capable of doing what needs to be done if I was in that situation. I have to admit that some of the final scenes with the bandits did kind of floor me as I was not expecting some of things to do down as they did, with the coldness that they did, and it shocked and surprised me. I also wondered what kinds of repercussions there would be from the events. The differing POVs also helped quite a bit as you were able to find out what the different characters were thinking throughout all the events and I really liked that. I know it bothers some people, but the author did it so seamlessly that I found it helped moved the story along rather than hinder it. Katie and Jenni once again prove how strong and powerful they are as women, and the secondary characters are just as fleshed out as the main characters, which is why this novel ends up being as powerful, suspenseful, and emotional as it is.

Verdict
Fighting to Survive is suspenseful, emotional, and fascinating. It blends humour with horror, and has a way of gripping the reader right from the beginning with its great characterization and interesting plot. I am definitely looking forward to reading Siege, the final volume in the trilogy.

Interview with Carrie Salo

2012-01-14T15:43:00.000-05:00

Curling Up By The Fire is thrilled to have Carrie Salo, author of The Sounding, who is here with us today to talk about her new book, a bit about herself, and some information about what is in store next for her fans.

1) To start off, can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

My name is Carrie Salo and I just released my debut novel The Sounding. Writing has been a lifelong dream of mine – since the second grade. When other girls wanted to be ballerinas or actresses, I wanted to be a writer. I went to school for English and then entered the world of advertising copywriting. But, all along, in the background, I’ve been working on fiction. Thanks to my wonderful publisher, 23 House, I’ve been able to bring writing to the forefront.

2) Can you tell us a little about your new release, The Sounding?

The Sounding is a supernatural thriller about an early Armageddon. But unlike a lot of Armageddon pop culture out there currently – which feature zombies, vampires or even natural disaster – The Sounding is based in real history and real prophecy. It gets its plot from Jewish and Catholic theology. It centers on the final prophecy in the book of Revelation and how events in today’s world might bring that prophecy to early fulfillment.

3) What inspired you to write the novel, The Sounding? How much research was involved in the writing process?

I found the idea for The Sounding in a religious studies class I was taking at college. We were reading the Bible as if it were a piece of literature. We took it a part theme by theme, just as you would in any English class. And two themes kept coming up for me again and again, because they simply don’t go together: prophecy and free will. Many things that happen in the Bible are prophetic – they are fated. And yet, the Bible gives each of us the free will to make our own choices, sometimes, even at the expense of prophecy. Eve in the Garden of Eden, of course, is an easy example, but there are many others. So, when we came to the final prophecy and began discussing it, I couldn’t help but ask: what if we could change it or make it happen early with our own choices? And that’s what The Sounding is all about.

I did do a great deal of additional research as I wrote The Sounding. Though it is a supernatural thriller, I wanted to ground it in as much history and realism as I could – I think that makes it far more chilling. I read dozens of books on Catholicism, Judaism and Israeli History. I read the Bible and its counter – The Apocrypha (those books that were once a part of the Bible but were eventually banned/discounted). I even traveled to the Vatican where I gained access to the underground catacombs that the Church is built right on top of. I tried to immerse myself in as much history as I could in order to bring it to life in my pages.

4) What is your favourite scene in the novel? Who is your favourite character?

My favorite scene in the novel is definitely the end. So, I can’t say too much about it. But, it’s both unexpected, and very satisfying. It’s the place I feel like I did the best writing, and where all the large and small plot threads I laid throughout the novel come together in something that you won’t guess, but will love.

My favorite character is Elise: an unlikely savior in the novel. In some ways, she’s just a normal 20 year-old woman. Athletic, pretty (though not beautiful), strong, a bit too serious and a bit too closed. She’s a redhead who wears pink. She works at a pub to put herself through school. She doesn’t have a roommate. But, she has an incredible secret. She can steal energy. From anyone. She simply needs to touch them – anywhere their skin is exposed – and can take from them all that she needs to make herself unbelievably powerful. Those who know about her gift believe she is sent by God to guard the prophecy and keep their order in tact. But Elise herself isn’t so sure. She has a dark past and her ability tempts her with its power. She’s a bit of an invincible character, which made her incredibly interesting to write for. She has no fear, other than of what she can become. It was such a freeing role to write for.

5) What are 3 things that are 'must haves' for you when you sit down to write? Do you have any writing rituals?

The three things I must have are 1) my laptop 2) a blanket 3) some music. I have a laptop because I like to write from anywhere. I actually don’t like peace and quiet too much. If I’m with my family, I like to write where everyone is gathered. Or, if I am on my own, I like to find a public place or an outdoor place to write. The blanket (unless I am in a public place…) is a must because writing is an activity where mostly, just your fingers are moving. I find I get quite stiffly chilled after a few hours doing just that. And finally, music. Even when I’m surrounded by others, I usually have at least one earbud in. I listen to classical music while I write, and I try to match the music to the type of writing I’m doing. If it’s an action scene – I’ll find something exciting or angry. If it’s a romance scene – I’ll pick something softer; more haunting. Then, when I edit the scene or need to pick-up where I last left off, I can play the same music. I find it really helps me get into the same mood, even when it’s been a while since I last wrote or visited that particular scene. It helps me write from a consistent place and I credit it with keeping away writer’s block!

6) Can you share with us any projects that you are currently working on or plans for the future?

I am just beginning the research for a second novel. It will be another supernatural thriller, but different characters, places and plot premise than The Sounding. I don’t want to give too much away, but if you are looking for a clue as to what I am working on next, check out the last few pages of The Sounding. At the end, a book is mentioned. And that is the name of my next book.

7) I am looking forward to it!!! Who are some of your favourite authors or books?

I have pretty eclectic tastes. Whenever I buy a book, I usually buy 2: one classic and one new. That way, I am always getting the best of today as well as the writers that came before. But, to list a few favorites: The Shining by Stephen King, Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Watcher by Dean Koontz, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Some classics I enjoy are Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery, Dracula by Bram Stoker and so many others…

8) What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Read, of course! I also really like scary movies – anything that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I like to jog at night, swim, sail old sailboats, and I enjoy a good German or Upstate New York Reisling. I love to travel, and I am slowly making my way around the world with recent stops in France, Australia and China.

9) With Christmas fast approaching, what are your favourite memories about the holiday season? Any special plans this year?

I have a really big family, so my favorite Christmas memories all involve big family activities. As the oldest of five children, Christmas Eve was always a night when we were allowed to all sleep together in our family rec room in sleeping bags. Some of my favorite memories are of those nights.

This Christmas, I am spending time with my husband’s family in Florida. So, we’ll be decorating palm trees and enjoying more sun than I am used to for Christmas!

10) Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers?

Only that I hope you enjoy The Sounding. While it is a supernatural thriller, I believe it is simply a good story. If you enjoy being taken away from reality for a little while; if you want a book that will pull you in and make you forget you are reading, then I think you will like The Sounding. Only you – the reader can make The Sounding a well-read book. And so I hope to see you between the covers!

And check out Carrie's guest post here on Curling Up By The Fire!!

Review: Bound by Kira Saito

2012-01-13T18:38:00.001-05:00

Bound (Arelia LaRue, Book #1)
by Kira Saito
Release Date: October 28th, 2011
2011 by Kira Saito
Ebook Edition; 246 Pages
ASIN: B0060EHJX6
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Bewitching Book Tours

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and save up for college. When her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia agrees. However, at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could have never imagined.

My Thoughts

Bound, the first book in the Arelia LaRue novels, was an enjoyable read, partly because I am always entranced by anything to do with New Orleans, and partly because I am also easily induced into reading stories about witches and curses and voodoo queens. Throw in a beautiful plantation house with a dark, deadly secret, and a family trying to protect that secret, and how could I refuse?

While I was quite taken with the descriptions of the plantation house, Darkwood Plantation, and really enjoyed the scene at the slave cabins, and thought the action in the story was nicely paced and very quick, I felt there was something missing in the story. Though I can't quite put my finger on it, there seemed to be a lack of that suspense build-up that should be there in such a setting. While I enjoyed the story, I can't really say that I was absorbed by it and found myself easily distracted by other things around me and I had to force myself to pay attention to what was happening in the book, sometimes re-reading passages that I had already read. While I thought the novel was quite nicely written, and it had a nice, easy pace to it, there were some editing issues which really should be looked at more closely.

Arelia, the principal character in the novel, has seen spirits all her life, and discovers a bit more of her family history in this novel. Fighting a constant battle all her life against being a voodoo queen as she has a fear of being seen as a 'freak', she doesn't accept her burgeoning talents very well in this novel and I thought she sometimes acted quite childlishly, to the point where it actually annoyed me. While I liked her so-called 'fire and bramble', I thought her fixation on the rich and her stereotypes towards anyone who was rich were also very annoying. Being poor, she seemed to have a chip on her shoulder for anyone who had money, and tended to look upon them as spoiled and selfish, and treated them very condescendingly. I had very mixed feelings towards Arelia for most of the book. As for her best friend Sabrina, for me she can't leave Darkwood Plantation fast enough as I didn't enjoy her character at all. And I don't understand where the author is coming from either with this relationship; Sabrina stabs her best friend in the back and just thinks she can be forgiven for it as if nothing ever happened, and she is. I'm like, What??? This was disappointing. As for Grand-mere Bea and Mrs. Mae, I would dearly love to know their story, what they really fought over, and why Arelia was removed from Darkwood Plantation in the first place. Seems to me like there is a good story there, but this novel didn't go there at all and I was somewhat disappointed by that.

You can't have a story like this without a love connection, and that someone is the hunky Lucus. A gentleman with exquisite manners, Lucus owns Darkwood Plantation, but he also comes with a secret all of his own. I wasn't sure what to think about the relationship between Arelia and Lucus as I don't think it really felt genuine. As the novel only deals with the first two weeks at the plantation, there is so little time for a relationship to really develop. Besides, I'm not quite sure what to think about our dear Lucus as he spent a lot of that time kissing up to Sabrina. It takes a self-confident person to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, and I didn't understand his reactions to some of the things that happened, or why he just went along with things. There were times when I just wanted to holler, Say no!!

Verdict
Bound was an enjoyable and quick read, and I definitely love reading anything about the lore and the history of the plantation. I will admit that I was disappointed in the main characters, except perhaps for Henri and Mrs. Mae, as I felt they were somewhat immature and just seemed to overreact to even the smallest things. And while I did enjoy the story, I felt that the plot wasn't as complex as it could have been, and then when things did get really interesting, the book just ended; it felt unfinished, as if there should be something more. And while I realize there will be a sequel, it didn't have that kind of unfinished feeling, just the feeling that it ended at the end of a chapter, and there should be one more chapter. That being said, there was enough in this novel that I did find interesting and I will definitely keep my eyes open for the sequel, Punished, when it is released. For a light, quick read, this novel is worth looking at, particularly as it has a lot of potential as a series and shows a lot of promise.

Excerpt

It had to work. It just had to. After repeating the chant at least six times, it still didn’t work. “Fine you greedy spirits!” I yelled. It was clear that they wanted more blood. In a rage, I drew more blood, this time slashing my palm. I brought my dripping palm up to Ben’s neck and repeated the chant. After a few minutes, I felt a distinct energy. It was a force within me so incredibly strong that I was convinced that I was able to move a mountain if I wanted to or even get Sabrina to stop talking about boys.

“Arelia what are you doing?” Ben’s voice forced me to open my eyes.

“You’re strangling me.”

I realized my hands were gripped a bit too tightly around his neck. I unwrapped them to find that his wound had completely healed, and his fever was gone. “Ben, you’re okay!” I exclaimed. I gave him an enormous hug.

“Of course, I’m okay,” he said. “I’m just sleepy it was a long night. Tell the alligators and ghosts that I’ll see them tomorrow.” He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

In my excitement, I leapt up, and by sheer impulse gave formerly-shirtless guy a hug. As my body touched his, I could smell him and felt my skin tingle.

Delicious chills overtook my body. He wasn’t wearing any cologne, but he smelt lovely. Warm and familiar mingled with a dash of sadness and danger. I caught myself clinging to him and took a step back in embarrassment. My moment of conquest had quickly passed, and I realized that I was standing next to a swamp, in front of a stranger in a corset and petticoat which basically translated to a bra and underwear. I was horrified.

Formerly-shirtless guy looked at me like the existence of Santa Claus had just been proven before taking off his jacket and wrapping it around me. “You must be cold,” he observed. “Your hand is bleeding.” He ripped a sleeve off of his shirt and covered my palm.

In my state of absolute exhilaration, I had failed to acknowledge the fact that the night had gotten a bit chilly. My entire body was covered in goose bumps, and my hand was leaking blood everywhere. “Why did you follow me?” I wrapped his jacket around me realizing that I was standing in the middle of nowhere with someone who could be a psychopathic, serial killer.

His lips broke out in an amused smile. “Do you think I’m stalking you?” He asked hovering over me. It really sucked being short sometimes. Standing at a measly five foot three inches made me feel as if I lived in a world full of giants. At this moment, formerly-shirtless guy looked like a giant even though he wasn’t freakishly tall or anything, maybe slightly over six feet.

“Well, how else can you explain being here?” I stated what I thought was the obvious. I tried to stand on my toes, hoping to make myself appear taller.

Author Bio

Kira is a magic junkie and loves writing YA paranormal romances. Some of her heroes include: Jack the Pumpkin King, Willy Wonka, Larry David, Princess Tiana, the vampire Lestat, Andy and her Maltese Costanza.

http://kirasaito.blogspot.com/

twitter @KiraSaito

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kira-Saito/216126158450770

Want to Win a Kindle Fire? Last Day of Epic Event!!

2012-01-13T05:51:00.001-05:00

Want to win a Kindle Fire?

Authors Aiden James, Scott Nicholson, J. R. Rain, and H.T. Night are teaming up Jan. 11-13 to give away $1,000 in prizes, including four Kindle Fires, $200 in Amazon gift cards, and 45 free Kindle books.

There are four ways to enter during Jan. 12-13:

Share this blog link according to the blogger’s directions
Share our free books and event from http://epickindlegiveaway.blogspot.com
Spread the news about our contest on your favorite Internet hangouts and the Kindle Fairy is searching and putting names in her Magic Hat

TODAY’S FREE KINDLE BOOKS

Scott Nicholson

Drummer Boy (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Red Church (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
As I Die Lying (psychological thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Creative Spirit (haunted house thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Disintegration (suspense thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Zombie Bits (zombie stories) Amazon US Amazon UK; Amazon US Amazon UK;
Speed Dating with the Dead Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Skull Ring Amazon US Amazon UK;
Scott Nicholson Library, Vol. 4 Amazon US Amazon UK;
October Girls (YA paranormal) Amazon US Amazon UK

H.T. Night
A Boy's Life (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Boy Meets Girl (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Everlasting Love (Poetry) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Getting Yours (Romantic Comedy) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Paranormal Love Stories (Vampire/Werewolf Love Story) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Werewolf Whisperer (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Vampire Love Story (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Winning Sarah’s Heart: Back to School (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Winning Sarah’s Heart: Boys Being boys (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK

J.R. Rain
BAD BLOOD - A Vampire Thriller Amazon US Amazon UK;
BLACK RAIN: 15 Short Stories Amazon US Amazon UK;
ELVIS HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING - A murder mystery Amazon US Amazon UK;
JUDAS SILVER - An adventure screenplay Amazon US Amazon UK;
LOST EDEN - An adventure screenplay Amazon US Amazon UK;
THE BODY DEPARTED - A ghost story Amazon US Amazon UK;
THE VAMPIRE CLUB - supernatural fantasy comedy Amazon US Amazon UK;
THE VAMPIRE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO -mystery novella Amazon US Amazon UK

Aiden James
Aiden James Vampires (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Cursed Immortals (Supernatural Thriller/Vampires) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Raven Mocker (Horror/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Deadly Night (Murder mystery/Supernatural) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Forgotten Eden (Supernatural Thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Twice Bitten (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK

If one of the four authors hits #1 on the Kindle Free list, they will give away another Kindle Fire. If at any time during the event, the four authors hold all the Top 10 slots on the Kindle Free list, they will give away a sixth kindle. Kindle Fire winners will be selected by the Watauga County (NC) Public Library staff using random.org.

In order to be part of this, just share my blog link on Facebook or Twitter, and you will be entered in this amazing contest. Leave your link, once you've shared, with your email address in the comment section below. It's that simple!!!

Good luck everyone!!

Dark Lullaby Book Blitz

2012-01-12T09:44:00.003-05:00

At a trendy Turkish tavern one Friday night, astrophysicist Gabriel Diaz meets a mysterious young woman. Captivated by her beauty as well as her views on good and evil, he spends the next several days with her. Soon, however, he begins to notice a strangeness in her—her skin’s abnormally high temperature, her obsession with milk products, her child-like and bizarre behaviour as she seems to take pleasure in toying with his conscience.

The young woman, Kamilah, invites him to Rize, Turkey, where she claims her family owns a cottage in the woods. In spite of his heavy workload and the disturbing visions and nightmares about his sister’s baby that is due to be born soon, Gabriel agrees to go with her.

But nothing, not even the stunning splendor of the Black Sea, can disguise the horror of her nature. In a place where death dwells and illusion and reality seem as one, Gabriel must now come to terms with his own demons in order to save his sister’s unborn child, and ultimately, his own soul…

Dark Lullaby Excerpt

After Gabriel paid the bill, they walked outside.

The night had a shimmering, liquid quality to it. A warm summer breeze caressed his face and tousled his hair. He lifted his eyes to the sky. Perfectly clear, the sky looked like a black velvet curtain embedded with Swarovski crystals.

“I don’t have a car,” Kamilah said.

“Mine is that way.” He pointed to the end of the street.

The breeze played with the soft layers of her short hair. He had a hard time tearing his eyes from her face. Her hazel eyes were so luminous they seemed to possess a life of their own.

She held his hand, entwining her fingers with his. Once again, he was startled by the temperature of her skin. So hot.

They reached his red Porsche and he opened the door for her.

On the way to his apartment, Kamilah asked him many questions about his profession, about his work at the Institute. He found himself talking a lot about himself, not because he enjoyed it but because she seemed insatiable. He loved his profession, he told her. Yet, his present job was routine and he wished for something more challenging. He wanted research. This was his passion, but he needed a doctorate degree. His plan was to work one more year at the Institute, then give himself full time to graduate school. It meant living off scholarships and student loans. In other words: no more expensive Spanish paellas or bottles of Belgian beer. He would be the romantic poor scientist.

“Where are you from, originally?” she asked.

“I was born in Puerto Rico, though my parents’ family came originally from the south of Spain. I lived in San Juan until my last year of high school. Then I won a scholarship from the University of Arizona, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree. Later I moved here to do my Master’s at Johns Hopkins, and I have been here ever since.”

“Do you visit Puerto Rico often?”

“Not really.” He paused. “Actually, I haven’t been there since I left the year of my high school graduation.”

“When did you decide you wanted to become an astrophysicist?”

“I made the decision when I was in my last year of high school, but I’ve always been in love with the stars, ever since I was a little boy.”

How could he explain to her what looking at the stars had meant to him, when, as a terrified and miserable little boy, he had wished for the vast darkness of the sky to swallow him? At the age of seven, gazing at the constellations from the quiet darkness of his room, he had experienced a grand realization. Even lost in the endless void of space, he would be safer there than at home. How to explain to anybody that the sky and stars had been more than a simple escape? They had been his salvation. Only his sister understood.

All this rushed through his mind in a second. Kamilah sat very still. But he could feel her gaze gnawing at him. Electricity permeated the air. He resisted looking at her, his eyes on the road.

“What about your family?” she asked.

But at that moment, he made a sharp turn into the curving driveway of his apartment complex.

“Here we are,” he said, giving her a smile. Good timing. He hardly ever talked about his family with friends, much less with strangers. To distract her, Gabriel started giving her general information about the complex, its good location and facilities.

Did she really want to look at his telescope? This is what he really wanted to think about as they stepped into the elevator and he pressed for the fifth floor. One minute later, they were inside his apartment.

Luckily, he had cleaned up two days ago, so the place wasn’t a complete disaster. But it was muggy. He turned on the air conditioning.

“I love your apartment,” she said, looking round her. “It’s very warm—the feel of it, I mean.”

Books, books, books. Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books covered one large wall. More shelves on the opposite wall displayed a medium-sized TV and stereo system. The coffee table consisted of a large rectangular slab of glass supported by four pillars of books instead of legs. The burgundy sofa looked worn and battered, but the leather was still beautiful. His apartment consisted of a living room, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Propped against the shelves were several canvases, some unfinished.

“You paint?” she asked him.

“When I find the time. Helps combat the stress. But I haven’t done it in months.” He gestured to the sofa. “Sit down. Do you want something to drink? Are you hungry?”

She shook her head.

“Do you like bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon?”

“What?”

“Delicious. My favorite meal. I’m always hungry for them.”

She smiled. “Bagels and salmon?”

“Sure. You’ll love it.”

Gabriel went into the kitchen to prepare the food. A few minutes later he came back carrying a food tray, two crystal goblets and a bottle of red Spanish wine. He placed them on the glass coffee table.

She readily accepted the wine, murmuring thanks without taking her eyes off him. In spite of her insistent stare, she didn’t seem like the aggressive type. On the contrary. She radiated vulnerability, like a lost child in need of protection. The intense glow in her eyes startled him. He could clearly distinguish the little yellow and green specks round the irises.

Gabriel sank into the sofa next to her. “You don’t look Turkish,” he told her, leaning forward to offer her a bagel.

“I’m from the north-eastern coast of Turkey, almost at the border with what used to be the Soviet Union, on the Black Sea. You can find many blond people over there. Many green and hazel eyes…Mmm…This is good. I’ve never eaten this before.”

He looked pleased. “I used to have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

“How impetuous. Do you love like that, too—all the way?”

His face felt flushed. “Kamilah,” he scolded gently. “You’re embarrassing me.” He lifted his goblet of wine in toast. “To the purity and nobility of the soul.”

“To those special souls out there.”

They clinked glasses and drank. The wine caressed his throat, felt far too pleasant. With all the drinking he’d had at the tavern, he was more than light-headed by now. He felt hypnotized by the luster of her golden-brown hair, by perfectly unblemished skin.

“So…Where’s your telescope?”

“In my bedroom.”

Her eyes abruptly shifted to an ornate silver framed photograph on the side table.

“My sister,” he said.

Her eyes darkened as she gazed at it with deep concentration. “She’s beautiful,” she whispered.

Gabriel reached for the picture and showed it to her. “She’s my only sister.”

“What’s her name?”

“Elena. She lives in Belgium.”

“Belgium…” For a moment there was a dream-like quality to her as she studied his sister’s face. “You must miss her a lot, having her so far away. Do you go and visit her sometimes?”

He nodded. “Of course. As a matter of fact, I’m planning on going there soon. She’s going to have a baby.” He stiffened as the image of the empty pram flashed through his mind.

There was a silence.

Kamilah seemed to be examining his face. Gently she took the picture from him. It was a close-up of Elena’s face. Corn silk blond hair, bob-styled, enclosed a pair of mellow brown eyes, a small nose, and a gentle half smile. Her eyes were smiling more than her lips.

“Does she have other children?”

“No, this will be the first. She had a baby girl three years ago, but she died a couple of hours after delivery.”

“How awful…” Kamilah murmured, as if the fact hurt her deeply. “Why is she living in Belgium?”

“Her husband is working at NATO. They’ll be there for one more year, then they’ll go back to Boston.”

“What about your parents?”

Gabriel took the picture from Kamilah and placed it back on the side table. Tilting back his head, he downed the rest of his wine. “My parents are dead,” he said.

“Oh. I’m sorry. Maybe we should change the conversation.”

“No, it’s okay. I just…I don’t like talking…”

“You don’t like talking about them with a stranger.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said gently. But she was right. Some things were better forgotten or ignored. In this case, he couldn’t forget. He could only try to pretend that his childhood had never taken place; a sort of willful amnesia, a defense mechanism.

He ate the rest of his bagel and poured himself more wine. Kamilah was silently eating her bagel. Without asking, he refilled her goblet. “Well, do you want to see the telescope?” he said, rising to his feet. “Wait here a second.”

Gabriel walked into the dark bedroom to get the Meade telescope—a portable, computer-controlled Schmidt-Cassegrain, one of his little investments. It stood on its tripod by the window, the lens directed toward the heavens. He hesitated. Should he bring it into the living room or simply tell Kamilah to come here?

He felt a strong presence behind him and swung around.

Kamilah stood in the doorframe.

For an eerie second his surroundings seemed to shift. The dark bedroom, the soft light coming from the living room, Kamilah’s dark silhouette at the threshold—all seemed to acquire a surreal quality. Her face was in shadow, a black mask. He was perspiring from the beer, the raki, the wine. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten like this. He didn’t want to deal with any damned telescope. Instead, he wanted to crush Kamilah against his chest and squeeze all oxygen out of her lungs.

He took in all the curves of her shape. The full round breasts, the snug waist, the feminine voluptuousness of her hips, her perfectly shaped legs, her…

He stood, paralyzed with shock.

Panicked, he fumbled for the night lamp next to him and switched it on.

A dim yellow light flooded the room.

He stared down at her feet, but everything looked normal now.

“What’s wrong?” Kamilah asked, alarmed.

He blinked, swallowing hard, his eyes moving down to her feet, up to her face, down to her feet again.

“What is it, Gabriel?”

His heart had given a skip nearly big enough to kill him. Relieved, he burst out laughing. He sat down at the edge of the bed and laughed some more.

“Jesus,” he muttered. “I’m fine. It’s nothing. I just thought I saw—nothing.” The semi darkness, the alcohol in his brain had played a trick on his vision.

Kamilah studied her own feet, her brows furrowed.

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Kamilah. There it is, the famous telescope,” he said, making a dramatic gesture with his hand.

The distress on her face faded and a reassured smile curved her lips.

She went across the room and stood next to it. Then she touched it and, looking at him and smiling, trailed the length of it with her fingers. If she was in any way aware of the suggestiveness of her deed, he couldn’t tell. Her face was the embodiment of virtuousness. But he would never look at a telescope the same way again.

The window was closed and the curtains drawn.

She leaned over and peered into the eyepiece.

“Darkness,” she whispered.

“That’s the universe, Kamilah. Ninety percent darkness, empty voids. With only billions of tiny clusters of galaxies containing billions of tiny stars. Of course, it might help to uncap the lens,” he mocked gently, getting up from the bed and lifting the cover.

She giggled. “Oh. Sorry.”

“And to turn off the lights.” As he leaned over to switch off the night lamp, he shot a sideways glance to her feet. Enclosed in beige sandals, the toenails shiny with pink polish, feminine and pretty.

“Show me Jupiter!” she demanded with childlike enthusiasm.

“You can’t see Jupiter now. It practically rises and sets with the sun. It’s stunning during the winter months, though.”

“Oh…” She seemed disappointed.

“Kamilah?”

Something about his voice must have sounded different, because she suddenly turned to him with a serious expression. Their bodies were very close.

“How did you overhear our conversation amid all that noise? In the tavern, I mean.”

For a moment she was silent. “I have telepathic powers,” she finally said.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.” She smiled, enchanting him again, displaying her sharp, perfect little teeth. “Show me the rings of Saturn,” she insisted.

In such proximity he could feel her breath, sweet, clean.

“I’m afraid Saturn is also a winter planet. But don’t look so sad. There’s much more to see at this time of the year. Mars is quite impressive. The Andromeda Galaxy, the Northern Cross, Vega, as well as several star clusters.” He cleared his throat, which had abruptly turned parched. “I’ll show you many things, but not from here. The window and balcony are looking to the north. Eastern and southern skies are the best. We’ll go to the roof. There we’ll have the whole scope. It’s quite spectacular.”

“Now?”

He glanced at the digital clock on the night table. “It’s almost two thirty. I guess it is a bit late for exploring the universe?” His voice sounded alien, husky.

She remained motionless, her eyes never leaving his.

“Tomorrow night,” he said. “I promise you. On the roof.”

“The glint in your eye…it’s perverse…for such a pure and noble soul.” She leaned her head on his chest.

“You will corrupt me,” Gabriel whispered next to her ear, while his hands firmly pulled her to him.

She gave a soft gasp, her arms instantly around his neck. “Yes, Gabriel…” she said breathlessly. “But for now you’re still the angel.”

He lost himself in her.

Then, for a split second, what he had seen previously struck him like an explosion: the sight of her legs without feet. Oh, her feet had been there all right, attached to her ankles, but they were facing the opposite way.

Her feet had been backwards.

Notes From the author...

"Dark Lullaby is about a young astrophysicist who is lured into the Turkish countryside by a mysterious young woman, of course, she ends up being something totally unexpected. In the end, he has to face his own demons in order to save his twin sister’s unborn child.

I’ve always been very interested in moral dilemmas and in the concept of a higher good. For instance, is it okay for a man to steal in order to have money to save his little girl, who is dying? In the case of Dark Lullaby, I went a step further: is it okay for a man to kill for the higher good? More than horror, it is a bizarre, suspenseful tale. It is based on Turkish lore. I lived in Turkey for five years and the culture, the people, the stories I heard there had a big influence on my writing."

*****

Why I decided to use Turkey as my setting...

"The first part of Dark Lullaby takes place in Baltimore, but it was inevitable for the setting to move to Turkey. This has to do with the nature of the anti-heroine which I will not reveal here, of course. J I also wanted to add a primitive, exotic flavor to the story, and what could be more primitive and exotic than a small village in the Black Sea coast, a place surrounded by woods and influenced by strange lore? I don’t think there are many scary stories out there connected to Turkish lore, so I thought: hey, this is something different, something readers may find unusual and original. So for this novel, I felt the setting was very important for the plot."

*****

What appeals to me about the supernatural...

"I detest gore. What appeals to me are the unknown, the unexplainable, and a good story with good characterization and a lot of dark atmosphere. Paranormal is probably my favorite of all genres, but I hesitate to say I like horror because horror has turned to trash these days. I like the classic, traditional ‘horror’ ala Edgar Allan Poe, very different from the average horror being written these days. I can think of a novel I read a couple of years ago, a ghost story with stunning writing: The Ghost Writer, by John Hartwood. I guess what I like falls more under paranormal or supernatural suspense, but the lines are so thin between genres and subgenres these days, sometimes it’s hard to categorize a book."

Want to Win a Kindle Fire???

2012-01-11T15:46:00.003-05:00

Want to win a Kindle Fire?

There are four ways to enter during Jan. 11-13:
• Share this blog link on social media according to blogger’s directions
• Follow the authors on Facebook (J.R. Rain, H.T. Night, Aiden James, and Scott Nicholson) and look for "Click to share" posts
• ~~Follow Ereader News Today on Facebook and click to share their free book bundles~~
• Go to their free books on Amazon, click "like" and then "share" each book on Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtags “free for #kindle” and “#epickindlegiveaway”

TODAY’S FREE KINDLE BOOKS

H.T. Night
A Boy's Life (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Boy Meets Girl (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Everlasting Love (Poetry) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Getting Yours (Romantic Comedy) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Paranormal Love Stories (Vampire/Werewolf Love Story) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Werewolf Whisperer (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Vampire Love Story (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Winning Sarah’s Heart: Back to School (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Winning Sarah’s Heart: Boys Being boys (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Vampires and Werewolves Beginnings (Vampire Romance) Amazon US

Scott Nicholson
The Red Church (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
As I Die Lying (psychological thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Creative Spirit (haunted house thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Disintegration (suspense thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Harvest (technothriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Zombie Bits (zombie stories) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Transparent Lovers (paranormal mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK

J.R. Rain
ARTHUR - A modern-day spiritual adventure Amazon US Amazon UK;
BLACK RAIN: 15 Short Stories Amazon US Amazon UK;
CURSED - Supernatural horror thriller Amazon US Amazon UK;
DARK QUESTS: Two Adventure Screenplays Amazon US Amazon UK;
ELVIS HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING - A murder mystery Amazon US Amazon UK;
GHOST COLLEGE - A supernatural mystery Amazon US Amazon UK;
THE LOST ARK - An adventure novel Amazon US;
THE VAMPIRE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO -mystery novella Amazon US Amazon UK

Aiden James
Aiden James Vampires (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Cursed Immortals (Supernatural Thriller/Vampires) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Vampires’ Birthright (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Cades Cove (Horror/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Vampire Twist (Vampire adventure/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK

The bonus Kindle winners will be selected using the #epickindlegiveaway hashtags on Facebook and Twitter.

The Facebook and Twitter hashtags must accompany a link to one of the free books, a participating book blog, or the contest home page at http://epickindlegiveaway.blogspot.com or it won’t count as a valid entry.

In order to be part of this, just share my blog link on Facebook or Twitter, and you will be entered in this amazing contest. Leave your link, once you've shared, with your email address in the comment section below. It's that simple!!!

Thanks, good luck, and enjoy the free books!

Mystery Author Interview: Brad Geagley

2012-01-10T14:16:00.001-05:00

Curling Up by The Fire would like to welcome Brad Geagley, author of Year of the Hyenas and Day of the False King, historical thrillers that blend history and adventure into taut thrillers that take you back into an exciting time period. His new noir thriller, The Stand In, was published on December 13th, 2011, and is available on Kindle and Ebook. The Stand In, set in Hollywood in 1957, is also full of mystery and intrigue. Take a look:

Louis Solomon, head of Centurion Studios, is deep in production on his very troubled wide-screen spectacular, “A Tale of Two Cities”. Riddled with drugs, extremely volatile, Rick has been the cause of a five-week shutdown for beating his leading lady and one-time lover, Lola Chandler, half to death. While she recovers, Louis must find the money to complete the picture and keep the truth away from the press. Unfortunately, this is precisely when Darren Cates, captain of the Ramparts Division of the LAPD, brings Louis the even more horrifying news that Rick is suspected in the strangulation murders of a series of blond starlets up in the Hollywood Hills. Louis must scramble to complete his picture, save his studio, and keep his leading lady alive.

Enter Eddie Baines, a small-town actor from Texas, hungry for fame. Unluckily for him, he bears a striking resemblance to Mr. DeNova, which has prevented him from getting any parts. But when Rick’s photo double goes missing, Eddie is hired to replace him. Seeing the uncanny resemblance between Rick and Eddie, Solomon hatches a diabolical plan – if anyone in the press discovers that Rick might be linked to the murders Eddie will be blamed. The young Texan is the perfect foil and the perfect fall guy. But in Hollywood, as ever, nothing is as it seems.

1) To start off, can you tell me a little bit about yourself? How did you become interested in writing mystery/thriller novels?

This is the part I hate, talking about myself! I grew up in southern California, a child of the 50s – yes, that puts me at 61 years of age, officially a geezer, but emotionally still an adolescent. I always loved writing – won my first contest in third grade – and it always seemed so easy that it wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I thought I might be able to convince someone to pay me to do it. I majored in film, not writing, when I was in college and have worked as an interactive experience designer (game, display and virtual reality) and as a producer at various studios. My first love was – and probably still is – historical fiction. But when I decided to become a novelist full time, historical fiction wasn’t in vogue. So I wrote a historical mystery, which was in vogue. I actually learned how to create a mystery by writing one. Of course, I studied the masters – Hammett, Chandler, et al – but the writer I most admire is Martin Cruz Smith, he of “Gorky Park” fame. I would kill to write like him!

2) Can you tell us a little about your new novel, The Stand In?
It’s set in 1957 Hollywood, and asks the (hopefully) intriguing question – what would you do, Mr. Studio Mogul, if you discovered that your Leading Man on your extremely troubled and costly new wide-screen feature might actually be a serial killer? How do you protect your studio, your film – your Leading Lady? (Hint: the answer is in the title.)

3) What inspired you to write The Stand In? How much research was involved in the writing?
The story was actually inspired by a rumor told to me by an Important Person in the film industry, that a major actor from the 50s had actually had many of his scenes filmed by his photo double. Actually, I didn’t do much research at all. I love the history of the film industry, and am always reading books about it. Besides, it was the era I grew up in and part of the fun was remembering what it was like to be alive then.

4) What was your greatest challenge while writing this novel?
Actually, this is a novel that went extremely quickly, I don’t know why. The real challenge was in the plotting – I wanted something that kept reversing the reader’s expectations up to the final sentence in the book. I think I achieved that.

5) In this novel, we are introduced to some very interesting and intriguing characters. Who was the most fun to write about? Which character presented the biggest challenge?
Thank you for saying they’re interesting and intriguing. There were two characters that I loved writing – Nadine Nugent, the gossip columnist whom I describe as a “fatty-face, mean-eyed, trailer park hussy” and who always dresses in her signature color of magenta – this, despite the fact that she’s a radio columnist and no one can see her. The other was Louis Solomon, who heads Centurion Studios. He is indeed the wise King Solomon figure, but with just a touch of Beelzebub in his icy cold veins. (I also have a soft spot for Tensy Delago, the drunken landlady of a murder victim - very fun to write.)

6) I loved The Year of the Hyenas. Were you surprised by the success of this novel, as well as by the sequel? Are you planning on writing more novels in this series? Is there a genre you would like to tackle but have not yet had the opportunity?
I wasn’t surprised, I was just grateful that “The Year of the Hyenas” was so critically well-received. I had no idea whether or not people would respond to it, but I knew I had done my absolute best and that’s all I had to give. Whatever happened after that was pure gravy. Any novelist, I think, will tell you the same thing. It’s all a roll of the dice.

Though I have seven Semerket novels outlined, I don’t know whether or not I will continue them. First, mysteries are a genre field, and historical mysteries are a genre of a genre. I don’t want to limit my audience (or sales). And I want to write in a variety of voices – third person, first person, epistolary, whatever. I want to challenge myself each time out. This may be a bad business decision, since I won’t be able to fit snugly into one description – you tell me. But the only designation I want my readers to have of me is that “he tells a damn good story.” I was surprised when Simon and Schuster wanted two novels, actually, much less one. And I was fairly ambivalent to writing the second one. But Semerket is such a great character, that I’ll probably go back to him if I live long enough.

7) What advice would you give an aspiring writer?
Write sober. The pages may come easier when you’re drunk or stoned, but none of it will get published. I tell my students this, too. Set up a schedule and write every day at the same time. Writing is like a muscle, the more you do the more developed it gets.

8) How do you feel your writing has changed and developed? Or do you feel it has?
Finally, it’s all about simplicity – the hardest thing to achieve. I think I’ve finally broken through wanting to impress people with the “beauty of my prose”, and instead try to make all the effort seem invisible. There should be nothing between the words and the reader, not even the author.

9) What are your thoughts on the publishing industry at the moment, especially now that you have entered the self-publishing market as well. What are the advantages to self-publishing?
In a word, the publishing industry has its head up its ass right now. It’s flailing. The only advantage they gave an author was space on bookstore shelves. (And book tours, which help only the book stores and not the author.) Now that the bookstores are closing, what use are publishers? They take 9/10s of all your profits and leave the author high and dry. They are reaping what they have sown. Years ago, at an Author’s Guild meeting, the speaker said there was no need to have a publisher any longer because with the Internet you could precisely aim your book at your precise audience. (This is less true for fiction, but even that is changing.) Still, publishers gave you services that are hard to duplicate, mainly in the proof reading category. (I’m terrible at it, and miss my proof reader; still, next time out I’ll hire one of my own.) The advances were nice, too. Hopefully, an author will see much more money with self-publishing and can forego the advance.

10) What are 3 things that are 'must haves' when you write? Do you have any writing rituals?
A cup of coffee, a good computer, and an idea. I have no writing ritual other than to place my butt in the seat and take a swig of coffee. After that, the muse joins me.

11) Can you share with us any projects that you are currently working on or plans for the future? What can fans expect next from you?
Right now, I’m writing a screenplay with a fellow producer, a new kind of mystery series for television. If it doesn’t go, I may turn it into a novel. But the real work I’m doing right now is a book entitled “The Confessions of Mammy Pleasant” – a first person memoir of Mary Ellen Pleasant, one of the most amazing women in American History – one of the first black millionaires, a civil rights pioneer, freedom fighter, and the so-called “voodoo queen of gold rush San Francisco”. After that, I’m writing the story of West Point on the brink of the Civil War. I also have started a non-fiction book about the Ptolemies of ancient Egypt, called “Cleopatra’s Family” – perhaps the gaudiest, raunchiest, most despicable group of geniuses that ever ruled a country.

12) Favourite authors? Role models?
As I’ve said before, I love the works of Martin Cruz Smith. Most of my favorite authors are from my childhood – Pearl S. Buck, Mika Waltari, and, best, Shirley Jackson – the so-called “Virginia Werewolf of American Fiction.” Boy, can she turn a phrase – making you shiver with terror and laugh out loud all in the same moment.

As far as role models go, I don’t believe in them or heroes. Everyone has feet of clay. Make yourself into your own role model; then you won’t have to depend on or be disappointed by anyone else.

13) What do you like to do when you are not writing? What is your ultimate luxury?
My ultimate luxury is any time away from the computer. Who was the author who compared writing to going over to the typewriter and opening a vein? Well, that’s just what it is. This may not jibe with what I said earlier about writing being so easy for me. That’s true, too. But the more writing you do, the more successful you get at it, the higher the stakes. The better I get at it, the less sure I am about it.

14) Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers?
I’ll share what Dorothy said in “The Wizard of Oz” – “Never give up! No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow!”

Thank you for visiting Brad, and good luck with all your future endeavours!!

Review: In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

2012-01-09T19:33:00.002-05:00

In Leah's Wake
by Terri Giuliano Long
Release Date: September 27, 2011
2011 CreateSpace / Inspired Quill
Softcover Edition; 352 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-9754533-9-1
Genre: Fiction
Source: Pump Up Your Book Tours

4.5 / 5 Stars

Summary
Tyler family had the perfect life - until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore.
While Leah's 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.
Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn't enough?

My Thoughts
In Leah's Wake is a disturbing, yet at the same time heartrending, look at a contemporary middle class family that is torn apart in the wake of of the eldest daughter's breakdown; it is a look at a normal family dealing with the results of a teenager caught in the midst of drugs and alcohol, slipping out of control, and the stress and pressure it puts on each individual member of that family. By turns sad and disturbing, the novel draws you into the characters and their story, and makes you feel the downward spiral of each member in the wake of Leah's breakdown. At the same time, I also found it to be inspiring and full of hope; In Leah's Wake was an absorbing read and I couldn't help but be drawn into the characters and their pain right from the beginning of the novel.

One of the things I found to be disturbing is the fact that it could be me in a few years. Zoe and Will represent the ideal middle-class family who are trying to raise their two daughters the best way they know how by providing a nice house, good schools, and an environment that stresses high academic and sporting achievement. Loving and nurturing, both parents are intimately involved in their children's lives, perhaps a little too much, not realizing the pressure they put on their children to always be perfect. As Leah breaks down, Zoe and Will find themselves questioning their past behaviours and how they could have done things differently with the girls. Will finds himself losing interest in his job and in the travel it requires, while Zoe slowly slides into the depression she fights so hard against. What truly scared me is how easily this could be me in the future, and I found myself constantly comparing my life to the Tylers, wondering if perhaps I am too hard on my own kids, or too soft, letting them get away with too much. It's not always a comfortable spot to be in when you start analyzing your own life and things that you are doing as you are reading, but the book sort of forces you to do that, without judging you.

In Leah's Wake is emotionally engaging and absorbing, but it was the writing style that naturally drew you in as much as the story. I really enjoyed the different points of view, and liked how the author used this technique to tell the story and reveal information about the characters without necessarily just telling you. I learned a lot about Zoe for example, through her interaction with Officer Johnson and through his own eyes and not through her own. I thought it added that little extra touch to the novel that made me empathize more with the characters than I would have.

The characters themselves were fascinating, but while Leah drove me crazy, as did Will, I really enjoyed Justine, and her slow breakdown as she tries to keep the family together. Her strong faith and her belief in God and in her family helped her to get through many difficult times, but I was afraid she would slide down the same path as Leah, something that often happens as parents focus on one child so much they forget about the other. I also found the interaction between Will and Zoe quite interesting, and can see how couples can grow apart if they live vicarously through their children. It made me think a bit about my own relationship and how important it is to have your own quality time. There were times when I wanted to bang their heads together and make everyone see reason, but that would not have been realistic as people deal with issues in so many different ways, something that Ms. Long really shows very well in this novel.

Verdict
In Leah's Wake was a gritty, yet sympathetic look at teenage drug use, infidelities, miscommunication, distrust, and self-growth. The characters are given a chance to explore and develop, and given a chance to come to terms with their self-discoveries and their experiences. It also shows that perhaps not all is perfect underneath the show and pomp of a nice house and nice cars; one can't hide behind the veneer for long before it cracks. I would highly recomment In Leah's Wake to anyone as it will make you think and ponder about your own life, and perhaps the fairy-tale life is not about walls and floors, but goes so much deeper than that. And perhaps the most realistic thing, the ending is not perfect, unlike fairytales, but that makes it so much more realistic and gives it that much more depth.

Read an excerpt here.

Check out the trailer!

Guest Post: Anthony Garcia

2012-01-08T13:18:00.000-05:00

Curling Up By The Fire would like to welcome Anthony Garcia, who is a writer for the site Online Graduate Programs: Perspectives on Graduate Education. As someone who went to graduate school (M.Ed.) and then deferred attendance for a PhD program due to time constraints, there is certainly a lot of interesting information on this site; students who are currently enrolled in graduate programs or those considering graduate programs should check it out.

How to Keep Your Reading Lists Interesting

For millions of people reading literature is a favorite way to pass the time. If you are an avid reader, you know how exciting it is to find that perfect book that keeps you enthralled from beginning to end. Yet sometimes it can be hard to find your perfect novel or piece of literature. What can you do to keep your reading list interesting enough to maintain your attention? If your choice of novels has become thin and your love for reading is suffering from boredom, don’t let it deter you from searching for new exciting options! After all, as the Franklin Institute points out, reading is food for the brain!

Search by Author
Nearly everyone, from students in graduate programs to professionals, has a favorite author for any genre of reading. However it's easy to start out very excited about an author’s works, and then become bored once you have read all of their books on the genre or subject in which you are interested. Luckily this can be easily remedied by using an online search engine to look for similar authors. This will give you a detailed list of books that may be akin to those you are interested in, and quite possibly will introduce you to new authors that you’ve never heard of before.

Step Outside the Box
Do you have a specific genre of book or style of writing that dominates the majority of novels you read? Perhaps you have found yourself reading nothing except fantasy or crime dramas lately. Try choosing a book that is outside your usual preferences. Not only will this mix things up for you, it may also open a whole new area of reading for you to enjoy – providing you with new books, new subject matters and new authors. The more genres you find that you enjoy, the more books that become available to entertain you.

If you have tried this tactic, but couldn’t find a book that excited you don’t get discouraged. Simply move on to another genre until you find something different that you like. Start out with the total opposite of what you normally read. For example, if your forte is fantasy opt for a realistic fiction novel instead. If you’re a big horror buff, give a romance novel a try. While reading the new genre look for similarities between your usual areas of reading, and notice the differences as well.

Visit the Bestseller List
If you haven’t found a decent book that captured your attention in ages, consider scouring the bestseller list. These books found their way on to the list because essentially millions of people bought them and critics loved them, so why not give them a shot? Any book with that many readers deserves a fighting chance, and you may just discover that the bestseller list becomes your favorite tool for revamping your own reading list. The best thing about this tactic is that there is no division between genres, so you will be able to browse the biggest hits in many various genres all in one place.

http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html

Alternate

The relentless pursuit if novels can become tiring in itself. If you have discovered that you are quite simply bored with the entire search, take an alternative approach. Instead of looking for a full length novel, break it up by throwing in some short stories or poetry. Taking a time out from novels to enjoy an author’s collected short stories, or to delve into some poetry can be incredibly refreshing for the modern book lover. Spend some time getting familiar with these little gems in between long novels to refresh your love of literature.

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/chaning_our_minds/

Love the Book

No matter how you keep your reading list interesting, remember that you read because you love to do it. If any book bores you there is no reason to suffer through it, put it down and grab another one! From learning about what others are reading to doing random off the shelf book selections, there are a million books to be read and just as many different ways to find them!

Guest Post: Carrie Salo, author of The Sounding

2012-01-07T11:52:00.000-05:00

Challenging Yourself to Read Historical Fiction

Curling Up by the Fire would like to welcome Carrie Salo, author of The Sounding.

Dear Curling Up By the Fire Readers:

Thanks so much for letting me guest blog for you this week! I hope you are indeed curled up by the fire (that sounds so nice on this 22-degree morning up in the North East!) Though I am curled up, I am not fireside. Rather, my "writer's desk" sits facing two windows that look out onto some woods and a small (cold) pond. The desk gets its curled-up coziness from the fact that it is old fashioned: a real behemoth with brass handles, a fold out writing area and a large hutch for holding books. And, I do believe one of my neighbors has a fire going. I can smell it! So, I'm fireside by two or three degrees of separation...

Stephanie very kindly left this blog's topic up to me. And as I was thinking of what to write, I saw that Stephanie posted a historical fiction challenge for 2012. Anyone up for the challenge? What are you thinking of reading? I recently picked up Toni Morrison's A Mercy. HIGHLY recommended. The ending is perfect.

I think historical fiction is such an interesting sub-genre of the usually limitless bounds of fiction literature. It has a certain accountability to it that fiction otherwise does not have. Is the author representing a time period or a person accurately? Is the author representing a place to the best of their knowledge? Is he/she deep enough into their research to breathe it back to life? What are the sounds, smells, tastes and colors of a place you cannot truly visit because it no longer exists, or only exists behind a sheet of glass or a velvet rope? And yet, the writing can be so incredibly deep because sometimes, truth (or even the essence of truth) is greater and more impactful than what we can imagine.

My recent novel, The Sounding, is a combination historical fiction novel/supernatural thriller. And the combination of those two things made for one of the most fascinating stories I have ever dreamed up. The Sounding is about an early Armageddon. But, unlike a lot of apocalyptic stories out there today, which feature vampires, zombies, or even natural disaster, The Sounding is grounded in real history and real prophecy. It is meticulously researched, taking its roots (and major plot twists) from thousands of years of Catholic and Jewish theology. While it takes place in today's world, it visits some of the oldest historical sites across the continents and connects the deep past with the future in a very thrilling way.

Would it have been more fun to write an end of days novel without the constraints of history and theology? I don’t think so. The Sounding is as chilling as it is because it is based in some of the most fascinating, time-tested prophecies of our human culture. It covers a large swath of history and then takes it one step further. I found it was always more compelling to build on reality, rather than start anew within the vacuum of imagination.

Research took me to many unexpected places, including a read through the forbidden Apocrypha (containing those books that were once a part of the Bible but were eventually banned/discounted), an in depth look at Israel’s government and recent history, and even a trip to the Vatican itself, and its underground catacomb. It brought me to spells reportedly mastered by Moses, to the names of demons that would supposedly appear if I but uttered their name (I did not…). The legitimized and the unlegitimized information were both examined and questioned until it was hard to remember which was which. The more obscure and unobvious my research became, the more layers presented themselves to me, and to the story.

(The catacomb on the right is part of the Domitilla catacomb and is known as one of the oldest and largest of the underground cemeteries in Rome.)

In the end, The Sounding was my most interesting translation of an incredibly rich past spanning continents and cultures. The truth that runs through The Sounding, even as it takes supernatural twists and turns, grounds it in a much deeper place than I could ever have written on my own.

So, I encourage each of you to take Stephanie’s historical fiction challenge! The very word “history” has at its simple base: “story.” Curl up by that fire and read something as large as real life.

For further information on The Sounding, check it out at Amazon or The Book Depository.