Write Stuff: November 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

Repost Love: If you could change one thing in the past…

This is a post I originally had over on the awesome Stuart R. West's blog (have you read any of his recent releases? They are absolutely worth picking up!), but I thought I'd post one here today, just for fun. Shout it out in the comments about what you would go back and change!

So, time travel. Let’s be honest: if it were easily available, most of us would use it for trivial things: To fix that gaff in the staff meeting yesterday, to make sure you didn’t actually give someone a vacuum for Christmas (even if they asked for one), or just to make sure you had enough time to finish your taxes. I mean, really, the little stuff would be a whole lot easier. And that little stuff probably wouldn’t change much in the grand scheme of your life.

But, there are other things we might change. Like, the big stuff. The regret-at-night-before-falling-asleep kind of stuff. We’ve all got those kinds of things lurking, just waiting to be remembered when we’re laying in bed, about to fall asleep (wait, we do all have those, right? I’m not the only one?....Right?). Anyhow, I am pretty sure we could all come up with a few of those things we might change. For me, I can think of a few: not rooming with the crazy girl during my Junior year of college. Not listening to certain people who said I shouldn’t take more writing classes because I should stick to my strengths in science. Not doing that really awesome genetics internship in Peru (ugh, I so wish I’d had the guts to do that!). So, yeah, lots of things I’d probably do differently.

Of course, the bigger changes mean lots of other things would be different, too. I’d never have met really influential people on my life. Never gotten my current job that I adore. Never have ended up in my field. Or something like that. Who knows, right? For me, that’s kind of the fun the whole time-travel thing: imagining what would be different. Sometimes it might be better. Other times, maybe worse. It’s hard to say because of how many things influence us, but it’s still interesting to imagine.

Though I still wish I’d done that internship. Hello, what was my dumb 18-year-old self thinking? Or not thinking…

Blog Tour: CONVICTION by S. Usher Evans

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Now available - Conviction, the third book in the Razia series! Catch up on this fun, sassy space opera about a wayward scientist living a double life as a space pirate bounty hunter.
Missed the first two? Pick them up on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, and Kobo.

About Conviction:

Clink.

Razia is in trouble. Captured by a fellow pirate, she now finds herself back on probation with a bounty worth zero credits. In the cold reality, she begins to question herself and everything she has been working towards all of her life--and what she's willing to do to reclaim her glory.

Piracy is a game. What do you stand for?

Buy now on
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Smashwords
Kobo

Sneak Peek:

Razia's eyes snapped open and she grasped at the wall to steady herself. She stood outside the supposed poker game location, in a dimly lit alley that smelled like trash. There was something wet leaking from the bin next to her, so she didn't dare sit down. She had fallen asleep against the dirty brick wall for a split second, but was now wide awake and ready for Loeb to come out.
The door remained closed.
Poker, she reasoned, must be Loeb's chosen vice because he'd been there playing this game for over an hour. She wondered how many times he'd have to go to Temple to ask the Great Creator for forgiveness for this break in his piety.
She snorted at her own joke then burped a little beer. She rubbed her face roughly, hoping the increased blood flow would wake her up. She wished she hadn't had that that third beer (or however many she had from Sage's pitcher) at Eamon's, she wished she had some coffee, and she wished Loeb would just get a move on already. She had other pirates to capture, and he was being awfully selfish with her time.
She jutted her lip out and stared at the door, and her eyes began drooping again.
Her mini-computer began buzzing at her hip and she jumped ten feet. Scowling, she answered it without thinking.
"What." She blinked at the face looking back at her and for a brief moment saw Vel. With another shake of her head she realized it was Heelin scowling back at her. "Oh, it's you."
"Yes, it's me." Heelin looked nothing short of livid. "The brother with whom you are supposed to be working."
She grimaced. "Oh God in Leveman's, I don't have time for this."
"Well you'd better make time, because this stupid planet was approved for membership, so Dorst wants me to accompany you on your next excavation."
Excavation, what was that again? She rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of the word. Slowly, her brain readjusted from a month of bounty hunting back to her life as Lyssa Peate.
Wait…Heelin wanted to go on an excavation with her? "I don't think so."
"I think that you have to since Dorst ordered you to."
"I think that Dorst can get sucked."
"What is with you lately? You look different."
"I…what?" she said, looking down at the mini-computer.
"And where are you anyway? Are you in some kind of dark alley? Where are your glasses?"
Razia realized with a jolt of fear that she was, in fact, Razia and not Lyssa—her hair down, no lab coat, no glasses.
"Uh…gotta go!"
She ended the call quickly and breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't expect Heelin to recognize Razia from just a simple phone call. Unlike Lizbeth, who was sharp as a tack and made the connection almost immediately, the Peates seemed more eager to ignore that Lyssa ever existed.
Like Jukin.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, hating herself and her drunkenness for bringing him up. She still had no idea why she'd saved him. She'd told Lizbeth at the time it was because she wanted to believe he was a good person, but there was more to it than that. She was still harboring a little bit of guilt that she had been chosen as Sostas' assistant, and not Jukin.
And perhaps she felt a little responsible for everything Jukin had done.
She belched loudly in the alleyway, ending the drunken philosophical train of thought. In some part of her mind, she wondered if it was a good idea to be out in her current state, but then again, she was simply stalking Loeb. He wasn't going to surprise her and walk out…
Her eyes nearly fell out of her head as Jarvis Loeb exited the bar all by himself.
She braced herself against the wall, waiting to see if his body men were going to join him. Loeb got almost a block before she realized that he was alone. Whether this was some great twist of fate, or maybe some gift from the Great Creator, she didn't know, but it was definitely an opportunity.
She nearly tripped over her own two feet as she barreled after him, the beer sloshing in her stomach uncomfortably.
"OI!" she called out, standing in the middle of the deserted street.
Loeb turned to watch her with an amused look on his face. "Hello there, dear. Are you here to capture me finally?"
"Sure am!" she announced, perhaps louder than she should have.
She walked up to Loeb, who seemed awfully sober to her, and she reared back her fist to strike him. But she was moving so slow—slower than ever—and Loeb easily ducked it. She lurched forward, her center of gravity completely off, and watched the pavement fly up towards her face.
Loeb's hand clamped down on her wrist and she felt cold steel encircle it.

About the Author

S. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she left the sleepy town behind for the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C.. There, she somehow landed jobs with BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Television before finally settling into a “real job” as an IT consultant. After a quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided consulting was for the birds and rekindled a childhood passion for writing novels. She sold everything she owned and moved back to Pensacola, where she currently resides with her two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit. Evans is the author of the Razia series and Empath, both published by Sun’s Golden Ray Publishing.

Be sure to check her out on the below social media sites:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Tumblr
Instagram

After Reading: SECONDHAND MEMORIES by Takatsu

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow! Well, obviously those who are celebrating :) Here's a little review for those who might be sitting around, traveling, or otherwise needing a little break to think about books :)

Seiji and Aoi have been inseparable childhood friends and eventually, high school sweethearts. Believing in naive dreams and love, all seems well until a tragedy separates them with a chasm of frozen time. As one struggles with the aftermath, the world moves on, while the other remains still.
Battered by temptation and the pressure to grow up, he discovers that life is more complicated than he thought – and that the heart and mind is quite vulnerable to change. Secondhand Memories is an emotional young adult coming-of-age story: a journey about the meaning of growing up, love, loss and sacrifice. (Goodreads)

I've never actually read a cell phone novel before. I've heard of them, but this was a first for me, and in some ways this was a lot like reading a novel in verse, with short chapters (often only about a page), and quick and simple descriptions. It was interesting. And, honestly, I think the format is fun, and definitely makes for a quick read. Still, I had some issues with this novel. I wanted to enjoy it, and I definitely enjoyed reading about some of the awesome places I got to visit while in Japan, but I just had a hard time with the characters. They were a little more difficult to identify with than I cared for, which made things tedious. Their emotions rocketed all over the place and there was no firm grasp of their motivations. Which is probably more accurate for teens than I care to admit, but still, it made for trying reading. Anyhow, definitely a fun format, and it made me miss Japan (and the amazing food...what I wouldn't give for some good Japanese food, haha!), but just not a novel for me.

Have you read or heard of cell phone novels?

Guest Post: Kay LaLone, author of FAMILY SECRET

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Today I have a lovely author here to talk about her most recent release, Family Secret. Give it up for Kay LaLone!

Sixteen-year-old Thomas Patrick Henry is thrown into a web of secrets and demons after his mother’s murder.

On the road to solving his mother’s murder, sixteen-year-old Thomas Patrick Henry discovers a secret his father has kept from him for years. Tom thought Dad’s secret put him in danger, Mom’s secret is far worse. Magic. Witches. Ancient Book of Spells. Magical Amulet. Ghosts. Demons. Tom never thought these things existed until he is face to face with them. There is nothing else to do but destroy the demons before someone else Tom love dies. He already lost his mom and a close friend because this secret was kept from him. No one else will die. No one else will be possessed. Tom faces his demons. A mother’s love gives Tom the strength to slay his demons.

Character Interview Questions For Family Secret

What is your name?

Thomas Patrick Henry. Most people call me Tom. My mom was the only one to call me by my full name.

How do you envision your future?

Hopefully, demon free, but I’ve got a feeling that won’t happen. I plan to reopen my mom’s antique shop the Cat’s Meow. Work there for a while.

Do you believe in magic? Why? Or why not?

When my mom first gave me the amulet and told me it might have magical powers, I thought she was crazy. I didn’t believe in magic. Magic was something for little kids to believe in. But I was proven wrong when I came face to face with a demon. Now I’m a firm believer in magic.

What is your favorite sport?

Baseball. There is no doubt baseball is my favorite. Go Cubs. When I was young I used to play little league. And one summer I went to baseball camp which was lots of fun.

Do you have any hobbies?

I like to read and collect comic books. Also I have a pretty good bobble head collection. Mostly baseball and basketball players.

What in your past would you like to forget?

My mother’s murder. That is something that will haunt me the rest of my life because she was killed by demons.

Are you lucky?

Yes. I have good friends and a family that loves me.

What makes you sad?

Death. It leaves a hole in your heart. You know their spirit is still with you watching over you, but you miss their physical presence.

What is your pet peeve?

Being called a kid, especially by adults. I feel when they call me kid they are looking down on me like I don’t know anything because I’m young.

Do you have a girlfriend?

Yes. Her name is Sarah. Her, Rob, and I have been summer best friends for a long time. And then suddenly the magic of love happened.

About Kay:

I’m Kay LaLone author of Ghostly Clues, my first MG novel. Family Secret is my first YA novel.

Both published by MuseItUp. I live in Michigan with my husband and teenage son (two older sons and a daughter-in-law and my first grandbaby live nearby) and two dogs. I love to get up every morning and write about ghosts, the paranormal, and things that go bump in the night. I write PB, MG and YA novels. No matter the books I write, I want my readers to feel like they have met a new friend. I’m an avid reader of just about any type of book (mystery, paranormal, and ghost stories are my favorites). I do reviews and post them on my website and blog. I love to collect old books, antiques, and collectibles. You can find many of my antiques and collectibles selling on ebay and at fleamarkets.

MuseItUp: Amazon: Barnes & Noble: blog: Website: Facebook: Twitter: good reads

Cover Reveal: BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN GIGOLO by Deek Rhew

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

I have a fun cover to share with you all today! Be sure to say hello to Deek!

Birth of An American Gigolo

An old party girl turned domestic diva, infuriated by her husband's cheating--and his holier-than-thou, tree-hugging, no-tits and no-hips girlfriend--inflicts her wrath by training a local boy in the fine art of seduction. She and her new boy toy turned love god, start a gigolo business as a distraction for the neglected and mistreated housewives of Alabaster Cove.

About Deek Rhew

Deek lives in a rainy pocket in the Pacific Northwest with his stunning YA author bride, Erin Rhew, and their writing assistant, a fat tabby named Trinity. They enjoy lingering in the mornings, and often late into the night, caught up Erin’s fantastic fantasy worlds of noble princes and knights and entwined in Deek’s dark underworld of the FBI and drug lords. His first full-lengthed novel 122 Rules releases with Pandamoon Publishing in 2016.

Deek and Erin enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, eating popcorn, drinking Coke Zero, and living life to the fullest.

You can find Deek online:

Deek's Rhewminations (his blog)

And Now...The Big Reveal

Anita Carroll at Race-Point designed this amazing cover!

Birth of an American Gigolo will be available on Amazon and other eRetailers early 2016! Be sure to add it to your Goodreads TBR list!

Cover Reveal: CRIMSON EARTH by Anna Soliveres

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Anna Soliveres is one of those awesome authors who I love to get to show off their upcoming titles. The first book in this series, Violet Storm, was really amazing, and I can't wait for this sequel! Plus, check out this incredible cover:

CRIMSON EARTH:

Aeva Storm finally has the answers she’s been looking for since the night she was struck by lightning. She knows who she is—and more importantly, what she is. But her secret isn’t hers alone to keep, and some of those who know the truth will do anything to control her.

In the sequel to the acclaimed Violet Storm, Aeva must decide how far she’ll go to protect her identity and to find her missing sister in a world she hardly recognizes. She must embrace her new life—and her strange new body—if she hopes to save the only place she and her family have left to call home.

Filled with action, mystery, and heartbreak, Crimson Earth finds Aeva, Ruven, and Karth on opposing sides as the war between The False Alliance and the Monarchy draws near.

Can they band together to fight against the evil threatening the City? Or will they destroy each other before the war has even begun?

Add it to Goodreads here, and sign up for the newsletter to get the first 3 chapters free: http://www.annasoliveres.com. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

About the author:

Anna Soliveres has always been a storyteller but it wasn't until her early twenties when she began writing novel length works. The result was an enthusiasm to get better at the craft until her work could be shared with the world. Released in March 2014, VIOLET STORM is her debut novel. Anna is currently working on another young adult fantasy series, titled SNOW DOLLS. To learn more, please visit her at www.annasoliveres.com.

What do you think about the new cover? Did you get a chance to read Violet Storm?

Thoughts on Peace

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

I'm sitting here attempting to process in some meaningful way what's happened overseas over the past week. So many lives (over 150k) have been lost to forces both natural (earthquakes and hurricanes in Japan and Mexico), and man made (Paris, Beirut, Libya, Bagdad, and too many more). I spent a good portion of my weekend reading about these attacks and can't wrap my mind around them any more today than I did when I was sitting at my desk on Friday and first head about Paris. It's terrifying and painful and frightening. Which is exactly what the groups propagating the violence want: for us to be scared. To hate Muslims. I even read a few pieces where the terrorists wish to bring about the end of the world. I don't understand it.

But the reality is, I only have one thing truly in my control: how I respond. I will not be scared. I will continue to love my Muslim friends and family. I will not let this influence my views of those fleeing the violence in their own countries (often by these very same terrorists). I will not let them make me afraid. I sincerely hope there doesn't come a day when the danger of being able to go out (whether it be to travel or just to a concert) isn't too dangerous, because then these groups who spread hate and fear will have won.

Be friendly. Be kind. Keep you eyes open for things that don't seem right. Listen to your gut. This does NOT mean to target certain groups (don't even get me started on this--the next terrorist is just as likely to look like anyone else), but it does mean to speak up if something doesn't seem right. I sincerely believe the forces of friendship and love will overcome the darkness around us.

How have the recent attacks affected you? What are your thoughts?

Realms Faire, Revisions, and Other Bookish Fun

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

I'm hanging out over on Mary Wiebel's blog today to take part in The Realm's Faire Stockade Brigade. Apparently I have been accused of a more heinous crime, time travel, and am trying to garner a little sympathy for my unlawful acts. Won't you come and vote for me? Pretty please? There might be something in it for you (well, other than a trip through time ;). Now if only I could remember where I left my blue police box...

I'll be rather busy over at Mary's today, so please come say hello to me there. And while I'm not there, or busy with my day-job, I have revisions to work on. Which means a lot of this:

Accompanied by a lot of coffee and a small dog who pretty much only sits still if she has perched herself between me and my laptop screen. Granted, I love this novel to a ridiculous degree, even when I come across cringe-worthy bits even after a million rounds of revisions, so it's all good. And hey, doing so knowing I have an agent to represent it? Somehow makes the whole process fall under a different light :)

Come say hi to me at Mary's!

Blog Tour: REDEMPTION by Jessica Therrien

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

I have a treat today! Jessica Therrien is here to chat with us all about this question:

Which one of your characters would you like to meet in real life, and why?

Hi Meradeth fans! Thanks for letting me steal the spotlight for a minute :)

For me, good writing means strong characters. I don’t care what happens to someone in a book unless I actually care about the character.

One of the characters in my books who has had a real impact on readers is a girl named Kara. She’s a grunge-punk badass with a dark past and a good heart, but it’s her snarky attitude that wins most people over. Here’s my dream actor visual:

It would definitely love to meet Kara. Most of my characters are based on real people (obviously they morph into their own as I write), but Kara was different. She sort of just pushed herself into my brain and forced her way into the series. If I’m being honest, I’m nothing like her. She’s tough, I’m not. She’s witty, I’m goofy. She’s hard around the edges, I’m an open book. Maybe she’s my other half…

I’ve actually thought of writing a spin off about Kara. Throughout the entire series she has been a very loud voice in my head. It would probably be an easy book to write. She has always sort of driven the scenes she’s in. I’d sit down planning to write something, and end up writing another story entirely…completely out of the blue. I honestly wonder what causes certain characters to come to life the way they do.

You know, it kind of makes me sad that some characters are fictional. A lot of times when I’m reading I find myself wishing we could be friends. I dream about hanging out with them and wake up feeling all excited. That’s why movies are awesome. Meeting Daniel Ratcliff would almost be like meeting Harry Potter, haha!!

Which character(s) in any book have made you wish they were real?

Lead Council member, Christoph, is dead by Elyse’s hand, and Descendants have begun to emerge, exposing their secret to the world. Some see this as the prophecy come to fruition, but the prophecy caries a heavy consequence. It was never meant to be as peaceful as most had hoped.

Humans and Descendants struggle to live together in a world that isn’t ready for such a change. America is divided. Those who glorify the supernatural race believe Descendants truly are the gods they claim relation to. Others see them as a threat.

When Elyse gives birth to the next generation oracle, she sees one final vision—war. The destruction of the country’s major cities, and the end of America as we know it.

After her daughter is born, Elyse finds herself without the ability she needs to predict the future. Desperate to save the world from such conflict, she puts her faith in the hope that Descendants are the key to survival. After all, they have the power to supply a broken society with the means to survive.

Only from the ashes can a new world be born.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Elyse’s Story…

OPPRESSION (Book #1)

UPRISING (Book #2)

REDEMPTION (Book #3)

The Children of the Gods Series

The Descendants have waited long enough for freedom…

About The Author

JESSICA THERRIEN spent most of her life in the small town of Chilcoot, California, high up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this town of nearly 100 residents, with no streetlights or grocery stores, there was little to do but find ways to be creative. Her mother, the local English teacher, inspired her to do all things artistic, and ultimately instilled in her a love for language. Jessica currently lives in Southern California with her husband and their two children.

You can visit her online at

www.jessicatherrien.com

AVAILABLE NOW WIDGET:

#FlashFiction for November: Drawer Full of Memories

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Okay, it's that time of the month again! A little Flash Fiction is over on the Lightening Quick Reads blog from yours truly. This month's topic was thankfulness, which gave me a lot of pause when writing. The story that came out was, well, a little more autobiographical than I really wanted it to be. But I honestly can say that I needed to write it. I've always processed things through writing. But it doesn't make for an easy piece to read, nor is it very story-like. Still, some of you might take something from it, so here's a little teaser:

Drawer Full of Memories

Source

Time seemed to shudder to a stop, rocking her back on my heels, as soon as the drawer slid open. The mad scrambled search for scissors forgotten in a heartbeat. Inside the drawer was a scatter of memories, each their own small world of wonder.

Each something she’d tried to forget.

Almost by some outside force, she reached inside. Folded papers that echoed words she’d loved. She’d believed them, too, and their professions of love and apology, faith and trust. Some part of her heart still burned with the embers of what they’d meant, a part she wished she could douse with water. Reading them pooled tears in her eyes, long forgotten memories flaring to life once more. The cinch of pain around her heart tightened down, sure and steady in a way she’d learned to live with over the past year.

The other objects conjured a myriad of other thoughts. The photos were the hardest. Smiling faces and far away places. Echoes from a time when things had been so much easier. But still, it was hard to ignore the pain that each smile covered in the images. The knowledge of what led up to those posed scenes on rooftops in other countries. The harsh words. Those photos hid all of that to the outside world, but today, they rushed back, impossible to mask.

Did she want to mask them? Sometimes it was so much easier to remember the better parts. Pretend the photos captured the truth, and not just the careful façade. But the truth, it always leaked through.

The rest can be found here!

Release Day for REDEMPTION with #giveaway and review!

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Redemption (Children of the Gods #3)

Nobody promised freedom would be peaceful…

AVAILABLE TODAY!

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Elyse’s Story…

OPPRESSION (Book #1) – ON SALE $0.99

UPRISING (Book #2) – ON SALE $0.99

REDEMPTION (Book #3) – AVAILABLE NOW $2.99

The Children of the Gods Series

The Descendants have waited long enough for freedom…

About The Author

You can visit her online at

www.jessicatherrien.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Review:

I have read a lot of series where I love the first book, but after that, the series doesn't hold my attention. The Children of the Gods series is absolutely the exact opposite of that. I've loved following Elyse and her friends as they'e grown and fought, loved and lost. This last book brought the series to a wonderful close, after some seriously heartrending moments and totally craziness (in a good way!). I was glued to the pages, knuckles white over what was going on (often to some of my favorite places on the planet...San Francisco *sniff*--I promise that is the most minor spoiler I'll give!), but having to know what happened next. In terms of what would happen in the world should the events leading up to Redemption happened (as in, a bunch of people came out and revealed that they had some seriously amazing gifts and potentially could be dangerous), I didn't see any of the fallout as over the top. Frightening? Totally. Heartbreaking? No doubt. Realistic? Freakish so. Basically, if you enjoy an interesting spin on the Greek Gods in modern day, definitely check these books out!