UK & EU Giveaway Hop

GIVEAWAY CLOSED




 I am really excited to be taking part in the UK & EU Summer hop hosted by Donna & Jessica & Book Passion 4 Life & http://www.booksforcompany.com/

As part of the hop I am giving away a Sci-Fi book!

The book I have choosen to give away is I Am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore!



I choose to give this book away as it is one of the best books I have read this year and I also loved the movie. I thought it would be a great giveaway as the second book in the series, The Power of Six is out on August 23rd and I thought it would give someone the chance to read the first book in the series!

THE PRIZE: A paperback copy of I Am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore

To Enter:

*You must live in the UK or EU to enter! It is a UK & EU giveaway hop lol!
*You must be a GFC Follower (Leave follower name)
*Please leave an email so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries:

*Subscribe to my blog via email. Its easy, just enter your email in the subscription box at the top right hand conor and follow the instructions. This means you will get updates when I put new posts up. +2

Comment on any of my author interviews or reviews +3

-Giveaway ends 8th August @ Midnight


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Winners!

Hey guys!

This is the post for the winner of an Ebook of The Commander & the Den Asaan Rautu and the winner's of The Childe giveaway! (Sorry it has taken a while to post this)

So, the winner Ebook of The Commander & the Den Asaan Rautu is:


*Karen Mae Bautista

I had a great response for The Childe giveaway. So without further ado here are the winners! Don't forget there will be three winners:



1st Prize: A signed copy of The Childe, a The Childe bookmark, The Childe badge & a bracelet and penny face!

*Hoot



2nd Prize: A the childe bookmark, the childe badge and a bracelet and happy face penny!

*Re-drawn as winner didn't get back to me, new winner is:

*Littlepinkstars44



3rd Prize: A the childe badge and bookmark

*Gisselle


Congrats to all the winners. I will be contacting they ASAP and they will have 48hours to reply!








Author Interview: G.P.Ching

A little about author G.P. Ching:

G.P.Ching is the youngest child of five. Her mother was a florist and her father was a sheet metal worker. Growing up, she can't remember a time when writing and reading weren't her favorite things to do. Her first paid published work was short fiction and most of what she has published in the past has been flash fiction. The Soulkeepers is Genevieve's first full length novel.  Her writing influences include Sara Gruen, Arthur Golden, Diane Setterfield, JK Rowling, and Jane Austen.

The Soulkeepers

About Soulkeepers:

When fifteen-year-old Jacob Lau is pulled from the crumpled remains of his mother's car, no one can explain why he was driving or why the police can't find his mother's body. Made a ward of his uncle and thousands of miles from home, a beautiful and mysterious neighbor offers to use her unique abilities to help him find his mom. In exchange, she requires Jacob to train as a Soulkeeper, a warrior charged with protecting human souls. He agrees to her demands, desperate for any clue to the mystery of his mother's disappearance. But soon Jacob finds himself trapped in a web of half-truths, and questions her motives for helping him.

The Soulkeepers at its heart is a book about accepting imperfection in self, family, community and ultimately the God we choose to believe in, and finding the good in each other despite these imperfections.


*Where did you get the idea for the Soulkeepers series?

Several years ago I was talking to someone about the creation story. I am Christian so for me the story was of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  I'd heard this story told hundreds of times as a kid but for some reason that year something new occurred to me.  The Garden of Eden was supposed to be this perfect place, the safest place created by God.  Who let the serpent in? It doesn't make a lot of sense when you think about.  Why would evil be hanging out right next to the tree of life?

My mind continued down this path and I was awestruck by the number of imperfections our minds have to overlook to make sense of our lives.  We live in a tough world.  Each of us deals with things about ourselves that we wish we could change.  I haven't met a person yet that didn't struggle with at least one member of his or her own family.  We often disagree with public policy and are at odds with our community, and no matter who or what religion you are, if you have faith it's not because everything you've been told makes perfect logical sense- it's because you've made sense of the imperfections.

Back then, I had the idea for a story but I didn't know my character.  As I researched the market, I recognized that YA books seemed to either avoid the issue of God all together or else were very prescriptive about one specific religion.  I wanted my character to be real and I believe that real teenagers are all about questioning. So, I wrote a character who drove the events in my story in the throws of inner turmoil about who he was and if his life had a greater purpose. 

Jacob sees imperfection everywhere - in himself, in his family, in the new town he lives in, and he's completely written off any possibility that there could be a God. But Jacob is rebelling, he's searching, and he's deciding how he's going to make sense of his world...a world that is invaded by the supernatural.

*I love the book cover for Soulkeepers. Who designed it and how much say did you have in the designing of it?

Adam Bedore of Anjin design (www.anjindesign.com) created the cover.  I was involved every step of the way and picked out each of the elements used in the cover.  Adam pulled it all together to create a cover that embodies what The Soulkeepers is all about.

*The next book of the Soulkeepers series, Weaving Destiny, is out at the this fall. Could you tell us a little about it?

Weaving Destiny

From the bck cover:

Malini Gupta thought Jacob Lau was her destiny, that they were meant to be together. But after months of failing to decipher how she fits into the Soulkeepers, frustration threatens to tear their relationship apart. As does a new Soulkeeper named Mara who is ready to stop time itself to earn Jacob's love.

When Malini faces her worst fears and even death, she learns a funny thing about destiny; nobody said it couldn't change. The future is a tapestry of choices, and she's about to weave hers.

There is quite a bit of romance in The Soulkeepers as Jacob meets a girl in his new town and falls in love with her.  Her name is Malini and she plays an important role in the story. In Weaving Destiny, their relationship is challenged when a new Soulkeeper comes to town.  It has all of the action of the first book but takes the romantic aspects of the series up a notch.
  
*Are you currently working on any other projects at the minute?

I've started working on book three, Return to Eden, and I have another YA book called Grounded that is currently in development. I also have two romance novels waiting to be edited.

G.P.Ching Book History:

 *Favourite book as a child?

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.  I loved escaping into the world C.S. Lewis created.


*Favourite book as a teenager?

Jane Eyre.  I still think this book has everything: horror, suspense, action, and of course romance.


*A book you have loved reading this year and why?

The last book I read was The Green by Karly Kirkpatrick.  It's not out yet but it's a story about a Latina girl who turns to selling pot to support her family's suburban lifestyle.  It's fabulous as are all of the books by the authors at DarkSide Publishing.

*If you could be a character in any book. Who would it be and why?

Sookie Stackhouse in the Southern Vampire Series (a.k.a Trueblood) Why?  Sexy vampires everywhere, duh!

*If you could have written any book, which book would it have been and why?

I wrote the book I was meant to write. I feel blessed to have the muse I have and I enjoy seeing other authors succeed. I wouldn't want to write someone else's book. That would be like living someone else's life.

Thanks to G.P.Ching for this interview!

Check out G.P.Ching website: http://genevieveching.blogspot.com/

YA Feature: Introducing YA author Kristina Caden



This week on Reading Away The Days YA feature is YA author Kristina Caden. Kristina Caden is the author of upcoming YA paranormal romance novel, My Sister's Destiny! Please show some comment love for Kristina and enjoy the interview :)




*Title of novel:  My Sister’s Destiny
*Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance
*Release date:  September 2011

 About My Sister's Destiny:

Cadence Macoby feels like something’s missing.  A vacant hole haunts her life.  Never laughing. Never crying. Cadence lives an existence that barely feels alive. She isn't the only one, her parents feel it too. When she meets handsome, mysterious Cole, he helps Cadence unlock the secrets that hide in her past, and the magic within her soul, allowing her to experience feelings of her own for the very first time. Bound to a destiny she doesn't ask for, Cadence must face an evil she never dreams possible, if she wants to find the missing piece of her broken heart. 

Kristina's writing journey so far:

I always enjoyed reading and writing as hobbies. After completing my master’s degree in Psychology, I discovered YA.   My obsession with all things Young Adult, coupled with some fabulously supportive friends, provided the perfect backdrop for pursuing a new career path. .  I met with some other new writers and dove in!  It has been an amazing experience, heightened by the development of Entwined Publishing, LLC.  The company I co-own with Mia Castile.

*Where did you get the idea for My Sister's Destiny?

I woke up with an image of a girl with long dark hair running through the woods.   I could feel her panic, and hear her shaky breaths as she broke branches beneath her hurried feet.   It stuck with me for days.   I started writing about her, and the rest of the story just evolved, one line after the other.  

*How are you feeling in the run up to your debut, nervous, excited?

I’m very excited!  It’s been a long process, and I can’t wait to share the end result!

*What is it about writing YA that you love?

I love YA because of its easy conversational flow, and more innocent view of life.  There is something pure about the passion a teenager has.  Limitless.  It encompasses everything.  It's how they view the world, and how they love.  Even with bad experiences behind them, they are open to change.  Less set in their way of life.   They simply have more hope, and that makes for a beautiful story.  Regardless of what I'm writing, with hope, I can take it anywhere.  

*Why should we read your debut novel, My Sister's Destiny?

My Sister’s Destiny is about a girl who finds her way quite unexpectedly.  She experiences strength, bravery, love, heartache, and peace.  She finds her true meaning in the world, while fighting for love.  These are qualities I love to read about.  I hope other readers do too.     

Kristina's Book History:

*Favourite book as a child? 

I adored Hans Christian Andersen as a child.  I would get lost in his fairy tales, and pretend for hours with his visions in my mind.  My favorite was The Steadfast Tin Soldier.


*Favourite book as a teenager?

Sadly, I didn’t read much a part from school assignments during my teenage years. 


*A book that has stuck with you and why?

Sea, by Heidi Kling is definitely one of those books that have stuck with me.  I adored the main character.  It was such a beautiful story of friendship, love, and being a part of something greater than you.  I could read it over and over, and still cry at the end. 

*Which character do you think you most resemble in any book and why?

 I’m more of an emotional writer, and don’t really see myself in other characters.  However, because emotions are my muse, I identify with the situations the characters find themselves in.  How it makes them feel, and how they resolve it.   I may not look at a character and think their “traits” are like my own, but I do relate to the pain/happiness/love they endure throughout their story.  A perfect example of this is The Hollow Trilogy, by Jessica Verday.  One of my absolute favorite stories ever.

Thank you so much to Kristina for taking the time to do this interview with me! Make sure to check out her debut novel, My Sister's Destiny in September!

You can check out Kristina via:


Facebook
YouTube
Goodreads










Author Interview: Jenna Lynne author of uncoming YA novel, Hurricane


About Jenna and her writing journey so far:

Jenna is a recent graduate of the University of St.Thomas in Minnesota, USA. She has degrees in Political Science, International Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. She wrote Hurricane while she was still in college, so it took as while as she could only write during breaks and summer vacation. She has always liked to write and wrote a ton of short stories and poetry during her youth. When she was a teen, Jenna attempted a novel but that was a disaster and all hand-written. The idea was good and she still might turn in into a novel. When she finished writing Hurricane, she didn't know a lot about the publishing world but she had heard all the horror stories and was prepared for the Slush Piles. Jenna logged on Writer's Market and had started submitting alphabetically to publishers who accepted un-agented YA manuscripts. Lo and behold Divertir Publishing wanted to sign Jenna. Jenna thinks she got really lucky but she was still willing to put the work in.

Your debut novel, Hurricane is released next month! Could you tell us a little about Hurricane?

Hurricane

Hurricane is a YA novel in the paranormal romance/urban fantasy genre. The novel is set in New Orleans and follows 17 year old Adriana Alexander as she is kidnapped on the eve of Hurricane Katrina by two of her mysterious classmates, the Boudreaux brothers. It's got everything; romance, adventure, voodoo and ghost stories! It is set to be released on August 29th, the anniversary of Katrina. It will be available in paperback and eBook. Hurricane is the first in the series and I am currently writing the second novel and have an outline for the third.

Where did you get the inspiration for Hurricane?

The idea is based off a short story I wrote when I was younger about a girl getting kidnapped. It's a story I always wanted to write and once I got the characters in my head, they wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it! I am from New Orleans and was a teen when Katrina hit just like Ana in the novel. So, I can't imagine a different setting. Texts that inspired Hurricane are Pride and Prejudice and The Odyssey by Homer.

A portion of the sales of Hurricane will go to a New Orleans based charity. Which charity is this?

We are still working out the final details with the organization so I can't confirm the charity just yet but I wanted a charity that helped rebuild or one that gives books to schools. A lot of High Schools were damaged during Katrina and a lot of books were lost.

How does it feel on the run up to the release of your first novel?

I am trying to have fun with it! I have met so many great people while promoting! Everything is happening so fast though I haven't had the chance to stop and think about it. I just submitted my novel for the first time back in April and at that point I knew next to nothing about publishing so I have definitely learned a lot-mainly, that it is a lot harder than it looks!

Jenna's book history:

*Favourite book as a child?

I read all the classics but I really liked Holes by Louis Sachar, it was one I could read over and over.

*Favourite book as a teenager?

I really liked (and still do) dystopian novels like Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Peace like a river was really good to! I heard they were making it into a movie...

*Favourite book as an adult?
I just got into YA novels in college and there are a lot of YA books I love. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers was very enjoyable but I find myself reading more YA and/or romance.

*A book that has taught you a lesson and why?

Wow, you're not making it easy on me are you? The Jungle and Season of Migration to the North. Both required reading in college and both life changing.

*You favourite book you have read this year?

The Keepers by Monique O'Connor James. Monique has recently become a friend of mine, she is a fellow author from South Louisiana and the novel is set in New Orleans.

Contact Jenna via her:

Website: http://www.jenna-lynne.com/
Email: Jenna-Lynne@DivertirPublishing.com
Twitter: @JennaLynneD
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Lynne-Duncan/198137450227636

Author Interivew with Elizabeth Marcellin

About Elizabeth and her writing journey so far:

Elizabeth's writing journey very much follows the same path as her life journey, a part of her from the time she could string words together. Elizabeth's parents read a thousand bedtime stories, but she inherited the storyteller genre from her father, who made up whimsical tales every night, involving them in worlds where the clouds were orange, the water ran purple and giants carried us around in their pockets.

Elizabeth's first written stories, like any child's, were about talking animals, a girl who wanted a horse, the usual. When she was ten, and living in Senegal, she started a piece of fantasy, more of a fairy tale, that was meant to be a chapter book. She may have gotten to 30 pages before fizzling out. She spent much of her childhood in West Africa, were she soaked up the myriad cultures and learned how big the world really is. She was also fortunate enough to visit many countries in Europe and travel widely around the United States.

Throughout her childhood and teen years, she read everything she could get her hands on. The most influential person in bringing her to fantasy was her aunt, who gave her David Eddings, Belgariad for Christmas when she was 11. And, before she was old enough to read Robert Jordan, her aunt would tell her the story of the Wheel of Time while they shoveled mulch into the back of her pickup. (It has been well over a decade since that story entered my life, and I am anxiously awaiting the last book!!)

Her next stab at a chapter book was a smuggler pilot in the Star Wars universe being sucked through a worm hole and crashing to Earth. She was 13 and only managed three chapters. Finally, at 16, she started a story that she saw though. Elizabeth's father had cancer that year, and the story was a way to escape the painful realities of life. He made it thought and enthusiastically encouraged her, asking for chapters as Christmas and birthday presents. She worked on it through high school and finished it as her senior writing project as she did her writing B.A.

The road to publication wasn't easy, as a first time author with no agent trying to a fantasy house. After two years of refused inquiries, she finally got a yes. Her first book was published and released in paperback in November of 2010. The second book is waiting in the wings while Elizabeth works on various other projects.

Element Keepers: Whispers of the Wind



Element Keeper's: Whispers of the wind is my debut novel, a piece of high fantasy set in a world of my imagination. Though the storyline is not the most original ever printed (give a 16 year old a break), I believe t has some fresh twists that make it an enjoyable read. It is a journey of a young man from obscurity to notoriety. Ancient prophecy pegs him as the destroyer of the world, but one young woman believes it could be mistranslated and frees him to flee across the continent. As a side story, his friend, also caught up in the web of the powerful Y'dah, is sold as a slave where he is sure to die in the arena. Fate has another course for him, and he ends up an oil wrestler with a crown. Whispers of the wind is the first half of their story.

Where did you get the idea for Element Keeper's: Whispers of the wind?

I was a bride's maid in a wedding in Saint Lucia for a friend of the family, so my whole family flew down for a week in the Caribbean. I was standing on the white sand beach, feet sinking in as the warm water lapped at my ankles, when I became aware of the wind rustling through the palm fonds. What a great magic base the wind would make, I thought. When we got back to the house where we were staying, I sat down and drew a map on a yellow legal pad with my baby brother's crayons, and so the world was born. It didn't take long to find the story in the world.

I love the cover of Element Keepers: Whispers of the wind. To me, it looks so simple, but it really attracts me to the book and makes me want to lift it up and see what it's about. Who designed it and did you have say in the designing of the cover?

My cover was designed by Blake Brasor, an artist at Tate Publishing. I did have a say in the design. He gave me three to look at, and I picked the one with the hand, though I asked that it be done in black instead of white and have more of the webby business in the background than he originally gave me. I printed all the designs, including the white background with the hand and one that I invented to make it black, and took them around to find out what appealed most to people. As an artist myself, I probably would have gone a completely different direction, but Blake did a superb job and we have gotten a great response to it.

Elizabeth's book history:

*Favourite book as a child?

These questions are always very hard for me because I love so many things. One of the stories I read over and over was The Light Princess by George MacDonald. Actually, I had a collection of his fantasy stories that I loved. He is not very well known for some reason, but he was C.S. Lewis' inspiration for the Narnia Series, which I also read repeatedly. Why did I love it? It was a different caliber of work than your average children's story. I loved the magic of it, but it wasn't some tried fairy tale. There was a large copy at the library with really intricate pictures on every page that I checked out frequently. It was a story that sparked my imagination.

*Favourite book as a teenager?

I read and enjoyed a thousand books as a teenager, many of them fantasy, though I did read a good chunk of the Star Wars books (not the X-Wing series). I liked sci-fi as well, though, when I started writing fantasy, I tried to read only fantasy to say in my groove. I have read David Eddings Belgariad and Malloreon twice, and S. Morgenstern's The Princess Bride three times, but I believe I am most impressed by the detail and sheer scope of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. He is the writer I most try to emulate.

*Book you wished you have written and why?
The easy answer to that is Harry Potter. I would love to have more money that the Queen of England. Then I could write whatever I want!

*If you could be any character from a book who would it be and why?

My runner up book for childhood favourite is one called The Ordinary Princess in which Amy, the princess whose gift from her fairy godmother was ordinariness, runs away to the woods, but ends up needing a new dress, so she goes to work at the neighboring castle. She meets the prince, whom she takes for a page. They end up marrying, becoming king and queen, but they spend most of their time in a moss-covered cabin in the woods, just being two ordinary people in love. I would be Amy, the ordinary Princess with her extraordinary love, happy in a world apart.

Are you currently working on any projects at the minute?

I am currently writing almost weekly posts for a shared-world story, which can be found at http://splinteredlands.com/. My story is called The Hunter's Prey and the thread can also be found on my website. I am also working on a very short prequel for Element Keeper's that will be a free Ebook. There are two or three other stories I have percolating, but not much on paper at this point. I have two very small children who drain most of my energy and all of my creative juices on a daily basis, so writing is a struggle. But I love it, so I persevere.

Thanks to Elizabeth for this awesome interview!






















Overprotected Blog Tour: Character Interview: Ashlyn

 
This is a character interview with Ashlyn the main character in Jennifer Laurens newest novel Overprotected!
 
Thanks for taking the time out and answering some questions. How are you?
 
I'm doing well, thank you.
 
What's it like living in New York City?
 
One thing I love about New York is that it's alive every hour of every day. There's comfort in that. At least for me.
 
Can you describe your love for Colin using 3 words?
 
Honest. Limitless. Beautiful.
 
It seemed stressful having an overprotective dad, could you offer any advice for people dealing with overprotective parents?
 
Stand up for yourself. It took me a long time to believe and internalize that, but, once I started taking steps I realized I should have done that a long time ago.
 
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
 
Teaching piano lessons, I hope. I'd love to help nurture the love of music in children and see them reach their potential. I can also see myself married. :)
 
Are there any countries you'd love to go visit?
 
Italy - I'd love to see Rome.
 
What are you currently doing with yourself?
 
I'm at Juilliard, and I love it! I've just finished composing another piece. Not surprisingly, its called "Freedom".
 
Could you see yourself ever writing a novel about what has happened in your life?
 
I express my feelings and emotions best through music. I'm not sure I could write a story about what happened--it's kind of personal. But I might be interested in someone else writing it. :)

Overprotected is available now! Check out author Jennifer Laurens, website http://www.jenniferlaurens.com/

Guest Post: Michelle Leighton author of new novel Madly & Wolfhardt

"MADLY" CREATED

Madly and Wolfhardt (Book 1 and Book 2 of the Madly Series)

First of all, I'd like to thank Megan for hosting me today as part of the launch of my new book, Madly & Wolfhardt. I'm sure all of you already know this, but Megan's pretty awesome!

Now, about Madly. I'm not sure how many of you have ever written a novel or short story before or how many of you have had an idea come to you out of the clear blue, but this is how Madly happened to me.

Madly first came to me as the sister of a girl named Truly. I had no idea who they were, what they looked like or where they lived. I only knew their names. As is my custom when the seed of an idea appears, I worked and wallowed, turned it and examined it until a discernible shape began to appear. I assumed that the sisters would have equal parts in a story someday, but for reasons unknown, Madly quickly became the focus of my imagination.

Over several days, Madly began to become almost real to me. She is a fun-loving girl, one who takes pride in thwarting authority and giggles a lot with her sidekick, in this case a girl called Jersey. At first neither of them were mermaids. Rather, they were just two teenage girls living it up, squeezing every drop of enjoyment out of life. But where? Where were they living it up? That's when the idea for Slumber popped up.

Slumber is a town of fairy tale creatures, only they don't know they're fairy tale creatures. To the naked eye, these creatures look like regular humans living regular lives, and for hundreds of years they have. But that all changes when evil escapes the confines of prison to come and awaken the true nature of Slumber's inhabitants.

My next question was: Where is this prison? It was here that I decided that the evil had been kept locked away beneath the sea, in a place where neither human nor descendant could be harmed. But if that was the case, I'd need someone to guard the prison. That's when the last piece of Madly's rough outline became to be. Madly needed to be a mermaid. A mermaid princess to be precise, one with immense power that she doesn't even know she has and a destiny that's far greater that anyone in Mer culture has ever known. Madly's soon to meet her true self, however, when a huge responsibility befalls her, turning the impetous girl, who once liked nothing more than to frivolously skip through the playground of life into the queen she was meant to be.

Life has a way of whittling away at the rough edges, as Madly soon finds out. But in the end, Madly's able to stand tall and proud in the face of adversity as the leader of her kind and the protector of the world. Madly shows us that even a fun-loving princess can step up to take control of the worst possible circumstances. She can save lives, wangle evil and, most importantly, find love along the way!

Thanks to Michelle for this awesome guest post! Madly & Wolfhardt is available now via Amazon.com & Barnes & Noble


In My Mailbox #11

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren were everyone puts up the books they have bought, received or got from the library!

Hey guys! So last week I didn't do an IMM as I didn't really have much to show you guys. I thought it would be the same this week, however I had a bit of extra money and instead of saving it I ended up buying some books.

Bought:

I love to find good bargains with regards to book and this week was a great week for bargain books. First up I got:

*Playing with Grown Ups by Sophie Dahl Goodreads
*The Senator's wife by Sue Miller Goodreads

I got both these books together for £1! BARGIN! Both are adult books and where published a few years back. They are apparently great summer reads. I have never heard of any of Sue Miller's books, but The Senator's Wife sounds OK, I will get around to it eventually. I really like the sound of Sophie Dahl's book, Playing with Grown Ups. I have never read anything of hers but with her grandfather being Roald Dahl I think it will be a good read.

*The Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick Goodreads

I got his book for £1. It's hardback and brand new! I read a few of Marcus's books at the beginning of the year. I liked them, even though they where a little different from my novel reads. This book is the second book with the first being Book of Dead Days, which I still have to read, but I thought why not get it when it was so cheap!

The next three book are all new releases in the UK. I got all three for £10!

*Torchwood: First Born by James Goss Goodreads

I heart Torchwood so much! John Barrowman rules! I have read many of the Torchwood books and watch the programmes on TV. I am currently watching Torchwood:  Miracle Day on TV and this is a prequel to it. :)

*Incubus by Carol Goodman Goodreads

I picked up this book as the cover caught my attention and when I read the back I knew this was the book for me. It says if you love Stephenie Meyer (which I do, Team Jacob ;) and Charlaine Harris (Love her even more, heart Eric) then you will love this series. Can't wait to start it!

*My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent Goodreads

This is the first book in the Soul Screamers series. It sounds like a good book. I have heard good reviews and opinions of this series on other blogs! Love the cover :)

Ebooks

* The Legacy of KilKenny a novel- Book One by Devyn Dawson Goodreads

Devyn was giving a free download of her book as she was celebrating her anniversary. I decided to download it as it sounds like a good read.

*Becoming the Sheriff's Wife by Trish Mauldin Goodreads

I am interviewing Trish in August and she kindly sent her book to me to review. :)

Library:

*Infinity by Sarah Dessen

This is a short read of 30 pages. I got it as I wanted to try something by Sarah. I have heard great things by Sarah and wanted to see what he writing was like. Can anybody recommend another of her books I should try?

What did you get in your mailbox?

P.S. If you could please check out my lastest author interviews that would be awesome. I also currently have two giveaway going on!


























YA Feature: Introducing Author Leah P. Lozano


This week on Introducing New/upcoming YA authors is upcoming author Leah Lozano! This welcome Leah to Reading Away The Days! *Claps hands* Leah is the author of an awesome upcoming series, Immortalis. Lets show Leah some commenting love!

Title of Book Series: Immortalis
Genre: Young Adult

Can you tell my readers the title of the first book in the series and a little about it.

The first book is Immortalis: The Calling

My current project, Immortalis, deals with a young girl, Lina, who has no one and nothing to turn to but the crazy visions that she has had since early childhood. Most of these visions catapult her into future events that will come to pass, a few send her into a strange unknown that terrifies her, but there is one man who has consistently been in them for as long as she can remember. It is, however, unfortunate that she does not know who he is. Most of her visions come true, so where is he? Why has he not come to her? With one defining moment, the loss of her grandmother, Lina is thrust into a dangerous battle amongst beings she never knew exsisted; and while facing many attempts on her life; she is protected by a secret presence. Finding all eyes on her as she battles epic forces of evil, she has unwittingly become the center on the Immortalis world.



Leah's writing journey so far:

I have been writing since I was a youngling (for those of you that know about my Immortalis series, you will appreciate that)! I got my first real taste of writing in grade school when my teacher wished to prove a point that, I should be in advanced classes, and had me enter a contest in which I had to write the ending of a story that they provided. Better than winning the contest, or being moved to the advanced classes, I was thrilled by the new passion that was now buring within me...writing!

I grew up on the east coast in a little town called Monessen, PA and later moved to San Antonio, TX where my creativity continued to be encouraged in many shapes and forms. I was a former band geek, track star, dance team perfomer (go Dragons!), artist, runway model, and writer...some happily left behind, others I still carry with me. Growing up with nearly all male cousins and two brothers, "house" was never something we played. With "star wars" being the popular choice, I grew up with the nickname Princess Leah, and as a result became a geek at heart. Proud to call myself a romantic, I appreciate the mix of both action and romance to heighten the experience.

Happily married and celebrating 12 wonderful years in August, I do my best to juggle family, a full time job at a law firm, and a full time writing career! I attended the San Antonio Art Institute, and I absolutely love writing. When I'm not writing, I spend my time keeping Starbucks in business, talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (thank you so much my dear loved ones and friends), and cramming in time for socializing. Currently I write Young Adult (may have to convert to adult...hee, hee), Paranormal, and Sci-Fi, packed with Romance and plently of Action until out hearts are content.

I have been blessed with many great mentors along the way, and find inspiration in many of the great authors, whether they be Traditionally Published, Indie Writers, or those that have mastered the e-World, and I thank them all for their courageous work and achievements.

*Where did you get the idea for The Immortalis Series?

God only knows! I was reading one day and felt the burn. I wanted to write. I have always been intrigued with the six sense and being in touch with it myself, I thought it would be fun to write about my visions. They come and go, much like those that come to Lina in the book. I also knew I wanted to write about something mystical and powerful, something beautiful and dangerous, with an epic struggle of light and dark, good and evil. I continued reading and BAM, the opening paragraph popped into my head. I had to get it down. I began typing and the next thing I knew, I had written the first three chapters!

*How many books are there going to be altogether in the series?

It started as a trilogy, but then my very dear friends did some brainstorming and one night when we got together, they let me know that they had "a few" ideas/suggestions. By the time we finished devising, we realized it would be impossible for me to fit everything into just three small books, especially when my first book orginally ended at 700+ pages. Needless to say, I took the four books I wrote and spilt them up. Currently, there are eight books written with a timeline for more.

*You are currently querying for your series, how hard is the process and how is it going?

I would have to say it is a character -building process (said with a smile). In doing so, I have learned much about myself, and my books. The literal process is easy enough, given the writer does their research and follows the specific requests made by each agent/publisher. The difficult part is the waiting, rejections, and the mass numbers that the writer goes through in trying to find that one, delightful, perfect fit. I recieved two requests for the full manuscript, but the fit was not there in each case, so I continue onward! As with everything, I grow with each step in order to become who I am meant to be, and I look forward to that glorious day when I do find that perfect fit!

*Are you working on (or have written) any other novels that you would like to publish?

Yes indeed! I am working on three others in addition to Immortalis. The first, entitled Compass Rose, deals with the polar forces. The second, Fated to Death, takes you into the world of fate, death, and a young girl that interrupts the natural course of life, fate, and death. And the third, Presence Unknown, takes you to a place where two physical worlds collide. There are also ten other ideas that I have written down for future tackling.

*What sort of books do you like reading yourself; what are some of your favourite books/authors?

I read everything, Fiction, Non-fiction, Self-Help, all the way to the Funnies in the paper. I love so many different authors and books as each of them have inspired me, opening my eyes to new worlds, creations, struggles; and all of them have moved and impacted me one way or another. As with my writing, each of them have expanded my sights, touched me, and let me run wild with emotion!

To name just a few; I love many of the classics- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (well, anything by Jane Austen is lovely), The Court of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (who let us taste the sweetness of justice) I basked in the warmth and strength of Little Woman by Lousia May Alcott, and hold dear The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice as my descriptive writing style has often times been compared to hers (I humbly thank you). Some other favourites are the Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling (no words, just a huge well done, luv), The Left Behind series by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins (brilliant), the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare (captivating), and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien as it stand the test of time.

I will stop there; otherwise, we could go on for days! Here's to all the greats, big and small, known and yet to be discovered!

Now for some quickfire questions with Leah:

*Summer or Winter?

I prefer summer, definitely summer; I love the beach!

*Night or Day?

I like the Night, where the mystic dwells.

*Movies or Music?

Ooh, um..yes! Can I just say music, books, and movies? Music as it inspires, books as I am an author and love to read and write, and movies because I would love to see my books, one day, made into movies! I find all forms of creative expression magnificant and like to experience as many as I can. Only then can we begin to understand others and broaden our minds in such a marvelous way.

*Fiction or Non-Fiction?

I admire them both, but lean towards Fiction since I get enough of reality in my day-to-day living *wink*!

*Favourite colour?

This one has always been a tough one for me to answer. Being an artist, I love all colours, and so I have noticed that I tend to favour one colour or another only for a brief time before the mood shifts and I am on to another. Currently, I am all about pink. However, if I had to pick one, I would have to say red is my favourite!

*Favourite place to write?

I love being in the midst of scenery that inspires, trees, nature, the beach, Barnes & Nobles (hey, just smell the delectable scent of their Starbucks Coffee, and you'll know what I mean); but, I will gladly write anywhere I can.

*Favourite hoilday destination?

So far, Negril, Jamaica, it is so beautiful and laid back (and they have Dead Man's Cliff, a 40-foot drop where you can brave a jump into their crystal clear waters below...yes...I did, and yes... I love to tell :); but I have a sneaky suspicion, that will change once I make it out to Italy! I will always love Negril, but Italy holds a dear place in my heart because it is part of my heritage.

*Most favourite book?

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen...okay, so I'm a romantic sap!

If you were stranded on a desert island, which three items would you bring?

Realistically:

*My brilliant and wonderful Hubby
*Survival Kit complete with book, knife, matches, compass, water purifier, & First Aid
*And the ultimate Laptop with lifetime battery and satellite connection (a girl can dream!)

Ideally:

*My brillant and wonderful Hubby
*My favourite Barnes & Noble with their deli and Starbucks inside (although they may not be too happy with that, hee, hee)
*And a magic carpet of course!

However, if I was Lina, I'd bring Lucius, Archos, and Marcellus...one of those fine hotties would get me the heck out of there... and in the meantime, it would be a blast!

Check out Leah's blog: http://leahplozano.blogspot.com/
Follow Leah on twitter: @LeahPLozano

Author Interview: Mark O' Bannon

Mark's writing journey so far:

Mark is a computer tech that hates working on computers. One day, a friend told him that if he didn't love what he did, then he wouldn't go very far. So when he went home, depressed, he wondered what to do with his life. His eyes drifted to his book shelf and he started counting. He had nearly two hundred books on writing techniques! Thinking back, he had written over two million words worth of stories (for fun). That was when he knew he was a writer.

The best book on writing is " The Anatomy of Story," by John Truby. He has read most everything else. No other book has as many useful techniques as this one.

Can you tell us a little about your novel, The Dream Crystal?

The Dream Crystal is a fantasy about a changeling faerie who decides to rescue the human child she was exchanged for. Along the way, she encounters the Shadow People, who are fighting a war with the faeries over the power to control the dreams of mankind. There's also a love story.

Mark's Book History:

*Favourite book as a child?

My mom took me to the library and taught me how to read before I started school. When I got into class, "See Spot run" was.... annoying. I loved reading but don't remember any of the titles.

*Favourite book as a teenager?

My favourite books were Science Fiction stories by people like Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, and Fred Saberhagen. A few years ago, one of my writer friends (George Clayton Johnson) asked me if I wanted to go to dinner and Ray Bradbury was there! I discovered that Ray is best friends with George. It was fun listening to them talk about Rod Serling and the Twilight Zone (George wrote eight episodes).

*If you could be any character from a book who would it be?

Characters in books have too many bad things happening to them. I'd prefer a nice, happy life instead, though it would be cool to be Gandalf. If I were a comic character, I'd want to be Snoopy.

*If you could have written any book which would it be?

I can't imagine doing any other book.

*Favourite book you have read this year?

I love Harry Potter and keep reading them again and again.

Are you currently working on any projects at the minute?

The next novel in The Dream War Series. It's called, "The Dark Mirrors of Heaven." It's about a Faerie Changeling that's struggling to remove a curse that destroys all desire in the world. The next thing I'll do is a series of novella's called, " The Garden of Dreams." In Irish it's called "Gairdin na nAislingi." These will tell the story about what caused the Dream War between the Shadow People and the Faeries. I'm working on two series of short stories: "Good Fairies" and "Bad Fairies." And I'm also writing a series of short-short stories about traditional Irish Faeries. Oh yes, I want to write a "barbarian" story that take place in Celt Iberia.

Anything else you would like to add?

I can juggle! :)

Check out Mark:

http://www.markobannon.com/
http://www.betterstorytelling.net/
http://www.BetterStoryTelling.Net/blog
http://www.thefairyshee.com/
http://www.TheFairyShee.com/blog

Follow on twitter:

@BtrStorytelling
@TheFairyShee
@Mark_OBannon



Author Interview: Megg Jensen

 

Hey, thanks for doing this interview with me. You write the Cloud Prophet Trilogy! The first two books in the trilogy are available now! Could you tell me a bit about the first book Anathema and the second book Oubliette!

Anathema focuses on a slave girl named Reychel who is told she more than she could ever hope to be. She has to decide if she wants to solve her problems, and those of her people, with or without following prophecy. Oubliette is the continuation of her story. I can't say too much or it will spoil the plot for anyone who hasn't read Anathema. I'm known for interesting plot twists.



Where did you get the idea for the Cloud Prophet Trilogy?

On a trip to my parents' farm, my daughter said from the backseat, "Mom, I can see things in the clouds." I asked her what shapes she saw and she became very agitated with me. "No, Mom, I can see the future." Obviously she has my sense of whimsy. It was in that moment that Reychel was born in my mind.



I love the covers of the Cloud Prophet Trilogy! I especially like the cover of Severed the last book in the trilogy which is released in the fall. Who designed the covers and how much say do you have in the cover designs?

Thank you so much! I'm thrilled I found an amazing cover designer in Robin Ludwig Design, Inc (http://www.rldprint.com/). She does amazing work. I have a ton of input in the design. I send her stock photos and try to describe the cover in my head. Then she tells me I'm seeing it all wrong, sends me a workup for a cover and I fall in love. Somehow she knows exactly what I want - even when I'm having trouble explaining it. I don't have an eye for creating art and Robin is an amazing member of my publishing team.

You are releasing the first book in your new trilogy,  the Swarm Trilogy: Sleepers this summer. Can you tell us a little about this series?


Sleepers focuses on an adoptee who knows little about her homeland, and understands even less about the place she has lived her whole life. Lianne's life spins out of control when a spell cast on her at birth activates on her sixteenth birthday.

Why do you write YA books?

I'm 36 and yet, I still have the mentality of a teen. My oldest niece is now a teen and my family jokes that I finally have someone on my level to talk to. It's true in many ways. I'm married with kids, but I remember very well what it's like to be young, innocent, and fighting for my own path in this world. Even though most of us would like to forget the majority of our teen years (myself included), we have to agree that those years are where we finally began to develop our true selves. Nothing is more precious.

Are you currently working any other projects at the minute?

Other than finishing the first draft of Severed, I am also working on an unnamed middle grade novel. It sets the concept of a fairytale on its ear. I hope to have that completed and out before the end of 2011. I also have another fantasy trilogy in the works (after I'm done with The Swarm Trilogy), which is unlike anything I've ever read before. I'm not sure where my mind finds some of these stories, but I'm grateful they're all swimming around in there.

Megg Jensen's Book History:

Favourite book as a child and why?



A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I own multiple copies and wore out a couple more. I think the themes of family and love are so strong and spoke to me as a child. Besides, who wouldn't want to tesser?! Plus, the main character's name is Meg. My name, Megg, is a pen name. Why do you think I chose it? ;)

Favourite book as a teenager and why?



The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I was nineteen when I read it (that still counts as a teen, right?) and it changed the way I looked at everything.

A book you have read this year and loved and why?



I've read some great books this year, but nothing has struck me quite the way The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Carrie Ryan) did in 2010. While it's a paranormal (zombie) novel, I believe that Ms. Ryan brought so much humanity to it. I read it in six hours, including an hour while I made Belgian waffles from scratch. I could not put it down and I fear a couple waffles might have been burned... Luckily my kids are used to me burning their dinner.

A character in a book you are most like and why?

I've never felt a close kinship with any character, but I've often been told I'm a lot like Anne of Green Gables. I read it for the first time last year and had to laugh. In many ways, I was very much like Anne as a child.

If you could have written any book which would it be and why?

Wow, that's a tough one. I love all of the novels I've written. As for the novels I've loved, but didn't write - I don't know if I'd give up the reader experience for any of them. Sometimes a book loses its glitter when you become too intimate with it. I've read The Mists of Avalon at least seven or eight times. As a reader, I can always discover something new each time. I don't know if I would have that same experience had I written it.

Do you have anything else to add?

Thank you so much for having me, Megan!!!!

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