Friday, May 30, 2014

Tour Kick Off - Clockworkers by @ramsey_isler





Urban Fantasy
Date Published: November 2013


   
Samantha Chablon is a self-proclaimed “gadget girl”. She runs the family watch repair shop while her eccentric old father spends his days researching fantastical stories of elves. Sam loves her father, but his odd habits have always been a mystery and a burden on the family. But that all changes after her father dies, and she discovers what he left for her.

Sam has inherited a real elf.

Piv is his name, and he is far older than his boyish face and personality would imply. But he's also wise, and as an elf he is gifted with a preternatural proclivity for making things. Sam's father taught Piv everything he knows about making watches, and he works faster than human hands could ever move. Sam, being much more enterprising than her father, sees opportunity in Piv's talents. Soon Piv is not the only elf working for Sam as she goes about building a luxury watch empire powered by secret elf labor.

But the elves have remained hidden from humans for good reason, and it's not easy to keep a factory full of territorial elves secret in the middle of a metropolis. One night when someone attempts to break into the factory, the elves take matters into their own hands. The incident gives Sam a glimpse of a dark and twisted side of elves that no fairy tales ever mentioned. Samantha will soon discover that great ambition often comes with great risk, and although her elf partners have agreed to work without pay, there are other costly consequences involved in striking a deal with elves.



#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?

Writing is certainly a career for me. I’ve been writing articles for online magazines for years, and my novels are the next step in my progression as a professional writer. I still can’t say I make a living solely as a writer, but even if that never happens I’ll always be writing and honing my craft.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?

As a fantasy/sci-fi writer, for me the primary challenge is making sure the concepts and the worlds I create consistently make sense and hold up to logical scrutiny. I despise plot holes and under-developed world building, but I can understand when writers fall into those traps because it can be quite tedious to track all of those things and you really have to be dedicated to it. But no one ever said good writing is easy, and I gladly accept the challenge because it makes my work better.

#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?

I’ve always been a loner when it comes to my writing, so I can’t say I’ve had any direct personal help in my writing. But I do have good friends that beta read my work and let me know their honest opinions so I can make sure I’m on the right track.

#4 – What is next for your writing?

I'm currently working on a new series of short novels. The topic? Magic! I’m planning on putting a sci-fi spin on magic. It’s kind of a mix of Harry Potter, The Prestige, and even a little Ghostbusters vibe. Look for the first book to be out this summer.

#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?

Absolutely. I am an insatiable writer, and my reading list is always expanding. Right now I’m reading several books: Tears in Rain (which is essentially Blade Runner fan fiction), A Coven of Witches, and Homeland by Cory Doctorow



This or That?

#1 - iPod or Mp3?

MP3

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?

Vanilla

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries?

Mashed Potatoes

#4 – Comedy or Drama?

Drama

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks?
Nicholas Sparks

#6 – Fantasy or Reality?

Reality

#7 – Call or Text?

Text

#8 – Public School or Home School?

Public School

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate?

Hot Chocolate

#10 – eBook or Paperback?

eBook



Ramsey Isler is an author, software developer, and designer who lives in Los Angeles. He currently writes feature articles and media reviews at IGN.com, an entertainment site that focuses on TV, movies, and video games. Ramsey loves books, anything with circuits and wires, and cats.

For fiction, Ramsey usually writes urban fantasy that blends elements of science fiction and suspense. His stories feature young protagonists that are often unsure of themselves, but they find the strength to persevere when faced with extreme circumstances. Ramsey does not write traditional "evil" villains or black-and-white morality tales; he instead opts for antagonists and anti-heroes who have viewpoints and ideals that pose difficult moral challenges for the protagonists, and the worlds they inhabit.




June 1 - Mommasez... - Review
June 2 - Our Wolves Den - Review
June 3 - Queen of All She Reads - Review
June 4 - A Life Through Books - Review
June 5 - Books and Insomnia - Review
June 6 - My Tangled Skeins Reviews - Review
June 7 - Coffee Break - Review
June 8 - Must Read Faster - Review
June 9 - The Readers Hollow - Review
June 10 - Rythem Poets - Review/Interview
June 12 - I'm a Voracious Reader - Review 

June 13 -  RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


Tour Kick Off - TRUE Blue by Susan Rae - #giveaway


Romantic Suspense
Date Published: May 16, 2014


      Sometimes we must revisit the past to embrace our future.
Twenty-four years ago, the murder of a Chicago police officer changed Joey DeLuca’s life.  He lost his best friend and first love, Meghan McConnell, when her mother whisked her out of town.  Now, on the eve of another officer’s death, Meghan is back and about to step into his life again.
There is very little gray in Joey's line of work as a Lt. Detective--it is either black or white, right or wrong. But Meghan’s insistence on finding answers to her father's murder threatens those beliefs and throws his marriage to CPD Detective Andi, his career, and the entire DeLuca family in jeopardy when new revelations come to light.
Can Joey save his marriage, solve the murder, and keep his family together all at the same time?
The third book in the DeLuca Family Series, TRUE blue can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.



#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career? Yes, I do. I have been writing since I was in grade school, but between the short stories and plays I wrote then to publication of my first novel, heartbeats, I worked at a few other jobs including telephone operator, insurance representative, and freelance feature writer. Now, I am happy to say I am an author.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process? I want to stay sticking with it and believing in my writing through the rejections; but actually, the rejections fueled my determination to succeed.

#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family? So many people encouraged me, from my professors in my creative writing classes to my fellow members of Chicago-North RWA, the local chapter of Romance Writers of America. Through the critique sessions, workshops, and friendly advice I was able to hone my skills and learn the ins and outs of getting published.   

#4 – What is next for your writing? I have ideas for many novels in my head, but one seems to be particularly pesky. It’s a time travel Romantic Suspense set on the East Coast of Maine. I’m getting anxious to start the actual writing. 

#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading? Unfortunately, with spending so much time writing, I don’t read as much as I would like.  However, I am always looking for a good suspense novel. I still read every Mary Higgins Clark book that comes out, as well as Nora Roberts, Jayne Anne Krentz, Tom Clancy, Linda Howard, and Iris Johansen. But I also like women’s fiction and fantasy novels including Tolkien’s and Steven Kings’.  

DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet: The past collides with the present when Chicago Police Det. Joey DeLuca’s childhood sweetheart breezes into town seeking answers to her father’s twenty four year old murder.

This or That?

#1 - iPd or Mp3? Mp3.

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla.

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries? French Fries.

#4 – Comedy or Drama? Yes. Love both, depending on my mood!

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks? Nicholas Sparks.

#6 – Fantasy or Reality? Yes. Again, depending on my mood.

#7 – Call or Text? Yes. Depending on the situation.

#8 – Public School or Home School? Public.

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate.


#10 – eBook or Paperback? I love the feel of a paperback in my hand, but I read more and more on my Kindle. It’s just easier to take a lot of books with on vacation or elsewhere, easier to hold, and to turn the pages!


Susan Rae grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia College, Missouri with an emphasis in creative writing. She penned her first melodrama in fifth grade for a Girl Scout Drama badge. Complete with hero, heroine, and dastardly villain, it wasn’t so different, really, than the romantic suspense she writes now.
“I love writing romantic suspense because it allows me to combine a sexy, passionate love story with a gritty suspense tale—in my opinion, the best of both worlds.  It also allows me to express my appreciation for the outdoors in the settings that I recreate on the page.”
Freefall,  Susan’s second novel, takes place in Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine Forest and beautiful Door County.  ICE blue returns to the busy streets of Chicago and the shores of Lake Michigan to continue the story of the DeLuca family which began in her award winning first novel, heartbeats. InTRUE blue, the third book in the DeLuca Family series, Susan was thrilled when it became apparent that her characters must take a trip to Montana’s majestic Glacier National Park. 
When she is not sketching characters, you might find Susan on the golf course working on her handicap, or traveling around the country seeking out new settings for her novels with her husband and empty nest puppies, Ginger and Nikute.  To read more about Susan’s novels and the writing life, please visit her website/blog at www.susanrae.com


June 1 - Deal Sharing Aunt - Interview

June 2 - Simplistic Reviews - Excerpt
June 3 - My Devotional Thoughts - Guest Post
June 4 - Sarah Says Read Romance - Review
June 8 - The Book Diva's Read - Guest Post
June 9 - The Avid Book Collector - Excerpt
June 10 - A Life Through Books - Interview
June 11 -  Pure Jonel - Guest Post
June 16 - Indie Authors You Want to Read - Excerpt
June 17 - Texas Book Nook - Review
June 18 - Book Suburbia- Excerpt
June 23 - What Is That Book About - Guest Post
June 24 - Let's Get Booked - Excerpt
June 25 - Books A To Z - Interview
June 30 - Mythical Books - Guest Post
July 1 - Books are Love - Review
July 2 - Bookish Lover - Review
July 3 - Mommasez... - Review
July 3 - Sweet and Spicy Books - Excerpt
July 4 - Amazeballs Book Addicts - Review
July 8 - The Book Faery Reviews - Guest Post
July 9 - LibriAmoriMiei - Review
July 10 - Books are Love - Review
July 10 - Books Direct - Excerpt
July 11 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up



Cover Reveal: An Etiquette Guide to the End Times by @MaiaSepp



An Etiquette Guide to the End Times - Cover Reveal
By Maia Sepp
Women's Fiction / Dystopian
Date Published: June 6, 2014

 photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

   Good manners never go out of style…do they?

There aren’t any zombies (yet), but the world is still at the brink of destruction: It’s 2028 and global warming has led to rising oceans, crazy weather, and resource scarcity. On top of that, someone just turned the Internet off. Seeing as how it’s humanity’s last chance to turn things around manners are, understandably, a bit frayed.


Etiquette buff Olive O’Malley is busy microfarming her urban property and minding her own business (and her chickens) when the government comes calling. Their goal is to push the populace towards carbon-neutrality while keeping kvetching to a minimum, and they come with a proposal: transition Olive’s popular etiquette column to a radio show for the masses, and they’ll help Olive find her grandfather, who’s gone missing.


Olive doesn’t trust the hipster government officials who try to bribe her with delicious-but-probably-a-little-evil chocolate pastries, and declines their offer. (Politely, of course.) But they won't take no for an answer, and soon Olive is knee-deep in turmoil, eco-terrorism, and missing chickens. Now she has to untangle herself from their demands and figure out how to make sure her family (and her poultry) are safe before it’s too late.


About the Author : Maia Sepp

Maia left the tech sector to write about sock thievery, migraines, and...the tech sector.

The Sock Wars is her debut novel. The first chapter of The Sock Wars was published as a short story/novel excerpt titled Irish Drinking Socks, and became a Kobo bestselling short story. The Sock Wars has been a top-100 digital bestseller on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the iBookstore, as well as a genre and Writing Life bestseller on Kobo.

Maia's second novel is The Migraine Mafia, a story about a nerdy thirtysomething's quest to come to terms with a chronic illness. It is available online everywhere.

Her latest is a humorous near-future dystopian novella, titled, An Etiquette Guide to the End Times, available June 2014. To be notified about new releases, please add yourself to Maia's mailing list: http://www.maiasepp.com/mailing_list.html.

Authors Links



 photo readingaddictionbutton_zps58fd99d6.png

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Tour Kick Off - Meet and Greet - Ringmaster by @TrudiJaye



Paranormal Romance
Date Published: May 28, 2014

Roll up! Roll up! Join us for the greatest show on Earth! 

The magical Jolly Carnival is the only life Rilla Jolly knows—and it’s all falling apart around her. Just as she’s thrust into the role of Ringmaster after her father’s unexpected death, an old family friend turns up to challenge her birthright.

Her rival's sexy son Jack isn’t helping either. Despite being a greenhorn and an outsider, he’s intent on charming everyone, convincing them that Rilla isn’t up to the task. It’s not going to be easy to persuade the Carnival folk she’s still the best choice to lead them all.
But Rilla must also contend with another threat—the ongoing sabotage that has been disturbing their delicate magical balance and threatening to destroy the Carnival. All signs point to an insider, making it impossible to know who to trust.
To save her beloved Carnival, Rilla must do everything in her power to find the saboteur before they attack again—but if she takes her eye off the battle for Ringmaster for even a second, she risks losing the one thing she’s trained for her entire life.




#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?

Yes. I’m actually a non-fiction writer in my day job. I write articles for a magazine that covers the many research projects going on at a tertiary education institution in New Zealand. Basically, I get to talk to a range of really interesting people about their favorite topic, and then turn that into an article that showcases to the rest of the world how interesting and cool that project is. It’s a great way to earn a living, and I really enjoy not only meeting the people I interview, but also the ideas and knowledge their research projects put into my head! In the evenings I come home and delve into the strange and wonderful worlds I have created in my books. It’s a completely different style of writing, but one that I plan to make my full time career in the not-too-distant-future.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?

I actually find the first draft the hardest part of writing a novel. I have a three-year-old daughter, and I work a day job as well, so I write in the evenings and other snatches of time whenever possible. I firmly believe you need to write every day to keep the story flowing at that early stage, so I do my best to make time despite the pressures of life around me. I feel you have to be determined to see a book through to the end (for me at least), and that, more than anything, is what will make you successful. Luckily I love my characters, so I’m happy to be in their world, fighting their battles alongside them.

#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?

No single other person, but I have a fantastic writing group, who’ve supported and helped me over the last three years with finishing the novel, and then the process of editing, rewriting, and publishing it. Without them, I don’t think I’d be where I am today.


#4 – What is next for your writing?

I’m working on book three of the Carnival Series, which I’m really excited about. I have the first five or so books plotted out in my head, and I don’t plan to come up for air until they’re finished.


#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?

I love reading, have done since I was very young. I’m currently reading book five in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I think Mercy is a fantastic character who gets herself into some insane situations, but I just love the way Patricia works the storyline, and makes sure everything fits back together by the end of the book, and not just in a simplistic way, she’s really good at pulling it all together in a way that makes sense, but that you might not always have seen coming. She’s also not afraid to tackle the tough stuff, including death, murder and rape. I suppose you have to if you’re writing about vampires and werewolves…?!

DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:

A magical carnival where inhabitants use their powers to create the greatest show on Earth! Just watch out for the person who’s trying to destroy it all.

This or That?

#1 - iPd or Mp3?
iPad (I love my iPad mini!)

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate (hmmm, chocolate)

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries?
French Fries (or preferably kumara chips – it’s a New Zealand thing)

#4 – Comedy or Drama?
Comedy (Even better… RomCom)

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks?
Neither: (Fantasy/SciFi options please…?)

#6 – Fantasy or Reality?
Fantasy (who wants boring old reality??)

#7 – Call or Text?
Text (mainly cause I’m lazy)

#8 – Public School or Home School?
Public School (I like people too much to stay at home too long)

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate
Neither: Herbal Tea

#10 – eBook or Paperback?

Used to be paperback, but in the last two months… eBook


I’ve always loved books, and the stories they bring to life in my head. I’ve always had an overactive imagination as well, and distinctly remember sitting at the base of the big oak tree at school when I was a kid, building houses for the fairies, telling their stories as I went.
Born and raised in New Zealand, I have also lived in the UK, US, and Denmark. I love to meet new people; it’s a fantastic way to gain exposure to new ideas and cultures and, of course, to get story ideas. 
For the last ten years I’ve been a magazine writer, and currently I get to write about innovative and cutting-edge research for a tertiary institution in New Zealand. It’s an inspiring job, talking to people about their passion, and I try to tell their stories in the best possible way. 
I live in a secluded haven amongst the trees in Auckland with my lovely husband and cheeky three-year-old daughter. I enjoy yoga, although I’m not very bendy, and karate, although I don’t like the idea of hitting anyone. It’s about pushing my boundaries, and both those activities are physical, in a way that my work as a writer isn’t.  
I’ve worked as a camp counsellor, a waitress, a checkout girl, a citizenship officer and an editor. But none of those jobs compares to being able to call myself a writer. 




May 28 - Sweet and Spicy Reads - Excerpt
May 29 - Indie Authors You Want to Read - Excerpt
May 30 - Pure Jonel - Guest Post
June 1 - Deal Sharing Aunt - Interview
June 2 -  Books, Authors, Blogs - Excerpt
June 3 - Lov Liv Life Reviews - Guest Post
June 5 - Coffee Break - Review
June 6 - Things That Make People Go Aww - Review
June 7 - Andi's Book Reviews - Guest Post
June 7 - Toots Book Reviews - Interview
June 8 - Clutter Your Kindle - Review
June 9 - Simplistic Reviews - Excerpt
June 10 - Extraordinary Reads - Review
June 11 - Pages of Comfort - Excerpt
June 12 - Chosen By You Book Club - Interview
June 13 - The Bookish Owl - Interview
June 14 - Book Sniffer Book Reviews - Review
June 15 - The Pen Muse - Interview
June 16 - Book Suburbia - Excerpt
June 17 - The Book Faery Reviews - Guest Post
June 18 - Must Read Faster - Review
June 19 - Life's Unfiltered Ramblings - Excerpt
June 20 - Rythem Poets - Review
June 21 - Kennedy Castielle - Review
June 22 -  RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


Monday, May 26, 2014

Tour Kick Off - State of Infection by @Zom_Novel_Frey #giveaway



Sci-Fi / Horror
Date Published: March 6, 2014
   
Just months before the Battle of Central Park and the onset of the Second Civil War, President Obama declares martial law in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as Montoya’s encephalopathy spreads. Despite the military’s best efforts, the government falls and Manhattan is reborn as a city-state under a military dictatorship. Survivors Mike Calaf, and Avalon Calendar struggle to survive, caught between the zombies and the new ruler of New York. But long before the zombie infection, during the First Civil War, Doctor William Jackson (of the Confederate States of America) is trying to unravel the mystery behind this strange new sickness. He knows that if Complex P fails to work, there could be devastating consequences which might influence the future of mankind.




Michael Frey is a physician and assistant professor in New York City. He has been published numerous times as a short storyist and poet, but this is his first zombie novel. He lives in New York with his wife, two children and two dogs.




May 27 - Book Junky Girls - Review
May 28 - The Avid Reader - Review/Interview
May 29 - Our Wolves Den - Review
May 30 - Mama Knows Books - Review/Guest Post
May 31 - elfwitch Loves Books - Review/Interview
June 1 - Must Read Faster - Review
June 3 -Rhythem Poets - Review/Interview
June 4 - In Between the Lines - Review/Guest Post
June 5 - A Life Through Books - Review
June 6 - Texas Book Nook - Review