The Island Book Blast!

Book Info-

Title-The Island

By- Jen Minkman

Publication Date-June 1, 2013

*Novella* (80 pages)

Genre- YA Dystopian

Blurb-

‘I walk toward the sea. The endless surface of the water extends to the horizon, whichever way I look.

Our world is small. We are on our own, and we only have ourselves to depend on. We rely on the Force deep within us, as taught to us by our forefathers.

If I were to walk westward from here, I would come across a barrier – the Wall.

Behind it, there are Fools. At least, that’s what everyone says.

I have never seen one.’

Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.

But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?

Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?

Book Blast Promotion for I'm Not Crazy, I'm on Lupron...

According to CDC, infertility effects 11% of women in the US. Author Stacey Rourke shares her own journey in her new book:

Basal body temperatures. Hormone injections. Invasive procedures - that leave no room for modesty. Tips on “effective positions” from well-meaning grandparents. 

When the natural way fails to work these are all added to the so called “fun” process of making a baby. Walk this rocky path to motherhood with author Stacey Rourke as she openly and honestly shares every good, bad, and awkward step of her three-year long journey. Using humor to break through the perils of infertility, she gives the lowdown on all the strange, embarrassing, and heartbreaking aspects. Stacey guides us through an unforgettable path that ends with a kid on each hip and hope for all those suffering with infertility. 

BONUS MATERIAL: “Morsels of Hope”

Success Stories from Infertility Survivors

Buy I'm Not Crazy, I'm on Lupron: A Journey Through Infertility at Amazon and B&N

If you are facing your own struggles, Stacey wants you to know you aren't alone.

Chat with Stacey Rourke

Wednesday, July 3 at 11:00 am eastern

Twitter: #Infertility

Enter the giveaway

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For more information about infertility visit these sites:

Resolve: The National Infertility Association - www.resolve.org

International Council on Infertility Information – www.inciid.org

American Fertility Assoc. -  www.theafa.org

Disclosure: A GWR Publicity event paid for by Anchor Group Publishing. Giveaway is sponsored by the author who is responsible for the delivery of prizes. MA's Musings received no compensation for this post.

Yikes! Excerpt and giveaway!

Well, it seems that I have neglected to post on here in quite a while.  Goes with the territory I guess, but it is still disappointing.  I have found that editing, going to school, having a family life, and trying to write and promote at the same time is a feat that is going to require some work.

But, that is neither here nor there!  Today I come to you with an excerpt from my work in progress as well as some other information.  My submission for Stacey Rourke’s IVF book has been accepted and will be published here soon.  If I am not mistaken the book, I’m Not Crazy, I’m on Lupron: A Journey Through Infertility with Morsels of Hope, Success Stories from Infertility Survivors will be available at the end of this month.  I am excited to be a part of this, and hope that for those of you who are or know someone dealing with infertility, well my hope is that it brings you hope.

As for Twisted Snow, I am working on it and am still shooting for an summer/end of summer release.  If that does change, I will be sure to let you know.  I am excited to share it with you, and hope that you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  So, on that note, here is an excerpt from the book!  Make sure to check out the rafflecopter at the bottom of the page as well!

Excerpt from Twisted Snow:

Ciaran

I dreamed of Moira, the night after I found the first of the three. Well, the second, if you counted Moira as the first. I could see her clearly for the first time in nearly a century. I had nearly forgotten how beautiful she was. Her hair was a riot of curls and waves, blowing about in the wind. Occasionally a stray curl would slide across her face, catching briefly on her full, ruby lips. Her cloak swirled around her delicate ankles in the breeze, baring her calves to my gaze. In our time, seeing the ankles of a woman was tantalizing and scandalous. Oh, how the times change. But even now, the sight of her slender frame filled me with a longing so intense it nearly brought me to my knees.
She was standing on the edge of beach near the town in which we had both lived. The ebb and flow of the waves tugged at her bare feet, foam washing over them. She stood in a partial profile, until the sound of my footsteps caused her to turn around. Her lips curved gently upward in a smile of pleasure.
I remembered this moment. I had decided that I needed to pursue my long quest for more knowledge of Magick, and I had come to bid her good-bye, though at the time she did not know that. I had dallied far too long in this place, with her, and needed to focus once again on my mission. There was a part of me the relished reliving the moment but another part of me stood back and did nothing but observe what happened.
As I drew close, she reached out a graceful hand to me and I grasped it, drawing her into my arms. “Moira,” I murmured, as I drew in the soft scent of her hair and skin. She smelled like sunshine and flowers, and seemed to further illustrate my belief that we truly did not belong together. In order to fulfill my mission, one that had been given to me with my father’s dying breath, I would have to venture into some very dark places. Places where my Irish Rose would wither and die. I couldn’t do that to her, and I knew if I tarried much longer in this place, I would give up and let down the one person who always mattered to me. I steeled myself against the warm sensations that slid through my body, pooling in my belly causing it to tighten in longing. With great difficulty, I drew back from her.
She looked at me sadly. It seemed she knew that something was amiss. I never could hide anything from her.
“You are leaving me, are you not?” she questioned quietly, her warm brown eyes searching my own.
“Moira…I…yes. I have to. You knew that this could not last,” I said finally. My heart was breaking, but duty had to come first. Duty was something that my father had drummed in my head from the time I could crawl.
“It does not have to be this way. I know you think that I cannot possibly understand what it is that you must do, much less go with you. But what you do not understand, my love, is that I must go with you. We two are tied together, and the separation will be the end of me. For you see, when we bonded, we bonded not just on the physical plane of existence, but on the Magickal plane as well. You and I are bound by love and by magick, a potent combination. If you plan on achieving your goals, you must take me with you. If not, you will never succeed. Not only will your power fade, but mine will fade as well,” she replied.
I was shocked. I had not considered what would happen when two Magicks fell in love. I had never encountered anything like it before, so there was nothing to warn either of us as to what would happen.

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Knotted Roots by Ruthi Kight Blog Tour

Book Blurb:

Partying with friends and scoring a flawless tan is about all Roxie has on her list of things to make her Hampton's summer perfect.

Her parents, however, have other plans and Grandma Betty's farm is just one of them.

Just as her life is in shambles and the quaint town is suffocating her, she meets Chase.

Somewhere in the mix of bummer summer and small town doldrums, he becomes the boy she can't seem to avoid falling for. Just adding him to the picture, her stay starts to get better, even if she knows it has to end with the summer holidays.

That is until Betty drops a life-shattering bomb.

Roxie must make a choice that will change her life forever. What happens when a spoiled brat from New York learns the true meaning of love, loss, and forgiveness?

Can Chase and Roxie find a way to be together or is this just another summer romance?

Review:

I had the honor and pleasure of reading this author's debut novel before release.  I was pleasantly surprised by how well she nailed the teenage angst that seems to be inherent in today's youth.  Roxie truly is the epitome of a spoiled, rotten brat, and it shows in everything that she says and does.  What initiates her departure from New York and off to the backwoods of South Carolina, she can only think about in terms of how it is screwing up her perfect summer.  

I love how the character grows and changes, though she must go through a lot in order to do so.  The supporting characters in the novel help illustrate the transition that Roxie goes through.  Grandma Betty conjured to mind a strong southern woman, what I would term to be a Steel Magnolia.  Despite everything that has occurred in her life, she continues to move forward, never letting pain show until she is alone.  Bravo on nailing a southern lady, born and bred.  

Katy is a lovely girl that seems to have more depth to her than I originally anticipated in the beginning.  At first she seemed to be nothing more than the southern equivalent of one of Roxie's New York friends, but as the story continues I found the hidden depths of love and friendship that make the character of Katy heartwarming.

And, saving the best for last, I loved Chase.  He is not a perfect pretty boy, which I found to be more intriguing.  He has his imperfections and carries his fair share of scars and flaws.  The perfect man has been done to death, and to find a male lead character with insecurities and a palpable pain, well, I found it quite refreshing.  So even as he helps Roxie to change, she helps him to heal and change as well.  The two are a fantastic couple, with enough similarities to give them something in common, but with enough differences to keep the relationship fresh and interesting.

On the whole, for a debut novel, this was a pretty good one.  I am honestly anxious to see what this author will do next, as her talent is visible within her work.  And authors, like wine, get better with time.  If she does improve over this novel, then the second book promises to be a home run.  I will be looking forward to seeing if she does, indeed, write another book to follow up this one.

Excerpt:

“I like your jammies. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many colors throw up on someone’s clothes.” I looked up at him, prepared to voice my outrage, but his smile disarmed me once again. He was taunting me, trying to get a rise out of me and damn if he hadn’t come close to succeeding. I wouldn’t let him win.

“Thank you. I like your outfit as well. I have to say, Redneck Chic suits you quite well,” I replied, my sugary-sweet smile still firmly in place.

“Ya haven’t heard? It’s the latest trend. I can help ya catch up, if ya want?”

Caught off guard, I laughed out loud, covering my mouth quickly, trying hard to suppress the snort that I was sure was about to escape. His own masculine laughter joined with mine, mingling and building, until both of us were clutching our sides. I hadn’t had a good laugh in...well, forever. I heard the doors to the kitchen swing open again and glanced up as Grandma entered the room. She looked between us, her eyes searching for what had caused our raucous laughter.

“I always miss the funny. Wanna fill me in?” she asked as she pulled a package of fresh sausage out of the fridge and slapped it on the counter.

“It seems that our dear Chase here is a fashion guru. He has offered to help me learn the ins and outs of his style,” I replied as I looked over at Grandma. She scowled at me, but I continued anyway. “It seems that my style isn’t to his liking.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I really do like those pants. But I’m afraid you’re gonna have a hard time blending in around here if you continue to wear them,” he teased, laughing as he took in Grandma’s bewildered face.

“Now who said I wanted to blend in?” I teased back, earning another scolding look from Grandma.

About the Author:

If you had asked 6 year old Ruthi what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have told you a Rock Star. Those dreams faded to the background when she found out who the true Rock Stars are: Authors.

She has always had a fascination with books, losing herself completely in numerous books, enjoying the worlds she found that were so unlike her own. They were her escape, and eventually became her passion.

Her family has been putting up with her and her incoherent ramblings while she worked on her debut novel, Knotted Roots. Her five year old and Fiance have suffered through many “fend for yourself” nights, but somehow still manage to love her anyway.

She is now attending the Southern New Hampshire University, working on her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing/Fiction so that she can create her own worlds for others to fall in love with.

Okay, now that I’m done talking in the third person, let me just say that I love connecting with people via Facebook, Goodreads, my blog, etc. If you would like to chat, you can usually find me online at any given time. I also want to say thank you to each and every person who reads my book. It was a labor of love and I truly hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Buy Links:

Amazon E-copy 

Amazon Print 

Smashwords

Stalker Links: 

Facebook

Blog

Twitter

Goodreads

The 20 Questions Spectacular!!! ~ Sophie Davis VS Madison Daniel ~

The 20 Questions Spectacular!!!

~ Sophie Davis VS Madison Daniel ~

1. Well hello there, Madison.  We’ll start off this game of 20 Questions with an easy one: How much of you is in Max, your protagonist in the Ember series?

MD: Probably about 50% me, 50% rockstar superhero. Ember and the character of Max were the first things I created in literary form (back in 2008), and at the time, I was told to “write what you know...” Well, that’s what I did. And all I really KNOW is 80’s movies, comic books, music and the awkwardness of teenage angst. Ha.

SD: I can totally picture you as Nicolas Cage in that 80’s cinematic masterpiece, Valley Girl ;)  Hahaha, I hope our readers look up the cover!  (kidding, kidding)

2. How about you, Sophie? How much of yourself goes into the stories you create?

SD:  Talia, the main character in Talented has some similarities, both physical and in personality.  But I have other characters that have a lot more of me in them, and some with a lot of my closest friends.

3. I know that Max has trouble choosing between the two female characters in Ember; how much of a ladies man were you in high school?

MD: Hmmm...tough question. There were two versions of me back in school, the easy-going, soft-spoken, frontman to my local rock band AND then there was the shy, awkward, hopeless romantic, that just wanted to connect with that “one” special person. Let me put it this way, I looked like the kind of boy your father would hate for you to bring home, but was actually the exact kind of young man your parents always told you to look for. Basically, a ‘good boy’ in a ‘bad boys’ body.

SD: Haha, so a wolf in sheep’s clothing?  Nice.  Sounds like my kind of guy now, though back in those days I would have gone for the straight-up wolf.

4.            All right, describe your teenage experience in 10 words or less...GO. :)

SD:  Fun, embarrassing, bad decision making, some of my favorite years!

5. Tell us about your first girlfriend.

MD: Enlightening, artistic, challenging and smelled like strawberries. That’s all you’re getting...hehehe.

SD: Strawberries… now why does that sounds familiar?  Ohhh, right, that’s Samantha from Ember’s scent…you heard it here first ladies- we found Madison’s kryptonite!

6. Tell us about your LAST relationship. BOOM.

SD:  It’s a tragic tale of love, Madison.  We first met in college, where we bonded over dirty dishes and pickles – we worked at a sandwich place.  I fell in love with his long hair and angry attitude, not sure what he saw in me, but I did wait tables in some very short shorts.  While it was obvious we both pined for the other, we never professed our love.  I left our small college town for D.C., while he headed south to warmer weather – Miami to be exact.  He married a Brazilian supermodel.  I got a Master’s degree.  He divorced the Brazilian supermodel.  I got a law degree.  And then if finally seemed like the right time to get together.  Unfortunately, our mutual attraction only existed in theory.  In reality, we had nothing in common.  So after a year of flying back and forth between DC and Miami, we parted ways.  Since then, only one boy sleeps in my bed, my Benji look-alike, Humphrey.

7. Who were you most nervous to have read your first book?

MD: He hasn’t read it yet. So, I can’t answer that question just yet. BUT it’s always nerve-racking to show your words to your family.

8. What was the most surprising reaction you received after showing your work to the ones closest to you, good or bad?

SD:  My uncle called my mother to tell her how funny the first book was.  He said I must have a terrific sense of humor.  The only problem is, the book wasn’t supposed to be funny…

9. Do you have a writing outfit?  Do you get dressed every day when you’re working on a novel, or are you the ratty bathrobe, holey boxers type?

       

MD: I’m definitely a jeans and T-shirts kind of guy. Casual, yet proper. Nothing feels as good as a nicely worn, old pair of jeans.

10. Your perfect location to work, write, and play...the beach? Or the park?

SD:  The beach.  I recently went to a destination wedding in St. Croix and I spent the majority of my time sitting on the beach with my HUGE laptop, writing.  It was the best week of my life.

11. What was it like writing from the perspective of a teenage girl?

MD: I love it. I’ve only done it a little bit, in the Ember series. BUT I’m actually working on an all new series from the perspective of a teenage girl. Honestly, I think boys and girls are fundamentally made up of all the same ingredients. Fear, love, acceptance and the joy of discovering something new. We just process those ideas a little differently, that’s all.

12. What’s your favorite character emotion to write about in your stories?

SD:  Hmmmm.  Hard one.  Oddly I’m going to say anger.  I think about every time the parking attendants ticket my car at 7:01 (it has to be moved at 7:00am for street cleaning), just as I am running outside in my pajamas to move it, and I put all of that frustration at the parking people into my characters.

13. How have you found the transition from writing songs to writing out whole novels?  Did any of your books start as songs, but then you realized that the story needed to be told in depth?

MD: They’re quite different. There is a similarity in the layout and structure building though. My song writing is usually based around the song title or the groove or hook of the song AND I’ve found that my stories come to me the same way. Either a title sets me in the direction of the story I am writing or the main plot twist or hook decides the path I choose. Great question!

14. Any favorite bands? Songs? Music inspiration?

SD:  Definitely the Foo Fighters; I even traveled across the pond last fall just to see them play at the Reading Festival!  They played a three-hour set and I was in heaven.  I’ve also been known to rap Biggie Smalls in some of my finer moments.  In general, though, I listen to a lot of different music for inspiration when I write.  I have playlists for books, scenes, characters, you name it.

15. What are the worst song lyrics you’ve ever written?

MD: Ha. Probably something to do with “big butts.” Just kidding. :)

        SD: Those other brothers can’t deny…

16. Any literary crushes? Favorite authors or books?

SD:  I don’t think I have any literary crushes right now- that special place in my heart reserved for character crushes is all Agent Derrick Morgan from Criminal Minds.  Favorite authors, hmm, there are a lot.  Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Mary Higgins Clark are my old standbys.  I read just about any new book they put out, regardless of whether it sounds good.

17. What is your biggest quirk?

MD: I’m a bit of a gadget whore. I’m always chasing after the newest electronics. I think it has something to do with all the pretty lights! I’m also addicted to eyedrops. The stronger the better. Not too weird, I hope.

SD: Me too!  My best friend and I always crack up about the ridiculous number of chargers we have to pack every time we take a trip.  It’s a far cry from when we backpacked around Europe, carrying around paperbacks and –gasp!- sans cell phones.  As for the eyedrops… yeeeah, totally normal…

18. What’s the nicest thing you’ve ever done for a complete stranger?

SD:  Wow, really making me dig deep for this one.  I guess the nicest thing I’ve ever done for a complete stranger is pay for difference when she didn’t have enough money for the bill at Target.

19. If you had a helicopter, what would you name it?

MD: Easy! “THE REAPER!” Why? Because when someone says they’re scared to fly in my chopper I can jump up and scream... “DON’T FEAR THE REAPER!” That would rock! No? Okay then, how about “Hank.” Yah, I like Hank. Come fly the friendly skies with me and Hank. Word.

        SD: Best. Answer. Ever.  Definitely stick with the first one- more cowbell, anyone?

20. If I offered to fly you anywhere in my helicopter, where would you like to go the most?

SD:  Can you take a helicopter from here to Switzerland?  My favorite place in the world is Interlaken, Switzerland.  You can run off the top of an Alp with a parachute and spend 10 minutes just floating down.  You can also be pushed off of one in a big rubber ball- it’s called Zorbing- but I drew the line at that.

Sophie, I just wanted to take a second to thank you for sharing your thoughts with me and our readers. This interview was a blast! You’ve been fantastic to get to know. I see great and epic things ahead for you. I’m sure your fans think the same. Let’s do this again! Write on! Rock on!

~ M

Thanks Madison!  And thank you for taking the time to answer my questions; we’ll definitely have to do it again.  I wish you continued success with your books and music!

I’d also like to give a shout out to Derinda Love over at YATR- she made it possible to get this out to our readers on all of these amazing blogs, and she donated the gorgeous charms bracelets with our book covers (made by Cassie Chavez over at Cassie’s Crafty Creations!)

Now let’s give away some prizes!

Sophie <3

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Yesterday & Tomorrow's Reads

A good friend of mine has just started up a blog and while she is showing me support, I would like to show some for her as well!  This woman is phenomenal!  She is a wonderful person, sweet as can be!  And she supports Indie authors like you wouldn't believe.  I am so happy to call her a friend and so proud to see her blog!  So, please go and check it out!  She is also hosting a giveaway, so enter to win some awesome goodies!  D, welcome to the Blogverse!  So glad to have you join us! 

Link to Yesterday & Tomorrow's Reads

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Wow, what a difference a couple of months can make!

Well, just when I thought things could not get any stranger, they did.  Since the beginning of the year events have taken place that seem surreal to me.  My closest friend has not only finished writing a book, but it has now been edited, beta read, and is, as we speak, being formatted for publishing.  She even has a release date at the end of the month.  I am in shock, but I am also really happy for and proud of her.  But considering the surprise inside her book, I am starting to feel the pressure.

After I finished editing her novel, the characters in my head started to scream at me, demanding release from their prison.  I felt the compulsion to write but alas have not been able to sit down for more than five minutes at a stretch in recent days.

Now I have a Facebook page and twitter handle as an author, and let me tell you, the support has been overwhelming.  I was truly of the opinion that I would be relegated to the dustbin of Facebook hell.  For me, the creation of the page and twitter account, well it made everything seem real for the first time.  It hit me like a ton of bricks, I’m doing this, I am really doing this.  Not talking about it, not dreaming about it, but making it a reality.  And boy, what a scary, but freeing feeling that is. 

So, to those of you who follow here on my blog, thank you so much for your support.  It truly does mean the world to me.  And please feel free to drop me a line anytime, whether here as a comment, on my Facebook page, twitter, or even via email.  Links listed below!  Thank you again for giving me the courage to follow my dream and supporting me as I do so.  You all are MY Rock Stars!

New Stalker Links:

Facebook Page 

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Email: micciknigh@yahoo.com