Friday, May 31, 2013

Flora's Wish- Kathleen Y'Barbo

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Description: May 1887—Flora Brimm is determined the fifth time is the charm. Back home she has a reputation as “Fatal Flora,” a woman whose previous four fiancés died in untimely accidents. Flora is desperate to marry, because producing an heir is the only way she can keep her family’s estate. She’s confident this visit to Eureka Springs with her grandmother will help her land a husband.

Pinkerton detective Lucas McMinn is hot on the trail of Will Tucker, the thief who broke his sister’s heart. When he discovers the slippery fellow with Flora, he thinks they are in on the devious plot together. Will Flora be able to convince Lucas of her innocence? Will Lucas catch the elusive Mr. Tucker?

And, more importantly, will Lucas survive if he pursues Flora’s heart?

An engaging story of how God can move circumstances to bring love, joy, and lasting fulfillment to the most hopeless heart.


My Thoughts: This was a cute book. Flora and Lucas were funny and entertaining. I liked the way they interacted. My complaint was that Lucas let Flora do and get away with a lot more than any Pinkerton would have. I plan to read the next one (There was a nice cliff hanger).


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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Writing Tips- Ticks

Sorry about how short this post is, I do not have much time to write it.


Personality Ticks

People do not always act the same. We each have our own ticks. Body language can make your characters come to life in more ways than one may think because it often tells us something the character does not want us to know.


Personality:
In Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, the character Wolf is never able to sit still. He bounces his knee or drums his fingers. He is all in all an energetic (and nervous) person. To say that he was not moving at all would reveal either fear or peace in him depending on the circumstances.



Emotions
In my book, Bonded Souls, Lan has this way of showing her nervousness even when she doesn't want to. She will bite her lip or knot her skirt in her fist. Any time I want to show this emotion in her, I only have to describe one of these things and it becomes obvious.


Ticks can be helpful but also harmful. Remember to use them sparingly. Not every character in your novel should have one. Those that do should also not have theirs mentioned in every scene. It would become repetitive and contrived in the reader's mind.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Search and Rescue- Colleen Coble

My Rating: 5 Stars

Description: In "Rock Harbor Search and Rescue," a middle grade fiction novel based on Colleen Coble's bestselling Rock Harbor series for adults, kids will enjoy the mixture of pets, adventure, suspense, and a mystery.

Emily O'Reilly is obsessed with all things Search and Rescue. She volunteers with the team and goes on rescue missions with her stepmom. She is even selling homemade jewelry to save up for her own Search and Rescue puppy. But when an expensive necklace is stolen from a renowned jewelry artist at Rock Harbor's fall festival and Emily is accused of the crime, it looks like she'll never get her puppy and be able to join the Rock Harbor Search and Rescue team.

Emily isn't willing to give up on her Search and Rescue dreams that easily, and she sets out to find the real culprit and to restore her reputation. With a few suspects in mind, Emily is determined to uncover the truth, but she isn't prepared for the secrets she and the Search and Rescue dogs sniff out in the process. This exciting mystery is filled with twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and have them pining after a Search and Rescue puppy of their own!


My Thoughts: This was an awesome children's book. I found myself completely engrossed in this story (one a few grade levels below anything I normally read). The setting was so easy picture: the water, the wind, the spooky nights. It had school rivalries and crushes, things my own fourteen year old sister is dealing with right now.

Emily is a good example for girls her age. She is mature and (mostly) level headed. All of her responsibilities, she takes seriously. Even with that, she still has issues and lessons she needs to learn. I loved this book, and will wait happily for the second.

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Friday, May 24, 2013

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet- Stephanie Morrill

My Rating: 5 Stars

Description: Ellie Sweet is a lot of things—good girl, novelist, silent adorer of the new boy at school, Palmer. But when “outcast” gets added to the list, she decides it’s time to take reality into her own hands … and tweak it as needed.

In the pages of her book, she’s Lady Gabrielle, favorite of the medieval Italian court. Her once-friends are reduced to catty ladies-in-waiting, and the too-charming Palmer—who in real life never spares her a second word—gets to be nothing more than a rake wracked by unrequited love for her. She even has a perfect real-life villain in the brooding Chase, who hails from the wrong side of town.

But just when she’s getting along great in her fictional world, the real one throws her a few curves. With Chase pursuing her, Palmer wanting to date her—but in secret—and the details of her manuscript going public, Ellie suddenly receives more attention than she ever really wanted. And when her former-friends discover what she’s been writing, they’re determined to teach Ellie a lesson about the severe consequences of using her pen as her sword.


My Thoughts:
"Right? Or is writing like everything else in my life where I don't quite measure up?
Loved, but not quite the Gabrielle they had in mind.
Fine for hanging out and talking with, but not cool enough to include in plans.
'Perfect,' yet not someone to be seen with.
Why did I think writing would be any different?"

I am pretty sure that this is the first book I have ever highlighted parts from, ever. I found myself reading it on my kindle thinking, "I wish I could mark this somehow... What, I can!". It was like Stephanie followed me around through out high school and wrote about how things had made me feel. Okay, so my years of HS did not have as much drama, but I still connected with everything Gabrielle felt.

Gabrielle is smart, sarcastic, and feels invisible. Not only is she suffering through school and not-so-nice-friends, but she is trying to get published (something I am doing now as well). The writing and re-writing, making things work, and feeling anxious about people reading her work. She is someone I really want for a friend.

This is an amazing read for any bookworm and any girl who has felt the same as that quote. I am so glad that I read it.

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Time Out

I am upset to say that my internet will be canceled for an unknown time. I will have as many posts done as I am able, working at the library. Until then, I will need to post less often in order to keep up. It will also take longer for me to answer comments and announce the winner of The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Bookishqueen


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Blog Redesign

So I hope you noticed the blog redesign. I got tired of all the pink from before ( really don't like pink) and am trying something new. If anything is now more difficult to read or see, please let me know so I can figure out a way to fix it. Thank you for your patience as I try to create a blog that makes us all happy.

Writing Tips- Blogs

A couple weeks ago, I was asked how to get more followers on a blog. Because I have only just started out this year, I do not have a lot of experience, but I can tell what I know.

Have a Great Blog: You might think that this is a no brainier, but it can take some reminding. Remember that you have to write on things that people want to read about and you have to write it in a way that someone want to read. The first step is to write something that you would read.

 •Content: On this blog I write two kinds of posts: reviews and writing tips. Both are useful to people. Reviews say whether or not a book is worth the read and writing tips help writers. I write both the way I would want to read them.

     Reviews: You know the being of a lot of reviews where people summarize the book? I can't stand those. They tell me what happens and leave no surprises. Since I don't like them, I don't write them and my reviews will appeal to others like me who do not want to read them. I also like to have a warning about questionable material (such as sex, drugs, ect.). I let people reading my reviews know, because while I might not have a problem with something, they might.

     Writing Tips: I follow almost every writing blog I can find. Books and conferences are expensive while blog posts are a free alternative. Reminders on methods are always helpful as well.

So think about that. Are you writing something people will want to read? If not, change it up a bit, without changing what you were hoping to accomplish.

 •Format: Pretty blogs get more followers. The content of your posts were what will get you followers, but how your blog looks will lose them.

      First Impressions: Make sure that your color scheme works. Try using this color wheel for ideas. Colors across from and next to each other are the most visually appealing. Also, don't bog down your blog with big or multiple adds. Some are fine but lots will make things difficult to find.
     Speaking of finding, make the follow buttons easy to locate. People will not hunt for them unless doing so will get them something for free (Read Incentive).

     Reading: The way a post reads can make the difference. Don't use difficult fonts or colors. Break up long paragraphs into shorter ones. Use correct and helpful bullet points and headings (they make it look like you know what you're doing ;).

    Pictures: Pictures can be vary helpful to posts. They give people an idea what what is going on and break up the boring monotony of words. Just don't use too many.


Reach Out: You can't get followers if no one sees your blog. Here are ways to make sure people find you.

 •WebsitesLike you blog to websites of a common theme. Book bloggers have this easy because they can link their blog to all their reviewer profiles on websites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Out of these sites, Goodreads is the most helpful. When you post a review there, you can link directly to you blog at the top or bottom, something the others sites do not allow.

 •Tours: Do you go on Blog Tours to try and win things? Well so do a lot of other people. Being part of a tour or HOP (whether you are giving something away or only sharing it) will bring people to your page. Usually tours have an option to follow a host for more entries into a giveaway, which does get people more followers if the giveaway is good enough.

    My Favorites: My favorite tour hosts are I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and Colorimetry. They are always doing HOPs and you can tag along. Beside is the image of a HOP where I actually gave away my own prize. The week of that HOP I got over 15 new followers, more than at any other time.

 •Friends: Friends are awesome. They tell people about your blog and are your best supporters. Become friends with other bloggers. You can help each other out with advertisement and ideas. Also, if you follow someone they might follow you as well and bring some of their followers with them.


Here are some other ideas.

Monday, May 20, 2013

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet- Giveaway

That's right, today I am giving away a free kindle copy of The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet!

I have not written a review yet, I hope to have that up on Friday, the last day of the giveaway.

Description: Ellie Sweet is a lot of things—good girl, novelist, silent adorer of the new boy at school, Palmer. But when “outcast” gets added to the list, she decides it’s time to take reality into her own hands … and tweak it as needed.

In the pages of her book, she’s Lady Gabrielle, favorite of the medieval Italian court. Her once-friends are reduced to catty ladies-in-waiting, and the too-charming Palmer—who in real life never spares her a second word—gets to be nothing more than a rake wracked by unrequited love for her. She even has a perfect real-life villain in the brooding Chase, who hails from the wrong side of town.

But just when she’s getting along great in her fictional world, the real one throws her a few curves. With Chase pursuing her, Palmer wanting to date her—but in secret—and the details of her manuscript going public, Ellie suddenly receives more attention than she ever really wanted. And when her former-friends discover what she’s been writing, they’re determined to teach Ellie a lesson about the severe consequences of using her pen as her sword.


Author Bio: Stephanie Morrill lives in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and two kids. Her only talents are reading, writing, and drinking coffee, so career options were somewhat limited. Fortunately she discovered a passion for young adult novels and has been writing them ever since.

Stephanie is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series and The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet. She enjoys encouraging and teaching teen writers on her blog, www.GoTeenWriters.com. To connect with Stephanie and read samples of her books, check out www.StephanieMorrill.com

Giveaway:

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Cinder- Marissa Meyer

My Rating: 5 Stars

Description: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.


My Thoughts: This a unique retelling of Cinderella. I loved it. Seriously, Cinderella in Bejing China as a cyborg (yes, a lot of c-words)? I have never read anything even close this before. As happens in a lot of retellings, the plot was obvious pretty much from the second chapter, if even that far in. Still, I didn't care because it was great to relive a beloved story in a new way.

My favorite part was that this book was clean. So many YA I have tried to read were far more NA. If I wanted that, I would read those books. I don't, I want something I can share with my little sister, not something I have to hide from her.

On top of that, Cinder is real. She doesn't go completely nuts and unable to help herself around the Prince. She has a legitimate reason for trying to stay away from him. And she is suffering through things that are relatable, even after World War IV.

Note: I had someone question the cyborg part of the story. By cyborg they mean people who have been in accidents and needed limbs or other things replaced with machine parts. It is like in I Robots when you find out that Spooner was in an accident and had his arm and three ribs replaced with robot parts.


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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Writing Tips- Double Duty

Double Duty

   So today's post is on making your scenes do double duty in your story. To go with that theme, my examples will have the double duty explaining the introduction of characters.

   I love The Goonies. When ever the movie is on tv, I make sure I can watch it by either stopping what I'm doing or begging my family to watch it instead of Spongebob or Pawn Shop. It has been a favorite of mine since I was little, curling up on the couch with my younger brother for the adventure. Now, when I watch it, I can not stop thinking of how it is a perfect example for a lot of story building lessons. So I am going to use some today.



Double Duty:
   Scenes must always give something to a story. They can move the story along, add something to a character, tell a bit of information, but they must have a point. Throwing in a scene with aircraft in a novel revolving around a sewing circle will only confuse and hinder the read unless it means something. Not only that, but it has to obvious. The aircraft would make sense if it were a flashback, revealing a characters pain and/or lose.

   The best scenarios are the ones that serve two purposes. Drive the story: Present a character. Give information: Describe the setting. The following examples from The Goonies show a scene doing two things, one of which being the presentation of a character.

      -Ex. 1 The beginning of The Goonies starts with introducing Chuck's character. It also shows how he will be treated by the other characters through out the rest of the movie. Chuck shows up and his friend's house (Mikey) and is locked outside the gate. He begins shouting in the most obnoxious manner to be let in. Instead of simply opening the gate, his friends make him do a dance first.

      -EX. 2 Data is introduced as an inventor and a klutz. It set the stage for a all the trouble he would later cause and also the ways that he would get out of them. This is done when Data slides down "zip line" that he hung between his house and that of Mikey's. He promptly then crashed in through a screen door and broke a statue.

     -EX. 3 Mikey first shows his leadership of the group when he convinces Mouth to stop harassing Chuck and also tries to worn Data about the screen while everyone else simply watched.

     -Ex. 4 I think that this is my favorite of all the introductions. Mouth is the antagonizer of the group, he is also the purposeful trouble maker. Most important about him, though, is that he can speak Spanish, the language the treasure map they later find is in. We learn all this when Mikey's Mom comes home with a Hispanic maid who can not speak English. Mouth volunteers to translate as they go through the house and tell the women what she needs to do.
               When Mikey's Mom says that their are clothes in a dresser that need to be packed, Mouth translates that the drugs need to be packed and she must make sure they stay separate. The Mikey's Mom says to stay out of the attic because her husband museum pieces are up there, Mouth says to stay out because that is where the husband keeps his torture devises.


   Through out this entire scene, we meet the characters, learn their special skills, and find out what will drive the heroes through their adventure. As they talk, they reveal that their neighborhood is going to be demolished and this will be one of the last times they hangout. The attic is also mentioned, which is where they find the treasure map that they use and Mouth reads.

   This scene did a lot for the story. Not all scenes need to cover this much, but they should cover a good amount, so as to keep the story from lagging.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Captives- Jill Williamson

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: When eighteen-year-old Levi returned from Denver City with his latest scavenged finds, he never imagined he’d find his village of Glenrock decimated, loved ones killed, and many—including his fiancée, Jem—taken captive. Now alone, Levi is determined to rescue what remains of his people, even if it means entering the Safe Lands, a walled city that seems anything but safe.

Omar knows he betrayed his brother by sending him away, but helping the enforcers was necessary. Living off the land and clinging to an outdated religion holds his village back. The Safe Lands has protected people since the plague decimated the world generations ago … and its rulers have promised power and wealth beyond Omar’s dreams.

Meanwhile, their brother Mason has been granted a position inside the Safe Lands, and may be able to use his captivity to save not only the people of his village, but also possibly find a cure for the virus that threatens everyone within the Safe Lands’ walls. Will Mason uncover the truth hidden behind the Safe Lands’ façade before it’s too late?


My Thoughts: This is a great dystopian. After they all entered the Safe Lands, I was having a hard time putting the book down. I felt what was happening, imagining my own family in this situation. Shaylinn was truly brave in the face of what happened to her. This book also deals with a lot a real situations, dealing with drugs and relationships (Some might not be understood or appropriate for younger children though mature teens should be able to handle it as most are inferred and not show. I actually think that teens should read something like this to get a sense of how choices affect lives, without getting too graphic).

At first, I did not like a lot of the characters. They treated each other poorly and could be self centered. However, I liked the changes that came over them as they learned to appreciate each other. Jill did an amazing job of showing characters personalities from different perspectives (To Levi, Elder Justin was a loving if harsh father while to Omar he was a cruel father). I think it gave a great view of real life and sibling revelries.

And the Cliff Hanger!! I need to know what happens. The cliff hanger left me wanting more without disappointing me.

I would have given five stars if somethings had been explained. Like how the world had advanced and fallen apart so much by 2088. It does not seem like enough time for every value to be flipped on its head.

I made a Pinterest board for this book. Check it out here.


Here is the Trailer!

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Friday, May 10, 2013

Wishing on Willows- Katie Ganshert

My Rating: 5 Stars

Description: Does a second chance at life and love always involve surrender?

A three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small town Peaks, Iowa,  she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides.
                                     
So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a fight.

As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own.

With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of Second Chances


My Thoughts: This was a truly sad novel. Melancholy filled the pages, to be relieved at the end with hope. Few books make me want to cry, however, this one did. I found myself afraid to speak or break into tears. An author that can make that happen is gifted.

Every part of the story fit together well. The pianos, the short chapters in first person (something that usually annoys me but this time did not), and the simple questions of Robin's son. I am vary glad that I read this book and look forward to reading others by Ganshert.

Please rank this review!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Writing Tips- Where to Go Next

So you have this great story, with complex and relatable characters, yet you can't figure out where to go next with the plot. I know I have had those times. Here ares some ways to brain storm:



Things I do:

Location Jump- Think about the general location of your characters and come up with specific places there that they might go.

    In the book I am writing at the moment, my main characters live in a town and are about to go on a trip. I was not sure where to go from there until I thought about what I would do if I were going on a trip- get supplies. After that, my characters ended up in the market, buying herbs from a cranky old woman.

Information Search- What is it that your characters need to learn? From who or what would it be best to find out?

     In my finished book, my main character, John, needed to learn about another character's past but was unlikely to ask, nor would the other character simply volunteer the information. Because one of my themes is that God speaks to us, I had John learn what he needed from a dream.


Author Suggestions:

Think the Opposite: What would NOT happen to your character next? Make a list.

    So if you are writing a romance, the heroine would not: get eaten by a shark or turn into a bear (unless it is paranormal).
   The characters in the book I shared the prologue from last week would not: Give up their faith, go to a ball, or buy a dress.

•Ask You Second: Interview a secondary character. See what they would do next. Perhaps it will catalyze an action by the hero.

    In the book I am writing now, my hero, Othniel, was pleased with something that had just happen. This was good in that he was happy, bad in it left me nowhere to go. To give a new conflict I asked a secondary character, Drenda, what she thought. She was not happy, so my characters had an argument.

Write Something Else: Write a short story. Write a part of your characters past or future.


There are always other things that can help. I often get ideas from the classes I am taking in college. Sometimes stories from my family or my pastor jump start ideas. If it gets you thinking, do it.

If you have anything that you want tips on: writing round characters, naming characters, or anything else, please mention it in the comments. I will try to post on those things sooner than later.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

No Way Out- Susan Sleeman

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Description: Who can she trust?Alyssa Wells has uncovered evidence that her police officer husband was murdered by his partner—a dangerous claim in a small town. After two tours in Iraq, protecting Alyssa and her children shouldn't be a problem for private investigator Cole Justice. Alyssa feels drawn to him, but how can she trust anyone after everything she's been through? Cole's sure his heart is closed off to love, but Alyssa and her children seem to have found a way in. As the killer draws closer, Alyssa realizes she's trusting Cole with more than her safety.

My Thoughts: This book was pretty good. At the beginning I had a hard time getting into it, but after a few chapters it picked up. It is a great read for at the beach or on the porch. And it comes out today as part of The Justice Agency!


Author Website: Susansleeman.com


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Sunday, May 5, 2013

Harvest of Gold- Tessa Afshar

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: The scribe Sarah married Darius, and at times she feels as if she has married the Persian aristocracy, too. There is another point she did not count on in her marriage-Sarah has grown to love her husband. Sarah has wealth, property, honor, and power, but her husband's love still seems unattainable.

Although his mother was an Israelite, Darius remains skeptical that his Jewish wife is the right choice for him, particularly when she conspires with her cousin Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Ordered to assist in the effort, the couple begins a journey to the homeland of his mother's people. Will the road filled with danger, conflict, and surprising memories, help Darius to see the hand of God at work in his life-and even in his marriage?

A hidden message, treachery, opposition, and a God-given success, will lead to an unlikely bounty.


My Thoughts:  So unlike the first book, this one has three POVs instead of one. I'm not so sure how I felt about that. For Sarah and Nehemiah, it worked out fine while Darius sounded a little off. Some of his comments were more like something Sarah would have said (This might just be because I read a pre-copy from netgalley).

Other than that, the book was good. I really enjoyed the themes of forgiveness and trust. Reading it brought to mind things I needed to work on in my own life.

So I guess what I am saying is, I liked the book. I was just disappointed after thinking that it would be like the first and it was not. If I had not read Harvest of Rubies already, or I had read the final draft, I believe I would have loved this.

I'm giving the book 4 stars because I believe that the final copy (the one sold in stores) would be rated such.



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Friday, May 3, 2013

Daynight Tour and Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

It's time to leave Earth and cross over to the other side... it's not as far away as you think!!


Daynightdaynight
by Megan Thomason
Paperback, 324 pages
Published November 26th 2012 by Creatspace

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance™. Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving—forced lifetime union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI edicts? Immediate Exile or death.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother’s death, Blake’s been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner—Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan’s forced to do his SCI elite family’s bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.




Introducing...  the new Novella:  FREE for the Tour!
On Smashwords!

clean slate complex
by Megan Thomason

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Worldwide non-profit and do-gooder organization. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM). Reality: hidden behind every kind act is a dark agenda designed to gain control and force societal and moral extremes. Currently, the SCI’s pushing Project Liberate, a program to woo the poor and downtrodden into their Clean Slate Complexes—where “everything is provided” from jobs to food, shelter, clothing, and education. Unfortunately, as with all things that sound too good to be true, there’s a catch…

Meet Alexa Knight. Feisty, tough and currently homeless in Los Angeles, Alexa agrees to help the SCI in return for medical care for her sick mother. When she starts to suspect there’s more to the SCI than meets the eye will she believe Adam—the boy who saved her life and the SCI’s biggest champion, or Joshua—the attractive enigma who sings about conspiracy theories and pretends to be someone he’s not?

Full of action, humor, romance, twists and turns, clean slate complex is a companion story to the highly-praised dystopian novel, daynight. It can be enjoyed before or after readingdaynight.


Megan Thomason

Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone—over 600 in the last year—or attending to the needs of her family. Megan’s fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac. Daynight is Megan's first published novel, but fourth written one.

Find & Follow:



daynight Second Chances Giveaway:

Choose what you enter to win wisely. Your stay on Thera may be extended indefinitely.



Highlighting a different giveaway every daynight of the Tour... International Winners will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate and US Winners may choose $25 GC in lieu of Prize Package.

US only. International winners will receive $25 Amazon gift certificate. US winners can opt to receive $25 Amazon gift certificate in lieu of any prize package.Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Megan Thomason. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Become an SCI Recruit
The Second Chance Institute (daynight's Dystopia)
April   22 - Launch!
                - My Seryniti - Review
                - Little Library Muse
           23 - Tressa's Wishful Endings
                - Buckeye Girl Reads - Teaser
                - Marked by Books Review
                - Red Headed Bookworm
Welcome to Thera!
Building Thera
           24 - Coffee Books and Me
                  Stressed Rach
                  Snuggling on the Sofa - Review
           25 - Christy's Cozy Corner - Teaser
                - All Fantasy Words - Review
Kira * Blake * Ethan
Character Backgrounds & Posters
           26 - Susie Q-Pons and Giveaways - Review
                - My Passion for Books - Review; Ethan
                - Paranormal opinion - Blake
                - The Cozy Reading Corner - Kira
                - Book, Books, the Magical Fruit - Teaser
                - Bookaroo-Ju - Teaser
           27 - Bookworm Lisa - The Characters
                - Getting Your Read On - Review
Cleaving
daynight's Controversy of "Cleaving"
           28 - Fantastical World of Wonders - Review
                - Pause Time
                - A Backwards Story
                - Beck Valley Books
           29 - I Am a Reader, Not a Writer - Teaser
                - Books Mystify - Review
                - Mel's Shelves - Review
Vacation on Earth!
Escapism
           30 - The Broke Book Bank - Review
                - Letters to the Cosmos - Review
                - Arriane Cruz 
                - Candace's Book Blog
May      1 - Life of a YA Girl - Review
                - Fuonlyknew - Teaser
                - Jack's Junk Drawer - Review
Risking Exile
Dystopian Survival 101
             2 - A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner - Review
                - Lovin' Los Libros - Review
                - Paulette's Papers
                - Becky's Barmy Book Blog 
             3 - Backing Books - Teaser
                - Book Snob - Review
             4 - Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
                - Living a Goddess Life - Review; Recipe
Clean Slate Complex
             5 - Mortality Bites
                - The Book Eater
                - Deco My Heart - Review
             6 - Passion and Life - Teaser
                - The Reading Diaries - Review
             7 - Grand Finale Blast!!



Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Writing Tips- Fan Base

Well, before my poll broke, I had seven votes for new writing tips. Thank you all for giving your support to this!

     I have had a couple people in the writing business tell me that it is important to build your tribe (fan base) before you are published. Having fans before mean you have a better chance of selling after. I know that in the proposal for Living Ink (an imprint of AMG) they ask for endorsements ("celebrities" who would advertise your book. There are also those who ask how large your platform already is. This includes blog followers, readers of other media, ect.

    So that should be easy, right? Get people excited about what you are doing, even if it is not ready for public eyes. Give snippets, give updates, find people going through the same process and help each other. Anne Elisbeth Stengl is an awesome author who does posts on her website advertising for new authors and prospective authors who have worked with her. You can look around here to find out what I am talking about. From this prospective author, Camryn Lockhart, I won the picture below on Stengl's website. Click on the picture to read the post. I keep the picture on my shelf next to my writing notes.



     Now for my own plug (What? You can see how it works this way.) I am currently attempting to get my book, Death is Passing, published. It is a bit difficult because I do not have an agent and I have only found two publishers for this genre (speculative) who will take unsolicited (Books from unpublished authors without an agent) manuscripts. While I am waiting, I am working on making my manuscript better and am also working on another book (a fantasy) and the sequel to the first.


    Other than getting fans, I have another reason for showing you this. I had an editor tell me ones that we should only take advice from people we admire. That means that if you do not like my writing, you should keep that in mind while reading my writing tips. Some will be my tips and other will be ones that I have been given by others (like today's). I want fans, but I do not want to lead anyone astray just because I think I write well (also keep in mind that an editor has never even looked at this).

So without further ado, here it is: 
Death is Passing

Prologue
The seed, the prophecy

Out of the great,
the high and the arrogant,
a leader will be formed.

A nation once firm,
grounded in the highest truth,
will birth one of remembrance.

In the field of destruction,
a seed will be planted.

Struck by calamity,
and weathered by storms,
the seed will find him.

Beaten and bruised,
it will often be jostled and dropped.

But if its carriers do their part,
if they see that it survives,
it will embed deep in his heart.

If watered and tended,
it will grow and will strengthen.
With a shout of determination,
he will rip free the chains laid on his heart.

Taking on a battle cry long forgotten,
he will race forth and slay the guard.

He will tear away the blindfold of the world
and then, mayhap for the first time,
its captives will look past the broken here
and now and see the Son
burning within him;
Ready to free all who call on His name.

Such a silly thing to be afraid of, those few words on paper. The words can’t attack or kill, yet an entire army searches for their source. Leads me to wonder why they don’t take some other words to heart. The words of prophets centuries ago seem to hold more weight to me than those written only a couple of years before now.
For whatever the reason, the Liberators believe the words of the Prophecy. Or at least believe that the words have some power. Ever since they discovered the writing they have sought for the writer and the one it describes as “a leader”. So far, their search has not been fruitful.
Yes, Liberator is what they call themselves. They say it’s because they are “here to liberate the people from the Christian menace”. They believe that they are the “guard” the prophecy speaks of and that we Christians want to “slay” them and well…. they don’t really like the idea.
Now, I can’t tell you if they are who is being spoken of, although I can tell you that some Christians do want to kill them. I don’t, but why would they believe me? This prophecy is new to me. I just recently heard of it, and from the Liberators no less. Maybe they shouldn’t be asking around about it so much as they spread it faster and farther than we ever could.
I’m still not convinced that the Prophecy isn’t a fraud, a way for the Liberator leaders to manipulate their followers through fear of a common enemy. Whether it's real or not, it’s changed my life completely.
If I had known what was going to happen, would I have still left my home that morning? I doubt it. At the time, I wasn’t ready for the pain, and I'd likely have hid in my room. That’s probably one of man’s greatest problms; that we run from things we don't like.e Jonah could tell you all about it. We don’t like discomfort or anything that even resembles it. So when it comes to a decision, pleasure usually wins seven times out of seven. How about I tell you my story and let you see for yourself what I mean.