Guest Post: Lynna Merrill With Unnaturals

Hi all! I know I've been doing a few guest posts lately, but I'm busy working hard on a couple new ideas as well as teaching. So, to keep you up with some awesome author's I know, who you should totally go read, I'd like to welcome Lynna Merrill to the blog! Her book Unnaturals was just published recently, and I've already read it. It's a really good book, especially for fans of dystopian stories.

Unnaturals

In the perfect city of Lucasta life is easy, bountiful, and completely planned for everyone. New fashions and material goods abound. Everyone constantly communicates with hundreds of friends through their computing device, and benevolent corporations watch over people as good parents. To the new generation, hate and prejudice are just a fairy tale, and pain, disease, and cruelty are fading into a distant memory. So is personal choice.

Teenage Meliora feels as if Lucasta is suffocating her. Always an unusual child, she discovers the dark secret of a world where secrets don’t even exist any more. But what can be wrong with a perfect world?

If you'd like to learn more about the book or read an excerpt, you should visit Lynna's website and check it out.

Guest Post - Kayla Curry Releases Ruby: A Mystic Stones Jewel

Hi everyone! I'd like to welcome Kayla Curry to the N.R. Wick blog. Today, is the official release of her short story, Ruby. It's a great short story that goes along with her Mystic Stones series. I highly recommend it! Also, at the end of this post, you can get Ruby for FREE!

Ruby: A Mystic Stones Jewel is now available! Ruby is a short story companion to the novel Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1 and can be read before or after the novel. The story will be listed at $.99, but I will be offering FREE copies at the end of this post for anyone interested.

Ruby: A Mystic Stones Jewel

Attraction pulls Ava Tanner to her client Tom Walker, but her professionalism prevents her from making any moves.

Tom wants Ava in more ways than one and his desires are almost too much to keep inside. He needs her, but he doesn't want to scare her away for fear of angering the council.

Will the spark between Ava and Tom turn into something more, or will Ava allow it to fizzle out?

Available Now

Amazon
Smashwords

Here is a  little teaser from Ruby:

The metal elevator doors glided open to the luxurious seventeenth floor of the Herrick-Peyton building. Fresh, colorful hibiscus flowers welcomed Ava as she stepped into the reception area. She glanced around and made eye contact with the man she was looking for: Tom Walker. His face lit up when he saw her, and his handsome grin made Ava’s own smile spread across her face.

“Miss Tanner, what brings you up to the seventeenth floor?” Mr. Walker asked.

“Well, it’s been almost a year since you signed your last lease, and since you seem so comfortable up here, I thought I’d bring up the renewal papers,” Ava said as she looked around the lobby.

“Wonderful! Let’s step into my office, shall we? I’ll sign them right away. Otherwise, they’ll get lost on my desk.”

Ava nodded and followed Tom to his office. He stopped short and let her enter first as he gently placed a hand on the small of her back. Butterflies erupted in her stomach.

He closed the door behind them and gestured at one of the guest chairs while taking the packet of papers from her. She could smell his cologne as he approached her. It reminded her of rain and fresh cut grass. He took a seat behind his large desk, which shined in the sunlight from the window behind him.

“So the papers would get lost on your desk, huh?” Ava asked.

“Well, I might have exaggerated a bit,” he replied. Silence followed as he flipped through the pages of the lease.

He cleared his throat, “So, since I’m signing papers—”

“Oh, no. Let’s not start that, Mr. Walker. You know I can’t work for you,” Ava said, before he got the question out.

“How did you know?” He grinned.

“You ask me every time we see each other.”

“I wish we would see each other more often. Then maybe I would wear you down.”

“I just don’t think I’d fit in at Psytech, and I like where I am now,” Ava replied.

Tom sighed. “I know you do. I just can’t figure out why.”

The pen dragged on the last page of the renewal papers as Tom signed his name with a flourish. He stood and rounded the desk with a predatory look on his face. It was one that Ava had seen often. She couldn’t convince herself it was only the look of a man who wanted her to work for him. To her, it sometimes seemed that he wanted so much more. She took a deep breath as he came closer. She was about to stand, but he surprised her by sitting in the guest seat next to her.

“I hope that one day you will say yes to me. Psytech could really use you—I could really use you.”

***

Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1

Available Now!

Amazon

All Available Formats (Martin Sisters Publishing)

Ava Tanner finds herself in a world without satellite technology in a time of GPS, Smart Phones and Tablets. When she discovers that a corporation headed by vampires with a sinister motive is to blame, her world is turned upside-down. After a narrow escape, she learns a mystical secret about herself that could aide her in her fight against the vampires. Unfortunately, the vampires see her either as a valuable asset or a target for destruction.

When the world is on the brink of complete social and technological devastation, one must ask themselves: Would I give up my blood for the modern ideal way of life, or will I wage war with the overlords of chaos?

There are four ways you can get Ruby for free and these offers will stand for an UNLIMITED TIME. Here is how to get Ruby for free:

• Leave a review of Obsidian.
• Buy Obsidian.
• Post about Obsidian/Ruby on your blog.
• Post about Obsidian/Ruby on Facebook or Twitter everyday for one week.

Just pick one of the options above and fill out this form:

About the Author: Kayla Curry

Kayla Curry, author of Obsidian: The Mystic Stones Series, lives in North Platte, Nebraska with her husband and two children.

She likes spending time with family and friends when she’s not writing or marketing.

Her other hobbies include reading and arts and crafts. You can visit her website at http://sites.google.com/site/kaylacurryauthor/ to keep up on her progress in the Mystic Stones Series.

Links to Kayla Curry:
Website
Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Celebrate Author Elle Casey's Anniversary With Free Books

Elle Casey is the author of Wrecked and The Changelings and writes fiction for young adults. To celebrate the anniversary of her first year in publishing, she's hosting a HUGE giveaway with tons of books to pick from. If you would like to win free books, head on over to her site and sign up. I've got  the link below. You will find my books on the list of prizes along with a lot of other amazing authors like V.J Chambers and Sarra Cannon.

Follow this link to Elle Casey's Indie Book Giveaway!

12 Authors of Christmas - Thomas Winship

To celebrate the coming Christmas holiday, I've joined together with 11 other authors for a fantastic event we've dubbed the 12 Authors of Christmas. This event is a great way to learn about new and talented authors.

Each day through Christmas eve, I will present a different author and showcase their book(s). Don't forget to check these authors out!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...







Thomas Winship
Vaempires: Revolution

It is the morning of Princess Cassandra's sixteenth birthday. Everyone's attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation's capital to celebrate the momentous event.

Cassandra's boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He's still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution. Væmpires--former vampires who mutated into warm-blooded creatures with an insatiable hunger for cold blood--have launched coordinated attacks across the globe, with three goals: the eradication of humanity, the enslavement of vampires, and the ascension of væmpires as the dominant species on the planet.

The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes of the free world resting on the shoulders of four vampire teenagers, væmpires unleash their secret weapons: a new breed of væmpire that is far deadlier than any ever seen before.

What can four teens do against an enemy that can shape-shift, fly, and walk through walls?


Vaempires: White Christmas
It's almost Christmas. With the global holiday days away, the people of the world should be turning their attention toward celebrating peace and goodwill, but tension between humans, vampires, and væmpires is at an all-time high. Desperate for solutions, King Brant schedules a secret summit deep in North America's Northern Forest. Along with Queen Anne, Princess Cassandra, Daniel's family, and the human president and First Lady, the vampire leader seeks to reaffirm the ties between humans and vampires, while brainstorming ways to respond to the growing hostility among væmpires.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Cassie's relationship is at an all-time low. The princess is still reeling from her breakup with Vielyn, and Daniel doesn't know what he should or shouldn't do to help. Little does he know that the summit will be flooded with surprises--guests, allegations, accusations, proposals, and even Christmas Eve revelations--but not all of the surprises will be pleasant.

Vamepires: Zombie Rising
The tale of the Evolutionary War resumes in Væmpires: Zombie Rising.

Væmpires have taken control of twelve major cities. Their leader, Vielyn, seeks the atomic weapons that will bring the rest of the world to its knees.

Vampire forces are reeling. As Linq and Ray race to the royal estate to rendezvous with Cassandra and Daniel, the princess is captured and Daniel falls.

With the fate of world shifting to their teenage shoulders, Linq and Ray must deal with tremendous losses while battling a most unexpected—and undeadly—new foe.

12 Authors of Christmas - Noree Cosper

To celebrate the coming Christmas holiday, I've joined together with 11 other authors for a fantastic event we've dubbed the 12 Authors of Christmas. This event is a great way to learn about new and talented authors.

Each day through Christmas eve, I will present a different author and showcase their book(s). Don't forget to check these authors out!

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...







Noree Cosper

A Prescription for Delirium
Ninety years ago, Gabriella di Luca promised to protect the family of her dying lover. She failed to keep that promise. She was too far away to stop the devil that murdered the eldest Van Helsing son. Years later, Gabby learns the devil has resurfaced. She arrives in Hampton, TX, determined to stop the devil before it can lay a bloody hand on the remaining three brothers.

However, madness is spreading through Hampton. She suspects the devil is using this madness to test a drug which has a side effect of demonic possession. Gabby rushes to end the source of the madness only to fall victim to it. For a woman cursed with eternal life, dying is no threat. However, Gabby must stop the devil's plot or risk losing her most precious possession: her mind.

12 Authors of Christmas - Rebecca Hamilton

To celebrate the coming Christmas holiday, I've joined together with 11 other authors for a fantastic event we've dubbed the 12 Authors of Christmas. This event is a great way to learn about new and talented authors.

Each day for the next 12 days, I will present a different author and showcase their books. Don't forget to check these authors out!

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...








Rebecca Hamilton
The Forever Girl
"Whatever you do, fight."

Sophia's family has skeletons, but they aren't in their graves.

At twenty-two, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, a pariah after a string of unsolved murders with only one thing in common: her.

Sophia can imagine lots of ways to improve her life, but she'd settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. When the spell she casts goes wrong, the static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.

One of them is a man named Charles, who Sophia falls for despite her better judgment. He has connections that might help her unveil the mystery surrounding her ancestor's hanging, but she gets more than she bargains for when she finally decides to trust him.

Survival in his world, she learns, means not asking questions and staying out of the immortal council's way. It's a line she crossed long ago. If Sophia wants to survive the council and save the people she loves, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.

The Forever Girl is a full-length Paranormal Fantasy novel that will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, witches, vampire fiction, ghost stories, paranormal mystery, and paranormal horror.

Her Sweetest Downfall
*Her Sweetest Downfall is a short story/novella of 30,000 words. This is not a novel/full-length read, but works as a companion novel to THE FOREVER GIRL, Rebecca Hamilton's bestselling paranormal fantasy debut.*

Ophelia's been successful at hiding her true identity, until the mark of the serpent appears on her neck—a death sentence, should it be seen by anyone in her town. Hiding the mark might save her from falling victim to the witch hunts of her era, but the scorching sensation it carries can’t be ignored.

When the mysterious Ethan is sent to collect her for a life of something more, she learns concealing the mark is the least of her worries. She’s destined to don a new mask—to join a dark, supernatural world and protect the future of people she may never meet.

What she doesn’t know—what she learns too late—is that her initiation won’t be complete until she kills the man she loves.

Set in an alternate Regency England, "Her Sweetest Downfall" is a standalone novella in the "Forever Girl" series, written as a gift to fans of the Forever Girl series.

HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, fantasy, and vampire fiction.


Note from N.R. Wick: I can't gush enough about The Forever Girl. Fantastic book and a great writer!

12 Authors of Christmas - Jen McConnel

To celebrate the coming Christmas holiday, I've joined together with 11 other authors for a fantastic event we've dubbed the 12 Authors of Christmas. This event is a great way to learn about new and talented authors.

Each day for the next 12 days, I will present a different author and showcase their books. Don't forget to check these authors out!

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...







Jen McConnel
The Burning of Isobel Key

When Lou travels to Scotland, she’s a mess. She’s twenty-six, unemployed, and unsure of herself. It doesn’t help that she’s traveling with Tammy, her best friend, who is everything Lou is not.

At first, the trip pushes Lou towards the brink of depression, but then she meets Brian, a handsome local tour guide. When Brian tells the tourists about the countless witches burned in Scotland, Lou starts to listen. And when she discovers information about Isobel Key, one of the victims of the seventeenth century, Lou finds renewed purpose.

She sets out to learn the truth of the condemned witch, but she isn’t prepared for the knowledge that waits for her. Lou must face her demons if she has any hope of righting the wrongs of the past.

Bewitching eBook Deals for Halloween (or Samhain!)

If you love awesome deals on ebooks and love books about witches, then check out this promotion for Samhain/Halloween. We've got over 45 books discounted for the holiday. The blog where you can find all of these great finds on Witchy eBooks.

And if this wasn't a sweet enough deal, we're even having a contest to celebrate. The prizes include TWO $45 gift cards to Amazon.com! How neat is that? If you'd like to enter the giveaway, you can do so on the Witchy eBooks Giveaway page.

From the press release: More than thirty horror authors announced today that they are coming together this Halloween to offer book lovers a bewitching deal on almost fifty witch-themed ebooks on October 30, 31, and November 1, 2012. Bargain hunting readers will find that a spell has been cast, magically lowering sale prices, which will range from free to $2.99 with the majority of ebooks being sold for 99 cents. The complete list of participating authors as well as their books and short stories featuring witches, warlocks, and other seasonally appropriate creatures is available at WitchyEbooks.Blogspot.com and includes links to the ebooks on retail sites.

Although their ebooks share a similar witchy theme, the cauldron-stirring group of authors has approached the subject many different ways, from frightening to fun and from historical to hysterical. Some authors crossed genres, mixing romantic comedy with their witchcraft while others stuck to traditional hard core horror featuring evil witches. Assorted demons, vampires, ghosts, and zombies appear in various books as well."

Equally as awesome, you can get both Land of No Angels and Land of No Mortals for discounted prices! This special isn't exclusive to Kindle, either. If you own a Nook or a Kobo, then you can also get in on these discounts.

 

Click on the book covers to get Land of No Angels for 99¢ and Land of No Mortals for $1.99! If you need the links for Nook or Kobo, you can find them in the YA Books tab at the top of this page.

Now Available: Beautiful eBooks with Scrivener

Beautiful eBooks with Scrivener: Master the Compile Function and Create Distribution-ready eBooks

+Get this for Kindle on Amazon
+Get this for Nook on Barnes & Noble
+Get this for Kobo on Kobo Books

Scrivener compile made easy!

If you want a quick and easy way to produce beautiful custom eBooks straight from your Scrivener project in a matter of minutes, then this guide can help. Don’t struggle to make the Compile options work for you. This short, but precise, ebook will teach you how to use Scrivener's compile function like a pro! Learn what each option means and how to use them. There are images and project examples included to provide you with clear, understandable instructions. This guide reviews Scrivener's compile function ONLY.

Please note, Beautiful eBooks with Scrivener uses the original Mac version of Scrivener 2.3. While it may be useful to PC users, it does not discuss specific instructions on how to use the PC version or any other versions.

The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar Review and Giveaway

Today we have a special guest here on the blog: Steven Katriel, author of The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar (A Gothic Horror Novella). To welcome this fantastic author and his gothic horror novella, I will be reviewing the book and giving away a free copy along with a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Read my four star review below, then sign up for the giveaway at the end of this post. Even if you don't win, I highly recommend spending the 99¢ for such a great read. This giveaway ends on August 22nd, so be sure to get your entries in before then. Now onto the review.

The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar (A Gothic Horror Novella)

(Description taken directly from Amazon)
When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for her disappearance and the death of several friends. Once in the town of Carliton, Gabriel finds only malice and mystery in the tales told by the few brave enough to speak ill of Salazar and the sinister Cousin Beatriz. And within shadows, in the guise of night, walks Alatiel, the creature Helena has become. . .

The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar is a NOVELLA of approximately 21,000 words. The novella was previously titled "The Poison of a Smile."

REVIEW:

The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar is definitely a gothic horror novella in a style that reminds me a bit of Edgar Allan Poe. Even though I can't tell you how accurate the writing style or voice is for the time period in which the story is set, I can say that this book had all of the things I like about Poe's work without the wordiness and complexity of the writing style. Hopefully this comparison is flattering rather than offensive.

The book is set in the 1800s and has an interesting storytelling method that has the main character reading his beloved's journal as she explains what evil has been brought to them and what is happening to her as well. The author, Steven Katriel, chooses his words carefully and describes creepy events in a way that enhances the mood and atmosphere of the book.

The only downside I found with this story was that it felt like there were a lot of characters and sometimes I got confused as to who was who. I'm not sure if that was due to the storytelling/writing style or my own comprehension ability.

All in all, The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar was a disturbing and fascinating read and would recommend it to anyone who likes dark stories, especially those set in the past.

★ ★ ★ ★  4/5 Stars

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of

the book and a $10 gift card to Amazon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview: Courtney Vail

As part of the Kindle INDIEpendence Day giveaway happening this week, I thought I'd post an interview with one of the other amazing authors participating. Then, at the bottom of this post, be sure to click the link to the giveaway page and enter to win a Kindle Fire, a Kindle, or a bunch of amazing young adult and children's books. Here's Courtney Vail and her YA book, Kings & Queens.

Kings & Queens is a gritty, twisty Young Adult mystery thriller. When 17-year-old tomboy Majesty Alistair can't budge police in her sleepy, rich town after overhearing two fellow students planning a church massacre, she aims to ID the nutjobs herself before they act. But, their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and she becomes the centerpiece in a ruthless game that casts even her closest friends under suspicion.

Buy link: http://amzn.to/LWaqXa


When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I’ve always loved writing and majored in Jornalism Advertising, so I was aiming for a copy writing and design carrier. But I got bitten by the novel bug through my husband. He wanted to start writing short stories for publications and received all these query packets and he also took a remote writing class through the Stafford Institute and received a few of the books in the Write Great Fiction Series. I read them and was inspired with an idea for a novel and wrote away. After reading more and more books on craft, I realized my first book had major issues, so I wrote another one, Kings & Queens. I poured everything I had into this book and polished it up with the help of some awesome reviewers at thenextbigwriter.com. I now know, novel writing was what I was always meant to do. I am so glad my characters found me!


Why do you Indie publish?

I was shopping Kings & Queens to agents, and though I got some great feedback and some requests for partials and fulls, no bites. My book is good, but on the surface it doesn’t have that oooo concept right up front. The best part of it is the surprises that come in along the wild rollercoaster ride. And that’s a hard thing for an agent to sell to publishers. There’s no juicy sound bite, so to speak, there.

I had some early readers asking me how my characters were doing and I wanted to know too. So, I wrote a sequel Sapphire Reign for fun, which opens ten years later, but after receiving some love for it, I decided it was too weird and different and good to get possibly stuffed because it doesn’t hit the same market. When a Big Sixer offers you a 2 or 3-book deal, it’s for one imprint and market. And I didn’t want SR to end up being just a self-pubbed companion book with a different cover and layout. So, my vision of success changed, being that I craved to go traditional through all the lovely gatekeepers, but that just didn’t work for this series. There was too much risk in that direction. So, I set out to find a smaller publisher that would give me more flexibility in doing what I wanted to do with the series. Me and my book are happily with Little Prince Publishing. I have creative control, flexibility and cool authors to support me. Oh, and I get all my royalties!

What inspired you to write your book?

The three main characters came to my mind first. I just pictured this girl named Majesty as a manager of a baseball team on which her two best friends, Alec and Derek, play. And each one commands her attention for different reasons. But, that’s all I had. Those three weirdos just stumbling around in my brain. That wasn’t enough plot for me. I needed plot. I crave plot. Something suspenseful preferred. But I had nothing. Then one night I dreamt I was running for exercise and overheard these two guys planning a church massacre and I escaped them in this little town. Boom! That gave me exactly what I needed and the location too. And then my story grew and grew into something totally unexpected and awesome. I’m kind of glad I had all that time to get to know and ponder my characters first. When the plot came to me, I was able to just write fluidly, with them popping off the pages.

What are three things you want people to know about you or your book?

Kings & Queens is a twisty, complex, gritty read. It is not for the faint of heart nor for those who prefer simple, breezy beach reads. It requires some mental thought and will take your mind on a whirlwind trip and back. If you’re looking for a read that doesn’t feel like anything you’ve ever read before, that’s suspenseful and weird, then this is the book for you.


What advice do you have for parents to encourage their kids to read more?

To study genres, skip around to some MG and YA blogs and look for what’s hot and interesting to other kids of that age. If your kids see you taking a vested interest in books and know that you’re on the look for cool books, rather than telling them what they can and can’t read, then you can engage on a new level and be excited about books together.

Website: www.courtneyvail.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/kingsandqueensnovel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cvwriter

Don't forget to enter to win a Kindle Fire!

Kindle INDIEpendence Day Giveaway

Win a Kindle Fire for your kid!

It is time for the second annual Kindle INDIEpendence Day giveaway. This year we have even more authors and prizes. Contest begins July 1st and ends July 7th!

Grand Prize: 1 Kindle Fire
1st place: 1 Kindle with special offers
2nd place: a choice of 20 free ebooks from the 29 participating authors
3rd place: a choice of 15 free ebooks from the participating authors

There are tons of ways to enter including tweeting about the contest, following the authors on facebook or Twitter, blogging about the contest and even purchasing the participating books. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below!

This is also a blog hop. Be sure to visit the other blogs on the list and learn more about Indie authors of YA and MG novels. You can add your blog and get extra entry points as well!

Did you know that you can earn 10 extra entries by purchasing a copy of Land of No Angels or any other participating authors' book? Earn an easy 10 points by doing so! Also, you can earn between 5 and 25 additional entries by writing a review and posting it on any of the sites listed in the giveaway box below.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards

eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards

Bellmawr, NJ: The eFestival of Words Virtual Book Fair announces the nominees for the first Best of the Independent eBook Awards. The complete list of nominees can be found at www.efestivalofwords.com.

The eFestival of Words, scheduled for August 17-19, 2012, is the first virtual book fair designed specifically to highlight the best of the independent digital publishing community. The awards program is one of many events being ran in conjunction with the fair.

According to Event Coordinator Julie Ann Dawson, “The goal of the eFestival of Words Awards is to highlight those independent authors and publishers that have worked to raise the bar in terms of the literary quality and production value and of digital books. Many people still think of ebooks as nothing more than scanned pages of print books. We hope that both the fair and the awards will help readers discover the amazing wealth of original content being produced in digital formats.”

Dawson, who has operated Bards and Sages Publishing since 2002, says that all nominees were nominated by their peers in the industry. Only authors, publishers, and others involved in the production of digital books were invited to submit ballots. Nominations were accepted in over two dozen categories, including genre categories (horror, romance, thrillers, etc), format-specific (short story, novella, novel) and a few just-for-fun categories (such as The "I've Been Shyamalaned" Award for Best Twist Ending).

Each category will be narrowed down further seven finalists, which will be announced July 1, 2012. Final voting will be opened to all registered attendees of the eFestival of Words, with winners announced on the last day of the fair. Registration is free and entitles the attendees to not only vote in the final awards, but also participate in panel discussion, author chats, workshops, and more.

For more information on the fair and the awards, visit www.efestivalofwords.com.

Give Your Child a Kindle Book

Fill up your Kindle and get your children reading this summer with these 15 books, free on Kindle only on April 19 during the Give Your Child A Kindle Book (or 15 of Them!) Promotion. Save this page, come back on Thursday the 19th, and scroll down the list, which includes picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult books spanning a range of topics from sports, to paranormal, to historical, to educational. Selected books include the Florida Historical Society's Best Children's Book, and books that have been recommended in Best Books for Young Teen Readers Grades 7-10 and in an edition of Children's Book of the Year. The authors have been published by houses such as Scholastic, Dell, HarperCollins, Simon Pulse, Avon, E.P. Dutton, Millbrook, Lerner, and St. Martin's Minotaur. Adult readers will find much to enjoy on this list also. Some of the titles will be free for a couple days, but the entire list is just guaranteed free on the 19th.

We also have two bonus books in multiple e-book formats, compatible with Nook, Sony and more! You'll find the list of novels for older tween and teen readers first, followed by picture books and books for younger readers, and then our two bonus novels.

Please click on the title to follow the Amazon buy links.

NOVELS

Download Dark Before Dawn by Stacy Juba - When teen psychic Dawn Christian gets involved with a fortuneteller mentor and two girls who share her mysterious talents, she finally belongs after years of being a misfit. When she learns her new friends may be tied to freak “accidents” in town, Dawn has an important choice to make – continue developing the talent that makes her special or challenge the only people who have ever accepted her. "A special book that should not be missed.” Fresh Fiction


Download Face-Off by Stacy Juba - Brad’s twin brother T.J. has gotten himself out of the fancy prep school his father picked for him and into the public high school Brad attends. The whole school is rooting for a big double-strength win…not knowing that their twin hockey stars are heating up the ice for a winner takes all face-off. Included in the reference guide Best Books for Young Teen Readers Grades 7-10.


Download Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner by Dalya Moon - It’s 1988, and Charlie Woodchuck is the most minor of niners. At thirteen, she’s the youngest girl at Snowy Cove High School, and so clueless, she wore leg warmers and acid-wash jeans on her first day. Big mistake! Almost as big a mistake as signing up for a boys-only shop class. Doy! Just when she thinks the first week of high school can’t get any more weird, Charlie discovers she may be adopted.


Download Away from Whipplethorn by A.W. Hartoin - Tiny fairies. Huge adventure. Matilda is about to get what she’s always wanted, and it’s a bad thing. Being a babysitter isn’t much of a dream, but Matilda is anything but average. She’s half a centimeter tall, invisible to the human eye, and hearing-impaired. In her life, adventures are in short supply, but there is a emergency list for her first job. The only problem; humans aren’t on the list.


Download The Worldwide Dessert Contest: Enhanced Multimedia Edition by Dan Elish - Pancakes that turn into trampolines, attacking caramel apples, roller-skating pies, are all a part of The Worldwide Dessert Contest: Enhanced Multimedia Edition by Dan Elish, a lip-smacking middle grade fantasy with an original musical score by a Broadway veteran embedded alongside the text! After losing to a cheat for the past eleven years, will chef Applefeller finally manage to nab the prize?


Download Practice Cake: A Romantic Comedy by Dalya Moon - There's one thing Maddie Bird (18) finds more tempting than red velvet cake: her coworker, Drew. All it takes is one of his sly winks or a playful hip-check by the cooler, and she's incinerating the cookies. Her boyfriend would not approve. When a reality TV crew descends upon the bakery, her simple summer job gets even more complicated.


Download Savage Cinderella by PJ Sharon - Eighteen-year-old Brinn Hathaway has survived on her own in the Northwest High Country of Georgia since she was left for dead in a shallow grave by the man who kidnapped her as a child. When a young nature photographer, Justin Spencer, catches the wild girl on film and the two form a tentative friendship, Brinn must decide if coming out of hiding is worth the hope - and the danger-that may await her.


Download Ashlyn's Radio by Wilson Doherty (Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty) - When circumstances force 17-year-old Ashlyn Caverhill to move to her grandma's in Maine, she's PO'd. Although it boasts the hot Caden Williams, she thinks Prescott Junction is the deadest place ever. She may be right. Not only does a ghost train roll through at night, but the Caverhill-cursed radio Ashlyn finds foretells that she'll board it! With Caden's help, she must find a way to escape her fate.


Download Captain Morgana Mason by Dorothy Francis - Gramp falls ill. Morgana and her younger brother, Seth take charge of the family's sponging business, using their small boat to hook sponges from the sea and sell them. Housekeeper, Goldie, adds humor and wisdom to the tale. You'll root for Morgana as she seeks her strengths and grapples with the adult world. The Florida Historical Society voted this book as the best Children's Book of its year.


Download Dark Ascension: A Demon Anthology by N.R. Wick - Keep a flashlight handy. This collection of short stories for young adults is sure to draw out whatever's skulking in the shadows. From supernatural entities, to crazed monsters, to disturbing discoveries, evil is lurking 'round every corner. Delve into the dark recesses of this creepy book… if you dare.

FOR YOUNGER READERS:

Download Teddy Bear Town Childrens E-Book Bundle by Stacy Juba - Immerse your child in the gentle world of teddy bears with three picture books in one download. Each story is fully illustrated with simple illustrations of teddy bear families. Includes The Flag Keeper, Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise, and Sticker Shoes. The Midwest Book Review on The Flag Keeper: "Excellent educational book filled with information all American children should know."


Download Doctor: Discover Series Picture Book for Kids - Who likes going to the doctor? Who wants their child to grow up to be a doctor? Whether you're looking to alleviate anxiety or plant the suggestion early, DOCTOR features 25 full-color photos of of doctors, nurses and medical equipment. Like other titles in the Kindle Kids Library from Xist Publishing, DOCTOR has been formatted to take advantage of the Kindle, Kindle Fire and Kindle apps for phones, tablets and computers.


Download Einstein The Lazy Kitty by Renae Rae - This 30-page story is inspired by Renae Rae's real-life lazy kitty. Einstein The Lazy Kitty, combines rhythmic writing and colorful illustrations to make this a short, fun book for all ages but it was designed with your toddler and early reader in mind.


Download Time to Get Ready, Bunny! by Brenda Ponnay - It's time to get ready, Bunny! Bunny? BUNNY? In this charming little book, author/illustrator Brenda Ponnay has artfully depicted the morning routine of so many families. Whether your little one would rather stay in bed, play with toys, or try on every outfit in the closet, this book is sure to resonate with parents.


Download Grammar Candy by Katrina Streza - Have you ever wondered what exactly an adjective was? Drawn a blank when your child asked for help with English grammar homework? In GRAMMAR CANDY, the second book by educator Katrina Streza, Danny and Sam are back for another candy-filled learning adventure. This time, they'll turn a grammar lesson into some sweet fun when they visit Mr. Candor's Candy Shop and learn about nouns, pronouns,
adjectives, verbs and more. For candy-loving kids in grades 1-3 (and their parents too)!

BONUS BOOKS: Available in multiple e-book formats compatible with Kindle, Nook, Sony and other e-readers.
The Younger Days by Mike Hays -
In the beginning, Boy Smyth has a dull Missouri farm life and a burning desire to be an outlaw like his hero, Cole Younger. In the end, Boy Smyth has five dead bodies and two burning buildings at his farm and the most feared man in the United States crying outside his front gate. And that desire for the outlaw life? It's purged completely from his system. Download free on April 19 from Muse It Up Publishing.

The Pea Soup Poisonings by Nancy Means Wright - To get into her brother's Spy Club, Zoe must walk a high narrow beam over rusted farm machinery and then discover who poisoned Granny Fairweather's pea soup. She has 5 days to find the culprit. Can she do it? Winner of an Agatha award for Best Children’s/Young Adult Novel. Download free on April 19 from Belgrave House.

Special Guest Author: Jerry Hanel

Today we have an excellent guest, Jerry Hanel, author of Death Has a Name, for the release of the second book in his Brodie Wade series, Thaloc Has a Body, and it's very exciting! I'm going to hand this post over to Jerry so he can talk about his awesome new book.

My name is Jerry Hanel, and the book I've written is a paranormal mystery/thriller called Thaloc Has a Body. It is the second book in the Brodie Wade series.

What is a "Thaloc"?
Thaloc was an Egyptian creature that was believed to take the form of anyone. I've embellished the legend of Thaloc slightly, adding a few points from "experts" in order to explain how the villain is connected to the murders, but I tried to stay as true to the original legend as I could.

As far as how Thaloc relates to the paranormal world, thus how he would relate to Brodie's ability, Thaloc was a spirit being, very similar to the western concept of the Grim Reaper. Using that template, you can see that it's not a far cry from the first book, with with an Egyptian twist, and a plot twist that I think will leave the reader stunned and amazed. Time will tell, I suppose.

So, how do you pronounce 'Thaloc'?
I'm not sure, to be honest. I've actually had several differing opinions given to me on that. Some say Thay-lock, others say Thahl-lock. I even had one person quote it gangsta-style; The-lock. For me, I refer to it as Thahl-lock. I guess that's part of the mystery, but also part of the history of this creature. He is an unknown. A black hole. Since he can become so many different things, having a single pronounciation of his name seems almost too rigid. Pronounce it however it is comfortable to you in hour head. I guess that's the best way of all.

How did you come up with the idea for the book?
In the first book, Death Has a Name, Brodie had to confront the Angel of Death and his apprentice. While, I have a personal belief about humans and alternate realms, and such, I always want my characters to battle other humans, not necessarily non-human entities. It just makes for a much more dramatic story, in my mind. In Death Has a Name, I pushed even my own boundaries on that personal rule. Brodie still had to battle the apprentice, but there were a few plot twists that I really struggled with, internally.

For Thaloc Has a Body, I wanted Brodie to have to confront actual flesh-and-blood people, without any gray areas and I thought that a shape-shifter would be the perfect medium to make those encounters much more interesting, while remaining true to the themes started in Death Has a Name.

What do you think readers will enjoy most about your book?
Two words; Jamie Stanford. She is the love interest that was briefly introduced in the first novel. Brodie was so freaked out (as he normally is) by the case at hand, he missed the signs of her trying to flirt with him. In this book, she takes matters into her own hands and invites herself on a date. Through that character, we get to see so much more about Brodie and get past his angst-riddled brain into his heart. He really is a caring man, and Jamie brings out so many facets in Brodie that we've never seen before.

Who is your favourite character?
Picking a favorite is hard. All of my characters are reflections of some aspect of me. Even the villains are the darker side of my past, expounded a thousand times, of course. I mean, I wouldn't want to actually kill someone, much less do it in the way that they do. But I can see how someone could be drawn down those dark paths and deluded into doing the things they do. And even those dark characters have a soul somewhere deep in there that I guess my soul can identify with.

If I absolutely had to choose a character, and my life depended on it, I would say Brodie. He's the unsure, scared little boy inside me that has never really grown up. There are so many qualities to Brodie that make him socially awkward that I can relate. But when you get past those awkward moments, he's probably the nicest, most caring man on the planet.

Do you listen to music while you write, and if so what music for this book or in general?
When I write, I generally have my headphones on, listening to whatever music will set the mood for the scene I'm working on. My favorite bands are "The Letter Black", "Red" and "Thousand Foot Krutch." They all seem to have themes dealing with dark, painful issues, but they all have this brilliant, bright, shining thread of hope, grace and redemption that inspire me, despite their dark themes. I guess I can relate to the music, reflect on my past choices, and apply those to the scene I want to create to come up with the story in my head.

Tell us where to find you online and buy your book.
This series is all over the internet right now; Kobo, Barnes & Noble, etc. But I really think Amazon has it down to a science. They give my readers the best price and they are really good to me as an author in the process, so it's a win-win situation.

You can reach me directly on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/JerryHanel

Or on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/Jerry-Hanel-Author

I also have a blog:
http://www.jerryhanel.com

Thank you for taking the time today to interview me. I've really enjoyed it.

-Jerry

Thanks a lot Jerry for being a guest here at nrwick.com and good luck with Thaloc Has a Body!

Readers, if you are interested in reading Death Has a Name or Thaloc Has a Body, I've provided links below.

The Great INDIE Summer Read Giveaway - International!

So, between June 15th and July 31st, Coffee Mugged is hosting giveaway of epic proportions. There are 100 books to giveaway and they are all by indie authors, including my own Land of No Angels. Yes, you read that right: 100 BOOKS. Awesome right? Most of them are ebooks, but I recall seeing a few print copies in there too. There's nothing cooler than winning free books, right? RIGHT!

Click here is you want a quick peek at the list of books.

The grand prize winner will get 10 books, and many people will win at least one book as long as there are books available. How cool is that? Very! Best of all, the giveaway is open internationally. Also, there are tons of ways to add extra entries, so be sure to keep up with the daily giveaway posts. If you are as excited as I am, then you should hurry and go sign up! Click on the logo at the top of this post or the logo on the sidebar to the right of this post and enter!