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Monday, October 20, 2014

Outlander Box Set Giveaway

OutlanderGiveaway
The best selling book series, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon has recently been made into a t.v. series on Starz! In celebration of that several bloggers and authors have joined together to bring you the complete book series!!
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Be sure to follow and visit the sponsors - Taking Time for Mommy Books and Movies, RhiReading, The Stuff Of Success, Mama's Got Flair, Bookswagger, The Crafty Cauldron, Generations of Savings, Adventures in All Things Food, Notes from the Loft, and Devyn's Thoughts.
This giveaway is open to US residents 18+. It ends 10/31/14 @ 11:59 PM EST. Fill out the form below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Autographed copy of Warm Bodies

I'm giving away my autographed copy of Warm Bodies.  It's simple to enter by following the instructions on the Rafflecopter.  Thank you so much for being a loyal fan!

(open to USA only...sorry)
Happy Halloween!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thursday, September 18, 2014

Cover Reveal - Brea Essex


ON SALE FOR 99¢ until Oct 1, 2014

Get lost in this epic young adult paranormal adventure.  Ouroboros is the first book in the Seven Relics Trilogy.

Eighteen year old, Rhiannon, wakes up from a coma to find a ghost at the foot of her bed.  He tells her his name is Zachary, and he's a Zayin-One, from the elite fighting force of his realm.  He needs to find his physical body, and since she's the only on who can see him, he needs her help. She reluctantly agrees, and before long, they uncover a trail of deadly revelations about an evil being known as, The Necrovorst.

Brea breaths life in this imaginative mythological world. Get lost in this epic fantasy, Ouroboros.



About the Author


Brea Essex is originally from, The Garlic Capitol of the World, AKA Gilroy, California.  She graduated college with a degree in Medical Assisting, however, she soon decided that field wasn't for her.  She's a  self-proclaimed recovering diet soda addict, who now lives in San Jose, California with her husband and two small sons.  She is also owned by three cats, and a dog who thinks she's a cat.


Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Win a Necklace made by Quinn Loftis


Win this necklace made by "Jen" for the werewolves in The Grey Wolf Series!

Read the card and find out why "Jen" wants the werewolves to wear a bell.  This giveaway is for USA only (I'm sorry).

Stop by and say congratulations to Quinn Loftis, her baby is being born today!  Much happiness and love to the new parents!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, August 8, 2014

Witch Hunter Olivia

Here's what New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors are saying about Witch Hunter Olivia by T.A. Kunz:

 

"Witch hunters and sexy tattoo artists? This New Adult Paranormal is EVERYTHING fans of romance and action are looking for."
- #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

"A fun, action-packed, enjoyable read!"
- New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack

"The perfect blend of New Adult and Paranormal. It's absolutely fantastic!" - New York Times bestselling author Nichole Chase

~ ~ ~

Reviewers are calling Witch Hunter Olivia "amazing, fun, well-written, and entertaining." You don't want to miss the hottest New Adult paranormal romance of the summer!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the town of Piedmont Pointe, where paranormal is the norm, a girl can easily get herself in over her head with a single wrong move. Unfortunately for Olivia Adams, she's about to make several.

Starting over is never easy, but it seemed like the only option to Olivia. The decision to turn her back on the Guild of Witch Hunters, the very group she devoted her entire life to, was one of the hardest things she ever did. It meant leaving her family, her friends, and her old identity behind forever. Coming to terms with what caused her to abandon her duties in the first place was even harder.

While trying to lay low and stay off the Guild's radar, Olivia finds herself thrust back into her old ways after unknowingly interrupting an assassination hit on a powerful witch. What follows is the last thing she ever thought she'd agree to do--protect the very thing she was groomed to hunt.

To complicate things even further, Olivia begins to develop feelings for a tattoo artist who also happens to be half warlock, and no matter how hard she tries to fight it, she can't resist her inescapable draw to him. Olivia's forbidden relationship isn't her only issue though, because once the mystery behind the assassination attempt starts to unravel, she's forced to choose sides when the loyalties still tied to her past life are tested again.

So much for the idea of a fresh start.

BUY THE BOOK NOW:

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon AUS ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author T.A. Kunz has always had a fondness for reading thrilling mysteries and action-packed urban fantasies. So, it was no surprise when T.A. decided to write stories that they’d fall into one of those two genres. T.A. lives in Central Florida with two fur babies and a mechanical engineer who also happens to be quite the culinary badass, which there are no complaints about. Being a self-diagnosed caffeine addict, many joke that T.A.’s addiction to Starbucks coffee will likely be their downfall later in life.

STALK THE AUTHOR:

Website ~ Twitter

Monday, July 14, 2014

Killing Me Softly Blog Hop



Blog Hop!
Keep Reading to get to the Rafflecopter

For The Writer's Voice, I'm giving away this handmade rose that I made from one of my books. There's a separate Rafflecopter for the rose.



July 15 - August 3, 2014

Fabulous Prizes!

 Guitar Pick Necklace













Killing Me Softly Blog Hop Schedule

July 15 – August 3, 2014

July 15
Michelle Muto                                                    www.michellemuto.wordpress.com
Candy Smith                                                       www.purpleshadowhunter.blogspot.com

July 16
Amber Clark                                                       www.bookloveramber.blogspot.com

July 17
TBA

July 18
Brea Essex                                                         www.breaessex.com

July 19
Kendall McCubban                                            www.bookcrazy123.blogspot.com
Erin Danzer                                                        http://www.authorerindanzer.com/

July 20
Melissa Stickney                                                www.crazybeautifulreviews.blogspot.com

July 21
Kristi Strong                                                        www.strongnovels.blogspot.com

July 22
Amy Jones                                                           www.amyjonesyaff.blogspot.com


July 23
Kris Kendall                                                        www.ireadselfies.com
Mandy Anderson                                                www.twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com

July 24
Tiffany Perry                                                      http://strreviews.blogspot.com/

July 25
Amy Stogner Avid Reader Amy                         www.avidreaderamy.blogspot.com

July 26
Lisa Hines                                                           www.heffroberts.blogspot.com

July 27
The Writer's Voice

July 28
Trish Davy
So Many Books So Little Time                       http://manybooksnotime.blogspot.com//

July 29
Tia Bach                                                             http://www.depressioncookies.com/                                                       

July 30
Carlyle                                                                www.worldsawaybookblog.blogspot.com

July 31
Devyn Dawson

August 1
Raine Thomas                                  http://rainethomas.com/blog/






Clean New Adult Military Romance

 

Killing Me Softly

By Devyn Dawson

Preface


   I glance down at my black pointy-toed high heels and realize they’re the most uncomfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.  Andy’s mom let me borrow a pair of Andy’s shoes since we wear the same size.  It will take me a while to think of her in the past tense.  Looking around the room all I see are strangers.  None of these people knew her like I did.  No one knew the way she loved soft furry blankets and in the summer she loved softy silky pajamas.  They didn’t know that she spent more time praying for her friends and animals than she did for herself.  No, they didn’t know those things, and they never will.

   My best friend, Andy, died four days ago in a car accident with her boyfriend Doug.  A car crossed over the center lane and hit them head on.  The police say they died instantly.  I talked to her exactly ten minutes before the crash, she told me she was going to stop by on her way home.  We’ve always done that; stop by on our way home from shopping to show what we bought.   Doug took her to Dallas to pick up a guitar and to go shopping. Andy’s parents have money. They spoiled her, but she never acted spoiled.  She was kind and giving.  For her birthday, her dad gave her a prepaid credit card.  She had to keep her grades up, if she did, he’d load a thousand dollars on the card every month for a year.  That’s more money than I make at my job. When I go shopping, I hit the thrift stores and yard sales.  Just because I don’t spend tons of money on clothes, doesn’t mean I don’t look like I do.  There’s a thrift shop not too far from here that I find the best deals.  If the outfit doesn’t fit me, I do the alterations myself.   My money is from my job at the vitamin store in the mall. Eight dollars an hour doesn’t go far when you’re the bread winner in your family. 

  Andy didn’t spend the money on things just for her, no, she would buy things for an after school program she worked for as a volunteer. She would give you every dime she had if you needed help. When she went shopping for herself, she would buy a matching outfit for me.  She would always say that I was the sister she always wanted.

  Linda, Andy’s mom, is making her way over to me, her grief is written all over her face.  I stand up and wrap my arms around her thin body and in that moment the magnitude of what happened hits me like a brick wall.  I start to tremble, but I force myself to keep it together until I get home.  That’s when I’ll have the luxury of breaking down.

   “Sugar, how are you holding up?” Linda asks.  One of her friends leans over and hands her a fresh martini.

  “I don’t know,” I shrug my shoulders.  “It doesn’t seem real, does it?”

   “She loved you so much,” I smell the alcohol on her breath as she kisses me on the cheek.  “You’re welcome here any time, you’re part of our family.  If that daddy of yours gives you any trouble, you come over and you can sleep in Andy’s room.  She’d want you to be here with us, you know that.”

   “I know.  If you don’t mind, I need to go home and check on my dad.  They changed his meds this week.  As usual, he’s been in one of his moods.  Never mind all that, if you need anything, I’m number five on your speed dial.  I’ll drop off the shoes later this week.”

   “Holland, keep the shoes, I don’t need them back.  Go check on your dad, I’m going to try to get everyone out of here at a decent hour.  My head hurts too much to deal with so many people.  I love you, Holly, don’t you forget it either.” Andy’s the only person who ever called me by my childhood nickname.  When I started high school, I went back to my given name, Holland. Linda pulls me in for another hug, this one is tighter and longer than the last one.  In my head I can hear Andy complaining that her mom is getting mushy.  I smile at the thought. 

  “I love you too.  I’ll be by soon.”  She’s hugging me as if she’s holding onto a piece of her daughter for dear life.

   Most everyone here are family or friends of the family.  A few people from high school came to the funeral, but everyone bailed before the graveside service.  If it were anyone other than Andy, I would have done the same.   My heart is heavy in my chest and tears threaten to come, but I suppress them so I can get home before I start the water works.

   My street is ten streets away from Andy’s house, but the neighborhoods are polar opposites.  Her street is lined with manicured lawns and matching brick mailboxes at the end of each driveway.  Several people on our street have taken their mailbox down because some kids drove by with a baseball bat and dented in the metal mailboxes.  A couple of the neighbors have cars parked in their yard and many of the houses have some type of car up on car ramps or a jack.  Andy’s neighborhood is filled with houses with three bedrooms and two or more bathrooms.  Ours isn’t. 

  I pull into the driveway that is cracked from neglect and hot Oklahoma summers.  Our small two bedroom house is dark red brick with white trim that could use a new paint job.

  The screen door bangs closed as I step into the living room.  Dad is right where he was when I left this morning, asleep on the couch.

   “Dad, it’s after two.”  I say it loud enough for him to hear me. 

   He pushes himself up to a sitting position.  “How was it?  Is her mom holding up okay?”

   “It was as nice as a funeral can be for an eighteen year old girl.  Her mom’s okay, she’s a strong woman,” I say harsher than intended. 

  “When will you go to the store to buy groceries?”

   The only question he cares about……food.  He doesn’t give a crap about the funeral, he’s been sitting on the couch all day.  He sits around and feels sorry for himself.  “Dad, I told you I don’t get paid until Tuesday.  Your Social Security check paid the bills.  I have thirty dollars for gas.  That’s all the money we have in the bank.  There’s stuff to eat, just not what you want.   Give me a few minutes to change for work and I’ll make you some supper.”

   “You’re working on the day of your best friend’s funeral?”  He asks, posing as the concerned father.

   “Yes, I’m working on the day Andy was buried.  I have to pay the bills, so working isn’t an option. Your prescriptions will be running out this week, I need money for your co-pays.  Look, I don’t want to talk about this right now.”  I set my stuff down as I head down the short hall to my bedroom.

   “Holland, I’m getting better!  Don’t you worry, before long, I’ll be able to go back to work!”  He shouts out to me.

   He’s told me a thousand times how he’s getting better.  Per Dr. Paul, his regular doctor, he’s never going to be fit to work again if he doesn’t go to therapy on a regular basis.  He’s two steps away from being placed in an institution.  He was involuntarily committed last October, it lasted for five days.  Being the selfish person I am, it was the most sleep I’ve had in years.  He was safely behind locked doors, and I didn’t have to worry about which side of him I was going to come home to.

   My little room is large enough for my full-size bed and a small desk I found at a garage sale.  Most of my clothes are folded up inside big plastic bins.  Andy teased me about my organization skills.  She said I’m the only teenager who puts away their clothes on their own.   I found it easier to strap a bin of dirty laundry to my skateboard and pull it the two blocks to the Laundromat than to carry it that far.  I’ve been doing our laundry since my mom left when I was thirteen.  That was the year my dad lost his job with the advertising firm and everything spiraled out of control.

   I bend over to tie my shoes and pick up my keys that fell to the floor.  I double check my reflection in the mirror before rushing out of my room to make a quick dinner for my dad.  Crap!  I think to myself as I realize I got more bleach splatters on the hems of my khakis.  Thankfully, Gerrie won’t be working tonight to gripe at me about buying a new pair of pants.  She find a way to complain about me at every opportunity she finds.  She hates it when I wear my long hair down, she says I shed it all over the store. Last year she got upset with me for not being tan like all the other girls in the mall.  She told me guys would come in to buy vitamins if I had a tan and wore make-up.

   Andy and I would dream up crazy come-backs to Gerrie’s insults, but I never used them. 

Andy.

   How can I face another day without her humor?  How am I going to deal with my dad without her encouragement?  How will I carry on?

***

 

Chapter One.  Cheeky


Six months later.

   “Yes Aunt Laney, I know his birthday is Saturday.  Dad won’t show up for dinner, he never does.  He hates surprises and apparently he hates showers too.  I know you don’t like to come to our neighborhood, so you can drop it off at the mall.  I’m working tonight and tomorrow morning.” 

   “Okay, I’ll bring it to you at the mall.  I’ve reloaded that Visa for you to get some groceries.  Holland, you can come live with me, no one would blame you,” Aunt Laney says for the hundredth time.  She’s my dad’s older sister and the only family member who still checks in on us.  Her husband is a big corporate lawyer who represents every big company in Oklahoma.  She was his paralegal, until they fell in love and got married.  To ease her conscience she loads a prepaid Visa so I can buy groceries and gas.  She paid off the mortgage last Christmas.  She has no idea how much easier she made my life when I didn’t have to worry about that bill anymore.

   Things have been looking better this year.  June moved away and I was promoted to assistant-manager, which included a two dollar an hour raise.  “Okay, I’ll see you then….and thank you for helping us by loading the Visa.”

   “Oh honey, you’re a doll.  I’m proud of you for being such a good daughter to my baby brother.  I hope you’ve been able to keep your flawless GPA.  You’ve been working so many days a week, it must be hard to keep up your grades.”

   I can picture her admiring her fingernails as she talks.  She’s always struck me as a superficial person by the clothes she wears and the people in her life.  “Thanks, I don’t have any choice, he’s my dad.”  I state the obvious.  “I’m taking online classes, so it works around my schedule.  Not to be rude, but I need to go; I have to be at work in fifteen minutes.”

  “I’ll see you later.” 

   “Okay, I’ll see you this evening,” I click my cell phone off and close my bedroom door behind me.
   
   “Dad, your dinner is in the fridge in the purple container, heat it up for one minute.”  I turn the corner and see my dad sitting up for a change.

   “You’re going to work early, you should eat breakfast,” he suggests.

   “Dad, it’s four in the afternoon.  I have to do laundry tomorrow, so it would be nice if you took a shower and put your dirty clothes in the hamper.”  He won’t.  He’ll give me excuses why he couldn’t shower before I got home.   Recently, he developed a fear of showering in an empty house.  His therapist called in a new medication, but it only seems to make him more of a zombie and has done nothing for his fear of cleanliness. 

   “Four?  The days sure go by so fast.”  He rubs his hand across his unshaven face.  He’s not even forty, but you’d never know by the amount of grey in his beard.

   “Gotta go, Dad,” I hold my breath and give him a peck on his head.

---­

   Friday evening at Darby Springs Mall is crowded as usual, leaving the only parking spaces ridiculously far from the doors.  During my lunch period I’ll move my car closer so I don’t have to get security to walk me to my car after work.  I ease the Charger between two SUVs, barely clearing the one on my right.  Aunt Laney gave me her old one as a graduation gift during my senior year.  Old to her is anything older than two years old.  She had only owned this one for a year before giving it to me.  She even covers the car insurance so it wouldn’t be a burden on me and my dad.

   “Hey Sam, can you stay until close?  It’s the fifteenth which means payday for the military, and they love to come stock up on the protein powder.  This is usually the busiest day of the month.”  I glance around the store to make sure everything is in order.

   “Is that what’s going on?  I had to restock the powder a couple of times already today.  One guy wanted to return something, but I told him to come when you’re working.  He said he’d come back tonight,” Sam says.

  “Will you straighten up the display of Vitamin C?  Someone turned all the bottles backwards, it was probably a kid.” Sam’s a quirky guy who spends all of his paycheck on body building powder and his spare time in the gym.  He dates a girl I went to high school with, she’s rumored to have appeared in a couple of adult films.  She’s a pretty girl but she can’t carry on a conversation without talking about kinky sex. “I’m going to the back to place some orders, if you need me just call,” I say as I turn to the back of the store.

   “Holland?” Sam’s voice booms over the phone intercom causing me to jump. 

   “Yes, Sam.”

***
   “That guy is here with the return.”

   “I’ll be right there.” 
   There’s a guy at the register dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt talking to Sam.  His short light brown hair is definitely Air Force the way it is perfectly squared off on the back of his neck.

    I remind myself that I’m the assistant manager and not to be intimidated. 

   “Hi, I’m Holland, what can I help you with,” I ask as I step behind the cashier counter.  Another pretty-boy airman with his deep dimple and flawless skin.  There’s no way he’s much older than I am, that’s good because I don’t typically back down to people my age.  Older guys in the military scare me, they seem so hard and angry. 

   “Hey Holland, Sam here told me to come back when you’re here to refund this powder.”

   The first thing I notice are his eyes, pale blue eyes…incredibly pretty blue eyes and smile.  The manager-in-training classes I took told me to always hold the customer’s gaze.  They obviously never looked into eyes like his.  It takes everything in me not to shift my eyes away from him.  It makes me feel exposed as if he is literally looking into my soul. 

“Yes sir, is there a problem with the powder?” 

  He’s first to avert his eyes and look down at the jug of Mega Muscle Protein Powder.  “It gave me a rash,” he replies without looking up at me.

  Most of the guys who come in are embarrassed to admit they ended up with a rash. “A rash?  Do you have a photo of the rash?”  Our return policy on store-brand products are if it gives you a rash, you have to provide a photo.  There’s nothing more disgusting than looking at a rash on a stranger. 

  “That rule on your policy is pretty intrusive.  When I read it, I was floored that it was a real rule.”

   Here we go, he’ll turn off the charm and turn into a douche.  I’m sure Sam is doing the countdown in his head.  “Yes sir, we must turn in the photo along with the explanation in to our corporate office.  Our policy is for quality control and has nothing to do with being intrusive.  May I see the picture?”
He pulls out his cell phone and scrolls through his pictures before holding it up for me to see.  Sure enough, it’s a rash… on his ass!  He took a selfie of his ass rash in the mirror. He is standing in his boxers and holding one side of them down and taking a picture with his other hand.  I need to call Andy and tell her about this, she’s going to die laughing.  Dammit!  I can’t call her, because she’s dead. 

   “I need a print of the picture,” I snap.  My mood has gone from good to pissed in two seconds.

   “You really need a picture of my ass to give me a thirty-five dollar refund?”

   I cock my head to the side, my go-to defense pose when I’m hiding my feelings from the world.  “I didn’t write the rules, but I follow them.”  This is the look Andy called my bitch-face.

   “Look, I’m not going to go print off a picture of my ass to get a thirty-five dollar refund.  You can keep the powder and the money.”  He shakes his head back and forth before taking his receipt and folding it up neatly before returning it to his wallet.

   I stand at the register and watch him walk out of the store.

   “What happened?”  Sam asks.

   “Nothing, I’m following policy,” I reply nonchalantly.

   Sam looks at me like he wasn’t buying it for an instant.  “Holland, one minute you were okay and the next you flipped and were pissed off.”

   “I didn’t flip.”  I gather up my paperwork to tally out our sales for the day.  My dad flips, I just get pissed.

   “I think there’s Pamprin in the office, if you need it,” Sam says sarcastically.  Good thing I like him or I’d write him up just because I can.

   “I’m not PMSing and just for that, you get to mop the floor tonight.”  Without turning around, I head back to the office.  When memories of Andy pop into my head, I’m reminded how lonely life is without her.  I’ve been going to her grave and sitting there for hours.   She was always my sounding board when it came to my dad, now I feel guilty for all the times I made her listen to me complain.  We should have spent more time doing pranks and laughing at stupid movies.  Now, I’ll never be able to do those things with someone.  Lately, everything reminds me of her and I’ll either cry or get angry.  It isn’t that I’m mad at her, it’s I don’t know when the pain will stop.  My therapist says dumb things like, time heals all wounds, or everyone grieves differently.  The therapist was Aunt Laney’s idea since the health insurance policy she bought for me covers the visits. 

   “Knock, knock,” Sam’s voice brings me back to reality.  “Hey, do I really have to mop the floor?  I have plans after work and I don’t want to smell like bleach and dirty mop water.”

   “I told you to mop not take a bath.  I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t ever hint for me to take Pamprin again, okay?”

   “Deal.  Your Aunt Laney is in the store, do you want me to send her back here?”

   “No, I’ll go out there.”





DEVYN DAWSON

   I've thought of myself as a writer for as long as I can remember.  I played grown-up with my family, until everyone grew up and left me to figure out what I really wanted to be.  Jumping over the cliff, I took a leap of faith and wrote my first full length novel, The Legacy of Kilkenny.  My love of young adult books, helped mold me into the writer I am today.  The books I write, reflect the types of books I enjoy reading.  Every story I write will have a huge twist at the end, one that often leaves the reader in shock (no pun intended, if you know me, you know why I say that, LOL).  Thank you for considering to read my books.  Happy reading!

Thank you for having me on your blog!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Killing Me Softly Necklace Giveaway


Win this Killing Me Softly necklace from Devyn Dawson.

Holland lives her shattered life day by day.  Her best friend who shared all of her secrets died in a car accident.  When her mother left six years ago, she left Holland the chore of caring for her mentally ill father.  While juggling a job, taking online college courses and caring for her dad, she doesn't have time to date anyone.  Living across the street from Tinker Air Force Base, Holland was warned never to date a guy in the military.  That wasn't a problem....until she met Tate.  He's an air traffic controller who's stationed at TAFB.  One night, Tate was singing at the bookstore.  She was mesmerized by his easy going style.  His dream is to be a singer, not a farmer.  He's destined to run successful ranch his grandmother owns.  Everything changes when the couple is offered a deal to sing at the local clubs.  For once, Holland saw a way out of living in a small two bedroom house.  Her dads social security checks don't pay the bills, and for the first time in her life, she has money to pay the bills.  

 Holland's dad doesn't see it that way.  He's afraid she's going to leave him to be with Tate and they'll move away if he gets stationed somewhere else.  Taking matters in his own hands, her father is determined to keep Tate away from his daughter.  Just when everything is going well, her life is shattered into a million shards of glass.






Devyn is a YA/NA author of The Light Tamer Series and The Legacy of Kilkenny Saga.  She spends her spare time playing with her grandchildren and dreaming about the next book.  Devyn mentors several teens in New Bern, North Carolina.  She goes to local libraries and schools to talk to kids about writing books.  Her passion is to remind people that life is too serious, read a book with a fun adventure to get away for your real life.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Top Ten Ideas for Authors Social Media Marketing

Ten Ideas for Authors To Utilize Social Media for Marketing

1.        Do you use hashtags?  Are you confused what a hashtag is?  
a.       Hashtags are keywords that people use to find things going on with Twitter or Instagram.  If I wanted to enter some contests to win stuff from authors, I’d go to Twitter and type in “giveaway” --- try it out, I just did and there are at least 100 tweets with that keyword in the last hour.  On Twitter, if you want to know what’s happening take a look at the “trending now” – those are keywords most used at the moment.

     2.  Sticking with keywords, do you use them when you post a blog?  People actually go on blogger and keyword search for blogs about things that a person wants to read about.   For this blog post, I will use a keyword of top ten, marketing for authors, marketing, books, indie author, top ten tips, tips for authors, writing,

3  3.  Use Twitter the smart way.  Who has time to tweet all day?  I don't.  I use a program to do my tweets for me.  Usually on Sunday, I will figure out what authors I want to pimp during the week, a few random tweets about random things, and about book sales I might have.  I use www.twuffer.com but many use tweetdeck.  Pick what works for you!  
  
  4.  Write a book description that will knock your potential readers socks off!  You can go to Author Central to update your book info.  Do you need help? Check this out - http://authormarketingclub.com/members/free-book/     




5.  If you're an author, you've probably heard of Bookbub.  There are other places that will generate sales for lower prices.  You can schedule with several of the places for the same day and get more exposure.  Here are a few -  http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/for-authors/regular-book-posting/    http://www.booksends.com/  http://ereadernewstoday.com/ http://www.pixelofink.com/



6.  If you're not familiar with Facebook Events, get familiar.  When you have a book release, you can have a party and invite people.  Go out and spend some money for goodies to give out.  Authors and bloggers are happy to join in on the fun, invite them!  Don't spam them, that's very bad form.  Give away $5 gift cards to Amazon - give away e books by other authors.



7.  Pinterest!  Create a board with your inspirations for your book.  Your dream cast for the movie is a big hit with fans.  Create a board with all your favorite blogs and favorite books.  Fans like to know what you read too!  

8.  Blog!  Authors are always looking for bloggers to do a cover reveal, sign up and do the reveal.  When you are ready to do your own cover reveal, you can send a message to the authors you helped out and ask if they would mind doing one for you.  Don't demand it!    

9.  Do NOT use Facebook to post all of the things that tick you off.  Recently, I saw a negative status and I went to check out their wall - every single status over a month was all negative.  They hated everything and everyone.  There's enough negativity in the world, post positive things.  Find a funny meme to share if you have nothing nice to say.  Golden rule, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

10.  Join the writing groups on Facebook.  There are tons of them everywhere.  Keep in mind though, if it is a site that is only a place to announce your book is on sale, people don't usually look at them.  Join groups that are in the same genre you write.  Type in keywords to search for groups.  There are critique groups, indie groups, blogger groups, young adult groups.... you get the idea.   forgifs.com

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Cover Reveal The Ascendant Series

Double Cover Reveal!!!

Titles: Rout of the Dem-Shyr and Rise of the Faire-Amanti
Series: The Ascendant Series, Books 2 and 3
Author: Raine Thomas
Publisher: Iambe Books, LLC
Cover Designer: Regina Wamba of Mae I Design
Genre: New Adult Sci-Fi Romance
Recommended Audience: Readers 17+
Projected Release Dates: Rout of the Dem-Shyr (July, 2014) and Rise of the Faire-Amanti (Nov, 2014)
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On to the big reveals!

Rout of the Dem-Shyr (Ascendant Series, Book 2)
Rise of the Faire-Amanti (Ascendant Series, Book 3)

Check out the covers all together. Don't they look amazing??

Did you miss the first book in the series, Return of the Ascendant? Grab your copy today!

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

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And now, it's Trailer Reveal Time! Turn those speakers up!!!

Trailer created by Flatline Films

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Chasing Shadows Release Day!


It’s here! And it’s only 99 cents through Sunday, 5/11/14.


About Chasing Shadows (Tala Prophecy, Book 2)

Reagan thought one night changed her life forever, but her fate was written long ago.

Merging creature and white blood,
One of flame, one of night,
At eighteen years it will commence,
Spiritual warrior and power,
Will bring an end to the lawless ones.

A war looms: One that pits brother against brother for werewolf supremacy. Angels and demons will each have a say before a victor is chosen.

With her eighteenth birthday only six months away, time is running out. Reagan must find a way to harness the two powerful, ancient bloodlines coursing through her: Werewolf and Wiccan. Then, she has to figure out her role in the century-old prophecy foretold by her great-grandmother.

However, if Reagan can’t save her family from her most vicious rival, Rafe, the forces of Hell will be unleashed and the war will be over before it starts.

Add Chasing Shadows on GoodReads 

Cover Design by Jo Michaels

Amazon Link

 On Amazon

And don’t forget Chasing Memories (Tala Prophecy, Book 1)
Until Sunday, 5/11/14, it’s FREE!

Synopsis

There isn’t another way; not now. The others are coming. I can’t let them have you…

Seventeen-year-old Reagan has a problem: She can’t remember what happened the night her brother was taken. Now, the dreams haunting her from the incident are becoming more intense by the day. All the while, the lines between what’s real and what’s a product of her paranormal-obsessed mind are becoming blurred.

Is she losing her mind or has she just stepped into a world she thought only existed in books?

Caught in a web of worried parents, competing boys, Wiccan relatives, protective amulets, and psychiatrist babble, Reagan must determine the truth before it’s too late.

Amazon Link  http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Shadows-Tala-Prophecy-Silverthorne-ebook/dp/B00K59PKU6

Giveaways

Two great giveaway opportunities...

GoodReads


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing Shadows by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Chasing Shadows

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Giveaway ends May 28, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win
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About the Author

Tia Silverthorne Bach is an avid reader, sometimes runner, involved wife and mother, and rabid grammar hound in addition to being a multi-genre writer. Her three daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She's the award-winning co-author of Depression Cookies, a coming of age story written with her mother. Tia's office is wherever her laptop takes her and any place that's conducive to allowing a wild imagination like hers to flourish.

Connect with Tia

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

COVER REVEAL - Killing Me Softly



Killing Me Softly - A Broken Souls Novel
June 2014


Hey everyone, I have a new book coming out in June.  I'm so excited for this book to get in your hands!  It is a New Adult book about a girl who was always told to stay away from military guys.  Her dad lived in fear that one day a military guy would come along and break her heart.  I grew up by Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma and we were always warned about military boys.  I met my husband 22 years ago while he was stationed at TAFB.  This story isn't about anyone I know, but it's about everyone I've ever met.  Not everyone is given the chance to live a charmed life, especially Holland.  Read below for the synopsis of this dear to my heart book.  Not every guy in the military is a killer, or angry, no, there's so many good guys looking for a good girl.  I know, because I found one.

Please do me a huge favor and add it to your TBR list on Goodreads and share on Facebook.  It is how authors like me get the word out!  Thank you so much!!!


Facts – My best friend died six months ago. My mom bailed on me when I turned 13. My dad is mentally ill and a permanent fixture on our couch. We live on his disability and my meager paycheck. I take online college courses so I can work full time to pay for the electric bill. I’ve fallen head over heels for Tate Cook, he’s in the U.S. Air Force. 


 I’m Holland Clifford, I’m 19, and this is my life. 


Once upon a time, I was whole… and then I was shattered. Tate’s picking up my pieces and putting me back together again.


About the Author



Devyn Dawson is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Currently, she kicks up her boots in the lush green town of New Bern, North Carolina.  She attended Oklahoma State University where she studied business.  Growing up, she was considered the eccentric girl.  She wrote dark stories, celebrated Halloween like a national holiday, and burned candles before they were trendy.  The very moment she watched Kiefer Sutherland in Lost Boys she vowed to run off with him one day.  Real life took over and she got married and had two amazing children.  In her spare time and great weather, you’ll find her on the back of her husband’s motorcycle touring North Carolina.  Devyn is an avid reader, she has given up Stephen King and reads mostly young adult books.  She writes young adult paranormal books about werewolves, vampires and faeries.  She loves happy endings, but offers twists and turns to get to them. Devyn has decided to dip her toe in the big-girl pond and write some books with just the right amount of steam and twists the fans won’t see coming.