Guest Post: Evergreen Elix (Elix,#1) by E.M. Sky

Title: Evergreen Elix
Series: Elix Series
Author:  E.M.SKY
Genre: YA Fictional Fairytale/Mythology
Release Date: August 26, 2016

Add it to your TBR

The world is a mysterious place to Faye Evergreen. After the disappearance of her brother, Ethan, shortly after moving to a small town in the mountains, Faye is determined to unlock the truth. On the eve of her escape from her Aunt, she meets Lux, the handsome sentinel, whose fiery spirit lures Faye. Lux is the arch to Ethan's whereabouts and together they enter into a magical world of mythology and dimensional time travel.

Coming Soon

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E.M Sky

Character Development Advice: 

I usually flesh out characters in my head and write, they come alive revealing their personality as I go. What helps is taking some characteristics from friends or yourself. My brain works in a very intense way, for some reason I can create chapter/scenes like I do films, I can watch It in my mind and see exactly how they move about and what will carry them into the next scene. I hate lag so I tend to project the story, each page has a reason and purpose, not overly detailed nor vacant. As a writer explore,  find what works for you. If you feel it's a mess trying to just write, then outline, put together picture examples of how you would like your characters to look. There's no right or wrong, just what works for you. 

Being in the dark forest didn’t affect my sight in the slightest. In fact I could see clearly as if I was in sunlight. Silver hair grabbed my attention. Standing around 6 ft, shirtless, deep green eyes probing mine, most likely curious. I kept eye contact as I moved towards this beautiful stranger. “Why did you run from me?” I asked, trying to calm my nerves. My shaky voice gave me away.
He continued to stare at me. “It’s rather rude to just stare.”
In a deep earthy voice he spoke. “It’s rather dangerous to chase a stranger into the forest at night.”
He did have a point. Shrugging I stepped closer. “What were you doing in my backyard?”
“Do you always chase those who walk around a stream out of your yard? I guess you are the guard animal.” He taunted. His silver curls hung in his face as the wind blew around us. His full lips parted into a half smile.
“You should be terrified then. I can be pretty intimidating.” This was my lame attempt at flirting, which it was immensely embarrassing.
He cocked his head to one side. “What is your plan now? You caught me.”
I tried not to look at his shirtless body, his tattered linen type pants hung low. He had lean muscles and tan. Which is interesting to come in contact with another tan Coloradian. I didn’t have a strategy and stared at him blankly. The silence was filled with an awkward energy drifting between us.
“I’m Lux.” He said. He didn’t stick his hand out, but cross his arms with an amused expression.

Born in Blackpool England, December 8,1985. Raised in West Palm Beach Florida. Around the age of nine Emily developed a passion for creative writing as well as playing with her mother's cam corder. She soon began creating scenes and having her younger brothers and friends act in her short films. By 16 Emily wrote her first book, Lily, based on her friends life. When she graduated high school she was scouted by Wilhelmina models, soon realizing after being on multiple film sets Emily decided to be behind the camera.

In 2006 she Directed her first music video, which led to many more. By 2012 she began turing her attention to narrative films. After the success of her first book Awaken Me she has since written Capture Me and Within Darkness. E.M.SKY also known as EMILY GOSSETT, went through a very difficult divorce in which she chose to change her name. New book called "Evergreen Elix" is in the works now, as well as a Virtual Reality network she co-found which she partnered with NASA.

"Reach for the stars, for there is already footprints on the moon" ~E.M.SKY

AuthorEMSKY
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I Love My Authors

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Love Me Like That (Love Me Series, #1) by Renee Kennedy

Title: Love Me Like That

Series: Love Me Series, #1

Author: Renee Kennedy

Genre: New Adult Romantic Comedy

Release Date: October 15, 2015

It’s a battle between her head and her heart.

Bailey Reynolds never thought she would ever in her life have to choose between someone that will give her everything she wants in life and someone that makes her feel like she is everything in his life. How does this southern spitfire choose between what her heart wants versus what her head tells her she wants?

Hendrix~

Can make her dreams come true

Reaches in the sky and buys any star she desires

Wants to set up a perfect life for her with everything she needs or could want

But every so often can't dry her tears

He's not perfect but he was until ~ CASH

Cash~

Sets her world on fire.

He is everything her heart wants but, not necessarily what her head wants.

He creates his own stars and catches all her tears.

But is love enough?

Sometimes life is full of hard choices but that is when the biggest blessing take root.

The five things you need to know about Cash Wilson:

1. He's hot as sin.

2. He has a huge heart.

3. He's a closet romantic.

4. His woman always comes first. (In more ways than one!)

5. He can be that alpha male when you need him to be and his favorite fruit is an orange

Love Me~Like That 

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Renee Kennedy grew up in Decatur, AL and has been married to her high school sweet heart for 23 years. She currently lives in the Houston, TX area with her husband Jason, her son Braxton, and one very spoiled Yorkie, Chico. She also has one son that is serving our Country in the military, Brett.

She loves living in Texas but she’ll always be a Bama girl and that is where her heart remains. Renee has always been an avid reader but never dreamed of writing a book, until reminiscing about her grandparent’s love story, Bailey’s story popped into her head. Her grandparents played a significant role in her life growing up, so sharing a little piece of them with the world, helps keep them alive in her heart.

When she is not reading or writing she loves to cook and try out new recipes. You can often find her hanging out with her family and friends or stalking her own favorite authors.

Chico, her mini Yorkie, runs Renee's house and her so his every need must be catered too, after all he is her 3rd baby.

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Blog Tour Guest Post: Escaping Lucidity by Ty Schwamberger

Title: Escaping Lucidity

Author: Ty Schwamberger

Genre: Dark Horror Anthology

Length: 448 pages

Release Date: August 1, 2015

ISBN-13: 978-1511987936

SYNOPSIS: 

Escaping Lucidity is the complete short works of Ty Schwamberger. Within this tome you’ll be taken on a terror-filled ride through dark woods, the desert, a graveyard and dark streets, where monsters and strange creatures run amok. The other half of this collection is filled with characters driven to the brink of insanity, coping with the loss of loved ones, spousal abuse and fighting crime on the mean city streets. You’ll also find “Author Notes” after each story written by Schwamberger himself giving insight on why he wrote each particular story, interesting facts about characters, the story’s setting and where the work first appeared.

Are you ready for a mind-bending ride?

If not, don’t say you weren’t warned... ‘cause bad things tend to happen when you’re trying to escape lucidity.

Guest Post

“Horror—Check Yourself at the Door”

by Ty Schwamberger

If you look up ‘horror’ (a noun) in a dictionary, you’ll find something similar to the following—an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by something frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting; a shuddering fear: to shrink back from a mutilated corpse in horror (I particularly like the dictionary’s example of something horrific).

But, I think horror, true horror, is something that is embedded deep within the human psyche and can be different from person to person depending on past experiences you’ve gone through. This also explains why some people like watching or reading scary stuff, while some do not.

Let me explain.

I think, at least to some degree, that all people like to be scared. It is just part of human nature. Have you personally or ever notice someone cover their eyes when watching a scary scene in a movie? Sure you have. These people act like they don’t want to see what is happening, but are still looking through the spaces in between their fingers. Some people say we, as humans, are inherently good.  Overall, I believe that is true. But, at the same time we all have a ‘bad’ side. It is that bad side that comes out when we watch the news or almost marvel at the destruction that some mad man just caused on the highway or in someone’s living room. If we didn’t like hearing about other people’s misfortunes we would turn off the news, press the off button on the DVD player or put down the book. But . . . we don’t. Instead we just shake our heads and think (and never or rarely ever say out loud) “I am so glad that it didn’t happen to me.”

Personally, I like writing scary stuff simply because that is what I have always been into (I grew up watching the slasher films from the 1980s). I like how a horror writer can make pretty much anything into something scary.

For example, a horror writer can start a serene story with a man walking a cute dog down the street, enjoying the outdoors, his life and his dog. Now, you can make that scary by having a madman in a car jump the curb, taking them both out. Say the dog dies and the guy ends up in the hospital and has to fight for his life. Then after getting out of the hospital, perhaps the guy goes on a mission to find the reckless driver and put him out of his misery.

See what I mean? Even the everyday things we enjoy (walking a cute dog down a nice quiet street in middle-America suburbia) can turn into someone’s nightmare.

That is what writing horror is all about. Trying new angles on a classic story or character or writing about something no one else has ever thought about before.

As far as those out there that say, “I don’t like watching scary movies or reading scary books”—you better check yourself at the door to your high school English class. Because if you like ‘classic literature’ then you’ve probably read horror before (Romeo and Juliet killing themselves in the name of love is pretty horrific—and pretty much just downright dumb) and might have even enjoyed it (those stories were always too tame for my taste) and if you watch your local news—guess what?—you’re watching horror in real life taking place (which is far worse than any writer could come up with—maybe) and . . . okay, I better stop before I get on too much of a rant here.

Horror is all around us whether you enjoy watching or reading it or not. It’s in your face in the media—the made-up stuff and reports of unfortunate things that happen to innocent people on a daily basis.  Some of it is fascinating in a macabre sort of way (the made-up stuff, of course . . . ha ha), while some of it is just downright sick. I guess when it comes down to brass tacks, horror means different things to difference people—but really it’s all the same thing—horror. So, if you’re one of the people that look down on people that like to watch a good scary movie or read a great horror novel, you better watch who you’re bashing, because more than likely you’re just putting yourself down as well.

AUTHOR INFORMATION & LINKS

Ty Schwamberger is an award-winning author & editor in the horror genre. He is the author of a novel, multiple novellas, collections and editor on several anthologies. In addition, he’s had many short stories published online and in print. Three stories, “Cake Batter” (released in 2010), “House Call” (released in June 2013) and DININ’ (optioned in July 2013), have been optioned for film adaptation. He is an Active Member of the International Thriller Writers. Learn more at http://tyschwamberger or follow along at @SchwambergerTy.

TWITTER

WEBSITE

Currently Available at:

ESCAPING LUCIDITY

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

KOBO

SMASHWORDS

GOOGLE PLAY

iBOOKS

SK Whiteside - Guest Post: Beth Ann Masarik

http://authorskwhiteside.blogspot.com/2013/06/guest-post-beth-ann-masarik-writing-for.html?m=1

Susan Watson's The Tide Breaker Blog Tour: Guest Post: The Tide Breaker From concept to novel

Welcome to I Love My Authors

Today I have the pleasure of being part of an Amazing Blog Tour for Sonya Watson. Before we get to the Guest Post, I wanted to introduce you to Sonya..

Bio:  I was born in Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica. I moved to Canada eleven years ago. I discovered writing when I was eleven. However, I was unable to pursue it since I resided in a country where writing was impractical. I rediscovered the art my third year at York University. Kinesiology, the program I was enrolled in, was no longer simulating and I found myself questioning my purpose in life. This led me to poetry and poetry led me to writing novels.

Guest Post

The Tide Breaker

From concept to novel

I would be reading a book or watching television and an idea would hit me. I would have nothing but the idea. My idea for The Tide Breaker came from an open discussion at a writer’s conference about my second novel Moon Rise. As you can probably guess from the title it was a terrible novel. I was heartbroken but I proposed an idea to my follow writers. The idea I came up with was monsters who look like humans mate with humans to produce children that were the monsters we remember from fairy tales. I knew I was on to something. I wrote an outline but I wrote freely most times so that the story could take me where it wanted to go. I was able to flush out a storyline but a very convoluted one and I released the novel prematurely. Of course I was hammered with criticism but such is life. I am better because of it. I took five more months on top of the six months I had taken to write the previous version to rewrite and edit the latest version. Now that version is available online. How I came up with the title is another story… Actually my friend came up with it over a glass of wine.

When it is discovered that Abrianna, an Amalgam, survived

the mass cleansing orchestrated by Destiny her life becomes less then desirable since her only options are to be controlled or die.

LINKS:

GOODREADS:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4700421.Sonya_Watson

FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/Sonneka

SMASHWORDS:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/154881

AMAZON:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Tide-Breaker-Series-ebook/dp/B009QABQSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354230855&sr=8-1&keywords=TIDE+BREAKER+SONYA+WATSON

Guest Post: Sinead MacDughlas

Welcome to I Love My Authors!! 

Today we have the UBER Sinead MacDughlas with us! I have come to know Sinead quite well over the last year and have come to respect and love her dearly!! Stick around because there is a Giveaway at the Bottom!!

Sinead MacDughlas is a Canadian writer whose main addictions are words, music and coffee. A recovered high school drop-out, Sinead has spent much of her adult life moving around the province of Ontario and working at various jobs, including: taxi driver, advertising graphic designer, library clerk, short order cook, industrial cleaner and retail product consultant for a chain of beauty salons. In November of 2011, she finally achieved a lifelong dream of being a published author. Her debut is a self-published collection of short stories and poetry, The Unscheduled Stops.

Mrs. MacDughlas' first full length novel, Learn To Love Me, was signed by one of the fastest rising new Independent Publishers, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, and released on August 10, 2012.

Sinead's most recent work, Best Served Bloody, was just published by Vamptasy Publishing on October 21, 2012. This Halloween themed novelette serves as more than mere entertainment. All proceeds from the sale of Best Served Bloody will be donated to the East Lancashire Hospice in the United Kingdom.

 

Guest Post

Why an Author?
As long as I can remember, I've had something to say. Actually, if you ask my Mom, I had a lot of somethings to say. According to her, I began talking at eleven months of age and didn't stop, even to breath, from then on.

I suppose that's part of why I became an author. I'm driven to express myself. I'm compelled to share my viewpoint. There are more than a few professions that would allow me to talk endlessly  in order to do that. Lawyers, politicians, radio hosts, spokespeople, TV hosts and lecturers mostly rely on their verbal skills for their careers, but I was destined for none of these things.

See, most of those people are relaying facts (well, except perhaps the politicians — and possibly some of the lawyers, but you get my point).  The first indication that such careers were not for me was probably Mary Ellen … or Mary Anne … something like that.  Mary Ellen was my imaginary friend and she went everywhere with me. She was shy and pretty, dainty and graceful, all the things I was not.  Though I no longer remember her exact name, I can still picture her face in my mind's eye.  I even remember the day she died.  It was traumatic. My very large uncle sat on her, and crushed her to death. I was inconsolable.

Yes, I had a twisted sense of reality, and humour, as a child. ;P  The point is, the creation of fiction was etched in my psyche long before I'd given any thought to future career options.

Although I was a well-known chatterbox, I always had a battle with stage-fright, too.  Put me in a small group and ask me to tell a story and I'll do so with enthusiasm. Put me on a stage in front of thirty or more people and ask me to tell a story and I'll still do it. In the latter instance, however, it will be a battle to keep my knees from knocking together, my tongue from wrapping around my teeth and my eyes from rolling back in my head.

I've worked for years to overcome my stage-fright, joining school choirs, going to Karaoke and participating in annual public speaking contests. Crazy right? The thing is, I know where the stage-fright comes from and the source has long since been eliminated. On top of always being the smallest, nerdiest, neediest kid in school; on top of always being the new kid in school, I also had a dental glitch. My two front teeth had a huge gap between them, giving me a permanent lisp. Even worse, the more I tried not to lisp the more pronounced it became, causing me to stammer and stutter as well. Thank goodness my Grade Two teacher recommended me to a speech therapist who helped me overcome the issue, although being one of the 'special class' kids did nothing for my social ranking as an outcast at the time.

You can add to these factors my overwhelming urge to help people. I was always hyper-sensitive to other's pain and fear. In the course of my life I've been drawn most to those people that society deems damaged. My strong senses of sympathy and empathy have forever driven me to try to 'fix' people. Age and (I hope), wisdom have taught me that I have neither the means, nor the professional skills to counsel others, but I still feel the need to let people know that they are not, ever, alone. Someone out there loves them. Someone out there understands their pain, fear and sorrow. Someone out there cares.

When I was eight years old, I had to write a daily journal for school. Being a bookish child, with few friends my age and no after-school activities, my daily entries were rather dry. With permission, I began to write a series of short stories about a 'super-dog', roughly based on my Grandparent's Pomeranian. "Peaches the Superdog" helped children with problems remarkably similar to those of my classmates. The teacher was impressed and encouraged me to keep writing. It was then that I realized what I wanted to do with my life. I would be an author.

It took me thirty-two years of stumbling through life before I finally took the plunge. It was a monumental battle against self-doubt and self-reproach, but I made it. My words are finally reaching out to people!

Since then I've found a home with one of the fastest-rising independent publishers to hit the industry: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. There I've found a family of fellow authors who share my passion for both writing, and for doing good things for others. While their charitable efforts aren't always shouted from mountaintops, each of the CH&BB authors gives all that he or she can to bring more than just entertainment to the world. It's a home away from home like no other, and I'm so grateful to have it.

Useful links for Sinead MacDughlas

Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/SinMacD.Writer?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SinMacD
Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/107511848516702489145/posts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5339441.Sinead_MacDughlas
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/sinmacd
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sinead-MacDughlas/e/B0074CIPV8/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/SinMacD
Author Webpage: http://www.author.sinmacd.ca 

Blog: http://www.author.sinmacd.ca/blogging.html 

Publications:
The Unscheduled Stops - self published
Purchase Links:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Unscheduled-Stops-ebook/dp/B00727M6S8/  Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Unscheduled-Stops-ebook/dp/B00727M6S8/ 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101241 
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unscheduled-stops-sinead-macdughlas/1107956624
Webpage: http://www.theunscheduledstops.sinmacd.ca

Learn To Love Me: Crushing  Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
Purchase Links: 
http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Love-Me-Sinead-MacDughlas/dp/0987861840/ 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-To-Love-Me-ebook/dp/B008UYQNJ0/  
Webpage: http://www.learntoloveme.sinmacd.ca 

Best Served Bloody: Vamptasy Publishing
Purchase Links: 
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Served-Bloody-ebook/dp/B009UTYWOC/ 
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Served-Bloody-ebook/dp/B009UTYWOC/ 
Webpage: Still to come. ;)

Now for thre Giveaway!!

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Guest Post: Phantom Dreams by T.K Harris Blog Tour 2012

I am so excited for T.K Harris, as an aspiring author myself, I can see just how much sacrifice and dedication it takes to fulfill one's dream. Congratulations on being PUBLISHED!!! T K Harris has graciously agreed to gift one lucky person an e-book copy of Phantom Dreams.

T.K. Harris, who currently lives in Colorado, is a Solutions Architect, teacher, and full-time mother. She has been a story teller since she could talk and has had several short stories purchased by professional magazines such as Woman's World. She is excited
 that her first novel - Phantom Dreams - has now been published.



Guest Post:
Do you have any writing tips, advice, or techniques for aspiring writers?

Writing Tips for "New" Writers (In 12 Easy Steps.  Ha!)

Whether you've been writing for years or just getting started, we can all use a little help.  Though I have sold several short stories and finally published a novel, I can't give you the same kind of tips as a pro.  I won't even try!  For that, I think one of the best books I've read is Stephen King's "On Writing".  It’s a weird mash of autobiographical information with a heaping dose of practical advice toward the end.  If you haven't read it, read it.  If you haven't bought it, buy it.  It's worth it.

OK, now for advice from a newbie published author.

I tried it all I think.  Outlines, free-form writing, story boarding, classes, articles, books, writing while upside down chanting yoga like prayers… OK, maybe not that last part.  But I may just have to try it the next time I'm staring at the screen with a "deer in the headlight" expression.  Everyone works differently.  But I really hate when an "advice" piece says something like that, or "just try it until you find something that works for you".  You can.  But, sometimes you want to say "Just tell me already!".
So, here goes:

Step 1)  Type up a character sheet on each character. Its ok if they change as you go.  But at least have the basics such as full name, age, hair and eye color, etc.  Do this for every character.

Step 2) Find a wall, a board, it doesn't matter.  Just find a place where you can put up your character profiles and a bunch of 3 x 5 cards and they can stay.  For months if need be.  (I used my dinning room for awhile and then my bedroom wall).  My suggestion is to use paint safe tape or thumb tacks (because both can be pulled off and reused numerous times – although the tape leaves no marks).   This wall should really be close to where you write, maybe across the room so you have to get up and stretch your legs and rest your eyes.  But not too far away.

Step 3)  Write.  Write until you finish your story or novel or opus magnum.  Don't stop, don't rethink.  Write.  With ONE exception.  When you've finished that paragraph, chapter, or even just your 7 words for the day, grab a 3 x 5 card, a pen, and highlighter(s) and write down the relevant pieces of information (by chapter or scene) that occurred.  For me this was the major points in the each chapter of Phantom Dreams such as who lead what scene, any deaths that occurred, how, and who died.  (You'd be surprised how quickly your dead bodies get mixed up!).  You can use the highlighter to highlight things like when a major turning point occurred.  In my case, I used red to highlight each killing and Kathy's escalating dreams.
NUMBER the cards sequentially.  Either by chapter or scene and try not to put too much information on these.  These note cards and character profiles are going to do a couple of things for you later on.

Step 4)  Use the cards as reference points to keep you on track and remembering things like what your character looks like and how old they are.  (Kathy changed age in my first draft 5 times! Obviously I didn't start out with Step 1. :/ )

Step 5)  You've finished your first draft!  Have a glass of wine, beer, or whatever.  Put your manuscript and your cards up.  Celebrate.  And then ignore that manuscript for at least a month.  Two months is better.  And find another project.  Try something new to help refill your creative well.  You're going to need it…

Because this is a blog and I'm supposed to keep it short, if you're interested in receiving the entire article and the next 7 steps, simply contact me at: https://www.tkharrisonline.com and go to the contact page OR   my Phantom Dreams page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Phantom-Dreams/281589768625691?ref=ts&fref=ts and leave a comment requesting the article.
You can also just stop by to say "hi"!

A scorned serial killer on an old vendetta.


An FBI agent who has been chasing monsters for too long.

A woman whose nightmares start invading her waking life.

FBI Special Agent Jack Matthews finds himself on yet another serial killer case, having barely recovered from the last disastrous hunt. Still stiff from a gun shot wound in his leg, under investigation for a botched job, and having lost his fiancée when she walked out on him, Jack is beginning to wonder if it isn’t time to move on to something new. But, for Jack, these cases are personal and he can’t say no.

Marketing specialist Kathy Gilliam leads a fairly boring life. If she’s not working or caring for her ailing father, then she is doing whatever it takes to avoid going anywhere near crowds of people. Her few distractions include her friend Margo Longfellow, occasional hiking trips, and her increasingly alarming dreams of women dying.

As her nightmares cause her to begin to doubt her sanity, the media releases news of the “Coast-to-Coast Killer” and Kathy discovers her dreams may be related. In a moment of panic, Kathy does something that places her on the FBI’s “persons of interest” list. Suddenly, her life is set on a collision course with Jack who must decide if Kathy is the killer or destined to become a victim.


Stalker Links:
Website: http://www.tkharrisonline.com/index.php?p=1_11_Book-and-Reviews
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tk.harris.568?ref=tn_tnmn

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Dreams-ebook/dp/B008I4R1FM
Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phantom-dreams-t-k-harris/1112976686
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Phantom-Dreams/book-by49U9ATsku2CiTPWfxl6g/page1.html

Now for the Giveaway!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


For more information on GMTA Publishing, go to the link listed below. 

www.gmtapublishing.com

Phoenix Rising Book Tour and Guest Post/ Review/Giveaway by Lisa C. Morgan

Welcome Everybody!!

It is my pleasure to host Lisa  C. Morgan today. I have just recently read Phoenix Rising and I am here to tell you it threw me into an emotional mess. I LOVE IT when a book does that to me. You will find my review along with the Giveaway link below.

Guest Post with Lisa C Morgan

Hey Readers! Today I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned from my characters in the Maggie Henning stories. Okay- I know what you’re thinking- “What does she mean? Didn’t she write the stories?” Yes. Yes I did. I sat down and bled on my computer, (on occasion, literally...don’t ask…) and while I had a nice little hand written outline beside me, the characters were what drove the story, many times sneaking up on me and without warning, completely shifting the story altogether.
Maggie, the main character in my story, tended to be a little difficult when it came to her story. I had a vision, but Maggie decided she was someone else entirely. From her, I was reminded that we should just accept folks for whom they are and not try to mold them to fit with what we expect. On the outline, Maggie was a meek girl with an obsession for clothes and pop culture, but as I tried to write that, she refused to surface, claiming that while all those things were fine, she was a little deeper than that. Hence, her best friend Stephanie was born.
Maggie also reminds me that we are so much more than the circumstances we find ourselves in. Bad things happen sometimes. We can wallow in them and hope for pity, or we can brush ourselves off and not give up. Sure- we falter, we doubt ourselves. We are, in fact, the old cliché “our own worst enemies.” Maggie, however, reminded me that it’s those stutter steps we sometimes take that can be the force to make us run.
Liam is Maggie’s grandfather. I love him! I think that he’s a little lost in modern times, but he tries. It’s his attempts to be a parent to Maggie and all those at The Trust that taught me family is more than a biological tie that binds. We have people around us who for whatever reason we treasure. Maybe it’s a friend that calls at 3 am just to say hello when they know you’ve had a bad day. Or that crazy Aunt who pinches your cheeks at every chance- family means well and they love you- sometimes in spite of the fact that they “have” to. 
Liam also puts a value on education. As The Realm historian and librarian, Maggie’s grandfather stresses the need to ever continue to learn. Education comes in so many forms- books, real life experiences- and he lets us know that every piece of information we learn, even the bad news, is the seed to a flower that will only make us wiser and stronger.
The princes of Celine- Michel and Luc. They are so alike and yet so very different, but one lesson I think they’ve both taught me was that loyalty comes in many forms. Michel will run to stand at Maggie’s side, not taking into consideration what could happen to himself. While that’s noble, it’s also reckless. Luc, on the other hand, wants to do the very same thing, yet he doesn’t. Instead, Luc remains loyal to his brother, to Maggie, to The Realm and his friends; even if it costs him his own suffering. Loyalty can be a fierce motivator, the greatest cause of pain, or a source of true happiness. The princes experience all of these emotions, just as you and I do. They remind us how important it is to stay loyal to our beliefs and those we care for, that when it comes to love there is really no wrong way.
But I think it’s my fae friend, Seatha, who taught me the most valuable lesson as I wrote. In my head, I can almost feel the circumstances that she has gone through to become the fae she is, but even though she’s suffered, she has maintained a fun loving spirit. That’s so very important to everyone. You must be able to laugh at yourself if you’re ever to be taken seriously. Seatha was punished and scarred for something she really had no power to control. I think we can all relate to that feeling. Seatha took that and instead of feeling sorry for herself, channeled it into a determination to succeed. How fantastic is that? We should all be so lucky to find that inside ourselves. Seatha refuses to take life too seriously, insisting that there is always something we can laugh at, even if sometimes it’s at our own expense. Why? Because sometimes it isn’t about anything more than making someone who feels down smile. I can think of no greater gift then her selflessness.
Of course, there are a few minor things they taught me, too. How to look like an idiot as I held a sword fight in my kitchen with invisible revenants, exactly how exhilarating a moonlight motorcycle ride could be, even reminding me of the pangs of first love. Mostly though, all the characters reminded me that we are all stronger when we stand together.


BOOK BLURB:
Maggie has lived the last ten years with a woman who isn't her mother and carrying the label "Daughter of John Henning", a man sentenced to live out his days at Sunnyview Psychiatric Hospital after his conviction of fire bombing a church...

and killing the 8 people inside.

What Maggie learns will change her life.
She is the last of a race of creatures known as "The Phoenix", a race of supernatural beings with the ability to wield and control fire.

And she will need that power now...

Revenants- walking, living, skeletal creatures who have waged a war against an unseen, parallel world known simply as The Realm- need Maggie's blood to bring them to a full power...a power that will give them an unbeatable edge and offer the deciding weapon in this war.

Maggie is not alone as she learns not only what she really is, but what it is her destiny to become...

Phoenix Rising (Maggie Henning & The Realm: book 1)

Synopsis
“…And I believe you do not have the control over your fire yet to destroy us all.”  He was calling my bluff. Worse, he was right.

Phoenix Rising is a first person story revolving around sixteen year old Maggie Henning. Maggie lives with her mother and has spent the previous ten years of her life wearing a label- daughter of the murderer John Henning. Her father resides at Sunnybrook Psychiatric Hospital, having been convicted of killing eight people inside of a local church, burning them alive. Or so Maggie has always been told. Maggie’s world begins to change after finding a letter addressed to her from the psychiatric hospital that offers an ominous warning. She ignores the letter, waving it off as some random nut sending her mail.
Having to endure visits with her father, per her mother’s request, has left Maggie feeling isolated and alone, with exception to her one friend, Stephanie; daughter of her father’s deceased law partner. In an effort to cheer Maggie up, Stephanie and she take in a little “retail therapy” at the local mall.
Maggie finds herself drawn into a music store she doesn’t normally go in to, drawn by a melody played by a mysterious raven haired guy that apparently alarms Maggie’s friend.
Following an argument, Maggie is abandoned at the shopping center to walk home, only to spot the mystery man again, riding a motorcycle, who offers her a ride home. Maggie isn’t normally that reckless, but she decides to throw caution to the wing and take him up on the offer.
The stage is set after a visit to her see her father, normally in a fairly catatonic state, comes aware, giving Maggie the same warning as the letter she received. Creatures, called “revenants” want Maggie’s blood. Just when Maggie had felt optimistic about her father, the hopes were dashed. But, she had seen strange things; bones, pointed teeth, rotting flesh…
The drive home reveals that Maggie’s mother is NOT what she seemed to be and after she’s attacked, the mystery guy, named Michel, arrives and rescues Maggie from one of these creatures.
Maggie is taken to “The Trust”, a manor house that offers protection to beings from “The Realm”- another world that lives right below the surface of the Mortal one. Maggie begins to learn of this strange world and the creatures that inhabit it, including a young witch with much to live up to named Autumn, a light hearted fairy named Seatha, and two Vampire Princes of The Realm, one of which is Michel. Michel is kind and level headed. Luc, his brother, is a smart ass and calls things as he sees them. The two brothers tend to be opposites of each other in most things, with exceptions to their kingdom and now, Maggie.
Maggie meets Liam at The Trust, learning that the crazy board game eating man from the asylum is really her grandfather. Liam explains The Realm, offering guidance, and more importantly, informs Maggie of what she really is- the last of a race of beings called “Phoenixes”, creatures who have the ability to call fire and use it as they wish.
The revenants, led by a creature named Ossa, will stop at nothing to get Maggie; needing her blood to bring them to full power.
Maggie must not only come to believe in all that she has heard, including that she’s one of these mythical creatures from stories, but also learn how to wield her power to face the creatures that would destroy both worlds Maggie has come to know of. All of this, even as she begins to feel more than mere friendship with one of the Princes…

Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Rising-Maggie-Henning-ebook/dp/B008MOBHL2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346237289&sr=1-1&keywords=lisa+morgan

My Review

ARC for Review! Thank you!! What an emotional roller coaster ride we have here! This book made me laugh, cry, cheer, smirk, and want to toss my Kindle across the room cause it just ticked me off at times.. I LOVE A BOOK when it can throw me for loops like that.... and this is a YA Read! 

The characters are amazingly portrayed to the point that you can visualize their movements, facial expressions and just about reach out and touch them. Maggie is only 16 and her world is about to be turned completely upside down in a way that is refreshing, as story lines go, yet so devastating for her, at the same time she meets a green eyed, very good-looking young man; and the plot thickens.

Full of mystery, suspense, romance, coming of age, and first love. I cried at a few scenes that tugged at my heart strings as they were so passionately portrayed. Twists and turns that just boggled my mind. Revenants, Vampires, Witches, and Fae are among the paranormal elements of this wonderful read. 

I am so waiting on Book 2 

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! 

5 out of 5 Hearts

Lovetiggi's Book Reviews

AUTHOR BIO:

Lisa C. Morgan lives in rural Upstate NY with her husband, three children, a degu, a precocious Siberian Husky, and a half Pom/Half Chi spoiled baby named Salacious B. Dustbunny. 

  A lover of books and words, it has always been her desire to tell stories that the people near her could listen and read, escaping the world around them by way of the page.

    Always having a new story idea popping into her head, (sometimes at the least appropriate of times,) Lisa can always be found with a notebook and writing utensil somewhere within reach, just as her 8th grade teacher made her promise to do.Lisa has two short stories previously published in anthologies. A Romantic short titled Nothing’s Terminal (A Home for the Holidays; December, 2011) and  a zombie themed short titled Antidote (The Thorn of Death; March 2012). Her debut novel- Phoenix Rising is the first in a new YA series Maggie Henning & The Realm and will be released July 2012. Upcoming will be the continuation in the series- Phoenix Burning, Phoenix Shadow, and Phoenix Ashes. 

  When she isn't writing or taxing kids, Lisa enjoys reading, football, softball, cooking, singing & dancing, tattoos, and spending time with family and friends.

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