You can win any ONE book up to $15.00 value as long as it is released during the month of January.
Here are a few ideas to get you started but you can pick whatever book you want – as long as it releases in January...
The winner will be announced on February 1st on this post - on the rafflecopter form and notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond or I will pick another winner.
To enter – fill out the Rafflecopter form and answer the question – What book book are you most looking forward to in January?
Extra Entries:
All *optional* and NOT required. Do as few or as many as you would like.
+1 follow me on Bloglovin
+1 follow me on Twitter - @teamsheltie
+1 Tweet about the giveaway
I haven’t done a giveaway in a very long time. So let’s remedy that right now with a summer giveaway!
(insert humorous summer photo....)
THE PRIZE…..
You can pick ANY book (ONE book) up to $15.00 value.
Two winners!
**This giveaway will end on August 1st 12am ET
International entries OK as long as The Book Depository ships to your country.
To enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter form and leave a comment!
What has been your favorite summer read so far? Or what book are you most looking forward to reading this summer?
Extra Entries: All *optional* and NOT required. Do as few or as many as you would like.
+5 follow this blog via Email | RSS | Bloglovin
(Since Google seems to be phasing out GFC - I’m hoping you will all consider one of these new follow options – hence the higher extra entry reward) +2 follow me on Twitter - @teamsheltie +2 if you Like my Facebook Page +1 GFC follow
I just finished Seven-Night Stand last night. If you’re a fan of Entangled Publishing's Indulgence can’t miss line of contemporary romances, then you’re going to like this one. I really enjoyed this couple and Vivvy in particular. She’s no nonsense and very comfortable in her own skin. That makes for some crackling chemistry between her and Nate.
Please join me in welcoming author Nicole Helm to the blog today – or I should say Vivvy & Nate – the characters from Nicole's new release Seven Night Stand.
*******
As part of Seven-Night Stand the heroine, Vivvy, is trying to convince Nate, the hero, to do a reality show. Something along the line of "Pawn Stars" or "Cake Boss" (in that the core of the show is a business and the people who run it). If you've ever watched a show like that, you know they often do individual interviews with the participants.
I thought it might be fun to put Vivvy in the interviewer's seat to give everyone a chance to get to know Nate a little better.
***
Vivvy: Nate, can you tell us a little about yourself.
Nate: I'm a pretty simple guy. I like planes. I run an airport in the middle of Kansas. I used to enjoy sleeping in...until you came along.
Vivvy: We went over this. I'm not Vivvy right now. I'm just an unknown interviewer.
Nate: Then stop giving me that look.
Vivvy: What look?
Nate: The I-want-to-get-you-nak---
Vivvy: Moving on to the next question. What's a typical day like at Harrington Airfield?
Nate: The words "typical" and "Harrington Airfield" do not belong in the same sentence together.
Vivvy: You are trying to make this difficult, aren't you?
Nate: Yup.
Vivvy: What are your three best traits?
Nate: I don't know, Viv, what do you think are my three best traits?
Vivvy: I'd say you're loyal, hard working, and kind.
Nate: Those weren't the kinds of things I was hoping for.
Vivvy: I'm aware. Now, what do you think are your biggest faults?
Nate: This isn't a job interview. These questions are idiotic.
Vivvy: Oh, really? And what questions should I be asking you?
Nate: How to fix an altimeter?
Vivvy: Somehow I don't think that'll fascinate your future adoring public.
Nate: I don't really care about any future adoring public. I've got you. All the adoring public I need.
Vivvy: You have completely missed the whole purpose of this interview.
Nate: Maybe.
Vivvy: You're still going to make really excellent TV. No matter how difficult you are.
Nate: So you keep telling me. You've also promised to make it worth my while.
Vivvy: All right. Interview over. I'll only participate in an exercise of futility for so long.
Nate: I can think of better ways to exercise.
Vivvy: Well, you've got me there. Let's go.
About Nicole:I grew up with my nose in a book and a dream of becoming a writer. Luckily, after a few failed career choices, a husband, and two kids, I get to pursue that dream. I write down-to-earth contemporary romance over the backdrop of America’s flyover states for Entangled Indulgence and Samhain Publishing. I live in Missouri with my husband and two young sons, and write my novels one baby’s nap at a time. I’m slightly (okay, totally) addicted to Twitter (nicolethelm), the St. Louis Cardinals, and someday owning a barn. You can contact me at NicoleTHelm@gmail.com. I am a contributor at the From Fact to Fiction blog and the Entangled Indulgence Author’s blog.
About Seven Night Stand: Reality TV scout Vivvy Marsh loves her job, but she'll lose it if she doesn’t find a hit. When she’s sent to Kansas to scout a show, it looks like a bust...until she meets sexy pilot, Nate Harrington. His family would make the perfect show to save her career.
Nate can’t deny his attraction to Vivvy, but no way can he let this show take off. The Harrington family is riddled with secrets, and she wants it all out in the open. For the next seven days, he’s going to stop at nothing to keep her out of his family's business, even if it means keeping her distracted in his bedroom.
Giveaway! Nicole is giving on lucky commenter a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.
Kelley has been featured on my blog many times already. I’m a big fan of her writing but you might not recognize her name right away. That’s because she usually writes YA under the name of Nyrae Dawn. Lucky Break (Shamrock Falls, #1) is her first adult book with Entangled publishing written under the Kelley Vitollo pen name. No matter what name she’s writing under, you can expect the same heartfelt, sexy with a touch of humor writing that make her novels a stand out. Welcome back to For What It’s Worth Kelley!
******
I had such a blast writing LUCKY BREAK. You see, it’s my favorite kind of love story—friends to lovers. Sidney and Kade grew up together, but they each left their small town of Shamrock Falls only to come home again.
For Kade because he loved the town and Sidney because she needed a break.
One of my favorite things about writing the reunion of these two people was not only bringing them back together again, but expanding on their past.
Some of my favorite scenes are their flashbacks. I loved experiencing Sidney and Kade getting to know each other again, but still having this rich backstory behind them. It was fun to compare who they were to who they are. Seeing how their friendship started and then giving them a future.
In one story I got to write first kisses—twice. That innocent first kiss of childhood and then as adults with a lot more practice ;)
I loved rediscovering Sidney through Kade and Kade through Sidney.
Learning those little things about them that stayed the same, things that changed and maybe even what was always there, but they never took the time to notice before.
Summary:
One lucky break is all struggling actress Sidney Williams needs. But when living the LA life becomes too much, she heads back to the small town of Shamrock Falls for the vacation she needs to get her life on track—and immediately runs into Kade Mitchell, her former best friend and the boy next door she’s always regretted leaving behind. Kade, the new owner of Lucky’s—once the most popular bar in Shamrock Falls—is determined to bring the place back to its former glory, and seeing Sidney again is a distraction he doesn’t need. Sure, the chemistry between them is explosive, but Kade can’t let himself fall into a fling with his best friend—not when he knows she’s soon heading back to the glitter of Tinseltown. Now, with the possibility of her first major acting role looming, Sidney must decide if her lucky break is in Hollywood or right where she left it—in Shamrock Falls. ~ Goodreads | Amazon Excerpt: When she went back into the main room, she ran right into Kade’s sweaty chest. “Oh!” Sidney backed
away. Her body hummed as though she still touched him.
“There you are. I thought you were slackin’ on the job.” He winked.
She didn’t know what it was, but she’d always found something incredibly sexy about a guy winking
at a woman. “Please. If I wasn’t here to hold this place together, you’d be in trouble.” Maybe a slight
exaggeration, but still.
“I’m sure the place would be falling down by now.”
He crossed his arms and smirked at her.
Sidney’s heart stumbled. Stop it. Suddenly, smirks were sexy, too. “I was talking to Aunt Mae.”
“How’s she doing?” he asked, and his eyebrows rose in genuine interest.
“Good. Can you believe she’s dating Old Man Watson?”
Kade chuckled. “I’m not sure he goes by that anymore.”
“He was a grump. Remember when you broke his window and he made you work for him?” She loved
these light, unexpected moments when their past fit so well into the present.
“I broke the man’s window. He had a right to be pissed.”
Now she crossed her arms. “It was an accident. He didn’t have to be so mean to you.” Kade didn’t deserve anyone harassing him.
“It is what it is.” Kade shrugged.
There was a smudge of sawdust on his face. Without thinking, Sidney wiped it away with her thumb.
“You have a little something on you.” Little was correct— it was hardly noticeable. Oh, God. She was actually looking for excuses to touch the man!
“You just like touching me.”
Her cheeks burned. The playfulness in his tone told her he was joking, but it was a little too close
to him reading her mind for comfort. If he could be nonchalant, though, she could too.
Sidney jerked her hand away when she realized it still rested against his cheek. Oops. “When did you
become such a flirt, Kade Mitchell?”
Another grin. “I always have been. You just never noticed.”
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment! What’s your favorite thing about stories where old friends reunite? We’ll randomly draw one winner from the comments for a free ebook copy of LUCKY BREAK. Ends Saturday 10/6/12 at 11:59pm ET Winner announced 10/7/12
* Links to previous Nyrae Dawn reviews/guests posts: What a Boy Wants | Interview with Sebastian and Aspen | What a Boy Needs | Measuring Up | Measuring Up guest post
I’m so happy to welcome Nyrae Dawn back to the blog today. I’ve always loved Nyrae’s writing, it’s funny, heartfelt and always swoony but her latest release, Measuring Up, really hit home with me. You can read my review here.
Seventeen-year-old Annabel Conway is tired of the Hillcrest High School elite making her life miserable because she’s not a size two. This summer, she's hiring a personal trainer to help her lose weight. Annabel doesn’t expect her trainer to be a gorgeous guy around her age. Boys like Tegan are jerks. They pretend to like girls like her so they can make an idiot out of them. Been there, done that. Totally not going there again. She kind of hates him on principal. Blond. Muscular. Funny. It doesn’t help that he knows her measurements! Soon, Tegan's so much more than that. He’s the boy who teaches her to box when she has a bad day. Who jogs with her and lets her set the pace. Who kisses her until she melts. He makes her feel beautiful regardless of what the scale says. Unlike her mom, he doesn’t expect perfection, and he doesn't try to shield her from the world like her dad and best friend. Tegan likes her the way she is. But what happens when he’s not there? He can’t always be there… Will Annabel be able to stand on her own and learn that she already measures up? That her worth doesn’t lie in what the world thinks, the scale says, or even what Tegan tells her—but in herself? ~
Nyrae has written this wonderful guest post about how writing her character Annabel helped her with her own struggles with body image. Take it away Nyrae! Hey! She’s a little like me…by Nyrae Dawn
Like a lot of my stories, MEASURING UP started with a character…Annabel. I saw this girl who was struggling with the same things I do—one in particular and that’s body image problems. She came through to me fully formed. I knew who she was and how she felt. I wanted nothing more than to find a happily ever after for her.
At the time, I was dieting (like I often am) and it was amazing to go through exercising and trying to eat right, right along with this character who’s story I was breathing life into.
I started out writing a girl who was struggling with her weight, but she grew into so much more.
Yes, I relate to Annabel’s weight issues and dieting failures, but in my eyes, her story morphed into something that wasn’t just about weight. I related to how Annabel felt with Tegan or when she dealt with jerks at school.
When she looked in the mirror and wondered what other people saw when they looked at her, or how some people expected certain things out of her that weren’t who she was.
As I wrote her I was so proud of her strength and laughed at her sarcasm. In a way, I felt like I was growing with Annabel. That doesn’t happen a lot.
Even before the book released I told a lot of people, “I relate to Annabel”. Now that it’s available, I’ve realized I’m not the only one. I think there’s a little bit of Annabel in all of us. It doesn’t have to be weight issues, but I think a lot of the feelings are universal. There’s a lot she goes through in the book and they’re struggles most of us have had to face.
And she comes out on the other side better for it.
I feel sort of lucky to have a little bit of Annabel in me
Excerpt:I’m standing in front of my mirror in a pair of pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. It’s ridiculous, I know. I see myself every day, but I can’t help but study every rounded curve of my body. No inch goes unnoticed. My shiny black hair, the freckles on my nose. My eyes, like I said, I’ve always liked those. My mouth isn’t bad either, I don’t think. Plump lips are in right? I mean, ever since Angelina Jolie at least.
There’s a little mole by my collar bone. A dimple on the right side of my mouth when I smile big. I frown. It’s much smaller that way.
He said he’s looking. Tegan’s looking at me and I’m trying to figure out what he sees. I know what I see. There’s little dimple in my thigh, resting under my rear. My arms are too big. Is that what he sees? If so, why is he looking?
Turning to the side, I suck in my stomach. My boobs aren’t bad. Actually, I’m pretty proud of them. They’re nice and round. Much bigger than Em’s, but not too big, if you ask me. She always says she wishes hers were more like mine. Are they what he sees?
Or is that not what he meant at all? That he’s looking deeper than what he sees on the outside? My willingness to help him with his brother seems big to him. Like it actually meant something. Like it tells him something about me. Maybe I’m studying myself in the mirror for nothing and it’s really the helpful girl who pulled a chair from a van that he’s talking about.
In this dramatic conclusion to the Shade trilogy, Aura and Zachary’s relationship sizzles as the secrets of the Shift are revealed. Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past. As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart. ~ goodreads
My (non-spoilery) thoughts:
Shine, the conclusion to the Shade trilogy, will leave your heart breaking one moment and have your heart soaring in the next.
Your questions will be answered, and your heart will melt when fans get their long awaited castle scene.
As a rabid Logan fan I was so happy with his overwhelming presence throughout this book. Jeri handled Logan's journey in a way that had me in tears but left me completely happy & satisfied.
There are a few new characters to love and some surprising twists to old relationships. O_O
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Dylan. That boy almost stole the show! I do believe he needs his own book or maybe a novella!
Definitely a satisfying conclusion for fans of the series!
Source: Copy provided by the author.
Now it's time to party!!
There are less than 12 days left before SHINE – the third and LAST book of the Shade Trilogy by Jeri Smith-Ready makes it way into the world and the Kilt and Keeley website (of which I’m an administrator with the lovely girls from Fictitious Delicious, Brooke Reports and What’s On the Bookshelf) are having a month long party to celebrate.
You can join in the the fun by stopping by every day for Shade/Shift/Shine themed discussions or enter one of the two BIG giveaways!
First up is the SHINE Preorder Giveaway! If you preorder (or already have preordered) Shine then enter right HERE. EVERY pre-order will receive an exclusive ZOGAN trading card!
Then you will be entered into the BIG giveaway. The more pre-orders they receive the bigger the prize pack gets!
If you want to help spread the word about the giveaway and win some pretty swanky Team Kilt merchandise then go right HERE for for the Help us SHINE Giveaway. Everyone can join in this giveaway! If you can blog/tweet/Facebook or Google you can enter!
Aaaaand last but certainly not least - Jeri is planning a HUGE SHINE birthday celebration dedicated to ALL the fans! Check out her blog for all the details events & awesome giveaways that she has planned.
Please join me in welcoming Abigail Barnette, author of Wolf’s Honor, to For What It’s Worth as part of my AAD Author Spotlight series.
Welcome Abigail!
Describe yourself -Twitter style in 140 characters. (feel free to use Twitlonger :-) ) At first I though this said, "Describe your twitter style," and I put, "I make poor decisions." Describing myself twitter style, though... "Author. Lover. Pirate. Part time tuba enthusiast. Jack of all trades, master of none. Fond of Skittles and Danny Trejo."
Use the same format to describe your writing or your latest book. "Noble werewolf breaks his code of honor to protect a human woman. They fall in love. Thirteenth century setting, historical werewolves."
Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you follow before writing? I don't have any superstitions, really, but I do tend to turn off or severely limit my access to the internet when I have to be serious business about writing. I have this horrible tendency to go, "Wait, I should research what kind of shirt he would be wearing," and from there I go, "Well, since I'm online, I'll just check Twitter," and then I end up at Cracked.com reading all day.
Karen: checks Cracked.com…….doesn’t return to finish formatting this post for 1/2 hour……
Do you have a favorite snack that you need to have around? I'm actually losing weight, so I've cut the snacking. I drink a ton of water, though.
What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August? Seeing all my awesome AAD friends. When you see people only once a year, you really look forward to seeing them again. Also, the bad ass karaoke party we're throwing Saturday afternoon for Resplendence Press. Everyone better be there, it's not to be missed!
Is there a book you've recently read that you would tell everyone to go out and buy right NOW! Right now I'm on a huge Robyn Carr kick. I worship her. I'm reading Forbidden Falls at the moment, and it's another winner. I don't care if you hate contemporary romance, if you miss out on Virgin River, you're just missing out on what is possibly the best romance has to offer right now. Someone gave me the first book in the series, I was like, "Oh, good, a Marine. And a baby. And a midwife. And a small town. It's like someone combined everything I hate in a romance and forced them into one book." And then I had to eat my words, because I loved it, and have loved every single book in the series since. She makes the characters so incredibly real.
You can find Abigail on her website or writing as Jennifer Armintrout author of the USA Today bestselling Blood Ties series on website | twitter
Abigail is giving away one e-book copy of her latest release Wolf’s Honor releasing on April 11, 2012 from Resplendence Press.
A low-born, half-breed who is more human than wolf, Henry Barley has never been able to ignore the cruelties visited upon the human servants at Blackens Gate. Powerless to stop the abuses perpetrated by his clan members, he knows he can save one… but rescuing her might test his vow to never love a human. At first viewing Blackens Gate as an escape from the poverty of her village, Ursula finds a much harsher reality inside the castle’s walls. With a secret she must guard at all costs, she must place her life in the hands of a wolf, and the only man who has ever treated her with kindness and respect. Though he owes the ruler of Blackens Gate his very life, Henry cannot leave Ursula to her dark fate. In accepting his help, Ursula places her trust in a man she knows she should fear, and Henry must face a foe even greater than Lord Canis himself – a woman who needs him, and who may even come to love him.
GIVEAWAY!
You must be 18 to enter – leave your name and email or twitter handle to contact you if you win in the comments section below.
The intellectual challenge of college and the warm embrace of a serious boyfriend have given Maya the wings she needs to break away from her bookish and shy reserve. Her world comes crashing down when a stranger with glowing hands kills her boyfriend and injects her with a DNA-altering serum.
After being rescued by two young men claiming to be her brothers, Maya begins to transform. Her senses sharpen. Her body becomes strong and agile. Most disturbingly, she develops the ability to visually see the emotions of those around her as colorful auras.
...beautiful auras ...tempting auras
One brother wants to save her. The other wants to kill her before she becomes too strong.
Struggling to control the murderous appetite that fuels her new abilities, Maya must find a way to accept her altered condition and learn to trust her brothers as she joins them in their battle against those who chose the change and the evil it entails.
The ones who mockingly call themselves…Angels.
Please join me in welcoming debut author J. Bennett. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!
Just Because They May Have To Kill You Doesn’t Mean They Don’t Love You
A Family Under Stress
By J. Bennett
Thank you Karen for hosting me and for supporting so many talented authors. One of the major themes of my debut paranormal novel, Falling, is family. We all have family issues. Some of them are more severe than others. The issues that my protagonist, Maya, faces with her two brothers puts a whole new spin on the term “family dysfunction”. If you thought your family was bad, keep reading!
All families have….well, let’s call them “squabbles.”
So do Maya and her two brothers, Tarren and Gabe, in my debut novel, Falling – Girl With Broken Wings. Actually, Maya and Gabe are really tight. He’s pretty cool about her enhanced senses and the fact that she feeds off the auras of living creatures. It’s really Tarren who Maya has to worry about.
He has a suspicious nature. He also prefers to shoot first and ask questions later, as Maya finds out when she ends up on the wrong side of his semi-automatic.
See, family squabbles. Totally normal.
To be fair to Tarren, Maya had just been infected with a gene-altering serum that was swiftly turning her into an “Angel”. Angels in the world of Falling are not a good thing. In fact, they’re usually very, very bad. Human auras are their particular form of crack, so Tarren was just trying to save Maya from herself. He would’ve too, except that a timely intervention from Gabe saves Maya’s life.
Not a great way to start off a family reunion. Oh, did I forget to mention that? Maya didn’t actually know that she had any half-brothers right up until the point one of them (this would be Tarren, of course) tried to kill her.
Turns out, Tarren and Gabe are vigilante angel hunters living off the grid and Maya…well, even though her transformation into an angel wasn’t complete, she’s not exactly human anymore.
How’s that for a family in crisis?
The issues that Maya and her brothers have to deal with as she becomes a part of their lives are a bit extreme, but they mirror the difficulties that all families face. Sure, we don’t (I hope) have to worry that one of our siblings might decide that we’re too dangerous to be allowed to live, but we do have to put up with resentments, strong moral disagreements and all the little day-to-day annoyances.
It can get even more complicated and potentially explosive if a family business is involved. Maya finds this out when she tries to join her brothers on their angel hunting missions with distinctly mixed results (it doesn’t help that she’s never even shot a gun before).
In Falling, Maya has a lot to overcome. She struggles with her new abilities and the murderous hunger they entail. She feels lost, adrift, alone…. In the end, however, she discovers that family has its perks.
No matter how bad things get, family doesn’t run. They accept us even if we’re slightly less human then we’d like to be, if we’re still getting the hang of stakeouts, and even if we have a itsy bitsy addiction issue with needing to drain human auras.
Family is the first bond and, for many, the strongest bond. We might want to kill each other sometimes, but in the end, we’ll fight for each other. In the case of Maya and her brothers, that fight might just be to the death.
Falling is J Bennett’s debut novel and the first book in the Girl With Broken Wings series. It is currently available as an ebook for $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords Learn more and read a free sample at www.GirlWithBrokenWings.com. J Bennett is a professional copywriter and copyeditor. She also writes the blog www.ShyWriter.com
Thanks J.! That's definitely a complex family dynamic there - lol
Giveaway!
J. Bennett will be giving away an ebook copy of Fallen to 3 lucky winners. International entries are welcome.
Just leave your a comment with your email or twitter handle so I can contact you.
After the incredible success of the YA Crush Tournament earlier this year, The YA Sisterhood is holding it's first ever YA Tournament of Heroines.
Starting at midnight tonight Aura Salvatore from Jeri Smith-Ready's Shade series will be competing against Kaylee Cavanaugh from Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamer series. Which is too bad because I think these two would be great friends.
I know quite a few of you are fans of both girls and both series so this is a particularly tough round.
Jeri has some VERY cool incentives for voting for Aura including having a character named after you in SHINE!
I'm adding a little incentive as well if Aura WINS her first round.
Before we get to that - Jeri is donating $10 for every 100 votes Aura receives (up to 1000 votes) to the Edgar Allen Poe Society of Baltimore to help them keep open the Poe House. Due to budget cutbacks, they're in serious danger of having to shut down this historic landmark, which was featured in SHADE and may *cough* make a reappearance in SHINE. Without generous donations, the Poe House will close in June 2012. (More information here)
I'm going to match that donation, so let's get a lot of votes so we can donate money to a great cause!
So now you all need a brand new matching set...right?? Well if Aura wins this round of voting, I will give one winner a brand new set of the Shade series with the new covers. Shade & Shift (paperbacks with the new covers) and Shine (hardcover). If you are a US winner those will be signed and personalized by Jeri. (This will be a pre-order - all books release in May of 2012)
So are we ready for tonight?? Oh hell yes!!
Join Aura's advocate, the freaking hilarious, amazing, wonderful (seriously there aren't enough complimentary words for this girl) Brooke from Brooke Reports / @BrookeWorm33 on Twitter, and show your support for Aura. Go grab a button, tweet like a maniac (use #AuraFTW), chat with the Shade Boys!
That's right! The boys will be back for a very special #SHADEboys chat at 11pm Eastern time tonight. Logan and Zachary will be taking questionsabout Aura who will be making her Twitter Tourney debut. Sssh....don't tell the boys - it's a surprise.
Fill out the form below to enter the giveaway. (Do not leave your email in the comments - only the Rafflecopter form counts as an entry) Giveaway starts at 12:01 EST 12/14 when voting begins. If Aura wins her round I will pick a winner Thursday morning. I'm using the honor system and assume that you are indeed voting for Aura. She has to WIN for you to WIN so I think that should be enough incentive to keep you honest :-) - You do NOT need to sign into Facebook to enter - use the name & email option below the Facebook option if you want instead.
*One last public service announcement - Do you want a highly coveted ARC of SHINE? Make a bid over on Christine Johnson's Humane Society Auction ( also included in this auction: Rampant and Ascendent by Diana Peterfreund, both in hardcover, both signed. Bidding ends December 20th). This is the ONLY non-lucky way to get this book. Tis the season for giving! GO BID NOW!
For What It's Worth will be two years old on December 15th - but let's celebrate all month shall we??
You know I love a good giveaway and I had to have a BIG one since it's been TWO years since I started blogging, plus it's the holiday season!
Let's get right down to it......
There will be FOUR winners!
First Prize!
A $50.00 Amazon Gift Card (International winner will receive $50 in books from The Book Depository)
Second Prize:
Your choice of THREE books from my favorite reads of 2011. (selection below)
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake, Enclave by Ann Aguirre, Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready (as part of the Enthralled anthology - various authors), Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Third Prize:
Ok - I'm going to interrupt this giveaway post and take a moment to thank a few special people who have really made blogging such an incredible experience, especially over the past year. (it results in a prize for you!)
Thanks to all of you for sharing the book love (and sometimes letting me vent when it's not book love). Thank you for helping me through reading slumps, blogging slumps and a host of other blogging dilemmas. Most of all, THANK YOU for ALWAYS making me laugh!! You all keep me sane (or something resembling sanity). Love you all!!
I asked Tiger, Julie, Lena, Alex, Brooke, Tori, Carrie & Lena to tell me their favorite books for 2011. (Several of them picked Enclave so I added it to the mix)
You get to choose TWO books from their favorites! (selection below)
Divergent by Veronica Roth, Crossed by Ally Condie, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Dearly Departed by Lia Habel, Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade, Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Fourth Prize:
You get all four of my favorite indie/self published books of the year via Amazon Kindle:
Between the Lines & Wherever You Are by Tammara Webber, Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine, Geek Girl by Cindy Bennett
Fourth place prize is for US Only - and you need a Kindle or e-reader with the ability to read Kindle books for this prize.
*Giveaway Ends December 31st.
*International entries ok for prizes 1 - 3, as long as The Book Depository ships to your country.
Fourth place prize s US only.
*Just fill out the Form below and I'll announce the winner on January 1st!
Four sisters, three rules to live by, one big problem.
O’Connell Family Rule #1: Don’t let the Fae know you see them.
O’Connell Family Rule #2: Don’t talk to the Fae.
O’Connell Family Rule #3: Never, ever follow them.
Most people only believe what they can see. Gifted with the ability to see the deep, dark fae of Shadowland, Catherine Rowan Mary O’Connell would prefer not to. When the fae abduct her friend Maya, Cate breaks the sacred O’Connell Family Rules and sets a trap for the handsome fae who haunts her every step.
Rook, High Court Advisor to the Shadow King, has been following Cate since she was sixteen. When Cate reveals herself as one of the fabled “Seers”, Rook is stunned—she is One of the few that can permanently open the gates between their worlds. If he turns her over to the Shadow King, his court will rule the human realm. Cate knows she has precious little time to find Maya. By midnight, the glamour of Mid‐Summer’s Eve will fade, leaving her trapped forever in the Shadowland, but Maya’s abductor won’t give up the woman he’s mesmerized easily.
The midnight hour is almost at hand. Cate must choose: her freedom or her destiny. (Contemporary Fantasy Romance)
It's my pleasure to welcome author Theresa Meyers to the blog today. I just finished reading Shadowlander. It was a really fun, sexy novella and great start to her new Shadow Sisters series. My review will be up next week. Until then here's Theresa to discuss writing and inspirations.
*Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!
Writing Inspirations by Theresa Meyers
A lot of people are curious what serves as inspiration for a writer. “Where do you come up with your story ideas?” is something I get asked a lot. Well, here’s the embarrassing truth. Every working writer you know probably has more ideas than they can ever write. Ideas are the easiest part. I’ve gotten to the point where I just start jotting them down on an idea sheet and put them away in a file called the “Idea Trunk” on my computer.
Anything can be a catalyst for a new idea. A bit of a song, a commercial or bill board. Standing in line at the grocery store or at a Starbuck’s listening to how people talk. (I love to listen to accents, they are my favorite.) Watching movies. And if I really get stuck, and I kid you not it does happen when I’m working on a book and it takes a twist I didn’t expect, I’ll go shovel the horse’s pasture. Nothing like physical, smelly work to kick your muse in the behind and get her back to work.
Sometimes I get the book title first and wonder for days what that story will be about. Sometimes I just get a scene or bits of dialog floating through my head as the characters start talking to each other like I’m not even there. (Confusing as hell when you have little people talking to you at the same time and are driving the car or listening to voice mail!)
But I can tell when the creative well is starting to dry up a little. It’s harder to pull the ideas out of my head. I find taking a day or two to watch reruns of Supernatural, a favorite movie like Stardust or create a new book soundtrack from my music selections seems to help. Sometimes I’ll just bake for a day, or paint something or sew up a new steampunk costume. Creativity tends to spark more creativity. (And really, who couldn’t use some pumpkin bread to go with their tea this time of year!)
There are times, such as when I was working on Shadowlander, that I found I needed to actually go outside and not just see the world around me, but sit down, shut my eyes and open up my other senses. My fae world is so different in its structure than our world. I needed to smell, hear and touch more than see. Seeing is often the easy part to write, it’s all the other stuff that’s tougher.
The funny thing is we all tap into that creative part of ourselves in different ways. Some people do it in how they play sports. Others in how they mechanic on something or the way they dress. No matter how you express your creativity, by tapping into it, you infuse the other parts of your life with creative inspiration.
So, I’m curious, what do you do to be creative?
Karen: Thank you for stopping by today Theresa. I'm finding that watching Supernatural is a common source of inspiration to writers! I really have to watch this series one day to see what all the fuss is about. I KNOW! I'm the only person who hasn't seen it yet!!
About the author:
Raised by a bibliophile who made the dining room into a library, Theresa has always been a lover of books and stories. First a writer for newspapers, then for national magazines, she started her first novel in high school, eventually enrolling in a Writer's Digest course and putting the book under the bed unRl she joined Romance Writers of America in 1993. In 2005 she was selected as one of eleven finalists for the American Title II contest, the American Idol of books. She is married to the first man she ever went on a real date with (to their high school prom), who she knew was hero material when he suffered through having to let her parents drive, and her brother sit between them in the backseat of the car. They currently live in a Victorian house on a mini farm in the Pacific Northwest with their two children, three cats, an old chestnut arabian gelding, an energetic mini‐Aussie shepherd puppy, several rabbits, a dozen chickens and an out‐of‐control herb garden.
Every Friday My 5 Monkey's and I are having a GRAB BAG GIVEAWAY as part of the
Month of Treats festivities.
PRIZE
A bag of Halloween candy treats and a $5 Amazon Gift Card
It's Zombie week!
What are your favorite zombie movies?
Here are a few of mine.....
Shaun of the Dead - Everyone really needs to see this movie. It's hysterically funny and the zombies are actually quite scary.
Fido - Timmy Robinson's best friend in the whole wide world is a six-foot tall rotting zombie named Fido. But when FIDO eats the next-door neighbor, Mom and Dad hit the roof, and Timmy has to go to the ends of the earth to keep Fido a part of the family. A boy-and-his-dog movie for grown ups, "FIDO" will rip your heart out.
I love this movie. Not as well known as other zombie movies but it's clever, funny and bittersweet.
28 Days Later - Technically not a zombie movie but I don't care, it's zombie-ish enough for me. This movie creeps me the F out. and I don't scare easily. And.....Cillian Murphy!!
Comment to win!
It's the zombie apocoplypse....what ONE weapon would you bring with you for battle?
US ONLY - Leave a comment with your email and a winner will be announced tomorrow!
Extra Entries:
+2 if you follow this blog through GFC
+2 if you follow My 5 Monkey's
Be sure to follow and enter all the month's giveaways HERE!
And don't forget to enter over at My 5 Monkey's too!!
**This giveaway has ended - the winner is Vivien**
Reminder: all the Month of Treats giveaways will be ending on Sunday October 30th - winners announced on October 31st, so here's a quick reminder and links to all the posts and giveaways on this blog.
*Interview and ghost themed book giveaway with Queen of the Dead author Stacey Kade
*Interview and Vampire themed book giveaway with Drink Slay Love author Sarah Beth Durst
*Character interview and supernatural themed book giveaway with Logan Keeley from Jeri Smith-Ready's Shade series (If I get 50 comments on this post, I will donate $50.00 to VH1's Save the Music Foundation)
*Interview and zombie themed book giveaway with Eat Slay Love author Jesse Peterson
Visit my Month of Treats partner Julie at My 5 Monkeys for her giveaway
Julie over at My 5 Monkey's had part one of Living with the Dead series author Jesse Petersen. Today I have part two where I ask Jesse which supernatural creature she would want on her side in battle and more....
This is a really fun series - if you haven't read it yet be sure to check it out!
Eat Slay Love (Living with the Dead #3)
Sarah and David have survived the zombie apocalypse. They stood side by side and fought the undead, mad scientists, and even bionic monsters until the unthinkable happened. A zombie bite. But not even that could stop them. Now, with a possible cure in hand, they're headed east, looking for a safe zone behind the rumored "Wall." They're feeling pretty optimistic.
That is until Dave stops sleeping and starts lifting huge objects.
Eat. Slay. Love.
Because they haven't got a prayer.
Welcome to For What It's Worth Jesse!
Karen: What is your best, worst or funniest costume you've ever worn? (any embarrassing pictures to see?) Jesse: A couple of years ago I was a dark faerie. Had the black wig and the wings and everything. I liked the costume but every time I turned, I nearly broke stuff all over the party. I was dangerous. Looked for pictures, but couldn't find any. Last year I was a witch for a storytelling thing at the zoo where I volunteered.
Karen: It's the end of the world. Who would prefer to battle against? Witches, zombies, werewolves, vampires or ghosts? Jesse: Huh, well zombies just keep coming and never surrender, so no zombies. I don't want to be turned into a frog or something, so no wtiches. I'm sort of scared of strange dogs, so no werewolves. And how do you kill a ghost? So I guess vampires.
Karen: What paranormal creature would you want on your side during the battle? Jesse: If I could control zombies, I'd say zombies. They don't stop, remember, so they're the perfect soldier.
Karen: What is your favorite thing about Halloween and the fall season? Jesse: Since we moved, I'm looking forward to lovely weather and having it cool enough to go outside and hike and stuff.
Karen: Are you dressing up this year? Do you decorate and go all out for the holiday or do you turn off the lights to pretend you're not home?
This year we are dressing up! Our nephews live in the same town we now do and they're having a party we've been invited to. So Aunt Jesse needs to figure out a cute, not too scary, not too slutty costume. As for giving out candy, I have no idea how active our new neighborhood is, so I guess we'll find out!
Karen: Thanks Jesse for joining Julie and I for our Month of Treats celebration!
Jesse’s life as a writer began when her husband made the brilliant observation that she was much happier writing than doing anything else. So she took the plunge and decided to do that full-time. After many years and many books in different sub-genres, she was bitten by the zombie bug (not a zombie, but the bug) and took off on a zany adventure which culminates in the publication of the “Living With the Dead” series from Orbit.
Welcome to week three of A Month of Treats! Julie from My 5 Monkey's is celebrating witches with an interview with Carrier of the Mark author Leigh Fallon.
Today is Logan Keeley's birthday! For those of you not in the know - he's from Jeri Smith-Ready's popular Shade series. Logan, in a tragic event (moment of stupidity), died and became a ghost on his birthday....but he's not going to let a little thing like that get him down!
What better way to celebrate A Month of Treats and Logan's birthday than with an interview with a real ghost! & a giveaway of course!
I have my pal Brooke from Brooke Reports joining me today. She LOVES Logan so I asked her to join in the fun.
Karen & Brooke: Happy Birthday Logan! *smothers you in hugs & kisses* What are your plans for the big day? Logan: THANKS! (<<especially for the hugs & kisses)
I'm having a #forever17 party on Twitter, and you should TOTALLY come! If you tweet me (@keeley_logan) a music video, you can be entered to win free CDs, some Keeley Brothers swag, and a signed hardcover of ENTHRALLED: PARANORMAL DIVERSIONS. I have a story in that anthology, even though it's pink and has a picture of a girl on the front. She's pretty cute, so that's okay.
Karen: Find all the details on Jeri's Blog. Logan will be on Twitter at 9pm (Joined by Zachary at 10pm) for a #SHADEboys chat until midnight. Follow the boys: @keeley_logan @moore_zachary
K & B: You died wearing your Quicksilver cargo shorts so you're stuck in them forever, what do you wish you were wearing that night?
L: No no no, I'm wearing those forever because it's what I was wearing at the happiest moment of my life (which was, uh, about twenty minutes before I died--IRONY!).
K & B: (Our dear, sweet innocent Brooke was pondering what it would be like if you were in your birthday suit)
L: THAT'S MY ANSWER! For obvious reasons.
K & B: Since I asked you to stop by to help celebrate A Month of Treats, Brooke and I have a few Halloween themed questions we wanted to ask you.
L: OK, but you know how much I hate talking about myself. #LIESLIESLIES (<<AUUGH!! Ghost-honesty hashtag followed me from Twitter!)
K & B: As a ghost you're in a unique position to celebrate Halloween. Now you are one of the things that go bump in the night. Does that feel weird? How do you celebrate the holiday? Do you just stay in and watch scary movies or do you go out trying to annoy pre-shifters or haunt things?
L: Well, it’s funny. Trick or treaters are pretty tough to scare, because they see ghosts all the time. (For folks who don’t know, in my world everyone roughly seventeen and under—who call themselves post-Shifters because they were born after the Shift—can see and talk to ghosts, but no one else can.)
BUT the good part is, on Halloween lots of post-Shifters get the urge to play tricks on older people. And I help them with that. See, pre-Shifters are still pretty freaked out at the fact that there are all these ghosts around that they can’t see. I know, because I am a pre-Shifter. It’s so creepy—I’d be talking to one of my younger friends or my girlfriend, and they’d suddenly start zoning out watching a ghost. Of course, sometimes they’d pretend there was one there when there wasn’t. Not that I could tell the difference.
Anyway, it’s fun to be on the other side of the creep factor for once. Sometimes.
K & B: Hey! Did you ever go to Disney World? You could totally get a job on the Haunted Mansion Ride!
I did! But would you believe they BlackBoxed that sucker so real ghosts can’t get in? (To the Haunted Mansion, I mean, not all of Disney World.)
K & B: Are you a fan of the trick or the treat? I bet the Keeley Brothers got into a lot of trouble as kids! Did you ever pull any good Halloween pranks?
L: Yes. Our lawyer tells me not to talk about it.
Karen: That bad huh?
K & B: Speaking of treats - do you have a favorite Halloween candy?
L: I’m not a huge chocoholic, so I’m more about the candy corn and the caramel apples and the roasted pumpkin seeds.
Not Necco Wafers, though. Why do those things even EXIST?
Karen: roasted pumpkin seeds.....mmmmm
K & B: Casper the Ghost……friendly or creepy?
L: Movie version? Friendly. Cartoon? Creepy. I know, most people think it’s the opposite, but I don’t trust anyone who smiles THAT much.
K & B: We know how much you love attention but your options for fame are a little limited now because of your ……ahem….condition. What if General Mills calls you one day (pretend you can answer the phone). Do you accept the offer to become the new face on their box of Halloween "Boo berry" cereal? Get it? BOO….cuz you're a ghost?? Too tacky?
L: I’d have to talk to my agent about that. But your question inspired me to use about half a dozen Boo-Berry pics as my Twitter avi this month, so GO YOU!
Karen: Thanks Logan! Enjoy all the love and attention coming your way today before The Woman Upstairs takes you on a short vacation while she finishes writing the conclusion to the Shade trilogy....SHINE.
As a birthday gift from me to you - well you can't really use much - so more of a gift "in honor of your birthday" I'm donating $1 for every comment up to $50 to VH1 Save The Music Foundation. I know music is a big part of your life/death (sorry)!
The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education in America's public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education. Since its inception in 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has provided $48 million in new musical instruments to 1,800 public schools in more than 100 cities around the country, impacting the lives of over 1.8 million children.
So make me broke people! Leave a comment! Wish Logan a happy birthday and don't forget to join Jeri's all day Forever 17 Birthday Bash! ( #forever17 on Twitter) Details HERE
As always there's a giveaway!
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!
Winner chooses from the following selection of spooky books:
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions - Anthology/various authors including Bridge by Jeri (includes signed book plate if you choose this book) Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready (includes signed bookplate if you choose this book) Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon Wolfsbane by Andrea Creamer
International entries welcome!
Giveaway ends 10/30 All Month of Treats winners announced on 10/31!
Welcome to the random ramblings of a reader, armature baker, & inflexible yogi. I'm a lover of good food, TV, music & all things nature. My favorite thing is being a dog mom to @Ripley_kai_yay
