Monday, October 19, 2015

Prep for Doom Anthology is ON SALE!

Prep For Doom

by Band of Dystopian

 

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The release of AVHF upon NYC’s unsuspecting populace brings bloody suffering within hours, death within a day, and spreads worldwide within a month. Online community, Prep For Doom, has risen to the top of the doomsday preparation movement. Some have written them off as crazy while others couldn’t be more serious about the safety the preppers could provide. But when AVHF strikes, their preparation may not be enough to save them. From 20 authors comes an integrated collection of short stories about a single catastrophe as experienced by many characters, some of whom will cross paths.
 

Where to Buy

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About Band of Dystopian

Band of Dystopian (BOD) is a Facebook group, blog, and company dedicated to dystopian, apocalyptic, and post-apocalyptic books. Our mission is to help fans of dystopian fiction find books they will love and help authors of the genre get the word out about their work. Our community of over 2,700 readers and authors has become a supportive, interactive, and insanely fun place to be. We are branching into the publishing world with our first anthology, Prep For Doom. We have over 200 authors in the group, plenty of great conversation, tons of giveaways, and the perfect place for dystopian lovers to find their next great read.


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Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Guest Post: Patsy Thompson

Today I'm pleased to welcome Patsy Thompson to the blog to talk about her new book and her writing journey!

A little about the book

"My Sojourn in Paradise: A Memoir is Patsy Thompson’s story of growing up on the island of Jamaica, and being guided by a power greater than herself. Painting evocative pictures of the island with her words, Thompson draws the reader into an inner circle that is a slice-of-life slide show about growing up in Jamaica in the 1960s and 1970s. Set against a backdrop of current events, island life comes alive, from school, church and extended family, to influential mentors, marriage, children, and a series of successful businesses.

Woven throughout this life story is the abiding presence of God and angels guiding and protecting her. Thompson learns to listen to God’s voice leading her not only to safety from danger, but to success in several remarkable business ventures as varied as a chain of medical laboratories, beekeeping, a prestigious local academy, and jewelry making. Her story is peppered with meaningful Bible quotes that support important events in her life, and impress upon the reader that reliance on higher powers can indeed sustain one. Although her life has its share of heartbreak, Thompson perseveres through faith and intuition. Sojourn draws you into her story in a way that will leave you admiring her pluck and contemplating how to bring her mastery of faith into your own life." - Barbara Lauger



Guest Post

My book journey

 Around three years ago, I had the vision of putting my life’s experiences on paper. At first, the aim was to leave a trail for my children and grand-children. I hope they would get a glimpse of what life was like before the age of widespread technology like when we played with carefree abandon on the red dirtied primary school yard. I wanted my memoir to cause the reader to laugh at silly happenings peculiar to the period. I also wanted to include the people, the history and the geography.  By reading this memoir, the senses become alive to the smells, taste, feel and visual of a tranquil paradise,  At the same the reader becomes mindful of the triumphs and tragedies which  like everywhere else was a part of life.

 Throughout my childhood I suffered often experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions as an offspring of a father who was an alcoholic, I thought, maybe, this could help someone who might be going through a similar situation. I wanted to write about the great and exciting events such as the bittersweet memories of celebrating the birth of a new nation, our independence day while encumbered by wearing shoes too tight for my feet.   Purposefully I mentioned   mentors, family members and  lasting friendships that impacted my growth over the years. 

 My faith and belief in God permeates my memoir as the constant which served to weather the most difficult situations.  I chose to speak about events and people who contributed to my success. I also included those whose negativity brought about positive life changing episodes. For example, the comment “ She has no ability,” written by my third form high school teacher,  which served as a catalyst  to improve my position as a student.  I omitted those events which would serve no purpose but to shame or in no way furthered a cause.

Available now on:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Sojourn-Paradise-Patsy-Thompson/dp/1503309991

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Guest Post: Michelle Areaux @MommaAreaux

I'm pleased to welcome Michelle Areaux to the blog today to share about her new book and her publishing journey. 

A little about the book:

For 16-year-old Sadie Sanders, dealing with the dead is growing tiresome, especially when they expect her to play messenger to the afterlife. Up until now, Sadie has been able to handle it, but after a deadly car crash, Sadie’s job has become personal. Now, Sadie finds herself haunted by Elizabeth, a girl who has a secret to share. Sadie is being transported into the life of Elizabeth, dreaming about the events uncovered in her diary. Sadie can't tell anyone about her secret, not even her own family. They wouldn't believe her, or worse they would try to stop her from continuing her journey to truth. Sadie has a choice to make. And it's not going to be an easy one.

Guest post by Michelle Areaux



My Publishing Journey

Hello all, my name is Michelle Areaux and I am excited to talk with you all today about my crazy journey in the publishing world and what inspired me to write my debut novel, Wicked Cries. When I first got the idea for Wicked Cries, it came while I was a college student at the University of Kentucky. I was studying English as part of my degree to become a middle school language arts teacher. My true dream was to be a writer, but let’s face it; I needed a “real” job in case my dream job never came true. Thankfully, I accomplished both dreams. 

My inspiration for this novel came from my interest in the Salem Witch Trials. But when assigned to study literature about a historical event in our country, I began researching the history behind the Salem Witch Trials. Once I began delving into the unanswered mysteries swirling around the people, the town, and the events that transpired, I knew I was in trouble. I was hooked. I had to know more about their stories. I needed to capture that moment, but put my own twist and find my own destiny for those people. I wanted to create characters and put them in fantastic dilemmas while having a control over their fate.  So… I began writing a story about a young girl who found a journal hidden in a restored home her parents had purchased in Salem, Massachusetts.  I wanted this character, who I named Sadie, to become a martyr for the victims and to stand up against the hate and unfair treatment of those involved. While researching the history of the events of this tragic moment in our history, I became obsessed with telling this story. As silly as it sounds, I felt like I was becoming an advocate for the people who were shamelessly condemned. Of course I had to add in a cute boy and a mean girl to add some more spice to the story line.  Even though this story is fiction and contains fighting ghosts and paranormal activity, the concept behind the plot is real.  

Fast forward ten years.  I am a middle school language arts teacher, mother of two crazy little boys, and a wife of a very patient and motivating husband. After finally allowing someone else to read my story, my husband encouraged me to send it to agents and publishers. Now, I wish that I could say this journey was easy and that the first publisher I sent my query letter to jumped at the chance to represent me. But, sadly, that is not the case. It took another year before Black Rose Writing took a risk on me and my novel and offered me a publishing contract. Black Rose Writing has been amazing, and the authors I have met along the way have been helpful and great mentors.  My novel is sold on Amazon, Barnes and Noble.com, Black Rose Writing’s website, and at The Morris Book Shop in Lexington, Kentucky.  The publishing journey has been crazy and exciting at times. Holding my novel in my hands was a true accomplishment and a dream come true. But having my family, friends, and students read the story and share their thoughts about the characters with me was exhilarating.  My goal in becoming a published author was not to get popular or become a rock star like Stephenie Myer or J.K. Rowling. No, I wanted to become a writer so I could share my stories with others and live my dream. Wicked Cries is more than just a story about a girl who fights ghosts and learns about the Salem Witch Trials. This story contains real life scenarios that teens and adults face.  I wanted the story to be fun, educational, and something anyone could connect with.  I guess the momma and teacher in me took over when writing this book.

For anyone reading this who aspires to be an author, my advice to you is simple; never give up. I know it sounds so cliché, but it is true. Once you have the idea and the itch to write a story, do it. Keep writing. Get something written down, you can clean it up later. I give this same advice to my students whenever we write pieces in my class.  My novel was published ten years after its making. Forget the timeline, don’t stress about how long it takes to get noticed. Keep focusing on your dream and you will get there.  

Even though I don’t have the same amount of time to write as I did ten years ago, that does not stop me from writing. My second novel is in the editing process now, and has been sent to the publisher for review. Stay updated on my writing journey and upcoming book releases by visiting my Twitter page @MommaAreaux or look for me on Facebook- Michelle Edrington-Areaux


About the Author

Michelle Areaux is a wife, mother, and educator. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and teaches Language Arts in Lexington, Kentucky. Please follow me on Twitter @MommaAreaux for information on local readings and events.

Twitter- @MommaAreaux
Also sold at The Morris Book Shop in Lexington, Kentucky