New Book: Audie the Angel

This week I'm welcoming self-published author, Erika Kathryn, to my blog to talk about her new book, Audie the Angel and the Angel Army. 

"Audie, a seemingly typical twelve-year-old girl, is summoned from her middle school one day. She travels through a windmill farm and brought to an island where she’s told that she is actually an Angel and, more importantly, that she is of Phoenix descent. She is the pivotal and final member of an assembly of others her age, called The Angel Army. The army includes Luce—the dangerously handsome dark Angel predestined to fall from Heaven—and Cave—a stowaway from Earth who is crushing on her hard—as well as eight Angels with magical talents, a feisty Fairy, and a nimble gnome. Audie’s ordinary life becomes drastically different as she transforms; she sprouts gold wings, receives a halo passed on from the mother she never met, and her fellow Angels teach her to use her hand-me-down Phoenix powers. However, before she even learns to fly she is told of the real reason she is needed: an evil Elder Angel has discovered a way to dominate Heaven. Haunted by dreams of her past Phoenix life, puzzled by her feelings for both the charming Luce and her human friend Cave, Audie has to conquer her newfound powers quickly because the future of Heaven rests on her wings. Can she fight against flying Dare Demons, the Marsh Master, the Frost Fairy, and Evil Souls to save Heaven? Can Audie change destiny and save Luce from falling to his fate?

Audie the Angel and the Angel Army is the first of three volumes in a Middle Grade fantasy adventure series that make up The Angel Archives. Hang onto your Halos, because this story is filled with wild winged adventure!" 

Audie the Angel is available from Amazon. 

Meet Erika Kathryn! 

Erika Kathryn has her Bachelors of Science Degree from East Carolina University, major in Criminal Justice, minor in English. She's been dreaming of Angels for over 10 years. She started the story of Audie when she was still in college. She has written several other novels and many poems but none of which pull at her heartstrings the way Audie the Angel does. She is currently working on the journey of Volume 2 for Audie the Angel. When she isn't writing Erika Kathryn reads to her beautiful Angel-Daughter, Kathryn Kay, while residing in Crete, IL.

Audie the Angel is available from Amazon.
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Moonlit Book Blast (Jadie Jones)

 

Moonlit Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods. When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t. But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

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    Praise "Virginia's trees look like they're burning. Most of them blaze crimson or gold, but some still have a chokehold on their green. I wish they'd give it up already. Leaves are more beautiful when they're dying." And so Moonlit begins. From here the story rolls from one twist to another with many vivid characters whose motives are hard to predict. I found myself being suspicious of everyone, wanting to tell Tanzy to be very careful. The deeper I fell into the plot, the more questions kept rising to the surface. But not to worry, all of my questions were answered. Appropriate for all ages, if you love paranormal fantasy mixed with suspense, mystery and other-worldly romance, you'll love this novel! ~Author Julie Ford   Prologue The first anniversary of my father’s death was even harder on my mother. Back then, I thought she was haunted most by what she didn’t know. I refused to blame her when she raged above me on our staircase that night, drunk and sad and angry. When she made me promise I’d never ride again. When she hurled a half-full bottle of vodka at my face and it exploded on the wooden stairs at my feet. I hadn’t tried to get out of the way. She had just missed. I wanted to tell her that knowledge was no solace, that what you know can burn inside you until there’s nothing left but guilt and ash. I also wanted to protect her from losing the only piece of him she had left. So I didn’t say a word.  

Author Jadie Jones Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went. She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she's not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

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Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/5/13
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Book Blast: Helga: Out of the Hedgelands

 

Helga: Out of the Hedgelands Twelve-year-old Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age—Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life and rescue friends and family from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can’t see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can’t accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms. Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride. Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently. Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.  

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Author Rick Johnson I am a native of the Great Plains, having grown up on a farm in the Platte River Valley of western Nebraska. I love the wild beauty of the Plains and nearby Rocky Mountains--the too hot, too cold, too empty, too full of life extremes. Typically, the awesomely diverse and the awesomely stark are much the same, even as they are different. Although I have lived in Michigan, North Carolina, and British Columbia, the western plains, mountains, and desert are in my heart. As my day job, for over thirty years I have been a faculty member and administrator in higher education. Teaching broadly in the liberal arts, including creative writing, my professional publications include educational materials, poems, and 28 stories for young readers. During my spare hours, I have also collected and carefully studied the records of former times upon which the Wood Cow Chronicles are based. It is my privilege to bring this astonishing saga to light. The Wood Cow Chronicles have been researched and written with the irreplaceable assistance of Barbara, my beloved wife of more than thirty-five years, and our children. Indeed, the essential research into the history of the Wood Cows has been conducted during the odd hours of family reading and storytelling "around the campfire" as we say--even when there is no campfire! This research continues and grows richer as our family expands across generations and continents.  

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  Book Blast Giveaway $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/1/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Feed My Reader Launch Giveaway!!!

 I Am A Reader, Not A Writer has launched a new site aimed at bringing you the best Kindle Ebook Deals and Steals.

Each day on feedyourreader.com you'll find a new list of available ebook deals (most for under $3).

And of course there will be lots of  Featured Freebies too!

To celebrate the launch of the new site she is giving away a Kindle Fire, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash.


Win a 7" Kindle Fire (US only)




Or $100 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $100 in Paypal Cash (International)

Giveaway Details 
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" (US Only), $100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 in Paypal Cash (International).
Ends 5/5/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $100-$159 US.

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Review: The New Girl in Town (White Swans)

The strange new world Kendika found herself in after the deaths of her parents has claimed another victim. A simple wish for adventure lands Jillian in what she thinks is the perfect place to live out her fantasies. However, when she realizes her role is to play the part of a servant, her wish suddenly doesn't seem so appealing. 

I was surprised at first to realize this did not open with Kendika, but I was interested to see who this new girl was and how she would both impact the faux Regency world, and how it would affect her. 

I didn't immediately take to Jillian. I thought she was rather self centered and lacked the warmth Kendika had. As I continued to read, I realized the reasoning behind why Bazzi wrote Jillian this way. Her attitude created conflict with Kendika (who is still a part of this book). The two young ladies are quite different from each other, and their understanding of the world is miles apart. Kendika became even more likable to me as she attempted to help Jillian. I was pleased with the subtle changes her character had undergone from the first book. 

What I had a bit of trouble with was the balance between how much face time each girl got. Jillian was selfish and a bit annoying, which she was meant to be. She was a great contrast to Kendika. The issue for me was that Jillian took up most of the book, so readers spend the most time with a character they don't really like. I think if the time had been split between Jillian and Kendika more evenly this wouldn't have been an issue. 

My only other issue was that I didn't feel like this section of the overall story wrapped up as completely as the first section. At the end of book one I felt Kendika had learned a lesson and had been changed by her experience. In this book, Jillian is punished, but I never felt she really learned her lesson or changed at the end. This may just be that her story will continue to grow and develop in the next few installments, so I am prepared to wait and see. 

Overall, this was still a fun read. I am enjoying the serial style of this story and I think young readers will like the emotional drama in each page that teens can easily identify with, as well as the desire to wish away problems in hopes of something better being around the corner. The story itself was well written and will click with young readers easily. 

The New Girl in Town is available now from Amazon. 

Review: Night Watch

Lily needs to get away from her life, from the deaths of her parents and infidelity of her fiancee. All she wants is to relax, photograph Trinidad, and start a new career that will hopefully bring her life into focus. Being mistaken for someone else and attracting the interest of the mysterious resort manager and a group of dangerous men wasn't on the agenda. Making it home from her vacation alive suddenly becomes her top priority. 

The idea of being mistaken for someone in the middle of a dangerous plot is something that has been used in literature and film before, but Sikes brought many new elements into this idea to make it unique. Lily's backstory, for one, was different than what I have seen used before. There is mystery introduced when readers are told that there are certain events prior to Lily's trip that she does not remember due to a traumatic event. It makes readers question Lily's own memories, and in turn question what her story truly is. Sikes gives Lily a reasonable, yet deeply personal reason for taking the trip. The backstory helped me connect with Lily as a character. 

Another main character was Kyle Warren, the mysterious manager at the resort Lily is visiting. The reader gets to see Kyle both through Lily's eyes and through his own point of view. When reading Kyle's point of view his consternation over lingering feelings for Katherine, the woman he originally mistook Lily for, and developing passion of Lily was compelling. Readers can connect with his confusion about his feelings and concern about Lily's safety, hoping that he will find a way to work everything out. I enjoyed his role in this book quite a bit. 

When reading through Lily's point of view I had a slightly more difficult time. Kyle acts very suspiciously throughout the book. He does not share the reasons with Lily, as that would have ruined the surprises, but he instead distracted her or brushed off her concerns. My frustration came from the fact that Lily often let herself be distracted or talked out of her concerns very easily. The explanations Kyle offered at times seemed quite weak and I found myself annoyed that Lily accepted them. If felt she should have shown more strength when dealing with the strangeness around her. 

Overall, this was a fun and entertaining book. I enjoyed the mystery as well as the romance between Kyle and Lily, although there is a sex scene toward the end that is fairly descriptive and not appropriate for younger readers. My only other complaint about the book was that I expected the ending to be a little more climactic. Lily is kidnapped at one point, and the events surrounding that were exciting, and I expected that to continue until everything was resolved. Instead, it ended rather abruptly and focused more on the romance than concluding the action. Having said that, I did still enjoy the book and would found the setting, characters, and mystery to be entertaining and fun. 

Night Watch is available now from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. 

Interview: Mary Montague Sikes

Let's get to know a little more about Mary Montague Sikes' book, Night Watch. 


1. What was you inspiration for this book?  A trip we took to Trinidad a few years ago. The off-shore island where we stayed became the setting for this story. The people there were amazing, and it is one of the most memorable trips of my lifetime.

2. Would you classify your writing as plot driven of character driven? Character driven because I like to place my main characters in a setting (often exotic for the Passenger to Paradise series), then watch the characters develop and grow.

3. Can you tell us a little about your main character? Lily, the main character in Night Watch, is recovering from abandonment and loss.  To aid her recovery, she travels to Trinidad to start a new and different life as a photo-journalist. Then, things start to happen that she doesn't understand. People mistake her for someone else, and she has memories that she doesn't understand.

4. Which of your supporting characters was the most challenging to write? I don't know that any were challenging, but I enjoyed the quirkiness of Gwen. For me, a quirky character brings life to a story. I love the quirky woman in NCIS who has the crazy hairstyle and lots of unusual traits. I wanted a little of that for Gwen.

5. Without giving away too much, tell us a little about the main conflict in this book. Besides the real danger that surrounds Lily from the moment she lands in Trinidad, there is her emotional and internal conflict that develops throughout the story.

6. Why did you choose this genre? I love story with a touch of the unexplained in them. I can't call them paranormal because people think of werewolves and vampires. My books are nothing like that. My first book, Hearts Across Forever, was a reincarnation story. That's the type of paranormal I enjoy. Books with astrology and psychic readings intrigue me. They are not paranormal in the sense of shape-changers, etc.

7. What do you hope readers take away from this book? A journey and new knowledge of an exotic destination—Trinidad. Wonder about the fascinating dragonfly. A question—What about "walk-ins"?

8. Who are your favorite authors? I have little time to read. When I do, I enjoy books by Dianne Chamberlain. I used to enjoy Lavyrl Spenser, but she retired long ago.

9. Do you have any interesting rituals or habits when you write? Not really. I love the ritual of one author who puts on a purple hat when she's writing and doesn't want to be disturbed. I have my own quiet upstairs office overlooking the woods and the creek, so I'm seldom disturbed. The trees inspire me.

10. Can you tell us about any future projects? I'm working on a story that begins in the Bahamas and continues in Maryland and Virginia. My main character is an interior designer, and I'm looking forward to watching her develop and grow. I love it when characters take over the book and tell their own stories.

Night Watch is available now from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.