Limited time sale: Be with Me

For a limited time you can download Be with Me sequel/companion to Wait for You for only $1.25! I loved the first novel and highly suggest you check out the sequel!


Blurb:
From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wait for You
Do Teresa and Jase have a real shot at getting together or will life get in the way? 
Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she's in love with her big brother's best friend, but he hasn't spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, life-changing kiss. Then she got out of a terrible relationship. Now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It's time for plan B: college. And maybe she'll have a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.
Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he's not telling anyone—especially not his best friend's incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn't have time for a relationship. But it doesn't help that all he can think about is kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.
As they're thrown together more and more, Jase and Teresa can't keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they're willing to risk to be together and what they're willing to lose if they're not. . .


Be with Me on Amazon

Guest Post: Ivan Samokish

What is the Division Clock?

The Division Clock is a modern surreal fantasy novel that aims to explore the depths of the subconscious mind during times of great upheaval. The novel is purely a fictional fantasy yet it attempts to grasp the full scope of a person's struggle to find their own identity, make sense of the world and battle against any form of depression or oppression. 

Below is a quick summary of what the novel is about (although it only touches the surface):

"A young man battling with severe depression, loss of memory and gradual onset of madness races to find a stolen magical clock and reset time to save humanity from an evil power. Trapped in his own crazed visions, the line between reality and dreams is gradually blurred, leaving him struggling to overcome an adverse battle for identity, perception and restoration of sanity."

The novel is complete and ready for publication.

It is for sale online on Amazon or Smashwords where you can also preview the first sections to gauge whether you want to keep reading. At the same time, I am also handing out free copies to my initial 100 followers of my Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Division-Clock/646918018759106
Here are some quick facts about my work

- Division Clock is about 60,000 words in length

- Took about two years of planning and over a year to write

- Was written during times of upheaval in my own personal life

- Is inspired by the works of classical greats such as Bulgakov, Dostoevsky, Dickens and Shakespeare (among a few)

- There are 11 characters in the novel (along with several more mystical creatures)

Some facts about me

I like this quote (which somehow partly describes my feelings towards writing):

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”

—George Orwell

Obviously, I don’t literally find it a pain to write, but being driven is definitely an apt description.

If you like my work any support is welcome! Thank you!

Contact: 
 ivan@fusionwriter.com 
 www.fusionwriter.com

Blog Tour: Escape from Witchwood Hollow

HOW FAR INTO THE HOLLOW WILL YOU GO?

I love everything that comes with being published – the book signings, the blog interviews, the swag…  I’ve never been so excited about buying a bookmark before.  I also love hearing from the readers of ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, and a few people asked me how Leon got the handgun.  I would hate to disappoint the fans, so I wrote a bonus scene where Leon meets the weapon.  You can access it here: http://www.jordanelizabethmierek.com/novels.html

There’s more than just a bonus scene on the website.  Check out contests, book signings, future books, and feel free to drop me a line.  Your suggestion might be the next bonus scene!  Signed copies of my books are available by request.  They make great holiday gifts.  Yes, I’m winking at you. 

Everyone in Arnn – a small farming town with more legends than residents – knows the story of Witchwood Hollow: if you venture into the whispering forest, the witch will trap your soul among the shadowed trees.

After losing her parents in a horrific terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, fifteen-year-old Honoria and her older brother escape New York City to Arnn. In the lure of that perpetual darkness, Honoria finds hope, when she should be afraid.

Perhaps the witch can reunite her with her lost parents. Awakening the witch, however, brings more than salvation from mourning, for Honoria discovers a past of missing children and broken promises.

To save the citizens of Arnn from becoming the witch’s next victims, she must find the truth behind the woman’s madness.

How deep into Witchwood Hollow does Honoria dare venture?

Jordan Elizabeth, formally Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, is the author of young adult fantasy ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW and contributing author for GEARS OF BRASS, both available from Curiosity Quills Press.  Her next books, TREASURE DARKLY and BORN OF TREASURE, arrive in 2015.  She is represented by Belcastro Agency. 

###

No new bonus scene would be complete with a contest.  Win this chilling keychain and ask yourself how deep into the hollow you will go. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Stop: Vanished From Dust

Book blurb and cover

 Title: Vanished From Dust

Author: Shea Norwood

Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery

A CHILL RUNS THROUGH HIS SKIN AS THE PHANTOM APPEARS.

HE SEES THEM EVERYWHERE . . .

Eric Stark is not insane. Or at least he doesn’t think so. He wishes everyone in Dust, Texas, felt the same way. But that’s not going to happen since the whole town thinks he’s crazy. Why didn’t he keep his mouth shut?

No one understands. Eric is alone as he battles his sanity in a town of tormenters. Suddenly a new friendship emerges after the new kid, Kyle Barrett, moves to town.

Eric reluctantly reveals his secret. Is it a curse or a gift? He isn’t certain, but with Kyle by his side he finds the courage to seek the truth.

They soon realize that something sinister is descending on the residents of Dust.

Is it caused by Eric’s phantoms or is it something else? Is it connected to the mysterious death of hundreds of townspeople over sixty years ago? One thing is certain—only Eric and Kyle can save them.

They set out on a heart-pounding adventure and find themselves transported to a disturbed and deserted version of their small southern town. They quickly discover that this new world has mysteries of its own to uncover. What they find could prove more than they bargained for, and it only leads to more questions. Eric and Kyle must face a horrifying fact—they may never get out alive.

“We’re gonna die here,” Kyle muttered.

 “I don’t believe that,” Eric said. “And neither do you.”

Will they survive their encounter with these dark and mysterious beings?

Will they find a way back home?

Or will they be lost forever?

The Vanished from Dust series is perfect for anyone who craves a hair-raising thriller packed with mystery and suspense. This paranormal story for young adults can be compared to Stand by Me, mixed with Odd Thomas, and a twist of The Dark Tower.

Author Bio

 Shea Norwood is a West Texas native that currently lives in the DFW area with his wife and son. He's an avid reader and enjoys the craft of writing. The fictional town of Dust is loosely based on a small town south of Odessa, TX. 

Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1mVJSre

FB: http://on.fb.me/1pxjF3Q

Twitter: @sheanorwood

Giveaway

There is a tour-wide giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt:

“I’m not crazy,” Eric Stark shouted at the crowd of seventh graders as they surrounded him. He looked up from the ground, which consisted of patches of grass and dirt, to see the sunlight glinting off of the metal braces of a girl with pigtails as she pointed and laughed with the rest of them. Another boy kicked him in the stomach, causing him to retreat into a fetal position to guard against another blow. “Oh yeah?” Greg Coffey asked as he towered over Eric. His lip was curled, showing his crooked, heavily stained teeth. “What happened last week in class? You said, ‘They’re watching me.’ Remember that, loser?”

“I didn’t say that.” Eric tried to get up, but Greg pushed him back down and kicked dirt in his face. Eric rubbed his burning eyes with both hands. When he opened them he saw four more kids sneering over him, all laughing at his expense. Where was a teacher when you needed one? The hot Texas sun was high on the horizon, almost blinding him as he stared back at his tormentors. Sweat was pouring from his brow, mixing with the tears that streamed down his face.

“Yeah you did,” Adam Marshall said with a smirk. “You’re going off the rails, crazy train.”

“I like that—crazy train. Just like the song,” Greg said. He laughed and gave Adam a high five. “That’s your new name. Like it?” Greg kicked another pile of dirt at Eric. Eric tried to spit it out, but his entire face was covered in a muddy film. He wished that he’d just kept his mouth shut about it, but it was too late now. News traveled fast in a small town, and he was sure everyone thought he was insane by now.

He didn’t know what he was.

“Leave him alone,” a kid said. He leaned over to help Eric to his feet. “I don’t like bullies.”

“Stay out of it, new kid.” Greg said and gave him a scowling stare. “Or what?” The kid got closer.

“Let’s go,” Adam said. “There’s a teacher coming.” He slapped Greg on the shoulder. “This ain’t over,” Greg said as he walked away.

“Thanks,” Eric said.

“I’m Kyle Barrett,” the kid said, extending his hand. Eric shook it. “Did you just move here?”

“Yeah, this is my first day,” Kyle said. “It’s hard being the new kid. No one talks to you.”

“No one talks to me either, except to make fun of me,” Eric said.

Author Interview: Chris Page

When do you know you wanted to be a writer?

Writing has been a passion of mine since I was 12 and read my first Shannara book (by Terry Brooks). The first book I ever tried to write was “The Adventures of Murray Slovack” about a slacker-day dreamer and his happy-go-lucky loose friend Goober, aka The Goob. From there I have been writing off and on my whole life from novels to short stories to even the occasional Murder Mystery Dinner Party for my friends J The Monster Squad is my first published work, though.

Which authors/works have inspired you?

Wow… where to start? I am particularly impressed by anyone who invents or reinvents a genre. Tolkien basically invented the Modern Fantasy. JK Rowling reinvented the Fairy Tale. Rick Riordan reinvented Mythology for a whole new generation of kids - each of these authors are icons to me (plus Terry Brooks whose work I continue to love today). I also love fun writing and fast pacing - Eric Kripke and Super Natural is brilliant, Robert Zemeckis and Back To The Future, Steven Spielberg and basically anything he ever did (okay, I wasn’t a fan of AI… but that was more Kubrick than Spielberg), JJ Abrams… even Jerry Bruckheimer and his pacing, imagery and accessibility have a terrific commercial appeal. I love works that are fun to read, play out in your mind, have unique characters with real voice and move at an almost breathless pace. I aspire to capture this in my stories.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

Editing. Oooo… editing is hard… especially the 3^rd or 4^th time thru what you wrote and you really start to doubt the quality of the story and the words. But then you get to a Hemmingway-like place where you really start to chip away all the extras, take a step away and get to the core of the story, then editing gets easier and much more satisfactory. 

Could you talk a bit about your publication progress?

It’s pretty brutal. I work in high tech at a large company and deal with a lot of fact pace innovation and decision making. The book industry is still pretty old school. You need to get an agent and finding one is basically a cold calling process. You then need to find a publisher and that is really hard. Feedback in the whole process is pretty minimal… you cling to the professional opinions you receive because feedback prior to publication is pretty minimal. My best piece of advice is keep pushing - you have to be the biggest believer in your work. You also need to have a thick skin - don’t be too “precious” with your art… be open to feedback, learn from rejection and refine and get better as you wind your way thru the process. The result is a more enjoyable experience for the reader.

What other projects are you working on?

Yes! I have book two of Monster Squad, titled Jekyll & Hyde 75% of the way done and have the outline for the final two books after that in advance draft stages. I also have started working on a bit spookier work called The Unseen about a girl, Willow Freeman, who dies on page 1 but whose story just begins. I try to post previews and updates on upcoming works on my author web site www.chrispagewriter.com for readers who are interested. A preview of Jekyll & Hyde is up there and a short blurb on The Unseen is also posted.

If you could give one of your characters a piece of advice, what would it be?

Hmmm… My favorite character in the book is Kevin Wallis… he is a classic side-kick character who is a total comic book and sci-fi nerd much like I was like as a kid (but funnier and bolder than I ever was). If I were to give him advice it would be to stow a bit of the humor (he uses it as a defense and to get attention) and be a little braver with the girls he likes (he has a crush on a main character, Shelley Merry, who is the heir of Frankenstein). In general, in my life I regret the people I didn’t talk to or the actions I didn’t take more than those I did… especially when it was just a case of nerves. Kevin proves brave in the clutch but at the school dance he would still be the wall flower… he should get over his own doubts.

Author Blurb:

Christian Page loves stories that combine fun, action and adventure. A father of two, he lives in the Pacific Northwest of the United States with his wife, son, daughter, overly plump cat and under-behaved dog. You can visit the author to learn more about his stories and upcoming work at www.chrispage.com or follow him on Facebook (Chris Page) or Twitter (@chrispagewriter).
Monster Squad: The Iron Golem on Amazon

Spotlight: A Midnight Reverie

Everything was perfect. If Lillian had ever dreamed of a fairytale life, this was it. Everything was falling into place. Her Prince Charming - her knight in shining armor - had captured her heart entirely, and as though that were not beautiful enough, she had his heart as well. She had Matt, and there was nothing else she desired. How could she have known that in one brief moment, her fairytale would turn into a tragedy? The debut novel of Beatrice Manuel, the story of Lillian Jones is both heartrendering and heartwarming. Forced into an early adulthood to take care of not only herself but the lives that depend upon her, Lillian struggles to heal from her fairytale-gone-wrong and find the love and beauty that still remains in her life. A Midnight Reverie is the story of how a fragile, broken girl is transformed into a young woman whose battle scars speak of the ashes she once was...and the victor she has become.


Author Bio:

Beatrice Manuel is a young and aspiring teenager. She was born in April, 1997 in a small city in India, and although her roots go back to Madurai, having travelled and lived in many different countries across the globe, she considers herself somewhat of a nomad. 

Her journey as a writer first begun at the age of eight, when she wrote her very own illustrated fairy-tale entitled 'The Prince and the Princess'. Since then, her main focus was on the romance and adventure genres, writing several unpublished stories to nurture her skills through out her schooling years. She also participated and collaborated with several authors on writing communities under a pen name, dabbling in poetry and script-writing on the side. 

Her debut novel, 'A Midnight Reverie' was first written as a submission for the online writing competition NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in 2011, which was then edited and self-published via Amazon's CreateSapce in September of 2014. 

With this achievement under wraps, Beatrice hopes to publish and share more of her writing with the world, with the aim of inspiring and bringing joy to her readers - a dream she's held onto for several years and will see through to come true.

Author Contact:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/BeatheVagabond
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BeatriceManuel2014
Google+ - https://www.google.com/+BeatriceManuel2014
Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/BeatriceManuel
Tumblr - http://beatricemanuel.tumblr.com/

Buying links:

For Kindle Users: www.amazon.com/dp/B00NVNZJRC

Paper-back orders at CreateSpace E-Store: www.createspace.com/3755333

Paper-back orders at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Reverie-Beatrice-Maria-Manuel/dp/1468133993/

Interview: John Heldt

John Heldt

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I knew I wanted to be a writer in grade school, when I was first asked to put thoughts on paper. Many of my classmates hated writing stories, essays, and book reports, but I loved it. I loved the opportunity to create and experiment with words. I didn't think about writing professionally, however, until I started college and didn't consider writing a novel until just a few years ago.

Which authors/works have influenced and inspired you?

Vince Flynn, Clive Cussler, John Jakes, Stephen King, Nelson DeMille, and Nicholas Sparks come to mind. I was a great admirer of Flynn and his work.

How did you get the inspiration for your book?

Books, movies, and my family history inspired The Mine. I wrote the novel shortly after reading and watching The Time Traveler's Wife in 2011. Back to the Future was also an influence, as were A Walk in the Clouds, From Here to Eternity, The Time Machine, Racing with the Moon, The Notebook, and Ray Bradbury's short story, "A Sound of Thunder." I was also inspired by stories about the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of my uncles, a construction worker in Honolulu who later served in the Army Air Corps, witnessed the whole thing from his car.

I wanted to write about 1941 almost from the start, but I wanted to approach that historic year from a different angle. I wanted to cover the months leading up to Pearl Harbor and cover them from the perspective of a civilian time traveler who knew war was coming and wasn't all that thrilled about jumping into it. My protagonist wrestles with difficult decisions, the kind that can only confront someone with knowledge of things to come.

What other projects are you working on?

I recently completed September Sky, the first novel of the American Journey series. In this book, an unemployed reporter and his college-dropout son travel from 2016 Los Angeles to 1900 Galveston — the time and place of one of the deadliest hurricanes in history. Like the five novels of the Northwest Passage series, September Sky will span several genres and offer multiple points of view. I intend to publish it in late December or early January.

Could you talk a bit about your publication process?

I begin every novel with an outline: a detailed, chapter-by-chapter summary of the entire book. I won't write a word until the outline is at least 95-percent complete. I then take three to five months to write the first draft and revise that draft extensively before turning it over to beta readers and an editor. I usually reread the full manuscript three times before I publish. When you produce a work with more than 100,000 words, there are many errors to catch. I do my best to catch them all.

If you could give your main character one piece of advice, what would it be?

Joel Smith is the protagonist of The Mine, the first book of the Northwest Passage series. If I could give him one piece of advice, it would be to remember the idiom, "Curiosity killed the cat." His curiosity gets him into a lot of trouble.

In five words, why should people read your book?

It will make you smile.

Title: THE MINE

Author: John A. Heldt

Series: Northwest Passage No. 1

File size: 537 KB (Kindle)

Formats: MOBI, EPUB, PDF

Words: 90,369

Pages: 286

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Genres: Romance-Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Adventure, New Adult

Description: In May 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of swing dancing and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether tol leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come.

The Mine on Amazon