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Wistful Wednesday

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

In a striking debut, readers will be spellbound by this unforgettable story of life and death ... and beyond.

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

What I Tought:

I'm not sure how I feel about this story. From the blurb above, I expected a story wioth more of a paranormal twist, but that aspect of the story was played down to the point of virtual nonexistence. I also expected more action, but there was very little to speak of. Instead, this was a study of human nature and how that drives the characters actions. Now thiere's nothing wrong with that - I enjoy a good character study - but this was just...depressing.

The overpowering theme of this story is death. It begins with the main character, Delaney, nearly dying in an accident on a frozen lake and when she awakes from a coma no one beleived she'd survive, she is obsessed with death. She is drawn to the rooms of other patients who are dying and when she leaves the hospital, she is drawn to the homes of people who are dying. And the way it is described is kind of creepy, but it's part of Delaney's new existence, so I went with it. Now here I thought more could be done with this aspect of the story, but it isn't. (Spoiler Alert) This new "ability" is never really explained or utilized. it just kind of...is, which left me unsastisfied. I like to know the why of things and since I didn't get an answer in this case, I was left feeling empty.

Still, I kept reading because I hoped maybe some of my questions would be answered. Like what was the purpose of Delaney's new abilities? What is going on between her and her best friend Decker - who happened to be the one who saved her from the lake - why is he so devoted to her, but she's ambivalent to him? And why is she obsessed with death? Rather than get these answers, I only got more questions.

To complicate matters more, in comes a character named Troy, who has the same abilities as Delaney. In fact, whenever she shows up where someone's dying, he's there first. Now from the blurb, I kind of expected more from the relationship between delaney and Troy, but once again, I was disappointed. I won't give it away, but their relationship was not what I thought it was going to be. And I think that sums up my entire opinion of this book: It was not what I expected it to be. The writing was fine, the premise unique, but I think it failed to deliver on its promise - at least for me.

WordsinSync: Interview with Margay Leah Justice. Author of Sloane Wolf,

WordsinSync: Interview with Margay Leah Justice. Author of Sloane Wolf,

Tantalizing Tuesday

Indie Publishing My Way

My Journey in a Nutshell

by

S.R. Johannes

Since I got serious about writing in 2004. I’ve had 4 books go to acquisitions.  Yes four. Two of those - a MG and Nonfiction book – almost sold BEFORE I had an agent. After I signed with a top agent in a top NY agency, I had TWO more books go to acquisitions with her – a tween paranormal and this book – Untraceable. The tween was in noncontractual revisions at a couple houses for over a year only to not sell. Instead of giving up, I edited this book. My agent sent it out to a few editors.  It also went to an acquisitions meeting at one house but didn’t make it. Another house said the wilderness angle wouldn’t sell unless it was a dystopic book like Hunger Game.

My agent didn’t know what else to do. She didn’t want to send my book out on another round without editing but she didn’t know how to give me a fresh perspective. I wanted this book to go out. We separated. Which sucked.

Needless to say, I was depressed. I’d worked so hard for nothing. After spending time wallowing in my self pity, eating chocolate, and yelling at the world from my office window, I came to the conclusion Untraceable didn’t have a future in traditional publishing – no agent would touch it since it had been submitted - so I went out on a limb and decided to do it myself. And blog about it.

That was a hard decision. Unfortunately, even today, the view of self-pubbing is very negative. Many feel self-pubbed books are of a low or cheap quality and usually come from people who were not good enough to get published.

Here are a few things to take into consideration if you decide to self-pub:

1 If you do it for 100$ it will look like a 100$ book.

Self-Publishing is not free. There are costs involved – especially if you want to do it right. I say, you get out of it - what you put in. Do what it takes to make it right or don’t do it at all.  Spend some money to make sure your book is of high quality and doesn’t look self-published then you might get your foot in the door.

2) Everyone Judges A Book by its cover

I think it’s critical to have a good cover that does not look self-published. A quality, high res, and unique cover. I saved money to hire a photographer to do my cover because I wanted something original and high quality. I wanted my book to blend in to the other traditional books that were so successful. I didn’t want to give anyone a chance to say – “Oh this is self pubbed”. Because then my book never gets a fair shot. And trust me, you will get turned down just because it is self-pubbed. It sucks and is totally unfair but it’s true. So make sure it looks good. The cover sells books.

3) Don’t skip the editing

I had my book edited by a children’s editor and then paid to have it copyedited when it was done. I’ve spent a long time on this book to make sure I was proud of it. And I am. Self-pubbing is a short cut to the long publishing process. It is NOT a short cut to writing, revising, editing, revising, and editing.

4) Commit

Self-pubbing is HARD. It may seem like the easy answer but it is not. You do it all ON YOUR OWN. Getting reviews, doing blog tours, cover, typography, editing, formatting. It is a long and arduous process and is a huge time commitment. Before and after you publish. It doesn’t end. Don’t do it if you don’t have the time to put into it. Don’t do it if you feel uncomfortable marketing and promoting yourself (in a classy and non pushy way).

This has been a hard road for me, but I’m proud of where I’ve landed. I did this book my way and I feel I did it the rigth way for me.

Basically, Untraceable is the book no one believed in but me. This book is my blood, tears, sweat, fears, and dreams all bound in 300 pages.

About the Book:

Stay-at-home mom’s teen wilderness thriller proves girls can be tough and independent without living in a fantasy world or possessing special powers.
Untraceable, by author S.R. Johannes, gives teens a realistic heroine set in today’s world and - somehow - makes getting back to nature cool again.
ATLANTA, GA (November 29, 2011) – With the popularity of Twilight and Hunger Games, contemporary thrillers for teens have been practically nonexistent. Shelli Johannes-Wells hopes to change all that with the release of her debut young adult thriller, Untraceable, the first in The Nature of Grace series. The book will be available Nov 29th in ebook and paperback at all major bookstores.
Set in the Smoky Mountains, Shelli brings her love of nature back to teens. In a world where teens spend an average of thirty hours a week in front of some kind of screen, Untraceable makes it cool - yet thrilling– for kids to get outside again.
Grace has grown up in the woods. Her first swing was a forest vine and her first pet, a wounded bear cub. When Grace’s forest ranger father goes missing on a routine patrol, she heads off into the Smoky Mountains in search of him. Soon, she’s enmeshed in a web of deception and murder that challenges everything she knows about the wilderness, survival, and self defense. And, it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this heroine to emerge from town conspiracy that’s spreading like wild fire, threatening everything and everyone she’s ever loved.
“When people ask me what the book is about, I always say, a contemporary thriller with kickbutt teen heroine, an unsolved mystery, a rollercoaster adventure, and – of course - two hot boys. That usually gets girls interested.”
When Shelli started writing the book, there were a few things on her mind. “I wanted to create a tough character who didn’t need to turn to a computer for entertainment. Someone who was tough and feminine with an honest love of natural things in this world. I guess I wanted my character, Grace, to be the Katniss Everdeen of today’s real world in the unexplored setting of Gary Paulson’s Hatchett.”
"Grace is a spunky, independent, nature girl who doesn't need a boy to save her. With wilderness survival, a juicy love triangle, and more twists and turns than a roller coaster, this fast-paced novel had me holding my breath until the very last page—and still begging for more!"  -Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder series

"This thrilling story is a dramatic entanglement of mystery, deception and teen romance. The action flows like a brisk mountain stream interspersed with rapids, holding suspense to last page." - Kirkus Reviews

###

About S.R. Johannes:

S.R. Johannes lives in Atlanta Georgia with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her high heels and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and a love of writing. You can find her hanging out online and visit her at srjohannes.com.

Where to Buy:

* The paperback (can be purchased here.)

ISBN 10: 0984799125, ISBN 13: 978-0-9847991-2-1

* The Kindle ebook can be purchased here.

ISBN 10 - 0984799109, ISBN 13 - 978-0-9847991-0-7

* Other ebook Formats (ePUB, Nook, iBooks, Sony and more) - can be purchased here 

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Wistful Wednesday

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Laurie Bowler into the Moonlight. Welcome, Laurie!

Laurie Bowler:

My Books and Why

I Love to Write

Firstly let me introduce myself and a little about my books. My name is Laurie Bowler and I live in the United Kingdom. I am the author of a whole host of books there seems to be a never ending desire to write. My books are as follows: Moon Rising, Sunrise to Sunset, Golden Horizons, Serena Embracing Darkness, Depths of Darkness, Locum, Order of Blood, Hacked Up, Bloodthirsty Gruesome Tales, Death Bite.

The Moon Rising series consists of Moon Rising, Sunrise to Sunset, Golden Horizons and Order of Blood, they have been the most inspirational books for me to have written, from all 3 I have learnt so much about the writing process and I have managed to pursue my talent and create so much more. Since writing this series my nickname has become ‘The Writing Machine’ because I don’t stop writing, I’m always finishing a book and delving straight into another one.

There are so many reasons why I enjoy writing. At first, it was only a hobby and something I decided to do suddenly in November 2009, and now I have found myself developing further with the plots and characters that I create.

Every day is a massive learning curve, reading reviews and hearing readers thoughts and feelings teaches me many different aspects that |I could incorporate into my writing, and for this I am grateful.

As well as the reasons to fulfil my enjoyment of writing, its my greatest pleasure when I see my name on the back of a printed version, and for those who have joined the technology changes and have an e-reader, to be able to have my name on the e-versions is just as fulfilling as the print version.

Death Bite is my new horror story, and it is incredibly graphiin the details of the storyline, and I have had immense fun writing these.

With Death Bite, I had an idea that writing something with Zombies as the featuring storyline would be a bit like an icebreaker to start my writing getting into the right direction in the horror scene, and so it began. I will admit at first I thought I was going to puke, I put that much detail I gave myself nightmares and my stomach turned over with every chapter that I wrote.

Normally I only write paranormal stories but I felt like having a change, I will be publishing plenty of new paranormal stories in the next few weeks but I need to get over my newly acquired horror bug first.

Here is the synopsis:

Jessica Hargreaves knows a thing or two about being a strong woman. But as a deadly epidemic sweeps across the world, she is put to the test as the flesh eaters rise from the dead and begin to consume the living flesh of the people they encounter. Can Jessica and her small band of survivors escape the evil that is rising across the land or will she be consumed by the unholy hunger of the damned?

And the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Bite-ebook/dp/B005LW4GR0/ref=sr_1_35?ie=UTF8&qid=1315557700&sr=8-35

Please also follow my blog:
http://www.officialblogofauthorlauriebowler.blogspot.com/

Hacked Up is brilliant. Here is the synopsis for you:

Allie Bates longs for the peace and solitude from the strange stalker that had been sending crude and malicious messages and so she leaves her life behind in the city and moves to the country.

Allie moved opposite a strange and intensely dark house opposite, the first of the nightmare soon begin with the strange sounds of screaming.

Rising from curiosity and intrigue she ventures to investigate and then finds herself deep inside a nightmare she wished would end soon.

Will Allie ever be able to escape the nightmare and the constant torture? Or is she destined for death? Who is the psychopathic person that inhabits the house opposite?

http://www.amazon.com/Hacked-Up-ebook/dp/B005MKZKXA/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&qid=1316112185&sr=8-36

I have also written Hacked Up that has just been published, I cant seem to get enough of writing graphical details in horror. Its kind of like my new bug and one I am certainly pursuing at the moment.

I do have a whole list of books waiting to be edited, they are called: Vampire Hunter, Blood Fusions, Locum 2, Death Bite 2 and of course Hacked Up 2. My list could go on because I have many sequels to write too!

Supernatural Sunday

First, my apologies. This was supposed to run on November 15, but due to a scheduling mix-up on my part, it didn't. Now, onto the post!

Interview with Striker from Paradise 21

Hi Striker, and welcome to Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem.

Thanks for having me.

First, can you tell us a little about yourself?

Well, I’m a space pirate, born and raised. I’m not ashamed of my heritage. We were the ones left behind on old Earth, and we had to make do. If that meant stealing, then so be it. I come from a long line of survivors.

If you could wish one wish and have it come true, what would your wish be?

To find a better world for my people, one where they don’t have to eat recycled food and fight over who sleeps closer to the ventilation shafts.

If you could change things, would you rather Tiff never abandoning you on the island? Why?

You mean, planet, right? There’s no large body of water on Sahara 354, so no oceans and no islands. Although that would have been nice…

Never. If I never met Tiff, and she never abandoned me, then I wouldn’t have found Aries. In a strange way, I owe Tiff everything, even after she managed to take everything from me. Weird how life works, ain’t it?

What's the first thing that went through your mind when you first saw Aries

Beautiful, innocent, and incredibly naive. She was standing right before a sandworm, just staring at it like it was some stuffed animal in a museum. If I hadn’t found her, she would have been its next meal. Just thinking of it makes me sick to my stomach.

Describe Aries in five words or less.

Stunning, sophisticated, compassionate, and able to love unconditionally.

Best thing that's ever happened to you?

Meeting Aries, for sure.

Worst thing that's ever happened to you?

My five year exile on Sahara 354. Thanks, Tiff.

Favorite food?

Roasted scorpion. You can get ‘um between the rocks just as one sun sets and the other rises. I imagine it tastes much like what lobster would have.

Favorite color?

Sky blue. Reminds me of pictures I’ve seen of old Earth.

Hobby?

Restoring alien spacecrafts. One hell of a hobby if you ask me. Almost got me killed.

Darkest secret? I figured you wouldn't tell me, but it's worth a try :P

Guys don’t usually give this stuff up, but since you’re being nice: I’d have to say a part of me will always love Tiff. Even if she betrayed me. She’s got a raw vulnerability that just sucks me in. I want to save her, but I can’t. She’s got to make her own choices, and they’re never good.

Greatest fear?

Losing Aries. It happened once already. Don’t want to talk about it.

Best memory?

A guy doesn’t kiss and tell.

That's about it... unless you have anything else you want to say?

Nope. Thanks for having me here, and remember, pirates aren’t all bad.

Thanks for visiting with us all today.




Book Blurb:



Imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet’s native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her freedom will come at a hefty price. Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’ lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries-long voyage.

But Aries has other plans.

When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about pirates—humans who escaped Earth before its demise—are true. Handsome, genetically.

The life of the man she loves.

Excerpt:

Aries sped through space in her escape pod as if she fled the event horizon of a dying star. The controls blinked warnings around her, but she ignored them, pressing the touchscreen to fire the engines to full capacity.

Let’s see how fast this antique can go.

Her sweaty palms slipped on the cold metal as she clutched the restraining bar across her seat. Freedom intoxicated her, coursing through her veins like she drank liquid fire.

She squeezed her eyes shut and screamed, releasing raging emotions held back from years of conforming and keeping her true thoughts silent. Many times Aries had thought her head would implode from the pressure, but instead she’d schemed, plotting the day of her departure down to the last water bottle. As the sound of her voice dissipated, she opened her eyes and peered at the stars as they blurred into streaks of shimmering light.

The time flashed on the screen in fluorescent green: 1638. Aries committed the numbers to memory. She’d have at least three hours before the ceremony and reception ended and her fellow Lifers began searching for her. Her shipmates would check her cell first, then activate the locator embedded in her arm. When they realized she’d jumped ship, they’d stop the engines and count the escape pods. By then, Aries would be a parsec away from the New Dawn.



Author Bio:



Aubrie Dionne is an author and flutist in New England. After reaching a high point in her flutist career Aubrie decided to pursue other creative passions.

“I’d always loved writing and reading fantasy/sci fi books ever since I was little but I always pushed it aside for flute. I felt like I needed to explore more of my interests in life. Ever since I started writing, I couldn’t stop! I use what I’ve learned about craft, diligence, structure, from my flute playing. It’s exciting to start a new discipline and have no idea where my boundaries are: how far I can go with it, how good I can get.”

Paradise 21, Aubrie’s fourth book, was released August 2 as one of Entangled Publishing’s ten launch titles.


Aubrie is represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Her short stories have been featured in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Aurora Wolf, A Fly in Amer, Moon Drenched Fables and various anthologies.

Her books are published by Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, Gypsy Shadow Publishing, and Wyvern Publications.



Aubrie’s Website
 http://www.authoraubrie.com/my-short-stories
Aubrie’s Blog
http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com/