Thursday, November 28, 2013

Kevin Berry's 'Stim' Book Blitz: Excerpt & Giveaway


 
Stim by Kevin Berry
Publication date: October 16th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:

Robert is different. He has Asperger’s Syndrome. He experiences the world differently to 99% of the population. Follow his entertaining and highly empathetic story as he struggles to realise and accept who he really is, try to understand other people—which he cannot—and find a girlfriend. Especially find a girlfriend—he’s decided it’s his special project for the year. Accompanied on this transformative journey by his quirky flatmates, Chloe (who also has Asperger’s, amongst other things), Stef (who hasn’t, but doesn’t mind) and their oddly-named kitten, Robert endures a myriad of awkward moments in his quest to meet a nice, normal girl…and not even a major earthquake will stop him.

This absorbing and humorous story is starkly told from Robert’s point of view, through the kaleidoscope of autistic experience.


AUTHOR BIO:

Kevin Berry is an indie author. His particular niche is writing Aspie New Adult contemporary novels set in an earthquake zone. The first of these is STIM, published in October 2013.

His first novels, co-written with Diane Berry, are Dragons Away!, Growing Disenchantments and Fountain of Forever (humorous fantasy). These are available as paperbacks and ebooks at Amazon and elsewhere.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads


Excerpt:
 
The temperature seemed even hotter than before as we pushed the trolleys back the same way to collect my belongings. My feet dragged as if I were wading through golden syrup with a ball and chain attached to each of my legs. I tried to imagine that we were trudging through some endless desert somewhere, but it obviously was not a desert, it was a main road lined with P30 parking signs, and the shopping trolleys were probably marginally easier to push along the footpath than through the sand. They did seem to have a life of their own, though.
The concert outside the Student Union still proceeded noisily and apparently quite chaotically, and if we were heckled again, I did not notice. This was because I felt too exhausted to look. My shirt and Chloe’s top were wet with sweat and sticking to our skin.
We loaded my things into the trolleys—one box of clothes, my laptop and two boxes of books. I collect books like a dragon reputedly hoards riches. They are my little treasures, though I cannot afford to buy them often, and I usually acquire them second-hand. I love it that a book can be relied upon to provide the identical information, or tell the same tale, time after time—unlike people, who can be fickle. Rereading something I already know is grounding for me, and it is pleasing to know that information in a book is always the same each time I look at it.
It was now late afternoon. The trolleys were not easy to handle, not having been designed for long-distance pavement journeys, and squeaked continuously, making me grind my teeth in annoyance. Chloe stimmed by tapping out a beat on the handle of her trolley as we walked, the regularity of which was reasonably calming. Sometimes, one of the trolley wheels would stick and drag along the footpath with a high-pitched shrieking until it freed itself. Other times a wheel would turn randomly, causing one of the trolleys to lurch sideways abruptly, like a pouncing metallic cat. However, we managed the almost 3km back to our new home without serious incident.
After the constant noise and bustle of the halls of residence, it seemed positively tranquil in the new house. I got my first look at my new room. It was a comfortable size, 4.7m by 3.9m, and well laid out, almost a clone of Chloe’s room in size and shape. Chloe had the room next to mine, then there was Stef’s room, and one bathroom, which we would all have to share. Chloe announced that she would draw up a colour-coded timetable for the bathroom for the three of us each morning and evening. I appreciated that careful planning on her behalf. That was one more detail arranged (and one fewer thing about which to be anxious).
We unloaded my possessions and took them into the house. Chloe bent over and carefully placed a box of books on top of the one that I had put down next to the bookcase. As she stood up, she wiped the perspiration from her forehead with her left hand. She wore a white sleeveless top (because this was a Friday), and sweat gleamed on her arms and shoulders. Her blue hair was tousled, and I wondered if she felt as worn out by the heat as I did. One strap of her top had fallen down her right shoulder, but she ignored it, or perhaps was unaware of it. She took three steps to my bed and lay down, letting out a heavy sigh. She twirled her hair with her left hand, and patted the bed with her right hand.
“Robert, why don’t you sit down here? You must be tired. You could rest a while too, lie down, maybe. We could talk or…you know, something.”
I thought I knew how she felt, though, of course, I could not know for sure without Chloe telling me. This was a significant move for us both, bringing a lot of change and, inescapably, anxiety. As she rested, I looked eagerly at the empty bookcase, already mentally arranging my books in order by category and (within that) alphabetically by author. I felt a surge of excitement as I anticipated removing them from the cardboard prisons of their boxes, feeling the smooth dust covers in my hands, and placing their regular rectangular shapes neatly onto the white shelves in front of me in a perfectly ordered, systematic manner.
Chloe sighed again. Perhaps it was because she realised she would have to unpack also, and felt too tired to do so. Suddenly, I realised that we had missed our break together at the university café because we had been too busy moving into the house. I felt thirsty. A cold drink would be good, but a hot drink ought to be better. Apparently, hot drinks cool your body down faster than cold ones.
“Do you want to go out for a coffee?” I asked her.
“I don’t drink coffee,” she said abruptly, then sat up, stood and left the room. A few seconds later, I heard the door of her room close.
That is right, I admonished myself. Chloe drinks green tea. No wonder she did not want to go out for a coffee.


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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

G.P. Ching's 'Lost Eden' Book Blitz: Excerpt & Giveaway


 
Lost Eden by G.P. Ching
(The Soulkeepers #5)
Publication date:
November 18th 2013
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:
 
Rules. Balance. Consequences. War.

When Fate gave Dane the water from Eden to drink, she did more than save his life. She changed his destiny.

Since the beginning, a compact between God and Lucifer has maintained a tenuous peace, balancing Soulkeepers and Watchers and the natural order of things. Dane upset that balance the day he became a Soulkeeper. Fate broke the rules.

Now, Lucifer is demanding a consequence, requiring Fate to pay the ultimate price for her involvement. God intervenes on the immortal’s behalf but in order to save her soul must dissolve the compact and with it the rules, order, and balance that have kept the peace. A challenge is issued. A contest for human souls begins. And the stakes? Earth. Winner take all.

The Soulkeepers are at the center of a war between Heaven and Hell, and this time, nobody, anywhere, is safe from Lucifer’s reach.


 

AUTHOR BIO:
 

G.P. Ching is the author of The Soulkeepers Series, Grounded, and a variety of short fiction. She specializes in cross-genre paranormal stories, loves old cemeteries, and enjoys a good ghost tour. She lives in central Illinois with her husband, two children, and one very demanding Brittany Spaniel. Visit her at www.gpching.com andwww.thesoulkeepersseries.com.
 



Excerpt:

“Hello, Abigail.” The velvet smooth voice lassoed her shoulders, stopping her short.
She turned to face her enemy. At first the man’s attire, a double-breasted suit with Italian loafers, threw her. Very human. But then she noticed his eyes matched the deep navy blue, almost purple color of his tie. A Watcher, for sure. Human beings didn’t have eyes that color or noses that straight. He twisted the gold, lion’s head ring on his manicured finger.
Lucifer was the Lord of Illusions, and his followers boasted similar talents, but under it all, Abigail knew the Watcher’s skin and blood were black as tar. “How is your illusion so strong during the day?” she spat, nervously. Distraction was her only hope.
“Well fed.”
“Who are you? I deserve to know who Lucifer sent for me.”
“You don’t remember me, Abigail? That hurts. We were once very close.”
A deadly smile crossed his full lips, and he smoothed a hand over his meticulously styled black hair. Abigail tried to place his voice, but in her human form all she could sense was the illusion. Worse, the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls had filled the maple grove. His sorcery drew her in, luring her, a fly to the spider’s web. The smell triggered a memory of a long ago day, before Lucifer had become jealous of God and led the Watchers to fall from grace.
This Watcher had chosen an illusion not far from his appearance as an Angel. Abigail shook her head. Lucifer must be serious about her capture to send his right hand man. “Cord.”
He took a step closer. “Good girl. I see your senses haven’t completely dulled with your humanity. Now come, Lucifer is waiting.”
Abigail took a step back, dropping into the fighting stance Lillian had taught her.  She wasn’t completely defenseless. She’d learned the martial arts basics Lillian insisted all of them learn. Cord took another step toward her, and she whipped her knife from her boot. “I think it’s you who have lost your senses, Cord, if you think for a second I’m coming with you willingly.”


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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Thanksgiving Giveaway: Signed Richelle Mead Poster

I have decided to do a Thanksgiving week giveaway because I am so very thankful to all of you, my readers! I recently went to Richelle Mead's signing in Seattle where I procured this poster and she was kind enough to sign it. My immediate thought upon receiving it was that it would be a perfect giveaway item. So this giveaway is for the signed poster and a Book Cracker Caroline bookmark. I am getting a little bit of a late start though so the giveaway will go through next week so everyone has a chance to enter. This giveaway is also open internationally so everyone is welcome to partake! Good luck!!
 
Sorry for the poor picture quality. It comes folded so the lighting looks a little strange. They flatten out nicely though once you hang them.

This is a close up of her signature. It's in the upper left corner.
 
 
*Open Internationally*
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Cecilia Gray's 'Drawn' Book Blitz: Excerpt & 2 Giveaways


 
Drawn by Cecilia Gray
Publication date:
 November 13th 2013
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult



Synopsis:
 
Take a journey into the gritty world of political espionage through the eyes – and lies – of one extraordinary girl. A wholly original tale of friendship and betrayal from the author of The Jane Austen Academy series….

Sasha has a secret – that she can make you spill your secret with nothing more than a question. Her strange gift makes her a burden to her foster family and a total freak of nature. Not that Sasha cares. Why should she when no one cares about her?

Then the CIA knocks on her door. They want to give Sasha a new identity and drop her into a foreign country to infiltrate a ring of zealous graffiti terrorists. They want to give Sasha something to care about.

To survive a world where no one is who they seem, Sasha needs to make people trust her. But when that trust blossoms into love, Sasha is forced to decide between duty and friendship, between her mind and her heart, and whether to tell the truth or keep her secrets.
 


AUTHOR BIO:

Cecilia Gray lives in the San Francisco Bay Area where she reads, writes and breaks for food. She also pens her biographies in the third person. Like this. As if to trick you into thinking someone else wrote it because she is important. Alas, this is not the case.

Cecilia has been praised for “instilling a warmth and weight into her characters” (Romancing The Book Reviews) and her books have been praised for being “well-written, original, realistic and witty” (Quills & Zebras Reviews).

Her latest series of young-adult contemporary Jane Austen retellings was named a What’s Hot pick (RT Book Reviews magazine) and is a Best of 2012 pick (Kirkus Reviews) where it was praised for being a “unique twist on a classic” and offering “a compelling mix of action, drama and love.”

She’s rather enamored of being contacted by readers and hopes you’ll oblige.
 



Excerpt:
 
After a lifetime in orphanages, research labs and assignment to the FBI, Sasha has been transferred overseas. She's alone and just off the plane…
 
Zaventem National Airport, Brussels, Belgium
 
I'm herded through a swinging door into a crowded pickup zone. Waiting families shuffle back and forth, vying for a glimpse of us past the barrier. Every searching gaze brushes over me, as dismissive as the disembodied female voice whispering from above.
Please report any suspicious activity to the nearest airport official.
S'il vous plaît signaler toute activité suspecte à la fonctionnaire le plus proche.
Meld verdachte activiteiten aan de politie.
First time out of the country. Don't know a soul. Working for the CIA, surrounded by all this foreignness—and not just the languages. What have I gotten myself into?
The surge of bodies at my back carries me toward the open lobby. Chelsea had said he would find me, but as I keep walking I'm struck with this vision of running outside to the street. Not stopping until I'm swallowed by the city. No job, no ties. I whip my head back and forth, hoping for something familiar, and I find it in the crowd of eager faces—my name, written in black marker on a piece of cardboard.
Holding the sign is Porter Jennings, fresh from Clark Kent's Smallville: salt-and-pepper hair, weathered skin, and a blue and white checkered shirt. He looks so normal that my relief at not being abandoned at the airport is tempered by a flare of disappointment. No James Bond tuxedo for this Company NOC.
At second glance, I concede he's clever. He's been assigned to Brussels for over a decade but hasn't shed his Midwestern vibe. A perfect anti-spy disguise. No one would pick him out of a lineup unless it was for a tractor driver. I'd packed and unpacked my pinstriped suits a half-dozen times before finally leaving them hanging in the closet. The decision that had at first felt petty now feels smart.
Porter spots me, folds the sign into halves, and shoves it in his back pocket. As I approach, he grabs my hand for a vigorous shake but never breaks stride, forcing me to keep up.
"Welcome aboard, Sasha."
"I'm glad to be here, sir." Simple. To the point. Pretty close to what I'd practiced on the plane.
"Quick, quick. I'm hoping we can make it home for dinner." He makes for the automatic glass doors, leaving me to break into a jog, canvas bag and all. What kind of spy cares about being home for dinner, I don't know. Maybe he's not very good at his job after all. Maybe that's why he needs a teen misfit to do his dirty work.

 

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Monday, November 25, 2013

J.A. Reynolds's 'Peaceful Genocide' Book Release Blitz: Excerpt & 2 Giveaways


 
Peaceful Genocide by J.A. Reynolds
Publication date:
 November 25th 2013
Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult


Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Mitzi and Deuce can recall how many drops of water were on a leaf from a rainstorm five years ago and conversations from last week, month, or year. They have the ability to remember every second of everyday—since birth.

This gift has blessed Mitzi with a history of being sexually assaulted by researchers and abused by her own parents. She trusts no one. Likes no one. Deuce, however, is a high school standout. His gift has made him a superstar on the football field and his memory promises him endless opportunities.

When they both end up at an Alzheimer’s research facility under false proviso, they quickly realize this place isn’t what it seems to be. They endure crazy military-style tests, are forcefully drugged, and complete real-life simulations that haunt them.

Mitzi and Deuce have no idea what the researchers want to do with them or their memories. But one thing is clear: the researchers will go to any lengths to get what they want.
 


 
AUTHOR BIO:

JA Reynolds lives in the Midwest with a normal family, raising a normal daughter, with some abnormal pets. It’s extraordinarily ordinary.


Author Links:

Blog: http://www.jareynoldsbooks.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @jaauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JA-Reynolds/430107783757165?ref=hl

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18499632-peaceful-genocide



Excerpt:
 
“Welcome to The Fifteen.” Mark held both hands out to his sides. “Don’t get excited; you aren’t really outside. This is a simulated environment.”
Deuce slumped. It looked so real. Air breezed across his face, ruffling his hair. The bright sun made him squint. He could smell the freshly cut grass. It was too realistic to be fake.
“The Fifteen consists of only one thing: an obstacle course.”
Deuce sat up straighter. An obstacle course, no matter if it was real or fake, was definitely something he was up for. Something he could dominate.
“What do we get if we get done first?” Ralph piped up. “Do we win?”
Mark smiled knowingly. “This isn’t a competition, Ralph. You’ll all be going through together. And you’ll all be finishing together.”
A loud groan came from Mitzi. Deuce grimaced. He didn’t mind teamwork; quite the opposite, really. But working with someone who didn’t do teamwork was going to get on his nerves. And Mitzi wasn’t the teamwork type. Maybe he could tape her mouth shut, strap her to the energizer bunny, Paisley, and get out of The Fifteen fast enough to have an early dinner. Now that was a plan.
“First run starts now.”
Seatbelt-type appendages lifted from the back of Deuce’s chair and folded across his chest and legs, locking him in place. The others had been locked down, too. Mitzi let out a yelp, and Deuce rolled his eyes. Their seats were thrust upward, like they’d been shot out of cannon. Deuce clenched his teeth, but kept his eyes wide. The ground whizzed by beneath him as an invisible force shot him up and over the horizon. The ground below was oddly shaped like a huge piece of pie. Wooden buildings, metal mazes, and patches of black littered the landscape below. His heart rate escalated with the knowledge he would soon get the athletic release he needed.
His breath whooshed out as his forward motion stopped abruptly and he plummeted toward a small lake below. He clutched the arms of his chair. A pop from behind him made himlurch forward. A bright red parachute exploded out of the back of his chair, fanning out to slow his trip back to earth.
With a splash, he landed near the shore of the still, blue water. He was still strapped to the heavy chair and before he could blink, he was pulled underwater. Staying calm, he fiddled with the straps around his chest, easily finding a buckle on both shoulders. His fingers remained steady as he found the buckle on his lap belt. Pumping his arms and legs, he crested the water, inhaling a breath of warm air.
What a freakin’ rush.
His eyes scanned the top of the water. Paisley, Ralph, and Mitzi landed several yards away. Ralph was the first the breach the water, laughing. Paisley came next, coughing and splashing like she couldn’t swim. Within seconds she’d calmed herself and bobbled while her eyes darted around.
After more than fifteen seconds, Mitzi still hadn’t surfaced.



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Sunday, November 24, 2013

Krystle Jones's 'The Red Sector Chronicles' Book Blitz: Author Interview & 2 Giveaways


 
The Red Sector Chronicles by Krystle Jones
(The Red Sector Chronicles Omnibus)
Genres:
 Dystopia, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult


Synopsis:

The strength of Sloane’s heart is about to be put to the ultimate test.
After the Eclipse – the night vampires began openly slaughtering human victims – everything changed. Out of fear, the government salvaged what remained of the human population and enclosed them in massive, security-laden cities called White Sectors, while marking the vampire infested territory as Red Sectors.

When seventeen-year-old Sloane McAllister’s twin brother disappears, she seems to be the only one who thinks he isn’t dead, and she vows to stop at nothing to find him. Gathering her courage, she braves the Red Sector to search for clues to his whereabouts. By chance, she encounters Aden, a handsome, charismatic vampire with a hidden agenda. He turns Sloane against her will and whisks her away to his underground city. Enemies quickly become friends as Sloane struggles against her attraction to Aden, and resists her growing loyalties to the creatures that ruined her life.

But the vampires themselves are the least of her problems. A war is brewing between the humans and vampires, along with a growing web of deceit and betrayal. And before it’s all over, loyalties will be tested, hearts will be broken, and no one’s lives will ever be the same.


AUTHOR BIO:



Krystle Jones was born and raised in the small, southern town of Tullahoma, Tennessee. Reading and writing have been lifelong passions of hers. In addition to being a novelist, she is also an award-winning flutist, and moonlights as a voice actress. Her voice can be heard in the popular online game, Alice is Dead 3.
 


Author Interview:
 
1. What inspires you? Anything and everything. I draw inspiration from whatever I can, though music and art are helpful in coming up with story ideas. I also tend to be the most creative when I’m more relaxed.
 
2. Are you a pantster or a plotter? Both. Tried pantsting once. The book was a trainwreck and took about four complete rewrites to get right. Never again. *shudders* I plan things a lot more now that I’ve studied story structure, and I’ve tried really detailed outlines. They tend to make the whole writing process not as much fun for me. Things are “too” planned out, so it takes the fun out of writing. I do make notes about major plot points, as well as some sparse notes about how my scenes go. Then I just let my imagination do the rest.
 
3. Why did you decide to write about vampires? Vampires are one of my favorite paranormal creatures. (And I think a lot of people would agree with me!)  They’re alluring, sexy, dark, mysterious. There’s also a certain romanticism that goes along with them, which lends itself well to paranormal romance.
 
4. Tell us a little about The Red Sector Chronicles. In a nutshell, it’s the story about a teenage vampire-hunter-turned-vampire and her adventures. =P That’s the super-short version. It’s a young adult trilogy that’s a mash-up of dystopia, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy, some of my favorite genres. There are laughs, gasps, and swooning-over-book-boyfriends to be had. If you’re a fan of Vampire Academy or Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series, you’ll probably like this series.
 
5. Do you write out your stories in journals, or do you type them? I like to brainstorm story ideas in notebooks. That way I can scratch things out and be very sloppy about the whole process. As for my outlining and drafts, I always do that with Scrivener, my writing program.
 
6. What are some of your favorite movies? I love Victorian romances, so I’m a sucker for almost any Jane Austen film. I also love fairy tales and films with strong female leads. Gottalove a kickass girl. I also LOVE scary movies and anything that makes me laugh. Some favorites that come to mind are Ever AfterUnderworldThe Conjuring, and Tropic Thunder.
 
7. What do you do to relax? Writing, to an extent, relaxes me. Ialways read before going to bed. It gets my mind off things. Otherwise, I have a tendency to just lay awake and worry about things I have to do the next day. Then I don’t sleep, and Zombie Krystle isn’t much good for anything. =P
 
8. Do you have any advice for new writers? Read. A lot. And not just within your genre, but outside your genre. Also read as many writing references as you can, and practice what you learn. That’s the key. And speaking of practicing, write every day. Not edit. Write. Pour new words onto the page. That’s how you perfect your craft.

 

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Thursday, November 21, 2013

A. Rosa's 'Emotionally Compromised' Book Blitz: Excerpt & 2 Giveaways


 
Emotionally Compromised by A. Rosa
Publication date:
November 15th 2013
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense



Synopsis:
 
“A smile will get you far, but a smile and a gun will get you farther” -Al Capone.

Federal Agent Alex Turner deals better with guns than boyfriends, and prefers it that way. Her emotional range is bleak, but her aim is damn near perfect.

Thinking saving the world is a far easier task than dating, Agent Turner springs at the opportunity to prevent young scientist Marcus Gibbs from selling his biological weapon to the highest bidder. With her goal in sight, and Marcus eating out of the palm of her hand, an obstacle she doesn’t see coming interferes. Meet Jeremy Hunt — the distractingly handsome CEO of Sunscape Biotechnologies, and Marcus’s boss and best friend.

A man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, Jeremy’s never been one to take no for an answer, which has Agent Turner realizing for the first time that her wit might get her farther than her weapon. With no protocol or training to reference when it comes to matters of the heart, she worries that this might be her hardest assignment yet.


AUTHOR BIO:



A. Rosa lives in San Diego, California. When she isn’t scouring city parks or cafe’s to write she is more than likely trying to convince her friends to join her on her next adventure. A sufferer of wanderlust, she is always looking for a new mountain to climb, a canyon to hike, or a plane to board. Her resume consists of coroner, to working at a zoo, and most recently as an executive assistant, but finds her home amongst words, whether it be in books, or in film. Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that’s just the way she likes it. 


 
Excerpt:
 
The car pulls away, and I am alone with Jeremy, who is now standing right next to me.
I stare into the distance, not wanting to make eye contact even though I know he's staring at me. I bob back and forth on my heels, waiting for a cab, wishing for this moment to be over. He scoffs next to me, and I still don't budge.
As if he can't take it, he says, "Really?"
The statement almost offends me. I turn to look at him, and it is a blatant mistake. He stands with hands in his pockets in a nonchalant sort of pose. My mouth starts watering. Focus.
"Excuse me?" I ask.
"You're kidding right now, right? That stunt you just pulled with Marcus. Is this all because I grabbed your ass?" He is coming dangerously close to being crude, and I decide to get right to the point.
"Is this because I offered him my number, and not you?"
His mouth forms a hard line, and he is all tough CEO, but I am no mouse and I stare right back. After a moment, he is trying to hold back his smile.
"Maybe it is." He pouts.
When Jeremy pouts, it's a remarkable sight. I gulpover my last thought.
"Well, I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not," I say.
As if dumbfounded, he continues, "Why Marcus? Why him? He's been a drunk slob all night!"
Is he really putting down his friend? I wonder if talking about his friends this way is a habit.
I turn to look away because I can't think of a logical response. He knows I am attracted to him, and I will not let him take advantage of that fact. I can tell he thinks it's funny that I am giving him the silent treatment, and it annoys me. He riles me up!
He leans in somewhat close, and in a mocking tone, hesays, "Is it these blue eyes? Are they too much for you?"
Before I can stop it, a laugh erupts from my mouth, and I look at him and roll my eyes.
"Mr. Hunt, you are definitely not used to not getting what you want, and it almost pleases me that I can affect you so."
He bites his lip, nodding his head as he looks away.
"You're toying with me."
Maybe I am.
 
 
Giveaways:
 
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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Shalini Boland's 'The Perimeter' Book Blitz: Author Interview & Giveaway


 
The Perimeter by Shalini Boland
(Outside #3)
Publication date:
November 18th 2013
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult


The Perimeter, blurb:
 

In this fractured world, a sinister force is coming for Riley, and the only things keeping her safe are a perimeter fence and the people she loves. As her life is threatened, she must make impossible choices. But help comes from the most unlikely of places, and all Riley needs to know is: who can she really trust?

Meanwhile, a repentant killer searches for peace and salvation, but what he gets is the exact opposite. Now he’ll have to make the hardest decision of his life.

The Perimeter is a darkly captivating dystopian tale of adventure, danger, love and redemption that will have you on the edge of your seat and up at night turning the pages to find out what happens next . . .


Outside Series blurb:

Set in the near future, these three heart-stopping novels follow Riley as she overcomes the murder of her younger sister by tracking down the killer across a post-apocalyptic Britain. At the same time, she is forced to take on the might of a twisted regime intent on conquering the nation. The series is packed with action, suspense, drama and dystopian adventure.





AUTHOR BIO:

 
Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband and two noisy boys. Before children, she was signed to Universal Music as a singer songwriter. Now, writing novels has hijacked her life and she is usually to be found with a laptop welded to her fingers and the house in a permanent state of neglect.


Author Links:

Website: http://www.shaliniboland.co.uk


Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/ShaliniBolandAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4727364.Shalini_Boland

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShaliniBoland

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/shaliniboland/


Author Interview:
 
What can you tell us about The Outside Series?
Set in the near future, these three novels follow Riley as she overcomes the murder of her younger sister by tracking down the killer across a post-apocalyptic Britain. At the same time, she is forced to take on the might of a twisted regime intent on conquering the nation.
 
The story is full of action and adventure with a smattering of angsty romance. Books two and three become more darkly dystopian.
 
How do you develop your characters?
My characters grow as I write them. I always think of their upbringing and their circumstances and what bearing this will have on their actions. I try to put myself in their position - How would they really react in a particular situation?
 
I often back my characters into impossible situations or give them difficult dilemmas to deal with, that even I don’t know how to deal with. I hope this makes the story more unpredictable and the drama more realistic.
 
The naming process is very important to me. If a character has a good name, they can come alive. Sometimes, a minor character with a great name will try to take over and carve out a bigger role. I usually let them!
 
Who is your ideal reader?
Someone who likes the ‘what if …’ scenario: What if you were living your life and it took an unexpected twist?
 
My books are aimed at young adults, but I write the kinds of books that I would like to read myself – post-apocalyptic adventure and urban fantasy with a twist of horror and a dusting of romance. My current readers are aged anywhere from thirteen to seventy.
 
What was your journey as a writer?
I used to be a singer songwriter, signed to Universal Music. But it’s not a lifestyle that goes well with having a family and I found myself resenting the time spent away from my kids. I wasn’t successful enough to have nannies and entourages!
 
One day, I had an idea for a great ending to a story and I started scribbling my first novel. Writing fiction gave me the new creative outlet I needed. Plus, I can write from home and set my own timetable. I love it!
 
What is your writing process?
I don’t have a set-in-stone process. I usually have a rough plan and work my way steadily through the chapters, editing as I go.
 
What authors most inspire you?
Authors who can weave multiple plot lines with ease, whose characters evoke strong emotions and who can keep you guessing till the end. I’m in awe of Carlos Ruis Zafon, Laini Taylor, Stephenie Meyer, Suzanne Collins and Paullina Simons.
 
What books, written by someone else, do you wish you'd written yourself?
Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.
 
 

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