Showing posts with label Bewitching Book Tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bewitching Book Tours. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Echo Falls Excerpt
Excerpt (Chapter
One):
Keep running, keep running, keep running. Phoebe’s lungs burned as her mind screamed the mantra. Keep running,
keep running.
How many steps can there be?
She should know. She lived in this apartment building.
Tears ran down her cheeks and her lungs burned for
air. Only the random irrational thought broke through the panic keeping her
feet moving down the steps. Keep running. Keep running. The light of the
emergency exit came into view. Almost there…
The door to the stairwell slammed open with a hollow
boom. She tripped and clung to the railing to steady herself.
Keep running.
The shock of the cool night air sent a shiver of
relief through her body. She’d come out a side exit into an alley. If she could
just get to the front –
Suddenly she was thrown to the ground from behind. She
hit the concrete, what little breath she had knocked from her lungs. Blood
began flowing from where her head hit the ground, and small sparks of light
floated into her vision.
How did he catch up so fast?
Desperately she tried to gulp down as much air as she
could, willing her lungs to cooperate. Instinct kicked in as the attacker
slashed at her, and she curled into fetal position.
A dog. He’d turned
into a dog. A big dog with vicious claws and teeth he used to tear into her
exposed back, thigh and shoulder. She slowly regained her breath but could only
use it to scream her throat raw.
Her vision faded, taking the small sparks of light
with it. Searing pain ripped through her shoulder as a claw dug down against
her bone. One last, long scream tore from her lungs before she was left gasping
and sobbing, her fear slowly smoldering into rage.
Things can’t end like this.
She opened her eyes as the dog stood over her, trying
to get to her throat. A paw came into her line of vision and she saw her
chance. She reached out, grabbed it and squeezed with all the strength she had.
The dog yelped and tried to twist away, but she held
on with all the strength she had. She knew she’d only bought herself time. She
couldn’t move the dog off her and she couldn’t squeeze his paw all night. He
tried uselessly to bite her, his jaws having no strength so long as she
squeezed his paw. But she could already feel her strength waning.
Suddenly the weight of the dog flew off her, taking
the paw out of her grip. Without thinking, she used her one cooperating arm to
drag herself toward the front of the building.
She shivered, her arm giving out, and caught a glimpse
of a second dog. No. A wolf… Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she
listened to the dogs fighting, the battle just a few steps away. She tried her
best to curl up against the building wall and willed the growling and snapping
to go away. They sounded like they were tearing each other to pieces.
The universe granted her wish, the battle ending with
the sound of two bodies hitting each other and a sharp whine. She shivered and
softly whined as well, dreading the approach of the winner as one of the dogs
yelped and ran away.
A few moments later warm, human hand brushed the back
of her head and she screamed again. If it could be called a scream. Her throat
burned and rebelled at her abuse of it.
“Ssh. You’re safe now.”
She tried to scream again and move away, but her body
wouldn’t obey her commands. She groaned as the full force of the pain washed
over her.
He murmured and she relaxed her desperate grip on
staying conscious. Sleep seemed so tempting, the black abyss singing a siren’s
song to her. Her rescuer – or captor – tried to soothe her, but something dark
and dangerous in his voice betrayed him. He was different. She tried to
bat away his hands but gave up after a few attempts, not sure if her good hand
was actually moving.
As she slipped into the darkness, she wondered if
death had merely granted her a short reprieve from the inevitable.
Echo Falls
By Jaime McDougall
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Blurb:
Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.
After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack - his pack - is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.
Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart. Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?
About the Author:
Jaime McDougall is a citizen of the world, currently loving life in beautiful country Victoria in Australia. She loves eating sushi, kidnapping her husband and naming her pets in honour of science fiction authors.
A love of fiction has always coursed through her veins and she told stories as a child even before she knew how to write them. Settling into one genre was never her style and she has plans for novels in women’s fiction, urban fantasy and more – all with a touch of romance.
She has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: High School: The Real Deal and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles. She has also enjoyed writing the So You Want ebook series for authors looking to establish their names online.
You can connect with her at her website, http://www.inkyblots.com and on Facebook.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/JMScribe
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Guest Blog and Giveaway with Kristine Cayne
I’m very
happy to be visiting the Creatively Green Write At Home Mom blog as part of the
Deadly Addiction Book Tour presented by Bewitching Book Tours. Rémi Whitedeer,
the hero of Deadly Addiction, is a
half-white native man from Blackriver First Nation, a reserve in the Montréal
area. While conducting research on Iroquois myths and legends for my book, I
came across the Creation Story and the Three Sisters. Below is an explanation
of the Three Sisters and how I incorporated them into Rémi’s story.
The Iroquois Three Sisters
The Iroquois or Haudenosaunee
(“People of the Longhouse”) have a strong tie to the land and their beliefs
regarding the Three Sisters—corn, beans, squash—originate in the Creation
Story. In the Creation Story, the Three
Sisters grew on Turtle Island and provided sustenance to the people. Here is a
good recounting of the Iroquois version of the Creation Story: http://www.debramorningstar.com/docs/lessonplan_iroquois_creation.pdf
Why Corn, Beans, and Squash?
It seems
that these three plants have a symbiotic relationship of sorts. The Iroquois
Museum website (http://www.iroquoismuseum.org/three_sisters.htm) states: “The bacteria that occur
naturally in beans absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it to nitrates,
which fertilize the soil for the corn and squash. Beans are supported by winding around the
corn stalks and the squash leaves provide ground cover between the corn and
beans preventing weeds from growing and increasing the amount of rain that
soaks into the ground.”
The Three Sisters Diner
In Deadly Addiction, there is a restaurant on the Blackriver Reserve
called The Three Sisters Diner. Rémi Whitedeer and Alyssa Morgan, the hero and
heroine, meet there on several occasions. Rémi’s favorite meal is white corn
soup because it’s the first meal his aunt made for him when he came to live at
Blackriver.
Alyssa
falls in love with Iroquois strawberry drink the first time she tastes its
refreshing sweetness. Below are recipes for Iroquois corn soup and strawberry
drink for you to try if you’re feeling adventurous. :D
Traditional Indian Corn Soup
• Wash and
put 1 1/2 quarts of "lyed" Indian White Corn in an 8 quart pot. Fill
with water 3/4 full and cover. Bring to a boil and keep at a rolling boil for 1
1/2 hours, corn should open full. You may want to cook corn a while longer . If
the corn is not fully open, stir occasionally. Do not let it stick to the bottom
of the pan.
• While the
corn is cooking, cut up 1 1/2 lbs of pork shoulder butt steaks into 3/4"
square pieces. Do the same with 3/4 lbs of salt pork. Place meat in a separate
pan and boil for 1 hour. Water should cover pork 4" or so. Add if
necessary...you will need this for stock.
• After the
corn opens to your satisfaction or two hours maximum, remove from stove and
pour through strainer. Do not rinse corn. Rinse out pot and put corn back into
pot. Add the cooked pork along with the stock.
• Open three
1 lb cans of dark red kidney beans and add.
• Rinse
cans, add water to cover mixture 3 inches or so. Boil mixture for another 1 1/2
to 2 hours, adding water if necessary. Stir occasionally; do not let it stick
to the bottom of the pot.
Serve in individual bowls, season with salt
and pepper after serving. Best if eaten with homemade, warm yeast bread and
freshly churned butter.
Iroquois Strawberry Drink
Ingredients
- Ripe
strawberries - 2 cups
- Water
- 2 cups
- Brown
or maple sugar - 4 tablespoons
Directions
- Wash
the strawberries in running water.
- Remove
the stems and leaves from them.
- Cut
the berries into small pieces and grind them with the help of mixer
grinder or blender.
- Now
add the maple sugar and water to the crushed strawberries.
- Now
shake the mixture really well so that all the ingredients gel well
together.
- Keep
it in the refrigerator for an hour. Once it is chilled, garnish it with
mint leaves and small strawberry pieces.
I hope this gives you a "taste" of the world of
the Iroquois. :) You can explore more about reservation life and the Iroquois
people--as well as enjoy a sizzling romance and suspense story--within the
pages of Deadly Addiction.
Deadly Vices Book Two
By Kristine Cayne
A proud people. A nation divided.
Rémi Whitedeer, police officer turned substance-abuse counselor, dreams of restoring order to his tribe. Violence and crime are rampant throughout the unpoliced Iroquois reserve, and a civil war is brewing between the Guardians, a militant traditionalist group, and other tribal factions. As the mixed-race cousin of the Guardians’ leader, Rémi is caught in a no-man’s land—several groups lay claim to him, but all want him to deny his white blood.
A maverick cop on an anti-drug crusade.
When she infiltrated the Vipers to take down the leader of the outlaw biker gang responsible for her brother’s death, police sergeant Alyssa Morgan got her man. But her superiors think she went too far. Her disregard for protocol and her ends-justify-the-means ethics have branded her an unreliable maverick. To salvage her career, she accepts an assignment to set up a squad of native provincial officers on a reserve.
A radical sovereigntist bent on freeing a nation.
Decades of government oppression threaten the existence of the Iroquois Nation. But one man, Chaz Whitedeer, is determined to save his people no matter what the price, even if it means delving into the shadowy world of organized crime. When Rémi and Alyssa uncover the Guardians’ drug-fueled scheme to fund their fight for true autonomy—a scheme involving the Vipers—Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa. Can Rémi and Alyssa leave everything behind—even their very identities—for a future together?
Amazon ebook: http://amzn.com/B007WNTXR4
Amazon print: http://amzn.com/0984903429
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007WNTXR4
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-addiction-kristine-cayne/1110068745
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/154765
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-deadlyaddiction-784712-152.html
Kobo: http://bit.ly/M4wfbR
About the Author:
Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.
The heroes and heroines of her Deadly Vices series, beginning with Deadly Obsession, are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms
Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.
website www.kristinecayne.com
Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/KristineCayneAuthor
Twitter: @KristineCayne
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Top 10 things to do in Iceland: Guest blog and Giveaway with Hannah Clark
Top 10 things to do in Iceland:
I’ve never actually
been to Iceland in real life, but I have been there many times in my
imagination and through research—I think I’ve even been there once or twice in
my dreams. If I could actually go there,
however, these are the places I would visit.
1) The
Blue Lagoon. This is Iceland’s most
famous geothermal pool, and you can bathe in it. It’s huge and is fed by mineral rich seawater
that is heated by a nearby geothermal plant. http://www.bluelagoon.com/Geothermal-spa/
2) Camp
out in the middle of Iceland’s unpopulated tundra, away from all city lights
just to watch the Northern Lights dance across the sky. http://www.iww.is/art/shs/pages/thumbs.html
3) Visit
Gullfoss, Iceland’s most famous waterfall.
Take a picnic and hope for a rainbow to show up in the midst of the
falls—better yet, get lucky and see a double rainbow, and then ponder about
what it could possibly mean. J
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gullfoss
4) Hike
Mount Hekla and know once and for all what the “Gateway to Hell” really looks
like. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hekla
5) While
in Southern Iceland, so close to Hella, visit Aegissida farm along the
Ytri-Ranga river and check out the 12 Caves of Aegissida—yes they really do
exist. These caves look like little
houses squished up against a hill side, and were believed to be made by Irish
monks before the Vikings even settled Iceland.
There are even Celtic markings on the walls of the caves. http://www.nat.is/travelguideeng/plofin_hellar.htm
6) While
in Hella, stick around for the Icelandic horse races. Just southeast of town is a race course where
Icelandic horses (mini-versions of our horses) race. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_horse
7) If
the thrill seeking type—which I am not—visit Iceland during a volcanic
eruption. That could be pretty cool, and
possibly life altering—literally. J
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/photogalleries/100419-iceland-volcano-lightning-ash-pictures/#/iceland-volcano-lightning-1_19113_600x450.jpg
8) Visit
the Black Volcanic beach in the town of Vik, located on the southern coast of
Iceland. The black sand on the beaches
is made from volcanic eruptions over the years, and the mountains close by the
shore look incredible! http://www.flickr.com/photos/karnevil/513542117/
9) Of
course, one should definitely visit Iceland’s capital, Reykjavic. I hear it’s one of the coolest cities in the
Northern Hemisphere with great music, happy natives, and some amazing Viking
museums. http://www.visitreykjavik.is/desktopdefault.aspx
10) Finally,
I would check out some of Iceland’s cool elf rocks and their elf/troll museum
in. I read an article once that Icelanders
still believe that elves and possibly trolls exist, and that they live in the
peculiar rock formations that have been created over years of volcanic
eruptions and extremely harsh weather conditions. Apparently, if superstitious Icelanders come
across one of these rock formations while building a road, they won’t blast
through the boulder, or even move it; they’ll build their roads around them. I find that fascinating in
today’s world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHvOeiGHgfw
May 14 Tour Intro
Fang-tastic Books
May 15 Promo
The YA Café
May 16 Promo
Roxanne’s Realm
May 17 Guest Blog
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
May 28 Promo
Bornean Bookworm Reads
May 29 Guest blog
I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!
May 30 Interview
Second Bookshelf on the Right
June 1 Review
Mindy Wall Dreamer2229 Books, Books, and More Books
June 2 Saturday
June 3 Sunday
June 4 Promo
June 6 Promo
June 7 Promo
B'Tween Prose
June 8 Review
June 8 Promo
Nilsas boom blog
June 8 review
June 9 Promo and Interview
JeanzBookReadNReview
June 9 Saturday
June 10 Sunday
June 11 Guest blog
June 12 Interview and review
The Pretty Good Gatsby
June 15 SQAI Night Owl Interview
Cobbogoth
By Hannah L Clark
Genre: YA Fantasy romance
Book Blurb:
To seventeen-year-old Norah Lukens, the Cobbogothians were just a myth. But after her archeologist uncle's brutal murder, and being asked to translate one of his old research journals for evidence, she begins a journey to discover the truth for herself.
Chasing the myth her uncle was obsessed with, Norah learns that his murder was a cover up for something far more sinister. If she hopes to save others from suffering the same fate he did--including the peculiarly magnetic James Riley--she must head to Iceland in order to find out the truth once and for all. If she succeeds, she'll gain the one thing she's always longed for. But if she fails, not even the gods can help her.
Book site: www.cobbogoth.com
Cobbogoth Facebook Page:
Cobbogoth Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY95wH2YrL8
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About the Author:
Hannah L. Clark was raised in the very small town of Oak City, UT with seven sisters and one brother. She spent most of her childhood daydreaming, writing stories, building forts, chasing after boys, and working really hard to earn money. (With six older sisters, her parents were really poor by the time she came along.)
In spite of great learning difficulty brought on by dyslexia, Hannah graduated from high school with honors and was awarded a scholarship in English to Utah Valley University. In 2006 she graduated from UVU with her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and immediately began two of her most exciting adventures yet: Motherhood and writing her first novel.
Five and a half years later, Hannah completed Cobbogoth, a Young Adult Fantasy-Adventure novel, and book one in a seven book series.
She currently lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah with her husband Michael, and their son. Hannah actively seeks to inspire kids and adults by speaking about her experiences of becoming an author in spite of dyslexia.
Hannah still daydreams, writes stories, builds forts, chases after her boys, and works really hard to earn money.
Favorite Quote: "Whatever you think you can or can't do, you're right." -Henry Ford
Visit her online:
Website: www.hannahlclark.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/hannieclark
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
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