MARIE FORCE: INTEVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 

 

 

I am happy to welcome author Marie Force to the blog today! Maries is here to discuss her new Green Mountain Series, and is also hosting a giveaway. Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

With more than 2.5 million books sold, Marie Force is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 contemporary romances. Her New York Times bestselling self-published McCarthys of Gansett Island Series has sold more than 1 million e-books since Maid for Love was released in 2011. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Fatal Series from Harlequin’s Carina Press, as well as the Treading Water Series and numerous stand-alone books. All You Need is Love, book 1 in her new Green Mountain Series from Berkley Sensation, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller in February. The second book, I Want to Hold Your Hand, will be out in June, and the third book, I Saw Her Standing There, is coming in November. In 2014, Marie will have eight mass-market print releases—the first five Fatal Series books from Harlequin and the first three Green Mountain Series books from Berkley. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two teenagers and two feisty dogs, Brandy and Louie. Join Marie's mailing list at http://marieforce.com/ for news about new books and other possible appearances in your area.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads  |  Newsletter  |  Postal Mailing List.

 

 

Interview

 

Hi, Marie. Welcome to The Bookish Babe. Can you tell us a bit about how the Green Mountain series came about?

 

Marie: Thanks for having me, Andrea! It’s great to be here. The Green Mountain Series was inspired by a news story I saw about the Vermont Country Store, which is located in Weston, Vermont, and is run by the Ortons, a father and his three sons, who are third generation proprietors. I thought it was a really interesting story, so I went to Vermont to check out the flagship store in Weston as well as the second store in Rockingham. If you don’t get the Vermont Country Store catalog, I recommend you check it out. It’s a fascinating place! I’ve since met two of the Orton brothers and they will be hosting the series launch party at the store in Weston in June. It’s been so fun to write about a family that runs a country store in Vermont. My fictional family has ten children, five of whom run the store with their father and the other five provide goods that are sold at the store, including maple syrup, wood working, jewelry and Christmas trees. 

 

With ten Abbott siblings, you have potential for a big series. Will each of the Abbotts get a book? (Please say Colton is getting a book!)

Marie:  LOL, yes, Colton is the star of book 3, I Saw Her Standing There, and he has been so fun to write since book 1. He had me laughing out loud several times when I was writing book 3. I do hope to write a book for each of the Abbott siblings, and maybe a few of their friends and family, too. :-)

 

Is there a particular Abbott sibling whose story you're especially excited to tell? 

 

Marie:  I’m writing Hunter’s story next, which will be book 4, And I Love Her. After that will be Ella’s story, and after you read Book 2, you will know why I’m looking forward to her book. I don’t want to give anything away, so that’s all I’ll say for now.

 

 

I Want to Hold Your Hand is Abbott sister, Hannah's story.. Can you tell us what we can expect from her story? (I'm planning on having a box of tissues on stand-by)

Marie:  Yes, you will need them! Hannah’s story was a really special book for me. She is an Iraqi war widow who finds new love with her late husband’s close friend. It was an amazing journey that included interviews with other war widows and a lot of reading about the journey through grief. It was also a challenge to make her late husband Caleb a vibrant character in her story so readers would fully understand what she had lost. I’m really proud of that book, and I hope readers will love it as much as I do.

 

 

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers? Or potential readers?

Marie:  I always love the chance to say THANK YOU to the readers who are so faithful to me and my books. I’ve been blessed beyond my wildest dreams with the most incredible readers. I hope those of you who haven’t tried my books will check them out at http://marieforce.com/books. You can try Maid for Love, book 1 in the McCarthy series, for free. Thanks again for having me!

 

 

Series: Green Mountain #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 2/4/14

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  Kobo

Hoping to take the magic of the island and move it to the mountains with the Abbot family, purveyors of the odd and hard to find relics of a time long gone by in small-town Vermont. Hope you'll come with me to the Green Mountains! Watch for the first book in the series in early 2014!

The family-run Green Mountain Country Store is cherished by locals as a reminder of simpler times. The Abbott children are determined to keep it that way—but their father has different plans…

When Cameron Murphy heads to Vermont to build a website for a new client, she imagines a more relaxing trip than she gets. After wrecking her car by colliding with the town moose, she meets the most handsome hero she’s ever seen. Unfortunately, her savior, Will Abbott, is also the son of her client—and he wants nothing to do with the new website or the city girl creating it.

For all Will cares, Cameron can march her fancy boots right out of town and out of his family’s business. But he can’t seem to get her out of his head. As his family’s dispute heats up, so does the chemistry between the two, leaving them wondering if simple is better after all—especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

 

The Green Mountain Series 

 

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

 

 

Giveaway

 

Marie is offering two lucky winners a signed copy of All You Need is Love.
Must be 18+ years of age; open to US.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{BLOG TOUR} THE SHADOW PRINCE by STACEY O'NEALE: INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on The Shadow Prince blog tour. I am happy to be hosting author (and blogger!) Stacey O'Neal, along with an interview and giveaway.

 

 

 

Every sacrifice has consequences.

Sixteen-year-old Rowan has spent most of his life living among the mortals—learning to control the element of fire, impatiently awaiting the day his vengeful mother, Queen Prisma, will abdicate her throne. When he finally returns to Avalon for his coronation, his mother insists he must first prove his loyalty to the court by completing a secret mission:

Kill Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental daughter of the air court king.

Willing to do anything to remove his mother from power, he agrees to sacrifice the halfling. He returns to the mortal world with his best friend, Marcus, determined to kill the princess. But as he devises a plan, he starts to question whether or not he's capable of completing such a heinous task. And what price he will pay if he refuses?

 

 

 

Available for FREE on Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Also available in PRINT from Amazon

 

 

INTERVIEW

Is THE SHADOW PRINCE part of a series? If so, tell us about the series. Yes, THE SHADOW PRINCE is the prequel novella to my MORTAL ENCHANTMENT novel series. TSP is written in Rowan's point of view. His story is what ignites the conflict in ME.

Can you tell us a little bit about Rowan? Rowan is the heir to the fire court throne. He is a powerful elemental who's spent most of his life away from the court. He's got tons of family drama, but also good friends who help him through it. At times he can be a bit arrogant as most princes are, but he's also thoughtful and loyal to the people he loves.

Can you tell us a little bit about Marcus? Marcus is Rowan's best friend, and a lot of times, his voice of reason. He's a shape-shifting fire elemental called a Gabriel Hound. Basically, he shifts into a huge panther. His kind are quite feral and vicious, but Marcus is also half mortal which makes him less animal.

What was the hardest scene to write in THE SHADOW PRINCE? It's hard to answer this without giving anything away. I will say there's a scene where a character is forced (literally) to do something horrible to someone they love. It has a deep impact on both characters in different ways. Because I love both of them so much, it was really hard to go through it with them.

Why did you decide to give the novella away for FREE? Because I'm a new author, I thought I would get more readers to give it a chance if it were free. I hope they fall in love with Rowan the way I have and want to know more about his role in the series. I also thought it would be fun to introduce Kalin (my series heroine) through his eyes.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

About the author

Stacey O'Neale lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she's not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter. Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult paranormal romance and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing. Stacey loves hearing from readers. Follow her on Twitter @StaceyONeale, look for her on Facebook, Pinterest, and GoodReads. You can also visit her blog at http://staceyoneale.com/.

SPRING FLING ~ KAREN of FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH REVIEWS + GIVEAWAY

Spring Break is here, and that means I am taking a mini-break. I thought it would be fun to take a week to feature some of my favorite authors and readers.

Today I have Karen of For What It's Worth Reviews. FWIW is the first blog I fell in love with. I read it every day for a long time before I finally had the courage to start commenting and talking to Karen on Twitter (@teamsheltie). Why was I so nervous? Because Karen is sooo cool! She is always talking about the newest music and books. In fact, she was talking about this Ed Sheeran guy I keep hearing everyone go on about (lol) before he blew up. Her blog is where I discovered Tammara Webber, Jeri Smith-Ready's WVMP Radio series and Nyrae Dawn, to name a few. To put it simply, Karen Rocks!

So I was really excited when Karen said yes to answering some questions for me...

Who was your first book boyfriend?

KA:  I used to love the bad boys and Eric Northman (The True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse series) was probably my first book crush but the honor of first book boyfriend goes to Shane McAllister from Jeri Smith-Ready's WVMP Vampire Radio series. He's just amazing…sexy, talented and loyal to everyone he loves. Shane made me see that I want a good guy BUT he's got a bit of a bad boy edge being a sexy, brooding vampire. I would marry him if I wasn't married already. Or if he wasn't already madly in love with Ciara. Or if he was real. Minor details….

My true love is Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games. I try to hold that in check though because I'm old and I feel pervy for loving him so much. *sigh* I LOVE him (the book version not the movie version Peeta)
(Shane McAllister is The. Best.)

Who was your most recent book boyfriend?
KA:  I'm really loving the boys from Katy McGarry's Pushing the Limit series. They (Noah, Ryan, Isaiah) all have some kind of past and edginess to them but once they meet their lady loves they pull themselves together and stop at nothing to keep them happy and safe. Swoon.


Tell me the most recent book you've fallen in love with. 
KA:  I read this book last year but I still keep thinking about it - The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle. It blends so many seemingly odd things together beautifully. It's a vampire, dystopian, Amish coming of age story. I mean….how could that work?? But it does and I was blown away by the writing and how original the story was.


What is your favorite book trope? Your least favorite?
KA:  My favorite used to be the tortured hero but I'm kind of tired of that. These days I'm looking for a surprise….anything that's not a trope.

Least favorite is no surprise if you know me - the love triangle. HATE them. I'm trying to soften my stance but they make me physically ill when I'm reading one. lol


I always like to see what you have to say about movies. What's the most recent movie you would recommend?
KA:  I've been really bad about seeing movies lately. I loved Cabin in the Woods directed by Joss Whedon. I had heard great things about it and it's Joss so I was sure I would love it but it was even better than I than I had expected. Warm Bodies is a movie I'm seeing soon & I'm hoping I love it.


I also like to see your music recommendations. Who is your most recent favorite performer?
KA:  I just saw Imagine Dragons in concert and they were amazing! They put on quite the show. That concert definitely made it to my favorites list. Another great live performer is Ed Sheeran. I've seen him twice so far and he blows me away. If you ever get to see him live then you must!

Thanks so much to Karen for taking the time to answer my questions.

Want to win some swag? In honor of the fabulous book boyfriend Shane McAllister, I'll give one commenter a WVMP Radio bookmark, plus bookmarks from Jeri Smith-Ready's Shine series.

(Open Intl)

SPRING FLING ~ INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY WITH CINDI MADSEN

Spring Break is here, and that means I am taking a mini-break. I thought it would be fun to take a week to feature some of my favorite authors and readers.

Today I would like to welcome author Cindi Madsen to the blog. I have been friends with Cindi for quite a while now, though I can't remember how we got started. I'm sure it was something to do with music and/or cute boys. But besides being an awesome friend, Cindi is a fantastic writer. I adore her books.

 

I recently begged asked Cindi to do a Q&A with me.

 

Who was your first book boyfriend?
CM:  That would be Nat from The Witch of Blackbird Pond. He's a sailor and he and Kit had good banter. Be still my beating heart!


Who was your most recent book boyfriend?
CM:  Tucker Avery from the Unearthly series. I'm a little obsessed with that boy.


Tell me the most recent book you've fallen in love with.
CM:  Such a hard question! I'd say it's a tie (because I always cheat at these questions. lol). Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi was like reading poetry, impossible to put down, and emotion-filled, and I just read Boundless by Cynthia Hand after waiting what seemed like forever. That book tied up the series perfectly, and I really loved all three books (and Tucker)
 

What is your favorite book trope? Your least favorite?
CM:  I really love friends who become more. There's just something awesome about having that solid friendship first. You know, I'm not sure about a least favorite. If the writer makes me feel the emotions between the characters, I'll pretty much go along with anything.


I always like to see what you have to say about cheesy movies night. What's the most recent movie you would recommend?
CM:  Everything You Want (Netflix has it under Surreal Love for some reason) I actually wandered across this in Blockbuster when it first came out. I picked it up because it had Nick Zano and I loved him in What I Like About You. Shiri Appleby was in it too, and I was a big Roswell fan. Anyway, it's this little independent movie that made me laugh and swoon and it was just so different with such great quirky characters. I had my sister and aunt watch it with me a few years later and they loved it, and when I saw it was on Netflix a couple weeks ago, I watched it again (even though I own the DVD). This movie always makes me happy and I pick up on a new awesome line each time I watch it. One of my all time favorites. Seriously, go watch it!


I also like to see your music recommendations. Who is your most recent favorite performer?
CM:  Again, a hard question for me because I can never pick one. I've been listening to a lot of MS MR (Hurricane's an awesome song) The Neighborhood (Female Robbery) Anything by All That Remains and Three Days Grace (because as you know, I'm in mourning over 3DG breaking up) But Paramore is still one of my all time favorite groups. I've seen them live and they're awesome!
 

**If you want to see two whiny sadsacks, talk to Cindi and me about Three Days Grace. SOB.**

The world is going to hell and you can only escape with one beloved pair of shoes. Which ones would you save?
CM:  One? Seriously, I'm getting stressed out even thinking about it. Lol. I guess, if I HAVE to pick ONE, I'll go with my neon pink 5 inch pumps. They practically create their own light source which might come in handy, and they're actually pretty comfy. Plus I could still use the heel as a weapon if needed.

 

 

Sigh...You guys see why I adore Cindi? She's the best.

 

 

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Connect with Cindi at:
her website | Twitter | Facebook | blog

 

Books by Cindi Madsen

 

(Click on cover for GoodReads page)

 

 

Want some bookmarks? I have signed bookmarks (Demons of the Sun/All the Broken Pieces) for one commenter! (Open Intl)

 

 

BLOOD'S PRIDE BLOG TOUR ~ INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Blood's Pride Blog Tour! This book looks like a WIN for lovers of Epic Fantasy! My post includes a book spotlight, interview with author Evie Manieri, and a giveaway. Thanks to the folks at Tor Publishing for inviting me to take part in the tour.

 

 

Series: Shattered Kingdom's #1

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: 2/19/13

Rising from their sea-torn ships like vengeful, pale phantoms, the Norlanders laid waste to the Shadar under cover of darkness. They forced the once-peaceful fisher folk into slavery and forged an alliance with their former trading partners, the desert-dwelling Nomas tribe, cutting off any hope of salvation.

Now, two decades after the invasion, a rebellion gathers strength in the dark corridors of the city. A small faction of Shadari have hired the Mongrel, an infamous mercenary, to aid their fledgling uprising—but with her own shadowy ties to the region, she is a frighteningly volatile ally. Has she really come to lead a revolution, or for a more sinister purpose all her own?

This thrilling new epic fantasy is set in a quasi-Medieval Mediterranean region, drawing together the warrior culture of Vikings, the wanderlust of desert nomads, and the oracles of ancient Greece. Evie Manieri's Blood's Pride is an intricate, lush fantasy novel full of taut action, gut-wrenching betrayal, and soaring romance.

 

 

Interview with Evie Manieri  

 

Describe Blood's Pride, Twitter-style. 
EM:  Blood’s Pride is about an epic rebellion, but one in which the action takes place on a very personal level – or put another way, a fantasy novel as told by an unabashed shipper.


What was your inspiration for the story?

EM:  The book really started with a single image that came to me - that of the Mongrel appearing out of the desert (in very much the way she’s pictured on the US cover in fact!). She’s someone stuck between opposite poles, someone being pulled apart by forces outside her control, but she’s not going to go quietly. She’s come back to end things, one way or the other.

The setting was inspired by some traveling I did a while ago in Greece, Turkey, and Spain. There was a starkness to some of those landscapes, a glaring intensity that not only fit the story but helped me to develop it as well.


What do you think sets Blood's Pride apart from other books in the genre?

EM:  There’s a wonderful variety of stuff coming out now in the fantasy world - it’s hard to keep up! Some of the aspects of Blood’s Pride that may differ from common assumptions about epic fantasy (not that those assumptions are always right) is that it is focused on a very specific geographic area, the action takes place during a condensed timeframe of just a few days, and there’s a focus on relationships over politics or military might (though there’s plenty of that too!). A fair number of the central characters are trained warriors, so there are intense battles – but the battles are complicated by the interpersonal relationships between those characters. In Blood’s Pride, violence is something close, not something distant or abstract, and the concept of heroes becomes very complicated.


Writing an Epic Fantasy seems daunting. How did you keep it all in order while you were writing?

EM:  Some of it I can keep in my head, and for the rest I use all kinds of things – index cards, notebooks, sticky notes, maps, timelines – to make sure I’m not crossing myself up. For one pivotal scene involving most of the main characters and multiple points of view, I built a crude model with cardboard from the recycling bin and my daughter’s action figures. That was fun. I would probably do that more often, except that building models is a lot easier than writing, and I don’t think I trust myself to use my time responsibly.


I'm guessing you're a fan of Epic Fantasy. Do you have a favorite book/series in that genre?

EM:  I really enjoyed Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series when I read them years ago. When I was younger I adored Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising series, though I don’t think it’s considered epic fantasy. I’ve re-read those books several times as an adult, and enjoy them just as much now.

Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?
EM:  No, not really. I spent so many years working around a demanding day job and family responsibilities that a routine wasn’t really an option. On the upside, that experience taught me that it’s possible to work pretty much anytime, anywhere.


What book (besides your own, of course) do you wish everyone would read?
EM:  Dorothy L Sayers’ detective fiction, specifically the ones with Harriet Vane: STRONG POISON (1930), HAVE HIS CARCASE (1932), and GAUDY NIGHT (1935). I’ve also recommended OF HUMAN BONDAGE, by W. Somerset Maugham, to most of my friends. It’s a book that went out of fashion some time ago, but it’s a personal favorite.


What message would you like for readers to get from Blood's Pride?
EM:  There will always be people who want to tell you who you are. The people who really care about you won’t tell you: they’ll help you figure it out for yourself.

 **Thanks to Evie for taking the time to answer my questions.**

 

 

 

About the author:

 Evie Manieri graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in Mediaeval History and Theatre, disciplines that continue to influence her work in about equal measure. She is enthralled by intricacy, and when not weaving together the threads of her plots, she can be found knitting airy lace shawls and singing Renaissance polyphony. Evie lives with her family in New York.

 

Connect with Evie at:

Website  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads  |  Facebook

 

 

Giveaway

 

I have one copy of Blood's Pride up for grabs. This giveaway is open to US Residents only.

Fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY ~ SIX-GUN TAROT by R.S. BELCHER

Today I am happy to be able to share a recently release book with you, courtesy of Tor Publishing.

Six-Gun Tarot, a Historical Fantasy, released on January 22. I have an feature of the book, an interview with author R.S. Belcher, and a giveaway! 

 

 

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: 1/22/13

Buffy meets Deadwood in a dark, wildly imaginative historical fantasy

Nevada, 1869: Beyond the pitiless 40-Mile Desert lies Golgotha, a cattle town that hides more than its share of unnatural secrets. The sheriff bears the mark of the noose around his neck; some say he is a dead man whose time has not yet come. His half-human deputy is kin to coyotes. The mayor guards a hoard of mythical treasures. A banker’s wife belongs to a secret order of assassins. And a shady saloon owner, whose fingers are in everyone’s business, may know more about the town’s true origins than he’s letting on.

A haven for the blessed and the damned, Golgotha has known many strange events, but nothing like the primordial darkness stirring in the abandoned silver mine overlooking the town. Bleeding midnight, an ancient evil is spilling into the world, and unless the sheriff and his posse can saddle up in time, Golgotha will have seen its last dawn…and so will all of Creation.

 

Interview with R.S. Belcher

 

Describe The Six-Gun Tarot, Twitter-style.

R.S.: The Six-Gun Tarot is a genre-bending fantasy set in the wild west of 1869.  It has horror, steampunk and black humor.  It’s been likened to “Buffy meets Deadwood”.  

What was your inspiration for the story?
RS: I got the idea for Six-Gun from a lot of sources that kind of percolated in my brain for years.  Old western movies, like High Plains Drifter and television shows like Twin Peaks. Authors like Roger Zelazny, H.P Lovecraft, Larry McMurtry and Tony Hillerman The basic idea was to create a town in the old west at the edge of a wasteland that was a lighthouse, a beacon for the best and the worst of humanity and for all manner of weirdness. That town became Golgotha, and is really a major character in the book.

There is a lot going on in Six-Gun Tarot. How did you keep it all in order while you were writing
RS:  Sometimes the number of ideas that pop up can be distracting for me; I want to get it all in there! I would write a summary of the chapter and hit the high points I wanted to make sure I made in the chapter just before I wrote the chapter.  It helped keep me focused.

I'm guessing you're a fan of "Western" fiction. Do you have a favorite book/series in that genre?
RS:  I like most of the stuff by Larry McMurtry and Tony Hillerman. I also love Robert Parker’s westerns and pretty much everything else he wrote.

Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?
RS: (Hahahahaha) God, I wish I did. I am getting more disciplined to time management as the demands are increasing on me to write more stuff.  I like music –like trance or classical to listen to while I write.

What book (besides your own, of course) do you wish everyone would read?
RS:  I think the poetry of Rumi is very powerful and has good things to whisper in your ear.  I love William Goldman’s the Princess Bride- it’s is like really good soup when your heart is sick. Just READ- there is so much wonder and beauty and magic out there- fill your brain!

What message would you like for readers to get from Six-Gun Tarot?

RS:  Thank you.  Thank you for the kind words, for enjoying my book and for expressing a desire to read more stories from Golgotha.  It means more to me than you can ever know, or that I can express.  Just, thank you very, very much.

About the author:
Rod Belcher won the grand prize in the Strange New Worlds SF-writing contest. He runs Cosmic Castle, a comic book shop in Roanoke, Virginia.

 

Learn more about Six-Gun Tarot at:

The website  |  Facebook  |  R.S. Belcher's Facebook Page

Giveaway

 

I have one copy of Six-Gun Tarot up for grabs. This giveaway is open to US Residents only.

Fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

THE NEXT FOREVER BLOG TOUR ~ REVIEW and INTERVIEW WITH LISA BURSTEIN

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on The Next Forever Blog Tour. You can find the complete tour schedule here. My stop includes a review and interview with author Lisa Burstein.

 

Series: Pretty Amy #1.5

Genre: Contemporary New Adult

Publisher: Entangled Ever After

Publication Date: 1/13/13

Format: ebook

Pages: 97

Source: Bought

 

One night in college can change everything…

Away at college, Amy just wants one night alone without her high school sweetheart, Joe. So when he invites her to go to the library, she heads off on her own instead. How she ended up at a house party with the mysterious bad-boy Trevor is another story…

Joe so isn’t going to the library. He needs space from Amy, too, so he’s decided to rush a fraternity, to get back the swagger he had in high school. But it doesn’t take long for the brothers to invite him to the real rush here the beer is flowing and one particular girl has set her eyes on Joe.

Over the course of one wild night, both Amy and Joe will have to decide if their futures belong with two new people, or whether the next forever will have their first loves in it.

"The next forever was all that mattered."

I am truly at a loss with my review. I want to talk about The Next Forever, and how amazingly honest and insightful I found it to be, but I can't make my heart go there.

Lisa Burstein is a gift to young women, and the people who love these girls. I wish, so much, that Pretty Amy and The Next Forever had been around when I was younger. How much easier my life might have been if I had been able to hand my mom, dad, or boyfriend (now husband) one of these books and said "You truly want to know me? What's going on inside my head? Here, read this." I find so much of myself in Amy that it is scary. And the way in which Burstein is able to convey the angst, the questions, the doubts that consume Amy's thoughts... it truly blows my mind.

The Next Forever is not "Pretty Amy 1.5: Amy and Joe Live Happily Ever After". What it is is a honest, sometimes heartbreaking look at what happens next. The doubts Amy has about her choices, her ability to think and speak for herself. Joe has his own worries. He's a "saver". What will he become to Amy if she no longer needs him to rescue her from herself. For this, I give Burstein major love. So often in books, we want that happy ever after, wrapped up nice and neat. But that's not life, and it's not fair to always portray it as such. Like we all do, Amy and Joe realize that each day is takes work, each day is a gift, and each day is it's own forever.

Once again, Lisa Burstein has proved to me that her books are invaluable, must-reads if you were, have ever or will ever love an "Amy". THANKS, Lisa, for giving all of us a voice.


Favorite Quote:

  ...but I felt like I'd gone from the shadow of Lila and Cassie to the shadow of Joe. Not that Joe ever made me feel like I was in his shadow.
  He made me feel like the sun.
  But I was still measuring my significance because he was in my orbit. If I said yes to him, would I ever stand on my own?  ~24%

 
  "Wow," she said, her whole body hunching. "You really love her, huh?"
  "I'm trying," I said.
  "Well." She licked the top of her bottle. "When you get tired of trying, you can always call me."
  The thing was that I knew, for Amy, I would always try.  ~67%

Interview with Lisa Burstein 

 

 

Was it difficult to get back into Amy's head for this novella?

Lisa: A little, but also Amy is so close to who I was in high school and college that she is kind of just me.

I love that Joe gets his own point of view. How was it writing a guy?

Lisa:  Easier than I thought. Luckily I had my editor letting me know when he was being too girly. Also, I lucked out in that Joe is a sensitive guy which allowed me to be able to let him be in touch with his feelings. The one thing I am amazed by is that in every review, love or hate the book, no one has said that Joe didn't ring true as a guy. I am proud of that.

 

I loved the fact Amy still faces her "bad girl" past, and her feelings of inadequacy. Was that something you knew you were going to touch on going into writing The Next Forever?

Lisa:  I did. Her and Joe needed to still be facing that conflict and she also needed to still be facing it internally. I understood that this would give the novella the depth it needed. When you are writing something shorter giving it depth can be hard because you only have a finite number of pages. I also knew that Amy's struggle with all these things wouldn't be solved at the end of The Next Forever, nothing about Amy is ever tied up in a neat, little bow.

I like that Amy and Joe, even though they're a couple, need space. That's something I don't find a lot in books. Was that an important point for you?

Lisa: I think it is real. I know that when my husband and I were in college (yes, we met there), it was something we struggled with. It is important to have your own life as well as have a life together. I think this is an issue couples face at all stages of their relationship. How to keep that delicate balance between me and we.

Okay...How was it writing your first intimate scene?

Lisa: HA! Well, scary. I had never written anything beyond heavy make-out so writing actual SEX was totally new and different and terrifying. I just thought what would I want to read in a sex scene and I went with the tender rather than the explicit. For Joe and Amy, I think it couldn't be any other way.

 

Thanks to Lisa for taking the time to answer my questions. I think her answers help explain why I love her books so much.  

 

 

About the author:

 

Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Fiction from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats.

Connect with Lisa at:

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads  |  Blog  |  Website

 

 

Purchase The Next Forever at:

 

HOT TICKET BLOG TOUR ~ INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Welcome to my stop on the Hot Ticket Blog Tour! I am so thrilled to be participating in the celebration of the latest release for one of my favorite series and author. Today I have an interview with author Olivia Cunning and a giveaway! 

 Series: Sinners on Tour #4
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: 2/13/13

There are things in bassist Jace Seymour’s past that he is unwilling to share with anyone. To cover his guilt and anguish, he seeks dominatrix Mistress V (Aggie) to temporarily placate his inner turmoil. Aggie doesn’t have much use for men–besides the power rush she gets when they’re begging for mercy at her feet–but Jace isn’t like her usual clients. His cool defiance and unexpected dominance in the bedroom drives her to distraction and quickly steals her heart. When circumstances threaten Jace’s position in Sinners, Aggie must help him regain his rightful place in the band while showing him that time and love can heal all wounds.

 

 

 

 

 

Interview with Olivia Cunning

 

 

Hot Ticket read as a much more thoughtful, darker story than the first three Sinners books. Was it harder to write?

OC: If by harder you mean that I required a large box of tissues to get me through it, then yes. If by harder you mean that it was a challenge to write, then… um, yes. But every book is hard to write. Especially when you get farther into writing a series and have to keep everything straight. I’m like, wait, what tattoo does he have on his left forearm? How old was he when that happened? What city are they in now? Is the bathroom on the left or right side of the tour bus? That’s the stuff that’s hard for me. Details. Writing the emotions, the dialogue, the actions; that’s the “fun” part.

 

Which song best describes Jace? Aggie?

OC: Jace is easy. His theme song is Pain by Three Days Grace. Aggie is a little tougher because she has two sides to her. The tough as nails dominatrix would be best described by the song Cold Hard Bitch by Jet. The part that wants Jace happy? I’m not sure there is a song for that, but the song Erase My Scars by Evans Blue is about as close as I’ve found to portraying what she’s about.

 

Did you have a playlist while writing Hot Ticket? Care to share any of the songs?

OC: I compiled the playlist after I wrote it (with the exception of Jace’s theme song), but I’d hear certain songs and they’d remind me of the book. That happens a lot when I listen to music. This song reminds me of such-and-such a book I’ve written. Or I’ll hear a song and think that needs to be incorporated into a book somewhere. I am so influenced by music.

The entire playlist for Hot Ticket is located here: http://oliviacunning.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/hot-ticket-official-playlist.pdf

Share as many as you like!

 

Aggie's role as a dominatrix was very well-written. Did you do a lot of research? What sort?

OC: Thanks. I worried about how her character would come across. She is a bit sadistic. I actually read about a hundred blog posts written by a real-life dominatrix. It was, um, interesting. She wrote anonymously, so I’m not sure who she is, but I’d like to thank her for bringing reality to the life of a domme for hire. And she shared her story of being sexually abused as a child. Very said. I think her posts added some of the emotion to this book. I was certainly affected by them.

 

Going into the series, did you always know that Jace had such a troubled past, or did that reveal itself as you wrote the books?

OC:  I knew he had a heartbreaking upbringing and I knew most of it centered around his parents (that Kara thing took me by total surprise, by the way), but I didn’t know the details until I got to the scenes. I usually write like that. I love discovering my characters as I go along. I always have to go back later and change things earlier in the story as things come to light, because so much is revealed to me in the moment as opposed to carefully plotted. That’s the best part about writing. The surprises! I’ve tried plotting books and writing them based on a tight outline. It bores me to tears. I like to discover things as I go.

 

I know you love your rockers (as do I!), is there anyone specific you based Jace, or any of his traits on?

OC:  He’s more based on a song then a person. Physically, he was originally inspired by Johnny Christ of Avenged Sevenfold, but like all of the Sinners, the personalities aren’t based on anyone. The personalities aren’t even inspired by anyone. In my mind the characters are unique, “real” individuals. And the song that drove Jace’s creation is Pain by Three Days Grace. If you don’t like metal music, at least read the first stanza of the lyrics. That’s Jace. 100%. Granted, I do sneak a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll lore into the books here and there. Can’t help myself. I always wonder if people pick up on those little nods to the real world. Occasionally, I’ll get a list from a fan that points them out. It’s like a treasure hunt! And occasionally, someone will point out a bit of lore I’d used and I didn’t even know it was lore. Here’s an example. Apparently, Metallica used a different rhythm guitarist for one of their tours because James Hetfield (singer and guitarist) had broken his wrist in a skateboarding accident. So he sang during the tour, but didn’t play guitar. I had NO IDEA. None. It’s weird that Double Time used a similar premise to introduce Reagan into the Exodus End mix. I wonder if I heard that somewhere in passing and incorporated it subconsciously. Strange how the mind works. Sorry, I’m rambling. About a different book, even.

**"Pain" is a fantastic song. Here's a link to the lyrics.

 

Rambling about Exodus End is welcome here!**

 

 

I always look to your Music Monday posts for good music recommendations (thanks for introducing me to Adelita's Way!). What band/song can you not stop listening to now?

OC:  Is this where I complain that we don’t get any good metal stations in Galveston? The rock station we get here plays too many pop songs. I used to listen to the radio to discover new songs and now I’m stuck listening to my old favorites as I’m not getting introduced to anything new. I suppose I’ll have to resort to Pandora, but their variety is a bit too far reaching. Too many B-sides of albums I already have. Occasionally I’ll find something new on there. Framing Hanley, for example. So lately I’ve been listening to Hot Ticket’s playlist, because I’ve been trying to get the right mix of songs. Are there any great up-and-coming bands out there right now? I could use some new music to obsess over.

 **Sirius Octane is your friend. Lots of A7X, Chevelle, 3DG, Metallica, Godsmack, FFDP, etc.**

 

Describe Hot Ticket, twitter-style.

OC:  Two people meet and fill a need in each other that neither realized existed. Stuff happens. Laughter and mayhem. Love and loss. And some hot sex!

Argh! It’s 5 characters too long. Modifying it Twitter style.

2 ppl meet & fill a need in each other that neither realized existed. Stuff happens. Laughter & mayhem. Love & loss. & some hot sex! #buyit

 

Major THANKS to Olivia for stopping by! If you haven't read this series, go get it NOW.  

 

 

 

 

Sinners on Tour Series

(click the cover to read my reviews)

 

You can purchase Hot Ticket at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Combining her love for romantic fiction and rock ‘n roll, Olivia Cunning writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians. Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She's been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction -- first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own. Growing up as the daughter of a career soldier, she's lived all over the country and overseas. She recently moved to Galveston, Texas.
 

Connect with Olivia Cunning at:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

GIVEAWAY

I have one copy of Hot Ticket to give away, courtesy of Sourcebooks. This giveaway is US Only, 18+ years of age.


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A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS BLOG TOUR ~ EXCERPT, Q&A, and GIVEAWAY

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on An Natural History of Dragons Blog Tour! My stop includes an excerpt from the book, a Q & A with author Marie Brennan, and a giveaway!

 

I would like to note that all artwork is credited to Todd Lockwood.

 

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

Publication Date: 2/5/13

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . . All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever. Marie Brennan introduces an enchanting new world in A Natural History of Dragons.

 

 

Excerpt

 

Closing the book, I turned in my seat and reached over the back of the wagon-bench to stow it in a pack that would all too soon prove whether it was as waterproof as advertised or not.

            As I did so, a gust of shockingly cold air pulled at my sleeves, and ice stung my face. Wondering if we were in danger of hail, I looked up.

            I have little recollection of the next several seconds. Just a moment of frozen staring, and then -- with no transition -- my voice shrieking “Get down!” as I wrapped my arms around my husband and dragged him forward, off the wagon bench.

            Two other screams overlaid my own. One, high-pitched and awful, came from our driver as claws snagged him off the wagon and into the air. The other, lower but more terrible, came from above, as the dragon plummeted from the clouds and raked over our heads.

            Jacob and I landed in the wagon traces, the reins and harness tangling our limbs while the horses shied and whinnied their terror. Being on the outside, I tumbled free first, and cried out to see the wagon lurching forward, my husband still caught within. He fell a moment later, directly beneath the wagon, and the wheels passed close enough to leave a track across his coat.

            I crawled toward him, hearing shouts from all around us. Frantic glances skyward showed me nothing; the dragon had vanished again. From the slope ahead, though, came the agonized groans of our driver. Just as I reached Jacob, a loud noise cracked the air: a gunshot, as one of the other drivers fired off the rifle he carried against highwaymen or wild animals.

            Wild animals. I had not, until that moment, put dragons in that class. I had thought them something apart.

            “Stay down, Isabella,” Jacob said, shielding me with his own body. I crouched in his shadow, and realized quite irrelevantly that my bonnet had gone astray. The wind was very cold in my hair.

            A great flapping, as of sails: the dragon, though we could not see it. Looking under Jacob’s arm, I saw Lord Hilford put out a hand and stop his driver, who would have fired at the sound. With nothing to see, there was no point in wasting the shot.

            Then suddenly there was something to see. Several shots rang out, and I swallowed the protest that tried to leap free of me. This was no vulnerable runt in a menagerie. The dragon was huge, its wingspan far larger than a wagon, with stone-grey hide and wings that kicked up dust with every beat. The guns fired, and the beast made a dreadful noise, aborting its stoop on us and climbing rapidly for the sky. Clouds enveloped it once more, and we waited.

 

 

ARTWORK FROM THE BOOK

Credited to Todd Lockwood

 

 

 

 

 Purchase A Natural History of Dragons at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books a Million  |  Powells  |  Indiebound  |  Walmart  |  Overstock
 

Q & A with Marie Brennan

Print or ebooks?

MB: If I get a tablet computer soon, I’ll probably start loading up e-books for when I travel, but apart from that, print. I like having shelves full of books, even if they take up a lot of room. And the archaeologist in me points out that physical books are much more durable than an electronic file . . . .

Television or Movies?

MB: Is there a reason I have to choose? I’m much pickier about TV than I am about movies, but I adore a good arc plot, which TV can do really well.

 

Comedy, Romance, or Drama?

MB: Individually, drama. But I like it best with both comedy and romance mixed in.

 

Leading Men: Broody or Funny?

MB:  See above; it’s best when they’re both! But I’m a sucker for a good bit of brooding, provided it doesn’t translate into the guy being a jerk (which is a common failure mode).

 

Music: Radio or Playlist?

MB:  I almost never listen to the radio, except when my husband’s driving the car. So playlist, all the way.

 

Coffee or Tea?

MB:  Hot chocolate!

Milk Chocolate or Dark?

MB:  Mmmmmm, dark. Especially Burdick’s dark hot chocolate. It’s amazing stuff.

 

Favorite Holiday?

MB:  Christmas. My family has a lot of personal traditions around it, which just make me feel all warm and fuzzy.

 

Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl?

MB:  I am, perversely, a solar-powered night owl. I need sunlight to function, but I work best late at night.

**Thanks to Marie for taking the time to answer my questions**

 

 

About the author:

 

Marie Brennan is a former academic with a background in archaeology, anthropology, and folklore, which she now puts to rather cockeyed use in writing fantasy. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to many short stories and novellas, she is also the author of A Star Shall Fall and With Fate Conspire (both from Tor Books), as well as Warrior, Witch, Midnight Never Come, In Ashes Lie, and Lies and Prophecy. You can find her online at SwanTower.com.

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Giveaway
 

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