Sunday, August 18, 2013

Guest Post: My Writing Path Part 4 by Robyn Jones

I'd like to thank Robyn for taking the time to write up this guest post. I hope you enjoy. This is Part 4 of the series. You can find Part 1 here.

My Writing Path (part 4)


I started my college career with the mindset I'd be a psychologist. Then my school adviser pointed out I wasn't taking any psych classes. Funny how I missed that small detail when I filled my schedule with art and writing classes. By my glorious senior year, I had the overalls, the paint-encrusted fingernails, and the too-much-exposure-to-turpentine glossy eyes. I found a home in art, but during my senior show I discovered this home wasn't open to the public.

In order to graduate, we had to put on an art show. I came up with this idea. Goodness, I was obsessed with it. We had live nude models come in during class. Each day, I painted a new pose on pieced together sheets of vellum paper. I put five different poses of the same woman together in a near life-size portrait, affixed the painting to a large sheet of plexiglass, then hung it from the ceiling of the gallery. I had three different walk-around paintings. From the front you saw what I wanted you to see. From the back you saw every paint stroke layered on top of the other. You saw mistakes I covered up. You saw this uncontrollable electric piece of art. People kept coming up to me and looking at me as if my work gave them access to my personal world. Each look pushed me further and further away from my brushes and palette. I didn't want to be part of the show.

It took me a decade of living in my head, only tapping into my creativity for new ways to reach my son through his autism, to find a new outlet, one that would let me direct the eye from an invisible podium. I found writing. My paint brushes became the voice in the jumble of words you throw together. The pretty portrait became my plot and cast of characters. The uncontrollable electric piece of art became my audience. 
   
~Robyn

About Robyn Jones:

I laugh when people fall down. It's a glitch in my programming, but even my mom has suffered this quirk. I have a BA in Studio Art from the University of Puget Sound. My boys make me laugh every day. I steal pens; I try real hard not to. I collect those free bookmarks at the checkout counter at libraries. I've had more stitches than anyone I know. I love stories; writing them, reading them, watching them. You can email me at robgirlbooks@gmail.com.

Blog / Twitter / Goodreads


I'd love to hear your story! What made you want to write? What is your process to find the perfect book? Your bookish pet peeves? If you have something to say, send in a guest post to jaclynrcanada@gmail.com.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [30]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:






Friday, August 16, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [37] - Not Who They Say They Are


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

August Themes:
August 24th- Law Enforcement
August 31st - Living Dead

This week is Not Who They Say They Are

My choice is Noah
The Warriors of Ankh by Samantha Young



Noah is an immortal Warrior of Ankh, but he doesn't tell Eden that when he meets her at school in the beginning of this series though the reader pretty much knows from jump that he's not what he seems. She is a Soul Eater which is so neat in this series that the main character is really a 'bad' guy. The Warriors of Ankh are destined basically to bring them to heel. I really enjoyed reading about the two of them, the interesting dynamics that played out, and how the story progressed. Noah is strong, big on duty, and exceptionally loyal. 

Quotes:


Blood Will Tell-
“Noah's mom and dad were academics and socially inept, so Noah had never invited her over to his house because his parents wouldn't like it. And Eden had never invited Noah over to her house because she didn't want him to die.”



Blood Will Tell-
“It was Friday tomorrow and still Eden was avoiding him like he was a Bieber fan at a Korn concert.”



Blood Will Tell -
“She would see it as betrayal. Nothing more. Nothing less.”




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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Hyperion and Great Balls of Fire Book Blast

hyperion Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire (Heroes in Training Book 4) The action heats up for Zeus and his fellow Olympians in this blazing Heroes in Training tale. Phew, it’s hot! Under the titan Hyperion’s rule, the sun is burning even brighter than normal and scorching everything in northern Greece—including the villagers! The Olympians are forced to play a sizzling “game” of Dodge the Sunbursts as Hyperion hurls giant fireballs that could fry them to pieces! Armed with some clues, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades set out to figure out why in the world Hyperion has been making things so hot. They also need to rescue Hera, who is still missing. Battling the extreme heat—and some fantastical and scary creatures, courtesy of their old foe Cronus—the boys are off on another epic adventure…and Zeus is one step closer to discovering his destiny.  
 
  Heroes in Training by Joan Holub & Suzanne WilliamsAuthors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies. Praise for Heroes in Training"Readers will gobble this down and look for more, make no mythtake." ~ Kirkus “This is a fun read, casting Zeus in the role of relatable kid, and there is a nice balance between his primary goal of survival and his sense of destiny and adventure. . . Share this title, and likely more to come, with those still too young for Percy Jackson’s adventures.” ~ School Library Journal The Series #1 Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom #2 Poseidon and the Sea of Fury #3 Hades and the Helm of Darkness #4 Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire Aladdin Paperbacks (ages 6-9) http://series.simonandschuster.com/Heroes-in-training  

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Book 1)After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans--merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans--have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe.... Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening. Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew up. Zeus gets his wish--and a lot more than he bargained for--when he is kidnapped by dangerous, giant Titans! In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees--an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone that is covered in mysterious markings. Zeus is the only one who can decipher the markings, and sets off on a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the evil Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt (named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime--and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Gods.  
 
Poseidon and the Sea of Fury (Book 2) A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?
  Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Heroes in Training Book 3) The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is. The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs! But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone intact?   Amazon * Amazon Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Author Suzanne Williams Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.  
 
Author Joan Holub I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job. I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee! Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.  
    Book Blast Giveaway$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/29/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, August 12, 2013

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Hunted by Jill Kaelin


Hunted by Jill Kaelin


Expected Publication: August 19, 2013, Inkspell Publishing
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Official Blurb:

8
That’s how old I was when I found out I was special. I was given my rose quartz gem and taught about my past.
13
That’s how many times I’ve lived in this world. This is my thirteenth life cycle as a human.
1
That's how many seconds it took to fall in love with Mike. It's also the amount of time I had to say goodbye just before he was killed by Reggie, the hunter that's been after me.
Will Reggie succeed in killing me too, and eradicating the planet of the unicorn race forever?

About Jill Kaelin:

Since elementary school, I remember being in love with words.  Spelling them, writing them, reading them...I even hang them up around my house.  I think I owe my love of language to my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Templeton.  I can recall sitting around in a circle in that old, red-brick school, listening to her read aloud Greek mythology.  The oxymoron there was that she was the most prim and proper teacher I ever knew, right down to the white buttoned up blouse held together at the collar with a cameo pin.  The way she read made words come alive.

I had written a few things here and there throughout my life.  I used to think I'd be good at children's books, and it wasn't a far stretch since I worked with children every day and knew what they liked.  But then I read the series by Stephenie Meyer, maybe you've heard of it...Twilight.  This was the type of story I knew I had to write.  Teenagers were my audience.  It helped I had one at home to learn from.

My idea didn't come in a dream.  No, I wasn't that fortunate.  It happened through research.  And lots of it.  The only criteria I had was that I wanted my story to be different from everything else out there.  I wanted my story to stand out.  No vampires or werewolves.  No witches or wizards.  Unicorns were my choice.  And I think the story that unfolded is definitely unique.



Find Jill:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [29]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:









Friday, August 9, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [36] - One Third of a Love Triangle


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

August Themes:
August 17th - Not who they say they are
August 24th- Law Enforcement
August 31st - Living Dead

This week is One Third of a Love Triangle

My choice is Lucas Parker
The Shadow Falls Series by C.C. Hunter

Lucas picture by Jaclyn Canada

Lucas knew Kylie when she was a younger girl so he has a connection with her that Derek doesn't have. Derek is the other guy in Kylie's life and he's a fae. Lucas is a werewolf. Both guys fight hard for her attention and have good and bad attributes in my opinion. This is actually one series where I am unable to choose who I want her to end up with (I haven't read the newest one in the series so this one may have given a more definitive answer to that question). The reason I'm highlighting Lucas is because I really like his character. He's so hard to read - very mysterious. He's very good-looking, saves Kylie's life on occasion, and shows his good and bad sides equally. I like knowing flawed characters. He may not be the one to end up with Kylie in the end, but I appreciate this love triangle and I understand why Kylie has such a hard time choosing between the two guys.  

Quotes:


Awake at Dawn-
“She leaned into him to soak up his warmth.
"You are so hot," she said.
"It's about time you noticed," he teased.



Whispers at Moonrise -
“Boy trouble, huh?"
"Boy catastrophe is more like it. I'm not sure I can do this."
"Do what?" Concern sounded in Holiday's voice.
"Do Lucas," Kylie said.
Holiday made a funny face and raised one eyebrow.”



Born at Midnight-
“Just because a guy rings your bell, doesn't mean you have to toot his horn.”




Born at Midnight-
“Kylie watched as his shirttail upward, exposing a very hard abdomen. The hem of his shirt inched higher, and she took in the cutest inny belly button she'd ever seen. And then his chest. Solid. Hard. A few drops of water glistened against his skin. Her heart beat to the sound of passion again.”



Taken at Dusk-
“I’d kill for you, Kylie Galen. But more than that, I’d die for you.”

She felt a tear roll down her cheek. “You’d better not die on me, Lucas Parker.”


*I wasn't able to answer any comments yesterday on my Feature and Follow Friday yet, so I will be getting to those on Saturday and visiting everyone's blogs Saturday and well! Sorry everyone, I'm really behind :D Thank you so much for stopping by though, I really appreciate it!


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