Showing posts with label indie author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indie author. Show all posts

Monday, April 17, 2017

Upcoming YA PNR for Amanda Leigh!!


Scarred by Amanda Leigh
Beauty of the Dark Novel, Book One
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance


A sassy witch, a vampire sworn to protect her, and a vampire that’s falling for her...? All bets are off.

Kiara was born with power. At eighteen, her powers are peaked, and she's destined to destroy the demon threatening her home town. But even with her power and the help of Kaleib, a vampire who’s like an older brother to her, they're not strong enough to stand against the evil. Enter Trent, a vampire with a secret past, and the tables turn, giving them a fighting chance.

Kiara shouldn’t feel anything toward Trent, especially since Kaleib hates him, but a strong attraction builds between them during their mission.Trent has successfully avoided caring about anyone for over one hundred years, and he plans to keep it that way. When Kiara asks for help, he can’t seem to deny her. Never would he imagine that he’d run into Kaleib, someone from his past--a vampire who knows his secret. Trent convinces himself he's aiding Kiara for his own selfish amusement, but the little witch seems immune to his charms and she's chipping away at his walls. To his dismay, he finds himself beginning to care for Kiara.

Between the demon that wants to kill her and two fighting vampires, how will things play out for Kiara and Trent? Will this demon let them live to find out?


— BOOK LINKS —


 

— EXCERPT —

Trent
“I’ve met people more incredible,” I smirked insinuatingly. She blinked, taking a step back, never averting her dark blue eyes from mine. I wasn’t sure why I’d said that, I’d only just met her. How did I know whether she was incredible or not? But I was getting the distinct feeling that she was.

I grinned as I tore my gaze from hers. My eyes fell to a picture of Kiara and a young, dark skinned woman that was sitting on her bookshelf. I picked up the frame. “Who’s this?” I found that I just wanted to keep her talking. I liked talking to her.

“That’s my best friend, Sarah. I’ve known her since third grade.”

“You look close.” I envied that friendship.

“We are. She’s one of the few people who’s always been nice to me.”

I arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Ever since elementary school, people have found me kind of…strange.” She shrugged. “Hell, most of them thought I was a freak. Still do. Sarah isn’t one of them.”

I pursed my lips and was poised to ask her more when there was a light rapping coming from the door. I held her gaze for a few more seconds before she wrenched her eyes away from me and turned towards her door.

“That’ll be Kaleib,” she said. I watched her walk away, my eyes taking in every curve of her body.

“He knocks? How quaint,” I said.

“He has a sense of courtesy,” Kiara called over her shoulder as she made her way down the short hallway to the stairs.

“He has a sense of boring,” I scoffed. She shot me a glare over her shoulder that I couldn’t help but smile at.

I peered through Kiara’s bedroom door, down the stairs. Kaleib stood in the doorway with his hands stuck in the pockets of his faded jeans. His light brown hair was brushed back and to the side. A button down shirt on. His features were less pronounced than mine. But I suppose I could see how some girls would think that he was handsome in his own way.

“I got your text,” he said, stepping past Kiara, climbing up the staircase. “Did you find out anything new?” He headed straight to her bedroom.

“Well, no. Not exactly. I…” Kiara shuffled behind him, trying to get there before he did.

Kaleib stopped dead in her doorway, face to face with me as he stumbled back a step. I balled my hands into fists and clenched my jaw, my teeth grinding together. I hadn’t seen him in so long. I thought that it would have been kept that way. Red flashed behind my eyes. I didn’t know what I expected to feel when I saw him but I wasn’t quite prepared. Besides the anger I felt surging through me, I also felt crushing guilt for what I’d done to him. I couldn’t bring her up though, I just couldn’t. I wasn’t even sure how much Kiara knew about that. I understood Kiara’s question about whether I’d been looking for her. Really, what were the chances that the witch I ended up meeting had Kaleib protecting her like an older brother most of her life?

“What is he doing here?” Kaleib asked, his voice dripping with the cold of icicles.

“Hello Kaleib.” I held out my hand with a cool smile, making a mental note not to break the bones in his hand. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Kaleib ignored the offered hand. “One hundred thirty-five years. And I would prefer it stayed that way.”


— ABOUT THE AUTHOR —
Amanda Leigh has had a love of words since before she could write them herself. Once she learned to read and write herself she just couldn’t stop. She reads any genre as long as the book sounds interesting. Which may explain why she can’t and never will be able to stick to one genre in her writing. From Contemporary Romance to Women’s Fiction to Paranormal Romance to Poetry and more to come. When she’s not writing or reading she enjoys getting swept away in a great TV show, going to the theater, listening to music, cooking and many different forms of art. She has a cat she adores and also loves Psychology, tea, coffee, chocolate and Elvis Presley. Not necessarily in that order. Feel free to get in touch with her.


Sunday, April 24, 2016

U is for...UTOPiACON

U is for ...UTOPiACON!!!

This June I will be joining many fellow authors, bloggers, and readers at a special conference in Nashville, TN called UTOPiACON. I've never attended a writer's conference before and I am excited for the new experience. I have been to several book signings at libraries but I feel this will be a completely different experience. I will be signing books and meeting avid readers both Thursday and Friday during the CON. Here is more information on the event for anyone interested in coming out to join the fun. (This info is from the UTOPiACON.com website.

UTOPiA is not a place. It is a mindset. It is the trail you blaze, the risks you take, the friends you make, the stories you share, the victories you celebrate, the love you give, the dreams you lead.
#FightForYourWrite
There will be over 125 authors there signing as well as several workshops and speakers.
Publishers Weekly dubbed Utopia Con “the conference with heart”, and as we continue to grow, we try and maintain that sense of encouragement and unity among the audience.

UTOPiA2016_REBELteeWHO IS UTOPIACON FOR?

  • Established writers of the contemporary and supernatural genres** from middle grade to adult literature categories looking to get an edge on the market with the latest in publishing developments and marketing strategies, as well as a unique opportunity to engage with the readers who love them and support their work.
  • Aspiring writers of the genres** who want to write and successfully launch their very first book that’s been making their hearts soar and hands tremble with excitement and nervousness. Utopia Con will introduce them to the publishing paths available to them, the multitude of vendors out there ready to serve them and give them the support network they need to get through the struggles and celebrate the milestones with them.
  • Book bloggers and booktubers with a strong focus on contemporary and supernatural genres**. This includes the successful bloggers who are helping shape the new publishing and lit landscape, as well as those who are considering becoming book bloggers. We get to the root of book tours, how to professionally blog and how to support the community.
    Connect Educate Inspire through storytelling
  • Fans and avid readers of the massively popular stories included in these categories and genres** who want to meet and hang out with their favorite authors on a level playing field rather than get herded through a mass signing.
  • Film, internet and television writers of the categories and genres**. This is their chance to see the books of today that will be on the big and little screens tomorrow.
  • Industry experts, including, but not limited to producers, photographers, editors, publishers, models, publicists, designers and more who benefit from working with the aforementioned writers.
** “Supernatural” is the term used for our purposes, but please note that our definition extends to fantasy, dystopian, sci-fi, gothic, steampunk, paranormal romance & more.
UTOPiA Con is going to be held at:
Hotel Phone: (615) 259-4343
JUNE 22 - JUNE 26, 2016


Saturday, April 02, 2016

C is for...

Critics.

When I set out to write books, my motivation was to try to inspire at least one person to see the world in a positive way. I hoped that single positive change would have a ripple effect and impact many others. Soon after releasing my first book, I received a private message from a reader telling me she was so moved by my story. I felt I had truly succeeded at using my words to make the world a better place. It encouraged me to pick up my laptop and work on my next book.

But like Statler and Waldorf, the infamous hecklers on the Muppet Show, there are people that boldly vocalize their dislike for something. But is that such a bad thing?


WALDORF: They aren't half bad. 

STATLER: Nope, they're ALL bad!

I'm not gonna' lie, when my book received a 1 star rating, I was crushed. I could not help but read the review to find out why the reader felt it deserved such a poor rating. One of her reasons included, "I found Brogen to be selfish and incredibly rude." The defensiveness came out and I found myself saying, "aren't most 17 year olds selfish?" A five star review for the SAME book said this, "Rarity touched me way more than I ever thought it would when I read the summary." Polar opposites on the review spectrum. And for some reason, Rarity has that effect on readers. It seems you will either fall head over heels for the story or hate it - there's no in between.

So here's what I learned about reviews:
-Bad reviews will exist, if you worry they may shake your confidence...don't read them. Stick to the 4 & 5 star reviews to drive you through your next writing project.

-Bad reviews that offer constructive criticism can be a learning opportunity. I learned that readers of Rarity wished it was longer. They also wished it showed a bit more of the male MC's point of view. These were two important criticisms that I was careful to be mindful of when writing my next book.

-Using a chocolate chip cookie analogy...You can make the best chocolate chip cookies in the world, even win awards for the recipe - but there will still be people that hate chocolate chip cookies.

-What to do if you get a bad review... put the pencil to the paper and keep writing. EVERY book I have written has been better than the one before it. Don't give up. Push forward and get working!

-Shouldn't I comment and correct the reviewer? In my opinion, no. If the reviewer has a history of bad-mouthing and trashing people in reviews, report them. But arguing with someone's review will more than likely not get them to change their review and it's tacky.

When I see a book that has (25) 5 star ratings and (2) 1 star ratings, I go and read those 1 star ratings. And usually, I find I disagree or could careless about the points they mentioned in their negative review. Besides, if all you had were 5 star reviews, people would suspect you had your entire family and friends read and review it!





Friday, April 01, 2016

A to Z Blogging Begins!


This month I am participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Each day I will blog about something beginning with a letter in the alphabet. Sundays are off so don't look for the awesome posts then.

So to begin...our first letter is:

"A" is for...

Author. 
I am a YA author who has published 2 books with Limitless Publishing. I self-published 4 books before an indie publisher (not Limitless) pursued me and my work. While I didn't sign with that publisher, it got me thinking about trying my books at an indie publisher.


The pro's of going with an indie publisher:
- meet lots of great authors
- support/advice from authors and editors
- facebook following grew from 200 followers (after 2 yrs) to 1300 followers (in 7 months)
- have an awesome street team
- have a PA who helps promote and looks for marketing opportunities
- kick butt covers (they pay for it)
- amazing editors (they pay for it)

The con's of going with an indie publisher:
- the profits are shared with the publisher

Overall, it's been a wonderful move for me career-wise and highly recommend self-pubbed authors to consider indie publishing. Now, if only I had a chance to compare self-publishing and indie publishing to publishing with one of the big 6 publishers!!!! HINT HINT!





Monday, March 14, 2016

Between the Bleeding Willows (Book 1 of the Demon Hunter series)

Title: Between The Bleeding Willows
Series: The Demon Hunter Series Book 1
Author: D.A. Roach
Genre: YA Paranormal
Published: March 8, 2016
At eighteen years old, Cassidy has suffered more loss than most… 
At the end of her senior year, her boyfriend, Jace Peters, was killed in a car accident, and her grandmother died only weeks later of a heart attack. Emotionally lost, Cassidy desperately searches for an heirloom her boyfriend was wearing in the crash—her mother’s gold ring. But during her search, Cassidy discovers more than her ring. 
She finds a gate to the Demon Realm….
A battle is brewing, and Killian—head of the Demon hunters—preps his Clan for the approaching conflict. They’ve been working to secure the gate between his realm and the mortal world. But it’s been nearly impossible since Rya—a voracious demon on a quest to expand her power—devoured the soul of his Clan’s necromancer. Now Rya is possessed with the necromancer’s powers and she may break through the gate at any moment with her demon army.
Apparently Rya isn’t the only one Killian has to worry about…
When Cassidy accidentally crosses into the Demon Realm, Killian can’t understand how a human girl survived the transition. Now he has to find a way to return her to her own world, or risk her being caught in the crossfire, which is a complication he definitely doesn’t need.
Once back in the Human Realm, Cassidy readies herself for battle. She signs up for Krav Maga classes, where she meets Tyler Romaitis—a handsome, tenacious, humble guy. He seems almost perfect, but nothing is ever that easy.
And as the balance between good and evil shifts, Cassidy finds herself—and her ring—at the heart of the conflict for the survival of mankind.
"... I seriously loved ever minute and I am so looking forward to reading the next book in this series." ~Hashtag Minxes Love Books
"The plot is fast-paced and packed with tons of action and emotion.  I would recommend it for anyone who reads paranormal/action novels, or anyone who simply loves to read books from a very talented author."  ~Brooke's Review
"Omgosh this book was so great!  I couldn't put it down.  It has such a great story line that just grips you from the beginning."  ~Liz's Review
D.A. Roach has been telling stories since she was a young girl in the suburbs of Chicago. In college she met the man of her dreams, her happily ever after, and married him 2 weeks after graduating. They have 3 kids together and a pet cockatiel named Gimli. D.A. did not find a love for books until after college. Her parents were immigrants from Lithuania and found tv and radio easier ways to hear stories so they did not do much reading or encourage it. But once she finished college and D.A. had free time, she discovered how amazing it was to get lost in a story. D.A. is a full time mom and wife. When she is not doing domestic things (laundry, bills, etc) she is writing, reading, creating mixed media art, and helping beautify her kids' school landscape. Oh, and she is ALWAYS listening to music. Her favorite authors include Rebecca Donovan, Richelle Mead, Larissa Ione, Stephanie Meyer, E.L. James, and Sylvia Day. Reading great works from authors like these has motivated D.A. to write her own stories. She hopes to make positive changes in the world with her art and writing.
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Tuesday, July 07, 2015

New book by Iris Blobel! Check out her latest.



I THINK I LOVE YOU by Iris Blobel
★★★ NOW LIVE ★★★

I THINK I LOVE YOU
Author: Iris Blobel
Series: Australian Sports Series #3
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
★★★ SYNOPSIS ★★★
Markus DeLeon and Sarah Winter’s lives couldn’t be more different… 

After three years away as the goalkeeper for an English soccer club, Markus has been happy to be back in Australia. He’d missed his family and friends, including Sarah. He’s known her since childhood, and often protected her from the teasing of other children and the troubling consequences of a broken home. 

When they attend their friends’ wedding, a new light is cast on their friendship… 

Sarah is fresh out of a bad relationship, and Markus has always been the one she can confide in. Maybe it’s the magic of the wedding—or how stunning he looks in a tux—but the attraction between them intensifies in ways they’d never imagined. 

But sometimes when risking what you have, you might lose everything… 

Following a passionate encounter, Markus isn’t sure how to handle this new aspect of his relationship with Sarah, and literally flees the scene for the coast. Sarah is unsure how to react to his sudden departure, but is soon knocked off course by misunderstandings and a frightening family emergency. 

Markus realises his mistake and wants to make things right, but he also faces obstacles. He’s been offered an exciting new job, and an attractive newcomer to the neighbourhood is eager to claim his attention, though the last thing Markus needs is another confusing relationship. 

Can Sarah and Markus face the fear and doubt—and the potential loss of their lifelong friendship—to give their love a chance?


★★★ PURCHASE LINKS ★★★

★ AUSTRALIAN SPORTS STARS SERIES ★
Book 1: LOVE WILL FIND YOU: http://amzn.to/1f5Eqq7 - Currently FREE!
Book 2: LET ME LOVE YOU: http://amzn.to/1GRPZbc



★★★ MEET THE AUTHOR ★★★
IRIS BLOBEL
Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.

Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.

Social Media Links:


**AUDIO TOUR With Giveaway** Cross by D.A. Roach

Abibliophobia Anonymous Book Reviews: **AUDIO TOUR With Giveaway** Cross by D.A. Roach : Title: Cross Author: D.A. Roach ...