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.

WHO 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.

• 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:

Millenium Maxwell House 

2025 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37228

Hotel Phone: (615) 259-4343

JUNE 22 - JUNE 26, 2016

COVER REVEAL for BETWEEN THE BLEEDING WILLOWS!!!

******COVER REVEAL******

BETWEEN THE BLEEDING WILLOWS 

the new YA Paranormal by D.A. Roach 

coming March 8th!

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.

Tagline: When love takes the form of both hunter and demon, one girl is forced to choose...

ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS LIST: 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29059159-between-the-bleeding-willows

‪#‎coverreveal‬ ‪#‎daroach‬ ‪#‎betweenthebleedingwillows‬ ‪#‎yaparanormal‬

Sign up for the Release Day and Blog Tour for Between the Bleeding Willows

Release Blitz and Blog Tour: Bleeding Willow 

by D.A. Roach (YA Paranormal Romance) 

Release Blitz: March 8-10, 2016; Blog Tour: March 14-18, 2016

Sign up: https://docs.google.com/…/1S2fY6l_E7R4LrdBc01iLcsT…/viewform

Synopsis

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.

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. 

Rarity, YA Fiction Novel plus Giveaway

RARITY

Author: D.A. ROACH

Genre: YA Romance

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

~ SYNOPSIS ~

Brogen Mathers can’t deal with teen drama…

As an empath, she is constantly bombarded with other people’s energies. Despite coping techniques taught by her psychologist mother, it’s often too much to bear, forcing her to avoid most activities a typical high school junior would enjoy.

Jay Wilken won’t let his past define him…

A dead mother and an alcoholic father brought Jay to Stanton, but he doesn’t want pity. His good looks, charisma, and friendly nature quickly win over the whole student body, but he has his eye on one girl…Brogen.

Brogen can’t believe anyone could be so genuinely nice. It has to be an act, right? But when Jay literally saves her from deadly jaws, she has to admit he’s exactly what he appears, and he’s worth risking the potential emotional upheaval.

“Drama” might as well be Becca Grant’s middle name…

Another newcomer to Stanton, Becca’s blonde beauty and abundant attitude shoots her straight to the top of the popularity charts—and she believes Jay belongs right there beside her. Accustomed to getting exactly what she wants, she launches a relentless mean-girl campaign to shake up Brogen and claim Jay for her own.

Everything changes with a devastating diagnosis…

When Jay learns he has a rare and potentially fatal disorder, he keeps it secret and begins to push Brogen away to spare her future pain—which is exactly the sort of opening Becca is waiting for.

As Jay’s well-meaning deception unravels,

Brogen realizes there is much more than her heart at stake…

But how far is she willing to go to fight for someone she loves?

ADD TO GOODREADS

~ PURCHASE ~

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | PAPERBACK

~ EXCERPT ~

 Things always looked different the next day. Skies seemed bluer, the grass was greener. The worries of yesterday were magically reduced to a manageable size, and brand new ideas and thoughts were born. Oddly enough, Mom’s words were like seeds planted in the night, now growing and blossoming inside me. Jay was very much alive. He was healthy, a bit fragile, but more alive than many kids my age who lived life mindlessly. If anything, this stupid disorder made him more alive. Made me more alive. I wanted to make memories with Jay— live each day to the fullest, laugh until my belly hurt, cry at sad movies with him, and watch the sunrise and the sunset whenever I could. Life was a gift, not to be taken for granted. It could be here one day and gone the next, or it could go on for a very long time.

~ EXCERPT ~

Our eyes were locked on each other, and I was glad to see he seemed lighter. He took a step closer, closing the space between us so our bodies were touching each other. I felt my heartbeat quicken, and butterflies fluttered about my stomach. This was an intimate space, and he clearly entered it. The air between us changed, it was more electric. He put his hands on each side of my face, and then gently but possessively, he took my mouth against his. He kissed gently at first, and I felt my knees grow weak. His lips were soft, and his breath was hot. I let my mind go and became enveloped in the overwhelming love that Jay exuded. He urged my mouth open and our kiss became more intimate. I felt the heat rising in my cheeks and followed Jay’s lead. His hands trailed down my arms and wrapped around my torso. The kisses returned to gentle nibbles, and then to sweet pecks before he pulled away to look at me. All traces of sadness were gone from his face, from inside of me. There was light and love there instead. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” he said.

~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~

D.A. ROACH

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.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

― George Bernard Shaw

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | AMAZON | LIMITLESS PUBLISHING | WEBSITE | TWITTER

~ GIVEAWAY ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not Another Teen Romance

Not Another Teen Romance

(said with the teenage griping voice and an eyeroll)

Have you read Twilight? Yeah, me too. I loved it but just like the other popular things in life, it has dimmed down to a more standard popularity. How about Fault in Our Stars? Paper Towns? John Green has quite the social media presence and has a way with words. So why would you want to branch out and read a book by a new author? Yes, my story is getting 4 and 5 star reviews but it only has 23 reviews. Fault in Our Stars has 36,124! I don’t blame you for doubting me and my work. To be honest, I would too. I mean 36,124 is REALLY impressive.


But Rarity is an amazing story that begged to be told. It is a fictional tale that is based on real life stories that I heard from others diagnosed with the rare disorder that Jay from Rarity was diagnosed with. Two years ago my son was diagnosed with this disorder and our lives were plunged deep into unknown territory. We had to learn about this disorder, the complications that occur, the life changes, the medications, and the emotional toll that our future held. It was overwhelming, like a tidal wave of sadness pushing me under. I fell into a deep pit and felt so low, so helpless. I did not want this for my child. I had dreams for him and a different life painted than the one handed to us...

Read more of this blog post here:
http://labellebooks.blogspot.ca/2015/07/rarity-by-da-roach.html

Rarity LIVE #MustRead

Title: Rarity

Author: D.A. Roach

Genre: YA Romance

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Brogen Mathers can’t deal with teen drama...

As an empath, she is constantly bombarded with other people’s energies. Despite coping techniques taught by her psychologist mother, it’s often too much to bear, forcing her to avoid most activities a typical high school junior would enjoy.

Jay Wilken won’t let his past define him...

A dead mother and an alcoholic father brought Jay to Stanton, but he doesn’t want pity. His good looks, charisma, and friendly nature quickly win over the whole student body, but he has his eye on one girl...Brogen.

Brogen can’t believe anyone could be so genuinely nice. It has to be an act, right? But when Jay literally saves her from deadly jaws, she has to admit he’s exactly what he appears, and he’s worth risking the potential emotional upheaval.

“Drama” might as well be Becca Grant’s middle name...

Another newcomer to Stanton, Becca’s blonde beauty and abundant attitude shoots her straight to the top of the popularity charts—and she believes Jay belongs right there beside her. Accustomed to getting exactly what she wants, she launches a relentless mean-girl campaign to shake up Brogen and claim Jay for her own.

Everything changes with a devastating diagnosis...

When Jay learns he has a rare and potentially fatal disorder, he keeps it secret and begins to push Brogen away to spare her future pain—which is exactly the sort of opening Becca is waiting for.

As Jay’s well-meaning deception unravels,

Brogen realizes there is much more than her heart at stake... But how far is she willing to go to fight for someone she loves?

Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK Amazon AU

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HOSTED BY:

Thunderclap for Rarity blog tour

I decided to try a thunderclap for my Rarity blog tour signup.  It takes 100 supporters to launch the message to thousands.  So, I need supporters to get my message to launch.  Currently there is 14 days remaining and 77 people needed. If you have fb or twitter, please click the link below to support my campaign. Thank you!

http://sendgrid.thunderclap.it/wf/click?upn=YDBP6RK3mvJEJxxpkIniqOY9p2dR9wR-2FQolTrvHgR4E-3D_V-2BcVb5TPIsOOcEIod6Wa8-2FUs6bhdz-2Bq1Yh5Qdz4IUIkQ9vjfd0CkAmQhsYKtGOFR3axTgCz-2F9HbhITH97EPAXQzsXQGbCxp1cCa1aQOlsoAdr-2BvRgbVkoe1AYWyyvUReXSri-2BNkZAyeeQ1Iy5i7Cal6qHgXvsrtWha4xvKYrWysVi85zscnrOfVHTzzNmko0EuKUXxn0cQnVUwh54eoSPw-3D-3D

Social Media = self-published book success??

So I wrote the books, got some reviews...but how do you get more eyes on it?  I recently joined #Twitter and connected with some other #SelfPublishedAuthors.  I asked them what the key to success was.  Their answer...#SocialMedia.  That means blogging, writing to bloggers, tweeting, adding hashtags to keywords, etc where ever I can.  So for the next 30 days I will connect in someway with social media each day and see if it nets more eyes on my latest book, #Rarity.  I'll keep you posted on the results of my experiment.

So far I have 12 reviews of Rarity, have had 411 free downloads, and 89 actual sales.  So...more eyes need to find my books.  Hopefully by the end of November these numbers will look different.  Keep you posted.

https://twitter.com/daroach12books