Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway: Out of Control by Sarah Alderson

ET_TourBanner_OutOfControl copy

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sarah will be awarding $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn commenter and a signed copy of her new book, Conspiracy Girl, to a second randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour (US/Canada only on books). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


MediaKit_BookCover_OutOfControlWhen 17-year old Liva witnesses a brutal murder she's taken into police custody for her own protection. But when bullets start flying, it becomes clear that Liva is not just a witness, she's a target.

Together with a car thief called Jay, Liva manages to escape the massacre - but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.

When you live on the edge, there's a long way to fall.


Enjoy an exclusive excerpt:

‘So, Liva,’ Yoyo says from up front. ‘You from round here?’

Marisa whacks him across the handbrake. ‘Does she look like she’s from round here?’ she hisses. ‘Does she sound like she’s from round here?’

‘No,’ I say over the top of her. ‘I’m not from round here. I grew up overseas. I just moved to New York.’

‘Oh yeah? Where were you living before?’

‘Oman,’ I say.

‘Where’s that?’ Yoyo asks.

‘It’s in the Middle East, bro,’ Jay says, smirking.

‘The Middle East?’ Yoyo asks, frowning as he glances back at me over his shoulder. I guess he’s wondering where my burqa is or something like that. It’s what some people immediately assume or joke about when I tell them where I grew up. ‘You like it there?’

‘Yeah,’ I say. Briefly, I try to picture my house and my friends, but they seem so far away, like characters from a book I once read. I wonder if I’ll ever see the place again.

‘So, why’d you leave?’

I ponder my answer.

‘Boyfriend troubles?’ Yoyo asks, in an obvious attempt to pry into my romantic status. No doubt on Jay’s behalf.

I realise that I don’t want Jay thinking that I have a boyfriend, so I answer quickly. Too quickly – without thinking. ‘No. I got expelled.’

Jay’s jaw drops. He shifts in his seat so he can to look at me face on. ‘You got expelled?’

‘Yeah, why’s that so hard to believe?’ I say, kind of insulted.

He shakes his head at me in wonder. ‘You’re just full of surprises, Moneypenny.’

That buzz hits me in the solar plexus again. I’m even starting to not mind the Moneypenny name-calling.

‘What did you do? Skip cheerleading practice one too many times?’ This from Marisa.

‘I don’t cheerlead. And no.’

‘Drugs?’ Yoyo asks.

‘No. I don’t do drugs either.’

‘Drink?’

‘No.’

‘You found a really straight one here, Jay,’ Yoyo laughs.

‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that,’ Jay answers, smiling at me knowingly across the gloom of the back seat.

‘So what was it for then?’ Marisa asks, turning around. Even her interest has been piqued.

‘I was somewhere I shouldn’t have been,’ I say, glancing sideways at Jay, who’s still watching me hawk-eyed.

‘Like where?’ Yoyo asks. ‘Wait! With who? Were you having an affair with a teacher?’

‘No. God!’ I say.

‘Let me guess,’ says Jay, grinning at me. ‘You climbed on to the roof of your school?’

‘No,’ I say, leaving a long pause before I say, ‘the clock tower.’

‘With a gun?’ Yoyo asks. ‘’Cause you know, I can see why they might have expelled you for that.’

‘No, not with a gun.’

‘Then what were you doing up there?’

‘I just wanted to see what the view was like.’

MediaKit_AuthorPhoto_OutOfControlAbout the Author:Sarah is the author of Hunting Lila (winner of the Kingston Book Award), Losing Lila, Fated, The Sound, Out of Control, and Conspiracy Girl (all Simon & Schuster).

Having spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the nonprofit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home (a journey that was documented on this blog and which is shortly to be published as a book).

After almost a year spent travelling the world, they settled in Bali where they lived for five beautiful years before the vagabonding urge became too great and they decided to embark on Can We Live Here part two. They are currently located somewhere between India, London, Canada and the US.

As well as writing young adult novels and screenplays, Sarah also writes adult fiction for Pan Macmillan (Simon & Schuster in the US) under the name Mila Gray.

Her first adult novel, Come Back To Me, was published in June 2014. The second, This One Moment, will be out in August 2015.


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Buy the book at Amazon.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Beacon by Angela Brown - Virtual book tour and Giveaway



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Angela will be awarding a $75 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Pretend your protagonist is at school and opens his/her locker – what will we see inside? Students in New Festus, or any school in The Colony for that matter, don’t have to worry about lockers. All books, text or otherwise, are digital. So a student will have their personal holo-rod as well as a holo-pad for doing assignments and turning them in.

What would you write in a letter to your teen self? Dear Teen Me, You are one stubborn girl. But don’t let that stick-to-it-tive-ness go. You’re going to need it when your mother passes on and you make some crazy decisions feeling that your world is over. You’ll have to learn that starting over isn’t bad, new beginnings are good for the soul and for those story ideas you have bouncing around in your head, and that yes, you are worthy of being a writer.

What candy do you give out at Halloween? Chocolate! Mini-Snickers, mini-Twix, varieties of mini-Hershey bars, yeah, I love eating and giving chocolate. If you don’t like chocolate, we can still be friends, but if you see me looking at you all cock-eyed, it’s because I’m trying to figure out how it is humanly possible to NOT like chocolate lol!

What book is on your nightstand currently? I have my kindle set for Gears of Brass, a steampunk anthology with fairy tale re-tellings and more. I’m really excited to get into it.

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why? Definitely Hunger Games. It was the inspiration for Beacon, my YA urban fantasy dystopian, and the action throughout both the book and movie were awesome.

Favorite TV show from your childhood? I’m a Cosby Show kid. Loved crushing on Theo and Vanessa tended to be my fave with her antics and experiments, like trying to sew lol!!!

Sum up your book for Twitter: 140 characters or less. Life's norm slams to a halt when Macie is forced to the capital city of Biss, onto a path of self-discovery & the unraveling of all she knew. (I think the period makes it 141 characters)

Ideal summer vacation. It would be me and my siblings, along with our respective kiddos, doing a weeklong trip to an all-inclusive resort at some place along the west coast of Mexico. Fun in the sun. Sand in our toes. Pools for swimming. Adventures together and having the space to have comforting time alone getting a much needed massage.

You’re stranded on a desert island—which character from your book do you want with you? Why? I would so take Thane. As an unregistered, he knows how to hunt his food, clean his kills, cook meals without the luxury of a gas or electric stove, and can turn the nearest trees and cave into a functioning shelter. I’m still thinking about what I’d add to the situation lol!


Tsunamis reduced the USA into a shell of itself, called The Fold. Surviving humans and vampires joined forces to form The Colony, where registered citizens do as they're told. They donate blood quarterly and dream of being chosen as Attendees for the Jubilee celebrations, that is, everyone except Macie Breen. With high school graduation near, she’s anxious to ditch the rules in hopes of starting a new life with Thane, an unregistered and also her best friend.

Her hopes fizzle when Macie is selected as an Attendee, forever registered. Any future with Thane…impossible. Being chosen comes with another unexpected price.

Truths about The Colony blaze into ashes and lies when she discovers the vampires haven't kept their part of the bargain. Worst still, Macie’s life unravels as her stint in the city of Bliss forces her to face daunting truths about who, and what, she really is.


Enjoy an excerpt

"We’re not kids anymore, Macie. You’ve learned what little The Colony had to say about the vampeer, wights and devil spawn. There’s something else they’ve hidden from you. From all registered citizens. I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time why we met. Just how special you really are. But you won’t want to be my friend anymore once you know the truth. Losing you would be…”

Words trickled from my mouth unfiltered. “I, what do you mean I wouldn’t…”

He turned to me, chewing his bottom lip. The last time he did that was the day I broke first blood.

We were playing at knight warriors, a favorite of ours since we were kids. I thrust my wooden sword forward. It clattered to the ground as I doubled over from a sharp spasm in my stomach. I tried to shoo Thane away, deal with the pain on my own. But, noticing the grimace on my face – I really tried hard to be quiet, but I cried out anyway – he wouldn’t have it. When he glanced at my yellow cargo pants, he chewed his bottom lip, eyes wide. My gaze trailed down to the bloody mess I’d become. My face couldn’t have flashed hotter if I set it on fire.

Now he was doing it again, chewing his bottom lip. What could he possibly have to say? He opened his mouth to speak when the tent flap ripped away. We jerked our heads around to face a tall being covered in shaggy, brown fur from scalp to hoof. A shadowy glow encircled it like a dirty aura. Two arms protruded from both sides. Jagged teeth crowded its mouth. Drool leaked down its chin. Reptilian eyes shone bright white with a red slit down the middle. One set of eyelids blinked side to side as the second set followed up and down. It snarled, spat and drooled some more. My bladder felt one moment away from losing it.

“Frag me,” I whispered as my world collapsed into a nightmare.

About the Author

Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Angela now calls Central Texas home. She's a lover of Wild Cherry Pepsi and chocolate/chocolate covered delicious-ness. Steampunk, fantasy and paranormal to contemporary - mostly young adult - fill her growing library of books. Mother to a rambunctious darling girl aptly nicknamed Chipmunk, life stays busy. Her favorite quote keeps her moving: "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6476148.Angela_Brown
Angela Brown in the Pursuit of Publishness blog: http://publishness.blogspot.com/
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Brown/e/B009JJEX60
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaLBrownWrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALBrownwrites
Buy Links:
Evernight: http://www.evernightteen.com/beacon-by-angela-brown/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beacon-Ripped-Ties-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00PXHHUX0

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Monday, May 4, 2015

Tillie's Tale by Mindy Mymudes - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mindy will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome, Mindy! Why do you write juvenile fiction? What draws you to it?

Mindy: I don’t think I write for juveniles. It was funny to realize most of the reviews on the first book of the Magical Drool series, ‘George Knows’ were from adults. The first book of the Harry Potter series was midgrade, yet it attracted a huge adult crowd. I’m drawn to books that make me laugh, and give me a chance to stretch my imagination. In George, the egotistical basset hound familiar’s world, he’s an adult. His Girlpup, Karly might be 12, but it’s from his point of view, not hers. So, I’m not sure I write juvenile fiction. I write adult dog fiction.

George: Since she is just my secret-ary, and not a very good one, she really shouldn’t answer any of these questions. I tell her my story—she puts it on the hard drive. My story isn’t juvenile; it’s just my life. My pack is made up of old Peeps, and young Pups. I’m a teacher, and it doesn’t matter what the age, all Peeps need education.

Pretend your protagonist is at school and opens his/her locker – what will we see inside?

George and Mindy: TUNA FUDGE!

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

Mindy: I loved science fiction and fantasy. I also loved animal stories. Old Yeller, Misty of Chincoteague, Call of the Wild, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Starship Troopers. I couldn’t get enough books.

George: Dogs don’t need books. We have instincts. Everything we need to know we’re born with.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

George: Treats? Did you say treats! I’m a good boy; I deserve treats. Crunchy sweet potato treats are yummy. (Cocks head, bats eyelashes, gives best “I’m a good boy look.”)

Mindy: I like brownies with fudgy icing. Chocolate is bad for dogs, and George knows it. He doesn’t beg for them. No, he begs for everything else.

George: You say that like it’s a bad thing.

Sum up your book for Twitter: 140 characters or less.

Mindy: George, the magical basset hound, is on the trail of the mysterious ghosty haunting his Packmate, Tillie.

George: (Pats Mindy on the head with one huge paw) Good girl! Sometimes, you are a good secret-ary.

Favorite hot beverage. Why?

Mindy: I love tea. Chai masala is my favorite. I think that’s my muse: a large mug of hot chai.

George: Why does a secret-ary need a muse? I like chicken broth. With chicken and noodles in it.

Mindy: That’s chicken soup.

George: It’s hot, it’s wet, I slurp it like it’s water, therefore it’s a beverage.

 What's your ideal summer vacation?

Mindy: Play in my garden, read, go to the beach and sleep in the sun. Train my dogs.

George: Secret-aries aren’t allowed to have vacations. I do agree with the sleeping in the sun part.

 Favorite pizza toppings.

Mindy: Mushrooms, onions, sausage, peperoni, black olives. Or BBQ’d Chicken with onions. Or veggie pizza. Or ham and pineapple. I love pizza.

George: (Sticks snout in the air) The bones are the best. For some reason, Karly and Joey just eat the guts, and leave the bones for me and Tillie.

MediaKit_BookCover_TilliesTale


Who is the mysterious ghosty haunting puppygirl Tillie? And why? George, the magical basset hound familiar is on the trail.


It’s not often a basset hound puppy is haunted by an unhappy ghost, but George’s packmate, Tillie, manages to attract one. George and Tillie need to find out how to help the ghost before she turns into a poultry-ghost.






Enjoy an excerpt:

“Wrrrrttttle.”

Tillie’s tail is spinning in circles. She’s staring at a filmy thing sitting on the steps of an old, rough-brick building. I know it’s really a large Peeps’ den, but since it’s bad to be in the dog house, I assume it’s bad to be in a house. Why don’t they just call it a den if houses are so bad? From the smelltaste of cooking, Peeps, dust, skin, and the other stuff Peeps like, there are many small dens inside. Tillie “wrrrrrtttles” again and adds a soft “wuff.” Her front goes down into a play bow. The thing she’s trying to get to play is shimmery and clear, with thick and thin spots swimming on the surface.

“Snoof. Snuffle” I lick my lips. There’s a disturbing smelltaste of dustmoldlightningozone.

Oh mousefleas.

It’s a ghosty.


About the Author:I've worked in a hazardous waste lab, where under the sign for the Right To Know law, was added: if you can figure it out. I've been a metals tech, a bakery clerk, a professional gardener, taught human anatomy and ran two university greenhouses. Along the way I picked up my Master's Degree in Biology, specializing in the population genetics of an endangered plant. I am also a top breeder, handler, trainer of English springer spaniels, with three in the equivalent of the National Club's (ESSFTA) hall of fame. Every time I think I know dogs, another dog comes along and proves my beliefs are totally wrong.

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