When I first read Krystal Wade's blog, I laughed out loud. She told a story about her daily commute, and I could relate to the situation so well. She is funny and fresh on her blog. But she is also sensitive and can tap into your emotions when you think you've been hardened by everyday life. I say this because of one blog post describing her experience with a homeless person. I'll also remember the emotions I felt while reading that blog post. I look forward to reading her debut YA novel,  Wilde's Fire.

Wilde's Fire


“There is no pain in this death, only peace, knowing I am going to die with the one I love the most.”—Katriona Wilde.

Katriona Wilde has never wondered what it would feel like to have everything she’s ever known and loved ripped away, but she is about to find out. When she inadvertently leads her sister and best friend through a portal into a world she’s dreamed of for six years, she finds herself faced with more than just the frightening creatures in front of her. Kate’s forced to accept a new truth: her entire life has been a lie, and those closest to her have betrayed her. What’s worse, she has no control over her new future, and it’s full of magic and horrors from which nightmares are made. Will Kate discover and learn to control who she really is in time to save the ones she loves, or will all be lost?

Krystal's Giveaway:

Want to participate in an easy competition? Wow, look at all those raised hands. I knew you guys would love this!
Listen up: To enter, all you have to do is e-mail me a photo of you and Wilde's Fire. That's right, open up your e-reading device, load the title page, then have someone snap a picture of your beautiful (or handsome) smiling face next to it.

Why would you do this? For money, of course! And possibly fame. ;-)

I know you guys like to read. So, if you enter my lovely little contest, I'll put your happy-faces into an awesome video blog and your names into random.org, and one lucky winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. 

But where's the tagging come in?

Well, to enter, all you have to do is listed above, but to be totally awesome all you have to do is upload your photo to Facebook then tag Krystal Wade in it. I need some excitement on my page, and I think you, my dear fans, are the best excitement ever!

Sound like fun?

Then get to work! E-mail me those photos (krystalwade70@yahoo.com). You have until April 30th. The winner will be announced Monday, May 14th (I need time to put all these images into a pretty video.)

I hope you guys are enjoying the book! <3

Bio: 

Krystal Wade is a mother of three who works fifty miles from home and writes in her "spare time".

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This is one of my favorite songs by Paolo Nutini. I've started work on a novella with characters who have an age difference of more than a couple of years (as in this song). 
What do you think about age differences in relationships?

I recently finished the audiobook for Divergent. While listening, I couldn't help but compare it to The Hunger Games. There are striking similarities as you can probably tell from the trailer. I saw the funniest Facebook game where you choose which faction (a term indicating a certain group in this society) to assign Katniss Everdeen and Justin Bieber. There's a link to the Facebook quiz to determine your faction at the bottom of this post. Summit Entertainment has the movie rights, so I expect that we'll see it in the theaters as some point.

Similarities: 

1. Teens die in physical challenges.
2. Dysfunctional society
3. Strong female protag (physically and emotionally)
4. Protag leaves her family behind and misses her sibling.
5. There's a ceremony to determine fate of the teen.
6. It's Book 1 of a trilogy.

If you want to read the first 100 pages to see if you're hooked, Harper Teen has posted the excerpt HERE. 

If you'd like to see which faction you'd be assigned to in this society, CLICK HERE to take the quiz on Facebook. I took the test. I'm assigned to Amity, The Peaceful.  

I'd like to spotlight some books today by Jianne Carlo. Although I post a lot of YA book trailers and information, my reading tastes are broad. One genre or type I don't tend to pick up is the historical romance. I'm so glad that I chose to read a book by Jianne. Jianne is a prolific author of adult romance books. One of her series is the Viking Warriors series.

I've read two books of the series, The Dragon Slayer and The Peace Maker. The other three are on my TBR list.  It isn't necessary to read these books in a certain order. 

Here's my short review I posted on Amazon (Aug. 2011) about The Dragon Slayer:
This is not the type of book I usually read. I tend to stick with contemporary or paranormal romances. This book hooked me from page one. I fell in love with both characters immediately. Ruard is a strong, sexy hero. Catriona is also a great female lead with a good head on her shoulders. The Viking environment was so natural and authentic that I had no problem feeling that I was there. One of my favorite things was how the dialogue had a musical quality. This was my first book from Jianne Carlo, and I just downloaded The Peace Maker. I look forward to reading more. 

• Please tell us what inspired you to write about Vikings?
  

Jianne:  Bear with me as this is a roundabout way of answering that question. My first job interview was almost 31 years ago. Back then, no one prepared you for interviews, you went in cold and learned from each one.

After the preliminary niceties, the interviewer asked me, “If you could name someone as a hero, whether living or dead, who would it be?”

Now again, bear in mind that was a highly unusual question back then.

Without missing a beat I answered, “Eric the Red, Shakespeare, Neil Armstrong, and my father.”

The interviewer smiled, looked at me, and said, “We’ll finish the interview, but I’ll tell you this right now, you’re hired.”

Flummoxed, I asked, “Why?”

“Every single one of those individuals are pioneers. That’s the type of person I want working for me.’

Eric the Red and his son, Leif the Lucky have fascinated me from the get-go. For as long as I can remember, I’ve tried to put myself in their place, setting out into the totally unknown, travelling without navigational aids, braving Mother Nature. What amazing men!

To answer your question – it wasn’t so much being inspired as it was being compelled. I had to write about Vikings. I didn’t attempt the genre for two years, because I didn’t believe I had the requisite knowledge to portray them accurately. I’ve since taken two college-level courses on the period and the people and researched the topic to the nth.

I’m now on my second Viking series – Viking Vengeance. This is a trilogy and the books will be full-length novels.

• Who is your favorite hero and heroine from the Viking series?
  

Jianne: Ah, that has to be Njal from The Peacemaker, and Ainslin from The Bear and The Bride.

Njal, because he is a Viking who values peace. Ainslin, because she turned what could’ve been a life sentence into a true partnership.

• So, Jianne, if you could live in the Viking world, would you?
  

Jianne: Uh, no way. I hate the cold and I relish my comfort, as in a real bed, hot water, and good food.

However, if I could visit for an extended period, I definitely would.

Actually in 2013, I’m hoping to go to the Jorvik Viking Center in York, England, to spend time in the reenactment of Viking daily life and learn how to weave and make mead.

There is also a medieval reenactment at Warwick Castle with a full village in the grounds and jousts. Hopefully, I’ll manage a visit there too.

About Jianne Carlo
I'm an Iron Chef America and Law and Order addict who loves to cook, eat, and read. I wish you could burn a ton of calories being sedentary and eating. Don't you? 

Married for thirty-four years to an amazing man who still astounds me every single day, I'm also the proud mama of three fantastic sons, all of whom are now of legal age. If only they'd stop changing majors in college...

I grew up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad where the population is representative of almost every race and nation on the planet, so multiculturalism oozes from my pores. Though I attended an all-girl Catholic school run by nuns, we were taught all religions, Hinduism, Muslim, Buddhism, and celebrated all the holidays associated with those religions. Did you know many delish foods go with religious holidays? 

Alpha males, strong heroines, exotic locations, and cultural differences are my forte. And from Monaco, to Trinidad at Carnival time, to rural Washington, to Denali National Park in Alaska, to Sleeping Dog, Texas and Norway in 1028 AD, I'm travelling the world through my books, and sharing my view of it with readers.

One of the most rewarding aspects of writing is hearing from readers, and nothing makes my day more than an email from someone who's read one of my books. I love to hear what tickles someone's fancy. So far, I've heard from readers from almost every continent on the planet. Almost...

The Interview by DL Hammons was almost like being on Oprah. Almost.
DL: So Brinda…are you comfortable?  Coffee made like you asked?

Brinda: Did you say I have a chance at Author of the Year? Yes, the coffee is just the way I like it.

DL:Great!  Let’s get some basics out of the way first…okay?  How tall are you?

Brinda: Tall enough. If you ask my weight, you are in big trouble. You saw me on the treadmill the other day at the gym. I looked tall on it, didn’t I?
I'm a guest at Cruising Altitude 2.0  . Visit to read the rest of the interview.

Google Is Your Easy Button


As a writer and educator, Google provides me with a lot of useful, free tools.  One very easy tool that I've used is the Google form and spreadsheet.  I'm going to give you five very specific examples of how I've used this tool for marketing and organization in the past six months.  To read more, please visit  Savvy Authors.

Today, I welcome my friend Sherry Isaac to talk about YA. You can find me and my niece at Sherry's place with a video interview HERE. We discuss the meaning of a phrase that refers to the pre-dating stage. It was easy for me to write a YA post because I seem to think about YA topics 24/7. Sherry, published author of short stories compilation called Storyteller, was a good sport and also wrote about my favorite topic. 

                                      YA In My Day                    By Sherry Isaac

Brinda asked me to post. I said yes. That is where my trouble began.

I read YA, not often, but I don’t write it. And I’m farther removed from the age group than my actions would at times indicate.

What to do, what to do--a conundrum, to be sure. Luckily, my recent Christmas acquisitions included an iPad. A few taps of my fingertips and presto! Four favourite Nancy Drew titles at my most instant disposal.

Magic.

Book One, Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock.

Compared to modern offerings, the conflict is rather tame. The title gives it all away, and yet...

And yet, I am transported, a teen once more. A rather decrepit teen--free of acne but with a loose caboose and locked knees. Note to self: Do not attempt to take stairs two-at-a-time. EVER.

Wounds licked and ego bandaged, I cracked the spine... so to speak. By means of a glowing 5 x 7 screen, illumination was mine. 

Cool.

What did books offer in my adolescence? First published in 1930, Nancy had a forty-seven year jump on me, but I felt sure the answer to the mystery was contained within her pages.

What was I seeking on the cusp of adulthood, and what did Nancy provide?

At a time when I was most anxious to become an individual in my own right, I needed someone to forge the path and show me the way. I began to venture deeper into unknown waters in the search for my own identity, and my world became larger than I’d ever imagined--a world beyond my front gate. 

Stepping outside my shell and into the social circle was a risk. I needed to keep my head above water in this new world. I could either try on my own and risk going under, or I could find someone to show me how it was done. 

Eighteen to my thirteen, Nancy was like a big sister, except Nancy never, not even once, told me to get lost. For an awkward teen trying to find my place in the crowd, Nancy was my lighthouse and my life preserver. 

While Nancy looked for clues to solve the mystery of the day; I looked for clues on how to fit in.

Nancy moved through her world with confidence. Nancy stood on her own. She took risks, but she had relationships to fall back on for support when she needed it. 

Nancy was responsible, articulate and respectful, and so adults took her seriously. They listened to her opinions, and even sought out her advice. Nancy was an expert, showing me the value of wit combined with determination, consistency and common sense. 

At a time when I questioned my voice, Nancy demonstrated the power of her own. She had a close circle of friends yet was able to make forays into the world of adults without skinned knees, or bubblegum stuck to her shoe.

Nancy had a strong sense of right and wrong, making her a reliable moral compass. When it came to alcohol or drugs, shoplifting or sex, Nancy’s influence sustained me when it came time to ‘just say no’. 

Books provide escape and oh, so much more. We can experience danger in a cocoon of safety. We can experiment time travel without risk of scrambling our molecular structure. We can prepare for a first date, stand up to a bully, or simply take a stand.

Nancy Drew made her debut when the world buckled under the weight of the depression. She stood firm when rock and roll threatened to rot the minds of teenagers around the world. The ultimate demonstration of Girl Power, Nancy was sporty with her friends and for Ned Nickerson, she could always turn on the posh. In 2012, she may seem a little old fashioned. The torch she carried has been passed on to others, but the message she brings as a long-standing heroine is one teens still need to hear.

•  Know who to trust.

•  Always let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back.

•  Treat everyone with respect.

•  Refrain from gossip.

•  Never underestimate the power of friendship or common sense.

•  Bring a flashlight.

•  Value your friends.

•  Do what is right.

Thank you, Nancy, for showing me the way.

I'd like to introduce my guest Ciara Knight. Ciara is a such a gifted writer. I enjoyed Love's Long Shadow, her YA novella, and have the Curse of Gremdon waiting on my reader. I'm taking a vacation this week, and it's the perfect read for getting lost in another world.  I can't wait to read Rise From Darkness. In addition to her talents as a writer, she happens to be one of the most giving bloggers out there. She's giving away a $5 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter, so make sure to enter!

Rise From Darkness
Book One: Battle of the Souls
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Young Adult Paranormal

 Blurb:

Alexander Lorre gives new meaning to the term “tormented teen”. He’s a newly fallen angel, which means he has the self-control of a three-year-old, the hormones of a teenager and the strength of an angel. When he rescues Gaby Moore from drowning, the chemistry between them is undeniable. With a local demon threatening Gaby’s life, he struggles to find a balance between remaining close enough to protect her but distant enough to control his desires.

As danger draws closer, Gaby uncovers shattering secrets that will lead to an ultimate choice. Will she fight alongside her father, an earthbound hunter killing fallen angels and demons, give into the demon blood coursing through her veins and join the demon world, or save the man she loves from both? The first two choices damn her, but the last one could destroy them all.

The question I am most asked by readers is, “Where did the idea come from?” In the Battle for Souls series it came to me in three phases. 

The storyline came to me a long time ago, way before angels and demons became popular. Rise from Darkness was actually written in late 2008 and early 2009. It happened while I was driving, a song came on the radio and it reminded me of a TV show I’d seen. I’ve always been a huge fan of paranormal and science fiction shows and books, so I wasn’t sure which one it was at first. After another twenty miles of crawling through traffic, a man jumped out of his car and started yelling at someone. He had such an evil expression on his face I imagined he was a demon. (Yes, my mind has always wondered, just ask my fifth grade teacher). The man eventually returned to his car without altercation, but by that point angels and demons were flooding my vision for a new story. The only problem was that I wanted to write young adult and I wasn’t sure how that would go over.  Yeah, I know, don’t fall out of your chair laughing. Remember vampires were all the rage and there were no angel and demon YA books at that time.

Fast forward to a night of watching Supernatural and I totally realized who my hero would be, a self-brooding form of Dean. Oh girls, admit it, he is adorable. 

Then the last part was the setting. Well, what better place to have demons on Earth than in Florida. I grew up there and I knew the setting of beaches, woods, and hellacious humidity. Done, I had a story. J

Of course, this is from a girl who came up with the concept for her adult fantasy, The Curse of Gremdon, after hearing a door squeak. So, it doesn’t take much.  The bigger problem is deciding which idea to write.

How about you? What inspires your creativity? What type of books engrosses you in an alternate reality? Do you have a favorite genre? 


About The Author:

Ciara Knight always had a passion for storytelling. At an early age, she wrote several short stories and poems, and in college she started work on her first novel. It wasn’t until late 2008 that she returned to her true passion of writing. Over the past few years she has penned five novels and joined several professional writing organizations to better her craft.

When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.

Ciara is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Young Adult Dystopian.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska. 

                                                                    Visit Ciara 

                              Website              Facebook Fan Page                 Twitter

Have you ever wanted to laugh and cry simultaneously? I mean, out of relief — not because you're a psycho who spent too many hours banging on the keyboard in the middle of the night like Jack Torrance of The Shining. Well, that's me. Happy, happy, happy...with a small tear in the corner of my eye and maybe just a little crazy. Normal crazy. It's my release day for the second book in The Whispering Woods series, Whisper of Memory. Take a look at the blurb, the book trailer, and don't forget to enter the giveaway contest!

Weapons training and winter formals… a deadly combination

All Mia ever wanted was to fit in at Whispering Woods High. But being a portal-finder who dates a guy from another dimension sort of makes it hard. A month ago her brother disappeared, and agents from the IIA began policing people’s movements through dimensions. She’d trusted Dr. Bleeker from the local university when he’d told her the IIA were the bad guys. But even a girl with an extraordinary ability to sense things can make mistakes.

Now two people are dead, and as a portal gatekeeper for the IIA, Mia needs to find Dr. Bleeker before he hurts anyone else. And her boyfriend Regulus, an Agent for the IIA, carries secrets of his own. Between learning about weaponry, finding the perfect dress for the winter formal, and catching bad guys, who has time to fit in? 


      AMAZON               B & N             GOODREADS       OMNILIT          KOBO   

The wonderful people listed below are supporting me today and in the coming days. Why? Because no party is complete without your friends. Please visit them! 

In April, the fun continues with a blog tour of book review sites hosted by Bree of The Magic Attic. There are twenty stops in all with excerpts, reviews, and blog posts. That's a lot of chances to win with comments!

If you are looking for the Rafflecopter Giveaway widget, please click on this link to enter the contest.