Monday, August 26, 2013

Saying Goodbye Without Saying Hello

Thank you for stopping by for the Blurb Reveal of my upcoming book, Saying Goodbye Without Saying Hello. 

Blurb
The journey of pregnancy brings hope, joy, and love for the expecting mother. The hope of giving birth to a new life. The joy of feeling this new life grow inside of her. The love that starts with a test that doesn’t ever end. Dreams for the unborn child flood the new mother’s mind, as well as those around her. Each step of the pregnancy is a cherished moment. The anticipation of meeting her cherished baby builds from the very first month and ends after birth.
This is the story of one mother and how a few words changed her life forever. How a piece of
her faded when she heard these words: “There’s no heartbeat.” When RaeBeth Buda laid in the hospital in labor, she and her husband heard those dreaded words.
What happens when all of those dreams are shattered in a moment’s notice? How does one cope with the loss of their child? This is the story of their journey and of the devastating grief of the loss of her daughter, Dakota Emily Buda.
 
Author Information
Bio: RaeBeth McGee-Buda was born in southwestern Pennsylvania in 1987, the second daughter of Rachel Yost and Arthur Curtis McGee. RaeBeth grew up loving to read and write poetry, as well as short stories. Her childhood dream was to become a teacher. Rae Beth's dream of writing was created in her eleventh grade literature class where writing became her passion.
RaeBeth married in August 2012 to her husband, Gregory Stephen Buda Jr. and resides in a small Pennsylvania town of Fairchance. RaeBeth is a full time mother of one beautiful daughter Emma, and a mother to an angel, Dakota Emily.
She graduated from American Intercontinental University in 2010 with her associates in business administration. She enjoys spending her time writing and feels connecting with readers and sending her messages are her main goals.
Author Links
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Friday, August 23, 2013

Cover Reveal for Piercing the Fold



BLURB:

For the average human being, seeing dark auras, hearing ghostly whispers, and witnessing a contortion in the face of a passerby could easily be chalked up to hallucinations, daydreams, nightmares; mere illusions in reality. If we look hard enough, we will find explanations for such paranormal events. However, in this world, there are humans that are not so average. These humans are part of a bigger plan. Jesca Gershon-Sera is entering her sophomore year of college in Marietta Georgia, her hometown. She holds down a part-time job with her best friend, her family is close by, and school is going well. Everything should be perfect. Except, recently Jesca has been experiencing strange things; hallucinations, nightmares, daydreams that she hasn’t experienced in years. Jesca attempts to brush them off as stress from her new semester at school, but the illusions plaguing her reality intensify. Jesca “illusions in reality” begin manifesting within her as supernatural strength and abilities. Could she be losing her mind? Ezra Kahn, a mysterious professor of Jesca’s, happens to be everywhere she is recently; since the illusions intensified. Along with the slight fear that Ezra is stalking her, Jesca fears that he may be the culprit of these illusions. One night, in the heat of one of Jesca’s grand illusions, Ezra approaches her with an unexpected revelation up his sleeve. He reveals that she is not losing her mind, but rather all of the “illusions” in her skewed reality are very real and cause for inconceivable, catastrophic events to come. Ezra explains to her that, by birth, she is part of a fellowship of guardians that have inherited the responsibility to protect our earth and the human race. In Piercing the Fold: Book 1, “illusions in reality” are as real as you and I through the eyes of college student, Jesca Gershon Sera, and a fellowship of guardians predestined to protect humanity. *The Piercing the Fold series is intended for Mature Young Adult and Adult readers due to the the paranormal and unorthodox scientific concepts addressed throughout. This series contains a rich mixture of the paranormal, science fiction, romance, adventure, and suspense.



In 2010, Venessa Kimball was struck by an idea, a story, that needed telling. Having always been passionate about the written word, Venessa embarked on writing what would become her debut novel, Piercing the Fold: Book 1; a mature young adult/ adult crossover, paranormal, science fiction series. July 2, 2012, Venessa Kimball independently published the first book in the Piercing the Fold series. Book 2, Surfacing the Rim, released March 14, 2013.
In August of 2013, Venessa joined the publishing house, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly. The Piercing the Fold series will be re-published with them beginning with Piercing the Fold: Book 1 on September 3, 2013. Surfacing the Rim: Book 2 will be re-published on September 24. 2013 and Ascending the Veil: Book 3 will be released for the first time on October 18, 2013. The final book in the series, Book 4 (Title TBD) will release in 2014.
As for the future, Venessa is already filling her Work-In-Progress folder. Two of her future projects are contemporary fiction and will reflect her diversity as a writer in other genres. When Venessa is not writing, she is keeping active with her husband and three children, chauffeuring said children to extracurricular activities, participating in charitable 5k and 10k races(crazy...but she loves to run), catching a movie with her hubby, and staying up way too late reading.


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Insights Cover Reveal

Title: Insights (The Secret Watchers, Book Three)
Author: Lauren Klever       
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Action and Adventure
Release Date: August 26, 2013

Cover Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours



Synopsis One:
Owen Ryer thought he was normal.  He thought his life was boring.  A walk into a pawnshop in eighth grade showed him that his life was a lie.  Two years later Owen has accepted how far from normal he really is.  He has a special gift, granting him the ability to see dark energy in the objects around him.  Now he’s part of a secret society where people like himself help others and fight the dark watchers who want them for their powers.
Owen has discovered that a Secret Watcher does not have to live his life alone.  He knows that he can expand his powers by working with other watchers but what will the price be?  Darkness is growing and evil thinks it has found its new prince in Owen.  They will stop at nothing to get to him even if it means kidnapping, mind-control or murder. 
Owen must do more than fight; he must use his wits and every ability he has at his disposal to hold the growing darkness at bay.  Who knew high school could be more challenging than football, homework and relationships?  The dark side knows… and they’re watching.


Synopsis Two:
The adventures of Owen Ryer and friends continue in this third installment of the five book series.  Dark watchers want to steal his powers and they will stop at nothing to get what they want.  From kidnapping to murder - When is enough, enough?  Can Owen defend the ones he loves or is all hope lost as he battles the greatest evil he has ever known?
Owen thinks he’s battle-hardened.  He has firm control of his gifts and his own watcher to train, yet with two years of experience behind him things are not getting any easier.  As Owen grows in experience, so does the darkness and danger.  Lucie is taken, making Owen realize just how much she really means to him, but is it her the dark watchers want or is she only the bait in an elaborate trap?



Lauren Klever is the author of the young adult series, The Secret Watchers.  She graduated from both Oregon State and Portland State University with degrees in education.  Lauren found writing to be just another way to reach her students.  She’s passionate about sharing her love of reading and writing with them. 

The Pacific Northwest, with its vivid and varied panoramas is where Lauren makes her home.  When she’s not writing, she can be found working with students, reading, gardening or hiking around Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast.  Watch out for the lady with the camera, it may be Lauren scouting out the perfect shot for her next cover.

You can visit her at www.LaurenKleverAuthor.com

OR

I’ve always been a writer but let me tell you, it’s lots more fun when I can make the choices about where a story is going.  I’m also a teacher so I get that we have to have students meet certain criteria, but as a kid... I hated being told what to write.  The good side of growing up is that you can write whatever you want.  The down side... Now I can’t read it without my glasses! 

My Secret Watchers series is about young Owen Ryer who discovers he has a special talent for seeing the darker side of life.  The things he is driven to do are not only dangerous but have to be kept a secret.  I sat down with my boys and began brainstorming based on some of our favorite characters from literature.  Wizards, vampires, werewolves, and the son of a god had already been done... so what was left?  Hello, special ability!  Mix in some unique features, some good friends, a strong mentor, helpful adults and voilà, I hope a star is born!  I’ve never been bitten by the writing bug with such vengeance and book one was completed in only six weeks!  Ten weeks later book two was complete and I’m now finishing book three and at work on book four with plans for five books in the series. 

Personally, I’m drawn to all things ‘action-adventure’ in film and literature.  Notice I didn’t say ‘real life’?  No bungee jumping, cliff diving or parkour for me.  I’d likely kill myself as I’m a klutz.  Skydiving? Nope!  I’d be the one to fall out of the plane without a parachute.  My oldest and I have taken karate together and I’ve spent hours watching both boys participate in a variety of sports, including parkour, without incident, unless of course you count occasional broken toes.  I have created a character who is much braver, tougher and more graceful than I am.

It’s my wish that you, the reader, have at least half as much fun and connection to these characters as I have as I wrote them!  These books are for my family, friends, students and mentors.  Big hugs for you all!  We can be better – together!  Relax, enjoy and dream big!  Only you know what your tomorrows can hold!

Links:
Author Website http://laurenkleverauthor.com/
Facebook Series Page  http://facebook.com/OwenRyerSeries
Insights on YouTube  http://youtu.be/tY0WTZZ7x1Q
Whispers on YouTube   http://youtu.be/DUXZ6kIJIKA
Visions on YouTube   http://youtu.be/-iAEiW3wDYk


Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Evanescent A Broken Novel Book two Cover Reveal

Title: Evanescent  A Broken Novel Book two
Author: Carlyle Labuschagne
Genre: Dystopian. Science- Fiction. YA
Release Date: November 2013
Publishers: Sensational Publications
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours




BLURB
Her fall has just begun. Only his touch can save her from the shift that could destroy it all.


Within my blood runs a thing our kind calls the Shadowing Disease. It shadows over, and bends everything to its will. When the first blood- shift came, it tore through flesh and blood, threatening to bend me, break bone, shatter my mind and entrap my heart with its honeyed, seductive poison. It came with vicious intent, moving my thoughts and altering me forever. The shift has caused a rift within me. No one was safe when it entrapped me in its claws of foul lust. But I have the only antidote against the evil that becomes me - his touch alone has the power to release the spurs of sweet darkness that clung on for dear life. I knew what I had to do; the desperation pulled my mind with the deep determination of a hungry predator. But by the time the revelation raised me from the dark dungeon of my bounds - it might have been too late.


Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16211604-evanescent
Only his touch can save her from the shift that could destroy it all http://www.carlylelabuschagne.com/evanescent.html ~ Evanescent A Broken Novel
Cover reveal - Events page for giveaways: https://www.facebook.com/events/371056329687183/



AUTHOR BIO
Carlyle Labuschagne is a South African debut author working her way into the hearts of international readers with her first young adult dystopian novel "The Broken Destiny". She is not only an author, but works as a sales rep and marketing manager by day. She holds a diploma in creative writing through the writing school at College SA.
Carlyle, loves to swim, fights for the trees, and is a food lover who is driven by her passion for life. Carlyle also writes for IU e-magazine India, an inspirational non-profit magazine that aims at inspiring the world through words. The drive behind her author career is healing through words. Carlyle is also the founder of the first annual book drive - Help Build A Library inAfrica Project.

"My goal as an author is to touch people's lives, and help others love their differences and one another."








Teasers:


Powder
“Fine, I’ll help you, because I can see you’ll never give up on her, and I will never be my own if we don’t.”
“You better believe it,” Robert smirked.
The seven of us stood in thick, dusty, golden sand, huge pieces of rock and debris extruding like tombstones from ash. Battered, bruised and bloody, we watched as the ship disappeared over the huge dunes, our world turning to powder, everything ready to fly away in an escaping breath.


**********************************************

~ Glancing at Maya, it was time to grieve the loss of a mother to us all. Maya’s head hung toward her lap, dark, chocolate hair falling past her face, covering her expression. My sorrow turned to anger. I wanted to go to her, but not yet. What did you say to someone who had just lost a loved one? A mother. I had not earned the right to empathize with such loss. I did not have the words, nor the true emotions, as I had never had such a thing as a mother, I had never experienced anything the way she had. It was clear to me what I was in that moment - a product of the Council. I let the agony of that moment well up inside of me so I can know how not to let it beat me up anymore, and I would fight back.

*****
A body is fragile; it breaks, it tears, and it bleeds; it is also tangible and real, beautiful and rare.
A soul is an ever-fighting, ever-growing entity. It has a mind of its own.
But, a mind is a curse; it can corrupt, be corrupted, think too much, or not enough.
When body meets soul, it’s perfect. It knows the truth, but it cannot live without a mind.
The mind activates the power from the soul to the body.
The balance is never perfect. This is the curse of being broken.
“I was on a lit path, a raging firestorm for him – all of him. My body ached for it. I had found the antidote to my disease, and in those forced images of false memories, I found my salvation, a cure from myself…”

*****

“I know you are there. I can feel you,” I groaned through the darkness.
Silence filled the gloomy room, expanded through the cracks, pushed through thick, gray stone walls, and penetrated the blackness outside.
“You are wasting your time.” But the words escaped in a whisper, my throat so dry it seared.
I felt bruised, inside and out. I tried to lift my body, which seemed to be glued by gravity itself to a cold, hard surface. My wrist stung as I pulled against what felt like barb-wired restraints laced with a poison that left me dizzy. I lay my head back down, trying to catch my breath, sweat clinging to my entire body. A stifling heat choking my vision, my thoughts. The throbbing in my head exploded and rippled through my entire frame. I clenched my teeth, but the pain was too insane to contain. I screamed, and the aching that echoed through my bones, left me icy and shivering. My back lifted and slammed back onto the surface of a metal bed as my breath hit me again. I swore.
“It gets easier with time.” His words filtered through the nothingness inside of me as my heart slowly came back to life.
I swallowed against coals trapped in my throat.
It happened again. The shift was taking me, it ripped and raked over my body. I choked on its blackness.
“Oh, the sin of guilt is an unpleasant thing,” his voice said from right beside me.
I turned my head toward where it was coming from, a tear escaped me. My emotions confined in my esophagus.
“He is going to kill you,” is all I got out, before my eyes closed and I fell into its beckoning midnight.

*****

“Troy?” I called out.
“He’s gone.” A cold voice bounced back.
“What did you do?” I swallowed glass, knowing the man was behind it.
“Oh no, it’s what you did,” he replied, his smug tone sickening.
I tried to lift myself from the hard floor.
“I said, where is Troy?”
“I told you, but for some reason you don’t believe me. He knows what you are, and he is hesitating, wondering if it’s all worth it,” his words like stone grated the inside of my brain to mush.
Liar!” I yelled, pulling against chains.
“You give me way too much credit… Ava.” A slight pause before he said my name, and the way he said it, there was no doubt in my mind who had been responsible for the state I had found myself in.


*****

But before I could get hold of my thoughts, another loud explosion tore through the air, crackling like a beast, our screams becoming lost in the echoes of terror. Loud crashes coming from every direction, enclosing us within its catastrophic claws. Flames so high and wide, we were about to be devoured within the jaws of the fiery creature. I didn’t give myself the time to hesitate for a second longer. I grabbed my two best friends and hurled them down the stairs. The door came crashing in as we hit the bottom floor; Robert and David came tumbling through it, smoke sweltering up behind them. There were no alarms to warn us, which struck me as very odd at first. I waved my hand before my face trying to see through smoke and dust. The fire came from next door and radiated though the walls. I saw the grave expressions on the boys’ faces as they came toward us. I heard girls in the other dorm shriek, cough, cry, and their loud footsteps as they came hurtling down the stairs like mad banshees, pushing against us. I turned to push back, my voice lost in shock and fear.


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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Green River Book Blast

Aidan watched the girls cower on the bed as their father, in a drunken rage, beat on the bedroom door.   Drawn to the girls by some unknown power, he was irrevocably intertwined in their lives against both his tribe and his parents’ admonitions to “leave them to their own", but Aidan knew his mission was to safeguard Charlotte and Missy from the darkness that stalked them.  In her new Shifter series, author Elizabeth Loraine draws you to the seamy underside of Seattle and to the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest as Characters Aidan, Charlotte and Missy explore their complex bond, the mysteries surrounding their separate cultures and a common enemy. 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads 
I grew up in a small northern Minnesotan town married my high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children and as soon as we could we moved to a warmer climate. I have worked with my husband building and decorating custom homes for years. After loving every kind of vampire book, movie and series since I was a child, I decided that I wanted to know more. I can write a book I thought, how hard can that be? Well....it wasn't as easy as I thought, but I stuck to it, and finished my first book Royal Blood Chronicles Book One in August 2009. I now have six books in the series and am about to release book two of my new series Phantom Lives.   My parents always told me that I could do anything that I wanted, work hard, and do it right. I believe that, and live that every day. I started writing this new vampire series for teens and their moms because I wanted something different to read. I was tired of all the modern versions of vampire books, there had to be more to these long lived beings. Where had they been, what had they seen? I wanted, no I NEEDED to know more, so Royal Blood Chronicles was born!  As in Royal Blood Chronicles, Phantom Lives features strong female characters and action and adventure mixed with romance, friendship and a historical backdrop. I hope you enjoy them.
Website |  Goodreads |  Facebook | Twitter 
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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Devoted Blog Tour

Destine
Book I in The Watcher’s Trilogy
Sometimes your Destiny finds you. 

Michelle Cross is an average, seventeen year old girl growing up in a small town in New Jersey.  Up until her senior year, her life has consisted of a rather unglamorous existence.  Her closet friend Cami has been by her side since kindergarten, she has a loving if somewhat absente father, and a mother who is unique to say the least.  Michelle’s mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was twelve years old, and ever since then she has had delusions of angels and demons battling over her only child.  Michelle accepts her mother’s delusions as schizophrenic ramblings, until a handsome new boy finds her at school.  Little by little Michelle’s world is turned upside down.  The new boy claims to be the Archangel Gabriel cast from heaven, her best friend falls for the Antichrist, and come to find out Michelle’s mother has seen it coming all along.  So instead of being consumed with prom and graduation, Michelle finds herself battling the evils of Hell in her small town.  The four horsemen of the apocalypses have descended on her high school and with the help of Gabriel, her very own angel; she must stop the events leading to the apocalypse. What surprises Michelle even more than her role in saving humanity is the love that develops between Gabriel and herself. Can their love bridge the world between heaven and earth?  Can Michelle stop the powers of Hell in time?  Michelle and Gabriel find themselves the pawns in a very dangerous game between an ancient power with a mysterious message and Satan himself. 


                                                                        Devoted
Book II in Devoted
Can love conqueror all?
Michelle has managed to survive high school against all odds, but now she finds herself floating adrift in “the real world”. With two horsemen defeated, there are still two unaccounted for, and surely they are plotting her immediate demise. Michelle leaves her small New Jersey town behind to venture off west. Barely able to comprehend her role as humanity’s savior she now has to grapple with some new roles and identities. With her Watcher, Gabriel, by her side she must again face the evils of Hell and attempt to keep her family safe. Will love conquer all or will till death do us part come too soon?




Author Bio and Picture
Katherine Polillo originally planned to grow-up and become an archeologist. Unfortunately the desert air dried out her skin, the dirt was impossible to get from under her fingernails, and she just couldn’t pull off a fedora like Harrison Ford. So instead she pursued a career in education. She currently teaches high school history and special education, while fabricating fictional stories in her free time. She never really outgrew her imaginary friends stage, and instead has created lives and stories for the creations of her imagination to live in. When she is present in reality and not off on an adventure with her imaginary friends, she lives in a small, New Jersey town with her husband, the man to which all fictional leading men are compared, and their two spoiled rotten, ungrateful cats. 


Now available Devoted (The Watcher's Trilogy #2) by Katherine Polillo


Chat with Katherine Polillo
Tuesday, July 9 at 8:00 pm eastern
Twitter #Devoted


Can love conqueror all? 
Michelle has managed to survive high school against all odds, but now she finds herself floating adrift in “the real world”. With two horsemen defeated, there are still two unaccounted for, and surely they are plotting her immediate demise. Michelle leaves her small New Jersey town behind to venture off west. Barely able to comprehend her role as humanity’s savior she now has to grapple with some new roles and identities. With her Watcher, Gabriel, by her side she must again face the evils of Hell and attempt to keep her family safe. Will love conquer all or will till death do us part come too soon? 

Buy Devoted at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords


Devoted Tour


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A GWR Publicity event paid for by Anchor Group Publishing. Giveaway is sponsored the author who responsible for delivery of prize pack.




July 25 Karen Pokras Toz http://kptoz.blogspot.com Author Interview
July 26
July 27 Lubs Book Chatter www.lubsbookchatter.blogspot.com Review & Character Interview
July 28
July 29 All That's Written ... http://lucypireel.wordpress.com/ Character Guest Post

My Review:

Excerpt 2

“I didn’t come here for you, I want Alex,” I shouted in his direction over the howling of the wind that seemed to be picking up. 
“Well its not about what you want.  I know that Watcher of yours has you thinking you’re something special, but I don’t quite share his opinions.  You see I’m enjoying being up here, in your realm, and I’ll be damned if some teenage girl is going to take it away now.” 
I flinched slightly at the mention of Gabriel.  My heart pulled and I momentarily forgot my mission.  I physically shook my head in order to clear my thought of Gabriel away.  “Not just any teenage girl, a Defender of Heaven,” I tensed and prepared to advance.  Reaching behind me, preparing to pull the weapon I had hid in the waist band of my jeans. 
“Ha,” he barked loudly with artificial laughter.  “Like you’re so unique.  The Powers seem to have a thing for teenage girls like you: Ruby Bridges, Irena Sendler, Sacagawea, and that brat Joan of Arc.  I find it a little disturbing their fascination with young girls, but you see my dear you’re just the next in a long line, nothing special.” 
He wanted to trade insults, I could play that game as well.  “Well I’d run along and let your Prince face the music.  I’ve already disposed of two of his henchmen and call me crazy they were more threatening than you.  War and Death are scarier, more lethal threats than Famine, sorry its not the 1500s anymore.  Thanks to modern day agriculture and these places called grocery stores you’re a bit of an out dated threat. 
He sneered at me, a look of distain on his face, “So literal.  You and all of humanity.  As long as there is greed their will be Famine.  I control the power, I control the resources.  This little financial debacle your country finds itself in, that’s me.  Your welcome!  Freddie Mac and Sallie Mae are my children, my creation.  Wall street is my favorite playground.  And notice who always looses, not the CEOs they’ve sold themselves to me long ago, its the little guy, the middle class.  Ask a family who just had their house foreclosed on after Dad lost his job if Famine is an outdated threat.” 
The nausea washed over me.  I knew evil existed in all walks of life, I knew that the country was struggle to correct financial decisions that had left millions unemployed.  What had I been doing while Famine ran amuck, uncontrolled and unthreatened.  I quickly hid this self doubt before he could realize his words had struck a blow.   
“And don’t get me started on your modern day agriculture, one word for you Defender… Monsanto.” 
I rolled my shoulders and bent my knees attempting to refocus myself to the task at hand.  Enough of this, I didn’t come her to chat.  “Well congratulations, I was going to let you slink back off to hell, but you’ve convinced me to kill you.”