Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Amanda911 by Mark Schreiber

 


All important people and heroes have an origin story, right? Today author Mark Schreiber is going to reveal to us how Amanda911 came to be. You'll also get to look inside the book with an excerpt. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for even more. Leave your questions and comments along the way! Best of luck entering the giveaway!



“Sixteen-year-old Iowa schoolgirl Amanda Dizon may be the nation’s most unremarkable teenager, until she falls down a well and finds herself instantaneously transformed from irrelevant to influencer. Mark Schreiber’s sly, rollicking masterpiece, Amanda911, follows Amanda’s escapades and sends up the craven, fame-obsessed virtual culture of today’s adolescents. As insightful as Dickens and as innovative as Heller, Schreiber is the definitive satirist of the social media generation.”—Jacob M. Appel, author of Einstein’s Beach House

Read an excerpt:
Falling down a well was both the best and worst thing that ever happened to my granddaughter.

She was a Disney princess to me, but a comic sidekick to her classmates, who’d never been kissed by a boy—or I suppose by a girl—been asked to a dance, or chosen for any role in a school production that did not conceal her face.

Most people under twenty probably don’t know what a well is.

Haven’t seen one. Probably think it’s just something you say when you need to buy time, like like, or when someone asks you how you’re feeling, although I guess these days everyone says good or OK, or nothing at all, opting for an emoji instead. Do kids even talk anymore, in the crowded loneliness of their bedrooms? Did Amanda even scream when she fell down the well? Or did she just send a screaming emoji?

So, when millions of kids all over the globe saw the headline, they shared via social media:

Girl Plummets Down Well

More than plenty had to Google well to comprehend its meaning.

I’m sure she got at least half a million hits just from image searches that returned a picture of an oil rig in the North Sea. Geez, her international peer group must have thought, or words or emojis to that effect. A girl has fallen thousands of feet smack into a tidal wave. I hope she’s more Kate than Leonardo.


Buy links:
(affiliate link included)




Origin Story for Amanda911
By Mark Schreiber

Amanda911 began as an essay I wanted to write, but never did, called Superficial Superficiality, about people who want to be famous for being famous, rather than for any particular field of excellence.

The new profession of influencer was really the first time in history people could fulfill that need, and as a result it is often disparaged as empty and exploitive. However, being an influencer is hard work, demanding a specific skill set, and it allows people who do have talent but have previously been silenced by society—by oppression, or gatekeepers, or commercial constraints—to find an audience.

I like humor, so I wanted to write a book that would be funny. But I didn’t want to simply satirize the excesses of social media. I also wanted to write a book for influencers themselves, because when I started there weren’t any influencer protagonists in novels. And I do admire them. So although I wanted to examine the culture critically, I also aspired to write a book that influencers could relate to and say, “Yeah, that’s what it’s like.”

I wanted my influencer to be a teenager because I wanted someone without a history, without a profession or spouse or kids. And I wanted someone who was unpopular. Someone who didn’t want to be an influencer.

When I was in fifth grade my class had an election to send one of us to city council for a day. Several kids campaigned eagerly. I wasn’t one of them. But somehow I received a groundswell of support and was even carried around on the playground. This could have been the beginning of my political career, but I resented even having to dress up for City Hall. Now I reflected on that experience and thought, what if my influencer is carried away like that?

I wanted it to be a girl, plain, sweet, someone everyone can root for. Someone deceptively perceptive and filled with common sense that sees people’s flaws yet at the same time accepts them. My niece Amanda. She’s Costa Rican, one of my ex-wife’s nieces. She was only 12 when I decided to write the book, but I would make her sixteen. Of course my Amanda is very different from the real Amanda. But her sweetness and acceptance of others and being easily overwhelmed by life are imprinted on my character.

Oh yes, and she fell down a hole while playing in the street and woke up in the hospital. She was only five and there was no media coverage, but it reminded me of stories of kids falling in wells or getting lost in the woods that riveted the nation in the days before cable TV. Maybe her family has a farm with a well in the back. Maybe that farm is in Iowa and she falls in during presidential primary season, when all the national media are there.

In real life these horrific stories can last days. Remember the Thai soccer team trapped in a cave? That still gives me the creeps. But I wanted to write a comedy, and I thought with the frantic pace of social media she would only have to be trapped in the well for a few minutes for it to go viral.

When I was five I dug a hole in our backyard. My mom said if I dug far enough I’d reach China. That was a common saying back then and I thought it would be a great metaphor for the book, because in effect Amanda does fall all the way to China, by becoming a star on their PingPong platform.

Of course, everyone would assume she would have her fifteen minutes of fame, and everything would go back to normal. But I felt her normalness would be exotic. She would be special for being ordinary, because when the whole world is on stage, it’s the solitary person sitting in the audience that stands out. Kids in megacities in Asia would be fascinated by her lifestyle, just as she was fascinated by manga and K-Pop. But they would also love her authenticity and sweetness, and that would make her fame stick.

But she’s not articulate. I didn’t want her telling the story. I wanted it framed from a cultural perspective, and that’s when I decided on the grandfather. He’s a failed writer, a bitter cynic who doesn’t even own a cell phone and still uses a manual typewriter. He hates social media, but he loves his granddaughter more than anything. So what happens when she invites him to chaperone her to the Influencer Festival?

If I could answer that question, I could write the book.






Mark Schreiber was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1960, graduated high school at age fifteen and began writing novels full-time. Princes in Exile, which explores a prodigy’s struggle to accept his own mortality at a summer camp for kids with cancer, was published in 1984 and made into a feature film in 1991. It has been published in ten countries, received two awards in Europe and was shortlisted for the Austria Prize. Carnelian, a fantasy, was published by Facet in Belgium. Starcrossed, a rebuttal to Romeo and Juliet, was published by Flux and translated into French and Turkish. His illustrated science book, How to Build an Elephant, was published as an Apple app by Swag Soft. He has written over forty books and received two State of Ohio Individual Writer Fellowships. For the last seven years he has been a digital nomad, living on four continents. He currently resides in Costa Rica.

Website: Amanda911.com

TikTok: @Amanda911

Instagram: @Amanda911

Twitter: @Markschreiber07

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Schreiber


One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Follow the tour for more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, September 24, 2021

Read an exclusive excerpt from Heir of Elriyon by K. Michele Moseley

On Tour with Prism Book Tours


Welcome to the book tour for Heir of Elriyon! Today I have an exclusive excerpt for you to enjoy. Let the author know what you think in the comments! And then be sure to follow the tour via the link above for even more. Best of luck in the giveaway!


Heir of Elriyon
By K. Michele Moseley
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 301 Pages
August 20, 2021 by Uncommon Universes Press

Aenya's destiny could cost her freedom.

After years of compulsory training to become an elite warrior, sixteen-year-old Aenya plans to run away with her friend Lewin. However, her plans crumble when she is chosen to be Elriyon’s new figurehead and wife to the future ruler, Rieve.

But Aenya has a secret: she is a Darcara—one chosen by elusive dragon-like beings, the Dargun, to receive the wisdom that once governed her people.

When the current rulers decide to stop a growing rebellion by killing the remaining Dargun, Aenya flees to Elriyon’s mysterious interior. Still, the Dargun’s words burn into her mind. They have a new task for her: return to her people and speak the truth, no matter the cost.

With escape close at hand, Aenya must choose between a dangerous calling or finally being free.



(Affiliate links included.)


Read an exclusive excerpt:
He shows me a story I can’t turn away from. There’s danger, like walls crumbling around me, but I am not me. I am someone else, kneeling beside paints and parchment, pleading for help. Though I can’t hear it, I feel people screaming beyond the crumbling walls. Please help us. Don’t let this happen. Please.

And the reply is warm. No, hot, as if I’ve sat too long in front of the fireplace.

This must happen. It must be done. But somewhere in the flames there are two promises. One of someone who will help, someone who will pick up the broken pieces, end the rage and fear. And second, that one day, someone else will come and lead everyone back to where they are safe.

But how can they? Who will teach them? I’m begging, even if it’s no use.

Sparks of blue and red stab at me as the words flood in.

You will. And all who are of your line. There will always be one or two who can still hear, who will awaken the gift in others. We are not lost.

The pressure lets go, just before I feel it will kill me.


Excerpted from Heir of Elriyon by K. Michele Moseley, Copyright © 2021 by K. Michele Moseley. Published by Uncommon Universes Press.



About the Author


K. Michele Moseley found her love for storytelling on a Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the third grade. Though she struggled with dyslexia, her passion for stories allowed her to overcome the challenges that came with telling them. While she writes in many genres, what she likes best is creating stories for young adults that place real-life obstacles into fantastic worlds. When not inventing new realms, she spends her time chasing after her two sons and playing "Netflix Roulette" with her husband.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


Paperback of Heir of Elriyon by K. Michele Moseley, a set of two loose-leaf teas, a set of character art, and a bookmark (US Only)

Ends September 29, 2021


ENTER HERE

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Friday, September 17, 2021

Read an excerpt from Mountain of Flame by Diane E. Samson

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We're celebrating the release of the third book in the Gems of Fire series, Mountain of Flame! Today, the author shares an excerpt from the third book Mountain of Flame. If you missed her character interview with Anna, you can read that HERE. She also shared an excerpt from the second book Valley of Bones HERE. Plus, there's a giveaway to enter below. Enjoy!

Gems of Fire
(Gems of Fire #1)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback, ebook & audiobook, 276 Pages
November 6, 2018 by Clean Reads

Palace of Sunderland. Paradise to the peasants. Prison to sixteen-year-old Anna, daughter of the king. She can never escape the castle’s cold walls and scorning disapproval of her father and his brute royal counsel, Seamus. She’ll always live in the shadow of her late mother, the queen. Will they ever see her for who she really is?

A riding accident lands Anna in the hands of traders who sell her as a slave in distant Kasdod to none other than her father’s enemy, Lord Anwar. After overhearing a dangerous plot to conquer Sunderland and kill the royal family, Anna must escape and warn her father, even if it means facing her greatest enemy.

With the doom looming over her, Anna is approached by a dangerous man in the dark. He claims to want to help her, but can she trust him with her secrets? The perils of the journey ahead will push Anna to the limit and answer the one question that has always plagued her...

Will she ever be enough?

Praise for the Book

“What an exciting book to read. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The characters were very well developed, and it made me cheer for them all the way through. The cover is very dramatic and fits very well with the story. Great read.” - Goodreads Reviewer

“One Tough Princess…A princess who despite great suffering never gives up. I really loved Anna’s determination and heart. You’ll find adventure, high stakes and romance in the midst of such horrible circumstances. A solid plot with a story that stayed with me.” - Amazon Reviewer

“A breathtaking journey into royal courts, slavery, escape, war, and love. This book has it all…” - Amazon Reviewer

(Affiliate links included.)

Valley of Bones
(Gems of Fire #2)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 370 Pages
February 13, 2021 by Diane E. Samson

Princess Anna is left to rule Sunderland as regent when her father, brother and her presumed fiancĂ© Jack ride to battle devouring creatures in Jack’s home kingdom of Oclen. She must establish herself as a strong leader with the Sunderland council and a neighboring king who brings along two handsome princes to negotiate an alliance.

Trouble erupts as outlining Sunderland villages are attacked by pillaging marauders and the council loses confidence in Anna’s leadership. As Anna waits in trepidation for word from her father’s army, all she hears is silence. Her scouts never return. When the reports of a coming horror reach Anna, she forges an unlikely alliance and forgoes her father’s long-standing policies against gems of power. She trains Sunderland’s remaining soldiers to fight with gems. She’ll lead them to battle to rescue her family and the one she loves.

But first she must survive the treachery brewing in her own court.

(Affiliate links included.)
 
Mountain of Flame
(Gems of Fire #3)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 450 Pages
August 4, 2021 by Diane E. Samson

Reeling from Jack becoming king of Oclen, Princess Anna returns home as Sunderland’s Defender. Earning her title was a hard-fought honor, but Anna can’t escape the guilt of leaving Jack alone in that cursed, starving place.

When Jack comes to Sunderland seeking aid from Anna’s father, she must decide whether to return with him and help defeat the curse plaguing the cold northern land. If she remains Sunderland’s Defender, she knows her heart would never forgive her for abandoning Jack to rebuild a crushed kingdom.

Can Anna leave what she loves to become queen of a people suspicious of her and the gems? Joining Jack would mean battling an evil greater than anything she’s ever faced, for the curse’s roots grow deep. But if she doesn’t, Oclen will likely fall and Anna will lose Jack forever.

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt from Mountain of Flame

A group of soldiers on the slope ahead halted their horses, their hands flying to their swords. Anna used her last ounce of strength to stop Farley before he ran right into them, the reins tearing through her water-softened hands. He half-reared and skidded to a stop, puffing and blowing. Anna patted his foam-flecked neck. Her arms and back trembled with exhaustion, and her side screamed in pain.

Zac launched over the hill behind her. “Anna!” He pulled up next to her. “Are you all right?”

She gave him an apologetic glance. Her breath hitched in her chest.

Twelve men in Oclen uniforms shifted their horses into a tight triangle formation. Two horses stood at the point and five horses down each side. Zac’s hand twitched to his sword as he moved his horse closer to Anna. She was faintly aware that Bart and Gavriella rode up behind them.

“Greetings,” Anna called, as she let the reins slide through her fingers. Farley strode forward a few steps before she halted him again, cringing at the pain in her hands. He chomped on the bit and tossed his head. She searched for Jack’s chestnut horse to no avail. “What news do you bring from Oclen? Is your king well?” Her heart hammered against her ribs. None of the men looked familiar.

“At ease,” the one voice Anna wanted to hear most spoke from the rear. The soldiers’ formation split as Jack’s chestnut horse, Avery, moved up the center of the triangle and halted in front of her. Farley nickered. Jack looked so different—thin with deep, purple circles under his eyes and pale, sunken cheeks. “The king is alive, at least.”

Excerpted from Mountain of Flame by Diane E. Samson, Copyright © 2021 by Diane E. Samson. Published by Diane E. Samson.

About the Author

Diane E. Samson grew up on acreage just north of Kansas City, Missouri, with horses and dogs in the backyard. She later pursued her love of words and earned a degree in magazine journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After graduation she worked as a reporter, managing editor, freelance writer and in public relations. After moving around the country, she's recently returned to the Kansas City area where she lives with her husband, children and golden retriever.

She's written fiction off and on her whole life and is the author of the YA fantasy Gems of Fire series including Gems of Fire, Valley of Bones and Mountain of Flame. The series centers on a girl traveling a journey of self-discovery in a world of powerful gems, supernatural forces, epic battles and of course, handsome heroes.


Tour Giveaway


Print copies of Gems of Fire and Valley of Bones by Diane E. Samson, a $25 Amazon gift card, three gem necklaces, and bookmarks (US only)

Ends September 19, 2021

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Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Read an excerpt from Valley of Bones by Diane E. Samson

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We're celebrating the release of the third book in the Gems of Fire series, Mountain of Flame! Today, the author shares an excerpt from the second book Valley of Bones. If you missed her character interview with Anna, you can read that HERE. Next, she shares an excerpt from the third book Mountain of Flame. Plus, there's a giveaway to enter below. Enjoy!


Gems of Fire
(Gems of Fire #1)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback, ebook & audiobook, 276 Pages
November 6, 2018 by Clean Reads

Palace of Sunderland. Paradise to the peasants. Prison to sixteen-year-old Anna, daughter of the king. She can never escape the castle’s cold walls and scorning disapproval of her father and his brute royal counsel, Seamus. She’ll always live in the shadow of her late mother, the queen. Will they ever see her for who she really is?

A riding accident lands Anna in the hands of traders who sell her as a slave in distant Kasdod to none other than her father’s enemy, Lord Anwar. After overhearing a dangerous plot to conquer Sunderland and kill the royal family, Anna must escape and warn her father, even if it means facing her greatest enemy.

With the doom looming over her, Anna is approached by a dangerous man in the dark. He claims to want to help her, but can she trust him with her secrets? The perils of the journey ahead will push Anna to the limit and answer the one question that has always plagued her...

Will she ever be enough?

Praise for the Book

“What an exciting book to read. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The characters were very well developed, and it made me cheer for them all the way through. The cover is very dramatic and fits very well with the story. Great read.” - Goodreads Reviewer

“One Tough Princess…A princess who despite great suffering never gives up. I really loved Anna’s determination and heart. You’ll find adventure, high stakes and romance in the midst of such horrible circumstances. A solid plot with a story that stayed with me.” - Amazon Reviewer

“A breathtaking journey into royal courts, slavery, escape, war, and love. This book has it all…” - Amazon Reviewer


(Affiliate links included.)


Valley of Bones
(Gems of Fire #2)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 370 Pages
February 13, 2021 by Diane E. Samson

Princess Anna is left to rule Sunderland as regent when her father, brother and her presumed fiancĂ© Jack ride to battle devouring creatures in Jack’s home kingdom of Oclen. She must establish herself as a strong leader with the Sunderland council and a neighboring king who brings along two handsome princes to negotiate an alliance.

Trouble erupts as outlining Sunderland villages are attacked by pillaging marauders and the council loses confidence in Anna’s leadership. As Anna waits in trepidation for word from her father’s army, all she hears is silence. Her scouts never return. When the reports of a coming horror reach Anna, she forges an unlikely alliance and forgoes her father’s long-standing policies against gems of power. She trains Sunderland’s remaining soldiers to fight with gems. She’ll lead them to battle to rescue her family and the one she loves.

But first she must survive the treachery brewing in her own court.


(Affiliate links included.)

 
Mountain of Flame
(Gems of Fire #3)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 450 Pages
August 4, 2021 by Diane E. Samson

Reeling from Jack becoming king of Oclen, Princess Anna returns home as Sunderland’s Defender. Earning her title was a hard-fought honor, but Anna can’t escape the guilt of leaving Jack alone in that cursed, starving place.

When Jack comes to Sunderland seeking aid from Anna’s father, she must decide whether to return with him and help defeat the curse plaguing the cold northern land. If she remains Sunderland’s Defender, she knows her heart would never forgive her for abandoning Jack to rebuild a crushed kingdom.

Can Anna leave what she loves to become queen of a people suspicious of her and the gems? Joining Jack would mean battling an evil greater than anything she’s ever faced, for the curse’s roots grow deep. But if she doesn’t, Oclen will likely fall and Anna will lose Jack forever.


(Affiliate links included.)


Excerpt from Valley of Bones

“You have a kind heart, Princess.” He stared out the doorway. A shadow fell across his features. “But it will not save you from what’s coming.”

“What’s coming?” Anna whispered. He faced her. Pure horror reflected in his eyes.

“My men and I were on the North Sea. Our ship was destroyed by beasts off the north coast of Oclen.”

“Beasts?” Anna’s heart skipped.

“It’s the stuff of nightmares.” His voice was low, his tone measured. “They boarded my ship from another boat and went on a killing rampage. We had to abandon ship. A fraction of my men made it to shore in a few small boats. My beautiful ship sank in those bloody waves.”

Anna shuddered. More beasts.

He was silent a long time. He pursed his lips and studied her. “Sit down. I don’t want you fainting.”

Anna lowered herself to the fur rug. Her eyes didn’t leave his face as a slow roil churned in her gut.

“Hopefully some of the beasts went down with the ship, but many followed us to shore. They swam a mile in the cold North Sea in the dark.”

“How is that possible?”

“These things are not human.”

Anna blinked. The man from Oclen had warned them. Her head spun.

“Many of my men died. There was nothing I could do. Our swords bounced off their hides. Our arrows did not pierce their skin.” He grabbed the wine bottle and slumped down next to her.

Excerpted from Valley of Bones by Diane E. Samson, Copyright © 2021 by Diane E. Samson. Published by Diane E. Samson.

About the Author

Diane E. Samson grew up on acreage just north of Kansas City, Missouri, with horses and dogs in the backyard. She later pursued her love of words and earned a degree in magazine journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After graduation she worked as a reporter, managing editor, freelance writer and in public relations. After moving around the country, she's recently returned to the Kansas City area where she lives with her husband, children and golden retriever.

She's written fiction off and on her whole life and is the author of the YA fantasy Gems of Fire series including Gems of Fire, Valley of Bones and Mountain of Flame. The series centers on a girl traveling a journey of self-discovery in a world of powerful gems, supernatural forces, epic battles and of course, handsome heroes.


Tour Giveaway


Print copies of Gems of Fire and Valley of Bones by Diane E. Samson, a $25 Amazon gift card, three gem necklaces, and bookmarks (US only)

Ends September 19, 2021


Grab Our Button!

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Quick Fix by Louise Cypress

 


Welcome to the book tour for Quick Fix by Louise Cypress! We're celebrating her book today by sharing an excerpt plus a Q&A with the author. Be sure to ask more questions in the comments sections as you follow the tour. Best of luck entering the giveaway!



Three teens are caught in a bioterrorism plot to destroy Seattle involving a diet drink that kills.

After accidentally breaking up with her boyfriend, Marley is ready to do anything to get her life back on track. When a new health clinic called Quick Fix opens in Seattle offering probiotic elixirs that supposedly burn off extra weight, Marley becomes their willing victim. After her first treatment, she loses five pounds in one week—and becomes so sick that she faints at work. But Marley is thrilled with the results, especially knowing that her ex-boyfriend is mobbed by girls every day.

When Marley’s best friend Ellie finds out the truth about Marley’s sudden weight loss, Ellie is concerned for her friend’s safety. Ellie knows better than anyone that there’s no such thing as a quick fix, but Marley’s not so sure. For Marley, the risk seems worth it—until the elixir takes control. By the time Marley discovers the truth about Thin Shot, she’s almost dead, and the only person who can save her is the last person she thought she could trust.

Melt away unwanted pounds with a probiotic elixir.

Thin Shot—the diet drink that kills.


Read an excerpt:
“Move aside, miss” barked a paramedic. “So we can get to—” The man stopped short when he saw Katie. “Hazmat team needed!” he shouted to his crew. “I repeat, this is a hazmat situation! Someone call the CDC!”

“Ellie!” Marley called again. “We need to go!”

The paramedics sprang into action, and I was clearly in the way. I stumbled toward the locker room, and Marley grabbed the back of my robe and pulled me to the shower. The faucet gushed with hot water. “Use as much soap as possible,” Marley told me, “to get the germs off. And hurry! We need to get out of here before they quarantine the place.”

“What?” I held my hands to my face, too shocked to move.

Marley yanked off my bathing cap and shoved me under the water, robe and all. Then she unhooked a bottle of shower gel from one of the stalls and squirted me with soap. “Clean yourself off, Ellie! I don’t want you to die like Katie did.”

“Katie’s not dead!” I pulled off my robe and rubbed my body vigorously with soap. “The paramedics will save her.”

“Um…” Olivia said from the edge of the shower rooms.

“What?” Marley asked.

Olivia spun around. “There’s no more time for soap. Put your clothes on and let’s go.”

I turned off the faucet and wrapped a towel around me seconds before the paramedics rolled the gurney past the shower area and through the doors to the locker room.

Katie’s body was covered with a white sheet.

(affiliate link)
Currently on sale for $0.99!



Q and A with Louise Cypress, author of QUICK FIX

Is Louise Cypress your real name?

No, my real name is Jennifer Bardsley. I’m a newspaper columnist and the author of SWEET BLISS and GOOD CATCH, small town romance books written for adults. My young adult books are written under the name Louise Cypress. If you like YA thrillers, you might also enjoy NARCOSIS ROOM which includes the same characters as QUICK FIX.

How did you come up with the name Louise Cypress?

Louise is my middle name and Cypress was the name of the street I grew up on. Try that name generator for yourself and see what you come up with for a pseudonym.

Where did you get the idea for QUICK FIX?

Society brainwashes women into feeling bad about themselves all the time, especially when it comes to body shaming. I wanted to write a book that was entertaining but that also helped readers embrace body positivity.

Do you live in Seattle?

I live thirty minutes north of Seattle in place called Edmonds. Part of the fun writing QUICK FIX was incorporating some of my favorite Seattle icons into the plot, such as the Seattle Center.

Is The Royal Racer based on real life too?

Yes. The Royal Racer, the high-speed catamaran that Cole and Marley Evans work on is based on The Victoria Clipper, which ferries people between Seattle and Victoria, a major city on Vancouver Island in Canada. I’ve been on The Clipper several times and it is super fun.

When did you write QUICK FIX?

I wrote QUICK FIX in 2018, right around the time that NARCOSIS ROOM came out. The publisher and I finished edits in 2019 and planned on an early 2020 release. Those plans were put on hold due to the pandemic. Everything that takes place in QUICK FIX is imagined.


Louise Cypress is the pen name of Jennifer Bardsley for her YA books.

Jennifer writes the column “I Brake for Moms” for The Everett Daily Herald and is the author of the young adult novels Genesis Girl, Damaged Goods, Narcosis Room, and the Fight or Flight and Puritan Coven series. She lives in a book-filled house near Seattle with her family, and poodle, Merlin.

An alumna of Stanford University, Jennifer puts her psychology degree to good use writing fiction. She has a lifelong fascination with mind control. That focus also comes in handy in Jennifer’s role as a mother—but so far her children haven’t noticed.

Book page:  https://owlhollowpress.com/quick-fix/

Author Website:  https://jenniferbardsley.com/louise-cypress-books/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferBardsleyAuthor




Louise Cypress will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, September 13, 2021

Character Interview with Anna from Gems of Fire by Diane E. Samson

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We're celebrating the release of the third book in the Gems of Fire series, Mountain of Flame! Today, the author shares an interview with the main character of the series, Anna. Next, she shares excerpts from the books. Plus, there's a giveaway to enter below. Enjoy!

Gems of Fire
(Gems of Fire #1)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback, ebook & audiobook, 276 Pages
November 6, 2018 by Clean Reads

Palace of Sunderland. Paradise to the peasants. Prison to sixteen-year-old Anna, daughter of the king. She can never escape the castle’s cold walls and scorning disapproval of her father and his brute royal counsel, Seamus. She’ll always live in the shadow of her late mother, the queen. Will they ever see her for who she really is?

A riding accident lands Anna in the hands of traders who sell her as a slave in distant Kasdod to none other than her father’s enemy, Lord Anwar. After overhearing a dangerous plot to conquer Sunderland and kill the royal family, Anna must escape and warn her father, even if it means facing her greatest enemy.

With the doom looming over her, Anna is approached by a dangerous man in the dark. He claims to want to help her, but can she trust him with her secrets? The perils of the journey ahead will push Anna to the limit and answer the one question that has always plagued her...

Will she ever be enough?

Praise for the Book

“What an exciting book to read. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The characters were very well developed, and it made me cheer for them all the way through. The cover is very dramatic and fits very well with the story. Great read.” - Goodreads Reviewer

“One Tough Princess…A princess who despite great suffering never gives up. I really loved Anna’s determination and heart. You’ll find adventure, high stakes and romance in the midst of such horrible circumstances. A solid plot with a story that stayed with me.” - Amazon Reviewer

“A breathtaking journey into royal courts, slavery, escape, war, and love. This book has it all…” - Amazon Reviewer

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Valley of Bones
(Gems of Fire #2)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 370 Pages
February 13, 2021 by Diane E. Samson

Princess Anna is left to rule Sunderland as regent when her father, brother and her presumed fiancĂ© Jack ride to battle devouring creatures in Jack’s home kingdom of Oclen. She must establish herself as a strong leader with the Sunderland council and a neighboring king who brings along two handsome princes to negotiate an alliance.

Trouble erupts as outlining Sunderland villages are attacked by pillaging marauders and the council loses confidence in Anna’s leadership. As Anna waits in trepidation for word from her father’s army, all she hears is silence. Her scouts never return. When the reports of a coming horror reach Anna, she forges an unlikely alliance and forgoes her father’s long-standing policies against gems of power. She trains Sunderland’s remaining soldiers to fight with gems. She’ll lead them to battle to rescue her family and the one she loves.

But first she must survive the treachery brewing in her own court.

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Mountain of Flame
(Gems of Fire #3)
By Diane E. Samson
Young Adult Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 450 Pages
August 4, 2021 by Diane E. Samson

Reeling from Jack becoming king of Oclen, Princess Anna returns home as Sunderland’s Defender. Earning her title was a hard-fought honor, but Anna can’t escape the guilt of leaving Jack alone in that cursed, starving place.

When Jack comes to Sunderland seeking aid from Anna’s father, she must decide whether to return with him and help defeat the curse plaguing the cold northern land. If she remains Sunderland’s Defender, she knows her heart would never forgive her for abandoning Jack to rebuild a crushed kingdom.

Can Anna leave what she loves to become queen of a people suspicious of her and the gems? Joining Jack would mean battling an evil greater than anything she’s ever faced, for the curse’s roots grow deep. But if she doesn’t, Oclen will likely fall and Anna will lose Jack forever.


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Character Interview with Anna

(These answers represent the timing of Book One, Gems of Fire)
 
Tell me about yourself:

I’m Anna of Sunderland, 16-year-old, third-born to King Vilipp. My birthday is in autumn, September 21. I resemble my mother in appearance only. She was loving, good and adored by all. I can’t help but disappoint my father and his brooding advisor, Seamus.

Who are your siblings?

Stefan is my older brother and crown prince of Sunderland. He’s watched out for me to the best of his ability since our mother passed away when I was four. He is now 22 years old. Saira, 20 years old, is my older sister. She’s been away to be educated as an ambassador and has recently returned to Sunderland.

I get along better with Stefan. I’m frequently compared to perfect Saira. I’m always found lacking.

Describe your home:

Sunderland is a medium-sized kingdom in the heart of the continent, bordered by a semi-circle of mountains on the west, north and east sides. To the south of Sunderland lies a semi-arid region and the kingdom of Tagora. The capital city is Kasdod where King Vilipp’s enemy, Anwar resides.

Karfin is Sunderland’s capital, a city set into a white mountain where valuable gems are mined. The village in front of the castle is surrounded by a tall outer wall. The Alpin river weaves in front of the castle, providing protection from intruders. The only way into the castle is by a drawbridge.

Where are you the happiest?

I find comfort at the stables and riding my horse, Farley. He was given to me by a southern prince who found him alone in the desert as a yearling. He quickly became my project and my solace. Farley only allows me on his back. His groom’s name is Bart. I consider him my only friend.

What is your greatest fear?

I fear I’ll never gain the respect of my father. He only sees me as someone to marry off. And no one wants a headstrong girl. I also fear being locked away in a cage, trapped and unable to defend myself. I especially fear being alone with Seamus.

What are your pursuits?

I love horseback riding, archery and sparring with Stefan. I grew up hiding from my tutors, and they’ve pretty much given up educating me. I don’t have many friends at court.

Are you close to your father?

Not really. Father has never recovered from losing my mother. I pretty much lost both parents back then. Like I said, Stefan has done his best to look after me, as well as my faithful nurse, Mary.

Who is the person you admire and/or despise the most?

I admire my brother Stefan. He’s funny, caring and loyal. He’ll make a great king.

I despise Seamus, my father’s advisor. He’s pretty much taken over most duties of the king and poisons me in my father’s mind.

What do you remember of your mother?

Mother was gently, kind and always held me close when I cried. She loved me very much.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Spirited, Longing, Determined


About the Author

Diane E. Samson grew up on acreage just north of Kansas City, Missouri, with horses and dogs in the backyard. She later pursued her love of words and earned a degree in magazine journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After graduation she worked as a reporter, managing editor, freelance writer and in public relations. After moving around the country, she's recently returned to the Kansas City area where she lives with her husband, children and golden retriever.

She's written fiction off and on her whole life and is the author of the YA fantasy Gems of Fire series including Gems of Fire, Valley of Bones and Mountain of Flame. The series centers on a girl traveling a journey of self-discovery in a world of powerful gems, supernatural forces, epic battles and of course, handsome heroes.


Tour Giveaway


Print copies of Gems of Fire and Valley of Bones by Diane E. Samson, a $25 Amazon gift card, three gem necklaces, and bookmarks (US only)

Ends September 19, 2021

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Read an exclusive excerpt from Replaced Parts by Stephanie Hansen

On Tour with Prism Book Tours 

Fans of YA sci-fi, I have a treat for you today! Check out this exclusive excerpt from Replaced Parts by Stephanie Hansen! Be sure to also follow the tour above. Best of luck entering the giveaway!


Replaced Parts
(Transformed Nexus #1)
By Stephanie Hansen
Science Fiction, Young Adult
Paperback, ebook & audiobook, 240 Pages
February 23, 2021 by Fire and Ice Young Adult Books

In the year 2163 a corrupt World Government controls everything on our planet and beyond.

Sixteen year-old Sierra has been so caught up in her own world of saving animal test subjects and her father’s disappearance, she hasn’t paid much attention. When she finally finds his location, she and her friend set off on a covert interplanetary mission to rescue him, she begins to see the corruption first hand.

Discovering that her father has been on the front lines secretly trying to save human test subjects inspires her to join a revolution. But she is afraid of the collateral damage of hurting the people she loves. Will she find the strength to make a deal with the mad scientist Cromwell to save not just her friends and family but everyone?



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Read an exclusive excerpt:
To make a smoke bomb all you need is potassium nitrate, sugar, water and a fuse. Programming holograph messaging to be ‘smoke screen projection only’ is much more difficult. It’s a digital version of invisible ink and completely security cam resistant. I pull up Yesha’s incoming call. The smoke allows her image to take shape and it almost feels like she’s in the room with me.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this, you little gomer.”

Yesha frequently begins conversations in the middle, no introduction or formal interrogation into my life. I think that’s why I like her.

“It didn’t take much to convince you.”

“Did you receive the package?”

I hold up the box addressed to me, Sierra, but I’ve removed the contents.

“Yep, right here, see.”

Yesha’s laugh is like a chorus of toads with hiccups. Her image vibrates on the smoke.

“That’s only the box, you drone bug!”

“I know.”

I hold up the syringes that had been inside the box.

“Be careful with those. Check the labels.”

I roll a syringe in my hands like Kitchen, one of our home bots, does with pretzel dough.

“One says healing serum, which I asked for. Why does the other say anti?”

“Backup. You always need an emergency abort mission option.”

“All right. Thanks!”

Yesha interrupts before I collapse the projection.

“Just be sure not to give the anti if you haven’t given the original serum.”


Excerpted from Replaced Parts by Stephanie Hansen, Copyright © 2021 by Stephanie Hansen. Published by Fire and Ice Young Adult Books.
 

About the Author



Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft Award Winning Author. Her short story, Break Time, and poetry has been featured in Mind's Eye literary magazine. The Kansas Writers Association published her short story, Existing Forces, appointing her as a noted author. She has held a deep passion for writing since early childhood, but a brush with death caused her to allow it to grow. She's part of an SCBWI critique group in Lawrence, KS and two local book clubs. She attends many writers' conferences including the Writing Day Workshops, New York Pitch, Penned Con, New Letters, All Write Now, Show Me Writers Master Class, BEA, and Nebraska Writers Guild conference as well as Book Fairs and Comic-Cons. She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community.


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Tour Giveaway


Audiobook of Replaced Parts by Stephanie Hansen and a $25 Amazon gift card

Ends September 22, 2021


 
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Thursday, September 2, 2021

Interview with Elle Preston, author of Illusions: Ravens of Darkness



Welcome to the book tour for Illusions: Ravens of Darkness by Elle Preston! Today you're going to get to know her and her book better in this exclusive interview. You can also read an excerpt over at Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Enjoy the rest of the tour and good luck in the giveaway!


Illusions: Ravens of Darkness 
Ravens of Darkness 
Book One
Elle Preston 

Genre: Young Adult; Paranormal Romance 
Publisher: Lark Publishing Crew 
Date of Publication: November 14, 2020 
ISBN: 978-0578661230 
ASIN: B08NGC23MS 
Number of pages: 269 
Word Count: 84,000 
Cover Artist: Lark Publishing Crew 

Tagline: Nothing is what it seems. Not even love. 

Book Description: 

An ancient cult. A supernatural addiction. A forbidden love. Sixteen year old Evie Willow is terrified of drowning but she's even more afraid of her own feelings. 

When the charismatic and telepathic lifeguard, Talon Renwyck, suddenly turns his affections toward her, Evie’s ability to rein in her feelings is threatened. Talon knows a secret which plunges Evie into the deep waters of her hidden emotions. As she drifts away from the life she knows into Talon’s beckoning arms, Evie learns that Talon is much more than just the handsome guy she’s falling in love with. Caught in a dark and supernatural addiction and tied to a secret cult, Talon is crying out for help. Can Evie save him from himself? 

Is their love the real deal or is it an illusion? 

Nothing is what it seems.

Illusions is the first book in the Ravens of Darkness Series. 

If you like character driven, paranormal romance sagas with supernatural elements, darkly dynamic love relationships, and a hint of magic and mystery, then you'll love the Ravens of Darkness Series. 

Book Two, Reflections, to be released November 2021 

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/EpJdxBUs4Ac  


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What was the inspiration behind this book?
It sounds funny to say, but toxic relationships were the inspiration for this book. The story, at the character level, is about a relationship between an empath and a narcissist and how that plays out for each person. I didn't begin writing a paranormal story, but as I started researching the empath/narcissist dynamic, I thought it would be interesting to make Evie Willow’s empathy more like a super power. Sometimes this power is her greatest asset, but it can also be her biggest downfall -- like when she gets entangled with Talon Renwyck, the handsome narcissist who tries to tempt her into his supernatural world.

What kind of research did you have to do for it?
I read a lot of psychology articles about empathy and narcissism and the toxic nature of that pairing. I wanted to show how Evie and Talon have a codependent relationship, so I read a lot of case studies and online discussion forums to see what people were saying about this kind of relationship from their own experiences.

Which character was your favorite to write?
Alex Greyson was my favorite character to write in this book. He’s clever, snarky and brutally honest. He also has a crush on Evie and is constantly bugging her about her codependent relationship with Talon. His scenes were always the most fun to write.

Will we see these characters again?
YES!! Illusions is the first book in a series. Evie, Talon and Alex all come back in book two, Reflections, which is due to come out this November. I also just finished writing book three and have an outline for book four as well. I think this will be a five book series with plans to expand some of the side characters into a spin-off series.

How do you make yourself stand out in this genre?
Well, I think a big trend is having teenage female protagonists that are super strong, sure of themselves all the time, and ready to kick butt and take names and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I feel like maybe I’m doing something a little bit different. My MC is very strong emotionally, but she’s not sure of herself at first. She is new to her supernatural abilities and doesn’t know how to use them. She hasn't quite found her voice yet in her personal life and relationships. I think back to when I was a teen: I had nothing figured out, made a lot of mistakes and did stupid stuff. I think it takes time to find one’s voice. So I hope people will see Evie as a little more “real.” She’s figuring things out. It’s sometimes frustrating to see her make mistakes but also fulfilling to see her grow throughout the series.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation. I hate driving and am always late. Being able to teleport myself somewhere instantly would be really great!

Let’s say I’m coming for a visit to your area. What are some must-see places?
The Indiana Dunes National Park. The beaches and walking trails are beautiful and inspirational. It’s always had a mystical, spiritual feel to me which is why I chose it as the setting for my books.


About the Author:

Elle Preston is the author of the Ravens of Darkness series, a young adult, paranormal romance saga. Illusions, Book One, is her debut novel. Book Two, Reflections, is set to be released November 2021. She is currently working on the third book in the series. Elle lives with her husband, five kids and several fur babies near the shores of Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes where she sets her novels.




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