Monday 30 April 2012

Cover Reveal: Reaper by L.S. Murphy

Reaper will be released on the 7th of January 2013.
There's no way sixteen year old Quincy Amarante will become the fifth grim reaper. None. Not over her shiny blue Mustang. Her Jimmy Choos. Or her dead body.
 
She’s supposed to enjoy her sophomore year, not learn about some freaky future Destiny says she has no choice but to fulfill.
 
It doesn’t take long for Quincy to realize the only way out of the game is to play along especially since Death can find her anyway, anywhere, anytime. And does.
 
Like when she’s reassuring her friends she wants nothing to do with former best friend Ben Moorland, who’s returned from god-knows-where, and fails. Miserably.

Instead of maintaining her coveted popularity status, Quincy’s goes down like the Titanic.

Maybe ... just maybe ... that’s okay.
 
It seems, perhaps, becoming a grim reaper isn’t just about the dead but more about a much needed shift in Quincy’s priorities—from who she thinks she wants to be to who she really is.



My Opinion:
I love the chick-lit, light-hearted feel of this cover! Even though I have read a few books that have the same trainee Reaper theme, (Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series - which unfortunately I didn't particularly enjoy reading), I would still definitely be interested in reading Reaper. The byline, "Death calls at the most inconvenient times" teamed with the tongue and cheek image of the girl holding an scythe, would definitely have attracted me to this book in my local book store.


Like the sound of Reaper? Add it to your wishlist on Goodreads!

Friday 27 April 2012

A Witch In Winter by Ruth Warburton

ISBN: 9781444904697
Publisher: Hodder
Pages: 346

Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

I received A Witch In Winter for review from Ruth Warburton. I really enjoyed reading this book, and once I had started it, I just couldn't put it down! My favourite character was Maya, as she supported and defended Anna, despite the risk to herself and her own family. Anna would have been one of my favourite characters however, I felt she was too easily led & too distracted at times. I also felt that Anna's friends, June, Liz and Prue were inconsistent & quite shallow compared to the rest of the characters, which was quite a shame really, as this for me, let the rest of the story down. Although I like the cover of A Witch In Winter, and to some slight extent it fits within the witch theme, I believe that a more suitable cover could have been designed or chosen.

Available at Amazon.co.uk.

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Author Interview: A. G. Howard

A. G. Howard has written Splintered.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?
Anita Grace Howard, and I live in Texas.

2. Do you have a pen name?
AG Howard for my young adult novels, and then my real name for my adult literature.

3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
SPLINTERED : A spinoff of Alice in Wonderland, in which Alice Liddell’s granddaughter has to face the darker side of Wonderland’s whimsy.

4. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
SPLINTERED has second book potential (and I have that idea plotted out), but I ended it in such a way that it can stand on its own. I have a two book deal with my publisher, so not sure if I’ll write the second SPLINTERED for the next book or if they’ll ask me to do that later if the first does really well. They might have me concentrate on one of my other ideas first. I’ve been playing with a Phantom of the Opera YA spinoff that my editor really likes. They get to choose which book I write next, so we’ll see!

5. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
The writing bug didn't bite me as a child, as it does a lot of authors. Sure, I dabbled in goofy "stories".  I wrote them with map colors and kept them stashed under my bed. But I never took the ability too seriously. Not until years later, after I'd married, had two children, and lost my grandfather to brain cancer. The night he died, I sat down and wrote a two page tribute to him and his life that was later used for his eulogy. In all honesty, I hold him up as my inspiration, as the end of his journey was to be the beginning of mine. 

6. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?
I’m hoping to get enough copies to do that! 

7. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?
My cover was designed by Amulet’s in house designer, Maria Middleton, and given life by the amazing artistry of Lady Symphonia.

8. Would you have different book covers for different countries?
I kind of hope to, because it would be fun to see all the different versions, and how different artists and designers might perceive the story.

9. How did you come up with the title for your book?
I originally planned to call it THROUGH A SPLINTERED GLASS; then I saw how many YA novels had short, intriguing titles, so I went w/SPLINTERED for short. It fits the book for three reasons: First, Alyssa (my MC) thinks she's going crazy like all of the women in her family in the beginning. She refers to it as her sanity being splintered. Second, the looking glass she steps through is cracked and splintered. And third, the Wonderland "fairytale" that she finds waiting for her is a splintered and warped version of the Lewis Carroll tale.

10. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your thoughts on book trailers?
I do! It’s right here. And I’m a very visual person, so I love book trailers. In fact, on my blog, I’ll spotlight ones that catch my eye from time to time.

11. Are you a self-published / Indie author?
No, I’m being published with Amulet books, best known for THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series. But I fully support Indie, and am considering self-publishing some of my earlier books one day if I can’t find traditional homes for them.

12. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?
YES! I’m very tempted by eye candy. Hee. It was WICKED LOVELY, actually. :) Turns out she was also a wonderful writer.

13. Has the quality of the cover of a book ever put you off of reading it?
Again, I’m fickle when it comes to my ocular senses, so yes. I’m not often drawn to books that look very cartoonish on the front, as if they were designed purely w/computer graphics. But that’s just a personal hang-up, and one I would overlook in a heartbeat if I knew the author.

14. Do you have any advice for other writers?

I actually have five rules to remember when you’re braving the publishing waters:

1.       Don’t try to stand out. The only way your query should catch an agent’s eye is with a unique story premise and polished writing. Everything else needs to be standard and professional.

2.      There are a lot more steps to getting published than just writing a book. Educate yourself on those steps (read agent and writing blogs) and ace them. It will give you an edge over the millions of other writers out there trying to get in the door.

3.      Agents are people; they have limited time, ergo, they have form letters to help them do their job. Don’t begrudge their process. Treat them w/respect if you expect it in return.

4.      Your first agent may not be your last. Sometimes, your career grows away from your agent. You might not find your literary soulmate until round 2 or 3 or 4. What's important is to be willing to make changes that resonate, but stay true to your voice and vision. Have the courage to do what's best for your longtime career.

5.      An agent's tastes can change over time, just as your writing will. Never be afraid to try to query an agent again, especially if you have a few more books under your belt. Chances are, one of you has changed enough to make a connection. You certainly won't know unless you try.

And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

I did some stupid things when I first started out, but someone once said the only way to fail as an author is to stop writing. That really stuck with me. Now I'm about to finally see my dream come true. It can be that way for everyone aspiring to be published. Never give up, and it will be your turn to sit on the shelves one day soon.

15. Where can your readers follow you?

Here are some links where I can be found online:



Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Author Interview: Brian Beam

Brian Beam has written Dragon Gem.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?
My name is Brian Beam.  I was born and raised in Kentucky and currently reside there, but will be moving for my wife's work in the next few months.  So far it's looking like I'll be calling North Carolina home by the end of the summer.

2. Do you have a pen name?
Nope, just Brian :)

3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
I just recently debuted my fantasy eBook, The Dragon Gem, on Amazon in March.  In it, the protagonist's quest to find his birth parents becomes a fight for survival as his past is revealed.

4. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
I am currently hard at work on the sequel to The Dragon Gem.  The Dragon Gem is the first in a planned Trilogy called Korin's Journal.

5. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
My parents had some friends who had published books, and as a kid I found that amazingly awesome.  As for writing fantasy, when I started reading fantasy in middle school, I fell in love with books that not only told a great story, but took you away to completely different worlds.  I used to write a lot of short stories when I was 8 or 9, but didn't start attempting full novels until about 15 or so.  

6. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?
Yes, I do.  Anybody want one? :)

7. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?
I had a friend, Jonathan Jolly, do the cover.  I just wanted something that would be simple, yet convey an important moment in the book. 

8. Which is your favourite cover of all the books you have written?
The Dragon Gem earns those honors...mainly because it is my only completely finished/released book.

9. Is there anything you would change about your book covers?
For the sequel, I want to have something more artistic and then go back and redo The Dragon Gem cover for cohesion.

10. Would you have different book covers for different countries?
Hmm...I've never really thought about that.  As an indie author, I have to say no.

11. How did you come up with the title for your book?
The Dragon Gem is an gem that drives the main storyline of the book.  This storyline is resolved in the book with the bigger story of the trilogy building around it.

12. Is there anything you would change about your book? And why?
As of now, no.  After I've had some more reviews, that may change :)

13. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your thoughts on book trailers?
No, I don't, but I think they are a great idea.  If I had the time/resources right now, I'd be very interested in making one.  I'm still keeping the option open for the future.

14. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?
I'm going to depress myself with this answer, but e-books.  For years I would say that I could never bring myself to buy an e-reader.  I would talk about how I loved the feel and smell of a new book(still do by the way) and that I loved going to bookstores to find my next book by aimlessly wandering the fantasy section until something popped out at me.  Now, I buy ALL of my books on my Kindle.  It's easier than toting around an armful of books and it allows me to help support indie authors such as myself who often will only have their book available digitally.

15. Are you a self-published / Indie author?
Yes, and proud to be so.  Writing is my passion and self-publishing allows me to write what I want, on my own terms, at my own pace, and still be able to get it out to the readers.  I've learned just how awesome the indie community is too.  

16. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
When I was younger, I would re-read Robert Jordan's WOT books or Terry Goodkind's SOT books when new books in their series were released.  Not so much now, though.  Being happily married with an awesome little toddler, life doesn't allow as much time for reading books more than once.  When I read new additions to book series now, I just head to wikipedia for synopses of the previous books.

17. Have you ever bought a specific edition of a book because of it’s cover? (For example a UK, US or Canadian version)
No, can't say I have.  Then again, I really don't put that much research into the books I read to actually notice the different covers from different regions.

18. Have you ever read a book just based on it’s cover?
Not so much now, but when I was in middle school, that's how I picked out my fantasy books!  

19. Has the quality of the cover of a book ever put you off of reading it?
Again, when I was younger that may have been a factor in dismissing a book, but now I look more at book descriptions and reviews. If a description pulls me in, the cover could be a roller-skating stick figure for all I care.

20. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
I'm reading Brandon Sanderson's Way of Kings on Kindle.  Brandon Sanderson became my favorite author when I came across his Mistborn books a couple years ago.  I have pointedly put off reading Way of Kings until he was closer to finishing Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series so that I wouldn't have to wait years and years before the next in his Stormlight Archives series was released.

21. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Write what you love, and love what your write(a little hypocritical since I'm always harsh on my own writing).  The best advice I have been given is that your opening sentence is what can either draw your reader in or turn them away.  I apply that advice to every one of my chapters, not just my book opening.

22. Where can your readers follow you?



Amazon: 





Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!

Monday 23 April 2012

ReVamped by Ada Adams

ISBN: 9781470068981
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages: 300

A simple mission turned deadly.
Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue.


I received ReVamped for review from Ada Adams. Although I read ReVamped in one sitting, I must admit that I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would have. The actual plot was great but it just needed developing a bit more. It felt like big chunks of the story were missing, as at one point whole weeks of training were skipped in a sentence or two, which for me took some of the enjoyment out of reading ReVamped. I would have liked to have learnt more about the characters as they progressed within the story, but unfortunately the times between the main events were just glossed over. I really like the cover of ReVamped, to be honest it was the first thing that drew me to it, because of the lovely purples in the cover image and the swirly, arty font.

Available at Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk.

Sunday 22 April 2012

Through My Letterbox! 22/04/12


What came through my letterbox this week:


This week I received an ARC of Earth Girl for review, which was kindly organised to be sent to me by the author herself, Janet Edwards! And and ARC of Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen for review, which was kindly sent to me by Emma Bradshaw at Bloomsbury! 
I also received a Hooked On Books tote bag from Bloomsbury, which my mum won via Facebook.

Saturday 21 April 2012

Perfect by Sara Shepard

ISBN: 9781907410734
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 288

In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four perfect-looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem.

Aria can't resist her forbidden ex. Hanna is on the verge of losing her BFF. Emily is freaking out over a simple kiss. And Spencer can't keep her hands off anything that belongs to her sister.

Lucky me. I know these pretty little liars better than they know themselves. But it's hard keeping all of their secrets to myself. They better do as I say . . . or else!

I really enjoyed reading Perfect by Sara Shepard! I love how several genres (YA, Thriller and Chick-lit) have been mixed in this series! My favourite character was Spencer. Despite all that she has achieved academically whilst striving to do better than her sister, Spencer is still determined after years of "failure". And she will do whatever it takes to be better than her sister... at any cost. I like the cover of Perfect as it carries on the theme from the rest of the book in the series, without giving to much away about the story inside. 

Available at Amazon.co.uk.

Friday 20 April 2012

Author Interview: Thomas Winship

Thomas Winship has written Vaempires: Revolution and Vaempires: White Christmas.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?
Hello, I’m Thomas Winship. I live in the United States, about an hour north of New York City.

2. Do you have a pen name?
No.  Thomas Winship is my given name.

3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
My most recent book is Væmpires: White Christmas. With tensions between humans, vampires, and væmpires at an all-time high, world leaders schedule a holiday summit to salvage peace. 

4. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
Absolutely—more than one, actually. I have a lot of plans for the Væmpires series. I’m currently working on a zombie-related piece that takes place immediately after Væmpires: Revolution (book one) and bridges the gap between books one and two. After that, I’ll start book two.

5. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
I’ve always been an avid reader, but I never gave much thought to writing. About a dozen years ago, creative writing courses taken in college started to open my eyes to the possibility… but something always seemed to be in the way.

My wife, Elaine, deserves credit for finally pushing me to follow my dream. In early 2007 she convinced me that it was time to stop wasting time, and I listened.  

6. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?
Of course. I gift either e-books or hard copies, whichever the reviewer prefers.

7. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?
A friend, Dave Dougherty, designed the cover. I shared some very basic ideas with him, but he came up with the cover concepts on his own.

8. Which is your favourite cover of all the books you have written?
The covers of Væmpires: Revolution and Væmpires: White Christmas are based upon the same template, so both are currently my favorite.  

9. Is there anything you would change about your book covers?
No. I’m perfectly satisfied with both covers.

10. Would you have different book covers for different countries?
At this point, I wouldn’t. The covers really capture the spirit of the stories. Of course, I want to reach fans in the most effective ways possible, so I’m always open to the idea.

11. How did you come up with the title for your book?
I chose White Christmas because it is associated with so many positive things pertaining to the holiday—snow, the music, and the specials—but, most importantly, our inherent belief that dreams can come true.    

12. Is there anything you would change about your book? And why?
I would love for it to be a mass-market release that’s in the hands of people all across the globe. Beyond that, I’m happy with it.

13. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your thoughts on book trailers?
I love book trailers. Any way to get the message out there and connect with fans is a good thing. One day I hope to put together trailers that rival movie previews.  For now, though, my homemade trailers are available on my YouTube channel.

14. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?
I prefer physical novels. Hardcovers are best, although I typically buy paperbacks for two reasons—cost and size. I have several thousand books, so storage is always an issue. I do insist on hardcover (where possible) for certain authors and subjects, in particular Stephen King and Star Wars.

My library of e-books is growing by the day because it is the future of publishing, but I only own one audiobook. 

15. Are you a self-published / Indie author?
Yes, I am. I spent a year trying to get attention from the publishing industry for my first novel (a mystery). It was a very frustrating and confusing year, mostly because the feedback was so inconsistent.

Once I finished the first draft of Væmpires novel, I decided to self-publish and avoid the headache.

16. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
Yes, I have—but only a few. Don’t get me wrong, there are many books I would love to read again, but my TBR list is always so large that it seems like a luxury I can’t afford.

I was more apt to do so as a child. I read Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, Alan Dean Foster’s Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books, and Madeline L’Engle’s Time books multiple times. For a few years, reading The Tower Treasure (the first Hardy Boys book) each Thanksgiving Day was a tradition.

I’ve read most of Stephen King’s early works more than once, but I’ve read It, The Stand, The Talisman, and the first four Gunslinger novels multiple times. Other multiple reads are Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn (Star Wars) trilogy and Peter Straub’s Koko.

17. Have you ever bought a specific edition of a book because of its cover? (For example a UK, US or Canadian version)
On rare occasions, I’ve purchased a specific version of a comic-related book because the cover featured an artist I like, but I’ve never elected to purchase a cover from a different geographic area. Until amazon came along, I purchased most books from a bookstore, so there was never a choice between covers. Even now, I typically buy the US version without looking at alternatives.

18. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?
Absolutely. I walk through the local Barnes & Noble at least once every other week, just looking for new books. The cover is what causes me to grab it off the shelf in the first place.

Of course, I have an addictive personality (i.e., if I like a book, I have to purchase and read everything in the author’s bibliography), so I have to constantly restrain myself from grabbing too many.

19. Has the quality of the cover of a book ever put you off of reading it?
Yes, unfortunately, although I do try to be open-minded. Still, I’d rather see a cover with just the title and author’s name than some horrid visual.

20. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
I’m currently reading Chris Jordan’s Measure of Darkness in mass-market paperback.

21. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Probably nothing that isn’t clichéd… but you have to write for the love of writing. If you write for fame or praise or leaving your mark on this world, you’re going to get your heart broken.

The best advice I ever received was from my editor, Neal Hock: “trust in your abilities.”

22. Where can your readers follow you?








I’d like to say, “Thank you” to Rachel for taking the time to interview me and to all of you for stopping by.


Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!

Thursday 19 April 2012

Author Interview: Jason Derr

Jason Derr has written The Boston 395.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?
My name is Jason Derr. Where do I call home? Wow, you start with the hard questions don't you. I'm FROM Richmond, Va. I live in Portland, Or. In between was Florida, Spokane, Wa and Vancouver, BC.

2. Do you have a pen name?
No, but I sometimes write my own name with a pen. Sometimes a pencil. Really, it depends.

3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
My most recent book is The Boston 395. I have one non-fiction book as well, from a small publisher.

James Scottesdale has watched his life fall apart in the economic crisis. But that was before a train showed up in his living room, one whose every stop leads to his own life. 

4. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
I am 135 pages into the start of a YA series. I was not open to the idea of a series at first - I have too many stories to tell and find some authors get lazy when they depend on a series. But this new book - the story is big and needs three books to tell.

5. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
I write because it brings me so much joy to do so. Really, I bliss out when I'm writing a good story.
I started writing because I had great teachers who drew out that talent - and then in university I decided to commit fully to it as my art.


6. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?
Sure. Want to review my book just ask and you can get one.

7. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?
That was tough. I could not afford a cover and - lets face it – allot of self-published people have BAD covers. So I went for simple and balanced. I also went black and white so the cover would work on the most amount of devices.

8. Which is your favourite cover of all the books you have written?
I like my non-fiction book cover, mostly cause someone else created it for me.

9. Would you have different book covers for different countries?
No. Not if I’m DIY all the time. Too much work. Unless I can get an intern. Anyone want to be my intern.

10. How did you come up with the title for your book?
In university - where my friends and I ran our own underground writers group and would smoke cigars on the dock and read poetry - I had a job at a circuit city. We got a delivery truck one day with a piece of plywood in the back with the words 'The Boston 395'

11. Is there anything you would change about your book? And why?
No. I like this book. Its my Kafka-esq exploration of awesomeness. Read it. You will see why.

12. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your thoughts on book trailers?
I tried to do a book trailer. It did not work. You need a budget to do one right. Or time. Beyond that - they are fun to have and great to share with fans and a community. Not sure they drive sales though.

13. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?
I prefer books! Lots of books. In all types. My wife and I have 400 books - the joy of a grad school education - so, um, yea ebooks sound great.

14. Are you a self-published / Indie author?
I am. I like the idea of being in charge. People complain about sub-par works flooding the market and that is a legit complaint. But if you think of the ebook thing as being more about a global workshop - I publish, I get a review, I improve the work/my writing - then it makes sense.

15. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
Oh yea…
The Narnia books
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel
The Poet, The Warriot, The Prophet
And many others…
But I am pulling such a blank right now.


16. Have you ever bought a specific edition of a book because of it’s cover? (For example a UK, US or Canadian version)
No. But I lived in Canada for awhile and it was fun comparing covers of Harry Potter books internationally. Even in Canada they had 'kid' covers and 'adult' covers.

17. Have you ever read a book just based on it’s cover?
No. But I will admit that a cover will help seal the deal if the story sounds interesting.

18. Has the quality of the cover of a book ever put you off of reading it?
Yes. Many an indie book has had a terrible cover. Sloppy covers will make the audience think the book is sloppy. That said - I had no skills in this department and had to rely on my own stumbling.  I went for simple and I pray it works.

19. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
I'm reading…
The Hunger Games
The Stars Like Grains of Sands in my Pockets
Integral Ecology
Lyric Ecology
The Weakness of God: A Theology of the Event
Immersion into Noise


20. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Write. Then rewrite it. Write it over and over and over. Learn all the 'rules' before you break them. Find your favorite authors and then read all their favorite authors.

21. Where can your readers follow you?

Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/jason.rred

Twitter:
JasonClip

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Boston-395-ebook/dp/B006OFRY0O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333420344&sr=8-1

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105787



Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!