Friday, November 29, 2013

YA Bound Blog Tour, Excerpt and Giveaway: Undertow (K.R. Conway)


Undertow (Undertow #1)
Release Date: 10/18/13

Summary from Goodreads:Luckless Eila is unknowingly the last of her kind: Rare. Gifted. Breakable. Stunning Raef is her kind's historic enemy: Soulless. Lethal. Lost. A legendary death 160 years before would set their lives to collide, forcing a beautiful killer to become a savior, a simple wallflower to become a warrior, and ruthless destiny to become a death sentence.
SUMMARY:High school senior Eila Walker knows that good luck skips over her like an Easter Bunny on Speed. So when she inherits her grandmother's million-dollar Cape Cod home, she is downright shocked. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local undertow can kill ya, and her Great Grams was supposedly fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past . . . until history decides to repeat itself.
A self-proclaimed loner and previous-social reject, Eila thinks she's hit the jackpot when drool-worthy Raef O’Reilly becomes her friendly, yet weirdly protective shadow. But being hauled beneath the waves by an unnatural undertow slams the brakes on bliss – especially when Raef storms to her aid with coal-black eyes and iron-like strength.
Eila, entirely freaked, demands an explanation and Raef comes clean, revealing that neither of them are average humans but rather the genetic remnants of an angelic pissing-match gone wrong. Eila supposedly can channel the power of human souls, while Raef is quite adept at stealing them. Even worse, the legend about her ancestor isn't such a myth, since Eila’s grandmother was one kick-ass warrior until her lightning-like power backfired. A power that is written all over Eila's DNA.
Now sought by Raef’s own family for her destructive ability, Eila must trust him to watch her back. But when a quest for information goes terribly wrong, Eila is suddenly left with only two options: become a weapon for the enemy or follow in her Gram’s fearless footsteps to save those she loves. Unfortunately she needs a willing enemy to ignite her suicidal energy and the only one she trusts has been guarding her butt and scorching her lips.



About the AuthorI have been a journalist for 15 years and serve on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod Writers Center. I also drive a 16-ton school bus because I am ENTIRELY NUTS.
In addition to working jobs that should come with a warning label , I hold a BA in Psychos (Forensic Psych), torment the tourists about Jaws, and occasionally jump from the Town Neck bridge in an attempt to reclaim my youth.
I live on Cape Cod with two smallish humans who apparently are my kids, my fishing-obsessed husband, two canines (adept at both flatulence and snoring), and a cage-defiant lovebird that sleeps in a miniature tent. Nope - that's not a type-o. The bird is quite the indoor camper.



I was the last one? The last . . . Lunaterra? “I’m all that’s left?” I asked, my voice so small that I wasn’t sure anyone heard me. Had every one of my kind been killed? If true fighters didn’t make it, 
how on earth were we ever going to come out alive? Raef had heard me. He stopped arguing and looked down to where I kneeled by the door. Sadness and anger brushed across his face. “Possibly. Probably,” he replied, dropping down to find my eyes. “You are not going to die. We are going to keep you safe, do you understand?” His voice curled with a dark, knightly devotion that almost made me believe him. I glanced at Ana and MJ, who were watching Raef and I. They could easily have taken their talents and chosen not to stand and protect me. They could have hidden from Dalca’s screwed up assignment and declined what was beginning to sound like a suicide mission. I needed to find my ability. I needed to perfect my lethal talent if I was to protect my two friends and two boys who no doubt had a bounty on their immortal heads. I needed to shift the balance of power in our favor and I needed to evolve on a seriously accelerated timeframe.



Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Book Nerd Tour & Giveaway: The Order of the Rose (Alysha King)






“You possess a power as great as that of the false Empress. You do not understand it yet but you will come to learn its true nature. It is the only match to true evil. You doubt it, but you must embrace it or you will fail.”
When Carey Lee discovers that not only is she a witch but also part of a rebel order, she figures it can’t be any worse than the life from which she just escaped. Little is she prepared though for what lies ahead – an all-powerful empire and a murderous Empress, a seemingly impossible quest to rescue her family, and a power so dark that Carey begins to doubt her very existence.
The Order of the Rose is the first in a series of three novels to be known as the Rose Chronicles.


You can purchase The Order of the Rose at the following Retailer:



Alysha King is a 27-year-old author and self-confessed nerd whose greatest loves are her collection of Harry Potter Books (in both English and Japanese), Doctor Who and her Canon EOS 7D camera. For the past decade she has been writing and perfecting her first book, the Order of the Rose, the first in a planned trilogy and a YA fantasy novel. She is also planning and researching for a future YA romance based in Darwin, Australia during WWII.Alysha lives in Canberra, Australia with her husband, young daughter and a little white cat named Rory.




YA Bound Blog Tour, Guest Post, & Giveaway: The Star Catcher (Stephanie Keyes)

The Star Catcher (The Star Child #3) by Stephanie Keyes
Paperback, 436 pages
Release Date: November 10th 2013 | Publisher: Inkspell Publishing

TheStarCatcher.v4-Final



Magick and destiny intertwine as he fights to save his kingdom and the goddess he loves.


Her kiss…the feel of her skin…the beat of her heart…For seventeen-year-old Kellen St. James, each memory is marred by a single sentence on a lone strip of paper.

Cali has been taken…
Armed with an amulet that channels the ultimate power of Faerie, Kellen searches for his love. However, control of the amulet’s energy comes with a price, and Kellen soon learns that Cali’s captor has plans for the stone. With the threat of the Star Catcher’s evil looming above Kellen and his kingdom, he’ll have to free the Heart of Faerie and break the curse the binds the Children of Danu to the darkness. But before that, he has to find his real father, the king. No pressure, right?
Kellen and Cali will battle bewitched armies and unknown foes as they fight to stay together. Will Kellen embrace his immortal destiny? Or will his world, and the man he is fated to become, be destroyed by The Star Catcher?



"One of the best endings in a trilogy I have seen in a while. Fans will not be disappointed!"-Jackie Jackson, The Book Maven
Read the books that started it all... Click on each of the covers below to learn more...

The Star Child Cover
Book 1
Book 1.5
Book 2
TheStarCatcher.v4-Final
Book 3

Featured Playlist Song

I had a huge playlist for The Star Catcher. One of my favorite songs was Kites by the band, Iko. In The Star Catcher, there's a section where Cali is lost on a star, searching for a way out and KItes served as an excellent backdrop. Her powers aren't working the way they should and she's worried for Kellen.
My powers opened the door for me, but had they disclosed its location? No. Air, Fire, Earth, Water. The elements born unto me. Show me the door, I thought to myself once again. Nothing happened. I started searching for the way out again, my memories assaulting me as I walked.
Marry me. Kellen’s words echoed like a gentle torture device in my mind as I sprinted along the grassy plains of the star on which Ainmire held me captive. Why did Kellen have to go and get separated from me?
The fool and his sense of duty! He should have run the other way and found his way back to me. Then we could be together. I slowed to a halt, resting my elbows on my knees.
He didn’t run because that’s not who he was. That was not the man I loved.

The Trailer

Interested to learn more about The Star Catcher? Check out the cool trailer from the award-winning, Kristen Kress of BrainFry Productions!
 

So for this giveaway, we're releasing several cool items. Let me tell you about them!
  • 1 The Star Child series E-book Pack (includes all three novels, plus the novelette, After Faerie)
  • 2 The Star Catcher e-book
  • 1 The Fallen Stars custom faerie bookmark
  • 1 The Star Child series swag pack (contains bookmarks, and more!)
[caption id="attachment_4646" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Part of The Star Child series swag pack... Part of The Star Child series swag pack...[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4647" align="aligncenter" width="300"]The Fallen Stars custom bookmark -The Book Swag Shop The Fallen Stars custom bookmark -The Book Swag Shop[/caption]

The Book Tour

The Star Catcher tour is running through November 29th, so check out some of the great sites that'll be participating!


I think my face is frozen. Yup, definitely frozen.
Stephanie Keyes, author of The Star Child series[/caption] Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. Today, she's still doing the same thing, except now she gets to share those ideas with readers! When she's not writing, Stephanie is also a graphic designer, international speaker, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she's best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years. Mrs. Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Business and Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University and a M.Ed. from Duquesne University. She is a member of the Society For Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), as well as a featured author in the global group of writers, Love a Happy Ending.com. Keyes is the author of the YA Fantasy series, The Star Child, which currently includes The Star Child, After Faerie, The Fallen Stars, and the soon to-be-released finale, The Star Catcher (November 2013), all from by Inkspell Publishing. Mrs. Keyes is hard at work on a new YA Paranormal Romance.

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

I Am A Reader Book Blast & Giveaway: The Crossroads Saga (Mary Ting)

The Crossroads Saga
Crossroads Saga



crossroads ting
  Crossroads (Book 1) Can two worlds collide in dreams? Crossroads, Between, Beyond, Eternity, Halo City-novella Protecting her from the fallen was his duty. Falling in love was never part of his plan. Loving her was forbidden. Being with her was all that mattered, even if it meant he would be exiled for all eternity. Claudia Emerson's life is about to change when her good friend, who coincidentally shares the same first and last name, dies in a tragic accident after the homecoming dance. Distraught at the loss of her friend, Claudia's dreams become tumultuous, and through them she mysteriously travels to another world called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth, where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander. There, she unexpectedly meets Michael, a nephilim--half angel, half human. It turns out that this isn't her first visit, which is an enigma, for she has no recollection of being there, and is told that no human has crossed over...until Claudia. Now that she's been there, fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special, and it is up to Michael and the other nephilim to protect her. Her dream becomes a nightmare as more secrets are revealed about who she really is, and the true identities of the people she loves most. The situation becomes even more complicated when she is unable to hinder her feelings for her swoon-worthy guardian angel. Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should, or will he be too blinded by human emotions and the struggles of being who he is?

Crossroads is FREE
Download a copy today!!
  Praise for Crossroads "Crossroads contains action, twists and romance that has you flipping through the pages so fast that you're at the end and ready for more before you know it." ~Gabby, Nashville Young Adult Fiction Examiner/What's Beyond Forks "Watch out Edward Cullen! The angel Michael has officially given you a run for your money! Teens everywhere will add a new fictional boyfriend to their ever growing lists! OMWings! An amazing paranormal angel romance that stays with you long after the last page has turned. I need more!" ~Jennifer Howell with LateBloomerOnline.com “Crossroads by Mary Ting has it all: danger, romance, suspense, incredible characters and an original plot that is sure to thrill. The action never stops as good and evil battle to the death. This well written and fascinating love story will keep readers entranced.” ~ReadersFavorite.com   Book Trailer
  Teaser Though Phillip had already told me that I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between an alkin and a fallen, it was confirmed as I watched the battle. They looked just like the alkins as the two sides battled with swords. Watching, I noticed that Michael had one too, but where had it come from? “No!” Michael shouted, suddenly standing directly in front of me. “You don’t need her. She’s just a human.” “Get them!” Aden shouted again. During the entire fight Michael stayed by my side, protecting me. They fought so swiftly that even with my flashlight it was hard to distinguish alkins from the fallen. I focused intently, trying to figure out who was who, but it was no use. They were too fast for human eyes. I pointed the flashlight, hoping to blind or distract them, but that also proved to be pointless. It was only useful for my vision. In the blink of an eye they were here, there and everywhere. The clanging of swords colliding was painful to hear. As the screeching sounds continued, all I could see were sparks as the swords made contact, as if we were in the middle of a lightning storm. Fearful of any alkin getting hurt, I covered my ears, hoping that it would end soon. Suddenly, Aden raised his hand toward the stars, and the fallen stopped. The sounds of the swords crashing against each other came to a dead halt. Aden started circling around Michael and me. As he drew closer, I could see that he looked exactly as I remembered him from my dream. The wrinkles on his forehead defined his age, and though I conceived him as evil, his voice scared me more than his appearance. Aden never lifted a finger to fight; instead, he relied on the fallen to carry out his battle strategies. “Michael, come with me. I’ll give you anything you want.” “There is nothing I want from you.” “They’ve turned you against me. I should have killed you when I had the chance.” Aden’s eyes raged with anger. “They didn’t turn me against you. I did it of my own free will.” “Move out of my way!” Aden shouted. “You’ll have to go through me first!” As Aden continued to circle around us, I could sense movement from the fallen, edging closer to Michael and me. The alkin must have sensed it too as they positioned themselves right behind us and immediately began to attack the fallen. Michael moved me to the left and then to the right, fighting while shielding me. Though the fallen were fewer in number than before, they were retaliating in full force. In the midst of all the chaos, I lost my grip on the flashlight, and it tumbled off the cliff. Instinctively I reached for it, and in that split second someone or something collided against me, and I plummeted off the cliff. Gravity was pulling me faster than my body could resist. I’d always heard that at the moment of death, one’s life flashed before their eyes; all the moments that had brought them to that point, big or small. All I could think of was death itself and the one person who had changed my life forever—Michael.   crossroads saga 2    
add to goodreads
mary ting
Author Mary Ting Bestselling/award-winning author Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.  








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BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/15/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Monday, November 25, 2013

CBB Promotions Book Blast: Guest Post for Author Heidi Garrett


The Magic of Snow

I’m from Texas, and lived a decade in Southern California, so for most of my life, snow was abstract. Something I saw on television, or in movies. I went on a few ski trips. Of course, there was snow. But the white stuff always seemed distant from my daily reality—a romantic or troublesome notion.



Then we moved to Eastern Washington state a few years ago. Each year, I can’t wait for the first snowfall. You wake up, and the world is transformed. Sometimes the season’s first flakes are small, like salt. Other times it comes down in large misshappen white-gray polka dots. I’ll run to our front window, gazing at the wonder of it all.



If there was a good snow, through the night, the streets and roofs, trees and bushes, will be coated with a magical white blanket. If the snow has just begun—or it’s light—the warmth of the earth will melt it, as soon as it touches the ground. Either way, seeing that first snow, always feels like a hushed, mystical event. 



Because the world turns quiet in the snow. It’s really cold out, so most people stay in. If there’s been a bad storm, no one even tries to drive much. This quiet makes me feel like I’ve been transported to another earth—where the only sense of other life, is an invisible shared heartbeat. 



I’m attuned to the difference of moving around in snow. Years ago, when I lived in Austin, Texas, I got caught in an ice storm. The roads iced over fast, that night. Leaving the party, became dangerous. Everyone, including myself, crashed where we were. The next day, we all hung around, waiting for the ice to melt. It didn’t, but I decided to drive home anyway. Big mistake. Driving on ice is treacherous. After almost slip-sliding into a ditch, I thought I was safe, when I parked my car. However, each rung of the steps, leading to my front door was frozen solid. It was a precarious hike.



Thus, my first year in snow, the thought of driving even short distances filled me with trepidation. However, I’ve since learned there’s an enormous difference between driving on snowy, slushy roads and icy ones. The heat of traffic melts snow, and leaves a slick, but somewhat, safe mess to navigate. Where things get tricky, is when that melted snow freezes later in the day, or early in the morning, covering the streets with that icy layer. Despite the dangers, the visual wonder of the snow never ceases. People become friendlier and more talkative. Perhaps, all of our senses our heightened by the decisive appearance of Mother Nature. As the world shows us a completely different version of herself, we pull out alternate selves as well. 



There is nothing like going to a coffee shop, in the snow. Puddles and slush, mark the trail, from the door to the counter. Everybodies bundled up, and strangely, often cheery. The coffee tastes better than when the days are warmer, and the trip to the shop is less fraught. Caffiene-sensitive, I may never be able to stop drinking coffee completely, as long as I live in a part of the country where it snows.

Walking is also a different experience in the snow. It becomes a thing filled with a crunch-crunch that’s exacerbated by that acoustic layer of soundproofing that comes with the snow. If it’s sunny, the light can be blinding. If it’s not, you’ll experience a new level of being cold. Parkas, gloves, mittens, wool hats and scarves—boots with traction—become something other than fashion items. And, yes, I’ve capsized a few times. Thanks to that patch of ice, lurking beneath the fresh layer of white.



All-in-all, despite the hazardous conditions that it brings with it, I love the snow. My heart pitter-patters when I see a deer or fawn run across the street, leaving the track of its hooves, in the previously unblemished icing on the lawn. Or watching the cats, pick their way through and around drifted mounds. Shoveling snow is a great excuse to get outside. Although, I confess, I might not feel that way, if our driveway was larger, or our sidewalk was longer.



Your cheeks burn, your fingers become numb, and, yet, the magic of snow—and the enchantment it brings to everyday life—is undeniable. 



Heidi Garrett

Heidi Garrett is the author of the contemporary fairytale novella collection, Once Upon a Time Today. In these stand-alone retellings of popular and obscure fairy tales, adult characters navigate the deep woods of the modern landscape to find their Happily Ever Afters. The Original Fairy Tale short stories:The Girl Who Watched For Elves, The Girl Who Dreamed of Red Shoes, and The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing are a prelude to that collection.

She is also the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series, a fairy tale/high fantasy mashup about a young half-faerie, half mortal woman who must save both the Enchanted and Mortal Worlds.
Heidi was born in Texas, and in an attempt to reside in as many cities in that state as she could, made it to Houston, Lubbock, Austin, and El Paso. Heidi now lives in Eastern Washington state with her husband, their two cats, her laptop, and her Kindle.
Being from the South, she often contemplates the magic of snow and hopes to remind readers that:
Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world…
Learn more about Heidi and enjoy her stream-of-consciousness reading journal, Eating Magic, at:www.heidigwrites.blogspot.com
If you want to say Hello, give her a shout out on Twitter: www.twitter.com/heidigwrites
She is now on Facebook: www.facebook.com/heidigwrites

Saturday, November 23, 2013

HarperCollins Cover Reveal: Seeking Her by Cora Cormack


Seeking Her by Cora Cormack
Expected publication: January 28th 2014 by William Morrow Impulse

A few months after being honorably discharged from the military, Jackson Hunt is still struggling to adjust back to the real world. He needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he’s going to keep his own demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal. 
Bodyguard (and baby-sitter) to spoiled-rich-girl Kelsey Summers isn’t exactly what he’d been looking for, but it’s a chance to travel, to get away from the home that has felt stifling ever since his return. It would be a pretty sweet gig if it weren’t for the fact that Kelsey’s father doesn’t want Kelsey to know she’s being followed. Hunt feels guilty (and a little bit creepy) as he watches her from afar. She’s vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When he sees her falling into the same patterns that he suffered years ago, he decides it’s time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know her is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her,the more he wants her.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

CLP Tours Blog Tour, Interview, and Giveaway: Dandy Day (Annie Wood)





Dandy Day is a thirty-five year old free-spirited, commitment-phobic, Venice Boardwalk roller skating waitress. When Dandy is suddenly dumped by her therapist, right when they were on the brink of figuring out why her relationships last only a whopping three months, Dandy decides to take her relationship issues into her own hands. With the reluctant help of her lifelong best friend, Simon, Dandy tracks down her exes one by one and does a relationship autopsy on each of them in order to get to the bottom of her relationship challenged life.

A short novel about love, friendship and grown ups (sort of) growing up (sort of).







Annie was born in Hollywood, raised in the valley. She avoided the valley girl accent by speaking backwards for the first 15 years of her life. As an actress she has guest starred on several TV shows. You may remember her best in her recurring role onBecker with Ted Danson, Lara in Good Luck Chuck and as the host of her own nationally syndicated dating show, BZZZ! which she also co-produced. As a writer, she is a produced and published playwright and recently had a comedic scene in the NBC/UNIVERSAL showcase. Her web-series, Karma’s a B*tchhttp://anniewood.com/karma.htm was chosen by Virgin America as BEST OFTHE WEB and season 2 is now in the works. Her books of comedic scenes, Snapshots! & Act Up & Make a Scene have been performed on Hollywood stages and is available on Amazon. She lives in Los Angeles with her charming, Italian husband and her equally charming, Jewish/Buddhist/Italian dog, Lucy.



Connect with Annie!



Blog: I only occasionally blog at SheWrites:

And my dog, Lucy, blog’s when we travel each year to Italy, where my husband is from.

Facebook page:

Goodreads:

Twitter:




Buy the Book!

http://www.amazon.com/Annie-Wood/e/B002BMFM1C


1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I wrote the screenplay version several years back. I was thinking about the idea of “growing up” and the pressure some feel about needing to have life and love all figured out by a certain time in their life. I also like the concept of names and how our names can affect us. If my name was Dandy would I feel the need to alwayshave a dandy day? 

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?
I love Dandy. She’s definitely neurotic with her endless self analysis and her inner rants, but she has a good heart.

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?
The title. I have a list of titles I often refer to. I am inspired by titles. I also enjoy naming bands, songs and giving people nicknames.

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I like the scene where Dandy is remembering a recurring dream she has about her parents because of the bitter-sweetness of dreams, memories and loss.



5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
The first draft is just for yourself. You need to sit down and write that first draft. Get it all out. Just get it done. Don’t share during the process because too many voices in your head can mess you up.

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?
That’s a picture of me that I had my husband, Peter, take. I am sitting in the Venice boardwalk (where the story takes place) drinking a Yoo-Hoo (Dandy’s favorite beverage) wearing my roller skates (Dandy is a roller skating waitress on the boardwalk.) I played around with the photo to make it a little cartoony. I like the colors.


7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2014?
I don’t usually look ahead when thinking about books but Angelica Houston has an autobiography titled, “A Story Lately Told” coming out later this year that looks interesting.

8. What was your favorite book in 2013?
I loved “Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter.

9. What’s up next for you?
I’m working on my next novel (or novella, not sure yet) titled “La Tua Casa.” It’s another romantic comedy, this time from the male perspective. It’s based on my screenplay, “Martin’s Theory.” I’m also getting ready to shoot *season 2 of the web-series I wrote, created and star in, “Karma’s a B*tch.” You can watch season one by clicking on the “Karma’s a B*tch” button on my site – anniewood.com(*season 2 was co-written with my pal, the talented TV writer, David Schladweiler.)


10. Is there anything that you would like to add?
If you like, you can follow me on twitter - @anniewood

And…

Keep Creating.

Keep Positive.

Keep Showing Up. J