Books To Movies Giveaway Hop: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Mary @ Bookhounds!!

My giveaway will be for a chance to win a copy of my all-time favorite romance novel, The Notebook. You can choose whether you would like the DVD or the novel!

There are almost 100 blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one. This hop starts August 27th and ends on September 3rd, midnight.

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Blog Tour, Tens List, & Giveaway: Helga (Rick Johnson

Tour Schedule

 

Helga: Out of the Hedgelands Twelve-year-old Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age—Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life and rescue friends and family from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can’t see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can’t accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms. Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride. Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently. Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.  

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Author Rick Johnson I am a native of the Great Plains, having grown up on a farm in the Platte River Valley of western Nebraska. I love the wild beauty of the Plains and nearby Rocky Mountains--the too hot, too cold, too empty, too full of life extremes. Typically, the awesomely diverse and the awesomely stark are much the same, even as they are different. Although I have lived in Michigan, North Carolina, and British Columbia, the western plains, mountains, and desert are in my heart. As my day job, for over thirty years I have been a faculty member and administrator in higher education. Teaching broadly in the liberal arts, including creative writing, my professional publications include educational materials, poems, and 28 stories for young readers. During my spare hours, I have also collected and carefully studied the records of former times upon which the Wood Cow Chronicles are based. It is my privilege to bring this astonishing saga to light. The Wood Cow Chronicles have been researched and written with the irreplaceable assistance of Barbara, my beloved wife of more than thirty-five years, and our children. Indeed, the essential research into the history of the Wood Cows has been conducted during the odd hours of family reading and storytelling "around the campfire" as we say--even when there is no campfire! This research continues and grows richer as our family expands across generations and continents.  

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1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I write fantasy because imagination is one of the important tools we have in breaking through the barriers or chains that limit our possibilities. The main point of fantasy, I would suggest, is its liberating influence. When we rely on imagination to enter worlds or experiences that are not otherwise available to us, we gain access to an infinite range of degrees of freedom. Running on imagination, our minds and hearts are no longer bound by such “obvious” constraints as common sense, the speed of light, or prejudices of mind. Fantasy enables us to experiment with the infinite frontiers of what is possible and impossible, believable and unbelievable.

Fantasy, especially children’s fantasy, including the idea that cows should, indeed, be allowed to talk—and think—perhaps encourages us to wonder about many other creatures, people, and dimensions of thought that “common sense” keeps us from hearing and seeing. Possibly, we may even discover that there are cows within ourselves waiting to speak. Our capacity to hear things that are, in our “common sense” world, unheard and unheard of, is one of the degrees of freedom we can preserve for ourselves and offer to others. And, for children—kids of all ages—these degrees of freedom are precious and worth nurturing. That is why I write.

In Helga: Out of Hedgelands, the unconventional heroine—perhaps the first cow to lead a heroic quest—and a troupe of other oddball characters embark on a dangerous journey beyond impenetrable truths and prejudices to discover where they could not go—and why. Time and again, Helga and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently.

My many years of direct work with middle graders have taught me that they are attracted to unexpected, quirky stories that also turn their minds inside out. That is the inspiration for this book.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

I have many characters that I like. I like to think of my writing as trying to move “beyond the box” of people’s expectations. I try to develop characters that go against “normal” expectations. I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. There are many that have these qualities, so it’s hard to choose.

However, if I had to pick one character as my favorite, it would have to be Helga. She is brave and doesn’t accept the “rules of normal” that keeps things running smoothly, when running smoothly means enslaving others. Her quirky personality is funny, but also deadly serious. Her character has some of the same questioning, seeking, and challenging of assumptions that makes the middle-grade years both exhilarating and confusing. She takes that internal energy and proves she can do it, no matter what it is. I like her because she is a cow who, by the normal genre rules, has no right to be the heroine of an epic adventure. In short, she would be my favorite because she’s a Wood Cow, and Wood Cows think differently.

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel came first. I knew that Helga, as a character, would be a connecting thread through the series as it unfolded, so would probably be part of the title, but the full title came later.

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

I’d suggest the extended scene(s) involving Helga as Tilk Duraow runner at the head of the dragon train. I think this section is unusual and creative, in the sense of entertainment, while also being significant to the story. Helga’s run for her life with the dragon train is the means to expand upon some key characters and resolve some situations in Volume One, while also planting some storylines that will emerge as very important in Volume Two.

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

My vision of what will happen in the future volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles has been sharpening as characters develop in the current volumes. In particular, a great deal about what will happen in Volume Four of the Wood Cow Chronicles will take a different direction because of some qualities and actions that characters brought to the table as they stepped into the first and second volumes. Volume Two will be coming out this Fall and readers will see that some minor characters from Volume One emerge as central to the story in Volume Two. That had always been the plan, however, what is more significant is that, since I first crafted the long-term plan for the Wood Cow Chronicles series, I have been surprised by how much some characters, as they were actually written, took on power of their own to direct the storyline.

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

I like the image of Maev Astuté, the great castle. I think the image captures the mystery, power, and forbidding nature of the fortress. I chose the image of Maev Astuté for the cover of Volume One in the Wood Cow Chronicles because the entire series ultimately is the story of how the powerful, ages-old tyranny based at the castle comes undone. The history of the Wood Cows clan is intimately related to the story of Maev Astuté’s fall, so the title focuses on Helga and the beginning of the conflict with the ruling powers at the castle. Having the castle on the cover, and Helga’s story the focus of the title, symbolizes the fact that these two guiding themes in the series are connected.

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2013?

Although already released, my pick for 2013, to date, is Shana Mlawski’s Hammer of Witches. I like the daring, unexpected, and fresh approach of this middle-grade fantasy. The book combines a classic MG coming-of-age storyline and heroic, fantastic adventure, within a familiar (or so we thought) historical setting. This mix makes for a fresh and creative offering for middle-graders.

8. What was your favorite book in 2012?

I would call it a tie between two books:

· Splendors and Glooms, Laura Amy Schlitz. Schlitz gives us a complex story with multiple storylines skillfully integrated into a story that is funny, dramatic, and terrifying all at once. The interesting and unexpected settings and character development are also good. Great story.

· The Last Dragonslayer, Jasper Fforde. The worlds that Fforde creates are intriguing and engaging. His satirical humor and general rather off-beat approach to storytelling also makes this a winner with me.

9. What’s up next for you?

I am currently working on Volume Two of the Wood Cow Chronicles. Volume Two picks up the story where Volume One, Helga: Out of Hedgelands, leaves off. The saga begun in the first novel continues to unfold, with some mysteries from the first volume becoming clear and previously unknown elements of Helga’s background being revealed. Many of readers’ favorite characters from Helga: Out of Hedgelands return in Volume Two, as well as some new characters being introduced. Readers will be surprised to learn that some minor characters and subplots from Volume One emerge as central to the story in the second novel in the Helga series. The new story also foreshadows developments in the storyline that will be central to Volume Three.

10. Is there anything that you would like to add?

If book clubs or other reading groups are reading Helga: Out of Hedgelands, I would be happy to visit a meeting via Google Hangout or Skype at no charge. Just email me at woodcowbooks@gmail.com and we can discuss details.

Blog Tour Giveaway

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Cover Reveal: Hothouse Flowers (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Hothouse Flower

by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie

Release Date: February 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

Ryke Meadows, meet Daisy Calloway ... she’s all grown up.
Twenty-five-year-old Ryke Meadows knows he’s hard to love. With a billion-dollar inheritance, a track-star resume, and an alpha-male personality—he redefines the term likable asshole. But he’s not living to make friends. Or enemies. After months helping his brother through rehab and sobriety, he just wants to free climb three of the toughest mountains in Yosemite without drama or interruption.
And then he receives a distressed call from a girl in Paris—a girl that he has never been allowed to have.
Daisy Calloway is eighteen. Finally. With her newfound independence, she can say goodbye to her overbearing mother and continue her modeling career. Next stop, Paris. Fashion week begins with a bang, and Daisy uncovers the ugly reality of the industry. She wants to prove to her family that she can live on her own, but when everything spirals out of control, she turns to Ryke to keep her secrets.
As Daisy struggles to make sense of this new world and her freedom, she pushes the limits and fearlessly rides the edge. Ryke knows there’s deep hurt beneath every impulsive action. He must keep up with Daisy, and if he lets her go, her favorite motto—“live as if you’ll die today”—may just come true.
Standalone New Adult Romance: recommended for readers 18+ for mature content

About the AuthorsBecca Ritchie is a carnivore of pop culture, television, film and of course YA and NA books. While in college, she worked at The CW television network and put her vampiric knowledge to good use, blogging about hit series and swooning over actors’ abs. When she’s not blogging, she writes novels and has teamed up with her twin sister for their New Adult novel ADDICTED TO YOU. Available July of 2013.
Krista Ritchie is the mind behind popular trading website YA Book Exchange and created Nawanda Files, a book blog that also features books into movies news. When not pouring over entertainment news and the newest releases, she spends her time conducting research in a genetics lab. She’s happy to join forces with her sister, harnessing their twin powers to produce the first in a New Adult series.

Author Website│Nawanda Files│YA Book Exchange

Becca’s Links:

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Krista’s Links:

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: A Moment & Right Now (Marie Hall)

Things were supposed to get better when Ryan met Lili. I was supposed to move on, get a life... but I'm stuck and lost. Things with my father are not good. There are demons in our closet, big ones. Ones I want to kill him for, I'm seeing a shrink, I'm trying to get better... but my life feels out of control, like I'm a raft adrift on the sea. I don't know where to look, how to get anchored again, and then I meet Zoe Stone. Something about her draws me out of my rut, makes me laugh for real, smile, and for the first time in years I want to be more. But what will she think when she discovers who I really am?
...all we have...
When Alexander Donovan, aka The Golden Adonis, walks into my tattoo parlor, I know I'll do anything to make that man mine. There's an instant connection, a need to know more about him. Everything about him. But there's also a mystery surrounding the guy, when people look at him they only see the man that laughs, that cracks jokes and makes the world think that everything's okay, but I see the truth... I see the darkness that lurks so deep inside few would ever recognize it. I want to help him, I want to be with him, now I just have to make him trust me enough to let me in.

“Hey,” a soft feminine voice pulled my eyes away from the pieces, “you got an appointment?”

I lost my words. Like they literally flew out my head the moment my eyes landed on her.

She was short, her head reaching only to the base of my neck—which meant she was probably not all that short since I was six and a half feet tall. Clearly Asian, with maybe a mix of something else. Her skin was dusky and pearlescent, almost seemed to gleam under the lights, and every inch of her had some sort of design on it. She wasn’t exactly covered, but she was a framework of art. Mostly shades of white, black, and gray, with pink and red splashes of color throughout. A pink and white lotus flower trail started at her neck and disappeared beneath the halter of her black and white polka dotted dress.

Her bangs were razor blade straight, and her hair hung heavy to her waist. There were even tattoos on her face, small feminine ones. Three tiny stars rested at the corner of her big, honey colored eyes.

I blinked, swallowing hard.

She wore a huge, red flower in her hair and the only make-up she had on was around her eyes. Black eyeliner that turned her already cat eyes dangerously sultry.

Dressed differently than any other girl I’d ever seen, she wore the fifties throw back dress with rockin’ red suede pumps.

Damn, the girl was smokin’. Every inch of her and what I couldn’t do back in that flea-infested bathroom I felt starting to happen here. I cleared my throat and shifted around, hoping God of Thunder would behave himself.

By the time my eyes made the rounds she was wearing a small smirk on her plump lips...

Ryan Cosgrove and Liliana Delgado are on a collision course with destiny. They don’t know it yet, but before the night is over their lives will be forever changed.
Spending Valentine’s Day at a burlesque bar, hadn’t been Liliana’s ideal way of spending a Friday night. She’d much rather be back on campus doing homework… until she meets Ryan. Tall, athletic, and gorgeous, Lili can’t keep her eyes off him, and despite his gruff manners and drunken disposition she’s intrigued.
Ryan’s got demons, and they’re deep, dark, and eating him alive. Regardless of his attraction to the petite brunette he’s tired of fighting, of pretending the last fifteen years haven’t been a daily struggle just to get out of bed every morning. That night he decides to end his pain, to leave it all behind and float away into the blessed darkness of oblivion. But fate has other plans for him, Lily finds and rescues Ryan, determined she’ll not only save his body, but his soul too.
This is their moment…

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I look around, following Alex's gaze and it’s like someone just pulled the floor out from under me. A petite Hispanic woman is walking toward him with an equally large smile on her face.

Her hair is dark and silky, glinting under the dim red lights of the bar. It spills down her back in a graceful heap. Her body is toned and trim, legs a mile long and encased in a tight pair of red pants. A white top accentuates the bronze of her arms.

But her face is the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen. Heart shaped, with a tiny cleft in the jaw, full lipped and a short button nose. She stops in front of us carrying the scent of flowers with her.

Which is amazing I can even smell that because the bar reeks of scotch and smoke and food.

Turning green eyes toward me, she smiles. “Hi, I’m Liliana.”

Marie Hall has always had a dangerous fascination for creatures that go bump in the night. And mermaids. And of course fairies. Trolls. Unicorns. Shapeshifters. Vampires. Scottish brogues. Kilts. Beefy arms. Ummm... Bad boys! Especially the sexy ones.

On top of that she’s a confirmed foodie, she nearly went to culinary school and then figured out she could save a ton of money if she just watched food shows religiously! She’s a self-proclaimed master chef, certified deep sea dolphin trainer, finder of leprechaun’s gold at the end of the rainbow, and rumor has it she keeps the Troll King locked away in her basement. All of which is untrue, however, she does have an incredibly active imagination and loves to share her crazy thoughts with the world!

Connect with Marie:

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Blog Tour Schedule:

8/26: Curling Up With A Good Book

http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com/

8/27: Hooked In A Book

http://hookedinabook.blogspot.com/

8/28: Simply Sensational Book Fanatics

http://ssbookfanatics.blogspot.com/

8/29: Laurie's Contemporary Fiction & More

http://www.lauriehere.com/

8/30: Another World of Books

http://pagesofbooks.blogspot.com/

Blog Tour, Excerpt, and GIVEAWAY: Deception (C.J. Redwine)

Hardcover, 480 pages
Expected publication: August 27th 2013 by Balzer + Bray

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.


But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight. 

Purchase it from:

Harper Teen | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

First of all, let me just say THANK YOU to MUNDIE MOMS and C.J. Redwine for allowing me to be a part of this awesome blog tour!!! Defiance is one of my most favorite books that I have ever read! I just love everything about it! and C.J. ROCKS!!!! She is one of those authors that responds to her fans and knows that we crave information!!! Ha! So that being said, Deception is a phenomenal book and if you have not begun this series then......DO SO NOW!!!

Click here to follow this awesome Blog Tour!!!

C. J. Redwine lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her four beautiful kids, an amazing husband, two fairly crazy cats, and a dog. She has books in every corner of her house, an impressive Harry Potter memorabilia collection, and a bunch of really cool friends she doesn't get to see nearly as much as she'd like to. She is also the author of Defiance.

Visit C.J. via her Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

She hooks her fingers around my hand and together we nock the arrow, one van pointed away from the bow. Her skin is smooth against mine, and I try hard not to imagine anything more than her hands. 

"That doesn't what?" she asks, her voice nothing but a whisper against my ear.

"That does make sense. YOu can't multiply force with whatever it was you said."

"With a probability?" Her body is molded to mine, our hands are insurable, and my heart feels like a hammer pounding against my chest. 

"I-yes. That. Exactly."

We stand in silence for several excruciating minutes, waiting for more prey to appear. The scolding birds subside into cheerful chirping. The leafy canopy above us rustles like paper made of silk. She leans against me, and I force myself to review the proper method for creating a battery just to give my mind something other than Rachel to think about. 

Assemble copper coins, silver coins, and paper discs cut to coin size.

Heat radiates from her body onto mine.

Stack them up -copper, perp, silve-eight times. Secure with copper wise.

I want to take her into my arms until both of us forget why we're even here. 

Dip the stick in salt water.

She shifts her weight, and I close my eyes. 

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Blog Tour,Interview, and Giveaway: Working It Out (Rachael Anderson)

Tour Schedule

Author Rachael Renee Anderson Rachael Anderson is the author of five novels (Working It Out, The Reluctant Bachelorette, Minor Adjustments, Luck of the Draw, and Divinely Designed) and two novellas (Twist of Fate, from the All I Want anthology and The Meltdown Match from The Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection). She's the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

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Working It Out A chance encounter . . . Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.

A chance for love . . . Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace's rehab clinic post surgery, she immediately recognizes him. Unfortunately, he's every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there's something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he's everything she's sure she doesn't want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she's willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.

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Grab a copy of Working it Out for just $2.99!

1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I initially thought up one of the scenes in the book--the night of the auction. The rest of the story stemmed from that.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

Seth. He's fun, adventurous, and an incorrigible flirt

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel.

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

The one when Grace shows up at Seth's house during a rainstorm, furious at him. I love that scene.

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

To outline a book and get to know my characters before I start writing. It makes revisions so much easier. :)

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

It's bright, colorful, fun, and fits the story perfectly. 

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2013?

Probably Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson. What can I say, I'm a sucker for regencies.

8. What was your favorite book in 2012?

A Longtime (and at one point illegal) Crush by Janette Rallison (Just a short novella, but so much fun. Loved it.)

9. What’s up next for you?

I'm actually working on two projects now--another fun and upbeat romantic comedy and a novella for a mini-series that I'm writing with a few other author friends. 

Blog Tour Giveaway

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Ends 9/10/13

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Book Blitz: A Missine Peace (Beth Fred)

A Missing Peace

by Beth Fred

Release Date: 09/01/13

Summary from Goodreads:A turbulent, emotionally charged YA novel that breaks down barriers and challenges the status quo...
Angry, seventeen-year-old Iraqi war refugee Mirriam Yohanna hates her new life in Killeen, Texas, where the main attraction is a military base, populated with spoiled army brats like Caleb Miller.
Caleb has much to be angry about too, including Mirriam who turns him down flat in front of everyone. Eager for retribution, Caleb agrees to a dare that will see him take Mirriam to the prom and regain his pride.
But their relationship soon moves beyond high school antics. Mirriam and Caleb are bound together by more than location, and as they are forced to work closely together on a school assignment, they start to uncover an explosive story that has the potential to ruin lives — and both of their futures. One single truth changes everything and strengthens their bond.
When Mirriam's family discovers their relationship, they decide it's time to arrange her marriage to a proper Iraqi man. Caleb must convince Mirriam that he is in it for forever — or risk losing her for good.

Pre-order:

 

About the AuthorI'm a full time ELF keeper and part time writer/blogger/writing instructor. I'm represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. I like my tea hot, my romance sweet, and my guys chivalrous. Real men hold open doors, refer to you as ma'am, make promises they keep, and aren't afraid to profess their undying love. It's not breakfast if there aren't carbs(at least, not in the South). Fajitas, carnitas, and churros are just few of my favorite things. Bet you can't guess where I'm from ;)

Where to find Beth Fred:

   

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Blog Tour, Spotlight, and Giveaway: Dreamscape (Christie Rich)

Every night before Amelia falls asleep she makes a wish to dream of him – the man who calls her to their beautiful private oasis, her sanctuary where she is free of her greedy landlord’s threats. But tonight, he will not call Amelia to him. Tonight, another man will step into her world to claim her. Tonight, Amelia’s shattering reality will crumble - and disappear into the Dreamscape…along with her freedom.
When Amelia dreams tonight, her nightmare becomes her new world where Seth is her captor and anything is possible…except escape. Seth needs Amelia to break the curse that binds him to the Dreamscape. He must convince her that she was made to free him, that she was made to join him.
For if he fails, he will never escape his prison, and he will lose Earth to the Netherworld where the evil Erobos wait to consume the human realm and everything in it. If he fails, Seth will lose the one thing that matters to him: Amelia.

I love to be creative. It is more than a hobby. It is a need of mine. Whether writing, reading, painting, flower arranging or trying something new, I spend most of my time in the pursuit of freeing the creations inside me.

Be Careful Or You Just Might End Up In My Novel

By Christie Rich

Sounds like the makings of a bumper sticker, right? Well, it is. I actually won a contest and got this puppy in the mail…and I absolutely love it.

I’ve had some strange things happen to me in my life. I’m an observer by nature, so I probably notice things others might not. That being said, I’ve got a couple examples to share with you that might just end up in one of my novels some day.

I work at a clinic that happens to be attached to a hospital. Those of you who are familiar with health care know just how weird things can get, but this one floored me. A few months ago, after a particularly hectic morning of phone calls and trying to slog through piles of paperwork, I went to lunch. The usually long line wasn’t that bad, so I was able to get my food and was on my way in a flash. An older couple walked by me, heads turning back to stare at something down the hall.

I’d never seen an actual warlock in person, but I was about to. Once I bypassed the gawking duo, I caught my first glimpse. He was huge, not only tall, but wide in a way that might have been fat, but might have been ten gun holsters slung across his back.

I say might because he wore a cloak. I’m talking pointy hat and draping fabric sewn in a funky patchwork pattern. The ensemble did nothing for his physique, but it did make my hair stand on end. Suffice it to say I bypassed the elevators Mr. Magic waited for and headed to the next set. No way was I getting in a four by four box with that guy.

On my way to escape, security passed me. I expected a shrill code silver to come across the loud speaker any moment, alerting the staff that yes, indeed, an armed man was in our hospital, but thankfully none came.

I’m not sure what happened after that. For all I know he was a burn victim who was trying to hide his scars, but couldn’t he have at least picked the non pointy hat cloak, or I don’t know, a hoodie? It’s funny how certain moments have stayed with me throughout my life.

One of the weirdest came on vacation. My family mostly lived in Utah, USA growing up. I say mostly because we also lived in Arizona and California off and on.

We have a lot of relatives in Arizona and most summers were spent basking in the 120 degree desert heat without air conditioning, mind you. So suffice it to say we generally travelled from my home to Arizona at night.

One year, when I was much older, my brother and I took turns driving. I had made it all the way from Salt Lake City to Kanab, Utah. It was probably a six hour shift. My brother took over after that and we were on our way again. Unfortunately we followed an aunt’s advice to use a “short cut” to get to Page, Arizona. Well, the short cut ended up costing us two hours and we almost drove right into a river. Long story, but holy crow that was a scary dirt road to nowhere.

Anyway, we finally made it back onto pavement and past Page. My brother, making up for lost time, was driving about 90 miles per hour on a lone stretch of highway between Page and Flagstaff. It’s pretty barren country so, as you can expect, most of us were trying to sleep. I was crammed in the back seat of my little Ford Festiva with my three sisters, while my mom occupied the front passenger seat.

I’d just about drifted off when I heard a horrible string of curses. I jolted upright, only to see some dude standing in the middle of the road. His arms and legs were spread wide and his head was lifted toward the sky.

I’d barely had enough time to think what the heck when my brother swerved to miss the guy, who apparently had no intention of getting out of the way. He wasn’t trying to flag us down; he was more than likely trying to rob us if the three guys in the ditch were any indication.

Sound fun? We laughed about it later, but at the time the experience put us all on edge. We were a lot more careful through that stretch of desert on our way back. Thankfully, now when I go to Arizona, I fly.

My point here is that scene stuck with me for quite a few years now, and I actually used part of it in a novel I started but haven’t had time to finish yet. I thought it would be fun to share that with you today:

I heard the thud before his half naked body rolled across the hood toward me. The windshield buckled in a deafening crack on impact. I screamed, losing my grip on the steering wheel. The car skidded wildly, throwing him onto the pavement, before it jerked to a sudden stop.

My pulse thundered in my ears. What had I just done?

I covered my eyes with trembling hands, not wanting to see it: his body crumpled on the road, broken. No one survived that kind of impact. I sat there stunned for a few moments then snapped out of it. What if he wasn’t dead?

I reached for my cell, hoping it would work between nowhere and Phoenix. My fingers fumbled with the numbers until a shadow slid across my vision. I jerked away from the window.

He stood there watching me.

Heaving a relieved sigh, I let my mouth curve in a tremulous smile.

How could you adequately apologize for nearly killing someone?

He pressed his palms to the glass, his fingers spread wide. The muscles in his forearms flexed under flawless skin. He was shirtless, and I was quite certain now that it was a loincloth draped loosely around his hips. Not your average attire, but hey, I wasn’t the fashion police. I was just glad he was alive.

Thinking he was in shock, I scanned his body for damage. There was none. How was that possible? I gazed up at him bewildered.

A dark look flickered across his obsidian eyes. The smile he gave me offered no comfort.

My body moved before my brain processed what was happening. His hands slid along the glass until they reached the door frame. His muscles bunched and his veins popping as if he was trying to force the door out of the way.

Without warning a metallic groan rocked my senses. The window splintered into a web under the pressure. No way was I waiting to see what else he was going to do. I threw the gearshift into first and let off the clutch. The car lurched forward then stalled. The door groaned again before the glass shattered. Adrenaline pumped faster through my veins, making it impossible to control my shaking hands.

I revved the engine, trying again. Why wasn’t I moving? The acrid smell of burning rubber assaulted my nose. That was when I realized: He wasn’t alone.

They rose from the side of the road like wraiths in the night, swift and lithe. They circled my car, chanting. I had to be dreaming. Maybe I had fallen asleep at the wheel and crashed and this was my mind’s way of dealing with dying? Maybe I was still in bed and hadn’t left Great Falls yet? Maybe…

So what do you think? That’s where my mind took me when I recalled that fateful vacation night. What was your weirdest moment? Have you considered writing about it? You never know. You just might end up writing a novel because of it.

Thanks so much for hosting me today, Beth!!!!

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