Spencer Hill Press Book Blast,Interview, & Giveaway: Freaks of Nature (Wendy Brotherlin)

About the book

Title: Freaks of Nature

Author: Wendy Brotherlin

Series: The Psion Chronicles, #1

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: May 5, 2015

Isbn: 9781633920064

Get a Copy: BN | Amazon | Book Depository

"Stand back because a new generation of superheroes is here.  “Freaks of Nature” is that rare action-adventure novel that simultaneously tugs at your heart and punches you in the gut.  With equal parts mystery, mayhem and romance, this is a story that will leave you begging for the next vividly imagined installment."

D.J. MacHale

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

The global Ebola-X pandemic of 2022 lasted five months, two weeks and six days before a cure could be found. In its wake, it left a generation of psionic freaks who can turn a single thought into a weapon… or worse.

Fifteen-year-old Devon McWilliams is one of those freaks, but instead of some awesome ability like telepathy or telekinesis, he talks to plants. Yes, plants. In other words, Devon rates a big fat zero on the scale of kick-ass psychic abilities. But when Devon escapes from his psionic detainment facility, the United States Military intercepts him before he can rendezvous with the Psionic Underground Network. Regaining consciousness, Devon finds himself securely fastened to his seat aboard a military airship headed to Washington DC, where he will either be incarcerated for life or killed. 

However, there are six other psions aboard this one-way flight to doom… and one of them, a telepath named Bai Lee, claims to have the means to escape, but they have to convince her, one by one, that they’re worthy of freedom. This is not good news for Plant Boy. The last thing he wants is to relive his nightmare escape from the psi-facility that left his best friend dead, especially since he’s made the acquaintance of the lovely, blonde healer, Alya du Roumanie, sitting beside him. Worse than that, he wouldn’t be able to bear the look in her eyes if she ever found out how truly pathetic a psion he really is. 

They say there are no keeping secrets from a hell-bent telepath, but Devon McWilliams is determined to do just that, risking everything not to be left behind.

Wendy Brotherlin is a screenwriter, music enthusiast and all around geek-goddess. She earned a Masters in Screenwriting at the University of Southern California and went on to write for children’s television including Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark?. Today, she lives in Manchester, Maine with her husband and two little super-heroes-in-training. Freaks of Nature is her first novel.

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I have been fascinated by psionics ever since my days playing Dungeons & Dragons in middle school and I always wanted to write a book about teens with psychic abilities.

Who is your favorite character in the book? 

Devon "Plant Boy" McWilliams is my favorite character and he just happens to be the main character of the novel. Devon thinks he's the ultimate loser because the only thing he can do psionically is communicate with plants and stimulate plant growth. Because his powers aren't very dangerous, he's something of an outsider among his peers. 

 Which came first, the title or the novel?

The idea for the story came first, then the title and then the novel. But that isn't the order in which it always goes. 

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

There are many scenes in the book that I am proud of, but one that stands out is when Devon finds a way to let his friends hear the trees sing for the first time. It’s a magical moment in the book where characters from different worlds find common ground.

 Thinking way back to the beginning, what's the most important ting you've learned as a writer from then to now?

Two things really: Patience and persistence. It can take years to break into publishing, and if it does, please be patient with yourself and continue honing your craft. Never give in to disappointment and rejection...it's all part of the process.

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

Oh, it has to be the hottie in the hoodie. 

What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2015?

I am looking forward to my friend, D.J. MacHale's upcoming middle grade novel, Voyagers: Project Alpha (Book 1), coming out in September, 2015. Oh, and Amy Bai’s Sword, which was released in February.

 What was your favorite book in 2014?

There were so many terrific books that came out in 2014, but I have to give props to A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) by Claudia Gray.

 What's up next for you?

I am finishing up the sequel to Freaks of Nature, called Shadow Walker.

Is there anything that you would like to add?

Thank you so much for your time today, Beth. I hope your readers will check out my debut novel Freaks of Nature, which will be in bookstores everywhere beginning May 5th,, 2015.

Tour Schedule

April 27- Wendy Brotherlin

April 28- Mindy @ Books Complete Me 

April 29- Brooke @ The Cover Contessa

April 30- Stephanie @ Chasm of Books

May 1- Raychelle @ Steele Reviews

May 4- Nicole @ Nicole Payne

May 5- Release Day!!

May 6- Raychelle @ Steele Reviews

May 7- Beth @ Curling Up With A Good Book

May 8- Deitre @ A Leisure Moment

*Open to US entrants *Must be 13 years of age or older *No giveaway account may be used for tweeting/following, must be an active account

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Spencer Hill Book Blast & Giveaway: The Hit List (Nikki Urang)

Title: The Hit List

Author: Nikki Urang

Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary

Publication Date: November 11, 2014

The Los Angeles Conservatory for the Arts is supposed to be a new beginning for Sadie Bryant. Moving across the country is exactly what she needs to escape the gossip surrounding her injury, the devastating betrayal of her ex-partner, and to rebuild her career as a solo dancer.
When the school announces that the annual Fall Showcase, a performance that secures a spot studying in London, will now require each dancer to have a partner, Sadie’s fresh start is a nightmare. Now she has to dance with Luke Morrison, the school womanizer with a big ego. Sadie doesn’t know how to trust Luke enough to dance with him after her last partner left her broken, but Luke is determined to change that.
Then, The Hit List comes out. A game of sexual conquest where guys get points for all the girls they hook up with—and it seems like every guy at the school is playing.
The girl worth the most points? Sadie.

The Hit List is available through:

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Walmart.com

Book Depository * Books-A-Million

Kobo * Indie Bound

Nikki fell in love with books at a young age and looked forward to reading a book with her mom before bed every night. It was only a matter of time until her love of reading turned into a love of putting those words onto the page. Now, her days are spent helping those overcoming opiate addiction and her nights are spent writing. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two stubborn cats.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.nikkiurang.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiUrang

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

Tumblr: http://nikkiurang.tumblr.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7121031.Nikki_Urang

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/NikkiUrang/

1. Signed copy of THE HIT LIST + signed bookmark

2. YA prize pack:

Doon -- Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon 

Alienated -- Melissa Landers 

Anomaly -- Tonya Kuper

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Spencer Hill Press Blog Tour: Follow Me Through Darkness (Danielle Ellison)

The truth won't always set you free.
Less than a year ago, Neely Ambrose’s biggest worry was having the freedom to follow a path that wasn't chosen for her.
Less than a year ago, she believed she could trust the Elders who said they had everyone’s best interest at heart and who said they were keeping them safe from the outside.
Sixty days ago, she discovered what they had planned for everyone she loved—and that all of it centered around her.Now she’s on the run through a dangerous wasteland full of killing machines, secret organizations, and people who want to sell her back to the Elders for their own safety. The whole world outside the Compound is living proof that everything in Neely’s life was a lie manufactured by the Elders, which may even include the boy she loves.
All Neely wants is the truth, but each new piece of it drives her further from what she thought she knew. With only forty days until everyone she loves falls under the Elders’ mind control, Neely must decipher who to trust, what questions to ask, and how to get one step ahead of the Elders, who will do anything to keep their secrets buried.

Danielle Ellison spent of her childhood reading instead of learning math. It's probably the reason she can't divide without a calculator and has spent her life seeking the next adventure. It's also probably the reason she's had so many different zip codes and jobs.
When she’s not writing, Danielle is usually drinking coffee, fighting her nomadic urges, watching too much TV, or dreaming of the day when she can be British. Danielle is also the author of SALT and STORM, a series about a snarky witch without magic. She has settled in Northern Virginia, for now, but you can always find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.

LINKS:

Author Website / Twitter / Facebook / Amazon / B&N / Goodreads

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

It was never a developed idea—it was a line. At the time I was at work in the border's coffee shop & I was unloading the stock that came in. It was late, toward the end of my shift, and had a bunch of frozen food so I had to get it put away. I heard this line in my head, "There's never enough time," and I kept repeating it. Then I had a second & third line. I stopped putting stuff away to write it down and then it was a paragraph. When I clocked out, I sat in the back & wrote—pages and pages on napkins & receipt tape. It would be a long time before I had the whole plot but that was the first moment, first line, first scene I wrote. I guess that’s inspiration, so to speak, since the whole book is a race against time. 

Who is your favorite character in the book?

I love them all! I can't pick one as my favorite, but I will say Neely holds a special place in my heart. She is like this part of my soul because we've been together for so long that she's ingrained in me & I can tap into her at any moment, yet she's still always surprising me. 

Which came first, the title or the novel?

They both changed. I rewrote this book 8 times before I sold it. In my first 4-5 drafts the title was SILHOUETTES—then the changed title changed to FMTD. The story still changed 3-4 more times…so I guess technically the title. 

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

The scene I wrote that very first day is my favorite scene—partially because it's the only one that survived every draft with little to no alteration at all. That is such a pivotal moment for me personally because it l changed my life in so many ways. 

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

I’ve narrowed it down to three things. I know you said one, but they all pretty much go together. Those three things are how to handle criticism, the value of a support system, and the belief in what you’re doing. 

It comes down to this: everyone will have an opinion. On your book, on what you should’ve done (or not done), on if they like it or not, on how you can improve, on how you should tweet or not tweet, or what your website should look like…the list goes on and on. Criticism will come at you from every different direction, and you have to be able to take it. That's why surrounding yourself with positivity and with people who believe in you, support you and will have your back no matter what is important. To that end, it’s also imperative that you know why you are writing and believe in yourself, in your story, and keep writing stories that you believe in. 

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

Everything! I told my designer when we were planning that the most important thing to me was that the book felt a certain way—that when you look at it you get a feeling. She accomplished that. It's everything I wanted and didn't know I wanted all at the same time. 

What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2015?

P.S. I Still Love You, which is the sequel of To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han—and a bunch of other sequels! I'm also excited for More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera. 

What was your favorite book in 2014?

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski—if you haven't read it then you need to. Everything about is perfection. I also loved Isla & the Happily Ever After, which was such a great ending to the series and well worth the wait. 

 What’s up next for you? 

I've been waiting for this for so long that I've never had to think beyond October! The rest of the trilogy needs to be finished, but my agent & I are revising a project right now and I have a few things up my sleeve. Aside from that I'm in grad school & planning NoVa TEEN Book Festival, so staying busy!

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Spencer Hill Press Book Blast: The Beast of Seabourne (Rhys A Jones)

Paperback, 488 pages
Expected publication: October 28th 2014 by Spencer Hill Middle Grade

Oz Chambers has a wonderful secret; the obsidian pebble, gifted to him by his dead father, is an artefact of astonishing power. The sort of power that makes the year eight science project a hands-down walkover thanks to the the pebble's genius avatar, Soph. But, there are sinister forces abroad who will do just about anything to get their hands on the pebble, and when fellow pupils start being attacked, Oz finds himself in very hot water. Soon Oz and his friends, Ruff and Ellie, are caught up in a centuries old mystery involving a missing ring, lava toothpaste and a murderous monster known as the Beast of Seabourne" 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Indiebound 

Rhys A Jones was born in a mining village in the Swansea valley in Wales where he attended primary and secondary schools. In 1974, he was offered a place at Medical school in London and qualified in 1979. Medicine and a family followed, but writing as Dylan Jones, he published 4 novels in the nineties, two of which were filmed by the BBC. But a growing desire to moves away from adult thrillers is what has preoccupied him of late. He also plans to write contemporary adult novels (urban fantasy) as DC Farmer.
Sometimes all three of his personae will start speaking at once, at which point he lies down in a dark room and waits for the feeling to pass. The Obsidian Pebble will be re-released in 2013 with The Beast of Seabourne to follow!

Website * Goodreads 

Spencer Hill Blog Tour, Guest Post, & Giveaway: Damsel Distressed (Kelsey Macke)

Title: Damsel Distressed
Author: Kelsey Macke
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary

Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing
Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.Enhance the experience with the companion soundtrack, Imogen Unlocked, by the author's band, Wedding Day Rain.

Goodreads link: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17788889-damsel-distressed?from_search=true

Damsel Distressed Website:

  http://www.DamselDistressed.com/

Damsel Distressed Tumblr:

  http://teamomgen.tumblr.com/

BUY LINKS:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * The Book Depository * Kobo

CD Track Listing + Short description:

Imogen Unlocked Track Listing:

1. Heavy

2. No Goodbye

3. Something About

4. Sinking

5. Don't Wake Me Up

6. Let Me Go

7. My Strength

8. Unseen

9. Always Speak Too Late

10. The End is Just the Beginning

11. Breathe Easy

12. Edge of the Fall

CD Blurb:

Damsel Distressed is the story of Imogen, a girl who's survived the years after her mother's death by focusing squarely on her best friend, Grant, musical theatre, and lots of cheese. The book is full of humor and heart, and also contains a few surprises. Full page sketches are scattered throughout the novel, and each one contains a QR code that corresponds to a song from the book's soundtrack. Imogen Unlocked is a 12-song album of original music written by the author and her husband Daron as their indie-pop band, Wedding Day Rain. Together, the book Damsel Distressed and the soundtrack Imogen Unlocked work together to tell the story of a girl who might just make her own Happily Ever After, if she can just hold herself together. 

Kelsey Macke has been creative for as long as she can remember. From an early age she was on stage singing, penning poetry, and writing notebooks full of songs. When the idea for her debut novel, DAMSEL DISTRESSED, popped into her head, she was undeterred by the fact that she had no idea how to actually write a novel. Her bff, the internet, was her guide, and after much trial, error, and candy, she finished it, and set out to get it published… a process far more difficult than, the internet (now her mortal enemy), had lead her to believe.
Her whirlwind adventure was made even more unbelievable when she signed with fabulous agent, Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and, shortly after, Danielle Ellison of Spencer Hill Contemporary bought her debut.
This innovative, mixed-media art project has given Kelsey an incredibly unique opportunity to join two of her passions: writing and making music with her husband as half of the folky, indie-pop band Wedding Day Rain.DAMSEL DISTRESSED, and the companion album of original songs, Imogen Unlocked, are scheduled for release in October 2014.

Author Social Media Links:

Website: http://kelseymacke.com/home

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KelsNotChels

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kelsnotchels

Tumblr: http://kelsnotchels.tumblr.com/

1. Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!

Raw, sassy, swoony, hopeful, dramatic

2. Where did you get the idea for Damsel Distressed?

DAMSEL DISTRESSED was inspired by so many things. Some of it came from my own experiences as a teenager, and other moments were inspired by my friends. Still other facets of the story and characters were shaped by my experiences as a teacher in high school and middle school. There are little whispers of so many lives on the pages of my book and I hope that everyone who reads it finds a little sliver of their own experience in the words.

3. Damsel Distressed touches on several sensitive topics. What made you write a book about body image and self-harm? What do you hope your readers will take away from it?

In school, I was never thin. I may have been average, in reality, but the feeling of being bigger than all my friends was real. In adulthood, my own emotional eating resulted in weight gain that eventually lead me to an unhealthy weight for my size, which was brought to my attention during a health screening.

I have definitely experienced a complicated, and sometimes painful relationship with food and body image. When I was younger (and even when I got older), those emotions were often fundamental in how I saw myself, and I wanted to express that experience through Imogen.

The other side of Imogen’s primary problems exists in the realm of mental health issues. I am a vocal advocate for the destigmatization of mental health needs and care. I have spent most of my career as a teacher working with young people who have emotional/behavioral difficulties.

Sometimes, it seems like the hardest part of living with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or any number of other conditions, is that those who haven’t experienced it rarely understand the complexities involved in recovery.

There are no easy solutions, you know? It can be hard in YA to write a character and keep the readership from saying/thinking, “Oh my gosh. Stop whining! Go get some Xanax and get on with it.” But those types of oversimplifications are damaging and hurtful to the real young people that our characters represent.

It was important to me that Imogen’s problems be as authentic as possible.

4. Theatre is an important part of Imogen’s life. How does being in theatre help her? If she didn’t have theatre, what would it mean for her?

Theatre, for Imogen, is an anchor. Her mother was involved in theatre, so her connection is in part a way to hang on and not let go even though it’s been 5 years since Mom’s death. Beyond the connection to her mother, however, Imogen feels at home in the sound booth (her theatre work of choice is running sound, not being on stage) because it allows her to connect to other people in a real and meaningful way, but also allows her the space to be in her own head and watch from a safe distance.

Theatre is such a wonderful part of development for so many young people and adults (including myself), and it was very exciting for me to honor that work with my book.  

5. Damsel Distressed is going to be accompanied by Imogen Unlocked, a “soundtrack of original songs written and performed by Wedding Day Rain.” What do you like most about having a companion album? In what ways does it allow the reader to dive deeper into Imogen’s head?

Having a soundtrack for this book was a weird, crazy, ambitious idea, but now that it’s done, I can’t imagine my book without the songs that accompany it.

The songs come after critical scenes, and in most cases, the songs directly continue the emotional weight of that chapter.

I like to think of the book as Imogen’s thoughts, as she is aware of them, and the songs as the things she doesn’t even know she’s got swirling around in her head.

6. Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?

My research on compulsion disorders and self-harming behaviors was incredibly enlightening, and necessary. However, it was also incredibly difficult and emotional for me to study, because I can’t help but think about the individuals who live with the burdens of these issues every day.

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Good Choice Reading Book Blast & Giveaway: Flawed (J.L. Spelbring)

Title: Flawed (Perfection #2)
Author: J.L. Spelbring
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

In a world where Hitler won the The War, and perfection is constantly sought, Ellyssa has broken free from her austere life and has found another meaning for her existence.

Family, friendship, and love.

But her happiness is short lived. Ellyssa finds herself on the run, again. Her father's work didn't die with him, but lives on in her siblings, Aalexis and Xaver, and they are determined to complete his unfinished dream.

  FLAWED TRAILER from irashiflet on Vimeo.

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J.L. Spelbring lives in Texas, where she wanders out in the middle of the night to look at the big and bright stars. Besides knocking imaginary bad guys in the head with a keyboard, she enjoys being swept away between the pages of a book, running amuck inside in her own head, pretending she is into running, and hanging out with her kids, who are way too cool for her.
Her novel, Perfection, released in July 2013 and the sequel, Flawed, releases August 2014.

Website: http://jlspelbring.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlspelbring

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/j.l.spelbring.perfection

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