Book Spotlight~ Susan Smith Alvis's Mystical Christmas

What if everything you wanted was all within your reach but not yours for the taking?

Klaus and Stefan are tearing through the South collecting hybrids and leaving a trail of dead bodies behind them. Unable to reach Stefan any other way, Elena devises a holiday plan to lure Stefan back home.

Damon thinks Elena is wasting her time and fears the worst. He and Stefan no longer celebrate Christmas, but if Klaus approves Elena’s request, Damon will support her by giving her what she wants—a traditional Christmas.

What Elena wants and what she gets are two different vampires altogether. Elena approaches Klaus and asks for Stefan’s release, even if it’s only for one Christmas weekend. Klaus agrees, but his terms and conditions are nonnegotiable.

Soon, Elena is holed up in a snow-covered chalet with the Salvatore brothers and Klaus, an original vampire with an unusual agenda. And he’s gone to great lengths to find out who Elena really loves. 

Excerpt One

Dear Diary,

I used to love mystery and danger. Like other teenage girls, I’d often imagined what it might be like to find myself in the middle of a catastrophe, stuck between two great forces—like good and evil—only far more dramatic.

At that time, Stefan and Damon Salvatore didn’t exist in my world. The world—at least the one I lived in—was less complicated. My days then were in black and white, with an occasional burst of color and flare, compliments of Caroline. 

Then the Salvatore brothers entered my life and everything changed. I soon learned there wasn’t a line of division down the middle with these two. And after I met Damon and Stefan, my former life faded to black and now the past seems surreal.

I look down at the Salvatore driveway, now lined with packed snow and jagged tracks and wonder how I could’ve been so naïve. Who was that young girl who compartmentalized thoughts, people, places and things?  Why didn’t she take the time to see the bigger picture with more multidimensional aspects, more depth?

As I think about the coming hours with a mix of dread and a dash of excitement, I now know a well-rounded life takes a triangle’s shape. Life isn’t clean and tidy with a circular rotation driven by nature to lead us all back to where we started. It’s not boxed up all nice and neat with defined planes and specific instructions to make our days easier. How boring would that be? Then again, after barely surviving these last few months, boring sounds like a little slice of heaven. 

It’s the most wonderful time of year or it is for those who believe in the two-sided world, the world beyond this window, the one where others grade their mere existence by good or evil.

But there is a third entity or force. And he’s standing right behind me. 

Excerpt Two

“You promised to release him while we’re in Tennessee.”

“And I will,” Klaus assured her. “Once we’re settled in and before the sun goes down.”

“Is there a ‘but’ in there somewhere?”

“All right, Elena, you win. I’ll let you in on a little secret.” His demeanor changed then. “You can’t play with fate or run from it, love. Katerina tried and as you saw for yourself, she failed on numerous occasions. She also loved two brothers as you love two brothers.”

“I never said—”

Klaus held up his hand. “Let me finish. Damon gives you what you need, what you must have at any cost. Stefan, on the other hand, gives you what you want—the ability to stay committed to your high moral standards. The Stefan you know gives you a normal relationship, an acceptable bond. Your friends like him. Your teachers accept him.” 

“What about the Stefan you know?”

“The Stefan I know would rip your pretty little neck apart if I so much as compelled him to do so.”

She swallowed, processing. Klaus wanted to hurt her. He wanted to watch how she interacted with the Salvatore brothers. He would then later use what he learned against her. “You made Stefan into something he’s not.”

“On the contrary,” Klaus said. “We’re vampires. That makes us hunters or predators by nature. We’re only killers by choice.”

Beta Readers' "Favorite Lines from The Vampire Diaries" Mystical Christmas

(Kindle Worlds Novella) [Kindle Edition]

1. Her mind’s eyes flickered with newspaper clippings about a rampant killing spree, a murderous binge controlled by Klaus and executed by Stefan.

2. “On the contrary,” Klaus said. “We’re vampires. That makes us hunters or predators by nature. We’re only killers by choice.”

3. "Stefan’s weapons are embedded in his gums. No one hands him anything. He takes what he wants.”

4. "You and Damon probably weren’t supposed to spend Christmas together. You aren’t exactly an ideal mistletoe-seeking pair.”

5. "At the end of the day, you’re nothing more than a bleeding vein to him, Elena.”

6. Their love washed over her like a high tide racing toward shore in the middle of a devastating storm, a volatile gale that would temporarily calm before striking with brutal force in the desolate hours of a quiet holiday night. 

7. “Proximity is a real bitch when you’re the only one with a beating heart in a houseful of vampires.” 

8. “You can make a deal with the devil but it doesn’t mean you have to follow him back to hell.” 

9. "Far be it for me to break the news here, but we’re both dead, brother.” Stefan lifted his glass. “I thought you knew.”

10. "I can’t pretend I don’t have feelings for you when every single time I look at you, I only see an extension of me.” 

11. “It’s hard to choose a side when your heart draws its sword for one cause while your head supports another.”  

Only $1.99 Today At Amazon 

About the Author: Susan Smith Alvis has been a career author for over a decade. With over 300 titles to her credit, her pseudonyms have been award-winning authors with international bestsellers in most genres. To find out more, visit her book page at Amazon. To sign up for updates and future release date announcements, email her at susansmithalvis@gmail.com

Discover author BRINA COURTNEY

Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs. You can find her on her website, http://brinacourtney.blogspot.com/ or on Twitter, @brinacourtney.

~*~BOOK LIST~*~
The Promise
Move
Stealing Promises
The Cryptid Tales series
Summer in Salem
Discovery

Discovery
Electi Series
Paranormal Young Adult/New Adult
Available at Amazon

Discoveries can be dangerous. Discoveries can be deadly.
Nine months ago, Teagan Matthews' boyfriend disappeared and took her sense of stability with him. But when the opportunity to live with her aging grandmother in Salem arises, she decides it's time to get on with her life. A new home, new job, and new friends are adding up to a beautiful summer...
...until a young girl's body shows up one night in town, wearing a pentagram necklace exactly like Teagan's.
Now a guy, looking remarkably like her missing boyfriend, has arrived in Salem along with a mysterious stranger, who may have some answers that Teagan has desperately been searching for. Teagan must now decide who to trust. It's a matter of life... and her death.
*This book contains content not appropriate for readers under the age of 17*

Back to Reading Contest Announcement from Tiffany Truitt

I am so excited to be stopping by today to announce my “Back to Reading,” contest. Like millions of teachers and students, I will be returning back to the classroom, and I thought this needed to be celebrated with a MAJOR book giveaway….and other fun goodies for all my fellow fans of Young Adult Literature.

What Do You Win: One lucky winner will receive copies of the following books (Only US residents need apply)

How Do You Win: Simply stop by my website between Aug 23-26 to enter.

 

More Goodies: And that’s not all. Entangled Publishing and I are excited to announce that from August 23-26 books 1-2 of The Lost Souls Series (Chosen Ones and The Naturals) will be available for Kindle, Nook, and Apple for only 99 cents. That’s right.  For less than a dollar, you can join the world of Tess and James before the final book in the trilogy hits store in April 2014.

Need more enticement? Below you will find an excerpt from book three, The Creators.

Somewhere, James was just as trapped as I was.

            I thought of the morning when we lay with each other, curled against one another, never beginning and never ending. How we’d stayed like that till the sun began to rise.

            James had reached down and pulled me off the ground. He wore a satisfied grin on his face. “Someone is mighty proud of himself,” I teased.

            He laughed. It bounced through the forest, calling it awake. Readying it for the day. “I’m just insanely happy.”

            I stood on the tips of my toes and kissed him gently on his scar. “I’m insanely happy too,” I whispered.

            James looked down at me, and I was lost all over again. I would never tire of looking into those mismatched eyes. They didn’t make him different. They made him him. He chuckled as he reached over and pulled a leaf from my tangled hair. “They’ll know just by looking at you that we’ve been up to no good.”

            “No good?” I purred. “I thought it was very, very good.”

            James growled and lifted me into the air. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pressed his lips hungrily against mine. I moved my hands to his hair, curling my fingers into it, attaching myself to him. I never wanted to let go. Every part of me ached to be touched by him, and every part of me ached to touch him right back.

            “Do you know how much I love you?” he breathed into the base of my neck. His lips fluttered against my skin.

            I nodded, kissing the top of his head. “As much as I love you.”

            James slowly put my feet back on the ground. He cradled my face in his hands. “That will never change. No matter what.”

            I looked deep into his eyes. “I know.” Because I did. It was one of life’s few assurances. I would always love James.

            I pressed my lips once again to his scar. “I adore this scar,” I whispered, unable to hide the smile that seemed etched on my face all morning.

            “You’re enough to drive a man crazy,” he said The tremble of his voice caused my toes to curl. I wanted him again. And again. And again.

            My fingers traced the waist of his pants. “Tonight?” I said, knowing full well it was a promise that I probably wouldn’t be able to keep.

            James grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. “Tonight,” he echoed.

            As the sun climb higher into the sky, I knew our moment was coming to an end. James reached down and placed his hand over my heart. “Thank you,” he said.

            “For what?” I asked, my voice choked with emotion.

            “For everything.”

            As the memory slipped away, I looked back up at the night sky. Praying and hoping that James knew how much I wanted to thank him too.

            For everything.

Blog Stop~ Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective/Giveaway

Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective by Christine Amsden

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

Teaser Excerpt:

My parents think the longer the name, the more powerful the sorcerer, so they named me Cassandra Morgan Ursula Margaret Scot. You can call me Cassie.

           

I've been called a lot of things in my life: normal, ordinary, and even a disappointment. After the Harry Potter books came out, a couple of people called me a squib. Since I haven't read them, I have to assume it's a compliment.

           

Personally, I prefer normal, which is why the sign on my office door reads: Cassie Scot, Normal Detective.

           

You have to understand that around here, when your last name is Scot, people are easily confused. Not only are my parents powerful practitioners, but I have six talented brothers and sisters. Plus, my family hasn't always been known for its subtlety. When weird stuff happens around here, the people who are willing to believe in magic are prone to suspect the Scots.

           

The day I opened for business I got a call from an old woman who swore her cat was possessed by the devil. She also swore she'd read my web site, which clearly stated the types of work I did and did not do. Exorcisms were on the No list, and while I hadn't specified pet exorcisms, I would have thought it was implicit.

About the Author

Award-winning author Christine Amsden has written stories since she was eight, always with a touch of the strange or unusual. She became a “serious” writer in 2003, after attending a boot camp with Orson Scott Card. She finished Touch of Fate shortly afterward, then penned The Immortality Virus, which won two awards. Expect many more titles by this up-and-coming author. 

Connect with Christine at....

Website: http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/

Blog: http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/?page_id=200

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristineAmsden

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Amsden-Author-Page/127673027288664?ref=hl

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1030664.Christine_Amsden

Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/117845642477854934607/posts

Giveaway Information: Christine will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and leave comments; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/virtual-super-book-blast-cassie-scot.html

Welcome Davee Jones today

Please give a warm welcome to author Davee Jones who joined me on the interview couch and answered a few questions.....

 How would you describe yourself using only five words? Insatiable, Demanding, Adventurous, Solitary, Misophonia

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? On a mountaintop in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

How do you get yourself in the mood to write? I crank up the theme to Rocky or We Will Rock You by Queen….lol. If I find it difficult to get motivated, I jump into the SCP author page and see if anyone is up for a sprint. Nothing like getting writing going like fellow authors jamming together.

Coffee, tea or other drink to get you moving in the morning? I love coconut lattes and blueberry Red Bull, depends on my mood.

What is coming up from you in 2013? My first YA paranormal book, Finding Love Under a Rock, released this month that begins my Critter Getter series. The second book of this particular series revolves around the legend of Bigfoot. I write the YA material as my alter ego, Allee Mae. All of my other works are published as Davee Jones. AND--My first horror/thriller/paranormal book releases this summer, Blue Ink -The Skin Stalker is my first work of 80K words! Anything you want to tease us with? Can this average woman defeat a demon terrorizing her, or will he destroy her in the process? And what is this weird blue ink dot anyway?

What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know? Edit until you can’t stand it anymore. Learn everything you can about marketing and selling. I sent out over 250 review queries, requests for publicity, etc. I received less than ten replies back.  Yes, I said less than ten. I sent a letter to each and every newspaper in Oklahoma (my home state in the USA) and got ONE solitary reply back. I personalized every submission query, DO NOT Bcc these things to a mass audience. You will not receive a reply. You must demonstrate you researched who you sent the query to, let them know you took the time. Yes, it will take you hours upon hours, but, the few replies you receive back will be worth it.

About Finding Love Under a Rock....
Sweet Cravings Publishing
Young Adult Paranormal
Buy at Publisher / Amazon / Barnes & Nobles / Smashwords / ARe / Goodreads

Kalista Bristow and Leandra Lehigh moved to Oklahoma not just to attend nursing school, but, to find some adventure. When Leandra reads about the sport of “noodling”, she is literally “hooked’, and reserves top-notch guides, Caleb Chandler and Owen Guthrie, to give them a true southern experience.

Wading through the murky river, Kalista finds herself drawn to the handsome Caleb and his red-dirt good looks. He manages a few shy glances in her direction, intrigued by her tenacity. Could this cute city girl bring him out of his awkward insecurity when it comes to dating? However, thoughts of blossoming love move to the wayside as the girls find more than they bargained for under the surface of that shadowy river. They must rely on Caleb and Owen to keep them safe, all the while beginning to believe the mysterious legends the guys have been telling them are probably all true.

Excerpt:

Kalista’s stomach churned nervously as her eyes darted around. Sunlight danced off the ripples in the water that their movements created. Is that us making those waves, or something just below the surface? “Crap, should I watch where I step?”

“That’s sort of a problem. You can’t watch anywhere you move. So, you just better hope you make the right step.” Caleb said solemnly.

“How far out do we have to go? The water is getting colder the further out we get. Besides, how can we get to the bank to get out if we do get into trouble?” Panic teemed in Kalista’s voice. “I don’t like water I can’t see into.”

“Hey, roomie, calm down. Good grief, we haven’t even started yet.” Leandra finally sounded exasperated with Kalista’s irrational fear. “Would you just enjoy yourself and get over being a baby already? Not everything has to be a swimming pool with pristine water to be safe.”

“Girls, girls, focus. You are both right in your own way. This is more than a simple excursion—it’s time we start paying attention to our surroundings.”

“Okay, so, we need to be one with the fish?” Leandra asked seriously as she peered down toward the water.

Kalista rolled her eyes. “Sheesh Lea, as if you could see anything through this brown tinged river water.” She looked more closely, realizing how intent Leandra appeared. “You really are getting in tune with your aquatic side, aren’t you?”

“We paid for this expedition so you’re darn right I’m getting in touch with my inner Ictalurus punctatus.”

Owen furrowed his brow toward Leandra. “What the heck is an ictaluruhhh…icta…icta-walruses or whatever you just said?”

“Owen, let me apologize for Leandra, leave it to the bookworm to use the scientific name for a channel catfish.” Kalista replied with amusement in her tone.

“You knew what I meant when I said it. What’s that say about you?” Leandra shot back triumphantly.

Caleb interjected into the banter. “Girls, we are actually not looking for Ictalurus punctatus. We are searching for Pylodictis olivari, a flathead catfish.”

Follow the author's Blog HERE

My Personal Review for The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

When I saw that one of my favorite young adult authors is venturing into the world of vampires, well let's just say I was intrigued to see what she does with it. Get ready for The Blood Of Eden series, a dark dystopian paranormal series that will leave you breathless.

My Rating for The Immortal Rules: Five Stars and a recommended read

The world has changed and vampires rule as humans become their food supply or human cattle. Allison Sekemoto lives on the fringe as it is called, the outskirts of a vampire town, scavenging for food and trying to stay out of the vampire’s way. There are days where she hates with a passion the vampires and what they do to the humans who are their cattle. Until the day Allie is attacked and given a choice-become a vampire or die. Allie now has to learn the rules at being an Immortal and finding out that is you go long enough without human blood, you can literally go insane. But when she is forced to leave the vampire town and go into the unknown beyond it, she falls into a rebel group searching for a mythical cure, one that will cure the disease that killed most of the humans as well as created the rabids, a group of beings that hunt human and vampires alike. But pretending to be human as a vampire is harder than it looks and when Allie meets the human Zeke, she finds herself drawn to the young man even as she tries to keep hidden she is one of the vampires from everyone around her.

Julie Kagawa is one young adult author that I have on auto-buy no matter what. With her trademark writing style, she gives the readers a new series to sink their teeth into. This time she takes the tired vampire genre and turns it inside out and upside down with a new series that will blow you away from the first page. With a fast paced story-line  the reader is drawn into a dystopian world where vampires are the rulers and humans are either blood cattle or rebels hiding from the vampires as they try to survive. This is one story that you won’t want to put down. I know I didn't not until the wee hours of the morning as I just had to find out what happens next for Allie and the rest of this amazing cast of characters.

I got to admit I really enjoyed Allie. She is strong & determined to survive regardless of the cost. Her interactions with the fabulous cast of characters in The Immortal Rules is downright enthralling. She has days where surviving is the only thing she thinks of and other days, hating with a passion the vampires who have turned the last of the humans into their blood source. But Allie’s world changes when she is attacked and given a choice- Die or become one of the vampires. Determined to live no matter what, Allie becomes a vampire and her world changes into someplace where the rules are ever changing and if you go long enough without human blood, you can become insane. This is an author where her world building is just phenomenal and who knows her world inside and out as she delivers such a diverse cast of characters, you can't help but fall in love with them. The characters grow on you-there is no ‘instant fall in love from page one’ characters….here we get to know them slowly and steadily. This is the author’s perfection besides her fabulous storytelling. 

The Immortal Rules is a beautifully well written story that gives the reader a glimpse into a world where there is  no laws governing the  masses, no food or shelter and what humans are left after the Red Lung disease wipes out over seventy percent of the population, well let's just say life isn't on easy street after that. Ms. Kagawa is one author you need to have on your auto buy list and I am eager to see what happens next for Allison and the rest of the cast of characters we met in this first book. 

If you enjoy a new paranormal young adult series that leaves you glued tot he pages until the wee hours of the night, then grab this first book in The Blood of Eden series and settle in for one wild ride from start to finish. I can't wait to see what is next in The Eternity Cure, coming in April 2013.

Coming April 2013...the next chapter in the gripping dark vampire series.....

The Eternity Cure, Book two

Harlequin Teen

Paranormal, Dark Dystopian series, Young Adult

“Who are you trying to fool? People are food. ... You're not any less of a monster than I am." -Jackal

Newly-turned vampire Allison Sekemoto must follow the call of blood, like breadcrumbs, to save her sire and mentor Kanin from Sarren, the psychotic vampire holding him captive. The trail leads Allie to her old home in New Covington and the Fringe, but there’s no time for nostalgia.

A new strain of Red Lung—the insidious virus that decimated the human population decades ago—has emerged. This time, it’s fatal to vampires, too. A cure might be among Kanin’s many secrets—if Allie reach him in time. 

But when the brave, fearless human boy she left safely behind re-enters her life, Allie is torn between the remnants of her humanity and the bloodthirst that consumes her. How can two people so different feel so much for each other? One was born good. The other was reborn a monster. It’s a love as undeniable as it is impossible.

Review Blog Tour Stop for The Dream Slayer/Contest

Blog Tour Contest Information: Leave a comment with your email address to be entered to win an Amazon $50 GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour and a second prize of an EBook Copy of Glistening Haven,a Dystopian Novel to another randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better you have of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/12/virtual-review-tour-dream-slayer-by.html

Official Book Blurb: In the young adult teen series Dream Slayer, Natalie Johnson has always dreamed she’s someone else; calm, beautiful, in control. A chosen warrior with a maniacal arch nemesis and a dreamy boyfriend, the type that can make your knees melt and your heart quiver.

Real life is much different. She’s tormented by a bully and endures the sharp tongue of her father, but finds solace in her dreams.

When her bully ends up dead, de ja vu from a dream hits her hard as everything around her begins to fall apart. Whatever killed Sarah in her dreams is now in reality, hunting her from the shadows. And it wants her dead.

Somehow as the lines between reality and nightmare blur, Natalie must discover hidden strength to pull her friends and family back from the brink of madness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My review:

In The Dream Slayer we meet Natalie Johnson, a young woman who dreams she is someone different, a person in control, beautiful and more. Reality is hard for Natalie as she deals with bullies and a critical father so escaping into her dreams is her reprieve. But even she didn't anticipate her dreams melding with reality and it is up to her to save her friends and family while trying to stay alive. 

Ms. Cooper delivers a wonderful story that will thrill you to the tip of your toes. Lots of action, intriguing characters and more abound within the pages of The Dream Slayer. I couldn't put it down and frankly, it made me stay up till the wee hours of the evening just to see how it ends. The writing flows nicely, storyline dips and curves as it weaves its spell around you and the reader discovers alongside Natalie that the person she longs to be is within her, all she needs to do is believe in herself. 

Ms. Cooper is a new to me author that I am eager to explore more of. The Dream Slayer delivers a different spin on those dreams and reality melding scenario that leaves you breathless. Witty dialogue, captivating characters and more are found within the pages of The Dream Slayer. This is truly one young adult series I am eager to read more of. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Teaser Excerpt from The Dream Slayer:

Tristan grabbed her arm. “Nat, what’s the matter?” he said, but his voice was drowned out by the throttled engine. Suddenly, the car was charging toward them. It swerved up onto the curb with Natalie in its sights.

There was no time to react. She was going to be hit and she braced for impact by squeezing her eyes shut.

“Nat!”

Tristan’s yanked on her arm, and they tumbled across the street into a stack of empty cardboard boxes. Natalie crashed right into a brick wall and fought the bile rising in her throat. The world spun in crashing waves as her vision fluxed in and out. Her head throbbed from the impact, but her heart was still unable to comprehend what had happened.

Screeching tires heralded the car leaving scene. She rolled over onto her stomach and saw Tristan lying beside her. Natalie’s eyes followed the car speeding down the street with a stream of smoke coming out of its tailpipe.

“It… didn’t have a license plate,” Tristan said.

Natalie’s chin quivered, and she quelled it by biting her lip. She closed her eyes and rested her head on her arm. If she breathed or moved, Natalie would vomit.

Tristan touched her cheek and rested his forehead against hers. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” Her voice shook when she spoke. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“What a lunatic. Didn’t he see you?”

Natalie’s chin quivered. “He saw me.”

Tristan’s head snapped toward her. His eyes were wide, searching hers for an answer.

“He swerved towards me.” Natalie’s voice was low to keep the tears back. She thought if she spoke any louder, there would be an unstoppable rainstorm. “He wanted to hit me.”

Buy The Dream Slayer at http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-Slayer-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B007ZRYPV6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360013136&sr=1-1&keywords=Jill+Cooper

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jill Cooper loves tea more than coffee and is obsessed over finding that perfect recipe.She was born in 1977 and shared a room with her sister for 18 years. Early on she had dreams of writing romances and mysteries. It was something she did when most kids were trying out for softball or out riding bikes.

She's always loved dark mysteries, but also enjoys a great comedy so she tries to include both these things in everything she writes, one way or another.

She lives in Danvers, MA with two cats, a toddler, a husband, and a 1964 yellow taxi. Her life is chaotic, but fun. She can be contacted at http://www.jillacooper.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jillybug

 facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Cooper/319251368110396

Young Adult Submissions wanted

Lycaon Press is an eBook and print publisher who is actively looking for submissions

Market: We prefer manuscripts that target young adults.

Genre: We are looking for paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, general fiction, or anything that targets young adults. 

Check our submission pages for all the details: http://www.lycaonpress.com/index.php?main_page=page_4&zenid=to5tq4932ssmbnpsashgdsov93

Length: Classified as follows:

Novella: 20,000 - 50/60,000 words

Novel: 50/60,000-100,000 words

What we are not accepting:

Anything under 20,000 without requests

Our Lines:

Get Steamed!: All Steam Punk, All the time.
Shifterized: Where all the cool shifters are.
Realms: Whether it's high fantasy, or just plain fantastical, here's where you will find it!
Our Future is...: Predicting the future can be hard work! Good thing science can help out...
Parawho?: If it's not a shifter, it's here.

Themed Submission Calls

We currently have the following themed submission calls: (When submitting, please send to:acquisitions@lycaonpress.com and put the name of the anthology in the subject.)

Currently Open: Get Steamed!, Shifterized, Realms, Our Future is..., Parawho?

Welcome YA Author J. Lilley

Please give a warm welcome to J. Lilley, a new paranormal romance author from Lycaon Press, Breathless Press's YA Imprint line.

When the last one flies the nest J. Lilley (YA Author)

This is a bitter sweet time for me. I've just competed my final read through of he last book in my YA series The Shalean Moon. It's gone now, out of my hands and I won't see it again until it's all formatted and ready for everyone else to hopefully buy and enjoy.

It's a weird feeling, this evolution of a book. It starts as a germ of an idea, nags and digs at my mind until I give it, open a fresh document and write Chapter One. Them I'm pretty much consumed and told what to write. So that I guess is the conception. A strange feeling, this life growing inside you. I know I have to nourish it, nurture t and let it grow until its finished growing, and ready to be born. That's I see as the point I'm going to submit it.

Nail biting time. I've decided to let other people see if they like my baby. No one wants their children to be disliked. What if it's bad? No good, not liked?

Luckily the first book in this series, Discovered was liked and a series was requested.

 So now I had to let Discovered be improved. That's a bit like the first day at nursery. Teach it how to be a better book (and me a better writer) and show us what language is acceptable and what isn't. That's important in any book, more so in a YA.

So Rach, the heroine can say "oh shit," but nothing stronger.

Here's a short excerpt, where we've let her be herself… 

Brios looked sane, like a normal, hot-bod boy in a boring school uniform. But shoot—his face was solemn and he didn't look as if he was ready for the funny farm.

She began to fumble with the door handle.

'I'm sane, stop worrying.'

"Hells bells Brios, what the heck is this all about? How can I hear you when you're not speaking?"

"It's complicated. It's a gift given to certain people. Who can project and receive thoughts."

Rach thought about that. She figured she'd just smile and go along with it; just until she was back at school and away from him. One day she might just listen to her dad!

Then she looked closely at his face and realized he wasn't joking.

'Believe it Rach.'

Oh great! One more reason not to like it up here; a mind reading hottie … Ahh!

"So, I can hear you, or whatever you call it? Can you hear me?' Brios nodded with a smile, and Rach felt her face go red. "Oh shit."

Brios laughed out loud at that. Rach felt like hitting him. What if there was something in it? Did that mean she had to not think anything even slightly dodgy? She waited for some smart-ass comment to fill her mind, but nothing did.

See what I mean? My baby is respectable. So the learning continues. She (he it) is improved, until at last, She (let's call her she) is ready to be let loose on an unsuspecting public. We've done out best to make her loveable. But who knows if that best is good enough?

You can only hope.

 You'd think as each book is born and improved it would get easier? Oh no, harder if anything because you expect more from it. The pace is stepped up a notch or five. And as this is a series each book has aspects of the others in it. So any one reflects on them all.

So far, four of the six have been published by Lycaon press. The final two will come out on the first Friday in October and November respectively. Then that's it. They will all have flown the nest, all grown up and in to the wide world.

I realized I have no more of the series to nurture. I gave them all the once over. And I'm happy that we've done our best. If their standards are not good enough, their behavior shoddy, it's too late now. Once they are gone, you have to leave them alone to sink or swim.

 Oh I hope they swim.

The six books are:

Discovered — When Rach moved to Scotland, she knew there would be changes. She just hadn't expected them to be quite so dramatic. Not only was there a new house, new school and new friends, but there were new secrets to discover. Brios Parde was a Patriarch in waiting. When the powerful leopard shifter senses a new Shalean he is amazed to discover it's the new girl. All his senses tell him Rach will be important to him. However, the Rogues try and destroy the budding relationship. Will Rach decide to side with Brios or help stage an uprising?

Renounced — For Leira, all she knew was Shalea. Shalea and Donny. Now she wanted to see life without their protection, to live without the skills passed down to her. Without her heritage. However, there were others who wanted her, didn't have goodness within them, and would stop at nothing to take her; to turn her towards them. Could she survive and repel their evil without the protection of those who loved her, or would evil prevail? Only Leira could decide...

Accepted — Andy is Shalean and in love with a human, but he had no idea how to make such a relationship work. Sam has no idea that Shalea exists, only that he is fed up waiting for Andy to make the first move. Overjoyed to find his feelings reciprocated, Sam starts seeing strange things. Something is afoot, and Andy seems right in the middle of it. What Sam discovers rocks him to the core. But he is determined to fight for their chance of happiness. Human he may be, but as long as Andy wants him, they can face anything...can't they?

United

When Shalea is in trouble can one halfling and one witch save the day?

When the leaders of The Shalean Sept go missing, Troy and Ali need all their combined skills to find out what's going on. Troy is only half Shalean and part witch, and Ali is a full witch, but is that enough?

As they fight to combat the evil, help comes from an unexpected source.

Aibhlinn has secrets of her own, secrets that could destroy her. However she is determined to aid her new-found friends. Will her intervention be a help or a hindrance? Only time will tell in this fight for life or death.

Threatened

As friends unite and enemies surge, can Shalea be saved?

Shalea is in danger. The friends need to unite to face the unknown forces threatening to destroy them all. As old secrets are unveiled, and new alliances formed, will it be enough to save their Sept. Or is all going to be lost under the Shalean Moon?

Resolved

When Shaleans fight Shaleans nothing is simple. However, with the help of true friends can good overcome evil?

So much depends on such a few people, that nothing is certain, and the identities of some might just result in no resolution at all.

It's up to Brios and his friends to save their world, but time is running out.

All are available (or will be) from www.lycaonpress.com

www.omnilit.com

www.amazon.com

www.amazon.co.uk

 The first three books are in a print book called Beginnings and available from Lycaon press and Amazon.

 The second three will be in print, in one book called Resolutions, and available later this year.

I can be contacted via www.jlilleyauthor.com

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