Merry Christmas to all! - and- New look blog ready for a New Year!

Well, I actually completed this (for the most part) a lot quicker than I thought I would. Oh the things you can do when you're left in peace. 

I intend to spend more time on here in the New Year, we will have author interviews, giveaways and maybe even a few live chats. I'll post all the dates nearer the time. 

May I also take this time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa brings you everything you dream of this year. My all your families be happy, healthy and enjoy every great moment this time of year brings.

New look blog under construction.

I've been threatening to rip this blog apart for a long time, I just never seemed to get the chance to do it. Well, now I've started. So please bare with me a little while. 

My first Self Published short story!

Hey!

So today I have sent my short story "Guilt of the Innocent" over to Amazon to self publish. I'm learning the ropes since my books have previously gone through my publisher, but hopefully I've done a good job. I'm sure people will tell me if I haven't. Anyway, I thought I would post the cover and the blurb!

Rayne Marlow is trying to live a normal happy life. She has a good job, friends and boyfriend who she loves with all her heart. But Rayne has secrets and a tragic past that seems to endlessly haunt and torment her. 

When Rayne’s dreams turn violent and she is harmed by a creature lurking in the darkness, her lover is determined to get answers and cure her once and for all. Rayne must now relive her past, reveal her secrets, believe in her innocence and defeat the demon who is preying on her and intent on dragging her soul into the depths of hell.

Review of Adjusting Journal Entries by Ashley Fontainne

I received this book from the author in return for an honest review.

5 STARS.

As author Ashley Fontainne knows all to well, I’ve been excited to read this book for a long time. I’ve waited very impatiently and when I received it for review, I couldn’t wait to start. 

This series has been nothing short of mind blowing. Nothing is predictable – that is what makes this series awesome. Even when you’re so sure you know what’s going to happen next... NO! Bang! The story twists and leaves you shocked and on tenterhooks, just hoping it won’t be long for the next part of the story to be released. 

Adjusting Journal Entries is the last in this trilogy surrounding revenge, and just how wrong things can go when you try for it. I’m not giving anything away, I know a lot of people are enjoying this series, which is really no surprise, and I would absolutely hate to spoil anything for them. So, I’ll just say, You will not be disappointed. At some points while reading this book, I was sat with my Kindle in my hands wearing such an evil grin, I was so deeply inside this story. I felt every emotion, just like I did with the first two instalments. The ending is perfect and I’m now very content with what happened to each and every character! 

Ashley Fontainne has created three dimensional characters, some you love, others you really love to hate. They have an impact on you, and even after you turn the last page and you know your time with them has come to an end, they live on inside you.

Please Welcome Jessica McHugh!

This post is actually a day late, and I'm so sorry for that. Today I'm hosting Jessica as part of her book tour through Mystic Press and PR. Jessica's books have also been reviewed on mine and my friends review page, you can find the links to them under this post. 

So, everyone, let's get to know Jessica a little better!


MAMAS, LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS

By Jessica McHugh

My mother thought putting me into Kindergarten early was a huge mistake. Although I was a bright child, I apparently didn’t interact with other kids easily. Instead, I spent hours in my own imaginary worlds. Being anti-social is not something I remember, but I do remember spending a lot of time playing make-believe as a kid. Whenever my family planned an outing, I tried my damndest to wriggle out of it. I wanted to stay home by myself. I wanted to play—and as I aged, I got the feeling my parents were none too comfortable about it. My brothers would tease me relentlessly, and I never understood why.  When I was a pre-teen, my parents even blocked Nickelodeon on our cable because they felt it contributed to my continued “immaturity.” 

At the time of the Great Nick-Blocking, I thought it was stupid. Years later, after hearing my mother’s confession about being tempted to pull me out of Kindergarten, as well as my inability to connect with other kids, I thought, “Hey, she must’ve been seeing something I wasn’t.” But this past year, while using my childhood diaries as research for my YA book, “Darla Decker Hates to Wait,” I realized just how social I actually was—make-believe worlds and all. I wasn’t immature. I was just Jessica. I was having fun. Okay, so my fun in those younger years consisted of pretending I was a unicorn in captivity…or an overworked peasant girl…or a vicious soldier…but what was so wrong with that?

The answer is, and has to be, NOTHING. Look at who I am today. I’m an author who spans the speculative genre, writing fantasy and horror, adventure and science fiction. I write about unicorns and peasant girls and vicious soldiers. I’ve never been diagnosed or suspected as having any shade of mental illness and am generally regarded as a likable person. The truth is, as that girl lost in her own world, I was just a writer in training. I was, and still am, just Jessica. I’m still playing make-believe, and I’m still happier than 70% of people I encounter on a daily basis. 

That’s why fiction is so precious to me. I have to spend 8 hours of my day being an adult. When work’s over, I just want to play. Whether it means writing a novel, editing short stories, going out with friends, or cuddling with my wonderful husband on the couch, I always want to feel that spark of youth, and I believe fiction—art, really—keeps that alight in me. It keeps me playful.

So, Mamas, keep an eye on your babies, but don’t be afraid if their imaginations are a little wild. They might just be writers in training. 

Thank you Jessica for joining us today. It's been great having you here. Lets show people some of your work!

Below are the links to some of Jessica's reviews. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=170331049721433&set=a.168599379894600.44960.168569586564246&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=174482285972976&set=a.168599379894600.44960.168569586564246&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=172461472841724&set=a.168599379894600.44960.168569586564246&type=3&theater

Promo Graphic for Revelations.... coming very soon!

Please welcome Author Joann H. Buchanan.

I'm excited to welcome Author Joann H. Buchanan to by blog today. Joann is an amazing author with a very vivid imagination. Her writing style, setting and characters draw you in from the first page. It is obvious this author has a very bright future in the literary world. As well as an amazing author, Joann is fantastic person through and through and I'm very honoured to know her and even though we've never met face to face (due to a rather large pond being between us) I'm very happy to call her a friend. She's here today to answer some questions for us as part of her blog tour, she is celebrating the release of her second novel in 'The Children of Nox Series' entitled, The Kiss. 


Lets get started.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a mom first and foremost.  Aside from being a write and a mom, I also co-host a show with Erik Shaltis called Just Roll With It on The Shark Radio network on Sunday nights at 10 pm EST. The other thing I do is help set up blog tours through Totes and Notes.  The site is designed to assist bloggers and writers. So often bloggers don’t get enough credit for the work they do.

Other than writing, what else are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about my children and seeing them grow into wonderful adults.

Why made you decide to become a writer?

It’s something I’ve always done. I can’t imagine my life without it. I love writing and all that’s involved. I think it’s like any other creative outlet, it allows us to grow as individuals. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t write. I think I would be bored…lol.

What brought you to this genre?

The stories brought me to this genre. I didn’t set out to just write a YA book or a romance or anything like that. I let the story take me away and that’s where it landed.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

 I do and when I do, I read. I also do a writing technique that is called the 5 minute writing technique I learned from Jack Remick. He is an amazing writer, mentor and friend. I’m so grateful to know him and to have been one of the people he helped see the craft of writing in so many different ways.

Where do you get your inspiration, e.g. music, dreams etc

Ok this is going to sound weird, but sometimes it’s music, other times it’s just a simple word that inspires something. Simple observations in life inspire me to the next level. Other writers also inspire me.

Can you tell us a bit about your book?

THE KISS takes off where I AM WOLF left off. The unnatural Jonah has created is now dead. Jonah and Alaynee are planning on getting married. All seems right in Sisters for the Youngling Pack. When Cathy, Alaynee’s mom brings home a stranded girl from San Francisco, strange things begin to happen, threatening to destroy all she holds dear. There is something strange but alluring about Cleo. It’s something that an evil has waited centuries for. Will Cleo be able to use Jonah to release the evil trapped beneath Broken Top Mountain or will Alaynee’s love protect him from the unknown forces at work? Can a kiss really trap a soul?

Describe your novel in five words.

Fantasy , romance, horror, love and laughter.

Who is your favourite character and why?

I love all of them, even the evil characters…lol. If I had to choose though it would be a toss up between Sharron and Cara because both of them have this amazing strength inside them.

Are your characters based on anyone you know in the real world?

Cara is somewhat based on my daughter Carolyne. She has enough compassion for the entire world. She’s the kid who doesn’t understand why kids at school fight and who breaks up arguments on the playground at school. She has a heart big enough to hold the entire world.

If you book was turned into a movie, who would you choose to play your characters and why?

I would love to see Ralph from I AM WOLF  be played by Billy Bob Thornton. He has that edge and is just crazy enough to pull off the part and make it real.

As for the rest, I hadn’t thought about it. I do know that they have to have an edge about them because none of the characters are boring. They are all wild and full of life.

What are your current / future projects?

I’m working on book 3 in The Children of Nox series called Dance of Fireflies. Also I’m working on a book called Dragon’s Eye. The other two projects I’m working on I’m not ready to reveal yet.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learn something from everything I write. Whether it’s the way the words flow or a twist that comes out of nowhere. 

What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?

Wow that’s a good one. I don’t have an honest answer for that one. I think I’ll let them tell me that. It’s so surprising that so many people can read the same thing and get something different out of it. I really enjoy the different points of view from readers.

What would you most like readers to tell others about this book?

That they loved it.

How did you decide on your books Title?

Sometimes they are what starts the story other times it happens through the writing of it.

Is there anything in your novel that would embarrass you if your Dad read it?

No. I don’t regret anything in this book or any other book in the future. My dad is so supportive of me that getting embarrassed wouldn’t happen.

What has writing made you learn about yourself?

That if you have a goal, you can achieve it, all you have to do is keep going and not give up.

How do you react to a negative review of your book?

You can learn a lot from a negative review.  I generally thank them and read them and see if there is something I can learn. Sometimes there are reviewers who take it to a personal level and I don’t agree with that at all. It’s one thing to point out something that perhaps the writer didn’t see or make clear enough. It’s another to just be mean. I ignore those who are just being mean.

If I asked you to include the phrase ‘A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.’ Somewhere in your next book, would you?
LMAO ….I could get Utah to say it as a joke…lol.

Would you consider yourself adventurous?

Sometimes. There are sooo many things I want to do. I just haven’t had the chance yet.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Keep writing, write every day and always be nice.

Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)?

http://www.amazon.com/Joann-H.-Buchanan/e/B005PBUGWG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

And http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/home.html

And where ever books are sold.

Chocolate or ice cream?

Chocolate.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Eating a snack late at night when the kids are in bed and I can have it all to myself. Rare times but oooooh so good…lol.

If you could have dinner with anyone famous, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

I would like to sit down with David B. Coe and Frank Herbert. They are amazing writers. I would also like to chat with Einstein and find out what made him tick.

Who is you’re favourite fantasy character, either from a book or a movie and why?

Oh toss-up. Can’t pick just one. Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones, because she has this inner strength that is just so cool. Gimli from LOTR because he is so funny and himself in every situation. The Weavers from David B. Coe’s series Winds of the Forelands because they are just way too cool.

Erotica or passionate romance?

Passionate romance, hands down.

If you had a special power, what would it be and why?

I want the Page’s powers from Charmed. I could orb all over the world…no more gas use…lol.

If all hoggles are doddles, and all doddles are woggles, are all hoggles actually woggles?

Er um…whaaaa???lol 

Confessions of a Full Time Chiropractor & Part Time Writer By Corey Sondrup, D.C.

Please welcome Corey Sondrup to my blog today!

     If someone would have told me seven or eight years ago I would be writing books, I would have said that they were insane.  Truth be told, I had an extreme dislike for English, reading and writing of any kind growing.  It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I actually finished reading my first real book (children’s picture books excluded).

     I became a fan of Clive Cussler and Dean Koontz.  I read to relax and enjoy myself while attending chiropractic school.  From there, I was hooked on Stuart Woods, Michael Connelly and Anne Rice to name a few.  After being in practice for about nine years, I had my first impulse for possibly writing a book.  At the time, due to my career as a chiropractor, nutritionist and energy healer, I was immersed in health & wellness, nutrition and personal growth.  I thought to myself, a book would be a great way to educate my patients as well as reach a larger audience than what I see on a day to day basis.

     In 2005 I started brainstorming for ideas to write my first self help book Reclaiming Your Power.  At the time, I was not proficient with computers so I wrote by hand on yellow legal pads and had my secretary type my rough chapters into the computer.  After three years I had completed my first book.  After about thirty rejections from publishers and a flaky literary agent I decided to self publish.  I already had an audience with my patients.  I have dreams of hitting big and going on the self help lecture circuit with Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra. 

     I have found that the more I write, the easier thoughts and ideas flow.  With my second book, Mastering Life’s Lessons, it only took a year and a half to write.  I have to laugh dealing with rejection after rejection from publishers while at the same time writing self help/personal growth books; the irony.

         So far, I have sold about twelve hundred between the two of them.  I released them on Kindle Select a month ago and for a period of four days, they both hit #1 and #3 in their genres for the free down loads.  That was fun to watch.  Most of my sales come from my office, usually about ten to twelve sales per week and I get all the profit minus the printing cost.

      While I wait with patience on my dream of touring on the self help circuit, I decided I wanted to write a fictional novel in the paranormal/urban fantasy realm (Yes I got bored writing self help books).  I have always been fascinated with vampires, werewolves and the supernatural.  From their, Blood Amalgam; Book 1 was born.  This time, it only took eight months to write.  And I am already half way through Book 2. 

     With the surge and popularity of eBooks, I decided to go the indie route with my Crimson Chronicle series.  If Amanda Hocking can hit it big, why not me?  I am still submitting to agents and publishers (Rejections don’t even faze me anymore).  I am no where near ready to quit my day job, but in the meantime, I am having a ball as a part time writer/story teller.  

New trailer for Revelations

Well, I've had a boost on Revelations (finally) and all is going well. Not much left to write. Then I just need to give it the once over and check I'm happy, then off to my publisher. I've made a different, more in depth trailer to give people a peek at what's to come. What do you think? (I can't get enough of this music!) 

Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman: Welcome to the spotlight, Lindsay Anne!

Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman: Welcome to the spotlight, Lindsay Anne!: It is my honor and privilege to bring to my readers today the incredible author, Lindsay Anne Kendal. Lindsay holds a spot near and d...

Revelations and Hello's

Hey guys,

Firsly I'd just like to say a big HELLO to everyone who's just started to follow the blog. Secondly, I'd like to apologise for being absent lately. I've been hard at work on Revelations, Betrayal and a secret project I'm working on. I've also been working on my graphic art, reviewing and helping my sister with her beautiful daughter Faith. She is 1 yr old this coming Sunday and we are having a little party for her, so it's going to be a busy and rather expensive week.

Anyway, I'm off to write again. I hope everyone is well and has had a great weekend.

Hope to speak to you guys soon.

Lindsay

P.S Thank you for all the lovely comments on my photoshop work. I'll be adding more shortly so be sure to let me know what you think. :)

The Second Thought: Review - "Bloodlines" by Lindsay Anne Kendal

The Second Thought: Review - "Bloodlines" by Lindsay Anne Kendal: "Bloodlines" by Lindsay Anne Kendal is a YA, fiction/paranormal novel that is centered around the concepts of witchcraft and demons. It i...

Interview with Author Ben Hennessy

Please give a warm welcome to Ben Hennessy. He's come to visit us today to tell us a little about himself and his upcoming release Queen of The World. 

Blurb

In the legends, the Four saved the world from war and poverty. These incredible men walked the lands, seeking an audience with the ruler of each nation. They demanded that humanity focus its efforts on education, trade and culture. No longer would the people face starvation and terror. This commandment was enforced with displays of miraculous power. After all, it is difficult to argue with the Gods. Once finished, the Four left with a promise: If ever your people fall back into darkness, then we shall return.

Now, over five centuries later, Sarene grows tired of her village life. Suffocated by the confines of her surroundings and the overbearing protection of her family, she yearns to have an adventure of her own.

But the world outside is not as tranquil as it seems.

And Sarene is already in danger.

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

A: Well, my name’s Ben Hennessy, as is probably hinted at in the title of this post. I’m an author of fantasy fiction. My debut novel, Queen of the World, will be released by July 2012. I’m born and raised in Essex, England, and I’m rapidly approaching the end of my twenties. Writing, whether I’m doing it myself or reading the work of others, is something I’ve always enjoyed doing. The ability for anyone to take a standard archetype such as fantasy, horror or romance and add their own unique spin has always fascinated me. After several years of toying with the idea of writing my own novel, I finally knuckled down to it in 2010. Now, eighteen months later, here we are.

Q: Other than writing, what else are you passionate about?

A: Music and travelling. I wrote Queen of the World while indulging the latter; the first sentence of the manuscript was put to page in Hanoi, Vietnam. The words kept coming over the next several months, and the first draft was completed in Porsgrunn, Norway. So the novel’s already quite well travelled. -grins- I’ve been to four continents so far, and hopefully North America is next on my list.

As for music, I used to play in an angry metal band and I DJ occasionally for alternative venues. Anything heavy metal, rock ‘n’ roll or punk keeps me happy, with some other more eclectic tastes thrown in. Patrick Wolf, anyone?

Q: Why made you decide to become a writer?

A: Money. Clearly writers earn millions of pounds every time they write a book. Having films made of my work.  Or a AMC television series, something like that. (Some or all of this may be a lie.)

In reality though, I just like telling stories. It’s the same as why artists paint or photographers travel miles with a camera. The sense of fulfillment from describing a story and, hopefully, having others take pleasure from it is something you rarely find elsewhere. I’ve always enjoyed reading, which is a passion I shared with my Dad – he introduced me to a lot of my favourite authors, such as David Eddings, Stephen King and Terry Pratchett. Novels such as Legend and The Belgariad series inspired me to give it a try.

Q: What brought you to this genre?

A: It’s a tricky one. I wrote a blog post answering this – which can be found at http://hennessywrites.com/home/?p=56 – where I basically explain that I admire heroes. People who stand by a code of honour and face huge dangers with nothing more than a sword in hand and bucket loads of courage. Fantasy has always been the strongest genre for that kind of character, and it’s what always attracted me as a reader. Also, fantasy allows you free reign to create anything you like. There’s none of the enforced realism of a contemporary story, and while it’s probably best for an author to not go overboard with the dragons, elves and place-names such as Kinnjillianani’quaa, that potential to explore one’s imagination is bags of fun.

Q: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

A: I don’t really suffer from it, or at least I haven’t yet. I am a terrible procrastinator, though. There’s so much YouTube to watch or comics to read when I should be working. But as far as having ideas or scenes to play around with, I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with writing once I sit down to work.

Front Cover in the Making.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your book?

A: Would be happy to. Queen of the World is based in a world where the Four, men of incredible power, have enforced a commandment upon the rulers of each nation to eradicate war and poverty. They made sure these rulers complied by killing any who disobeyed. Once their vision of humanity had been maintained, the Four left mankind to govern itself – with the warning that should standards slip, then they would return.

Within this world, in the kingdom of Tamir, lives a young girl named Sarene. She’s tired of her rural home life and wants to see more of the world. Her eldest brother, Jared, has become a scout for the national guard and she’s jealous of his opportunities for travel and adventure. As she’s contemplating running away from home in search of him, an unexpected chain of events prematurely force Sarene out into a world which isn’t quite as idyllic as she has been led to believe.

Q: Describe your novel in five words.

A: Difficult to describe so briefly.

Q: Who is your favourite character and why?

A: I think Kanderil, a huge woodsman who Sarene meets early in the story. He’s an old-school fantasy character, with a deep sense of honour and a very disciplined view of the world. I like that he has become so self-sufficient and capable as a hunter, but has forgotten how to be social or empathic towards others and quite often does or says things which can be seen as heartless. He became a hermit several years before the story starts and is happy to spend his life alone, but he finds himself caught up in Sarene’s story against his wishes.

Q: What three things do you have to have around you in order to write?

A: Coffee, cigarettes and music. Usually in that order. I’m trying to replace cigarettes with fruit, but it’s not really working for me so far.

Q: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

A: I leaned that I knew almost nothing about the publishing process, haha. I thought that, once I’d had my submission accepted by Inspired Quill, I would do a bit of editing and leave the rest of the work to people who knew better. But as it turns out I’ve worked on the manuscript just as much since the contract was signed than before submitting. Further full edits, a redraft, cover art ideas, social media interactions, promotion, blog updates... It’s been amazing fun, but I now have a much greater appreciation for any author who’s had their writing published. The amount of extra time and effort it takes to get to the finished product was a revelation

Q: What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?

A: I think that, often in fantasy, the main character is either destined to wield a great ability or already possesses said abilities. At the least, they may acquire a magical doohickey or weapon to assist them. With Queen of the World, the main character is a sweet young farmers daughter with no real knowledge of the world outside her valley home, and certainly isn’t martially proficient or supernaturally gifted. It’s her need to adapt and progress naturally to the various scenarios she faces which make her interesting, and I hope that readers will find that refreshing.

Q: What would you most like readers to tell others about this book?

A: If I was feeling ambitious, I might hope that readers would say that they enjoyed it. If people commented that it had an interesting spin on traditional heroic fantasy novels, then I’d certainly welcome that. On the base of it, though, I just hope people don’t think it sucks.

Q: How did you decide on your books Title?

A: This may come as a surprise, but Queen of the World isn’t a literal phrase. It comes from that sense within childhood that, when growing up, you’re the centre of the universe. Everything exists solely for you to experience it, and how long you retain that idea depends on your maturity. I think the title’s meaning will become clearer during the course of the story, though.

Q: How do you react to a negative review of your book?

A: Since we’re pre-release, I haven’t had one yet. But I’m actually quite looking forward to it. That might sounds a bit weird, but it’s true. Not every single person who ever reads Queen of the World is going to enjoy it, and that’s fine. I can deal with it. It’ll be interesting to see why somebody may not like the book, though. Maybe it’ll even help me with future works.

Q: You are leading 100 people in a survivalist situation, when suddenly your lives are in danger and you must choose between two courses of action. One would cause 10 of the people to die and everyone else would live, the other would have a 70% chance of saving everyone but were it to fail then everyone would die. Which would you choose and why?

A: Second option. I’m a Musketeer at heart. All for one and one for all, etc.

Q: If I asked you to include the phrase ‘A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.’ Somewhere in your next book, would you?

A: Haha. There’s one character in my book that I’ve yet to name who would be perfect for this line. If you read the novel, you’ll know who it is. I’ll keep this one in mind.

Q: What is the most embarrassing moment of your life?

A: It would probably be writing the most embarrassing moment of my life down in an interview for the Internet to see, so if I don’t answer it then I’ve saved myself. Which is like Back to the Future, but with less DeLoreans.

Q: Would you consider yourself adventurous?

A: Yeah. I like travelling to new places, and I’ve gotten up to enough random stuff in my life to be able to tell a few stories. I’m certainly not someone who enjoys spending a weekend indoors watching TV. I much prefer being out with people and doing things I haven’t done before.

Q: Chocolate or ice cream?

A: Ice cream. There’s only really three types of chocolate, but there’s loads of different ice creams.

Q: Do you have any advice for other writers?

A: Just write. Whatever the situation, however much else you have going on in your life, just keep putting words down. Even if it’s only a couple of sentences a night. The more you do, the better you’ll get and that manuscript will eventually reach the finishing line. There’s always a second draft if you’re unhappy with it, and even if a piece is terrible there’s usually one or two lines or phrases which can be recycled into other works. It’s all about perseverance.

Q: Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)?

A: Currently Queen of the World isn’t available, but will be released in paperback and in various online formats by the end of July. If you’re interested then full updates will be available on my website, http://www.hennessywrites.com, along with the book’s prologue, my personal writer’s blog and various other nuggets of information. You can catch me on Twitter as well, @HennessyWrites.

Q: What is your guilty pleasure?

A: Bryan Adams. Man, that guy can sing a rock song.

Q: Who is you’re favourite fantasy character, either from a book or a movie and why?

A: Druss, from the Drenai series by David Gemmell. He was all action, fearsome in battle and hugely anti-social. But beneath it all he was deeply loyal, faithful to his wife and inspired heroism in others despite his flaws.

Photoshop Promos

As people who know me are already aware, I have a love for photoshop. I even create my own book covers as well as some for other authors. This time around I've been making banners for our FB timelines, by our I mean myself and some of the other authors at my publishers. So I thought I'd post them on here. 

Beauty behind the scar!

If you have some spare time on your hands pop on over and have a read of this... For fans of Bloodlines and Torment... you will learn the reasoning behind the Scar of Eligos.

http://aecurzon.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/the-beauty-behind-the-scar/#comment-23

Kindlegraph

Well, after being asked and asked I have finally joined Kindlegraph! My signature took ages, trying to write it with a laptop mouse is harder than you would think, but it does, after about 30 attempts, actually look like it lol.

http://www.kindlegraph.com/authors/LindsayKendal

Please welcome author Ashley Fontainne.

Lindsay - I would like to introduce everyone to Ashley Fontainne. She is not only a fantastic author but also a friend. She has written and published three wonderful books up to now. The latest was released just this week "Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman." She has come to the blog today to tell us a little more about herself and her work. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I would love to!  I am married to the man of my dreams, Michael.  I am the mother of one son that will be 23 in October (can’t believe that one!) and a “second mother” to three beautiful daughters.  My husband and I live out in the country in Arkansas and have a small zoo in the making: 3 Labradors and 2 cats and occasionally, a lizard or two before one cat or the other finds them and renders them down to a congealed mass of goo.

My suspense/thriller series entitled Eviscerating the Snake consists of two published novels: Accountable to None and Zero Balance, and the third and final instalment, Adjusting Journal Entries I am still working on.  In April of 2011, I self-published Accountable to None on Amazon and in December of 2011, it reached the Top 15 in suspense/thrillers in the United States.  In April of 2012, it reached the Top 10 in suspense/thrillers in the UK, and remains in the Top 25.

Because of the wonderful Lindsay, who snatched up her copy of ATN and enjoyed it so much that she contacted her publisher (World Castle) about my work, I am now signed with World Castle and they released Zero Balance in January of 2012.

Ramblings of A Mad Southern Woman is my latest release.  Since is it a personal collection of my earlier work, I opted to publish it myself. This collection of poetry and short stories comes from all of my years of writing and touches on numerous life issues that we all face at some point in our lives.

Other than writing, what else are you passionate about?

Because I know so many people that have been victims of physical and sexual abuse, I am a supporter of The Joyful Heart Foundation, which is an organization started by actress Mariska Hartigay to help victims of sexual assault.  Ten percent of the proceeds of Accountable to None and this newest release will be donated to this charity each year.  Helping people heal and learn to cope with traumatic events perpetrated upon them by the hands of uncaring individuals is something I am very passionate about.

I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ and can talk all day long about His great love for us.  Of course, my husband, son and family are the core of my existence here on earth, so passion bursts forth when speaking or writing about them.

Why made you decide to become a writer?

Although I didn’t allow my work to be read by the general public until 2011, I have always loved to write.  Poetry is especially appealing to me since it allows personal expression about any topic in any form to grace the paper.

Growing up as an only child, books became my haven.  I have always been an avid reader and am drawn to the suspense/thriller/mystery genre, which is why I tend to write that way.  My hope was to pen a novel that I would enjoy reading—and one that would keep people up at night turning to the next page.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Since I just began allowing the thoughts inside my head that have been trapped in there for so long, I have yet to suffer writer’s block, simply because there are so many stories waiting to be released!

Where do you get your inspiration, e.g. music, dreams etc

Oh goodness, so many different places!  Personal life experiences, listening to others discuss their journey through life, the news, sitting at a red light and looking over at a complete stranger and wondering what they are thinking, and a few dreams.  There is inspiration around us daily if we just take a moment to stop and look for it. 

Can you tell us a bit about your book?

Ramblings of A Mad Southern Woman is a collection of my poetry and short stories that have been a part of me for a very long time.  The poetry ranges from my relationship with the Lord and His great love for us, over to the musings of how a cat looks at their own life.  As a mother, my son is also a favourite topic in not only poetry but also a short story.  My fear of the ocean and the monsters that lurk in its depths is discussed, as well as my love for my husband.  Fear and anger at life in general and the wretched effects of drug use by a loved one are also touched upon.  The breaching of the fine line between love and hate in a relationship and the longing for solace and peace inside a damaged soul are also on the menu. 

I believe that readers of any age and gender will be able to feel a connection with numerous poems and/or short stories.

Describe your novel in five words.

Love, loss, longing and love.

What are your current / future projects?

I am in the midst of finishing Adjusting Journal Entries and hope to have it completed by the Fall of 2012.  That will complete my Eviscerating the Snake series and allow me to work on future projects.

What would you most like readers to tell others about this book?

For Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman, I hope that after reading, people will walk away with a smile on their face and realize that there is forgiveness and healing in this world no matter what tragedy has befallen them.

How did you decide on your books Title?

When I first started the whole “social media” blitz, I opted to start up a blog.  At the time, a blog was something that I was completely unfamiliar with and sort of panicked at the thought of yet another thing I needed to add to my repertoire.  People that know me personally will tell you that I am a bit high-strung to begin with anyway, but when I added the media campaign for my works, a full-time job, college and family, I really was rambling at that point.  Naturally, as I sat and stared at the screen trying to come up with a name for my blog, Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman just popped into my head.

How much time did you spend researching for your latest book?

A lifetime of listening, observing and simply living.

How do you react to a negative review of your book?

The first few negative ones for Accountable to None hit me hard because prior to receiving them, the previous reviews were glowing.  Some of the nastier ones were close to personal attacks upon me rather than my work, and I will admit they hurt me deeply.  However, after skulking around for a few days, I licked my wounds and decided to do a bit of research.  I went to Amazon and Goodreads and read reviews for some of not only the top names in our day, but also classical literature, and was stunned (and a bit relieved) that even some of the greats have been the recipients of trolls that have nothing better to do than rip others apart.

If I asked you to include the phrase ‘A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.’ Somewhere in your next book, would you?

Ha!  Perhaps, coming from the lips of a wise-ass character trying to make a snarky comment.  Sounds like something the main antagonist in my series, Olin, would say.

What is the most embarrassing moment of your life?

You expect me to re-live that?

What is your guilty pleasure?

Well, I am a smoker (please don’t email me about the hazards of said habit….I already know) and although it is a habit I wish I would never had started, nonetheless, I am hopelessly addicted to nicotine.

If you could have dinner with anyone famous, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Well, if I could only pick just one person, then hands down it would be Jesus Christ.  However, I believe I would be so in awe that eating would not be an option for me.  I would just spend my time enthralled listening to His words.

Who is you’re favourite fantasy character, either from a book or a movie and why?

My favourite movie, ever, is Aliens.  The main character and heroine, Ripley, is hands down my movie idol.  Her line, spoken to the Alien Queen, “Get away from her, you Bitch!” still makes the hair stand up on my arms, even though I have watched that movie an untold amount of times.

Ripley embodied everything I love about a character: strong yet soft-hearted, tough yet willing to cry, fiercely loyal to friends yet the call of motherhood overrides good sense.  She is the one you want in your corner when the fight breaks out!

Erotica or passionate romance?

Uh, neither.  I prefer to live it rather than read it!

Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)?

Currently, Accountable to None and Zero Balance are part of the Kindle Direct Select Program and therefore, are only available electronically through Amazon.  However, in early May of 2012, Zero Balance is slated to be released for Nook users as well.  The print edition of each book may be purchased from Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com.

Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman is also part of the KDSP and will only be available electronically through Amazon.com for the next 90 days.  It will also be available in print from Amazon.com shortly.

US links:
Accountable to None: http://www.amazon.com/Accountable-to-None-ebook/dp/B004XOGR56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335808435&sr=8-1

Zero Balance: http://www.amazon.com/Balance-Eviscerating-Snake-Series-ebook/dp/B0073WAT04/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1335808435&sr=8-3

Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman: http://www.amazon.com/Ramblings-Southern-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B007Z1IGJO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335906900&sr=8-1

UK Links:

Accountable to None: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Accountable-to-None-ebook/dp/B004XOGR56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335808506&sr=8-1

Zero B alance: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Balance-Eviscerating-Snake-Series-ebook/dp/B0073WAT04/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1335808506&sr=8-3

Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ramblings-Southern-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B007Z1IGJO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335906868&sr=1-1