GMTA Blog Tour: Firebolt

 Tour Dates

Monday 9^th December: From the Land of Empyrean
Tuesday 10^th of December: Deborah Jay
Wednesday 11th December: Fantasy Ultimate
 Friday 13^th December: Book Lovers Paradise
Monday 16^th December: Have You Heard Book Review
ednesday 18^th December: Cherese Vines Charming Words
Friday the 20^th December: Paperback Hero Aaron
Monday 23^rd December: Indie Author How To
Tuesday 24^th  December: The One Saga
 Thursday 27^th December. Crossroad Reviews
Friday 28^th December: Reading in Twilight

Enter My Lair...a.k.a. the Hot Seat

Today we'd like to welcome special guest, Adrienne Woods as she warms up our hot seat and talks about her novel,Firebolt. Adrienne, welcome to the Indie Author How-to. I hope you're ready for some grilling...interviewing *winks*. Let's begin, shall we?

Please tell us about yourself? 

My name is Adrienne Woods and I’m from South Africa, where I still live with my husband and two beautiful little girls.

I'm curious, can you tell us your latest news? 

Firebolt is going to be translated to Mandarin next year, and I’m also getting a new cover for that, something similar to Scorched, by Mari Mancini.

When and why did you begin writing? 

I always wanted to be a writer, I guess. It started in 2009 for me though. Now I can’t stop. I love stories, inventing new ones. It keeps my creativity flowing.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I finally got the contract from GMTA publishing.

How can we find you online?

Twitter: @erichb3
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dragonian-Series/301375039891281

Goodreads: Adrienne Woods. You can’t miss me

Blog: http://woodsadrienne@wordpress.com

Tell me a little about your book. 

Firebolt is the first part of a four part series. It follows a 16 yr old girl, Elena Watkins. Moving from town to town with her father, she feels kind of lost and out of place, until the night dragons attack them on the Interstate 40. She is taken to Paegeia, a world much like ours but where Magic and Dragons exist. In Paegeia, Elena discovers that she is born with the mark of the dragon riders, also known as the Dragonians. Special humans that will gain an extra ability around their seventeenth birthday and only then will she know what dragon she can tame. Like all stories, The Dragonian series also have a baddy. This one it comes through the form of Goran, an evil Sorceror that is trapped inside Etan, Paegeia’s Capital. When the King of Lions sword vanishes, Elena and a few friends went on a mission trying to locate it, but end up facing Goran, where they had to fight for their very lives.

What gave you the idea for this particular story? 

I really can’t pinpoint it to what. I always loved dragons but felt that I never knew enough about them, so when I started my research on old dragon tales and stories about what they are like, this story came to me.

Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time? 

I would love to be a full time writer, but my kids come first. So for now, I’m a part-time writer, hoping that it would turn into a full time job. I love spending time on my stories. I usually write either very early in the mornings when my family still sleep or late at night, after everyone gone to bed.

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? 

At the age of 13.

.

What do you hope readers will take from your writing? 

Just enjoy the stories. It’s the reason I write them and I hope they will entertain people around the world.

Which genres do you write, which do you prefer, and why? 

I write different genres. One being YA, Fantasy, paranormal and women’s fiction. Firebolt is the first being published but I’ve got plenty of others lined up.

What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it? 

The toughest part is revising your story and receiving not so good reviews. I’m a people’s pleaser and when I get comments that I felt wasn’t good, I seriously get depressed. I’m still working on how to deal with that, but I’m getting there.

The Book

Series: The Dragonian Series Book One 

Genre: YA Fantasy

Dragons. Right. Teenage girls don't believe in fairy tales, and sixteen-year-old Elena Watkins was no different.
Until the night a fairy tale killed her father.

Now Elena is in a new world, and a new school. The cutest guy around may be an evil dragon, a prince wants Elena's heart, and a long dead sorcerer may be waking up to kill her. Oh and the only way Elena's going to graduate is on the back of a dragon of her own.

Teenage girls don't believe in fairy tales. Now it's time for Elena to believe in...herself.

The Author

I was born and raised in South Africa, where I still live with my husband, and two beautiful little girls. I always knew that I was going to be a writer but it only started to happen about four years ago, now I can’t stop writing.

In my free time, If I get any because Moms don’t really have free time, I love to spend time with friends, if it’s a girls night out, or just a movie, I’m a very chilled person.

My writing career is starting with Firebolt, book one with the Dragonian Series, there will be four books in total and two to three books that is about the stories taking place inside The Dragonian Series.

I do write in different Genres, I have a woman’s fiction called the Pregnancy Diaries, but it would be published under another name. And then I have a paranormal series, called the Watercress series. There are about ten novels in that one.

So, plenty of novels to come out, so little time.

I hope you are going to embrace the Dragonian Series as much as I loved writing them.

Connect with Adrienne

Blog | Facebook  | Twitter  | Goodreads  |  Google+

Giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog tour: Sparks the Matchmaker

 

Tour Schedule

Sparks the Matchmaker by Russell Elkins
Ollie just wants one thing. The girl.

Things haven’t been going so well with Anne lately, though; their relationship has become a perpetual study date, and Ollie’s roommates are starting to worry about him. How to fix things? Why, with a marriage proposal, of course.

Unfortunately for Ollie, his relationship with Anne has run out of gas. Life feels like it’s counting down to one. And that one is the only person in Ollie’s life he really cares about: Ollie. Perhaps, then, he should get over himself. But first he has to deal with Sparks, the irritating little Yankees fan who invades his life in order to “help” him. And while Keith, his best friend, is doing all he can to help, Ollie’s other friend Richie never fails to show up and threaten to ruin everything just by being himself. Never mind all the drama Sparks brings to the party by forcing Ollie to take a job actually helping people in need.

Will Ollie meet the girl? Will it be in history class? On a road trip to Colorado? Can he get over Anne, or should he try to mend the relationship? Should he pursue the new girl Sparks is trying to set him up with? As the strings of the puppeteer tangle with the strings of the heart, only one person can sort out the mess Ollie has made. It seems that the harder he tries, the more Ollie messes things up. Is Sparks a cruel manipulator, or is he really going to help Ollie find his match?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

Ollie sat in his history class thinking about his future. His eyes darted from one pretty face to another, wondering which girl Sparks would be setting him up with. Sparks, who sat next to him, was smug. He had expected Sparks to have informed him by the time class started, but that didn’t happen. Of course. He’s maximizing his investment in my misery.

The professor began talking about Tiananmen Square. Ollie decided he couldn’t wait any longer. He put the back of his hand to his mouth and whispered out the side of it, “Tell me who.”

“What? I can't hear you.”

A little louder, “Who’s the girl?”

“Huh? Speak up.”

Ollie pretended he was clearing his throat. “AH-Who?!” People heard him that time, and some turned to give him looks. He flushed crimson.

“I was just kidding,” Sparks said. “I heard you the first time.”

“Jerk.” Ollie said it much too loudly. Half the class, including the professor, stopped to look at him. “Sorry,” he said. “Those Chinese army guys were jerks. You know,” he gestured to the slideshow image of the student confronting the tank in Tiananmen Square.

Class went on.

Sparks leaned in. “That's not going to help you catch the girl. She heard you loud and clear with that one.”

Ollie forgot about the history lesson and scanned the room again. She must be sitting somewhere close. He knew she would have to be attractive, or Sparks would never feel confident in what he was doing. In thirty seconds he narrowed his investigation down to two suspects.

He looked at Sparks and then pointed to a beautiful curly- haired brunette one row in front of him and 4 chairs to the right. He raised his eyebrows as if to ask, Is it her?

Sparks nodded, and Ollie felt a jolt of excitement run through him. He wasn’t sure whether or not Sparks would tell him who the girl was, even if he guessed right. He felt like something was going to happen in his favor for once. His future finally had a face. And it’s gorgeous! A smile spread itself luxuriantly across his face.

He spent the rest of his class time studying. But not history.

He carefully observed the way she chewed her bottom lip as she concentrated. He memorized every curl in her long brown hair. He took mental notes on every tiny detail.

Hearing other students start to rustle around, Ollie looked up at the clock and saw that the bell was soon to ring. Ollie didn't move. There was only one person in the class who was still listening to the lecture and she was the only other person who hadn't begun to pack up her books, waiting for the bell to ring. So he sat and studied her some more.

“You're going to need to stall a little,” Sparks said after the bell finally rang. “She's planning on sticking around after class to ask the professor something.”

“I'm going to meet her right now?” He was getting nervous.

Ollie waited just outside the classroom, trying to look nonchalant. He watched as students from other rooms and lecture halls began pouring into the hallway. He was tall enough to be able to monitor the many heads tightly packing in together as the stream of students gradually grew larger and larger, flowing toward the exits. From his vantage point he eventually saw a familiar curly brown head slip into the stream, so he bravely dove into the current that swept toward the doors where it opened up outside into an ocean of college students.

Praise for Sparks the Matchmaker:
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. How many "romance" novels do you read where the protagonist is male, or even where the author is male? At first, I thought that was going to be the unique focus of this story.

I was pleasantly surprised, though. The "Sparks" character was a completely unique take on things. Also, I tend to be one of those people who frequently predicts the endings of books and t.v. shows, etc., but I hadn't seen the ending of this story coming. It was a quick and easy read (which was just what I needed right now) but with plenty of intelligence and creativity woven into the story. I think I can say with confidence that even my teenage son would enjoy it, as well as my Mom. Looking forward to the next installment in the series. Definitely not what I expected from a romantic comedy novel, but in a good way! Can't wait for the next one :)

     

Author Russell Elkins

Russell Elkins has become a leading expert on open adoption through first-hand experience that he now shares in Open Adoption, Open Heart. Russell regularly contributes to Adoption.com. He also writes his own blog at russellelkins.com to educate others in the struggles and beauties of open adoption.

Russell has always been a family man at heart, looking forward to the day when he could be a husband and a father. It took him a little while, but eventually his eyes locked onto a beautiful blonde, and he has never looked away. Russell and Jammie were married in 2004. They had the same goals for their home and didn't want to wait too long before starting their family. However, filling their home quickly with children wasn't in the cards, and they found themselves weighing their options to overcome problems with infertility. Their lives changed dramatically the day they decided to adopt.

Russell and Jammie have adopted two beautiful children, Ira and Hazel, and have embraced their role as parents through open adoption. Both are actively engaged in the adoption community by communicating through social media, taking part in discussion panels, and writing songs about adoption.

Russell was born on Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., in the fall of 1977. Along with his five siblings, he and his military family moved around a lot, living in eight different houses by the time he left for college at age 17. Although his family moved away from Fallon, Nevada, just a few months after he moved out, he still considers that little oasis in the desert to be his childhood hometown.

Even after leaving home, Russell always stayed close to his family. He shared an apartment with each of his three brothers at different times during his college career. They formed a band together back in the 1990s and still perform on a regular basis under the name of the Invisible Swordsmen.

After nearly a decade of college and changing his major a few times, Russell received his bachelor's degree in sociology from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He later graduated from Ameritech College where he learned the trade of being a dental lab technician. Russell now owns and operates Elkins Dental Lab located in Meridian, Idaho.

Website * Twitter

Tour Giveaway 

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/12/14   a Rafflecopter giveaway   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Indie Hoopla Promos: Task Force Gaea by David Berger

Tour Schedule

About the Book

During the age of Olympos, when a vengeful goddess shatters the Sacred Scales, both immortals and humans alike suffer. Apollo, the god of truth, goes from a glorious existence as The Shining One to a victim of Zeus’ wrath, and his journey makes him question his godhood, his role in the cosmos, and his views on humanity. Prophecy and the Fates direct his course, and he must make difficult, yet vital, choices. Millennia pass, and Dan, Aleta, Brandon, and Sarah—four reluctant modern-day heroes gifted by ancient civilizations born of the gods—bound by prophecy, have to choose whether or not to save their world when it could mean they never existed. They must master their new powers while battling against incomprehensible forces from the Underworld and repairing the Sacred Scales, destroyed long ago. With the equilibrium between Order and Chaos unhinged, and the Olympian gods struggling to exist, these four must ally themselves with the United Nations to protect an endangered world, becoming the only group who can fight against metaphysical threats to the Earth, forging Task Force: Gaea. Can mortals succeed where gods cannot go?

Amazon | Smashwords | BN

Meet the Author

David Berger

Boston born, I grew up on Long Island in New York, and have my B.A. in English with a Master's in Secondary Education. I currently teach AP English Literature, IB English, and Creative Writing in Land O' Lakes, FL. My avid appreciation for fantasy fiction came from a childhood love of Greek mythology and comic books, especially Wonder Woman. Stemming from this literary love affair, I published my first novel, Task Force: Gaea—Finding Balance, in February 2012.

In addition to my fantasy writing, I have written poetry, much of which was influenced by my travels abroad, namely to Ireland. My hibernophilia extends not only to a great love of the Emerald Isle itself, but also to the writers who hail from there, namely W. B. Yeats, and I studied this poet in a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship at the National University of Ireland in Galway in 2005.

Additionally, I have traveled to Spain, France, and England—all with trips I have led with students—and hope to show more of my students what the world beyond Florida looks like.

I'm "living the dream," as it were, and I love life—I just hope it loves me in return. I reside in Land O' Lakes, FL with my partner of 13 years, Gavi, and our two cats, Yankel and Shayna.

Official Author Website  |  Series Website  |  Series Facebook Page  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon.com or BN.com Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/28/2013. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com or BN.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kisha from Indie Hoopla Services & Promotions, http://indiehoopla.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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GMTA Tours: A Season Without Rain

Please tell us about yourself?

My name is Joe Schwartz and I write stories for men. Although mostly women seem to read me, I'm trying my damnedest to reach out to the dudes who feel this life is pointless. If my work can help some guy struggling with this life, keep him from getting a divorce or putting a gun in his mouth, I will be deeply satisfied.

Tell us your latest news?

I recently made a large sale of books to the largest and oldest public library in St. Louis. This is the stuff of dreams. It was the library where I first discovered Steinbeck, Hemingway, Elmore Leonard, and Donald Goines. Real men who could write, guys I could go to regularly and read saying to myself they get it. It is an honor to be shelved next to these giants, to be found by readers who otherwise might not be interested in my work.

When and why did you begin writing?

I never realized I could write. My presumption was that if you could speak English, you should certainly be able to write it. Six years ago when I sold a screenplay to a local film company was when I decided this was it, but it still took a little convincing to believe that I was a writer. It was after I started publishing my short stories and getting read was when it occurred to me that this is where I belonged and should be doing with my life.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

You can write a billion words and not be a writer. Early on in my career a stranger gave me this simple advice, "Unless you are being read, you are not a writer." Harsh but true. I was wondering about this when I attended my third book signing in St. Louis. There were likely thirty writers there. I was doing okay, selling a few books, when this young dude asked me to shake his hand, sign his book, and take a picture with him. He had driven from Indiana just to meet me. That is when I realized I was doing something bigger than myself and it was obvious, even to me, that I was a writer.

How can we find you? I'm fairly minimal on the web compared to others, but I'm easy enough to find.

On twitter:    @JoesBlackTShirt

On fb:           Author Joe Schwartz

Goodreads:  Add A Season Without Rain to Goodreads list

Tell me a little about your book.

A Season Without Rain is a book for dudes. It is the kind of stories men are telling each other around open fires and broken motors with beers in hand. It pulls no punches and is considerably dark writing but introspective in the sense that men don't talk, especially about what is really bothering them. This sense of hopelessness, that life is basically pointless, is the secret most guys are carrying around thinking they are alone. I've written this book to reach those dudes, to dispel this myth that no one cares, and that talking about your problems with another dude may actually help to solve them.

What do you hope readers will take from your writing?

Three things: 1- Things can always be worse. 2- There really is a God. 3- If you wait long enough anything can change.

Is your protagonist like you? 

Only in the lightest sense. Hemingway said an author’s first novel would always be his most biographical work. Everyone’s life is interesting except to the person living it. I prefer to think of it more as a way that I took to heal after having to live through such a long and terrible nightmare. But those are the most interesting stories, that demand to be told, and which will make any of us stop to think because in a sense, we've all been there in the dark wondering how in the hell would the sun ever rise again.

What about your book makes it special?

My hope is that this book will reach dudes who are desperate, that are stuck in cycles of drugs, alcohol, and violence and show them that self-destruction is not a life sentence. That our lives, no matter how mundane or seemingly insignificant, matter. To our families and friends, to our wives and children, we are the heroes of our stories and it's about time we took that honor a bit more seriously.

Any tips for new writers hoping to write a book?

Damn the cost, get an editor. Nobody likes a sloppily written book. It’s your name on the front cover not an editors’ so don’t be afraid to get second, even third opinions. Once it is in print there is no taking anything back.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Without a doubt, John Steinbeck. Of Mice and Men is the gold standard to me. I first read it when I was thirteen and I still remember how deeply his work touched me. I want to do that to others, draw them in to my private world, share it and affect readers viscerally on a deep, emotional level. I want my work, like Steinbeck’s, to be something more than casual entertainment.

What inspired you to write this story?

Believe it or not, my kids. I’ve often told my friends that I don’t have much to offer my children in the way of an inheritance except when it comes to advice. I’ve been hustled by the best and have lived to tell about it. I figured this could be something I could share with them someday. Hopefully, they’ll read it and remember their old man loves them very much and once had to crawl through hell to save himself. 

Who is your publisher and how did you connect with them?

Great Minds Think Aloud is my publisher. I had been shopping my novel around getting some bites, and some very decent rejections, but basically I had given up on getting it in print. Officially, I hadn't submitted my work to them, but a friend in the industry asked them to read it. Long story short, they liked it and I liked them. That's the funny thing about getting your work out there, it's like falling in love; when you least expect something wonderful happen that it probably will.

The Book

Jacob Miller is angry with himself, the world, and God. Life seems so unfair, so cruel, that he can’t imagine why anyone even tries. After having a nervous breakdown, selling his business, filing for bankruptcy, having a baby, and finding out he owes over twenty grand in taxes, he is hardly happy to be alive.

In the span of a year, Jacob will discover three very important things about life. Things can always be worse. There really is a God. And if you wait long enough anything can change.

A Season Without Rain explores that gray area between poverty and middle class life, the struggling underclass for whom there are no advocates. A powerful story told in a modern, everyday voice that will entrench readers in Jacob Miller’s black world of anger, hate, resentment, lies, and violence.

A Season Without Rain is Joe Schwartz’s first novel. His previous short story collections Joe’s Black T-Shirt, The Games Men Play, and The Veiled Prophet of St. Louis have been acclaimed vulgar as Bukowski and visceral as Carver. Joe lives and works in St. Louis happily writing stories exclusively about the Gateway City.

Amazon ::  BN

About the Author

Joe Schwartz

A St. Louis native, I write exclusively about the Gateway City. I prefer the style of fiction deemed transgressive fiction. That is my stories protagonists generally find a solution to their problems through either illicit or illegal means. I personally prefer stories told through a criminal's point-of-view. It is never the crime that fascinates me so much as the motivation to do it and the terrible, almost predictable outcomes to such actions. Just as I have an expectation of writing to be read I believe that it is as important, if not more so, that you as a reader should have the expectation of being entertained as you read. Anything less is such a disappointment.

Life is short. Stories are forever. –Joe

Connect with Joe
Facebook ::  Goodreads

A Season without Rain's Tour Dates

Wednesday the 4^th of December Crossroad Reviews 

Friday the 6th December:  Paperback Hero Aaron

Tuesday the 10th December: The One Saga

Wednesday 11^th December Donna

Thursday the 12^th December: Adrienne Woods

Tuesday the 17^th December:  Indie Author: How To

Thursday 19^th December: Have You Heard BookReview

Tuesday the 24^th December: From the Land ofEmpyrean

Thursday the 26^st December: The Dragonian Series

Tuesday the 31st December: Fantasy Ultimate

Giveaway!!!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Indie Hoopla Promos: The Foundlings by R.M. Garcia

Tour Schedule

Foundling: A Vampire caused by accidental means. Throw together Nazi Vampires, Jewish Vampires, and one very special protective Vampire who is 1000 years old; and you have the makings of an explosive and riveting story.

What would you do, if the love of your life, was suddenly kidnapped by Nazi vampires and forced to become one of them? How would you feel if these same vampires discovered she was Jewish and sentenced her to a permanent death?

Join our hero Donnie as he battles the obstacles of the underworld in a quest for survival against the odds. Will he prevail and save his one true love from eternal damnation?

If you enjoyed Linian Carmine's The Lost Boys, or Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, then you will truly enjoy this story. Filled with wonderful twists and turns it will keep you guessing to the dramatic end.

Excerpt

Donnie could hear the tears behind his words.

“There’s something wrong. I can feel it. She’s not acting right.”

“She locked herself in her room and won’t come out. Camille is crying and I don’t know what to do,” Johan said.

“I’ll come back right away,” Donnie said and hung up the phone. Donnie sped on his way back, luckily avoiding the attention of any police officers and arrived within five minutes. Johan was waiting for him at the door.

“Where is she?” Donnie asked.

“Still in her room,” Johan replied. Donnie went upstairs while Johan tried to console Camille. He reached the door and knocked. There was no response.

“Abbie, it’s Donnie. Please open up baby. I know something is wrong. Let me help you,” Donnie pleaded, and again there absolutely was no answer. He placed his ear to the door and heard nothing on the other side. He knocked a lot louder, just in case she was listening to music and wearing earphones, still, no answer. Donnie tried the doorknob. Unlike what Johan had said, the door was unlocked. Donnie opened the door and screamed. Johan and Camille were surprised by Donnie’s cries and ran upstairs as fast as they could. When they got to Abbie’s room, they found Donnie trying to hold up Abbie’s limp body.

“Help me!” Donnie cried out. Camille fainted and hit the floor hard. Johan ran over to Donnie and Abbie. She had strung a rope from the high rafters in her room and hung herself. Her feet were nearly six feet off the ground, and Donnie was not tall enough to adequately lift her high enough to relieve the pressure on her neck. Johan being a foot taller was able to lift her easily.

“Get the ladder! I have her!” Johan yelled. Donnie ran and retrieved the ladder and a saw from the basement. He dialed nine-one-one as he ran down the stairs and help was on the way. When he got back to the room, Johan was on the verge of panic.

“Hurry, she’s so cold!” Johan yelled. Donnie climbed up the ladder and cut Abbie down. Johan laid her on the bed and loosened the rope around her neck. Donnie started performing CPR, but it was too late. Donnie wailed endlessly as the grim reality hit him. Abbie was dead.

Praise for The Foundlings:
"This is just one of those stories that draws you in and keeps you reading till the very end."

"Very imaginative and a refreshing twist with vampires can't wait for next book too come out."

"a lot of surprises and some twists in this story, it was not predictable and I love that in a book"

Amazon | Smashwords | BN

R.M. Garcia

I was born and raised in New Jersey, and I am the proud son of Puerto Rican parents. My parents moved to New Jersey from Puerto Rico shortly after getting married; I was born about a year later. I have 2 younger siblings, twins, Eric and Erica. Growing up I was a kind child who never asked for much. I didn't ask for anything because my imagination provided me with everything that I would ever need. My mother always said, that of all her children, I was the one that gave her the least amount of trouble.

I was considered a dreamer by all of my teachers, but I never thought that label was a bad thing. I was initially very shy until I got older and stopped caring about others' opinions of me. I realized that I was, who I was, and you either liked me or you didn't; simple as that.

I have been called weird, quirky, funny and trustworthy, all titles I hold dear. I wrote the short story of The Foundlings when I was still in high school and it was not until much later that I fully developed it into a book. Back in the day, I also wrote poetry, but story telling became my true love.

After high school, I moved to Florida and went to college. I dabbled in various professions over the next several years. I worked in jobs such as Hotel Manager, Accountant, Insurance Agent, Travel Agent, Customer Service Rep, Draftsman, and even a Fry Cook.

When I started on the book, I realized that this was my passion, what I was ultimately meant to do. I loved writing The Foundlings and even if it does not become a best seller, I will continue to write. Publishing my first book led to me meeting my wonderful wife. So God willing and with the help of my fans, The Foundlings will make a mark in the literary world. Thank you for reading about me.

Website  |  Author Facebook Page  |  Series Facebook Page  |  Twitter 
Goodreads |  Amazon Author Page

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon.com or BN.com Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/25/2013. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com or BN.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kisha from Indie Hoopla Services & Promotions, http://indiehoopla.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Blog Tour: Fighting for the Edge

Tour Schedule

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author or publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

Two friends. Two dreams. One night that changes everything… Ice dancer Aubrey London scoffs at romance. She’s focused on winning a medal at the upcoming Olympics and uses that as her excuse to avoid serious relationships. But when she and longtime friend Chris Grayden are thrown together by unforeseen circumstances, Aubrey finds herself questioning everything she's ever known about love, complicating her life both on and off the ice. Pairs skater Emily Petrov embraces romance. She and her husband Sergei still act like honeymooners two years after their wedding. As Emily’s coach, Sergei provides constant support while she prepares to challenge for gold at the Olympics. But Sergei’s support might not be enough to help Emily overcome the one challenge she never saw coming. With the Games only weeks away, Emily and Aubrey are on the verge of realizing their dreams. But one snowy, stormy night sets in motion a series of events that will test them in ways they never imagined, giving them more to fight for than Olympic medals.  

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4 stars

Here's why:

I was thrilled to find an author who wrote about one of my favorite sports: figure skating. I enjoyed this book a great deal. The handling of the characters, their various personalities, feelings and reactions combined with the very realistic portrayal of the figure skating world kept me firmly invested in the story and the characters.

I felt a little left out of the loop in some scenes when the married couple referenced events that I'm assuming happened in the earlier books in this series. That was not enough to turn me away from this nicely paced and well-written read.

Would I recommend it to others? Yes, I would.

Praise for Fighting for the Edge
"Emily and Aubrey's final challenge is Jennifer Comeaux's greatest victory. Both touching and suspenseful, Fighting for the Edge is a game changer that will have fans of the series giving both the characters and the author a standing ovation once they've turned the last page. If I could pass out medals, Jennifer would earn gold for writing my favorite romance of all time." - Jenna at Jenna Does Books

"Jennifer Comeaux puts you in the action, makes you smell the ice and hear the roar of the crowd during the nail-biting competitions, and she's a master at creating first love jitters in your stomach from the steamy scenes that are so hot without being explicit." - Christina Jean Michaels, author of Epiphany  

Life on the Edge (Book 1) Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream–to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history. Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily’s dreams of gold.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

Edge of the Past (Book 2) Summary: Emily's skating career and personal life have never been more golden. She and her partner Chris have won every competition they've entered this season, and she's found the man of her dreams in her coach Sergei. But when one of the biggest competitions of the year takes Emily and Sergei to Russia, Sergei's past explodes into the present and makes Emily doubt everything in their future.  

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Jennifer Comeaux

 

Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren't any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she's a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is travelling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing.

When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see another side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Pinterest

Tour Giveaway

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

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December Kindle Fire Giveaway

  

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)   This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

 
  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

   
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  Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Fire Giveaway: http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7". Ends 1/1/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

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GMTA Tours: Amethyst Eyes

Tour Dates:

 Tuesday, Dec 3: Fantasy Ultimate
Thursday, Dec 5: From the Land of Empyrean
Tuesday, Dec 10: Indie Author: How To
Wednesday, Dec 11: Deborah Jay
Thursday, Dec 12: The One Saga
Friday, Dec 13: Paperback Hero Aaron
Wednesday, Dec 18: The Dragonian Series
Thursday, Dec 19: Donna
Tuesday, Dec 24: Crossroad Reviews
Thursday, Dec 26: Have You Heard BookReview
Tuesday, Dec 31: AdrienneWoods

Interview

Please tell us about yourself?

My name is Debbie Brown, and I am the mother of 6, the youngest of which is 3 months old. Today, I work part time for the Canadian Forces as a CIC officer, but over the years I have been a nurse, school teacher, martial arts instructor, musician and artist, (to name a few). My hobbies vary from flying planes to quilting, with me preparing homemade toothpaste and natural remedies somewhere in between. I am naturally curious, yet reserved, making it the perfect combination when added to my life experiences, guaranteed to give me all the characters and stories to fuel many years of writing.

Tell us your latest news?

I am currently completing preparations to re-release my first book, Amethyst Eyes, with my current publisher, while editing its sequel for release after the holidays.  Of course life happens too; I am juggling my editing and writing with family and holiday preparations.

When and why did you begin writing?

Writing has always been something that I wanted, and needed to do.  As far as I can remember, I never went anywhere without pencil and paper itching to write stories (drawing and sketching too), as life happened all around me. It allowed me many opportunities to delve into worlds of endless possibilities.

It wasn’t until the loss of my daughter, and my mobility, that I turned to writing to keep my sanity. Going to the hospital, I not only lost my baby due to the hospital staff’s negligence, I also found myself unable to walk, going from being active, working out several times a week, to taking half an hour to make it a few steps anywhere, thus making life rather unpleasant and most uncomfortable.

 The overwhelming grief and loss of mobility made it the perfect combination for a one way trip over the edge. Thankfully, instead, I signed up for distance learning with the Institute of Children’s Literature and began my journey into the writer’s world.

As I was going through my course I began to write Amethyst Eyes, right alongside the course curriculum. I had a mission, to create a place where people cared about one another, where family was important no matter what happened.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I am not sure I have come to the point where I see myself as a writer, even though my fourth novel will soon be released. However, I have noticed, with some amusement and wonder, that I no longer see the world around me in the same way.  I see potential plots and characters whenever I observe interactions. I take note of the smallest of details as I attempt to describe them. Crazy, but fun.

How can we find you?

Facebook Book Page :: Goodreads Author Page :: Blog :: Twitter :: Author Page :: Website

Book Trailer

Tell me a little about your book.

Amethyst Eyes is about a 15 year old boy who’s world is not only turned upside down by the loss of his mother, but in having to go live with his estranged father, not of this Earth, Tommy has to grow and adapt in more ways imaginable. Teens that have had to change school, friends, towns, all while dealing with the anger and grief over the loss of their primary caregiver can appreciate the difficulties and challenges Tommy faces on his journey. He has to adapt to life in space, to a new society and its rules, to a father he doesn’t remember, all while trying to catch up and learn to fit in as the ‘new kid’ in school.

Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?

I’d LOVE to be a full time writer. I am, however, the kind of writer that has to squeeze writing into the teeny cracks of availability in my life: I have a five year old daughter we have opted to homeschool, I am nursing my 3 month old,  I work part time, I also cook everything from scratch and one of my older daughters has returned home.  I write when everyone else is asleep, or in between 3 or more other ongoing things, from the corner of the couch, table or in our makeshift office; I take what I can get.

What do you hope readers will take from your writing?

I hope they will easily relate to the characters, that they will discover a new world they will want to explore, that they understand the bond families can have for one another and that any tragedy, drama or conflict can be overcome because of it.

What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?

I honestly believe that if something as tragic or life altering hadn’t struck, I would still be thinking I’d write one day. It would not yet be a reality. What I have learned along the way is that if you want to write, then write. Don’t wait. Write whenever and wherever you can. There are cool programs out there where you can dictate and the text is written for you. Something you could do driving to work.

What kind of research did you do for this type of story?

I spent days researching details. Some of which only come to light in Emma (the story of Tommy’s parents), or the other books in the Amethyst Eyes series. I knew that I wanted Tommy to live in the Rockies, whether in the US or Canada was decided through research. I didn’t want to make up a town, so I looked for an existing one that met all my crazy criteria…and I found it. I also researched Two-Feathers’ language and more.

What about your book makes it special?

In all honesty, I think it’s a mixture of the characters and the world created. I wanted both to be believable, honest and intriguing. I wanted the reader to be able to connect with the characters and fall into a new world and fall in love with all of it, to discover new technology and a new way of life. 

What inspired you to write your first book?

I had suffered the heartbreaking loss of my baby girl, and needed to write to help soothe my heart.

Ten years before I published the novel, I had written a short story, similar to the first chapter of Amethyst Eyes, for a writing course. I always carried the story around in my head because I knew I would want to one day expand on it. I had no clue back then that a total of four novels would be the result.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Life. Even boring everyday life, is an inspiration of sorts. The phrase running around the internet, “Don’t stand too close to an author or you’ll be written into the story”…yeah, that applies to everything from people, places, situations and even food. I did write a short story a while back using my 3rd child as the inspiration for the MC. I think she got only a few sentences in when she paused and glared at me. “Is that me?” Busted. Needless to say…it was worth a good laugh.

What are your current projects?

I am working on the final edit of Amethyst Eyes (the second in the trilogy), and once it will have been released, then I will start in on the third and final book it the story.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

At first, it was the lure of stepping out of your day to day life and into a whole new world. Then, it was the realization that as an author, I had the power to create every single element in my story. A whole new world, food, technology, social rules, rules of interaction and every last character detail.

I also loved that when reading you knew what your character was thinking, feeling, and that was so much better than a movie. I wanted to be able to create share that as well.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Authenticity would be one element. I research everything thoroughly. Oddly enough, in my novel Rebirth, I spent hours looking up different out houses, and decided the group would make a compost potty…now aside from the name, no other details were given in the story. It’s for my own peace of mind in my quest for authenticity, I guess.

Researching information on Two-Feathers’ language and culture was another great challenge, especially since I had never even heard of the Ktunaxa Indians.

Another challenge was creating the technology used in Amethyst Eyes. I wanted it to not only be believable, but at least hypothetically possible. I wanted to avoid copying from other books or TV shows, so I turned to the scientific community and found that scientists had managed to “transport” a molecule from pt A to pt B, so it was ok for me to use it.

Do you ever have problems with writers block?  If so how do you get through it?

It isn’t really something I have experienced. I usually reread the last paragraph of my WIP to help re-enter the world I am working on and go from there. Near the end of my pregnancy, and in the few months following my daughter’s birth, I found it impossible to concentrate. Fortunately, I have once again been able to return to my writing.

What do you do when you’re not writing/editing or thinking about writing/editing?

I am always doing something writing related, or at least that’s how it seems, because even while I prepare a meal I have my kindle reading to me so I can edit my work or review some other novel.

I am a CIC officer, and I work part time for the Canadian Forces. This usually falls on evenings and weekends. I have my children to care for, the house, and animals as well. When I’m not working weekends, we have guests over to share a meal, so I guess I am busy most of the time.

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

I learned that characters come to life, and not to butt in and change what’s going on. I was forced to trust them and let the scene play out as I scrambled to put it to paper, (so to speak, I can write faster than I can type).

Most of all, I learned to expect the unexpected.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Read anything and everything. Write and write some more. Then when you think you have read enough, read yet some more. Then, write again.

You will spend lots of time writing perhaps many drafts until you are happy with what you’ve written. No matter what you write, please have it professionally edited or you cannot hope to publish. An editor does much so more than simply look for spelling mistakes. They point out all sorts of details from plot issues to characterization flaws. A good editor will be honest enough to tell you to rewrite as many times as required before submitting your work. You cannot take a chance looking unprofessional. You cannot take back a bad reputation once it’s out there.

If you can, take a course, it is well worth it. I loved the Institute of Children’s Literature, (they have courses for adult writing, and more).

Learn as much as you can from other authors, they have been there before and they’ll point out the pitfalls.  Networking is never a bad idea either. Make sure you have a good media kit and a strong author platform, because you will need it once you have published.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Feedback is invaluable to the author. If you really liked what you have read, then write a review. Today, most authors have contact information out there, so if you hated the work, or had issues with it, then let the author know. Not every book is made for every reader, so we don’t expect readers to give us nothing but positive feedback, but please keep in mind that some authors took years to complete their work. Do show some respect. If the author had a decent editor, then the book out there should be good enough to share, head held high. If the author published without bothering to edit, it’ll show.

Any special appearances or events coming up that you want to mention?

I was fortunate enough to have had the chance to have book signings and student conferences in the past.

I love to connect with potential readers, and then get feedback after they read my book.

Right after the holidays, I have been invited to a local high school by the librarian to meet with teachers and students.

I was told the students had manifested great interest in my book and really wanted to meet me.

Who is your publisher and how did you connect with them?

GMTA Publishing is my publisher. I connected with them after having been a part of their review group. When they opened for submissions, I sent in my manuscripts and well, the rest is history. I published 2 books with them and Amethyst Eyes (formerly published elsewhere) has been picked up by GMTA, bringing all my work under one roof. The sequel to AE will be out after the holidays.

The Book

The biggest thing on 15-year-old Tommy's mind is convincing Mom to let him go to the drive-in, but when an accident claims his mother's life and puts him in the hospital, the arrival of his estranged, alien father brings more changes than he had bargained for. It doesn't take his father long to figure out that Tommy knows nothing about who or what he is. Without any explanation, Tommy finds himself onboard his father's spaceship where he is forced to trust a man he does not know in a world he knows even less about.

Adapting to his new life seems overwhelming, and his father's solution may prove to be Tommy's finest challenge yet...Jayden. A few months younger than Tommy, high strung and always in a mood, the doctor's daughter definitely didn't like being 'told' to help Tommy fit in. Jayden is not the most welcoming or patient of tutors, let alone a friend. As fate would have it, Tommy quickly learns that none of these things compare to the peril that comes from being born with amethyst eyes.

Links to purchase:

 Amazon |  BN

About the Author

Over the years I have worked as a nurse, a school teacher, a martial arts instructor, baseball, figure-skating and gymnastics coach as well as an artist, selling my paintings in an art gallery. I have been part of an orchestra, flown planes and gone on wilderness hikes. I am an officer in the Canadian Forces, and though I have taught on different military bases, for now I work primarily with cadets. Writing full time is my next goal.

Here is where you can connect with Debbie

http://amethysteyesauthor.blogspot.ca/

http://welcometomywritingworld.weebly.com/

Twitter

Email

GIVEAWAY!!!!

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