Welcome to my tour stop for The Originals: The Rise created by Julie Plec.
From the creator of The Originals, the hit spin-off television show of The Vampire Diaries, come three never-before-released prequel stories featuring The Original vampire family.
This tour runs January 12th-30th and it will consist of reviews, special content and spotlights. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.
Title: The Originals: The Rise
Author: Julie Plec
Series: The Originals, book 1/3
Release date: Tuesday, January 27
Format: Trade
Price: $12.95 U.S. / $14.95 CAN.
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780373788897
eISBN: 9781460349731
Imprint: Harlequin HQN
Book Description:
Family is power. The Original vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together always and forever. But even when you’re immortal, promises are hard to keep.
Arriving in New Orleans in 1722, Original vampire siblings Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah Mikaelson believe they’ve escaped their dangerous past. But the city is lawless, a haven for witches and werewolves unwilling to share territory. The siblings are at their mercy…especially after Klaus meets the beautiful and mysterious Vivianne. Her impending marriage is key to ending the war between the supernatural factions—and Klaus’s attraction to her could destroy the uneasy alliance. As Elijah works toward securing a piece of the city for his family, and Rebekah fights her unexpected feelings for a French captain, will Klaus’s volatile desires bring their world crashing down—and tear them apart for good?
Julie Plec is the co-creator & executive producer of The Vampire Diaries & the creator of The Vampire Diaries spin-off, The Originals. Plec got her start as a writer and producer on the ABC Family series Kyle XY. She also collaborated on the CW drama The Tomorrow People. Her screenplay adaptation The Tiger’s Curse is in development at Paramount, and she will produce the feature @emma with Darko Entertainment. Past feature production credits include Scream 2 and Scream 3.
Giveaway:
15 prize packs including: A copy of The Originals: The Rise and a copy of The Originals season 1 on DVD.
As children, haven’t we all wished our imaginary worlds were real?
Run with Linda. Run as fast and as far as you can and perhaps you’ll find that world.
Please enjoy the guest post by Author S.S. Dudley.
Catch a glimpse inside Elf Hills.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
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Guest Post by Author S.S. Dudley
The Genesis of “Elf Hills”
Preschool. I opened the heavy glass door and entered the colorfully decorated room. A reading area, books and cushions, occupied a corner off to my left. Miniature tables for miniature people filled the center of the room, the chairs neatly organized. Around the tables, shelves overflowed with paper, crayons and other arts and crafts materials. It was quiet. The happy, busy preschoolers were outside in the play yard, scampering hither-thither.
An easel stood in the entryway. It presented the day’s activities to parents coming to reclaim their small people. On it hung a chart entitled, “If I had a superpower, I would…” Below, next to names, was the list of superpowers. Be super strong. Be invisible. Fly. My eyes stopped on one: run really fast. I smiled at the name next to it. Sofia.
That’s my girl.
A disclaimer—I am 95% certain we had not yet seen the Pixar film The Incredibles (in which the boy’s superpower is to run fast). I had, though, been running my daughter around in a jogging stroller since she was three months. We routinely did sprint workouts together in a grassy area near her preschool. I am no pro runner, very amateur, but I do enjoy running very much. It made me smile to think that this was rubbing off in some small dose.
And it gave me an idea.
Recently I had begun to think about writing a book. I wanted to write something for Sofia, something novel sized, but also fun and engaging for her and me.
I began to think about a girl who could run really, really fast. But I didn’t have a story. Yet.
That came while I was on a run in a nature preserve near our house. I began to wonder what a young girl who, like my daughter, still believed in fairies, but who also could run incredibly well, would discover if she were to wander the mostly wild mountains of the Coastal Range in Northern California. Might she not come across something magical out there?
I shan’t disclose too much. Read the book if you’re curious. Elf Hills is about a girl with a prodigious talent for running who begins to suspect that there is something magical about the hills behind her home. And she is determined to discover what it is and who lives there.
I will say that I can see the hills of the book from my office window. I have to stand in just the right place to see them, but I know they are there. My family and I have gone for numerous hikes in those hills (small mountains, really) and it always astounds me how remote they can feel—only 60 miles from the bustle of the Bay, with its millions of inhabitants (San Francisco, Berkeley, etc.).
Elf Hills was born from my desire to know this girl, Linda, who could run so well. Why? Why did she love running so much? Was she just talented, or was it something else? The story grew the more I wondered about the mysteriously uninhabited hills. What magic could hide there? Who might hide there? And why? As I wrote, new characters appeared. Nugu, Linda’s cousin, for one. He loves all things reptilian and fantasizes about having his own dragon. But he is skeptical of Linda’s stories. Might he change his mind? He should, but he is getting into science. And other characters—like Biergo, the impish gnome intent on tripping Linda—joined the narrative, taking it in directions I never initially expected.
I recall that C. S. Lewis started on Narnia with only an image of Aslan, the lion, in mind. He wanted to know more about him. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was born from this desire. The mustard seed for me was a girl who runs fast, planted in some dry, dusty, lonely hills. It was a long, hard, arduous process bringing Elf Hills to fruition. The story became too big for a single book, so I had to split it up and rework it numerous times. Fortunately, this means the sequel, Fairy Trees, is well on its way to being finished. And there will be more to follow.
It amazes me how something so small, so simple, can grow so much. Elf Hills started from a couple of simple notions, which grew as I folded in elements from my own interests and from the geography around our home. All the time driven to discover the story and share it with Sofia. Bringing a book to life is a process—not unlike raising children. It reminds me to enjoy the ride.
~~~~~
Elf Hills
by S.S. Dudley
BLURB:
Something strange, something magical, is going on in the dusty hills behind the small town of Villaloma. Yet each time Linda Peters puts on her running shoes and sets out to find the enchanted kingdom she imagines—full of dancing elves, unicorns, and more—something stops her. And with school starting soon, she only has a few more chances to really search the hills.
While Linda’s frustration and doubt grow, her cousin, Nugu, looks for answers in his books and wonders if maybe, just maybe, Linda’s stories are for real.
The day finally arrives when Linda can run far, the day she is sure she will find her magic city. But when she and Nugu feel their goal must lie just beyond the next hill, they only find more hill.
Is it all a figment of an over-active imagination; a wistful fantasy?
Or is there truly something magical in those hills that only the strong of heart—and leg—can discover?
This fairy tale, as you might have guessed already, takes place on a hill. Or, rather, on many hills and a mountain or two in Northern California, near what people call the Great Valley. One hill in particular stands out, though, because that is where everything started. It was a nice hill; well rounded, not too high, not too low. It was distinctly a hill, snuggled up against a mountain like a nursing cub to its resting mother. For the most part this hill was well-dressed with dark green oak trees and tall grasses, usually yellowed and dry except for the four or five wet months of the year. Along one side, a seasonal creek slipped out and down into the plain. Here the vegetation—red-stemmed manzanita, prickly blackberry bushes, and other shrubs—was thick and difficult to move through.
From afar, the hill was not remarkable; it had many siblings stretching to the north and south as far as the eye could see. This hill was special, though. For one, a strange—some said magical—copse of trees stood near the base of the hill where the creek emerged. These trees were short, had long, dark-green leaves, and bore bright yellow fruit that, if eaten, were said to imbue a person with the strength of ten men. For another, the hill was haunted. On certain nights of the year a white light would shine from the very top of the hill. It was brighter than the brightest star; brighter even than a full moon, perhaps, and it cast long shadows across the plain. The first people that lived in the area told many stories about that hill, the light, and the spirits that lived there.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
S. Dudley grew up in Wyoming, USA, an avid reader and lover of the outdoors. He studied at the University of Wyoming and the University of Illinois. He started his first book (an epic fantasy hand-written in with a blue fountain pen…) when he was 13, but never finished it. At some point (as his mother recently reminded him), he decided that he needed to go do something (like get a job) for a while before he could, or should, write. He did, and spent time in Colombia, Panamá, Antarctica and the dark recesses of large science buildings on college campuses. That done, he now writes, lives and runs in Northern California with his wife and two children.
He can be found at http://www.ssdudley.com, http://www.facebook.com/author.ssdudley and on twitter at @SS_dudley.
The ebook price is $0.99, paperback $8.99.
Kindle version and paperback are available from Amazon HERE.
ePub, PDF, Kindle and other versions are available from Smashwords here: Smashwords
Folks who sign up for the author’s newsletter at my web-site can have the ebook free.
Folks who purchase through the author’s web-site (Kindle, ePub, PDF; viapayhip.com) and share their purchase via social media can have it 50% off.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
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My Tease for this week is from
In Too Deep
Due South #1
by Tracey Alvarez
My Tease from 17% in the eBook.
“So,” Ben said after a comfortable pause. “Piper gave you a bit of grief then?”
“She’s a pain in the butt. A genetic trait, I reckon.”
“You gonna say that around my mother?”
“I may be having a crappy day, which is turning into a crappier week, but I haven’t got a death wish. yet.”
~~~
Synopsis
Love small-town romance with an unforgettable cast of characters?
The Due South series will transport you to an unspoilt, wild island off the coast of New Zealand.
Meet Piper and West…
She vowed never to return.
To save her brother from financial ruin, Piper Harland must do the one thing she swore she’d never do—return to the tiny island hometown where Ryan “West” Westlake crushed her heart. Piper is tough, resilient and a little wild—much like the remote and beautiful Stewart Island where she grew up. As a cop who’s part of the elite New Zealand Police National Dive Squad, bringing the dead back to their families still doesn’t stop the guilt she feels over her father’s drowning death. Now nine years later she’s obligated to return to a hostile community as the outsider, and forced to work with the man who was once her best friend and first lover.
She’s a risk he can’t take.
West is an Island man, through and through. As owner of the local pub, he lives and breathes the local community, and sure as hell can’t imagine living anywhere else. But most of all he refuses to ever fall for a woman like his flighty mother. He lost Piper once to give her the chance to fulfil her dreams of becoming a cop. But now she’s back for an unexpected six week visit to help her brother—his best mate. Maybe West wants her a little bit, maybe he can’t resist the temptation to tease and touch her, but can he fall in love with such a flight risk?
Saying goodbye for the second time might just destroy them both.
Fresh…Seductive…Heart-warming…
And enough steaminess to make your toes curl!
Intended for mature 18+ aged readers.
~~~
I grabbed this as a free download. Felt the need for some romance. I’m really enjoying it. The characters are strongly written, the back and forth between them is fun, and the romance is steamy!
Yancy’s having one of those days, weeks…. Starts out innocently enough and then goes to s!#t.
It all started with a simple phone call from a friend in need. Now Yancy’s in a world of hurt and it ain’t gonna be getting better any time soon..
“I’d been pumped full of tranquilizers,busted a hole in the back wall of The Full House, got shot in the ass, and had, eventually, passed out in a dog pee under a car. Right?”
“So, how’d I end up Saran-wrapped to a table in white-picker suburbia?”
Yancy Lazarus (AKA The Fixer) He drinks too much. Smokes too much. And gambles too much. Or so they say. He just likes to live large.
He can do magic, using the VIS – Latin word meaning force or energy. Yancy’s neat trick is he can manipulate energy, using things like water and fire. But a big gun comes in handy too when he comes face to face with the Rakshasa, their face kind of like a hyena, with a mouth full of shark teeth, beady eyes, over long arms and gray flesh. Nasty things.
He’s 65 and looks 45 due to the longevity the Vis gives him. The FBI has his mug on a Most Wanted poster for domestic terrorism and murder, among other things. Sure, he’s killed, but most were of the non-human type.
Ya gotta love Yancy. He’s a shit-kickin, blues lovin, rambler and gambler, playing piano for drinks, gambling to feed himself, and living out of the back of his precious El Camino. A true nomad and bad ass.
From the first paragraph
“The piano keys bobbed and danced under the pressure of my fingers. Music – low, slow, and soulful – drifted through the club, merging and twirling with wandering clouds of blue-gray smoke. So many places have no-smoking laws these days, it seems like there’s nowhere in the country where a guy can take a drag from a cigarette in peace. Everyone is so worries about their health, they make damn sure you stay healthy by proxy.”
to the last I had a rip snortin time and can’t wait to see what kind of Hell Yancy winds up in next.
Strange Magic is Author James A. Hunter’s debut novel. They say a writer gets better with each books he writes. If this is true, I can’t imagine what he has in store for this series.
5 Stars
A Tip from Yancy Lazarus
“I cannot tell you the number of fights that start and end in back aleys. Tip: if you find yourself in a bar and about to walk into a dark alley with a guy who would like to do you violence, don’t. Just don’t do it. Not ever.”
“Here’s another tip: sometimes, bad choices are the only ones available.”
Fun tags.
McGoon. Thugzilla.
~~~
Synopsis
Yancy Lazarus is having a bad day: there’s a bullet lodged in his butt cheek, his face looks like the site of a demolition derby, and he’s been saran-wrapped to a banquet table. He never should have answered the phone. Stupid bleeding heart—helping others in his circles is a good way to get dead.
Just ask the gang members ripped to pieces by some kind of demonic nightmare in LA. As a favor to a friend, Yancy agrees to take a little looksee into the massacre and boom, he’s stuck in a turf war between two rival gangs, which both think he’s pinch-hitting for the other side. Oh, and there’s also a secretive ass-hat with some mean ol’ magical chops and a small army of hyena-faced, body- snatching baddies. It might be time to seriously reconsider some of his life choices.
Yancy is a bluesman, a rambler, a gambler, but not much more. Sure, he can do a little magic—maybe even more than just a little magic—but he knows enough to keep his head down and stay clear of freaky-deaky hoodoo like this business in LA. Somehow though, he’s been set up to take a real bad fall—the kind of very permanent fall that leaves a guy with a toe tag. Unless, of course, he can find out who is responsible for the gangland murders, make peace in the midst of the gang feud, and take out said magical ass-hat before he hexes Yancy into an early retirement. Easy right? Stupid. Bleeding. Heart.
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About Author James A. Hunter
Hey all, my name is James Hunter and I’m a writer, among other things. So just a little about me: I’m a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). I’m also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—‘cause that’s a real thing. And, a space-ship captain, can’t forget that.
Okay … the last one is only in my imagination.
Currently, I work as a missionary and international aid worker with my wife and young daughter in Bangkok, Thailand. When I’m not working, writing, or spending time with family, I occasionally eat and sleep. Strange Magic is my debut novel and the first in a planned series of books featuring Yancy Lazarus. Hope you enjoy.
I love cozy mysteries. The colorful covers. The quirky titles.
Each series has a theme, culinary, artistic, needlework, cats, dogs…
Obviously this series is all about the cats.
Check out the covers.
Meet the cast of characters.
Enjoy the excerpt.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
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The Cats that Played the Market
The Cats that . . .
Cozy Mystery Series
Book 4
Karen Anne Golden
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Date of Publication: November 25, 2014
ISBN: 13:978-1503033276 / ASIN: B00Q71LBYA
Number of pages: 296 / Word Count: 37,384
Cover Artist: Christy Carlyle of Gilded Heart Design
Book Description:
They’re back! Scout, Abra, Iris, Lilac and Abby — the cats you’ve grown to love — are once again caught up in intrigue and mayhem.
A blizzard blows into Indiana, bringing gifts, gala events, and a ghastly murder to heiress Katherine “Katz” Kendall. It’s Katherine’s birthday, and she gets more than she bargains for when Colleen and her mum visit the Victorian mansion to celebrate. Handsome boyfriend Jake adds to the joys of the season.
After all hell breaks loose at the Erie Museum’s opening, Katherine and her five cats unwittingly stumble upon clues that help solve a mystery. But has Scout lost her special abilities? Or will Katz find that another one of her amazing felines is a super-sleuth? With the cats providing clues, it’s up to Katherine and her friends to piece together the murderous puzzle . . . before the town goes bust!
Katherine ran to her car, opened the door, and jumped in. Nervously fumbling with the clasp on her crossover bag, she extracted her cell and called Jake. “I’ve got an emergency,” she said breathlessly. “Chief London wants me out of town.”
“Why?” Jake asked in disbelief.
Katherine turned the ignition, floored the accelerator, and peeled out on Main Street. “I’m heading to the pink mansion now. I don’t have time to explain.”
“Katz, I’m not far. I’ll meet you there and help corral the cats. We’ll decide later where to go.”
“Colleen’s with Daryl, but her mum’s home. Park in back and use your key to the basement. I’ll see you in a few.”
Driving in front of the house, she was shocked to see a red pickup blocking her parking spot. Surely that’s not the stolen vehicle, she thought.
Quickly getting out of the car, she rushed up the steps to the front porch landing. She was startled when Colleen’s mum opened the door.
“Hello, Katz. I was just headin’ to the kitchen to make a bit of tea,” she slurred.
Katherine took one whiff of Mum’s breath and knew she’d been drinking. “Is everything okay?” she asked worriedly.
“Why do you ask, dear? You look like you’ve been touched by a banshee!”
“Whose truck is that?”
“I’ve been talkin’ a bit of treason with your friend from the library. They’re waitin’ for you in the living room. I’ll fix some tea.”
Katherine took Mum by the arm. “Come with me,” she insisted. She directed her to the stairwell.
Mum resisted. “Whatever ‘tis the matter?”
Katherine said firmly, “Shhh! Lower your voice. Go to your room and lock the door. I only have one friend from the library, and Michelle doesn’t drive a red pickup with out of state plates.”
“Oh, it’s somebody else. I didn’t catch their name. What’s goin’ on?”
“I beg of you. Just do as I ask,” Katherine implored. “When you get to your room, call Colleen and tell her to not come back to the house until she hears from me.”
“In the name of all the saints,” Mum said, as she staggered upstairs.
Katherine sprinted past Mum to her back hallway bedroom. She was alarmed to see the door standing wide-open. She had specifically shut the door so the cats wouldn’t bother Colleen’s mum while she was away.
“Dammit,” she said, surveying the room. The cats were not there. She pulled the Glock out of the gun safe and joined Mum outside her door.
“You’re not goin’ to use that thing, are you?” Mum said frantically. “Why don’t we call the police?”
“I’m going to call the police! Please relax,” Katherine reassured and then, with rising alarm in her voice, “Where are the cats?”
“The last time I saw them, they were toastin’ their buns on the kitchen register.”
“Hurry! Get in your room.”
Mum finally went in and locked the door.
Katherine yanked her cell out of her bag and called Chief London. “I think the stolen vehicle is parked in front of my house,” she said anxiously. “It’s a red pickup.”
“Katz, stay in your vehicle. Do NOT go inside,” the chief ordered. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“That’s a problem because I’m already inside.” She disconnected the call and tapped Jake’s number. It rang and rang, then went into voice mail. “Don’t come. Chief’s on his way.” She put the cell in her back pocket.
Gripping the Glock with both hands, she cautiously walked downstairs. Suspecting the person in the living room was armed, Katherine swiftly searched downstairs, leaving the living room for last. She had to get to the cats in the kitchen, and shut that door so they wouldn’t run into the living room. Entering the kitchen, she was shocked to find the cats weren’t on the register or on the window valance. Oh, my God. They’re in the living room with a murderer.
About the Author:
Karen Anne Golden released her first book, “The Cats that Surfed the Web,” in December 2013. In one year, she added three other books to The Cats that …Cozy Animal Mystery series. “The Cats That Played the Market” is the fourth book.
Karen received a bachelor’s degree in History/Education from Columbus College, Columbus, Georgia. She obtained a master’s degree in anthropology at Purdue University, and then conducted ethnographic field research (all-but-the Ph.D. dissertation) in Brighton Beach, New York.
When she decided that an academic career wasn’t for her, she worked for a major computer company, riding the subway from Brooklyn to mid-town Manhattan. But her heart wasn’t in the big city. Karen saved for years until she was able to buy a Victorian house in Indiana.
Now she lives in a Queen Anne built in 1897; it’s a “painted lady” with four colors in the paint scheme. She’s spent many hours restoring her beloved house. With the house finished, she has time to do what she’s passionate about — writing. She has opened her house to many cats, mostly “rescues.”
Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.
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Hard to believe another week has flown by. I happened to notice the days are getting longer! That means spring will be here soon. Not soon enough for me! LOL
I’ve been reading a lot and working a lot and nothing much new has happened since last week. Except I got a lot of new books!
As I type this, I’m watching my dog and cat play on the area rug. What a pair.
I inherited my cat, Sheba, from my sister when she passed away earlier this year.
Quigley, my dog, I inherited many years ago when someone dumped him in my yard.
They are both black as night and getting up there in age.
Sometimes I think Quigley is the boss and sometimes I think Sheba is. I guess they work that out between themselves.
You can’t see it in the photo, but Sheba isn’t de-clawed so Quigley is looking a little wary right now. They are so funny.
Sheba isn’t allowed outside but every now and then she slips out and Quigley will rush over and herd her back inside. And whenever Quigley goes to the back door. which is glass, and sits down to look outside, Sheba sits right next them. The only thing that moves is her tail. LOL
When I first got Quigley, I also had another dog I’d taken in, a golden retriever/greyhound mix we called Lassie. We called them the ghost and the darkness as she was almost white and he was pitch black. At night you couldn’t even see Quigley in the backyard, but Lassie glowed. I had to put her to sleep when she got an incurable fungus that water dogs get. Quigley was lost without her, but eventually he started eating and playing again. When my sister moved in from California, she brought two black cats, Sheba and Shasta. We had to put Shasta down because of old age. Now that Sheba has lost my sister, I think they are good for each other.
How about you? Got any best friends like these? Are you a cat person or a dog person or both?
I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday posts so be sure to leave me your link!
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Here are my new books for review.
You can click on the covers to check them out on Goodreads.
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New ones just for me!
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And here are some freebies for ya!
Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.
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Books I reviewed this week.
Click on the covers for my reviews.
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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.
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What I won.
I won all three print copies plus some beautiful post cards and a sweet t-shirt from a giveaway on YA Romantic.
What do you hope readers take with them when they read your book?
Parched is about a girl who joins a rebel underground group to fight for what she believes in. I hope this book inspires readers to do the same.
Hope To Read – Tech Speak: The New Technologies of Parched
One of the most fun parts of writing a sci-fi is getting to invent cool new technologies. Here’s a few of my favorites from my new novel Parched, and where their inspiration came from.
“Parched by Georgia Clark was an enjoyable and interesting read that gets you thinking about big brother, world domination and what will happen when AI becomes a reality.”
Did you do any kind of research to determine the details of your characters lives / lifestyles?
I did a ridiculous amount of research! I interviewed experts I tracked down online, subscribed science-y magazines, read articles, listened to podcasts. A lot of podcasts, specifically, Robots and Singularity 1 on 1.
“This book was intense. There was always something happening and I felt that if I blinked I was going to miss something. . . . Parched was dynamic, mind boggling, and just outright good. It is definitely worth the read.”
Tess is a combination of me, some of my friends, and other YA heroines. I love creating spunky female characters who are brave, but flawed, who are active, emotional but not just boy-crazy. Tess is not a girly-girl, and neither am I.
“There were some twists, turns and surprising revelations and Tess needed to figure out who she could trust. Once I got involved, I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. If you enjoy dystopian Sci-Fi, this is a book you will want to check out!”
I Am A Reader – Introduction to the world of Parched
Welcome to the world of Parched: a rollercoaster ride of robots, rebels and romance, of secrets, impossible choices, and a fight for freedom, all in a domed city and a sprawling desert…
“Upon starting to read it, I found that I just kept wanting to read and read and read. Nothing could distract me from wanting to find out what was going to happen to Tess next.”
Warning: Do not start listening to this book unless you’re prepared to have your internal monologue hi-jacked by a Brit. It’s driving me literally balmy! It’s a testament to Caitlin’s distinctive voice as a writer that I’m able to channel her so successfully.
“Even though I am not a huge fan of robots, I felt like this was such a good story. Plus how many sci fi/YA/romance stories are out there that are this awesome!”
Having to select your favorite books is like having to select your favourite cake: impossible! They’re all so good! But I bit the bullet and tried to whittle them down. Best enjoyed over a slice of salted caramel something…
“Parched is exactly what I expected and nothing like I expected. You will enter a world of robots, choices, and the chance to do what is right no matter the cost. It is true to the YA Dysotopian genre but with a spin all it’s own.”
“After I finished reading Parched, all I could think was “wow.” There is so much to take in here, between the richly thought-out world, the customs of each society, and the intricate relationships between all of the characters.”
Lilac Reviews – Meet Tessendra “Tess” Rockwood with Dream Cast
Following her mother’s murder, Tess fled her safe and easy life in the domed city of Eden to spend an aimless year in the rough ‘n’ ready Badlands. Here she changed her name, taught herself the local dialect Malspeak, and learned to hunt, protect herself and survive on her own.
Tess is first introduced to Hunter when she returns to her home of Eden—a lush, technically advanced and socially conscious city that thrives under a clear dome—after spending a year in the rough ‘n’ ready Badlands. He’s her uncle’s teaching assistant, socially awkward if thoughtful: ‘his curious, darting eyes seem to exude intelligence’.
“I just finished reading Parched and I liked it very much. Anyone who loves to read about a future world with robots and some romance mixed in will like this book. I thought the storyline was good and I liked the action.”
Can you tell me more about the book beyond what it listed on the back cover and what inspired you to write it?
I grew up watching great sci-fi movies like Bladerunner and Star Wars and have always been attracted to the genre: equal parts exciting/fun and thoughtful/insightful. I loved The Hunger Games and felt inspired to write something of that ilk: a young girl in a brave new world, fighting for what she believes in.
Parched by Georgia Clark
YA Romantic Sci-Fi
Hardcover, 312 Pages
March 14th 2014 by Holiday House
Sixteen-year-old Tess lived in Eden, a seemingly idyllic, domed city where access to information and water is regulated by the governing Trust. After a rogue robot killed her scientist mother, Tess fled with a terrible secret to the desperate, arid Badlands, where she’s recruited by Kudzu, explained to her as a “nonviolent collective working to undermine the Trust and free the Badlands.” Learning Kudzu plans to destroy Aevum, the Trust’s latest advanced robot, Tess reluctantly returns to Eden, where she finds the luxurious life morally unconscionable and secretly trains with Kudzu. Living with her uncle, who’s involved with Aevum, Tess is strangely attracted to his sympathetic assistant, Hunter. During a Kudzu raid on the Trust’s lab, Tess discovers that Aevum will be used to eradicate all inhabitants of the Badlands—and that Hunter’s not what he seems to be.
Tess’ first-person, present-tense voice lends chilling immediacy to her no-nonsense story of mixed loyalty, disturbing secrets, and ethical dilemmas associated with diminishing natural resources and scientific experimentation.
Georgia Clark is an Australian writer and performer based in Brooklyn. She is the author of the young adult novels SHE’S WITH THE BAND (Allen & Unwin) and sci-fi/romance PARCHED (Holiday House). Widely published online and in print. Won some awards/grants/residencies. Has a play on at the NY Fringe festival. Pretty keen on cheese plates.
The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.
Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!
My 56 for this week is from
My Favorite Corpse
A Skullduggery Inn Cozy Read #1
by Kathy Carmichael
My 56
Immediately Michele called from the storage room, “Kittens. There are more kittens in here.”
“More kittens?” Kiki cried. Total pandemonium broke out. Kiki darted into the storage room while Michele ran out of it, and I pushed my tray of crabs at her. “Take this.”
“Where are you going?”
“To find Mama cat,” I said, running out the door in pursuit of her.
~~~
Synopsis
Novella. My Favorite Corpse centers around Ashley Sands, the owner of a mystery-themed inn located on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. An amateur sleuth, Ashley finds a corpse washed to shore at her inn’s private beach. She must learn what happened before her guests begin checking out. While Ashley’s mystery weekend guests usually enjoy the occasional dead body, they prefer the never-previously-animated kind.
~~~
When I spotted this story took place on Mobile Bay I had to read it. I live on Mobile Bay and was excited to see if I recognized anything.
FREEBIEALERT!
This is a free download on Amzaon right now. You can get a copy HERE.
You can read a bit about the books and enjoy the special glimpse inside Mel Goes To Hell.
Welcome To Hell
“Good morning. Welcome to HELL.”
Mel hates job interviews – and this one’s shaping up to be the interview from Hell.
From the grumpy receptionist to the disturbingly demonic interview panel and the sleazy CEO, it seems landing her first job is the least of Mel’s worries.
Can she make it out of the office alive without selling her soul?
A devilishly hot CEO. The angelic new office temp. A match made in Heaven or Hell?
Melody Angel takes a job as a temp at the HELL Corporation. Surrounded by eternal bureaucracy gone mad, demons who love making life miserable, and dying for a decent coffee, it may take a miracle for Mel’s mission to succeed. She must find out what evil plans Lucifer and his minions have in store and stop them, using any means necessary.
Adding trouble and temptation to Mel’s job is Luce Iblis, the damnably hot CEO, who has set his smouldering eyes on the new office angel and he’s determined to claim her, body and soul.
Can ultimate evil and angelic perfection escape a limbo of desire and find a paradise of their own?
The ultimate forbidden love – when Lucifer falls for an angel.
Luce and Mel unearth an age-old conspiracy behind his fall from Heaven which could doom their love for eternity. Yet in the deepest levels of Hell lies a secret that could hold their salvation.
Eternal damnation awaits any angel who descends into the Pit of Despair, but Mel will move Heaven and Earth to save Lucifer’s soul. Armed with little more than the fury of a righteous angel, Mel will raise Hell in the name of love.
From the heights of Heaven to the depths of Hell, can love truly conquer all?
She wore white – an angel in the kitchen, contrasting with the honey-coloured timber cabinets. Her hair was pinned up as it usually was in the office, baring her neck so that it fairly begged him for a kiss. He couldn’t refuse her, so he moved as quietly as he could until she was close enough to touch. Maybe he hadn’t used up all his oyster influence last night…
“What is it about white that makes you look so angelic?” he murmured as he kissed her neck.
Mel jumped and gave a yelp. Liquid splattered on the bench.
Luce lifted his head and realised she’d been handling hot tea. She moved quickly to the sink, running her red hands under the cold tap.
“I’m sorry, Mel. I didn’t realise…” he began, wishing he’d thought to announce himself more safely. She was hurting because of him and he couldn’t stand it. He’d give anything to be able to heal her as she had him.
“It’s all right,” she said breathlessly. She nodded at the half-full cups. “You drink yours. I’ll get to mine in a minute, if I get time.”
“What’s the hurry?” Luce asked, slurping the steaming liquid. He hadn’t had a cup of tea in centuries until arriving at Mel’s place and now it seemed perfectly natural to drink several a day. He wondered if there was anything she couldn’t persuade him to do.
“Raphael called. He said he can get permission for you to enter Heaven again, but you’ll have to go through judgement, like any mortal. I said it was ridiculous and I fully intend to argue your case in person. Raphael evidently didn’t make it clear…” For the first time, Mel looked annoyed. No, like an angel filled with righteous anger, or at least indignation. He pitied whoever she’d be arguing with; they hadn’t a hope in Hell against her.
“Are you sure it’s worth the trouble?” he asked. “I mean, it’s been so long, I barely remember what it’s like up there. It’s not like I need to go in – the place is full of righteous angels, being sickeningly kind to each other with no idea of the reality down here. You know I have no patience for them, with their snowy-white reputations and ideals. I don’t belong there.”
“I’m one of them and so are you. You have every right to be there, just like they do. I have the same ideals, Luce, and you seem to like me just fine,” Mel said through gritted teeth as she shut off the tap, shaking her fingers dry in the sink.
Now he felt bad. She seemed so different to all the other angels he knew. None of them knew the conditions down here as well as she did. Delusional, living in their cloudy paradise…they’d never believe her, unless they saw him bleed for themselves. He’d spill his lifeblood for Mel, but not a drop for any of them, he swore. And they’d turn on her like they’d turned on him all those centuries ago. For doing what was necessary – stating the truth.
“I’m coming with you,” he announced.
She shook her head. “No, Luce. They’d…react differently to you. I’ll go on my own and smooth the way for you. It’s better this way.”
He snorted. “You expect me to sit here, like some damsel in distress, while you fight my battles for me? Why don’t I just wear one of your dresses and you can call me Lucia, too? Even then you’d have to chain me up here to keep me from coming with you. Oh Hell, that brings back memories…” He couldn’t help laughing.
“What memories? Do you have a torture room with chains somewhere that you haven’t showed me yet?” Mel asked. “Or did you just forget about it until now?”
Luce did his best to regain control of himself. “No, not any more. I did have a fun couple of decades as Madam Lucia, though, and we had a couple in the Lair. The things those girls could do…”
Mel’s face turned blank, almost deliberately, Luce decided. “You worked as a brothel madam? Why doesn’t that surprise me? I bet you could’ve filled up Hell with the people in your whorehouse…”
Luce sobered. “The customers, yes, but most of the girls were absolute saints. The things they put up with from the clients, the pay, the conditions…actually, I never saw their souls again, once they left my employ. Of course, there were a few…the ones who thought it was a fun idea to rob the customers and leave them in an alley somewhere, sometimes still breathing…well, Hell always needs a few more demons.”
“You…I’m sorry, Luce, I’m just trying to imagine you in a dress, let alone running a brothel…” Mel shook her head, as if trying to shake the image out of her ears.
Luce tried to smother his grin. “You know, I could show you,” he offered eagerly. “There was a lot of leather involved, but I believe some of my favourite designs are still in vogue in modern adult shops. I think they’d suit you better than they ever did me, though.”
“Luce.” Mel’s piercing gaze brought him out of his fantasy. “We weren’t discussing your fetish for leather. We were discussing how you should stay here while I’m in Heaven, at least for the moment.”
He met her eyes without flinching. “The only way you’ll get me to stay here while you’re fighting on my behalf is with a strong set of restraints – which brings us nicely back to leather.” He let his grin break free. “I fight my own battles in person, Mel. Later, we can celebrate with leather, if you like.”
Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish. She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No – Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean’s Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by her suspense thriller Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn’t leave her alone.
Title: The Originals: The Rise
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Author Bio:
Parched
Georgia Clark is an Australian writer and performer based in Brooklyn. She is the author of the young adult novels SHE’S WITH THE BAND (Allen & Unwin) and sci-fi/romance PARCHED (Holiday House). Widely published online and in print. Won some awards/grants/residencies. Has a play on at the NY Fringe festival. Pretty keen on cheese plates.
