Into the Darkness

Today's special guest is K.F.Breene. A wine country native, K.F. moved to San Francisco for college just shy of a decade ago to pursue a lifelong interest in film. As she settled into the vibrant city, it quickly became apparent that, while she thought making and editing films was great fun, she lacked cinematic genius. For that reason, her career path quickly changed direction. Her next goal was a strange childhood interest, conjured at the dining room table while filling out a form. For some reason, her young self wanted to be an accountant. Thinking on it now, she often wonders how she had any friends. Regardless, it was the direction she finally took.

While she could wrangle numbers with the best of 'em, and even though she wore the crown as the most outspoken, belligerent accountant in the world, her mind got as stuffy as her daily routine. It was here that she dusted off her creative hat and began writing. Now she makes movies in her head, not worried about lighting, shutter speed or editing equipment. Turns out, a computer is much easier to manage than a crowd of actors. She should know, she was an actor at one time.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

What kind of music you like?

I am pretty open. I would say I lean toward alternative the most. But if my iphone is on shuffle, you might hear some Muse, then some Katy Perry, then some Mozart, then maybe a little Kenny Chesney. I like good songs, regardless of genre.

Do you like to dance?

Oh yeah! Love to dance. In Vegas I’m the fool dancing in the middle of everything. I’ll walk on a dance floor, and then drag random people out to dance with me. Alcohol helps this, obviously, but give me a lively tune and I feel inclined to shake a little leg.

Can you describe your dream home?

I don’t really have a dream home, but there are elements I would really like. For example, I want a lot of space outside for kids to play and to have dogs roam around. I want to be close to other people but slightly removed from a city. Comfort and enough room inside is a must. Fireplace. I’d also really love an office/library with a wall of books, a desk, and solitude. I want a place I can go and read, write, or just watch TV on my computer that is my own space. No sharing. Like a studious man-cave for a woman.

If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?

Probably someone from Harry Potter, post Voldemort. Having magic would be really fun. It’s a big reason why I wrote the Darkness series.

ABOUT THE BOOK

I’d always been different. I saw objects in the night where others saw emptiness. Large, human shaped shadows, fierce yet beautiful, melting into the darkness. I collected secrets like other women collected bells; afraid to fully trust lest my oddities be exposed.

Until I saw him. He’d been gliding down the street, unshakable confidence in every step. It wasn’t just that he was breathtakingly handsome with perfect features. Something about him drew me. Sucked my focus to him and then tugged at my body. As his eyes met mine, I was entrapped.

No one had noticed him. He’d been right there, just beyond the light, but only I had perceived.

I had to know if he was real. Or maybe I really was crazy. And even when my secret box was blasted wide open, dangers hurled at me like throwing knives, I couldn’t stop until I unraveled his true identity.

I just had to know.

“She was fated to live.”

“Then why must you save her?”

“Often Fate is struck down by dumb luck.”

AN EXCERPT

I huddled on my bed later that night with my knees pulled up to my chest. Thinking. Focusing on what it was I couldn’t remember. It was there, hovering around my conscious mind. Nudging me. Waiting for me to pay attention. To remember. It was the key to that insane situation in the park.

I flung my wet hair out of my face,  pulled the sleeves of my pajamas over my hands, and  glanced out  the window.

The stranger waited. Outside, he watched, staring up at my shaded windows, just wanting me to know he was there. He was waiting for me to come down to him. He had the same questions I did—I was certain  he felt the same things.

SPECIAL LINKS

Website: www.KFBreene.com

Twitter: @KFBreene

Facebook for friending: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005776656934

Facebook author page (for liking): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKF

Prizes for the tour are as follows:

• One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

• Two randomly chosen hosts will each receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

During the tour INTO THE DARKNESS is free at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Buy  links:

BN  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/into-the-darkness-kf-breene/1118174619?ean=9781494968526

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Into-Darkness-1-K-F-Breene-ebook/dp/B00HZLCINE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391690818&sr=8-1&keywords=into+the+darkness+breene

The Prayer - A Love Story

Today's special guest is Jacqueline von Zwehl, a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That's the Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog. The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book. Jacqueline von Zwehl, is a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That's the Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog. The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

We asked Jacqueline for her advice to new authors. And here is her response:

Freshman year of college is always exciting.  You begin a new life, make new friends, and you're moving to a new city to explore endless possibilities.  For many students the most thrilling adventure is in the classroom.  Every once in a while you meet a professor who changes your life, challenges your thinking and leaves an indelible mark on your soul which guides you to your life's work and passion. 

For me, that did not happen freshman year.  I desperately wish I had one of those incredible, inspiring stories of a professor who changed my life in a positive way.  Rather I have one of those stories of professor, whom now as a smarter adult I know for certain should have been anything in life other than a professor.

The class was Creative Writing 101 and the Professor was a young man in his late twenties/early thirties who complained way too much about the unfair bureaucracy of society and the control of government on our lives.  We did not explore Creative Writing as much as being forced to listen to the ideology of a professor whose views were not aligned with my own.  Worse than not learning anything at all I hated Creative Writing because of this horrible experience.

How ironic is it that I hated the one class which would one day be the focus of my destiny and life's work?  You're probably wondering what is my point.  Simply this...being a writer is the most personal journey of your life.  It's hard to take advice on this subject from anyone else on the planet.  Some people may make a damaging influence (like my college professor) and some may inspire you to greatness.  The point is, this is your journey.  You can be any writer you want.  Listen to others with caution but most of all, my advice, listen to your heart.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Do you Believe in Miracles?

Do you Believe in Eternal Love?

Do you Believe in Answered Prayers?

YOU WILL

The Prayer, A Love Story is the inspirational true story of one woman who discovers the secret to living a life filled with miracles, unconditional love and answered prayers.

The journey begins with a divine promise, continues with unforeseen life challenges, and eventually leads to Jerusalem. Inside the Old City, a prayer will unlock the key to a life of miracles. This journey is proof heaven is real and its gifts are available to you now. Whether you have stopped believing in God or not, God believes in you.

The journey holds a promise for everyone. No matter how much darkness exists in your life, it cannot diminish the flicker of even the tiniest light. That light will lead you to your destiny and it will change your life forever.

 

AN EXCERPT

I often wonder about the idea of a miracle. Is it something you feel? Can you see it? Or is it some- thing you just know? Miracle is a very big word, perhaps best saved for big events like the birth of a baby or the first man walking on the moon.

As I ponder this thought, I’m surrounded by lovely, fresh-cut flowers. Isn’t the blossoming of these flowers a miracle? A tiny little seed in the ground, nurtured with rich soil, water, and light, grows to reveal its unique beauty. When we look at the seed, we can’t see the miracle. It’s only later, after its potential has been manifested, we realize what that seed carried all along. Isn’t that how we all are? On the journey of our destiny in this life, all of us start as seeds. Some of us are still in  the  ground, waiting  to  grow. Some  of us have sprouted a few leaves, and some of us have fully blossomed. Is the miracle the blossoming of the flower, or is the miracle knowing with certainty that everything is already in the seed? Yes, for me it always comes down to certainty. When all I can see is a seed in the ground, the miracle is certainty in my knowl- edge of what the seed is destined to become.

These were the thoughts I recorded in my journal on the morning of our wedding. I have heard that most brides wake up jittery and full of excitement, perhaps thinking about their hair and make-up, the excitement of the day ahead, and how the weather will hold up. I woke up and started writing.

‘What is a miracle? Today I will get married. I will marry the man who makes my heart sing and who was sent as the answer to my prayer. A man who calls me his miracle. Today is our seed, the first day of our journey as husband and wife.We don’t know how our seed will grow. We don’t know how many leaves will bloom or what its flower will look like. We don’t know what storms we’ll face. We do know with certainty that this seed is our destiny. It is our miracle.’

We were all ready. The driver took my hand and escorted me to my seat in the limo.

 

SPECIAL LINKS

Read Jacqueline's Blog at www.jackievonzwehl.com

Become a Fan: www.facebook.com/JackieVonZwehl

Follow: www.twitter.com/JackieVonZwehl

Author Profile:www.goodreads.com/jackievonzwehl

 Amazon Paperback

http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Love-Story-Jacqueline-Zwehl/dp/1939819008/ref=la_B00DY9W62Y_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383163807&sr=1-1

Amazon Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Love-Story-Unconditional-ebook/dp/B00G8QTDKI/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383164024&sr=1-3&keywords=the+prayer+a+love+story

Prizes for the tour are as follows:

• One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

• Two randomly chosen hosts will each receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

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

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/12/virtual-book-tour-prayer-by-jacqueline.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Secondhand Romance

Today's special guest is RoseAnn DeFranco. RoseAnn grew up in upstate NY with her nose in a book and a song in her heart. Following the pursuit of a musical theatre career in NYC, she turned her creative energy to writing romance. RoseAnn blogs about her writing experiences with her critique partners at www.the violetfemmes.com. A NJ shore transplant, she enjoys time spent at the beach with her family. She would love to one day live in a quaint shore town like the fictional town Audubon Springs from her BROTHERS OF AUDUBON SPRINGS series.  More information about these Contemporary Romantic Comedies can be found at www.radefranco.com.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Annie O'Malley's dream of owning a secondhand bookstore in tight-knit Audubon Springs is coming true. Still reeling from her parents' sudden deaths, she believes that signs or messages can be found within the pages of books. She loves her job and has made plenty of friends but longs for the acceptance only love and a family can provide.

Tony Iuliano is there to fix the wiring in her shop. He doesn't believe in fate, magic, or the power of a good book. All this combined with his sexy-as-sin presence and all-knowing attitude infuriates Annie. The quirky bookworm intrigues him enough to accept her bet to read a book from her shop. When he discovers a stack of fifty-year-old love letters in the book, he wants to leave the past alone, but seeing it as a sign, Annie challenges him to read the letters and search for the long-lost lovers or lose the bet.

While shaking the dust off several ill-fated romances and fighting their attraction at every turn, the pair soon become the town gossip daily special. If they can stop arguing long enough, they may just discover this particular sign was meant for them all along.

 

AN EXCERPT

“Are we going to shake on this?” He extended his hand and grinned.

Annie hesitated for a split second. Had she ever touched Tony? Shaking his hand with that sexy, superior glint in his eyes unnerved her, but she needed to seal the deal.

His warm hand engulfed hers, shooting a jolt of electricity through her veins. He had a solid, firm grip, the kind to hold a shaky person steady. Lifting her gaze to his, she smiled when his eyes widened in a flash of surprise. It had been a long time since she’d really touched another person. When the warmth from his hand made its way dangerously close to parts of her that had lain dormant for years, she abruptly let go.

“There, deal.” Flushed, she returned her focus to the book in his hand.  “Open it, but first, look at how worn it is, you can tell it’s been read a few thousand times.”

Tony flipped the big, hardcover book open. Instead of the expected well-worn pages, a small stack of what looked like letters bound by a string sat nestled inside. The pages were yellowed, the string frayed. The owner cut a neat and deep square into the center of the pages, nearly removing the entire contents of the book. Tony pulled them out, squinted, and weighed them in his hand.

Equally stunned, a burst of adrenaline hit Annie. Of all the treasures she’d uncovered in the two years since dealing in secondhand books, she never came across anything quite like this. This was a sign – from her parents, or other forces at work in the universe – but this book, and all its possibilities, was important to someone, somewhere.

“Now do you believe me when I say every book has a story to tell?”

  SPECIAL LINKS

SECONDHAND ROMANCE is on sale for 99 cents during the course of the tour!

Web links: www.radefranco; www.thevioletfemmes.com; @radefranco; https://www.facebook.com/#!/roseanndefrancoauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18586846-return-to-audubon-springs

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Return-Audubon-Springs-Brothers-ebook/dp/B00FDSL792/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380163799&sr=8-1&keywords=return+to+audubon+springs

Buy Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Romance-RoseAnn-DeFranco/dp/1628301732/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391294775&sr=8-1&keywords=secondhand+romance

  RoseAnn will be awarding a $15 Amazon gift card as well as a digital copy of RETURN TO AUDUBON SPRINGS to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

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

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-blast-secondhand-romance-by.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Small Change

Today's special guest is Sheila Roberts. Sheila lives in the Pacific Northwest. She's happily married and has three children. 

   

Writing since 1989, Sheila’s books have been printed in several different languages and have been chosen for book clubs such as Doubleday as well as for Readers Digest Condensed books. Her best-selling novel ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS was made into a movie and appeared on the Lifetime Movie Network, and her novel THE NINE LIVES OF CHRISTMAS has just been optioned for film. Her novel ANGEL LANE was named one of Amazon’s Top Ten Romances for 2009.

    

When she's not making public appearances or playing with her friends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women's hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

I asked Sheila what her inspiration was for writing SMALL CHANGE. Here is her answer:

My inspiration for writing SMALL CHANGE came from watching people struggling with financial challenges. Remember when so many of us were upside down on our houses? Getting laid off? Having trouble making ends meet? (Heck, you might still be in that leaky financial boat. A lot of us still are!) I loooked around and saw so many people left with too much month at the end of the money, grappling with which bills to pay and which to leave for next time, and just plain not having fun and thought, I want to address this in some small way.

If there was one thing I was an expert on, it was learning to live well in lean times. My husband and I had so many financial challenges over the years I used to joke that I took a vow of poverty when I married. Still, we managed to raise three kids, pay off our house, barter for goods and services, and even travel. We didn’t let a small detail like being broke stop us from getting the kind of life we wanted.

I felt like it was time to spread the message that a shift in attitude and behavior can take a woman almost anywhere she wants to go. I’m a firm believer that if you make enough small changes in your life and attitude they can add up to a big difference. Of course, I don’t say this to minimize the very real challenges so many people have had to face. Money worries are horrible. But for every challenge there is a solution, and sometimes that solution comes from doing some research and putting in place a good support system, which is what my three friends, Rachel, Jess, and Tiffany do in SMALL CHANGE.

I’ll be the first to admit that some of the money-saving measures my characters adopt, in and of themselves, won’t pay the mortgage in real life. But they’re still valid. Learning to cut expenses and shave corners in lots of small ways will eventually save us money. So will learning to live within our means. So will asking for help when we need it. Most of all, so will realizing we don’t need as much stuff as we think we need to be happy.

These are such simple truths, but they’re not easy to put into practice, which is why the friends in my book band together to help each other with their issues and start their own Small Change Club. There is strength in numbers. With the help and encouragement of others we can all make important life changes. And I hope that reading this book will inspire readers to do just that.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Take a trip to the charming little town of Heart Lake, and meet three best friends you’ll never forget. . . .

Rachel, Jessica, and Tiffany have major money problems. Tiffany’s whipped out the plastic one too many times, and now a mountain of debt has come crashing down on her. Jessica’s husband has lost his job, thrusting this longtime stay-at-home mom out into the cold, cruel workforce. And Rachel’s divorce transformed her from an upper-middle-class mom to a strapped-for-cash divorcée. So the three women start a financial support group called the Small Change Club—vowing to bring balance back to their checkbooks…and, in turn, their lives. Along the way they learn some valuable lessons—that friendship is an investment that keeps on growing and that sometimes love, like a loose coin, can be found in the most unexpected places…

“Roberts’s trademark humor and memorable characters wrestling with real-life issues add up to a novel that will make readers smile and wish for more.”—BookPage

AN EXCERPT

There it sat, a Cloud Nine queen-sized luxury gold comforter with red ribbon appliqué and metallic embroidery. Forty-percent off. It was the last one left. Tiffany Turner had seen it, and so had the other woman.

The woman caught Tiffany looking at it and her eyes narrowed. Tiffany narrowed hers right back. Her competitor was somewhere in her fifties, dressed for comfort in jeans and a sweater, her feet shod in tennis shoes for quick movement – obviously a sale veteran, but Tiffany wasn’t intimidated. She was younger. She had the drive, the determination.

           

It only took that one second to start the race. The other woman strode toward the comforter with the confidence that comes with age, her hand stretched toward the prize.

           

Tiffany chose that moment to look over her competitor’s shoulder. Her eyes went wide and she gasped. “Oh, my gosh.” Her hands flew to her face in horror.

           

The other woman turned to see the calamity happening in back of her.

           

And that was her undoing. In a superhuman leap, Tiffany bagged the comforter just as her competitor turned back. Score.

Boy, if looks could kill.

           

It would be rude to gloat.  Tiffany gave an apologetic shrug and murmured, “Sorry.”

           

The woman paid her homage with a reluctant nod. “You’re good.”

           

Yes, I am. “Thanks,” Tiffany murmured, and left the field of battle for the customer service counter.

As she walked away, she heard the other woman mutter, “Little beast.”

Okay, now she’d gloat.


SPECIAL LINKS

Sheila will be awarding a copy of Small Change and a $25 Visa gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY), and a $25 Visa gift card to a randomly drawn host.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/12/virtual-book-tour-small-change-by.html

Website: http://www.sheilasplace.com

Find Sheila on Facebook as Sheila Roberts, author

Twitter: _Sheila_Roberts

Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/125004376X/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0YXFTNH3EDEBDFNAE8E7&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1630083502&pf_rd_i=507846

Essence

Today's special guest is Mackenzie Lucas, a lover of story in any form. She’s an avid reader of genre fiction, she writes contemporary and paranormal romance, and she listens to an eclectic mix of music that spans from pop/rock to country to gospel. She loves a good story whether it’s an erotic short, a full-length romance novel, or the narrative slice-of-life found in country music. In any story, emotional integrity and authenticity are most important to her as well as a big dose of romping hot sexual tension. She enjoys smart-mouthed, sexy heroines, hunky alpha heroes who know how to take care of their women, and plot twists that surprise her, but most of all, she just wants to experience a satisfying emotional arc of a character falling in love and finding what he or she needs most in life.

Mac is a small-town country girl with a world-traveler’s soul. She grew up in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and she’s lived in Dublin, Ireland, within spitting distance of New York City in Long Island, and now in the Washington, D.C. area. She obtained her undergraduate degree in English Literature from Dickinson College and received her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She’s currently an author, writing coach, a mother, and a wife.

With Mackenzie Lucas--whether you’re reading her light paranormal romance, her small-town-based contemporary romance, or her steamin’ hawt erotica--you’ll always get a story about connectedness, community, and emotional authenticity, and, at its core, love. No, and it doesn’t hurt that all her heroes are panty-melting gorgeous alphas and all their sexy, sensually aware heroines know how to stand up to them, give no quarter, and love them just as they are.

ABOUT THE BOOK

All Haven Jameson ever wanted was to own a little piece of paradise. Now, she does, having established a successful luxury spa in St. Augustine, Florida. But when the property next door is sold to a mega developer and his pro-golf celebrity brother who design trendy, bustling playgrounds for the rich and famous, she fears her dream could slip away. Confronted by her late husband’s infidelity, Haven learns everything she believed about her marriage was a lie; so she finally sets aside her grief and opens her heart to loving the widowed pro-golfer who is her biggest professional competition. In the end, Haven discovers that living a safe, loveless life is far worse than embracing passion and taking a chance on a man who’s vowed never to love again. And that, sometimes, no matter how high the risk, the best paradise of all can be found inside our own hearts.

AN EXCERPT

Pace Daniels lay on his belly on a massage table, naked except for a thin sheet covering his backside. He rested his cheek on his hands and closed his eyes, and breathed in the calming scent of the room.

Light music played from the overhead speakers, not too loud, but nice. It sounded like a mix of music from India and the Southwest—Burma to Santa Fe. Pan flutes and bowl singing. Interesting.

He breathed deep again, taking air deep into his lungs, and pushed through the pain in his shoulder, the achiness that seemed to stick with him no matter what he did.

It was time to retire. Leave the circuit.

He'd known for a while now. Hell, he was a fairly young man for his profession. But one mistake. One stupid mistake had cost him everything. And now at the age of almost forty, he was facing a blank future. Filled with a lot of nothing if he didn't make some changes soon.

He had no idea what to expect when he'd come to Essence. A pretty brunette had given him instructions today for the massage, showed him the transition room—a fancy name for a locker room—and where to store his clothes and belongings. Of course, he'd had massages before. Mostly by sports medicine doctors.

Essence surprised him. Pleasantly. The atmosphere was different than he’d imagined. He'd expected fru fru and had been bowled over at every turn. The place wasn't just a female Mecca, as he’d feared. He'd anticipated salon chairs and manicurists around every corner.

Instead, the spa resort was a posh hotel.

A serene place. A spot he could see himself settling into to find some measure of peace in his own life.

He let out a deep sigh.

But, no. He wouldn't. He'd move on like he always did.

A knock sounded at the door and a moment later, the door opened on silent hinges. He opened his eyes to see the massage therapist.

The woman who entered wasn't the petite, curvy brunette who'd checked him in, but a tall, leggy blonde.

He stilled as he watched her.

Yes, she was beautiful. High cheekbones, wide, exotic pale green eyes, lush body. But there was something else. Something indefinable. Something more, he couldn’t explain. Maybe a sadness that clung to her that he recognized because the same sloe-eyed desolation dogged him, day after day for the past ten years.

He couldn’t be one-hundred percent certain to what extent, but on some level, he identified with her.

Then she spoke, and every cell in his body awoke at the husky tone of her voice. Sex liquefied. He'd die and go to Heaven if he could just have her talk to him for the next hour in that sweet, sexy, soft voice.

“I'm sorry. I must be in the wrong room.” She turned to go.

He pushed up from the table. “No. Wait.”

SPECIAL LINKS



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prizes for the tour are as follows:
• One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
• Two randomly chosen hosts will each receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/12/virtual-book-tour-essence-by-mackenzie.html

Links:

Website: http://www.mackenzielucas.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MacLucas_writer

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

https://www.facebook.com/MackenzieLucasFanPage

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6915570.Mackenzie_Lucas

Sky's End

Today's special guest is Lesley Young. Journalist Lesley Young never thought she would delve into the world of writing fiction, but when she sat down for the first time to put pen to paper, ideas for what would become her first novel just poured out naturally. Young’s first book, “Sky’s End,” is a multi-genre tale that showcases her unique style of weaving romance, action and wit into one page-burning story.

Young was born in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada. She holds an arts degree from the University of Alberta and a journalism degree from the University of Victoria.

Young now lives in Loretto, Ontario where she works as a journalist, freelance writer and editor for health, décor and business magazines. Since 2008, Young has written more than 300 articles for print and online media including Profit, Toronto Life, MSN Green, and Elle Canada among others. She is a regular contributor to Reader’s Digest, Best Health, Canadian Living and House and Home Magazine.

Young has won three gold honors for feature stories from the National Business Magazine Awards and another top media award from the Canadian Dermatology Association.

Soul Mate Publishing released “Sky’s End” on July 15 in paperback and e-book and since its launch, it has remained an Amazon Best Seller. The novel is Young’s first installment in a series about Cassiel Winters, a futuristic heroine, and her outer space escapades.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

We asked Lesley which media inspired her sci-fi novel: Sky’s End—Book One in the Cassiel Winters Series. Here is her response:

Carl Sagan’s Cosmos

I fell in love with astronomy in general in my early 20s, although the bug was planted in my teens via Star Trek Next Generation. The minute I finished Cosmos, an incredible explanation of man’s understanding of our universe, I started it over. Half of it I still don’t quite grasp but that’s like any bible. You will always find new ways to learn from it.

How it inspired my novel After Sagan said that alien life was next to impossible, my brain did what it always does. Yeah but what if...

Voila—the universe and all the aliens in Sky’s End came to be.

Firefly (TV Series 2002-2003)

The premise of this TV series really got my heart racing. A renegade crew, evading authorities and warring factions in the galaxy...what’s not to love? Nathan Fillion was cast so well, and I mean, it was written by Joss Whedon. Sorry I digress.

How it inspired my novel This one’s simple. I wanted to imagine a similar space adventure—Sky’s End is a completely different plot— only with a kick-ass heroine as the leader.

Brian Greene’s The Hidden Reality

Greene explains the latest astrophysics theory with aplomb. This stuff is highly complex, but important for understanding what’s really going on in our universe and possibly, an infinite number of parallel universes. I mean you can’t make this stuff up.

How it inspired my novel Cassiel has a gift, a special ability that is rooted in the most advance multi-verse or M-theory being worked on by today’s scientists. Without Greene’s enlightenment, I would never have landed on a fundamental premise of Sky’s End. And yes it involved multiple universes.

Thanks so much for the opportunity! I’d love to hear about your favorite sci-fi movies and book.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A secret she must never share. A secret that two warring species are determined to control. A universe’s future at stake.

Twenty-year-old Cassiel Winters joins Earth’s new space academy in hopes of finding her brother, one of Command’s top pilots and her only family, who’s been reported MIA. But she quickly realizes she may not be cut out for life in space, where female cadets are outnumbered, competition’s fierce, and she’s already failed her hand-to-hand combat test once.

When Cassiel’s manipulated into a perilous mission, she encounters a warrior species bred to protect the universe from an even greater threat. And she learns that her secret visions are at the heart of it all. Now Cassiel must fight to control her own destiny and race to save her brother—even if it means pretending to be the pawn of Prime Or’ic, the cold-as-steel Thell’eon leader. Even if it means risking her life, facing hard truths, and making the ultimate sacrifice.

AN EXCERPT

The sea of black and silver guns and uniforms open up to let through a Thell’eon wearing a long dark gray cloak made of what looks like microscopic chain-mail over a thin gray shirt that contours another chiseled chest and stomach. Honestly, they’re commonplace here.

But . . . our eyes meet, and I swear I have never seen a more handsome or fierce or handsomely fierce man in my life. I forget to conceal my facial expression. He’s the definition of man and . . . and . . . sex. Literally, that is his appeal. Its pull is soft and warm and persuasive. I find myself admiring his intelligent eyes, so dark they seem black. Tattoos or markings, or whatever those things are, accent his strong brow, contour his cheekbones, and one on his chin creates a goatee effect. I can tell by his facial stubble that he would have dark brown hair. I notice he’s breathing a little heavy, like he had run to catch up with the others. Given how fit he is, he must have come some distance.

He eyes me carefully, first with disbelief and then disgust. He claps his hands together suddenly, and laughs, meanly, causing me to jump a little. The spell is only partly broken.

“So this is what ESE sends?” His voice is deep and melodic. “A female . . . child,” he adds, eyeing my face.

SPECIAL LINKS


Lesley will be awarding print copies of “Sky’s End” to ten randomly drawn winners, and a grand prize of one $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/12/virtual-book-tour-skys-end-by-lesley.html

http://www.LesleyYoungBooks.com

Facebook.com/CassielWintersSeries

@LesleyYoungBks

Amazon Buy Link

http://www.amazon.com/Skys-Cassiel-Winters-Lesley-Young-ebook/dp/B00DXV8G9K/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1385512973&sr=8-1&keywords=%22sky%27s+end%22