Monday Muse: Icona Pop -- Girlfriend

Cause it's even better.

Feature Friday: Lynne Matson

Lynne Matson grew up in Georgia in a house full of books and a backyard full of gnarly pines. Back then, Lynne would stay up late, reading Nancy Drew books under the covers (with a flashlight . . . a weak attempt at ninja stealth). Now she still stays up late reading books and writing them. When she doesn’t have a book in her hand, you’ll find her listening to music, messing around with paint, or hanging out with her husband and their four boys . . . or all of the above.

Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?

Lynne:
Read widely, write daily, be positive and persistent.:) Seriously, reading across all genres really helps develop a feel for rhythm and cadence in prose, not to mention an inherent sense of good pacing. And writing? Oh gosh, sometimes it’s HARD, but the more you write, the better writer you become. And through it all, be positive believe in yourself and your writing, and if you stay positive, it will give you the strength to keep going when the publishing road gets bumpy. You can do it!!!

A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?

Lynne:
Amanda, you know I can't pick just one, right?! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.:) I love SO many books, but books I LOVE and have re-read multiple times? The Dragonriders of PERN series by Anne McCaffrey is one of my all-time favorites; they’re BRILLIANT. More recent books? The HARRY POTTER series by J.K. Rowling, IF I STAY and WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman, The JENNA FOX Chronicles by Mary Pearson, GRACELING by Kristen Cashore, THE ART OF LAINEY by Paula Stokes, and BENEATH THESE BROKEN STARS by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I'll stop now.:)

A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Nil?

Lynne:
I adore this question, because the entire idea of NIL came to me in one clear moment I can pinpoint to this day. NIL was born in Hawaii, on the big island. It was our first real getaway from our four boys, EVER. As we left the airport after landing on our first day, we drove through miles of ancient lava fields. Broken red rock stretched endlessly on each side, gorgeous and desolate. No roads, no buildings, no people–just the eerie sound of wind blowing over the barren rocks. I remember thinking how much it all looked like an alien planet, and thinking how creepy it would be to wake up there, alone. And I remember thinking how scary it would be as a teenager, to wake up by yourself, not having a clue where you were or how you how got there, and what if–because isn’t this every person’s worst nightmare?!–you woke up naked? NIL was born in that moment. That barren-red-rock visual locked in my head, and that's what Charley sees when she first wakes up in Nil.

A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Nil?  What were they and how did you fix them?

Lynne:
Snags?! *nervous laughter* Actually, yes! There was one point where I realized the tension had faded, because the threat had lessened. To fix it, I ended up killing off a character I really liked because it felt it necessary…even though it made another character hurt immensely.:(

A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Nil is your favorite and why?

Lynne:
Oh my gosh, hard question Amanda. It’s like asking to pick among my children..:) I LOVE THEM ALL! Thad! Charley! There's a BIG cast of characters on NIL because of the "revolving door" feel of the island, but two of my favorites (besides my MC's Charley & Thad) are Dex (love him! And his Nil bling...) and Rives. Rives fascinates me still. If there were to be a sequel, it will be from Rives's point of view. :) *runs away before I spill NIL sekrits* ;)

A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?

Lynne:
Sure! I actually wrote an entire post on this subject which can be found here: http://lynnematson.blogspot.com/2012/07/power-of-three-or-how-i-found-my-agent.html. But the short version is that I never stopped writing, never stopped working on my craft, and never stopped believing. And never stopped dreaming. If you don’t believe in your work, who will?

A.L.:
What are you working on now?  Sequel?  Something new?

Lynne:
Ahhhhh!!! I can’t say. BUT I HOPE TO HAVE NEWS REALLY SOON.:)

A.L.:
Do you ever wish you had a daughter?

Lynne:
This is a GREAT question. Actually, no. I ADORE my 4 boys, and I think I'm a good boy mom. I've been paintballing, surfing, trail biking, paddleboarding, and skiing with them, coached soccer and basketball teams, and can host a killer Nerf birthday party with epic washer/dryer box barriers.  I'm sure if I had a daughter, it would be awesome, but I've never once wished for one. I think I have the family that God intended for me to have, and that makes me SO happy. And so many of my best friends have girls that they feel like my daughters too.:)

A.L.:
If you were stranded on an island, what one thing would you need more than anything else to survive?

Lynne:
Something to catch fresh water. Lack of fresh water would be a death sentence for sure.

A.L.:
If you had to battle for the last Thin Mint in existence, what weapon would you choose for your opponent and why?

Lynne:
BEST. QUESTION. EVER. After careful thought, I'm going with a glass of milk. I'd place it nearby, and when my opponent's attention is distracted by the glass of milk, I'd stealthily snatch the box of Thin Mints out of their hand. Diversion . . . the perfect weapon.:)

The Giveaway:
A signed copy of NIL plus swag. (US)

Nil: On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. Exactly 365 days--to escape, or you die.

Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s lying naked in an empty rock field.

Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that to save their future, Charley must first save him. And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time.

Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
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How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). US.  I will contact the winner via email.

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Kick it into gear!

New Short Fiction Market Kickstarter Launch – Fantasy Scroll Magazine publishes science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal short stories, with one mission in mind: to provide high quality, entertaining, and thought-provoking speculative fiction. Currently, the magazine is running a Kickstarter campaign designed to help with the initial start-up, its main goal being to pay writers what they deserve. To contribute, spread the word, or learn more about the campaign, please visit: http://kck.st/1pp8ZVh.

Monday Muse: Iggy Azalea -- Fancy

Clueless and a crazy adorable rapper girl (x2)? Uh, yes. Just as an FYI, I'm totally an Iggy Azalea fangirl. *shrugs* Who knew?

Feature Friday: Leah Cypess

Regulars: There's a change in entry requirements, make sure you read them! 

Leah Cypess used to be an attorney living in New York City, and is now a writer living in Boston. She much prefers her current situation. When she is not writing or chasing her kids around (or doing both simultaneously), she is usually... well, let's be honest; sleeping. But in her rare moments of spare time, she enjoys reading, biking, hiking, and drawing.

Interview:

A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?

Leah:
Primarily, to read and write. A lot. I know that's old, standard advice, but it's standard for a reason! Also: don't allow your hopes and ambitions to get too tied up in any one manuscript. As soon as you're sending a book out for publication, start something new.

A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?

Leah:
I can't say I have a favorite book, but if I was going to pick the favorite book I've read recently, it would be Tandem by Anna Jarzab, a really original parallel-worlds story with both a high fantasy and a science fictional feel. I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy!

A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Death Sworn?

Leah:
I got it while reading The Elenium by David Eddings, which featured a sorceress who served as tutor to a military order. I started wondering what would happen if the sorceress and the knights didn't get along as well as they did in Edding's book, and several twists or turns later, I had the basic idea for Death Sworn.

A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Death Sworn?  What were they and how did you fix them?

Leah:
Several! Writing the master, in particular, was very difficult - it was hard for me to get the right balance of omniscient plotter, charismatic leader, and utterly terrifying puppet-master. I ended up asking my facebook friends to recommend books and movies with terrifying villains, and that - along with my editor's insightful comments - helped me finally get the character onto the page.

A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Death Sworn is your favorite and why?

Leah:
Ileni is absolutely my favorite! (Which isn't always the case - sometimes, a secondary character is more interesting - but in this case, I really felt for Ileni every step of the way in writing this book.)

A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?

Leah:
I've always known I wanted to be an author - I have it on record that I informed my grandmother of this fact when I was 8 years old. I got my first short story professionally published when I was 15 (in a long-gone magazine called Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine). But it wasn't until 15 years after I sent my first book to a publisher that I managed to get a book deal. My first book, Mistwood, was actually the fifth manuscript I had completed and submitted to publishers.

A.L.:
What are you working on now?  Sequel?  Something new?

Leah:
Primarily on the sequel to Death Sworn, yes! Though in between revision deadlines, I do have a few secret projects I'm really excited about. :)

A.L.:
Why do you chose to write fantasy over other genres?

Leah:
I don't think I've made that choice, actually - I am completely open to writing other genres. But the ideas that appeal to me, and that stick with me long enough for me to turn them into books, have so far all been fantasy ideas.

A.L.:
If you could only pick one of your main female protags to be your best friend would it be Isabel, Derri, or Ileni?

Leah:
Interesting question! I'd have to go with Isabel - she'd be a fantastic person to have in your corner. As long as there was no potential for a friend-breakup, which would be terrifying.

A.L.:
If you had to be an ice cream cone, what flavor ice cream and what kind of cone would you be?

Leah:
In my household, I think I'd have to be pistachio... that way I would never get eaten. (My husband and I like vanilla, and my kids would never touch green ice cream!)

The Giveaway:
Leah is giving away a personalized hardcover of DEATH SWORN to one lucky winner (US).

Death Sworn:  When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.

But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.



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How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). US.  I will contact the winner via email.

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I GOT A BOOK DEAL!!!!

I'm sorry if you've already seen this in like a million places, but I'M JUST SO EXCITED!!!!!!

March 13, 2014 - NEXIS by A.L. Davroe

Children's: Young Adult

A.L. Davroe's NEXIS, about a teenager living among genetically engineered Aristocrats who loses her legs and discovers she can walk in a virtual-reality game called Nexis, and must accept help from her android companion before the virtual world seeps into reality and the consequences become deadly, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled Teen, in a nice deal, by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency (World).

louise@thebentagency.com

This book is, by far, my absolute favorite that I've written so far. I'm beyond ecstatic that I finally get to share it with you! I've already got the Goodreads page up, so if you want to add it, please do! (I know there's no description yet, I'm waiting for my new publishing company to provide that for you guys. But, here's a general idea of what I wrote for the summary when I pitched it to my agent:

The year is 231.  The world as we know it has been destroyed in the Bio-Nuclear War.  The survivors have been divided into the Aristocrats who live in the domed cities and the Disfavored who live in the Wastelands beyond the cities.  Ellani (Ella) Drexel is a Natural-born Aristocrat who lives in the domed city of Evanescence. 

Yesterday, Ellani's problems consisted of trying to fit in among the Custom (genetically engineered) Aristocrats, catching the eye of her high school crush, trying to become a Designer instead of the Programmer she was born to be, and convincing her father to let her do what all the other kids are doing. 

Today, Ella woke up and found that she'd been in a terrible accident.  Her father died in that accident and both of Ella’s legs have been amputated.  Her guardian, Katrina, will not pay for the surgery Ella needs to restore her legs, places Ella under house-arrest -- lest she shame the family -- and just might be trying to kill Ella for her late father's fortune.

At the urging of her android companion, Meems, Ella begins playing Nexis -- a virtual reality game that her father created.  In the game, Ella has the use of both of her legs and is able to experience many worlds and people.  She befriends a senior gamer named, Guster, who recruits her as a member of The Tricksters, a group on a quest to infiltrate the Anansi Chamber in the Central Dominion.

Despite the troubles The Tricksters encounter throughout their journey, Nexis becomes a haven where Ella learns the true worth of life and natural beauty.  Through her joint experiences in Nexis and in captivity, Ella finds love, friendship, and a reason to live; however, she’s now able to see the faults in her own society and she begins to use her talent as a Programmer to stand up for what she believes in. 

The lines between real and virtual life begin to blur for Ella and in the end...

Well, I guess you'll have to read that for yourselves!  :D

Until then, check out Nexis Pinterest love and Anansi Chamber music.

Monday Muse: 331Erock -- Let It Go (metal version)

Yes, there is a metal head somewhere inside of me and she is totally headbanging with the five-year-old inside of me who is die-hard in love with Frozen.

Feature Friday: Jane Nickerson

Jane has always loved the South, “the olden days,” gothic tales, houses, kids, writing, and interesting villains. She has five children, has taught preschool, and was a children’s librarian for many years. She grew up in California, but considers small town Mississippi her real home. She lives in an old house in Aberdeen, Mississippi, and is a full time writer.

Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?

Jane:
Remember that being published is not the end all/be all for a writer. Some of the joy goes out of the creative process when you’re trying to please other people, worry about contracts, worry about critics, etc. Write because you love to write, and write what you love writing. Then, maybe submit it for publication, maybe not. Also, even if you do submit and NEVER get published, that does not mean that you’re not a wonderful writer; it simply means that maybe your style is not what is currently popular and sellable. Enjoy it anyway, because it’s yours.

A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?

Jane:
I have so many favorites it’s hard to pick one. So…ONE of my favorites is A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA, by Ursula K. LeGuin. I love her simple, beautiful writing style, the atmosphere of her books, and her amazing world building. I’m a big fan of fantasy.

A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for The Mirk and Midnight Hour?

Jane:
I’ve always liked the “Ballad of Tam Lin.” It’s terribly romantic and quite beautiful. In order to adapt it to Civil War era Mississippi, I needed to turn the fairies into a type of local southern workers of magic—hence, voodoo practitioners. The captured knight evolved into a captured, wounded Union soldier—a story that I’ve played around with in my head for years.

A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing The Mirk and Midnight Hour?  What were they and how did you fix them?

Jane:
As I was writing, and the story took off by itself as good stories tend to do, I discovered that there were really two big plots going on, and that neither was small enough to be considered a subplot. I could not bear to abandon either one, so I decided, To heck with it, I’ll have co-plots. I wove the two plots together, and so MIRK has more than one villain and more than one climax. Also, as in STRANDS, because of the time period and setting, I had to address the institution of slavery. A very tough thing. I did my best to deal with it using both realism and sensitivity.

A.L.:
Which one of the characters in The Mirk and Midnight Hour is your favorite and why?

Jane:
I’m rather fond of villains. (In books, of course. Not in real life.) So, I really like Dorian, in spite of all his failings. He’s an amusing, fun-loving kind of guy who is not afraid to laugh at himself.

A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?

Jane:
I’ve written fiction since I first learned to read and write. My first book, written at age eight, was called BEN ORTHO, and the title character was a witch’s broom. I’ve written stories ever since, but didn’t try to get anything published until all my five kids were in school. Then I submitted lots of children’s stories to magazines and sold many of them. I wrote a couple of middle grade novels and tried to submit them to publishers without an agent. A few publishers expressed some interest, but then I entered a crisis time with some of my kids, and, because my family is of the greatest importance, I quit writing for years because I needed to concentrate on it. Then, in 2010, my kids were all grown up, I moved to Canada and could not find a job, and I decided the time had finally come to take my writing seriously. I wrote STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD, was taken on by Wendy Schmalz, my agent, and she sold both STRANDS and THE MIRK AND MIDNIGHT HOUR to Knopf. These last four years have been very interesting and fulfilling ones for me.

A.L.:
What are you working on now?  Sequel?  Something new?

Jane:
I wrote a sequel to STRANDS which has not been accepted for publication as yet for various reasons. I still hope to do something with it because I think it’s really good. So, it’s on a back burner. This time I decided to go for some high fantasy because that’s always been my favorite genre. I’m half way through a novel I’ve titled “Winged Things.”

A.L.:
Why did you decide to write a Tam Lin retelling set in Civil War era?  Likewise (since I'm also an author of a Tam Lin retelling) I'm curious to know why you picked Tam Lin over other stories to retell.

Jane:
Ahh, I will have to look up yours! I’ve read a few Tam Lin retellings and enjoyed them. As I said, Tam Lin is a charming story and I love the romance in it. So…romantic. The hero is fascinating, but helpless, and it’s up to the brave, resourceful heroine to rescue him. I set it in Civil War era because that setting and time period has always interested me. It’s tragic in so many layers and so many ways, and that touch of pathos lends a great deal of atmosphere. I lived in Mississippi for many years, and am living there again now, after five years in Canada.

A.L.:
In your opinion, what's the most hauntingly beautiful place to visit in all of Mississippi?

Jane:
There is an 1800’s cemetery in my town, which never fails to captivate me. The beautiful towering trees, marble stones, the old, old griefs… “Here lies the soldier boy.” “Here lies buried many hopes and dreams.” Pathos again.

A.L.:
If your life were a fairy tale retelling, whose story would it be?

Jane:
Maybe “Snow White and Rose Red.” The heroines are kind, family-oriented, resourceful girls, who live happily ever after. I hope I am leading that kind of life.

The Giveaway:
Jane is giving away one copy (INT) of THE MIRK AND MIDNIGHT HOUR.

The Mirk and Midnight Hour: A Southern girl. A wounded soldier. A chilling force deep in the forest.
All collide at night’s darkest hour.

Seventeen-year-old Violet Dancey has been left at home in Mississippi with a laudanum-addicted stepmother and love-crazed stepsister while her father fights in the war—a war that has already claimed her twin brother. 

When she comes across a severely injured Union soldier lying in an abandoned lodge deep in the woods, things begin to change. Thomas is the enemy—one of the men who might have killed her own brother—and yet she's drawn to him. But Violet isn't Thomas's only visitor; someone has been tending to his wounds—keeping him alive—and it becomes chillingly clear that this care hasn't been out of compassion. 

Against the dangers of war and ominous powers of voodoo, Violet must fight to protect her home and the people she loves.

From the author of Strands of Bronze and Gold comes a haunting love story and suspenseful thriller based on the ancient fairy tale of “Tam Lin.”

Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
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How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). INTERNATIONAL.  I will contact the winner via email.

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Monday Muse: Grimes -- Genesis

So, you know how authors talk about characters just hyjacking their work? Well, this song is hyjacking Monday Muse. It keeps showing up whenever I look for new music, so I assume it wants to be played for all of you. I'll tell you right now, I hate the video and I'm torn on the song itself...But, in the hopes that it leaves me alone, I'm playing it for you. XD

Feature Friday: Lauren Oliver

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver dazzled readers with the spellbinding Delirium trilogy (Delirium, Pandemonium, Requiem), the conclusion of which was published in 2013. Oliver is also the author of two luminous novels for middle-grade readers, The Spindlers and Liesl & Po, which was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. Her first YA novel, Before I Fall, was honored as a Publisher Weekly’s Best Book of the Year. Lauren’s next contemporary YA novel, Panic, will be published on March 4th 2014 and has been optioned for film by Universal Studios. Oliver is also the co-founder of literary development company Paper Lantern Lit, where she cultivates the bourgeoning craft and careers of other YA/MG writers. A graduate of the University of Chicago and NYU's MFA program, Lauren Oliver lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can visit her online at www.laurenoliverbooks.com.

Interview:

A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?

Lauren: 
Read and write as much as you can!

A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?

Lauren:
I could never choose a favorite book, there's too many amazing ones in the world!

A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Panic?

Lauren:
The original kernel of inspiration comes from “The Story of the Boy Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was,” a little known fairy tale by Brothers Grimm. Not the catchiest of titles! But of course, like all source material, the story and its meaning for me and my book morphed and changed over time.

A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Panic?  What were they and how did you fix them?

Lauren: 
Totally! I hated PANIC for a while. I couldn’t figure out how to move the plot forward, how to make the stories intersect, and how I would achieve resolution. I spent months complaining about the book, agonizing over it, talking it over with friends and family, trying different things and then cutting them. Eventually, I managed to find my way..

A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Panic is your favorite and why?

Lauren:
I really love Dodge. Maybe it’s his name, maybe it’s because he was my first POV guy character, or maybe it’s because of his deeply skewed sense of loyalty and desire to defend and protect the people he loves, but if I were an 18-year-old girl in Carp, I’d definitely be head over heels in love with Dodge.

A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?

Lauren:
I’ve really been writing my whole life. That isn’t an exaggeration. I started writing stories when I was probably six or seven, and began seriously writing—i.e., working on something every day—when I was probably ten! So this career has been a loooong time in the making. I have my ups and downs, as every author does. I’ve had novels rejected by agents and publishers. I have my moments of doubt and self-pity. But that comes with the territory; part of the job of an author is learning how to work and create through all that.

A.L.:
What are you working on now?  Sequel?  Something new?

Lauren:
I’m working on something totally new. It’s another stand-alone, it’s realistic, and it’s the story of two sisters and their unraveling relationship, among other things. But that’s all I can say for now!

A.L.:
If you could be awesome at something other than writing, what would you be awesome at?

Lauren: 
Singing. Truly, mind-blowingly, ear-shatteringly awesome, Mariah-Carey-style.

A.L.:
What's your favorite thing to wear?

Lauren: 
Expensive jeans, cheap tank tops, and very high heels!

A.L.:
What kind of readers do you think will love Panic?

Lauren:
Hopefully all of them! I think this book will appeal equally to boys and girls, and I’m certainly hoping it will cross over to an adult readership too. Basically, it’s a great book for anyone who likes tension, romance, friendship, and stories of hope. And tigers. Yup, tigers.

No Giveaway?
No goodies from Lauren this week, but don't forget that this was a double feature week, so we have a giveaway from our Wednesday guest author: Kimber Leigh Weaton!

Panic:  Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most

Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble. 

Double Feature: Kimber Leigh Wheaton

 Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America.

She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety.

Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)

Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.

Author Links:
http://www.kimberleighwheaton.com
cymberle1@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/Cymberle
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7885752.Kimber_Leigh_Wheaton
https://www.facebook.com/KimberLeighWheaton
http://onceuponayabook.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/onceuponayabook
http://www.pinterest.com/Cymberle/

Music and Shadow Fire: 
Shadow Fire Playlist

Music plays an intricate role in my writing. I have always been inspired and moved by music. Sometimes this poses a problem—like when I'm driving down the freeway and that aha moment strikes at sixty-five miles per hour. Perhaps I shouldn't listen to my book playlists when driving…

Each novel I write has a different playlist, one for creating and one for editing. I learned early on that I can't edit to any music that has words because it's too distracting. The playlist for Shadow Fire was quite eclectic. Since it's a fantasy romance, I imagined rolling green hills, vivid sunsets, and vast untamed wilderness. Celtic music really helped me picture that fantasy world. The characters, however, were more modern and required something a bit edgier. Now, my playlists can run up to fifty songs so I'll give you a sampling of the music that inspired Shadow Fire, in no particular order.

1) The Mummers' Dance by Loreena McKennitt

2) As Long as You're Mine from Wicked

3) Come What May from Moulin Rouge

4) Silent Lucidity by Queensryche

5) The Wall by Kansas

6) Set Fire to the Rain by Adele

7) Through Glass by Stone Sour

8) Imaginary by Evanescence

9) The Reason by Hoobastank

10) What About Now by Daughtry

11) Arms by Christina Perri

12) Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses

13) Angel by Sarah McLachlan

14) Her Without You by Three Doors Down

15) Your Surrender by Neon Trees

16) Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park

17) Just a Kiss by Lady Antebellum

Shadow Fire was edited to The Greatest Video Game Music played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Giveaway:
Kimber is giving away three kindle e-book copies of Shadow Fire.  (INT) Entry after excerpts.

Shadow Fire: Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.

Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.

Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.
Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal
As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?
Each installment of The Light Chronicles is a standalone story.

Favorite Quotes

The villagers will be awaiting my return, skulking in the shadows, desperate to catch a glimpse of the walking dead girl. ~Ashlyn

After all, love conquers nothing but fools. ~Delistaire

Perhaps you shouldn’t have chased the poor pirate all over the ship shooting light daggers at him. ~Zane

How would you like a tour of this grand vessel, my angelic beauty? I’ll show you my favorite trysting spots. ~Taranis

Excerpt #1

Every step I take is one step closer to death.

Hiking through the dense underbrush, I try to calm my frayed nerves and control the fear threatening to overwhelm me. Twigs and tendrils of ivy grab at my ankles as I continue to forge ahead, forcing me to wrench away from their skeletal grip. The sunlight is fading, signaling the end of another day, but this is no ordinary day.

A loud crack pierces the air. I freeze in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat. Whipping my head around, I try to locate the source of the sound. My heart pounds in my chest, the erratic rhythm painful. These woods are full of predators, some animal, some monster, but the worst… human. Taking a deep breath, I listen to the surrounding woods: birds chirp, insects hum, and small animals scurry about as if they have no care in the world.

Lungs burning, I force myself to continue walking. I didn't collapse three weeks ago when this whole fiasco started, and I won't give in now. My family needs me to be strong.

The trees become sparser as I approach the edge of the forest. My shoulders slump when I pass the tree house we used to play in so many years ago. Any other day when I'm this close to home after a long day of hunting, I'd smile, breathe a sigh of relief, and perhaps look forward to dinner. Today there will be no raucous family meal, no solace in entering the peaceful village, and nothing to smile about.

The villagers will be awaiting my return, skulking in the shadows, desperate to catch a glimpse of the walking dead girl.

I've dealt with the whispers and pointing for three weeks with my head held high, my anxiety hidden behind a mask of indifference. I don't want them to see me like this, trembling in fear, broken. They've taken everything I am, every hope, every dream I've had for the future and smashed them to pieces with little hope of salvation. The townsfolk of Verdane decided my fate and they chose death.

The elders told me being Chosen is an honor. Either they are ignorant or apathetic. Every five years for the last twenty, a teenage girl has been chosen by the town, via secret ballot, to undertake this dangerous quest, never to return. Perhaps if the elders had to forfeit their lives instead they wouldn't be so quick to label it an honor, they'd call it what it is… a sacrifice.

Excerpt #2

We walk in silence for what seems like several hours. The sun is at midday, yet we still haven't stopped to rest. Zane isn't holding my hand like he was in the forest. Of course, there's nothing for me to trip over on this wide clear road, with the exception of the ruts from the wagon wheels. I miss feeling his strong hand gripping mine. Perhaps I should just be bold like Celeste and take his hand if I want to hold it. The thought leads to a tiny giggle escaping my mouth. I'm mortified when Zane glances back at me, his right eyebrow arched.

"Are you okay?" he asks as he stops walking. My face must be crimson. When I don't answer, he places his hand on my forehead. "You're quite warm. Maybe we should rest for a little bit."

I nod my agreement and sit down in the tall grass on the side of the road. Hopefully the grass will conceal my red face from view. Zane does one last survey of our surroundings before lowering himself to the ground next to me.

"Here," he says, handing his canteen to me, "Have some water. It'll help you feel better. Be sure to tell me in the future when you need to rest."

Nodding, I take a slow drink while trying to calm my racing heart. Then another unbidden thought enters my mind, and I picture his lips on the same flask. I choke on the drink I'm taking. Zane pats my back as I sputter and cough. So embarrassing. I wonder what other evils my mind has planned for me.

"I'm okay," I say, handing the flask back, "but I think I'll hold off on water for a while."

Settling on my back in the thick grass, I hide my red face beneath my arm. Just a couple of minutes and the flush will fade. If I don't stop blushing around him, he'll start to think red is my natural skin color. I feel movement in the grass beside me. His fingertips trace a feather light caress along the arm slung over my face. Lowering my arm, I breathe out a tiny gasp. Zane's face is within inches of mine. I watch his lips curl into a slight smile as his hand moves from my arm to caress my cheek. His garnet eyes are mesmerizing, trapping me within the twin pools of fire.

He leans closer, his lips so close yet still too far away. My heart pounds in my chest, my eyes still ensnared by his gaze. His lips meet mine, softly at first, then more demanding. A soft moan escapes my throat, and my eyes flutter closed.

"Is this okay?" he asks in a breathless whisper, his lips brushing mine when he speaks.

Instead of answering, I wind my arms around his neck, pulling his body closer. My mouth opens under the soft pressure of his tongue, granting him entrance. He explores my mouth with excruciating slowness. My body feels like it's on fire as tiny shivers of pleasure race up and down my extremities. I bury my fingers into his auburn hair trapping him against me. He groans, pulling me against him, tightening his arms around my upper body, and I feel a delicious warmth pool deep within my body.

When his lips leave mine I'm still lost to the sensations, all so raw and new. Opening my eyes, I gaze up at him, my limbs not quite ready to function yet. His eyes are darkened with passion, which sends another wave of desire coursing through my body.

"As much as I'd like to stay like this all day," he murmurs, nipping at my lower lip. Clearing his throat he continues, "We need to get moving."

Excerpt #3

The sound of metal clashing echoes through the air on deck. In the center of the ship Zane and Taranis are sparring while the crew watches from a safe distance. Neither man seems to be holding back. Skirting around the fighting men, I reach the stairs up to the helm and scale them. Several pirates are leaning up against the railing overlooking the deck. When I appear they move aside to make a space for me in the middle.

"How long have they been at it?" I ask the group of men.

"Half an hour or so," a red-haired pirate replies. "You want in on the betting pool? It's not too late."

"I'll pass thanks."

Only a moron would bet against Zane. Although I have to admit, it appears Taranis is putting up a good fight. He rushes at Zane with a series of furious swings, which are all parried with ease. When he leaps away, Zane charges him. Taranis manages to parry all but one swing. This one he blocks with the large silver gauntlet on his left forearm. Zane takes a step back and lowers his sword.

"Had enough yet, pirate?" he asks laughing.

Taranis is staring at him in cool silence, but his breathing is a bit labored. When the captain rushes him, Zane drops to the ground and knocks him down with a leg sweep. Taranis sprawls on the deck but doesn't lose his sword. Zane leaps to his feet and moves to place his sword at the rogue's throat. Taranis manages to block the strike with his gauntlet before leaping back to his feet.

"I guess not," Zane observes.

Taranis gazes up at me with a leer and a wicked smirk. I don't even have time to gulp before he vaults over the rail to seize me around the waist. My shriek is somewhere between a cry of surprise and a laugh when Taranis pulls me against his side, pointing his sword at Zane.

"Drop your sword, mercenary," he commands.

"Why would I do that?" Zane asks scowling. He's obviously not happy with the direction of the fight. For my part, I lean against Taranis, trying hard not to laugh.

"I have your woman," Taranis declares. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to see her harmed."

"I know you won't hurt her, pirate," Zane says, exasperation apparent in his eyes and his voice.

With a smirk, I glance up at the pirate's jubilant face. I have to agree with Zane. Taranis is as harmless as a puppy.

"Now either get back down here or surrender," Zane yells.

"What if I do this?" Taranis asks, pulling on my braid and baring my neck to him.

His lips start trailing feather light kisses up my neck. I'm too shocked to do anything but stand in his embrace.

"Oh, that's it!" Zane shouts, running toward us. "You're a dead man!"

"Sorry, my gorgeous beauty," Taranis says laughing, "gotta go!" He leaps off the railing just as Zane reaches my side.

"Are you all right?" Zane asks, cupping my cheek. I try to keep it in but to no avail. My laughter rings out, and I'm doubled over by the force of it. "I'll take that as a yes," he mumbles before he takes off running after Taranis. "You may as well surrender, pirate! Where are you going to run? This is a ship!"

Excerpt #4

When we reach the deck, everyone stops to stare at me. Trying to ignore the blatant curiosity, I follow Hanna down the aft stairs to the brig. Zane and Taranis occupy cells across from each other. They're both sitting on the floor glaring daggers at each other. Hanna hands the key to me and slips away. Inching closer, I'm careful to remain out of reach of the two prisoners. As soon as they see me, both men jump up and start talking over each other.

"Ashlyn! How are you feeling, Love?" Zane asks.

"Ashlyn, my fiery angel, you are a ray of sunshine in this dank prison!" Taranis says.

"I'm gonna let you both out, if, and only if, you promise to behave," I threaten. Both men nod their agreement. "That means no fighting. It also means we never, and I mean never, speak of what happened last night." When I get no argument, I free Zane first and then Taranis.

"Do you even know what happened last night?" Zane asks, taking me into his arms. I stand rigid in his embrace, not sure if I'm ready to forgive him quite yet.

"Only what Hanna told me," I snap at him.

"I saved your virtue from this raving lunatic," Taranis says, pointing at Zane.

"Then you decided to take it for yourself!" Zane yells back at him.

"Did you not hear me?" I shout. Pulling myself from Zane's embrace, I back up and glare at both men. "No speaking of last night. Period. End of discussion."

"Yes, Love," Zane replies.

"Yes, virtuous virgin," Taranis replies.

"Taranis!" I release a menacing growl, and wince when my right eye starts to tic. "Yes?" he asks, eyes full of mock innocence.

"Run," Zane says.

Taranis listens to Zane's advice and takes off up the stairs to the deck with me hot on his heels.

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Monday Muse: Sepiamusic -- Crazy Burn

Compliments of Miss A.G. Howard.