Wednesday 10 December 2014

544948_339648476221803_208219600771446434_nDive into worlds that have survived the worst mankind has ever seen and join us on our journey into the unknown. Nothing is what it seems and survival is the ultimate goal in these tales about the world After Tomorrow. Zombies, time-travelers, cyborgs, aliens, and cannibals are all finally in one amazing post-apocalyptic anthology! 16 stories, four poems, and 5 pieces of original artwork all combine to form this one-of-a-kind anthology. Read stories from some of your favorite authors and find new authors to love! [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs8tuQWxzk0&list=UUQ8Y3FhF9TRUduWgoBqepAA[/embed] Meet The Authors:

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Samantha Ketteman - Samantha Ketteman has resided in southern Illinois for 7 years, (though still claims to be an Alabama girl), with her husband and three crazy demon children. She started reading novels at a very young age and decided to write for herself. She is a caffeine addict, insomniac, and generally scatterbrained most of the time. When she's not writing, she's getting lost in her imagination. Novels are an escape from the harsh reality of a cantankerous teenage boy and two drama queen girls.

Author picJess Watkins - Jess is an avid reader, writer and chocolate devourer. She runs a book blog called A Book Addict's Bookshelves and co-runs Worlds of Words. She has lived in three different countries and owns an unreasonable number of t-shirts. A Whovian, Browncoat and Sherlockian, Jess loves anything to do with superheroes, Game of Thrones and Joss Whedon






Author pic(1)  HJ Daly - HJ has always loved stories and writing became a natural progression to reading. Reading with her own children and then at schools in a hope of capturing the hearts and minds of the young. It wasn’t always about writing though, during her late teens, HJ stepped up her Latin American dancing and travelled Europe








CL McCollum  C.L. McCollum - C. L. McCollum spends her time delving into the wonder of the world. She’s always been drawn to the “How” and the “Why” and the “Is this even possible?” That addiction to wonder has led her to the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy. C. L. is on the Great Agent Hunt for her first novel, but two of her stories are featured in the charity anthology Clichés for a Cause: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night (October 2014). Currently, C. L. is keeping it weird in Austin, TX with the love of her life and their various furry roommates. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CLMCCOLLUMAUTHOR and on Twitter @C_L_McCollum



KMatsuura-profile2. Kelly Matsuura - Kelly Matsuura grew up in Victoria, Australia, but has lived most of her adult life in the northern hemisphere. After a year teaching English in China, she moved to Japan where she lived for ten years in Nagoya. Due to her husband’s work, she’s enjoying a few years back in a western country, living in Michigan, USA.



  1800338_711671872198727_26297994_n Emma Michaels - Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, and author of the 'Society of Feathers' series. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history. To find out more feel free to stop by www.EmmaMichaels.com

  GearWhite Michael Cross - Author Michael Cross lives in Seattle, WA. When Cross isn’t working on his next novel, he spends his time reading, modding steampunk inventions or working on his airship with his copilot Chihuahua. Cross dreamed of becoming a storyteller back when he was read stories like “The Odyssey” and legends of Roman soldiers and Arthur. He writes mostly paranormal, fantasy, New Adult and steampunk. Follow his adventures at www.Michael-Cross.com/



AuthorProfileToni Lesatz - Toni Lesatz is a wife, mother, author, blogger, gamer, caffeine addict, and lover of the culinary arts. Her short stories, Ashes to Ashes and Dead World, were published in fall 2014. She is currently writing her debut novel, which she hopes to have in reader's hands by spring 2015. Toni lives in Michigan with her husband and three children. If she's not writing or curled up with a book, you'll most likely find her playing with her kids, baking cupcakes, or killing zombies. You can follow her at My Book Addiction http://mybookaddiction.com or on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/authortonilesatz




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H.L. Houghton - H.L. Houghton remembers sitting on the floor with a little red typewriter, tapping keys and asking her mother for spellings. She was three years old and from that day to this, she has dreamed of writing wonderful things for others to read. H.L. has recently published a collection of short, vampire themed stories entitled Almost Dead. When she is not writing, she can be found with a camera glued to her face or a book in her hand. She loves music, singing badly and watching people run from the rain.



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K. C. Finn - K. C. Finn was born and raised in Cardiff, South Wales, where her love for storytelling grew at a precociously young age. After developing the medical condition M.E. / C.F.S., Kim turned to writing to escape the pressures of disabled living, only to become hooked on the incredible world of publishing. As an author for Clean Teen Publishing and Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Press, Kim spends most of her time locked in the writing cave with an obscenely large mug of tea. When not writing, she can be found studying for her MA in Linguistics, watching classic British comedy, or concocting evil schemes in the secret laboratory in her attic.

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Scott Venus - Scott Anthony Venus is an Australian poet from Brookfield, Victoria on the western outskirts of Melbourne. Scott has been writing poetry for over 20 years, resulting in the release of 3 collections of his poetry “Finding Wisdom In Shadows” (2008), “Whisper Something Fragile” (2013) and “Breathing Moments” (2014). Outside of writing, Scott is qualified as a Travel Agent; however, is currently a live-in carer for 2 people with various degrees of disability - a responsibility that demands much of his time



10619970_10152751532541639_1601200589767291579_o. Nicole L Daffurn -  Nicole’s love for the written word has seen her write many short stories and poems and then eventually moving on to tackle the bigger task of novel writing late in 2011. She has also completed her course in editing and is currently studying Journalism and looks forward to exploring the world of news media.







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Andrea Staum - Andrea L. Staum is author of the Dragonchild Lore series and The Attic's Secret Novella. She is also a contributor to a wide variety of anthologies in numerous genres. She is a trained motorcycle mechanic, an amateur house renovator, and a record keeper for the characters in her mind. She resides in South Central Wisconsin with her husband and three cats.



yaz  Yasmin Fazli - Yasmin Fazli is an undergraduate college student studying biology to one day fulfil her dream of being a doctor. Little did she know, the small stories she used to write in middle school and high school developed into another dream she couldn't live without. In the beginning of her senior year of high school, the idea of Will of Hope, her first novel, was born. It took on a life of its own, and it turned into something she couldn't put aside. When she finished, she was so in love with the story and how the characters grew that she felt the need to share the happiness it brought with everyone and anyone. Still living the life of a college student, Yasmin works in a research lab, is a part of the Delta Gamma sorority, and fills her life with snowboarding and bouldering.


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Sherwin Matthews - Sherwin has been living in fantasy worlds within the confines of his head for most of his life. How it is that he has been able to exist this way is of greater mystery than he can conceive, leaving him thankful that he is at least politely indulged by those around him, whom most likely find some amusement in his extravagances. One day he fears that he’ll have to give up and join the real world.




CathCatherine Stovall- Catherine is a fearless creature who surrounds herself with the joys of life both in and out of her fictional worlds. She lives in Southeast Missouri with her husband, three children, and pets. When not writing, she spends her time riding motorcycles, wearing elaborate hats, and genuinely enjoying the oddities in life.









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Jeff Motsinger - Jeff Motsinger is a loving husband to Demetria Motsinger with two children ( Nikolai and Dani Jo).Born and raised in lovely Southern Illinois, he spends his extra time playing rpgs online. Jeff has a passion for drawing, but loves to write fantasy style stories.







EadaEada Janes- Born and raised in the wonderful St. Louis, Mo area. Eada Janes is a hometown girl at heart. You can find her walking by the banks of the mighty Mississippi river, dancing the night away at the local clubs, or snuggled up in front of her fire with a good book and a cup of warm cocoa. After graduating with a degree in fine arts and working in the corporate world of retail for many years, she has decided to return to her creative roots and brave a brand new start as an independent author. You can find her work in Cogs in Time, Cogs in Time 2, and Les Vaproistes


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  Nicky Louise - Sunshine, surf and family are the corner stone of Nicky’s world. Being born and raised on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia gave her the opportunity to chase her dream of photography and later novel writing. She fell in love with fantasy and dystopian and crafted stories with strong men and powerful women. Her debut novel Destinata was released on October 15, 2014 with several short stories following. Her second novel was released November 6 and is published through Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly. When she is not busy being an author, you will find her walking along the water with her husband or chasing after her two children.







  10806929_10205392651321607_1210623046_n Demetria Motsinger (aka Madison Stewart) - Demi started out writing poetry, which evolved into short stories. Waiting for her goal to become a full-length author is soon to come. She currently is involved in Anthologies for Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. She loves to read, write, and take pictures. Demi is from a small town in southern Illinois. She is a homemaker to, two beautiful children Nikolai 4 and Dani Jo 8, a wonderful husband and supporter Jeff, and 3 dogs.




  10304571_10203646382547759_8665599738232758179_n Cathy Ricketts - Cathy is the author of numerous poems published in greeting cards and short stories, as well as a talented artist. She is a proud firefighter and first responder in her home state of Alabama.





Tuesday 9 December 2014

Change of perspective - Four - A Divergent story collection - Veronica Roth

Tobias Eaton is a young man left with his father after his mother tragically dies, or at least that is the story told by the Abnegation elite and one that he believes. It doesn’t help him deal with the abusive father, one who needs control in all aspects of his life and that includes his divergent son.
Unable to cope with the thought of continuing to live with his father when he has the chance to escape, he grabs it with both hands and runs into the changing faction of Dauntless. Flying threw his initiation, after all what is pain to someone who has grown up with it, he is offered the role of leader. Initially he believes he can make a difference but soon realises that he is a simple pawn and quickly withdraws.

Then of course he meets Tris and his world is changed forever.

The book is a collection of not stories as such but scenes in Four’s life. From why he left Abnegation, how he became a teacher of the initiates and how he real felt about Tris. As with all people who read this, you already know the stories but it is interesting. One of his fears where he shoots an innocent, I thought his fear stemmed from the fear of following orders and this was not the case. It was a new side to him.

As with the initial series I am not a great lover of the style of writing. It seems immature at times and I wanted more, but as with the first two books, it caught my interest. I can see why she first wrote it from Four’s point of view before Tris became her main focus.



New for Old - Northanger Abbey - Val McDermid

Catherine or Cat is a young girl who has had an isolated upbringing, few friends and home schooled, she knows little of what awaits her outside her home. She gets her opportunity to find out when a wealthy neighbour takes her to the Edinburgh Festival. Getting her first taste of freedom she laps up the atmosphere, the events and the people.

She meets two sets of friends, one simply wants to use her to get what they want and the other could change her life forever. Who can she trust, who can she turn to and should she except the invitation to the mysterious Northanger Abbey?

We follow Cat through her journey of discovery, finding out how little things can affect how you perceive life. It is of course a modern retelling of the Jane Austen and is done well. It is hard in this day and age to make a young woman seem so naive and she does her best. The home schooling means she knows little of the nuances that the people around her use to manipulate her, but she isn’t cut off completely Val McDermid has ensured that the character has facebook and twitter, though cleverly cuts off that avenue as there is no wi-fi at Northanger Abbey. Although keeping it modern her language is old which I think works well. The only thing that didn’t fit for me was the change in why the general throws her out of the house in the early hours of the morning.

It was as if she felt she couldn’t use the excuse of lack of money or status, which is still relevant in some people’s eyes and went for something completely different. Overall this is well written, the plot may already be established but the flow and fresh look at the characters worked really well.


Friday 24 October 2014

Sally Green & Lauren Owen



An afternoon of dark, supernatural fiction with two scintillating new writers. The Quick, the well-received first novel from Lauren Owen, travels from the tragedy shared by a young brother and sister on a Yorkshire estate to the rooms of London’s mysterious Aegolius Club. 
Lauren Owen still had the enthusiasm of youth, her love of all things Victorian and gothic was something you couldn't ignore. With her story of her youth and a scary old school, she painted a great picture of what life was like. 



Sally Green’s Half Bad is the first volume of a new young adult series set in a modern England where witches and humans warily co-exist. A fast-paced supernatural thriller with more than a few narrative tricks up its sleeve.
This was an interesting talk, both spoke about how they came to the stories in their books and the processes behind how they work. What really hit home with me was listening to Sally Green. She fell into writing, a lot like I did. It wasn't something she had always dreamed of, simply something she became interested in once she had children. On a creative writing course she began to wander into short stories and found her love of writing in 2nd person, something that I can't say I would ever try. You could say that it's a little like marmite, you either love it or hate it. 

Friday Fun Fact


Michael Connelly is one of my favourite thriller writers and it doesn't surprise me how many books he has sold.





Fifty-eight million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into thirty-nine foreign languages


Monday 20 October 2014

Underground Crime with Oliver Harris and Eva Dolan

Two of Britain’s promising crime writers come together to discuss morality and murder, crime and the city. Oliver Harris’s second novel Deep Shelter follows Detective Nick Belsey deep into the bowels of subterranean London.


Eva Dolan debut, Long Way Home, is the first in a major new crime series. It focuses on a detective duo that encounter human trafficking, slum landlords, far right extremists and hidden communities on their quest to solve the murder of a local migrant worker.

On a rather nice Friday Afternoon we entered the Central Library in Manchester, which looks great after the refurbishment to listen to two unknown authors to me. They discussed their books and how they came to find their story.

It was an interesting talk; they spoke about the world they found themselves in when researching for the books which drew Oliver down the now not so secret tunnels under London for Eva, well she met a gang master. So you never know who you will meet on your quest for a good story.

Monday 13 October 2014

Q&A with Garth Nix

I have been to book signings before though this was a little different. Reading the initial series of the Abhorsen trilogy I was looking forward to hearing him speak. Initially he read from his new book Clariel which takes us back to the Old Kingdom and the free magic. We follow a sixteen year old girl, Clariel who finds herself in the confines of the city instead of the freedom of the forest. A free magic creature is now loose in the city and she is given the chance to prove her worth.


After the reading Garth Nix spoke a little about his new book and then took questions. It was obvious from the type of questions that the people in the audience were fanatical about his books. They required very particular answers, which from my view who read some of his books years ago made me smile and wonder if I would be the same if I had a chance to talk to one of my favourite authors.





He was always polite, funny and unassuming which made everyone feel at ease. Once the session was done he very kindly took the time to sign books and some people brought their whole collection and he never batted an eyelid.

Friday 10 October 2014

Friday's fun Fact


The Creator of Peter Pan gave the rights to a children's hospital so they could have the royalties to help fund it. 



Friday 26 September 2014

Friday's Fun Fact


This is on the banned books list. I realise that it covers sensitive subjects but it traveled around the whole of my school when I was a young girl. 



It’s been banned frequently due to “talk about masturbation and sexuality” which may be the reason kids don’t often get their hands on it until they get older and find out about it on the internet. (Wikipedia)

Friday 19 September 2014

Friday's Fun Fact

I thought it would be nice to add a little fact on here every Friday and of course my mind went straight to books. My earliest memory was of sitting with my mum and reading The Faraway Tree, I even believed that the tree in the back garden was that very tree and spent hours dreaming about what the fair folk were doing.

One of Enid Blyton's favourite reads as a child was The Princess and the Goblin.

What appealed to her "wasn't so much the story as the strange 'feel' of the tale, the 'atmosphere' as we call it. It hung over me for a very long time, and gave me pleasant shivers."


Wednesday 9 July 2014

Paper Towns - John Green - Not my thing


Quentin is the boy next door, who is infatuated with a troubled girl called Margo. What drew him in was on a traumatic event they both shared when they were nine. He has kept a close eye on her ever since. Margo is a free spirit and he is a geek, what chance does he have?


Quentin does get his chance just after graduation, but in the early hours she slips away and disappears. This is nothing new she has done this before, though as the days tick by everyone starts to worry. The boy begins to investigate and finds clues that could help him get to her.

I read Fault in out Stars and the content kept me reading as I found his style wanting. I hoped in this book that the prose would be more to my liking. Unfortunately it was not. There was nothing wrong with the writing; it was simply not for me.

It meant that the plot had to keep me riveted but it didn’t. The concept wasn’t a bad one, with Margo leaving clues for only Quentin to follow. The problem was that they were such random clues that it was pure luck that he finally found her and when he did I felt nothing. The girl got on my nerves and the narrative became so slow throughout, that I just wanted it to finish.

I did like the explanation of what a paper town is, so I learnt something but this book simply is not for me. I gave it three stars as other than the plot and pace, which I understand is a biggy, there was nothing wrong with it and I would expect that most people who enjoyed other John Green books will no doubt enjoy this to.

Friday 27 June 2014

COVER REVEAL: Insurmountable Author: TE White


Title: Insurmountable
Author: TE White    
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours


Insurmountable Book Blurb
This isn’t some happy love story. If you want that, try something else. No, I own this nightmare and would have never guessed it could have happened to me.
My life is painstakingly puzzled out. And if I have to admit it, I fall for Red the first time I see her. In fact, she is the first of many things for me and maybe my last. She is the reflection of my happiness and the beginning to my end. She is the stain that covers my heart in the color of her blood-red hair.
Thoughts of her consume me and continue to bombard my mind like ricochet gunfire. So what can possibly go wrong, you wonder? A humorous chuckle escapes me, in case you didn’t hear it. Yeah, I can tell you, but you will judge me unfairly. This you need to hear from the beginning, so you know all the facts and feel what I felt. Maybe even sympathize and not give me your scorn. Then maybe you can possibly… possibly comprehend the enormity of my crossroads.
You have to know I never planned or meant for any of this. It isn’t my fault. It’s someone else’s sins that have efficiently destroyed my life in one fell swoop. My name?
My name is Tade Astor and happiness for me is insurmountable.
*Warning – this book contains explicit sexual situations and may not be suited for everyone.





T.E. White resides in New Jersey and is avid reader who spends stolen moments in time writing stories that will possible shock you, but hopefully in a good way. Writing isn’t a new dream and something T.E. White has been compelled to do. The ultimate goal is to entertain you and create provocative thoughts in your head. The fantasy is to create stories you love. Hopefully all will be achieved. When not writing, T.E. White can be found daydreaming about new stories, watching fantastic TV shows/movies, or spending time with family.
If you would like to connect, please use these links below.
Twitter: @TEWhiteAuthor

A riptide of emotions clamped down on my throat rendering me unable to speak. I wanted to reach for Reagan’s hand before I let my own fall away. Stunned, I’d been unable to do anything but stare at the mouths that had continued to speak. However, the ringing in my ear prevented me from hearing a coherent word.
A single ember burned a chasm down my cheek. The blazing hot tear was as unfamiliar as it was appropriate given the situation. My world had burned to ash with the things said and not said in that room.
I felt like a foreigner while the walls moved in on me like a house of card ready to fall. Claustrophobia had set in and finally I faced the woman behind me. 
“Don’t,” I said, watching Reagan’s horror. She gazed at me like I was a monster. The stranger reflected in her eyes wasn’t me. “Please.” It was almost pathetic how I pleaded. How the mighty had fallen. I felt their pity and scorned them for it.
One woman had made me weak and I hated it and didn’t care all at the same time. She was it for me. If somehow they succeeded in poisoning her with their blasphemy, I would live my life a lonely and broken man. No way could I survive without her.

Friday 20 June 2014

Author Links :

Facebookfacebook.
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com
Twitter: twitter.com


Bio :  


Kaprice Potter began reading romance at a young age, starting with Anne of Green Gables.  Swooning over the story of Anne and Gilbert, she dreamed of someday marrying a man that would be her best friend. 
Now living in rural Minnesota with her husband and three children, she still likes to lose herself in those stories, and she has started writing them as well.  And as a mother to young boys, she alternates between fear that they will be the bad boys every girl dreams of, and hope that she will be able to teach them that romance is not only in fiction.


Book Links :

Goodreads  : www.goodreads.com
Amazon : www.amazon.com
Barnes and Noble  : www.barnesandnoble.com


Braided Strings Synopsis :

CARA WYATT fell in love with her best friend.

She’d been afraid to share her feelings with him, until one day, when an impulsive decision gave them the opportunity at a relationship that they’d been denying for years…

DELANEY BLAKE was in love with Cara from the moment he met her. 

He knew she relied on him, but Cara didn’t realize he relied on her just as much. However, he had plans. A strict outline of what his future should be, and he was determined to make them happen.

When Delaney was faced with having to choose between her and his future, he panicked, and Cara pushed him away believing it was better than facing potential rejection. 

More than a year later, she has to risk facing that rejection, and even worse, anger for the SECRETS she kept from him when it all fell apart…


Tuesday 17 June 2014

City of Heavenly Fire - Cassandra Clare

Sebastian is out there somewhere and Clary, Jace and friends are under the constant shadow of war. There is pain and destruction, darkness and sorrow and nothing will be the same again. We follow their journey into the pits of hell, where they will face loss and sacrifice but will it make any difference to the rest of the world. Without shadow hunters, can the human world survive?



In the last instalment of the Mortal Instruments, we not only follow Clary and Jace, but it would seem every single person we have met on this 6 book journey along with a few new faces. It starts with action and continues for the most part in the same vein. We are introduced to Emma Carstairs at the very beginning and it is obvious that she will be an important part of this story and others. What I found in this one, with Cassandra Clare’s need to tie everything and everyone together, we are constantly jumping from one person’s point of view to another. We see how Maia is doing, Simon, Raphael, Magnus, Emma, Luke, Alec, Sebastian and of course Clary and Jace. For me it felt disjointed, yes we know that this war affects everyone, but do we really need to hear everyone’s thoughts on this, see everyone’s opinion?



As always the writing is great, the pace on the whole moved with an ease that I couldn’t believe I had read so much in one sitting. Once in the demon realm, things slowed down and after another round of knowing that everyone was at the verge of death, we finally got to the main battle. And yes I did shed a tear, but at the end of a series like this I wanted a little more closure. It left so many questions unanswered, let us know who the new enemy would be, and who would be fighting it. To me it felt that the author was using her success on this series to introduce us to a new project. Surely she could have introduced the new threat in her new books.



I am not saying I disliked this book because I didn’t, and maybe because the first three books captured me completed, I expected a little more, but it was a good read. I love the author’s style of writing, even admire it and like everyone who has fallen for characters in books, I wanted more. I suppose I had my own thoughts as to how it would end, and when it didn’t quite finish that way, I was a little disappointed.

On the whole this is a great series and I have loved reading them. If you are a fan then of course you will enjoy the final chapter of the long and wonderful journey.