Who Says Vampires Are Dead?

This high quality image is a picture of an old
magazine I have kept because I am a
nerd and obsessed with Damon.

Trends come and trends go, so are we supposed to stop reading what we love?

I will admit, I LOOOOOVED Twilight when I first read the books and I still love them to this day. At the time there were vampires everywhere we looked. We had Vampire Academy, The Vampire Diaries, Marked, and many many more.

Since then, vampires have gone to the wayside. When submitting to an agent, if the word vampire pops up in a query it is the kiss of death. “You missed the trend, we can’t sell that.” Ya…whatever.

So does that mean, as a whole, we no longer care about the undead and paranormal? Well not according to television. Just this year we got two brand new vampire shows: Dracula, and The Vampires Diaries spinoff, The Originals.  (All of which I love. Helloooo Marcel.) HBO’s Trueblood and Syfy’s Being Human are as popular as ever, and the werewolf series Bitten is gaining traction with every episode.  

I would also like to point out, apart from Being Human, all of the above-mentioned television shows are based on books.

So answer me this…have we stopped reading vampire books because we are sick of them? Or is it because so few are getting published these days?  

Immagica Book Blitz and Giveaway

Title: Immagica

Author: K. A. Last

Genre: YA Fantasy/Adventure

Date of Publication: January 26, 2014

Book blurb:

Immagica…

Where anything is possible.

Enter at your own risk.

The night before her fifteenth birthday, Rosaline Clayton uncovers a deep family secret. She receives an amulet from her deranged father, and he tells her she must find the book in order to save him. Rosaline is used to her dad not making any sense, so she dismisses their conversation as another of his crazy rants.

When Rosaline’s brother, Elliot, drags her to their nana’s attic to explore, they find the old leather-bound book tucked away in a chest. It sucks them into its pages, transporting them to a magical world. Along the way, Rosaline and Elliot are separated, and the only thing she wants is to find her brother and go home.

The creatures of Immagica have other ideas. After years of war, their land lies in ruin. Using the amulet’s power, they want Rosaline to defeat the dragon and restore Immagica to its former glory. But Rosaline is bound to Immagica in ways she doesn’t understand, and when she discovers the truth about her family, she must follow her heart to save them all.

About the author:

K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in love with it. K. A. Last is currently studying her Bachelor of Arts at Charles Sturt University, with a major in English, and minors in Children’s Literature, Art History, and Visual Culture. She resides in a peaceful, leafy suburb north of Sydney with her husband, their two children, a rabbit named Twitch, and a guinea pig called Squeak.

Author web links:

Website: www.kalastbooks.com.au

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KALastBooks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KALastBooks

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KALast 

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kalast

I chose to be a part if this blitz because the book intrigued me. It is sounds like something I would like and I look forward to reading it. Make sure to enter the giveaway below.

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The Power Of The Retweet

Fancy, isn't it?

The Power of the Retweet

The retweet is a funny thing. You like what someone says, you think your internet peeps will like it too, and with a single click…voila, you have now shared the ever important message and moved onto the next. Most likely you will never think of that tweet again.

But sometimes, if seen by the right person at the right time, those simple little 140 characters can be life changing. Here is a rundown about one of those instances for me. Do not ask me how I remember all of this. I just have an uncanny ability to retain useless information.

It all started a couple of years ago when I read a particular retweet about a book review and followed the link. It took me to a really great book blog, Down The Rabbit Hole.  “What the…this is awesome.” At that time I was a newbie blogger and I never knew a person could get a custom blog header and the goodies that come along with it. After looking at all the beauty and creativity that went into that design, I noticed the button in the side bar for Pure Imagination Blog Design. “Jackpot!”

 I must stop and point out that Lori designed this very blog and I love it. If it were not for that retweet I would not have this design. (If I knew where to find a cool Gif, this is where I would insert somebody clapping and crying tears of joy.) Now this leads me to my next find.

One of the great things about Lori’s site is her portfolio. As I scoured the pages I came across Great Imaginations blog and a particular bit of information caught my eye, a page titled Editing Services. As an aspiring writer, in need of an editor, I clicked on the page. After a few interactions we decided that we could work together and it as been bliss ever since. (For my part anyway. It’s a heck of a lot of work on her part.) Now little does Kara know, she is pretty much the gateway to the rest of the people that helped bring Awakened to life.

From Kara, I found fellow author Tish Thawer. She is a fantastic author that writes about vampires and other paranormal things. I started following Tish on Facebook and have since become a fan of her Rose trilogy. Soon after following Tish she had a cover reveal for her most recent release and I loved it. Tish is always so generous with her information and when asked she let me know who her cover designer was, Regina at Mae I design.

I then contacted Regina and she designed my most fabulous cover for Awakened. If you need a designer, I suggest you contact her. She’s busy so don’t wait until the last minute. One thing that Regina does is helping promote the authors she has worked with. One day she mentioned that a client needed help with their cover reveal. It was for author, and now friend, Mari Arden.

After interacting with Mari I became a beta reader for her debut novel, Flame. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the installment. Now Mari was a little farther along in her writing journey than I was and I was in need of a formatter. She graciously let me know whom she used and gave me his contact information. That is when I found Jessie Gordon. Jessie is affordable, did a professional job, and I can recommend his services.

But it does not stop there…let’s go back to Kara.

After I got my final edit I needed a proofreader. Kara led me to Mickey Reed Editing. Mickey and I connected well and thanks to her I was able to publish a polished novel free of ugly errors and typos. As a reader and/or writer you know how important that is. I also recommend working with her.

Once I had a complete novel I needed to let people know about it. So once again, back to Kara. She suggested that I contact Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours and check out her promotional services.  Giselle is well organized and very efficient. I have worked with her as a both a client and a tour host.

So there we have it. That is how one simple tweet led me to where I am today. As you can see sometimes a tweet is just a tweet, and sometimes it can take you down a rabbit hole.

Not So Fast, Kriston...Book Two Update

I have yet to make a public announcement about the progress and release date of book two in The Legends of Elyndia series. But I have been asked by most everyone I know in person and have had many messages from eager readers that want to know when they can expect book two.  

For the last year I confidently answered that Transcended would be published in April of 2014, one year after Awakened. But today I regretfully inform you that Transcended will not be published in April as I had hoped.

As far as progress this is where I’m at. I did finish the manuscript. I finished it and sent to my most wonderful editor. Well this where things have now changed direction. First I have to say I feel extremely lucky to have connected with my editor, Kara. She really knows her stuff. She lets me know when something is great, and even more important she lets me know when things are not great. As hard as it was to hear, at first, she let me know that Transcended is just not ready yet. Since then I have really examined my writing and asked myself some hard questions. As much as I hate to say it, at this time I have not done justice to Jade and Gabriel or their story.

As a writer there is nothing better than getting a message from a new reader telling me how much they loved the story and how excited they are to read the next book. These messages are what pushed me to the finish line, but they are also the same messages that are making take my time and find a way to make the story the best it can be. You, the reader, deserve it, and so does Jade.

So as of now I do not have a definite publication date. I am spending every spare moment I have on Transcended tweaking the text and examining the plot. At this time I am hoping to only have to push things back by a few months. Please trust that the delay will be worth the wait.

****For the most up to date information on the progress of Transcended sign up for my newsletter***

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Jill at The Breaking Spine. It is a weekly meme and anyone can join in.

Hardcover, 304 pages 
Expected publication: May 27th 2014 by Greenwillow Book

Add it on Goodreads

The Cabinet of Curiosities: 40 Tales Brief & Sinister
A collection of forty eerie, mysterious, intriguing, and very short short stories presented by the cabinet’s esteemed curators, otherwise known as acclaimed authors Stefan Bachmann, Katherine Catmull, Claire LeGrand, and Emma Trevayne. Perfect for fans of Alvin Schwartz and anyone who relishes a good creepy read-alone or read-aloud story. Features an introduction and commentary by the curators, and illustrations and decorations throughout.

The Cabinet of Curiosities is a collection of entertaining short stories by Stefan Bachmann, Claire Legrand, Emma Trevayne, and Katherine Catmull. The book was introduced to me when I attended Wordstock, a book festival in Portland Or. The creation of the eagerly anticipated book is quite unique and I was lucky enough to attend a panel with the authors and hear how these great tales came to life.

It all started when two, or maybe it was three, of the authors (I cannot remember which two, it was either Stefan and Claire, or Stefan and Emma. I guess I can rule out ever being an investigative reporter) decided they wanted to start a web site where they would each post a brand new short story every month. They decided they would like a fourth author to contribute and without a question they wanted Katherine Catmull to join them as curators.

Luckily for us readers an evil genius along the way decided that these stories would make a great collection to print and the book was born. These stories can all be read for free on the web site at http://enterthecabinet.com/. But I encourage buying the book. I mean look at that cover!

(If I knew where to find a gif of someone really freaking out this is where I would put it)

These stories are intended for a middle grade audience, but do not let that sway you. While at the conference the authors each read one of their stories out loud for us to hear. Let me tell you, they are intriguing, creative, original, and full of awesome. 

Where The Writer Writes

Where the magic happens.

This post was originally posted on Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Reviews blog (which is an awesome blog and worth checking out) during my blog tour. I thought I would share it here for those of you that missed it.

Ahhh, the life of an author, picture this…the carefree author, sitting outside at a sidewalk café, dressed in a floor-length bohemian skirt and cotton blouse with long flowing sleeves, sipping a latte from a porcelain mug. She wears a faint smile as the words flow organically across the page, weaving together a one of a kind story with beautiful prose and poetry.

Then there is reality; the life of the shut-in writer. When I write I need total seclusion. I go as far as writing in a near dark room. But lets back up a bit, and I will take you through my ritual.

I start with inserting coffee intravenously. It seems to be the most efficient way to take in the maximum amount of caffeine possible. If that is not available I will settle for Starbucks, or even a plain glass of water. But I drink a lot when write.

Now this is going to sound strange, but I write best in the dark. If even a sliver of sunlight finds its way through a crack I shudder in fear and screech like Gollum, “it burns”. But seriously, I turn off my overhead lighting and click on two strategically placed lamps for the optimal mood lighting. I think it helps me feel hidden away from the world.

There are two things that are absolute essentials when I write. First up, my iPod. I am easily distracted and my house can be noisy. My husband loves to tinker and he never has anything less than two to four projects going on at any given time, and all of his hobbies are loud. In fact, I think his favorite hobby is seeing how much noise he can actually make. I guess it goes without saying, but we never get invited to any neighborhood parties. I am lucky enough to have an office all to myself, and it is dedicated solely for the purpose of my writing. That being said, my office is located directly in the center of the house and there is no escaping the outside distractions, so on go the headphones.

I always listen to music when I write. I have certain songs that I listen to, to help create certain moods or characters, but the stand by is the Tron Legacy soundtrack by Daft Punk. I’m not usually a techno fan, but the soundtrack is mellow and none of the songs have any words, so after a while it just kind of blends into the background and tunes out the hubby.

The second most important thing I keep at my desk is a stack 3x5 index cards. I cannot write my first draft without them. I have used so many cards over the years; if I laid them flat they would rival the Great Wall of China. When I write, my thoughts are messy and all over the place. So when an idea pops into my head I grab a card, write the random idea in frenzy, set it aside and move on. That way when I have time, I can organize them into coherent thoughts and place them accordingly in my story.

Last but not least, is my furry little writing companion, Blue. He is a miniature Australian Shepherd and he never leaves my side. When I am writing he lies at my feet and takes a nap. If I do not bring him in my office with me, he will sit directly outside my office door and wait until I do.

And that’s it. After the mood is set, the drink is in hand, and the distractions are tuned out, I can immerse myself into worlds full of myth and magic and mold my story into life. 

It's the 3rd Annual Young Adult Faries and Fantasy Giveaway Hop!

This is one of my favorite hops of the year and this year it is extra special to me. That is because I can finally give away a book that I wrote myself!!! It is young adult, fantasy, and has faeries! I could not have picked a better book hop to be a part of.

Prize #1, open to US residents only ~ One paper back copy of Awakened, book one in The Legends Of Elyndia series.

Prize #2, open to US and International residents ~ An e-copy of Awakened.

Can fighting for the right side be the wrong thing to do?

Draven, the tyrant ruler of Elyndia for the last one thousand years, searches for the one who can fulfill his prophecy.

The Paladins, an elite band of warriors sworn to protect their way of life at all cost, search for the one with the ability to bring their world crumbling down.

An innocent girl, tormented by demons only she can see, lives on the brink of insanity and longs for a life of peace.

When seventeen-year-old Jade Rosenberg reads from an antique book, she has no idea she just read an incantation awaking her inherited power. But when opposing—and equally terrifying—groups invade her home, she learns she is descended from an enchanted realm and a member of a powerful race thought to have been hunted to extinction. 

Ripped from her world, Jade is forced to seek refuge from those who want her dead.  She is given one of two options and the time has come for her to make a choice: assassinate their sworn enemy…

Or sacrifice her soul.

~You must be 13 years old or older to enter. 

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Just Finished Reading...Breaking Glass

Breaking Glass by Lisa Amositz

Down load a free sample at Amazon
Add to Goodreads


On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

My thoughts~

Breaking Glass is a well written and well crafted story and I can recommend the read.

Jeremy Glass is a very likable character that I easily connected with. He definitely receives his fare share of obstacles and I could not help but cheer and worry for him at the same time. We get a good mix of what he has to deal with in his personal life and his social life with his best friend Ryan and Ryan's girlfriend Susannah.

The story has an interesting structure where we get to keep up on the current events with the very important back story weaved in, in a "then and now" type alternating scenes.

What is fun about this read is that it is not only a mystery for the protagonist, but we are left in the dark trying to discover the twists and turns along with him. The ending was not what I was expecting, which is a good thing, and Susannah does takes a turn that I would've liked to have seen gone the other way, but over all it is a great story and I enjoyed reading it.

For more on Lisa Amowitz you can visit her blog.

Breaking Glass was provided to my my Spencer in exchange for an honest review.