YA books- all the Rage!

I recently picked up another YA book to read for the summer- already straying from my initial Summer Read list. I picked up GONE, a first in a series of 4 books I think. I can’t help but stick to YA books these days, partly because I write for that age, but also because the books offer more of what I am looking for than in the adult genres I have been reading lately. I really like the character development and creativity inside the YA author’s mind. Plus, I feel like it takes me through a walk of my past and, yes, I can still relate to a lot of what characters are going through despite my age.

Do you have a favorite YA book? I recently read Hopeless, Divergent, Insurgent, and The Maze Runner. I loved the creativity, and I realize the dystopian book is the “it” thing right now. I actually have a dystopian in the works, but cannot figure out the ending, so it sits on my computer in stalled mode. I would love to get comments on your favorite YA books- what you look for in a YA book- and let’s try and remember some of our favorite YA books of the past—I still love reading Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and I was a HUGE fan of the Nancy Drew Files books- Anyone?

 

Author Rebecca L. Frencl

Emma Sanders:

She’s a damsel in distress—a 20th century miss dragged back to the 18th with no way home and no idea how she got there in the first place.

Connor MacAllister Kane:

He’s the reason she’s in distress–a British highwayman, and a minor noble with
not much more to his name than a title and a Robin Hood-like charm who robs the wrong coach.

Now, Captain Nelson Rawlins of His Majesty’s Royal Dragoons, a former childhood friend of Connor’s who sacrificed friendship for duty is on the hunt for the Highwayman and traitors to the crown. The longer Emma stays in Connor’s time, the more she’s drawn to him and drawn into his troubles. She and Connor find themselves struggling to stay one step ahead of the Captain and his corrupt Commander and keep Connor and his roguish cousins from the hangman’s noose. As the Commander’s grip on the countryside tightens, the people need Connor even more, but Rawlins is hot on his trail and there’s a traitor in their midst. Can Emma use her twentieth century wits to keep both Connor and her heart safe?

 

 

At the Dark’s gathering the Nine shall stand. Circle of Light, Hope of the land . . .

Robyn and Aerin have been down this road before as they hunt for the other seven Starbearers who will once more drive back the Darkness that wishes to unravel civilization and drive mankind back into howling barbarism. Silar and his silver-eyes, the soulless minions of that Darkness, dog their steps trying to hinder them and force them to doubt. Death is easy. Silar wants the star bearers broken–unable to fulfill their duties and shatter the Circle allowing the Darkness to win. Robyn and Aerin think that they’ve outsmarted the Darkness once before, but they discover that Silar’s plans have been much more complex and far-reaching than they’d ever believed.
Author Rebecca Frencl has a new series out soon. She stops by to share with us her plans and passions about writing.

What can we expect from you this year?

The Shattered Prism–book one of The Star Circle Trilogy will be out this week. Book 2 is in the polishing stages and book 3 is about four chapters in. So, you’ll see the rest of the trilogy at least finished at hopefully at least one more out by the end of the year. I’m also working on an urban paranormal fantasy that could be the beginning of a much longer series.

What genre do you like to write? What genre is your favorite to read?

I love to write and read fantasy, usually fantasy with a romantic twist. I’ve gotten into reading and writing paranormal romance as well.

Where do you get your ideas?

A lot of times things inspire me. My first book was inspired by a piece of flea market jewelry. My newest story, Ascent of the Fallen, was inspired by a statue standing at Congress and Michigan Avenues.

 What was the best thing ever said to you about your work?

It is wonderful when someone loves your worlds and asks when the next one is coming out. Particularly, when you get reviews from people you don’t know.

Who is your favorite character and why?

It depends on the book–in Ribbons of Moonlight I love Captain Rawlins. He was supposed to be the bad guy, but I liked him so much I gave him a much larger part and the book is much better because of it. In The Shattered Prism, Aerin is my favorite. She tries so hard to do the right thing, though she’s so haunted by her past. She’s a study in contradictions, a practical soul who really doesn’t want to be dragged into the magical nonsense she’s smack in the middle of.

 What is the hardest thing to write? Setting/Character Development/ Climax or Intense Scenes…

Climaxes are the hardest for me. That point when you need to make the final decisions that will lead to the end. Up until that point you can take any road and the story can still twist and turn. At the climax, you need to make those final decisions. It’s a little sad because you know it’s coming to an end soon.

 What other hobbies do you have besides writing?

I read, I scrapbook, I garden, I bake. I have a five year old and a career. I’m an 8th grade reading and language arts teacher and a union leader. So, I have a full plate and really look forward to the summers.

Who is your favorite author? Favorite book?

The series and authors I always go back to are Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, David Edding’s Belgariad and Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody mysteries. When I read those books it’s like going home again.

Look for Rebecca’s books online- amazon, smashwords, barnes and noble

Solstice Publishing Bestseller Announcement:

Denver, CO (PRWEB) June 06, 2013

Debuted novelist, Jessica  Gubbels Tornese, author of Linked Through time, has reached #1 Bestseller on  Amazon.

Linked Through Time is currently #1 in Romantic Time Travel for both  paperback books and Kindle eBooks on Amazon!

Available in print on April 16, 2012 through Solstice  Publishing, Linked Through Time, is also available as an eBook through Amazon.com.

Fifteen-year-old Kate Christenson is pretty sure she’s about to experience  the worst possible summer at her grandparents’ rural farm in Baudette,  Minnesota. Without cable, cell phones, or computers, she is headed for total  isolation and six tedious weeks of boredom.

Until the storm.

A freak lightning accident has Kate waking up in 1960. But she is not  herself. She’s the aunt she never met but has eerily resembled her entire life.

Thrust into living a dirt-poor, rural farm existence, Kate struggles to make  sense of her situation – a boyfriend with a dark side, a ‘townie’ who steals her  heart, and the knowledge that 1960 is the very summer her aunt drowns in the  local river.

But was the drowning an accident or a suicide… or something much worse?

Linked Through Time has received an abundance of positive reviews with one  stating, “Combine a teen with angst, abuse, family history, a mysterious death –  all strong and challenging components, then add a twist of time-travel that  uncovers a fifty year old secret and you have a minefield of narrative drama and  intrigue. The author keeps the reader turning the page as she knits an all-ages  tale of mystery, deceit, justice, love and leaves the reader wanting more!”

Recognized as 2012 Author of the Year for Solstice Publishing, Jessica  Gubbels Tornese has written three novels and has recently published her first  juvenile fiction book, M&M Twins—Lost in Browser Cave.

Tornese resides in Jensen Beach, FL with her husband and three children where  she enjoys reading, scrapbooking, playing volleyball, and extreme outdoor sports  like caving, ziplining, and white water rafting.

For more information or to purchase Linked Through Time, please visit:

Paperback: Solstice  Publishing

or

eBook: Amazon.com

Read more:  http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1289787#ixzz2WDqQYYJ5

Alicia Rivoli-Author

 

A World Like No Other… When a newly formed group of friends finds themselves fighting for survival, little did they know that was just the beginning. When Chloe, Megan, Jason and Zach are forced to take cover in a nearby cave from a violent storm they find their new friend Preston there as well. Zach guides the group through the cave but as they go deeper strange things begin to happen and they find themselves separated in a magical kingdom surrounded by unusual people and wizards. Things get even more dangerous as they travel the kingdom in search of the city of Mere and each other. As their journey unfolds, Preston discovers that the bedtime stories he was told as a child are true and that his rightful place in time must be realized. The kingdom itself has gone under attack as Jacan, a traitor to the crown, forces his armies through the magical borders. Looking back Preston should have recognized that it was all real. He should have seen the signs. But how could he have known? After all, Jacan was just a villain in a story that took place in a far off mystical land. How could he have imagined that the stories that his father told him as a child were true? How could any of them have known that their destinies were already written, and that to discover who they really are would take courage that they never realized they had?

Rings of Enchantment:

Everything is About to Change… The enchantments protecting the kingdom of Mere are growing weaker. Jacan, recognizing the change, sends his army of Umbra through the shadow portals to wreak havoc on the cities outside Mere’s walls of protection. He feels his own powers have begun to weaken. That could only mean one thing, the heir of Nebula has returned. As Preston approaches Mere he is discovering more of his father’s stories are coming to life around him. He is struggling with the thought that he will be the King, and that one day he is expected to marry the Princess of Mere. When Preston takes a wrong step and finds himself alone, he uncovers something that his father never told him. Will he discover all the pieces of the puzzle in time with danger around every corner and Jacan and the Umbra getting closer? Chloe’s magic builds with each challenge from The Master Puzzler and the evil creatures that inhabit Mere. She quickly becomes a skilled sorceress as she fights alongside an unlikely companion. Can Chloe learn to control her magic before it consumes her life source? Will she accept what is yet to come? Follow the epic journey of Preston, Megan, Chloe and Jason in their quest for victory and their struggle to take their rightful places in the kingdom of Mere

This week, Alicia Rivoli is my author guest. With two books out, Rivoli is on her way to staking a claim in the fantasy genre.

Read on for more:

What can we expect from you this year?

I am working on a young adult fiction currently titled A Life Apart. Although everything has been put on hold until August.

What genre do you like to write?

I love writing Middle Grade Fantasy. There is something so rewarding about a child reading something you imagined.

What genre is your favorite to read?

I love to read anything that catches my attention.

Where do you get your ideas?

A lot of the times my stories form as I write, while on occasion I actually dream the story. Which is where The Enchantment Series came from.

What was the best thing ever said to you about your work?

While at a book signing, a woman saw me and ran to my table. She told me her son had been asking her for months to buy him Rings of Enchantment because Mere Enchantment was one of his favorite books. I also had a mom email me and ask about Rings of Enchantment because her child had put it on their Christmas list.

Who is your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Chloe. I related to her in so many ways. At times when I was writing from her POV I found her doing some of the same things I had done when I was her age.

What is the hardest thing to write? Setting/Character Development/ Climax or Intense Scenes…

I had the hardest time writing the battle scenes, and the scenes with Jacan. My imagination was going faster than I could write and it made it difficult to separate the good ideas from the bad.

What other hobbies do you have besides writing?

I love to sing. I’ve also recently started to run, which I’m enjoying more than I ever thought I would.

Who is your favorite author?

I have several favorite authors. It’s hard for me to pick just one. I love Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Jane Austen, Nicholas Sparks, and several others.

Favorite book?

Pride and Prejudice, Twilight, and Double Exposure. Plus several more.

Is there anything else you want readers to know about you or your books?

I’m very thrilled with the response I’m receiving from The Enchantment Series. I never imagined that my stories would be enjoyed by so many. I just want to say thank you to every one that has read The Enchantment Series. If it wasn’t for the readers, our job wouldn’t be as much fun.

Readers can also visit my blog at www.aliciarivoli.blogspot.com or my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AliciaRivoli and send me a message or read some of my other posts. I love to get comments on my work.

The Enchantment Series, Mere Enchantment #1, Rings of Enchantment #2, can be purchased from Amazon, Smashwords, Barnesandnoble.com and all other online retailers.

Author Maggie Thom

Just finished reading Maggie Thom’s, Captured Lies, and was so excited to host her on my website! Her mystery/thriller book is available now! Reviews will be posted soon!

She was kidnapped not once but twice and now someone wants her dead because of it….

Her life was a lie!

Bailey knew her upbringing wasn’t normal but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life. At 29, she finally has a good business, a stable home; her life is miles from that of her childhood. Then suddenly her mother dies, leaving a gaping hole and a discovery that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator is to be believed, her life is a lie. Using the skills she learned on the streets, Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her dead and convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to discover not only the secrets of her mother’s past but that of a family claiming she is theirs.

Everyone seems to have a story… but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead? Is Guy part of the solution? Or part of the problem? To discover the facts, she’ll have to untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets, dating back over thirty years.

But can she do it in time…

 

Read ahead to find out all about Maggie, her future books, and get a sneak peek into Captured Lies!

What can we expect from you this year?

Tainted Waters, my second novel was just published in April. He didn’t commit suicide but who’s going to believe her…

And I am working on my third novel, Deceitful Truths which is a standalone sequel to Captured Lies. He’s created a legacy that no one could imagine…

What is your favorite genre to write? Read?

Suspense is my favorite to read and to write. I love story that has a lot going on, keeps you guessing but also takes you on an awesome journey that you’re never quite sure where it’s going to take you. To be honest though I read almost every genre. As long as the story is interesting and compelling, I’ll read it.

Who is your favorite author? Book?

I have several authors who are my favorites but my very first favorite author had to be Stephen R Donaldson who wrote the Thomas Covenant Series. I absolutely loved that series, although it was many years ago I read it, I still remember it. I have to say though that I have found some new authors that I have really enjoyed their books – Victoria Bernadine, Jessica Tornese, P.M. Terrell, David M Brown, Virginia McKevitt – to name but a few.

What is the hardest part about writing a book?

Good question. The funny thing is I don’t think there is any one answer. On a given day it might get a different response. :) Truly though I think making sure all the loose ends are tied up and that all the events within the book are believable and suited to the character and to the story. It’s so easy as an author to just let your mind go and be wild and creative but ultimately you have to figure how and when to reign that in so that you story is compelling, interesting and something the reader will enjoy, understand and believe.

What character in your books are your most proud of?

All of my books have a strong, independent female lead. Although each of them is very different I think they are all quite believable, compelling characters.  Bailey is the female lead in Captured Lies. Her life is quite a journey, homeless, life on the run and then to discover her life was a lie… and I think people can really relate to the roller coaster she goes on and her struggles with not doing everything herself and being okay with asking for help or at least accepting it. She’s very real and believable and people get a clear sense of who she is. I know for me she is the one I think I’m most emotionally attached to. She came to me at a time when my life wasn’t so great, so it was awesome to be able help her make it through situations far worse than mine were.

I also have to say Geoffrey (from Captured Lies), who is Bailey’s uncle, is quite a depraved soul but quite memorable. People are asking what really happened to him. All I can say is you’ll have to read Deceitful Truths to learn that.
Anything else you want readers to know about you?

I love to write. It’s one of those things that is such a habit that if I have five free minutes I’ll pull out a pen and paper and write down something – a new story, new ideas, something to do with what I’m currently working on. It’s almost something I can’t             control. :) When I’m not writing I love to read (so if you know of some good books, let me know), spending time with my family or being out in nature. My favorite hike is one that ends in waterfalls.

Author Bio

Maggie Thom took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a fulltime, twenty year career in management, to write full time. After her initial panic that she might need a straight jacket, she published her first book Captured Lies, October 2012. And now is excited to release her second novel, Tainted Waters, April, 2013. Her third book, Deceitful Truths (sequel to Captured Lies), available fall of 2013. An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years. Her motto: Escape to read and Read to escape. “Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!” InDtale Magazine

And Now….a Sneak Peek at Captured Lies….

Rubbing her face with her hands, she tried to remove the dried tracks her tears had left. Here, she’d been happy. Any flashes she had were of her smiling, giggling, running, playing. Those were not memories that she generally had of her childhood. Until she’d found this place, she’d never known she’d had moments like that. The pictures on the walls of Lund’s office had started it. The memories had flooded back so fast, she’d almost been paralyzed. She didn’t know what she’d find but she knew that she had to find this place. The sketchy details she’d gotten from stuff in his office had sent her to Jasper. The Jump Drive had given her the rest of how to find this area. What was this place? And how come they stopped going there?

“Bailey, get back from the water.”

“Momma, baby fish.”

“Yes there are lots, Bails. Now come back from the edge.”

“Shiny, Momma.”

“Yes Bails, they’re shiny.”

“Catch some.”

“We’ve got to go, Bails.”

“Noooooooooooooooooo. Momma.” She cried and she screamed and stared out the back window of the car as they drove away.

It had become the routine of her childhood. Only she’d learned to stop screaming. At least so anyone could hear. Wiping her hands over her cheeks she removed any traces of her emotions before sliding down off the rock, careful to be quiet so as not to disturb Guy. He had his eyes closed. She just couldn’t tell if he was sleeping or just enjoying the quiet solitude. She walked to the edge of the stream. Scooping up some water she splashed her face. The chill of the recently thawed stream penetrated her dulled senses.

As she stared down, a memory flitted at the edge of her thoughts, like the quick vibration of the humming bird’s wings. Very quick and elusive. Placing her hand on the edge of the rock she walked around the other side, stepping carefully over the snow so she wouldn’t slip on the hidden stones and shrubs that lay underneath. She headed back to the cabin. The pull from it had been incredible when they’d first arrived but she’d known that she hadn’t been strong enough to go in there yet. Something told her there were answers inside. She just wasn’t sure she was ready for them.

 

 Maggie can be found at:

Website: www.maggiethom.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormaggiethom

Twitter: www.twitter.com/maggiethom2

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6549592.Maggie_Thom

google +:  https://plus.google.com/102887579832939598896/posts

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/maggiethom2/

 

Captured Lies is available to buy at:

Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/UQtwFB

Amazon.ca: http://amzn.to/W5BPza

Amazon.uk: http://amzn.to/14tEZNC

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/10p7lqe

iTunes: http://bit.ly/WGucN6

Kobo: http://bit.ly/U325LS

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/10EpF3r

Sony Ereader store: http://bit.ly/WTuA9o

Diesel: http://bit.ly/14tHT4Q