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Thursday, 30 April 2015
Blog Tour + Giveaway - School of Deaths by Christopher Mannino
Find the schedule here.
School of Deaths by Christopher Mannino
Release Date: 05/02/14
270 pages
Release Date: 05/02/14
270 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
Thrust into a world of men, can a timid girl find bravery as the first female Death?
Thirteen-year-old Suzie Sarnio always believed the Grim Reaper was a fairy tale image of a skeleton with a scythe. Now, forced to enter the College of Deaths, she finds herself training to bring souls from the Living World to the Hereafter. The task is demanding enough, but as the
only female in the all-male College, she quickly becomes a target. Attacked by both classmates and strangers, Suzie is alone in a world where even her teachers want her to fail.
Scythes hungry for souls, Deaths who subjugate a race of mysterious magicians,and echoes of an ancient war with Dragons.
As her year progresses, Suzie suspects her presence isn't an accident. She uncovers a plot to overthrow the World of Deaths. Now she must also discover the reason she's been brought there:
the first female Death in a million years.
Buy Links:
About the Author
Christopher Mannino’s life is best described as an unending creative outlet. He teaches high school theatre in Greenbelt, Maryland. In addition to his daily drama classes, he runs several
after-school performance/production drama groups. He spends his summers writing and singing. Mannino holds a Master of Arts in Theatre Education from Catholic University, and has studied mythology and literature both in America and at Oxf ord University. His work with young people helped inspire him to write young adult fantasy, although it was his love of reading that truly brought his writing to life.
Mannino is currently working on a sequel to “School of Deaths” as well as an adult science fiction novel.
Author Links:
Book Tour Organized by:
Month9Books Two for Thursday Book Blitz + Giveaway - Dead Jed: Adventures of A Middle School Zombie and Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed by Scott Craven
Hello and welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
You just might find your next read!
This week, #T4T presents to you the Dead Jed series by Scott Craven:
Dead Jed: Adventures of A Middle School Zombie
and
Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed!
and
Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
Dead Jed is Shaun of the Dead meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jed's not your typical junior high geek. He is, to use the politically-correct term, cardiovascularly-challenged. And while his parents have attempted to shield him from the implications of being 'different' for as long as they could (Jed was 8 and at a friend's sister's birthday party when he blew his lips off onto the cake in front of everyone, finally prompting the “Big Talk” from his parents and an emergency SuperGlue repair by his dad), 7th grade at Pine Hollow Middle School as a target of Robbie the supreme school bully and his pack of moronic toadies is rapidly becoming unbearable.
From being stuffed in a filled trash can as “dead meat” and into a trophy case as the bully's “prize,” to literally having his hand pulled off in the boys' room (Jed's always losing body parts. Luckily, a good stapler and some duct tape and he's back in the action) and a cigarette put in it and try to frame him for the recent reports of smoking in the school, Jed's had enough and is ready to plan his revenge. Besides, it's awesome what you can do when you're already dead!
Available for Purchase:
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
“DEAD JED is amazing. It takes true talent to write a book that's witty and has such clever humor. That's exactly what DEAD JED has.” – Courtney, Author
” I’m entirely convinced this series is going to be as big and popular as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, if not more. It might be aimed at middle grade readers, but I will highly and happily recommend it to readers aged 9 to 99!” – Angie, Books4Tomorrow
“Middle Grade humor at its finest.” – S.A. Larsen, Author
The first part of seventh grade was rough on Jed, but things are looking up now that Christmas is almost here. As with past Christmases, Jed asks for the one thing he’s always wanted–a dog–and again, his parents tell him they’re not ready. But fate has a different plan when Jed sees a dog get run over by a car. Then, it happens. Jed suddenly has a pet, Tread, a zombie dog bearing his namesake–a tire tread down his back. Jed may have gained a dog, but he loses his best friend Luke, who fears the way Jed created his undead pet.
When Jed returns to school, he finds a mysterious group called the No Zombies Now Network spreading rumors of the dangers the undead pose to normal people. Forced to disprove Hollywood stereotypes, Jed has his work cut out for him as stories of a zombie dog begin to circulate. Jed could be expelled if he can’t expose the NZN Network as a fraud. Jed needs help from his kind of girlfriend Anna, especially after he discovers Luke has joined the shadowy group.
Once again navigating the treacherous waters of middle school, Jed does his best to stay in one piece. Only this time he’ll need even more duct tape and staples than usual.
Available for Purchase:
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
“Like its predecessor Dead Jed, Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed is an incredibly cute and fun read!” – Angie, Books4Tomorrow
“This is a fun story, which was written very well for the age group. I can imagine the series being a huge hit, especially with zombies being so popular at the moment.” – Bri, Natural Bri - Pursuits of Life
“…just read it, you will love it and it sooooo funny” – Michelle, Because Reading
Proud graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, have one son who will turn 18 in March 2013, now a features writer for The Arizona Republic.
Connect with the Author:
Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Promo Post + Interview - The Line by William Galaini
Title: The Line
Author: William L.J. Galaini
Pages: 290
Genre: Science Fiction
Blurb:
Suspended in the nothing between timelines, the station Janus is an unseen marvel: the greatest technological achievement in human innovation. From Janus, Gustavo and his hand-selected team of historians and engineers venture into the past and observe history, unseen and unnoticed.
But they are not alone.
Another traveler is shattering history. Unhindered by desires to remain scientific and uninvolved, the intruder’s technology is far advanced with methods more brutal and a present more terrifying than anything Gustavo and his team are prepared for. As they apply their intellects and skills towards solving the mystery of the ferocious interloper, they discover than they have its full attention.
Buy links:
I was seven. I rewrote the ending of The Pit and the Pendulum on a typewriter I found in the attic. I loved the ‘clunk’ of that thing!
What makes you want to write?
It gets tiring just telling my stories to everyone. Honestly, I hate writing. I’m never more insecure and weak than when I’m writing. But I’ve got too much to explore and discuss that writing is the best venue.
Do you ever get writer's block and what do you do to get over it?
Not to completely jinx myself, but I’ve never had writer’s block. At least as I understand it. I’ve been in a bad mental state for a day or two, but that is usually due to external issues. I can get over them and get back to work, no worries.
The blank page scares me just like anyone else, but it doesn’t slow me much.
Do you have a special way of going about writing?
Music without lyrics and no one bugging me. That’s when it’s time to put rubber to road, but before that, most of my prewriting is done in a daydream while driving, showering, etc. The soundtrack to The Village is WONDERFUL to write to, by the way!
Do you have any works in progress?
Yep! I’m working on a series currently that involves historical figures in Dante’s Inferno. The setting is a merging of classical literature and steampunk, and I’m using historical icons as proxies to explore themes of personal reflection and ascension.
What are your hobbies?
Crying in the shower and video games! If only I could get a waterproof controller…
How did you choose the character names for The Line?
Good question. I imagined a family-line for each character, including back story and marriages what would lead them to a particular region. Then I would do research on said region. I have a Dutch-American from the Midwest named after his great-grandfather, for example. None of it comes up in the actual novel, but the texture without context still speaks. Sometimes I’ll name a character with thematic gravity in mind, such as my main character from The Line who is named “Mary,” but more often than not, I aim to make names feel grounded and genuine.
Who is your favourite character in The Line?
How nice of you to ask! Its name is Magus. I loved the character. Magus is basically a genetically engineered worm that serves as a computer processor. It is so brilliant that it can’t gauge the limitations of its own intelligence, but it is naïve and earnest. To avoid child-like clichés of A.I. Artificial Intelligence, I made sure Magus had robust vocabulary but explorative inquisitiveness as well.
Magus was my way of saying that being kind-natured and curious isn’t only prudent, but intelligent as well.
How did you get the idea for The Line?
I was in history class WAAAY back in tenth grade, and I was progressively getting angrier with humanity the more I learned. The Line is an expression of my anger. It’s a puerile expression of my impotent rage regarding the atrocities we are willing to either ignore or validate in our history.
What was your favourite part of writing The Line?
Realizing I would finish it, and that it would be GOOD. I was two thirds of the way in and re-reading it when I discovered that it actually made sense! Woo-hoo!
What are you currently reading?
Ben Hur. Seriously. I normally eat books like this in a week or two, but the tedious descriptions have reminded me how spoiled I am as a modern reader. When a novel spends a paragraph on a character’s sandals, you KNOW you are in for a slog of detail.
I haven’t tapped out just yet, though. Matter of pride. I’ve never seen the film, and I really want to, but I won’t view it until I’ve read the book. I don’t care how much Charlton Heston’s glistening biceps call to me!
What is your favourite book?
Oh god… EVIL. That is an evil question. Depending on the time of day, my answer will change. Honestly, a book called Blessed are the Dead is my favorite. But you can’t read it. I haven’t written it yet. Give me a few years.
Your question does give me a chance to reveal my reading habits, though. A lot can be gauged by a writer when you know what they read, and I won’t deny anyone that scrutiny. Here’s a brief list of books that hit me hard:
Moby Dick
I, Robot
Pillars of the Earth
Siddhartha
Henderson Rainking
King Solomon’s Mines
The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Foundation Series
I Am Legend
World Without Us
The Far Pavilions
As I Lay Dying
Who is your favourite author?
I tend to be a fan of books more so than specific authors, but there are some writers that their words just leap out at me. Conrad, Atwood, Faulkner, and Flannery O’Connor blow me out of the water consistently.
What is your favourite film?
Babe the Sheep Pig. Don’t judge! I LOVE that film. My friends mocked me for my adoration of it. Everyone was slathering over Braveheart but Babe was where it was at for me. Other favorites of mine include Apocalypto, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Bird Cage, and Minority Report.
What is your favourite TV show?
Arrested Development. A lot of my family doesn’t speak to each other anymore, and whenever I miss them, I watch this show. It is, without hyperbole, EXACTLY like my family. But charming.
Quick-fire questions:
Chocolate or ice cream? Chocolate, dark and bitter!
Paperback or ebook? Hardcover, you prole!
Dogs or cats? Either, but cats are a bit easier. I like having them purr on my chest when napping on the couch, and I don’t have to walk them at dawn.
Go out or stay in? Stay in, are you crazy? There are PEOPLE out there!
Summer or winter? Winter. More snuggles and fireplaces.
About the Author
William Galaini grew up in Pennsylvania and Florida. His mother gave him an early love of reading, especially when it came to the great classics of science fiction. He is also a history buff and fascinated by mythology and folklore. His various vocational pursuits include being a singer in a professional high school choir, manager of the call center at a luxury resort, U.S. Army medic, prison guard, and middle school English teacher. As such, he is perfectly suited to breech a solid metal door, humanely restrain the enemy within, and politely correct their grammar all while humming Handel’s Messiah and drinking a lovely cuppa tea.
He currently hangs his hat, rucksack, and tweed smoking jacket in Northern Virginia.
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