Blog Tour + Interview + Giveaway - Violet Storm by Anna Soliveres

Find the tour schedule here.

Violet Storm by Anna Soliveres
(Modi #1)
Publication date: March 28th 2014
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Several hundred years into the future, The Cleansing, known to some as the End of Days, forced the government to create Arks to shelter its people. When Earth became habitable again, new territories rose up from the ashes: Agria, the City of Light, and the Outer Boundaries. For a while, they lived in peace.
A brilliant surgeon known for his invention of Modi’s—the only cure for the deadly disease, vaincre—has gone rogue with his experiments, and the Monarchy is desperate to shut him down. That’s where Aeva Storm comes in, a champion athlete with an ego to match. Aeva is the surgeon’s secret weapon against the Monarchy. And they’ll never know what hit them. After reconstructing her body to become a Modi unlike any he’s ever created, Aeva is forced into a fight against all odds. She’ll have to break loyalties, hurt family, and turn her back on newly awakened love. Thousands of lives hang in the balance in a battle that will set forth a new era.
Join Aeva on her quest to see whether she’s got what it takes to go up against the most powerful humans ever created.

Goodreads

Purchase:

Amazon | B&N

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AUTHOR BIO

Anna Soliveres has always been a storyteller but it wasn’t until her early twenties when she began writing novel length works. 

The result was an enthusiasm to get better at the craft until her work could be shared with the world. 

Releasing in March 2014, VIOLET STORM is her debut novel. 

Anna is currently working on another young adult sci-fi series, titled SNOW DOLLS, set to release in late 2014. 

To learn more, please visit her at www.annasoliveres.com.

Author links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

When did you start writing?

 I suppose the truth is that I enjoyed writing at a really young age. It wasn’t until my early twenties when I began writing novel-length works. When I realized that I had the passion and the discipline, that’s when I took my hobby of writing a lot more seriously.

What makes you want to write?

There are just some stories that beg to be written. Writing is an art to be respected, and it is a craft that requires so much practice and work that I used to question whether it was worth it. It didn’t take long to realize that it gave me so much pleasure. And I began to see that I wasn’t just writing for myself but for others, it gave me a kind of responsibility that I couldn’t neglect. I’m at the point where people are asking me to finish and telling me they can’t wait to read my next book. I feel their hunger  and empathize because I know what it’s like to be a reader who just can’t wait for my favorite author’s next book!

Do you ever get writer's block and what do you do to get over it?

 Writer’s block happens mostly when I’m fatigued. And I get fatigued because I have a full-time job and too many social activities and responsibilities. The key is finding balance. So I’ve stuck to a calendar where I know what to expect every week and carve out time devoted to writing.

I also don’t limit myself to my laptop (because sometimes the pressure of seeing a blank page and the blinking cursor gives me writer’s block), so I write whole scenes and chapters and then transcribe them into my Scrivener file, taking advantage of editing and enhancing the chapter while I do so.  

Do you have a special way of going about writing?

See my answer above. I like toggling between working on my laptop and writing in a notebook. The latter is slower, but when I’m blocked, it’s been the best way to get unblocked. Scrivener has been a blessing, it’s allowed me to expand the world without fear of losing track of things. It’s an index right there in your file!

What are your hobbies? 

Hobbies? What’s that? Haha! There are no time for hobbies unfortunately. My full-time job is demanding with travel and events. My boyfriend and I love photography, working out, taking long walks around the neighborhood, playing with my cat, watching movies, and reading. When I have downtime, my priority is writing. It is never far from my mind!

How did you choose the character names for Violet Storm?

The protagonist, Aeva, is actually the name of my cousin. I love the way her name is spelled, the capital A followed by a lower case e. I’ve chosen a lot of names for aesthetic reasons and how well I feel it defines the character’s “look.” Ruven was another name I stumbled on in my career, the name of this bright, young Stanford kid whose eyes were mesmerizing. I don’t think he’ll ever read the book, but if he does, I thank him for the inspiration!

Do you have any works in progress?

I’m hoping to have Crimson Earth (Modi Book #2) available next year in 2015. But the novel I’m working hard to finish right now is Snow Dolls which will precede Crimson Earth and is a completely different trilogy.

I know what you’re thinking… "Wait, you’re working on another series?” I know it’s crazy! But I’m in love with both of these series and I want to give my readers the chance to fall in love with them too.

Who is your favourite character in Violet Storm?

Aeva is my favorite character. She’s the one I devoted the most time in developing, growing, and defining.

How did you get the idea for Violet Storm?

Violet Storm was created from my love of post-apocalyptic worlds combined with superheroes. Visually, I was inspired by movies like The Road and Book of Eli. Conceptually, there was inspiration drawn from iRobot and yes, Hunger Games. Modi’s aren’t robots nor are they cyborgs really, they don’t have traditional mechanical parts or any form of programming to function. I wanted to create a different kind of technologically/artificially advanced human.

What was your favourite part of writing Violet Storm?

My favorite parts of the book are the action scenes. Probably where I spent the most time. Action scenes are tough, it has a very different pace and it needs to be done right so that the reader can take a breath every now and then and be able to dive right back into the scene.

What are you currently reading? 

I just bought The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks at his book signing in San Francisco. I’m a big fan of his!

What is your favourite book? 

This is a tough one. I read and enjoy almost every genre. When I was much younger, I used to devour historical romance novels like they were candy, then I moved on to urban fantasy, chick lit, young adult, and epic and contemporary fantasy.

I have too many favorite books to even begin to list. But let’s just say the one that’s been the most inspiring in both world building and writing skill is Brent Week’s Night Angel Trilogy. Good stuff.

Who is your favourite author? 

Hah! I guess I answered that above. But another of my favorite authors is Karen Marie Moning, author of the Highlander Series and the Fever Series. She is amazing.

What is your favourite film?

Hands down it’s Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. I named my cat after Fitzwilliam Darcy.  

What is your favourite TV show?

Ooh, I have many. Here are some of my guilty pleasures: Game of Thrones, Revenge, Teen Wolf, Vampire Diaries, and The Secret Circle (I can’t believe they ended after the 1st season!).

                        

Quick-fire questions:

                 

Chocolate or ice cream? Definitely Chocolate!

Paperback or ebook? Paperback

Dogs or cats? Cats

Go out or stay in? Stay In

Summer or winter? What about fall? I LOVE fall!

              

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Book Blitz + Giveaway - Life Lived Twice by Sherrie Wouters

Find the blitz schedule here.

Release date: June 6th 2014
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Some promises are made to last forever ... What if you fell in love with a stranger ... but that stranger had come from your past, a past you never knew existed until the moment your eyes met? 

When Tess Winters locks eyes with a stranger at an airport bookstore, it ignites a feeling of passion somewhere deep inside her that she can't explain. Although the encounter is innocent and brief, the intensity of it lingers, leaving her overwhelmed by a yearning for the mystery man now consuming her every thought. 

Struggling to break the powerful hold he has over her heart, Tess starts to experience strange but familiar dreams...dreams from the turn of the twentieth century of the charming Mr Addison Taylor. 

As her dreams start to materialize into reality, and past and present begin to blur, Tess is forced to put the pieces of a forgotten time together, and soon discovers that love isn't the only thing that can find you after an eternity. Captivating, mysterious, and romantic, Life Lived Twice will leave you wondering whether love is so powerful it could last more than a lifetime.

About the Author

Sherrie Wouters is a thirty something flame haired chick who accidentally wrote a book and is now an author. 

A qualified Homeoeopath and Kinesiologist, Sherrie lives in country Victoria, Australia with her husband, and two daughters. 

She is currently working on the sequel to Life Lived Twice.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

 

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Book Blitz - Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper by J.L. Bryan

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper by J.L. Bryan
Publication date: September 19th 2014
Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal

Synopsis:

Ellie Jordan’s job is to catch and remove unwanted ghosts. Part detective, part paranormal exterminator, Ellie operates out of Savannah, Georgia, one of the oldest and most haunted cities in North America.
When a family contacts her to deal with a disturbance presence in the old mansion they’ve recently purchased, Ellie first believes it to be a typical, by-the-book specter, a residual haunting by a restless spirit. Instead, she finds herself confronted an evil older and more powerful than she’d ever expected, rooted in the house’s long and sordid history of luxury, sin, and murder. The dangerous entity seems particularly interested in her clients’ ten-year-old daughter.
Soon her own life is in danger, and Ellie must find a way to exorcise the darkness of the house before it can kill her, her clients, or their frightened young child.

Goodreads

Purchase:

Amazon | B&N

AUTHOR BIO

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on the English Renaissance and the Romantic period. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He enjoys remixing elements of paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror and science fiction into new kinds of stories. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, his son, and some dogs and cats.

To hear about future books by J.L. Bryan, sign up for his new release newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mizJH

Website: www.jlbryanbooks.com
Twitter: @jlbryanbooks

Tools of the Ghost Trade 


Are you tired of slogging away at the same old dead-end day job? Do you want a career with flexible hours, iffy benefits, and lots of contact with angry dead spirits? Ghost catching might be the job for you! 


At Metaphysical Manufacturing, Ltd., we fully support and encourage your efforts to enter into the dream job that we’ve just now suggested! Part of the reason is that you’ll have to buy lots of products from us in order to be a professional ghost trapper, but we also care about you as a person and stuff. 


So what will you need? 

Ghost Training: We recommend you order our complete twelve-book, nineteen-video training course,
which includes such useful manuals as Boogeyman Basics and How Not to Get Your Soul Ripped From Your Flesh. After filling out our correspondence-course exam and sending us a large check, you’ll get your official ghost-grabber certification! 


Ghost Sensors: Several devices can help you determine whether a ghost is in the room with you...maybe even right behind you! The most basic is an electromagnetic frequency (EMF) meter. Ghosts have electromagnetic fields, probably, and these can be detected with modern scientific instruments, maybe. Definitely buy one! We recommend you also pick up our special motion detectors and ghost thermometers—which measure how warm or cold the room is! 


Ghost Goggles: Sooner or later, you’ll want to see the ghosts you’re hunting. We recommend sooner! We offer both night vision and thermal imaging goggles to help you find elusive spirits. You can buy one or the other, but it’s best if you buy both! 


Ghost Microphone: Use a high-powered, ultra-sensitive microphone (like the ones we sell!) to help you pick up whispers and guttural threats from the Other Side. Spend hours recording, and countless more hours listening and trying to find voices in the static! You’ll never have so much fun again! 


Ghost Trap: This is the final “must-have” piece of gear. Your customers will pay you to remove unwanted spirits from their homes, so you’ll want some way to do that. We sell a range of affordable traps, from simple lead-glass jars to phone-booth-sized Faraday cages that create a solid electromagnetic barrier no wicked wraith can escape! We recommend you buy them all.


With these simple purchases, totaling less than eighty thousand dollars, you can become a professional ghost trapper, too! Visit our website to learn (or buy) more! 

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books On My Autumn To-Be-Read List

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature created by The Broke and the Bookish.

In no particular order here are ten books that I'm hoping to read this autumn:

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Blurb from Goodreads:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. 

I've been meaning to read this for ages but haven't gotten around to it.

2. Shatter Me by Taherah Mafi

Blurb from Goodreads:

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.  

I've heard mixed things about this but it sounds intriguing. 

3. Splintered by A.G. Howard

Blurb from Goodreads:

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family.

She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.  

This sounds awesome and I love the cover!

4. The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Blurb from Goodreads:

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what she once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.
  

I've heard good things about this! 

5. Pivot Point by Kasie West

Blurb from Goodreads:

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.  

I keep meaning to read this but haven't gotten around to reading it. I enjoyed The Distance Between Us and On the Fence was good (but I didn't enjoy it as much). 

6. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Blurb from Goodreads:

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.

Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.  

I've had this for ages and again haven't read it. It sounds really good and I'm hoping the film will be too!

7. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Blurb from Goodreads:

New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?     

The cover is so pretty!

8. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Blurb from Goodreads:

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.  

This sounds sooooo good!

Love the cover too! 

9. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Blurb from Goodreads:

Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?  

How have I not read this yet?!

I will. Eventually...

10. Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Blurb from Goodreads:

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….
    

So there are actually waaaay more then 10 books that I really want to read soon. Here are some others:

 

What are you hoping to read this autumn?

Blog Tour - Raven by Stacey Rourke

Raven by Stacey Rourke

The Legends Saga #2

An infamous love, destined nevermore,

For death could not claim, the enchanting Lenore.

Cursed by the malevolent spirit of the Headless Horseman, Ireland Crane

ventures to Manhattan in search of a way to break her soul crushing bond. Instead, she discovers the lines between fact and fiction are blurring once more. Croaking ravens.Telltale hearts.

Could the works of Poe be coming to pass with handsome Wall Street Midas

Ridley Peolte as their unwilling target?

She walks the Earth, a plague on mankind, searching for he, her rotted heart doth pine.

Together, the two unknowingly release a dark force death itself could not tame.Surrounded by the unrelenting violence and mayhem they’ve unleashed, Ireland feels hercontrol over the Horseman slipping. Before the beast within consumes her,

she and hercrew must follow the clues of the dead to right a centuries’ old wrong. Will it be enoughto sate the Horseman’s appetite?

Hell hath no fury like a ghoul scorned.

 

 
Purchase it here: 

Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Check out the First Book in the Series, Crane, on Goodreads.

The Horseman is unending,

his presence shan’t lessen.

If you break the curse,

you become the legend.

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy

Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

About the Author

There is nothing worse than being put on the spot and asked to talk about yourself. For me it brings back that inevitable moment in a new school when the teacher would ask
me to stand up, introduce myself and tell the class something about myself. I was always worried I would blurt out something stupid that I would get teased for. Something like, “My name’s Stacey and I like pickles!” Then for the rest of the school year I’d be known as the Pickle Girl and let’s be honest, no one wants that. So to avoid such a faux pas I will simply say that I love to write. It allows me to get my crazy out just enough that I
can function as a normal member of society.

Find Stacey here:

Facebook | Twitter | Website

Book Blitz + Giveaway - Phobic by Cortney Pearson

 

Find the blitz schedule here.

Series: The Forbidden Doors #1
Release date: September 8th 2014
Purchase: Amazon

 

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Piper Crenshaw knows her house is strange. It’s never needed repairs since it was built in the 1800s, and the lights flicker in response to things she says. As if those things aren’t creepy enough, it’s also the place where her mother committed murder.

To prove she’s not afraid of where she lives, Piper opens a forbidden door, which hides a staircase that leads to the ceiling. That’s when the flashbacks of the original residents from 1875 start, including a love affair between two young servants. Each vision pulls Piper deeper into not only their story, but also her house. Piper confides in her best friend, Todd, whom she's gradually falling for, but even he doesn't believe her. At least, not until her house gets axed during a prank, and the act injures Piper instead, cutting a gash the size of Texas into her stomach.

Piper realizes her house isn’t haunted—it’s alive. To sever her link to it, she must unravel the clues in the flashbacks and uncover the truth about her mother’s crime, before she becomes part of her house for good.

About the Author

Cortney Pearson is a book nerd who studied literature at BYU-Idaho, a music nerd who plays clarinet in her local community orchestra, and a writing nerd who creates books for young adults. 

She lives with her husband and three sons in a small Idaho farm town.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

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