Q+A with Julie Anne Lindsey (Goddess)

Please welcome today's guest author, Julie Lindsey!  Julie is the author of the Calypso young adult paranormal romance series, including her upcoming release GODDESS.

Q+A with Julie Anne Lindsey

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Julie:  I began writing about 6 years ago when my daughter was an infant. She kept me up all night and during the days, I homeschooled her 5 year old brother and potty trained her 2 year old brother. I was spent and desperate for something that was my own. I saw Twilight on Pay Per View and was immediately drawn in. It was the escape I needed. Afterward, I devoured the books and decided I wanted to do the same thing that author had done. I wanted to write something that would make another woman somewhere in the world smile. I wanted to give her a reprieve like Stephenie Meyer gave me. So, I opened Google and typed “How to write a book.” I’ve been trying to figure it out every day since.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Julie:  I love asking What If? A whole lot of my ideas fall into the paranormal spectrum, but I’m cautious about trying to put them on paper. I have a lot of respect for the genre and don’t want to screw it up. That said…I’m new to the industry, so I haven’t been labeled by genre or put into a brand specific cage yet. I’m still able to write whatever I want, and I do. I dabble. I’ve written in different genres as I try to find my voice, or where my style fits best in this life. The Calypso books are my first attempt at paranormal. I love mythology and saw a whole in YA where I thought my stories could fit nicely, I gave it a try. The concept behind Prophecy and Goddess is that Vikings were (are) a specific blood line of demi gods and they live among us. The thing I wanted to explore about that was: What if one young girl discovered their existence? What if she was one of them?

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Julie:  I want the power of persuasion. If only this was an option *begs*. Here’s why: I have a hard time speaking up, fighting back and getting what I want. I’m not great at peopling, especially in person. Words only work for me on paper. Speaking gets me tongue tied and I know it, so too often I say nothing when I have something I wish I could say. I hate that about me. Not being able to defend my thoughts and opinions in the face of an adversary is the worst feeling ever. I wish I had the ability to get my thoughts into words right when I need them and to make the other person see the validity in my position.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Julie:  I think this is a story for readers who enjoy mythology, strong female characters and action. I’ve got true love like Princess Bride. Hot men like the CW and lots of action to pin it together.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Julie:  I would cast Jamie Campbell Bower as Liam and Danielle Campbell as Callie.

Thank you Julie for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

Goddess (Calypso #2) by Julie Anne Lindsey.

Two weeks ago, Callie Ingram was just another high school senior with her sights on a swimming scholarship. Now, she’s the resurrected leader of the Vikings, balancing her classes with learning mythological history—and sparring sessions with her gorgeous demigod boyfriend, Liam Hale.

When Zeus returns to collect the favor she owes him, Callie is tasked with uniting the warring Viking clans and leading them into battle against Gaia’s frost giants. If she fails, everything she risked her life for will be destroyed…and her best friend will die. But one teenage girl rallying all of the vengeful clans won’t be easy. And things only get more complicated when a new prophecy puts her future with Liam at risk. Now, Callie will not only have to win the battle, but she’ll have to take the fate of her heart into her own hands.

Release Date:  October 13, 2015
Genre:  Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
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To learn more about Julie Anne Lindsey and her books, please visit her website.

Q+A with Author L.A. Starkey and Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author L.A. Starkey!  L.A. is the author of DECEIVED, the first novel in the Soul Keeper young adult paranormal series.

Keep reading for a chance to win Deceived and Destroyed by L.A. Starkey!

Q+A with L.A. Starkey

EJ: When did you begin writing?

LA:  I started four years ago in my early 30’s actually. I know most people will attest to having been writing since they were in grade school or high school, but I’m forever a reader more than a writer. I realized a few years ago that I’d read so many books (crazy amounts of books) that I’d figured out how to spot plot holes, bad characterization and poor flow. I figured if I could see all of that then maybe, possibly, I could write a novel myself with the right storyline involved.
I enjoyed reading so much that I wanted to give someone the experience that so many had given me, putting a smile on their face or a tear in their eye – whatever it meant for them. I just decided today to try it and within a few minutes of starting my characters took the show and the novel was done before I knew it. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life and I’ve done it many times since.

 EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

LA:  I love disappearing when I read. I live a fast-moving crazy life and so where I am looking for adventure in the pages of a novel, I’m really also looking for something that could NEVER-EVER happen. I want to jump into a world where things exist that only do so in our imaginations. Paranormal novels do that for me every time. I try to read or write other genres and it never works out for me.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

LA:  Oh man… That’s like giving a kid a candy store and asking them to choose their favorite type. I guess I’d be a vampire. Not that I would enjoy the blood sucking part of life, but life sometimes sucks so…. SeewhatIdidthere? Flying, living forever, moving fast, scaring and intriguing people, changing life and seeing so much? I’d totally sleep in a casket for those powers, especially if my male counterpart was a hottie, which is a must!

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

LA:  My Soul Keeper series has it all: love story, adventure, horror, paranormal elements, loss and despair, loads of humor and multiple characters for you to love. People will enjoy it because it because it will surprise you about the time you feel like it’s starting to slow down a little and the love story will cause your heart to beat a little fast. The ending is a cliff hanger and I know some people aren’t too fond of those, but I rarely encounter cliff hangers in life except at the end of a TV series season, so I’d prefer them in my books. Leave me wanting more… that’s what I tried to do to.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

LA:  Let’s see… Marcus and Nicolas are twins so I’d pair them up with Kellan Lutz. Samantha would be Victoria Justice, and Julie would be Annasophia Robb.

Deceived (Soul Keeper #1) by L.A. Starkey.

They say a soul is the immaterial essence, the animating principle, the actuating cause of an individual life.

But what if you had to share yours with the one person you hated the most?

The soul mate principle states that for every one soul there is another that will recognize its match, hence creating the perfect union.

But what if you had two soul mates, which would you choose?

What if your choices had eternal ramification?

Deceived, the debut novel in the Soul Keeper Series, is a modern day love story about the implications of having more than one soul mate, and having to choose between the two of them. The decisions of the gods has left the next generation, their heirs, torn between fate and reality, and the balance of the future hangs in anticipation of what's to come.

Release Date: August 28, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
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Thank you L.A. for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

You can learn more about L.A. Starkey and her books by visiting her website.

Deceived Giveaway

The author is giving away signed copies of Deceived and Destroyed by L.A. Starkey.

To enter, use the rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to US and Canada only.  This is an Xpresso Book Tour giveaway, therefore the winners will be selected by author or publisher, not From the Shadows.  Giveaway ends February 12, 2015.

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Good luck!

Book Excerpt + Giveaway: Uncovering Cobbogoth by Hannah L. Clark

Today we have a special giveaway and book excerpt for you from UNCOVERING COBBOGOTH by Hannah L. Clark.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Uncovering Cobbogoth by Hannah L. Clark.

Norah Lukens needs to uncover the truth about the fabled lost city of Cobbogoth. After her archaeologist uncle’s murder, Norah is asked to translate his old research journal for evidence and discovers that his murder was a cover-up for something far more sinister.

When she turns to neighbor and only friend James Riley for help, she realizes that not only is their bitter-sweet past haunting her every step, but James is keeping dangerous secrets. Can Norah discover what they are before its too late to share her own.

The Legend of the Cobbogothians is really where Uncovering Cobbogoth begins.  For as long as Norah can remember, her Uncle Jack has been obsessed with the mythical people. He became an archeologist and world famous Myth-chaser because of the Cobbogothian legends he heard while visiting his Granddad Aegissida’s farm in Iceland.

Release Date: May 13, 2014
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
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Book Excerpt

The Legend of the Cobbogothians.

Long ago, at the beginning of time, a peculiar race ruled the earth. They found favor in the eyes of the gods and received great gifts of knowledge and power at their hands. These gifts made them elementalists—masters of earth, wind, fire, water, metal, wood and space. The elementalists thenceforth became rulers of the earth and sky.

With this power came corruption, and the elementalists soon forgot their patron gods. Instead, they turned to worshipping themselves and their own creations. This angered the gods, and in their wrath, the vowed to bring an icy end to the prideful race.

Rumors of the looming destruction were heralded throughout the land, and a final invitation was issued to the elementalists to renounce their fallen ways. Yet only a few heard and heeded. Among them was a man named Cobbogoth. Being a wise and humble servant of the gods, he believed the warnings and led all who would listen deep into the bowels of the earth to wait out the approaching storm.

When the day of destruction was come and the wrath of the gods rained down, the race of elementalists was wiped away, and then came the dawning of a violent and frigid ice age.

It is said that Cobbogoth’s posterity still lives beneath our feet, waiting to rise and rule the earth and sky once more.

Sigurd Jorgensson

Icelandic Bard, 1045 AD

My thoughts:  I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was intrigued by this book excerpt from Uncovering Cobbogoth.  This line promises an intriguing story, "It is said that Cobbogoth’s posterity still lives beneath our feet, waiting to rise and rule the earth and sky once more." 

Uncovering Cobbogoth Blast Giveaway

The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash.

To enter, please use this Rafflecopter form.  This is a tour giveaway.  Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Ends 7/31/14.

What did you think of the book excerpt?

Cover Reveal: Beyond the Sea by Emily Goodwin

It's time for a cover reveal.  Feast your eyes on the new cover for BEYOND THE SEA by Emily Goodwin!

Beyond the Sea (Beyond the Sea #1) by Emily Goodwin.

After the brutal and mysterious murder of her sister, Melia is forced to leave her life as a merrow and live on land, pretending to be human. Feeling very much like a fish out of water, Melia struggles to fit in and to accept that the Pacific Ocean she loves so much may never again be her home.

Melia is unable to hide her fins from outsider Jamie Forester, who possess the gift to see into the Otherworld. Jamie—and everyone she knows—views her ability as a curse, isolating her from the rest of society. Melia sees the curse as a gift…and a way to find out what really happened to her sister.

Eighteen year old Peter Anderson thinks college is the most extraordinary thing that will ever happen to him, until he meets Melia. He is immediately bewitched by her beauty and spirit, sensing but not seeing that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Caught up in Peter’s affection and human affairs, Melia is too distracted to notice the darklings surfacing from the depths of the ocean. It isn’t until a body is found that Melia realizes parts of her old life have come back…with a vengeance.

Release Date: April 1, 2013
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
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My thoughts:  Isn't that cover absolutely GORGEOUS?  I love the colors and textures and the intensity of her eyes.    

What do you think of the new cover?

Top 10 List with Michelle A. Hansen + Before They Find Us Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author Michelle A. Hansen!  Michelle is the author of Painted Blind, The Boyfriend Test, and Before They Find Us.

As part of the Before They Find Us tour, Michelle has agreed to share an exclusive Top 10 list with our readers.  We've asked Michelle about her Top 10 YA Couples.  Let's take a look!

Top 10 YA Couples

There are so many great YA couples out there, and I’ve read list after list. Forgive me for veering off the typical path, which usually includes a handful of best-selling series. Some of my top YA couples come from classics that got me hooked on YA romance in the first place.

10. Romeo & Juliet, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

It’s not the tragedy that makes these lovers appealing; it’s the emotional rollercoaster they take you on in the process. Plus, you just can’t top the beauty of the language in the balcony scene. I taught this play so many times I used to have the scene memorized. After dozens of readings, I still love it.

9. Jenny & Luke, Teen Idol by Meg Cabot

This is on my list because I think it’s a pretty typical fantasy. We all dream about meeting our superstar crush, and having him fall madly in love with the girl next door (i.e. us). Cabot did a good job of packaging that fantasy in a story that made it a believable reality for Jenny. And, it’s just a fun book.

8. Kate & Richard, The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman by Louise Plummer

This book is actually a spoof on the romance novel, and Kate is the spoof on the romance novel heroine. She’s got Coke-bottle glasses and falls victim to all sorts of embarrassments, but finds love with her brother’s best friend, Richard. Plummer offers wisdom and insight about grand romantic gestures and shows that love is always a little bit goofy.

7. Bella & Edward, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

When I say Twilight, I mean the first book, not the series. In Twilight, the reader is privy to the first sight, discovery and then the full weight of forbidden romance. I think the dark, forbidden romance is particularly appealing to teens. And who doesn’t need a vampire around when you’re about to be crushed by a truck?

6. Ron & Hermione, The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

What makes Ron and Hermione a fun couple is all the time they spent not a couple—the bickering and the jealousy. Don’t we all see some of ourselves in them? As a couple, they are far more compelling to me than Harry and Ginny.

5. Zane & Danica, Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Forced to marry in order to buy peace after years of war, Zane and Danica’s romance is not just a story about learning to trust another person, but also about throwing off all preconceived prejudices about another culture. Hawksong is my favorite of Atwater-Rhodes’s books, and she wrote it at the ripe old age of 19. (BTW, Atwater-Rhodes’s vampire novels are the reason I bought Twilight way back in 2006, before it was a cult classic.)

4. Benedick & Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare

They aren’t the stars of the show, but Benedick and Beatrice are two of my favorite characters, always hurling insults at each other, both swearing they will never fall in love. And of course they end up in love. With each other. Makes you think twice about that guy you always swore you hated, doesn’t it?

3. Mary Shelley & Stephen, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Don’t hold out for a “happily ever after” in a story that takes place in the middle of World War I and the Spanish Influenza outbreak. However, Mary Shelley and Stephen’s romance is fresh, touching and bitter-sweet. A true paranormal romance that gives an entirely different spin to the ghost story.

2. Macy & Wes, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Of all the Dessen novels I’ve read (and I’ve read most of them) Macy and Wes are my favorite couple. I’m not sure why I like them better than Remy and Dexter or Annabel and Owen, but I do. Theirs is the realistic and contemporary romance that shows how love and help you find your way in a world littered with heartache and trouble.

1. Lizzy and Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

You might argue that this isn’t YA, but I’d disagree. It’s a story about young men and young women finding each other and their place in society—and that is what a lot of YA is about. What makes Lizzy and Darcy’s story so enticing is that they have to overcome not only their own arrogance and jaded opinions, but a slew of unfortunate circumstances out of their control. The fact that he lives in a mansion doesn’t hurt, either.

Before They Find Us by Michelle A. Hansen

I’m going to make you wish you were dead.

Just a text. Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Hales tries not to worry. Probably a wrong number. Not really meant for her, and definitely not related to the crime she witnessed six years ago. Right?

Then two states away, a bomb goes off in her best friend's locker. Soon Ryan is labeled a terrorist and runs to the safest place he knows—Rebecca’s house in small-town Wyoming. It doesn’t take long for the FBI to show up asking questions. Rebecca lies, of course, and says she hasn’t seen him.

Now she's neck-deep in it with him, whatever "it" is. The only way out is to return to Vegas, where Ryan is a wanted man. The city of lies and illusion tests Rebecca’s wits as she struggles to find the person who framed Ryan and why.

Is Rebecca’s text linked to the bombing? And what does it have to do with a six year old murder? Rebecca needs to find out before she loses Ryan—and her own life.

Release Date: November 2013
Genre: Romantic Thriller, Young Adult
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Thank you Michelle for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Michelle A. Hansen and her books, please visit her website or follow the other stops on her tour.

***Before They Find Us Giveaway***

Enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of Before They Find Us, Before They Find Us charm necklace, bookmarks and signed postcard, and ebook copies of Before They Find Us and Painted Blind!

To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  This is a tour giveaway, therefore winners will be drawn by the author or publisher.

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Good luck!

Who are your favorite YA couples?

Book Giveaway: Lockstep by Karl Schroeder

Today we have a very special book giveaway for our readers.  We are giving away a hardcover copy of LOCKSTEP by Karl Schroeder.

Lockstep by Karl Schroeder.

When seventeen-year-old Toby McGonigal finds himself lost in space, separated from his family, he expects his next drift into cold sleep to be his last. After all, the planet he’s orbiting is frozen and sunless, and the cities are dead. But when Toby wakes again, he’s surprised to discover a thriving planet, a strange and prosperous galaxy, and something stranger still—that he’s been asleep for 14,000 years.

Welcome to the Lockstep Empire, where civilization is kept alive by careful hibernation. Here cold sleeps can last decades and waking moments mere weeks. Its citizens survive for millennia, traveling asleep on long voyages between worlds. Not only is Lockstep the new center of the galaxy, but Toby is shocked to learn that the Empire is still ruled by its founding family: his own.

Toby’s brother Peter has become a terrible tyrant. Suspicious of the return of his long-lost brother, whose rightful inheritance also controls the lockstep hibernation cycles, Peter sees Toby as a threat to his regime. Now, with the help of a lockstep girl named Corva, Toby must survive the forces of this new Empire, outwit his siblings, and save human civilization.

Release Date: March 25, 2014
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, with YA crossover appeal
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***Lockstep Book Giveaway***

To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to US and Canadian mailing addresses only.  Giveaway ends April 16, 2014 midnight EST.

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Good luck!

 If you were to discover that you've been asleep for 14,000 years, what would you do first? (eat, read, dance, etc...)

Q+A with Colleen Oakes (Queen of Hearts)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Colleen Oakes!  Colleen is the author of the Elly in Bloom series and the Queen of Hearts series.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Colleen:  I always wanted to be a writer – in fact, in 4th grade I declared to my parents that I was going to write books.  Being a novelist was always in my mind, but I had things to do, like graduate from college, get married, learn about wine, you know, important things. In 2007, I was living in St. Louis, working at an insanely busy florist. One night, after working late, I was driving home and the idea for Elly in Bloom (my other series) occured to me. That night I sat down and wrote the opening chapter, and the writer that always nestled under my heart came bursting out in a gloried, insane frenzy.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre? 

Colleen:  There are definitely paranormal elements to Queen of Hearts.  I have always been drawn to the darker, more macrabre side of stories.  I like a little scare, a creep, an unanswered mystery.   It was so gratifying to write them into Wonderland which is already a very strange place.  Someday I would love to write a really good ghost story - it's on my bucket list.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why? 

Colleen:  I would love to be able to move things with my mind, or with my hand. I would hope to be like Jean Grey, but I would probably turn out all power hungry like the kid from Chronicle.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release. 

Colleen:  I believe that Queen of Hearts is different than any other fairy tale retelling out there, simply because it's the story of a princess who became a villiain. We are going to see a girl being very, very bad and very, very heroic.  I think that prism of her character will attract readers who are looking for a little bit more dimension in their characters and in their Wonderland.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why? 

Colleen:  I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to this, it's probably over-the-top. Dinah, without a doubt, would be cast as the extremely talented Mae Whitman, who stars in Parenthood. She was my inspiration for Dinah from the first pages of the novel.  I would love to see maybe Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Wardley, Michael Caine as Harris and Tom Hiddleston as Cheshire.

Queen of Hearts (Queen of Hearts #1) by Colleen Oakes

Not every fairytale has a happy ending.  This is the story of a princess who became a villain.

A Father’s Betrayal. A Kingdom with a Black Secret. A Princess Slowly Unraveling.

As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts — and the love of her life.

When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she’s ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It’s up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe.

Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinahs furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath.

Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Release Date: February 14, 2014
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Happy release day Colleen!  Thank you so much for sharing it here with us at From the Shadows.

To learn more about Colleen Oakes, please visit her website.

Teen Read Week Giveaway

Happy Teen Read Week!

What is Teen Read Week?  Here's what the YALSA site has to say.  "Teen Read Week is a national adolescent literacy initiative created by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)."  You can read more about Teen Read Week 2013 on YALSA's Teen Read Week website. 

This year's Teen Read Week theme is Seek the Unknown and we have some fab young adult paranormal books you can win in our annual Teen Read Week giveaway.

***Teen Read Week Giveaway***

We are giving away an ebook set of all five books in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series.

Check out the Spirit Guide series books on Goodreads.

To enter, please comment on this post and include your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends October 27, 2013.

Do you have a favorite spooky book or series that fits the Seek the Unknown theme for Teen Read Week 2013?  Let us know in the comments.  (We love comments!)

The Pirate Curse Book Tour

THE PIRATE CURSE, the final novel in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series, is coming!

The Pirate Curse (Spirit Guide #5) by E.J. Stevens

When Yuki starts smelling salt brine and seaweed, she finds her summer vacation hijacked by pirates...the DEAD kind.

Will the ghost of Black Sam Bellamy, Prince of Pirates, lead Yuki and her friends to treasure or terror?

A new Spirit Guide adventure you won't want to miss! 

Release Date: October 8, 2013

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The Pirate Curse Book Tour

Book bloggers can sign up now to participate in The Pirate Curse Book Tour using the easy peasy form below.

The Pirate Curse Book Tour includes a Cover Reveal (September 3, 2013), ARC Reviews (ARCs available September 17, 2013), and a Release Day Giveaway (Rafflecopter Giveaway: $15 Amazon Gift Card + The Pirate Curse Ebook, October 8, 2013).

UPDATE:  There will be an optional Rafflecopter Giveaway during the Cover Reveal 9/9/13.  We'll be giving away some fun swagalicious prizes!  

Q+A with Georgia McBride (Praefatio)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Georgia McBride.  Georgia is the author of Praefatio.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Georgia:  I began writing seriously in 2007 with PRAEFATIO.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Georgia:  I try to write contemporary things, but every time I do, a vampire jumps out from behind the curtains. It’s very hard to stay on the contemporary path. I think fantasy is in my bones.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Georgia:  I used to say I would want to fly. But now I suffer from terrible vertigo, and I don’t think that would be a good thing. I would love to be able to time travel.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Georgia:  I hope readers will like a book where being paranormal isn’t the twist, and where they quickly appreciate the book being about something altogether different than they assumed.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Georgia:  Oh my. I should be so lucky. I think Grace could easily be played by someone like Isabelle Fuhrman or Rachel Hurd-Wood. Gavin is a tough one. Maybe Zach Efron or Sterling Beaumon.

Praefatio (Praefatio #1) by Georgia McBride.

Seventeen-year-old Grace Ann Miller is no ordinary runaway...

After having been missing for weeks, Grace is found on the estate of international rock star Gavin Vault, half-dressed and yelling for help. Over the course of twenty-four hours Grace holds an entire police force captive with incredulous tales of angels, demons, and war; intent on saving Gavin from lockup and her family from worry over her safety.

Authorities believe that Grace is ill, suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, the victim of assault and a severely fractured mind. Undeterred, Grace reveals the secret existence of dark angels on earth, an ancient prophecy and a wretched curse steeped in Biblical myth. Grace’s claims set into motion an ages-old war, resulting in blood, death and the loss of everything that matters. But are these the delusions of an immensely sick girl, or could Grace’s story actually be true?

Praefatio is Grace’s account of weeks on the run, falling in love and losing everything but her faith. When it’s sister against brother, light versus darkness, corrupt police officers, eager doctors and accusing journalists, against one girl with nothing but her word as proof: who do you believe?

Release Date: May 21, 2013

Thank you Georgia for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

If you'd like to learn more about Georgia McBride and her books, please visit her website.

Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Shelly S. winner of the Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway at From the Shadows.  Shelly will receive ebook copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, Legend of Witchtrot Road, and Brush with Death, the first four books in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series.

Thank you to all who entered!

**Winners selected using Rafflecopter and Random.org**

Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway

Friday is the first day of summer, so we're going to kick it off with our annual Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway!

Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway

We are giving away ebook copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, Legend of Witchtrot Road, and Brush with Death, the first four books in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series.

To enter, fill out the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Ebooks available in choice of Kindle or PDF.  Giveaway ends July 3, 2013.

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Valentines Day Spirit Guide Giveaway

Happy Valentine's Day! 

We are giving away She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, Legend of Witchtrot Road, and Brush with Death, the first four books in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal romance series by E.J. Stevens.

Winner will receive ebook copies of all four books in choice of Kindle or PDF format.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends at 12 AM February 28, 2013.

Valentine's Day Spirit Guide Giveaway

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Q+A with Kelly Hashway (Touch of Death)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Kelly Hashway.  Kelly is the author of Touch of Death.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Kelly:   I've been writing for as long as I can remember, but I got serious about it in 2004 when I decided to try writing a novel (and actually finish it). After writing a very bad first book, I went back to school to learn more about writing for children and teens, and I began seeking publication in 2009.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Kelly:  I've always loved the paranormal. It's like our world, only better.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Kelly:  I'd to fly because I hate driving, but I think I'm going to go with being a witch of some sort. Being able to do magic would be amazing.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Kelly:   If you enjoy mythology and zombies, then Touch of Death is the book for you. It's Medusa, Hades, and zombies all rolled into one.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Kelly:   This is a tough one for me because I don't usually look for actors who match my characters. I really think the girl on my cover looks like Jodi, though. When I saw her, I thought, "Yes, that's her!" If she can act, I'd cast her. For Alex, I'd need a sexy blond every girl would want to follow her around. I'm not sure who that would be, though.

Touch of Death (Touch of Death #1) by Kelly Hashway.

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Thank you Kelly for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Kelly Hashway and her books, please visit her website.

Q+A with Michele Vail (Undeadly)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Michele Vail.  Michele is the author of Undeadly.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Michele:   I knew I wanted to be a writer from a young age. I started penning stories and poems around the age of 12. I loved reading and my English and literature classes were my favorite subjects. I was the typical diary-writing teenager, too, and soon my angst and worries found their ways into fictional tales and poetry.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Michele:  I love stories with supernatural elements. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches ... I loved it all, even before paranormal became so popular within fiction markets. My most recent fascination has been with zombies and reapers, and that's how Molly and her world came about. I wanted to answer the question, "How do you become a reaper?" I really enjoy ancient Egyptian mythology, and I thought: Making mummies is really close to making zombies, right? So that's where my zombie-making mythology begins.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Michele:  Wow. This is a difficult question to answer. I would like to be able to clean the house with a twitch of my nose--much like Samantha from "Bewitched." Immortality would be great, too, simply because I would like to see how the world progresses with technology. I think there may come a day when we can fix the troubles that plague our world ... creating a place where no one goes hungry, war is irrelevant, and chocolate becomes an official food group.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Michele:   It's fun! Imagine a world just like ours only zombies and ghosts are commonplace. You can get a zombie made the same way you might order a custom suit or a flower arrangement. You can purchase machines that harness ghost energy, so you can have after-life servants. Or in the cases of movie stars and rock musicians, dying doesn't mean your career is over. Thrown into the mix is Molly, who has the ability to make zombies, but finds out she has a larger destiny and a secret past.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Michele:   I think Taylor Lautner should turn in his werewolf fur and go reaper. He'd make a great Rath, the boy who is preparing Molly for her eventual transition into reaperhood (and you know, saving the human world in the mean time). As for Molly, Jennette McCurdy has the right kind of attitude and look (I love her as Sam on "iCarly").

Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1) by Michele Vail.

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper-and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with. To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly-against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.

Thank you Michele for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Michele Vail and her books, please visit her website.

Q+A with Marta Acosta + Dark Companion Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Marta Acosta.  Marta is the author of the Casa Dracula series (Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, Midnight Brunch, The Bride of Casa Dracula, Haunted Honeymoon ), Wolfish in Sheep's Clothing, and Dark Companion.

Keep reading for a chance to win a copy of Dark Companion by Marta Acosta.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Marta:  I've been writing every since I learned how to scrawl the alphabet. I was always writing stories, poems, essays, notes to friends, whatnot. I always wrote things during the school day to entertain myself and friends. Then I went on to college and studied creative writing, but I was still writing for my friends and for fun.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Marta:   Paranormal poses the question, "What if...?, and I especially like stories where a character's notion of reality is challenged. Right now, there's such an amazing range of paranormal fiction, including dystopians, horror, romances, action thrillers, mysteries, and comedies. One of the things I like best about paranormal is that I can place a character in a situation where she can't take the normal paths to safety, i.e., going to the police, but must use her own resources to save herself.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Marta:   That's easy! I would like to transport myself from one place to another. Flying is expensive, time consuming, and annoying. I'd love to visit so many places!

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Marta:   There are so many things to love about Dark Companion -- the beautiful and creepy setting at Birch Grove Academy, the determined foster girl and her funny new friend, Mary Violet, the  quotes from classic gothics, and, of course, echoes of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and other classic gothics.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Marta:  Now that's a really hard question! I don't think of actors or actresses when I envision my characters.  I have ideas that are more about personalities or even the sound of their voices, than about appearances. But frequently I see girls at the mall or wherever and I think, "She looks like Jane!" I recently told the narrator for my audiobooks that Ksenia Solo, who plays Kenzi in "The Lost Girl" urban fantasy series, has the funny sexy snark of my character Milagro, but she doesn't look like her.  I love to hear readers' suggestions on good casting for my stories, especially who they'd like to see play hilarious Mary Violet.

Dark Companion by Marta Acosta.

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?


Thank you Marta for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Marta Acosta and her books, please visit her website.

**Dark Companion Giveaway**

We are giving away a copy of Dark Companion by Marta Acosta to one lucky winner.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only.  Giveaway ends July 26, 2012 midnight EST.

Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway

Summer officially begins next week.  Do you know what that means?  It's time for our annual Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway!

This year we are giving away some fab Spirit Guide series books (filled with hot werewolves, because, let's face it, werewolves are the swooniest) and swag.  Happy summer reading! xx

**Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway**

We are giving away signed copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road, and a swag pack filled with Spirit Guide series romance trading cards, bookmarks, and postcards.

To enter, leave a comment on this post including your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends June 25, 2012 midnight EST.

For more information about the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series, please visit the official Spirit Guide series website.

Bite Before Christmas Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Barb, winner of our Bite Before Christmas Giveaway at From the Shadows!  Barb will receive print copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road, the first three books in the Spirit Guide series by E.J. Stevens.

Thank you to all who entered.

Didn't win? Don't miss our Monster YA Giveaway. Enter to win print copies of Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens, Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Supernaturally by Kiersten White. (Int'l, ends 12/28)

**All giveaway winners selected using Random.org**

Teen Read Week Book Giveaway

Teen Read Week is an annual event to promote teen literacy.  I feel strongly about the importance of reading, especially for young adults (#YASaves), so we are celebrating Teen Read Week with a book giveaway.  Yay!

We are giving away TWO copies of Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens.  One copy for you and one for the library, school, teen book club, or youth center of your choice.

To enter, please comment on this post and include your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!).  This giveaway is to the US, UK, and Canada only.  Giveaway ends October 24th midnight EST.

Paranormal Guest Author: Amber Argyle (Witch Song)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Amber Argyle!  Amber is the author of Witch Song.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Amber:  I've been inventing stories for as long as I can remember. I didn't actually start writing them down until junior high. I couldn't seem to write during high school or college--too much reading and writing for classes. I didn't have anything left over for being creative.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Amber:  The first time I read an YA epic fantasy, I was hooked. That week, I started writing. I've never looked back.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Amber:  I'd like to fly. Wouldn't that be soooo cool. I'd never be stuck in traffic again.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Amber:  So far, readers have loved Witch Song because it's so different from everything out there. The medium for the Witch's magic is singing. Their magic changes the seasons, instantly grows and controls plants.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Amber:  I really have no idea. Anyone have any ideas?

Witch Song by Amber Argyle.

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons--but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.


Thank you Amber for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Amber Argyle and her books, please visit her website.