For Authors For Bloggers Beck Valley Books is an influential book review site and book tour host - Book Reviewer Yellow Pages A dream to work with, professional, helpful beyond measure plus working with her is one of the best things I've done to promote my eBook - author Lisa Consiglio Ryan I love working with you - you're kind, encouraging and effective! Thanks for all you do for all of us authors! - author Kaira Rouda I knew I had met someone who would handle my books like they were her own. Truly a pleasure doing business with you! - author Melissa Foster Your service and perseverance to assure that the tour ran smoothly enabled its success. I cannot express my appreciation enough - author Joyce Strand Amazingly organized, efficient and stays on top of the details. Her professionalism is outstanding, communication skills unparalleled and she's even rather adept at hand-holding when it is necessary - author Barbara Boswell Brunner Thanks so much to you and all of your wonderful reviewers! I've had phenomenal success from this blog tour - author Delia Colvin

Friday, May 31, 2013

MVM Giveaway Linkup !!

Welcome to the best Giveaway Linkup on the web hosted by Moms with Voices Media! This is a great place to list and find giveaways hosted all around the blogosphere by some great bloggers.

  • List your giveaways below.
  • Hop over and enter 1 or 2 (or all) of the giveaways! If you're the lucky winner, we'd love to hear!

For more giveaways, sweeps and contests, check out our Giveaway Group on Facebook.



Join our facebook group
Sunday is Quote Day


Sharon x

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

BOOK TOUR - The Resurrection of Hannah - A novel inspired by true events by Kathryne Arnold

Samantha Clark meets with a monthly group to delve into subjects of interest. They dabble in meditation, dream work, and hypnosis — just friends having fun. But lately Sammi is feeling off-kilter and plagued with poor sleep. Searching for a natural solution, she discovers a bitter herb known to induce slumber, whips up a concoction to sweeten the herb, and imbibes. Unbeknownst to her, these areas of experimentation are whirling together to form the perfect storm, one that will blow open an entrance in Sammi’s mind that leads to another world, a door that can never again be closed.

She becomes enmeshed with two friends in a tug of war between life and death: Melissa is dealing with a complicated pregnancy and Julie is wrestling with cancer. Adding to this turmoil is Sammi’s disconnect with her career as a psychotherapist; her life doesn’t seem to fit any longer. Into the drama walks Todd, a handsome, laid-back guy who lightens up her days. Trouble is, Sammi is having a hard time getting close, and a nagging sense of doubt and fear. Like so many times in the past …

But the topper to all this is the dreams. They begin innocuously…but quickly morph into mind-blowing spiritual adventures. The crazy nocturnal activity appears to be related to a soulful character trying to make himself known. In a quest to uncover the truth, Sammi researches clues discovered during her nighttime romps. What she finds is another facet of herself…all wrapped up in post-colonial 18th-century clothes. Sammi flies off to New England, and with the aid of the Rev. Clark, her skeptical father, she embarks on an adventure, revealing a tragic, centuries-old mystery. One only Sammi can solve.

"This book carries the reader along and is difficult to put down. The suspense 
continues to the very end and this debut novelist has set the tone for a series readers 
will love." - Janice Phelps Williams, founder of Lucky Press, LLC

An excellent read, I couldn't put it down. A unique combination of Life and Death issues 
dealing with the physial and metaphysical, all intertwined in a paranormal mystery. This is a story that is compelling on so may levels. I'm sure that Samantha's next quest will be 
equally intriguing! - from Amazon

Resurrection is a terrific book. The beautifully descriptive writing style and captivating storyline
 kept both my heart and mind engaged, wanting more with each turn of the page. - from Goodreads

About the Author
Author Kathryne Arnold
I was raised in the northeastern United States, in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and resided in a half-dozen homes or towns throughout my growing up years. My father was a reverend with a flourishing career, moving the family to various parishes as his calling dictated, which I view in a positive light as I was exposed to different communities and lifestyles. After graduating from high school at the age of seventeen, I moved with my father to Massachusetts.

Thrilled to begin college in New England, I jumped in with both feet and managed to excel in biological and psychological studies upon which I secured my very first "real" job as a Senior Psychiatric Counselor at a group home for adults with mental illness. Wanting to further my learning, I attended Suffolk University in Beacon Hill in Boston, and graduated two years later, obtaining a Masters degree in Counseling and Human Relations.   Over the next twenty years I concentrated further on my work in counseling and social services and became a licensed practitioner.

Several years ago, due to a deep longing to express my feelings in an alternative manner, I literally sat down one day and began writing my first novel. The resultant book, The Resurrection of Hannah, had been born out of a series of powerful dreams, along with compelling and coexisting experiences that inspired me to create a story that would capture the strength of my emotions. I had a yearning to shape a tale based around individuals in my life that I believed would make engaging characters. I had a strong desire to experience a higher level of creativity, to literally produce something out of nothing- a fascinating and challenging endeavor I could not ignore. It was during this time that I became a clinical hypnotherapist and a nationally certified counselor, as well as starting a private practice as a psychotherapist.   I also decided to move back to friends and family in Florida and worked again at the local Hospice, then more recently in community mental health. Once bitten by the writing bug, I could not help but pen my second work of fiction, The Fear of Things to Come. I am now in the process of writing another novel in what I consider a unique collection of adventure stories, the third in the Samantha Clark Mystery Series.

'Pop on over to my Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads pages'

Buy the book from

 photo hannahbadge2_zps05b51bc3.jpg

 
amazon.co.uk           amazon.com

 photo 2dade9a2-7f82-421b-9eff-5ef0cda7cefc_zps142f7bba.jpg

This fantastic giveaway has been brought to you by
2 SIGNED BOOK Winners - open to US
3 Runner-up ebook prizes - open worldwide
Ending on Sunday 11th August at 11.59pm EST


Enter Below to Win !!  Good Luck !!
 photo hannahbadge2_zps05b51bc3.jpg
Sharon x

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Winner of the MuCheese Giveaway for a One Day Family Pass to Chessington World of Adventure is.......

 
THE EXTREMELY LUCKY WINNER OF THE
ONE DAY FAMILY PASS TO
CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURE IS

ELYSIA B

CONGRATULATIONS !!

 
 
Special thanks to MuCheese for this fantastic prize x

Sharon x

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The Mother's Curse Photo Contest - Win a Kindle Fire / $50 Amazon Giftcards plus more......

Do you consider yourself lucky? 
Come take your chance at fate, and maybe you could win some money in our Rafflecopter contest or some autographed book swag.

Do you consider yourself SUPER lucky? 
Well, this time you have to work for it. Get your creative brain pumping, take some awesome themed photos, and you could find a brand new Kindle Fire waiting for you at the post office! Come celebrate with Novel Publicity and author Thaddeus Nowak as we close down the Mother's Curse whirlwind tour with a giant book appreciation part-ae!!! Get ready to grab your ereader, numchucks, and perhaps even your wizard robes, but first read on for the full contest info.  

These contests have been extended until Friday, May 31 at 12 noon EST. Be sure to get your entries in before then!  

The Mother's Curse Photo Contest

The Set-up: Everybody loves a photo contest. Right? RIGHT?! Put your thinking hat on and come up with a fun, pictorial way to represent Mother's Curse. The most creative photo scores its taker a Kindle Fire. Sweetness! We’ve also got two $50 Amazon gift cards to the folks who take the most epic fantasy photo and the most kick-butt combat photo. Just remember the book cover has to be visible in order for your entries to be eligible.  

What to do: Submit your photo entry at the official contest page or email it to emlyn@novelpublicity.com. ***The cover of Mother's Curse must be visible in the picture on an eReading device.*** You may submit multiple entries for more chances at the prizes, but you can only win once! So be original, show us your creativity, battle prowess, or love for epic fantasy.  

The Fabulous Prizes...
  • Most Creative: Kindle Fire
  • Most Kick-Butt Battle Scene or Warrior Pose: $50 Amazon Gift Card
  • Most Epic Fantasy: $50 Amazon Gift Card
Special Stipulation: We need at least 10 photo entries to declare the winners; otherwise the contest will be extended until we achieve that number. As photo entries are submitted, they will be added to the Novel Publicity Facebook page and included in a widget on the Novel Publicity website. Submitting a photo means granting permission to Novel Publicity and the author to post!  

The Mother's Curse Rafflecopter Contest

The Set-up: It's true; you have even more chances to win some mega moolah. Just visit the author around the social media interwebz. Aaaaw, isn't that nice?  

What to do: Pick and choose the options that appeal to you in the rafflecopter form at the official contest page. The more you do, the higher your chances of winning.  

Bonus Prizes... By entering these contests, you also have 4 chances to win autographed copies of Mother's Curse or its sequel, Daughter's Justice, and don't forget to snag them while they're reduced to just 99 cents for Kindle--they return to their normal price next week, and trust me, you don't want to miss out. Good luck, and may fortune be on your side.  

Mother's Curse BadgeAs part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Mother's Curse and Daughter's Justice eBook editions are just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing either or both of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include a Kindle Fire, $450 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!  

To win the prizes:
  1. Get your copy for just 99 cents
  2. BONUS: The sequel is also discounted to 99 cents
  3. Enter the Rafflecopter contest below
  4. Visit the featured social media event
Mother's Curse is a coming of age story about the youngest Princess of Cothel and her efforts to save her father and brother from her mother's schemes, while at the same time, coming to terms with what it means to be a witch.  
Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes.  

Daughter's Justice continues Stephenie's journey of discovery, where she must overcome national opposition to her being a witch as well as lead her friends and protectors on a mission to stabilize her countries finances.  
Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes.  


Thaddeus Nowak is a writer of fantasy novels who enjoys hiking, photography, and the outdoors. Visit Ted on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

 
Sharon x

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Monday, May 27, 2013

Our New Pair of Morph Book-Ends - Check Them Out !!

For those who have followed our blog for a while now will know that we have started quite a nice collection of book ends, for those that missed our previous post with the images click here.

We now have a new addition to our collection and could not resist showing you all, meet Morph and Chas!!
For someone who was brought up with the wonderful Tony Hart and the adventures of Morph, these are fantastic and they really do look like the real plasticine characters, so much so that I'm actually expecting them to move any moment!! 
They really capture the true Morph and Chas with their facial expressions, they are so funny, I love the way Morph is trying so hard to keep the books from falling while Chas is just chilling out as if he hasn't got a care in the world.  Morph has to be my favourite character as he was the one who dominated the show so much, living in his wooden pencil box, I was always fascinated watching him change into numerous shapes and objects.  Morph was a quite cheeky chap and naughty but Chas, his cousin, was much more badly behaved.
I was pleasantly surprised at their weight and quality and the books sit nicely on the wired stand. They look that great that they are now proudly placed on the fireplace so I can show them off to everyone who visits. 

I found the Morph Bookends on Find Me A Gift if you haven't yet been on their website it is a MUST, they have literally everything you can think of to buy someone as a gift, even many that you haven't even thought of.  This is one of my new favourite sites and is already bookmarked.  Have a go at the gift finder page that acts like you very own personal shopper.

Check out their special offers and it's free delivery for orders over £40.  Plus you can now save upto 20% off orders until 31st May 2013.

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with their news.

For anyone who has never seen Morph and Chas here is a little treat for you, enjoy xx


Sharon x

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Sunday, May 26, 2013

Book Trailer Launch for The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

 alt tag goes here
Bloomsbury have launched the trailer for The Bone Season, the first book in a dazzling new fantasy series being published on 20 August this year. The book is already being developed for film by Andy Serkis' The Imaginarium Studios. The author Samantha Shannon is a 21 year-old currently completing her finals at Oxford University. 


Welcome to Scion, no safer place. 
The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.
It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, kidnapped and drugged, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite creature with dark honey skin and heavy-lidded yellow eyes. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.
The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine – a young woman learning to harness her powers in a world where everything has been taken from her. It also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

A selection of some of amazing advance quotes follow:

'Truly extraordinary and thrilling.' Andy Serkis
'A new breed of women authors are claiming fantasy as their own. Leading the charge is Samantha Shannon.' Harper's Bazaar
'A dark and exquisitely rendered fantasy unlike anything out there. The Bone Season is a must read.' Kami Garcia, co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series
'Samantha Shannon has a hugely inventive talent and an imagination with seven league boots. She's hit the ground running.' Susan Hill




Sharon x

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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Today it's the Big Tweet for International Missing Children's Day, can you help??

I'm taking part in the 'Big Tweet' for missing children today for International Missing Children's Day, why not join in to help as well ??

https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/missing-people/116-000/big-tweet-coming-soon

You can also help by retweeting this

 and many others from @missingpeople



Sharon x

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Cover Reveal - Chasing Memories by Tia Silverthorne Bach

 

About Chasing Memories (Tala Prophecy, Book 1)

There isn’t another way; not now. The others are coming. I can’t let them have you…

Seventeen-year-old Reagan has a problem: She can’t remember what happened the night her brother was taken. Now, the dreams haunting her from the incident are becoming more intense by the day. All the while, the lines between what’s real and what’s a product of her paranormal-obsessed mind are becoming blurred.

Is she losing her mind or has she just stepped into a world she thought only existed in books? 

Caught in a web of worried parents, competing boys, Wiccan relatives, protective amulets, and psychiatrist babble, Reagan must determine the truth before it’s too late.

Expected Publication Date: June 10, 2013

Cover design by Jo Michaels. 

About the Author
Tia Silverthorne Bach is an avid reader, sometimes runner, involved wife and mother, and rabid grammar hound in addition to being a multi-genre writer. Her three daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She's the award-winning co-author of Depression Cookies, a coming of age story written with her mother. Tia's office is wherever her laptop takes her and any place that's conducive to allowing a wild imagination like hers to flourish.


Please visit her at her 
blog, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.
 
Sharon x

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Friday, May 24, 2013

MVM Giveaway Linkup Time !! Add some or enter some !!

Welcome to the best Giveaway Linkup on the web hosted by Moms with Voices Media! This is a great place to list and find giveaways hosted all around the blogosphere by some great bloggers.

  • List your giveaways below.
  • Hop over and enter 1 or 2 (or all) of the giveaways! If you're the lucky winner, we'd love to hear!

For more giveaways, sweeps and contests, check out our Giveaway Group on Facebook.



Join our facebook group
Sunday is Quote Day



"From time to time our blog receives books, products or services to review in exchange for our thoughts posted on our blog and social media sites.  As always our reviews contain what we truly believe in the books, products or services and what we pass on to you is completely genuine."

Sharon x

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Have No Shame by Melissa Foster Ebook Giveaway - 2 WINNERS


2 LUCKY WINNERS WILL EACH RECEIVE A
HAVE NO SHAME EBOOK

Open Worldwide
Ending on Sunday 30th June at 11.59pm EST 

The racially-charged prejudice of the deep South forces eighteen-year-old Alison Tillman to confront societal norms—and her own beliefs—when she discovers the body of a hate crime victim, and the specter of forbidden love turns her safe, comfortable world upside down. 

Alison has called Forrest Town, Arkansas home for the past eighteen years. Her mother’s Blue Bonnet meetings, her father toiling night and day on the family farm, and the division of life between the whites and the blacks are all Alison knows. The winter of 1967, just a few months before marrying her high school sweetheart, Alison finds the body of a black man floating in the river, and she begins to view her existence with new perspective. The oppression and hate of the south, the ugliness she once was able to avert her eyes from, now demands her attention.

When a secretive friendship with a young black man takes an unexpected romantic turn, Alison is forced to choose between her predetermined future, and the dangerous path that her heart yearns for.

HAVE NO SHAME is an emotionally compelling coming of age novel featuring a young woman who cannot reconcile the life she wants with the one she’s been brought up to live.Have No Shame will resonate with anyone who has ever fallen in love, and those who have been forced to choose between what they know in their hearts to be true, and what others would like them to believe.

Enter Below and Good Luck !!

Sharon x

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Through The Valley Love Endures by Eddie David Santiago Book Excerpt plus Giveaway

 

Through the Valley Love Endures

What if death came for you today? Would you be ready?
Forced to face his own mortality, Eddie Santiago fought to stay alive in a broken world. His incredible journey through heartbreak, abuse, and adversity left him with one truth: every life makes a difference.
This is the true and compelling story of his supernatural quest through the valley of death, doubt, and darkness. Eddie provides a passionate story that will capture the attention of even the toughest skeptics.
Angels, demons, heaven, hell, Jesus and the devil: are they fiction, or are they more real than anything else in the world?

 

 

 

 

 

About Eddie David Santiago

Eddie David Santiago has worked in the mental health/substance abuse field since he was 18 years old. He holds bachelor degrees in both psychology and religious studies and has provided counseling related services for multiple mental health, substance abuse and human service agencies. In addition, he earned his master’s degree in counseling along with certification in educational administration.
With over fifteen years of counseling related experience, Eddie founded the organization L.E.A.D. (Love Endures And Delivers) which offers interactive group trainings, seminar sessions, speaking opportunities for groups of all ages and crisis counseling sessions.

THROUGH THE VALLEY, LOVE ENDURES is based on Eddie’s early collection of writings, through which he found his voice. He seeks to inspire others to find their voice and share their own stories. Eddie resides in the Midwest with his beautiful wife Sarah and their three amazing children, Faith, Isaiah and Makaylah.

Buy the book from
https://www.createspace.com/4214695 for paperback  
http://www.amazon.com/Through-Valley-Love-Endures-ebook/dp/B00C5VRHY4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366639287&sr=8-1&keywords=Through+the+Valley+Love+Endures
Kindle

Through The Valley by Eddie David Santiago 
Book Excerpt
             “My dad is a pastor, but I haven’t been to church in a long time.  What you said makes me want to go back,” said one of the girls listening at the table.

“God’s doors are always opened.  He longs to be with you.  Do not let guilt, fear, shame or doubt separate you from His love.  He loves you, delights in you and is calling you home,” I replied.

 “Do you really think God can use us the way you say?” asked a male in the group.

“That is my hope for the church.  When we look at key moments in history where things have changed, it has been when the church has stood beside the oppressed.  We need to find our way through those church doors, because we need the church as much as they need us.  When we find a church we can call home, then the body can help us understand how God uses the broken to remind the world that His kingdom is for all people.  When we see ourselves how He sees us, nothing is impossible.  I share with all of you the love of Christ because He saved me.” Tears formed in my eyes as I grew increasingly passionate.  “Let nothing separate you from His love! It is in His love that we learn who we are called to be.  Imagine a world where people start to truly believe in His love again.  Mountains will move, the earth will tremble, and Satan’s kingdom will fall.  The lie is believing God can’t use you.  Once people finally see who they are through Jesus Christ, then we will experience a revival unlike any other.” 

Fill out the form below to Enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway Follow the tour! 

Sharon x

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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Interview with author of Mother's Curse, Thaddeus Nowark plus SIGNED BOOKS & $50 AMAZON GC GIVEAWAY and more....

Please enjoy this interview with Thaddeus Nowak, author of the exciting and beautifully written YA fantasy, Mother's Curse, and its sequel, Daughter's Justice.

Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $450 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.    

1. Stephenie surely defies stereotypes. Born a princess, but a tomboy. Cursed as a witch, but a likable relatable character all the same. How did you go about creating her character?
Stephenie was born in my imagination many years ago. It was during a time I was struggling with another story. To help "get my creative juices flowing," I started to write random scenes with random characters. One scene I wrote was about a young girl who was alone in a public house where a conflict broke out, and she had to fight her way out. Well, I kind of fell in love with the character and had to find out who she was, where she was going, and why she was alone in the world. In making that discovery, I crafted the current story arch that is the Heirs of Cothel Series. It took some time to work out her past and what her life would be like growing up as a witch and how the damaged relationship she has with her mother would affect her. Based on those factors, her break from what would be typical for a princess seemed natural. Which then led me to think of the girls I had grown up with and the women I know today; many of them are tomboys and are not afraid of getting dirty and running about the woods. So it just seemed natural that Stephenie would be that way as well: a strong young lady who has her own motivations and agenda, but is compassionate and can sympathize with others, even if she cannot fix all of their problems. As a bit of trivia, many aspects of that original scene are in Mother's Curse.  

2. Did you face any special challenges writing a female lead character, given that you are a male author?
Yes and no. I grew up surrounded by girls. My family had the only boys in the neighborhood for many years, so all my friends were female and that does give me something to draw from. When writing Stephenie, I try to get into her head and see the world through her eyes. Occasionally, I need to refocus and make sure she would really react in a particular way. The good thing is I have had her in my head for so long that I usually have a pretty good idea of what to write for her. My bigger challenges come with some of the other female characters and making sure I am true to them.

 3. The tension between Stephenie and Sergeant Henton is one of my favorite parts of the book. How did you develop their relationship using such subtlety and not hitting us over the head with cliché romantic dialogue?
 I am glad the subtlety of their relationship is being noticed. I had one reader tell me they were worried that I might fall into one of the overused traps they see in so many YA novels. Once they realized I had not done that, they were ecstatic. I can say this approach in the story is very much me. I am something of a romantic, but I don't care for most of the stories dubbed as "romance". Do people act in stupid ways when they are trying to attract other people? Of course, but too many stories seem to force stupid decisions upon the characters to ratchet up the tension. Too many times, that is done through obvious misunderstandings that could be resolved with half a minute of conversation that the characters work very hard to avoid. My goal is to never have a character deliberately sabotage their relationships for stupid reasons (at least not a character I respect). If things work or don't work, I want there to be more substance to the reasons. I want the investment in the relationship to be greater, and so the emotions stronger. Perhaps I've watched too many classic movies, but there is something very powerful about what is never said aloud between people.  

4. The Kingdom of Cothel is at war. Could you tell us more about the front lines Stephenie is so desperately trying to escape to?
 At the opening of Mother's Curse, Cothel, and most of the other countries to the west, are fighting against an invading army that sailed in from the Endless Sea. These invaders have many witches and warlocks in their ranks and are overwhelming the holy warriors and soldiers of the people who live around the Sea of Tet. These Senzar invaders have killed royal families and left countries without rulers. Stephenie's father was quick to join the battle because his oldest daughter was married to the crown prince of Esland and one of the first to be killed. The Senzar spent most of their focus driving toward a prominent mountain range in the middle of the land between the Sea of Tet and the Endless Sea to the west. Their main forces have yet to cross over Cothel's boarders. However, they are on the doorstep of the country and Cothel's forces are low on supplies and reinforcements. Stephenie's desperation is to reach her father and brother, the King and Crown Prince, because she fears her mother is plotting something that could put them and the people of Cothel at risk.  

5. Although firmly rooted in the fantasy genre, Mother's Curse and Daughter's Justice remain quick-paced engaging reads not mired in the details of exotic lands or creatures. Why did you decide to depart from the genre with regards to this important aspect of storytelling?
 While some fantasy novels feature lengthy descriptions and details about the various inhabitants, to me Mother's Curse, Daughter's Justice, and the subsequent books that will be in the series, are foremost about the main characters: Stephenie, Henton, and Kas. The backdrop of the world, while important, really is a backdrop and I have tried to embrace the idea of less being more. I am proud of the world I have created, but I am also willing to let the nuances soak in over time as they become relevant to the story. For those who like to find out more about the lands Stephenie has to explore and the history I have created for those lands, I try to put some extra information up on my website. I've been adding to it slowly, but have had requests for more information and will work to increase the frequency of the postings.  

6. Which authors, film makers, and other sorts of storytellers serve as your primary influences in crafting this book series?
This is a good question. In all my reading, I cannot recall consciously thinking I would like to expand on a specific idea in my own stories. I am certain all the things I have read have had significant subconscious influences. I grew up with a mixture of the classics (Isaac Asimov, Tolkien, Ursula Le Guin, and Arthur C. Clarke) and contemporary writers such as Joel Rosenberg, Barbara Hambly, Jane Lindskold, and Kate Forsyth. There are, of course, many more I did not list. From TV and movies, I would tend to pull more influences from the scifi realm. For conscious influences, I would say I really liked the whit and humor of Farscape and how the characters got along. The only thing I can say I remember the actual spark of the idea was from the movie High Spirits. That movie lent me the idea that over many years ghosts would fall into a trance and continually relive an aspect of their lives, no longer aware of the world around them until something disturbed their environment.  

7. How did you write the interactions between Stephenie and her mother without wanting to strangle the latter? And how did you craft such a formidable villain despite her maternal relation to our loveable hero?
Well, first off, I love my own mother, so no parental issues there. I do know she got a few questions when other people first saw the title and read Mother's Curse, but having been an early reviewer of the story, she's also a strong supporter. For Stephenie and her mother, I wanted the interaction between the two of them to be very toxic and antagonistic. Years of mutual hate meant they knew how to push each other's buttons and get under the other person's skin. Some of it I think I may have pulled from my experiences working in sales and dealing with difficult customers, but mostly it came from the number of years I worked in what was effectively the advanced support team of a crisis management center. Our job was to help people recover large computer systems that were in real trouble. It was high pressure work and not everyone could handle the customers who were themselves under incredible stress. A big part of the role was simply human psychology, empathizing with the customer and helping to make sure they knew you had their best interests at heart. It was really more managing the people than actually working to repair and troubleshoot the databases. A natural side effect of learning how to help reassure people in a crisis is an insight into how one could hurt people. Hopefully, I've managed to put those years of experience to good use in making believable villains.  

8. Have any experiences, personal quirks, or people you know worked themselves into your writing? If so, how and where?
Well, not so much in Mother's Curse or Daughter's Justice. There is a lot of me in the characters, especially when it comes to the pragmatic nature of several of them, but I did not really draw from any other people. As a kid, I spent a fair amount of time gaming with my friends and that has lent me the ability to quickly imagine another person, craft some personality traits, and put on a different hat to play that part. However, the next book, tentatively titled Daughter's Revenge, will feature someone close to me in the pages. I've had numerous requests to include a character for our horse, Dollar (original show name was Silver Dollar due to a white mark on his withers about the size of a silver dollar). So, in book three, look for Stephenie and others to spend some time on horseback, and Dollar to be along for the journey.

9. When not writing, what do you like to do with your free time? Tell us something whacky and cool!
Free time? I don't quite understand the question. :-) I have had to narrow down my list of hobbies and "want-to-dos" considerably over the years. There is just not enough time in the day. However, the primary activities I keep up with include: Hiking. Though we lack any mountains to make it challenging, I try to spend time on a couple local trails. It is excellent time for working out specific plot details in my head. This year I have two different vacations planned, both of them involve a week of hiking with my wife. One will be in North Carolina, and the other will be on the west coast. I often mix photography in with the hiking. My wife and I are generally landscape photographers who want trees and mountains in almost every shot, though I do like shooting soft water. I'll definitely post a few shots of my vacations online after each of those trips. I also try to keep fit at the gym, but that unfortunately slips from time to time. However, I need to get back into proper condition to hike 15+ miles a day in the mountains with about 35 pounds of gear (cameras, lenses, and a tripod gets heavy). And of course, I read a lot of novels when I can. Though lately that has also been hit and miss. I always feel guilty reading something else when I can be working on my own novels. But sometimes I just have to take a day or so of solid reading and knock out a book simply for the joy of it.  

10. What's next for the Heirs of Cothel Series, and when can we expect book three?
 Book 3 is tentatively titled Daughter's Revenge. I will let the title imply what it will. As I have already alluded to, Stephenie and others will be going on another road trip, this time using horses. She will learn more about herself and continue to grow as a person. There will be a couple of new characters introduced, but aside from that, I don't want to give too much away. Regarding the release date, the first two books have released in the first quarter of the year. I am am aiming to move that up some, but a lot of things have to come together with the proper timing to make that happen. I will definitely keep everyone posted about when to expect book 3 on my website as things get closer.

Mother's Curse BadgeAs part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Mother's Curse and Daughter's Justice eBook editions are just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing either or both of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include a Kindle Fire, $450 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!  
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Mother's Curse is a coming of age story about the youngest Princess of Cothel and her efforts to save her father and brother from her mother's schemes, while at the same time, coming to terms with what it means to be a witch.

Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes.  

Daughter's Justice continues Stephenie's journey of discovery, where she must overcome national opposition to her being a witch as well as lead her friends and protectors on a mission to stabilize her countries finances.  

Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes.

Thaddeus Nowak is a writer of fantasy novels who enjoys hiking, photography, and the outdoors. Visit Ted on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

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