A No. 2 Pencil, Stat!

EPIC New Cover GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-01-31T02:02:00.001-07:00

Revealing the epic new cover for SLEEPING ROSES. Genre: Adult romantic THRILLER.

The cover was created by art genius, Steven Novak (he also created all of the Immortal Essence series covers - EXILED, BEGUILED, DOVETAILED, ALIGNED (via IN HIS EYES)). This is the end result. One word: AMAZING!!!

Sleeping Roses Overview:

Sophie married into a lie.
Sick of her dangerous marriage, Sophie leaves her husband, determined to start a new life.
But her husband isn't going to let her go that easily. If he can't have her, no one can.
It's hunter versus hunted.

Praise for Sleeping Roses:
"It's strange, mysterious, and down right cool! It made me wonder if this really happened." Jek Jamison

"A suspense/thriller where nothing is as it seems." Heartsong Reviews

"From the first page to the last I was captivated by Sophie's journey as told by Ms Workman. Well crafted twists and turns kept me completely enthralled and unwilling to put it down. I found myself empathizing with the characters I closely identified with and feeling compassion, as Sophie did, for those less likable. The author's ability to express the feelings and emotions of the characters transcended the words on the pages." D. Olson

If you think you know how it ends, hold on. You have no idea.

How would you like a signed paperback copy? Along with a rockin bookmark? And a cool pen?

ENTER through rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are You Ready For Some FOOTBALL - Erm, I mean NiNoCon!?!

2012-01-30T05:00:00.021-07:00

K, so I'm sure lots of you are gearing up for SUPER BOWL SUNDAY on Feb, 5th. I know I am. Love it!!!

But, the day BEFORE the Giants go up against the Patriots is going to be even more awesome.

You want to know why?

It's NiNoCon.

Here's the deal (as told from Ali's website):

Ninja Novel Conference ~ an online writers conference for the daring, the dedicated, the ninja writer!

Ninja Novel Conference (NiNoCon) is the brainchild of the Ninja Pirate herself, Angela Kulig. She approached me with a plan to take over the world and hey, it sounded like fun!

Saturday, February 4th, 2012, will be the first NiNoCon, and we hope you'll join us!

NiNoCon focuses on publishing by non-traditional means. We're talking about doing what hasn't been done before, stretching your imagination to extend beyond your stories and into a world of your making.

We've invited top-notch presenters to share how they thought "outside the box". Come learn what they have to say and discover how you can make your own magic happen.

Can't wait to check it out. Hope to see you there. HiYah!!!

Oh, and don't forget the chips and salsa for the big game.

Which team are you rooting for?

(Pics courtesy of Ali Cross and google.)

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE Giveaway!!

2012-01-27T02:01:00.019-07:00

S.R. Johannes has written an amazing YA book entitled UNTRACEABLE. Check it out HERE. She is an Indelible friend and totally awesome!

Today I must (it isn't required by law or anything, it's just so awesome I can't hold it in) tell you about another book she's written. It's a tween novel called ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

Summary:

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, SkyFones and InnerNets are all the rage. At her first Bright ceremony, G.O.D., the automated assignment system, spits out Angela Black, Gabby’s arch nemesis and longtime fencing rival. As a Bright, Gabby has to protect Angela, her assigned mortal, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven.

Back on earth, Angela starts hitting on Michael, Gabby’s crush and should-have-been boyfriend. Gabby’s pranks to quell the love are harmless at first until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, Celestial Sky Agent, Lawrence, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, steps into reveal that Angela has big problems, and what she really needs is Gabby’s help.

Determined to right her wrong and ease her mother’s grief, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to earth for just one day. But if Gabby’s not careful, her well-meaning mission just might shift the very foundation of Heaven, Earth, and every place in between, causing the danger of the dark side to roam free.

Praises for On The Bright Side

"S.R. Johannes delivers a cute sci-fi thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!" - Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series

Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she’s assigned to protect. A great read!
-Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)

“ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is both hilarious and heart-warming – a tale that’ll have you hoping that there really *are* spunky and determined angels like Gabby who’ve got our backs.”
- Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of Selling Hope & The 13th Sign (2013) (Feiwel & Friends)

"With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!"
- Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)

ROCKIN, right?!?

And since I know all of you are really excited about owning a copy, I'm having a giveaway!!!

But if you can't wait, here's all the purchasing linkage:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

If you'd like to "stalk" Shelli, you can find her on:
Facebook
Twitter
Blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE GREEN

2012-01-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Karly Kirkpatrick and DarkSide Publishing are excited to announce the release of Kirkpatrick’s third novel, the edgy YA contemporaryromance, THE GREEN.

Book Description:
How far would you go to save your dream?
Seventeen-year-old Ariceli Pisa is a senior at the prestigiousCambridge High School and has her sights set on Northwestern University. She'sa cheerleader, a member of the National Honor Society...and a drug dealer.That's not the only secret she has to keep from her best friend Naomi--she’s also madly in love with Naomi’s ex-boyfriend, James Bartlett. Trying to balance her life at Cambridge High with her new demanding job keeps her teetering on the edge of disaster.

(This sounds so good!)

THE GREEN is available in ebook format at the following retailers for$3.99:
Amazon (Also available on Amazon UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.)
Barnes & Noble

For more info about Karly and her books, check out www.karlykirkpatrick.com and www.darksidepublishing.com.

In novel news:

I just finished reading Smokeless Fire by Samantha Young. I've also read the Warriors of Ankh series. They were amazing. I have a serious writerly crush on her. LOL!!

Addison Moore (an amazing Indelible friend) has had her Celestra Series books picked up by 20th Century Fox. The books are a lot of fun.

Also, don't forget about NiNoCon hosted by the amazing Ali Cross. It starts Feb 4th.

Happy Hump Day!!!
xoxo

And The Winner IS...

2012-01-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in our INDELIBLES ON FIRE hop. It was a great success and a lot of fun. The winner of the Kindle Fire will be announced today over on that blog. So be sure to click on the link.

On Feb 14th, myself and several other Indelible authors are releasing an anthology entitled IN HIS EYES. The theme of our short stories is that they must be told from a guy's point of view. Most of them have a little romance involved as well. ALIGNED is told from Ith's POV. The people of Ith's planet call him a God. This story takes place before Exiled.

A super short summary: A half-eternal boy and an eternal girl must free millions of tortured souls from a creature who's been feasting on their pain and suffering.

Here's a sneak peek. The first seven sentences of ALIGNED.

I am someone.
But, I have no idea who.
There is a planet called Earth, with one sun and one moon. That isn’t where I live. How am I sure? Two suns and two moons rotate across my sky. The name of this planet is Kelari.

There you go. The rest will be available on Feb 14th. =D

And, now, to announce the winner(s) of an EXILED ebook from amazon.com. (The winners were picked via Lucy, my pekingese. I placed all the valid names on the floor and let her paws do the talking.)

Dun.
Dun.
Dun.

They are:
supagurlheather at gmail dot com
mrso_d at yahoo dot com
howdymomma(at)yahoo(dot)com

HOORAY!!!!! *throws Lucy in the air and catches her*

I'll be sending each of you an email.

Thanks again!
xoxo

INDELIBLES on Fire

2012-01-08T15:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Indelibles Blog Hop!
(The contest begins at 12:01 AM Monday, January 9th and ends at 12:01 AM Thursday, January 12th. If you've stumbled on this post early, please be aware that all the links might not be working yet, and you'll have to come back during the official contest to complete the hop.)

In celebration of our official launch, we are giving away a KINDLE FIRE! If you’d like to start at the beginning of the INDELIBLES ON FIRE GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP, then please start HERE.

If you are mid-hop, then welcome to your next stop! By following the link at the bottom of this post, you can proceed to the next author (and check out the awesome, individual giveaways we are doing along the way!). If you are entering to win the KINDLE FIRE, don’t forget to make a note of the keyword at the end of every blog post - the words spell out a phrase you will need to enter the contest on the last stop.

Marketing guru Shelli Johannes Wells has teamed up with twenty-four other indie and small press authors to bring you the Indelibles.

Introducing the Indelibles

“We are indie authors who write middle grade and young adult fiction. We are dedicated to leaving a permanent mark on the world with our stories and words.

We are the Indelibles.”

Each week, we’ll explore fun, fabulous, and fierce topics for today’s teens, drawing on pop culture and themes from the books we write. Check out our official launch Monday, January 9th for fun giveaways over on the Indelibles blog. We’ll also be having a “blogger” chat on January 11th and a writer/author chat on the 18th to answer questions about self and indie pubbing. See our blog for details.

And now, without further ado, I will introduce myself:

As well as being a toffee-maker extraordinaire, a cupcake baker, and Mom Of The Year (it's true, ask my kids), I write YA sci-fi romance and adult romantic suspense. I'm also the wife to a math-genius-of-a-husband. Together we share our home with three children and three dogs. When I make time for quiet moments alone, I love to read about far away places. I have two books out. EXILED, a YA sci-fi romance. It's book 1 in the Immortal Essence Series, and SLEEPING ROSES, an adult romantic suspense. Book 1 in the Dead Roses Series.

You can connect with me several ways:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

EXILED, a YA sci-fi romance:

Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.

An alien princess exiled to Earth.
An arrogant boy.
One week to get back to her planet or she'll die.
And, her only chance for survival? She must help the boy find his soul mate.
Piece of cake!

To purchase, click HERE.

***Also, if you follow my blog and leave a comment (with your email address)... at least 1, maybe 2, or possibly 3 of you will receive Exiled as gift through amazon.com.***

The keyword for this stop on the hop is: Totally

Your next stop is over at the lovely and talented Karly Kirkpatrick 's blog, author of INTO THE SHADOWS, BLOODY LITTLE SECRETS, and more.

Insecurity 101

2012-01-05T13:18:00.004-07:00

I'm posting late, but doing it anyway. As it's the first Wednesday of the New Year and Alex J. Cavanaugh, blogger and friend extraordinaire, hosts the Insecure Writers Support Group.

See, of late, I've been filled with insecurity. Like to the top! I'm drowning in it. Especially when I get a negative review. It doesn't matter than I've received 300 times as many glowing reviews. Nope, the unenthusiastic words eat at me. I'm trying to forget them. Only focus on the good. And, I'm still writing (whether you like it or not - LOL). It's therapeutic, in a crazy-pull-my-hair-out sort of way. Perhaps it's because I'm neurotic or maybe a glutton for punishment. Not sure. Either way, I'm still trucking along.

Just finished a short story for an Anthology entitled IN HIS EYES. The short story is called ALIGNED. It's about: boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy kisses girl, girl falls in love with boy, boy and girl go into Hell (Helker) and free millions of souls, boy kisses girl again. They rule the planet. The End.
Or: A half-Eternal boy and an Eternal girl must free millions of tortured souls from a creature whose been feasting on their pain and suffering.

The Anthology will be released Feb 14th. Other authors contributing can be found HERE. We call ourselves the Indelibles. And beginning Monday, we will be giving away lots of prizes including a Kindle Fire. Yep, you read that right. So stop by and follow our blog. You can also follow our Twitter and our Facebook page. You'll be glad you did. We are fun, fierce, and fabulous!

What do you do with negativity?
xoxo

(pics courtesy of google)

EXTRAVAGANZA

2012-01-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Did you find a newKindle, Nook, or iPad under the Christmas tree? Browse the Indie Book Fair and find a new ebook to break in that reader!

These great new bookswere released Nov 2011-Feb 2012 by Indie authors, priced right so that taking achance on a new author doesn’t have to break your wallet. (Check out Susan Quinn's previous Internet Book Fair for other great Indie finds.)

[Indie = self-publishedor small-publisher, for the purposes of this post, because no matter how we’re published, we’re all in this together, trying to get theword out about our books]

Note: Links are givenfor Amazon, but most authors publish across all e-book formats. Clickon the author’s name for additional purchasing options, includingpaper copies.

For Your Browsing Pleasure

Contemporary (Adult)

Build a Man by Talli Roland (Chick Lit)

Slaveto the rich, rude and deluded, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Hollandlongs for the day she's a high-flying tabloid reporter. Unfortunately, everypitch she sends out disappears like her clients' liposuctioned fat, never to beseen again. Then she meets Jeremy Ritchie -- the hang-dog man determined to beBritain's Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe andeverything in between -- giving Serenity a story no editor couldresist. With London's biggest tabloid on board and her very own columntracking Jeremy's progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be asuccess, even going undercover to gain intimate access to Jeremy's life. Butwhen Jeremy's surgery goes drastically wrong and Serenity is ordered to coverall the car-crash goriness, she must decide how far she really will go for herdream job. $0.99on Amazon

TheGolden Sky by ElisaHirsch (Memoir)

Thenight I met Cade I never would’ve thought that two years later, after wewere homeless street musicians in Hawaii, we would have a little girl andanother baby on the way. Our son was born with the type of birthdefects that make televangelists cringe. The “death home” gave him a reallynice funeral, the kind I’d never wished to attend. We lost it after that,totally cemented in our grief. Cade got into drugs, joined a rockand roll band, and I kicked him out of the house. That was how I met: Earl(an old man and unlikely best friend), the “big sag” (a middle aged womanwho still flashed folks), Todda (the stripper next door), and Chris(a cowboy who fell in love with me). It wasn’t until I killed a rogueskunk, and my daughter nearly choked on a fry, that I gave my husbandanother chance. But could our marriage recover from the death of ourson? $2.99 onAmazon

SomeoneElse’s Fairytale by E.M. Tippetts (Contemporary Romance)

JasonVanderholt is the hottest actor under thirty with legions of screaming fans.Chloe Winters is a college student who hasn't gotten around to watching most ofhis movies. When they meet by chance, he is smitten, but it justisn't her fairytale. In fact, it could be her worst nightmare as her past,attracted by the bright lights of the media, comes back to haunt her. $0.99 on Amazon

Historical Romance(Adult)

The Duke’s Divorce by Anne Gallagher Available late January 2012

Asimple trip to the Scottish Highlands finds the Duke of Cantin with a bride hedoes not want. With her impeccable beauty and fiery disposition, Fionatakes Society by storm. As their prearranged divorce proceedings drawnear, can Fiona change his mind? Check author's website.

Literary Fiction

String Bridge by Jessica Bell

Greek cuisine, smog anddomestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expectingwhen she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen toplay in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' careerand her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer andplots a return to the stage—and the person she used to be. However, theobstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy thatawaits ... $6.99on Amazon ALSO: Music Sample!

Mystery

Sherwood Ltd. by Anne R. Allen

Sherwood. The name immediatelyconjures up images of Richard Greene, Michael Praed and Russell Crowe. Or maybethat sly fox in the Disney version. Only, in Anne R. Allen's latest rom-commystery the fox is a coyote and there's no Robin Hood. Or is there? In herusual inimitable fashion Allen peels back the layers, one hilarious subplotafter another, until you just never know what's real and what's not. Ratherlike the Robin Hood legend. When the Manners Doctor, Camilla Randall, fliesinto Robin Hood airport with a suitcase in one hand and a book contract in theother she thinks she's leaving all her problems behind and is about to start anew life. If you look very carefully you may just spot the Sheriff ofNottingham, Maid Marian and even Little John hidden away. But as for Robin Hoodhimself... You'll just have to read it and find out. $2.99on Amazon

Short Stories andAnthologies

The Initiate (CloudProphet Trilogy) by Megg Jensen (YA Fantasy)

Overa thousand years ago, the gods left Eloh's people and took their magic withthem. To win back their favor, her people sacrifice ten female initiates everyten years. No has ever survived. There has never been a Chosen One. Forced intobecoming an initiate, Eloh will try to find a way to beat the odds, stay withher boyfriend, and survive the fires that threaten to consume her. But will herlack of faith in the gods and her disbelief in their magic doom her to apainful death? $0.99 on Amazon

Eight by Karly Kirkpatrick (YA Paranormal Short Story Collection)

Prepareto be thrilled and chilled by Kirkpatrick's eight short tales in EIGHT. Theseeight stories, while short, pack a big punch. There are demon spirits, zombies,and even some human baddies. Each story comes complete with author'scommentary. It also includes the previously unreleased short Grenades. $0.99on Amazon

{CoverComingSoon} In His Eyes by The Indelibles (YA Anthology) - Available February 14th

Justin time for Valentines Day, The Indelibles bring you a one-of-a-kind youngadult anthology! Twenty original short stories, all from the point of view ofour favorite male characters - some are old flames from our novels and somewere dreamed up especially for this anthology. Let these imminently crushable,swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like – in his eyes. Add to GoodreadsTBR

The contributors to IN HIS EYES includeaward authors, frequent “Top 100” placers, and hot 2011 debut authors: S.R. Wells, C.K.Bryant, Elle Strauss, Susan Kaye Quinn, Jessie Harrell, Magan Vernon, LisaNowak, Heather McCorkle, RaShelle Workman, Ali Cross, Karen Amanda Hooper, CoryPutman Oakes, Laura Pauling, Stacey Wallace Benefiel, Sarra Cannon, Katie Klein,Cheri Lasota

Transcendent: Tales ofthe Paranormal byLani Woodland, Melonie Piper, Rita Webb, Wendy Swore, Melanie Marks, Heather McCubbin and Evan Joseph (YA Anthology)

Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawkgirl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as thedécor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories. Alongthe way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlightwith a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don’t forget tobring your garlic and wolfsbane—you never know when the shadows will snag you. Transcendentincludes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newestnames in young adult fiction. $0.99on Amazon

Young Adult

Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn (Paranormal/Science Fiction)

When everyone readsminds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someonewho can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t betrusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the bestfriend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearlykills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family andan increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s draggeddeep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyoneshe loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her. $2.99 on Amazon

Bound by C.K. Bryant (Paranormal Romance)

When a photo shoot endsin tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia,has been keeping a secret.Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrusther into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. Whathappens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself andthe shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timidmouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental andphysical strength to endure and survive. $3.99 on Amazon

Become by Ali Cross (YA Urban Fantasy)

Sixteen-year oldDesolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold andlonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where sheBecomes the evil she despises and the good she always feared. When Desi isforced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her Choice has been made—thatshe has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, hascreated her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is a reason to want tochange—something she’s never had before—a friend. $3.99on Amazon

Exiled by RaShelle Workman (YA SF Romance)

Worldsdivided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.
An alien princess exiled to Earth. An arrogant boy. One week to get back to herplanet or she'll die. And, her only chance for survival? She must help the boyfind his soul mate.
Piece of cake! $0.99on Amazon

The Secret of SpruceKnoll by Heather McCorkle (Urban Fantasy)

Followingthe tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knollto live with an aunt she’s never met. Little does Eren know the entiretown of Spruce Knoll is filled with “channelers”—a magical group ofpeople who immigrated to the small Colorado town when theywere driven out of their own lands. Channelers are tied to the fateof the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alonehave the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learnsshe not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden,his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though. $4.99 onAmazon

Destined by Jessie Harrell (Retelling)

WhenPsyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the mostbeautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love withthe one creature even the gods fear. As she feels herself slipping closer intothe arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tendertouch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come toexpect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined. $0.99 on Amazon

Darkspell by Elizabeth Mueller (Paranormal Romance)

Winter Sky believes sheis everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold. Asseer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against thedarkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magickal realm shealways thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.Will love prove thicker than magick? $3.99 on Amazon

Untraceable by S. R. Johannes (Thriller)

Grace has lived in theSmokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught herabout wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. When her dad goes missing on a routinepatrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities,tribal officials, and nature to find him. One day, while out tracking clues,Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and asecret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Gracetravels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father. Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships andlives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. Andit’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer)for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves. $.99on Amazon

Rival Demons (Book 5 ofthe Peachville High Demons Series) by Sarra Cannon (Paranormal Romance) Available January 20th

After narrowly escaping death atthe hands of the Order of Shadows, Harper finds herself thrust into the strangeand beautiful world of the shadow demons. But crossing through the portaldoesn't mean she is safe. The Order of Shadows is determined to bring her homeand transfer the Prima line to the Harris family. They send their most vicioushunters after Harper. Hunters who will not stop until they have found theirprey. Determined to keep her safe, Jackson takes her deep into an undergroundworld filled with dangers of its own. Here, Harper will begin a journey thatwill teach her more about herself and her own path than she ever imaginedpossible. Addto Goodreads TBR

The Legend of VictorStandish: Under a Voodoo Moon by Roland D. Yeomans (Urban Fantasy/Romance)

Can love kill? Yes... if you love a ghoul who hungers for your flesh only slightly less than shedoes your heart. Yet to the lonely street orphan Victor Standish, who hasrisked his life for a meal, to find love (even for one magical French Quarternight) is worth dying in the morning. $2.99 on Amazon All profits go to the Salvation Army.

Getting Sideways (Book 2 in the Full Throttle Series) by Lisa Nowak (Contemporary)

Getting shipped off to live with hisuncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Thena wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Cody’s making every effort toget his life back on track—writing for the school paper, searching for theperfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his drivers’license—but there’s no escaping the nightmares that haunt him. Achance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Codyrealizes he’ll have to live up to Race’s legendary status. But that’s the leastof his worries, considering he doesn’t have his dad’s permission. All he has todo is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racing’s safe. Yeah, sure. That’llbe easy. $3.99on Amazon

Tangled Tides by Karen Hooper (Sea Monster Memoirs)

YaraJones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one. When a hurricanehits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled upin an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sidesbelieve Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening thesealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should bedone. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far moreprecious. Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop atnothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people—until he falls for Yara.The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, andthe merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process—or shemight open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans. $4.99on Amazon

Here by Denise Grover Swank (SF Romance)

Sixteenyear old Julia Phillips buries herself in guilt after killing her best friendMonica in a car accident. Julia awoke in the hospital with a broken leg, a newtalent for drawing and false memories of the accident, in which she dies andMonica lives. The doctors attribute this to her head injury, but no one canexplain how a bracelet engraved with her name ended up at the scene of theaccident. A bracelet no one has ever seen before. Classmate Evan Whittaker paidJulia no attention before the accident, let alone after. Now suddenly he’svolunteering to tutor her and offering to drive her home. She can't ignore thathis new obsession started after his two-day disappearance last week and that hewears a pendant she’s been drawing for months. When the police show up onenight looking for Evan, he begs Julia to run with him, convincing her thatMonica is still alive. Julia agrees to go, never guessing where he’s reallyfrom. $2.99 on Amazon

The Veil by CoryPutman Oakes (Paranormal Romance)

Seventeen-year-oldAddison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see theinvisible world of the Annorasi. Suddenly, nothing is as it appears tobe—the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautifulboy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem. And when thisstrange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed longago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, themysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her. Or so he says . . .$7.99on Amazon

Embrace by Cherie Colyer (Paranormal Romance)

Madisonis familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change tookher long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenlyhate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of othermysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks herluck is about to improve. Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome andintriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret,but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him. Her world really spins out of control, however, whenher best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there anddesperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find theanswers, Madison seeks her own. Nothing can prepare her for whatshe is about to discover. $6.99on Amazon

Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos (Paranormal Romance)

Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled withuncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, holds the pieces ofJulia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever.But Alora secretly conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia ofeverything she holds dear. Littledo they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see thePrince of Vampires overthrown. Can Julia bargain with fate? Find out how it allends in this explosive grand finale of The Talisman Trilogy. $3.99 on Amazon

Howto Date an Alien by Magan Vernon (Science Fiction)

Highschool senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at CirceOperations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typicalmilitary base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens arefriendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. WhenAce, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawnto him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink ofintergalactic war? $2.99on Amazon

FireseedOne by Catherine Stine (Science Fiction/Thriller)

Fireseed One is ajourney into a tricked-out near-future earth where 18 year-old Varik hasinherited a vast ocean farm, following the suspicious drowning of his Marinebiologist father. When Marisa, a beautiful and devious terrorist, destroys theworld's food source, Varik is forced to travel to a lethal hotzone, teemingwith dangerous nomads and a strange cult to search for a magical hybrid plantthat may not even exist. The catch? He must take Marisa along, the only personwho seems to know way, way too much key information. $2.99 on Amazon

The Missing by M.A. Leslie (Paranormal)

Eight-year-old, Ethan Doyle is just a normal kid whose biggest problem in life was to fight for the attention of his busy parents from his older twin siblings. But, after his aunt and uncle tragically die, his family takes in his teenage cousin, Kelsey, and moves to a spooky old, manor house in a new town. At first, everything seems fine, but when he begins to see and speak to a spirit named Lucas, his biggest problem becomes, just staying alive. Lucas was ten years old when the spirits of the house came to him and asked him for help setting their spirits free. Unfortunately, he never made the deadline and as a result the spirits took him and made him a part of the house as well. As he soon finds out, the only way he can save his own soul is to save the souls of the missing boys in the house. With his own deadline in place, Ethan enlists the help of his cousin Kelsey to solve the twenty-year-old mystery of THE MISSING. $0.99 on Amazon

Princess Kandake by Stephanie Jefferson (Fantasy) Available February 1, 2012

In Nubia a woman can be whatever she chooses. At 14,Kandake knows exactly what she chooses...Prime Warrior of Nubia. But hergrandmother has said that she will follow her father on the throne. Refusing toabandon her warrior dreams she continues to train. When her brother is kidnapped,Kandake learns she must be both queen and warrior to win his release! See Author's Website

Middle Grade

Blink of a Dragon by Eisley Jacobs (Fantasy)

Discovering she’s connected to dragons is onething, but when another dragon is caught hanging out in the fifth grade, Meia thinksthings couldn’t get any worse. Is she ever wrong! Trouble is brewing in thecosmos and Deglan believes this new dragon holds the answers, but his hopes arecrushed when the leader of the exiled dark dragons ambushes them. The fate ofthe dragons and possibly the whole world falls to Deglan and Meia as theysearch for the only creature powerful

enough to send the dark dragons back into theabyss. What they encounter along the way makes the adventure worth fightingfor. $0.99 on Amazon

Celebrate 2012

2012-01-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year! Here's wishing each of you the best year ever.

What are your goals for 2012?

1.Get moved into our new home.
2.Have family game night/pizza night once a week.
3.Become a Zumba Queen. *giggles*
4.Release 3 more novels. BEGUILED, DOVETAILED and SECRET ROSES.
5.Meet new friends and keep the one's I've got. Love you guys and gals!!!
6. Have a more VIRTUEous mouth. I'm going to give up the F word. Really. No, I mean it. *sigh* That's it, I'm putting my foot down. No more F word. Period!
7. Learn to make something new once a week. (So, if you have any recipes, hit me with them.)

What about you? What are your 2012 goals?
xoxo

(pic courtesy of my oldest daughter)

Ready for a TRANSCENDENT 2012

2011-12-30T05:00:00.004-07:00

To finish out 2011, I'm hosting an awesome book as part of their blog tour. Be sure to check out the prizes and go HERE to see the other blogs on the tour and win MORE prizes.

The book title: TRANSCENDENT. It's written by Lani Woodland, Melonie Piper, Rita J. Webb, Wendy Swore, Melanie Marks, Heather McCubbin, and Evan Joseph.

I adore this cover. It's wistful, from the colors to the font, to the girl balancing on the mountain top.

Here's the book summary from Amazon: Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawk girl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as the décor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories.

Along the way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlight with a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don’t forget to bring your garlic and wolfsbane—you never know when the shadows will snag you.

Transcendent includes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newest names in young adult fiction.

TRANSCENDENT available for .99! Whoot!!!

And to celebrate this fab book, I'll be giving away an ebook copy of TRANSCENDENT to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment, including your email address, and be a follower of my blog (thanks!!!).

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-23T09:15:00.005-07:00

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has had a fab week. Mine's been crazy good. The kids are home and we've had a great time. On Christmas Eve we'll spend the day with extended family. Can't wait to visit them.

What about you? What are your plans? Christmas caroling? Movies? Spiked Egg Nog?

Also, I decided to release the novel that was under contract with a publishing company (the one that didn't work out - they are no longer in business) - SLEEPING ROSES. It's an adult suspense thriller with romance (of course). I finally have a cover I'm happy with and want to share it with you.

Here's a short summary:

SLEEPING ROSES is available now as an ebook on Amazon. And if you have amazon prime, it's FREE for a limited time. YAY!!!

eBook of SLEEPING ROSES

SuperStar

2011-12-19T07:00:00.015-07:00

Introducing the new artwork for superstar writer Megg Jensen’s bestselling novel SLEEPERS.

Isn't it gorgeous?!!

Megg is re-launching SLEEPERS in January of 2012. To celebrate, she gave the novel a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy.

AND the ebook is on sale now for only 99 cents!

Here's the book summary: An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.

Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?

Sounds like such a great read! It's on my Kindle now. ;D
If you'd like to read some reviews of SLEEPERS, click HERE.

To buy the book (and any of the other amazing novels she's written) click HERE.

To connect with Megg, you can find her at any of these locations.

Website: http://www.meggjensen.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meggjensenauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/meggjensen

Thanks! Hope you enjoy! and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Moving East

2011-12-09T07:00:00.004-07:00

I have some news. Haven't decided if it's good news or bad news. I'm in shock. But, here it is: My family and I are going to be moving. It's been a long time in coming, but it can't be put off any longer.

As you can see from the pic, it's just a short jaunt... NOT!

And here's my reaction when The Hubs told me we'd got the house, terms were agreed upon, and that we could move in next week... I look so happy, don't I? LOL

So, seeing as I've got to pack up a house, I'm going to be absent a bit more than usual, but, BUT - I will be on to give away prizes beginning the 26th.

What plans do you have this holiday season?

Guess Who Won?

2011-12-05T07:00:00.004-07:00

The YA Scavenger Hunt is over. Sad, I know. But let's give a great big round of applause for Colleen Houck, author of the Tiger's Curse series. She made the event possible. And man, it was a blast!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by. An extra special thank you to my new FAB FRIENDS. So glad you decided to follow my blog. Hope you'll come by often.

And now to announce the winner of the autographed copy of EXILED...

#63 - Amber/aLmYbNeNr

YAY!!!

Amber, email me your address and I'll get that right out to you.

YA Scavenger Hunt

2011-12-01T11:57:00.010-07:00

Today's the day! Welcome to the YA Scavenger Hunt.

On this hunt you'll gain access to exclusive bonus material, sign up for giveaways, and get top secret insider information. Hurry! This amazing sneak peek into HOT YA literature is for three days only!

Not to mention, the GRAND PRIZE is sooooo droolworthy, you may cry. We're talking more than 35 (that's right) books, and tons of swag! No, don't cry. I know you're happy, but... go ahead and freak at how fantastic it is.

The hunt runs from today, December 1st at Noon, and goes until Sunday, December 4th, at Noon (Pacific time).
Be sure to stop at every blog. It'll take some time, but it's totally worth the effort. As part of the hunt, there is a special word in RED. Watch for it, write it down, and use it when unscrambling the puzzle below.

Ready to have some fun?! Cool!

Push up your sleeves, grab a pen, and put on your party hats.

I have the pleasure of hosting the lovely and talented Tara Hudson, author of HEREAFTER. It released June, 2011 through Harper Teen, and is the first book in the Hereafter Series.

Tara's bio:
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Tara Hudson graduated with a degree in law, mostly because she believed all the horror stories about English majors and their careers in the food-service industry. Luckily, she soon remembered how much she loved telling ghost stories, particularly to her girlfriends who liked visiting abandoned cemeteries as much as she did. Tara currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband, son, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets.

HEREAFTER book summary:

Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Also, some really exciting news, Tara has agreed to share a portion of ARISE, book 2 in the Hereafter Series.

Once again Gabrielle and Felix exchanged wary glances.
“Tell her, Gaby,” he urged.
She held his gaze for a moment longer, clearly drawing upon his strength for what she had to say next. After a disconcerting silence, she turned back to me.
“Put your fingers on your neck, Amelia,” she commanded softly.
“Put . . . what?”
She demonstrated by taking the fore- and middle fingers on her left hand and pressing them to her neck, just below the jawline. I frowned in confusion but then followed her lead.
After all, what could it hurt?
Only a few seconds after I’d done so, however, I jerked my hand back and shot up to sit rigid-straight on the couch. My eyes widened uncomfortably as I stared at Gabrielle. When she nodded in confirmation, I let out one, hissing breath.
Because, although I hadn’t experienced it in a very long time, I recognized what I felt in the tender skin of my neck.
A pulse.

If you haven't already, be sure to pick up a copy of Book 1 - HEREAFTER. You can find it at these various places.

Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Indiebound

Directions for the SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE: Copy and paste the puzzle onto a document or print it out and unscramble the words as you proceed through the Scavenger Hunt. When you are finished, fill out the Google form here.
Unscramble the words below
1. NVSEIURE
2. MLTSIPIE
3. PEMETKIREE
4. IIHEDOMC
5. FMERLOAHTWER
6. DLENGO
7. IRDEEDEWLB
8. RSUERNEDR
9. AOCATTINA
10. AHNCEDNTE
11. GURENDOHY
12. GAUINDAR
13. RETECSS
14. EMCREAB
15. LORNDDWURE
16. AIRSFCCEI
17. RIASSMHCT
18. RWTHACES
19. RTAAENTNRSP
20. DETLGAN
21. YFNASAT
22. NTOAPHWYP
23. SLLESUOS
24. ECNNEOIP
25. LOENIOASTD
26. EORFWLWE
27. AREEHTFS
28. AAAOLRPMNR
29. HSIGDNA
30. DOBANADNE
31. LIECSHORCN
32. SPSESNEU
33. OTMYHLGYO
34. ELWLHAENO
35. TTOAINRTAC
36. UAUTFLBIE
37. BTRSUTEFEIL
Rules: To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed puzzle before noon on December 4th Pacific Time. All the keywords must be in the correct place, and you must include your full name and address. Entries sent in without name and address will not be considered! The contest is open internationally.

As of 7:35pm tonight, I'm giving away a signed copy of EXILED!

Now head over to the next website. Click HERE

Party People

2011-11-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Last day of November. I didn't finish NaNo... which is sad, but there's nothing I can do about it. Except have my own NaNo in December. Gonna call it the RAWNoWriMo. Stands for RaShelle Ann Workman's Novel Writing Month. ;D Cool, eh?!

As most of you know, I released a little book called Exiled this month. It's been so much fun. Today I'm being interviewed on two different blogs. Be sure to click on the links above to check them out. Also, if you're interested in reading reviews of EXILED, click on the link above or HERE.

Tomorrow begins the fabulous YA Scavenger Hunt. Hosted by Colleen Houck, author of the Tiger's Curse series. Many, many fabulous authors are participating. Let me name drop a few: Bree Despain, Elana Johnson, and Beth Revis ... It's going to be fabutastic!!!

The scavenger hunt winner gets the most amazing prize. You definitely want to participate in this event.

How did your November go?

PASSIONATE ABOUT...

2011-11-21T07:00:00.001-07:00

As a teenager I had big dreams -- of becoming a star. Movie star. Rock star. Dance star. All of them.

I would be awesome.

Except... imagine some of the worst auditions for So You Think You Can Dance and add the episode of Glee where the girl thinks she's the BEST SINGER EVER, but she can't hit a note to save her life-- that was me.

I tried though. I wanted it. And to some degree I had success. I was a cheerleader in 9th grade and on the dance team in 11th and 12th. In college I was in the dance troupe. I also sang my litte heart out in the chorus of a couple of musicals. But that was it.

Still I had enthusiasm for the creative process. I knew I loved being around it. Watching something come to life before my eyes was magical.

Then I wrote a book... and FOUND MY REAL PASSION.

In a story I can make all of my characters do exactly what I want, when I want. They can sing like a songbird or sound like crap. Dance like Baryshnikov or Buzz Lightyear. Anything is possible in a book.

In EXILED, Venus doesn't even know what passion is, until she's sent to Earth.

What about you? What's your passion?

xoxo

To buy a copy of EXILED, click here

A reprint of a blog post I wrote 11-8-11 on the DC blog.
(pics courtesy of google)

A Thousand Years... Love is Always the Answer

2011-11-18T07:00:00.003-07:00

I L.O.V.E. this song. Christina Perri has a gorgeous voice, not to mention very cool hair!!!
She wrote this song for Edward and Bella (Breaking Dawn), but I think it fits any relationship where you completely love someone. "Love is always the answer."

In EXILED, Venus must help Michael find his soulmate. It isn't easy, but the Gods know it'll bring him peace and more happiness than he's ever known.

Did you listen to the song? It's beautiful. =D

Happy Friday.
xoxo

SOLSTICE

2011-11-14T07:00:00.006-07:00

SOLSTICE by P. J. Hoover.

Where Mythology and Distopia meet...

Piper's world is dying. Global warming kills every living
thing on Earth, and each day brings hotter temperatures and
heat bubbles which threaten to destroy humanity. Amid this
Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives with her mother who suffocates
her more than the chaotic climate. When her mother is called
away to meet the father Piper has been running from her entire life,
Piper seizes an opportunity for freedom.
But when Piper discovers a world of mythology she never knew
existed, she realizes her world is not the only one in crisis.
While Gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper's life
spirals into turmoil, and she struggles to find answers to secrets kept from her since birth.
And though she's drawn to her classmate Shayne, he may be more
than he claims. Piper has to choose whom she can trust and how she can save the people she loves even if it means the end of everything she's
ever known.

Sounds soooo good. I love the premise. =D

Meet P.J. :

P. J. Hoover first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. After a fifteen year bout as an electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. P. J. is a member of THE TEXAS SWEETHEARTS & SCOUNDRELS. When not writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing Kung Fu, solving Rubik's cubes, and watching Star Trek.

All her linkage:

Goodreads
twitter
blog

Purchase book:
amazon
B&N

What's your favorite type of book to read?

xoxo

STRING BRIDGE

2011-11-11T07:00:00.042-07:00

Today is THE day to help Jessica Bell's debut, STRING BRIDGE, hit
the bestseller list on Amazon, and receive the all-original soundtrack, Melody Hill: On the Other Side, written and performed by the author herself, for free!

All you have to do is
purchase the book today (paperback, or eBook), November 11th, and
then email the receipt to: jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail(dot)com

She will then email you a link to download the album at no extra cost!

To purchase the paperback:

Amazon USA

To purchase the eBook:

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

To listen to samples of the soundtrack, visit iTunes.

If you are
not familiar with String Bridge,
check out the book trailer:

Rave Reviews for String Bridge:

“Jessica Bell’s STRING BRIDGE strummed the fret of my
veins, thrummed my blood into a mad rush, played me taut until the final page,
yet with echoes still reverberating. A rhythmic debut with metrical tones of
heavied dark, fleeting prisms of light, and finally, a burst of joy—just as
with any good song, my hopeful heartbeat kept tempo with Bell’s narrative.” ~ Kathryn Magendie, author of Sweetie and Publishing Editor of Rose & Thorn Journal

“Poet and
musician Jessica Bell's debut novel String Bridge is a rich exploration of desire, guilt, and the
difficult balancing act of the modern woman. The writing is lyrical throughout,
seamlessly integrating setting, character and plot in a musical structure that
allows the reader to identify with Melody's growing insecurity as her world
begins to unravel … String Bridge is
a powerful debut from a promising writer, full of music, metaphor, and just a
hint of magic.” ~ Magdalena Ball, author of Repulsion
Thrust and Sleep Before Evening

“Jessica Bell is a brilliant writer
of great skill and depth. She doesn't pull back from the difficult
scenes, from conflict, pain, intensity. She puts it all out there, no holds
barred, no holding back. She knows how to craft a scene, how to develop
character, how to create suspense. This is an absolutely brilliant debut novel.
I look forward to reading her
next novel, and next and next.” ~ Karen Jones
Gowen, author of Farm Girl, Uncut Diamonds and House of Diamonds

Connect with Jessica:

String Bridge: http://www.stringbridge.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jessica_bell

Website: http://www.jessicacbell.com/

Blog: http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.jessica.bell

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MsBessieBell

Publisher: http://www.luckypress.com

Please TWEET and/or FACEBOOK this post using #StringBridge!

Dark C.A.R.MA is releasing their books today, too. Be sure to pick up: EXILED, BOUND, and BECOME at amazon.com. And remember to head over to twitter at 11:11am and win tons of prizes. #darkcarma

MY EYES. THEY BURN.

2011-11-09T07:00:00.048-07:00

Week 2 of the Dark YA Blogfest. This week we were to write some flash fiction, in 500 words or less, about this picture.

She rose from the uncomfortable, hard dirt. The November air freezing against her bare skin. Opening her eyes, she searched. For him. But what she saw sent an electric current of dread up her spine.

His bleached, overly-gelled hair remained frozen in the breeze. He didn't have a shirt on, but his long, black overcoat twisted and flapped.
"My eyes. They burn," she yelled.

"Babe, why?" He tucked the tips of his fingers into the waist of his pants and popped out a leg, bouncing a little. "Don't I look amazing?" he asked, his English accent thick and velvety warm, like a downy coat.

She shook the heat away. She didn't want it.

"Babe?" He stepped forward. Arched an eyebrow.

"You, you're glowing. You look like a gigantic night light or a-a super-sized glow stick." She watched some of the arrogance leave his face, but it didn't change her shocked horror.

"So?" He let the question hang.

"I thought you were a vampire."

LOL. It's all I've got.
ps: I love James Marsters and his role in Buffy.
pps: I can't stop giggling, it's late.

Have a great Wednesday! Be sure to check out the OTHER Dark YA blog posts. I'm sure they'll be incredible.

YOU'RE ALL INVITED

2011-11-04T07:00:00.015-06:00

One week until the official release of EXILED. 11-11-11

As you know I'm releasing with my Dark C.A.R.MA sisters, Ali Cross and Christine Bryant.

We are having a HUGE twitter party and you're all invited. It'll begin (of course) at 11:11am and then continue randomly throughout the day. There'll be games, prizes, and guest authors. It's going to be the LAUNCH PARTY to end all launch parties.

Especially if you come!!! And your friends. They're welcome, too. The more the merrier.

The twitter hashtag is: #darkcarma. Whenever you see that on November 11th, you know a prize is about to be given away.

Above is the video invitation we made for you. Hope you like it. Please feel free to share if you want as well.

And can't wait to "see" you there.

xoxo

Our TWITTER handles: @ali_cross, @AuthorCKBryant, @RaShelleWorkman

DARK YA BLOGFEST

2011-11-02T07:00:00.005-06:00

How dark should DarkYA be? It's a chat-worthy question. Certainly, I don't have the all powerful answer. It's a personal choice, IMO. One that should be discussed with your children. And that's where I think Dark YA is great!!! It allows for discussion. Encourages those struggling with scary issues to realize they aren't alone - that words like normal and perfect can be twisted and uncaring.

YAtopia is hosting this blogfest, and I'm really excited to be participating. Be sure to click on the link to the right, or their name and check out the other bloggers as well.

Once of my favorite dark ya novels is: REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly. It deals with death, feelings of loss, and guilt. The issues are handled in a safe, un-preachy way. It's written beautifully.

What's your favorite Dark YA novel?

Some other really amazing Dark YA is coming from my fellow Dark CARMA authors. Check em out.

HALLOWEEN WINNERS

2011-10-31T11:50:00.000-06:00

Freddy Krueger

Jason Vorhees

Everyone who played quessed correctly! You're awesome!

And the winners of the EXILED rack cards are: Leigh, Angie, and Old Kitty. The winner of the EXILED ebook is: Old Kitty, Leigh, Angie. I decided to give you all one (if you want).

Thanks for playing with me. I hope each of you have a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
xoxo

ps: Old Kitty I need your email. You can email me at rashelleworkman(at)gmail(dot)com.

HALLOWEEN FUN

2011-10-26T07:00:00.032-06:00

Halloween is upon us. Mwahahahaha!! I thought it'd be fun to play a game.

It's called:

NAME THAT HORROR MOVIE VILLIAN.

Below are three clues to two different villians. Guess the answers and put them in the comments. All correct guesses will be entered into a drawing to win prizes.

Villian 1:

His mother was a cook at CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE.

He wore a (hockey) goalie mask.

He drowned as a child.

Who is he?

Villian 2:

He stalked his victims through their dreams.

His face was covered in burn scars.

He wore a razor-blade covered glove to kill his victims.

Who is he?

Three winners will be chosen on October 31st and announced here. Each will receive an EXILED rack card and various chocolate candy bars (because it just wouldn't be Halloween without them). And one lucky winner will receive an ebook of EXILED.

Be sure to leave your email address in the comments so that I can contact the winners. And stop by Bookish Delights for more carnival fun and prizes over the next several days. Good luck!

By the way, today (October 26th) is my 15 year wedding anniversary. Yeah, I've been making out with the same guy for a LONG time. LOL. Love you, Hubs!

(all pics courtesy of google)

SKELETON LAKE

2011-10-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Angela Kulig is a busy girl. She lives in the desert against her will and is the author of SKELETON LAKE 10/21 & PIGMENTS OF MY IMAGINATION 11/11 by Red Iris Books.

Here's the Skeleton Lake summary:

Unsure if she's drowning or being saved, all Marlow wants to do is run away. Ensnared in a haunting love triangle, she realizes both boys have holes in their hearts; gaping spaces she can never hope to fill.

Scars from loving the same girl, a girl who managed to stay dead.

Now she is being hunted, for what she has become and what she never asked to be. Even as a Skeleton Marlow isn’t the worst thing in the night—she isn’t even close.

Sounds so good! Check it out.

You can purchase SKELETON LAKE at

AMAZON

Her info is below.
Blog
Twitter
Goodreads

And don't forget to check out , PIGMENTS OF MY IMAGINATION releasing 11-11-11 with the Dark C.A.R.M.A. Tour.

THE WOLFCHILD SAGA

2011-10-15T07:30:00.000-06:00

Karen Hoover has written an amazing series. Book 1 of THE WOLFCHILD SAGA is entitled, The Sapphire Flute. Book 2 is called, The Armor of Light.

Here's the book summary for The Sapphire Flute:

Rasann is a world in dire need. The net of magic that has held her together for eons is eroding and the magi can't patch it fast enough to prevent disaster. Volcanoes spew, waters rise, famine and flood and desolation threaten the world as they desperately await the coming of the Wolfchild to heal their home.

Three women begin quests for identity and freedom from the ties that have held them: Ember, from her overbearing and prejudice mother; Kayla, from the rigidity of the caste that has oppressed her family; C'Tan, from her dark and evil master, the Guardian S'Kotos. One will discover she is the first white mage born in three millennia, another will become guardian to the a keystone, the sapphire flute, and throughout it all the third will try to destroy them both.

Here are a couple of reviews of The Sapphire Flute:

"The Sapphire Flute is a steady burst of imagination and adventure. What a great start to the series!"

James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner

"This book has everything I read fantasy for: excitement, adventure, engaging characters, and a storyline that is completely unpredictable. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Karen Hoover is one heck of a writer! Now I just want to know when I can get my hands on her next book."

J. Scott Savage, author of the Farworld Series

Book 2, The Armor of Light is the continuation. It's a series you're sure to enjoy! Check it out. =D

Buy here: AMAZON

Blog

Twitter

SURPRISE! BANNER TIME...

2011-10-13T07:20:00.000-06:00

Dark C.A.R.M.A. Tour

No, not Hammer Time. Although if you feel the urge to dance in really big, silky pants, I say: GO FOR IT!!

I was talking about the lovely banner above. Can you believe EXILED, BOUND, BECOME, BREATHE, and PIGMENTS OF MY IMAGINATION are having our official launch party in 30 days? It's so exciting.

We've already started our giveaways on the Dark CARMA blog. There's books, bookmarks, bracelets, and (get this) a KINDLE FIRE. Winning is easy.

Stop by and check it out. And if you wanted to put the gorgeous banner on your sidebar, well that'd be awesome, too.

Be sure to stop by Elana Johnson's blog today. She's doing a big hoopla about our books. Thanks, Elana! You're so awesome. =D

ps: I have a surprise. EXILED is available at amazon.com NOW as an ebook. YAY!!! *throws confetti*

CIRCLE OF SECRETS

2011-10-08T11:18:00.000-06:00

You know how you meet someone and instantly connect, as though you've known the person forever? That's what happened when I "met" Kimberley. She's like my long lost sister. And man, can this woman write. CIRCLE OF SECRETS is beautiful. And it's available now!

Book summary thanks to Goodreads:

Critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a haunting story of friendship and family and the power of faith, once again set against the lush backdrop of the Lousiana bayou.
After her mother walked out on Shelby Jayne and her dad, Shelby thought she'd never speak to her mamma again. But with her dad leaving the country for work, it turns out she doesn't have a choice: Shelby has to move back into her mamma's house, deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou.
Her new classmates tease and torment her, so Shelby's relieved to finally find a friend in Gwen, a mysterious girl who lives alone on the bayou. But Shelby can't help wondering if Gwen has something to do with the puzzling messages she finds hidden in the blue bottle tree behind her house. The only person who might be able to explain is her mamma -- but Shelby's not ready to ask. Not yet. It may take a brush with something from the beyond to help Shelby see that the power to put her own ghosts to rest is within her reach.
Kimberley Griffiths Little's haunting and powerful tale brings one girl's attempt to grapple with family, friendship, and forgiveness to beautiful, vivid life.

Be sure to check it out. BTW, on her blog she's having a contest. Enter to win. YAY!!!

Here's all her linkage:
Blog
Amazon
Goodreads

I. Am. Not. An. Insecure. Writer.

2011-10-05T12:21:00.003-06:00

Not right this minute. In the next hour I most likely will be. Or the next second.

Writing is a lot of fun. It allows me to be more than a stay-at-home mom (though, if that's all I could be, I'd happily manage. I do enjoy it soooo much).

Still, many of you know I'm about to release my novel, EXILED. People have copies of this novel in their hands (or ereaders) and it's terrifying. I hope they enjoy the story, enjoy the time they spend reading it. I hope it doesn't suck terribly. (Crap, the insecurity came out.)

What's your writing insecurity? If you have any and want to talk about it, go here. Alex J. Cavanaugh has an Insecure Readers blog hop/forum that you're sure to enjoy.

(pic courtesy of google)

Adorable Bunny

2011-10-01T07:00:00.006-06:00

A facebook friend posted this yesterday. It's stuck with me all night. So I thought I'd share. The world is full of hate, but it's also filled with love. And sharing a little of our love with others each day can make the world a better place. Each of you do that for me - make my world better. Thank you!

Happy weekend! XOXO

GRAB YOU SOME KARMA

2011-09-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

Dark C.A.R.M.A. is throwing a huge release party. Of course there will be prizes, interviews, fun, and delicious books to read - OURS! So put your hands together and shout: Huzzah!!

You're probably wondering what Dark C.A.R.M.A. is? Well, it's an exciting group of YA writers who've come together to release some fantastically, amazing books for your reading pleasure.

The C in C.A.R..M.A. stands for C.K. Bryant. The title of her novel is BOUND.

The A in C.A.R.M.A. is for Ali Cross. BECOME is the title of her novel.

The R in C.A.R.M.A. stands for RaShelle Workman (that's me ;D). If you don't already know, my book's title is EXILED.

The M in C.A.R.M.A. is for Melanie McCullough. BREATHE * is the title of her novel.

And the final A in C.A.R.M.A. is Angela Kulig. The title of her novel is PIGMENTS OF MY IMAGINATION.

Please click Dark C.A.R.M.A. to find out more about each of us and follow our blog. You'll enjoy yourself immensely.

Since the five of us are working as a team, we can do a lot of fabulous things we never could on our own.

Before we can get to the really excellent stuff, we need help spreading the word. And that's where I hope you, my amazing friends, come in.

See our very cool button over on the side? Yep, the one with the crystal ball near the top of my blog. See it? It's rockin. Yes!

If you would be so kind as to grab that button and paste it on your blogs, that would be awesome!!

And if you Blogged, Facebooked and Twittered about us, too. Well that'd be fabulous, as well. Our twitter hashtag is #darkcarma.

The Good Karma Giveaway will run from now through November 10th. On November 11th, (oh yeah, it's a totally lucky day) we will announce FIVE winners. They will be randomly drawn, each to win one of our books. For instance, Melanie will draw a winner, and that person will receive her book, BREATHE. Another winner could win BECOME, and so on.

We are so excited to have the chance to share our books with you, and would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word. We all could use a little more good karma in our lives, right?!

Thank you so much! xoxo

*The cover for BREATHE is forthcoming.

Ping

2011-09-23T07:25:00.001-06:00

I'm sure you've all heard of Ping, the musical connection on iTunes (sort of a musical facebook). I've just recently discovered it. The reason: Each chapter heading in EXILED has the title of a song from the 80's. (It's alright. Music titles aren't copyrighted.)

Michael, the human boy from my book, has the car on the left. A 1968 restored corvette. He calls her Red. Can you guess the title heading for the chapter where the car plays a role? Yep, LITTLE RED CORVETTE by Prince. Chapter 7. Such a fun song!!

If you want to check out the entire playlist on Ping, click here.

What's your favorite 80's song?

xoxo

(pic courtesy of google)

SERIOUSLY, I'M CUTE

2011-09-21T07:30:00.002-06:00

Carol Kilgore from Under the Tiki Hut awarded me the SERIOUSLY CUTE BLOGGER award.

The rules that go along with this puppy include recommending a book, and passing the award on to blogger friends.

I've been reading a lot of books lately, so there are two I'd like to recommend. YA: COLD KISS by, Amy Garvey. I've just started this book and I'm hooked. I can tell it's going to be heartbreaking... Adult: State Of Fear by, Michael Crichton. This is the third time I've read the novel. It's very good.

It's my pleasure to pass the Seriously Cute Blogger award to:

Dezzy from THE HOLLYWOOD SPY. A special thank you goes out to him for making my incredible banner. I love it! He's so thoughtful and such a caring friend. Thanks!

Leigh from That's Write. This lady is amazing and talented. She's just opened up her editing services here in the blogging world. Be sure to check out her blog for fun and assistance with your MS.

What're you doing this Wednesday? Anything fun?
xoxo

That Sucked...

2011-09-19T07:00:00.009-06:00

Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting another fun blogfest. Be sure to click here to see the others and check out their amazing blogs.

WORST MOVIES EVER... I'm sure there are many. I just haven't seen them. So this was really tough for me. I tend to see movies in theaters that I know are going to be great. When it comes to videos, I'll be a little less critical and then with the introduction of Red Box, even less so. That said, I still struggled to come up with any.

Here's two:

SON OF THE MASK - This was just dreadful for me to try and sit through. In fact, I couldn't do it. SNORE!

BATTLEFIELD EARTH (it's sci fi so it doesn't really count, I know - LOL)

Have a fab Monday! Thanks, Alex.
xoxo

Book Trailer - EXILED

2011-09-17T07:30:00.048-06:00

In case you didn't know, EXILED, Book 1 in the Connected Series, is going to be released through Polished Pen Press in cooperation with Literary Underground on November 11, 2011.

I'm releasing with four other ladies, Christine Bryant, Ali Cross, Melanie McCullough and Angela Kulig. Together we are: Dark C.A.R.M.A.! Dun. Dun. Dun. We're getting a cool button and everything. =D

Here's the book trailer for EXILED. Hope you enjoy it.

Also, Deirdra over at A Storybook World, interviewed me. If you want to check it out, click HERE.

XOXO

A Superhero?!

2011-09-14T07:00:00.029-06:00

Talli Roland is having a launch party for her newest novel, WATCHING WILLOW WATTS. It sounds fabulous!!! The party theme is: IF I COULD BE ANYONE, I'D BE... It was tough. A toss up between Lara Croft and Elektra. So I posted a pic of both.

Be sure to check out Talli's book, HERE.

Who's your fav super hero/person?

Crazy Mixed Up

2011-09-09T07:00:00.001-06:00

Writing is like a car wreck. That pic to the left, that's your first draft (or, well, it's mine). Isn't it pretty? LOL
Now you've got to fix it. That takes time, energy and money (you have to pay for those gummy worms/chocolate bars/licorice to keep you energized). Right?!

But when your finished, it'll look like this. Totally fabulous!!!! Shiny! New!

(pic courtesy of google)

ps: Yes, that before pic is mine. I was in a car accident Wednesday. Suffering from a serious case of whiplash, but other than that, I'm okay. =D

xoxo

IT'S OFFICIAL

2011-09-02T13:31:00.001-06:00

Hey friends. I've an announcement to make. EXILED, the first book in the Connected Series, is going to be released through Polished Pen Press in cooperation with Literary Underground. Yes, I'm going INDIE. Why, you wonder? The simple answer is: The time has come.

The release date is: November 11th, 2011. I'll be releasing with five other amazing authors with a party! And swag! And tons of fun! I'll have more info about the gala (yes, it's a gala - LOL) in the next week or so.

Cover created by Steven Novak

The back cover blurb:

Stubborn, sixteen-year-old Princess Venus of Kelari wants one thing, to become a kelvieri, that is, until someone exiles her to Earth, kills her irrihunter and takes her family.

Now she wants revenge.

First she’s got to get home. But before she can return to Kelari, the Gods have commanded her to help an arrogant boy named Justus find his soul mate.

Only she doesn't know the first thing about love.

Rather quickly, her inexperience with human emotion is obscured by other matters—alien-controlled psychotic teens that are out to kill her, and a government group that is set on capturing and dissecting her.

Worst of all, Venus will suffer a painful death-by-poisoning, thanks to Earth’s atmosphere, if she remains on the planet longer than one week.

Still, Venus is a Princess and she's got a plan. Surely, with her help, Justus will fall in love with a human.

But time is running out and Justus is falling for the wrong girl—her.

It's available to mark as: to read on Goodreads.

And you can like my author page on Facebook.

You are the most amazing, supportive peeps I know and I so appreciate each one of you.

Thanks!
xoxo

COVER CONTEST

2011-08-31T21:23:00.002-06:00

A couple of wonderful writing friends (CHRISTINE BRYANT and ALI CROSS) told me about a wonderful contest going on over at A WRITER'S JOURNEY. How it works is that I post the book cover I created and then you all vote for it (because it's lovely).

This cover is for EXILED.

Without further ado - here it is:

And here's what the book is about:

Stubborn, sixteen-year-old Princess Venus of Kelari wants one thing, to become a kelvieri, that is, until someone exiles her to Earth, kills her irrihunter and takes her family.

Now she wants revenge.

First she’s got to get home. But before she can return to Kelari, the Gods have commanded her to help an arrogant boy named Justus find his soul mate.

Only she doesn't know the first thing about love.

Worst of all, Venus will suffer a painful death-by-poisoning, thanks to Earth’s atmosphere, if she remains on the planet longer than one week.

Still, Venus is a Princess and she's got a plan. Surely, with her help, Justus will fall in love with a human.

But time is running out and Justus is falling for the wrong girl—her.

EXILED is the first novel in the CONNECTED series.

Please be sure to go HERE and vote. I'd love it if you did. Also, tell me what you think.

XOXO

BEAUTIFUL WORDS

2011-08-20T11:42:00.003-06:00

STEREO HEARTS by Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine (Maroon 5). The tune is catchy, the words are... amazing.

"My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every note

Make me your radio
Turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo"

I've had those words stuck in my head for a week. And I thought about writing and how, as writers, that's what we want (or at least it's what I want), to have the reader love our words and remember them.

WriteOnCon ended a couple of days ago. It's an online writer's conference. If you're a YA/MG (even PB) author, check it out. Agents galore visited and chatted with we writerly peeps. There were also editors and some amazing writers. So much greatness, it'll blow your mind. And the super kewl thing is, you can still check it all out. Read every word, experience the awesomeness for yourself. You won't regret it.

One of the blogs from WriteOnCon, written by lit agent, Tina Wexler, talked about dialogue. Another agent mentioned a book: LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES, by Laini Taylor. If you're interested in improving your dialogue, check out both the blog and the book.

Here's the opening of LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES ...

There's a certain kind of girl goblins crave. You could walk across a high school campus and point them out: not her, not her, her. The pert, lovely ones with butterfly tattoos in secret places, sitting on their boyfriend's lap? No, not them. The girls watching the lovely ones sitting on their boyfriends laps?

Yes.

Them.

The goblins want girls who dream so hard about being pretty their yearning leaves a palpable trail, a scent goblins can follow like sharks on a soft bloom of blood. The girls with hungry eyes who pray each night to wake up as someone else. Urgent, unkissed, wishful girls.

Like Kizzy.

You can check out Laini's blog HERE.

Isn't that amazing. I can't get these words out of my head either. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful.

What words (to a song or book) have been stuck in your head?

xoxo

YOU'VE GOT TO PERSPIRE TO INSPIRE

2011-08-09T11:53:00.001-06:00

What I mean by that is, in order to become great at our writing (and this can apply to anything you long to succeed at), you've got to do the work. You've got to do a lot of work! You've got to perspire to inspire. =D

Miss Snark has a great post today. You should read it.

She also mentioned Beth Revis and a post she wrote. You should read that, too.

Beth had a little 1 1/2 minute video by Ira Glass, which inspired me. I thought I'd share it with you. It's AWESOME!
Just click the link. You'll be glad you did.

http://vimeo.com/24715531

Do you perspire to inspire or you do have another way?

INSPIRE PIC (found on google)

BE STRONG

2011-08-01T07:30:00.000-06:00

Lately, I've turned my attention to writing a stronger sentence. It can be difficult. Full of word changes, ing's and ly's.

What types of tricks do you use to write a strong sentence?

Book 1 of CONNECTED is finished and I've started Book 2.

What are you up to?

xoxo

And The Winner Is...

2011-07-25T07:30:00.015-06:00

First off, I want to say a BIG thank you to all who participated. My birthday celebration this year was a lot of fun and each of you helped make that possible.

The winner of the $20 amazon gift card is...

Alex J. Cavanaugh

*throws confetti and blows birthday horn* YAY!!!

Alex, send me your info and I'll get it to you.

Thanks again everyone and HAPPY MONDAY!

XOXO

Winner Announced Monday

2011-07-23T20:45:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who celebrated my birthday with me.

The winner of the $20 amazon gift card will be announced Monday, July 25th.

Jacob (my son) and I celebrating. LOL

xoxo

One More Day

2011-07-21T11:43:00.002-06:00

Well blogger friends, tomorrow is the last day. I'll be turning $@ years young (old) and it'll be the last day of my birthday celebration. I'm giving away a present. Twenty dollars to amazon.com. You have until 12:00 am MST on July 22nd to enter.

It's easy!!

Twitter: +1
FB: +1
Follow me here: +1
Follow my FB page: +5
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/RaShelle-Workman/150080088338966
Blog: +5

Has anyone else watched ALPHAS yet? I tivo'ed and watched the pilot last night. My fav character so far: Gary. No, not the Gary from SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS... although I do love him, too. He's just in a different show. In ALPHAS, I like the dorky yet super cool, Gary whose power is electromagnetic manipulation.

Do you have a favorite?

xoxo

Plotter in the POTTER

2011-07-13T15:42:00.001-06:00

Harry Potter! This story is AWESOME. The twists and turns. Plots and subplots. Ms. Rowling knows how to weave a fabulous story. It's hard to believe the last movie is upon us. It's bittersweet. Glad PART2 of DEATHLY HOLLOWS has finally arrived and sad it's going to end. If you've been watching the movies, you've also watched the characters grow up. I loved it in the books and loved witnessing their growth in the movies.

Adorable Hermoine Granger aka Emma Watson

The red-headed cutie Ron Weasley aka Rupert Grint

AND

Harry Potter aka Daniel Radcliffe.

Other character favorites:
Professor Trelawney aka Emma Thompson (one of my fav actresses BTW)

Luna Lovegood aka Evanna Lynch

Severus Snape aka Alan Rickman.

And more... but I'll stop.

I feel the need, the need for a Harry Potter party. Cups. Napkins. Plates. And, party hats! Plus, a HOGWARTS CASTLE cake. Call me crazy, I know it's true.

I'm taking THE HUBS next week and we're going to see it for my birthday. It'll be one of my presents. LOL.

ps: I'm giving away a present. a thank you. A $20 gift card to amazon to one lucky winner. Go here to participate. Or just click on my pic in the upper right corner of this blog.
xoxo

(all pics courtesy of google)

The BIEB (ER) Bandwagon

2011-07-07T07:30:00.008-06:00

At first glance, you might think the kid is a joke. He's short, sorta scrawny and not a manly sort of man. BUT . . . and it's a big BUT . . . Justin Bieber makes all of those traits sexy.

I didn't join the BIEB Bandwagon until recently, when I watched his movie NEVER SAY NEVER. It was so good. He's scrappy. Knows what he wants and fights for it. Not to mention, he's talented! Yes, I said it! TALENTED. And cute, too. LOL

Of course, as a writer, when I thought about this shift in feelings I had for him, it led me to thinking about creating characters. And how, in a novel, this is a great way to make a supposed unlikeable character, very likeable, when the time is right.
Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter comes to mind. Actual name is: Matthew Lewis.

Do you have characters which are maybe unlikeable at first, but turn out totally cool?!

(all pics courtesy of google)

CELEBRATION

2011-07-01T22:59:00.003-06:00

July is my birthday month. I'm going to be 29 (again) and thought I'd celebrate with a blog party. *throws confetti*

I'm giving away a $20 gift card to amazon.com.

Rules:

Be a follower +1
Facebook +1
Tweet +1
Blog +5
Follow my author page: RaShelle Workman author http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/RaShelle-Workman/150080088338966 +5

That gives you a total of 13 points if you do them all. *throws more confetti*

Party ends on my actual birthday, July 22nd.

Thanks for celebrating with me!
xoxo

(birthday balloons courtesy of google)

DREAM ON

2011-06-28T11:20:00.001-06:00

Lat night I had a dream. What a shocker. I dreampt while I was asleep, I know, but it got me to thinking about how many writers start a story based on a dream. One author that comes to mind is Steph Meyer. Her TWILIGHT series began from a dream.

My dream last night involved me hanging from a ladder, over the ocean (who knows how or why it was there) catching Hunter Parrish (I kid you not) by the hand as he slipped from a rung and the both of us holding onto the ladder for dear life as two Great White Sharks snapped at our dangling toes.

It wasn't the best dream ever. I'll tell you that.

Still, could I begin a story with it? Probably.

What about you? How many of your stories start with a dream?

xoxo

(all pics courtesy of google)

WITCH SONG

2011-06-18T17:10:00.000-06:00

WITCH SONG by: Amber Argyle

Okay, first of all, don't you love this cover?! I mean WOW!!! It's amazing.

Second, I had the incredible opportunity or reading it before its official release this Fall. I don't give reviews, per se, on my blog. As a writer, I think of this blog as a safe place. That said, you can find my review of WITCH SONG here.

The book summary:

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 fades, 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.

A little about the author.

Amber Argyle grew up with three brothers on a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains. She spent hours riding horses, roaming the mountains, and playing in her family’s creepy barn. This environment fueled her imagination while she was writing her debut novel.
She has worked as a short-order cook, janitor in a mental institution, all of which gave her great insight into the human condition and has made for some unique characters.
She received her bachelor’s degree in English and Physical Education from Utah State University.
She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three young children.

I want to say a special thank you to Amber and her publishing company for allowing me the opportunity to read the novel. Absolutely fabulous!!!

xoxo

What're you READING?

2011-06-15T14:50:00.001-06:00

Purchase HERE

WATCHED by: Cindy Hogan

POSSESSION by: Elana Johnson
Buy HERE

TIGER'S CURSE by: Colleen Houck
Get HERE

Love these covers. The stories are a blast. GREAT SUMMER READS!!!

xoxo

GAMES, GLORIOUS GAMES!!

2011-06-06T07:00:00.015-06:00

It's blogfest time, baby! Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES... until someone gets hurt (at least that's what I tell my kids).

In this festive fest, we're asked to list our three favorite games. Here are mine.

1) AMERICAN IDOL KARAOKE. I love to sing (not great, but that's why I do it at home). It's hilarious to listen to Simon Cowell. Plus, the songs are fun. My fav song: A Total Eclipse Of The Heart.

2) PHASE 10. This is fun to play with family. Sit around. Chat. Laugh. A great time. =D

3) It's kind of old school, but I love ASSASSINS CREED. It's fun to play and watch my husband play.

What games do you love to play?

(All pics courtesy of google.)

I'm Baaaaaaack!

2011-06-02T17:02:00.001-06:00

"HELLO BOYS AND GIRLS! I'M BAAAACK!"

Blogger is working again. Thanks to everyone who gave me the tips. They worked. Yay!!!

Summer is nearly upon us and one of my fav passtimes is going to the movies with my family. I also enjoy swimming, the library, BBQ's and so on... But, I LOVE THE MOVIES!

Here's what I'm excited to see.

THE GREEN LANTERN - It has Hottie McHotterton, Ryan Reynolds, as the star. Need I say more?

CARS 2 - Owen Wilson and The Cable Guy. Those two are so funny together.

TRANSFORMERS - Optimus Prime. Um, hello. I love him. He's my transformer boyfriend.

The final HARRY POTTER - *sigh* Can't wait.

COWBOYS AND ALIENS - It's just too crazy to miss.

What about you? What are you excited to see this summer?

xoxo

BEAT BLOGGER'S BUTT

2011-05-28T13:24:00.001-06:00

Blogger isn't allowing me to post comments on my own blog or anyone else's. Just wanted you all to know I've stopped by and EVEN commented. But, if it takes more than three tries, I move on.

Just wanted you all to know I love you and I've been thinking of you.

XOXO!!!

(all pics courtesy of google)

THE DUFF - It's what I did.

2011-05-26T07:00:00.002-06:00

Today, instead of doing something super constructive while my husband was at work and my kids were at school, I read a book. (Even better, right?) I'd heard about this book... so I downloaded a sample onto the kindle app for my phone. I read the first however many pages AND HAD TO BUY IT.

THE DUFF by: Kody Keplinger

I inhaled the whole thing in a little over five hours. It struck several chords in me. I cried (there were large sections of the novel where I had tingles because my heart was being ripped to shreds for the MC) and laughed and was amazed by the whole book. All of this before I knew the author was 19 (cue GREEN-EYED MONSTER) years old.

So, that's what I did today. What'd you do?

I'd give it an R rating - just an FYI. And the pic is from google

Tell Me About It... STUD.

2011-05-21T22:35:00.000-06:00

Three Things I Learned at Storymakers

by RaShelle Workman

Recently, I attended the Storymakers conference in SLC, Utah. So amazing. Incredible. Fantastic. There was so much to learn this year, but if I had to list the top three, they’d be: If you aren’t sure, cut it (regarding manuscript editing). Writing is a business and must be treated as such. Don’t send peculiar little tidbits with your manuscript, if you mail to an agent or publisher.

If you aren’t sure, cut it. Bootcamp happened on Thursday. Six hours of intense critique therapy. Elana Johnson (author of POSSESSION) led our group. The girl’s fabulurrssss! Quirky. Funny. And amazing with the “red pen.” I learned so much from her and the other girls in my group. It was awesomesauce to read aloud and receive feedback. Love. Love. LOVE.

David Farland (Wolverton), author of a kazillion novels in science fiction and fantasy, taught a class on preparing to be an author. He explained that, as a writer, we should: write every day, take care of our bodies and attend conferences—that we need to continue to hone our craft.

Agent Sara Crowe, with the Harvey Klinger agency, gave a class on queries and pitching. Her class was a lot of fun. She had examples of query letters that worked and the reasons why. It’s important to feature our novel—let it shine. We shouldn’t bog down our query with “stuff” about ourselves. Make it short, succinct and interesting to read. Also, there’s no need to send weird items related to our novels, as a gimmick.

My one sentence pitch for Storymakers 2011: WRITE AND SHINE!

You can find the rest of the articles for the Author's Incognito newsletter HERE.

(pic from google)

HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

2011-05-16T07:00:00.007-06:00

That's Write and The Word is My Oyster are hosting LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE blogfest. Be sure to click on the blogfest pic above or to the right and check out the others. Thanks ladies for the great blogfest idea. I needed a laugh!

(pic taken from google)

A TAG FROM levian

2011-05-10T17:28:00.001-06:00

Blogger buddies, guess what? Chicken butt! =D

Okay, maybe that wasn't called for. Probably so. No, it really needed to be said.

How are you?

This past weekend I attended a conference in SLC, Utah. I learned so much and had tons of fun, too. I'll be writing about it in a few days. For now, a fellow blogger friend, levian passed on these questions for me to answer. Levian's blog is totally cool.

Go check it out. =D
Do you think you're hot? I'm okay.

Upload a picture or wallpaper that you're using at the moment.

This is on the save screen of my iphone.

When was the last time you ate chicken meat?
Friday afternoon at the Storymakers conference.

The song(s) you listened to recently.
"Just Can't Get Enough" The Black Eyed Peas
"Till The World Ends" Britney Spears
Grenade" Bruno Mars
"Jar of Hearts" Christina Perri
"Chasing Cars" Grey's Anatomy soundtrack

What were you thinking as you were doing this?
My children are doing exercises in front of me and I'm thinking, "Damn, I should be exercising with them."

Do you have nicknames? What are they?
Shells (Thanks Dezzy!)

Tag 8 blogger friends . . .

The Happy Whisk

Jennifer Hillier

Teenage Bride

The Eagle's Aerial Perspective

Kelley's Breakroom

Old Kitty

Under The Tiki Hut

Leigh Moore

Who's listed as No. 1

The Happy Whisk has some amazing recipes on her blog and she loves Wonder Woman.

Say something about No.5

Kelley's blogs are ALWAYS hilarious.

How did you get to know No.3

I met Teenage Bride through bloghopping. She posts the most amazing love letters on Friday's.

How about No.4

Through Alex J. Cavanaugh's blog. The Eagle's Aerial Perspective writes fantastic book reviews. She's a teen sensation.

Leave a message for No.6

Old Kitty - your pics of Charlie brighten my day!!!! Thanks for being a great bloggie friend.

Leave a lovey dovey message for No.2

Lovey Dovey - LOL Jennifer, can't wait to read CREEP. It's gonna be awesome!!!!

Does No.7 and No.8 have any similarities?

Leigh and Carol are two of the sweetest women I've met through the blogosphere and they're funny.

Hope you're having a fabulous day!!!! xoxo

Xyz...Zarus

2011-04-30T07:00:00.003-06:00

Zarus carried her into the bedroom he and Andy shared, then turned and kicked the door closed with one of his bare feet. His usually benevolent eyes bore into hers. Venus noticed his jaw clenched. “Are you finished, princess?” He walked over to his bed and dropped her . . . like a sack of potatoes.

Venus scrambled into a sitting position, gazed at his face, searching for answers. “Zarus?” His name was all she could think to say while she waited. Venus blinked away her tears, incredulous. She wasn’t accustomed to his displeasure being directed at her—so forceful.

“I’ve been trying to stay out of your mind, be respectful, but I can’t take anymore of this wallowing. You want to give up and die! Ridiculous. The past couple of days I’ve watched you move from one bad decision to another, waiting for you to come and talk to me, wondering when you’d ask me for direction. I’ve been your guardian almost all of your life. I’ve kept you safe. Yet I’ve felt honor bound to wait and watch in silence. No more.” He clenched and unclenched his jaw as though he were holding back words he thought he’d better not say aloud. The whole time he continued to pace back and forth in front of her in only a pair of green and white striped pajama pants.

As he walked he’d squeeze and then stretch out his hands, causing his sleek biceps, triceps and peck muscles to flex. Venus couldn’t help but be captivated by him. Magnificent. He was right though. She hadn’t gone to him. She’d done what she wanted, when she felt like it. No wonder he’d been looking so ill lately.

“Zarus, I’m s—” He came over to the bed and sat next to her, placing a finger to her lips. Fresh lemons and honey—the fragrance on his fingers. Venus thought about those flavors on his lips. He loved tea, like an old man. How old was he in kelarian years? One hundred? Maybe not that old.

He chortled. “I’m seventy-eight. Hardly an old man,” he said in a gentle voice.

A little excerpt from CONNECTED: The Kelvieri's Boots

Z: is for Zarus, the yummy kelvieri (kel + V+ err + E) guardian from the planet kelari (kel + R + E).

Happy Saturday.

xoxo

(pics courtesy of google and the victoria secret catalog)

R, S, T, U, V, W . . . Yep, I know my ABC's

2011-04-27T15:21:00.002-06:00

Hello bloggers!!!

Have you ever set a goal and pushed through hell and high water to make sure you accomplished it?

Well, I had a goal. I needed to get my novel, CONNECTED: The Kelvieri's Boots, finished by yesterday and ready to be sent out to Beta's. And, I did it. It's just that's all I did, but still . . . It's done and the beta's have it. Yay!!!!

So, for my alphabet, since I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge with over a thousand awesome bloggers. Be sure to click on the link on the right and check out all of the other bloggers.

R: Ready. Have you heard the saying: Be ready for your dreams to come true. Basically, do everything you can and then put yourself in a position to allow your dreams to happen. I've done that. My YA novel will be completely revised and ready to go by the time Storymakers conference rolls around. I'll be meeting with an agent there. We'll see what happens.

S: Strong. In the business of novel writing, wussy's don't make it. I tell myself that every day. Be Strong!!

T: Over the next week, I'm going to TAKE a break from writing and have fun! I've been diagnosed as being Under Voracious Writing and prescibed a dose of serious fun! Seven days of serious fun. So, that's what I'm going to do. Have fun. Stop by lots of blogs and chat, visit and learn from my fabulous blogger friends.

I'll be watching: and various other Showtime shows.
Reading: Matched, Anathema, Delirium and so on . . .

Love you guys!!!
As, Alex Cavanaugh would say, YOU ROCK!!!