Book Buzzin' and Contests

There are several things I wanted to post about today. The week's flown by and I'm finding less and less time to get the things done that I'd like to get done. But . . . here I go. First of all I have found a few fun contests other people are doing. Rachel Renee Anderson has a fun guess the number of jelly beans one. Become a follower and you get one guess then post about it on your blog and facebook and you get two more. Take a guess and see how close you get! http://rachaelreneeanderson.blogspot.com/
Another book give away is going on by Lynn Parsons. There are several ways to enter that one. One is to tweet and/or facebook about the preorder of her book (Dis) Abilities and the Gospel and provide a link. Not too hard to do. So hop on over and take a look at her site to enter or her publishers site. http://lynndeniseparsons.blogspot.com/ http://www.queenoftheclan.com/ and the preorder link to the publisher http://www.lynndparsons.com

The next contest is to win a free copy of a book that was just released this week. Donna Hatch's Queen in Exile

Rumors of war hang over Princess Jeniah's peaceful country of Arden, a land that shuns both magic and warfare. Following a lifelong dream, Jeniah forms a telepathic bond with a revered creature called a chayim, who is prophesied to save her kingdom. But when a Darborian knight, Kai, comes upon Jeniah with her chayim, he sees only a vicious monster about to devour a maiden, and he slays the beast.

Devastated by the loss of her chayim, and fearing that her own magic is evil, Jeniah doubts her destiny. When an enemy invades Arden City, they slaughter the people, storm the castle, and execute the entire royal family except the princess. Rescued by the knight who slew her chayim, Jeniah is now heir to the throne of Arden and the only hope for freeing her people.

On the run and hunted by enemy soldiers, Jeniah must place her life and the fate of her kingdom in the hands of this trained killer. Torn between embracing her destiny as queen of Arden, and her love for a mere knight, she must ultimately rely on her magic to save herself and her people from death and tyranny.

It sounds like a fascinating book that I'm excited to get to read. It has an amazing cover that I've tried to post with this but for some reason I have not been successful at putting pictures here. If anyone has any ideas, let me know! I'd appreciate any help I can get!

Take a look at Donna's blog http://www.donnahatch.blogspot.com/ and site http://www.donnahatch.com.

Here's an interview with Donna. At the end of the interview are directions on how to enter her contest.

Q: Donna, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Donna: I guess I should say right off the bat that I’m a certified loon. Not only am I an author, which means I hear voices in my head and my characters are more real to me than most “real” people, but I am also the mother of six children. And yes, I did that on purpose!

Q: Tell us a little bit about your fantasy, Queen in Exile

Donna: The last surviving member of her family, a princess must place her life, and the fate of her kingdom, into the hands of a trained killer. But accepting her destiny and her own dark powers will mean losing the man she loves.

Q: Where does your inspiration come from?

Donna: Inspiration can come from anywhere, a song, a movie, a secondary character in another book. Sometimes I can’t trace where the story actually began; it often just starts as a seed of an idea and then expands. I’ve yet to have started a story based on a dream, though ;-) But for Queen in Exile in particular – this is going to sound super lame – (cringe) but I actually was inspired in part by a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Yes, I was one of those geeks who played that game. I’ve always been a fantasy reader, and I’m so glad technology is up to the level needed to produce a truly spectacular fantasy movie. The story itself for Queen in Exile came from somewhere in my heart, but the setting is more of a Tolkien-type world.

Q: Some writers say that they have a story that has to be told, others say that the characters come to them and demand that their story be told… how does it work for you?

Donna: Both ways, I suppose. A character usually comes to me and tells me the main idea of their story, and then I go to work fleshing out both the plot and the characters. Once or twice, I’ve started with a concept, or a problem, and then found characters to deal with it. Really, my characters drive the story; the plot, or the problem, is just a hardship for them to overcome so that they can really grow and shine and ultimately triumph.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Donna: Be persistent. Most people have dreams of writing a novel, but never finish one. Most people who finish a novel never submit it, and most who submit, give up after a few rejections. Those who submit over and over (and maybe go through some revisions) will eventually get published.

Q: What is your favorite thing about writing romance?

Donna: I love the happily ever after. If a book doesn’t have a good ending, I feel like I’ve wasted my time because I read to escape my problems. I want to know good always triumphs over evil and love conquers all – not be bummed because all was lost. I also love watching the romance unfold and, of course, the euphoria of falling in love.

Q:Okay, now for the power round:
Favorite food? Pasta
Favorite dessert? Cheesecake
Jeans and T-shirt, or designer clothes? Um, how about designer jeans and T-shirts?
Guilty pleasure? Chocolate! Okay, anything sweet and decadent. I have an equal opportunity sweet tooth.
One word that describes you? Cheerful
Favorite flower? Pink rose
Favorite sport? Does snorkeling count as a sport?

Q: Tell us about your contest:

Donna: You can win a free copy (and you have four chances if you do all four):
1. Go to my website http://www.donnahatch.com and then find out what is the name of the hero of Queen in Exile (hint, read the backcover blurb underneath the book cover), then send me an email at donnahatch29@gmail.com, telling me the answer to the question and put "Queen in Exile for Free" in the subject line
2. Follow my blog, then send me an email at donnahatch29@gmail.com, telling me you're now following me and put "Queen in Exile for Free" in the subject line
3. Leave a comment in my blog, www.donnahatch.blogspot.com. Then send me an email at donnahatch29@gmail.com and put "Queen in Exile for Free" in the subject line.
4. Friend me on Facebook, (http://www.facebook.com/people/Donna-Hatch/1053967713#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1053967713) then send me an email at donnahatch29@gmail.com, telling me you're now my friend on Face book and put "Queen in Exile for Free" in the subject line.
That’s it!
Remember, for each thing you do, you have another chance to win. Good Luck!!!
Thank you, Donna for joining us. You can find Donna’s book, Queen in Exile, at Amazon, Costcos across the country, any Deseret Bookstore, all Barnes & Noble, and Borders. If you don’t see it on the shelf, be sure to ask them to order it for you and they’ll ship it to you with free shipping.