ESPIONAGE Book Review & Blog Tour

ESPIONAGE by A. L. Sowards book tour hosted by The Book Bug. This book was definitely action packed. I enjoyed the historical aspect of it, and it reminded me of all the people went through during WWII. It was a good read, with likeable, realistic characters that hooked me from the beginning. It slowed down a little bit in the middle, but I had to see if my guesses were correct, so I turned the page. Then the end sped up and it became an easy read. I can recommend this one to almost anyone, especially those who love historical books. Due to the acurate war situations, it wouldn't be something for younger readers. Take a look at the first chapter, here.

:):):)

France, 1944: Nobody expects Peter Eddy to survive his first commando mission—to retrieve a code book stolen by the Nazis—so when he does come back alive, his success is rewarded with an even more daunting assignment. Partnered with French Resistance leader Jacques Olivier, Eddy must identify which of three Allied contacts in Calais is a double agent and use the traitor to help implement a strategic Allied diversion that might win the war. Eddy and Olivier secretly cross the English Channel to confront their suspects one at a time, but what appears to be a clean assignment soon turns disastrous, and a shocking betrayal leaves Eddy in the grip of the Gestapo. With the courageous aid of Olivier and his sister, Genevieve, Eddy evades his captors with a dangerous escape plan. But as the Allied invasion approaches, treachery in the least likely places leads to fresh graves in the bloodied European soil—and only the power of loyalty and love can transform tragic endings into new beginnings.


Now for the interview and GIVEAWAY! You get to choose if you'd like a hard copy or an ecopy, (unless you are outside the US. Then an ecopy will be sent to you).

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is . . .

Mandatory

• Follow my blog via GFC and/or Networked Blogs. Leave a comment telling me so with a way to contact you if you win. Make sure to include if you'd prefer a hard copy or an ecopy.

Optional

• Follow AL Sowards, here. Leave a comment with an email.
• Like AL Sowards, here. Leave a comment.
• Follow me on Twitter, here. Leave a comment.

It is in your best interest to leave Seperate comments for each entry. Random.org will choose the winner on May 5th. Please have all enteries left by midnight on May 4th. The winners will be notified and will have 48 hours to respond before new ones will be chosen.

What made you decide to become a writer?

I’ve loved to read since I learned how to, and I think my love of reading turned into a love for writing. For decades I’ve thought up stories when I’m trying to fall asleep or when I’m bored. Writing down what was in my head was the logical next step.

Who inspires you?

I could write out a long list, because I’ve found that most people, when you get to know them, are amazing and inspiring in their own way. For this post, I’ll just talk about my daughters. They find joy in simple things, love freely, enjoy learning, and help me see the big picture. They also make me laugh every day. They inspire me to be a better person and good example for them—because I know they’re watching closely.

What would you like your readers to get out of your writing?

First of all, a thrilling, “couldn’t put it down” read. I want them to feel like they know and care about the characters. I also hope they’ll learn something new about history and maybe something true about life.

Where did this idea come from?

It started with a high school history lesson about the D-day deception schemes the Allies used during WWII to convince the Germans that the big invasion was going to come in the wrong place. I thought it was so cool—just like something out of a Tom Clancy novel, only it really happened. The rest of the book grew from there.

Who was your favorite character to develop?

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but Genevieve was a lot of fun. I like that she’s not the typical heroine. She can speak three different languages, and make a bomb just as easily as she makes bread. She’s kind and brave and good but also has a feisty streak. 

I also love Peter. I think he’s a character that most readers can relate to. He’s likeable, even though he’s got a few flaws and some bad habits. He’s tough and determined, and sometimes he makes mistakes, but he has good intentions. It’s been fun in this book and in the next books to watch him improve himself and grow through his trials. 

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Don’t give up. But if things aren’t working out, try something different. Go to writer’s conferences, read books on writing, join a critique group. And have fun with your writing—if you don’t enjoy writing it, readers probably won’t enjoy reading it. That doesn’t mean writing isn’t a lot of work, but it should be pleasant work.

What can we expect next from you?

I just submitted my second book to my publisher (Covenant). It’s a sequel, though I’ve tried to write it so it can be a stand-alone book. It includes some of the same characters and some new ones. Now I’m working on book three, also set during WWII, involving characters from Espionage and book two. After that I have a dozen ideas—the books I’m most eager to write are also WWII spy thrillers.

Where can we purchase your book?

Espionage is available at most LDS bookstores and online at Amazon, Seagull, Deseret Book, and Barnes & Noble. My dad is also selling copies out of his dental office, for anyone living in Grant County, Washington.

THANKS!

BREAKING BEAUTIFUL Book Buzzin'

BREAKING BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Shaw Wolf is released today! Here's a blurb and the book trailer. Be sure to check it out!

I can still see his face, the way he tilted his head. How excited he was for me to see the gift. The pain spreads from the back of my head, cuts across my right temple and curls around the smaller scar above my eye.

I’m saving something special to give you on your birthday.

My whole head throbs.

It hurts too much to remember.

  Allie can’t remember the night her boyfriend, Trip died.

She knows they were driving on the cliff road.

That Trip lost control.   

That she woke up later broken and bruised. 

That somehow, she survived. 

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? 

A Tribute to Grandpa

Death is something that no one can escape. It has touched everyone in some way, whether it be a family member, friend, neighbor, acquaintance, celebrity, or pet. When our lives have crossed paths with death, it tends to be a time of reflection on our own lives as well as those who are no longer with us. These silent or spoken tributes help shape our way of living, at least for the next little while.

My grandpa recently passed away. It has brought many things to my mind. As my family and I made arrangements to attend the funeral, the reason for us leaving town brought much sympathy and sorrow. Faces of friends and neighbors would fall as they expressed their thoughts. “I’m sorry for your loss,” and “You have our/my sympathy,” were the most common phrases spoken. I’ve pondered what people said as of late, and found their first reaction didn’t make sense to me.

I understand those kind of sediments for an unexpected loss or the loss of a young person, but for a passing that is expected and actually a blessing, those phrases left me wondering. Now, I realize that that specific information was unknown to most people and some grandparents are young and their deaths are unexpected, but at the time I hadn’t thought of that. 

The more I’ve thought about it, maybe it’s the fact that I believe in an afterlife, and I know I will see my grandpa again, that have made the sorrowful sympathies unnecessary, in my eyes. I know that he’s been released from a state of pain in a sense, since he’s been sick for years. Maybe it’s a combination of all of that, and if people had all of that information up front, their responses might be different. Then again, a time of sorrow can be a time of celebration as well.

Those thoughts were ever present during his viewing and funeral service. What began as a sad moment, turned into a happy reunion since I saw cousins I hadn’t seen in years. We visited, laughed, and caught up on each others lives. Memories of what we loved about Grandpa came out, memories I had forgotten about—like riding in a wagon down the hill (which seemed so huge at the time) in Grandpa’s back yard or climbing up the cherry tree or that he loved Almond Joys or how he would laugh many different ways just because.

A twenty-one gun salute and the presentation of a flag reminded me of his service to this great nation. It also told of the many times Grandpa performed the same service to other veterans who have gone before him.

The luncheon, after the dedication of the grave was full of great-grandchildren running around, screaming, laughing, and having a wonderful time with each other. Grandpa’s legacy filled the church hall with joyful noises (no matter what else parents may call it). It was wonderful to witness the love that has grown from him.

So, I am adding my tribute to those already witnessed, to a wonderful, loving, Grandpa.

I find it interesting that as we think back on the time we’ve shared with people, often times it’s the little things that we roll our eyes at that are the first thoughts that come to mind. And in turn, it is those things we will miss the most.

• I loved the way Grandpa squeezed my cheeks so hard and then kissed me on the lips in greeting and farewell.
• I loved how Grandpa sat and listened to our visits, hardly saying a word, until it was time to leave and we were headed out the door. Then Grandpa started talking and asking questions, inevitably elongating our visit for up to another hour or so.
• I loved watching Grandpa put the same puzzle piece in the exact same spot time and time again, even though it didn’t fit.
• I loved how Grandpa put horse radish on everything, and when I say everything I mean EVERYTHING. We’d all say, “Ew! Gross!” as he scooped up a large helping of horse radish, dumped it on whatever, and put it in his mouth, grinning from ear to ear.

My Unfair Godmother Book Review

My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison. I loved this book. I thought Janette wouldn't be able to top My fair Godmother but she did. No question about it. Everything about it kept me engaged until the very end. The characters, plot, setting, absolutely everything. I can recommend this for anyone-guys, girls, adults, teens-everyone will love it. Here's a blurb and Janette's blog. Let me know what you think.

:):):):):)

Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn' texactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother. 

And the Hoppy Easter Winners Are . . .

So sorry for the delay. We had a death in the family that took us out of town. Thanks to everyone who stopped by! Here are the two winners!

SHAYLA WITHERWOOD goes to . . . Timmi

and

LACRIMOSA goes to . . . Persephone!

Exciting News from Christine Fonseca!!!

I am honored to be the blog that gets to share this info with the world first. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are as excited about this news as I am. Be sure to stop by Christine's blog and my reviews of DIES IRAE and LACRIMOSA. And today is the last day to enter for a chance to win your very own copy of LACRIMOSA, here. Now for the huge announcement. :)




*Drum Roll*




I am so excited to officially share this news with the world. Some of you may have seen a sneak peak of the latest Requiem short on the YASH tour, but in case you didn't...



I am releasing a very special short story that bridges LACRIMOSA and book two, LIBERA ME. The story will release June (2 months EARLIER than originally planned) and focuses on one of the characters in LACRIMOSA, Zanethios.

Everything has a price; and the cost of Nesy's life may be higher than anyone expected.




Nesy's wounds should have been fatal. Fortunately, Mikayel knows something the rest of the Council doesn't - how to counteract Azza's attack. But Zane is the only one that can carry out the task. Will he have the strength to confront something even more frightening that Azza in order to save Nesy? 




And will he be able to shoulder the cost?




MEA CULPA follows one angels quest to save his best friend.



EEP!!! Exciting, yes???

Book Buzzin'--Tres Leches Cupcakes

This is pretty cool. The next mystery from Josi S Kilpack.

Josi S. Kilpack first introduced the world to her culinary mysteries and Sadie Hoffmiller, a cooking aficionado turned amateur detective, inLemon Tart, and Josi has since captivated audiences and inspired edible masterpieces with recipes . . . er, novels, like Devil's Food Cake,Blackberry Crumble, and, most recently, Pumpkin Roll. 

Seven books into the series, Josi had a mystery of her own—what should the title recipe be for her next book? She went to her readers for help and, voila, Book 8 had a title. Set amid the world-famous hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tres Leches Cupcakes is sure to have all the thrills, chills, and quirky grins of the other books in the series. 

After reviewing more than 100 entries, Josi is proud to announce her choice. Congratulations to Lois Blackburn of Bountiful, Utah, for submitting the winning recipe for Tres Leches Cupcakes. Not only did she help title the book, but she'll be written in as a character as well! Thanks to all who participated!

Self Publishing

By Bonnie Harris

I had so many great ideas for this post, but the minute I opened up the new post . . . they all flew away. So here's something that caught my attention on Facebook. Kelly Sonnack, literary agent for Andrea Brown Literary Agency (she also came to the ANWA conference in 2011), posted this link from the New York Times, with the comment that basically said, something to think about. I clicked on the article and boy is it something to think about. I haven't decided how I feel about it yet, since this is a debate every author, I'm sure, is having. What's your opinion?

Young Writers Dazzle Publisher (Mom and Dad)

Sara Jorde for The New York Times

Ben Heckmann, 14, wrote two books about a fictional band.

By ELISSA GOOTMAN

Published: March 31, 2012

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The television news feature about Ben Heckmann, an eighth grader from Farmington, Minn., was breathless in its praise. “At 14 years old, he has accomplished something many adults can’t achieve,” the reporter said. “Ben is a twice-published author.”

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Sara Jorde for The New York Times

Ben reading from one of his books at his school in Farmington, Minn.

As the camera rolled, Ben described how “the first time I held my own book, it was just this amazing feeling.” Then he shared a lesson for others his age, saying, “You can basically do anything if you put your mind to it.”

But his two “Velvet Black” books, depicting the antics of a fictional rock band, were not plucked from a pile of manuscripts by an eagle-eyed publisher. They were self-published, at a cost to Ben’s parents of $400 — money they have more than made up by selling 700 copies.

Over the past five years, print-on-demand technology and a growing number of self-publishing companies whose books can be sold online have inspired writers of all ages to bypass the traditional gatekeeping system for determining who can call himself a “published author.”

They include hundreds of children and teenagers who are self-publishing books each year — a growing corner of the book world that raises as many questions about parenting as it does about publishing.

The mothers and fathers who foot the bill say they are simply trying to encourage their children, in the same way that other parents buy gear for a promising lacrosse player or ship a Broadway aspirant off to theater camp.

But others see the blurring of the line between publishing and self-publishing as a lost opportunity to teach children about adversity and perseverance.

The young authors themselves, raised in an era of blogging and equal-opportunity Twitter feeds, take the notion of self-publishing in stride.

“The world is changing — it’s possible for people to do almost anything they set their minds to,” said Elizabeth Hines (pen name: E. S. Hines), a high school junior from Annapolis, Md., whose debut novel, “The Last Dove,” was recently released by the self-publishing imprint Xlibris.

She has other projects going, too. “The Black Panther,” Part 2 of what she is calling the Trilogy of Aeir, will be published soon (at a cost to her parents of $2,700 per title). She has also written the first two books in a separate fictional quintet and begun a work of historical fiction set in 1500s Scotland.

Elizabeth’s parents debated the merits of self-publishing, said her mother, Jacqueline. Would her writing be criticized? Would she “get a little too much of a sense of self?” They finally decided that “self-esteem usually is not a bad thing for kids this age,” Mrs. Hines said.

Camille Mancuso, 12, of Columbus, Ohio, composed “Through the Eyes of Eak,” about the 72-year-old Delphi from the world of Phea, during breaks from playing Jane Banks in the touring production of Mary Poppins (by the time her book was published, Camille was on Broadway). Drew Beasley, 10, an Upper West Sider with an array of acting and voiceover credits to his name, published “Growing Up ... With Jack” last year to inspire children to be kind to special-needs kids.

Mac Bowers, 15, self-published the 112-page “Running Scared” through iUniverse in February. The hardcover sells for $11.63 on Amazon, where it is described as a tale in which “two teenagers embroiled in a dangerous, international web of intrigue have just one goal — to make it out alive.”

Mac’s father, Timothy, a Pennsylvania schools superintendent, said that publishing his daughter’s work seemed a natural way to reward her months of effort.

“What do you do with something you’re proud of?” he said. “You want people to see it.”

Critics say it is wonderful to start writing at a young age, but worry that self-publishing sends the wrong message.

“What’s next?” asked the novelist Tom Robbins. “Kiddie architects, juvenile dentists, 11-year-old rocket scientists? Any parent who thinks that the crafting of engrossing, meaningful, publishable fiction requires less talent and experience than designing a house, extracting a wisdom tooth, or supervising a lunar probe is, frankly, delusional.”

“There are no prodigies in literature,” Mr. Robbins said. “Literature requires experience, in a way that mathematics and music do not.”

Garth Stein, author of the best seller “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” said he saw how publishing could be great fun for children, but cautioned that “part of writing is living and exploring the world and interacting with the world.”

Alan Rinzler, a publishing industry veteran who now works with writers as an editorial consultant, suggested that parents hire a professional editor like him to work with their child to tear a manuscript apart and help make it better.  “That sort of puts a reality check on it,” he said.

Ben Heckmann’s father, Ken, said Ben’s aspirations “weren’t to knock Harry Potter off the list,” but “to get that good feeling inside that you’ve done something.”

“He can play basketball at home, or he can join a team; here he kind of joined a team,” Mr. Heckmann said. “This is Ben’s basketball.”

Ben’s mother, Julie, noted that while Ben has sold hundreds of books, the family could have simply ended up with a stack of Christmas gifts. “You can put your book out there, but it doesn’t mean people are going to like it,” she said.

Ben’s publisher, KidPub Press, which began publishing books by children in 2008, said most sales were made by the families, who buy the books wholesale. The founder and publisher, Perry Donham, said it was “pretty unusual” for a KidPub author to sell more than 50 copies on Amazon.

Some self-publishing companies charge upfront fees, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, for services that include printing, editing, jacket design and distribution. Others, like Lulu, offer to publish books free — though that does not include even a copy for the author’s shelf.

KidPub, which published 140 books last year, charges $250; that includes light copy editing, five printed copies and the promise of distribution on Amazon. “When the kids get the box of books with their name on it and they see their name on Amazon.com, they’re like little rock stars,” Mr. Donham said.

Kevin Weiss, president and chief executive of Author Solutions, which owns or manages 13 self-publishing imprints, said the company expected to publish more than 400 works by authors under age 18 this year.

“Today, a 14-year-old author has as good a chance of creating a following as a 50-year-old author,” Mr. Weiss said. “And maybe a better chance because they understand the nuances of social media.”

Often, they do not need social media to spread the word.

Ajla Dizdarevic, 12, of Waterloo, Iowa, who has self-published two books of poetry, has been on television and in local newspapers. Being a published author, she said, “was always a dream of mine.” Her new dream: three books by age 15.

LACROMISA Book Review

LACROMISA by Christine Fonseca. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did DIES IRAE, but I couldn't put it down. Christine really knows how to weave a story. I really liked how LACROMISA and DIES IRAE intertwined and the ending left a smile on my face. The characters were so much fun and I can recommend this to just about everyone. Be sure to stop by my giveaway for LACROMISA and stay tuned for an exciting announcement by Christine on April 12th. And when I say exciting, I mean really exciting!

:):):)

It’s been three thousand years since the fall of Azzaziel and the rebirth of evil; three thousand years since the Sentinal Order, an elite group of warrior angels, returned to Celestium. Their job—rid Earth of the dark creatures, the UnHoly. And with luck, end Azza’s rule.

As if casting out demons isn’t hard enough, five-hundred-year-old Nesy has to masquerade as a teenage girl to do it. Nesy is the best of the Sentinals. She never makes mistakes, never hesitates, never gets emotionally involved. Until she meets Aydan.  

He is evil incarnate; a fallen angel that feeds off the souls of others. Everything Nesy is supposed to hate.  But she can’t, because he’s also the love of her former life as a human girl—a life that ended too soon, tying her to emotions she was never supposed to feel.

Now Nesy must choose between doing her duty—damning Aydan to the fiery depths of hell—or saving him, and condemning herself. And her choice may cost her, and Celestium, far more than anyone realizes.

How much will she sacrifice for love?

Hoppy Easter Blog Hop! Int (2 winners)

Welcome to this stop on the Hoppy Easter Blog Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Once Upon A Twilight for co-hosting. I am having TWO winners (int) on my blog, thanks to Cedar Fort Books and Christine Fonseca. So here's what you can win . . . an ecopy of one of these books.

SHAYLA WITHERWOOD

A brief moment of disappointment washed over me as I approached Jace’s lifeless body. Here I was, about to kiss a boy on the lips for the very first time, and he was completely comatose—possibly paralyzed—and would never even know or remember the experience. This was not how I’d envisioned my first kiss—me invisible, him unconscious.

Shayla Witherwood is not exactly normal. First of all, she’s spent her entire life being homeschooled, traveling in an RV around the country with her grandparents. And second, there’s the kind of inescapable fact that her mom was a genuine faerie.

But now that she’s starting a real life in a regular high school, Shayla desperately needs to stay out of trouble in both worlds because even her faerie powers might not be enough to protect her from what’s coming.

In her latest novel, Tamra Torero spins a magical tale filled with laugh-out-loud sarcasm, surprising twists, and spell-binding romance. Perfect for fairytale fans of all ages, this is one story you won’t want to miss!

LACRIMOSA

It’s been three thousand years since the fall of Azzaziel and the rebirth of evil; three thousand years since the Sentinal Order, an elite group of warrior angels, returned to Celestium. Their job—rid Earth of the dark creatures, the UnHoly. And with luck, end Azza’s rule.

As if casting out demons isn’t hard enough, five-hundred-year-old Nesy has to masquerade as a teenage girl to do it. Nesy is the best of the Sentinals. She never makes mistakes, never hesitates, never gets emotionally involved. Until she meets Aydan.  

He is evil incarnate; a fallen angel that feeds off the souls of others. Everything Nesy is supposed to hate.  But she can’t, because he’s also the love of her former life as a human girl—a life that ended too soon, tying her to emotions she was never supposed to feel.

Now Nesy must choose between doing her duty—damning Aydan to the fiery depths of hell—or saving him, and condemning herself. And her choice may cost her, and Celestium, far more than anyone realizes.

How much will she sacrifice for love?

How do you enter? Good question.


Mandatory:

• Follow me via GFC and/or Networked Blogs. Leave a comment telling me which with an email to contact you if you win.

Optional:

• Like Cedar Fort Books, here. Leave a comment with an email when complete.
• Follow Christine, here. Leave a comment with an email when complete.
• Follow me on Twitter, here. Leave a comment with an email when complete.

It is in your best interest to leave seperate comments for each entry. Random.org will choose the winner next week. Please have your enteries posted by midnight on April 12. Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to check out the other participating blogs. :)

Shayla Witherwood: A Half-Faerie Tale Blog Tour & Book Review

SHAYLA WITHERWOOD: A HALF-FAERIE TALE by Tamra Torero. Welcome to this stop on the blog tour hosted by Cedar Fort Books. The book blurb actually really drew me into this book. I was excited to read it. The characters were easy to love, but found that the action really didn't pick up until the middle of the book. Once things got rolling, I loved it, and for me it ended too soon. There could have been so many more wonderful details given once the ball got going. I'm curious if there will be more stories to come about Shalya. Stay tuned for a giveaway on April 6th.

:):):)

A brief moment of disappointment washed over me as I approached Jace’s lifeless body. Here I was, about to kiss a boy on the lips for the very first time, and he was completely comatose—possibly paralyzed—and would never even know or remember the experience. This was not how I’d envisioned my first kiss—me invisible, him unconscious. 

Shayla Witherwood is not exactly normal. First of all, she’s spent her entire life being homeschooled, traveling in an RV around the country with her grandparents. And second, there’s the kind of inescapable fact that her mom was a genuine faerie. 

But now that she’s starting a real life in a regular high school, Shayla desperately needs to stay out of trouble in both worlds because even her faerie powers might not be enough to protect her from what’s coming. 

In her latest novel, Tamra Torero spins a magical tale filled with laugh-out-loud sarcasm, surprising twists, and spell-binding romance. Perfect for fairytale fans of all ages, this is one story you won’t want to miss!