Random Acts of Kindness Blog Hop (Int)

Welcome to this stop in the Random Acts of Kindness Blog Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Read For Your Future. On my blog, one lucky winner will enjoy an ecopy of the book Samara by Andrea Pearson.

When Samara Oldroyd meets the most amazing guy ever, she's frustrated  their conversation is cut short. Her wishes that they'll run into each other again come true when she meets her sister's new boyfriend. It's him! Eeek! 
Inspired by the film Dan in Real Life, this novella will tickle you pink as Samara tries—in vain—to undo her crush.

It's easy to enter.

Mandatory

• Follow this blog via Networked Blogs and/or GFC. Leave a comment telling me how you follow and a way to contact you if you win.

Optional

• Follow Andrea's Blog here. Leave me a comment telling me you do so.

That makes a total of 2 enteries, 1 mandatory and 1 optional. Please enter by midnight on Feb 21st and random.org will pick the winner. Thanks so much for entering. Check out my other giveaways here. Now stop on by the other blogs participating!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop Dec 21-27

Welcome to the Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Oasis for YA. There are over 250 blogs participating. That means tons of fun stuff up for grabs. :) One my blog, you can win a eBook copy of Andrea Pearson's The Key of Kilenya. This giveaway is open internationally. Check out my review here and take a look at an interview with Andrea here.




Jacob Clark's life is thrown into chaos when he discovers a path to a different world near his small-town home. The creatures of this new world are strange and have odd customs, and he is surprised to learn that everyone knows everything about him. Even the evil, immortal Lorkon, who stole the Key of Kilenya. They are jealous of Jacob and wish to control powers he doesn't know he possesses.

Here's what you need to do:

Mandatory:

• Follow me via Networked Blogs (preferred way since GFC is going bye-bye early next year) and/or GFC. Leave a comment telling me which you did with a way to contact you.

Optional:

• Follow Andrea's Blog. Make sure to leave me a comment telling you did so.
• Spread the word. Tell me what you did in a comment.
• Follow The Key of Kilenya page.

Please remember to do the mandatory entry first. I will be checking to make sure the winner has done that entry and will contact that person after the giveaway ends. They will have 72 hours to reply.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Now take a look at all the other great giveaways!

Book Buzzin'--Samara

Samara by Andrea Pearson. Take a look at this love story from The Key of Kilenya author.

When Samara Oldroyd meets the most amazing guy ever, she's frustrated their conversation is cut short. Her wishes that they'll run into each other again come true when she meets her sister's new boyfriend. It's him! Eeek! 
Inspired by the film Dan in Real Life, this novella will tickle you pink as Samara tries—in vain—to undo her crush.

Book Review--The Ember Gods

The Ember Gods by Andrea Pearson is part of The Kilenya series. (Check out my review for book one The Key of Kileyna here.) I liked this book a lot more than the first one. I was able to get into it more quickly and it flowed very well. There were more fantastic creatures and I learned a lot more about the characters. I really liked the involvement of Jacob's brother, Matt as well as the twist that happened. I'm excited to see what happens in the next one. This book receives a :):):):). Here's a blurb and an interview with Andrea!

Jacob Clark has just returned from the world of Eklaron, where he frustrated the evil plans of the Lorkon and returned the magical Key of Kilenya to its rightful owners. His quest is far from over, though—Aloren is trapped in Maivoryl City by the Ember Gods, and Jacob can't return to save her until he receives the potion that will protect his team from the corrosive influence of the Lorkon.

Balancing between this new world and his own proves tricky. Not only has he started his first year of high school, but his magical abilities are bringing him too much attention. He feels pulled by both sides, hoping he'll be able to figure out his special powers to save Aloren in time.

What made you decide to become a writer?

I was serving a mission for my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints), and had only two outlets for expressing emotions: my
journal, and writing home to my family. I discovered a love for words and
their meanings, especially while studying the Spanish language. :-)

Who inspires you?

Bonnie - is this authors who inspire me? Or anyone in general?

Both.

I know he's not in my writing "genre," but Michael Crichton is the very
first to come to my head. He's been one of my favorite authors for a long
time. He really knew how to grip his readers. And I love logical,
scientific type books—he excels at that. Next, J.K. Rowling, for starting
at the bottom of the totem pole and making it so incredibly high up,
maintaining humility through it all. I can't stand arrogant authors. :-)

Anyone in General:
My husband, parents, and readers inspire me a great deal to write new
things that challenge and strengthen my skills. Having a great support
structure really helps!

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

Enjoyment. I don't write to teach, I write to entertain. :-) Of course, I
hope they'll want to read more of my books, but I think that's every
writer's goal.

Where did this idea come from?

We used to live in an old house – when I was a kid. I found a skeleton
key, and used to pretend it was magical. I built on that idea over several
years, eventually adding Jacob and Dmitri to the story. For book two, The
Ember Gods, I just continued what I'd started. I knew my ideas would end
up becoming several books in a series – I would need time to explain where
Jacob's abilities came from.

Who was your favorite character to develop?

The Fat Lady. :-) She's based off of a favorite person in the movie
Matilda, and it was so much fun to create her. :-) Also, I've loved
working on Matt's character, and Gallus as well.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Edit, edit, edit! But don't over edit or you'll remove yourself from the
writing. I did that at one point, and it took a large chunk of time to put
my voice back into the manuscript. There's a fine line to learn, and it's
different for everyone. Also, learn as much as possible about the
publishing world – Indie publishing (going at it on your own, like I am),
or traditional. If you don't understand traditional publishing thoroughly,
don't go the Indie route. (A lot of writers self-publish because they're
afraid of rejection or because they don't want to put the work into
finding representation. I don't recommend doing this.) Make sure you know
where you want to be. Set goals and achieve them. :-)

What can we expect next from you?

Samara: A Kilenya Romance was released today as an eBook (it's a novella,
teen romance), and Book Three, August Fortress, will be out early 2012.

Where can we purchase your book?

Wherever eBooks are sold - Kindle, Nook, etc. The Paperbacks, for now, are
only available through Amazon.

THANK YOU ANDREA!

Book Review--The Key of Kilenya

The Key of Kilenya by Andrea Pearson is the first in a series. I enjoyed this book but it was rough getting through it. The story has so much potential. I liked Jacob although I felt like he took too much in stride. I wanted more answers and I figured Jacob would too. The world created was very similar to Earth and with all the new creatures—which were very inventive and I loved—I half expected there to be more differences. The language between the two worlds to me was the same as teenagers speaking here. I wanted there to be more of a difference, however, toward the end I really got into the story. There were some moments throughout that kept me reading and like I said, it has great potential. I am curious to see what happens next.

(The Ember Gods book 2 in the series has been released in ebook form.) I would recommend this book to anyone who loves an adventure in a different world with fascinating creatures. It receives a :):):) Here's a blurb about the book, video about book, and where to purchase it. Amazon

When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path from our world into another, his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon—evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doesn’t know he possesses—powers they desire to control.

The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob's help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key—and Jacob's special abilities.

Check out what other people thought of The Key of Kilenya on it's blog tour . . . here!