Friday, December 30, 2011

Second Nature Release Party

Contests and prizes and fun, oh my!

Welcome to the release party for Second Nature, Book two of the Forces of NAture series. Whether you intentionally visited my blog or you just happened to stumble in, you are in the right place my friend. Come on in, there's all kinds of games and prizes.

So before I get too far, I thought I'd tell you about the book.

Amelia Hoffman always knew she would be with Nathaniel Peplow forever, but after they bonded everything started to go wrong. Nate treats her like the enemy, her siblings are in danger, and an old threat grows closer. As Nate pulls away and Amelia’s burgeoning friendship with a handsome stranger blossoms, she worries she made the biggest mistake of her life. If sorting out her love life wasn’t enough, a new drug emerges that not only threatens the ones she loves, but seems to be part of something larger than she could ever imagine. Amelia’s new and old friends must work together to not only save themselves, but the whole world.

The book is now available through Amazon and Smashwords and is coming very soon at Barnes and Noble and in paperback. I will be sure to let you know when it available in these other formats.

Now on to the games. There's several ways to win.

#1 Everyone who comments answering this question will get a Natural Selection bookmark and postcard, and a set for Second Nature, all autographed. Just post your answer and your email address and you won! And the question is: If you had to flee your home and could only take one thing, what would it be? If you don't answer the question, you won't get the prize, so humor me and play along.

#2. Two randomly selected winners will receive a free ebook of Second Nature

#3. Anyone who tweets about the giveaway, tagging @somesharpwords, will get a free ebook of Natural Selection.

#4. Second Nature Scavenger Hunt
So here's a biggie. Scattered across the internet, you'll find fun facts about the characters that haven't made it into the books. Follow the links from one clue to the next, identifying each character. Once you have the name, send me a list with the name of the blog and the character on it. Everyone who gets more than four right wins an ebook of both Natural Selection and Second Nature. One lucky winner, chosen at random, will get an autographed paperback of both books. Email your answers to somesharpwords@gmail.com. Start the fun here! If you haven't read either book, no worries. All the characters are mentioned in Chapters One and Two.

And finally I'm offering a special prize pack to one lucky person. All you have to do is leave a comment on my author page to win a ebook of all of 4Corners Press titles, which includes Natural Selection, Second Nature, Dark Corners and Secrets by Liz Schulte, and Legion of Bats by Shadow Stephens (when it is released very soon). There will be questions and games on this site throughout the day, so this should be easy and fun.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

2012 is coming

So I try to stay positive and upbeat, because that's honestly just who I am. But with 2012 approaching, the doom and gloom is really setting my brain to whirl. I want to make it clear, I do not believe some cataclysmic event is going to wipe out the earth next year. That's not to say Mother Nature can't or won't strike, but I don't think the Mayans somehow know exactly what day this old world will stop spinning.

That said, I've learned some things recently that definitely made me stop and think. I've already told you I watch to much History Channel. And this addiction has brought me a slew of "How the World Will End in 2012" shows, though they have less ominous titles, of course. Some of these have made me stop and think,while others make me laugh. So today, I thought I'd share the top three scenarios that I think could actually happen (but probably won't).

Theory #1: Sun flares
It's no secret to most people that periodically, storms on the sun result in flares that can interfere with communication. Anyone with a satelite dish is aware of this annoyance. But what a lot of people don't know is the most active region of the sun will be pointed at the Earth like a shotgun in 2012. That's enough to make you to stop and think on it's own. But we are also due for what they call a mega-flare, which only happens every thousand years or so. What can solar flares do? No, they can not single-handedly destroy the Earth. In fact they can't directly harm us in any way. So why is this a possible scenario? Because they CAN destroy all of our electronics. And I do mean all. So not just your Facebook and texting addictions are in danger. Your car won't work unless it predates the computer era. Your faucet won't have any water for you because the pumps that send water to it are useless. No light, no communication, no grocery stores. You would have to learn to live off the land. And in some places, like where I live in Illinois, that wouldn't be too hard. But what about the folks in LA, or New York? Could you survive a winter without heat? How many of you even have a hand operated can opener. This would quickly break down the human mentality to survival mode, and that won't be pretty.

Theory #2
Global warming is coming. The ice caps are melting. This isn't Al Gore's propaganda, it's a proven fact. And because of the increased weight on the tectonic plates, world shattering earthquakes are eminent. Volcanoes will fill the atmosphere with ash, choking out the sun. Tsunamis will alter our coastlines forever, leaving large swathes of continents underwater. The raising water also raises sea level, so even more land will be lost. This actually fits the Mayan predictions.

Theory #3

The zombies are coming. Are you prepared? Forget asking Santa for a new puppy or a fast car, I'm asking for an oozie! Remember you don't have to run the fastest, you just can't run the slowest. Even now the government is working on a secret experiment that will escape sometime around Thanksgiving next year. The contagion will spread, devouring millions of people who will then help devour more. Resistance is futile and the only safe place is with those of us who saw it coming and have our zombie survival plan. And no, there's no more room in my shelter.

Of all of these scenarios, I think the final one is most likely. As a human service, I have shared this instructional video to help you survive the holidays. Also, watching Zombieland while taking notes probably couldn't hurt. :)



Monday, December 19, 2011

Second Nature's new release date

I have been a busy beaver and it's paying off. I'm so sorry for the delay and I greatly appreciate your patience. The new release date of Second Nature will be December 30. Please come back for exciting giveaways. Anyone who plays along can get a free copy of Natural Selection, to get you up to speed for this book. There will be games and giveaways,  so don't miss out. :D

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

You have the right to remain dreamy

I am proud to be teaming up with Tiffany White today, to share ten hot television criminals. But if that isn't enough to make you drool, we're also teaming up with Liz Schulte and Cait Lavender for ten hot t.v. cops. Whether you like criminals or the men who are always chasing after them, there is sure to be plenty of eye candy on all of our lists.

The hardest part about making this list for me was trying to pick which five criminals I wanted to pay homage to. So many hotties, so little time. But in the end, I think I came up with a list of law breakers that any girl would swoon over.

1) Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge) - Leverage

I've always had a weak spot for geeks, and they don't get any better than Hardison. From his witty banter to his super hacker skills, he keeps my attention glued to the screen. While I freely admit my opinion might be influenced by the fact that I met him and thought he was a nice guy, I chose him for purely superficial reasons, I promise.

Elliot Spencer (Christian Kane) - Leverage
Between his sweet moves and his solid muscles, this criminal was the first to come to mind for me. There's something about the tough set to his jaw and those gorgeous blue eyes that takes my breath away. Maybe Leverage should be on more than once a week...

Syalr (Zachary Quintis) - Hereos
I think the picture says it all, but I'll elaborate anyway. The intense dark eyes really make this criminal a spine tingler, but in the best way possible. Sylar is a predator and he's ok with that. And though the series fizzled near the end, I watched it most of the way just to spot this yummy bad guy.

Zane Donovan (Niall Matter) - Eureka
Another hot geek on my list. From the moment he appeared in Eureka, Zane isn't afraid to break the rules. His devil may care attitude and general disheveled appearance somehow make him a little bit dreamier.

Spike (James Marster) - Buffy
Spike showed up in Sunnydale as a blood thirsty vampire who enjoys terrorizing the fast food he found there. In the end he mellowed out some, but I think it was more the anti-violence ship than any true softening. At least that's what I tell myself. Maybe I just dig the 80's punk Billy Idol look, but despite the fact that he's old enough to be my father, I can't stop looking when he's on screen.

So that's my list, but don't stop now, there's so much more hotness to share. Make sure you peek to see who made Tiffany, Liz and Cait's lists.


Monday, December 12, 2011

Do YOU beleive?

As an urban fantasy author, I deal a lot with legends, myths and tales of the supernatural. I'm sure it's no surprise then that I love any shows that deal with mysteries and the unknown. I was watching a program today and couldn't help thinking about belief.


A person's beliefs are as unique as the people themselves. Everyone has their own ideas. Now I'm not talking about religion, because that's not a topic I like to talk about publicly. I'm talking the kind of elements I deal with in my stories—ghosts, aliens, mythological creatures.

Many of these stories are sprinkled liberally around the globe. The myths had to come from somewhere, so how did they spread through isolated civilizations with so many similarities? Let's take dragons, for example. I've heard all kinds of suggestions from them actually existing to ancient cultures trying to figure out dinosaur bones. The truth is we can never really know the true origins of these tales, or how much truth they hold. And we probably won't find out in this life. So in the end, it all comes down to—-What do you believe?

Monday, December 5, 2011

#WinnerWonderland Christmas Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Tanya Bright, the winner of the Winner Wonderland giveaway! Thank you so much to everyone who entered.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

#WinnerWonderland Christmas Giveaway

Welcome to the Winner Wonderland Giveaway Event. This event is hosted by Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink, Seeds of Life, And The Little Ones Too and Taking Time For Mommy. This event features giveaways with a value of $25 or more at each of the participating blogs! Check out all of the great Winner Wonderland Sponsors being featured in this event! Be sure to visit each blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win! This event will close on December 4th at 11:59 pm EST.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

I got Secrets...

While Olivia Martin observed life through her camera, the abyss gazed back at her. She discovers mysterious men follow her around, people close to her are dying, and her dreams are no longer her own as she falls head over heels for a perfect stranger. A chance encounter leads to an obsession that could destroy everything she has ever known or loved. Olivia is about to find out there is a lot she doesn't know and sometimes what you don't know can kill you.


Excerpt: I needed space. I pushed my way out of the door and directly into a person trying to walk in. The man was an immoveable wall and nearly crushed me as I smashed into him and stumbled backwards.
“Sorry,” I muttered, then squeezed past, not at all deterred. The cool night air hit my lungs at the same time a hand grabbed my arm.
I jumped, startled, and my feeling of claustrophobia melted into extreme annoyance. I glared and intense green eyes returned my stare, drilling into me as if I was both offensive and intriguing.
“I said I was sorry.” I pulled my arm from his grasp. My eyes, however, stayed locked to his.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Green Christmas Giveaway Winner

I have had the greatest experience with this giveaway/blog hop. I've met some amazing people and learned about some great products. Sadly there can only be one winner, so I am proud to announce Tanya Bright is the winner of the relaxation basket. Thank you so much to everyone who entered, and come back next Sunday for another amazing giveaway...

Monday, November 14, 2011

Natural Selection Book Tour Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much everyone for the overwhelming response to my tour. I'm absolutely thrilled to have met everyone that was part of the tour. Now onto the good stuff. The winner of the prize pack is Valerie Zavala. Congratulations!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Green Christmas giveaway

Home Grown Families


Better late than never.... I am proud to be part of the First Annual Green Christmas Blog Hop hosted by Home Grown Families and Just My Everyday Life. Over forty blogs are offering prizes that are eco-friendly, sustainable, upcycled and recycled, as well as items from independent consultants, authors and Etsy. Check out the rafflecopter below to see how you can win. Finding my prize took a lot of head scratching and some advice from friends, but I am offering an organic relaxation basket. Everything you'll need for a relaxing pamper session Amelia would love.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Second Nature's release will be delayed.

Sorry, folks, I know it's disappointing, but the release will have to be pushed back a couple of weeks. I am having some medical issues and need to concentrate on getting better. The book is in the editing process and should be done soon, but I don't know how long my body will need to recover. I will give an official release date as soon as I can. I apologize for those of you who are waiting for the release, but I want to give you the best book I can. I hope everyone understands.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Character Monday


This week I'd thought I'd discuss some of my favorite characters on tv. There has been a slew of new programs this fall and I'm loving it. In fact there are so many new programs I am interested in, my DVR can't keep up. Though this list isn't restricted to the new shows, some of the characters might come from them.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Winter is on it's way, or so my thermostat says

So winter is definitely coming. They're saying this year will be a hard one, too. Winter's always been hard on me, because I'm very conflicted about the season. I love snow and Christmas, but I don't like cold. As I said, conflicted. I spend a lot of time wishing for a big storm, the kind that shuts down the city. I don't wish that too loud because people tend to get mad at me for it. I also love ice storms, the whole state is all shiny and filled with wonder. I know it's hard on the trees and dangerous for people, so the wonder is a little sullied, but it doesn't seem to diminish it much.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Natural Selection Book Tour Giveaway


Welcome to my blog. Whether you followed me here from the book tour or are a regular reader, you're going to be glad you checked me out, This blog is your ticket to win. At the end of my tour, on November 12, I will be drawing one random winner for the grand prize pack.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Fantasy Friday


It's really sad that the focus of my writing, urban fantasy, is the most neglected of my new scheduled posts, so I will remedy that. Though it is Saturday, I intend to do a Fantasy Friday post today. And for that guest post I would like to discuss a topic a lot of people have mentioned about my writing. Today I'd like to talk about my supernatural creatures.

I do not like reading the same old books. I want new, original and creative. I don't want someone to chew Twilight, Vampire Diaries, and Interview with a Vampire and spit out some regurgitated version of a vampire book. I'm not asking an author to reinvent the wheel, but don't go cliche, and don't give me the same books I'm sick of. A little creativity never hurt anyone. And I'm not saying I won't read vampires, because that's not the case either. I just like to read something new.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Blog Tour

Come along as I hit the virtual road. Promotional Book Tours has put together a great book tour for Natural Selection. Everyday I will post the day's stop so you can all join in for the contests, reviews, guest posts and interviews.

Today's stop is For the Love of Books. Check it out for a review and a chance to win. :D

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Writer Wednesday


Every writer has gone through it at some point. Call it writer's block, a missing muse, a lack of inspiration. Whatever you want to call it, it's never a pleasant feeling to stare at the blinking cursor, your mind as empty as the page your blank gaze looks through. It's not that you don't have an idea, you just can't seem to find that connection. It happens to us all. Even the greats. But fear not, my scribbling friends, there is hope on the horizon. Today I am chock full of tricks to get that inspiration back.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Character Monday


Sariah here, and welcome to Character Monday. I have hijacked this blog since it is seriously lacking in style, so I thought I'd spruce the joint up a little. If there's one thing I know, it's what looks good, but sharing my sense of fashion with others is a little more challenging. I know people believe I roll out of bed looking perfect, and while the cards are stacked in my favor on that front, it's not entirely true. I start my morning with a long steamy shower with exfoliating wash to slough off dead skin cells and give me the radiant glow I am known for. Then after the proper application of lotion and perfume, I blow dry and style my hair to perfection. This usually involves a blow dryer, a curling iron, lots of hair spray and a good comb. Finally I apply my makeup, a smoky eye usually, since it suits the cat shape of my eyes. Finally I choose my clothes. I'm currently into a layered look, lacy cami, well cut shirt and tailored jacket.


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Writer Wednesday

So today for Writer's Wednesday, I thought I'd let you in on what in my opinion is the most important tool in a writer's arsenal, your support system. It great to have family and friends rooting you on, but that's not necessarily what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about other writers you can turn to for advice and help, critique partners and beta readers.

A writer's mind is a very unique place. The average person goes through their day cataloging events that seem important for later recall. A writer on the other hand, is constantly cataloging every minute detail that would make for interesting characters. Every twitch, fidget and overly loud phrase becomes fodder for use to feed into the giant maw in our heads that chews up our day and spits out compelling fiction--or at least we think it is. The ordinary people in our life just don't get that while our conversation about the person they sat next to on the bus is very interesting, our minds are recording every detail of the strange man pacing while yelling into his cell phone, creating his back story and possibly even a little bit of plot for him. It's not our faults, it's just so hard to turn off. And everywhere we go there is a story.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Character Monday

Please forgive the late post, in the hustle and bustle of getting ready to leave home I forgot to schedule my blogs. Today I am pleased to welcome Amelia Hoffman with this weeks Character Monday post.


I am honored to be invited to share with you all this lovely September day. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Amelia Hoffman. I'm just about to turn 16 (later this week) and I live in Jacksonville, FL. At least for now. It's been a little crazty for me the last year,  but things finally seem to be calming down now. 

When I first was invited to share a post I had no idea what I should talk about, but I finally found a topic i could discuss. Sotoday I'm here to talk to you about some of the organic things I use, since my body can't handle anything man made. 

Do you have any idea how impossible it is to cut all chemicals out of you life? The hardest one for me has been water, but after many mishaps I discovered the answer to this one is actually very simple. I use regular tap water and boil in a special bottle that passes the vapors through a tube and cools them until they condense back into water again. All the impurities and chemicals that were added are left in that white film on the sides of the now empty bottle. It looks somewhat like a mad scientist's experiment or maybe a moonshiner's still. It's a little easier for me since I have some connestion and get regular shipments from a Gaia colony in Canada  who get the stuff from glacial springs.

Makeup wasn't easy. I was lucky that my mother was really into makeup and taught me everything she knows. There are a couple brands that use natural products, and thanks to the internet they're available everywhere. My favorite brand is Aveda, though I have to read the ingredients because a few of their products have preservatives. I do a lot of holistic things, like olive and almond oil instead of lotion for my skin. If I wanted to color my hair, there are options for that too, most notably henna (though why would I want to make it redder?). There are options to make me look like any other woman in the world, I just have to work a little harder at it. But if you think about it, the ancient Egyptians had both makeup and dye, so there has to be things out there to use. 

Aside from makeup, food has been a major obstacle. I can't think of a restaurant that I can eat at, because the need to mass produce things doesn't allow for things to grow naturally. My food comes from my garden with a little bit of supplementation from an organic market. But it's hard. Even organic food sometimes still uses some man made substances, and I can taste it if the farmer's field was down wind from a farm that sprayed pesticide. 

I tell you what. Kermit the frog hit the nail on the head. It ain't easy being green.

Thank you for stopping by, And thank you Amelia. Hopefully next week I will have our first guest post for character Monday, but we'll see.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Fantasy Friday


With the premeire of Secret Circle airing last night (I did not watch it, though I wanted to.) I thought the perfect topic for my first Fantasy Friday would be the topis of the changing roles of witches. Today they can be found everywhere, from televison, books and movies to your local Borders (Errr.... Maybe not anymore, but that's where they used to meet here...). My, Boomhilda, how you've changed. So how did we as a society move from mass killing in the name of religion to Samantha and the Halliwell sisters?

Witches have been around for as long as there have been men struggling to understand the world around him. In the bible (Exodus 22:18) it states "Suffer not a witch to live." And the word witch appears in seven other scriptures, all declaring witches as an evil force to be gotten rid of. And witches have played the villain countless times throughout history, both in fiction and real life. Whether the play that must not be named (*cough*Macbeth*cough*), the witch-goddess that turned Odysseus's men into pigs, or a green faced hag after her pretty, witches were believed to have struck a pact with the Devil in return for unholy powers.

So how did we make the move from die, witch die to which witch to watch? In the middle ages some "white witches" or "wise men or women" (You, one belief on the Biblical travelers is that they practiced white magic), so there have always been good witches. But the shift didn't really start in force until the 19th and 20th century, with the rise of neo-paganism, or Wicca. 

A change in thinking, a fall off in rabid religious views and a young country where people were free to practice whatever religion they chose brought the witch out of the shadows and began to paint her as the misunderstood hero. We still get evil witches, but now there's just as many if not more good witches. It has been a long and terrifying journey, but the witch is back and i don't think she's going anywhere anytime soon...

Edit:  Sorry, stupid Blogger didn't actually post this this morning...

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Writer Wednesday


Welcome to the first edition of writer Wednesday. For my first post I thought I'd tackle a topic near and dear to me, pen names. Before I get started I want to make things clear. I use a pen name. No, I am not a hypocrite, I chose my name for good reason, which I will discuss. But in general I don't think they are the best option. 

I've heard three reason for people to use a pen name:
  1. Privacy
  2. Seperating the writer from the everyday life
  3. Marketing
Now there might be other reasons people choose pan names, but these three are the main ones, so let's discuss them.

Privacy
I can't begin to tell you how many writer's I've heard say they use a pen name becuse they are a private person. While I apologize to these people, I'm about to burst that bubble. In these modern times, there is no such thing as privacy. Anyone who knows how to use Google can take the facts from your author's bio and figure out the "real" you. Every post you make has the potential to point people to you. Even something as simple as an author photo can now be used to find you. Don't beleive me? Do a Google image search with your author's photo and see what comes up. 

The thing is, using a pen name gives you a false sense of security. People are going to figure out who you are. you need to be ready for the thin facade to come crumbling down. You don't want to look like the "Great and Powerful Oz, manipulating your fake persona while everyone stares at you uncovered.

Separating the writer from your everyday life
I get people, honest. You don't want strangers looking at photos of your kids. You don't want Great-Grandma to read the smut you write. You're terrified of the person at the next desk eyeing you askance wondering if you get up to the same crazy exploits of your characters. Sadly, a pen name doesn't portect you from these things. As listed above, anyone who know how to use Google can find you. And while I don't see Great-Grandma tracking you down herself, it has been proven in the media that someone is always willing to look and they will not keep quiet. In fact, they will see your attempts to hide as a reason to dig. This was made all to clear when the local media outed Julie Buranich as erotic novelist Judy Mays. As a result parents rose up in outrage, but Judy kept a level head and came through the fire storm, but it definitely proves the point that the truth has a way of coming out. 

Marketing
Now here we find the reason for my pen name. I am very open about the fact that i use one and in fact, my real name appears on my Library of Congress application. Why did I feel the reason to change my name if I don't believe in pen names for the most part. Because some names just work against you. I'm not talking about an unpronounceable name like Dostoevsky or bland names like Dan Brown (see what I just did there, made my point fairly effectively, I think.). But some names just don't work. I'm not going to buy a used vehicle from Tom Raper (and anyone who's driven I-70 through Indiana knows I'm not making this name up) and I don't know if I would buy a book from a girl named Dull. So I decided it would be easier to market myself as Sharp, which for those not following along at home is the opposite of dull. As for Elizabeth it was my grandmother's name and sounded better.  AS long as I was changing my name, why not? 

Honestly, if I could go back I don't think i would do it again. It's been a pain maintaining two separate online personas. People in my personal life want to keep hearing from me, but I also have to spend time networking and building a platform. And sometimes I feel like I don't know how to turn Elizabeth off and just be in my life. And maybe these are just my weird issues and you can call the nice young men in the clean white coats now. ;)

So hopefully you aren't furious with me. I understand that I'm not going to put an end to pen names and that isn't what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to make people think before they embrace an alter ego, simply because they're afraid of their personal life being changed. Trust me, it's going to change with or without a pen name. And if you do decide to use a pen name, I'm not judging, i just want to make sure you have all the facts first.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Character Monday



So for my very first Character Monday, I thought I'd spend some time discussing my favorite characters. And I know I've done this before, so to shake things up, I can only use characters from books I've read in the last six months. And since it seems like a nice round number, we'll go with a top ten list.

10. Kaylee Cavanaugh ~ Soul Screamers Series by Rachel Vincent
Ok, so this one is really stretching the six months mark, but I read a book from the series in May, she just wasn't in it for the most part. I absolutely loved the Soul Screamers books. There are so many werewolves, vampires, and fae out there, it's nice to know I'm not the only on who realizes how much untapped lore is out there. And Kaylee is a very human character that I can relate to. She makes the wrong decisions, is sometimes too hard on people, but it is her flaws that make it easy to connect with her.

9. Miki Kendrick ~ Go Fetch~ Magnus Pack Book 2 ~  Shelly Laurenston
Miki is a kick ass girl who doesn't take crap from anyone, earning her a place on this list. She's tough as nails and not afraid to wade in despite the fact she's severely outgunned. She is fiercely loyal and protective of her friends. The only thing this girl doesn't know how to handle is smoking hot Viking shifter,  Conall Víga-Feilan. Definitely on the spicy side and not intended for younger readers.

8. Tiff Banks ~ Along Came a Demon~ Linda Welch
Tiff's life has been stunted by her bizarre gift, but nothing could prepare her for the journey she's about to embark on. With a wonderful blend of strength and vulnerability, she sets out to discover who killed one of her neighbors and winds up discovering a whole world she never knew about.

7. Sidney Venery ~ The Kindness of Strangers ~ J.A. Titus
Perhaps I relate to the character more because of my own past, but Sidney's perseverance got her onto this list. Despite her horrible past and continuous setbacks, Sidney somehow manages not only to soldier on but to be optimistic about it. I felt for her every step of the way.

6.Wendy Everly ~ The Trylle Trilogy ~ Amanda Hocking
Say what you want about Hocking, but I truly loved Wendy. Her refusal to give up no matter how many times people told her it was impossible was admirable, but it was her doing what she felt was right despite what her heart said that truly endeared her to me.

5. Jazz Tremaine ~ 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover ~ Linda Welch
A beautiful mix of sassy wit and tough witch, Jazz has a soft spot she doesn't want the world to know about. From chapter one her snarky comments dripping with sarcasm kept me enthralled. And let's be honest, who doesn't love snarky sarcasm?

4. Nicole Keenan ~ Burden of Blood ~ Wenona Hulsey
Nicole has been suffering with her ability to hear the worst thoughts the only way she knows how, by shutting herself away. Watching her struggle as things get weird, you have to admire her strength and her determination. Yet despite the fact that she is locked in a devastating struggle, she refuses to let go of what makes her human.

3. Gwen Sparks ~ Craved ~ Stephanie Nelson
One part sassy witch, one part emotional woman and all parts wonderful, Gwen is fairly well rounded individual. She is still heart broken, but she's not going to stop living her life. As her heart drags her kicking and screaming back into action, she is soft and feminine, but still tough. And she certainly isn't afraid to wade in to trouble to protect the people she cares about.

2. Ree McKenna ~ Mortal Obligation ~ Nichole Chase
In the start, Ree is very soft and vulnerable. It is her ability to adapt and roll with the punches that makes her stand out of the crowd. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is at times terrified, yet she pushes through it. This is what makes her so loveable.

1. Ella Reynolds ~ Dark Corners ~ Liz schulte
Ella is delightfully flawed, and she knows it. And she's ok with it. Her pure stubbornness and refusal to change, despite her own acknowledgement that she is broken makes her one of the my all time favorite characters.

So there you have my top ten favorite characters. It wasn't intentional but they're all leads and all females. Wonder if that says something about me?

Now it's your turn. Who's your favorite character?

Friday, September 9, 2011

New blog setup

So I'm working out a blog schedule to keep things new and fresh around here. I'm thinking this will be the basic line-up...

"Character Mondays" I will be writing posts as various characters, giving you info about a character, interviews, muse photos, whatever, it will be related to characters. Mine or someone else's.

"Writing Wednesday" I will have tips, tricks and info about writing. I might look into getting some other people I admire to guest post here.

"Fantasy Friday" will look at all those things that go bump in the nights. Myth origins, other works that fall within the realm of Urban Fantasy that I would like to discuss, and any fun topic that touches on the supernatural beings that are living amongst us.

The other two days are for fun and random, possibly not dealing writing at all. We'll see how these three go and perhaps more themes will emerge... Join me Monday and we'll see how it goes! :D

Sunday, September 4, 2011

DragonCon Day Three


So today was the final day of seminars. Tomorrow it is back to reality. DragonCon has been a unique experience and I have learned so much. I highly recommend anyone who wants to write to attend a seminar like this. DragonCon is an experience I won't soon forget. 

Saturday, September 3, 2011

DragonCon Day Two

I spent most the day in seminars so I didn't get to do much people watching. So far this has been very informative and I highly reccomend if you are interested in writing and get a chance, you should attend a seminar hosted Michael Stackpole.

Ok, moving on.

One of the things i attended today was a panel on Young Adult fiction, The Darkness: What is Appropriate for Teens. Four YA authors discussed their opinions and reaction to the New York Times article about teen fiction being too dark nowadays, and the follow up movement by Cheryl Rainfield against it. The issue raised by the panel is that young adult literature has been around for forty years. There has been trends through the ages blaming everything from rock n' roll to comic books to video games. Now it's books turn. The thing is, teenagers have built in censors that say "Don't do that." Admittedly sometimes they aren't as strong as they should be, but heck there are some adults I can think of that the same could be said about. The thing is that the teens predispositioned to act on these ideas would find them somehow, or would find something else. Blaming books, or tv, or anything else for that matter is a cop out.

One major problem addressed by the panel is that the author only looked at the books available in their local bookstore. That's like looking at a classroom of students and deciding since most of your students have red hair, most the children in the world have red hair. It's kind of absurd if you think about it.

The reality is our world is darker today. Teens are subjected to all manners of darkness and violence in their day to day lives. A child that has not been abused personally might know someone who has. I think it's ridiculous to blame fiction for modern problems. If you look closer at some of the very works she rips apart for their content, you find not a only a story that greatly appeals to teens, but also a message that they may relate to, maybe even need in their lives. don't blame the fiction. If you are concerned with what your teens are experiencing, you're gonna need to invest in a barrel. The truth of the matter is you can't protect them forever. The idea is to be proactive, stay ahead of the curve. Try to have discussions with your teen about the themes they are encountering in books you think might be too dark for them. And don't be afraid to read some of these books yourself. You never know what it might make you think.

The books aren't getting darker, they're just more plentiful. I hope the people who complain about The Hunger Games  is aware that young teens are reading To Kill a Mockingbird, A Clockwork Orange, The Jungle and other titles in school as assignments.

How about you? Where do you think the burden of responsibility should fall when it comes to the dark content in teen fiction? The author? The parents? The publishing companies?

Friday, September 2, 2011

DragonCon Day One

So there was a lot of fun today. As an author, I am a people watcher by nature and there is no better place to engage in this amusing pass time.


 Where ever I looked there was so much going on my brain had trouble taking it all in. Fortunately my camera had no such problems with that. Otherwise I would have missed this glorious shot of Moses and a Federation officer in deep discussion.
We discussed what we would do if we saw a Zombie, but fortunately Shaun of the dead was on hand to help us keep them at bay.
I might have whiplash but it was worth it. My brain is so full of ideas I don't know if I'll be able to get them all down and I still have two days left. And the best part about it was getting to share with two good friends.
So I learned a lot that you don't want to hear about (except when you read my books) but for me, the true highlight of the day was getting to see the creativity of other people. I'm so looking forward to the next couple days. So for now I leave you with the parting thought, that in all my people watching, I found Waldo. (He wasn't that well hidden.)




Thursday, September 1, 2011

Dragon Con

So the adventure known as DragonCon began today with a road trip that began in St. Louis and ended in Atlanta. Now perhaps I am a little odd, but I love to road trip, and I have finally found the perfect road trip companion in Liz Schulte. My only regret for the day was that we didn't have time to linger and check things out more. In the end, it was more or less nine hours of me chattering and Liz tossing in a word or two here and there.


Along the way we did stop and check out a couple of sites. We visited Metropolis, IL (it's a real city, but the comic came first) and caught a few shots of the statuesque gentleman the town is centered around. It was rather cool, but really only took a few minutes. After a short time convinced we were lost when we weren't really, we stumbled upon the interstate and were back on our way.

Crossing out of Illinois into Kentucky....
 via this awesome bridge,  we stopped at the welcome center to pick up a free map. (Yay, cheap souvenirs!) This is one of the regrets, since the welcome center was a gorgeous old farm manor (this was way more than a house) and they did tours, but if we didn't get back on the road we'd never make it to Georgia.
And we hit the road again. We made decent time, getting a little caught up in the crazy traffic of Nashville, but all in all not too bad. And it was definitely a pretty day. It got cooler ass we headed south which was pretty wrong. All in all, not a bad trip. And tomorrow it's off to DragonCon. Is Atlanta ready for this?


Friday, August 26, 2011

Stuffage

I had a minor melt down this weekend, not liking Second Nature all of a sudden. After talking with my amazing critique partner I narrowed it down to a single plotline I wasn't liking. I'm now reworking that. I'm not sure how this will effect the publication date, or if it will.

Motivation has been running low for me but I am trying to soldier on. I'm gave myself a break this week and took a couple days to unwind, see a couple of movies, hang out with friends. And it's great. And I don't know if it will be back to work today or not because I'm going to go get my hair done. Which means I need to get going. But I am determined to update three times a week and if that means I ramble a little, eh, at least you know I'm still alive. ;)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Rambling, really...

I have no idea what day it is or when the last time I blogged is, but I wonder how many people really notice or care. ;-D Time seems to be accelerating on me, as it tends to do when I have a deadline looming.

School started this week and I'm only taking two classes, but it is definitely distracting. Both of my teachers are willing to work around the travel, so that's good. I'm looking forward to the Photoshop class and somewhat dreading the XTML Web Design class. But when it's all said and done I will be more of an asset to 4 Corners Press.

I've talked quite a bit about how to build a platform for my books, but I wonder if there is a way to do the same with my cover art. It helps that my designs are slowly being released, but I don't know if anyone's noticing. If I had to choose between writing or art, I honestly don't know which one I'd choose. I've been doing some random art for covers (like the one on this post) and maybe I'll create a tab for cover mocks. If you look under the Sharp Covers tab, those are real covers for books coming in the next year, if they're not yet released. Once I finish this PS class, I will take the advanced class, then I might start taking some traditional art classes. Anything to do something I love better. I really want to make a living doing what I love.

I need to get a page up showing the cover design pricing. I am in the process of creating packages, using my own book/swag to show the packages, so it's clear and easy to figure out the prices. But I can't decide if I should have a seperate blog for my covers or keep them attached to this one. Thoughts, opinions?

Friday, August 19, 2011

Anendesora, the typo queen.

First off, I want to explain the title. As a huge Wheel of Time fan I joined a website dedicated to the series. I was stoked to discover that Avendesor, the Tree of Life which features heavily in the books, wasn't taken. Once registration was complete and it was too late to change it, I realized I had typoed and had, in fact, registered as Anendesora. Rather than crying over spilled milk I ran with it, adding the title "The Typo Queen" to my name. Other board members ran with it, and I was showered with avatars, funny quotes and bad typo confessions.

In the spirit of this tradition, I decided to share some of the typos I have made that made me laugh. You ready?

  • Knocking her off of my feet (Hey if someone was on my feet, I'd knock them off too!)
  • Stealing my spine (Ow! All I can think of is a video game, possibly from a cartoon, of a ninja killing someone by ripping out their spine. Ow, indeed.)
  • Put my arm around my shoulders (flexible, ain't she)
  • You spinal down into depression (Well, what do you expect when people are running around stealing spines)
  • Sitting in a stool (Cause all the cool people sit in furniture, not on it)
  • Thanks for being my fat checker ( I don't want to know... One letter makes it a whole new job description)
  • Wenching it up onto the bed (Sooo not what I was going for. That's a whole different story!)
  • Leaning hats on his arms (I have no idea how this one happened but it made me laugh
I saved the best for last. Second best typo ever first place isn't mine). You ready?

  • A bullet in the boob rain works (said by a succubus, this is funny on so many different levels)
I'm sure these are not all the typos, just the ones I remembered to type out with doing this post in mind. I had fun writing it and hope you did too. You may see another of these come across in the future.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

On platforms and stuff...

So today I was looking at my blog stats and I'm detecting a distinct trend. I have a good month with lots of posts and lots of views, then a not so good month. Then a good, so on and so forth. I don't know why this is a trend, just that it is. I also have learned that I over complicated the book hop, I think, which may have led to it's demise. And my book release was the second highest page views for a single post, topped only by one of the early Follow Fridays. What does this mean? I don't know this one either. Maybe I'm just rambling, I don't know.

So Today I'm thinking about my platform and how I want to go about building it. My number one way is to continue putting out quality books that people love to read. My number two way is going to be by letting the world see the human side of me. Day by day the wall that separates Elizabeth and Donna is coming down-- a crap, now I sound like I have multiple personalities! Anyway, I'm trying to get the hang of the whole social networking thing, trying to figure out what ones work and what ones don't. I have Facebook, Twitter and this blog down. Haven't formed an opinion on Google+ yet. And still struggling to find my niche on Goodreads.

How about you? What forms of social media do YOU use to build your following? Do you see something I'm NOT doing that I SHOULD be? Let me know. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Release party winners

First off, I want to say that  just because I'm announcing winners doesn't mean anyone is going away empty handed. Everyone who entered will be getting some great swag, so make sure you keep an eye out for emails and private messages. Now on to the winners. Congratulations!

Autographed book: Michelle Orengo
Notebook and eBook: Lauren Wood
Tote bag and eBook: Cait Lavender

I have already contacted the winners and will be contacting the rest of you this week. Thank you so much everyone, for making this release so great! And stick around, you never know when I might do this again.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Natural Selection Release Party


Welcome to the release party for my first book, Natural Selection. First off, I'd like to start by giving the links on where you can buy it.
 Paperback      Kindle      Nook     All other ebook formats 

Alright, now that you know how to buy it, let's talk about how you can win, and not just books. There are three major prizes and three simple things you have to do to win them. And whether or not you win the drawings, everyone who enters will get some swag.



#1 Autographed copy of the paperback version of Natural Selection
How do you win this? This is the easiest one of all to be entered into. All you have to do is comment on this blog with an email address. You must be 13 or older, but that's all I ask. International is fine. Everyone who comments will get a seed packet. I will email you to get your physical address, don't post it here.


#2 Natural Selection Notebook and an ebook
This one has a few options, but they all involve Facebook. There's three separate ways to enter. You can go to my page and comment on my wall. You can go to my author's page and like it (if you haven't already) and comment there. Or you can post about the book as your status, making sure to tag me (When you start typing a name an d the drop box appears, highlight my name to tag me.) in the post so I see it. You have to be my friend for this to work, but I accept all friend requests that don't seem to be spam or bots. Anyone who does one of these will get a bookmark and a chance to win the notebook and ebook. You do not have to do all three, and doing more than one does not get you extra entries. If you want to do more than one, go for it, but it isn't necessary.






#3 Natural Selection tote bag and an ebook
For the third and final drawing, tweet all about it. To be entered in this one, you need to tweet a link to buy the book or a link to this blog. So I can track the tweets, use the hashtag #forcesofnature. Everyone who gives a shoutout using that hashtag will receive a postcard and be entered to win the tote and the ebook.


*All items shown (except the book) are mine, I ordered two, so yours is still safely wrapped.*



There are a couple other ways to win. Check out my interview with Liz Schulte over at Bat Country. You can read an excerpt from Chapter Two at Michelle Ferguson BooksMusings of MD Christie is also hosting a giveaway  Comment on one of these three blogs with your email address for a chance to win an ebook. Also check out Far from Reality on Saturday for a review of Natural Selection.

Edit: Giveaway is now closed. Winners have been selected and will be notified. All entries will be contacted for addresses for swag. Thank you so much everyone who participated and made my release weekend so much fun!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Two more days!!

I think everyone might be getting sick of hearing about my book being published Friday, but honestly it IS all I think about, so it's all I talk about too. :D And this blog post isn't going to be any different.



So the book comes out Friday and I have some great giveaways planned. I have swag as well as ebooks and a signed dead tree book. I will explain all the prizes and ways to win them in Friday's post. I will say there is only one thing to do to win each prize and nothing is complicated.

So make sure you come back Friday to see what's happening. And for those who haven't been around the whole time I will leave you with my cover and my blurb.

What do you do when you find out your family isn't your family, death is knocking at your door, and that guy you can't stop thinking about knows more about who you are than you do? Amelia Hoffman was just a normal 15 year old until she found out the truth. Now ancient myths, supernatural beings, and murder have changed everything. Tests and school dances are no longer the biggest worry in her life-- she has to figure out how to save everyone she loves and accept the future in front of her before its too late.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Death Rang the Doorbell

Beth and I became friends when we were nine. She moved to my school in December when the Illinois winter is doing it’s best to bury us alive. She was alone on the playground, watching the other children with her lips turned up in the sweetest smile I’d ever seen. A fur-trimmed purple hood surrounded a kind face, cheeks ruddy from the cold. Sparkling green eyes watched the merriment without envy or resentment over being left out. I was mesmerized. Something about her seemed to stand out, to make her different. Even then I knew it.
We became inseparable friends before we really knew it. We spent summers climbing the cherry tree in Old Man Wither’s yard. He would chase all the other kids, but only smiled as we sailed pirate ships or commanded our troops from the safety of those branches. There were two branches that grew very close together, forming a natural bench were we would sit for hours among the cherry blossoms. It was like sitting on a bus bench, one wide flat branch beneath us leaning back into another behind us.   I still remember that tree fondly.
Not all our memories were tied to the tree, but it definitely held some of the best. We also swam in the various creeks and streams around town, played tag and hopscotch as much as any other kids. My dad often accused me of thinking he owned the phone company over the years. We had our fair share of snowball fights and played more games of Dead Man Rise in the fallen leaves than I care to count. We went through our phases, fought like cats and dogs and swore we’d never speak again more than once. One time, in the sixth grade, we went an entire month without saying a word, before simply striking up a conversation one day as if nothing had happened.
But the tree was the enduring symbol of our friendship. It is where we did all those things we didn’t want our parents to know about. She smuggled a copy of Playgirl and we both giggled as we laid eyes on our first penis. And our second, and our third…I snitched two of my dad’s Budweisers and we drank them, pulling faces and gagging at the taste, yet finishing a can each. The first time we lit up a cigarette was under that tree. I thought one of us would certainly cough up a lung, but for some reason we had another, and another, until it became a habit, one that I still struggle with to this day. We talked about boys and compared notes about sex until we were pretty sure we had it figured out. More than anything, I think it’s where I learned the true meaning of friendship.
Not everything I learned beneath those branches are recalled with a smile. It was sitting on our bench one day when we were thirteen that Beth told me about her gift.
“Sometimes I get this funny feeling deep down inside, like my belly is filled with lead. No matter how warm I was before, all of a sudden I get so chilled my teeth chatter. My arms get all goosebumpy. I feel like I have to cross them to hold myself together, and if anyone touches me I’ll shatter into a million pieces.” She sighed and looked sadder than I had ever seen her before. “Every time I get the feeling, someone nearby is going to die, and soon. And there’s nothing I can do about it. And it’s never wrong, not one single stumble or false alarm.”
I saw her gift in action sooner than I would have liked. It was the annual Snider family  reunion, and since there were no kids my age, my parents had let me bring Beth along. My mom had wrestled me into a dress so I was confined to “ladylike” activities.  We were playing Frisbee a short distance from the others when Grammy came over and sat on the glider nearby watching us with an amused smile. Suddenly Beth dropped the Frisbee and crossed her arms. I was confused by the tears in her eyes.
“I’m not feeling so hot, Ellen. I think I need to go home,” she said.
I chased after her, knowing something was up. It wasn’t until I caught up to her and noticed the goose bumps on her arms and the twisted expression on her face. I glanced back towards my family, struggling to force my mouth to ask the question I didn’t want to. “Who?”
“I don’t know, Ellen. It doesn’t work that way. The only people I was close to were you and…” she trailed off, her eyes flicking back to the swing where my Grammy sat. Only she wasn’t sitting there, she was lying on the ground in a circle of people. Beth gave a shattered sob and tore into the twilight as I watched my family try and save a woman I knew was beyond help. After the paramedics had taken her away, my dad sat me down and explained that Grammy had a bad heart and it had finally just given up.
I didn’t see Beth again for about a week and I was just starting to wonder if she was avoiding me when she showed up at my door. I shouted that I was leaving and we headed to our tree. Silence fell between us, that comfortable quiet where you simply don’t need words, just being together is enough. Finally she slid her fingers through mine and sighed.
“I’m sorry about Grammy.”
“You knew, didn’t you.”
Beth Just nodded. She stared off into the distance and I figured the conversation was over when she started speaking again in a quiet voice. “It started when I was five and my dad was real sick. Cancer. Everyone kept telling me he was going to be fine, that he was getting better. But every time I was around him I felt so cold and my stomach felt so heavy. I knew he was going to die. And he did.”
I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Her head rested on my shoulder in the way that only girls seem to do with their friends. I felt hot tears soaking through my tee shirt, but after a minute she started talking again.
“The next couple years were a nightmare. I kept hoping to wake up, but in time I came to accept it as my reality. I knew when people were going to die. If I said anything, the grownups would just give me a sad look and whisper behind their hands that I was crazy. I knew the night my mom was going to die, even before the house caught fire. There was nothing I could do to change it. If I tried to warn her she’d just shake and me and demand to know why I insisted on telling stories. So I kept it to myself and a week later I was living with my Aunt Cathy.”
Holy ray of sunshine, that girl could carry a load. I still don’t understand how she stayed so chipper most the time, carrying such a heavy burden. I tried my best to never let it show, but sometimes being around her creeped me. We didn’t talk about it, and she tried to keep quiet about when it happened, though I soon learned to recognize the signs. We were still close friends, and we did everything together.
It was a hot summer day shortly after my sixteenth birthday. We were walking down the alley that shortened the walk from my house to hers. We used to spend an hour or more walking each other home before my mom put her foot down and told me I could only walk her halfway. So we stood at the invisible line along the route, talking as we both lit a cigarette. We smoked a movement in companionable silence. We smiled and waved and promised to meet up the following morning and head to the town pool. Taking one long drag, Beth blew out the smoke and said goodbye. I stood watching as she jogged across the street to the second half of the alley. Soon the darkness had swallowed all but the glow of her cigarette. I was about to turn around she walked under a streetlight and I noticed her arms were crossed and she was shaking like she’d caught a sudden chill.
I never made a sound as the car lurched into motion, backing out of the driveway without looking. Silence was interrupted by the heavy thud as her body was struck, flying through the air to land in a pile of garbage about fifty feet away. Not a sound escaped me as I watched the driver get out of his car, tearing at his hair before grabbing his cell phone and dialing 911. My lips were sealed as I numbly walked to the scene, kneeling beside her and silently stroking her blond hair. The paramedics came and since I refused to leave her, I rode beside the stretcher to the hospital. I couldn’t seem to make my mouth work, and was only able to cling to my mother and shed silent tears as my best friend in the whole world was pronounced dead.
I didn’t speak again for over a week. One night I was sitting in my window with my knees drawn up to my chest, blankly staring into the stormy night. As soon as I saw the lightning bolt, I knew where it had struck.
“No!” I shrieked as I bolted out of the house into the pouring rain. I ran the entire way to Old Man Wither’s, repeating that one word over and over as I ran three blocks. I’m surprised I didn’t wake the entire neighborhood. I fell to my knees in the mud that had once been a lawn when I saw the damage. A smoking hole in the ground or licking flames I could have handled. But not this. But the only casualty was our branch, lying on the ground next to the tree.
I felt as if someone was kicking me while I was down. I wept as rain plastered my dark hair to my head, staring at the broken limbs as if they were a corpse. I wasn’t sure I would ever have the strength to get back up again, but somehow I did. I managed to put one foot in front of the other and slowly plodded home, and on with my life.
No one ever climbed that tree again. I bought a rag doll and dressed her in a purple coat, draping blond braids over her shoulders. Her arms were sewn across her chest in a gesture I’d grown to dread. Lying her in a shoebox, I gave her a funeral beneath our tree, placing a pressed cherry blossom branch I had broken off  our branch. I figured all corpses needed a proper burial, even a memory. I buried with her all the anger and resentment that had been building inside me since her arms had crossed that night.
I never figured out how or why Beth always knew death was coming. It almost seemed like she was a doorbell Death rang to announce his arrival, even when it was her time to go. My life has changed for having known her, for having been allowed to share in her gift for a time. But every night I pray I never hear that doorbell again.