AWOL Author

Just wanted to check in and let everyone know that I might not be around for a bit. I am expecting, and will be induced on Tuesday. I don't know how long my recovery will be or how long I will be absent, but since I haven't been stellar at updating, anyway, maybe you won't miss me as much?

Update: I had my son last night at 6:10. He is beautiful, but he will need some extra tlc since he came early. All the issues of my pregnancy are gone, and the delivery was pretty smooth.

Spring Into Books Winner

Congratulations to Kelly Tanner. You've won the book prize pack. If you didn't win, stick around. I had fun doing this and you just might see something like this again.

Flash Foto Friday: My Point of View

Welcome to Flash Foto Friday hosted by Blog It Forward, Taking Time for Mommy, And the Little Ones Too, Put a Little Umbrella in Your Drink and My Mommy's World

This week the topic is My Point of View.

Click the picture to grab the button and link up your post!

Use the hashtag #flashfotofriday for your tweets.

Today I thought I'd try something new and join in a fun blog hop dedicated to photography. I am quite a shutter bug, though I do best with stills, and I have quite a few shots I love to share. My point of view has a story to go with it, as authors tend to do.

My husband and I bought our house back in 2005, and quickly began calling this horrendous evergreen next to the garage "the ugly tree" because it fit. The thing looked like a bonsai tree that someone let get a little out of hand. One day while playing with the settings on my Nikon D60 I snapped this photo and it changed my point of view on the ugly tree. There is a beauty in the twisted curl of it's gnarly branches....

Spring Into Books Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Spring Into Books Giveaway Hop, hosted by eReadingonthecheap.com & Beck Valley Books.I have always been a reader, as well as a writer, so this was a theme I could really get behind.

I have a prize pack of books that I read around the time I started writing Natural Selection, so they definitely had an influence on my writing. I am offering Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers Volume One, Amanda Hocking's Switched, Book One of the Trylle Trilogy and LJ Smith's Dark Visions. I am also adding both of my own books to sweeten the pot, as well as some swag. All these books are new paperbacks, and are Young Adult paranormal.

If you want to enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. But don't do that and skedaddle. If you scroll past the entry form, you'll find links to many more great giveaways that you're not going to want to miss. All the prizes in this giveaway have a value exceeding $10 and I know I will be entering to win some of them.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Now that you're all signed up, here's some more great giveaways!

Free ebook

Have you read Dark Corners (by Liz Schulte) yet? If not, it is one of the best books i have read, full of twists and turns. When I got to the end I was right on who was the culprit only because I suspected everyone. I am a fantasy lover (obviously) and don't read much outside the genre, but I can't say enough good things about the book. Seriously, why are you listening to me about it. You should go check it out on Amazon since it's free today and tomorrow. :)

If you haven't left yet, let me entice you a little more.

Ella Reynolds knew from the first moment she walked into the old house someone or something was watching her. Waiting. Her husband's violent murder sent her spiraling into a world of grief and isolation, but Ella isn't alone. Who or what is responsible for her husband's death is still with her. Darkness has engulfed the past year of Ella's life. Everyday reality slips a little more between her fingers as she struggles to break free from her memories. She must look deeper into her past as well as the present to discover truth of her husband's homicide. A string of uncanny events takes place and practical explanations run thin as Ella follows the terrifying road to closure. As the past and present come to a head, Ella must decipher who or what the murderer is before it takes her as well.

Still not convinced? Ok, I got more. Check out Chapter One on Liz's blog. Also check out the trailer. This is such a good book I wouldn't want you to miss out on it. So go to Amazon today and get it. And tell your friends about. This is a book to share. :)

Lots of Love Giveaway Winner

This has been one of the most wonderfully overwhelming giveaways for me. I am speechless at the wonderful response and the out pouring of support. Without all of you , none of this would be possible. Thank you so much, whether you are a long time follower or just someone clicking through. You noticed me, and that makes a difference. :)

Now for the winner. I wish I could give a prize to everyone, but I think I might get disowned if I try. Sadly only one of you can win, and that person is Nikki Marie. Thank you to everyone for participating and come back again. More prizes and other good stuff will be coming in the next couple months, I promise.

Supernaturally Yours

Welcome to the third stop on this tour of hot supes. Now that Cait Lavender has told you all about weres, let's talk about (or perhaps I should say drool over) vampires.

It is unclear where vampires originated, since they appear early on in many different parts of the world. But most early cultures feature some sort of undead that must gorge on blood to survive. Early appearances of vampires vary from culture to culture, from the animalistic to completely human. In the middle ages, no one was certain how one became a vampire. My favorite method was if a bird flew over a grave that person would become a vampire. Though vampires have appeared in myth and lore since times unknown, the word vampire didn't exist until the eighteenth century.After several reputable cases were reported, vampire fever swept the nation. This led Bram Stoker to create the most commonly accepted interpretation of vampires to date.

• A vampire cannot survive in the sunlight
• Vampires can turn into a wolf or a bat.
• When a vampire sucks blood from the living, they in turn become a vampire.
• A vampire may not enter a home unless invited
• To kill a vampire, you must drive a wooden stake through his heart.

Since then vampires have continued to evolve. They have been featured in countless books. And of course, they have appeared in movies as well as on television. The minute most people hear the word vampire, they picture one of these vampires, whether it is Bela Lugosi in the classic 1931 film, Dracula, or Robert Pattinson sparkling in the sunlight. But when I think of vampires, here is who comes to my mind, in no particular order.

Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) ~ True Blood

Once a fierce viking, Eric didn't lose anything by becoming a vampire. He is cocky, and his moral compass doesn't always point to true north, but who cares. He could just stand on screen doing nothing and I'd still tune in.

Aiden (Sam Witwer) ~ Being Human

Aiden is a tortured soul who just wants to be free from vampire society. He is trying to come to grips with the monster within, with the help of his roommates, Josh and Sally.

Spike (James Marsters) ~ Spike

Spike first appears as a blood thirsty villian who loves himself almost as much as he loves Druisilla, but throughout the series he changes. First with the chip the Inititive plants in his head, then later because he gets his soul back, he grows to be a vamp Buffy can't help but notice. Sadly she never ended up with him. What was she thinking?

Damon Salvatore (Ian Sommerhold) ~ The Vampire Diaries

Ah, Damon. If Elena doesn't want him, can i have him? As the elder Salvatore brother, he tries to pretend he doesn't care about anything, but we can see the softy within. Damon makes no apologies for being a predator, though he reels it in for his own protection when he needs to. I just don't understand who could choose emo Stephen over the far superior Damon.

Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin) ~ Moonlight

The short lived series was doomed by the writer's strike of 2008, but it was amazing while it lasted. Mick was another tortured soul, desperate to not be a monster any longer. Perhaps one day he would have come to accept himself, but we will never know.

Jerry Danridge (Colin Ferrell) ~ Fright Night

Jerry was minding his own business, creating an army of party girls for his own pleasure when his nosey neighbor just has to play the hero. As the pushy kid gets closer and closer, this vamp gets a little nasty. Is it wrong that I find that sexy?

Dracula (Gerard Butler) ~ Dracula

When creating this list I had no idea they had made this version and it was a tragic oversight. Long before he bulked up to lead the Spartans to their death, Gerard had girls swooning as the charismatic count.

David (Keiffer Sutherland) ~ The Lost Boys

My first vampire crush, David is delightfully evil. He is the head of a vampire biker gang who just wants to help others live an eternal life of freedom with him. If you don't like all the damn vampires, just stay out of Santa Carla.

Lestat de Lioncourt (Stuart Townsend) ~ Queen of the Damned

By far my favorite imagining of Lestat. He's a vampire. And a rock star. 'Nuff said?

Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) ~ Underworld

A werewolf hunted for a rare immortal gene, he is infected with the Lycan virus. After he is mortally wounded with a silver bullet, the woman who loves him has no choice but to bite him, turning him into a powerful hybrid. So he fits the list. Kinda....

So now that you know all about vamps, continue the supernatural journey with Sarah Ross's post about angels.

Lot of Love Giveaway

Welcome to the Lots of Love Giveaway Hop, sponsored by And The Little Ones Too, Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink, Seeds of Life, and Taking Time For Mommy. In honor of Valentines Day, over 80 bloggers have joined forces to offer you many different chances to win. This event features giveaways with a value of $25 or more at each of the participating blogs! Be sure to visit each blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win! This event will close on February 14th at 11:59 pm EST.


As a writing cosmetologist, when I think Valentines Day, I think of the prefect look. As an author, I felt the need to tie the giveaway into my books. Now, I can't help you pick out the killer LBD (that's little black dress for those who aren't down with the lingo) but I can help one lucky person with the final product. I am offering an Organic Date Night hair, makeup and accessory gift basket. Along with all the wonderful organic makeup and hair products I will describe in detail in a second, I also have several accessories to finish off the perfect outfit. Along with winning the products, the winner will also receive a video detailing how to apply the makeup for a specific look as well as a five minute updo that will work as long as you have long enough hair to make a ponytail. And if you don't, you will still be able to use most of the things in the basket, so why not.

Amelia's books

A lot of people ask me about the books that Amelia reads. I made a decision when creating her world to use real titles, titles that could help my readers relate to her. This did two things for me - it gave people an idea what I was influenced by and it let me spread the word about some really great books. So today I thought we could discuss some of the titles Amelia reads, I'm going to let Amelia review them, and finally I will link you to the places you can buy these books.


Secrets ~ The Guardian Trilogy ~ Liz Schulte (Natural Selection)
If you're a follower you know that I am friends with Liz, so it was a no-brainer to include her work - which I was reading as I wrote Natural Selection - as Amelia's first book. 

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.


Amelia's Review:
This book is a very suspenseful and exciting. I was completely absorbed and couldn't put it down. There were several twists I didn't see coming, which is hard to do. I can forgive  the author's completely erroneous ideas on jinn and angels, since she is only human and doesn't know any better. If you can look past the facts being wrong, it's a really good story.

                     Paperback                Kindle                   Nook              Other formats

Legion of Bats ~ Shadow Stephens (Natural Selection)
Yes, i realize I listed it as a different author in the book. Let's just say I got the name wrong and leave it at that. I had not actually read this book, but I had designed the cover and felt the need to include it in the book.

In a world governed by fear and corruption, a baby, Zoe Masterson, was born and immediately targeted for death. Hidden away in the rural West Virginia town of Tanner, Zoe grows up feeling like an outsider—always just a little bit different from the people around her. As bad becomes worse, she is arrested for arson and a murder she didn’t commit. She is taken to a mental hospital, where she discovers nothings is as it seems and her destiny awaits her. Zoe quickly becomes caught in a web of strange abilities, politics, murder, discrimination, and forbidden love. Will she be able to bring a government to its knees in order to have the one person who matters most to her?


Amelia's Review
The plot of this book was good, but the author didn't get a single fact right. I guess it just goes to show that humans want to believe, they just have all the facts wrong. It's a good book, especielly if you don't know the facts are wrong.


                      Kindle                     Nook                        Other formats


Dark Corners ~ Liz Schulte (Second Nature)
Recomended by a handsome book store clerk, this is Amelia's first book out side the paranormal books she's come to love. She had read the author's other work (points to Secrets) so decided to give it a shot.

Ella Reynolds knew from the first moment she walked into the old house someone or something was watching her. Waiting. Her husband's violent murder sent her spiraling into a world of grief and isolation, but Ella isn't alone. Who or what is responsible for her husband's death is still with her. Darkness has engulfed the past year of Ella's life. Everyday reality slips a little more between her fingers as she struggles to break free from her memories. She must look deeper into her past as well as the present to discover truth of her husband's homicide. A string of uncanny events takes place and practical explanations run thin as Ella follows the terrifying road to closure. As the past and present come to a head, Ella must decipher who or what the murderer is before it takes her as well.


Amelia's review: I was leery of this title at first, since I've come to love books dealing with the supernatural, but I gave it a chance anyway. It had me reeling, unsure what was happening and who was responsible. I kept bouncing back and forth on whether or not it was a paranormal book, and in the end it kinda was. I really enjoyed it and I definitely liked the fact that there weren't any mistakes on Otherworld creatures.


  This book is currently being updated so it is only available on  Kindle   at the moment.

There are other titles that Amelia reads, but these are the ones available so far. I will try and do another one of these when a few more of the books are available...

And the winners are....

Apparently blogs don't post if you never hit Publish. Go figure... Sorry for the delay, but scatterbrain is as scatterbrain does. ;)

Thank you so much everyone for making my release so memorable. I can honestly say this has been a memorable experience. All those who commented and tweeted will be contacted about your swag, and the Facebook winner will be contacted there. The winners from the comments will be emailed next.

The winners of the Second Nature ebooks are Sandy and Jadis.

The winner of the 4Corners Press prize pack is Laurie Cross Muench

The scavenger hunt winner is Jenniffer Connell.

All prizes will be shipped once I actually receive them...Thank you everyone who participated, and check back because I have another chance to win coming very soon.