The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown COVER REVEAL

 I'm excited to reveal the cover of The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown. This is a YA Fantasy/Alternate World book that releases January 2014. This is the first book in the The Semei Trilogy.

She is his weakness.
And she will ruin everything.

Kammy Helseth's idea of adventure never amounted to more than getting a boat across to the mainland and finally escaping to London. That was until she stumbled through the mouth of the forest into a world beneath our own, the world of the Semei.

Her only wish is to find her way home but when Jamie, her best friend, is taken into this new world of shapeshifters and Crystals she has no choice but to stand up to her fear and to remain beneath the surface. Hunted by Bagor, King of Alashdial, and those that are loyal to him, Kammy finds herself in the company of a group of outlaws led by Jad, a Prince with a bitter past and a similarly bitter demeanour.

They overcome age-old prejudice to find a way to work together. But Bagor knows a secret about the Crystals that threatens to change everything. Kammy and Jad must find a way to thwart the king and to save Jamie, but that is just the beginning. For Kammy is in possession of a Key and the fate of countless lives, both human and Semei, may rest in her hands.

Find the book:

Goodreads 

About the Author:
I grew up in a village called Swilland, in the countryside of Suffolk, England. There wasn't much around, other than farms and fields, but for the most part I loved it, and I still do. I’m a passionate person by nature. I don’t just LIKE things, I LOVE things. Whether it’s a book, a film, or a sports team. Once I decide to enjoy something, I enjoy it to the MAX.

I’m a terrible cook. I prioritise essential social media work over keeping my flat tidy, because I know best. I

Onto my love of reading and, consequently, writing - it was my dad that played a big role in encouraging me to read. He didn't push me towards books necessarily; he simply read a lot himself. Then I would pick up his books and read them after him. I was reading high and epic fantasy from a very young age. I guess that might explain why I have always loved adventure stories with magic and intrigue and princes and princesses in.

I was aware that I wanted to ‘be a writer’ from a very young age. I was convinced I would be the first best seller that hadn't reached double figures in age yet! I wrote about the Danshees, furry creatures that lived through a mirror. I wrote about a Sand Bottle that transported a boy into a world of magic. I wrote about a sick girl finding a music boy that healed her, but transported her back in time. (Wow, I always have loved alternate universes…)

When I was eight I wrote my first novel called The Land of No Return. Despite the title, I am determined to return to it one day. I feel like I owe it to my past self. So, as you can see, I have always been writing. There have been times when I have gone weeks without scratching down a word. Then there are days where I churn out multiple chapters and only my body’s silly desire for sleep and/or food can stop me.

I write because I enjoy it. I write fantasy because I enjoy it. I try my hardest to put something of myself into my writing. I like to think my characters have depth, I like to think that my fantasy worlds reflect upon the real world in some way. You guys will be the judge of that but even if you don't agree I know that I at least try and I can do no more than that.

These days I live in North London and I love it. I work full time and London is a hectic city. Juggling work, writing and a social life is tough but nobody is forcing me to do it so I can't complain. The dream is that writing will be my career one day but it doesn't matter if I never quite make it. I love writing too much to ever pack it in.

I am desperate to get a dog. My mum suspects I miss my cats at home more than I miss her. I am a devout Arsenal/Ferrari/Rafael Nadal fan. I get all mad when confronted with a case of social injustice and then I get all mad when people take the fight for social justice too far. I mostly keep those thoughts to myself and simmer with rage. I watch good TV and bad TV, because I can. What I can’t do is enjoy bad books (subjective opinion of course). I just can’t.

Find the author:

Website/Blog |  Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


Giveaway:
$40 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This cover reveal was organized by CBB Book Promotions.  

Nightscape Press 2013 Holiday Sale!!

Head on over to the Nightscape Press Amazon page where EVERY title is on sale -- ebooks and paperbacks! Everything is 25% off (except for the Kindle version of LIFE RAGE by L.L. Soares which is only $0.99 all month long!)

thingCharger -- simple name, really clever product!!

A friend on Facebook shared a link to this indiegogo campaign, and I'm really glad he did -- this is a clever product that will definitely come in handy, as we are forever moving (and losing!) phone chargers in this house. Check it out and pick some up for yourselves -- or they would make really smart (and well-received) gifts!
Be sure to share with all your friends! (or just buy some -- great way to spread the word)

Nightscape Press November Sale and Giveaway

At Nightscape Press,, we believe in getting quality works out to our readers.  We've begun a month-long promotion where we offer up one of our Kindle titles for the entire month for only $0.99.  We also hold a giveaway during that month for people to win a signed trade paperback copy of that same book through easy means such as liking Facebook pages, sharing about the promotion, and leaving reviews.

This month, November 2013, we have an extra special deal.   Two of our titles are only $0.99 for the entire month.  They are two amazing stories by author Peter Giglio.  They are both set in the fictional town of Sunfall Nebraska.  The first is SUNFALL MANOR.

"Sunfall Manor, an apartment complex that was once a farmhouse in the flatlands of Nebraska. Every night he must move through five different dwellings, haunted by the living—a drunken and paranoid writer, an abused housewife, a colder-than-ice web-mistress, a two-bit drug dealer, and a crazy old man who plays with puppets—trying to unlock the secrets of who he is. But tonight is different. The lost souls of Sunfall Manor are ready to give up the ghost, and the past is ready to open its cold, unforgiving arms."

Available for Kindle for only $0.99 HERE.

The second is STEALING NIGHT.

"Jack has nothing to live for, nothing worth dying for, no one to love, nothing to lose; but that all changes when his sister’s life unravels and he takes guardianship of Nora, his eleven-year-old niece. Looking out for her fast becomes the only thing he has ever done right. Driven to move his family from the bleak flatlands, to give his niece a chance at a better life, Jack takes the only job he can find, washing cars for minimum wage, saving every penny.

When an old friend steps back into Jack’s life, a joyride leads to an explosive night of terror and betrayal.

Now Jack must stand firm for those he loves as he struggles between the promising new life in bloom and the dark secret of a dead girl from California."

Available for Kindle for only $0.99 HERE.

The giveaway gives you the opportunity to win a signed trade paperback copy of both books, SUNFALL MANOR and STEALING NIGHT, as well as ebook copies of all of Nightscape Press's 2012 and 2013 titles.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway I hope you'll check out both titles and let me know what you think!  Also, check back for December's promotion starting 12/01/13!

Lethal Circuit Blog Tour (with Review and Giveaway!)

Hello, dear readers! I'm excited to be a part of Candace's Book Blog's Lethal Circuit (by Lars Guignard) Blog Tour!

 First off, a bit about the book and author:

About the Book:
From Best-selling Amazon author Lars Guignard comes the number-one turbo-charged, action spy thriller Lethal Circuit.

A Chinese satellite is on a crash course with Earth.  

It contains enough plutonium to irradiate a large city. 

And that's the good news...


Michael Chase is a twenty-six year old backpacker, a recent college graduate, an amateur. He flew to Hong Kong to find his missing father. Four hours later, he's running for his life. The Chinese Secret Police want him dead. The Conspiracy wants him dead. And the one person who he thinks is on his side, may want him dead too. If Michael is going to live, he'll need to find a hidden piece of Nazi technology lost since World War II. And he'll have to do it before anyone else. Because if he doesn't, a little plutonium is going to be the least of his problems.

Can Michael Chase team up with a beautiful but deadly MI6 agent to locate a lethal piece of Nazi technology that will save the world?



If you can't get enough of the action of Lee Child and Vince Flynn, the intrigue of Robert Ludlum, and the adventure of Clive Cussler and James Rollins, you are going to LOVE Lethal Circuit!

Book can be found at: Audible |  iTunes | Amazon  | GoodReads

About the Author:

Lars Guignard is a former film and television writer and a graduate of both McGill University and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. His debut thriller novel, Lethal Circuit, has been
an amazon top 100 Technothriller since its release.
Guignard has wanted to write Indian stories for kids ever since he attended a boarding school in the majestic Himalayas. The time he spent in the “school above the clouds” affected him
profoundly, and once he returned home to North America he was struck by the lack of children’s stories from India available in our culture. Since India is such an incredible country, he decided
to write a series of action adventure books for young adults about India to introduce young readers to this magical, mystical land. So if you’re looking for a great book adventure for kids, try Ghost Leopard today!

Author Sites: Website | Twitter | Facebook 

My thoughts on the book:

(As a note: I received a free audio copy of the book from the publisher for review, but this in no way affected my opinion -- my honest review follows.) Overall, I thought it was an interesting spy thriller.  When I choose a book for myself, I don't normally gravitate toward spy thrillers, but I do enjoy the Die Hard movies and one of my favorite recent TV shows is Chuck -- so, I have a bit of a spy thriller background, I guess.  I enjoyed the story, but didn't love it.  I would recommend it to those who enjoy the genre.  There was strong character development, which for me is a major plus -- you care about the main character, Michael and why he's on this journey.  And there's an interesting plot that keeps you listening.  On the down side, it did feel like it could do with a bit tighter of an edit -- there were a few spots where it felt grammatically weak, and that always takes away from a story for me.  It wasn't littered with errors, but there were a few things here and there.  I would rank the story a 3 out of 5 on the typical 5-star ranking system.  But I definitely would recommend it for anyone who's interested in a fun spy thriller -- somethign to listen to on a car trip or even when you're just working around the house or out for a walk/jog!  Would be great in any of those scenarios!  (As a note, I really enjoyed the narrator for the book -- think he did a great job of providing inflection for when he was speaking for different characters. Was very easy to follow and kept you engaged with the story)

And now on to the fun part -- THE GIVEAWAY!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thanks for stopping by and if you've read the book or once you do, I hope you'll let me know what you thought!

*Note* The KINDLE version of Lethal Circuit is FREE on 11/12/13 and 11/13/13! Grab a copy HERE!

Nightscape Press's Amazon Bookstore

The easiest way to purchase any of our books is directly from Amazon.  We now have a handy page set up on Amazon featuring all of our books. If you click on the image, it will take you directly to our page.  The direct address is http://www.amazon.com/nightscape-press.

Christmas is right around the corner and books make great gifts (both paperbacks and ebooks)!

Blood Type: An Anthology of Vampire SF on the Cutting Edge

The latest book from Nightscape Press was released today,   Blood Type: An Anthology of Vampire SF on the Cutting Edge. This is a charity anthology with all net proceeds going to The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, "the only UK-wide charity making a daily difference to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis, and those who care for them."

Check out the striking cover from the talented Gary McClusky:

The table of contents is as follows:

The Undying by William F. Nolan

Taxing Youth by Rebecca Brown

The Souls of Stars by Amelia Mangan

Evergreen by Peter Giglio

Reptile House by Stephen Graham Jones

Accommodation by Michael R. Collings

A Little Night Music by Mike Resnick

Predators of Tomorrow by Michael Kamp

Mountains of Ice by Jilly Paddock

Occupation by James Ninness

Orientation Day by Peter Watts 

The Pilot by Jason Duke

Unperished by S.R. Algernon

Eudora by James S. Dorr

A River of Blood, Carried into the Abyss by John Palisano

Better for Burning by H.E. Roulo 

I Was There... by Tarl Hoch

Strays by Robert S. Wilson

Damned to Life by Essel Pratt

Happy Hour by GN Braun

Temporary Measures by Jay Wilburn

I, Vampire by David N. Smith & Violet Addison

Slave Arm by Laird Barron

Gods and Devils by Taylor Grant

17 by Jonathan Templar

Chrysalis by Jason V. Brock

Data Suck by Benjamin Kane Ethridge

Sun Hungry by Tim Waggoner

Wet Heavens by Brian Fatah Steele

Some major names in the world or Science Fiction/Horror as well as some relatively new talent to keep an eye on! At only $4.99 for a Kindle version (or $4.99 for EPUB or PDF on our website if you don't have Kindle) for over 130,000+ words going with net proceeds going to charity, it's a great deal!

Meal Planning

When I would visit my brother and sister-in-law, I was always impressed by the fact that they meal plan.  On the one hand, it clears up the, "What do you want to have for dinner?" question -- often a time stealer at our house. On the other, it can clear up time in general, if you purchase groceries and cook ahead as well. In an effort for full disclosure, I think in the three or four years since I have witnessed them in that practice, I have attempted meal planning four times and successfully meal planed maybe twice.  OOPS!

That is changing this week. As I'm looking over our finances, it seems as though there may be a little extra month at the end of our money.  So, it was helpful to try and stretch our grocery budget as much as I could to make sure food was covered and then deal with everything else.  So, I went for meals that were 1) well received in the household 2) easy 3) low-cost 4) at least somewhat healthful.  This is my meal plan for dinner for the next seven days (in no particular order, because that's still a little beyond me ;-) ):

Chili (w/peanut butter sandwiches)
Vegetable soup (w/grilled cheese)
Tacos (w/rice & [homemade refried] beans)
Chicken (w/salad & vegetables)
Loaded baked potatoes (w/salad)
Spaghetti (w/salad & bread)
Chicken stir fry (w/rice)

Lunches will be made up of leftovers, as I'm going to make sure there will be enough "extra" at least for my husband and I (as the kiddos will be eating lunch at school, except for the upcoming weekend).  I did have some "staple" items on hand like pasta, flour, seasonings, and the like, but all other items needed for the meals were purchased from Kroger for $56.  Not bad for a week's worth of meals.  Obviously this doesn't account for breakfast, but we do have some eggs, bacon, and oatmeal on hand.  Also have cereal, but will need to account for at least a gallon of milk.  And all in all, pretty decent on nutrition/calories.  Bought a bag of dried beans and long-grain rice, which I hadn't before.  Should be interesting and I'll try to report back on how things go.  And if it all works out, will definitely post again on recipes/cooking ahead/et cetera.

Nightscapes: Volume 1

Nightscapes: Volume 1

From the depths of the soul to the depths of hell. From the shadows of your most frightening dreams to the shadows lurking in the corner unseen and waiting. Darkness is painted across the palette of every nightscape. And it’s waiting for you… In this new anthology from Nightscape Press, we bring you 24 tales of bitter loss, jaded love, obsession, murder, cannibalism, hauntings, voodoo, black market horrors, demons, leprechauns, zombies, deadly mysteries, and much more!
Table of Contents:  A Dry Spell in Parnell County by Ed Kurtz  Still by Charles Colyott  A Taste of Green Voodoo Healing by Peter N. Dudar  Vision by Megan N. Moore  Autumn's Gifts by Jeremy Terry  Game Changer by Peter Giglio  Corruption by Lisa Mannetti  Worldly Possessions by Richard Salter  Village Green by Boyd E. Harris  Angel Killer by Lisa Morton  Fly by Jonathan Templar  Wee Ones by C.W. LaSart  Mary Kelly's Face by John Forth  How to Save a Life by Chris Marrs  In the Halls and on the Stairs by Brad C. Hodson  Surprise Inside by Tonia Brown  Chopper by Bryan Hall  House Hunting by Ray Garton  Deviant Colors by Benjamin Kane Ethridge  Guadalupe's Tamales by Shane McKenzie  Whispers in the Trees, Screams in the Dark by Taylor Grant  The Big Dream by J.S. Reinhardt  The Rag-End of Dreams by Trent Zelazny  Skins by Richard Wright Available now from Nightscape Press in paperback and Kindle format at Amazon!

Quick update

Man, it's been a while since I last posted -- and a lot has happened! Don't have much time to update you all on it here, but I will do my best to write up a couple posts detailing what's been going on! For the time being, I finally got another book read, after quite a lull! Not quite on track for my goal, but going to put more time into reading so that I can be sure to meet my goal for the year!

2013 Reading Challenge

Jen has read 22 books toward her goal of 42 books.

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22 of 42 (52%)

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My First Read-a-Long!

Got a Goodreads event invitation for a "read-a-long" (basically an online book club of sorts) and figured, "Hey, why not?" Easy enough pacing with seven chapters a week, one book a month. I've not read or heard of the series, but sounds like it could be a fun read. Care to join me?

NEW HORROR COMIC SERIES: EVIL JESTER PRESENTS

Established publisher of award-winning novels launches a new comic series with tales from horror legends and rising stars.

"Evil Jester Presents" is a gorgeously rendered graphic novel featuring stories from some of the biggest names and most exciting talent working in horror today.

Stories by:
Joe McKinney, Gregory Norris, Mark Scioneaux, Gary Braunback, Benjamin Kane Ethridge, Holly Newstein Hautala, Vince Liaguno, Jack Ketchum, Charles Day, David Hayes, Taylor Grant, Aric Sundquist, Suzanne Robb, Jeremy C. Shipp, Jonathan Mayberry, Jason V Brock, Tim Waggoner, Jeff Strand, Ramsey Campbell, Mort Castle, Michael C Lea, Marianne Halbert, Robert Shane Wilson, Edward M Erdelac, Gene O'Neill, William F. Nolan, and Jim Chambers.

Art by:
Richard P. Clark
Gary McClusky
Greg Chapman
Kurt Belcher
Jason Whitley

CLICK HERE for the Indiegogo Fundraiser Page (This campaign will receive all of the funds contributed by Mon 13 May 11:59PM PT.)

WHY [THEY] NEED YOUR HELP
Producing a graphic novel is both expensive and labor intensive--particularly a book with multiple stories and different creative teams.
While this is a passion project, we think it's important to pay everyone fairly for their hard work. That includes the original authors, the writers adapting the stories into scripts, the pencillers, inkers, colorists, letterers, and of course, our printing and marketing costs.

Here is a list of FREE things that will get added to your pledge the higher we go! We need your help to PROMOTE THIS INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN!
So in return, we wanna GIVE AWAY FREE STUFF to everyone who's pledged!! So share with anyone and everyone! Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Blogs, Websites... EVERYWHERE!! The more you share the quicker you will get to UNLOCKING more stuff.

Here's what's up for grabs so far:
$5,000 - LOCKED - Free postcard-sized collectibles from some of the characters in the stories, including the evil Jester himself
$10,000 - LOCKED- TBA
$15,000 -LOCKED - TBA
$20,000- LOCKED- TBA
25,000- LOCKED- HUGE SURPRISE!!!
'Free Stuff' is only available to pledges of $10 and more.

MAKE SURE TO VISIT [THE] WEBSITE:
Evil Jester Comics and sign up on our email list for a chance to win exclusive prizes from Evil Jester Press and be the first to get updates on our upcoming comic projects.

URGENT: A friend in need

A friend of mine is facing a situation where he needs emergency oral surgery and does not have insurance to cover the costs. He is a caring individual who always does for others what he can & I'm hoping we can all pull together and help him now. Please donate what you can and/or share to find others who may be in a position to help. Thank you!! ♥

I correctly answered 12 of 13 questions on the @pewresearch @SmithsonianMag Science and Tech Quiz. Test yourself:

I correctly answered 12 of 13 questions on the @pewresearch @SmithsonianMag Science and Tech Quiz. Test yourself:: Quiz yourself on current events to see how well you keep up with the news. Compare your results to those who took our national survey.

Book Review: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (3 of 5 stars)

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The basic premise of this book was fascinating: the Earth's rotation slows, thereby leading to longer and longer days. Detailed descriptions of the changes that happen physically and emotionally... The ending was a bit of a disappointment to me personally -- just felt that for such an interesting concept, the ending was a bit weak...

View all my reviews

Book Review: Starfish by Peter Watts (5-stars)

Starfish by Peter Watts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't give out 5-star ratings lightly. This one definitely earned it. Peter Watts has created a stunning piece blending genetics, marine biology, psychology, and so much more into vivid characters who if you encountered them elsewhere, there would be no endearment to them -- but here, you start to care about them and root for them, even though certain of them seem to be irredeemable.. I highly recommend this cerebral sci-fi tale to anyone who likes dark sci-fi stories.

View all my reviews

MS Walk 2013

This will be our third year participating in the Murfreesboro MS Walk. This year hold extra meaning due to the fact that we'll be walking in honor and memory of my mother, Vickie Opel, who lost her battle to MS 11/23/12.

My mom was diagnosed with MS in 1978, two years before I was born.  So, I spent my whole life watching her in various stages of the disease: in and out of the hospital, various stages of mobility from walking on her own to needing a cane for assistance to time in a wheelchair or motorized scooter.  I also saw the toll that it took on my father, her self-appointed caregiver in looking out for her, all the doctor appointments and medicinal treatments, and just the worry and concern for her health.

I am blessed to have had her in my life and I really want to do my best to raise money for the MS Society to help all those who have been diagnosed, their families, and to hopefully, ultimately, be able to be a part of finding a cure for MS.

I would be honored if you would consider donating to our team and/or sharing our link for others to see/donate (click either image to go to our team page).  Thanks so much!

Review: Thy Fearful Symmetry by Richard Wright

Thy Fearful Symmetry by Richard Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not many apocalyptic stories are going to be lighthearted stories -- and this is no exception, but there are very humorous bits as well as some parts that have you really rooting for several of the characters involved. This was a very masterfully written book with several subplots that definitely kept you guessing as to who were the good guys, who were the bad guys, and what exactly was going to be the end result (which I will admit, I did not see coming!)

I will definitely be seeking out more of Mr. Wright's works as I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I've read of his thus far!

View all my reviews


Available on Amazon in Paperback and Kindle versions

Very happy to have completed my goal for the year!  Will start making posts about the books I read in 2012 soon!  YAY BOOKS =)

2012 Reading Challenge

Jen has completed her goal of reading 40 books in 2012!

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42 of 40 (105%)

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2013

Happy New Year!