Countdown to Dirty Thirty!!
I make thirty look EPIC.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
It's Coming...
Okay. So, now that my temper has calmed a bit and my moods are evening out again (thank you SO much to the medicines that had me a ball of nerves for the last 2 weeks...), I'm finally back to feeling normal. More like myself.
Just in time for my 30th birthday.
AAAAAHHHHHH!!!
Okay, so it's not that bad now that I'm normal again. I might have a few silver hairs and a few wrinkles, I might make the horrible groan when I stand up after sitting for more than a minute, gravity hates my boobs and I can officially say, "When I was a young girl, gas used to be $0.89 a gallon, and music was worth listening to." I still don't look or act 30. I'm rocking this new decade!!
My 30 acts of kindness was a bust, but I did learn something out of the whole idea. Kindness comes in small packages and can have a real impact on people's lives. I find myself every so often sending out a random text or message or phone call just to tell someone how much they mean to me. I hold the door open for others because I know what it's like to not be able to do tasks we all take for granted. And I have a pen pal over in another country fighting for our freedom and I get to send her stuff every week. Which reminds me, I really need to go pick up stamps...but the point is, the little things and the big things make a difference, and when you incorporate these acts into your life, you find yourself a little happier. It's fulfilling and makes me happy to make a difference, no matter how big or small it may be. Just to see someone smile is a blessing.
So I'm sitting here, reflecting on my twenties in these final hours. Here's a brief recap:
My 21st birthday when I ripped my shirt sliding down a wall and walked around downtown Louisville with the back of my shirt flapping wide open in the wind. My first trip to the local casino (not even my idea, I hate gambling!). Moving to the Detroit area when I was 21. My little sister was born. The world's most awkward proposal and engagement. Adopting our first "son," our furbaby Blizzard. A forever long engagement. Going an entire winter without heat in our apartment. Marrying my soul mate. My first pro basketball game. My first pro baseball game. Becoming a restaurant manager. Running away from Detroit and back home to Kentucky. Moving into our first house together. Going to see Rascal Flatts (my fav group!). Going with a friend to get a random tattoo. Becoming a telemarketer. Becoming tech support. Tearing my last surviving ACL while mowing the lawn. Becoming a published author. Putting out 4 books. Meeting new friends. Losing old friends. Celebrating 4 years of marriage and a 10 year relationship. Losing my uncle. Losing my father-in-law. Losing my aunt. Losing another aunt. Losing a grandmother. Losing an uncle-in-law. Quitting smoking. Vacationing in the West Indies. Vacation to the Pacific Northwest, including Forks/Seattle, WA; Boise/Moscow/Coeur d'alene, ID; Big Sky, MT; and Yellowstone National Park. Acquiring our furbaby daughter Luna. Acquiring our furbaby son Axel. Financial hardships. Financial stability.
DIRTY THIRTY!!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Cover Reveal - Cry of the Wolf
Hey guys!! A fellow blogger, author, and friend, Cu of Cu's Ebook Giveaways, is hosting an extra special cover reveal for author David Bennett. The book is called Cry of the Wolf, and Cu is letting us participate in the big day!! So without further ado, I bring to you...
David R Bennett is an author from Spring, Texas in the United States of America.
David R Bennett is a pen name that comes the reordering of his initials real initials. He, also, thinks the name has a ring to it.
Not only is he an author, he, also, is an illustrator. His real name is what is credited with the cover art to his novels.
He attended Rocky Mountain College if Art + Design in Denver, Colorado where he earned a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Advertising Graphic Design. The graphic design techniques he learned in college he uses to design his covers.
He, also, reads a lot of sci-fi / fantasy / paranormal books. Some of his favorite monsters are vampires, mummies, zombies, goblins, ghouls, werewolves, etc. He has plans to write a long string of novels in the Destiny Phoenix series and a series about an alien coming to Earth in the Alien Survivor series. Both of these series are planned as Young Adult novels.
His favorite horror flick is Resident Evil because it is scary to think that biological warfare could one day result in human extinction by undead creatures. And his favorite series of films is Star Wars and is excited about the next film coming out in 2015.
Author Bio provided by Author David Bennett
Blurbs for both books provided by Author David Bennett
Author Photo provided by Author David Bennett
Cover Art created by: David Bennett aka
Pretty fly, huh? :) Let's see what all the fuss is about!
I give you Cry of the Wolf, by David Bennett!!
Destiny, Brandon, Chris, Michelle, and Sandra enter the town of Jasper Springs, Louisiana on their way to meet some important people out in Atlanta. They are here to stop and get some rest and refuel before continuing on.
But when the full moon rises, the howling begins.
People, then, come up missing as a bloody trail is left throughout town.
This town is used to the unusual, but this werewolf is extraordinarily bloodthirsty even for this town.
Destiny and her friends check it out.
What trouble are they headed for?
Will someone be turned?
Or worse yet, killed?
The second book in the Destiny Phoenix series is slated for release on August 30, 2013, by Freaky Fiction Writing (Publisher), but hype is already drumming for this anticipated sequel to The Crimson Clan (Destiny Phoenix Book 1). You can keep up with this title on Goodreads and watch the momentum build until it's release and beyond!
Make sure you check out book 1 in the Destiny Phoenix series, The Crimson Clan, at the links below:
Let's take a quick moment to meet the author of these awesome books!!
David R Bennett is an author from Spring, Texas in the United States of America.David R Bennett is a pen name that comes the reordering of his initials real initials. He, also, thinks the name has a ring to it.
Not only is he an author, he, also, is an illustrator. His real name is what is credited with the cover art to his novels.
He attended Rocky Mountain College if Art + Design in Denver, Colorado where he earned a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Advertising Graphic Design. The graphic design techniques he learned in college he uses to design his covers.
He, also, reads a lot of sci-fi / fantasy / paranormal books. Some of his favorite monsters are vampires, mummies, zombies, goblins, ghouls, werewolves, etc. He has plans to write a long string of novels in the Destiny Phoenix series and a series about an alien coming to Earth in the Alien Survivor series. Both of these series are planned as Young Adult novels.
His favorite horror flick is Resident Evil because it is scary to think that biological warfare could one day result in human extinction by undead creatures. And his favorite series of films is Star Wars and is excited about the next film coming out in 2015.
Make sure you check out his links, too!
Links for David Bennett:
Twitter: @drb2031
Facebook: http://facebook.com/davidr.bennett.96
Author Page: http://facebook.com/AuthorDavidRBennett
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/bennettdavidr
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/17624569-david-r-bennett
Smashwords Profile Page: http://smashwords.com/profile/view/drbennett
Destiny Phoenix Saga blog: http://destinyphoenixsaga.wordpress.com
Destiny Phoenix Saga on Facebook: http://facebook.com/DestinyPhoenixSaga
Destiny Phoenix Saga on Twitter: @dhp2031
A big thanks to David and Cu for letting the Penguin take part in this big day. We wish you both nothing but the absolute BEST of luck!!
Author Bio provided by Author David Bennett
Blurbs for both books provided by Author David Bennett
Author Photo provided by Author David Bennett
Cover Art created by: David Bennett aka
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Who is Cydney Lawson?
Hear ye, hear ye! The Penguin has something to say:
"I'm willing to bet that too damn many of you don't know Cydney Lawson. And that, friends is a shame. So listen up! Ashley here is gonna tell you a bit about her. Now...where's my drink?"
**Shakes head.**
I'm sorry about that folks. He's a drunken penguin, what can we really expect. But the good news is, I really do have some great info on a fabulous author that everyone should know! Check out Cydney Lawson's links below, and keep up with the upcoming events! (There's some REALLY good stuff coming soon, so don't miss this!!)
Then go get her books, Wingless and Displaced!
Cydney's Links:
This gal is shaking up the world of writing, so if you want a great read and a new hobby, follow Cydney and get your hands on her books, Wingless and Displaced. You won't regret it!!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Author Interview - Jenny Darden
Hey there! The Penguin scored a pretty awesome interview with author Jenny Darden! Jenny is the author of Third Ocean Bodies are Always Dead.
DSP: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get to know our authors as a person
Jenny: I'm thirty-three years old. I live with my boyfriend, who I met in seventh grade. (No, we haven't been dating this whole time. However, we did go on a couple of kiddie dates. My mom drove.) My only kids are my two dogs. I am not sure what kind they are. One may be half pug, half terrier. I suspect that the other one is part Jack Russell, part ferret. Is that possible?
DSP: Nice to meet you! And I wonder if cross-species animals are possible too, because I have a cat who I swear is part flying squirrel, and a dog that is half rabbit (he hops a LOT)!! So tell us, where did you find the inspiration for your most recent book?
Jenny: When I was a sophomore in college, I had this amazingly vivid and detailed dream...which ten years later became, more or less, Part 1 of TOBAAD. So I can't actually take a lot of credit for this part. The rest of the book was pretty much written by the characters themselves. I got to know them a little, grew to trust them, then I basically left them alone in my house with the keys to my car.
DSP: Oh, dreams can be such a great inspiration for short stories and novels. :) So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely alone, etc.
Jenny: I am an outdoorsy kind of girl. I wrote a large portion of the book while staying the weekend in a horse stable in the Big South Fork, subsisting on black coffee and MREs. Another huge chunk was knocked out while chilling with my dad on a floating house in Norris Lake. The weirder the locale, the happier my brain is. I'm also into soundtracks. If I'm blocked, I'll make a soundtrack of music that I think my characters would enjoy and play it on loop.
DSP: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why? How about the character you had the most trouble with?
Jenny: Wow, that's tough. I think it would be a toss-up between Angela and Lee. I like how Angela was this total bad-ass. And the development of Lee's character was fun for me, letting him grow from this sloppy college kid into a leader.
I had the most trouble with Sam, the villain. I still think maybe I was too hard on him. He was just so easy to hate!
DSP: I absolutely LOVE villains that fall into that "love to hate them" category! Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of writing?
Jenny: Every project is a little different. For TOBAAD, I had to make an imaginary trip itinerary, plus map an entire island. I also did insane amounts of research. We're talking everything from how to make things explode to what's the best way to smuggle drugs across international borders. I am pretty sure that my Google searches have gotten me into some kind of FBI database.
DSP: Haha! I have a feeling they have the names of several authors that are "persons of interest" at this point, myself included, so you're in good company! Do you foresee any more books to continue this story? If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come?
Jenny: I hadn't really thought of making it a series. However, someone requested a spin-off with Lee and Arly, Josh's little sister, as the lead characters. I may think about it.
DSP: Other than this most recent story, do you have any ideas for different books that might be published in the future? Care to give us a teaser?
Jenny: I am working on my next project already, but it's a love-hate thing. So, sorry, no teaser available yet!
DSP: Darn! Oh well. Do you have any aspirations to be similar or comparable to another author? Why?
Jenny: That would be a big hell, no. I like doing my own thing. And I am an editor at heart. If I've read it, chances are I've picked it apart.
DSP: Haha, agreed on the Hell no part. What has been the biggest high since becoming a published author?
Jenny: Having my family tell me they liked the book.
DSP: Have you named the computer you use for writing?
Jenny: It is an older model Gateway laptop. I call it by a lot of names. None of them are suitable for print.
DSP: I understand completely. :) What is your greatest fear about being an author?
Jenny: I fear obsessing too much about things like sales and publicity. The worst thing for me would be to become one of those writers who just cranks out a book every year because they feel like they're supposed to.
DSP: Makes sense, and a very legitimate concern. Which leads me to my next question...Which of the characters in your book do you feel is the most like yourself, and in what way?
Jenny: Probably Josh. Like him, I can be a bit of a neurotic wreck. And my sense of humor is pretty dark.
DSP: From the first word to the moment it became available for purchase, how long did it take you to write and publish this most recent novel?
Jenny: I wrote the first couple of chapters in 2001. After that, I became frustrated and set the project aside for a few years. I picked it up again in 2010 and finished in June of 2012. Spent nearly a year editing it, and there you are. If I had a publisher, he would've killed me.
DSP: Are you planning to bring sexy back?
Jenny: No, he's mine now. Deal with it.
(Awww...come on...please?)
DSP: If you could be any cartoon character for 24 hours, who would you pick and why?
Jenny: Lana from the show Archer. She's a total smart-ass, and she gets to play with guns.
DSP: How many ridges are there around a quarter?
Jenny: Don't make me do it! I am a bit of a counter. Bricks, cracks in the sidewalk, stuff like that. It bothers me if the number is odd rather than even. I may actually be OCD.
DSP: Do you believe in fate or destiny?
Jenny: No. I believe that everyone has limitless potential if they are just willing to put the work in.
DSP: What are your thoughts on string?
Jenny: Some days they are balloons. Other days they are yo-yos.
(Very insightful!)
DSP: What is your favorite song?
Jenny: This question is impossible to answer, because the answer changes by the second. There are nearly 5,000 songs on my IPOD. And yes, I listen to ALL of them. Right this second, I'm loving "You Got Me Thinking" by The Bahamas.
DSP: Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many, what are they, and where are they on your body? (PG-13)
Jenny: Just one. A black dragon. On my right hip. And I had it done before Stieg Larssen's book came out.
DSP: What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?
Jenny: My favorite candy is Cadbury Mini Eggs! I stockpile them every Easter. My boyfriend has to ration them, or he will have a fat girlfriend. I am not much of an ice cream person. I prefer chocolate cake.
DSP: Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?
Jenny: Mini-me would think I kick total ass. Everything I wrote when I was eight got either thrown away or hidden under the bed. I was so private about my writing. Now I'll do a poetry reading, publish online, whatever. I finally reached that freedom point, where I just don't care.
(That's the spirit!!)
DSP: What is the last song you listened to?
Jenny: "Must've Been Dreaming" by Marcy Playground.
DSP: Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?
Jenny: I can identify most songs by the first two or three bars. Also, I am crafty. I do photography, oil painting, knitting, etc. And I have the uncanny ability to dance to ANYTHING.
DSP: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?
Jenny: A lighter, extra lighter fluid, a few MREs, a snorkel, mask, and tickle stick (for lobstering), butter (for the lobster), a (really long) good book, and stuff to make s'mores. I can handle a little danger, but I draw the line at starvation and boredom.
I like the way this gal thinks!! Especially her survival plan for living off the island-I think I wanna have her on my team when the Zombie Apocalypse happens!! (Can you wield a gun and other weapons, too?)
Here's a bit of info on Jenny and her awesome book, Third Ocean Bodies are Always Dead!
Jenny Darden was born in 1979 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She began writing at the age of eight and never really stopped. Because she likes to eat, she graduated from the University of Tennessee with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. However, her undergraduate years were spent dabbling in the arts, particularly creative writing, and editing for the Phoenix, the campus literary and arts magazine.
Third Ocean Bodies Are Always Dead is Jenny's first novel and is based on a (very detailed) dream she had while in college. It took her ten years to come up with a beginning that met her standards, but only two years to write the entire book. Most of the writing was done on her front porch, in coffee shops, at a floating house on Norris Lake, and during one wild November writing binge in a horse barn in Big South Fork, living off of black coffee and MREs.
Jenny currently resides in Seymour, Tennessee with her boyfriend, Gideon Scott, and her two terrier mixes, Mr. Fluffy and Roswell.
College student Josh Mackenzie's vacation starts off with a bang when his best friend is murdered by a drug runner at a cruise port in Barbados. Hoping to protect himself and his three unwitting pals from the same fate, he grudgingly allows "Sam" to recruit him as a drug and weapons mule. And, as if all this wasn't bad enough, Josh also has to contend with Angela, a brilliant, spunky sixteen-year-old with a troubled home life; and Selena, a Cuban maid with a penchant for high drama and a weakness for beauty treatments.
But making it off the boat alive turns out to be the easy part. A botched smuggling job, a hostage situation, and a police inquiry later, Josh realizes that no man is an army...unless he calls for reinforcements!
THE INTERVIEW
DSP: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get to know our authors as a person
Jenny: I'm thirty-three years old. I live with my boyfriend, who I met in seventh grade. (No, we haven't been dating this whole time. However, we did go on a couple of kiddie dates. My mom drove.) My only kids are my two dogs. I am not sure what kind they are. One may be half pug, half terrier. I suspect that the other one is part Jack Russell, part ferret. Is that possible?
DSP: Nice to meet you! And I wonder if cross-species animals are possible too, because I have a cat who I swear is part flying squirrel, and a dog that is half rabbit (he hops a LOT)!! So tell us, where did you find the inspiration for your most recent book?
Jenny: When I was a sophomore in college, I had this amazingly vivid and detailed dream...which ten years later became, more or less, Part 1 of TOBAAD. So I can't actually take a lot of credit for this part. The rest of the book was pretty much written by the characters themselves. I got to know them a little, grew to trust them, then I basically left them alone in my house with the keys to my car.
DSP: Oh, dreams can be such a great inspiration for short stories and novels. :) So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely alone, etc.
Jenny: I am an outdoorsy kind of girl. I wrote a large portion of the book while staying the weekend in a horse stable in the Big South Fork, subsisting on black coffee and MREs. Another huge chunk was knocked out while chilling with my dad on a floating house in Norris Lake. The weirder the locale, the happier my brain is. I'm also into soundtracks. If I'm blocked, I'll make a soundtrack of music that I think my characters would enjoy and play it on loop.
DSP: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why? How about the character you had the most trouble with?
Jenny: Wow, that's tough. I think it would be a toss-up between Angela and Lee. I like how Angela was this total bad-ass. And the development of Lee's character was fun for me, letting him grow from this sloppy college kid into a leader.
I had the most trouble with Sam, the villain. I still think maybe I was too hard on him. He was just so easy to hate!
DSP: I absolutely LOVE villains that fall into that "love to hate them" category! Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of writing?
Jenny: Every project is a little different. For TOBAAD, I had to make an imaginary trip itinerary, plus map an entire island. I also did insane amounts of research. We're talking everything from how to make things explode to what's the best way to smuggle drugs across international borders. I am pretty sure that my Google searches have gotten me into some kind of FBI database.
DSP: Haha! I have a feeling they have the names of several authors that are "persons of interest" at this point, myself included, so you're in good company! Do you foresee any more books to continue this story? If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come?
Jenny: I hadn't really thought of making it a series. However, someone requested a spin-off with Lee and Arly, Josh's little sister, as the lead characters. I may think about it.
DSP: Other than this most recent story, do you have any ideas for different books that might be published in the future? Care to give us a teaser?
Jenny: I am working on my next project already, but it's a love-hate thing. So, sorry, no teaser available yet!
DSP: Darn! Oh well. Do you have any aspirations to be similar or comparable to another author? Why?
Jenny: That would be a big hell, no. I like doing my own thing. And I am an editor at heart. If I've read it, chances are I've picked it apart.
DSP: Haha, agreed on the Hell no part. What has been the biggest high since becoming a published author?
Jenny: Having my family tell me they liked the book.
DSP: Have you named the computer you use for writing?
Jenny: It is an older model Gateway laptop. I call it by a lot of names. None of them are suitable for print.
DSP: I understand completely. :) What is your greatest fear about being an author?
Jenny: I fear obsessing too much about things like sales and publicity. The worst thing for me would be to become one of those writers who just cranks out a book every year because they feel like they're supposed to.
DSP: Makes sense, and a very legitimate concern. Which leads me to my next question...Which of the characters in your book do you feel is the most like yourself, and in what way?
Jenny: Probably Josh. Like him, I can be a bit of a neurotic wreck. And my sense of humor is pretty dark.
DSP: From the first word to the moment it became available for purchase, how long did it take you to write and publish this most recent novel?
Jenny: I wrote the first couple of chapters in 2001. After that, I became frustrated and set the project aside for a few years. I picked it up again in 2010 and finished in June of 2012. Spent nearly a year editing it, and there you are. If I had a publisher, he would've killed me.
And now, for something completely different…some slightly off-the-wall and possibly irrelevant questions, just for fun! Let's get to know Jenny a little better!!
DSP: Are you planning to bring sexy back?
Jenny: No, he's mine now. Deal with it.
(Awww...come on...please?)
DSP: If you could be any cartoon character for 24 hours, who would you pick and why?
Jenny: Lana from the show Archer. She's a total smart-ass, and she gets to play with guns.
DSP: How many ridges are there around a quarter?
Jenny: Don't make me do it! I am a bit of a counter. Bricks, cracks in the sidewalk, stuff like that. It bothers me if the number is odd rather than even. I may actually be OCD.
DSP: Do you believe in fate or destiny?
Jenny: No. I believe that everyone has limitless potential if they are just willing to put the work in.
DSP: What are your thoughts on string?
Jenny: Some days they are balloons. Other days they are yo-yos.
(Very insightful!)
DSP: What is your favorite song?
Jenny: This question is impossible to answer, because the answer changes by the second. There are nearly 5,000 songs on my IPOD. And yes, I listen to ALL of them. Right this second, I'm loving "You Got Me Thinking" by The Bahamas.
DSP: Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many, what are they, and where are they on your body? (PG-13)
Jenny: Just one. A black dragon. On my right hip. And I had it done before Stieg Larssen's book came out.
DSP: What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?
Jenny: My favorite candy is Cadbury Mini Eggs! I stockpile them every Easter. My boyfriend has to ration them, or he will have a fat girlfriend. I am not much of an ice cream person. I prefer chocolate cake.
DSP: Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?
Jenny: Mini-me would think I kick total ass. Everything I wrote when I was eight got either thrown away or hidden under the bed. I was so private about my writing. Now I'll do a poetry reading, publish online, whatever. I finally reached that freedom point, where I just don't care.
(That's the spirit!!)
DSP: What is the last song you listened to?
Jenny: "Must've Been Dreaming" by Marcy Playground.
DSP: Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?
Jenny: I can identify most songs by the first two or three bars. Also, I am crafty. I do photography, oil painting, knitting, etc. And I have the uncanny ability to dance to ANYTHING.
DSP: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?
Jenny: A lighter, extra lighter fluid, a few MREs, a snorkel, mask, and tickle stick (for lobstering), butter (for the lobster), a (really long) good book, and stuff to make s'mores. I can handle a little danger, but I draw the line at starvation and boredom.
I like the way this gal thinks!! Especially her survival plan for living off the island-I think I wanna have her on my team when the Zombie Apocalypse happens!! (Can you wield a gun and other weapons, too?)
Here's a bit of info on Jenny and her awesome book, Third Ocean Bodies are Always Dead!
THE AUTHOR
Third Ocean Bodies Are Always Dead is Jenny's first novel and is based on a (very detailed) dream she had while in college. It took her ten years to come up with a beginning that met her standards, but only two years to write the entire book. Most of the writing was done on her front porch, in coffee shops, at a floating house on Norris Lake, and during one wild November writing binge in a horse barn in Big South Fork, living off of black coffee and MREs.
Jenny currently resides in Seymour, Tennessee with her boyfriend, Gideon Scott, and her two terrier mixes, Mr. Fluffy and Roswell.
Keep up with Jenny at the links below!!
Let's show her book page some love on Facebook!!
THE BOOK
College student Josh Mackenzie's vacation starts off with a bang when his best friend is murdered by a drug runner at a cruise port in Barbados. Hoping to protect himself and his three unwitting pals from the same fate, he grudgingly allows "Sam" to recruit him as a drug and weapons mule. And, as if all this wasn't bad enough, Josh also has to contend with Angela, a brilliant, spunky sixteen-year-old with a troubled home life; and Selena, a Cuban maid with a penchant for high drama and a weakness for beauty treatments.
But making it off the boat alive turns out to be the easy part. A botched smuggling job, a hostage situation, and a police inquiry later, Josh realizes that no man is an army...unless he calls for reinforcements!
Make sure you get your copy of Third Ocean Bodies are Always Dead on Amazon today!!
A big THANK YOU to Jenny for stopping by and letting us get to know her! We hope you stop back by later down the road and keep up updated on all your awesome accomplishments. The Drunken Penguin and I wish you nothing but the best of luck in all your endeavors, Jenny. :)
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Enter the Fae Books 4K Likes Giveaway!!
Sarah from Fae Books is hosting a giveaway, and guess what? I'm a part of it! Yeah buddy!! Read on to hear a bit from Sarah and learn about the giveaway. Very cool stuff, plus win swag from me. Cool, right? I thought so too!! There are a ton of prizes in this giveaway, and more chances to enter than you can shake a stick at. Go ahead. I'll wait while you shake the stick.....
See? They're not going anywhere!! Hehe. The Penguin and I are happy to be a part of this, and we hope you take a moment to see what the fuss is all about. Good luck, and may the Schwartz be with you...
Guest Post from Sarah from Fae Books:
A HUGE thank you to Sarah for putting this all together, and for hosting it! She's done a kickass job of it, that's for sure. Make sure you enter the Fae Books 4K Likes Giveaway and best of luck!!
See? They're not going anywhere!! Hehe. The Penguin and I are happy to be a part of this, and we hope you take a moment to see what the fuss is all about. Good luck, and may the Schwartz be with you...
Guest Post from Sarah from Fae Books:
Hi there, I'm Sarah Fae from FaeBooks.co.uk and I'm celebrating reaching an amazing 4000 Likes on my Facebook page.
If you haven't heard of Fae Books before, here's a little introduction to tell you what I'm all about and what sort of stuff goes on in the Fae Books world.
As I've said, I'm Sarah Fae, you can find me on Facebook as Sarah Fae Graham. I'm going on 25, I'm married and live with my husband, Shane - who is my full time carer as well as a full time Soldier - our two Bichon Frise dogs, Trixie & Teddy and our three cats, Simba, Horace and Squirt. I live in England, in the UK. Ahh, sunny England by the sea... I joke of course, it mostly rains, I also live in an Army Garrison. I'm disabled, wheelchair user, I'm in really bad health too so I take a lot of medication to get through my days. Anyway, enough about that...
I spend my days keeping everything behind the scenes of Fae Books running, booking in new tours for companies and organizations that I host for, as well as preparing to launch my own FREE introductory book tours. (If you'd like to be a Tour Host for Fae Books like this fabulous blogger may have, just click HERE).
About 50% of my work is promoting. Promoting myself as a writer, promoting Fae Books and everyone I work with. Anyone with any kind of business, authors or bloggers etc will tell you, the hardest bit is promoting your product/work and doing it in the right places at the right times, that takes a lot of time and dedication in itself. I often don't get any sleep at all for several days in a row, because I'll be up working all the time. My Husband says I'm a Workaholic, I do kind of agree with him, but don't tell him that! Lol.
I'm addicted to giveaways, running them that is (I rarely get time to enter any lol). I love to give back to the bookish community and I love the people that help me to be able to do that, so you'll often find a bunch of giveaways over at FaeBooks.co.uk. Sometimes the prizes are donated by others (writers, authors etc), but I also provide prizes myself, and post a lot of prizes out. Sometimes authors send me a bunch of swag and I'll use that in my events to give away and promote them, then send out the prizes to the winners on a monthly basis. I used to try and post as soon as people won the prizes, but I just couldn't afford to do it that way, so now I post monthly, because that's when Hubby gets paid, so we have the cash to send it all out then. It's pretty expensive sending internationally all the time, but I prefer giveaways to be open worldwide so that anyone can enter. I don't like to push anyone out if I can help it. That's just my own way of doing it though.
I (and thus Fae Books) hang out on Twitter, as well as Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and I'm also hooked on Goodreads. I manage my entire TBR list on there, I use that to keep me on track with my reading. Speaking of reading, you may have guessed, I love to read. I'm really into my horror right now, but I love to read anything paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, and all of the above with any kind of romance in it too. I'll read anything that sounds good when I read the blurb and reviews, so I don't just stick to those genres.
I run a Reviewing Team over at Fae Books, I have a great bunch of 20+ girls who work with me and they review tonnes of books for writers that approach me looking for reviews. I also review too of course. I regularly take on new members to be part of the team, so if you ever fancy becoming part of it, just keep an eye out on the website and I'll put updates up when I'm taking on new members. The team and myself book up very quickly for reviews, and usually months in advance, so we only have something like four spots left available in 2013 for reviews, and we're only half way through the year! Busy, busy, busy.
So...
To thank everyone for following the page and supporting my own dream as well as the writers, bloggers, authors, graphic designers and everyone else I'm lucky enough to work with, I've organized a mahoosive giveaway for you all.
I hope you like the list of prizes for this event. Everyone got involved in this, Authors, Bloggers, Crafters, Graphic Designers and more! So there are a bunch of amazing prizes for you to win!
Just take a look at the Rafflecopter form below and do each entry, following the folk who've made this giveaway possible is a great way to thank them and show support for what they do. Once you like all the first Facebook entries, more will open up so you can earn even more entries by following the rest of the Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as some extra entries I've left for you AND a chance to get 10 bonus entries when you complete everything in the list.
Best of luck with the giveaway, and don't forget to use all the entries you can, more entries means more chances to win!
Sarah Fae xXx
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Start & End Dates:
Start:
Friday 19th July 2013 12:00am UK Time
End:
Friday 20th September 2013 12:00am UK Time
Prize Description Clarification
Please find below a prize description where the prize listed in the Rafflecopter might need some further clarity.
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Prize:
World-Building Critique and Feedback ($70 value)
Donated by:
The Bearded Scribe
Prize is for writers
With this service, I'll review your manuscript's world-building material and notes for consistency and clarity, discrepancies and weaknesses, strengths and uniqueness, among other factors. I will offer a thorough critique with detailed feedback, pointing out places in your world that need work or reinforcement. The service includes the initial email exchange of your notes, my critique and feedback, and two, thirty-minute sessions via Facebook or iMessage.
*~~**~~**~~*
Terms & Conditions:
One prize per person, except where it is a prize pack. Prize packs are classed as one total prize. Fae Books is not in control of sending out the prizes, the original prize donators are. Some prizes may be coming from all over the world, so please be patient. Any found cheating on any entries will have their entries removed from ALL Fae Books giveaways and be placed on the Banned list. This means you will be banned from winning any further prizes from my promotions. Not associated with any other entity. Only those legally allowed to may enter. Fae Books will designate prizes, prizes will not neccessarily be designated in the order they are listed as some prizes have specific eligibility criteria to be met. Prizes donated by Fae Books will be sent out with my monthly prize batches, this is because it's expensive and when I get paid, I do not get paid for anything to do with Fae Books, so please be patient.
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Enter the Giveaway
A HUGE thank you to Sarah for putting this all together, and for hosting it! She's done a kickass job of it, that's for sure. Make sure you enter the Fae Books 4K Likes Giveaway and best of luck!!
Monday, July 22, 2013
How You Can Make a Real Difference in the Life of an Author
There is a lot of very real, high quality talent in the world of writing, but a lot of times, it's hidden. And no matter how hard the author works to get their name out there, sometimes they just need a little help.
So, here I am, begging for help. I'm not too good to ask for help when I need it. Everyone needs help sometimes. If you can donate ANYTHING to the cause, please head over and pledge to help me. I have rewards set up of things I'll be giving away for your pledges. Granted, they're nothing fancy, but I'm not just begging for your money, I'm asking you to invest in me. Invest in me, and I will work HARD to make this work. The Daughters of Night series has been my baby-my life's work, and I'm right there at the end, and I know I need help to finish. Even if you can't donate (hey, I will be the LAST one to judge you for being broke, I'm here begging right now!), please please please share the word. Here's the link: http://kck.st/18wJKgY
The further it spreads, the more likely word of my project and goal will fall upon the ears of someone with more money than they need and can offer to help. So if you can donate, I would really appreciate anything you can spare. Even $5 is better than nothing. If you can't, no worries, just please tell other people. I'm not going to spam anyone, I'm not going to retaliate to anyone who doesn't support me, I'll love ya forever if you just help me spread the word and get my cause to people who do have the ability to help.
That's where I am right now. I started a project on Kickstarter to help raise money for professional help. Not the kind that comes to your house with the strappy jackets that make you hug yourself, either, but professional help that involves editing, marketing/PR, cover design (which I've already picked out and have on reserve, just trying to get the money together to actually pay the nice folks off at EmCat Designs!), buying promotional copies of my books and selling and distributing them to the media and other people who want to buy them on the spot...there is just a crap ton of work that goes into this, and my goal is to develop these books enough to where I can sell 500 copies by the end of the year.
The further it spreads, the more likely word of my project and goal will fall upon the ears of someone with more money than they need and can offer to help. So if you can donate, I would really appreciate anything you can spare. Even $5 is better than nothing. If you can't, no worries, just please tell other people. I'm not going to spam anyone, I'm not going to retaliate to anyone who doesn't support me, I'll love ya forever if you just help me spread the word and get my cause to people who do have the ability to help.
The only catch to my Kickstarter fundraiser is that it's all or nothing. If I don't meet my goal, I get nothing. If I do meet my goal, then I DO get the money to put toward my book and the series. Even if you don't like Young Adult or Paranormal books, once the series gets a new look and more love, I'm willing to bet you can find something to enjoy about it. If you're here, you're either an author and can relate to me, a friend/family member who knows what I've been through and how hard I've worked on this, or someone already interested in what I have to say. (Dare I call you a fan? Nah, that makes me feel too...weird. A follower of the blog. That sounds a lot better!)
I know this has been one big ol' begging session, and I hate that I even have to ask, but I can promise you that if you help me now, I won't let you down and I will do my best to repay the favor if you ever ask it of me. (Because if you don't ask it, I'll never remember. I have a horrible memory!!)
Okay, climbing up off my knees and I'm done begging for the moment. I do hope everyone at least checks out the project. Here's wishing you all the love and insanity you can handle!!
Why Turning 30 Scares the Piss Out of Me
I decided to Google "Funny Facts About Turning 30" today. My thought was that I can psych myself into believing that it's not really a bad thing if I can make fun of it. Then I realized that the jokes--they're not that funny, because they're kinda true.
Boobs. For any female age 30 and up, you probably never realized until you were pushing 30 that your boobs suddenly seem to be looking down at the ground and hang a little lower. Well, that's because you never really paid attention. The theory of the saggy boobs was just a myth-something that happens when you hit 40 or 50. Oh, no, cupcake. Find a picture of your boobs from when you were twenty. You were in college, you KNOW you have a picture of your boobs somewhere. Now, pin them up against your boobs today. Yeah, that's called gravity, babe. And you don't have to have Double D's to be affected. A modest B+ turns into an F in time.
The Groan. Someone on some blog coined that term, and it's stuck with me for the last week or so. Why? Because now I freaking notice I make the groan. Some unintelligible muffled grunting sound that sneaks out every time you go to stand up or sit up in bed. Can you get up without making the moan? Yeah, it's possible, if you can remember to not allow yourself to make the groan. But if you're anything like me, you'll deny its existence until you realize you do it every dang day. Then you feel like an old fart.
Food and its effects on my aging body. I can no longer eat whatever I want. Remember when you were 19 and you could live off of pizza, buffalo wings, and booze? Now, at 29, I already have acid reflux, esophagitis, and a string of ulcers. Seriously, don't ya think that's kind of overkill?? Anyway, I have to be very careful what I eat now, spicy foods, greasy foods, or even foods with a lot of flavor can often have me curled up in a ball sweating bullets and begging for mercy. Unfortunately for me (since I'm a rather fluffy gal), that's a very unpleasant sight to behold. And it happens pretty frequently. The good news? I'm on a medicine for that.
Where the hell did all these drugs come from? Now, that's a question that a real party gal might have asked in high school/college, but now, it's not the illegal or recreational kind. It's a pill for the reflux, a pill for the fat, a pill for the girly disorders popping up, a daily vitamin...holy crap dude. I'm honestly using the auto-refill option at Walgreens that automatically refills your prescription every month and mails it to you. I don't have to leave my house again! That's a good and bad thing all rolled into one.
Wrinkles. Okay, jokes over. Where the eff did these little ugly lines come from, and what is this weird thing going on with my eyelids when I put on my eyeliner and shadow? Huh?? I don't remember seeing so many lines on my face or creases from my smiles or from crinkling my forehead. YIKES!!
Music today sucks. Seriously, what is that crap they're playing on my favorite radio station, and why am I finding myself tuning the radio to those stations my parents used to listen to before heading to the oldies section? I swear, maybe I'm just strange, but music today is completely lost on me. I'd love nothing more than if they would bring back music of the 90's and early 00's. Like, 1990-2004. Those fifteen years pumped out some damn good music. I don't know what these kids listen to today, but it just sounds like poo to my ears. Oh, *NSync and Backstreet Boys, why have you forsaken me?!
Back in MY day...So, remember that super awesome thing you did in high school? Maybe it was Senior year? Yeah, dude, that was TWELVE YEARS AGO. I had the sudden realization a while back that I've been out of school the entire duration of one brother and one sister's entire time in the school system, save for Kindergarten. And remember fifth grade graduation when you graduated into middle school, and everything was super scary? That was EIGHTEEN years ago! (Okay, my math might be wrong, clearly I never learned simple addition/subtraction!) Remember when music was good? Remember when people spoke face-to-face in complete sentences? Remember when gas was affordable? Seriously, if you can even so much as think the words "Back then," you're getting old.I'm a responsible adult now. Hehe, well, the definition of "responsible" and "adult" may be a little loose here and vary from person to person, but you get the idea. Suddenly, you're more concerned with bills than what everyone is doing Saturday night, and your idea of a wild night involves crashing early after working a double shift so you can get up early the next morning and go run errands before your evening shift. Bills start coming before booze, school functions replace wild parties, and the reason you've lost your shirt no longer involves sex as much as it does sheer mental exhaustion. With or without kids.
Silver belles sporting silver hairs. Okay, that's worded weird and sounded better in my head, but you know those one or two gray or silver hairs you found in your twenties that may or may not have had you panicking and running for the hair dye? Yeah, there's a lot more of those now. Maybe not for you, but for me, anyway, and they're multiplying like rabbits. Sadly, I don't even have kids, I get to blame these on work and my husband and my furbabies. Mostly my husband...
Modesty is quickly becoming an option. You know, when I go to the pool or need to look nice for whatever reason, I'll shave and wear something decent. But I no longer care if my neighbors see me in a pair of booty shorts showing off my jungles on my legs with my hair wrapped up in a towel and my gut poking out a little when I go check my mail. I don't care. Gawk if you want to, take a picture and post it on Facebook, whatever. I'm comfy, and that's all that matters. Hell, it's summer right now and I can count the number of times I've shaved my legs on my fingers. When I go to the doctor or hospital, and they say, put on this little gown and then have to help me figure it out, it doesn't bother me that they see me in all my naked and unshaven glory. I'm not that modest anymore.And the Mac Daddy of them all...
The newest text speak and chat speak is complete unreal jargon. Srsly. I mean, wtf? Some of the older ones make sense, and I use them daily. But there are more and more shorthand words and phrases that I take one look at and think I'm reading some alien text left by "visitors." Because clearly this isn't English. This isn't even the watered down broken English we speak in the US. This crap that teenagers are using is a whole other language and it's stupid. Klingon makes more sense to me, and I haven't watched an episode of Star Trek in my life. (You can't escape the reference in TV and movies, that's how I know what Klingon is!) And just fyi, for the longest damn time I thought that FTW meant F**k the World. I was TOTALLY misusing that....lol!These are just SOME of the things terrifying me right now, and I am pretty sure there are a bajillion more. I hope like hell that turning thirty isn't the beginning of a downward spiral into becoming a decrepit old fart. But I'll still make it awesome, one way or another. So here's to turning 30, and never actually growing up!!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Author Interview - Emily Godwin
Hey everyone!! You may remember a while back we were graced with an interview with Nikki Godwin. Well, today we get the opportunity to meet her awesome sister, Emily Godwin, author of Behind the Wooden Door and the most recently released novel Mutilate My Heart. Epic!!
Okay, so first, a little about Emily's book, Mutilate My Heart:
THE BOOK
Punk rock band Mutilated Arteries has been seventeen-year-old Becca's world (aka obsession) for the last year. When the band schedules a concert in her hometown, she and her best friend Carli are the first ones in line to buy tickets. The night is everything she expects it to be and more, especially after making friends with the new super-cute bassist, Sketch.
Becca's mom warns her not to fall for a rock star because rock stars are always on the road - or they die in a plane crash, like her mom's favorite band did twenty-something years ago. But after the band's tour bus breaks down and they're stuck hanging out in Roizen Hills for a week, it's hard for Becca not to fall for Sketch and his caricature drawings and toxic green eyes.
Becca knows Sketch is leaving as soon as the bus is fixed, and she can't be his fan-turned-girlfriend anyway because of the lead singer's "No Girlfriends" rule. Plus, there's something strange about the guys that Becca can't quite decipher... like how they won't reveal their real names, their always-changing odd appearances, and the guitarist's obsession with blood and zombies. Still, Becca wants nothing more than for Sketch to mutilate her heart...but it just might not be in a way she expects.
I'm a sucker for a good story, and this one sounds amazing. Let's meet the mastermind behind this creation!!
THE GENIUS
Emily Godwin is a Young Adult author. She enjoys writing, painting, and sewing her own line of non-evil voodoo dolls. She's a Slytherin, trying to disguise herself as a Hufflepuff, and wishes she could read herself into books.
THE INTERVIEW
DSP: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get
to know our authors as a person!
Emily: My name is Emily Godwin. I love all things emerald
green. I’m the twenty-year-old who doesn’t miss an episode of Scooby Doo!
Mystery Incorporated, and if I had gone to Hogwarts, I’d have been in
Slytherin.
DSP: Nice to meet you! So tell us, where did you find the
inspiration for your most recent book?
Emily: Well I was reading a series back when I was in my
freshman year of high school (so that's been 4 closer to five years ago), and
in the sixth or seventh book, it lightly touched on a certain element, and all
these years later, I thought about that series and re-read that book and
thought it would be an amazing story if said element was in the forefront. So,
I let my imagination take over and made my own story. (This was hard to answer
without spoilers!)
DSP: So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as,
you have to write with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely
alone, etc?
Emily: When I write, I prefer my room to be dark with only
my laptop and a candle for light. I usually have a song that fits the scene I’m
writing playing in the background.
DSP: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why?
How about the character you had the most trouble with?
Emily: The easiest character for me to write in my most
recent book was Carli Gray. She’s very much like my sister, Nikki, and was just
a really fun, out-going character. The hardest character for me to write was my
love interest Sketch. My first book, Behind The Wooden Door, had a very
sarcastic/moody love interest. Sketch was the complete opposite, and I wasn’t
exactly sure how to react to that.
DSP: Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or
whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the
computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you
need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the
process of writing?
Emily: I definitely need some sort of outline or I get
myself psyched and won’t write it at all.
DSP: Do you foresee any more books to continue this story?
If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come?
Emily: There will most definitely be a sequel, and it’s
looking like there will also be two prequels to go along with it.
DSP: From the first word to the moment it became available
for purchase, how long did it take you to write and publish this most recent
novel?
Emily: It took me just a little over five months to write
and a month to get it completely edited and published
DSP: What is the last song you listened to?
Emily: “Wonderland” by Alex Carpenter and Jason Munday
DSP: Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?
Emily: I sew my own little dolls that resemble voodoo dolls.
DSP: If you could meet one person (real or fictional, alive
or deceased), who would it be, and what one question would you ask?
Emily: Miles Garrett from Nikki Godwin’s book Chasing
Forever Down. My one question would be “Will you marry me?” :D
DSP: Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass
or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?
Emily: She would totally kick my ass.
Emily: She would totally kick my ass.
DSP: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at
sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda
Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on
your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep
within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes
up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?
Emily: A lamp with a genie in it so I could wish to get back
to civilization!
Well, I'd say that's a sensible wish, and don't worry Emily, the 8-year-old Ashley would give me Indian Burns (pardon the term) and noogies. I was supposed to be a psychologist-kinda went the other way on that one and turned out completely crazy!!
Make sure you pick up Emily's books and keep up with all the new and upcoming happenings with Emily Godwin at some of her links. And what a coincidence, I have them right here!!
THE LINKS
Links for Emily
Website: http://emilygodwin17.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EmilyGodwin17
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Emily-Godwin/e/B00BNX3T7Y
Buy Links
So it's been a true pleasure getting to know Emily, and I can't wait to see what she cranks out next! Best of luck, Emily!
THE END
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
It's Official!! We Have a Release Date!!
Omigosh, so so SO excited!! If all goes as planned, I have a new release date for
Daughters of Night: Tribulation!
*SQUEAL!!*
Daughters of Night: Tribulation will be launched on August 15th, 2013. Just shy of a year since the first in the series came out! It's been a long time coming, but it's so worth it. I'm tying up loose ends, drawing connections back to both previous books, and bringing it all home in the exciting conclusion of the Daughters of Night series.
Stay tuned for updates on the virtual book launch party!!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
What Makes the Difference in the Taste of Blood for Vampires?
What's a vampire's favorite food? You guessed it-BLOOD! But what's the best kind of blood?
Some books, movies, and sites will insist that the blood of an 18-year-old virgin is the best stuff ever. Let me ask you one simple question.
What the hell does sex have to do with the taste of your blood? I mean, come on, now. If we're talking about someone who just recently did the dirty, then I can see different hormones and stuff being in the blood, but if you have an 18 year old girl who had sex last week and an 18 year old girl who never had sex, can you really justify that one will taste better than the other based on the fact that one is a virgin? I think not.
Ruling out virginity, let's look at age. Let's take that 18 year old virgin girl and pit it against a 38 year old virgin girl. Now, assuming such a thing exists and the 38 year old isn't stark raving mad or have some kind of weird disease preventing her from gettin' jiggy, the blood in both of these women are most likely the same age. The heart cleans and recycles the blood, making it all new and better each time it cycles through. Plus, we lose blood over the span of our life, so maybe the 38 year old has newer blood. Stupid point.
Let's have a gander at things that might actually make a difference.
Defects/Disease. I'm willing to bet that diseased blood or the blood of someone with a genetic defect will taste different, probably a lower quality. The blood of a healthy person would be worlds better than someone with diseased blood. No offense to anyone, but would you rather drink fresh orange juice or some with bacteria in it?
Hormones. Let's face it, teenage blood would probably be better because of the raging hormones, but then again, a pregnant woman's hormones are completely jacked up too. As long as it's good hormones, it can enhance the flavor of the blood, much like those MIO water enhancers. Water is good, but flavored water is better, and some flavors of MIO taste better than others. I don't like grape. Perhaps the grape hormone would taste great to someone else, but it would taste like poo to me.
Nationality. (I need to preface this one with a warning-if you get offended, it was not intentional. I'm not being prejudiced or racist or discriminating, so anything implied by my words is completely your own imagination creating things that aren't there.)You would have to assume that where you or your parents were born is going to influence your blood taste. The culture, the way of life, even returning to the idea of genetic differences. My hubby is Korean, and Koreans have a higher rate of certain disorders than my own mutt mix. My Scottish roots might give our future kids ginger skin like mine, or my Native American roots might give them a certain shape to their face. Who's to say your nationality won't affect the flavor of your blood?
Diet. This is a biggie. If you live a diet of fast food and prepackaged processed garbage, chances are it will lower the quality of your blood. It'll end up tasting fatty and greasy, and without proper nutrients and vitamins that are important. Likewise if you eat nothing but healthy foods and organic foods, you'll have pure blood without the fat, but then it can make it very very bland. You have to balance everything out. Everything in moderation.
Physical Activity. This links back to hormones in a way, because exercising releases certain hormones into your blood. When you get hurt, your body releases endorphins. If you sit on your butt and never really do anything all day, you end up having less of these hormones and endorphins and stuff.
Blood Type. Probably the biggest determiner of blood flavors. A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, AB-...all of them will taste different. Why? Different antibodies and antigens. Basically, a completely different structure of the blood. I think I have A- (or maybe A+, I can't properly remember, lol!), so my blood would taste completely different from someone with B+ blood. I'm biased here, but I'm willing to gamble and say A blood tastes the bests. The mosquitos sure think so...
But Ashley, what does this all mean? Why should I care?
Great question. You should care because if you ever find yourself in a situation with, oh, let's say a vampire from the Daughters of Night, and you find yourself falling for a vampire, you should know what kind of blood they like and how to make your blood more appealing to them.
Find out in later posts what kinds of blood the vampires from DON prefer!
Some books, movies, and sites will insist that the blood of an 18-year-old virgin is the best stuff ever. Let me ask you one simple question.
What the hell does sex have to do with the taste of your blood? I mean, come on, now. If we're talking about someone who just recently did the dirty, then I can see different hormones and stuff being in the blood, but if you have an 18 year old girl who had sex last week and an 18 year old girl who never had sex, can you really justify that one will taste better than the other based on the fact that one is a virgin? I think not.
Ruling out virginity, let's look at age. Let's take that 18 year old virgin girl and pit it against a 38 year old virgin girl. Now, assuming such a thing exists and the 38 year old isn't stark raving mad or have some kind of weird disease preventing her from gettin' jiggy, the blood in both of these women are most likely the same age. The heart cleans and recycles the blood, making it all new and better each time it cycles through. Plus, we lose blood over the span of our life, so maybe the 38 year old has newer blood. Stupid point.
Let's have a gander at things that might actually make a difference.
Defects/Disease. I'm willing to bet that diseased blood or the blood of someone with a genetic defect will taste different, probably a lower quality. The blood of a healthy person would be worlds better than someone with diseased blood. No offense to anyone, but would you rather drink fresh orange juice or some with bacteria in it?
Nationality. (I need to preface this one with a warning-if you get offended, it was not intentional. I'm not being prejudiced or racist or discriminating, so anything implied by my words is completely your own imagination creating things that aren't there.)You would have to assume that where you or your parents were born is going to influence your blood taste. The culture, the way of life, even returning to the idea of genetic differences. My hubby is Korean, and Koreans have a higher rate of certain disorders than my own mutt mix. My Scottish roots might give our future kids ginger skin like mine, or my Native American roots might give them a certain shape to their face. Who's to say your nationality won't affect the flavor of your blood?
Physical Activity. This links back to hormones in a way, because exercising releases certain hormones into your blood. When you get hurt, your body releases endorphins. If you sit on your butt and never really do anything all day, you end up having less of these hormones and endorphins and stuff.
Blood Type. Probably the biggest determiner of blood flavors. A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, AB-...all of them will taste different. Why? Different antibodies and antigens. Basically, a completely different structure of the blood. I think I have A- (or maybe A+, I can't properly remember, lol!), so my blood would taste completely different from someone with B+ blood. I'm biased here, but I'm willing to gamble and say A blood tastes the bests. The mosquitos sure think so...
But Ashley, what does this all mean? Why should I care?
Great question. You should care because if you ever find yourself in a situation with, oh, let's say a vampire from the Daughters of Night, and you find yourself falling for a vampire, you should know what kind of blood they like and how to make your blood more appealing to them.
Find out in later posts what kinds of blood the vampires from DON prefer!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Blog Tour Stop: The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto
Today friends, we have an awesome treat!! Author Michelle Muto has her wicked awesome book on tour, hosted and coordinated by Fae Books, and we get to be a part of it! Check out some really kick ass stuff that Michelle is sharing with us about her book, The Haunting Season.
The Haunting Season, by Michelle Muto
Be careful what you let in…
Siler House has stood silent beneath Savannah’s moss-draped oaks for decades. Notoriously haunted, it has remained empty until college-bound Jess Perry and three of her peers gather to take part in a month-long study on the paranormal. Jess, who talks to ghosts, quickly bonds with her fellow test subjects. One is a girl possessed. Another just wants to forget. The third is a guy who really knows how to turn up the August heat, not to mention Jess’s heart rate…when he’s not resurrecting the dead. The study soon turns into something far more sinister when they discover that Siler House and the dark forces within are determined to keep them forever. In order to escape, Jess and the others will have to open themselves up to the true horror of Siler House and channel the very evil that has welcomed them all.
**This book is recommended for readers aged 17+, due to content!**
That being said, here are the links to the book on Amazon and whatnot so you can pick up a copy !
Buy Links
Amazon US Kindle: http://amzn.to/17GZtd1
Excerpt from The Haunting Season:
“Allison?” she called out. She checked the bathroom. No Allison there, either. She must have already gone downstairs without her. Jess turned and walked back into their room.
“You shouldn’t be here,” said the little girl standing in front of the dresser.
Startled, Jess took an involuntary step back. She thought she’d be used to the way ghosts appeared and disappeared by now, but she wasn’t. Probably would never get used to it. The girl wore a pretty white dress and black shoes. The dress was tied around the middle with a red bow that matched the one in her curly, dark hair.
She’s a ghost. She’s the ghost of either Gracie or Emma Siler, Jess thought, aware of her quickening heartbeat. Finally! Her first ghost sighting in months! The girl looked young and sweet, so why did she feel so jumpy? Probably because her roommate would have her believe the small girl sporting dimples and curls was Satan in disguise.
Damn you, Allison!
Her face didn’t look anything like Jess would have expected of a child who had been murdered. The girl’s complexion was healthy, with a glow like that of a living ten-year-old. Not one who had been dead for well over a hundred years. But, ghosts were like that—appearing how they wanted you to see them, or so she believed. Or, maybe it was how they saw themselves. Jess had never thought to ask.
She could still see ghosts, which meant there was hope—hope of seeing Grams again and her father, too! Jess’s unease began to fade.
The girl waited patiently for her to do or say something.
“Hello,” Jess said softly.
“Hi,” the girl replied.
“I’m Jess. Are you Emma or Gracie?”
The girl smiled. “I know who you are. I’m Gracie.”
Jess tried to keep the remaining nervousness from her voice. “Thanks for letting me see you, Gracie. I like ghosts.”
Gracie’s smile faltered. “You’re still a little scared. I can tell. Are you here to hurt us? To make us go away?”
Ghost or not, Gracie’s words melted Jess. Hurt her? Never. Jess knelt down in front of Gracie. She reached out for Gracie’s arm, realizing she couldn’t actually touch the child—the gesture was simply automatic. Gracie stepped back, her arms still at her sides.
She thinks I’m going to hurt her, Jess thought. “No, Gracie. I’d never hurt you. In fact, I’m here to help you.”
“You’re very kind,” Gracie said, looking down at her shoes.
“I try to be,” Jess replied.
Gracie’s head jerked toward the mirror, then back to Jess, her eyes wide. “I have to go now. You should go, too.”
“Is someone there, Gracie?”
She nodded.
“Who’s there? Is it Emma?” Somehow, she didn’t think it was Emma at all.
Gracie frowned. “It’s Riley. He says I can’t talk anymore right now.”
Jess stood and looked in the mirror. Once again, she saw nothing but her reflection and oddly, Gracie’s, in the old mirror. Unease seeped back into Jess’s skin.
“I’ll help you Gracie. You and Emma. I promise,” Jess said, although she had no idea how to do that yet. She turned back to the child, but Gracie was gone.
Slowly, as if a child were writing it from the other side of the mirror, the word hurry appeared. And underneath, we need you.
Pretty spooky, eh? Hehe, I'm interested to find out what happens in this book, and you should be too! Make sure you check out the links below to snag your copy of The Haunting Season today!
Now, here's something cool: Michelle put together a playlist just for The Haunting Season, and here's a snapshot for your amusement!
Playlist for The Haunting Season
Pretty groovy song choices! Gotta love me some Tom Petty!! Lol, now for some good stuff. Learn all about Michelle in this sweet interview.
Interview with Michelle Muto, author of The Haunting Season
Fae Books: How did you come up
with the idea for your book?
Michelle Muto: During a trip to Savannah, I visited the Sorrel-Weed house,
which is reported to be Savannah’s most haunted house.
Fae Books: What is different
about this book compared to others you’ve written?
Michelle: For starters, The Haunting Season is New Adult. Secondly,
the main characters are not supernatural beings.
Fae Books: Most unique or
unusual research you’ve ever done for The Haunting Season?
Michelle: Besides visiting the Sorrel-Weed house? Asking a former
mortician about embalming methods in the early to mid 1900’s and how embalming
and burial procedures have changed and why. It’s both fascinating and a bit
gruesome.
Fae Books: What is the hardest
part about writing?
Michelle: Keeping my butt in the chair for as many hours as I need to
per day. Resisting the urge to jump on the internet when I’m having difficulty
with a scene.
Fae Books: If you could meet any
author who is no longer living, who would it be?
Michelle: Tough call. Edgar Allan Poe, probably. But I’d also like to
meet Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock.
Fae Books: Can you tell us a
little about your next project?
Michelle: It’s a adult dark fantasy novel with action, castles, and
gargoyles. It’ll be out early this
summer.
Fae Books: If you could do one
thing over again in regards to writing, what would it be?
Michelle: Write faster.
Fae Books: Vanilla or chocolate?
Michelle: Chocolate.
Fae Books: Food you like the
most? The least?
Michelle: I tend to like Italian food the most. I can’t stand brussel
sprouts or peas.
Fae Books: Favorite television
show?
Michelle: Supernatural
Fae Books: What weapon would you
choose in the zombie apocalypse?
Michelle: Harry Potter’s wand or maybe Dean Winchester. He’d be a
formidable weapon against zombies, right? (grin)
Fae Books: What scares you?
Michelle: Humanity. The way people treat others, animals, or the
environment.
AH! Harry Potter's wand, I never thought of that one!! Gimme his broom too, though, so I can fly above their heads and zap em! Hehe, I'm a chocolate fan, too. This chick is already on my good list! :)
So, for a little extra awesomeness, Michelle gave us some pictures of the interior of the Sorrel-Weed House, which was the inspiration for the Siler House-how cool?! Have a looksie!
Sorrel-Weed House; Inspiration for Siler House
And now, a bit about this spectacular author!
Michelle Muto
As an adult, Michelle traded her love of writing for the corporate life where she was an IT professional. Today, she's doing what she loves best - writing and storytelling.
Michelle grew up in Chicago, but currently lives in NE Georgia with her husband and their two dogs. She loves scary books, funny movies, sports cars, chocolate, dogs, and changes of season.
Check out these links for more information on Michelle, and don't forget to snag your copy of The Haunting season. Or...you could just enter the tour wide giveaway at the bottom of this post... :)
For more information on hosting your own virtual book tour, contact Sarah Fae Graham at Fae Books to book your tour today! Make sure you check out all Fae Books has to offer, including giveaways, more giveaways, hosting your book on the website, getting your book reviewed by one (or more) of the team, advertising, how to become a tour host, and so much more! What's best about it all? I work with em!! :)
Hope everyone enjoyed the tour stop, and feel free to follow Michelle on tour for more great posts, possibly more giveaways, and a ton more fun!! Here's the schedule, and best of luck to all the entrants for the giveaways!!
JULY 2013
1st - Fae Books www.FaeBooks.co.uk
2nd - Black Words-White Pages http://blackwords-whitepages1977.blogspot.com/
2nd - Stop #2 - Buried Under Books http://buriedunderbooks1.blogspot.com
3rd - Cu's Ebook Giveaways http://cusauthorspotlights.blogspot.com/
4th - Marcy Rachel Designs http://www.marcyracheldesigns.com/blog-2/
5th - Wicca Witch 4 Book Blog http://wiccawitch4.blogspot.ca/
6th - Indy Book Fairy http://paranormalbookfairy.blogspot.com/
7th - Reader's Candy http://readerscandyy.blogspot.com
8th - Love, Literature, Art, and Reason http://meganm922.blogspot.com
9th - From the Writer's Nest http://throughthegateway.blogspot.co.uk/
10th - Gliterary Girl http://gliterarygirl.com
11th - Drunken Space Penguin (*THAT'S ME!!*) http://www.drunkenspacepenguin.blogspot.com
12th - Little Read Riding Hood http://littlereadridinghood.com
13th - Jodie Pierce's Ink Slingers Blog http://www.jodiepierceauthor.blogspot.com
13th - Into the Land of Books http://etherealistic-reader.blogspot.com
14th - A_TiffyFit's Reading Corner http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com
15th - Liz Long, Indie Author http://lizclong.com
16th - Tanya's Book Book http://tanyasbooknook.blogspot.com
17th - Authors to Watch http://www.authorstowatch.com
18th - Kelly P's Blog http://kellyatx.blogspot.co.uk/
19th - Fundinmental http://www.fundinmental.com
20th - Inside the Pages of a Book www.insidethepagesofabook.blogspot.com
21st - Cyrstals Many Reviews http://www.crystalsmanyreviews.blogspot.com/
22nd - Ravenz Reviews http://www.ravenzreviews.blogspot.com
23rd - Jein's Journey http://jeinsjourney.blogspot.com
24th - The Bearded Scribe http://thebeardedscribe.blogspot.com
25th - Stanbrookshire www.stanbrookshire.com
26th - Cover Bound http://coverboundbookie.blogspot.com/
27th - Chaotic Reader http://chaoticreader.blogspot.com/
28th - We All Make Mistakes In Books http://weallmakemistakesinbooks.blogspot.com
29th - Room With Books http://www.roomwithbooks.com
30th - 4covert2overt A Day in the Spotlight http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/
30th - Stop #2 - The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something...http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/
31st - Bianca2b http://bianca2b.wordpress.com
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