giveaway

Brain to Books Blog Tour: Kevin Zdrill

Aug 16, 2015 | Authors

We’ve got another wonderful Proof Positive author participating in the Brain to Books Blog Tour this month. Kevin Zdrill, a prolific, multi-genre author shares his latest work, The Ukranian in Me, plus a little bit about his writing strategies.

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Fast Facts
Author: Kevin Zdrill
Genre: Contemporary adult comedy romance
Books: The Ukrainian In Me
Official Site

Bio

Kevin Zdrill discovered the power of story telling at the age of 11. After dusting off a manual typewriter from the closet of his parent’s home, he began creating short, comedic skits for his friends to read. Their laughter at these unadorned stories sparked an enthusiasm to continue exploring human behavior and relationships.

“I’m always looking for the characters within my books to have natural flaws. I find it speaks to their desperate nature in humorous and earnest settings. It’s important for the reader to relate and bond to the characters and to care about the chain of events that occur.”

Kevin Zdrill is a Manitoba-based author employed in the field of mental health and crisis intervention. His comedy fiction series, including No Kiss Good-Night and Boom Chicka Wah Wah, captures the heartfelt misadventures of dating and relationships. His third book, Crazy, Mixed-Up World, explores the ramifications of the collision of life, love, and betrayal.

Blurb

When thirty-year-old independent web designer Larissa Androshchuk separates from her husband after nine months, one day, and a morning, she blames it on the Ukrainian curse that has dogged her family for generations; she believes that all

Androshchuks are destined to fail at whatever they do.

Larissa moves back to her former room in the basement of her parents’ Manitoba house, where she starts posting a blog venting her fears and frustrations. In spite of her uncertain and possibly ill-fated future, she is determined to break free of the

family shackles. Larissa embarks on a complete makeover as a prelude to a triumphant return to the dating scene, turning for help to her best friend, Bernadette; her Internet-savvy cousin Garth; her middle-aged diva aunt Tina; and her ninety-one-year-old pierogi-making baba. But the men she encounters turn out to be even more damaged than her ego. Meanwhile, Larissa’s father unabashedly takes to restoring the tarp covered twenty-year old Chrysler in the backyard to ensure her stay in their house will be short-lived, making her life even more uncomfortable.

When an unexpected opportunity presents itself, Larissa sees this as her last shot to take control and leap free from her fate. But can she escape the curse long enough to turn her life around?

Excerpt

I flopped down on my bed, not caring what effect the towel was going to have on my hair. Let it become a rat’s nest, I thought. There was no one to impress anymore. Fingers wouldn’t be running through it with passion—not that I’d ever had that kind of passion from my ex, but I always fantasized it could happen at any moment.

Did I really believe that was possible? I took a deep breath and moved my gaze around the room slowly, taking in wallpaper so familiar I knew where every mismatched seam was. Besides the obvious conclusion—this room needed a serious makeover—my observations hammered home the fact that this was the last place in my life I needed to be for any reason. Heck, I needed a makeover more than this damn room did.

Sweet Jesus, I was thirty years old and starting from scratch. I had no job; no money; no higher education; no car, because I didn’t have a driver’s license; and now no husband.

I shivered, although I wasn’t cold anymore. I still couldn’t believe it. At thirty years old, I didn’t have the ability to live anywhere but in the basement of my parents’ home, in my former bedroom. It sucked so bad that it hurt to breathe.

The Ukrainian curse had finally caught up with me. My entire family tree suffered from it, and I was the latest victim.

Buy the Book

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Book Depository
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See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!

What’s next on the map: WIP – Guest Post by James Quinn

Jun 24, 2015 | Authors

I had the pleasure of meeting Get Down With The Awethors participant James Quinn a few months ago and was impressed by his novel, A Game for Assassins. What’s so impressive about it? He has the actual experience in the subject matter: covert operations and other James Bond-type things. To me, this makes his novel much more real and therefore all the more enjoyable.

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I have to confess (and please bear with me as I’m new to this whole writing game, so no sniggering, you guys) that up until recently I thought that WIP had something to do with a wireless internet connection. And no, I’m not making that up…

I’d see people on various forums and FB groups banging on about “WIP this” and “WIP that” and “Oh my WIP is just on a downward spiral.” Poor woman, I thought! Eventually I figured out that it means a work in progress and it all became clear. So the next step along the path, the next big novel, the next project – right I got it now. It sounds nice. Then one of my friends commented that now that the first one was done I should really start on book 2. Errrr…I was so focused on getting the first book finished and into print that I hadn’t even considered getting to work on a follow-up book! Jeez – I’ve got to go through all that AGAIN!

As I’m writing this I am in the midst of a blog tour and about halfway through the expected publicity for the first book. I had always had a plan that the “Gorilla Grant” books would be a 5 book series, charting his adventures and history from the 1960’s up to the present day. Hopefully, if readers take to the character and enjoy the books, that will come to fruition and we can see where the characters from the first book will be a mile or so down the road of time.

A Game for Assassins is what I would class as my Cold War novel. The character of Gorilla Grant, though, is able to transcend that period in history and move around into different locations and adventures. For example the follow up book – SENTINEL FIVE – takes place in the underbelly of Asia and has a very different feel to it. In fact I’m kind of curious to see how Gorilla survives in these environments.

My (rather naïve) idea was that I would finish the publicity for A Game for Assassins, have a summer vacation and then in the autumn move on to starting with book 2. Nice and clean. A bit like leaving one girlfriend, having a period of being single, before moving in with girlfriend number 2. Unfortunately life doesn’t always go along with our plans and I have already started upon my current WIP.

Is there a right or a wrong time to begin a follow-up book? Should writers take a break before committing to another work? I’m not thinking of the time between To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set The Watchmen length here, but enough to give a fresh perspective to an existing set of characters. Perhaps we should go totally off track and try something else? I confess that over the weekend I began to work on a short story totally unrelated to anything else that I have written before. I found it quite refreshing. A change is as good as a rest and all that.

So what do you think? How do you think the characters from A Game for Assassins will develop and change, and where will they end up? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

~ James Quinn

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Title: A Game for Assassins
Series: The Redaction Chronicles, Book 1
Author: James Quinn
Length: novel (528 pages)
Genre: mystery, thriller, spy thriller, espionage
Synopsis

The assassination of a Caribbean dictator… The “hit” on a traitor in Beirut… The brutal murder of a young CIA officer behind the Iron Curtain… So begins the game…

It is 1964, the height of the Cold War, and British Intelligence is riding high with its top double agent network: Constellation.

But in the secret war fought across Europe the enemy is never far away and soon the agents of Constellation are targeted by an unknown team of assassins. In desperation British Intelligence sends in their best agent to protect the network and hunt down the killers.

Jack “Gorilla” Grant isn’t your typical Cold War secret agent. Short, tough, uncompromising, rough edged. He doesn’t fit in with the elitist spies and debonair intelligence agents. He prefers working at the rough end of British covert operations.

But “Gorilla” is one of the best “Redactors” in the business. He’s an expert at close quarter shooting: quick to the draw and deadly accurate when it comes to the elimination of traitors and extremists on behalf of the British Secret Service (SIS). He is soon drawn into a game of cross and double cross where nothing is as it seems and even the most perfect spy can die in a wilderness of mirrors.

A Game for Assassins is an action packed edge of your seat thrill ride played out across the global stage of the Cold War.

Buy Links

Free with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VQORC0K/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VQORC0K/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00VQORC0K/
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00VQORC0K/

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d3e3d66a28/

About the author

James Quinn spent 15 years in the secret world of covert operations, undercover investigations and international security before turning his hand to writing.

He is trained in hand to hand combat and in the use of a variety of weaponry including small edged weapons, Japanese Swords and Hunting Bows. He is also a crack pistol shot for CQB (Close Quarter Battle) and many of his experiences he has incorporated into his works of fiction.

He lives in the United Kingdom and travels extensively around the globe.

Website: http://jamesquinn.webs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Quinn/1558765681046413
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ape101Quinn

‘You should write a book…’ Guest Post by Maurice G. Miller

May 27, 2015 | Authors

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of being consulted on a new author’s debut book cover. We exchanged a few messages on Goodreads and ended up talking quite a bit more about writing and publishing. Maurice Miller, author of the recently released The Budapest Experiment, is an active, sociable writer you’ll want to get to know. Why not start here?

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When sharing life experiences that are perhaps out of the norm, interesting, or compelling, how many of us have heard the phrase ‘You should write a book…’? Having always considered taking on this challenge, I finally decided to dedicate myself to this monumental task. It has been a long, interesting journey so far, and I look forward to both the trials and successes to come as I continue on my writing/publishing career.

In the early 1990s one of my entrepreneurial ventures led me to working as a trade consultant in Hungary. At that time, the country was transitioning from a state to market economy and offered many business opportunities. In the 2+ years that I travelled there, I met lots of characters in both the business and political arenas. The Budapest night life could get quite crazy at times, if your ‘meetings’ and social engagements led you to certain places. For me it was always interesting ‘playing games with the faces’, as Simon and Garfunkle would put it. Sometimes my colleagues would identify people in a crowded room, saying ‘I heard he is associated with the Mob’ or ‘she is one of the Organization’s women.’ It was these real life experiences that inspired me to write my debut fictional novel, The Budapest Experiment.

The book follows the journey of the protagonist, Michael Rousson, an adventurous but struggling American entrepreneur. While Michael shares a lot of the same traits as I did budapest experiment cover photo back then, most of his experiences in Budapest are quite different than what mine were. In the course of doing business he eventually becomes involved in the Russian Mob’s business operations that were centered in Budapest. Enticed and seduced by the Organization’s women, money, and power, he accepts what he thinks is a part-time consulting position with the Mob.

Inspired by things I dealt with back then, philosophical dilemmas evolve as Michael gets a remote glimpse into the darker worlds of sex, drugs, and arms trafficking. ‘At what price does one sell their soul?’ and ‘What is the greater evil in the world? Those that profit from the vulnerable in society, or those of us that just stand by and watch, complacent to the plight and suffering of the human condition around the world.’ The experiences and encounters that the protagonist endures in the book are fictional and extreme, but these questions are ones that we face ourselves, to some extent, every day. How much of our resources of time, treasure, and talent do we allocate to those less fortunate vs. what we keep for our own benefit and pleasures?

On what you might call a lighter note, I should mention that there are erotica scenes in the book. As a newbie author, my decision to include these was a bit of a struggle. I considered glazing over these scenes, but in the end I felt it was important to capture the intimacy between Michael, the ‘Mob women’, and a flirty interpreter. My hope was that by including the details of these encounters, readers would better comprehend the internal conflicts of the main character as well as familarize themselves with the behind-the-scenes life stories of the women he encounters.

Special thanks to Christie for inviting me to guest blog.

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maurice miller headshot The Budapest Experiment is now available in Print and Kindle eBook. You can check it out here: http://amzn.to/1z1g09v. There are 3+ chapters in the ‘Look Inside’ feature on the Kindle page to help you get acquainted.

You can gets lots more info including my author profile, blog, entry to win one of 15 free eBook copies on June 1, social media contacts, and much more by visiting my website www.mauricegmiller.com.

For those of you on Goodreads, be sure to watch for my second giveaway of 3 authographed author copies starting on Friday May 29. You can check my Goodreads author profile http://bit.ly/1DO6y6k and while you are there please send a friend request.

Thanks.

– Maurice

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Apr 15, 2015 | Offers

Announcement: Proof Positive’s Facebook page has reached over 100 likes! We’re so happy to share our advice and friendship with you that we’re giving away a $25 Amazon gift card through Rafflecopter this week. Just visit Proof Positive’s Facebook page and enter in multiple ways to win. This contest ends Sunday night at midnight Eastern Time.

Thank you again for your support!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Awethors Event: Interview with Rocky Rochford

Apr 11, 2015 | Authors

Our eighteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Rocky Rochford. Co-creator of this outstanding event, Rocky has several books, at all different lengths and on many subjects, available for purchase – and some to win!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

For starters I’ve added a number of works for a free giveaway as part of a book bundle. I’ll be posting cover art, extracts and doing a general Q&A about anything and everything, as well as taking part in our Cover Wars contest.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

The Spirit of Iris is the title of released work, the first installment of the Rise of the Elohim novels (Elohim being the Jewish word for Watchers, Guardians), to which I have a series of four full-length books currently planned.

As a child, I was always most interested in fantasy, first captivated by a series of dreams I used to have about a warrior by the name of Jacka-riah Jackal, whose sole duty was to defend an ancient kingdom and its empress ruler from hoards of monsters and beasts. Then my brother got a Nintendo 64 and I played Ocarina of Time for the first time. Ever since my first quest with Link, I’ve been a huge fan of the Legend of Zelda series, and I played Final Fantasy X a couple of years later, which for me just sealed the deal. Ever since playing this game, I wanted to write something on the type of scale the stories of those video games projected, so this was where the idea first started gathering momentum. Also because of that, with a deep love of Zelda, which led to me working on a number of Zelda parodies, I took to doing my own fantasy story, one that would see a young male protagonist take charge in a bid to free his home world from an ancient evil.

As for where can you find it, it is available on:

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I write purely for the sake of writing, and sleep. I have so much going on in my head that I find it really hard to just switch off, so many fantasies and the like, so writing is a great way to get it all out, make some space and share my deranged musings with all those who are crazed enough to delve into them.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Oooh tough one, but if I had to pick one, Bram Stoker’s Dracula was the one book I just had to read. I enjoyed it so much more than the film.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I’ll most likely be on most of the day, as much as I possibly can, to help keep the whole thing moving.

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Author Bio

My name is Rocky Rochford and I am a scuba diving, photo taking, adventure seeking, sword collecting writer and marine conservationist. I’m a handful of years into my twenties, but after living life on the road, going town to town before finally settling down, I’ve gained great insight into the world and her workings. From day one I have been a writer and a writer I shall forever remain.

I like to consider myself to be a student of everything and yet a master of nothing, who does not choose what he writes, but writes what chooses him, be it fantasy, crime, poetry, philosophy or even adventure. After all, life is a journey we all get to experience, just like a good book.

Every read of one of my typed works is another trip into the imagination of my mixed up, crazed and deranged mind. Welcome to the World of Rochford.

Connect with Rocky

Feel free to get connected with me on any of the following site locations:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamRockyRochford?fref=ts
Twitter: @RockyRochford
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/RockyRochford
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7310280.Rocky_Rochford
Personal Website: rockyrochford.wordpress.com

Awethors Event: Interview with D.M. Cain

Apr 11, 2015 | Authors

Our seventeenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is D.M. Cain. She’s one of the authors who started this wonderful event and her writing is outstanding (first-hand knowledge!). Don’t miss her giveaways!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I’ve got 2 swag packs for A Chronicle of Chaos to give away, which will include a paperback copy of the book, a notebook, pen and pack of chocolates. I will also be offering sneak peeks of my upcoming book, The Shield of Soren, and giving some insight into the influences behind my books. I’ll be hosting the event all day so I’ll be around to chat with all the other authors, as well as being available to answer questions.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My most recent book is A Chronicle of Chaos – a YA epic fantasy, the first in a long series of 13 or more stories. You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Chronicle-Chaos-Light-Shadow-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00NJ89B8M/

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I am always inspired by music. I like to listen to large-scale orchestral music, which instantly paints vivid images in my mind. I love to get away from the stresses of being a teacher, author, wife and mother by delving into my own worlds and losing myself in my characters. It is so cathartic for me, even when I’m exhausted from a hard day’s work, and nothing relaxes me more than writing.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I think it’s the one book I’ve read that has literally everything I’ve ever wanted in a story. It is devilishly witty and funny, but at the same time dark and foreboding. It is the most quotable story I’ve ever read, but hits quite a powerful nerve by the end too. Wilde was an incredible writer.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I’ll be there for most of the event! For me, it will be 8 am–11 pm UK time (which is about 4 am–7 pm EDT). I might pop off to do other things every now and then, but rest assured I’ll be back. I wouldn’t want to miss much!

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Author Bio

D.M. Cain has been writing since the age of thirteen, but her first full length novel was self-published in May 2014. The Phoenix Project is a psychological thriller set in a dystopian future.

Her second book, released in October 2014, was A Chronicle of Chaos – the first in a dark fantasy series. In February 2015, she began to work with U.S. publisher Booktrope.

She is currently working on the next novel in the series – ‘The Shield of Soren’ and a short story to accompany it.

Cain lives in Leicestershire, UK with her husband and young son, and spends her time reading, writing and reviewing books, playing RPGs and listening to symphonic metal.

Connect with D.M.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMCainauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMCain84
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/XevZH
Website: www.dmcain84.com
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DMCain/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7888430.D_M_Cain
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/D.M.-Cain/e/B00LTTX3PA/

Book Links

The Phoenix Project: http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Project-D-M-Cain-ebook/dp/B00K974TOM/

The Phoenix Project blurb:

A thought-provoking and compelling dystopian world that will change the way you view justice…

In prisons across the country, inmates are forced to fight to the death in a weekly bloodbath while the nation cheers them on.

Raven Kennedy, a bitterly depressed young prisoner who has never forgiven himself for his unspeakable crime, struggles against his own guilt and self-loathing. But even as the real war wages within him, Raven is forced to battle some of the prison’s most ruthless killing machines. Can he survive long enough to unravel the anger and regret that shackle him—and one day find the forgiveness he seeks?

“The Phoenix Project by D.M. Cain is a superbly written debut, soaked in tension and intrigue.” Jack Croxall, author of the Tethers trilogy.

A Chronicle of Chaos: http://www.amazon.com/Chronicle-Chaos-Light-Shadow-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00NJ89B8M/

A Chronicle of Chaos blurb:

In the deepest bowels of Hell, five demons have been summoned, their bonds to the fires of damnation severed. For the first time in millennia, they have been called to the Human Realm to put an end to a battle that has raged for centuries.

The world is split in two – an immense and ancient battleground. The Children of Light and The Brotherhood of Shadow dominate the war-torn land, each yearning to rule the planet. Finally, The Brotherhood has summoned the demons, a weapon that could destroy their enemies once and for all, if they can only keep them under control.

Chaos, a soldier in The Children of Light, basks in the glory of being the highest-ranking fighter of his generation, but his arrogance and impulsiveness prevent him from being given the opportunity to prove himself. He believes himself beyond the law, superior, a god amongst his people, but a fateful coincidence puts him at the mercy of the demon, Anathema.

The two warriors, a demon and a human, strike up an intense rivalry, but their obsession to destroy one another only leads them closer together. They must decide which side they belong on before all existence is sucked into one final Armageddon.

Awethors Event: Interview with Rebecca McCray

Apr 10, 2015 | Authors

Our sixteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Rebecca McCray. If you can’t wait to read her latest novel, get it on Amazon now at a special countdown rate just for this event!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

Several items: I’m happy to answer questions about my novel and series throughout the day. Two of the giveaway book packages include copies of my e-book. I also expect my book cover to compete well in the Cover Wars! Finally and for the event, my book will be on a countdown special on Amazon (US and UK).

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My novel, The Journey of the Marked, can be found on Amazon (print and e-book). The book leans toward fantasy, but with a sci-fi influence and was written with the YA reader in mind, though it appeals to a wide variety of readers. At its core, the story focuses on the value of differences (i.e. ability, culture, perspectives) and how these together can increase the likelihood of overcoming obstacles…like individuals trying to kill you.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

Writing settles me. A story plays in my head constantly. My imagination tends toward the dark and terrifyingly vivid. I find that writing helps me focus in all parts of my life.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

I struggle with questions like these as they’re narrow, so I’ll answer it a little more broadly. There are three genres that have influenced me and that I love: fantasy/sci-fi, mysteries, and culturally-based (auto)biographies. Cultural differences fascinate me as is evident throughout my story.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I plan to attend on and off during the day. However, as I live in the western part of the US, I likely won’t surface until afternoon for those of you in Europe. You should be able to find me from 9am-11am Pacific Time (17:00 to 19:00 GMT), as well as possibly other times. To help with the day, I volunteered to chaperone the 5pm-9pm Pacific Time slot (1:00 to 5:00 GMT Monday), so I’ll definitely be online then.

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Author Bio

Rebecca always has a story “playing” in her thoughts. If she puts a book down, her imagination grabs the story and starts creating alternate storylines, expanding on the world to which she’s already been introduced by the author. Over time, she began developing the concept of an advanced species that is the imminent example of the “survival of the fittest” evolution theory. That species was the beginning of her series, The Miyran Heir. The first book in the series, The Journey of the Marked, is now available on Amazon.

An avid reader, she enjoys fantasy, sci-fi, mysteries, and culturally-based biographies/travel stories. She is intrigued by cultural differences and this appreciation for variations throughout the world can be seen in her writing.

Connect with Rebecca

Website: www.rebeccamccray.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiyranHeir
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rebpai
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RebPai

Book link:

smarturl.it/journeyofthemarked (one link for all Amazon websites!)

Awethors Event: Interview with Kelly Marsden

Apr 10, 2015 | Authors

Our fifteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Kelly Marsden. Kelly isn’t just taking part in Awethors discussions, Cover Wars, and giveaways, she’s also holding an event for Awethors on her blog!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I’m really looking forward to the organized chaos! I’ll be giving away ebook copies of my entire Witch-Hunter trilogy, the first book of which will be battling it out in the ecover contest (I hope you’ll all come and vote!).

I will also be hosting an Awethors takeover all day on my precious blog – The Northern Witch’s Book Blog – including lovely giveaways.

There will be a discussion on the Awethors board about who people support in the above trilogy. Are they #TeamWitch or #TeamMMC?

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My most recent publication is The Shadow Falls, the exciting finale of the Witch-Hunter trilogy. It was a lot of fun to write – it has its own twists and turns and answers all the mysteries of the previous two books (while opening many more). I hope people will appreciate the mix of historical facts and modern trials.

It is available in ebook and paperback through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I always have music on in the background. I find that the silence is overwhelming if I don’t, and I need something to engage my senses.

It can also help when that one line in a song stands out and directs your thoughts down a track you might not have considered, but turns out to be inspiring.

My music of choice will always be rock and British indie bands.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Just one? Okay, in that case I will go with the book on my shelf that has been read so many times that the cover is all crumpled and faded, and the pages are held together by tape: The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell.

My best friend gave it to me for my tenth birthday (actually, the same best friend who, 17 years later, persuaded me to become an indie-published writer), and I have read and re-read it. I fell in love with the characters, and it allowed me to escape to another place full of excitement and loyalty. It was the first book that really inspired me to dream.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I will endeavour to be there as much as possible, I’m excited to see what is going to roll out. I’m based in the UK, so I’ll be running on British Summer Time!

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Author Bio

Kelly Marsden grew up in Yorkshire, and there were two constants in her life – books and horses. Graduating with an equine degree from Aberystwyth University, she has spent most of her life since trying to experience everything the horse world has to offer. She is currently settled into a nutritionist role for a horse feed company in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Her first book, The Shadow Rises, was published in January 2013. The entire Witch-Hunter trilogy is now available as paperback and download.

Connect with Kelly

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6905238.K_S_Marsden
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KSMarsden
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KSMarsden
Website: http://kellymarsden.wix.com/home
Blog: http://thenorthernwitchbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Book links:

The Shadow Rises – free to download
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shadow-rises-k-s-marsden/1119501646?ean=9781499271607
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=5Xu8BAAAQBAJ
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/476391
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-shadow-rises/id921005166?mt=11
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Rises-Witch-Hunter-Book-ebook/dp/B00AWRN8YQ/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Rises-Witch-Hunter-Book-ebook/dp/B00AWRN8YQ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17972985-the-shadow-rises

Awethors Event: Interview with Claire Plaisted

Apr 10, 2015 | Authors

Our fourteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Claire Plaisted. She has ten books on the market and counting, including romance and a children’s book – quite varied!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I am giving away an ebook version of Malachy’s Unit, which is the first book in Garrett Malachy's Unit 2nd EditionEbook Investigation Bureau (GIB) series. I will also participate in the character talks, chat and Cover Wars.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My latest work is Book 5 in the Garrett Investigation Bureau (GIB) series. It’s called Mascosta’s Dreamgirl. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Apple and many more online stores.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

My fingers drive me to write, as do my generally noisy characters, who seem to argue a lot at times. I have no idea where the plots or anything else comes from. I tend to do as I’m told. Muse or pixie on my shoulder is what I like to think.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

There are two books. Valley of Song by Elizabeth Goudge and The Chronicles of Narnia (series) by C S Lewis.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I’m about 18 hours ahead of the USA, so I will be there for as long as possible, though when it hits Monday here, I have a volunteer job to do.

~~~

Author Bio

Hi everyone! My name is Claire Plaisted. I live in Rotorua, New Zealand with my family and two cats. Rotorua is one of the main tourist stops for a cultural Maori experience with lots of things to do, be it walking, cycling, museums, spa days, etc.

I am an indie author with sidelines in genealogy where I research and format family history books for clients. I have also developed a business to help indie authors self-publish. I have published six books for clients so far.

Plaisted Publishing House will format your draft books into ebook and print format; along with this we will help you find an editor and book cover designer if they are needed. My main aim is to get as many indie authors published and online as possible with reasonable costs. After all, not everyone is computer savvy.

Back to me! I have published ten of my own books so far. Two are short stories and five are part of a series called Garrett Investigation Bureau. I have one erotic fantasy, one children’s mythical story and a contemporary romance under my pen name, Beth Bayley.

I started to write in 2012 quite by accident and ended up with a Regency historical novel, which still needs editing and publishing. From that time on, I have not stopped. My work has been a continual learning curve that includes designing websites and learning how to use Word more efficiently.

At present I am working on a war diary and attending college to help enhance my small business management skills.

Enjoy looking at my books. I will be updating and leaving teasers as I learn to use WordPress more efficiently.

Connect with Claire

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rotosis1

My Buy Links
http://geni.us/3EMp
http://geni.us/O4N
http://geni.us/13o2
http://geni.us/O4O
http://geni.us/2fb1
http://geni.us/vn1
http://geni.us/M8J
http://geni.us/2W5y
http://geni.us/23H7

Awethors Event: Interview with Tory Gates

Apr 9, 2015 | Authors

Our thirteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Tory Gates, otherwise known as DJ Riff. Tory writes literary fiction that deals with relevant cultural issues in a readable way, and his upcoming book will be YA/Mainstream.

~~~

1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

A free copy of my first book, Parasite Girls; the cover is also entered in the Cover Wars competition.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

Parasite Girls is available through Amazon.com, either in physical or Kindle form. E-readers of other kinds may also purchase the book through Smashwords.

I am currently in the editing process for my next work, A Moment in the Sun, a Young Adult/Mainstream crossover story that will be released later this year by Sunbury Press.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

There are so many different forces that have inspired me over the years. Music is indeed one of these; as a broadcaster I was exposed to so much over the years, it’s hard to not be inspired in another creative direction.

Writing was another expression beyond what I did for a living. I also found it became a great form of therapy. I was unable at first to write about myself, but I found I could write about other people’s experiences. Then I gradually began to chip away at the things inside me, which were even better, as I lived them.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

That’s a tie: The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I read the former for the first time when I was nine, and LOTR at ten (so I read them long before they were cool!). Tolken’s creation of Middle Earth (which spanned over 20 years) is a journey of imagination that I’ve never encountered before or since, and I don’t think we ever will. It proved to me from an early age there were no boundaries for creativity and storytelling.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I will be on for the midday hours, hopefully. As I have promoted the event on this, I’ll shamelessly plug: I host a Sunday afternoon program called The Music Club on Radio-Airwaves Station from 4-6 pm Eastern, at www.radio-airwaves.co.uk – perhaps I can provide some music of interest for you during that time!

~~~

Author Bio

Tory Gates is a broadcast professional with over 30 years of radio experience. He has worked nearly every format as a DJ, news anchor, journalist, talk show host and producer. Tory is currently a reporter with the GeoTraffic Network, plus a sports anchor for the Radio Pennsylvania Network. He is also known on the Internet as “DJ Riff,” host of the The Music Club for the London-based Radio-Airwaves Station.

His second book, A Moment in the Sun, a Young Adult/Mainstream work will be released this year on Sunbury Press. Parasite Girls, Tory’s debut novel, was released in 2013 and is available through Amazon.com and Smashwords.

Tory is also a songwriter/musician with the indie folk duo the Dharma Fools, and an actor with experience in stage and independent film. Occasional thoughts and observations can be found on his blog, Words of a Pre-Curmudgeonly Zen Pagan.

A native of Vermont, Tory lives in York, Pennsylvania with his five cats and the herd of deer that come to sleep on his lawn each evening.

Connect with Tory

https://www.facebook.com/ToryGatesMedia?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/tory.gates
https://www.behance.net/torygates
https://twitter.com/ToryGates (or @ToryGates)
http://tgfabthunderbird.blogspot.com/2014/12/book-deals-writing-and-other-stuff.html?zx=c6436b1550baed91
http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/tory-gates.html

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Awethors Event: Interview with Claire Plaisted

Awethors Event: Interview with Tory Gates

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