Whimsy 8.21.2013

Welcome to my

Whimsical Writer's Wonderful WIP Wednesday!

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STATUS:

project: TAKING CHANCES
series: Paranormal Investigation, #2
status: 14K!!! About 25% complete
cover reveal: Sept 4, 2013

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EXCERPT:


Silver glyphs and runes cover the polished cypress staff. At the top, there’s a three-headed dragon. One set of eyes peeks at me, and when it catches my gaze, it snaps its eyes closed again. You don’t see me.


“Caves?” I ask the man with the wizard staff. “All the caves you’ll find up here are likely to belong to the Kodiaks, and they don’t like visitors much. Except maybe as a snack.”


You don’t see me.


“We are hoping to study the local … fauna,” he says


You don’t see me.


That’s it! If it’s going to be obnoxious about it. Open your eyes and sing a silly ditty, I order it.


All three sets of eyes pop open, and the middle dragon head sings, “In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the dragon sleeps tonight …”


The other two heads join in, singing, “wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh …”


~ Taking Chances by Rita & TJ Webb

Cover Reveal: Insights by Lauren Klever

And here it is, the one we've all been waiting for: the 3rd book in the Secret Watchers series!!!!


Isn't it pretty?

Title: Insights (The Secret Watchers, Book Three)
Author: Lauren Klever
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Action and Adventure
Release Date: August 26, 2013
Cover Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours

SYNOPSIS

Owen Ryer thought he was normal. He thought his life was boring. A walk into a pawnshop in eighth grade showed him that his life was a lie. Two years later Owen has accepted how far from normal he really is. He has a special gift, granting him the ability to see dark energy in the objects around him. Now he’s part of a secret society where people like himself help others and fight the dark watchers who want them for their powers.

Owen has discovered that a Secret Watcher does not have to live his life alone. He knows that he can expand his powers by working with other watchers but what will the price be? Darkness is growing and evil thinks it has found its new prince in Owen. They will stop at nothing to get to him even if it means kidnapping, mind-control or murder.

Owen must do more than fight; he must use his wits and every ability he has at his disposal to hold the growing darkness at bay. Who knew high school could be more challenging than football, homework and relationships? The dark side knows… and they’re watching.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Lauren Klever is the author of the young adult series, The Secret Watchers. She graduated from both Oregon State and Portland State University with degrees in education. Lauren found writing to be just another way to reach her students. She’s passionate about sharing her love of reading and writing with them.

The Pacific Northwest, with its vivid and varied panoramas is where Lauren makes her home. When she’s not writing, she can be found working with students, reading, gardening or hiking around Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast. Watch out for the lady with the camera, it may be Lauren scouting out the perfect shot for her next cover.

FIND HER BOOKS ON THE INTERNET

Whispers: Amazon | B&N | YouTube

Visions: Amazon | B&N | YouTube

Insights: YouTube

Defying Fate Release Blitz!

Title:  Defying Fate (Book Two Fate Series)
Author: Lola James   
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Book Description:

Love… Death… Fate!

Megan opened her heart and defied her fate for love. Alex wanted nothing more than to be with Megan, no matter the cost. After a vision meticulously unravels her existence it leaves Megan wondering is their love worth death?

To escape her demise, Megan enlists the help of Emilian, her vampire protector. However, the world around her slips away as his presence melts her, a gaze ignites her, and when he touches her every sensual fantasy plays in her mind. The problem is she has a job to do and she can’t afford to lose focus but he’s the only one that can keep the looming threats away.

What’s a girl to do? Death is not an option but it may be the only one she has… Continue the fated journey in Defying Fate.

GET YOUR COPY NOW:  Amazon | B&N

Author Bio:

Email | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog

Lola is a fool for a love story, a sucker for a cupcake, and let’s not talk about what she’d do for a Klondike bar. She enjoys long walks on the beach and movies that involve chainsaws. By day she's the HR Lady and by nightfall she puts on a cape to become a romance writer.

Excerpt:

I marched back into the living room and toward the box before striking the match and tossing it in. I watched the red sequins melt as the fire picked up and began to roar.

I had just ended that dress’s life and in doing so ended the manipulative events that followed, right there on the living room floor. 

“Megan, are you burning—” Emilian’s eyes widened as he rounded the corner from the hallway. In a blur, he was out the doorway and back from some other part of the house with a fire extinguisher in hand.

Playing Hooky Blog Tour + Giveaway

During my blog tour week, PLAYING HOOKY will be FREE!!! So please, download a copy and give it a read. If you write an HONEST review, you can enter my mega giveaway below.

I've ordered lots of swag:  bookmarks, wristbands, magnetic buttons, and book-cover charms!!! I'm ready to give some mega prizes! 


To those who have supported me by writing reviews, I have a special giveaway to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! This giveaway includes 5 swag packages full of wonderful goodies plus other individual prizes like free eBooks, bookmarks, wristbands, and a $10 gift certificate to Amazon or B&N.


BUT I love everybody, and if you don't want to give me a review, there's opportunities for you too! I have another giveaway full of bookmarks, eBooks, and wristbands.


Enter the giveaways below, but you can also get MORE PRIZES on my Facebook event page!

Rules:

• Participants must post an HONEST review on Amazon
• International participants are eligible for eBook and gift card prizes only
• U.S. participants are eligible for all prizes
• All winning entries will be validated
• Giveaway runs from Aug 11th to Sep 3rd

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:

• International participants are eligible only for eBook prizes only
• U.S. participants are eligible for all prizes
• All winning entries will be validated
• Giveaway runs from Aug 11th to Sep 3rd

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Whimsy 8.7.13

Welcome to my

Whimsical Writer's Wonderful WIP Wednesday!

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STATUS:

project: BREAKING ANGELINA
series: Paranormal Investigation, #1.5
status: 32K!!! About 64% complete
cover reveal: Sept 4, 2013

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EXCERPT:

The smell of sex hangs in the air like an accusation.

The bed is a mess, her blood smeared on the sheets. Shit, she was a virgin. How could I have not realized that? I should’ve noticed there was no smell of another male on her.

Condoms in the trash can. One broke and I pray she’s not pregnant. She was fertile; I could smell it… I rake my hands through my hair.

What have I done?

But if I could do it all over again, I would.

I sit on the side of my bed, watching her sleep, her golden hair fanning out across the dark pillow, the sheet only partly covering her. I had loved how those silky tresses and fallen over my face as she lay on top of me, as she rained kisses down over my face, chest…

I want to reach out and touch her again. Pull her to me. Kiss her. Take her. Mine.

Every inch of her body has burned itself into my soul. I snort with self derision—wolves mate for life. That would be why this was such a bad idea.

But she’s not mine. I can’t really have her.

If the Usurper got a hold of her like he did to Sammi…

No, I will move heaven and hell to make sure that doesn’t happen. Not again, not ever again, will he hurt something of mine.

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Recovering from Total Social Burnout!

Last week turned the whole household upside down:

1. We started off the week off-kilter because of (1) food allergies (we broke all our strict food rules) and (2) we spent the whole weekend running around. The kids had a sleepover with their best friend, and TJ and I had our first date in years.

2. Two kids got poison ivy from running in the woods with their friend.

3. I got hives that won't go away. We don't know what's causing them, and the heavy duty medication that the doc gave me doesn't work.

4. 6 doctor / dentist visits in one week.

5. My parents, and then later my brother, came to visit.

6. My mom spent the whole week with us as she taught the kids how to sew.

7. Our dining room table was covered in sewing machines and we had to picnic in the living room every day.

My parents are great and wonderful people. My mom is really caring and teaches sewing to a girls' club, and my dad is a great preacher (yeah, I'm a PK, with all the typical rebellious stereotype to go with it).

Back Row: Grampy and Grammy
Front Row:  my kidlets, Spider Girl #2, #3, and #1 (holding our cat Custard)

The kids had a great time learning to sew, despite being all itchy. It warmed my heart to watch them get to know their grandmother. My parents live 3 states and 8+ hours away, and they visit maybe once every 3 years or so.


But for me and TJ, the constant social interaction was . . . exhausting. Our usual routine was completely out of wack, and we ran out of small tack on Day One. Our nice quiet moments in the evening with books and snuggling or writing while swapping ideas back and forth was all screwed up.


We survived the week, and I even managed to write 4,000 words last week. They left happy and contented, and we now have our kitchen table back.


However, we are exhausted, cranky, and low on energy. Total SOCIAL BURNOUT! It's a week to recharge our souls. This means music, reading, lots of quiet time, and snuggling. Some time soaking up the wonderful summer weather.


What do you do to relax after stressful social visits?