I know I’ve been sharing a lot of my fellow author cover reveals lately, but what can I say? It’s that time of year, and what an exciting time it is! I’m especially excited to share this newest cover reveal by F.J.R. Titchenell. I may write vampires, but zombies also have a special place in my heart. I wish I could say I’ve read the ARC of this book, but sadly, I haven’t. Needless to say I’m waiting with baited breath to be able to pick this one up! Until then, check out this awesome cover, and find out a little more of what the story is about.
Of course, a great cover reveal must include a giveaway! So be sure to click the Rafflecopter link below to enter F.J.R.’s amazing giveaway.

 

 

 

Confessions of the Very First Zombie Slayer (That I Know of) blurb:

The world is Cassie Fremont’s playground. Her face is on the cover of every newspaper, she has no homework, no curfew, and no credit limit, and she spends her days traveling the country with her friends, including a boy who would flirt with death just to turn her head. Life is just about perfect—except that those newspaper headlines are about her bludgeoning her crush to death with a paintball gun, she has to fight ravenous walking corpses every time she steps outside, and one of her friends is still missing, trapped somewhere in the distant, practically impassable wreckage of Manhattan. Still, Cassie’s an optimist. More prone to hysterical laughter than hysterical tears, she’d rather fight a corpse than be one, and she won’t leave a friend stranded when she can simply take her road trip to impossible new places to find her, even if getting there means admitting to that boy that she might just love him, too. Skillfully blending effective horror with unexpected humor, this diary-format novel is a fast-paced and heartwarming read.

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

http://www.weebly.com/weebly/apps/readDraft.php?draftId=317352687771563726&userId=15216942
 

F.J.R. Titchenell bio:

F.J.R. Titchenell is an author of Young Adult Sci-Fi and Horror fiction. She is represented by Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel and currently lives in San Gabriel, California with her husband and fellow author, Matt Carter, and their pet king snake, Mica.

The “F” is for Fiona, and on the rare occasions when she can be pried away from her keyboard, her kindle, and the pages of her latest favorite book, Fi can usually be found over-analyzing the inner workings of various TV Sci-Fi universes or testing out some intriguing new recipe, usually chocolate-related.

Links:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon

Other details:

Confessions of the Very First Zombie Slayer (That I Know of) is F.J.R. Titchenell’s debut novel, to be released May 6th, 2014. It is a Young Adult Horror-Comedy.

Hi friends,

I’m very excited today because I get to help in the cover reveal for my fellow author, L.K. Hill! Her debut novel is a historical fiction (one of my favorite genres) and takes place in Russia. Read the blurb and press release about her book, and then scroll down to the bottom so you can see this amazing cover. I’d love to see your comments on it.
Blurb:

In a world where power is paid for in blood, no one ever aspires to more than what they were born to, and danger hides in plain sight, Inga, a maid in the imperial Russian palace, must find the courage to break the oppressive chains she’s been bound with since birth.
Inga’s life in sixteenth century Russia is bleak until a man she crossed paths with as a child returns to the Kremlin. Taras is convinced his mother’s death when he was a boy was no mere accident and has returned to try and discover what really happened, all during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the most brutal and notorious ruler ever to sit the throne of Russia. While Taras finds only lies and silence where he seeks truth, Inga struggles with the feelings of oppression that have plagued her for most of her life. Taras gives her the chance to leave her loneliness behind forever, but the cost and future of such a liaison is uncertain and Inga is afraid.

Up against the social confines of the time, the shadowy conspiracies that cloak their history, and the sexual politics of the Russian imperial court, Inga and Taras must discover their past, plan for their future, and survive the brutality that permeates life within the four walls that tower over them all, or they may end up like so many citizens of ancient Russia: nothing but flesh and bone mortar for the stones of the Kremlin wall.

JFP Press Release:

PROVO, UT—Jolly Fish Press (JFP) is proud to announce the successful acquisition of L. K. Hill’s stunning historical novel, Citadels of Fire, the first installment in Kremlins, a three-book series depicting the rise and fall of fifteenth-century Russia under the violent rule of Ivan the Terrible.
Following the literary traditions of Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth and Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Citadels of Fire chronicles the unexpected turn of events that transpire within the walls of the Kremlin through the eyes of a palace maid as she is unwillingly pulled into the dangerous web of political espionage, royal scandals, rebellion, and savage wars, in her pursuit of love and a better life outside of the palace walls. In Citadels of Fire, Hill captures the grandeur of Russia in her meticulous description of a country that is both breathtaking and desolate, leaving the reader with the appetite for more, yet the fear of what comes next.
Hill has a degree from Weber State University, and has won numerous writing awards, including garnering first place in the 2011 League of Utah Writer Writing Contest. Citadels of Fire is slated for a Fall 2013 release.

 

And now… the cover. Ta-da!

I’m very excited for today’s author! Her book is almost as much fun as she is. Not only are you going to learn more about her, but you can enter the Rafflecopter contest to win a free signed book from her! (Link is at the bottom.) Enjoy!

1: Would you rather listen to the Beatles or Green Day?
Oh man, Green Day. Hands down!
2: How long did it take you to write your book?
Well, it took about 6 days over the course of a month to write the first draft. But that draft was about half the length it is now! It took us another year or so to edit Cinderskella before it was really ready to send to publishers.
3: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
I would say Cindy (the main character) is my favorite. She’s funny and witty and tries to find the best in her situation.
4: Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?
I actually love snacks that are two in one – kettle corn and chocolate covered pretzels. But I’m always a sucker for chocolate.
5: What authors do you look up to and why?
I love Carrie Ryan. The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy is one of my favorites. Her writing is so fluid and poetic. She uses a lot of personification – I just love that!
6: Which author do you think you write like the most?
Oh boy, I really don’t know. Who do YOU think I write like? 😀
7: What’s your favorite food?
Chocolate.
8: What’s your favorite movie?
Of all time? The Goonies. Chick flick? Pretty in Pink, P.S. I Love You. Comedy/Drama? Julie and Julia, The Help.
9: If your book was turned into a movie, who would you cast for the main characters?
Well, I’ve always seen my book as a stop-motion movie like The Corpse Bride. Of course, Tim Burton would direct, so that would mean Johnny Depp would have to play Cindy’s Dad, Roger. If Johnny Depp is in it, then Winona Rider would be the step-mother, Hagatha. I think Amanda Seyfried would be perfect as Cindy.
10: Describe your book in one sentence.
Cinderella+Skeleton=Cinderskella
11: What kind of interaction do you hope to see from your fans?
Well, I’ve already received my first fan art which is a total honor. I’d love more fan art, should kids feel inclined and inspired. But just hearing that children loved Cinderskella, perhaps that it touched them or helped them through a tough time, that would be so rewarding!
12: Would you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
This is tricky. I’ve always been an extrovert. I used to perform on stage, so I had to be. I got tons of energy from interacting with cast members and feeling the rush of the lights and audience. But since I’ve been writing, I’ve really become more of an introvert. I stay home a lot more, and spend less time interacting with others.
13: If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
The author part of me would say Edgar Allen Poe. He was one of my first inspirations. The musician in me would love to meet Mozart. As an actress, I admire Debbie Reynolds and Judy Garland, so it would be an honor to meet them! Do I have to pick just one?

Cinderskella blurb
Cindy is just a normal eleven and three-quarter year-old. At least until she wakes up one night and finds out she’s dead. Well, she isn’t technically dead—she just doesn’t have any hair . . . or a nose . . . or skin. Yep—all bones, no body.
Human by day and skeleton by night, Cindy is definitely cursed. And because her mother recently died, Cindy has no one to turn to except a father who’s now scared of her and an evil stepmother who makes her do the housecleaning with a toothbrush. To make matters worse, the Spring Fling dance is approaching, and Ethan, the cutest boy in sixth grade, doesn’t seem to know Cindy exists. Of course, Cindy doesn’t think letting Ethan find out she’s part skeleton is the best way to introduce herself.
While facing such perils as pickled pig’s feet, a wacky fortune teller, and a few quick trips to the Underworld, Cindy’s determined to break the curse—even for a single night.

You can purchase Cinderskella at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Add it to your to-read shelf on Goodreads!

Amie Borst still believes in unicorns, uses glitter whenever possible and accessorizes in pink. She enjoys eating chocolate while writing and keeps a well-stocked stash hidden away from her family. A native New Yorker she currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, three children and a cute dog named Lily. She wishes she had a hot-pink elevator with carnival lights to travel the world. But for now, her minivan will have to do.
Bethanie Borst is a spunky 13-year-old who is an avid archer with Olympic dreams, enjoys the outdoors, loves reading and is quick to make lasting friendships. When she is not writing, she swings on a star.
You can follow Amie and Bethanie on facebook or at her blog, twitter,  and pinterest.

RAFFLECOPTER for the signed book giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I think we’ve all had a day where we’re ready to kill all the other drivers around us. Road rage is definitely real and even the nicest person can get stressed out. As I’m preparing to take my family on a road trip this week, I was thinking about all the idiot drivers that I’ll have to contend with on our nine hour drive. My big conclusion? The best way to fix the problem of jerk-driving is to try and be courteous and to communicate.

Courteous:

You’re probably thinking something like, That’s one of the first things they teach you in drivers ed. That may be true, but I’ll bet it’s one of the first things most people forget.

I try to be a courteous driver with little things as well as big. If I’m driving down the road of a semi-busy street and notice a car trying to turn left onto that same road, I check the spacing of cars behind me. If it looks like there’s an opening for that car trying to turn, I’ll speed up so that they have a better window to turn left on that road.

And if I’m on the freeway, I pay attention to how fast those around me are going. (Especially if I’m in the left lane!) I generally drive at a decent speed, but if I’m going slower and some cars are lining up behind me, I’ll change lanes to get out of their way. If that’s not possible, I’ll even speed up a little until I can change lanes. Why do I do this? Because if I were to stay in the left lane going five MPH slower than the other cars in that lane, it can cause traffic congestion. It can also influence the impatient drivers to make some stupid risks to get around me and possibly cause a car accident.

You don’t believe me? The next time you’re on the freeway, pay attention. There’s plenty of times when this kind of situation happens. There’s a reason why there’s a fast lane, slow lane, and middle lane. They designed the freeway like this to accommodate the different kinds of drivers and vehicles to prevent accidents.

This applies to every place you drive, including parking lots and school pick-up. (Don’t get me started on the crazy drivers I’ve encountered while trying to pick up my son from school!)

So, bottom line? Don’t get self-righteous if you’re going the speed limit and the others behind you are stuck until traffic thins out. You’re actually making things worse.

Communicate:

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been a passenger and the driver gets frustrated when they’re trying to make a lane change, but can’t find any openings. I always suggest that they turn on their blinker to let the other cars know that they’re trying to get in. It doesn’t always mean that people will let them in front of them, but at least drivers are prepared if the person I’m with has to get aggressive and weasel their way into the other lane.

If we could use our turning signals, horns, and lights to communicate better instead of complain to the other driver that we don’t like the way they drive, it would be a lot easier to drive through heavy traffic.

Conclusion: be a courteous driver and do your best to communicate to the other cars around you! Let someone in front of you if they are trying to get in your lane instead of slamming on the gas so that you can stay in front. If we all tried to help each other out on the road more, it would make for less road rage and smoother traffic.

Well, off to my road trip now. Wish me luck as I try to be a good driver!

 

If you’ve never met me, let me tell you a little about myself. I’m an easy-going, laid-back kind of person. I like to meet new people and socialize.

I’m also direct and very honest. Almost to a negative degree.

A friend and I were talking today. She is a person who doesn’t speak her mind and tries to be a people-pleaser. We’ve always gotten along just fine and I never really thought of us as being very different, until she said something to me today. “I wish I had as much courage to tell people what I’m thinking. You’re so amazing that way!”

Sounds flattering, right? I suppose the proper response should have been a polite thank you. But my response? I laughed. “If you only knew how many people I’ve unintentionally offended with my honesty,” I told her.

And thus, I am lead to write a blog about being honest. Because honesty is a good thing, right? We’re always taught that we should be honest in all that we do… except we shouldn’t tell that lady that her hair color is wrong for her complexion. And if someone comes to you and asks, “Do these jeans make me look fat?”, we should lie through our teeth if they look fat, right?

Well, like I already told you, I’m a pretty direct person. However, I’ve learned to curb my bluntness through my life and have tried to develop more tact. So do I tell people exactly what I’m thinking? Not if it’s going to come out as rude. (well, sometimes it does come out rude, but that’s never intentional!)

However, if someone asks me a direct question, I’m not going to lie. If those jeans don’t look good on you and you ask my opinion, I won’t say you look fat. But I will say something like, “You know, they’re not very flattering on your thighs. Maybe we could look for a different pair that would give them a better slimming effect.” Is that rude? Perhaps.

But, hey, when my friends want to ask something and not have the answer sugar-coated or danced around, guess who they turn to? Yep, I’m that friend. The one they come to when they don’t want to hear the BS they know other people will give them to try to make them feel better.

There is a downside to my open and honest personality, though. Which is that I simply rub certain people the wrong way. They don’t like how abrasive I can be (again, I’m really not trying to be like that) and steer clear whenever they see me. So it’s true that I don’t get along with everyone. I hold no grudges. I understand why someone wouldn’t want to talk to me when I’m being blunt. I really do try to censor myself around people I don’t know that well, but I’m still me. So don’t worry, I don’t take it personally if I’m not your favorite person!

So that’s me in a nutshell. What about you? Would you prefer to take the more diplomatic strategy and tip-toe around things so you don’t hurt anyone’s feelings, or do you like to tell it how it is.

What do you think the pros and cons to either side are? I’d love to have a fun discussion about this.