10 Questions and A Welcome

Well, the Frost blog tour is still in full swing, and you can still enter to win a (signed) print copy or an e-copy of Frost!

There's a bunch of reviews for Frost on that list, so be sure to peruse them. I have a fun guest post up on One Book At A Time about what I do when I'm not writing.

I also have a "10 Questions" interview up on Front Row Lit. Check it out!

Now I've been somewhat absent from the blogsphere lately due to edits and other lovely book-related stuff, but I have noticed that there's been an increase in traffic and followers lately. So, to all my new followers, WELCOME! I should probably say something endearing about myself...hmmm...I love ice cream cake and zombicorns. Is that endearing? Or just weird?

Well. *whispers* It's okay to be weird here.

*clears throat*

I suggest you start here if you want to learn more about me and my fam, here if you want to learn more about my thoughts on why zombicorns are great, here if you want to learn more about the process of writing a book, or here if you want to know my silly thoughts on inter-book romance.

And stay tuned for day three of the tour!!

Frost Blog Tour Day 1!

It's started! The first day of Frost's tour is in full swing, and you can see the whole schedule here. Be sure to check out some of the reviews, and you can enter to win a signed print copy as well!

My guest post "Where I Like to Write" with Good Choice Reading


Some reviews (and be sure to enter the giveaway to win a signed copy):

Refracted Light review

Letters Inside and Out review

Xpressoreads review

What I've Been Doing

Hi everybody!

First, sorry I've been so absent in the blogsphere lately... but there's been a couple of good reasons for it. I've been very busy for a couple of reasons lately.

1) I've been working very hard on Thorns, the second book in The Frost Chronicles series. Lately I've been avoiding a lot of social media and writing like mad! But good news!! The book is finished!!

I'm currently working on revisions with beta readers, I'll be sending the book to my editor in a few weeks, and Thorns should release in mid or late August. * tosses confetti *

THANK YOU to everyone who's written me to tell me how much you are looking forward to reading the sequel--getting tweets or Goodreads messages or emails like that really helps me stay excited about the story when I'm in the "writing trenches," and I am so appreciative of your enthusiasm. There are some really cool things coming up in book 2!! I hope you all love it as much as I do.

2) I've been working hard on non-writing things like the Thorns cover (and some other promotional goodies that I'd like to share around the time of the release). The cover has been a bit of a challenge--I've actually designed and rejected a few ideas already. Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon.

3) Frost's official blog tour is NEXT WEEK, and I've been getting ready for that, too. (Hopefully I'll have some more deets about that up tomorrow.)

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to sign up for the New Releases newsletter in the upper right-hand corner of the blog to be notified when Thorns releases.

Cover Reveal! Emily Ann Ward's PROMISING HOPE

Today I'm pleased to be part of the COVER REVEAL for Emily Ann Ward's newest release, Promising Hope!

* drumroll *

Isn't it pretty?

Here's the cover of the first book for comparison:

And here's the blurb for Promising Hope:

The curse is broken, but the war isn't over. Grace is under the spell of a love potion, torn between her obsessive love for the prince and her calling to protect Dar and the shape changers. Though Dar wants nothing more than her freedom, he's being held as a prisoner in the palace and watched at every turn. Miles away, Sierra is the reluctant savior of the shape changers as she tries to keep Evan alive in his lust for blood.

Grace and Dar struggle to make the political alliances needed to bring the shape changers back home while dealing with new doses of the love potion. But the king sides with the Protectors, who are willing to do anything to keep the magic away, even controlling the kingdom. When the man who cursed the shape changers ten years ago reappears at the castle, the Avialies abandon their attempts at peace in order to keep their family's future secure. The consequences of their actions catapult a sequence of events that threatens Grace, Sierra, and the Avialies in ways they could have never prepared for.

In this sequel to Promising Light, the war is just beginning, and no war is without casualties.

Add it on Goodreads!
Author Emily Ann Ward's Website

Check out the first book, Promising Light, if you haven't already!

Grace, a young noble, must decide whether to help a shape changer family break a curse set on their family by the powerful Protectors.

Author Spotlight: Ashley Stoyanoff

Kate: It's time for another installment of my author spotlight series! Today we're welcoming Ashley Stoyanoff, who's here to talk about her recently-released novel, The Soul's Mark: FOUND.

* cue music *

Welcome, Ashley! Tell me a little about your book.

Hi Kate, Thank you for having me!

The Soul’s Mark: FOUND takes a fresh look at soulmates.  Eighteen year old Amelia Caldwell has just moved to college when she realizes that her birthmark is more than what it seems.  She has been marked by a vampire’s soul. She is forced to unlock the painful memories of her past, and make life changing decisions.  Just when she thinks that life couldn’t possibly get any worse, Amelia’s reluctant meeting with a psychic reveals a prophecy that could ultimately change her entire life. 

"There is danger in your future. Many wish you harm and will seek to destroy you. The one you love most will be the cause of your death. But be warned he is also the only one who can save you. Revenge is for the weak. When the time comes you will need to forget the past and forgive those who have harmed you. Only then will you be able to forgive yourself. If you choose to be weak you will sacrifice those you love.” 

Kate: That sounds really intriguing!

Now, who's your favorite character in the book, besides the main character, and why is that character your favorite? What's your favorite scene?

This is a tuff one because I love all the characters, but I guess aside from Amelia and Mitchell, Eric would have to be my favorite.  He has a wicked sense of humor and a heart of gold. 

Kate: Did anything in particular inspire you or influence you when writing this book?

My biggest inspiration and influence would have to be my Mom.  If it wasn’t for her, I probably would have never finished The Soul’s Mark: FOUND.  When I got stuck on a plot twist or a character name or really anything I needed to talk through she was there. She encouraged me along the way, and her belief that I could write pushed me through all the bumps in the road.

Kate: She sounds like an awesome lady! 

What do you think is the hardest part of writing? The easiest?

For me, one of the hardest things about writing would have to be my crazy obsessive planning.  I create outline after outline after outline until the story is sound.  And then, once I’m happy with it, I’ll create another outline with new twists and turns. 

But all these outlines pay off because once I get to the actual writing the words come easily.  I know where the story is going and I can just let myself go and get lost in the characters and the plot.

Kate: Oooh, a plotter! I am a very dedicated plotter myself, although for me it's a fine balance, because too many outlines and I may not write the book. I have to find that sweet spot. Right now, I have sticky notes all over my computer serving as an outline of my current manuscript.

All right, enough about books! Tell me a little about yourself. What’s one fun or interesting fact about you that most people may not know?

Well, I live in Whitby, Ontario with my husband Jordan and two cats.  When I’m not writing, I’m usually reading.  I will read just about anything but my favorite would be romance with a supernatural twist.

One thing most people do not know about me is that I am a complete klutz.  I like to think that I hide it well.  Although, I’m not sure how interesting this is, but it shows how klutzy I am so I’ll tell you.   My legs are always covered in bruises because I walk into walls, drawers, doors, quite often.  I like to think that they jump out at me but the truth is I’m just a klutz. 

Kate: I run into walls, drawers, and doors a lot too! Its kind of hilarious and kind of sad. I always have a bruise on my leg SOMEWHERE. We must be kindred spirits that way.

Do you have any other projects or books you’re working on right now?

Currently, I am working on the second book in The Soul’s Mark series, called The Soul’s Mark: HUNTED.  The hundreds of outlines are done and I’m into the fun part now of the first draft. 

I am also working on something completely new, but at this point that’s all I can say. 

Kate: Well, best of luck with the new project (and the sequel!) Where can readers connect with you to learn more about The Soul's Mark series and your other projects?

Here are some ways you can talk to me:

Website: www.ashleystoyanoff.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AshleyStoyanoffTheSoulsMark Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ashley_stoyanoff Email: ashley@ashleystoyanoff.com

Kate: Thanks so much for stopping by, Ashley! 

(You can buy Ashley's book here on Amazon!)

YOU GUYS.

I seriously love Goodreads.

I was just clicking around in some of the groups I hang out in, and I saw the monthly poll, this time for August's book of the month....and there was Frost!

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/68210-book-of-the-month-august-female-indie-author

Anyway, seeing my book on that list made my night. It's a little thing, but it's awesome. Thank you to everyone who's voted for me and my book. I appreciate it so, so much. Just being nominated is such a gift.

:) :) :)

Now, I must return to writing. I'm trying to finish the first draft of Frost's sequel TONIGHT.

My Problem With Library Books

So when it comes to books, my eyes are bigger than my, er, reading capacity.

So when I see a book that looks interesting, I usually put it on hold at my local library (unless it's a low priced indie book, or on sale, and then I buy it for my Kindle! I am a starving artist...). Unfortunately, I seem to be only drawn to books that have catastrophically huge waiting lists. 157 people are ahead of me, 266 people are ahead of me...a message informs me of my fate, and I resign myself to waiting another two months for the book. So I put more books on hold. I stagger the wait times. This book has 52 people waiting for it, that book has 75, and this other book has only 15. Should work out perfect, right?

But somehow, inevitably, they all become available AT THE SAME TIME.

Eek!

At first, it's kind of like Christmas. I ooh and ahh and stare and drool.

But then, I have to actually read all these books. I take them home and pile them beside my bed in my "reading basket."

And that's where it gets ugly.

You see, when I have a lot of books to read my ADD and procrastination skills and all sorts of other troublesome tendencies sort of kick in. I feel pressured. I feel anxious to finish them all. Somehow, this means I read slower. And then I get really busy. And then I get the urge to revisit my lonely current manuscript, because reading makes me feel like writing. And then, inevitably...

I log into my library account and see that I have fines. Massive fines, multiplying like rabbits!

My library actually now has a rule that you cannot check out more books if your fine is over $15, and I sometimes wonder if they made that rule because of me and my mom (I'm not the only one who suffers from this affliction of too many library books).

And it's a vicious cycle, because I have a reading addiction, ya'll.

The good news is that I am helping my local library stay in business...

* sigh *