Challenging Destiny Release Party! Cherie Colyer Talks Inspiration

The release part for Challenging Destiny is underway and today I’m delighted to welcome Cherie Colyer to talk about her inspiration for the book.

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Several years ago my husband and I were driving on a two lane road in what felt like the middle of nowhere. There was nothing but narrow road and fields for as far as the eye could see, until we approached a crossroad. Then a two story white building with very few windows, no landscaping, and a tiny porch leading up to double doors loomed in front of us. As we drove closer I was able to read the sign that said it was a church and I remember thinking it didn’t look welcoming.

A few weeks later, we drove by it again. Only this time I imagined an old vintage car parked behind the sign. Inside the car was a teenage boy, Logan Ragsdale. Of course, I wanted to know why he was hiding, but then I realized that whoever was in that building wasn’t his friends. Logan watched the door with hate running through his veins. There was someone inside that he cared about. A girlfriend crossed my mind, but then I thought it would have to be someone he’d risk his life for. His sister.

That’s about the time I heard a girl say, “You’re going to lose her forever if we don’t move soon.” Logan’s reply was laced with contempt, “Why should I trust you?”

Kira Rose’s character quickly formed and the pieces to the story fell in place. Logan and Ariana Ragsdale’s relationship formed. Who they are, what they’ve been through, and why their decision had led them to that church. It took me a few years to actually write Challenging Destiny, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with you today.

I’d like to thank Carol for having me on her blog today. Be sure to enter the giveaway below!

Thank you, Cherie, for stopping by.

 

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Kindle Release Date: March 27, 2014

Worldwide Release Date: July 11, 2014

Synopsis:

Logan Ragsdale and his younger sister, Ariana, have been marked, chosen to be unwilling participants in a war between angels and demons.

Logan can sense something's not quite right. Like an unexpected chill on a summer's day, he can feel the unseen closing in. He's had these feelings before and, each time, someone close to him died. He's afraid this time it might just be Ariana.

Logan's fears are soon confirmed when he discovers their new friends aren't human, but rather representatives from Heaven and Hell sent to Earth to ensure he and Ariana accept their roles in an ancient prophecy. Demons want Logan to open the gates of Hell. Ariana has the power to stop them, but if she chooses to side with Heaven to spare the lives of thousands of innocent people, she'll damn her brother for eternity.

Together, they must derail the biblical event if they hope to save themselves and the future of mankind...but what price are they willing to pay to keep the other safe?

Click here to read Challenging Destiny on Kindle US today!

Click here to read Challenging Destiny on Kindle UK today!

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About the author:

Cherie Colyer is the author of YA paranormal thriller/romance, EMBRACE and HOLD TIGHT from Omnific Publishing. Her latest novel, CHALLENGING DESTINY will be available this spring from The Wild Rose Press, Black Rose Imprint. Check out her website and blog for news on her books and bonus material. Follow Cherie on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Goodreads to get the latest updates on her books.

Out of the Darkness - Suicide Prevention

Today on the blog, I have a very special guest. My brother, Alan Oates, is here to talk about the very difficult subjects of suicide and suicide prevention. The post is long, but a worthwhile read.

“In sooth I know not why I am so sad. It wearies me, you say it wearies you; But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, What stuff ‘tis made of, where of it is born, I am to learn And such a want-wit sadness makes of me That I have much ado to know myself”

~The Merchant of Venice

Having being asked to write a blog on suicide by my sister, I suddenly realised that I would need to contemplate a subject that most of us push to the furthest recesses of our mind. In fact, one of the greatest tragedies of suicide is the fact that it’s so utterly painful to deal with, that we never really look at it with an open mind and heart. The result of this is that we don’t examine a subject that literally means life or death for a lot of us. Albert Camus once famously noted that “judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy”. Asking the hard questions and exploring the issue is the only way we can begin to understand one of the most truly agonising situation that may occur in a person’s life and the effect it has on those around them. Like Antonio above in The Merchant of Venice; we may not understand how or why we feel the way we do, but we must look deep into ourselves if we are to truly know this sadness.
Firstly I will look at some hard and fast facts about suicide to highlight the significance and extent of this issue.
Definition:
Suicide is the result of an act deliberately initiated and performed by a person in the full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome.

• Every 40 seconds someone commits suicide somewhere in the world
• Every 3 seconds, someone tries to die
• Is among the top 3 causes of death in 15-30 year olds and the number 1 cause of death in males of this age group in Ireland
• Suicide is the forth cause of potential life lost among men in Ireland, superseded only by circulatory disease, cancer and respiratory disease
• Suicide peaks again for those over 75 years of age
• Suicide was a criminal offence in Ireland until 1993.
• More men commit suicide than women, but more women attempt suicide
• Suicide is associated with moderate rather than sever forms of depression

My intention here is to give anyone who reads this some insight into the gravity of the situation. This is a wide spread issue, encapsulating all areas of society, not a matter of debate and discourse but this actually means lives lost every few sounds of the day. Suicide affects all those involved and due to its predominant nature in today’s society, very few people have been left untouched by this. While writing this I remember a close friend of mine who died by suicide four years ago, his memory helps remind me of the human nature of this issue and not to fall into statistics and detached language.
When we think that it is the leading cause of life lost among men in Ireland between the ages of 15-30 we can see the gravity of the situation. Imagine if this was a coronary disease that we were talking about; how much money would be allocated for research to combat it? This percentage is only rising and we can’t afford to be complacent. Again, these are people’s lives that we are talking about.
On a side note, I realise there are a number of issues that come to the fore when suicide is mentioned; that of euthanasia and that by highlighting or talking about suicide we only increase the likelihood of suicide becoming a viable option. When I speak here, I am referring to the definition of suicide itself. As such any form of deliberately initiated acts, aimed to towards death. I’m not going to speak independently about assisted death or people who have chosen death as a quality of life decision. I believe that it’s not my place to judge the actions of another human being and whether it’s right or wrong isn’t a decision that I make. When I talk of suicide I speak of the truly earth shattering pain that someone goes through and their need to end this suffering. When people try to kill themselves they might not want to end their life, but they may hope to end the pain they are experiencing. If we might help another person find a way to escape their pain and live a happier more fulfilling life then we can share a moment like no other—A gift of life.
The idea that speaking about suicide and publishing awareness information increases the risk of suicide behaviour has been debated for a number of years. There have been studies suggesting that the suicide of influential figures increases the propensity for there followers to do the same {see Media Contagion and Suicide Among the Young}. Added to this fact studies carried out in Germany have shown that during a suicide awareness campaign suicide increased on a popular railroad known for suicide attempts by 175%! We're learning that a suicide can go viral quickly with "memorial" posts, which may lead to other youth considering it as an option. It’s quite reasonable to presume that, psychologically speaking, the common thread here is the glorification of suicide as viable options to achieve notary, as well as the sustaining the belief that it is a positive response to life difficult issues. However, we must be very aware that we can’t be burry are heads in the sand; not to talk about this issue is far more dangerous than sweeping the issue under the rug.

• If suicide prevention advocates help and educates the Media about suicide prevention, you can raise awareness about both the problem and the solutions.
• With more people reading and talking publicly about suicide and mental illness, you can eliminate the stigma that keeps so many people from seeking the treatment they need
• In the long term, increased awareness and understanding of the value of treatment will build support for mental health parity

As this is an important topic, here is a relevant link discussing how to report suicide in the media http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/library/media_guide.pdf
Working as psychotherapist I come into contact with a number of people who have thought about suicide. One important thing to remember is that 30% try again with no therapy and 16% with therapy. The importance and value of talking about our suffering can’t be underestimated. Furthermore, it has been shown that a concerned party asking someone if they are thinking about suicide does not increase the likelihood of that person contemplating suicide. If you fear your loved one is hurting, ask them about it, an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on may be two of the most powerful tools we have against suicide and they are ready available all we need to do is use them.

• Take their expression of wanting to die seriously
• When a person expresses a wish to die believe them and accept the pain they feel
• Ask if they feel suicidal

In one of my points above I spoke about suicide being associated with more moderate levels of depression. This is a very important issue to talk about as some people believe because there love one is no longer as painfully sad as they were before; the risk is no longer there. This can be a dangerous belief, as it’s been shown that in the first 5 to 8 weeks after the symptoms of depression lift that the highest risk factor for suicide exists. This is because the person may not have had the strength to even attempt the action while in the throws of depression, or possibly seem calmer as they have become resigned to the fact that they intend to kill themselves. It’s even noted that a lack of any emotional affect can be a sign of depression leading to suicide. Again, we must not think that because the person does not seem to be hurting on the outside that they haven’t got deep scares that run much further than our eyes can see.
We don’t need to be experts on the subject to intervene, what we need to do is offer some compassion. There are professionals out there who offer a service that can help people deal with their feelings and thoughts that may lead to suicide. There are doctors, therapist, counsellors, listening services and online counselling, to name but a few. The idea is to keep them alive long enough for them to begin the healing process and to find some extra support systems. I like to think of this like an emergency tourniquet, if the person is in immediate danger they may not be able to stop their trauma by themselves, but if we can offer an emergency response before getting further help, the person that does this will literally be the difference between life and death for a fellow human being. Finding additional help can be the action plan after this, but first we must truly listen with an open mind and heart, once we do not judge them or place are own burden on them.
Warning Signs of suicide:

1. A previous suicide attempt
2. Feeling hopeless/helpless
3. A propensity to deal with internal conflict via action
4. Anhedonia: meaning to experience no pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable
5. Clear plans- Talking excessively about suicide- Suicide Ideation
6. A recently experienced failure
7. Withdrawn from others into the body- this includes neglect of the body
8. An actual or attempted suicide by a partner or other close relative
9. Giving away possessions and making final wills at apparently strange times
10. The attempt to blackmail suicide
11. Collusion with others/ suicide pact
12. The loss of concern for their self/ body appearance/health
13. Strong perceived failure in life
14. Self destructive behaviour

This list is not exhaustive; likewise we can’t think that every sign here refers to a definite suicide risk, these can also be examples of the morning process, a normal life stage event or even just natural sadness! I realise this makes things all the more confusing, however what is important to note is that these are risk factors, they are something to be aware of and to watch when we see them. The important thing is to be open to them. Our own intuition is highly attuned to sensing danger and we are biologically pre-programmed as social creatures to sense when a member of our group is in danger. It is not always easy but if we allow ourselves to open up to the possibility of the distressing question “Are they thinking of killing themselves” we allow ourselves to be much more aware. In the end we can not help everybody and we do not have the gift of seeing the future, all we can do is our best. We may not even be able to see the change that is being made {it is not like you can see the scars healing}, but what we can do is instil hope.
The instillation of hope can be the most beautiful and compelling thing in this world for someone who can’t see the end of their suffering or the light in their life, please offer them an amount of this light.
References :

• Gelder et al Psychiatry 3^rd, Edition Oxford University Press
• Gillett The mind and its discontents
• Guide to Engaging the media in suicide prevention http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/library/media_guide.pdf
• WHO Preventing Suicide. Available online
• Suicide in Ireland A national study 2001. Dept. of public health. Available online
• Lester D. Suicide in Ireland. Ir J Psych Med 2010;(4): 198-204

***
Thank you to my wonderful brother for taking the time do write this post. Love you loads, bro.
Alan’s archenemy qualifications include:
Anthropology
Counselling
Psychotherapy
Alan spends his time working between three canters; one a listening service for children, another working with homeless and disadvantaged people who are at risk. His final area is seeing clients in private practice where a number of these issues arise.
If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide please contact one of the following resources
Irish Contact Information:
1life: 1800 247 100
Samartians: 1850 609 090
The National Office for Suicide Prevention: 01-6352139 or 01-6352179
Aware: 01 661 7211
Childline: 1800 666 666
Local Doctors or GP:

Guest Post~A Heart Warming Moment From Our Son With Autism

Today we are visit by my friend and aspiring author, Ruth Farrell Gilhool.

Like me, Ruth is a special needs care giver and a mum to her young son. When Ruth shared this moment privately, I felt this is something many of us can relate to. Not just special needs parents, but parents in general.

We tend to see ourselves with many different hats, bank, maid service, nurse, cook, advocate, and taxi service among other things. Sometimes we wonder if that is all we have become. We feel invisible and so we forget we aren’t. We forget others are listening even when we think they aren’t. We forget that the world around us and, in particular, our children don’t see us as we see ourselves and that they are paying attention.

This is often more prevalent when a person is living with Autism. Many of our young people are distant and appear to tuned out from what we say and do around them. They appear involved in whatever task is before them. We get so caught up in dealing with the Autism and trying to help our young person engage with the world, we forget they are in the world with us. A person in their own right with character, quirks not related to the disorder, personality, wants and needs outside of Autism. I have found over the years that my son is taking everything in. He’s like a sponge absorbing every conversation he hears and every detail of the world around him.

Without further ado, this is Ruth’s experience:

This was originally written in Nov 2010 but may help others in a similar situation.

Last night I started to read "Autism and the God connection" that a thoughtful person gave to me on Thursday. It mentioned about three miracles. The first one being self-reflection in the respect of behaviour with a person living with Autism and how we sometimes forget that they may be listening and understanding what we say when we talk to others about them while they are present.  It suggests to offer sincere apologies to that person.  In my case that person is our son Ronan (5 yrs old).  I had before spoken to his teacher and others about him while he was with me.

It said if you do this with true sincerity, the next miracle will occur.

The second miracle is forgiveness and says you will be forgiven. That the relationship soars and attains a higher plateau of feelings.

The third miracle is perpetuate the message and it will have "the ripple effect". Thus the reason why I am sharing this story.

So today I was with Ronan in the car and decided to try it.  I turned off the radio and asked him if sometimes was it hard for him to tell people what he wants using his words and he answered "yes". Whether he completely understood the question I cannot say.

Anyway next I told him that Mummy was really sorry for talking about him to other people when he was with me.That I would try hard not to do that in the future, plus I would try better to understand what he was trying to tell me. I told him I loved him and that he is a great boy. Then I left it at that.  We arrived home about five minutes later.  When I stopped the car and for some reason, I turned about to him and asked him:

"Ronan, what does the word love mean?"

His answer was: "Mummy".

A flood of emotions raced though my body. Overwhelmed, tears ran down my face at the impact of his one word hit me.  I asked him then what else the word love means and he answered "Daddy".  I still had tears in my eyes as I relayed his answers to Paul.

I am now not suggesting that we build a shrine outside the door and start yearly pilgrimages to the Gilhool house!

But for me it was a heart-warming moment in this time of recession and the cold weather we are experiencing at the moment.

Hopefully hearing the story will warm your heart as well.

Thank you Ruth for stopping by and sharing your story. Good luck with your book revisions. :)

For those interested in the book Ruth referred to, this is it. I’m not a religious person in the slightest. I don’t believe Autism is a gift from God, or a punishment for that matter. In fact, I don’t believe in any God at all. I found some of the anecdotes shocking and found myself giving this book the side eye more than once. However, the underlying message is simply to presume intellect, presume the person is aware, something that had been sadly lacking with Autism for a long time and still is in some instances.

This one-of-a-kind book explores autism and its sometimes spiritual connection. Hundreds of anecdotes underscore the heightened awareness, innate gentleness, and exquisite sensitivity in those with autism; that is, a capacity to perceive all things seen and unseen.

Goodreads

Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

Faythe Reclaimed Release Day

Adult Series

I’m delighted to be celebrating the release day for the third book in the Hanaford Park Series from Lisa Sanchez. This looks like another exciting addition to the series and Lisa has stopped by to tell us a little about the music that inspired the book.

Don’t forget to stop by Lisa’s blog for information on the release day giveaway.

Blurb

Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither was soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor realizes she’s fallen for Gabriel, the mysterious Latin warlock who came to her rescue.

Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in the shadows of Salem Village, and in doing so, save their lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.

Available at               Amazon                    Barnes & Noble                Tulipe Noire Press

Guest Post by Lisa Sanchez

Music that inspired Faythe Reclaimed

If you’ve followed my blog, or Facebook page for any length of time, then you know what a huge part music plays in my writing process. It inspires story ideas, fuels my excitement for certain scenes and often sets my mood when writing.

I’m a Top-40 junkie. I love me some Pop music and I love to dance. So, more often than not, my playlists will reflect the more upbeat style of music I enjoy. This was not the case with the Faythe Reclaimed playlist (laughs out loud.) The book is very different from the first two in the series, and the darker tone was reflected in the songs I listened to.

Here’s the playlist, in no particular order:

F**kin’ Perfect (clean version) by P!nk

What’s My Name by Rihanna

Only Time by Enya

Crystal by Stevie Nicks (this was my favorite for this book.)

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Secrets by OneRepublic

Posession by Sarah McLachlan

Hallelujah by Paramore

Glitter In The Air by P!ink

Here We Go by Matt Kearney

The Fear by Lily Allen

Love Remains The Same by Gavin Rossdale

Here With Me by Dido

Broken by Seether

Thanks so much for letting me share with you!

Thank you for sharing, Lisa.

About the author

Lisa Sanchez is a California cheer mom taxiing her way through life, one car ride at a time. Along with chauffer, she sports several job titles, including, but not limited to: author, chef, seamstress, videographer, nurse, enforcer, and general slave to her three daughters.
The first two books in her Hanaford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold) are published with Omnific Publishing. The third book, Faythe Reclaimed, releases with Tulipe Noire Press on May 17th 2012. Her erotic suspense, Obsessed was published March 29th 2011 with Loose Id. Lisa also took the plunge into self-publishing this year and released the first novella, Cursing Athena, in her new Order Of Seven erotic paranormal romance series.

Blog:www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com

Twitter: @LisaSanchez3

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaSanchezRomanceAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4028407.Lisa_Sanchez

Interview with Jennifer M. Barry

 

 

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Jennifer M. Barry, author of  The Kingdom and Side Effects, to my blog.

 

 

 

When did you catch the author bug?

I don’t know if I caught it, or if I was born with it. I’ve always enjoyed art - creating and performing - but most of my energy was focused on the stage. Looking back, I was always scribbling little stories or playing them out in my head. I have notebooks full of “novels” that date back to fifth grade, and my mom swears I started telling tales when I was in Kindergarten.

After I started writing The Kingdom, I sent a few pieces of it to a friend. She encouraged me through the remainder of the book and then dared me to find a publisher for it. I’d never considered publishing before, so I was really clueless about the whole process. I’m really still learning as I go, but I’m super thrilled with Martin Sisters Publishing, my new publisher. They’re a new company, but my editor has been incredibly supportive. They help me remember why I love writing in the first place.

We share a love of Ireland, can you tell us a little about the connection and how Ireland has influenced your work?

Most who know me have heard of my husband, Liam, who is screaming at Manchester United on TV at the moment. He grew up in Cork, Ireland, and moved to the States about ten years ago. I’d always been interested in Irish culture, since many of my ancestors came from there. It wasn’t until my first visit that I really understood the magic of the country - the incredible beauty and amazing history. On a bus ride to Galway, there was this saucy little kid sitting behind us, kicking the seat and spouting profanity. My silly author brain imagined him as this fantastic being who’d been trapped on Earth for thousands of years, and Ciarán was born. I didn’t know how to write a whole book about a snotty little kid, so I then had to create a hero and heroine. I made Rioghan and Lily a little snotty, too, because it’s just so fun.

Many of the characters in the book are based on people I’ve met in Ireland - specifically Liam’s family and friends. They’re some of the fiercest, funniest, and most loyal people I’ve ever known, and I’m proud to introduce them, piece by piece, in the characters I write.

What Irish location has been your favorite to visit and did it make it into you first book, The Kingdom?

On our first trip, we passed castle ruins on the side of the road between Shannon and Cork, and I was so fascinated that I built several scenes

around it and the nearby town. I wish I could say that I’ve been inside, or even near the castle, but I’m afraid it sits on private land and is often surrounded by sheep.

I also included a lot of places in Cork, like Scott’s Pub, The Old Oak, and SoHo, which are places we go every time we visit. I had to feature Stephen’s Green in Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher, and a few other iconic attractions. Mostly, I just wanted the country to live and breathe - to be as much a character as Rioghan or Lily.

I seem to be entrenched in the supernatural. Even when I start a story without a supernatural element, it sneaks it. You seem to have shifted from Paranormal to Contemporary effortlessly, is it part of your plan to write all kinds of fiction or is it an organic process?

I see stories everywhere, and I try to write them down when I can. The most important thing to me is that they speak to someone, anyone. Supernatural is fun, but it’s important to remember that real life is still going on around us. Side Effects was inspired by a short story, and that story was extremely important to me. As someone who suffered from anxiety disorder, I wanted the chance to share my experiences with others and show them there is hope.

I have plans for The Kingdom. The second book in the series is complete, and the third is well under way. The Morning Star will be released early next year through my new publisher. I also have another paranormal series in the works, though this one features ZERO fairies, vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, etc. The Oracles of St. Ambrose will be about humans doing superhuman things. Even with all of this magic going on in my head, I can’t ignore real life. Side Effects will have a follow up novel featuring two new characters, focusing on learning disorders and the effects of music therapy.

Can you tell us anything else about your writing process?

Most of the time, I just try to grab some time wherever possible. I write marketing articles, web content, and blogs on a freelance basis, so sometimes it’s hard to find the will to write fun stuff. To get in the mood, I spend some time thinking out the scenes I want to write, getting a feel for the characters again and maybe testing out some dialogue. Then I put on some music that fits the story so I can block out any other distractions (*cough* Liam *cough*) and try to lose myself in the world I’m trying to create.

I don’t really work by a solid outline, though I do plan out the story from beginning to end. Sometimes I write the first and last chapter before I do anything else. Then I fill in a skeleton with the most important scenes first before connecting everything together. There are a few dangers to this, but I find it helps me keep the same style throughout the book - to keep the same voice. But then sometimes, I just sit down and write one straight through. I guess what I’m saying is…it just depends.

What has seeing your name on the cover of your books meant to you?

Of course, it’s incredible to see my name on the cover of a book. It never once occurred to me to use a pseudonym, to be honest. I mean, how would my mom tell everyone that I wrote a book? How would that guy I had a crush on in seventh grade know I was published? There’s something just…magical about seeing my name right there on the cover. It’s the same feeling I got when I saw my name in the program for concerts, musicals, and operas. I accomplished something! I started it and finished it. I hope to write a hundred books and put my name on them, and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that thrill.

What next?

What isn’t next? I always have huge dreams and ideas, and I like to encourage others to find theirs, too. I’ll continue writing my books, working as an editor, boosting other authors, listening to music, laughing at my husband, sharing my experiences, and smiling.

As for what’s in the works, I mentioned previously that I’ve completed the second book for The Kingdom series, I’m a few chapters shy of completing the Side Effects spin-off, and I’m putting the final touches on the first book of a new series. I have some books for adults in my head and scattered across papers, but nothing has taken a solid shape yet.

I love what I’m doing, and I hope to keep doing it for as long as I’m physically and mentally able.

 

Rioghan has been trapped here on Earth since the fall of Lucifer. He spends his days toying with the emotions of the lowly humans while his father, the High King, wishes for him to grow up and accept his royal obligations. When Rioghan meets Lily, the daughter of a famous opera singer, she is nothing but a shiny new toy to him. Lily has a very firm mind of her own, however, and can't be bothered by one more person professing undying love for her when they haven't even taken the time to get to know her. The harder she resists Rioghan, the faster he falls, until he realizes that she has become his reason to be.

Amazon     Barns & Noble       Goodreads

 

High school can be Hell on Earth, a fact that Isaac Matthews knows all too well. How is a guy supposed to deal with Anxiety Disorder, adolescent hormones and college and career choices all at once?
On top of all that, he meets Grace—the beautiful, outgoing new girl who shakes his very foundation and grounds him at the same time.
What he does is try the medication that’s supposed to make him better, knowing that there’s a chance he could just get worse.
Warning: Side Effects may include increased heart rate, dry mouth, interrupted speech, elevated body temperature, and dizziness or lightheadedness upon seeing her smile.

Amazon     Barns & Noble       Goodreads

 

Thank you for stopping by, Jennifer. It was great getting to know you a little better.

Find Jennifer M. Barry:

Blog          Twitter          Goodreads

Haunted Halloween

Today I’m over at A Life Bound By Books talking about the spooky and gruesome in Dublin, as part of the Haunted Halloween event. The event is running over two blogs all through October with tons of author guests and prizes. Stick around to find out about a very special giveaway announcement later in the month and a chance to get your hands on a genuinely unique memento from a number of authors. 

Turning 30!

 

My friend, Hannah Downing, author of Pieces of Us is hitting the big 3-0 this month and as part of her celebration she is hosting a birthday blogastravaganza. To help her celebrate I am over at her blog today talking about how turning 30 affected me, my outlook on life and my writing.

You can pop by and say hi here. Why not hang around to wish Hannah a very Happy Birthday!!!

Where YA meets Adult ~ Guest Post with Nicki Elson

 

I’m delighted to welcome Nicki Elson, author of Three Daves, to the blog today.

Jennifer Whitney was the last American virgin. At least that’s what she felt like in 1986 as she began her sophomore year at Central Illinois University. She was proud of her decision to wait for the right guy, and yet she was getting restless. It seemed like everyone around her was doing it... and having fun doing it, too.  She didn’t want to become the campus slut or anything, but surely there was a difference between a trashy skank and a nice girl with a little experience. Perhaps it was time to stop relying on fate to guide her and instead take matters into her own hands.  And with that realization, Jen decided to find “the one” and lose her virginity, although not necessarily in that order...

 

 

I write YA fiction and Three Daves is marketed towards Adults. Around the time I read Three Daves we got talking about the line between YA and Adult fiction. Where is that line exactly? Or is there one Exactly. Here’s how it went:

Nicki: When writing Three Daves , a Chick Lit/ Romance set on a Midwest college campus, I was acting out of pure inspiration and didn’t give a thought to publication until it was finished. Therefore, I hadn’t really planned ahead for which genre it would fall into. Okay, how about a more brutally honest answer—I had no idea how many different genres were even out there! I simply wrote what I wanted to write without consideration for marketing.

I did, however, think while writing that the story might be good for girls in their upper teens to read before becoming sexually active. I’m not saying the book contains any sort of ultimate wisdom or anything, just that it offers up a unique perspective on the balance between being a good girl, and, well, being human. So I wrestled with one particular issue—fade to black or no? I went with no for reasons described in my very first blog post ever, but the bottom line is that getting into the detail of the sexual encounters was right for the story. And so the Young Adult/Adult decision was easy—Adult.

But then I started to wonder…are there other things in Three Daves that keep it from being Young Adult? I came to our friend Carol to find out, and she was immensely helpful. Here’s what she has to say:

Carol: I agree with you that this is absolutely a coming of age story. Even so, the industry standard for a YA protagonist seems to be cut off at 18 regardless of content, although a few are now starting to sneak through. Mainly though, a YA story should deal with the issues faced by teens moving from childhood to adulthood. Generally readers read up in age. It's expected college students will read adult books. The YA main character is kept below 18 so the YA reader can relate better. Although, we all know none of that is strictly true.

There is a new genre called New Adult, currently only used by St. Martin's Press. YA, New Adult, MG... it's all basically for marketing and who the book will be directed at. I think I would consider my books New Adult or Young Adult Crossover rather than YA because of the age of the characters, but since Omnific Publishing doesn't market New Adult it ended up in YA. I've also seen my books described as upper YA.

Three Daves slightly steps over the line with the description of the sex acts. But the scenes could have been left in with a little editing. The discussion of sex, drugs and drinking as well as swearing is all acceptable in YA.

The rule of thumb for authors on YA threads is anything real teens do is okay to be included but it all comes down to the guidelines of the publisher. Some publishers are more inclined to push the boundaries than others. For example the 'F' word is included in Ember. At a few points in the story one of the guys is aroused, another time the female MC mentions him 'pitching a tent'. One of the angels has the ability to elicit euphoric sensations in both men and women, and the description is similar to how someone might describe orgasm. I think I'm probably walking a fine line a lot of the time with what is generally accepted in YA but that type of content is not limited to my books.  

Back to Nicki: Thanks, Carol! And thanks for your recent review of Three Daves (you'll notice I've gotten a spiffy new cover since then).

Carol: And thank YOU for stopping by. I love the new cover. If you’re interested in "New Adult" Chick Lit/Romance, Three Daves and other school-related titles are only 99 cents in Kindle, Nook, eBook, and ePub until September 30 as part of the Omnific Publishing Back-to-School Sale. If you’re a book reviewer, A Tale of ManyReviews has just opened up sign-ups for a Three Daves paper book tour.  Have a great weekend!

Guest Post From Carey Corp

I am delighted to have Carey Corp, author of The Halo Chronicles – THE GUARDIAN, here today. When I read this book one of the character who really stood out to me was Derry. You can read my review here.  I asked Carey if she would like to stop by and give us some insight into Derry and how he came into being.  

 

I wish I could say Derry is inspired by true people or a composite of kids I’ve know, but he’s 100% made up. His situation, however, is based on some kids I used to ride the school bus with back in high school.

The Boy: Derry has grown is in foster care, in less than ideal situations. When he shows up in THE GUARDIAN, he’s been searching for the main character Alexia. Alex and Derry have been best friends since they were twelve, but foster family placement has separated them. To get into the same community Alex is in, Derry allows a family with less than stellar motives to take charge of him.

I think what makes him so relatable is he’s vulnerable on many different levels.

Despite growing up in the system, fifteen year old Derry is not worldly. As a coping mechanism he’s retreated into himself, so he’s a bit childlike and sheltered. He often doesn’t have control over whether his clothes fit or what he eats, so he can’t afford to let those types of things impact who he really is. While naturally open and trusting, Derry has developed counterintuitive measures to protect himself. It’s almost as if his true self is hidden away—safeguarded until he encounters the right environment.

Once he’s reunited with Alex and in a somewhat safer situation (both emotionally and physically), he reverts back to a more open state. He also starts to close the maturity gap.

The Situation: When I was in high school a couple of kids in the same foster family used to ride my bus. All the girls shared a bedroom, as did the boys. I remember them talking about how strict their foster parents were. How they had to look after the littler kids and didn’t get to watch t.v. But what I remember most is the kids’ resigned acknowledgement that those particular foster parents were doing it for the money. That kernel became the inspiration for Derry’s foster family, the Eccles. They take Derry in because they want a teen to tend to their younger foster kids and they don’t like the look of any of the available girls. Derry accepts this because the Eccles serve his ultimate purpose. (NOTE: Alex’s foster family contrasts the Eccles as people who care deeply about those they take in.)

Like all my characters, Derry began telling me early on what he liked and didn’t like. Some of it I can trace back to people in my life, other bits are all him. Here are some of the main characteristics influenced by others:

· Star Wars geek (hubby and son)

· Prefers t-shirts & jeans; shirt slogans are more important than labels, slogans = identity statement (hubby and son)

· Eclectic taste in music, likes screamer bands (17 year-old-neighbor Ashley)

What’s next for Derry: The second book in THE HALO CHRONICLES is THE KEEPER. Although the story is still in Alex’s point of view, the title refers to Derry. Derry really blossoms in this book. He knows a lot more than he lets on, so he’s my keeper of secrets. THE KEEPER is also a reference to the quintessential nice guy and the kind of love that one builds a life around. Derry is not Alex’s first love, but he’s her soul mate. Unfortunately, he’s trapped under Gabriel’s shadow, which means there are lots of obstacles to overcome for a shot at happily-ever-after.

When I started THE HALO CHRONICLES series, I always wanted to explore the love that comes after first love. Often, it’s a much quieter, more profound love. But competing with the shadow of first love is never easy as Derry is about to discover. How do you compete when your girlfriend’s ex is literally God’s gift?

THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN

High school sophomore, Alex Grabovski, is cursed with a gift: the ability to see the goodness and evil in her fellow human beings in the form of halos—rings of light or darkness—that surround the body. Her goals in life are to keep moving, find her best friend, and to remain invisible. A new foster family and new school offer her a real chance at a normal life. But in order to stay, she must accept that her gift, The Gift of the Saints, has been bestowed for a purpose and confront the overwhelming darkness she fears.

Then he appears.

Gabriel is a Seraph, a guardian angel sent in the mortal body of a sixteen-year-old boy to protect Alex at the time in her life when she needs it most. Although he is as old as time, Gabriel’s teenage form reacts to Alex in an unexpected, unprecedented way. He falls hopelessly in love with her.

When their school erupts in violence, Gabriel and Alex realize why the guardian has been sent. But can they rise above human emotions to fulfill their destinies, even if it means the outcome will rip their fragile world apart?

For more about the origin of the story and Alex’s first love, Gabriel, click here.

Buy THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN (a 2010 RWA Golden Heart® finalist for young adult fiction) Now in Print and eBook at Amazon Barnes & Noble Smashwords and iBookstore

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from California, Carey currently resides four miles from downtown Cincinnati with three badly behaved pets, two delightfully challenging children, and one incredibly supportive spouse. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). In May of 2011, she published her edgy guardian angel story, THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN (a RWA National 2010 Golden Heart finalist forYA fiction) and is hard at work on the sequel. Visit here at www.careycorp.com

 

Thank you, Carey. I look forward to reading the next book in the Halo Chronicles.

Guest Post~Hannah Downing

Today we have a special treat. Hannah Downing, author of Pieces of Us has come over to visit. Thank you, Hannah for stopping by to talk to us and for including an excerpt of your book for us to enjoy.

 

 

When Carol posted on her Twitter that she was opening up her blog to guest posters I jumped at the chance. Carol and I are published by the same publishing house and have grown a wonderful friendship and supported each other over the months. So, thank you Carol for allowing me the opportunity to take over your blog for today!!

I wasn’t sure of a topic to write about and asked Carol for some guidance. She posed a very interesting topic that not only inspired this blog post, but also allowed me to see my writing and my current novel differently, which a wonderful gift.

Her question to me – “How is writing your second novel different from writing your first?”

It took a few days for me to really think about the vastness of this question, I had two immediate and contradicting answers and I had to decide which was more accurate. My first thought was that the process was completely different... but at the same time it was also very similar. Let me explain...

When I wrote my first book, it wasn’t for publishing. I was writing it for myself because the story was in my head and it wouldn’t leave me along. I had to write it or I would go mad with the dialogue and characters fighting in my head. So, I wrote it out and gave it a group of friends to read, who all loved it and encouraged me to pursue publishing.

So, my writing process there was very raw. I allowed the story to pretty much write itself and wasn’t thinking about format or structure, just the plot. This of course made the editing process more gruelling. I wasn’t a professional writer, I had no idea what a publisher would be looking for and that wasn’t my end goal anyway so I just wrote and let the characters do what they wanted.

For my second novel, which I am writing now, I don’t necessarily know that it will be published, but I hope it will so I am writing with that in mind. I still allow myself to be creative, I have to otherwise the story would be horrible. But, I have been through the editing process now and I know some little tricks to make my writing better.

I would not say that either way of writing is easier than the other. On the one hand, the free writing is easy because there are no boundaries, but there is more work in tidying it all up afterwards, whereas minor editing as I go makes the initial writing harder but the drafts are better and will need less work in the future... I guess it all evens out in the end.

The other difference with my writing now is just that I, and my skill, have grown. I have written a novel, had it edited and been through the whole publishing process. I know what to expect, what they are looking for and how to craft my words. So, the writing that I produce now is of a higher quality (I hope).

Another difference from then to now isn’t about HOW I write but more what makes me write. Getting tweets, emails, comments etc from people who have read my first novel really encourages me to write more. Having someone say that a certain section touched them or affected them in some way is a great motivator to try and recreate that effect for people who might read my new novel (one day, I hope).

My writing process has stayed the same, but grown. For my first novel I had a small notebook that I would scribble ideas in for each chapter. Now, I have several that I use to write all different kinds of ideas. One has a detailed plan for each chapter in the book, one is full of character descriptions, background information, profiles and sketches and one is full of photocopies and print outs of research that I have done.

My writing is much more structured this time around and instead of just writing, I have taken a lot of time to work out who my characters are, how they would react in certain situations and what the cities and places are like, that I am writing about. It is a much more in-depth process and I am enjoying it immensely.

The other change I’ve made with my writing is that I don’t try to force it. With my first novel, I would sit there and try to push through writers block and the words that came out where never what I wanted. I would then spend hours reworking them. Now, I write when my muse is strong and the result is always very satisfactory. Sometimes I will sit down to write and ten thousand words will just spring out of my fingers with no effort. If I don’t feel like writing one day, that’s okay. I don’t push it.

For new writers, I’d say go with what works for you. Don’t try and be too structured until you know what the editing process is like because you might put in a whole lot of work that turns out to be wrong and needs to be redone. Write because you love it and enjoy the time you spend writing. If writing starts to bore me or I’m getting frustrated with it, I stop. That’s time to turn off the computer and take a break. Only write when you love it and the results will be so much better... well, that’s what I’ve found in my writing.

Some notes about me –

I’m almost 30 and this thought both terrifies and delights me. I am excited to enter a new chapter of my life where people older than me don’t look down on my because I’m “just in my 20s” and I think I am mature enough now to enjoy what my 30s will bring me but at the same time, there is a part of me that just thinks... am I really THAT old already?? Where is my life going? I hope the answer is that it’s been used to create beautiful words that captivate people and bring some joy to their lives. If that’s the case then bring on 30 and even 40, and many more books!

I was born in the USA but moved to Australia when I was young child. I am proud of my Australianisms and while I do try my best to remove them from my novel writing, my tweets are full of Aussie slang!

You can follow me on Twitter here – www.twitter.com/HannahDowning

You can like me on Facebook here – www.facebook.com/HannahDowning81

You can read my blog here – www.hannahdowning.com

You can email me at – hannahdowning81@gmail.com

My debut novel, Pieces of Us, is available now from the publisher – www.omnificpublishing.com or from www.amazon.com / .co.uk by searching “Hannah Downing”. Below is a small excerpt on Pieces of Us.

I love you. I had such a wonderful time last night xxx

I read the text message from Lucy on Cam’s phone over and over, each time hoping the words would change. My brain just couldn’t compre­hend the message — sent from my best friend to my husband. I put his phone down on the counter and walked through the house in a daze. In the living room, I stood in front of the Christmas tree, which mocked me with its illusions of joy, love, and family. This would be only our third Christmas together — was my marriage already over?

I felt numb as I bent down and gathered the presents I’d bought for my husband and carried them out of the room. I placed them next to the front door, neatly stacking them so their shiny red and green bows wouldn’t be crushed. I stood there staring, trying to form a coherent thought. But the only thing in my head was the fact that my best friend was in love with my husband. I heard the shower turn off, and I automatically went to the bedroom and opened Cameron’s closet door.

“Babe, can you grab me something to wear?” he called.

I stepped into the walk-in closet, looked at his clothes hanging neatly in front of me, and selected a pair of dark-wash jeans and a navy blue t-shirt from one of the shelves. Pulling open his top drawer, I grabbed a pair of black boxer-briefs and stood by the bathroom door for our morning ritual.

I knew I should be yelling and screaming at him, yet I couldn’t bring myself to do anything but stand and wait for him to leave the bathroom. My heart thudded in my chest, my hands shook slightly, and I heard a weird static in my ears — as if my brain had tuned out.

Right on cue, the door opened slightly, and his hand stuck out. I placed the clothes in his grasp. He pulled them in and closed the door loudly.

I selected his clothes every morning. He said he liked that I dressed him, and if he’d dressed himself, he’d look like a vagrant. I didn’t mind this little quirk, and normally I enjoyed the task. But today I realized I’d been selecting the clothes Lucy had seen him in — and maybe even removed from his body.

The bathroom door opened fully, and he walked out, looking every bit as handsome as I knew he would. His dark hair was still wet and gleamed under the bright bathroom light. He gave me a smile as he kissed me lightly on the cheek.

“Thanks,” he said on his way out of the room and down the hall.

I couldn’t move. He was acting so normally, and yet my whole life had changed. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff where a strong wind threatened to blow me over the edge, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

“Charlotte, did you move the coffee? I can’t find it anywhere,” he called from the kitchen.

Bile rose in my throat, and I swallowed hard before taking a few deep breaths, wanting to stay in control. I walked slowly down the hallway, like an inmate to her execution. I caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye, but I stayed focused on the cupboard behind him, afraid that if I saw his face, it would all become too real.

Tears welled in my eyes, and my heart continued to pound. I needed to talk to him — needed him to tell me Lucy was some crazy stalker and he wasn’t cheating on me. But I couldn’t get any words out. If I opened my mouth, I might vomit.

I looked down at the beautiful diamond ring on my left hand and choked back a strangled sob. We’d only been married for two years. Was he already bored with me? I pulled the ring off and placed it on the kitchen counter, then proceeded to remove my earrings, necklace, and watch — all gifts from Cameron. I set them carefully next to the wedding ring.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I could see Cameron staring at me in confusion.

“Charlotte?”

I picked up his cell phone from the counter and handed it to him, the offending message still on the screen. His face paled as he read it, and he looked up at me nervously. The loud static in my ears was back, and I was starting to feel extremely hot.

“Fuck!” he yelled, throwing the phone against the wall. It clattered to the floor undamaged, unlike my heart.

We stood staring at each other for a moment, neither of us saying a word. Then his eyes broke from mine and slowly moved down to my jewelry, abandoned on the counter.

“Charlotte,” he said softly, moving toward me with his arms out­stretched, as if to pull me into a hug.

“No,” I whispered, stepping backward and out of his grasp.

His face fell, and he stood still, staring at the floor.

“Do you love her?” I choked out between sobs. I felt the warm tears flowing over my cheeks as I watched him think about his answer.

He was silent for a moment, and his shoulders sagged.

“I feel something for her,” he said sadly.

I sank to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. The numbness that had been clouding my heart suddenly lifted, and the pain of what was happening hit me all at once. There wasn’t a single part of my body that didn’t hurt. I watched as my tears dripped onto the polished wood floor. Cameron’s shadow moved toward me, but I held my hand up to stop him before he could touch me.

“Do you love me?” I whispered, looking up at him.

“Yes, very much!” he insisted, dropping to his knees in front of me. “I’m so confused. I know what this looks like, but I want you, Char. I love you — ”

“I think you should go,” I whispered, cutting him off. As much as I wanted to hear something that would explain away his infidelity, I couldn’t listen to him right now.

“What?” He leaned closer to hear me.

I glanced up and looked at his eyes for the first time since I’d learned he was cheating on me. He must have seen something reflected back because despair washed over his face.

“I want you to leave,” I replied a little louder.

                                                                                     ~oOo~

Thanks so much for reading, and thanks Carol for hosting me.