Blog Tour: No Greater Illusion

No Greater Illusion by K. Baskett
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Dystopian
Release Date: November 30 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

In the very near future, surging advancements in technology have afforded American citizens with a number of conveniences. Of these, most notable is the SmartTag, a microchip embedded under the skin between index finger and thumb, housing all manner of personal information such as bank account details, medical history, voter registration and more.

This tightly-woven tale follows the lives of several very different people – Tealia, a free-spirited and intelligent photographer battling with conflicting emotions for her ex-lover; Mercer & Viera Scott, a power couple barely holding on to their marriage as the priorities of success and parenthood slowly become skewed between them; impoverished single mother, Naria, content with her reliance on both her current lover and government assistance to make ends meet; and the Holton family, wealthy beyond measure, enjoying carefree days of privilege and luxury.

Their status quo, however, is about to be undermined as America reacts violently to the brutal assassination of a highly esteemed female presidential nominee on the evening of the debates. As the entire nation struggles to make sense of the ensuing chaos, fear and distrust ramp up to dizzying heights. The end result is a series of grave consequences that will drastically alter life as they know it, making them all wonder how much of their world is but an illusion.

A captivating story that is at once gripping and dark, this brilliantly painted picture of a dystopian America cautions against the power of technology and the folly of taking anything for granted. Haunting and lyrical, No Greater Illusion is an astounding debut novel with a powerful message that lingers long after the final page is read.

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Excerpt:

That night, I became an eye witness to murder. The cop who pulled the trigger might have claimed it was “self-defense” or “protection from an imminent threat,” but all I saw was a 90-pound woman brandishing a lug wrench that was almost too heavy for her to lift.

“Conspiracy!” she yelled at the top of her lungs and used all of her might to swing the weapon at a nearby car, shattering the driver’s side window.

“Stand down,” ordered the nearest police officer in a booming voice, as he and countless others surveyed the entire riot scene unfolding before us.

Blog Tour: The Shadow of Black Wings: Author Spotlight - James Calbraith

Today I'm pleased to welcome author James Calbraith to the blog to talk a little bit about his novel The Shadow of Black Wings and being a writer.

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Do you recall how your interest in writing originated or did you always just know you wanted to be a writer?

I always wrote. I know it’s a cliché to say “since I first put pen to paper”, but I think I wrote my first stories at the age of 7-8.

What inspired The Shadow of Black Wings?

My journeys to Japan and Wales, and my interest in the history of Japan.

Is there anything you found particularly challenging when you were writing The Shadow of Black Wings?

Balancing amount of research and world-building with action and character building. Pacing.

Blog Tour: Grim - Guest Post - Joseph Spencer

Spotlight on Jeff Wrage

Though he’s just a supporting character in Grim, Jeff Wrage will play a vital role in the Sons of Darkness series as one of the main protagonists of the to-be-released sequel titled Wrage, which will be out this year.

While ace detective Adam White is hot on Heath Grim’s trail regarding the grisly murders at Prairieville’s abandoned mental hospital, a second killer butchers Jeff’s wife Stefanie and a group of Headley University students at a college dive bar. Jeff also learns for the first time that he was going to be a father, and that his unborn child didn’t survive the brutal attack.

Blog Tour: Love 101 Learning to Love - Author Spotlight - Sylvia Hubbard

Today I'm pleased to welcome author Sylvia Hubbard to the blog to talk a little bit about her novel Love 101: Learning to Love and being a writer.

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Do you recall how your interest in writing originated or did you always just know you wanted to be a writer?

It was my mother’s undoing. I used to lie to her ridiculously when I was six and seven. For my punishment, after my whipping, she would have me write the lie down. I found that the lies sounded so much better written out and I could add so much depth to them. My pain became my pleasure and I’ve been a writer ever since.

What inspires most of your novels?

Actual real life incidents or situations I hear or read about. Detroit, where most of my stories take place, is a very interesting place where a fiction writer just couldn’t make this stuff up, I swear.

Is there anything you found particularly challenging when you were writing Love 101? 

Blog Tour: Love 101: Learning To Love

Love 101: Learning To Love by Sylvia Hubbard
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Erotic, Noir
Release Date: January 27, 2011
Series: Mistaken Identity #2
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ B & N ♥ Smashwords

Book Description:

Prudish school teacher, Cheyenne, loses a bet with her students and is forced to wear her student's uniform.

On the same day, she meets the devilishly gorgeous Evan Crane who is desperately lost and needs "assistance" getting home. Fighting his attraction to who is think is just a high school student, Evan finds he needs her help.

Deciding to take advantage of his weakness and her own mounting attraction to him, Cheyenne kisses Evan.

That's when her plan to just tease the stranger becomes a chance for her to live out her own reckless fantasy.

Yet, when the tables are turned and she reaps what she has sown, Cheyenne has to make a choice to forgive Evan and overcome her own fears or miss out on the most perfect love any woman could ever have.

Sequel to Love 101 (included in Prologue) and the continuing saga of Mistaken Identity series.

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Giveaway: 1 eBook copy of 101 Love: Learning to love. Open internationally.

Blog Tour: The Hero - Guest Post - Mike Kearby

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A Character Analysis

John Simpson, the main character of The Hero, was borne of a basic writing strategy that: (a) readers are fascinated and threatened by change in their real lives. (b) Change threatens one’s self-concept, and (c) one’s self-concept is so thoroughly engrained that humans will go to any length to keep things as they are.

The first sentence of the story was used to establish this strategy for the reader. The story begins: “There was only one truth in life that John Simpson embraced completely and faithfully. It was an absolute that his thirty-one years on the planet had verified repeatedly without condition or limitation: Change is never good.”

Blog Tour: The Illusionist Author Spotlight - Mike Kearby

Today I'm pleased to welcome author Mike Kearby to the blog to talk a little bit about his short story The Illusionist and being a writer.

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Do you recall how your interest in writing originated or did you always just know you wanted to be a writer?

From the moment, I read my first book; (around age 6) I knew that someday I would write. There was something about the mental images created by a writer’s words that were highly addictive.

What inspires most of your short stories?

Review: Power Play

Power Play by Emily Cale
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Erotica, Romance
Release Date: August 31, 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Natalie Fritz didn't need a night of sexual adventure as payment for setting her friend up, but she wouldn't turn it down either. Determined to make sure she gets exactly what she wants, she makes a call to Madame Eve and requests not one, but two dates for the evening. What she doesn't expect is for those men to be players on her friend's hockey team.

Ian and Todd find that sharing women provides all parties with more pleasure. Finding someone who buys into their theory is a little harder. So they turn to Madame Eve's 1 Night Stand service to find them a partner. When they meet Natalie, they discover a gorgeous woman who turns them on physically and intellectually.

Everyone knows that relationships are meant to be between two people, but what happens when it takes three to make the night worthwhile? Can they take a leap of faith or will their time be limited to one night?

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All I can coherently say at this moment in time is holy hell that was hot!

Review: The Vampires Hope

The Vampire's Hope by Danica Winters
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: Published September 10th 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Ellie Smith, an emotionally stunted dancer, finds more than she bargains for after her human life is taken by the vampire, Master Liam. Once inside the Vampire’s underground lair, the Keres Den, she meets Ian, an immortal Viking warrior, who is infiltrating the soulless prison.

As Ellie begins her training, she learns that the dark tunnels around her are filled with even darker secrets. As the truth of her existence come to light, she is faced with a choice—does she let her past dictate her future, or can she begins to feel again?

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I have to say that The Vampire’s Hope is not your typical vampire story. It’s definitely not what I was expecting when I first picked up the book. But despite that I thought the story was cute. I love the Greek mythology aspect of it. The whole Pandora’s Box plotline and how Elpis or Ellie was the Hope from the box was unique and well put together.

Blog Tour: Author Spotlight - Danica Winters

Today I'm pleased to welcome author Danica Winters to the blog to talk a little bit about her novel The Vampire's Hope and being a writer.

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What was the plot of your very first piece of unpublished fiction you ever wrote?

LOL Oh GEEZ! That’s a terrible question. My first full length novel was dreadful. It was about a man who fell in love with a waitress, but was being stalked by his former girlfriend (a schizophrenic killer).

It was awful, but it was my first attempt at writing professionally and it was what started me writing. So even though it was the worst book EVER, I’m glad I wrote it. It inspired me to always keep learning and working on my craft.

Writers tend to have a pretty active imagination for obvious reasons, if you had to describe what the inside of your head was like what would you tell us?

Blog Tour: Soul Sisters

Soul Sisters by Janiera Eldridge
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Smashwords ♥ B & N

Book Description:

Soul Sisters is an urban fantasy novel about African-American twin sisters Ani and Dana who have a rather unique secret: one sister is human while the other is a vampire. While the sisters have lived peacefully with each other for many years one fateful night will change both their lives forever. When a drunken man tries to attack Dana (the human sister) Ani (the vampire sister) protects her sister with all of her ferocious power.

However, when the vampire's leader Donovan finds out about the public display he calls for the sisters to be assassinated for disobedience. Ani and Dana now are in for the fight of their lives to protect each other as well as the lives of their dedicated friends who have joined them on their mission for survival. If Dana and Ani can make it through this time of uncertainty, Ani can take her new place as vampire queen. Soul Sisters is expected to be a trilogy; The book also features a multicultural cast of characters that brings a new edge of chic to the vampire world.

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Excerpt:

Chapter 6 1915 New York City
Bryson and Dana walked arm and arm down the blustery New York street laughing about the Christmas party they had just left. The snow was fresh and powdery. Neither of them felt the icy cold snowflakes floating down and speckling their coats because they were wrapped in the warmth of each other’s company.

“Did you see how Charles acted after taking that last shot of whiskey?” Dana asked. Bryson could not contain his laughter thinking about their friend’s drunkenness. Everyone who had been at the party was probably laughing about it on their way home, too, particularly the part when Charles took off his pants and danced on top of the piano. Bryson laughed so hard people gave them odd passing glances.

Blog Tour &Giveaway: Derailed by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Title: Derailed
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult Contemporary Romance, Publisher: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Ebook/Paperback 
Words: aprox. 55K
Publication Date: September 26th 2012
Book Description: When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home. Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, she finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind. Looking for an escape, she instead finds a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.

Check out the rest of the tour here.