The past week in links!

Oh, gosh, wow. The last week has been chaotic to say the least. I didn't even realise that I hadn't posted anything since my last rushed, frantic post. Now, that I am a bit calmer, let me tell you what this week has been like for me.

I received such a wonderful response from friends. Everyone has been super supportive and encouraging and wonderful! I was so overwhelmed for an entire day that all I wanted to do was get into bed and crawl into the fetal position. But I didn't, because I had a lot of work to do. Which is the other thing. I have been flat out, insanely busy this month. I need a break! But I don't do breaks because NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow!

Omgoshiness! I am so freaking excited for NaNo! It's my first time participating, so I can't wait! Yay! My NaNo goal is to complete my novel, Falling for Hadie, at 60,000 words. Um, yeah. I'm kinda crazy. That's why I need your support! Make me accountable for my goals!

Oh, and I got some of my first reviews of Impossible! And they were great! I'm bracing myself for the bad too, because I know they will come. It's all part of the job. Still, the people that read it and said that they couldn't put it down, made my entire year (well, the two months that's left of it, anyway)!!!!

Now, let me direct you to a few links regarding my book, Impossible.

Romantic Maidens Book Tours are scheduling a book tour for me and Impossible. If you're interested, sign up here to participate!

You can add Impossible on Goodreads, here!

You can also purchase Impossible in the following places:

Amazon (Kindle version and paperback, although the paperback version seems to have disappeared for the time being)
Createspace (Paperback)
Smashwords (converts the book into several formats for e-devices)


Have a wonderful week!

Cover Reveal: Impossible

It's finally here! The cover for Impossible is ready! So I'm not going to delay it any further. I can't really type properly due to excitement, so please welcome the cover of Impossible!!

Isn't Stephanie Mooney a genius? I love, love, love it! Here's a look at the paperback version.

Now, I'm just going to go off and stare at it with googly eyes. I'll post something more coherent once I've recovered!

Impossible - Teaser #5 from Ashton's POV

Hello everyone!

I have a few announcements to make before I post this teaser. Let's begin with the title change of With Me. I loved, loved the name of the book, but once you see the book cover you will understand why I decided to change it. The book is now called Impossible, which was my original name for it. The series will still be called the With Me series because all the books in the series are about people being with each other (or in some cases, not being with each other). I have vague, vague plans to name the final book in the series With Me. That would be a few years from now though because there's a lot more to come from the With Me series.

Speaking of the cover, Oh My Gosh! I am in love with the cover! My cover designer, Stephanie Mooney is psychic, because I gave her a vague cover concept and she delivered in every way possible! She gave me two options, both of which I loved, but ultimately I had to make a choice. I hope y'all like my final cover! I promise I will share it with you just as soon as I receive the final copy!

Which brings me to the release date. I was hoping to get Impossible published over the weekend, but I can't do that without a cover. I would like to say that it will be published by next weekend but it all comes down to whether or not my cover is ready. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Finally, giveaway! Hope Conquers is for a great cause and I want to give you a copy of Destiny Binds (which is an amazing book!) so please enter to support Tammy Blackwell's cause.

Finally, here is the teaser for this week. Enjoy!

“Ashton,” he said, a smirk on his lips. “If you keep looking at me like that then I’m gonna have to do something about it.”

My face flushed red hot, and I quickly handed him the glass. He watched me closely as I poured the lemonade into it, my hand shaking the entire time. Luca was having such a profound effect on me that I couldn’t even manage something as simple as pouring.

He quickly downed the glass and I refilled it, trying to get my shakes under control. At one point, Luca covered my hand with his to control the shaking, and I thought I was going to pass out from his proximity to me.

When he’d had a third glass, he handed it back to me and pulled his shirt from where he’d tucked it into the back of his jeans. His green eyes glinted as he wiped the sweat from his chest, his eyes never leaving mine. Not once did I look away—I don’t think I was capable of moving—and he seemed to be enjoying the attention I was giving him.

He stuck the shirt in the back of his jeans, a smile playing around his mouth.

“You haven’t said a word.” He leaned in closer until his lips were inches away from mine. “That’s not like you at all. Normally, you’d be calling me a freak by now. Are you sick?”

“Um…” Come on! I had to get a hold on myself. This was getting ridiculous. “I’m…just surprised, that’s all. What happened to the crazy hair and the ugly clothes?”

Luca shrugged. “It was time for a change. Why? Is it bothering you?” There was a playful hint to his voice, and I could tell he was teasing me. He was probably loving my reaction.

“No, why would it bother me?” I snapped.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you like what you see.”

“I do not!” I argued, but judging from his broadening grin, I could tell I didn’t sound too convincing.

 My critique partners both have crushes on Luca so that can only be a good thing!

Have a great weeks everyone! Happy reading!

You write books? When are you going to get a REAL job?

Last time I checked, writing was a full-time job. It's pretty real to me, so why do people ask this question? Is it to offend or because they're uninformed? Maybe they don't like books? Maybe they don't read and cannot begin to understand the importance of literature?

Whatever the reason, I am sure that more than one of you has experienced this type of prejudice. And it's not nice. Really, really not. The amount of time and effort that I've put into writing is ridiculous and I haven't even been paid for it yet! I've worked hard day and night to create something that I hope people will read and love with the prospect of never earning enough money from it to get by.

Why?

Because I love what I do. I have the best job in the world and I wouldn't have it any other way. There is no other job I could have in the entire world that would bring me this much joy. A little stress too, but what job isn't stressful? I have come to know amazing people through what I do. I've had the chance to read fantastic books before they've been published. I've critiqued the work of people who have made me stop and think, "Wow. This is one of the best parts of my job."

I wouldn't trade any of that for the world. The last two years of my life have been the most fulfilling. I've grown so much as a person and I've become a better writer. I have learnt so much from the rest of the publishing world. I am going to continue to grow. I am going to keep doing what I do because it makes me happy. I am going to keep doing it because I love it.

Maybe one day those same people will take back what they've said to me because they really were uninformed. Or maybe they won't. Either way, it doesn't bother me. I take the adversity with a smile and channel it into working one hundred times harder. So, thank you to the people who don't think writing is a REAL job. You're only giving me more fuel for my fire.

And maybe one day when you have an emergency and you need me to take you somewhere on my private jet...Okay, that part's definitely part of my imagination!

Writers, do not stop doing what you do. The world needs more dreamers and artists. We need more amazing books for the rest of us to lose ourselves in.

Giveaway for a Great Cause!

It's been a long time since I've had a giveaway so I thought I would make my giveaway comeback by taking part in a great cause. Until the end of October, 100% of Kindle edition sales made from Tammy Blackwell's novel, Destiny Binds, will go towards the Ronald McDonald House. Tammy puts it much better in her post, so I ask you to go and check it out here.

Now, this is where I come in. I really want to support this wonderful cause as I have lost a family member to cancer. What I will be doing is giving away FIVE Kindle editions of Destiny Binds to five lucky winners. Please support this great cause with us!

I also reviewed Destiny Binds earlier this year. Check out the review to see my thoughts on it.

Now, all you have to do is enter in the Rafflecopter below and spread the word about the giveaway. The giveaway is open internationally and will close October 28.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Impossible - Teaser #4

This will probably be my final teaser for With Me because I would like to have it published by next weekend if everything goes well. It's so hard to pick teasers that aren't going to give away important parts of the story!

If you are a blogger and you would like to help me out by promoting my book on your blog, please send me an email at komalk.lewis(at)gmail(dot)com. I'd be happy to do any type of feature! And many thanks to the bloggers who have reached out to me already. You guys are fabulous!

Sometime within the next month I will be doing posts about the publishing process and what to expect from me next. I'll also be having a giveaway to celebrate the release of my book, so check back for that.

By the way, are there any NaNoers in the house? Link me to your profiles so we can NaNo together!

“Luca, don’t you look nice?” Kance cooed. Her expression was icy even though she was smiling at me. If snakes could smile that’s what it’d look like. That smile was cold and full of malice.

Oliver bristled beside her and shot me a look of pure hatred. I guess he was still holding something against me for standing up to him in front of his Neanderthal friends. Pretty boy needed to get over it already.

I set my mouth in a firm line, choosing to ignore Kance. She wasn’t worth my time and I wasn’t going to waste my breath making small talk with her. I just wanted to get the hell away from these people.

“Did you know Luca’s in a band?” Kendall asked, turning to Kance.

Kance shot me a look of pure revulsion. “Really? Is that why you’re talking to him in public? I thought I made it clear that we don’t associate with people like them.”

The way she referred to me made it sound like I was a dung beetle who attended high school.

Have a great week guys!

Review: The Owens Legacy: Revelations

The Owens Legacy: Revelations by Michelle Flick
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Published: February, 2012

When telepathic twins, Piper and Ryder Owens are dumped at Evermore Academy, they thought that the only thing they’d have to worry about was Piper staying out of trouble long enough for them to graduate. They will not, for any reason, be separated. But someone at Evermore knows about their secret and wants to separate them permanently.

But then Piper’s Achilles Heel shows up: a good looking guy. Victor Mira is everything Piper is supposed to avoid, yet she feels drawn to him in a way she never imagined. But Victor is hiding a dangerous secret too, and what he knows could be the one thing that could divide the sisters. Forever.

Michelle Flick's debut novel is a fresh take on the vampire lore that we have come to know. At a time, when the market is flooded with numerous vampire novels, I was glad to find that The Owens Legacy: Revelations has its own mythology.

What I really loved about this novel was the two main characters, Piper and Ryder. You can't deny how much the two of them grow on you, and I found myself 100% invested in what was happening to them.

And that ending! Oh my gosh! I'm still recovering from it! The twists that Michelle had skillfully woven into the story had me reeling. I can't wait to find out what comes next in this brilliant new series.

View all my reviews

Impossible - Teaser #3

Hey everyone! *waves*

Before I post this week's teaser, I wanted to share some exciting news with y'all. This week is the Launch Week over at A Dash of YA! If you haven't already done so, head on over there to enter in some super cool giveaways!

A Dash of YA is a blog for lovers of YA run by lovers of YA. You can expect plenty of fangirliness, book reviews, author interviews, giveaways, writing tips and much more! So, come and join Michelle, Erica, Molli and me on our brand new venture! :)

I also have some news about WITH ME to share. The fabulous Stephanie Mooney is designing the cover for it as we speak and I should be doing the cover reveal later on this week. Expect lots of exclamation marks and virtual squealing when that day comes.

My awesome, amazing critique partners Erica and Michelle have also finished editing WITH ME. In a matter of days! How freaking brilliant are they?! And you know the best part? They LOVED it! That makes me so happy! >insert squealing. Lots and lots of squealing<

At the moment, this is the part of WITH ME I'm revising so I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy!

Ash placed a hand on her hip in an attempt to look stern. In reality, she just looked too darn cute. I wanted to pick her up and hold her against me. “Why are you ignoring me?”

I loved it when she was direct. It was so hot. “Because you piss me off constantly.”

“You are so immature.” Ash rolled her eyes and pushed past me to get inside.

“Hey!” I shut the door and hurried after her as she strode into the kitchen. Her hair flowed behind her like gold silk. “This is trespassing, you know?”

Ashton stopped and leaned against the counter, regarding me with amusement. “Then arrest me.” Her lips formed a teasing smile.

Have a wonderful, fabulous week!

Cover Reveal: The Faerie Guardian

Title: The Faerie Guardian
Author: Rachel Morgan
Release Date: 5 Nov 2012
Add to Goodreads

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out of it alive.

[This novel was originally published in four separate parts: Guardian, Labyrinth, Traitor and Masquerade. It includes bonus scenes at the end.]

Giveaway Time!

The bonus scenes at the end of the book are NOT written from the main character's point of view. If you'd like to win a $10 Amazon gift card, all you have to do is guess whose point of view these scenes are written from! Head on over to the cover reveal post at Rachel Morgan Writes and fill in the Rafflecopter form. There's a list of characters there that you can choose from. Good luck!

Book Release: He Came for Mine

He Came For Mine

Book Two in ‘The Protector Series’

By C.M. Brown

Available as and eBook at:

Smashwords

and

Amazon

Price: $2.99

Add He Came For Mine to your TBR list on Goodreads

For the next two weeks Carolyn is holding a Rafflecopter Draw on her Blog, to celebrate the following three reasons:

The release of Book Two in the Protector Series titled:

He Came For Mine

 One full year of Blogging!

&

 Twelve months since the launch of Book One in The Protector Series!

~~~~

Prizes will include:

One $20 AUD (Australian Dollars) Amazon Gift Card

One free eBook of Book Two in The Protector Series, He Came For Mine!
One free book cover illustration by Rebekah Romani

TO ENTER CLICK HERE!

Also, during the two week launch
Book One, in The Protector Series

He Came For Me

will be free as an eBook
to download
from
Smashwords

JUST USE THIS CODE: 
RF83E

Synopsis:

This book continues the story of Jazz and Sebastian's fated love affair.  Sebastian abandoned Jazz at the end of book one and returns to his home world of Aidensdein, which was burned to the ground when Jazz escaped from his nemesis Brennan.  He is kept busy rebuilding the city and restoring order to his people.

Unfortunately, Jazz is left alone to transform into a part-vampire and deliver their child on her own.  Seb, of course does not know that she is even pregnant when he leaves her.  As Jazz tries to survive the changes to her own body and raise a young vampire, she finds herself being drawn into a relationship with someone who looks very much like Seb.  Can she trust this stranger, or should she be wary?

SHORT BLURB:

Fending for herself for almost two years, Jazz worries she will never see Sebastian again.

A new man enters her life,

But does he hold a secret?

Will Jazz trust him?

 ~~~~

Sebastian discovers an ancient ritual which must be performed on the Chosen One's son before his first birthday.

He returns to Earth to find Jazz in the arms of another man.

A man he knows very well.

A man he doesn't trust!

About Carolyn Brown

I live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia and love the beach lifestyle.  I try to share some of the wonders of this area with my readers, in the content of my books.

I am happily married and have two children, one in university the other in his second last year of High School.

Many years spent supporting high school students with Learning Difficulties has inspired me to take on the challenge of writing, which I am finding I am enjoying immensely.  I spend my free time reading and writing and try to relax on the beautiful beaches I live near, walking my dog and swimming, at every possible opportunity.

I love and am drawn to the dark and mysterious things that go bump in the night and love writing in the paranormal romance genre for New Adults as I enjoy enticing my audience with small hints of sexual fantasy.

Connect with Carolyn Online:

Smashwords

 My Blog

My Author Page

Email me

Facebook

     Goodreads

Twitter