29 October, 2016

October 29, 2016 1

#SpecialFeature :: Advice for Aspiring Authors by Namrata


*** Special Feature - October 2016 ***


Quick Recap:
1st October - Introducing the Author
15th October - 10 Random Facts about Me
22nd October - Why I Write

About the Author:



Namrata is A Lost Wanderer who loves travelling the length and breadth of the world. A published author in various anthologies and magazines she enjoys capturing the magic of life in her words. She is forever in pursuit of a new country and a new story.





Contact the Author:

Website * Facebook * Twitter


Advice for Aspiring Authors

As a published author I am asked very often to give tips for aspiring writers. If there is one tip I could share with them it would be this – Tell a story that you just cannot hold it within you anymore. You remember that feeling of being in love so much that you had to tell it to the person you were in love with? Telling a story is akin to that. Just like love envelops you completely, the story and its characters engulf you pushing you to tell their story.

Every time someone says I want to be the next *insert a best-selling author’s name* I am always taken aback. Why would you want to be a second hand version of someone else? The world already has one; there is no need for another. Why not try bringing in your own USP and make the world notice you? That happens when you stop following the herd and try to do what you always believed in firmly. However weird and unrealistic it might sound, your belief in it will make it real. Remember Harry Potter was rejected many times before being selected? Not everyone is able to judge a masterpiece in the first instance. The main question is and should always be – Did those rejections make J K Rowling give up and change her thoughts on writing? No, she kept trying because she believed in her own work.

There is also a doubt regarding cliché plotlines. To that I only have one answer. If your treatment is unique even clichés can sound refreshingly different. Famous romance novels like Love Story, Romeo Juliet, P.S: I Love You, The Fault in our stars etc. which are considered masterpieces have more or less the same premise but if you look at narrative that is where they are amazingly different making a brilliant read. There is nothing wrong in making your characters larger than life. The key is to make them relatable. That is when they leave an everlasting impact on the reader.

If you would have noticed in majority of the classics simplicity ruled the roost. When a reader is able to decipher what you want to convey and connect with it in more than one ways that is when the book becomes more than just reading. It becomes an experience which they want to relive again and again, not to mention share with others too. Make your book an experience and not mere story telling.
I personally like stories where at the end of it all I feel for at least one character. It could be hate, anger, jealousy, pity, sympathy, love, care or concern. When a reader feels for a character it means s/he lived the story. For this the characters need to be fleshed out well and made to be multi-dimensional instead of cardboard cutouts.


All this and more is worthwhile if there is at least one person who gets back to you after reading your book with these words, “You touched my heart with your writing!”



About the Book:





Give life another chance. Laugh a little longer. let go of your past. Hold onto what you love. In short LIVE rather than just exist!

Some told, some untold, some heard and some unheard - this collection of stories will make you look at life in a different light and make you ponder over its definition of it till now.






Book Links:
Goodreads I Amazon

Giveaway
2 Lucky winners will receive Amazon Gift Vouchers of 250/- INR each

a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 29, 2016 0

#GuestPost :: Wattpad - The Place to Be for Aspiring Authors by Farah Oomerbhoy


About the Author:




Farah Oomerbhoy is a young adult writer with a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Mumbai. Farah loves the fantastical and magical and often dreams of living in Narnia, Neverland, or the Enchanted Forest. Her debut novel, The Last of the Firedrakes, Book 1 of The Avalonia Chronicles started on Wattpad where it received a Watty Award in 2015 and over 1.5 million reads. Since publication, The Last of the Firedrakes has gone on to win a silver medal in IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin Awards, become a finalist in the USA Best Book Awards and become an international bestseller. Farah lives with her family in Mumbai, India where she can be found checking for magical portals in every closet.
  
Contact Farah:


Wattpad—The Place to Be for Aspiring Authors by Farah Oomerbhoy

Have you ever heard of Wattpad? It’s the world’s largest site for free books and stories. 

If you are an aspiring author and yearn to share your stories with the world, Wattpad is the place to do it—you can publish full pieces or even works-in-progress directly to your readers, for free! And with over 16 million unique visitors per month, Wattpad is a fast-growing community of writers and readers, all of whom get together to share their love of storytelling.

When I first discovered Wattpad in 2014, I was an author with only a first draft. I had tried sending my (very rough) manuscript, a YA fantasy, out to publishers in India, but didn’t gather any interest. 
So I decided to give Wattpad a try so I could go directly to my readers. It sounded almost too good to be true—a place where I could upload my work and have people actually read it and give helpful feedback. I went ahead and started uploading my book, one chapter at a time. I created my own cover and uploaded that too. Within hours, my story was ready to go. 

The response was immediate and highly unexpected. People from all over the world were reading The Last of the Firedrakes and enjoying it. They would leave comments and suggestions and all of them were eagerly waiting for me to release the next chapter. I was elated, all I ever wanted was for people to read what I had written and enjoy the story. 

From then on I was uploading chapters twice a week, and soon gained a huge fan following. My reads and votes skyrocketed into the thousands within a month and my book started appearing on Wattpad’s highly coveted What’s Hot list.

Over the next few months, The Last of the Firedrakes, catapulted to the top of the fantasy list, reaching #1. I was contacted by a Wattpad official and offered a place on the Featured List, which is a set of handpicked stories specially curated by their staff and promoted on their site. I also entered my book in the 2015 Watty Awards and, to my surprise, my book won an award, becoming a Collector’s Dream on Wattpad. And I got a lovely sticker on my book to go with it!



During these whirlwind few months, I met some wonderful fellow authors, who have all become fast friends. Together we formed the WPC2014, now called the Wattpadres, a writing group who have been extremely supportive of my work and been with me throughout my publishing journey. 
The Last of the Firedrakes is currently a constant on Wattpad’s Fantasy, What’s Hot list and has nearly reached 2 million reads, earning The Avalonia Chronicles a legion of faithful fans and me a great network of beta readers and fans.

Wattpad gave me the confidence I needed to pick myself up after the initial rejections from publishers and try again. That’s when I contacted Wise Ink Creative Publishing. They loved the book and were very keen to publish it. And just like that, I went from being an aspiring author, to a published one.
Now, one year after the release of The Last of the Firedrakes, the book is an international bestseller, having received five prestigious awards in the United States. Book two of the series is due for release early next year and book three will be out soon after. 

Wattpad is still the place I go when I want to interact with my fellow readers and authors, and find new authors to love. There are forums where you can find almost anything related to books and publishing and get direct feedback on your work. Publishers, book marketers, cover designers, authors and readers all hang out here and are ever on the look out for the next great book. 
Many publishers frequently hold contests on Wattpad, and winning one of these can score you a dream publishing deal if your work is good enough. You just need to be in the right place at the right time and the rest will follow. 

If you have a story you want to write, or even a first draft that needs feedback, check out this wonderful and ever-growing community that will support and help you throughout your writing career. 

According to me, for a new author, Wattpad is exactly the right place to be.

About the Book:

 
16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad.


Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.




With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever. 


Book Links:
Goodreads I Amazon I Flipkart


Silver Medal winner in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Award
Semifinalist Winner in the 2016 Kindle Book Award 

Silver award winner in IBPA’s 2016 Benjamin Franklin Awards
Finalist in the 2015 USA Best Book Awards
Winner in Wattpad’s 2015 Watty Awards
Awesome Indies Approved

“…the narrative components echo the classics; the Academy of Magic at Evolon could be Hogwarts, while the Shadow Guards are reminiscent of Tolkien’s Ring Wraiths or Rowling’s Dementors…a beautifully drawn fantasy world.” Kirkus Reviews

“THE LAST OF THE FIREDRAKES is a magic-filled romp that carries you back to the fantasy stories of childhood…Lovers of classic fantasy will likewise gobble down Oomerbhoy’s scrumptious story.” – Dr Vic James, author of the SLAVEDAYS trilogy

The world building is beautiful…That really made the book more complex for me…it is the journey of discovery for Aurora and the reader that makes this an interesting story.” Janelle Fila for Readers’ Favorite

The Last of the Firedrakes has all the elements of popular fantasy – an orphaned princess, Magical powers, an alternate sphere with seven kingdoms, a young girl with a destiny to fulfil. They are all elements of the Narnia Chronicles, The Faraway tree, The Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings and a bit of Enid Blyton fun.” – Mitali Parekh for Mid-Day newspaper


The Last of the Firedrakes is a fantasy novel that will entrance young adult and adult readers alike… Political intrigue, danger, and deep characterization make for an interconnected epic, enthusiastically recommended for high fantasy connoisseurs.”
– Midwest Book Review

28 October, 2016

October 28, 2016 2

#BookReview :: Romance Shorts by Sourabh Mukherjee

A soulmate 'happens' unannounced in some turn of the deliciously unpredictable journey called 'life' 

What does destiny have in store for a teenager unable to express his feelings for the girl of his dreams even as their paths keep crossing through the years? 

Sid turns to work and alcohol to get over the pain of losing Sheetal till she walks back into his arms in the after-party of a corporate awards function. Is she back for good? 

What does an advertisement on a billboard try to tell a man who has lost his memory and his wife in a near fatal accident? 

As Ria nurses her broken heart, she meets a stranger on the Internet and finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. Will she find love again? 

'Romance Shorts' is a collection of four contemporary romantic short stories. A brisk read with a lasting impact, it paints love in its various hues that make it the only emotion worth dying for. A slice of life in true sense, the book takes the reader on a whirlwind journey interspersed with betrayal, separation, heartbreak and a smile or two. 


I had received the review copy of this book about three months back and I had been holding on from reviewing it for so long for one particular reason… I wasn’t really sure how I felt about this book right away. I moved on to other books and re-read it after a particularly long mystery novel recently.

Romance Shorts is a collection of four short stories revolving around love and all the emotions that it brings with it. “Nargis Through My Summers” is the first story in the book and probably the longest of the four. It is a story of a boy who is in enamored by a girl who doesn’t know she exists. He watches her from not so far away and often puts all his emotions into sketching her. This also happens to be the story that managed surprise me. I love the underlying pathos in the story. “Mine Forever” is a story of a man who is desperately in love with a woman who has walked out on him. Driving himself to distraction with work has done little to change his feelings about her. So, what happens when she walks back into his life? This story surprised me with the vivid portray of the protagonist. I was really surprised how familiar he felt in that short span. “Memories” is a story of a man who tries his best to recover his memories of his wife after an accident. For some reason I just could not connect to this story, even with the twist in the end. “Love Came Calling Again” was probably the only predictable story in the book with the protagonist trying to get over a broken heart and finding the strength to find love again.

The four stories cover a whole range of emotions and different types of love. Whether it is a hopelessly one sided love or whether it is about finding love and hope after a heart break; Whether it is jealousy or longing… the stories have captured the essence of these feelings in the story quite well. The author’s language in this book is plain and simple. It was easy to follow the flow in each story, though at times I did wish for little more depth in the narratives. It is a pretty short book with 45 odd pages and could make for a fast and light read while in between books. 


Review Copy received from the Author





27 October, 2016

October 27, 2016 0

#Interview with Morgan Lee, #Author of The Naked Tree

About the Author:
After thousands of hours procrastinating, several hundred gallons of coffee and tea, and endless prayers, Morgan has finally produced a physical book that is now in your hands. Ever since she was a little girl she has always been fascinated with the written word and has wanted to be an author. Morgan received her bachelor of arts degree in creative writing from Kansas State University. It was only in 2013 when she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior that she found her purpose for writing and discovered that her ministry would be to present the glory of God through fiction. Morgan Lee currently lives in Kansas City with her family.


Connect with Morgan Lee:


An Interview with the Author:

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I always knew that I wanted to be a writer. I knew from the very first moment I learned how to write in kindergarten. It was how I spoke, how I communicated. I was not a very loud or outgoing child, (and let’s face it, I’m still not that loud) so writing was a way for me to get all of my feelings out of my head and onto paper, things that I could never speak out loud. So I feel like I always knew.

What inspires you to write?
I generally get inspiration from everywhere. It’s never lacking. Motivation on the other hand is another story, but everyday life inspires me. Every morning I open my eyes inspires me. It’s really just choosing to take that inspiration and not be afraid to run with it.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
Tons of story ideas run through my head at all times, but with The Naked Tree my story came from both the outside and the inside. I never before considered writing science fiction, but after watching everything that has been going on in the media, the violence, the overwhelming lack for human life, and dealing with my own emotions regarding my existence in the world, a story was born.

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?
Oh jeez, there are tons of stories that are hidden away in my file cabinet. I have not ruled out letting them out of their hole, but I think for the time being I’ll focus on new ideas. It’s kind of blessing and a curse. I have an endless supply of ideas, but sometimes it’s difficult to focus on just one.

Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process has grown so much since I first started writing. I completed my first manuscript in the 8th grade and that took me almost 5 years, since the 4th grade of writing and rewriting off and on. I literally had no process and was waiting for some kind of inspiration. I use to think that I was a pants-er and that I could just write and let the story develop along the way, but that is the reason there are so many unfinished stories in the dark abyss of my file cabinet. Now, I am a cold hard plotter. Scrivener is my best friend and I have fallen in love with the outlining process. After writing my outline according to the 3 Act Structure and spending time developing characters, I start writing and I’ll write the entire 1st draft, no reading, no editing. And because I just can’t keep my hands off of it, I only put it away for about a week (or 3 days) then I pick it up again and read through the whole thing and the dreaded editing process begins…

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
How can I choose just one?! I love any scene with Rowan and Colette. The one that sticks out to me is the scene when Rowan tells Colette his deepest regret and dark past. They have a really beautiful moment I think and their level of trust grows deeper. Anytime Rowan is interacting with his team is a good one. Also the love triangle thing with Levi, Adamek and Eviya is so delightfully wicked and intriguing.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know if other writers do this, but if I’m feeling stuck on a scene or need some kind of boost or inspiration I go to Starbucks, grab a Grande Triple Caramel Macchiato with a shot of Hazelnut, head to my local park, find an unoccupied shelter, get out of my car and act out my book. Every time. I live with a lot of people so there is never a time to do it in my house, but it helps me to talk out the plot and act it out. Loud and proud! And it always helps. After that I can go back home and sit down and write the scene.

Do you read? Who are your favorite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
I do read, but not as much as I would like to. I enjoy classic novels and authors. I try to read a lot of diverse books, but a do enjoy a good YA novel with a little bit of romance. I often find it difficult to read while I’m invested in writing a new novel. I don’t want to risk another authors voice coming through in my own writing so I only read during times of editing. 

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
This may sound cheesy, but always follow your heart. Be true to yourself in your writing and never try to be a copycat. You are not the next JK Rowling, Stephen King, or Mark Twain. You are you, and you is just fine. Don’t expect to be great all at once. Writing is part talent, part refusing to give up.

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?
A notebook. A pack of pens. And a machete for hunting and protection. 

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
My favorite place to go to unwind is the park. Swinging on the swing is so relaxing and there’s just something about feeling with wind on my face. It’s freeing!

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
My bucket list seems never ending. One of the main things I want to do is, skydive, climb Ayers Rock, scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef, learn Japanese, just to name a few. 

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
- I have a notebook and pen addiction…I’m not ashamed. 
- I love animals, but have bad luck with pets. (They usually die or run away)
- I wrote my first book in the 2nd grade.

What do you have in store next for your readers?
I have my next 4 books scheduled to be released next year. Two of them are the second and third books in the trilogy of my debut novel Seed Among the Thorns. Book two is titled Seed Among the Rocks, the third Seed Among Good Ground. The next book is a contemporary NA novel title The Skeleton in my Bathroom that follows a woman’s journey with Crohn’s Disease. The following book is a non-fiction autobiographical book about my life called And Then, He Said, I Love You. So yes, there are tons of things in the works! 


About the Book
Life is just a Vapor...
if you were blessed enough to have them that is.

            Colette has lived the last seventeen years of her life being hidden away and choosing to hide herself. Colette is a part of a class of people who are even lower than the animals they herd. They are Vaporless. Defects in a perfect world. And Colette was the worse one of them. After the vicious leaders, Eviya, Levi and Adamek of the Triunity put out a bounty for the blood of the Vaporless no one is safe. Disaster has struck. The Tree of Knowl is failing and the once beautiful Vapors are now killing their hosts. A solution must be found and that solution is to sacrifice the Vaporless to the Tree in an effort to appease it so that it will reverse the curse it placed.
            Now on the run, Colette meets Rowan and Holden leaders of a well known rebellion group who call themselves R.H.I.S.K. With the help of Rowan, Holden, Anastasia, Kofi, and Kimaya, Colette hatches a plan to discover a way to save themselves and the Vaporless from destruction. When the group enters into the Province Ilan they find themselves the knights of an ancient war. A risky mission over the Edge. A mysterious device called the Eloi. And a war that will shake the very foundation that they have known.

And the story all starts with a single naked tree.


Book Links:

The Naked Tree Blog Tour Stops:
Monday, October 24: Afterthelastpage.com
Tuesday, October 25: Novelersblog.wordpress.com
Wednesday, October 26: girlplusbook.com
Friday, October 28: jbronderbookreviews.com
Saturday, October 29: theyounggirlwholovedbooks.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 30: thehoplessreader.blogspot.com

Join in Sunday night 9pm-12am CST for the Virtual Release Party for The Naked Tree!
www.facebook.com/morganleej Author Morgan Lee Fan Page! There will be giveaways, contests, trivia, other authors, and more!

25 October, 2016

October 25, 2016 0

#BookSpotlight :: Coffee, Tea or Me by Rich Amooi


coffee-tea-or-me 
Susie opens a tea shop next to Jack’s coffee shop and the war begins. 
 Jack Robbins has a booming coffee business, an eighty-year old customer who can’t keep his clothes on, and a rescue Chihuahua named Chimichanga that likes to kiss on the mouth. Life is good until the new business next door takes a bite out of his sales. Susie McKenna has the new tea shop everyone is talking about, an over-protective brother, and a stubborn, good-looking neighbor who is trying to steal her customers. Things really start to percolate when Jack and Susie both volunteer to help plan the downtown festival. They have to work together and soon Jack won't be able to get by without his daily fix of Susie. But can a coffee lover and a tea devotee put their competition aside to get their happily ever after?

  amazon 
add to goodreads 

Praise for Coffee, Tea or Me 
"Fun, fun, and more fun!" 
"Sweet, heartwarming and good for the soul!" 
"Always funny, always entertaining." 
"A sweet romantic comedy." 

   rich

Rich Amooi is a former Silicon Valley radio personality and wedding DJ who now writes romantic comedies full-time. He is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after.



$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway 
amazon or paypal

Ends 11/10/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

24 October, 2016

October 24, 2016 1

#Spotlight :: Scorched Sould by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef

Scorched Souls in the Spotlight

Welcome to The Scorched Souls Tour! Welcome to another exciting Spotlight Tour with Novel Publicity. Today, I’m sharing the spotlight for Scorched Souls, the final story in the Chosen Trilogy by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef. 

About the Book


Fate and destiny clash in the explosive, heart-pounding conclusion to the award-winning Chosen series. ~~~~~ Survival is not enough. Alliances will be formed. Loyalties tested. A choice made. My name is Juliet Wildfire Stone and I’m not just a Chosen, I’m the Alpha… and the fate of Earth rests in my hands. When I finally met the Prime Elector, he wasn’t anything like I expected. He was supposed to be our mortal enemy, a monster I needed to destroy to fulfill my destiny, yet he was nothing like that—he’s young, brilliant, and looks like an angel. Caught in the middle of a conflict between two ancient foes, which threatens to rip Earth apart, I must do what is right at all costs. To choose my fate, and Earth’s future, I will need to navigate a new path, form unlikely alliances, and solve ancient mysteries forgotten for centuries. Yet I cannot do it alone. Will the other Chosen follow me? Do I have the strength to make the right choice, or will the people of Earth be enslaved for all time?      




Here is an Exclusive Excerpt

I lean back in my chair; he’s dumped a bucket of ice water on my head, and the chill settles into my bones. “So the Chosen were set up to fail. You’ve planted a bomb on the planet to explode when the Deltites take over.” He nods, a smug self-congratulatory grin on his face. “A Heart Stone to be precise. It was the only logical action to take.” Bile burns my throat. “But billions of humans live on the planet.... They will all die. They have souls.” Still, my father’s logic is undeniable. “Another complication has developed.” Two different human faces materialize above us and hover in front of the image of Earth. “The woman’s name is Summer Stone. She’s what humans call Native American, and is the mother to the Alpha among the Chosen. The man is not from her tribe. He’s what they call Irish.” “So?” Why does he care? “The calculations behind the Chosen were extremely advanced and fragile.” A third face joins that of the others. “The Alpha’s name is Juliet Wildfire Stone. She was supposed to be born from a union between two members of the same Native American tribe. That genetic combination was the only way humans could produce a Chosen strong enough to be an Alpha and draw power from the other three. The secret order had specific rules regarding this, yet they failed to heed them. Fools! I can’t predict what the outcome will be of this particular pairing.” I study the faces and notice that Juliet has inherited much of her physical appearance from her mother: the long straight black hair, the caramel colored eyes, brown skin and high cheekbones—all but her sharp nose, which resembles her father’s. Her eyes seem to sparkle, but I shake my head. These are only holographic images. I can’t read too much into them or let my imagination cloud my reason. “I don’t understand the problem. Either she is powerful enough to be the Alpha, or she isn’t. Since you want them to fail, why do you care?” My father bores his gaze into me, and an icy blade carves into my chest and twists. “There is a third possibility.” My body turns weak. I’m lucky I’m already sitting. It’s unthinkable, but it’s the only thing that might frighten my father. “You’re afraid she’s an... abomination.” “I can’t rule it out. Even if she is, she won’t be strong enough defeat an Elite, but we can’t take any chances. I want you to go to Earth. Make sure the Chosen fail and never find out about our plans. They can’t tell the Deltites about the Heart Stone I’ve planted on the planet. If they retrieve that crystal, all would be lost, and they could use its power against us.” “Me.” I point to my chest. “Why me? Why not send someone else, someone who has already proven—” “I trust no one else with this! You will succeed and return to Alpha, and when you return you will take the final test. This way we have an excuse for your... reluctance to finish the final exam.” Two small discs fly into his hand, and he hands one to me. “This one is programmed with my brainwaves. You will use it when you have succeeded. I will keep the second here, so I can contact you... if need be.” I sense the implied threat in his words and bow my head. “Yes, father. As you command.” If pure evil exists in this universe, it’s sitting next to me, and I am this monster’s son. What does that make me? I glance at the hologram of Earth above me. It’s a beautiful planet. He’s sentenced billions of humans to die, but can I carry out the punishment?


About the Author

 
Jeff Altabef is an award-winning author who lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of “telling stories,” he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Jeff is very happy and proud that his co-author for the Chosen Series is his teenaged daughter, Erynn Altabef. Wind Catcher, the first in the Chosen Series, has won the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Coming of Age Novels, the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award for Best YA Fiction and a Mom’s Choice Award. As an avid Knicks fan, Jeff is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog designed to encourage writing by those who like telling stories. Connect with Jeff on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Facebook.

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win some great prizes including an Amazon Gift Card, a Paperback of Scorched Souls and a dream catcher!

22 October, 2016

October 22, 2016 2

#SpecialFeature :: #GuestPost - Why I Write by Namrata


*** Special Feature - October 2016 ***


About the Author:



Namrata is A Lost Wanderer who loves travelling the length and breadth of the world. A published author in various anthologies and magazines she enjoys capturing the magic of life in her words. She is forever in pursuit of a new country and a new story.





Contact the Author:

Website * Facebook * Twitter


Why I Write

I have been writing regularly since the time I can remember. I began writing somewhere in my teens with my first poem published in an educational magazine when I was 13. I wrote my first story at 14 (the length of an A4 notebook) which was essentially a candy floss love story. A daily diary here and some letters to pen friends, writing remained an integral part. Somehow during those years I had never thought of becoming a writer or a story teller. All I knew is that I wanted to write till my last breath because it was cathartic.

When I started my blog 5 years ago I used to write things I had heard or read somewhere. For almost a year I kept on doing that till one chance encounter pushed me to write a story based on it. I somehow didn’t want to accept it online that it was my story. And there in that moment the story teller in me was born. I fell in love with stories all over again, this time with the magic of creating them. Soon everything and anything became my inspiration to write a story.

Gradually I lost all the apprehensions of talking about things close to my heart. I spoke openly about my pain, hurt, the past, trauma along with the hope and joy of good times ahead. It is in this process that I healed. Writing is so deeply instilled in my system that at times when a friend sees me upset his immediate advice is, “Write it out, will you? You will be fine thereafter.” And it does work wonders, something that even the best of therapies and counselors couldn’t guarantee me!

As I look back today I really love my transformation from being someone who repeated someone else’s thoughts to becoming someone who now has her own thoughts to share. That progression is a huge leap according to me, it shows that I have grown and how! In the last few years my writing has changed from mere observations to deep introspection finally leading to stories that are poignant.  (Well, I like to believe that! :) )

I write because it lets me escape to a world of my own. I write to give voice to the inner most thoughts and channel them to the Universe. I write to unite my shruti (the internal voice) and stuti (the external voice) and create something significant. I write to fall in love with the world around me once again. I write because my mind is a scary place to be with all those words jostling for space. They behave better when on paper. I write to keep myself sane.  I write to tell the untold. I write because it makes me feel alive. I write because that is the closest I can get to being a creator of something that can be immortalized. I write because that is the only way my heart knows how to talk to me. 


“I write… therefore I am.”

About the Book:





Give life another chance. Laugh a little longer. let go of your past. Hold onto what you love. In short LIVE rather than just exist!

Some told, some untold, some heard and some unheard - this collection of stories will make you look at life in a different light and make you ponder over its definition of it till now.






Book Links:
Goodreads I Amazon

Giveaway
2 Lucky winners will receive Amazon Gift Vouchers of 250/- INR each

a Rafflecopter giveaway

20 October, 2016

October 20, 2016 0

#BookSpotlight :: Love in an Elevator: A Romantic Comedy Anthology

love-in-an-elevator    


Laugh, swoon, and escape with this romantic comedy anthology! Will an elevator ride change her life? 
In HOLD THE LIFT by Aven Ellis, Sierra Crawford ends up meeting sexy British hockey player Jude Parker after their elevator sticks. Sierra finds herself getting to know Jude—and she likes what she sees. But he wouldn’t be interested in a food-obsessed assistant editor right? Sierra knows she’s quirky—her fondness of Magic 8 Balls is proof of that—so there’s no way he could look her way. Or can he? 
In DOWN, THEN UP by Beth Labonte, Lauren Oswald never expected to see her college love, Jamie, again. Not after the way things ended. She certainly doesn’t expect to see him ten years later at a bachelorette party in Vegas, waiting inside a hotel elevator. Slightly older. Different haircut. No wedding ring. Same eyes. As the pair embark on a late night errand, Lauren is flooded with memories of how Jamie became the one that got away—and she realizes that this one night could be their last chance to make things right. 
In GOING UP? by Whitney Dineen, Fiona Kitchen had a dream when she moved to New York and it wasn’t taking a job as an elevator operator in a posh, West Side, apartment building. She also didn’t expect to meet a hot handyman, a Columbian drug lord and a notorious mob boss and then fall for one of them in a big way. Life in the Big Apple isn’t quite turning out the way she planned, but who said that was a bad thing? 
In Becky Monson’s TAKING A CHANCE, Liza Parker has a fear of heights, crowds and small spaces. So what’s a girl like her doing on a crowded elevator going to the top of the Empire State Building? Freaking out, that’s what she’s doing. Enter Jay Sanders, a tourist who thinks he might be able to help Liza face her fears, but she has to be willing to spend the day with a complete stranger. Maybe taking a chance on Jay is just what Liza needs. 
In HAPPY TO BE STUCK WITH YOU by Rich Amooi, Becca has had an office crush on Daniel—Mr. Delicious—for over a year. Getting stuck in an elevator with him was the last thing she expected. If only she can control her claustrophobia. To make matters worse, they're also stuck with an eighty-year-old man who has a weak bladder, and a penchant for playing cupid. But life is unpredictable. Sometimes, getting stuck is the best thing that can happen. 
Computer genius Maisy Potter crosses an ocean to take her dream vacation at an English country estate … where the winsome Mark Prebys works below stairs. With him, Maisy discovers a carefree happiness she's never known. But will the troubles dogging her from back home, a secret or two whispered behind the parlour curtains, and misunderstandings to beat the band extinguish the magic they think they've found in each other? And if not, what happens when Maisy's enchanting holiday ends? Find out in UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS … AND THE LIFT IN BETWEEN by Geralyn Corcillo. 
In THE ONLY WAY IS UP by Lindy Dale, Meet Bailey Burns: hottest thing on the literary circuit. And the most reluctant. After fainting in a lift and regaining consciousness to find herself kissing a stranger, Bailey thinks her week can’t get much worse. But it can. Much worse. Bailey is about to be proposed to by a crazed fan wearing a vampire costume. She’s about to discover she’s in relationship with the guy she kissed. Not only that, but said guy happens to be her new PR manager. Oh dear! 
In OUT OF ORDER, by Dee Ernst, Grace has sworn off good-looking men. As soon as she starts dating one of them, she transforms from a mature, confident woman to a needy teen-aged girl. So when she meets Seth, the best-looking man she’s ever seen, she makes the right choice — forget all about him. But a neurotic golden retriever and a broken elevator keep bringing them together. Is the world working against her… or maybe the gods are finally smiling?
  99 cents

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Praise for the Book "...fun, easy, and highly entertaining reads, perfect for when you have a night in and need a little hit of frivolity and a happily ever after."-Author Jennifer Collin "Touching, funny, and--true to the elevator theme--an uplifting and wonderful ride." -Author Jo Perry
Grab a copy of Love in an Elevator for just 99 cents this week only! 

99-cents

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway
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Ends 11/2/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

19 October, 2016

October 19, 2016 0

#BookSpotlight :: Second Chance at Forever by Summerita Rhayne


Second Chance at Forever by Summerita Rhayne


Blurb:

What happens when the terrible twos come in threes?
Stuti loves being a mother to her triplets, but it can be a harrowing routine. She's even more submerged in the craziness when she takes them and her mom-in-law for a trip to Rajasthan, the land of the erstwhile Thar desert royals and their palaces. After the passing away of her husband, she feels she owes it to her mil to take her to her favourite holiday. In the Amber Palace, her reckless toddler rushes onto a modelling shoot. As she picks up her daughter who has tripped over a gorgeous zardozi sari, her gaze clashes with that of the man she'd hoped never to set eyes on again in her life.

A passion that threatens to set fire to more than just her senses
Revath was everything she wanted in a man, but six years ago he chose to walk away from her. Now he wants to be back in her life. When she knows he doesn't want the same things in life that she does, would she be wise to let anything rekindle between them? Is it already too late for rethinks?

Desire that has to be denied
Revath knew the moment he met Stuti again that he couldn't just let her go. But Stuti is absolutely the wrong woman for him. It was proved six years ago when they chose diametrically opposite ways for themselves. He doesn't believe in forever, so what's he doing asking her for a second chance?


>>>>>>

Can three little miracles be a barrier to two people finding love?

Buy Link:
Read first two chapters at Wattpad for free.



About the Author:

Summerita Rhayne writes contemporary and historical romance with lots of emotional conflict. She first got published in 2013 and has won contests with prestigious publishers such as Harlequin and Harper Collins India. Her pet belief is, if the inspiration is strong enough, the story characters will find a way to make the writer pen them down, even when writing time is in short supply. When cerebrally confronted with the sizzling interaction of two Alpha characters, the only way to get peace is write their book!

At heart, she's a family person and even though she loves her medical teaching profession, she happily becomes a homemaker when not at work. She loves winding down with music, romcoms, cricket (strictly watching only) and social networking.

Author Links:


15 October, 2016

October 15, 2016 1

#SpecialFeature :: #GuestPost - 10 Random Facts about Me by Namrata


*** Special Feature - October 2016 ***


About the Author:



Namrata is A Lost Wanderer who loves travelling the length and breadth of the world. A published author in various anthologies and magazines she enjoys capturing the magic of life in her words. She is forever in pursuit of a new country and a new story.





Contact the Author:

Website * Facebook * Twitter


10 Random Facts about Me


I have met quite a few people who are always keen on knowing more about people at large, including me. I enjoy meeting people, knowing their stories and at the end of the day capturing them in my stories. Continuing with the previous post where I introduced myself here I am with some random facts about me. Here I give you a glimpse into my life, albeit a bit more closely than before.

1. I write daily. Could be as less as 55 words and as high at 8000 words but I do make it a point to write. Not everything makes it to a book but it helps in learning. 
2. I am a voracious reader with diverse tastes in reading. I can read a book on global recession along with a murder mystery and enjoy both thoroughly!
3. I maintain a reading journal where I note down how a book made me feel at various stages. Reading it at later stages is therapeutic.
4. If not a writer I would have been a lost wanderer travelling from one corner of the world to the other. 
5. After writing I enjoy painting the most, closely followed by dancing. 
6. In Metro Diaries series every story is a true story. Only the names have been changed in few places to protect identities. 
7. Some of the stories were recorded before being written down. 
8. A handful are real life experiences which I experienced first-hand.
9. As I type this I have 8 finished manuscripts lying in my hard drive. 
10. Unlike the popular belief I am not a romance writer. I enjoy writing about human relationships at large and their complexities. Emotions are something that comes easily to me, possibly because I am a very emotional person in real life. 


About the Book:





Give life another chance. Laugh a little longer. let go of your past. Hold onto what you love. In short LIVE rather than just exist!

Some told, some untold, some heard and some unheard - this collection of stories will make you look at life in a different light and make you ponder over its definition of it till now.






Book Links:
Goodreads I Amazon

Giveaway
2 Lucky winners will receive Amazon Gift Vouchers of 250/- INR each

a Rafflecopter giveaway