Friday, March 30, 2012

Witch Hunt Blog Tour

After months of organizing and hair pulling, here it is: The Witch Hunt Blog Tour begins now.  I feel like I should insert an evil laugh here.  Bwah-ha-ha. 

Every day there will be a new blog to hop to with me. (Well, almost every day).  Some will have guest posts by me.  Some will have interviews.  One will have an unusual post that I am very excited about.  What is it?  I'm not telling.  Blog-hop with me to find out.  Please join us on the tour and invite your friends.

If something happens and a blog does not post what they said they will post, I will remove them from the list.  Every week I will put this post up again so you can find it easily.

April 1:     Welcome to the blog tour on my blog
April 2:     Mostly Reviews
April 3:     The Service Mutations
April 4:     Blanca's Birthday!!!  No tour today.
April 5:     Independent Paranormal
April 6:     Books With Bite
April 7:     CANCELLED
April 8:     Cubicle Blindness
April 9:     Book Goddess
April10:    Booktastic
April11:    Diary of a Book Addict
April12:    Roots in Myth
April13:    Book Spark
April14:    The Warrior Series
April15:    Suzy Turner
April16:    CANCELLED
April17:    Cheri Schmidt
April18:    Belle Books
April19:    Addicted 2 Books
April20:    CANCELLED
April21:    Amelie Fisher
April22:    Book Reaper
April23:    CANCELLED
April24:    Laura's Magic Day
April25:    Chapter By Chapter
April26:    The Crazy Dream
April27:    Rachel Cole
April28:    Wandering Thoughs of a Writer
April29:
April30:

 Witch Hunt is available now here:   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JCNEYQ

Sunday, March 25, 2012

WITCH HUNT: Now Available at Amazon as Ebook

Although I am not 'officially' releasing Witch Hunt until April 1rst, it is available now at Amazon as an ebook.  The print version will follow in a few weeks.  If you have a Nook or other ereader device, Witch Hunt will be available at B&N and Smashwords late this summer.

A magical game of Hide n Seek begins...  Come be a part of it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JCNEYQ

Friday, March 23, 2012

Exciting New Release by Suzy Turner


Suzy Turner is super excited to announce that the final book in The Raven Saga, The Lost Soul, is now AVAILABLE!!

BLURB
December and Lilly have got their work cut out for them. Not only are they desperately trying to figure out the identity of the Lost Soul, and track him down, they've also got to investigate why Powell River's newest resident has got all of their men falling at her feet.
But when they learn that the Nephilim might be involved, it becomes clear that they're all in extreme danger...

EXCERPT
The stench of something rotten filled the air as the man tried to lift his heavy head. Opening his eyes, it took a moment for them to adjust to the strange dull light of a new day. Wincing, he managed to hold his head up just long enough to notice the smell belonged to a rotting corpse to his side. He heaved, but there was nothing left in his stomach. He hadn't eaten in days.
Weak, cold and hungry, he curled into a ball on the mossy ground and sobbed.
When he no longer had the strength to even do that, he stared up at the sky; the orange and yellow hues entwined in a rainbow effect as far as his eyes could see.
The only sounds that could be heard were his rough breathing combined with the gentle whooshing of the silver trees that surrounded the deep ditch within which he found himself.
A hummingbird appeared from nowhere, hovering above him, flying up and down and around his face. The man tried to focus his eyes upon it but his vision had become blurry.
When the bird came to an abrupt halt almost touching his nose, he realised it wasn't a bird at all.
A faint giggle erupted from the creature, making him jump.
"No, this can't be," he whispered, hoarsely.
The little creature with large blue wings nodded back, "Yes, it can," she responded, "I can see you are in dire need of help. I will gather my friends and we will return to get you out of here. You will be safe. Do not worry."
Disappearing out of sight in a flash, the man collapsed once more before he fell into a deep sleep.

To get your copy for just $0.99, visit US AMAZON

Friday, March 16, 2012

What Character Would You Add to the Hunger Games???

I am going to be without Internet access for a little over a week starting today.  Here is a last post from me before I go on vacation.  When I return the Witch Hunt Blog Tour will begin.  :)
Next week at the YA Carnival we are discussing The Hunger Games, most importantly what character from our books (or other books) that would do well playing the games.  Since I won't have Internet next week, I am posting it now. 

My selection:  Bex Sherwood (Witch Hunt).

Why?  Read the book and find out.  I think she would be the perfect person for it.  I can picture her now, running around with a bow and arrow, hitting everything she aims at.  She would paint something cool on her face and blend right in.

What would your picks be?


Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series2.Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.Heather Self4.T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5.Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga6.Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7.Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 8.K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9.Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series10.Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11.Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews 12.Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
13.M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping 14.Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
15.Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls16.Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
17.Gwenn Wright, author of Filter18.TG Ayer
19.Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy20.Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
21.Roots in Myth, PJ Hoover22.Courtney Cole Writes

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Let Me Introduce You to the Characters in Witch Hunt

This will be my last Teaser Tuesday.  I'm losing the Internet for a week and a half starting this Friday.  Then I have so much to do with formatting Witch Hunt and organizing the blog tour that I don't have time for anything else.  So I thought I would introduce you to the characters in Witch Hunt.

Starr Hughes:  17.  Teen reporter for the school paper and a major snoop.  Your secrets are not safe around this girl.  She can and will uncover them.  Her mom died when she was young, and she hasn't gotten over that.  Maybe it's part of the reason for her tenacious attitude when it comes to a good story.  She hears the mysterious gang known as the It-Squad are playing a game and it sounds creepy, so she decides to find out everything she can about it.  She especially wants to know what the mysterious threesome are up to because she has been in love with their leader Dylan for half her life.

Dylan Winchester:  17.  The leader of the infamous It-Squad, Dylan has trouble staying out of fights.  He isn't a big guy, but he packs a powerful punch.  On his own since his parents left town, he is staying in the apartment over the headmaster's garage.  This only adds to his appeal as far as the girls at Baycott are concerned.  He loves to surf and can be found most mornings on the beach in front of Starr's house. 

Lily:  16.  This is Starr's best friend.  She is tall and looks like a model, but this girl is wacky.  She would have to be to help Starr spy on people.  This boy-crazy girl almost always has a sucker in her mouth and talks non-stop.  But if you're her friend she'll only go after your boyfriend if you don't make him happy... or if he's super hot.

Ryder Hawke:  17. This is Dylan's best friend, a member of the Squad.  He speaks with an Australian accent even though he's lived in this country for ten years.  He drinks too much and says things he shouldn't, but he always has Dylan's back... at least until the game begins.

Bex Sherwood:  17.  This is the other member of the Squad.  She is an artist.  Just ask her.  She paints her face with special temporary dyes that she makes in her basement.  She is probably the toughest one in the group and hates Starr, calling her Freak-show all the time.

There, the most important characters in Witch Hunt.  The blog tour will begin here on my blog on April 1rst.  Please join us, blog hop with me, and then pick up a copy of Witch Hunt from Amazon starting April 15th.  And tell your friends.  :)

Friday, March 9, 2012

Favorite Season for Writing

This week at the YA Indie Carnival we are talking about our favorite season to write in, if we have one.  As always you can go below and click on the other Carnis to read their posts.  And I would love to read your comments.  Do you excel in writing during a certain season?

Here is my answer:

Personally, I love winter.  A lot of people think I'm nuts, but it will make sense to you in a minute.  During the winter I sleep in, snuggled up under a warm blanket.  Then when I get up to write, I have a cup of hot cocoa.  Sometimes I stay in my pajamas for a while, sit in front of the computer, and allow my mind to drift to another world.  Plus, if there is snow outside, I know I won't have any unexpected visitors.  I can write for hours.  Usually I'll enjoy an afternoon nap on a cold day before getting up to write again.  :)


Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series2.Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.Heather Self4.T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5.Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga6.Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7.Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 8.K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9.Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series10.Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11.Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews 12.Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
13.M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping 14.Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
15.Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls16.Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
17.Gwenn Wright, author of Filter18.TG Ayer
19.Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy20.Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
21.Roots in Myth, PJ Hoover22.Courtney Cole Writes


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Cover Reveal

I was going to put another scene up, but I don't have a copy of Witch Hunt on this computer, so I decided to give you the first glimpse of the cover.  Here it is:

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Beta Reader Alert

What is a Beta Reader?  I was asking this question just last week.  Apparently I used to have one and didn't know it at the time.  We were calling her my 'manuscript critic.'  She didn't know anything about punctuation, spelling, or grammar.  She simply read my manuscript for the story and would talk to me for hours about the plot and the characters.  We met online. 

Do you need a Beta Reader?  I think every writer should have at least one.  Unlike your friends, they won't sugarcoat everything.  They will see the flaws in your book and tell you about them.  Some readers will edit line by line while others read for the story, characters, etc.  Both can be helpful.

Where do you find a Beta Reader?  I have heard a variety of answers on this one.  I think the best place to find one is at a writer's hangout like Absolute Write Water Cooler.  Although, I found my reader on Yahoo Answers. 

*Blog Tour Update*
I still need a few bloggers for the Witch Hunt Blog Tour coming up in April.  Most of my dates have been filled, but there are still some that I desperately need to fill.  I don't want any gaps in the month of April.  The tour will work better if I have an interview or guest post on a blog each day.  If you are interested in hosting the tour for a day on your blog, leave your email address below or send me an email at kblake234@hotmail.com

Thank you!!!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

How to Bust Through Writer's Block

This week at the Carnival we are writing about writer's block and how to beat it.  Do you ever stare at the blank (screen) page for hours, not knowing what to write?  Do you ever write yourself into a corner?  Do your characters ever get stuck?  Well, we are going to help you with that this week at the Carnival.  Read on to find my solutions to writer's block.  Then click on the other Carnis below for their tips.

Since I do an extensive outline before writing, I usually don't get stuck.  However, I do have a problem with creating the best scenes.  I will write and rewrite some scenes until I fill like it will never be done.  When that happens to me and staring at the computer isn't helping, this is what I do:

1.  Long Walk:  I live out in the middle of nowhere, and we own nearly a hundred acres, most of it covered in trees.  There is a hill and a valley.  It's a very peaceful walk.  I also love to walk in the garden.  Walking helps to clear my mind.  I will daydream about my characters, not forcing anything to happen, just listening as they interact.  Sometimes the answer comes to me, and I can write when I get back home.  Other times it isn't quite that simple, but the walk gives me a fresh outlook at least.

2.  Work on Something Else:  If you are truly stuck, it helps to get away from what you're working on for a while.  I will turn to editing a different story or writing an email.  Sometimes I will work on a list for something.  Any sort of writing is great.

3.  Daydream:  This is probably my favorite way to cope with writer's block.  I put on music and daydream, sometimes for hours.  I'll do other things at the same time like clean the house, but my mind will be swirling around my characters.  Some good stuff has come from this method.

4.  Listen to Music While Writing:  Sometimes I will listen to music while on my laptop, staring at the scene I'm working on.  If it's the right music, it can take you to new places.  This is how I did the 'red dress scene' in Crushed.

5.  Make a List:  Once in a while when I am extremely stuck and nothing else works, I will try this.  I take a clean sheet of paper and write the problem down.  For instance: Kristen is on a date with Zach.  I have no idea where it should go, so I write down the possibilities.  Maybe I put 'they have a fight.'  I draw an arrow from that to another line and write down the possible things they could fight about.  I will do this with each thing on my list.  Eventually I find something I like this way.

6.  Take a Nap:  Okay, this is my favorite.  I love to take a nap in the afternooon.  When I wake up, I'm usually ready to tackle the book again.

I hope these have helped you.  Be sure to check out the other Carnis to see what they have to say about the subject.  I know I'm going to.  Happy Writing!


.Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series2.Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.Heather Self4.T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5.Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga6.Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7.Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 8.K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9.Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series10.Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11.Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews 12.Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
13.M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping 14.Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
15.Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls16.Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
17.Gwenn Wright, author of Filter18.TG Ayer
19.Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy20.Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
21.Roots in Myth, PJ Hoover22.Courtney Cole Writes