Madame Peregrine has one an autographed copy of Witch Hunt.
Congratulations, Madame Peregrine. I will be sending an email out to you today.
Thank you everyone else who participated.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Dream Cast for BAIT (Order of the Spirit Realm Series)
Since Bait is going to be released soon, I wanted to put together my dream cast (if I can find the pictures).
Here is Nick Gallos
Bay-Lee Bishop
Michael Keebler
Maxx
I could not find a photo for Keisha. She would be a young Holly Robinson (like back when she was on 21 Jump Street). Also could not find a good pic for Van Helsing.
Alec Gallos
Of course most of these people are too old now to play the parts assigned to them, but I am picturing them younger. This is, after all, a DREAM cast, not anything that will actually happen. Hope you enjoyed this look at BAIT.
Here is Nick Gallos Bay-Lee Bishop
Michael KeeblerI could not find a photo for Keisha. She would be a young Holly Robinson (like back when she was on 21 Jump Street). Also could not find a good pic for Van Helsing.
Alec GallosOf course most of these people are too old now to play the parts assigned to them, but I am picturing them younger. This is, after all, a DREAM cast, not anything that will actually happen. Hope you enjoyed this look at BAIT.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Blog Tour- Summer 2013
I have put a blog tour button to your right. It shows the covers of my first two books in the Order of the Spirit Realm series.
Bait will be released in May.
Hunter will be released in September (cross your fingers).
Feel free to copy the button for your blog.
I am still searching for enough bloggers to fill a summer long tour.
If you are interested, leave a commet with your email address and I will be in touch.
Bait will be released in May.
Hunter will be released in September (cross your fingers).
Feel free to copy the button for your blog.
I am still searching for enough bloggers to fill a summer long tour.
If you are interested, leave a commet with your email address and I will be in touch.
Friday, February 22, 2013
YA Indie Carnival: Smashwords and Other Online Publishers
A couple of weeks ago we talked about Amazon, the advantages and disadvantages of publishing with them. This week we are covering the rest. Smashwords is growing fast as one of the best places to publish your Indie books. What do I think about them?
My experience with Smashwords has been great. I love it that they have so many options. They will change your book into several different formats unless you opt out. They will offer your book through places like B&N, Apple, Kobo, Sony, etc.
They also allow you to put your book for free. Or you can create coupon codes if you only want a few people to take your book for free. This is great for marketing.
Check out what the other Carnies think about Smashwords and what their experiences have been.
My experience with Smashwords has been great. I love it that they have so many options. They will change your book into several different formats unless you opt out. They will offer your book through places like B&N, Apple, Kobo, Sony, etc.
They also allow you to put your book for free. Or you can create coupon codes if you only want a few people to take your book for free. This is great for marketing.
Check out what the other Carnies think about Smashwords and what their experiences have been.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Blog Tour: Looking for Willing Bloggers
This summer I am going to set out on a huge (and hopefully successful) journey by doing a summer-long blog tour. At the moment I am putting together a list of willing bloggers. Then, when it gets closer to May, I will start setting up specific dates with these bloggers for reviews of my new book, interviews, guest posts, etc. IF you are a blogger and you would like to host my blog tour at some point this summer, leave a comment with a way for me to get in touch with you. Here is the summary of Bait:
You must have a YA Blog to participate. Thank you.
If you don’t believe monsters in the closet are real, ask Bay-Lee.
At sixteen, Bay-Lee is an average student. She never raises her hand in class and doesn’t put the right answers on tests even though she knows them. The other kids would be surprised to learn she’s living under an alias as she’s forced to move from state to state, hiding from The Order, a secret society of shifters bent on killing her before she can start to Van Helsing’s school. For some reason the monsters are afraid of her.
When a reaper steps out of her closet to issue a warning, she realizes her problems are only beginning. Even as her dream of following in her father’s footsteps to become a hunter draws closer, a dark threat looms over the school. Someone or some thing is killing hunters on their birthdays. If she doesn’t figure this mystery out fast, she won’t make it to seventeen. Her childhood was stolen from her. She’s determined not to lose anything else to the bloodthirsty beasts.
Bay-Lee developed a plan over the years. It’s a plan for vengeance, a plan for justice. The biggest obstacle in her way: jungle green eyes. Falling in love at this point could ruin everything. It’s the furthest thing from her mind. Then she meets a young hunter with a past as dark as her own and a bleak future. From the moment they meet he makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her.
You must have a YA Blog to participate. Thank you.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Author Spotlight: Laura A. H. Elliott
We are pleased as punch to intruduce our own, Laura A. H. Elliott. She's officially an Amazon best-selling author as of last week when Winnemucca, a small-town fairy tale hit #1 in Science Fiction & Fantasy (three seperate categories):
Join us in celebrating our friend's success and congratulating her.
Laura A. H. Elliott
- #1 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Science Fiction & Fantasy
- #1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Religious Fiction > Science Fiction & Fantasy
- #1 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Science Fiction & Fantasy
Join us in celebrating our friend's success and congratulating her.
Laura A. H. Elliott, best selling author, loves writing about enchanted road trips, shadow worlds, and alien romance while eating lots of popcorn. She lives in a tree house on the central California coast. After twenty-plus years as a freelance graphic designer/animator with clients including E! Entertainment Television and The Los Angeles Times, she crossed over into the world of publishing non-fiction and followed her heart to the world of fiction. She is the author of the paranormal romance Shadow Series (also available in audiobook format), the sci-fi romance Starjump series, and stand alone literary romance novel Winnemucca, a small-town fairy tale. Her latest release is Shadow Slayer, book 2 of the Shadow Series. Moon Killers, book 3 is due out this spring. She's also due to release her first adult title later this year. She's happy to have been included in the new adult anthology Midnight Surrender.Laura A. H. Elliott's Books:
Moon Killers (Shadow Series #3) Spring 2013
(Shadow Series #4) Fall 2013
Two Worlds--Two Teens--One Wish
Rhoe and Ashley would never be friends.
Even if they lived on the same planet.
But, they'll become so much more.
They'll transfer.
Earthling Ashley's world revolves around winning daily popularity contests at Beverly Hills High School and surfing competitions with sweet scholarship prizes that will finally help her break free of her control-freak mother. Meanwhile on planet Retha, Rhoe misses his dad, loves his mom's home-cooked Glechy crag with a side of ory sauce, is desperate to heal his sick brother and wants more than anything to win The Retha New Invention Competition. But Rhoe's invention teleports him across the universe with an unintended side effect, Ashley and Rhoe transfer. They swap lives when they make the same wish at the same time.
Popular-surfer-turned-boy-geek alien Ashley must handle life on Retha as Rhoe complete with webbed feet, low-gravity, and an obsession with Yuke, all the while being hunted by Rethan spies and resenting her hairy, flat chest. Boy-geek-turned-popular-surfer Rhoe must fit in at Beverly Hills High School as Ashley, compete in The Laguna Beach Invitational without becoming shark food, dodge boys' affections, cool his preoccupation with Tiffany and his new body, and find the healing rocks he believes will save his brother's life.
If only it were that simple. Some wishes can't come true. Some have to.
(THIS ENHANCED EBOOK CONTAINS LINKS TO THE MUSIC, STORIES, PHOTOS & VIDEOS THAT INSPIRED THE STORY.)
13 on Halloween (Shadow Series #1) FREE (YA paranormal romance)
Roxie has the best night of her life until the popular kids decide they want to celebrate her birthday in a way Roxie never expects––in her attic, with a gift that’s out of this world, and a pact to never tell a living soul what happens next.
Twelve-year-old Roxie wants to be like Adrianne, the popular girl who gets everything she wants––a flock to prowl around the mall with; invitations to parties; and for Hayden, the cutest guy in the eighth grade to, you know, notice her. When Roxie invites all the eighth grade peacocks (code word : popular kids) to her first ever thirteenth birthday party on Halloween, they all come and give her a gift that’s literally out of this world. Roxie astral projects to Planet Popular where she becomes seventeen instantly and gets everything she’s always wanted, but nothing is as it seems. Being a high school peacock is complicated and Roxie will risk everything to be who she thinks she wants to be. Oh yeah, there’s Prom, doppelgangers, a mysterious map, and lots of bad peacocks too.
BONUS EXCERPT! Two Chapters of Shadow Slayer, Book 2 in The Shadow Series
Shadows will do anything to become human. You see their influence everyday. You say things you don’t mean or do things that aren’t like you. You look, different. Friends you’ve known forever suddenly never call.
As a freshman, Roxie just wants to fit in which is impossible because she barely runs into her friends at her huge high school. Adrianne’s disappearance and Hayden’s attention rock Roxie’s world. But nothing rocks it like the most gorgeous guy at school, Drew. And nothing is more important to Roxie than astral projecting back to Planet Popular to solve the mystery of the map. But that changes when Drew invites Roxie to homecoming. Hayden warns her that something’s wrong. Why would a guy like Drew like Roxie anyway? Drew must want something. Hayden’s right. Drew is…different. Planet Popular was just the beginning. Part of a bigger world, the Shadow World. There’s a war brewing between the world of humans and the world of shadows. When the shadow invasion begins at Roxie’s high school, she’ll not only fight for her life but the lives of her family and friends, when she discovers she’s the Shadow Slayer, the one human who can save Earth from the shadow onslaught. But, Roxie can’t even kill a spider. Oh yeah, there’s an evil English teacher, an enchanted play, a sword of Sandonian steel, a homecoming of horrors, and seven magic words too. Audible (Audiobook) |iTunes
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Most Important Scene in Your Book
What is the most important scene in your book?
The answer should be 'every scene.' Every single scene you put together while writing a book should be the most important scene to you at the time. You need to live in the moment to make it work. Just last night I was having a terrible time with a scene. I couldn't even get it started. No matter what I did, it wasn't working. Probably because I was just trying to 'get through it.' There was no urgency in the scene, no emotional depth. I finally gave up and went to bed.
This morning I woke up with the scene on my mind. While still in bed, I began to write the scene in my head. I knew what the characters were feeling and what they needed to say. A sense of urgency was born out of that need.
The scene played out before my eyes. I saw Bay-Lee stumble upon a coffin in the middle of the woods. Curious, she walked closer. Then she saw Nick, standing on the other side of it, a half empty bottle of Jack dangling at the end of one arm. With the heavy burden of loss weighing him down, he is lost in a sea of grief and doesn't care what secrets he spills. She is worried about his emotional state, but she also desperately wants to know those secrets.
I jotted a few notes on a pad of paper. Then I allowed my characters to speak to each other. Not everything I heard was gold. Some of it didn't work, so I started over at the beginning. Soon, it was flowing. I wrote down everything they said to each other.
Later tonight, I am going to sit down at my desk and add the scene to the book.
I learned an important lesson today. Every scene is crucial and deserves its moment in the sun. It cannot be forced. Instead, it needs to be allowed to breathe. The characters have to be allowed to breathe. Hopefully I won't forget this lesson. It's difficult to take the time needed to live every scene, giving it enough time to fully be realized. But it's worth it.
Happy writing! :)
The answer should be 'every scene.' Every single scene you put together while writing a book should be the most important scene to you at the time. You need to live in the moment to make it work. Just last night I was having a terrible time with a scene. I couldn't even get it started. No matter what I did, it wasn't working. Probably because I was just trying to 'get through it.' There was no urgency in the scene, no emotional depth. I finally gave up and went to bed.
This morning I woke up with the scene on my mind. While still in bed, I began to write the scene in my head. I knew what the characters were feeling and what they needed to say. A sense of urgency was born out of that need.
The scene played out before my eyes. I saw Bay-Lee stumble upon a coffin in the middle of the woods. Curious, she walked closer. Then she saw Nick, standing on the other side of it, a half empty bottle of Jack dangling at the end of one arm. With the heavy burden of loss weighing him down, he is lost in a sea of grief and doesn't care what secrets he spills. She is worried about his emotional state, but she also desperately wants to know those secrets.
I jotted a few notes on a pad of paper. Then I allowed my characters to speak to each other. Not everything I heard was gold. Some of it didn't work, so I started over at the beginning. Soon, it was flowing. I wrote down everything they said to each other.
Later tonight, I am going to sit down at my desk and add the scene to the book.
I learned an important lesson today. Every scene is crucial and deserves its moment in the sun. It cannot be forced. Instead, it needs to be allowed to breathe. The characters have to be allowed to breathe. Hopefully I won't forget this lesson. It's difficult to take the time needed to live every scene, giving it enough time to fully be realized. But it's worth it.
Happy writing! :)
Friday, February 8, 2013
YA Indie Carnival: B&N
This week at the Carnival, we are discussing Barnes and Noble. The company allows you to self-publish books to their site. I can't offer too much insight on this topic because I didn't publish with them. My books can still be found there. Somehow they picked up some of my print books. They also sell my ebooks through Smashwords. A lot of authors will tell you it's better to go to them directly, but they want a credit card number if you want to publish with them. I didn't want to give them one. Enough said.
Through Smashwords I have sold a great many books at B&N. Maybe it would be more if I went to them directly. Maybe someday I will. What about you? Have you ever published with them? What happened? Do you buy books there? Share with us please, and don't forget to visit the other Carnies.
Through Smashwords I have sold a great many books at B&N. Maybe it would be more if I went to them directly. Maybe someday I will. What about you? Have you ever published with them? What happened? Do you buy books there? Share with us please, and don't forget to visit the other Carnies.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Indie Author Spotlight: Bryna Butler
Author Bio: After graduating with the honor of Outstanding Communications Student from the University of Rio Grande, Bryna Butler settled down with her high school sweetheart on their family farm along the banks of the Ohio River. She put her bachelor’s degree in mass communication to use, working in radio and for civic groups before starting her career as an accomplished financial public relations and corporate communications professional. Over the years, she has authored hundreds of publications and press releases.
Butler's young adult paranormal novels feature strong female leads and are woven from elements of horror, suspense, comedy, and mystery, all in a modern, small town setting.
Butler is inspired by authors like Rachel Caine, Charlaine Harris, Lauren Kate, Cassandra Clare, Stephenie Meyer, and MaryJanice Davidson. Her work contains no profanity or explicit scenes, making it appropriate for pre-teen as well as teen readers.
Spotlight Interview Questions:
1) What is your all-time favorite book and why?
I adore The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Its style is like nothing else I’ve ever read. I found it to be almost hypnotic with its imagery and near poetic cadence.
2) Is there an author you could be compared to or popular fictional characters your book's characters could relate to and why?
Because I tend to write about strong female characters, I think that one could draw a comparison with Charlaine Harris. I had the opportunity to meet her this summer and, to my surprise, she is a down-to-earth hillbilly just like me.
3) Can you give us your favorite quote from one of your books and explain it?
One of my favorite quotes comes from my newest book, Shadows Rising. In this scene, Keira faces off against the leader of a group of extremists that believe her charge is keeping her from her destiny. I think this quote is a great mix of Keira’s courage and her youth.
“You keep yapping about my charge being a distraction, but here I am dealing with you again. Leave us and my charge alone or die tonight at my hand. I mean it, jerk wad.”
4) What types of things/people/music inspires you and makes you want to keep writing?
I’m very inspired by my favorite authors. I often name characters, places and things in my stories in homage to these authors and their work. For instance, in the Midnight Guardian series there is a goth girl named Mikayla Collins whom everyone calls Mikey. Mikey is clearly named in honor of Michael Glass and Shane Collins, two of my favorite characters from Rachel Caine’s Morganville series. Her goth look comes from another beloved character in that series. Also, I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan (who isn’t?). If you look hard enough, you will find several subtle references to Buffy and Firefly sprinkled throughout my books.
5) Describe your typical writing day or week.
Just call me the “Night Writer”, not because it sounds like an insanely cool superhero, but because it is true. For me, writing typically begins after the kids are tucked into bed somewhere around 9 p.m. I grab a soda from the fridge and settle in with my laptop. Typically, I first re-read and edit the last thing I wrote before I start writing anything new. That refreshes it in my mind and allows me to move forward.
6) Is there a food or drink do you have to have when you're writing?
I can’t eat while I write. Sounds good in theory, but it never works in practical application. BBQ sauce on the keys…melted cheese on the screen...a whole chapter about brownies.
7) Can you tell us what you're working on right now (& possibly provide an excerpt & cover)?
Shadows Rising was released on January 18th. In this 4th installment in the Midnight Guardian series, Keira and her friends race to rescue her charge before The Harvest and the rise of a new form of evil, the shadows.
Book 5 is well underway with the working title of Book of the Lost and an anticipated late spring release. I’ve also begun work on a young adult werewolf trilogy set in Alaska. The story centers on a girl that walks the line between two feuding werewolf packs.
OF SUN & MOON (Midnight Guardian #1)
Teens are disappearing in a small river town in southern Ohio as Keira Ryan begins her freshman year. Kidnappings aside, her worries mount as she crushes on an older guy, her best friend starts dating a spoiled cheerleader, and the parents that abandoned her at birth arrive at her doorstep. And, oh yeah, she’s a tooth fairy destined to kick some butt and bring about the end of a royal line of vicious, blood-sucking tyrants. Over the years, humans have pieced together sightings and assumptions to create the myth of the tooth fairy. As it turns out, they were pretty much wrong.
WHISPERING EVIL (Midnight Guardian #2)
Keira Ryan has moved on. It’s the start of her sophomore year at Valley View High School. This means big changes like a new guardian mentor, taking (and passing) her driver’s test, dating her best friend, and figuring out how to stop the new Empress Gammen and her reign of terror. Will she survive it all or will she fall victim to the whispering evil that surrounds her?
MIDNIGHT CHILD (Midnight Guardian #3)
Join Keira Ryan as she chases her destiny in this exciting third installment in the Midnight Guardian Series. While Keira searches, her enemies draw closer. A history of trust is tested.
A promise of passion turns deadly. A surviving evil creates doubt and there’s only one way to stop it…Find the Gift. Just what do you get the spoiled gremlin queen that has everything?
SHADOWS RISING (Midnight Guardian #4)
Senior year has begun. Keira Ryan should be worrying about the two boys that are vying for her heart. She should be worrying about Prom. She should be worrying about graduation. But instead of a dress, she’s choosing which dagger to carry. In this fourth installment in the series, Keira and her friends race against time to rescue her charge before The Harvest. They must hurry. Their enemies are bringing forth a new evil to sway the balance. The shadows are rising.
Exclusive Shadows Rising Excerpt that you will only see on YA Indie Carnival author sites…
The night was warm, even though a slight breeze stirred. Keira made her way through the soybean field. She knew the way over the uneven path, even if she couldn’t see. That was nearly the case as clouds worked to block out the moon and stars. The air was thick; the kind that always preceded the summer rain.
As the dirt started to dimple here and there, her steps came quicker. Cool drops chilled her shoulders left bare by her tank top. Steps turned into a jog as the two-story farmhouse came into sight. If she ran hard enough, she could reach his porch before the downpour.
In seconds, she covered the yard. Just a few strides more would land her on the steps where she could wait out the rain on the porch.
Maybe that’s why it happened. Keira was so focused on escaping the rain. Her sneaker slid on the wet grass. Arms circled wildly over her head, eager to find balance or support. They landed on clean, soft cloth. Her feet skittered beneath her as the man under the white robe grabbed her hair and pulled her head back.
“The guardian,” a whisper rose and echoed among the small group. “The guardian,” their murmurs above the tumbles of the strengthening rain. “The guardian.”
Hands flew to her sides and held her arms out. She pulled against them, but there were too many. “Let me go,” she screamed.
Immediately, they let go. She hadn’t expected it and fell on her knees.
“We wish you no harm, guardian. We have come for the midnight child. Trust that this is for the best,” a tall man said. His mouth barely moved, unmarked by expression or emotion of any kind.
Rain began to pour over them. Keira scanned the group to etch every face into her memory; two eager young men, perhaps twins, with strong chins and light coloring; a plump, young woman with red curls falling out of her hooded cloak; a buxom brunette with a permanent sneer; and a mustached brute with a nasty scar through his left eyebrow.
Then, her eyes flickered back to the leader, a bald man with soulless black eyes. Him she knew. It had taken her only a moment to realize he was the one that crashed Jumper’s last Halloween party. He had come for her charge that night too.
“You know that I will never allow you to take him.”
“Your loyalty is misplaced with the Hayes family,” the bald man answered with a voice that chilled her to the bone. “Allow us to remove the distraction so that you may fulfill your true destiny.”
“He is not a midnight child. He is my charge.”
“He is of no consequence.”
A crack sounded, causing everyone to look up. A dark figure stood on the edge of the roof. He stepped forward and landed softly on the ground. He stood tall beside Keira.
Brun’s voice was heavy with anger. “You heard her. The child is not to be touched.”
“But…” the leader of the group started.
His dispute was not heard because Brun was behind him in the next second. The shine of Brun’s short sword glistened at the man’s ear.
“If you will not listen, perhaps you do not need this ear,” Brun growled. “From this day forward, let it be known that the guardian and I both protect this child. Whoever dares to approach him will succumb to the full wrath of the Empire and Elsted. You will leave now…ahhh!”
The leader wrenched his dagger out of Brun’s side. Blood dripped from the dagger’s edge. Brun stumbled back, his face a mixture of disbelief and horror.
Social Media Sites Blog: www.brynabutler.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/mogdocnews Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorBrynaButler Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brynabutler/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/thebutlerwroteit
Butler's young adult paranormal novels feature strong female leads and are woven from elements of horror, suspense, comedy, and mystery, all in a modern, small town setting.
Butler is inspired by authors like Rachel Caine, Charlaine Harris, Lauren Kate, Cassandra Clare, Stephenie Meyer, and MaryJanice Davidson. Her work contains no profanity or explicit scenes, making it appropriate for pre-teen as well as teen readers.
Spotlight Interview Questions:
1) What is your all-time favorite book and why?
I adore The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Its style is like nothing else I’ve ever read. I found it to be almost hypnotic with its imagery and near poetic cadence.
2) Is there an author you could be compared to or popular fictional characters your book's characters could relate to and why?
Because I tend to write about strong female characters, I think that one could draw a comparison with Charlaine Harris. I had the opportunity to meet her this summer and, to my surprise, she is a down-to-earth hillbilly just like me.
3) Can you give us your favorite quote from one of your books and explain it?
One of my favorite quotes comes from my newest book, Shadows Rising. In this scene, Keira faces off against the leader of a group of extremists that believe her charge is keeping her from her destiny. I think this quote is a great mix of Keira’s courage and her youth.
“You keep yapping about my charge being a distraction, but here I am dealing with you again. Leave us and my charge alone or die tonight at my hand. I mean it, jerk wad.”
4) What types of things/people/music inspires you and makes you want to keep writing?
I’m very inspired by my favorite authors. I often name characters, places and things in my stories in homage to these authors and their work. For instance, in the Midnight Guardian series there is a goth girl named Mikayla Collins whom everyone calls Mikey. Mikey is clearly named in honor of Michael Glass and Shane Collins, two of my favorite characters from Rachel Caine’s Morganville series. Her goth look comes from another beloved character in that series. Also, I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan (who isn’t?). If you look hard enough, you will find several subtle references to Buffy and Firefly sprinkled throughout my books.
5) Describe your typical writing day or week.
Just call me the “Night Writer”, not because it sounds like an insanely cool superhero, but because it is true. For me, writing typically begins after the kids are tucked into bed somewhere around 9 p.m. I grab a soda from the fridge and settle in with my laptop. Typically, I first re-read and edit the last thing I wrote before I start writing anything new. That refreshes it in my mind and allows me to move forward.
6) Is there a food or drink do you have to have when you're writing?
I can’t eat while I write. Sounds good in theory, but it never works in practical application. BBQ sauce on the keys…melted cheese on the screen...a whole chapter about brownies.
7) Can you tell us what you're working on right now (& possibly provide an excerpt & cover)?
Shadows Rising was released on January 18th. In this 4th installment in the Midnight Guardian series, Keira and her friends race to rescue her charge before The Harvest and the rise of a new form of evil, the shadows.
Book 5 is well underway with the working title of Book of the Lost and an anticipated late spring release. I’ve also begun work on a young adult werewolf trilogy set in Alaska. The story centers on a girl that walks the line between two feuding werewolf packs.
OF SUN & MOON (Midnight Guardian #1)
Teens are disappearing in a small river town in southern Ohio as Keira Ryan begins her freshman year. Kidnappings aside, her worries mount as she crushes on an older guy, her best friend starts dating a spoiled cheerleader, and the parents that abandoned her at birth arrive at her doorstep. And, oh yeah, she’s a tooth fairy destined to kick some butt and bring about the end of a royal line of vicious, blood-sucking tyrants. Over the years, humans have pieced together sightings and assumptions to create the myth of the tooth fairy. As it turns out, they were pretty much wrong.
WHISPERING EVIL (Midnight Guardian #2)
Keira Ryan has moved on. It’s the start of her sophomore year at Valley View High School. This means big changes like a new guardian mentor, taking (and passing) her driver’s test, dating her best friend, and figuring out how to stop the new Empress Gammen and her reign of terror. Will she survive it all or will she fall victim to the whispering evil that surrounds her?
MIDNIGHT CHILD (Midnight Guardian #3)
Join Keira Ryan as she chases her destiny in this exciting third installment in the Midnight Guardian Series. While Keira searches, her enemies draw closer. A history of trust is tested.
A promise of passion turns deadly. A surviving evil creates doubt and there’s only one way to stop it…Find the Gift. Just what do you get the spoiled gremlin queen that has everything?
SHADOWS RISING (Midnight Guardian #4)
Senior year has begun. Keira Ryan should be worrying about the two boys that are vying for her heart. She should be worrying about Prom. She should be worrying about graduation. But instead of a dress, she’s choosing which dagger to carry. In this fourth installment in the series, Keira and her friends race against time to rescue her charge before The Harvest. They must hurry. Their enemies are bringing forth a new evil to sway the balance. The shadows are rising.
Exclusive Shadows Rising Excerpt that you will only see on YA Indie Carnival author sites…
The night was warm, even though a slight breeze stirred. Keira made her way through the soybean field. She knew the way over the uneven path, even if she couldn’t see. That was nearly the case as clouds worked to block out the moon and stars. The air was thick; the kind that always preceded the summer rain.
As the dirt started to dimple here and there, her steps came quicker. Cool drops chilled her shoulders left bare by her tank top. Steps turned into a jog as the two-story farmhouse came into sight. If she ran hard enough, she could reach his porch before the downpour.
In seconds, she covered the yard. Just a few strides more would land her on the steps where she could wait out the rain on the porch.
Maybe that’s why it happened. Keira was so focused on escaping the rain. Her sneaker slid on the wet grass. Arms circled wildly over her head, eager to find balance or support. They landed on clean, soft cloth. Her feet skittered beneath her as the man under the white robe grabbed her hair and pulled her head back.
“The guardian,” a whisper rose and echoed among the small group. “The guardian,” their murmurs above the tumbles of the strengthening rain. “The guardian.”
Hands flew to her sides and held her arms out. She pulled against them, but there were too many. “Let me go,” she screamed.
Immediately, they let go. She hadn’t expected it and fell on her knees.
“We wish you no harm, guardian. We have come for the midnight child. Trust that this is for the best,” a tall man said. His mouth barely moved, unmarked by expression or emotion of any kind.
Rain began to pour over them. Keira scanned the group to etch every face into her memory; two eager young men, perhaps twins, with strong chins and light coloring; a plump, young woman with red curls falling out of her hooded cloak; a buxom brunette with a permanent sneer; and a mustached brute with a nasty scar through his left eyebrow.
Then, her eyes flickered back to the leader, a bald man with soulless black eyes. Him she knew. It had taken her only a moment to realize he was the one that crashed Jumper’s last Halloween party. He had come for her charge that night too.
“You know that I will never allow you to take him.”
“Your loyalty is misplaced with the Hayes family,” the bald man answered with a voice that chilled her to the bone. “Allow us to remove the distraction so that you may fulfill your true destiny.”
“He is not a midnight child. He is my charge.”
“He is of no consequence.”
A crack sounded, causing everyone to look up. A dark figure stood on the edge of the roof. He stepped forward and landed softly on the ground. He stood tall beside Keira.
Brun’s voice was heavy with anger. “You heard her. The child is not to be touched.”
“But…” the leader of the group started.
His dispute was not heard because Brun was behind him in the next second. The shine of Brun’s short sword glistened at the man’s ear.
“If you will not listen, perhaps you do not need this ear,” Brun growled. “From this day forward, let it be known that the guardian and I both protect this child. Whoever dares to approach him will succumb to the full wrath of the Empire and Elsted. You will leave now…ahhh!”
The leader wrenched his dagger out of Brun’s side. Blood dripped from the dagger’s edge. Brun stumbled back, his face a mixture of disbelief and horror.
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