Tuesday, April 17, 2012

RT Convention hang-over #rt2012


OMGosh is all I can say. What a weekend! Not only did I finally meet my bosom "peas and carrots" friends, author Kristie Cook and Chrissi Jackson, I had way too much fun with way too little sleep. I don't know if anyone could have explained to me what I was to encounter at this convention. There were the best of times (being fangirled in the bathroom) and some eye bleaching times (especially during the Scottish fairy costume judging walk). But with an amazing suite (yeah Brogan!) and wonderful company, I have memories that will last a lifetime.

(Krissy, Kristie, and me)
(Me and author, Laura Kreitzer)

Once I arrived in Chicago with my 90 pounds of luggage, I felt totally off my game. Thank God for a delightful new friend, Dorothy, who rescued me from going to the wrong hotel who I wouldn't have noticed except her feverish typing as she finished her first novel in the plane. Then I wasn't quite sure what to expect after arriving to the Gangster night late, but I eventually found my groove with Kristie and Chrissi.

Then we were off to the YA slumber party where I pimped my slippers for the contest! I was a runner up and won a cool book, Sirenz.

The next day was seminars and the EXPO where hundreds of authors signed books and ebooks. I had a pretty decent turn out for my first book signing!

Then we raced off for the Scottish ball.
I wore pink sparkly fairy wings, my first time ever.

Friday was the roaring 20's gangster night. I came with my flapper dress, gloves, boa, fishnets and too tall shoes. We even made the cover page of RT
(see top photo)
Saturday was the HUGE book expo and then an afternoon of panels for readers. I attended "Spark to Flame" with Melissa Marr, Kelly Armstrong, Nancy Holder, Beth Revis, Veronica Roth, Margret Stohl and Cinda Chima. The panel was hilarious and listening to each person's writing schedule and antics made me feel at home. What an amazing group! The evening followed with the Teen Party where I met lots of authors and fans, including J.A. Souders (Renegade), Dawn Rae Miller (Larkstorm), and soon to be published mermaid writer Zoraida Cordova (The Vicious Deep), Debra Driza (MILA 2.0). And Keira Cass of The Selection is just adorable with her bundle of joy in her tummy! It was fun to match a faces with a names of big YA authors.

Sunday was time to go home, only after a scary night of thunder so loud I thought something blew up the building. I couldn't believe the fun was over. The plane ride home was quick, but sad. But the wonderful voices of my kids and kisses from hubby overcame my grief. I will definitely be returning to Kansas City with #RT2013. So fun!!!

I'll leave you with the most important token of wisdom I received on the trip... "to sell more books, you need to be on the best sellers lists!" *wink wink*

Monday, April 16, 2012

Cover reveal: Faythe Reclaimed by Lisa Sanchez

For all you adult readers out there, I'm excited to reveal my friend, Lisa Sanchez's latest cover of her Hanaford Park series-- Faythe Reclaimed. Isn't it sexy? This is the third book, following Eve of Samhain, and Pleasures Untold. If it's anything like it's predecessors, it'll definitely be a fun, snarky, and oh to hot read to add to your TBR.

Blurb:
Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither was soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor realizes she’s fallen for Gabriel, the mysterious Latin warlock who came to her rescue.

Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in the shadows of Salem Village, and in doing so, save their lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.
Follow Lisa

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Autism Hop! Win a copy of the Talisman Trilogy

April is Autism Awareness month and I love someone with autism: my son. Through early intervention with therapy and an organic gluten free/casein free diet, he's a success story, but so many other struggle daily.

1 in 88 kids born in 2000 were diagnosed with autism, and today I fear it's more. It's an epidemic and we need more than just drugs as a solution. Our water, food, air, and vaccines all need to be cleaner and safer. Here's a recent article on my thoughts.

I'm excited to be participating in the Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop.

HOSTED BY:
Lindsay @ Just Another Book Addict 
http://justanotherbookaddict.blogspot.com/ 
Heather @ Fire and Ice 
http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/ 
Pixie @ Page Turners
http://www.pageturnersblog.com/ 
Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/


CONTEST PERIOD:
Wednesday April 11th to Tuesday April 17th

I'm giving away an e-copy of my entire Talisman Trilogy (3 books) or a signed copy of The Onyx Talisman -- your choice.

You can run from your destiny, but you can't hide.

To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves. 
Readers who enjoyed Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Blue Bloods and The Morganville Vampires will enjoy The Emerald Talisman.



RT Booklovers or BUST!!!!

I'm excited, thrilled, and a little scared because tomorrow I'm attending RT Booklovers writers/book convention in Chicago for 5 days. I can't believe this day is finally here. It's been a long wait since November when I let author Kristie Cook twist my arm (and my husband's) and made the plunge to go. I'm packed and waiting for 4am to roll around so I can go to the airport.

What is this conference you ask? It's a gazillion books, authors, publishers, agents, and fun ... fun ... fun! I've never even had an official book signing let alone been to a conference, so RT Booklovers is going to be a lot of firsts for me. I know it's silly, but I'm just scared that I'll be all alone and no one will want me to sign anything for them or know who I am. So, as a bribe, I do have lots of fun goodies packed in my suitcase to share at the Indie book signing and CLUB RT Alley. Please come see me at my table either Thursday at 3:15pm (right before the BIG Indie EXPO signing) and Friday at 11:15am, or at the EXPO Thursday from 4-6pm. Or at any party! ;)

I've also packed costumes for all the fun evening events! A flapper dress, fairy wings, silly slippers and awesome shoes. I'll be posting pictures on my Facebook wall and twitter!

Anyway, if you're going anytime during the week or weekend and want to hook up, please leave a note on my Facebook wall! I'd love to meet you.

Hugs!

Brenda

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Winners for Onyx Talisman Tour


We have WINNA'S!!!

Congrats and Happy Easter to:
Shadow (KINDLE) -- claimed
Linda H. (Signed Copy of Onyx) -- claimed
Linda D. (Signed Copy of Onyx) -- claimed
Brendajean (Signed Copy of Onyx) -- claimed
Patricia M. (ecopy of Onyx)
Donna S. (ecopy of Onyx) -- claimed
Anita Y.(ecopy of Onyx)

Everyone has been emailed. If I'm not contacted by 4/15 by the winners, I'll redraw names. Thank you to all the bloggers who participated in the tour and to Jaime from Two Chicks for hosting the tour.

Hugs, Brenda

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Simplicity Cover Reveal

I'm excited to participate in the cover reveal for Valia Lind's Simplicity. It's had a makeover from inside out. Isn't it lovely??? It will be released some time in April, so add it to your TBR and watch for it--I am!

Synopsis:
Driven, beautiful Alexis Sinclair lives her life to the fullest, following her dreams of running a big company. But when her world is torn apart by a storm, everything she has ever known disappears. Now, marooned on an island with a group of men, Alexis must learn to live in a world made up of simple things. Letting go of every known convenience, she realizes how insignificant her life has become. Filled with unrequited love for her rescuer she must battle the demons buried deep inside and she must look within herself and to her faith to find the strength needed to survive. Strong and influential, Jacob Peterson, has done all he can to survive. When the fate turned its tables on him, he learned to cope with the inevitable. Plagued by his past and secrets buried there, Jacob exerts a rigid control, refusing to succumb to the joys, and torturous pain, of strong emotions. Without considering love-a gift he may never receive, he believes--he chooses to live by strict set of rules. But when a strange beautiful woman washes up on his beach, the walls that he has put up long ago begin to crumble. Is she a punishment sent from God to torment his weary soul? Or is she a gift, sent from above, there to teach him how to trust? Who is this woman? And how will he stop himself from losing his heart? Will he learn to forgive the past in order to save the woman he loves?

You can find Valia here:

Simplicity is available on Amazon l Barnes & Noble, and be sure to add it on Goodreads.