Blog Tour: ENTICED by J.A. Belfield
Welcome to my stop on the Enticed Blog tour! If you've been following me a while, then you know how much I adore a certain character from Ms. Belfield's Holloway Pack series, and I'm excited to be a part of his birthday celebration! After all, I *was* the object of his affection for a short time.
It's true, I'm totally telling the truth on this.
And then Ms. Belfield decided to change my name back to Shelley in the final draft and ... well. Our affair ended. But it was beautiful. Beautiful and perfect and didn't need editing. So when you read your copy of Enticed, simply replace 'Shelley' with 'Keri' and all will be right again. Hehe
Okay, now that we've cleared that up, let's get this party started!
Check out the Rafflecopter below for a sweet prize Ms. Belfield is giving away in honor of Ethan's birthday. You can grab a copy of Enticed for FREE. That's right. Smexy time with Ethan for the same amount of money it will cost you to suck in a deep breath when you begin to pant while reading this little gem.
Why wouldn't you grab some of that??
Book info:
Title: Enticed: A Holloway Pack Mini
Author: J.A. Belfield
Release Date: April 16th, 2015
ENTICED is a FREE short story that will enrapture both Holloway Pack fans and virgins alike.
Purchase Links: Enticed on Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Enticed in print
Other Links: Goodreads
Blurb:
Happy Birthday to Ethan.
Or is it?
Gifts aside, Ethan’s morning hasn’t been anything to write home about. Sure, life is good, the pack is staying out of trouble, he finally has a mate who boils his blood … in a good way.
Except Shelley hasn’t called. Hasn’t come by. Didn’t even bother to join her son and his girlfriend for Ethan’s annual I’m-a-year-older breakfast.
What Ethan doesn’t know is that Shelley has plans. Plans that have been in progress for weeks. Ones that Ethan will never see coming, and that she’s banked on him not knowing a thing about.
She can only hope her secrecy doesn’t force his inner wolf to the surface—at least, not too early.
*Can be read as a standalone.
Excerpt
Catching sugary wafts of sweetness, I crossed the room to the kitchen doorframe, leaning against it as I peered in. Oak doors shuttered the cabinets, and on the countertop sat a large white box with its lid not quite connected, from where I suspected the scents drifted out. Stretching onto my tiptoes, I peeked over the rim of the box through the sliver of space, and spotted the edges of white fondant icing.
I smiled like a moron. “You made me a cake, Shel?”
“Technically, I bought you a cake, but we can pretend otherwise,” she said from the bedroom. “But that’s not your gift.”
I turned, and I could’ve sworn my mouth opened in slow motion as I drew my hands from my pockets. My eyebrows probably would’ve creaked, if they had sound effects to accompany their upward rise.
Leaning into her bedroom doorframe and glancing up at me through lowered lashes, Shelley had donned some lacy getup—a Basque, all laced up along the front with a satiny thread, which her naturally plump breasts pretty much danced atop of. Beneath that, tiny, tiny knickers barely covered her groin V. Everything in a warm raspberry—including the suspender straps, hanging downward and clipped to stockings of chocolate brown that shimmered with the slightest move of her legs.
The entire getup, from her hair to toes, matched, making her look fucking edible.
“Damn, Shelley,” I muttered—about all I could manage. The room seemed too hot all of a sudden.
Giveaway Time!
Prize: 1 Signed Print Copy of ENTICED for your reading pleasure (and it will bring pleasure)
1 ENTICED 6×4 Coverart Print for your viewing pleasure (because Ethan is work viewing)
1 Thornton’s Viennese Truffle Bar to enjoy whilst you devour Ethan (as you will want to devour him)
Blog Tour: Choices by J.L. McFadden
Happy Friday the 13th!! I thought this would be a great day to showcase some PNR, and it just so happens I've got a new vampire series to pass along! Congratulations to JL McFadden on his new release, Choices. I've not yet read this series, but the images on the covers are GORGEOUS! Looking forward to reading these, as the male MC is from Detroit, and you know how much I love the D. ❤
Check out the books, the characters, then enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Follow his blog tour, going on throughout the month of March, and be sure to grab a copy of Choices (scroll down for links)!
The Guardian: Book 1 in the Guardian series
In The Guardian, John, a young man from Detroit, realizes he has a special bond with a vampire, Gala. This gives him special abilities and makes both of them a target, as the ancients will stop at nothing to destroy him and his relationship with this unbridled female vampire.
Choices: Book 2 in the Guardian series
In Choices, Adela, head of Gala’s coven, and John both have their fair share of choices to make. Adela must think of her coven, but at the same time she feels a burning desire for Gala’s Guardian.
John is torn between the woman he is fated to and Adela. He feels a desire to protect Gala, but also a yearning for Adela. At the same time, Adela must search for the secret journal known as the Guardian journal and protect those she loves from the dangers that lurk in the shadows.
Adela: the prequel to the Guardian series
Also available is Adela, the prequel to the series. The book follows the adventures of Adela, a beautiful young woman of a very wealthy family in Eastern Europe, who is fending off advances from an older aristocratic German businessman with an evil presence about him.
When she falls madly in love with another man, her suitor attempts to use the enslavement of her father’s land and people to force her to be his own.
Character List: Adela
Adela is the leader of a vampire coven in Lithuania and of the strongest vampires in the world. Gala is her great-great niece and a member of her coven. In Choices, Adela struggles with her attraction to John, her grandniece’s Guardian.
- Height: 5’9
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Brown
- Born: 1194 AD
- Turned: 1215 AD
- Gifts: Has ancestral abilities –strength and gifts vampires gains at a certain age.
- Family: Deceased – except her grandniece of many generations whom she turned to save from a terminal illness.
Character List: Gala
Gala is Adela’s right hand and C.O.O of the research company that is owned by the coven. Though her Guardian bond is so strong with John that she saved him from a car crash before his Guardian powers took hold, she finds herself wanting to push him away; she has never been able to handle any sort of relationship with anyone.
- Height: 5’6
- Hair Color: Dirty Blonde
- Eye Color: Ice Blue
- Born: 1972
- Turned: 1989
- Gifts: Has a Guardian
- Family: Deceased
Character List: John
John is Gala’s Guardian. He is torn between Adela and Gala: he feels his bond with Gala, but her constant rejections and fits is making it even harder to deal with his attraction to Adela. He wonders if his attraction is due to the one ability Adela has gained through her ancestral powers – to be irresistible to anyone.
- Height: 6’2
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Blue
- Age: 23
- Job Description: Guardian
- Gifts: Guardians gain their supernatural powers from their bond with a vampire; their spirit is so connected to the vampire that if the vampire parishes the Guardian will soon follow.
- Family: Deceased
About J.L. McFadden
J.L McFadden was born in Pennsylvania and spent his life bouncing around the States until beginning to travel the world. Starting out, he was a well-known musician in upstate New York that had a heavy playing schedule. Later, he went back to his home state to work in the Lumber mills of the mountains. In California, he worked in sales, management and even directed a small moving company until deciding to see the world.
His travels around the world have allotted him to not only join an International Aikikai Aikido Federation, but to have trained with Sanseis from Belgium, Ukraine, Russia and other European countries. He accounts his journeys and meeting of new people to his broad character types in his books.
Connect with McFadden
You can connect with McFadden on:
One-click the books:
Enter the Giveaways!
This tour was sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.
Cover Reveal: Enticed by J.A. Belfield
Okay, I'm NOT going to take credit for the birth of this story, but I will tell you that about a year ago, I BEGGED J.A. Belfield to write a short about Ethan, "and make it really steamy ..." happened to be part of the request. Then, a few months ago, a story popped up in my inbox, and J.A. asked me to check it out and holy shizzzz, it was my sexy Ethan short!! I say 'my' because she'd gone so far, in the first draft, to change that other leading lady's name to mine! Do you have any idea what it feels like to have your smexy book boyfriend telling you (directly) to lie back and spread your ... nevermind--that's between Ethan and me.
Moving along, this story is short and sweet and all kinds of sexy. It has Ethan in all his broody hotness (and who doesn't love Ethan's broody hotness?), in a way you've not seen him in previous books. Fans of paranormal should definitely add the Holloway Pack boys to the TBR--loaded with action and romance, it's sure to please!
Speaking of pleasing, let's take a look at that cover for Enticed!
Title: Enticed: A Holloway Pack Mini
Author: J.A. Belfield
Release Date: April 16th, 2015
Add it to Goodreads
Happy Birthday to Ethan.
Or is it?
Gifts aside, Ethan’s morning hasn’t been anything to write home about. Sure, life is good, the pack is staying out of trouble, he finally has a mate who boils his blood … in a good way.
Except Shelley hasn’t called. Hasn’t come by. Didn’t even bother to join her son and his girlfriend for Ethan’s annual I’m-a-year-older breakfast.
What Ethan doesn’t know is that Shelley has plans. Plans that have been in progress for weeks. Ones that Ethan will never see coming, and that she’s banked on him not knowing a thing about.
She can only hope her secrecy doesn’t force his inner wolf to the surface—at least, not too early.
*Can be read as a standalone.
Re-Release: Instinct by J.A. Belfield
Mucho congrats to my friend, J.A. Belfield, on the re-release of her prequel novella, INSTINCT!! For a limited time (Friday January 23rd to Sunday, February 1st), you can grab a copy of this incredibly romantic story for FREE!
Blurb:
Werewolf Sean Holloway treats the village marketplace like a sexual buffet, though his charm does little to win over his latest entrée of choice. Whether because of Jem Stonehouse’s unique scent, her headstrong nonchalance, or the fact he is forbidden to see her by his pack’s rules, Sean wants her.
When Jem is nothing but flippant toward his advances, he pursues her with vigour, stealing moments alone with her without a libido-driven agenda.
The new and heady experience for him drives their relationship beyond romantic interest, and straight toward love.
That is, until Jem learns the truth about Sean’s heritage. Knowledge of the existence of werewolves leads to only one outcome: death.
In this prequel to Darkness & Light*, we are taken back in time, to the very beginning of Jem and Sean’s love-across-the-centuries relationship.
Did it end there? Or did Sean defy his own pack to save the woman he loves?
*Can be read as a standalone.
Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win $10 Amazon gift card and an ebook copy of ETERNAL, the sequel novella to INSTINCT.
CLICK BELOW TO ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER!
Excerpt from INSTINCT:
The marketplace had to be the best venue to pick up females. At the age of twenty, I would have been happy to visit every day, but James would not permit me. As Alpha, his commands were followed without question, so my visits were limited to once a week. I had to admit, it worked out better that way.
From fruit to art, to lace, to the blacksmith’s stall, I walked. Paintings of marketplaces often depicted them as cheery, colourful, and bustling with activity. The latter conception may have been correct; although, they leaned more toward grey and dreary than bright, and the air often filled with yells of anger and bitterness, as opposed to joyful greetings.
At least there were the scents: hams and boars’ heads, fruits, wines, the steam of cooking soups, and, my most favourite of all, the freshness of ripe women. Lorna Rushford, Helena Longbarrow, Matilda Thornberry named only a few, each of those alone bringing with her a memory.
The females noticed me as much as I did them, even though my past catches never approached, never asked why I had not called to visit, or if I would tend them again. Of course, my refusal to conform to the current trends in attire ensured I stood out from the other males who bothered to arrive. Whereas the women’s glances would be appraising, perhaps even hopeful, the men’s glares offered nothing but scorn for my dark trousers tucked into knee-high leather boots, and for the shirts I never bothered to secure with their woven laces. Men had been hung for far less than inconsiderate fashion sense, yet I did not care. I was not like them and never pretended to be.
A whisper drifted across, as I meandered through the crowd: “’Tis Mr Holloway, Eleanor.”
With a tilt of my head, I spotted the speaker leaning into her sister, who fluttered her lashes in a clear attempt to catch my attention.
Eleanor had turned out to be a worthy virgin. The scent of her blood had driven me wild as I had plunged into her.
I smiled to myself as I turned away.
Farther along, pausing to sample the crisp apples, I caught Mrs Lawson’s scent. The older ladies may not have been as pure, but they could not be denied their eagerness to please. For that reason alone, they made for an entertaining afternoon.
My nose lifted to track her, and I found the woman beyond a table stacked high with fresh loaves, hidden behind her fan, which she waved with vigour. I recalled that her petticoat had held many layers, and the removal of them turned out to be almost as much fun as the act itself. I wondered how she had explained the damage to her pompous husband.
At a new aroma begging for notice, my step faltered as my nostrils flared.
Strong, yet understated, alluring and seductive, the unsullied flavour carried the exceptional deliciousness of womanly musk. Possessed by a need to find the source, I tilted my head and allowed my nose to lead.
It should have been difficult, impossible even, to locate such subtlety amongst the overpowering wafts of food and body odours, yet the strong pull beckoned to me, drawing me on.
Whispers continued, as I passed one stall after another, but they no longer held my interest. My mind seemed only able to focus on the unfamiliar scent. Although it intensified with each step, I half wished for a stronger breeze to invade the clear morning, to bring me a more wholesome dose and appease my sudden and unbidden greed.
My eyes shifted, as I moved, searching. I skimmed over those who held no appeal, the ones whose flavour had already been tasted, until, at the end of the row ahead, I spotted two young women.
From the angle of their positions, I doubted they could see me. The purchasing of herbs distracted the darker haired of the two. Animated, she possessed a flamboyance which showed in her movements, and in her pleasant tones, as she bartered with the stall owner.
I imagined she would get her own way with the price.
To her side stood a fairer female, with a quiet calm that showed in the relaxed set of her shoulders. Taking a step closer, I studied her.
Appearing younger, almost lacking in confidence, she was also somewhat taller and certainly far more beautiful. I did not recognise her, yet could not mistake her scent. I had been tracking it for the past five minutes.
Leaning across the jewellery on the stall beside me, I caught the proprietor’s attention. “Who is the girl?” I asked, pointing toward the one who held me so rapt.
“Regular of mine.” He nodded and smiled. “The Stonehouse sisters often purchase my quartz and amethyst.”
As he spoke their name in a conspicuous overtone, the females turned.
Blue eyes, as dark as sapphires, appraised me from beneath wisps of blonde, and a smile widened the girl’s lips, as my own mouth curved at the corners.
Beside her, the darker girl leaned into the fair tresses of her sister. “Sean Holloway is a ladies’ man and not to be trusted,” she hissed, her words carrying to me with ease, before she walked off. When her sister remained, gaze locked with mine, the seemingly older girl called out, “Come along, Jem. Mother is waiting.”
My eyebrow twitched upward. Jem?
With her attention tugged back toward her departing sibling, she dipped her head and followed behind.
Still, the essence her body had left in its wake lured me, and, unable to do otherwise, I trailed after her.
Christmas Cracker Scavenger Hunt!
Welcome to my stop on the Christmas Cracker Scavenger Hunt!! If this is your first stop, here's how this is going to work:
From each of the participating blogs, you'll collect a letter, which will form an anagram, of sorts, to something related to Christmas. At the bottom of this post, you'll find the link to the next stop. Hop from blog to blog and collect the letters. If you arrange the letters correctly and figure out the mystery word, the prizes up for grabs are:
Grand Prize:
Second Prize:
Here’s the clue you need from my blog for your entry into the Scavenger Hunt Grand Prize draw:
Winner will be drawn at MIDNIGHT on Monday, December 15th.
Enter The Rafflecopter:
PLUS!
You can enter ANOTHER Rafflecopter below for a chance to win an ebook copy of Eye of the Soulor Secrets of the Soulby the very lovely Terri Rochenski! I'll be drawing a name for the ebook on Monday, December 15th!
Good luck!!
NEXT STOP: Anna Simpson
Book Blast: Secret of the Souls by Terri Rochenski
Release Date: October 6, 2014
Target Reader: Adult
Keywords: Fantasy
For, Hyla, though, saving her nation isn’t her ultimate goal—returning to the Pool of Souls is. Becoming its Guardian and preserving their faith is her heart’s desire. The perils of her current journey, though, could leave her unable to fulfill that dream.
To find her way back to the Pool, Hyla must live among dangerous, powerful humans willing to defend the Natives, and must submit herself—her Talents—to them. While her protection is paramount, plots to end Hyla’s life will push her to her physical and emotional limits.
On the edge of sanity, her courage tested, and convictions nearly broken, Hyla’s final test of loyalty to her faith comes with the death of one she could have loved.
Instead, Hyla finds herself traveling through a land void of Natives, with human soldiers pillaging in desperate pursuit of her, and in search of the mystical Pool of Souls—home to the one man who can save her people.
Or so she believes.
Led by her faith in the deity Fadir, Hyla is met along her journey by Jadon—a human male and fierce King’s warrior, and his childhood best friend Conlin—one of the few Natives aware of his Fadir-given Talents.
Protected by Jadon, guided by Conlin, and with an unfailing belief in the purpose of her pilgrimage, Hyla carries on.
Like her, though, another searches for the Pool, and should he gain access first, everyone she loves, and everything she knows, could be lost.
Forever.
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.
Tour Schedule |
Book Blast!! Darkness & Light by J.A. Belfield
Today marks the RE-release of J.A. Belfield's Darkness & Light, first book in the Holloway Pack series. I'm super excited for J., as I am a big fan of the Holloway Boys!
And to celebrate it's release, as well as her birthday (which is also TODAY) there's a GREAT giveaway going on, including a paperback copy of The Fallen from yours truly.
But first, let's check out the book.
Jem Stonehouse, a housewife with a neurotic husband bent on keeping her in line, dreams about werewolves in, what she believes, is a bid to escape boredom.
Sean Holloway is a werewolf, living a charade within the human race, whose mind drifts to a bond he shares with a woman he hasn't met — at least, not in this lifetime.
Apart, the two are safe but live unfulfilled lives.
Together, they'll become prey to rival packs just as they have been for hundreds of years.
When their worlds collide, and not for the first time, instinct takes over. Dreams become reality. Futures are uncertain. To keep history from repeating itself, Sean must teach Jem about his heritage, convince her of her role, and win her love.
Can Jem accept her destiny before it's too late, or is her inner wolf buried too deep to save her future with Sean?
You can add it to your Goodreads by clicking on the cover art above.
And if you want to grab your own copy, you can do so at the below links:
And now for the giveaway.
Check out these awesome prizes*
Yup, yup, ALL of those prizes are up for grabs for ONE lucky winner.
You can enter via the Rafflecopter below**
**Comment entry must be made over at Katherine Skye's original post HERE, but feel free to comment here, too, because we love comments!
Thanks for stopping by & good luck!
From the author ...
"I would HUGELY like to THANK Katherine Skye for arranging this giveaway for me and her generosity. I would also like to thank Jen of At Random for her prize donation, AND Keri Lake for the donated signed copy of The Fallen & swag."
~~~
J.A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with the best husband in the world, aka Mr B, a couple of back-chatting but pretty cool kids, a pooch she treats likes the baby of the house, and a couple of scrawny cats that like to vomit in unnecessary places.
Although best known for her Holloway Pack series: DARKNESS & LIGHT (July 2011, J. Taylor Publishing/September 2014, J.A. Belfield), INSTINCT (February 2012, J. Taylor Publishing), ETERNAL (July 2012, J. Taylor Publishing), BLUE MOON (December 2012, J. Taylor Publishing), RESONANCE (April 2013, J. Taylor Publishing), CAGED (August 2013, J. Taylor Publishing), and UNNATURAL (April 2014, J. Taylor Publishing), amongst other titles, she is currently trawling her way through a New Adult Post Apocalyptic and would LOVE to try her hand at YA. Maybe she will.
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Hereditary by J.A. Belfield - Book Blast!
It's release day for HEREDITARY!
This means a chance to celebrate.
Because HEREDITARY is a FREEEEEEE Holloway Pack short story, which means you can go grab your copy now and not have to pay a penny.
\o/\o/ \o/ \o/ \o/
And if you've yet to read the Holloway Pack series? Fear not, because HEREDITARY can be read just as easily as a standalone. So, you, too, can go grab your copy now.
Here's what it's all about:
The trouble with one-night stands: you never know who—or what—you’re sleeping with.
~~~
Being a parent isn’t an easy ride. Even more so for single mum Shelley Lewis.
When her thirteen year old son’s hormones kick in, she’s faced with his immense growth, insane sweat, and ridiculous hairiness, not to mention all the normal teenage issues.
Discovering her only son isn’t human on top of those is the shock of a lifetime, and Shelley knows she’s the only one to blame.
It may be too late to save her son from her mistakes, but she can still try to save Gabe from himself.
~~~
For fans of J.A. Belfield’s Holloway Pack series, Hereditary is a look back at the origins for characters met in Resonance.
Release Date: August 13th 2014
Grab your copy!
Pssst, if you visit J.A. Belfield's post, you can listen to her read a short passage, too!
But before you vanish, be sure to enter below in the celebratory giveaway to win a pair of signed Caged bookmarks ....
AND a $10 Amazon GC.
Hey, maybe you can use it to add MORE Holloway Pack to your eReader. ;)
Good luck.
Enter to win a $10 GC here!
Cover Reveal! Hereditary by J.A. Belfield
Sorry it's been SO LONG since I've posted something here. Busy, busy, busy! Hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!
Today I've got a treat ...
You know how much I love the Holloway Pack, right? Well, my lovely friend J.A. Belfield is offering up another installment in her addictive paranormal series, a short story that can be read independently of the series (though why would you want to miss out on a pack of sexy wolfy men?), and it's FREE!!!
Before we get into the details, let's check out the gorgeous cover first:
The trouble with one-night stands: you never know who—or what—you’re sleeping with.
~~~
Being a parent isn’t an easy ride. Even more so for single mum Shelley Lewis.
When her thirteen year old son’s hormones kick in, she’s faced with his immense growth, insane sweat, and ridiculous hairiness, not to mention all the normal teenage issues.
Discovering her only son isn’t human on top of those is the shock of a lifetime, and Shelley knows she’s the only one to blame.
It may be too late to save her son from her mistakes, but she can still try to save Gabe from himself.
~~~
For fans of J.A. Belfield’s Holloway Pack series, Hereditary is a look back at the origins for characters met in Resonance.
Go add it to your Goodreads shelf!
Blog Tour: Unnatural by J.A. Belfield
Earlier in the month, one of my favorite writer buds, J.A. Belfield, released the fourth book in her Holloway Pack series. Now, for those of you who haven't heard of this series, let me tickle your mind for a moment... a houseful of alpha male hotness (*cough* Ethan) and breaking the rules to be with their mates. Um ... what's not to love??
So in this installment we have Kyle. I was first introduced to him in Caged and although Ethan stole the show, Kyle held his own enough for me to take notice of the little side story going on with him and Brooke. I'm pretty excited to read this one because J.A. Belfield doesn't disappoint and the reviews for Unnatural have been fantastic!
For the tour stop, I asked J to prepare her Top Ten Coolest Cats. But before we get to that, let's check out this book:
Unnatural. One word to sum up werewolf Kyle Larsen—his mood swings, abnormal body, and choice of female.
The first two, he blames on the vampire venom.
The third, though? No, feline shifter Brook Nicholls was all his doing—a female of whom the pack will never approve.
As part of the Coalition, an organisation with even stricter rules than the pack and a rigidly warped sense of responsibility, Brook comes with a whole lot of opposition of her own.
No wonder the two of them keep their relationship secret for as long as they can.
Now, distanced from his family by his own indiscretions, Kyle’s left to fight battles he’s unsure how to win—some of them even against his own pack.
Is one woman really so important that he’s willing to defy his Alpha for her?
If his heart has any say in the matter, the answer will be yes.
AND there's a GIVEAWAY!
Up for grabs is:
Enter in Rafflectopter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
And now for J.A Belfield's Top Ten Coolest Cats:
There are a lot of folk in this world—some real, some fictional—who I happen to consider pretty cool for one reason or another. When Keri suggested this post to me, I thought it sounded fairly easy. Coming to write it, however, and narrowing these down to just ten? Nah, not so easy at all.
However, after a lot of deliberating—with myself—I think I’ve managed a respectable list. Check it out.
Mr B
Yes, yes, I know very few of you guys actually know him, but he is and always will be my Number 1 Cool Cat, so I’m sticking him here right at the very top. He picks me up when I’m down, he makes me laugh when I frown, and he gets me out of the house whenever I’m at risk of turning into a hermit. Some days, he has been the reason I have found in within myself to write.
Will Smith
There’s this saying I have with my bestie, Carla, that goes along the lines of ‘Will Smith—he never disappoints’. I dunno what it is. It might be because I grew up with Fresh Prince of Bel Air. It might be that annoyingly cute and cheeky grin. Heck, it might even just be that voice—‘cause, ya know, I am female, after all (don’t tell Mr B I said that).
So, I’m branding Will as my Wild Card Cool Cat—because I dunno what it is about him, I just know that it is. ;)
Queen Elizabeth.
She’s a cool lady. Keeps calm in a crisis. Offers pearls of wisdom and inspiration. And on top of that, her presence and poise and manner in which she carries herself make me proud to be British.
Stephen King
I’ve never read a Stephen King novel. *ducks for cover*
With that admission, I guess you’re all wondering how he made it onto my list. Well, he’s on here for three reasons: 1) because he has held a high spot in the horror genre for a long time, and that can’t be an easy deal to achieve; 2) I read his On Writing. This was the first book on writing I’d ever read. It’s also the only one I’ve ever read. I learned more from this autobiography-style book than I could have learned from anywhere else, and he deserves kudos for that; 3) because he didn’t give up. Becoming initially successful as a horror writer wasn’t easy for him. He had his knockbacks. He had his kicks. But he didn’t give up. That makes him an inspiration. Because, no matter the odds, he followed his dream.
Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead
If ever there’s a zombie apocalypse? Dude, I wanna be on Darrel’s team. Ya know? Not only does he seem sure in the pointing of his weapon, he does what he does, whatever that happens to be at any given time, with a total ease. I wish I was as chilled as this guy.
Prince Harry
I love Harry. As a royal prince, there are certain standards one must adhere to … but good ole Harry has never been afraid to be himself. He’s never been afraid to follow his own path in life. His work alongside the armed forces, despite how much danger he’s in because, boy, he would be a MASSIVE bargaining chip for the ‘other side’, right? He still just does it. And I respect him for that.
Brigid Kemmerer
From one writer to another, I have so much respect for what this lady produces. Her writing is consistent, her characters deep and full of life, and her world building is pretty neat, too. But what I learn most from reading her books is the art of pacing. She has the most consistent pacing of any author I’ve read. Plus her YA Elementals series is awesome. You should read them, for realz.
Uncle Si
Yeah, *holds hands up* I’m a Duck Dynasty fan. And this dude makes me guffaw my freaking hide off. Anyone on TV who has the ability to make me and Mr B simultaneously laugh until our sides hurt deserves a cool cat medal, for sure.
Diana Spencer
I still remember her as Lady Diana Spencer, but to those not from the UK, you’ll more likely know her as Princess Diana. She acted out her royal duties with elegance and grace, whilst fighting to cling onto her own identity during her time at the palace. She was what I would refer to as one of life’s gems. A true lady. I believe her attitude to life contributed a great deal to Harry’s headstrong ways.
Man, and I never realised just how much respect I have for our royal family over here until three of them crept into this post. However, just as calm and graceful in what she does is my final cool cat …
Keri Lake
Yeah, I went there—though it had to be done. And not just because I’m here today, on her blog.
I’ve known Keri since before we were both published, when our writing was still pretty rough around the edges, and I’m glad this virtual relationship has bloomed from that. Not only are her story ideas so out there that they are freakily awesome, but bouncing ideas off her, and being a board for her bouncing, is almost like working with a reflection. For some reason, we seem to get where the other is coming from, and those kinds of relationships between writers don’t happen every day.
Here’s looking at you, chick. ;)
So, those are my Cool Cats—who’d make it onto your list?
Oh man ... I'm blushing behind my computer screen right now. Thank you, J ❤
About the Author
Best known for her Holloway Pack Stories, J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, two cats and a dog. She writes paranormal romance, with a second love for urban fantasy.
Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Booklikes
Evensong by Krista Walsh
Back in January, one of my good writer friends, Krista Walsh, released Evensong, the first book in her fantasy trilogy. I had the pleasure of beta reading this beauty sometime last year, and thoroughly enjoyed the story! Reading about an author was a very cool experience and I felt like I had a lot in common with the MC. Haha! Although ... you don't have to be a writer to enjoy this one. Now, as some of you know, I'm a huge fan of music. I NEEEEEEED music to write. In fact, if I don't have the right playlist prepared prior to starting a new book, I often find that I cannot connect to the characters. So music is very important to me. And I happen to know Krista is a fan of music as well (we often recommend songs back and forth ... in fact, one of her songs listed below is a favorite of mine) so I asked her to offer up her playlist for Evensong.
Before we get to that though, here's some info about Evensong! Grab this one while it's only 99 cents!
Blurb:
Author Jeff Powell wakes up to find the impossible has happened. He is within his own novel—summoned into the fictional world of Feldall’s Keep by a spell he didn't write. One the House enchantress hasn't figured out how to reverse.
When the villain he's been struggling to write reveals himself, unleashing waves of terror and chaos, Jeff must use more than his imagination to save the characters he created—and the woman he loves.
Trapped within a world of his own creation, he must step outside the bounds of his narrative to help his characters defeat an evil no one anticipated, even if he must sacrifice his greatest gift. In the end, he has to ask: are novels really fiction, or windows into other worlds?
Grab a copy!
Now on to the playlist!!
Evensong Musical Inspiration
When Keri asked me to offer my top 10 musical inspiration for Evensong I thought it would be easy! I always create a list of songs to listen to while I write. Trouble is, I wrote the first draft of Evensong for NaNoWriMo 2012, so I had to wrack my brain trying to go back in time.
Like my lovely host, a soundtrack is necessary for my writing process. All day I get distracted by the real world: my morning routine, remembering to take out the garbage, remembering to go to work, work, figuring out what to make for dinner … after all of that, it’s difficult to get grounded in the fictional world again. Music helps drown out everything except the words, the characters, the setting.
There’s pretty much no genre of music I don’t enjoy or derive some kind of inspiration, but with the Meratis series, I found myself leaning heavily on Of Monsters and Men. The tone, the lyrics, the whole feel of their album My Head is an Animal fit so well with Jeff’s situation that the two are permanently associated in my mind.
Each book has an OM&M song attached for it. Because I had to pick only one for Evensong, I opted for “From Finner”
Other songs that come to mind:
Artificial Nocturne – Metric
Stadium Love – Metric (went on a bit of a kick last year)
Angel – Massive Attack
Lux Aeterna – Clint Mansell (because I don’t believe anything I can write can ever NOT be inspired by this song)
If There’s a Rocket Tie Me To It – Snow Patrol
Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons
Pompeii – ES Posthumus (really, this whole album is fantastic to work to. Can’t praise it enough)
Teardrop – Jose Gonzalez
Stubborn Love – The Lumineers
About the Author
Known for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out. After publishing a few short stories and novellas in various anthologies, she has now released her own anthology, the serial collection Greylands.
When not writing, or working at her day job, she can be found reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story.
She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
For first grab at Evensong sale price, other promotions, news & announcements, you can sign up for her Newsletter
You can also connect via:
Booklikes
At the local Second Cup coffee shop … but only if you come bearing a White Mocha
Unnatural Release Day Blast!
UNNATURAL RELEASES TODAY!
Unnatural. One word to sum up werewolf Kyle Larsen—his mood swings, abnormal body, and choice of female.
The first two, he blames on the vampire venom.
The third, though? No, feline shifter Brook Nicholls was all his doing—a female of whom the pack will never approve.
As part of the Coalition, an organisation with even stricter rules than the pack and a rigidly warped sense of responsibility, Brook comes with a whole lot of opposition of her own.
No wonder the two of them keep their relationship secret for as long as they can.
Now, distanced from his family by his own indiscretions, Kyle’s left to fight battles he’s unsure how to win—some of them even against his own pack.
Is one woman really so important that he’s willing to defy his Alpha for her?
If his heart has any say in the matter, the answer will be yes.
To celebrate Unnatural's release, CAGED, Holloway Pack 3 is on SALE!
The UNNATURAL Blog Tour begins tomorrow, and throughout the duration of the tour, CAGED will be available for just 99c.
AND there's a GIVEAWAY!
Up for grabs is:
Enter in Rafflectopter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
To grab your own copy of UNNATURAL, click on any of the purchase links below.
~~~~~
Best known for her Holloway Pack Stories, J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, two cats and a dog. She writes paranormal romance, with a second love for urban fantasy.
Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Booklikes
COVER REVEAL: Emergence by K.L. Schwengel
Happy Monday! Today I have a treat! A writer bud of mine will soon be releasing the second book in her Darkness & Light series and today is the cover reveal! I had the pleasure of beta reading this beauty and I can tell you, if you're a fan of fantasy, you'll want to nab this one. The writing is superb, with well-developed characters that you can't help but fall in love with. *sigh* Bolin .... So, without further delay, here is the cover for EMERGENCE, book two in the Darkness & Light series by K.L. Schwengel:
The battle for Ciara's power has drawn the full attention of the Emperor and the Imperial Mages, forcing Bolin to put duty above safety and take her to Nisair. It won't be an easy trip, even with an Imperial escort and a Galysian elder accompanying them. Especially since Donovan has found himself some new allies, one of who wields a dark magic that has literally gotten under Bolin's skin.
For Ciara, coming to terms with the increasingly tangible manifestation of her power could destroy her. Even if they make it to Nisair--something that grows more unlikely by the day--there is no surety of safety for Ciara, or any of them. Not with Donovan willing to gamble everything to achieve his goals, or Bolin's uncharacteristically reckless behavior, the result of which is the attention of something that has everyone worried.
Loyalties will be tested, lives will be lost, and no one will emerge unchanged as they find things are not always so clear on the line dividing Darkness and Light.
About the Author:
K. L. Schwengel lives in southeast Wisconsin on a small farm with her husband, a handful of Australian Shepherds, Her Royal Highness Princess Fiona the Cat, and assorted livestock. Growing up as the youngest of nine children, and the daughter of a librarian, Kathi spent many hours between stacks of books, and secluded away in dusty archives, drawn to tales of medieval heroes and conquering knights. With so many characters and ideas spinning in her head, she had to get them onto paper or risk what little sanity she possessed. She has been penning wild tales of magic and mayhem as long as she can remember, but opted to follow her artistic muse first. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts and spending many years working as a freelance artist, grocery clerk, art teacher, graphic designer, stable hand, advertising account coordinator, dog trainer, and process technician (among other things) she answered the call of her writing muse. When not writing, Kathi trains and trials working Australian Shepherds, still paints, dabbles in photography, graphic design, and anything else creative her assorted muses send her way.
Kathi's work is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other on-line retailers in both paperback and e-book versions. Signed copies are available via her blog.