Showing posts with label 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10. Show all posts

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Top Ten Book Openings


Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy #1)
by Annabell Cadiz
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: January 31st 2013
 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg

Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered what could be hiding in the shadows?

Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have committed an act against their kingdom. 

Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida –supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out human souls. 

Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.

Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds.

Normal just got a deadlier definition.




by Annabell Cadiz


An opening sentence or paragraph to book is where the beginning of where a reader and story connect. It’s crucial to start off a book with just the right tone, the right mood, the right atmosphere to get a reader to continue. A first sentence, a first paragraph holds a lot of weight. A reader can often tell if a book is worth continuing based on how it opens. 

Usually, when I pick up a book, I’ll read the first line or sometimes the first paragraph then the last sentence and that’s how I decide whether or not I’m going to buy the book (or borrow it from a library). There’s a lot of power in those beginning words.

Here are some of my favorite openings to some really great books:


10. From Of Poseidon by Anna Banks—“I smack into him as if shoved from behind. He doesn’t budge, not an inch. Just holds my shoulders and waits. Maybe he’s waiting for me to find my balance. Maybe he’s waiting for me to gather my pride. I hope he’s got all day.”

9. From Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins—“Looking back, none of this would have happened if I’d brought lip gloss the night of the Homecoming Dance.”

8. From Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev—“It is a truth universally acknowledged,’ Mustardseed said, flying in lazy loops like an intoxicated bumblebee, “‘that a fairy in possession of a good appetite must be in want of pie.”


7. From The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima—“The scent of wood smoke and roses always took him back there, to the boy he was and would never be again.”

6. From I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter—“I suppose a lot of teenage girls feel invisible sometimes, like they just disappear. Well, that’s me—Cammie the Chameleon. But I’m luckier than most because, at my school, that’s considered cool. I go to a school for spies.”

5. From It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini—“It’s so hard to talk when you want to kill yourself. That’s above and beyond everything else, and it’s not a mental complaint—it’s a physical thing, like it’s physically hard to open your mouth and make the words come out. They don’t come out smooth and in conjunction with your brain the way normal people’s words do; they come out in chunks as if from a crushed-ice dispenser; you stumble on them as they gather behind your lower lip. So you just keep quiet.” 


4. From Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl—“There were only two kinds of people in our town. “The stupid and the stuck,” my father had affectionately classified our neighbors. “The ones who are bound to stay or too dumb to go. Everyone else finds a way out.”

3. From How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer—“There was no getting around the fact that Tinker Bell was a little bitch.” 

2. From Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes—“She’d never killed before tonight.”

1. From The Dark Half by Stephen King—“Cut him,’ Machine said. “‘Cut him while I stand and watch. I want to see the blood flow. Don’t make me tell you twice.”


Born and raised in the sweltering suburbs of South Florida, Annabell Cadiz grew up fine-tuned to the cuisine of various Spanish cultures, learned to master the art of Puerto Rican cooking thanks to her parents, and learned to converse crazy thanks to her band of siblings. She is now working toward attaining a B.A. in Psychology at Trinity International University to better understand how to converse with the weirdoes and crazies of the world. (After all, she is one of them.) A self-proclaimed nerd and a book-a-holic (her room holds dozens of shelves with much evidence to prove that her claims are indeed true), she created TeamNerd Reviews along with her best friend, Bridget Strahin, to showcase their EXTREME love for all things book related.

She published her debut novel, Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy #1), in January 2013. The second novel, Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy #2) will be released on May 28, 2014. And the final installment in the Sons of Old Trilogy, Nephilim, will be out in Summer 2015.


Monday, August 25, 2014

Book Blitz: Pieces of Me by Kira Adams



Pieces of Me
by Kira Adams
Release Date: 08/11/14
 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg

Synopsis:

For sixteen year old Peyton Lane, life has never been easy. She’s not popular, overweight, and oh yeah, her sister is embarrassed of her. But over the course of a tumultuous year, everything changes for Peyton. 

Suddenly all eyes are on her and it’s not because she’s fat. From a pair of handsome twins to a couple of dangerously sexy rockers, Peyton will have to find out who she can trust with her heart. From the ups and downs to the twists and turns—this is Peyton’s story of finding one’s voice and growing into your own.

This is a coming of age romance that involves realistic situations and raw emotions. This is Pieces of Me.


Pieces Of Me
by Kira Adams

“Do I know you?” Jax asked, stumbling back and forth.
“We have like four classes together…and I’m pretty sure you and my sister had a thing freshman year,” I replied, positive he couldn’t have been drunk enough to forget I even existed…or could he?
“Oh.” He raised his eyebrows animatedly, his blue eyes twinkling. “Satan, right?”
“Excuse me?” I asked, shocked by his question.
“Your name—or at least that’s what your sister used to call you…” His lips curled up into an evil smile.
I let go of his arm, but stood my ground. “Why are you being like this? You invited me,” I whispered, looking down, my face burning up.
Jax obviously did not get the memo that we were being discreet, because his volume only seemed to increase, catching more attention than I would have liked. “I invited you? In what world?” He cackled like an evil villain and then turned his back to me, filling his cup up with beer.
My cheeks were growing redder by the minute, a combination of embarrassment and pure rage. He was the only reason I had even agreed to come. I knew I was an outsider; that I didn’t fit in with his crowd—but he was the one who convinced me that everything was going to be alright. “You’re seriously going to sit there and pretend like you didn’t invite me to this party twice?” It was hard not to be fuming.
He turned around slowly this time, sipping on his beer, a calculated look playing across his eyes. “Well you obviously can’t take a hint…I’m going to give you the best advice of your life…are you ready? Lay off the cupcakes fatty! I can get any girl in here, what would I want with a pig like you?”

I looked around and realized all eyes were on us; more importantly, me. Jax had just given them the reality TV bit they craved for the night. Tears were beginning to form at the corners of my eyes and I knew I didn’t have much time before the waterworks. “Peyton…” I heard my friends call after me. But it was drowned out by the noise of laughter. Jax was laughing hysterically at what he had just said to me, and the worst part about it? Everyone had joined in. Now all I heard as I ran and pushed my way through the crowd was oinks and laughs.


To see more Pieces of Me teasers, go here.



by Kira Adams

1. Beta readers are invaluable. One of the first things I did when I decided I wanted to write more seriously was join the site, Goodreads. There are hundreds of people on there who are interested in beta reading, and they all do it out of the kindness of their heart—asking for no monetary compensation. Each and every one of my books went through multiple rounds of beta readers who helped me address problems with the plot, flow, characterization, and even sometimes, spelling and grammar. I honestly believe if it were not for Goodreads and the beta readers help, I wouldn’t be the author I am today.

2. Where is the rush? I hastily made the decision to publish my first book after being fed up with my life in general—I would not recommend this. I missed minor formatting errors and settled for the story as it was even though I had inner doubts about it. Although thousands of readers were happy with the version that was published, I have already edited it once and will probably revise and update the published copies once more if I decide to delve back into the story. I also missed the opportunity to promote at all. Even though I have found book bloggers (and thank God for them), it is still very hard work. I would recommend taking your time to publish your novel.

This is the format I would follow if you are interested in self-publishing: Write the story, edit the story, have the story beta read, put the story away for a little bit of time to breathe while you begin something new, edit the story again, have it beta read one more time, edit it for the final time, format it for e-books and paperbacks, promote, promote, promote, publish.

3. Join online writing communities such as Wattpad, Figment, Authonomy, Scribophile, etc. Joining a site like Wattpad has been life-changing for me. It is a website that merges readers and aspiring writers with published authors and even agents sometimes. You are able to post your stories chapter by chapter and others have the opportunity to read, comment, and vote on your works as well as follow your profile and add your books to their libraries. There are also forums you can join that give advice on the ins and outs of the industry. A majority of the website is the younger generation, tweens and teens, however Wattpad is filled with aspiring writers and published authors of all backgrounds.

I joined the site in September 2013, and since then I have 645 followers, over 7000 votes, and upwards of 35,000 reads on some of my stories. Even though I have not and will not ever receive any monetary compensation from having my stories on Wattpad, I will be a lifer. I cannot tell you how much of a community it is and how supportive my followers have been for me as well as advice I’ve been given on improving my novels; I cannot say enough great things about Wattpad. I think I should be their mascot!

4. Your friends and family will come around. Don’t be offended if your friends and family don’t read your stories right away or even bother to buy them when they are released. Things to keep in mind, everyone has their own life and are busy living it—they will support you when they see the hard work. Also, factor in what genre you are writing in because not everyone will be interested in Young Adult or New Adult Romances.

5. If you have the opportunity to have a critiquing partner who will swap a few chapters at a time, TAKE IT. While beta readers can be helpful to no end, a critiquing partner can and will become passionate about your work; they will push you to write new chapters and even though they won’t go easy on you just because you’ve built a rapport, they will support you to no end.

6. Go with the flow. As much as I love outlines and have used them plenty of times in the past, I have always been a firm believer in writing what you feel is right in the moment. My stories with the biggest recognition have not been planned out, I believe that’s what kept the intensity building from start to finish. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with outlines, I am just saying if your gut is telling you to write something, don’t feel confined to your outline.

7. The ups and downs of Print-on-Demand. When I published my first two novels, I chose the website Createspace to help with the paperback copies I would be needing. I love how self-sufficient their website makes you feel and how quickly they can approve everything for publishing (within 24-48 hours). Pros: Createspace is very easy to use and navigate. Cons: The royalties are about 30% your book price, which in the grand scheme of things isn’t much.

8. You do not have to pay a fortune for a cover that could compete in the traditional publishing world, trust me. One of the best decisions I ever made was asking a peer on Wattpad to make my covers professionally for me; little did I know, she actually wanted to be a cover designer! I approached her and we worked out a 6-book deal for a VERY affordable price. She not only works with me to make sure I am satisfied in full, but she has a ridiculously fast turnaround. Sometimes it’s as quick as 24-hours. Her name is Emmy Logan and she is the creator of Cover Me Designs, do yourself a favor and check out some of her creations—you won’t regret it. 

9. Find Book Bloggers who review self-published titles. Reach out but be respectful, some of them may agree to review your book even though it doesn’t interest them. Be content and satisfied with each one that that takes the time. They are essentially who is going to help create buzz and build an audience for upcoming titles. 

10. If you do not want to deal with the hassle of formatting the eBook—DON’T. I’m not going to release her name in fear she may get too booked up for me to use her on future projects; but, I found a decent eBook formatter who gets it ready for both platforms, Epub and Mobi within a week or two for $20. Twenty dollars is nothing compared to the headaches and hours you’ll spend trying to get everything right. 


 photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png photo iconfacebook-32x32_zps64a79d4a.png
Krista Pakseresht has always been a dreamer. From the first time she opened her eyes. Creating worlds through words is one thing she is truly talented at. She specializes in Young adult/New adult romance, horror, action, fantasy, and non-fiction under the pen name Kira Adams.

She is the author of the Infinite Love series, the Foundation series, the Darkness Falls series, and the Looking Glass series.



$10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)




Book Blitz Organized by:


Thursday, June 5, 2014

Blog Tour: Dark Metropolis (Dark Metropolis #1) by Jaclyn Dolamore




Dark Metropolis (Dark Metropolis #1)
by Jaclyn Dolamore
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: June 17th 2014
 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg

Synopsis:

Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.


by Jaclyn Dolamore


One of the first things I think about when I write a book is the music to match! Dark Metropolis is based on 1920s Germany, so I listened to a lot of music from the period as well as music that captures a dark "modernist" sort of atmosphere. Here are 10 songs from the Dark Metropolis playlist. You can check out the songs on my Youtube playlist here!: 




1) Kanonensong from The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill

When thinking of music to accompany Dark Metropolis, The Threepenny Opera sprung to mind immediately. This was a German musical that frankly, just SOUNDS like it comes straight out of some smoky 1920s venue. Many of you may know one of its famous tunes "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer" in its American version, "Mack the Knife". I'd heard just a few songs from it myself before writing this book, but I bought the whole album and it's brilliant. It's hard to choose between the dark rollicking "Kanonensong" and some of the other great tunes like "Pirate Jenny" and "Alabama Song".


2) I, Robot by The Alan Parsons Project

"I, Robot", with its eerie choruses on an instrumental backdrop, definitely brings to mind factories and bustling modern streets of a 1920s-30s city.


3) Behm 5-Uhr-Tee Im Strandcafe

An actual recording of a cheerful little foxtrot from 1920s Germany, I can certainly imagine the characters dancing to this very tune! If only Freddy knew how to dance...


4) Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise) by David Bowie

One of the best David Bowie tracks (split into three songs on the album, but they really have to go together) from 1976, there is such a dark, brooding majesty to this that I feel just has the right mood for the book.


5) Boys Will Be Boys covered by Goldfrapp


This song just *screams* "Cabaret".


6) Fascinating Rhythm by Gershwin

I have a lot of dark, broody music on the playlist for Dark Metropolis, but I think Thea at her heart is a pretty sunny person (even if she doesn't have much chance to show it under circumstances!) and this song makes me think of her because it's so catchy and bouncy. Plus, it's just irresistible! I could listen to it a hundred times. Actually, maybe I have by now, considering how long I've been working on this book...


7) Bittersweet by Roxy Music

All my Facebook friends will know, I am OBSESSED with Roxy Music. My favorite band of all time by miles. So yeah, I try to work their music into a playlist whenever possible. This song has actually made me think "I want to write a dark 1920s book" since the first time I heard it. It's too perfect. As always, Bryan Ferry writes the soundtrack of my imagination.


8) Metropolis by Kraftwerk

It's by Kraftwerk, one of the most artsiest, Germaniest bands ever, and it's called Metropolis. Do I even have to explain why this is here?


9) Isolation by Joy Division

Another piece that just set the dark, modern mood for me.


10) The Original Soundtrack to Fritz Lang's Metropolis, by Gottfried Huppertz

I've actually listened to the entire soundtrack of the 1927 film Metropolis, which is like 2 hours long, quite a few times during the writing of the book. Seriously, half of what makes a movie good is the soundtrack, to me, and Metropolis has a really great one...the themes just feel so iconic.


Jaclyn Dolamore was homeschooled in a hippie sort of way and spent her childhood reading as many books as her skinny nerd-body could lug from the library and playing elaborate pretend games with her sister Kate. She skipped college and spent eight years drudging through retail jobs, developing her thrifty cooking skills and pursuing a lifelong writing dream. She has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives with her partner and plot-sounding-board, Dade, and two black tabbies who have ruined her carpeting.