Thursday, January 31, 2013

'Gilded Wings: The Angel Chronicles Book 2' Read Along Book Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Gilded Wings: The Angel Chronicles, Book 2 by Amy Lignor! Read about Amy's routine and then check out an exclusive excerpt from her book. You can follow the tour to read even more excerpts!

My Writing Routine

I get asked this question by bloggers, readers and more, who want to know what ‘routine’ I go by in order to create a novel. Well, my writing routine is its own kind of unique; all I need is an industrial fan and my dog. I know that sounds a little silly, but there are actual reasons for them both.

Getting the time to write is actually the hardest part of putting together a routine. Some days it feels like I need the whip of Indiana Jones in order to fight so I can sit in front of a computer for more than two minutes. But when I do succeed, I immediately turn on the huge fan that sits in the corner of the office. I lived in a big city for a long time and I’m used to noise. Unfortunately, I only need that noise. If anyone’s speaking - people, the cat, the television, the radio - I can’t write a word. I’m one of the few who actually need to be trapped inside my crazy mind in order to hear all the characters shouting out to me.

Needing the dog would seem to go against the whole ‘quiet’ rule. My dog, however, is a huge, gentle beast who spends most of his time lying beside me unless some type of food has just appeared from the oven. He’s the best editor in the world. I can bounce ideas off him and he looks really interested. His eyes get wide, his ears stand up straight (well…one does) and he cocks his head to the side. Either he really likes the path I’m taking with my characters, or he simply believes that every word in the English language means ‘treat.’

With the exception of the UPS man stopping by with boxes of books to review, the dog and I have a perfect relationship. However, when that brown truck with the horrific brakes that sound like a dolphin being squeezed in the jaws of, well…Jaws, my dog has a tendency to let out a high-pitched bark. If I’m typing when that occurs, whatever I haven’t saved ends up deleted when I fall forward from shock and land on the keyboard.

So…Fan on, check. Hair blowing like I’m caught in a jet engine, check. Reuben, the canine grizzly who is fed, watered, and sleeping soundly just waiting for that one harsh squeak that will allow him to kill me, check.

Then, and only then, can the writing begin.

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy


Gilded Wings Summary
The Beloved Angel-Warrior Team from Until Next Time Returns!

When Matt and Emily are sent on their second mission they have no idea how truly dark human nature can become...

Emily never wanted to face humans again. With the heartache that went on down below, she’s still trying to figure out how to save souls that don’t deserve saving. The only one she wants to see again is Jason - the young man she fell in love with who became the soulmate she simply can’t forget...

Matt was trained to protect and defend the souls down below. Longing to feel the heartfelt emotions that come from being human, Matt wants nothing more than to have just one life - one chance - to live and love the girl of his dreams...

The powerful team find themselves in a brand new century, living in the Gilded Age of New York City. Emily takes over the body of Anya, a young Russian girl who arrives on Ellis Island after a hideous tragedy. There she meets up with a strangely familiar young man by the name of Drew Parrish, who helps Anya survive in an unknown world of luxury, snobbery and…obsession.

What Anya’s inner angel doesn’t know is that the soul she loves is also back. This time around Jason goes by the name of Max Carrow. Once a quiet and kind boy, he’s now part of the ‘Four Hundred Club,’ and wants nothing more than to be among the most admired as he climbs the shaky ladder of society’s elite.

As two worlds merge, Emily and Matt struggle under the weight of their “Gilded Wings.” Not only will they have to figure out who they should fight to save, but they must also face a romantic choice that could destroy them both.
  
Read the exclusive excerpt:
Gregori grew bored with the conversation and began to babble endlessly about the western half of America. He rambled on about Billy—that kid—and Wyatt Earp, the lawman that Gregori wanted to meet with all his heart.

Mitchell’s smile grew wide as he told Gregori about the time he met a man by the name of Robert Ingersoll during one of his journeys to the West.

“I was building a railroad and we were headed to a small town by the name of Roswell, New Mexico. It’s far away from here, but a busy little town to say the least. On the train, Governor Lew Wallace sat next to me. You won’t know of him, seeing as that you just arrived, but he was the Governor of New Mexico at the time, Gregori. It was back...mercy...almost fifteen years ago now, when Max was just a little boy. You hadn’t even arrived yet, Myles.”

The boy giggled when his father tickled his side. “Tell us more! Was Billy the Kid there?”

Mitchell’s face changed, as if he was going back in time to sit on that train once more. “No. Actually, Ingersoll talked about religion the whole trip. He didn’t believe that a world full of sadness and despair could’ve been created by an entity who supposedly loved us all so much. He didn’t believe in eternal punishments; said there was no sin a man could commit that would be bad enough to make him live in eternal peril.”

Drew stared at him in fascination. “Did you correct him?”

“No. After all,” Mitchell said, turning to Anya with a smile. “Freedom is what this country was founded on. No one should be persecuted for what they believe in, or don’t believe in.”

Anya shook her head in wonder. “I am from a place, as Drew is, that understands there’s only one thing to believe. We do not have the freedom to speak of any other belief than the one that’s been with us for centuries. These beliefs are a part of us. They are worth fighting and dying for in our countries.”

Drew nodded from across the table as Mitchell sat back in his chair.

Anya searched for the right words so as not to offend the generous man at the head of the table. “But I agree with you that no one should be told what to believe, Mr. Carrow.”

“Mitchell,” he said, offering a warm smile.

“Sir,” she nodded. “But if you’re not willing to stand up for what you believe in, then what does America have?”

“I don’t understand,” Mitchell said, leaning his elbows on the table.

“Well, people can be allowed to search for something, but if they never find anything to believe in, I think that would be much worse. Some people do need guidance in these areas or they will grow up without hope and faith. Can you imagine what a generation like that would do?” Anya felt a shock go through her system, as if the strange light bulb above her head had sent electricity through her veins. “I believe that’s when men would start to think they were God, instead of listening to the One who truly is.”

“Well said,” Drew replied softly; he suddenly looked as if he was desperate to jump across the linen tablecloth, fall to his knees and ask Anya to believe in him for the rest of her life.

Mitchell sat back and smiled. “Yes, well said. But it’s a gray area, which,” he continued, turning back to the confused face of Gregori, “is the point of my story. Lew Wallace, the Governor of New Mexico, took this man’s words to heart and eventually wrote a book called Ben Hur. Some people hated it—some loved it, but the best thing that came out of it was that everyone was once again talking about the subject of faith. That, to me, is an amazing feat. Think about it. Pages of well-thought out words can bring together a whole country. They move the focus away from politics, business and money, to talk about a subject that we sometimes forget is there—where we came from and who’s watching over us.”

Anya was a little surprised at the serious tone of the conversation.


Buy links: Kindle \ Nook \ iBookstore \ Smashwords \ PDF
  
Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 Summary
How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart. 
Buy links: Kindle \ Nook \ iBookstore \ Smashwords \ PDF
Amy Lignor's Bio:
Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

The Angel Chronicles: Website \ Facebook 
Follow Amy Lignor: Facebook \ Twitter \ Website \ Blog \ Goodreads 

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Guest Post by M. M. Shelley, Author of 'Murder on Mars (A New Orleans Mystery)'


Thank you for hosting this stop on my Murder on Mars (A New Orleans Mystery) book tour!

Murder on Mars, a mystery suspense begins with sixteen year old Ava Lopez arriving in New Orleans after learning that a good friend of hers has disappeared. She begins to track him down by piecing together what he had been doing the last few days before he had gone missing, discovering a hidden world within the city.

I visited New Orleans one summer in August and found it to be a charming place. During the short time I was there I heard some of the most amazing music. I knew that when I began working on Murder on Mars I had to feature this and I worked on capturing the mood and feel of what I was lucky enough to hear while I was in town.

I wrote three characters into my story with the purpose of using them to convey what I had learned. Each of them had different backgrounds and stories of their own who came together to form their band. While I was in New Orleans I learned music was something to be learned and to be shared, music was life.

Young Adult Paranormal Suspense

Title: Murder on Mars (A New Orleans Mystery)
Author: M.M. Shelley

A paranormal force has lured Ava to New Orleans, where shadows lurk behind every corner and an unknown power has yet to be unleashed. There is a darkness in New Orleans, one that has brought sixteen year old Ava Lopez to the city in search of her best friend, Dyson. A dark crime has been committed, and there are supernatural forces involved. Three sisters who whisper "fate" are awaiting the arrival of the Guardian. Shadow People fiercely haunt the city, unchallenged, but Ava senses that Dyson may be involved with their crimes. She must discover the secret that the Shadows are so determined to keep hidden. Ava will have to risk everything, because where the Fates are concerned there are no second chances.

Read an excerpt:

Ava caught the red eye into New Orleans Louisiana; it was the earliest flight she could make out of New York City. If it had been for anyone other than Dyson there would have been no way she would have dropped everything she was doing to fly out to New Orleans. She had never given the city much thought before; Dyson had mentioned it briefly to her once before saying that his great aunt Caroline lived in the Garden District and from time to time he would visit and stay with her.
Dyson was Ava’s closest friend; in fact at times he was her only friend. She had met Dyson in the first grade. Ava had transferred from a school in Los Angeles, California and it had seemed that before she arrived everyone had heard the stories of her father; they all knew who she was and who her father was. Her fellow students couldn’t wait to tease and ridicule her, everyday they would find a new way to torture her in class or in the halls.
Ava wore her black hair in a pony tail which placed her widow’s peak on prominent display; her classmates would say that she looked like Eddie Munster. They also teased her mercilessly about the cleft in her chin and every time they did she had turned her nose up at them. They had also liked to call her Lupus, because her last name was Lopez. And at the lunch table they would sit next to her and poke at her food so she couldn’t eat.
Through it all she would pretend that everything they did to her didn’t affect her, she never reacted, and she kept her feelings to herself; never letting them see her cry.
They soon began calling her the ‘ice princess’ because of her lack of reaction and because of the glares she would send their way if she found something annoying or not to her liking. Ava had mastered the art of looking down her nose at someone and it made them feel small, so, finally the other students gave up and moved on to easier targets.
Dyson had never been one of the ones who had teased her; in fact he had kept his distance from her. One morning as she sat in a swing at the end of a school day waiting to be picked up from school, Dyson walked over and sat in the swing next to her.
He told her that his car was late; that his parents were in town and whenever they were the car was always late. He took out some licorice and offered her some. Ava was a bit hesitant but helped herself to a piece. Before she took a bite she waited for him to take one; it was to make sure there was nothing wrong with it.
As his car arrived a window in the back seat rolled down and a woman peered out shouting at him to hurry up and get into the car. Dyson took his time as he handed Ava the rest of the licorice before turning his sharp blue eyes onto his mother. He wore his blonde hair in a disheveled mess just to irritate her and he ran his hand through it for good measure before he kicked up loose dirt spraying rocks at the car. The gravel hit both the car and his mother. Dyson ran along the car and got in on the passenger side, choosing to sit next to the driver rather than with his mother.
Ava sat on her swing and watched in bewilderment, a smile slowly found its way onto her face. Her father never picked her up from school, he couldn’t as he lived back home in Los Angeles. He knew how the school and the other parents felt about him, the only reason he sent Ava to school so far away was to give her a better life away from the one he was living, at least that’s what he told her time and again, but she knew better.
Her mother Lucia had died shortly after Ava was born on January twenty third; Lucia was beautiful, she had long thick black hair and green eyes. Ava had inherited her mothers’ dark hair but everything else came from her father, Martin.
Ava and Dyson were now attending school at Clairman’s Academy, only Dyson hadn’t return from his spring break trip from New Orleans. The last few weeks before he had left Dyson had been acting oddly; as he kept to himself and he was on his phone constantly either receiving texts or phone calls. No matter how many times Ava hounded him he wouldn’t say what they were about.
And then she got a call from Felix telling her she needed to get to New Orleans as soon as possible. He wouldn’t say why.
Felix was a friend of Dyson’s; one Ava had met a few times when Felix had been in New York. He was easy to talk to and he had a friendly laugh, that was the first thing she thought of when she heard his voice over the phone, his laugh. It was catchy and easy on the ears; he had a way of making anyone feel welcomed.
If Dyson was in any kind of trouble she would be there for him as he had been there for her. He had been the one she had turned to after the murder of her father.
Ava closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the head rest of her seat. She didn’t want to think about that day, she forced it back into the darkest part of her mind and swiftly popped in her earphones to listen to the in-flight movie, hopefully it would help her get some sleep. It was a romantic comedy, she hated those, they were all the same just different actors, but she would rather watch that than let her mind wonder to places she would rather it didn’t. She opened her eyes just as the male actor who had dreamy bedroom eyes and a lazy smile ask his lady love for a dance. She agreed and quickly melted into his arms. Ava yanked the earphones out and pushed the button for the flight attendant who came by. She seemed to have a smile permanently pressed onto her face. The flight was full, first class was sold out, which left Ava in coach.
Ava didn’t wait for her to speak as she quickly said, “I need a Pepsi.” The flight attendant nodded her head and left at a brisk pace. Fortunately Ava had the aisle seat, nothing worse than being stuck at the window and having to climb over people if she needed to step out. She pulled out her laptop and lowered the tray. The attendant returned with her drink, and Ava signed into her account after paying the charge for the use of WI-FI.
The flight was a good three hours and she arrived after four a.m. Even though it was early there was a live band playing near baggage claim. The band was exuberant and soulful at the same time; it was their way of welcoming visitors into their city. Ava paused for a moment to listen, she loved music, but unfortunately couldn’t play any type of instrument or sing for that matter, but she did admire those who were able to. She dropped a twenty dollar bill into a black hat as she made her way out of baggage claim and to the taxi stand.
There was a tall slim man leaning against a cab and as she neared he seemed to become excited, probably because he was about to get a fare so early in the morning. He pushed against the cab and stepped forward offering his help with her luggage. She had three bags with her; a large suit case, a carry on and her laptop bag which she wore strapped across her body.
Even though she was only sixteen years old Ava looked older, maybe it was because she was a fan of make-up and fashion. Fashion was a way for her to escape and pretend she was someone else, she went through many looks during her years at Clairmans Academy, and at times her looks might have been outrageous, but they were fun none the less.
She was dressed in a pair of trim black pants that hugged her curves and a silk blouse that was form fitted, her coat was dark grey a mix of a military cut with ruffles on the back just above the hem.
“Where are we going?” he asked her as he stowed her luggage in the trunk. Before she could open the passenger door he had whisked around her to open her door, and waved her into the cab.
“Le Pavillon Hotel,” she said as she took a seat.


Buy links: Paperback \ Kindle

Author Bio:
M.M. Shelley is a storyteller, word smith and dreamer. She has traveled the world extensively in search of the magic which is often overlooked in every day life. M.M. Shelley is a native of southern California, and a student of mythology from which she gets much inspiration. 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

'Love & War (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles)' Blitz!

Love & War (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles: Book 1)

Author Name: Jennifer Malone Wright
Genre: YA paranormal
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: December 2012
Formats Available:  in Ebook only
Word Count: 24,629


Blurb/Book Description:

A war is brewing between the hunters and the vampires and Chloe is determined to strike against the vampires before they have a chance to attack the hunter community.

While Chloe tries to convince the hunter community, and most especially tries to convince Drew, that they should move against the vampires first instead of waiting for an attack, the group of new friends—Oscar, Alice, Drew, Chloe and Christina—are distracted by news reports of a vigilante who is saving innocent humans against what can only be vampire attacks. Fearing this vigilante will cause unwanted attention that will expose the vampire-hunter community with each person he rescues, the group attempts to discover who this mysterious potential vampire hunter is.

When they catch up with him, the group learns a shocking revelation that might just change everything for everyone in Arcadia Falls, but will have the most profound impact on Chloe herself.

The Arcadia Falls Chronicles is the continuation of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter. Following the format of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter, The Arcadia Falls Chronicles is serialized into several novella-length stories.

Read an excerpt:
Christina turned me around so I could look in the mirror.
"You look like you’re five years older now, at the very least."
She packed all her things into her bag. She had changed, too, and now her outfit consisted of a tight black dress with short sleeves and lots of zippers. Surprisingly, it did not look as slutty as I thought it might: One zipper for the whole dress and two pocket zippers on the hips, along with two pocket zippers on the breasts. She had on a pair of insanely tall high-heeled black boots. Her normally straight dark hair was done in full, bouncing curls.
Alice, who had picked out a blue-jean skirt and a shimmery white tank top that hung loose down over her hips, eyed Christina curiously. "How can you wear heels all the time? Isn’t it hard to fight with them on?"
Christina zipped her bag shut. "Nope."
"Well, where do you keep your weapons?"
With a slightly annoyed tilt of her head, Christina turned to face Alice and lifted her skirt to show us her thighs.
"First of all, I have these."
She had a knife, sheathed and strapped to each thigh.
"Then there are the guns, knives and pepper spray in my bag, and this," she reached into her boot and extracted another large knife. "There is always a place to keep a weapon. Hunter Girl 101."
**My thoughts**

I loved The Vampire Hunter's Daughter series, and I am already in love with its follow-up series! A storm is brewing and Chloe is preparing to battle! Her struggle is convincing everyone else to follow in her footsteps.  She has really been coming into her own, emerging as a strong leader even as the newbie in her community.

Her relationship with Drew is put to the test. Some fans have been asking themselves Drew or Gavin? You will have to decide on which team you wish to be. (I am Team Drew!)

She also discovers something about herself and meets some new people who will have a profound impact on her life. What kinds of problems are they going to cause? 

All of these new revelations suck you in to the story, once again. I read it in less than an hour, as I did each installment of the first series. The ending will leave you clamoring for more! I was thrilled with what I read and am already antsy for the follow-up! 

Buy links: Amazon \ B&N 

Get hooked on The Vampire Hunter's Daughter. The first installment is always FREE! Check it out here.

Author Bio:

Jennifer Malone Wright resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children. Between the craziness of taking care of her children, whose ages range from sixteen all the way down to two years old, and being a homemaker, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on freelance work or her beloved fiction.

When she grew up, Jennifer always had her nose in a book. She has been writing stories and poems since grade school. This love of the written word and her strong interest in the paranormal is what has led to her first novel “The Birth of Jaiden.”

In addition to being a mother and homemaker, Jennifer is also a very proud military wife. Moving around the country for the last ten years has made her a bit of a nomad and she finds it difficult to be in one place for too long.

Author web links: 
Website: www.jenniferwrightauthor.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thevampirehuntersdaughter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennichad217
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4824985.Jennifer_Malone_Wright
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Malone-Wright/e/B00508KU4I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Find out more about Jennifer Malone Wright and read another excerpt from Love & War here.

'Focus (The Crescent Chronicles)' Facebook Event 1/31



Freshman year of college is hard even when you're not tied to the future king of a supernatural society.

Allie dives into college head first with Hailey as her roommate and the city of New Orleans as her backyard. As things within The Society heat up, Allie realizes that whether she's with Levi or not, she's in far too deep to turn back.

Book Two of The Crescent Chronicles.





Buy links: Amazon / B&N



Come join Release Day Diva and Alyssa Rose Ivy Thursday January 31st for an amazing New Orleans themed event! We have tons of amazing games and prizes planned!


 
Hope to see you all there!!







Brought to you by the Release Day Diva

Monday, January 28, 2013

Cover Reveal: 'The Fallen Stars' by Stephanie Keyes



"Imaginative and fast-paced. Couldn't put it down!" - E.G. Foley, New York Times Bestselling author of The Gryphon Chronicles

"This well-written and intriguing fantasy was a delight to read. I can't wait to read the second novel in this series!" - Linn B. Halton, author Never Alone on The Star Child by Stephanie Keyes






Coming soon...the much anticipated sequel: The Fallen Stars:

When all is lost, he will have to make the ultimate decision.


Kellen St. James was just your average seventeen-year-old prodigy, until he eighty-sixed the Lord of Faerie and proposed to a Celtic goddess. Now everything in Kellen’s life gets turned upside-down when Calienta, Kellen, and friend, Gabriel Stewart, find themselves on the run from a seriously irritated group of faeries. The worst part? They have zero idea why.
Suddenly, Kellen finds himself stuck in the middle of another prophecy that questions everything about him including where his loyalties lie. Plus, Calienta’s more than a bit different; she’s making choices that he doesn’t understand. And Gabe, his best friend? He’s started doing all sorts of freaky things that make Kellen question who he really is.
Kellen and Calienta will fight to stay together and keep the hidden part of the prophecy from becoming reality.

When the ultimate power is within reach, which side will he choose?

Release Date: 12-April-2013, Genre: YA Paranormal Romance



Sounds good? If you liked Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, Need by Carrie Jones, or Fallen by Lauren Kate, you will love this book!

About the author:

Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. Today, she’s still doing the same thing, except now she puts those ideas down on paper.
When she’s not writing Stephanie is also a graphic designer, presenter, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she’s best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years.
Keyes is the author of The Star Child YA Fantasy series, which currently includes The Star Child and The Fallen Stars. She is currently hard at work on the third book in the trilogy.



Interested in joining the blog tour from 6-Apr? Click here to register!


Giveaway (Open to US, UK and Canada)
1 wired star bookmark, 3 Star Child (Book 1) ebooks and 5 The Fallen Stars eBooks
 
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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Interview with Diane Vanaskie Mulligan, Author of 'Watch Me Disappear'


Today, I would like to welcome author Diane Mulligan to the blog. The author of 'Watch Me Disappear' is here to give us more insight into herself and into her debut novel. Thanks for stopping by!

What was the inspiration for 'Watch Me Disappear'?

Watch Me Disappear grew from a writing prompt I did with my students in a creative writing club. I always did the exercises with my students, and one day the prompt was to write a scene in which a character eavesdrops on someone. That became the opening of the novel.

Which character spoke to you the most during the writing process?

Lizzie is the character who is most like me, but I was really interested in Patty Morgan, Lizzie’s neighbor and the mother of Maura, a troubled young woman who Lizzie befriends. Somewhere around the middle of the second draft, I actually considered starting over and having multiple point-of-view characters just so I could explore Patty’s point of view, because I wanted to learn more about her and her choices as a parent, but I quickly realized that would be a much different book, and I decided to stick with my original scheme. Still, as someone who meets a lot of parents of teenagers and sees a lot of different parenting styles, I am interested in the relationships between teens and parents, and it’s something I’ll definitely be exploring more.

If you could turn your book into a movie, which actors would you choose to play each part?
This is a hard question for me because I’m really bad at actors and actresses. I guess for Maura I’d pick Chloe Moretz, who played the teenage daughter in Dark Shadows. For Missy, Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter Movies. For Lizzie—this is the hardest one, because she’s not supposed to be the pretty, Hollywood type—but I think I’d pick Abigail Breslin. Paul is the easiest one: Logan Lerman from The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

How does your teaching career help you with your writing?

Teaching helps me with my writing in so many ways. First of all, to teach great works of literature, I have to study them. The best way to learn how to write is to read a lot, and to go one step further: Dissect the books you read to understand craft. Second, my students inspire me to keep writing. The best thing about working with teens is being around people who are so full of big dreams. A lot of adults seem to forget the dreams of their youth, but seeing kids look starry-eyed into the future helps me remember the kid that I was, and also makes me want to keep my dreams alive. I don’t want to be a role model of resignation. Rather, I want my students to see that you can grow and have a regular job and a nice life without giving up on your dreams. The two things aren’t mutually exclusive.

What is one of your most memorable moments teaching or in your after school writing club?
One moment that comes to mind is from my third year teaching. I was sitting in my homeroom, which was in another teacher’s classroom, because I hadn’t yet gotten a classroom of my own. A student I taught the previous year came in looking for me. He was a senior at that point and incredibly bright—certainly with more native intelligence than me. When he was in my class, I often thought he seemed bored, and honestly I didn’t think he cared much for the class, so when he came into the room, I assumed he was looking for the other teacher, since that teacher works mostly with seniors. Instead, he handed me an envelope and left. In the envelope was a letter he had written to me thanking me for junior English class. He wrote that he had never been interested in writing before that class, but the assignments I had given had inspired him and helped him find his voice, and he intended to study English in college. It was a very humbling reminder that we often have no idea of the effect we have on our students.

Who was your most influential teacher?
My most influential teacher was probably my high school art teacher, Mr. Sykes. I took two art classes with him—freshman year and senior year—and I was in the art club for four years. What stands out my memories of art class was how positive and encouraging Mr. Sykes always was. He really believed in me.

What other projects do you have in the works?
Right now I’m on a third draft of my next novel, which is mainstream fiction. It’s been three years in the works so far, but I think this year it’ll be done. You can watch my blog for details!

If you could be any character in a book, which would you choose?
I think I would be Hermione Granger. Not very original, right? But Hermione is awesome! She’s smart, brave, and cute.

What are you reading right now?
Right now I’m reading A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin, which is the third book in the “Song of Fire and Ice” series, better known as “A Game of Thrones” thanks to the HBO series. It’s a great indulgence to read. I can’t put it down.

What is something readers may be surprised to learn about you?
I think people always expect me to be much more girly than I am. I like shoes and makeup as much as the next gal, but I’m utterly disinterested in things like home décor. If it weren’t for my husband, the décor of my house would probably be Shaker simplicity, because I hate dusting and I have no time for arranging knick-knacks.

Anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for having me! Fun questions!


Author Bio:
Diane Vanaskie Mulligan began writing Watch Me Disappear during an after-school writing club she moderates for high school students. This is her first novel. She holds a BA in American Studies from Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s degree in teaching from Simmons College. When she isn’t teaching or writing, she’s the managing editor at The Worcester Review and the director of The Betty Curtis Worcester County Young Writers’ Conference You can also find her occasionally strumming her guitar and singing at various bars in central Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband.

New Adult

Title: Watch Me Disappear
Author: Diane Vanaskie Mulligan
Date Published: 8/2012


Lizzie Richards isn’t excited to be starting over at a new school for her senior year, but she’s trying to take her mother’s advice and make the most of it—the only way she can:  By disobeying her strict parents’ rules. Lizzie’s father has moved the family around every few years to advance his career, so she has never had a chance to develop the kind of “BFF” relationships she thinks most kids have. She’s bracing herself for another lonely year at her third high school when her neighbor Maura gets sick of watching her little brother when she could be partying. Thanks to Maura’s plotting, Lizzie becomes everyone’s new favorite babysitter. Seeing her opportunity, Lizzie decides to break her mother’s rules by using Maura’s computer to create a secret Email address and Facebook account. She is quickly friended by Missy, a fellow transfer student as eager for a friend as she is. Things are looking up for Lizzie until Maura’s ex-boyfriend Paul sets his eye on Missy. Caught between her new best friend and the neighbor whose friendship promises instant popularity, Lizzie doesn’t know what to do—because she’s fallen for Paul, too.

Buy links: Paperback \ Kindle \ Smashwords \ CreateSpace \ Kobo \ Sony eBook Store \ Diesel eBook Store \ B&N 


January 14 - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet
January 15 - Magical Manuscripts - Review
January 16 - Lov Liv Life Reviews - PROMO
January 17 - Mom With a Kindle - Interview/PROMO
January 18 - Addicted to YA Books - Review
January 19 - Snifferwalker - Review
January 20 - My Cozie Corner - Review
January 21 - Lovely Reads - PROMO
January 22 - Queen of All She Reads - Review
January 23 - Comfort Books - Interview/PROMO
January 24 - A Thousand Lives - Review
January 25 - My Devotional Thoughts- PROMO
January 26 - Book Briefs - Review/Interview
January 27 - Andi's YA Books - Review/Interview
January 28 - Books For Me - Review
January 28 - Sweet Southern Home - Interview/PROMO
January 29 - Oh, The Books You'll Read - Review
January 29 - My Neurotic Book Affair - Review
January 30 - Above Average, Below Special - Review
January 31 - Getting Your Read On - Review
February 1 - A Bibliophiles Thoughts - Review
February 2 - My Bookmark Blog - Review
February 3 - Books and Needlepoint - Review/Interview
February 4 - Reading With Anacrasia - Interview/PROMO

GIVEAWAY:
3 $10 Amazon gift cards to randomly drawn commenters! Follow the tour for more chances to win!

'Watch Me Disappear' Book Tour & Review


New Adult

Title: Watch Me Disappear
Author: Diane Vanaskie Mulligan
Date Published: 8/2012


Lizzie Richards isn’t excited to be starting over at a new school for her senior year, but she’s trying to take her mother’s advice and make the most of it—the only way she can:  By disobeying her strict parents’ rules. Lizzie’s father has moved the family around every few years to advance his career, so she has never had a chance to develop the kind of “BFF” relationships she thinks most kids have. She’s bracing herself for another lonely year at her third high school when her neighbor Maura gets sick of watching her little brother when she could be partying. Thanks to Maura’s plotting, Lizzie becomes everyone’s new favorite babysitter. Seeing her opportunity, Lizzie decides to break her mother’s rules by using Maura’s computer to create a secret Email address and Facebook account. She is quickly friended by Missy, a fellow transfer student as eager for a friend as she is. Things are looking up for Lizzie until Maura’s ex-boyfriend Paul sets his eye on Missy. Caught between her new best friend and the neighbor whose friendship promises instant popularity, Lizzie doesn’t know what to do—because she’s fallen for Paul, too.

**My thoughts**

I really liked this book. I felt sorry for Lizzie. Her parents are way overly strict, not allowing her the chance to do much to be a normal teenager. They make it difficult for her to make any friends or to fit in at her new school. The one person they deem appropriate for her to hang out with is the last person with whom she should be friends. It's no wonder she finally begins to rebel a little bit.

Lizzie has a hard time sorting out her real feelings about her relationships with her new friends. It is no wonder, because you just don't know whom you can trust. Teenager relationships can really suck and are extremely complicated. She gets burned a few times, even if people didn't mean to do it. These situations are very realistic, and the teens' responses to the happenings in their lives ring true. The book is well written, especially for a debut novel. 

Author Bio:
Diane Vanaskie Mulligan began writing Watch Me Disappear during an after-school writing club she moderates for high school students. This is her first novel. She holds a BA in American Studies from Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s degree in teaching from Simmons College. When she isn’t teaching or writing, she’s the managing editor at The Worcester Review and the director of The Betty Curtis Worcester County Young Writers’ Conference You can also find her occasionally strumming her guitar and singing at various bars in central Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband.

Follow the Virtual Book Tour January 14 - February 4

January 14 - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet
January 15 - Magical Manuscripts - Review
January 16 - Lov Liv Life Reviews - PROMO
January 17 - Mom With a Kindle - Interview/PROMO
January 18 - Addicted to YA Books - Review
January 19 - Snifferwalker - Review
January 20 - My Cozie Corner - Review
January 21 - Lovely Reads - PROMO
January 22 - Queen of All She Reads - Review
January 23 - Comfort Books - Interview/PROMO
January 24 - A Thousand Lives - Review
January 25 - My Devotional Thoughts- PROMO
January 26 - Book Briefs - Review/Interview
January 27 - Andi's YA Books - Review/Interview
January 28 - Books For Me - Review
January 28 - Sweet Southern Home - Interview/PROMO
January 29 - Oh, The Books You'll Read - Review
January 29 - My Neurotic Book Affair - Review
January 30 - Above Average, Below Special - Review
January 31 - Getting Your Read On - Review
February 1 - A Bibliophiles Thoughts - Review
February 2 - My Bookmark Blog - Review
February 3 - Books and Needlepoint - Review/Interview
February 4 - Reading With Anacrasia - Interview/PROMO

GIVEAWAY:
3 $10 Amazon gift cards to randomly drawn commenters! Follow the tour for more chances to win!