Getting To Know Author Of The Angel Eyes Trilogy, Shannon Dittemore

Today, the ultra cool and fabulous author, Shannon Dittemore is in the house! I have 9 questions for her, (because 9 is funner than 10) but first, I want to show you guys the cover for the third installment of her Angel Eyes trilogy, Dark Halo, which is available August 20th. Squeal!!!!! Isn't it GORGEOUS?!?!?!

Okay, now let's get down to the business of learning more about Shannon....
1.    If you could be any book character, who would you pick?

HUGE question! Well, let’s just acknowledge here that the world of Harry Potter would be very hard to resist if given the opportunity. So, let’s go with Hermione. Elizabeth Bennett would also be a fun choice, though the restroom deficiencies back in the day would have been quite the hassle! There are a lot of other heroines I adore, but what makes them heroic is all the tragedy they have to overcome and I’m not sure I’d wish that on myself! 

2.    What’s the best perk about being a writer?

The stories! I get to make stuff up for a living. That’s hard to beat. And the reading. I get to read YOUR STUFF and the imaginings of other writers I adore as a work requirement. When my nose is stuck in a book and the husband hollers, “You gonna do these dishes?” I get to call back, “Nope, sorry. Working!” We’ve put out ads for house elves, but thus far . . .

3.    Since I’m a huge fan of Angel Eyes and Broken Wings, I want to know how in the world you thought of all the rocktastic elements? Do you have a special writing process, or do you just dive in and see where the characters take you?

Thank you, lady. It’s incredibly satisfying to have readers who’d go to bat for your stories and I can’t thank you enough for doing that. How did I come up with the rocktastic elements? I’m glad you think they’re rocktastic! Mostly I just let my noggin do its thing. Because I’m a preacher’s brat and because I love the Bible, I’ve grown up with a biblical foundation of the invisible world. To let my imagination do its thing with truths I cherish was a very natural thing for me to do. Getting it all down on paper was the challenge.  

4.    Guilty pleasure?

Duck Dynasty? Does that count? Or maybe Disneyland. We did season passes last year and while I was ready for a year off, I’m now going through withdrawals. I miss the magic!

5.   If your stories are made into a movie, what actors do you envision as Jake and Brielle?

Easy peazy! For Brielle, I’d cast Elle Fanning. She could absolutely be a ballerina and her acting chops are stellar for someone so young. By the time we convince some big studio to make Angel Eyes into a movie, she might be the right age!

For Jake, I’d love to see Thomas Dekker. I’ve been fascinated with him since he played John Conner on Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles. It’s his eyes, I think.

I do have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to the Angel Eyes trilogy. It’s a rather addicting way to brainstorm (and procrastinate). You can see my other casting choices and images here: pinterest.com/shanditty

6.    Let’s pretend you’ve crossed over into the business of world domination—what’s the first thing you’d change about the universe?

I’d give everyone Brielle’s eyes! A way to see the invisible. Oh, and everyone would get wings too. I mean, that’s just fair.

7.    I know you’re tight lipped about your projects while you’re working on them, but could you give us a hint about what’s stored on your flash drive right now?

I actually have a handful of WIPs started. I’m trying my hand at different genres and with different characters. I do have one story of the bunch that I’m committed to finishing. It involves a shamed academic, a mystical staircase, and a girl determined to unravel a family secret. Pray for me! I’d like to get this bad boy done by fall.

8.    If you could be anywhere in the world, where would you be?

Right now? I could do with a sandy beach and a big fat book. Or a sailboat! I would love to be on a sailboat. Or Disneyland. I know. I know. I’m working on it.

9.    In your stories, you write a lot about fear. I’m scared of cows! What are you afraid of?

COWS? That’s awesome. Now, don’t laugh, but as fascinated as I am with flying things, I’m actually terrified of birds. Especially the little ones. They’re so erratic and unpredictable. I rather like the plodding walk of the elephant. I know just what HE’S going to do, but those tiny birds? They’re impossible to predict.

  For more info on Shannon, click on the links below.

Shannon's website

Shannon's Facebook page

Shannon's Pinterest page

Shannon's author page on Amazon

I hope you guys enjoyed learning about Shannon as much as I have! Until the next time, happy writing or whatever makes you smile. :)

Sweetest Blogger Award

Hello!

 

I feel special because somebody thinks I'm sweet!

 

 From Elizabeth Seckman I received the Sweetest Blogger Award!

These questions are a piece of cake!

 

1. What is my favorite dessert? Any kind of cheesecake! Yummy, yum, yum!

2. Cake or ice cream? You can't make me choose, I won't do it! :p

3. When do you like desserts best? Right now! Excuse me while I munch!

4. Which do I prefer- cookies or cake? Why must you be so evil? It's a crime against all things sugary to make me choose, but I suppose, I'll go with cake.

5. Chocolate or vanilla? I'm amazed every time this question is asked because everybody knows 

chocolate is boss!

Now, I shall pass the Sweetest Blogger Award to Tina Moss

And that's all I have, so until the next time, happy writing or whatever makes you smile. :)

They're Naked!!!!!

Hey! Happy Wednesday!

So last night, while watching Discovery Channel, previews for this, Naked and Afraid popped up! First off, who in the H would sign on for this?!?! Is it just me, or has the world gone bat $&@# crazy?!?! I mean, it would be one thing if the contestants at least had nice rumps. Nope. Instead, on the commercial, it was a sea of flat, shriveled butts. Even my daughter, who was perched next to me and is too young to see bare-@$$ed adults, actually made a gagging noise at the sight, and she squealed, "Look, Mom! They're naked!"

To say the least, it's shocking what networks will do to pump up their ratings, and I can only imagine the tribulations those idiots will face while running around in the wilderness in the buff. Are you guys following me? Think of all the body parts that could get hung on thorn bushes if one of those contestants has to run from a bear, tiger, or ,wild boar? Since it's the Discovery Channel, you can bet every rabid animal known to man will be tossed into the arena, right?

I could expound on this, but do I really need to? Nope, because your brains are already spinning. Before I leave you guys with all the lovely images I've conjured, I want to take a vote. How many of you guys think we should start the bets? I say we make a list of all the worst possible scenarios, and the person who gets the most right wins a prize! Really, think about how many tally-whackers will be surgically removed or sewn back on by the end of the season? The possibilities are endless!!!!

Okay, over and out. Until next time, happy writing or whatever makes you smile. :)

Roxanna Rose And Desires

 Hey!

 Today, I'm happy to shine a light on Roxanna Rose, a California native with a deep connection to her Ulster heritage. Fascinated by myths and legends from cultures around the world, she enjoys creating young adult, urban fantasy & paranormal novels steeped in their mysteries. Desires: A Legacy Novel is the first in a series based on Celtic myths & legends. Malevolence: A Legacy Novel will be released later this year along with She Who Watches, an urban fantasy novel based on the Native American legend, and Sacrifices will be released in 2014. Roxanna divides most of her time between her writing and her career as a veterinary technician and wildlife rehabilitator. 

  The cover art for all three books is by fantasy artist Julie Fain and the interior’s Celtic art is by acclaimed artist Jen Delyth.

 

Passion, betrayal, malevolence, and magic conjured from the depths of ancient Irish legends comes to life in this story about Eléan. Created by the ancient Celtic God, Dagda to please his beloved daughter, Brighid and gifted with a spark of her soul; Eléan is given the task of living in the mortal realm while being relentlessly hunted in a deadly desire for Otherworldly vengeance. She must control her legacy and save the immortal soul that lives within her.

 

Liam and James have been friends…brothers…since they were children. Now the Otherworld has been released into the Mortal Realm and it’s coming for Eléan, a woman they both love and would die to protect. Will it destroy them or will they find the strength to fight what’s coming?

 

Forced into the service of the Goddess Morrigan, Greagoir must be the vessel for her uncontrollable lust and killing rage. Eléan is the key to his freedom. All that stands in his way are two mortal warriors gifted by a goddess and a young woman’s desire to survive.

I hope you all enjoyed today's author spotlight! Until next time, happy writing or whatever makes you smile. :)

Mina's Bookshelf: SEBASTIAN FALLS by Celeste Holloway - Review and ...

Mina's Bookshelf: SEBASTIAN FALLS by Celeste Holloway - Review and ...: Kindle version (paperback, 300 pages) Published May 19, 2013 by World Castle Publishing Genre: urban fantasy, young adults, paranorma...

How To Date A Nerd Cover Reveal

Today, I'm queuing the drum roll for a spectacular cover reveal! Scroll down for thoughts from author, Cassie Mae, on her latest writing adventures! Take it away, Cassie!


And yes, I came off really braggy, but I love this cover so much. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect one.

Okay, and if you are reading my babbles here instead of just scrolling to the cover, I know most of you have followed my journey with HOW TO DATE A NERD and know just how big a deal this is for me to get it out there to everyone. It's scheduled right now for a September release, and here's to hoping I don't lose my mind waiting :) And I want to thank all of you for the support you've shown me in the past two years since I started blogging. Nerd wouldn't have been queried, wouldn't have even been written without my bloggy buddies and their support. So THANK YOU! This is the one that started it all :)

Here's the blurby thinger and my author stuff. :)

Zoe has a great pair of legs, perky boobs, and wears exactly what she needs to show it all off. She works hard for the easy sleazy ‘you only wish you were me’ reputation, burying who she really is—an all-out nerd.

The only time Zoe gets to be herself is when she hides under her comforter to read X-Men comics, sending jealousy stabs at everyone who attends Comic-Con. Keeping up her popular rep is too important, and she’s so damn insecure to care about the consequences. But when Zoe’s sister takes her car for a ‘crash and burn into a tree’ joyride, her parents get her a replacement. A manual. Something she doesn’t know how to operate, but her next door neighbor Zak sure as heck does.

Zak’s a geek to the core, shunned by everyone in school for playing Dungeons and Dragons at lunch and wearing “Use the Force” t-shirts. And Zoe’s got it bad for the boy. Only Zak doesn’t want Popular Zoe. He wants Geek Zoe.

She has to shove her insecurities and the fear of dropping a few rungs on the social ladder aside to prove to Zak who she really is and who she wants to be… if she can figure it out herself.

Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. She’s the author of the Amazon Bestseller REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND, and is the debut author for the Random House FLIRT line with her New Adult novels FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI and PULLING THE SWITCH. She also has a three book deal with Swoon Romance Publishing, including her book HOW TO DATE A NERD. She spends her time with her angel children and perfect husband who fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

And now, the reveal. *plays dramatic music*

 

*squee!*

Spell for you guys today (because I'm just so happy!)

EXPECTO PATRONUM!

Cassie Mae Author of Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend Friday Night Alibi to be released July 29th by Random House Flirt How to Date a Nerd to be released November 5th by Swoon Romance Publishing Blog">Happy Monday!

All right, peeps, I hope you enjoyed that awesome cover. I know I did. Until next time, happy writing or whatever makes you smile. :)

IWSG--Ridiculous

Hey,

Today I'm insecure about ridiculous stuff--like when I do a book signing--will people laugh at my handwriting? It's really ugly, kind of like a 3rd grader's. Also, since my book's debut, I've been stalking my Amazon sales rank until the numbers are permanently etched in my eyeballs. (Not really, but didn't that sound dramatic?) Still, worst of my insecurities is the thought of readers catching typos that my editors and I missed. Maybe we caught them all, but still I worry we didn't. Okay, so now you all know what's floating around inside my brain. To see what everybody else in this wonderful group is insecure about, click on this link IWSG or Insecure Writers Support Group 

Thanks to our wonderful Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh for another smashing Wednesday of insecureness.

Starving for Tradgedy

Hello,

This post may come off as strange, but if we all dig deep into our psyche and are honest with ourselves, we'll find a disturbing fact. Ever notice when a tragedy occurs how people get buzzed off the sorrow? For real. Think about it.There's an odd comfort we humans find in dark hours.

So, what does this mean? Are we a bunch of twisted freaks? Or does death remind us of our frailty and draw us in for a closer look? Whichever the case, there's no denying our love affair with all that's broken and lost forever.

Say what? Yep, you read me right. Think about the last time a seriously wretched story came on the news. Did you change the channel? Nope. You didn't. I'm betting you watched the entire segment and shushed everybody in the room, so your ears could soak up every gory detail. Then, maybe you changed your FB status to express your anguish over the heartbreaking event. This kind of backs the whole "misery loves company" theory. Am I right? Sure I am.

And how many times have we told our friends about the wonderfully sad movie we just watched? Lots. Because for whatever reason, we love to torment ourselves with sadness. I've even know a few people who enjoy a good funeral as much as a wedding. These same people have a way of transforming mortals into gods, making them more in death, than they made them in life.

Same goes for the latest and greatest books on the market, the critics usually rave about stories of calamity. I wonder, have we always been this way? My guess: yes. Otherwise, Shakespeare would be a dead nobody. What say you peeps? I'd love to read your thoughts on the subject.

Until next time, happy writing or whatever makes you smile. :)