Marie’s Monday Minute

Marie's Monday Minute

It’s Another Manic Monday.

Take a bookish pause and unwind for a minute.

Hey, friends! Sit back, put your feet up, and take a few deep breaths. Mondays are rough. Thanks for spending a minute with me today!

My Favorite Quote of the Week:

“Griffin’s eyes traversed the plains of my marred skin like a roadmap. Each whitish slash across my chest represented a ruin—something that once had been beautiful, but crumbled to pieces in the wake of disaster. Though ruins, they still retained their majesty—a whisper of their foregone beauty still lingered within. My ruin of a body spoke of a time wrought with sadness, helplessness, and destruction, but I prayed Griffin would find some remnant of beauty.”

~Jillian,  Across the Distance by Marie Meyer

Available Now! Amazon iBooks Kobo

My Jam of the Week:

“You Don’t Know My Heart” Rachel Platten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoHPy9HYmmw

My Read of the Week:

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen

In the Works:

Putting the finishing touches on an outline about a spirited pharmacy student and a rising rock star. Oh, the chemistry between these two! Combustible! 🙂

My minute is up. Thanks for taking a break with me! See you back here next Monday!

MarieSignature

 

Heather L. Reid’s PRETTY DARK SACRIFICE Blog Tour

Pretty-Dark-Sacrifice-Banner

 

 

Heather L. Reid’s newest novel, PRETTY DARK SACRIFICE, follow-up to PRETTY DARK SACRIFICE, hits the shelves tomorrow! I was lucky enough to get to interview the lovely Heather about her upcoming release! And keep reading beyond the interview for more information on PRETTY DARK SACRIFICE, Heather L. Reid, and a giveaway!!

 

  1. For you, what is the hardest part of the writing process? 

 

Since I’m a panster, I’d have to say drafting is the hardest part of the process for me. I LOVE revising. Seriously, I could re-arrange paragraphs, ponder word choices, and strengthen tension and character motivations all day long. Getting new words on the page though, that’s the challenge.

 

  1. Do you have a writing ritual? Things that must be done before your muse will come out to play? 

 

Tea! Okay, more than tea. Seriously though, I write best in my writing chair in my office. I always have my essential oil diffuser on beside me, though the oils I choose are different depending on my mood. I make tea and do some yoga stretches, and then I sit down at my laptop, start my playlist on Spotify, and beg my muse to at least meet me half way. Sometimes I have to bribe her with Dove chocolate and another cup of tea.

 

  1. Pantser or plotter? 

Panster. I wish I could be more of a hybrid, but plotting gives me hives.

 

  1. What is your favorite line, passage, chapter from PRETTY DARK SACRIFICE? 

Oh, that’s a tough question! I loved writing the scenes that explore the mythology behind the demons and reveal more of the backstory of Aaron/Kaemon and their connection to Quinn. I also love writing the scenes with Marcus. He adds just the right amount of humor to lighten the mood.

 

  1. What advice would you give to aspiring writers who hope to see their book published one day?

Read everything you can. Read inside your genre and outside your genre, fiction and non-fiction. Then start writing. Experiment with different styles and point of views until you find your own voice. It takes time to develop your unique voice, and the only way to get there is by writing, no matter how bad it is at first. And if you’re passionate about writing, don’t give up. Look for mentors, ask questions, and learn what you can about the craft and about the business.

 

  1. What is your favorite dessert? 

Ice cream! I’m not too picky on the flavor, as long as it’s gluten/wheat free. Before I was diagnosed as celiac, I loved cookies and cream, but now, I usually go for salted caramel or chocolate or mint chocolate chip. I also recently had dark chocolate pomegranate ice-cream. So yummy! A lot of it depends on my mood.

 

Thanks Heather!

 

Pretty-Dark-Sacrifice-Cover

ABOUT PRETTY DARK SACRIFICE:

Title: Pretty Dark Sacrifice (Pretty Dark Nothing #2)

Publication date: July 28, 2015

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Heather L. Reid

Purchase Links:

BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Add PRETTY DARK SACRIFICE to Goodreads

It’s been five weeks, two days, and eight hours since the demons forced Quinn to throw herself into the raging river, since Aaron sacrificed himself to save her, since his body disappeared without a trace.

Everyone wants Quinn to move on, but she can’t, not after a spirit appears to her at Aaron’s memorial, convincing her he’s still alive.

When a mysterious box materializes on the very spot Aaron disappeared, Quinn finds she’s at the center of an ancient prophesy of betrayal, revenge, and sacrifice that takes her to the depths of the underworld to face Lilith—Adam’s first wife.

If Quinn can stop Lilith from unleashing the demon horde Eve, trapped inside the box during the Battle of Eden millennia ago, she will save the human realm and free Aaron from an eternity in torment.

All it will cost is her blood.

 

Giveaway Time!

Giveaway Information: Contest ends August 21, 2015

· Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Pretty Dark Sacrifice (Pretty Dark Nothing #2) by Heather L. Reid (INT)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c08c9e8e391/

Heather L. Reid  ABOUT HEATHER L. REID:

Heather L. Reid is both American and British and has called six different cities in three different countries, home. Her strong sense of wanderlust and craving for a new adventure mean you might find her wandering the moors of her beloved Scotland, exploring haunted castles, or hiking through a magical forest in search of fairies and sprites. When she’s not venturing into the unknown in her real life, she loves getting lost in the worlds of video games or curling up by the fire with good story. For now, this native Texan is back in the Lone Star State, settling down with her Scottish husband and writing new tales of fantasy and horror.

 

Connect with Heather: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr | Pinterest | Instagram

ChapterxChapter

PIXELATED Release Week Blitz & GIVEAWAY!!!

 

 

yKdejB9NxIT9pdvdOVyWXi-ZME_OUjFROAz2lII_tms

PIXELATED

BY L.S. MURPHY

I am so excited to host the author of PIXELATED, the YA contemporary romance by L.S. Murphy!! If this book isn’t on your To-Be-Read list, then it should be (*ahem* you can add it here: Add to Goodreads).

Not only is L.S. celebrating her release, she also signed on to do a guest post on piracy, which you can read below, but first let’s celebrate PIXELATED!!! *releases balloon drop and throws confetti*

 

Pixelated (2) copy

Senior Year. 

Middle of nowhere. 

What’s the new girl to do?

For Piper Marks, the answer is simple. She’s determined to have her photography rock the cover of National Geographic someday, and moving to Clarkton, Iowa for her last year of high school is not going to stop her. Even if her usual subjects have changed from bright lights and skyscrapers to fields, cows…and more fields. 

But when photographer at the local paper quits in a huff, she steps into his spot. Her new job keeps Piper busy capturing tackles, and zooming in on first downs and end zone dances, not to mention putting her directly in the path of varsity football star Les Williams IV. Her new friends warn her off, but she can’t resist the pull she feels toward this mysterious country boy. But this small town is keeping a secret, and it’s one that could destroy any chance they have to be together. 

It’s up to Piper to decide what to do with the distorted truth. Can she risk exposing her heart? It might be worth it, ’cause Les is about to change her world from black and white to fully saturated color. 

Add to Goodreads

 

Buy Links:

AMAZONBARNES & NOBLEKOBO

Praise for Pixelated:
“In Pixelated, L.S. Murphy weaves a complex web of secrets and lies with a ‘will they or won’t they’ romance that kept me turning pages and holding my breath!” ~ Julie Reece, author of The Artisans and Crux

“Beautifully written, with a full spectrum of emotion and complex characters, Pixelated will tug at all your heartstrings. I easily lost myself in the world L.S. Murphy created and couldn’t stop reading because I needed to see how the story ended.” ~ Kelly Oram, author of Cinder & Ella

“L.S. Murphy brings something for every reader with Pixelated: romance, secrets, mystery, and a main character torn between two choices. Murphy’s writing is sharp and steeped in emotions, deftly hooking her readers from the first sentence to the last.” ~ Sarah Bromley, author of A Murder Of Magpies 

 

 

5lodk8Ca_y4SPVOq6P2ufc8CsLGJdNhgIxx-hTjQesk About the Author

L.S. Murphy obsesses about St. Louis Cardinals baseball, fangirls over her favorite   authors, and watches every
episode of Doctor Who like it’s the first time. When she’s not doing those time-consuming things, the former farm-girl turned city slicker turned suburbanite writes sweet romances for teens and adults.

Author Links:

WebsiteGoodreadsTwitterFacebook

 

GIVEAWAY

It’s PIXELATED’s book birthday, so naturally, there has to be a gift, right? How about a $25 Amazon Gift Card? To enter the giveaway, click on the link below!

 

$25 Amazon Gift Card Rafflecopter Giveaway!!! 

I also want to thank L.S. for putting together this short message on piracy. Take it away, L.S….

Back in March, before PIXELATED was even on NetGalley or had eARCS available, I discovered something disturbing. Of course, googling isn’t always going to bring sunshine and roses, but I digress.

I searched for PIXELATED just to see if it would pop up on any blogs. Lo and behold, I stumbled across a discussion thread. Someone had asked where they could get my book for free.

Um… excuse me?

Well, for one, it hasn’t been released yet. For another, go to the library. For a third, WHAT?

Now, a few peeps responded that it’s never okay to download books from the internet illegally. Yay them. They also directed her to some sites for purchase and recommended she request the title from her library.

So all good, eh?

Of course not. Silly me. I kept reading. It turned from “don’t do piracy” to “another author pulling the wool over our eyes.” I’m not sure how I’m pulling the wool over someone’s eyes. I work a full-time job. Most authors do. It’s almost impossible to make a living as an author these days. Yeah, there are some that do. Great for them. But they’re in the 1%.

I’m not out to get rich. Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to be in the 1%. But I’m not doing this for free either. I work my tail off. All authors do, even the 1%. I sacrifice time with my family, my friends, and even downtime to relax. All because I love to write.

And I worked my rear off to get an agent who worked her rear off to get me a deal.

None of us are doing this for free.

So, the next time you hear someone saying all authors are rich, remember me. I may be sitting next to you at Starbucks counting change so I can have another latte to get me through another thousand words.

 

As an author too, I agree with everything L.S. mentioned, one hundred percent. For all authors, their agents and editors, and everyone else that’s behind the scenes when it comes to getting a book on the shelves, writing is our livelihoods. Books put food on our tables. Please do not download illegal copies of our books. We sincerely appreciate it, thank you! 

 

Thanks for stopping by and celebrating the release of PIXELATED!! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway above and check out L.S. Murphy’s fabulous new release, you won’t be disappointed!

Pixelated Teaser

IMG_1180

 

PIXELATED Cover Reveal!

Pixelated

by L.S. Murphy

I’m very excited to host the cover reveal for L.S. Murphy’s PIXELATED! The cover is absolutely gorgeous and I cannot wait to read this book! 

 

Pixelated
by L.S. Murphy
Release Date: June 30, 2015
Bloomsbury Spark

 

Summary from Goodreads

 

Senior Year. 

 

Middle of nowhere. 


What’s the new girl to do?

 

For Piper Marks, the answer is simple. She’s determined to have her photography rock the cover of National Geographic someday, and moving to Clarkton, Iowa for her last year of high school is not going to stop her. Even if her usual subjects have changed from bright lights and skyscrapers to fields, cows…and more fields. 

 

But when photographer at the local paper quits in a huff, she steps into his spot. Her new job keeps Piper busy capturing tackles, and zooming in on first downs and end zone dances, not to mention putting her directly in the path of varsity football star Les Williams IV. Her new friends warn her off, but she can’t resist the pull she feels toward this mysterious country boy. But this small town is keeping a secret, and it’s one that could destroy any chance they have to be together. 

 

It’s up to Piper to decide what to do with the distorted truth. Can she risk exposing her heart? It might be worth it, ’cause Les is about to change her world from black and white to fully saturated color.

 

 

Praise for Pixelated:

 

“In Pixelated, L.S. Murphy weaves a complex web of secrets and lies with a
‘will they or won’t they’ romance that kept me turning pages and holding my
breath!” ~ Julie Reece, author of The Artisans and Crux

 

Beautifully written, with a full spectrum of emotion and complex
characters, Pixelated will tug at all your heartstrings. I easily lost myself
in the world L.S. Murphy created and couldn’t stop reading because I needed to
see how the story ended.” ~ Kelly Oram, author of Cinder & Ella

 

L.S. Murphy brings something for every reader with Pixelated: romance,
secrets, mystery, and a main character torn between two choices. Murphy’s
writing is sharp and steeped in emotions, deftly hooking her readers from the
first sentence to the last.” ~ Sarah Bromley, author of A Murder Of Magpies 

 

About L.S. Murphy

Obsesses about St. Louis Cardinals baseball, fangirls over her favorite authors, and watches every episode of Doctor Who likes it’s the first time. When she’s not doing those time consuming things, the former farm-girl turned city slicker turned suburbanite writes sweet romances for teens and adults.

 

Author Links:

 

Cover Reveal Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

IMG_1180

 

 

Life Unaware by Cole Gibsen

2015/01/img_1178-1.jpg

Oh. My. Goodness. I am SOOOOO excited to host a cover reveal for my good friend, Cole Gibsen, and her newest book, LIFE UNAWARE! This book is one of my top 2105 reads, and I can’t wait to get it! *makes grabby hands*

***
Life Unaware
by Cole Gibsen
Release Date: 04/28/15
Entangled Teen

Book Summary:
Regan Flay has been talking about you.

Regan Flay is on the cusp of achieving her control-freak mother’s “plan” for high school success―cheerleading, student council, the Honor Society—until her life gets turned horribly, horribly upside down. Every bitchy text. Every bitchy email. Every lie, manipulation, and insult she’s ever said have been printed out and taped to all the lockers in school.

Now Regan has gone from popular princess to total pariah.
The only person who even speaks to her is her former best friend’s hot but socially miscreant brother, Nolan Letner. Nolan thinks he knows what Regan’s going through, but whatnobody knows is that Regan isn’t really Little Miss Perfect. In fact, she’s barely holding it together under her mom’s pressure. But the consequences of Regan’s fall from grace are only just beginning. Once the chain reaction starts, no one will remain untouched…

Especially Regan Flay.

Add to Goodreads

2015/01/img_1179.jpgAbout the Author
Cole Gibsen first realized she different when, in high school, she was still reading comic books while the other girls were reading fashion magazines.

It was her love of superheroes that first inspired her to pick up a pen. Her favorite things to write about are ordinary girls who find themselves in extraordinary situations.

Author Links:
WebsiteGoodreadsTwitterFacebook

Cover Reveal Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

2015/01/img_1180.png

ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE IS OUT TODAY!!!!!

Happy book birthday to ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE by Jamie Grey! ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE explodes onto bookshelves TODAY!!

 

onlycover_web

I was fortunate enough to be a part of Team UVC. Jamie provided her Team UVC members with an e-ARC several months ago. After reading ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE, I was hooked; I am forever a member/fan of Team UVC!

My brief synopsis…

ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE tells the story of Lexie Kepler, a seemingly normal high school student that learns her parents have drugged her in order to suppress her beyond genius level IQ.

As ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE unfolds, Lexie is whisked away to Quantum Technologies, a secret scientific community where her father has lived and worked for much of Lexie’s life. Now, completely out of her element, Lexie is forced to attend Quantum High—a high school for the exceptionally gifted/smarty-pants types.

Lexie struggles to fit in with her über-competitive classmates, all the while trying to understand why her parents are so intent on hiding her identity from Branston Academy (Quantum Technologies rival).

To uncover the secrets behind Quantum Technology and Branston Academy, Lexie gets help from fellow classmate, Asher Rosen. Asher is QT’s resident nerd/hottie…and even Lexie isn’t immune to his infuriatingly beautiful smile and gifted brain.

Ultimately, Lexie and Asher will have to put their brainy heads together and figure out why scientists at Quantum Technologies end up dead. If they don’t, everything will end in an ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE!

Why I love ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE… 

I loved UVC because it makes being smart and nerdy the cool thing to be! Often times, young adults are made fun of or bullied because they’re smart! Author Jamie Grey has written a story where being the smart kid is cool! And I LOVE it!

ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE has it all…science, cool gadgets, intrigue, and a slow-building romance!! Don’t miss out on this fabulous novel, it will blow you away!!!

About the author, Jamie Grey…

jamie_grey_headshot

Jamie Grey spent most of her childhood writing stories about princesses who saved the day and pretending to be a daring explorer. It wasn’t until much later that she realized she should combine the two. Now, as a tech-obsessed gamer geek, her novels mix amazing scientific developments, future worlds, and the remarkable characters that live in them.
Jamie lives in Michigan with her significant other and their pets, who luckily tolerate her overspending on tea, books, and video games. You can learn more about her athttp://www.jamiegreybooks.com, or follow her on twitter via @jamie_grey.
Jamie on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4687517.Jamie_Grey
Jamie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Grey
Jamie on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamiegreybooks

ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE is available for purchase through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo!