We have a very special guest today, Ashley Chappell writes satire and young adult epic fantasy novels featuring expansive world-building and universes filled with magic, mayhem, and monsters!
Check out a few of Ashley’s books below!
(Click on the image to order your copy)
Check out our interview on YouTube:
Follow her on Social Media here:
Follow her home building journey by clicking HERE!
We have a very special guest today, Amanda Orneck was raised in Southern California on a healthy diet of fantasy and science fiction. She grew up knowing from the time she was small that she wanted to be a writer. She wrote her first story at the age of five and began her first novel at eleven. While attaining a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing from USC, Amanda received the Middleton Fellowship for excellence in Poetry. Today she has one published SciFi novel and has recently begun following her renewed passion for Regency Historical Romance.
Check out Amanda’s books below!
(Click on the image to order your copy)
Check out our interview on YouTube:
Follow her on Social Media here:
I’d like to welcome Loren Rhoads, author of Lost Angels and Angelus Rose, to my blog today!!!
Lets start with a little about you!
What is your name and do you write under a pen name?
My name is Loren Rhoads. I changed it legally last year, after using it for a pen name since the Eighties. It was a huge step to claim my name for real. It made me so happy!
Where do you call home?
San Francisco.
Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing?
I started visiting cemeteries by accident. I love to travel, so what started as a hobby has turned into a successful side hustle. I’ve written a travel memoir called Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Cemetery Travel and a travel guide to cemeteries around the world called 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die. Angelus Rose, my new novel, has three cemeteries in it. It’s the first time one of my novels has so many cemeteries in it.
If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
I’d invite David Bowie, because his music has been so central to my life. I even have a Bowie tattoo. Barack Obama, because I’d like to talk to him about current events. Angelina Jolie, because she inspired the succubus in my books. And Ursula Le Guin, because I’d love to talk to her about writing.
Let’s shift somewhat and talk about your latest story.
What is the name of your most recent book? If you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
Its title is Angelus Rose. The tagline is: If Romeo had wings and Juliet a barbed tail, could they find happiness in the City of Angels?
Is the above book part of a series?
It’s the second and final book of the As Above, So Below series. There are also a couple of short stories set in that world. One of them is free at Bookfunnel, if you’d like to get a taste of the succubus Lorelei at work: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/v8o5w54mzk
Who designed the cover of your books?
Carmen Masloski did the covers of both books in the series. She was incredibly easy to work with. I just love what she came up with.
Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your books?
I listened to the first two Garbage albums a lot, along with a lot of soundtrack music on Spotify.
How did you come up with the title of your books?
Lost Angels is the name of the bar where the succubus Lorelei first meets the angel Azaziel, so the name of the first book was easy. My co-writer Brian and I struggled a little with the title of the second book. I wanted to call it Dies Irae (I was listening to Mozart’s Requiem a lot at the time), but Angelus Rose is easier to pronounce.
Do you have a book trailer?
In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about her?
Lorelei is a succubus who works for Asmodeus, the demon prince of Los Angeles. She loves her life, posing as a club kid and leading people to damnation. One night, Azaziel appears in the bar where she’s working. Lorelei can’t get him out of her mind. She pursues him — and he possesses her with a mortal girl’s soul. After that, she needs to find an exorcist.
In the new book, Lorelei and Aza are trying to figure out how they can be together. Unfortunately, war is brewing in Los Angeles and everyone wants them to take sides.
What first gave you the idea for your latest book?
Originally, As Above, So Below was all one book. It was hugely long and I was afraid it would never sell, so I cut it in half at a natural climax about the mid-point. The first book was published by a small indie press in 2014. When I got the rights back, I revised it a bit, retitled it Lost Angels, and republished it with a new cover image. Then I started revising the second half so it could stand alone as a sequel. Angelus Rose, part two of the story, came out in February.
Let’s talk now about your writing process.
What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?
Definitely a pantser. I write to discover the story.
What made you go the indie route instead of the traditional publishing route?
I like the freedom of choosing my own cover artist, having the final say on the editing, and knowing that I’m doing the best possible promotion for the book.
What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Just write and don’t think too much. Ray Bradbury told me that.
What advice would you give someone who wants to start writing?
Set a timer and just start writing. You’ll find out what you think as you go along.
Where can your readers follow you?
Blog: https://lorenrhoads.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loren.rhoads.5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/morbidloren
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morbidloren/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Loren-Rhoads/e/B002P905PE/
KAREN M. BRYSON is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes romantic stories with humor and heart. She is a winner of the prestigious RONE Award for Excellence in the Indie and Small Publishing Industry as well as the RWA Lone Star Writing Contest.
Karen is also an award-winning/optioned screenwriter.
When she’s not at her computer creating new stories, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.
Karen previously wrote contemporary romance under the pen names SAVANNAH YOUNG, SIERRA AVALON, REN MONTERREY and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DAKOTA MADISON.
Please note that Karen M. Bryson (TM) is a trademark and may not be used without the owner’s permission.
Where to find Karen…
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads * Notorious Minds Website * Facebook
Deadly Getaway by Karen Mueller Bryson ~ Genre: Mystery, Romantic Suspense
USA TODAY Bestselling Author KAREN MUELLER BRYSON
Her dream vacation becomes a nightmare when her roommate goes missing.
Brooklyn Winters just received the offer of a lifetime. If she accompanies her roommate, Addie, on a Spring Break trip to a tropical island paradise, all her expenses will be paid for by her roommate’s parents.
There’s only one problem: Brooklyn promised her dad she would spend Spring Break working with him at the Seven Brothers Security Services office. That’s what she has done for every vacation for as long as she can remember.
When her overprotective father reluctantly agrees to the island getaway, Brooklyn assures him that she and Addie will be perfectly safe and that he has nothing to worry about.
If only she was right.
On their first day on the island, Addie goes missing. The last thing Brooklyn wants to do is admit to her father that she was wrong and ask for his help. So, she searches for Addie on her own.
As Brooklyn follows the leads to find Addie, she realizes she is being trailed by Theo, a nerdy tourist staying in the room next door. Theo seems to have a crush on Brooklyn, so she uses it to her advantage and talks him into helping her find Addie.
But when Brooklyn starts to develop feelings for Theo, she discovers it was no accident that he was staying in the room next door.
She uncovers a web of lies. Nothing is what is seems and Brooklyn isn’t sure who she can trust.
Will she be able to find her best friend before it’s too late?
Available exclusively in the Notorious Minds box set!
What does it take to commit the perfect crime?
Delve into these dark and twisted tales by twenty USA Today and International Bestselling Authors.
No matter what kind of crime story typically catches your imagination, there’s sure to be something for everyone.
Conspiracies, political plots, and yes, even murder, are just a few of the crimes waiting inside this box set.
Discover a narcissistic grandmother running an underground syndicate, or a support group bent on murder…and even a serial killer who turns his victims into fairytale creatures.
Uncover the passion, jealousy, and fear lingering in every tale.
This box set is packed with thousands of pages that will hold you on the edge of your seat, crying for answers.
**Pre-order now for Only .99 cents and get a free gift HERE!! **
Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon giftcard or an ebook of Suicide Blonde by Karen M. Bryson (1 winner each)? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Memory Makers by Debbie De Louise ~ Genre: Mystery
Twenty-five years ago, Lauren Phelps and her sister Patty were kidnapped from their backyard on Long Island. Lauren escaped her captor, but Patty was killed.
Ever since, Lauren has suffered from nightmares of the “Shadow Man.” Trying to recall his face and avenge her sister’s murder, Lauren, now a kidnapping investigator, enrolls in a clinical trial for a new memory drug.
At the offices of Memory Makers in California, she receives the injections of the Memory Makers’ serum, and begins to experience flashbacks of repressed memories. Along with the flashbacks, she receives threats from an anonymous source that point back to her childhood trauma.
Soon, Lauren becomes involved with a fellow trial participant who seeks to recall his own traumatic past. But can Lauren discover the identity of the “Shadow Man” before history repeats itself?
Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters-in-Crime, and the Cat Writer’s Association. She has a BA in English and an MLS in Library Science from Long Island University. Her seven published novels include the 4 books of her Cobble Cove cozy mystery series: A Stone’s Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Written in Stone, and Love on the Rocks, her paranormal romance, Cloudy Rainbow, her mystery thriller Reason to Die, and her latest psychological mystery, Sea Scope. She also published a romantic comedy novella featuring a jewel heist caper, When Jack Trumps Ac. Debbie has also written articles and short stories for several anthologies of various genres. She is currently querying agents to represent the first book of a new cozy mystery series. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and three cats.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Naming my Characters
By Debbie De Louise
For the most part, I name characters randomly and try to pick those that don’t carry any personal meaning for me. However, I’ve used names of people I know in some of my books including my new mystery, Memory Makers. But using real names doesn’t influence how I portray the characters. For instance, Lauren Phelps is the main character of Memory Makers. She volunteers for a clinical trial of a memory drug hoping that it will help her recall the face of the man who kidnapped her and her sister Patty twenty-five years ago. While she escaped her captor, Patty was killed. Lauren is 28 years old and nothing like my friend and fellow church member who shares the moniker except for the fact that they both like cats. I didn’t set out to use Lauren’s name for my main character, so it was purely a coincidence. Even more of a coincidence was that I chose Rick for the name of the kidnapping investigator who works with Lauren and serves as one of her love interests in the book. Rick is also the name of a friend from church and, no, he and Lauren are married to different people and aren’t similar in any manner to the fictional Lauren and Rick.
There was a person and two cats in the book that I named purposely. Florence, the dementia patient in the drug trial, was based on my mother who died two years ago and who suffered from that illness. I also dedicated the book to her. The Florence in Memory Makers has episodes where she imagines she’s in a classroom with other students. My mother also thought people in the nursing home where she was a resident were classmates of hers.
The two cats, Harry and Hermione, who are featured in a subplot of Memory Makers are named for my two, two-year-old cats, although they are portrayed as kittens in the book. Harry, who plays a bigger role by disappearing from Lauren’s mother’s house, is nicknamed Handsome Harry and is black like my male cat.
In previous books, I’ve also named characters for people I know. In A Stone’s Throw, the first book of my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series, Carol doesn’t play much of a role, but she’s included to pay homage to my mother-in-law who passed away shortly before the book was published. Another cat character, Floppy, was the namesake of my 15-year-old diabetic cat whose death spurred me to write Cloudy Rainbow, my first book, a paranormal romance with the theme of reincarnation.
We have a very special guest today, Richard Fierce is a Fantasy and Space Opera author. He has published almost twenty books five of which were released this year!!!
Check out a few of Richard’s books below!
(Click on the image to order your copy)
Check out our interview on YouTube:
Follow him on Social Media here:
Tainted Truth (The Wolf Riders of Keldarra Book 1) by Nathalie M.L. Römer ~ Genre: Epic Fantasy
Begin your journey in the land of Keldarra…
It’s a land on the brink of war. Who wins it depends on which side is stronger: truth or the lies of thousands of years of deception and manipulation. But whose truth? What lies? That’s for you to find out in the first book of this nine-book series!
When truth and lies have been used as a weapon. When you fight an enemy from the past using lies, and truth becomes the weapon with which you fight that enemy.
The story takes you to an ancient land under siege. The history of Keldarra is long but forgotten. A distant past when someone knew the Wolf Riders would rise. They also knew they would come to an end.
The Truth: Words spoken.
Still spoken to speak a lie.
Marrida. Alagur.
Each individual has a reason for wanting change. But can the reasons co-exist without clashing? Can truth prevail when each of them exists because of lies? When they discover similarity it reveals a hidden past, a past that means so much more than either knew.
Add to Goodreads * Amazon * Kobo * Smashwords
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Nathalie is a published author, based in Sweden, and born and bred in the Netherlands, with roots squarely planted culturally in Britain and Curaçao. She primarily writes epic fantasy, futuristic science fiction, mysteries, romance with a twist, and is now venturing into fairytale retellings, dystopian stories and much more (just keep visiting to see where stories take you and the author alike). And Nathalie describes her style of writing as unapologetically wordy, because she has discovered that the best part of writing is weaving a world that’s interesting to explore, to discover its back story, to meet its people, and find out what makes them tick. Nathalie weaves each world with her own experiences into the stories, and will touch on various causes and situations that speak to her…
Website * Facebook * FB Group * Twitter * Instagram * Youtube * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Books, Writing and More
I guess you’re curious about the books I write so I decided to include an essay about my books, and more specifically TAINTED TRUTH which are featured on blogs participating in the book tour from Silver Dagger Book Tours.
The direct inspiration for writing a “hero’s journey” style of series comes from my gaming background. Before embarking on creating the world you’ll discover with the pages of the books in this series I played (and still play) World of Warcraft (as well as occasionally dabbling in other MMOs). I began playing at the end of 2006 as a direct result of the “lore” of the game, then as I became more familiar it created a sense of urgency to turn an idea of a hero’s journey I had on my mind for over a decade into a story of some sort. Late in November 2014 I sat down and longhand wrote a story that’s now part of Chapter 67 of TAINTED TRUTH. The poem called “The Truth” that you’ll encounter as you read the book evolved a few weeks later. There came a day when I thought, “I can create a big world too.”
Like in the story of the game I wanted a conflicted world with opposite factions, but never wanted an exact copy of the game. The story takes in account the complexity we find in our own twisted world. The question of things being “morally grey” is explored through the reactions from the characters to the world Keldarra they live in. My view is as follows in terms of who I write about – the good guys will have a few bad guys among them as no one is always perfectly good, and the people perceived as the bad guys (in this series it’s the Wolf Riders) will have people in their midst who don’t like what fate threw at them. Not wanting to go political, but to me there’s irony in such words as “There are good guys on both sides” when I wrote about such things long before they were uttered at the media. My world is a reflection of our world; I write about the good things from our world and I write about the bad things. A world such as Keldarra will be as complex as our own, so the people you meet as you read the story is a fraction of who lives in Keldarra, but they reflect the people you never see or meet. Though, on this latter, I have plans for stories beyond The Wolf Riders of Keldarra that will flesh out some of these “other people.”
The two most prominent characters you’ll meet is Marrida and Alagur. Marrida is an Acolyte at the Temple of Ruh’nar under the governance of Elder Sharriba, its leader. When the story begins you’re immediately in the middle of an attack by the Wolf Riders. One Wolf Rider is Alagur, who is wounded and Marrida gives him shelter. When Marrida needs to enlist her uncle’s help in getting Alagur safely from the city she opens a can of worms about who she is, why she goes to the Temple of Ruh’nar and then is entrusted by family secrets her uncle and Elder Sharriba kept from her. She’s thrown in at the deep end when they send her on an errand’s run with Alagur in tow. Initially both Marrida and Alagur believe their just searching for a few answers, but it becomes clear quickly there’s so much more going on, and as their journey progresses the mysteries also deepen. They discover some disturbing realities that causes a turmoil to Marrida’s longheld beliefs about the Order of Truth, and they discover a plot…
And as Dr River Song of Dr Who would say: “Spoilers…” so that’s all you get of the story of the series…
The title TAINTED TRUTH is directly linked to the story in the book, and an explanation will be shown during the story’s evolution. Something tainted is something spoiled, broken, not pure, etc. That’s what the first book begins exploring when Marrida asks: “Why?”
And this question also is one I always ask as an author, “Why should I write it this way?,” “How can I tell the story in the best way?” and “What words describe the scene the best way?” Then I land on trying to imagine the person, and that’s how I end up scouring IMDB at actors and actresses for appearances and such so I have an idea how to describe people.
So yes, if I could choose who should play Marrida, I’d select Shira Haas whose performance in series Unorthodox reminds me of how imagine Marrida as a person. Marrida is a slender person with hair that’s similar to how I’ve seen this actress in the media… except Marrida has distinct blue eyes which is the first thing that Alagur notices when he dreams of an unknown woman. I guess my search goes on…
As for Alagur, they can dye Sam Heughan’s hair a few shades darker but he’s spot on in appearance for Alagur (right eye colour!), right height, and the right physique… Yes, a big fan girling here as I love him in Outlander.
If I could spend time with any character in TAINTED TRUTH I’d love to sit down with Joharan (Marrida’s uncle) who I kind of modelled on my late paternal grandfather who, in life, was someone who was always advising me, guiding me, comforting me. My grandfather could be stern too, but when he was in a good mood he was mellow and loving. If you want to meet my grandfather this is the person to pay attention to…
Right now, I’m closing on on finishing the editing/proofreading process of Book 2 STOLEN TRUTH that’s on pre-order on Amazon, and then will begin the work on Book 3 (that’s also on Amazon but not officially announced – announcement goes out at the end of the book tour). And at the end of June 2020 I completed the first draft of Book 4. There are five further books in the series The Wolf Riders of Keldarra.
A sneak peak spoiler only available to the readers of the blogs this essays appears on: when this series is over (at Book 9) it will not be the end of your journey through this world. I have a few spin series AND standalone books planned… (now the Dr River Song spoiler warning is in effect once more!).
Fun Fact : The wolf of Alagur, called Yalla, is entirely based on a German Shepherd I owned years ago, complete with the personality quirks, so if you see the wolf misbehave remember there was once a dog called Charlie who’d act out similarly.
The Reluctant Wizard by A.A. Warne ~ Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
By day, wizards rule the world. At night, warlocks seek to destroy it. Now, one boy will challenge them both.
Eli never wanted to be a rebel. All he wants is an end to the famine and war threatening his community. To save his mother and baby brother from marauding warlocks, Eli is forced to make a heartbreaking decision. He must travel to Terra Magicae, the mysterious land of the wizards, to study magic. In exchange, the wizards will protect his family, but this protection comes at a price: once Eli enters the Grand Wizardry Academy, he may never come home.
Full of lush landscapes and magical marvels, Terra Magicae is more wondrous than Eli ever imagined… and more dangerous. At first, Eli’s struggles to fit in at the Academy seem ordinary. But the more he questions the wizards, the more he suspects a sinister purpose behind their bizarre rules and tests. For a dark secret lies at the heart of this mystical land, one so terrible it threatens not only the students at the Academy but the lives of everyone Eli loves.
To save them all, Eli must step into the midst of the battle between the wizards and warlocks and defy both sides. He must become the rebel he was always meant to be.
Add to Goodreads * Amazon * B&N * Smashwords
Would you like a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
A. A. Warne writes elaborate, strange, dark and twisted stories. In other words, speculative fiction.
Located at the bottom of the Blue Mountains in Sydney, Australia; Amanda was born an artist and grew up a painter before deciding to study pottery.
But it wasn’t until she found the art of the written word that her universe expanded.
A graduate of Western Sydney University in arts, Amanda now spends her time wrestling three kids and writing full time.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads * Amazon
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I was never really interested in books as a child. I had a few stories read to be here and there but nothing grabbed my attention. I loved art and I always believed I was going to grow up and become an artist. I studied painting and pottery after high school and I love creating sculptures.
But as I became a mother, these messy arts were not practical. My baby hated to sleep. She rather stay awake all day and play with me. So I put aside my art while she was young.
For a creative being, this was not a good idea. A creative person MUST create. My friend noticed that I was struggling and she threw a book at me. Twilight. I laughed. I didn’t read! But she made me read all of it. And I did. Then I went out and brought book two, then three and by the time I finished reading book four, I starting brainstorming ideas for my own book.
The best part about writing is there are never ending possibilities.
It started as a way to be creative but it wasn’t until I spoke to a friend about the story I was creating and she encouraged me to keep going. Since then, I haven’t stopped.
I now write everyday and clock forty hours a week, writing, brainstorming, researching and now publishing.
What is something unique/quirky about you?
Even though I have a great life, wonderful family and seriously interesting kids, I often live inside my head. If I’m not researching something strange or wacky, I’m creating it mentally. Stories have been a huge part of my life, especially as a kid. I always had a movie playing in the background while I was painting or creating some time of art. Little did I know, that as I listened, I was developing skills that helped me discover the structure and the composition of a story. Now it has become something natural that ticks over in the back of my mind while I focus on characters, worlds and what’s happening for them.
Tell us something really interesting that’s happened to you!
I met a wonderful author who is just as wild and crazy as I am, Michelle Crow. She lives on the opposite side of the planet and as soon as we met, it was like we had always known each other. In fact, we’ve gone onto writing a book together, she has been my bridesmaid, and we plan on visiting one another so many times in the next couple of years. She is the one who gave me the Madame of Darkness title. Even though we live in two different countries, that hasn’t stopped us from talking everyday, knowing what’s going on in each other’s lives, and supporting one another in writing.
What are some of your pet peeves?
Contradictions! I can see them a mile away. But don’t get me wrong, I do them myself. There’s nothing like saying I’m going to eat clean and healthy but then I buy chocolate… okay, I know that’s a contradiction, but I have weaknesses too!
Where were you born/grew up at?
I live at the bottom of the Blue Mountains, in Western Sydney, Australia. I am third generation in this town and we don’t have plans on moving anytime soon.
Western Sydney is a large place, with the majority of Australia’s population here. I can see the mountains from my home, and yes, they are blue.
Who is your hero and why?
I do love superheroes and anyone super-human. But in real life, it’s the everyday person. Each and everyone does amazing things. Look after sick parents, survive a horrific car accident, go on adventures and to me that is amazing. We live our lives and we’re not amazed by our own steps we take across the planet. So for me, a hero is someone who sets a goal and walks the path until it’s achieved. If we get knocked down, fail, detoured, or sidetrack but get back up and keep going, that’s even more amazing and that’s what I define as a hero – someone who achieves their inner purpose in their life.
What kind of world ruler would you be?
Oh rulers! I actually hate that word. It means to stand over a group of people and dictate their lives. Instead of that position, I prefer leader. Leaders mean so much more. A leader can also be part of the team. If a leader is part of the same team, and not above them, then they can ensure that freedom remains possible so that we can chose how to live our own lives. Leaders can be pushed aside and replaced, questioned and scrutinized – anyone who has that position should always be questioned at the very least. A ruler doesn’t have that same scrutinization which is sad because it trickles traits into a society that will easily diminish the importance of a group. Together humans are strong and we’re even stronger when we work together harmoniously.
We have a very special guest today, A.G. Porter, the author of The Darkness Trilogy, a YA Paranormal Thriller.
This series includes The Shadow, The Forsaken, and The Redeemed.
(Click on the image to order your copy)
She also has two poetry collections (Pieces of My Heart and Pieces of My Soul).
She is very busy right now working on a spin-off of her The Darkness Trilogy characters, as well as a new YA Paranormal series, The Sacrifice of Ava Black, and her next poetry book.
Follow her on Social Media here:
Beyond the Gardens by Sandra C. Lopez ~ Genre: Teen Fiction
At the age of 18, Esperanza Ignacio begins her college years at an upscale Los Angeles art school, where she studies to fulfill her long-term dream in Animation. But she soon learns the truth to the old folktale: “you can take the girl out of the barrio, but you can’t take the barrio out of the girl.” Even though she’s getting financial aid, Esperanza works a part-time job during her break from classes just to make ends meet. Her roommate, Anna, is what she calls a “chicana from Beverly Hills” because of the rich daddy and the new car she got for her quinceañera.
Things get a little confusing for Esperanza when an old friend comes looking for her, hoping to start a meaningful relationship. But is Carlos the right guy for her? She never even considered him to be anything more than a friend since high school. Then comes Jake, a gorgeous mechanic, who shares her passion for books and loves her for who she is. What’s a girl to do?
Strength and determination help pave the way for the future. And, as she approaches her graduation, she is faced with a difficult decision: should she leave Los Angeles and leave behind her family, her home, and everything she’s known? Ever since she was born in the California barrio of Hawaiian Gardens, she’s always had to look over the fence, wondering what she’s been missing. Now she’s taking a flying leap over to see what’s beyond the little barrio. What’s beyond her family, her friends, and her past? What’s beyond the little nothing town, where dreams don’t exist? What’s beyond The Gardens? Is it life, love, a future? The story of Esperanza is finally concluded in this wildly entertaining and heart-warming sequel.
**Only .99 cents!!**
Would you like a chance to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Sandra C. López is one of today’s influential Latina authors in Young Adult literature. Her first novel, Esperanza: A Latina Story, was published in March 2008 WHILE she was still in college. Since then she has published several other books, including the Single Chicas series. She was named as one of “2011 Top Ten New Latino Authors to Watch” by Latino Stories, and her book, Beyond the Gardens, was a Silver Medal winner of the 2016 Global Ebook Awards in Multicultural Fiction and won first place in the Int’l Latino Book Awards. She also works as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. Art, literature, and travel are her passions, and she aims to keep doing them as long as she can. For inquiries regarding events and projects, please contact her directly.
Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
Q: First, tell us how you came to be a published author and how you came up with the idea to provide reviews to authors.
A: I wrote my first novel, Esperanza: A Latina Story, WHILE I was still in college. The book follows the story of a 14-year old Mexican-American girl trying to get out of the barrio and make something of her life. Full of humor and refreshing dialogue, this book was voted as an inspirational favorite by teen readers. Shortly after that, I wrote the sequel entitled Beyond the Gardens, published in October 2009.
In the second book, the lead heroine gains new confidence and strength as she learns the hard way that “you can take the girl out of the barrio, but you can’t take the barrio out of the girl.”
I write stories with strong and independent female characters that I, myself, would like to read about. When I’m not writing, I get my fill on reading for the enjoyment as well as to improve my craft. Like every published author, I was emailing book bloggers, asking them to please review my book. But, like querying to a publisher, most of them were unresponsive and some weren’t interested. And, of course, I used paid services that would list my book in their newsletters, reaching potential readers that may or may not review my book. That worked out okay. But let’s face it: getting reviews is tough. It’s hard when your book isn’t well publicized and no one is willing to give it chance. That’s what started my book blog. Initially, it started as just a blog for my own personal reviews on books that I read. At that point, I started taking requests from authors and publishers. My own personal review would be free, but, of course, like every other blogger, I only chose the ones that I wanted and rejected those that I didn’t. Yes, my readings tastes are pretty open in a wide variety of genres, but there are some that just don’t really interest me (i.e. westerns, politics sports, etc.) So how do I help those rejected authors get reviews? After all, I couldn’t possibly review them all. That’s when I came up with the idea of starting a book club of readers and a review program to supply authors with more reviews besides the one that I give them. Readers can sign up to get free books from authors, and authors can get reviews for their books. It’s a simple, easy, and convenient program. And it’s working!
Q: How can this review program benefit writers?
A: The review program allows authors to list their books and reach a wide range of readers. It’s been a hit so far! About 85% of participating authors get at least 1 – 2 reviews on Amazon, and we receive over 50 reviews a month from readers. And the best part about it is that we offer free ways for authors to list their book in our program. As an author, I totally understand that budgets can be tight, which makes it harder (maybe even impossible) to promote your books. Most authors shy away to any promo service when there’s a price. What better price is there than FREE?
Q: What do you think is the most important aspect of a book to make it sell?
A: The story itself along with a fabulous cover is definitely important. But probably the most important would have to be reviews. Let’s face it: reviews are the life blood of any book. More reviews equal a greater online exposure and a higher sales ranking, which, could result in sales. My book, Single Chicas, has over 70 reviews, and that has given me more royalties on Kindle sales. The reviews made the difference because before I got no royalties, and now I’m surprised to actually see one come through knowing that I didn’t do any promotion. Book reviews are definitely the key thing here.
Q: How is your author review program unique?
A: My review program is unique because I offer a free option for authors, and I do that because I want authors of all kinds to get a fair chance at getting reviews for their books. Every book deserves a review. These are HONEST and LEGIT reviews. There is no buying reviews here. Readers are free to choose any book and reserve the right in whether or not a review gets posted. It’s all strictly voluntary and 100% honest.
Q: Are you working on any projects at the moment?
A: I am currently working on Book 2 of the Single Chicas series, which is a series of short stories focusing on funny, zany, and wildly entertaining chicas.
Q: How can authors and readers sign up to your review program?
For authors interested in submitting their book to get reviews, please go to: https://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/2015/02/submission-guidelines.html
For readers interested in signing up to read free books, please go to: https://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/2019/09/read-review-program.html
Nina Soden 