Guest Post: IN PRAISE OF PAPER by S.J. Bell

On May 7th 2012, BONDS OF FENRIS will be released. Don't forget to stop by here on my blog on April 30th for my review. 

The author himself is here today to share with us a special guest post...
So without further ado, here's S.J. Bell:

IN PRAISE OF PAPER

Author S.J. Bell

With the rise of e-book, some have begun to question whether we'll have paper books for much longer. Certainly I respect the e-book and what it's done for independent publishing. It's allowed me to get Bonds of Fenris to its audience quickly, cheaply, and efficiently. And it's done wonders for more established authors as well, allowing them to get their backlists to the public and providing an outlet for work that is too esoteric or controversial for major publishers. But those preaching that the era of the paper book is at an end, and starting nerdy slap-fests on the internet over this possibility, are seriously underestimating the risks inherent in an all-electronic collection.

For one thing, this new structure enforces a concentration of content. Instead of choosing one paperback off your shelves to read on a long train ride, you can bring your entire collection. Convenient, but few take heed of the other side: that dropping your device into the troublesome crack between train and platform means you've lost your entire collection, at least until you pay the $80 or more to replace the broken device. 

I was a gamer before I was a writer, or at least before I was a professional writer, so I know a few things about purely digital content. When gamers moved from XP machines to Vista machines, and again when they moved to 64-bit OSes, many times a good portion of their games library wouldn't follow them. Not everything is always backwards-compatible. That may not seem significant now, but software is constantly changing. There's a good possibility that at some point in the future, you'll upgrade to a newer device and find that a chunk of your e-books now look horrible, or just plain don't work.

There's also the issue of ownership to consider. A few years back, Amazon got in legal hot water by offering the works of George Orwell in digital format without acquiring the rights properly. Their response? Delete the books from everyone's Kindle and issue a refund. As you can imagine, it brought down quite a bit of righteous fury. But this is the way digital content works. You're not buying an item or object. What you're buying is access. That's why you can re-download items from a lost or misplaced Kindle with no problems. But it also means you have little control of the state of things in your library. If, for whatever reasons, the distributor wants to remove a book from circulation, he can. Or if, for example, your favorite author decides that Greedo Shot First or some equivalent and updates his book to reflect that, you may be stuck with the new version.

Even the benefits of e-books come with caveats. Wi-Fi, for example, allows for fast downloading of content, but anything that's wired can potentially be hacked. Depending on what e-readers of the future are like, this could merely mean a hacker gets access to your library. Or it could mean he gets your Amazon account information and/or credit card info. Even if all he gets is your books, the way he gets them could be enough for the powers that be to flag you a pirate and shut down your account. Such things can be prevented with security updates. But while security updates are a good thing, they have problems of their own. Long-time IT pros could tell horror stories about Windows updates that have crashed systems and created more problems than they solved.

Paper has at least two advantages that e-books will never have: permanence and low maintenance. When you buy a book, all you have to do is keep it protected, and it will last you for the rest of your life. Or at least until it wears out from repeated reading. You don't have to worry about your battery dying on the penultimate page of a mystery novel, you don't have to worry about your library being deleted by misadventure or malice, and you don't have to worry about format obsolescence. You own a physical object which you can make full use of using nothing but your eyes and hands. There's a reason that, even in the age of document scanning and advanced data storage solutions, a lot of libraries and museums still keep archives on microfilm. You don't need a lot to read microfilm-- just a light source and sufficient magnification. If you really, really needed to, you could probably read microfilm with Stone Age technology. You can read a book with even less.

I am certainly no Luddite, and I agree that e-books are a boon to both authors and readers of tomorrow. Certainly, I personally have benefitted quite nicely from e-publishing. But I'm also looking forward to the day I'll have my books in print. Those who are tearing down their bookshelves in favor of their Kindles and iPads need to keep in mind that the humble board-and-paper codex is still worthwhile. It has served the majority of our information storage needs for well over a thousand years, and even thirty-some years into the information age there are good practical reasons for it to still be in use. A book is yours. You don't have to worry about losing your library to some random database snafu with a distributor, or some thuggish piece of DRM software getting uppity because you transferred a few things from an obsolete reader. The book is yours to own, and tangibility still has value.

I loved it when he said, "A book is yours." Isn't that true? I have a Kindle and an iPad but I still prefer the HARDBACKs and PAPERBACKs. It's so much nicer to see them on the shelves... And honestly, I like their smell too! *wink

If you haven't heard about S.J. Bell's upcoming Urban Fantasy Novel BONDS OF FENRIS, it's time to check it out. Here's the stunning cover and blurb. Don't forget to add it on your TBR! 

Summary | Add to TBR 

Talia Thornwood's life ended one year ago, when she became a werewolf. She survived the attack, and the horrifying transformation a month later, but the life she has now is barely worth living. She lurks about in a filthy, run-down house, with too many werewolves crammed into too small a space. Every day is a struggle against the stress of human contact, the romantic prodding of her obnoxious packmate Pierce, and the gnawing hunger for flesh in her soul. 

She's all but resigned herself to a dreary existence on the margins of society when she meets Corwin. Corwin is a werewolf like none other. He walks among humans as if it was nothing, and can keep his wolf under control even when the moon is full. Talia's mind is suddenly opened to the possibilities before her, and the realization of how little she really knows about lycanthropy. 

Corwin claims that he can teach her how to cope as he does, even how to transcend her affliction. But it will not be easy. It is a hard education that requires her to question everything her pack taught her, and confront exactly what she has become. And, more amazingly, what she never stopped being.

About the Author:

S.J. Bell, AKA LupLun, has a lifelong love of stories in all their myriad forms. In junior high, he used to stay up until 10 P.M. reading cheesey science-fiction novels. In high school, he was a Squaresoft fan and Babylon 5 junkie. In college, he studied English Literature and argued on the internet about the relative quality of anime dubs. Today, he lives on Long Island and attempts to write for a living. He spends his spare time reading and blogging about werewolves, watching movies with his girlfriend, and playing board games. He plays a poor game of Agricola, but a very good game of Innovation.

You can visit his blogs: Shooting for the Moon and Lupines and Lunatics

*Thank you for the great post Mr. S.J. Bell. I am honored to have you in my blog.*

Blog Tour (Interview, Review, Giveaway): Meeting Destiny by Nancy Straight

Welcome to Meeting Destiny Blog Tour!

Today you'll have the opportunity to win a Signed Copy of Meeting Destiny! But before that, let me introduce to you the lovely author herself--Nancy Straight. I had the privilege to ask her some fun questions which I am excited to share with you! Here is Ms. Nancy Straight...

Author's Bio:

Nancy was born in Sioux City Iowa, left the cold of the Midwest in 1991 and only returns to see family in the summer time. She spent ten years traveling the world as a US Marine and settled in rural SC with her husband, two children and three dogs. She enjoys RVing with her family, writing Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy and reading all types of Paranormal and Young Adult literature.

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads 

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

Let me see if I can give you something more than the standard answer that will give you some real insight into me.

I LOVE Starbucks’ White Mocha Latte and Mountain Dew, (but not together). I have a lead foot so I set cruise control when I drive, even in 25 MPH zones. I almost never win when I play Angry Birds, but have my 7 year old close, so he can clear the hard levels for me. I grew up on a farm and am opposed to eating fresh chicken. I am a huge fan of the show, Big Bang Theory, on CBS. I have a stray cat that I feed every night and morning but she’s never let me get closer than within 3 feet of her – I keep thinking eventually I’ll wear her down. I share my life with two fantastic sons, three rotten dogs and a husband that I adore.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? 

I’ve always been an avid reader, and I thought writing would be fun, but until recently I never pictured myself as an actual writer.

 

What's the best part of being a writer? 

The best part is by far the people that read my novels and contact me afterwards. I can’t tell you how excited I get when I read a great review, receive a message on Goodreads or a tweet from someone that just finished one of my books! It’s a real adrenaline rush to know that a story I made up moved someone to tears, made them laugh out loud after their husband was already sleeping or kept them guessing on what would happen next into the wee hours of the morning. 

What's the worst part? 

I don’t believe I’ve run across a part that I don’t like.  There is a stigma attached to being a self-published author, that the work isn’t good enough for traditional publishing.  I find this a little offensive, but I think self-publishing is such a new phenomena that this stigma will dissolve in the not too distant future.  Although I don’t begrudge any author that chooses to publish the traditional way, there are things that make self-publishing much more attractive, for me.  I don’t have an agent or a publicist representing me, absolutely every reader that contacts me, gets a response - from me.  I feel connected to the friends I’ve made that enjoy my books and they are an exceptional source of motivation on the days when I’d rather park myself in front of the television and goof off.  I have full control over my books, I can change covers, I can change text, I can even give a whole bunch of them away and no one can stop me (Meeting Destiny’s e-book is FREE right now).    

How did you come up with the story of Meeting Destiny? 

I’m a hopeless romantic, believing that there really is someone out there for everyone.  If by some chance you don’t connect with them the first time, fate will find a way to reintroduce you until you click.  I liked this idea and took it a step further, that a couple truly devoted to one another could share multiple lifetimes together.

What was the hardest part of writing the book? 

Editing is a labor of love.  The story itself was written in three months, but the editing took an additional six.  I can’t tell you how many times I said out loud, “this is really the last edit,” only to have the story edited several more times after.  

What was the easiest?

The whole Destiny Series was a story in my head that was screaming to get out.  The very first chapter in the book was by far the easiest to write, when I decided to write the book I knew exactly how I wanted it to begin.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

If so, who's character you can totally relate with? One of the small characters in the story is a mouthy physical therapist, Gretchen.  Although I’ve never done anything remotely medically related, her personality and some of the comments she says to motivate Lauren are things I could see myself saying in the same situation.  

Where do you get your inspiration? 

Readers, reviews posted by readers, other authors, bloggers and other books that have captured my heart.  I don’t know if people realize how much of an impact their kind words have on authors.  But a note from someone that says, “I read until 2 am.” or “I couldn’t put it down.” are really an adrenaline rush and inspire me more than any other factor.    

What kind of music do you listen to when you write?

It depends on what I’m writing.  Anyone that has read the Destiny Series will tell you there is a good bit of action, suspense and some swoony romance.  The music tends to mimic the emotion of the scenes I’m writing.  My iPod has around 500 songs so I just keep hitting “next” until I find one I like, then sometimes I loop it while I’m writing.  I have a diverse pallet for music: Adelle, Norah Jones, Keesha, and old EMINEM songs as well as much of the popular country songs are all favorites. 

Aside from being a writer, is there anything else you wanted to be? 

I’ve been fortunate to realize many dreams.  I wanted to travel the world, so I joined and spent ten years doing just that in the US Marine Corps.  I wanted to improve some of the technology available to war-fighters so I worked as a Civil Servant managing some pretty cool programs for the Department of Defense.  When I was younger I would have liked to work for the CIA – but I’m sure that was a result of watching the “Bourne” movies too many times.  LOL!  At this stage in my life (early 40s) I’m able to draw from so many experiences that writing is both a joy and a passion.   

Do you have a favorite or inspirational quote that you want to share with us?

The idea of soul-mates have been around for a VERY long time.  “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” - Aristotle

MORE FUN STUFF:

What's your biggest dream?  

For my boys to think I’m cool, even when they’re teenagers.

What's the thing that scares you the most? 

It’s a toss-up between spiders and snakes – I’m not fond of either.  I had a close encounter with a Cobra in Thailand and there are Brown Recluses throughout the area I live in South Carolina.  Choosing which one I fear more is like being given the option of a punch in the head or a kick in the belly.  

What are the top five things you can never live without? 

Family, friends, books, DirecTV and Mountain Dew.

What is your favorite book?

I just finished Rachel Higginson’s Star-crossed Series – I’m DEEPLY in love with it and will probably read it a second time very soon.  Shelly Crane’s Significance Series, Charlotte Abel’s Channie Series and Shannon Dermott’s Beg for Mercy are all big favorites as well.

How about your favorite food?  

Anything that I don’t have to cook! (That’s my family’s favorite food, too!)

Are you a science geek or a math geek?

I’m a nerd, or at least my son tells me I am, but I struggle helping him with his Algebra homework, so I think that means: no.

Any talent? (Aside from writing of course). 

I am an exceptional shot with a rifle, I can shoot a target from 500 yards without aid of a scope.  I can usually find a funny story to make others laugh.  I’m a good listener.  Not sure if any of the three qualify as talents, but I’m proud of all three!

Meeting Destiny (Destiny #1)

Author: Nancy Straight

Publication Date: June 26th 2012

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Buy Links:

Amazon (Paperback | E-book)
Barnes & Noble

Summary | Add to TBR

Lauren is visited in her dreams for years by a stranger claiming to be her destiny. Destiny becomes reality when paths cross during a failed robbery attempt. Lauren and the stranger experience chemistry like no other and now her doubt over her long time relationship with her high school sweetheart is not her only secret…someone else knows about her keen intuition and sixth sense. A mysterious clairvoyant seeks Lauren out and tells her not only of her life now but what the future may hold. Soon Lauren is in the middle of a murder investigation and a questionable friendship with the key suspect. Law enforcement, friends and family are concerned for Lauren but unfortunately they are unaware of the true danger… Sinister forces are at work and will stop at nothing to destroy Lauren’s abilities.

My Thoughts:

Even before I learned about the blog tour, I already picked up this book for my Kindle. So when I was invited to join the tour, I was beyond thrilled. I think Meeting Destiny is one of those books that will always remind me of the word "soulmates" and of course the word "destiny".

Lauren and Max are destined to be together. Lauren had always dreamed of him for years and when she finally meet him, she's certain that he's the only one for her. She broke up with her bestfriend and sort-of-boyfriend Seth to pursue Max and make him remember everything he said in her dreams. But meeting Max didn't make her life less complicated since Lauren isn't just an ordinary girl. She has the ability to sense danger around her and other people.

Max is a dreamy kind of guy--gorgeous, strong, dependable and a gentleman. There seems to be more about him to discover in the next installment. I want to know everything about Max and how he and Lauren will fulfill their purpose and their destinies together. Lauren is independent and strong-willed, though I think she should be more open with Max about things and her decisions. But then, that made her who she is. 

The story is full of suspense and never-ending mystery. It will keep you guessing up to the last page. And the ending? What a cliffhanger! Does it have to end like that? Oh my Max. This will certainly make you anxious to read the next book.

Overall, the story is good, entertaining and gripping. The mysteries that surrounds Lauren and her abilities, Max and his purpose, and their stories together that are waiting to be told makes this book a very good start for a compelling saga that you might not want to miss.

My Rating:

P.S. One reader told me via Amazon that my review somehow confused her. I gave this book a rating of 3/5 but when you read my review, it seems like I really liked it. Maybe, I didn't explained it much in my review, but I think I owe it to my readers and followers. I don't want to change my original stand/thoughts once I already posted. I only give my honest opinion because I believe in integrity. So, I've decided to just further explain my thoughts on why I give it a 3/5 instead of a higher one. 

I honestly liked Meeting Destiny and I'm still looking forward to read the next books in the series. A rating of 3 out of 5 doesn't mean a "negative" review for me. It was actually ok. In Goodreads, it means "I liked it", and in Amazon it means "It's OK." Here in my blog, I mean it as "A Good Read". The only thing that I've forgotten to mentioned (which probably caused the confusion) is the reason why 3? I've been too busy babbling on the good stuffs that I forgot to mention what I didn't like. Well, honestly, there's nothing hated about the book. It's just that the relationship of Max and Lauren didn't do it for me that much... I'm still waiting for something deeper... something strong that will make my heart tingles, and my body tense when I read about them. Something that is more than what they have in the book. Nevertheless, this book is good. I meant it and I still do. :)

And now, for the GIVEAWAY, you can win One (1) Signed Copy of Meeting Destiny. This is open for U.S. Residents only (sorry to my international readers/followers, but don't worry 'cos you can still own an E-BOOK of Meeting Destiny at Amazon Kindle cos it's still FREE! 

To enter in the giveaway, simply fill up the Rafflecopter below. It ends on April 30th 2012.

GOOD LUCK!

Whispering Hills Blog Tour : Guest Post & Giveaway from Author Taryn Browning

Welcome to Whispering Hills Book Blog Tour stop at Books4Juliet!

 A BIG THANKS to Ms. Taryn Browning and Heather @ SupaGurl Tours for the opportunity to be part of this awesome tour.

Here is an interesting article from Taryn Browning, author of the Dark Seeker and Whispering Hills.

Building My Fictional Characters 

by Taryn Browning 

When I'm reading a book I love it when the characters are developed so that I genuinely care about what happens to them and would even love to know them or be friends with them. This is what I strive to do when I am developing my characters. I like strong female heroines that do what it takes to get the job done, like Janie in Dark Seeker, or search for the truth at any cost, like Alexis in Whispering Hills. Both characters have their burdens and difficult back stories that make them who they are today. Instead of focusing on the negative, they push forward and do whatever it takes to protect the people they love and find answers even when the outcome isn't positive. They are definitely not perfect, which adds to their "realness." Both girls also learn a lot about life, friendship and love, which helps to shape them as the books develop. I don't always agree with the choices they make, but it's the errors they make that make them human and also allow them to grow. 

As for the leading guys in my books, I want them to posses the same qualities. Chance in Whispering Hills and Kai in Dark Seeker are imperfect. They are afraid to open up and be completely forthcoming with the girls they care about in an effort to protect them. Both guys also evolve during the books, not only Chance with his fashion sense and uncomfortable actions, or Kai with his sarcasm and cockiness, but they learn that being honest from the start is best. Yes, both guys are beautiful to look at, even the physical scars Kai bares from a painful time in his life, but they are genuinely good even though their actions are sometimes misguided. They still act out of love and most importantly grow throughout the books. I believe this makes the leading guys endearing but also fun to read about.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: Whispering Hills
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Summary | Add to TBR

For as long as she can remember, seventeen-year-old Alexis Forbes can hear the thoughts of others. Most recently, she is disturbed by the dark, unfamiliar voice of a frightening killer: callous, cunning, charismatic…and dead. She hears his every sinister thought. But she can’t tell anyone. No one would believe her. 

Alexis is suddenly being haunted by a terrifying past she doesn’t remember, and a ghost with a serious score to settle. Even Chance, the gorgeous new guy she’s falling for, has his own ghostly secret. He’s definitely not like any guy she’s ever met. Alexis soon discovers she has a connection to the dead and it runs much deeper than she could ever imagine. 

And if the sociopathic entity has his way, she’ll finally be sentenced to the fate she escaped thirteen years ago. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Taryn Browning writes young adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. Her debut novel, DARK SEEKER, is available on Amazon and B&N. The sequel, DARK RETURN, comes out in late, 2012. 

Taryn graduated with a BS in Education from Towson University and went on to earn a MS in Reading from Hood College. She lives in Virginia with her husband, two young sons and their dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, music, movies, and the beach. Visit her at www.tarynbrowning.com, on twitter and facebook.

GoodReads | Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Now for the GIVEAWAY, simply enter in the Rafflecopter below. This is open internationally.
One Winner will win the following:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour is until April 12th 2012, so you have plenty of time to enjoy reading Reviews, Book Excerpt, Guest Posts, Interviews etc., and enter in the giveaways. 

Also, there will be a Big Giveaway at SupaGurl Books in the last day of the tour!

Make sure to visit the rest of the participating blogs. Happy Reading!

Blue Sky Days Blog Tour: Guest Post from Author Marie Landry

My mood is as blue and as beautiful as the sky today. Simply because there are lots of things to be thankful for, and so many good things to be happy about. One thing that makes me so excited is because of today's post from the author of the Blue Sky Days--Marie Landry. 

Have you read the book yet? If not, YOU MUST. It's beautiful, it's touching, it's one of the most meaningful book I've read in years. I hope you'll find time to pick this book and enjoy the story... In the mean time, cherish your life, treasure your love ones, and enjoy this post =) 

How's the weather?
by Marie Landry

In Canada, talking about the weather is like a national pastime. When people greet each other, one of the first things you’ll often hear them comment on is the weather - “a lot of rain we’re having”, or “can you believe all this snow”, or “we’re getting spoiled with all this sunshine”. I’ve heard the same said about places like Ireland and England, and other places where the weather is changeable and often unpredictable.

Weather has an enormous impact on some people. For me, I feel much more motivated and energized when the sun is shining. When it rains for days at a time, I usually feel sluggish and find it harder to be productive. Many people dread the short, dark days of winter because of the dreary days that can seem never-ending.

In Blue Sky Days, the weather sets the tone for many scenes. Think along the lines of the old classic line “it was a dark and stormy night”. Doesn’t that evoke a clear picture in your mind - something creepy and possibly sinister? I didn’t use anything quite as dramatic as that, but the weather definitely added to the mood of many scenes. For example, at the beginning of the book when Emma is making her journey from her old home to Riverview, it’s been raining for weeks and she thinks that people have been bogged down by the weather, allowing the grayness to seep into their lives. When she arrives in Riverview, the clouds part and the sun appears like a beacon - a sign of hope. When Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, Emma realizes Nicholas’s moods reflect the weather, and his good days become known as blue sky days.

The funny thing is, it wasn’t even really a conscious decision to use the weather as a metaphor. It just sort of happened, but since the weather often reflects my own moods, I suppose it’s fitting. Does the weather reflect your mood? Are you one of those people who want to do absolutely nothing on a rainy day, except maybe curl up with a good book? Or does the rain invigorate you? How about sunny blue sky days, do they leave you feeling rejuvenated?

BLUE SKY DAYS by Marie Landry

Read my review here

Add this book to TBR (Goodreads)

BUY the book: Amazon | Smashwords | B & N

A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother - studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing - and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn't have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn't know who she is or what she really wants from life. Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn't helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it's time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she's stepped back in time. 

When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of man she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be. 

Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through.

Marie would like to thank the people who have supported her by showing her appreciation in some small way. So, for every person who buys a copy of Blue Sky Days during the tour and sends Marie proof of purchase via email to irishstar_83{at}hotmail{dot}com she will enter you into a giveaway to win a book of your choice up to $12 CAN from The Book Depository.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Facebook: Marie Landry, Writer | Blue Sky Days

Twitter: @SweetMarie83

Blog: Ramblings of A Daydreamer

Author's Site: Marie Landry, Author

Marie Landry has always been a daydreamer. She has created imaginary worlds for as long as she can remember, so it only seemed natural that she would become a writer. With a passion for words that started in early childhood, Marie has written a varied range of works, and has been freelance writing since 2009. She resides in Ontario, Canada, and most days you can find her writing, reading, blogging about writing and reading, listening to U2, or having grand adventures with her two precious nephews.

Here's the link and schedule of the Blue Sky Days Blog Tour:

Tuesday January 17th: Jessica from Thoughts at One in the Morning {Review, Excerpt & giveaway}
Wednesday January 18th: Michelle from Much Loved Books {Review and giveaway}
Thursday January 19th: Molli from Once Upon a Prologue {Review and mini interview}
Friday January 20th: Michelle from Much Loved Books {Guest post and excerpt}
Saturday January 21st: Tana from Tana Rae Reads {Interview and giveaway}
Sunday January 22nd: Michelle from Book Briefs {Review}
Monday January 23rd: Sharon from Obsession With Books {Review}
Tuesday January 24th: Sharon from Obsession With Books {Guest post and excerpt}
Wednesday January 25th: Christy from Love of Books {Review}
Thursday January 26th: Mist from Bookaholics Book Club {Guest post}
Thursday January 26th: Kimberlly from Ultimo Romance {Review and interview}
Friday January 27th: LizzieBeth from Lissette E. Manning {Review and interview}
Saturday January 28th: Michelle from Book Briefs {Guest post and giveaway}
Sunday January 29th: Clare from Faery Ink Press {Review}
Monday January 30th: Christy from Love of Books {Guest post and giveaway}
Thursday February 2nd: Giselle from Xpresso Reads {Interview + giveaway}
Friday February 3rd: Asher from Paranormal Indulgence {Review}
Saturday February 4th: Asher from Paranormal Indulgence {Fact Fusion and giveaway}
Sunday February 5th: Hayley from Booking it With Hayley G {Review and interview}
Monday February 6th: Dani from Pen to Paper {Review}
Tuesday February 7th: Amanda from Letters Inside Out {Excerpt}
Tuesday February 7th: Dani from Pen to Paper {Interview and giveaway}
Wednesday February 8th: Patricia from My Journey Through the Pages {Guest post and giveaway}
Wednesday February 8th: Bree from The Magic Attic {Interview and giveaway}
Thursday February 9th: Amanda from Letters Inside Out {Review and giveaway}
Thursday February 9th: MaryBeth from Keystrokes and Word Counts {Review}
Friday February 10th: Kathy from I Write, I Read, I Review {Review}
Friday February 10th: April from Books 4 Juliet {Guest post}
Saturday February 11th: Sarita from The Fabulous Gift of Life. A Journal for My Daughter {Guest post and interview}
Saturday February 11th: Kathy from I Write, I Read, I Review {Guest Post}
Sunday February 12th: Sarita from The Fabulous Gift of Life. A Journal for My Daughter{Review and giveaway}
Monday February 13th: Ecey from Ece Red: YA Book Blog {Review}
Tuesday February 14th: Ecey from Ece Red: YA Book Blog {Guest post}

Guest Post & Giveaway: Author Nuayma Jeggels, Raven (The Violet Jewel, #1)

I am honored to have Author Nuayma Jeggels here at Books4Juliet. Ms. Nuayma lives in South Africa with her imaginary cat named Pookie. When she isn’t writing or reading, she is battling mathematics and gravity. Her favourite colour is violet. Her favourite meal is lasagne. Be sure to check out her Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads. 

Her book RAVEN is the first book in The Violet Jewel series, an epic fantasy with Zombies, published on July 13th 2011 (kindle version). Below is the summary of the book:

RAVEN
by Nuayma Jeggels

A girl, a coma, a Plague, and an empty grave.

When Shardaie wakes up, she doesn’t know who she is, why she can’t understand emotions, why she has been unconscious for nearly nine of her thirteen years, or why the dead just won’t stay dead. The only clue to her past is a locket, but the Plague, which finally stretches its unnatural hand to her village, forces her to leave and to learn to protect herself. But everything has a cost: the protection against the undead reveals a secret that Shardaie and her classmates just don’t want to accept, and at the end, Shardaie realises that some secrets shouldn’t be revealed. Secrets have the power to destroy, and the power to change her view on humanity for ever.

Here's a post from the author herself. Hope you enjoy it!

SHARDAIE-AND-A-LIZARD by Nuayma Jeggels

Shardaie was lying on her side on the floor, nose nearly pressed against the struggling lizard. Her violet eyes slowly blinked, watching as the creature waved its limbs and tried its best to get up and crawl away. Watching, but not understanding. She inhaled deeply, then released the breath as she muttered, “What are you feeling?”

    The lizard’s eyes flitted this way and that way, and when Shardaie realised that the world had to look just too big for it, she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. What was it feeling? She spread out her legs and her arms, trying to see the room from the lizard’s perspective.    Window, too far away. She started to wave her arms. Floor, too wide. She started to wave her legs. Walls, nearly never-ending. Her stomach clenched, a sheen of sweat covered her brow. Shardaie blinked, and as she stopped moving, she thought, that didn’t help. She still didn’t understand what she was feeling.

    Shardaie looked back at the lizard, but only found an empty space bathed in sunlight. She rolled onto her side, in the direction of her bedroom doorway, and watched as her guest scuttled away, its broken tail twitching occasionally. “Go,” she whispered, remembering the words a girl had once said to a different lizard, “be free.”    Then she pulled herself up, but when she straightened, she accidentally knocked her arm against the edge of the windowsill. Shardaie noticed the sudden prickling sensation in her flesh, and when she raised her arm, brow twitching as her eyes narrowed, she took note of the scratch and the thin line of blood that stood out vividly against her pale skin.

    Wasn’t she supposed to be doing something? she thought as she tilted her head to the left and then to the right continuously, she was supposed to react, wasn’t she? Her arm lowered to her side. She looked up and licked her lips, thinking about the girl, who loved to speak to lizards, before turning to stare at the floor.    Shardaie began with her face: she started to arch her eyebrows and then opened and closed her mouth. Her calves twitched, so she started to shake her legs, but that turned into a hopping-on-the-spot. She tried her best to re-enact a scene she had witnessed a while ago, of a little child noticing a wound, but when she spun around, arms flapping in the air, she realised that she wasn’t alone.

    Celio, her red-haired guardian, stood in the doorway, his hand on the doorknob. He cocked his head and then frowned at her. “What are you doing?”    Shardaie immediately stood still and smacked her lips. She looked at her arm, then raised it and replied, “I’m reacting.”

    Celio looked at her arm, then glanced over his shoulder to address someone before turning back to her. “Give me a moment, child,” he turned around, but kept his gaze on her face, “keep your arm clean.”    Shardaie nodded at the suddenly empty doorway, turned around, marched up to her bed and sat down. She wriggled around for a moment, but sat still and stared ahead. Her eyes blinked. Her fingers twitched occasionally. A lock of her hair fell down to caress her nose. She looked at her arm and then raised it before sitting upright and staring at the doorway once more.

    Stomp, stomp, stomp announced Celio’s presence, but Shardaie didn’t move and didn’t look away from the doorway. Celio walked into the room and sat down beside her, then took her raised arm and started to wipe a wet cloth over the scratch. Shardaie watched him work, watched how he bowed his head and slowly turned his wrist, but when he was done and he turned to her as though he was expecting something, she remained silent for a while before saying, “Thank you, sir.”    Celio nodded, looked away and studied his cloth. “Everything’s all right now.” He smiled at Shardaie, placed a hand on her shoulder and stood up. “It’s time for dinner. Come.”

    Shardaie didn’t follow him, even when he made a beckoning motion with his hand, and when he had left the room, she looked back at her arm and thought. The prickling sensation was still there, but it was fainter. She looked at the doorway that both Celio and the lizard had used, then crawled across her bed and threw her blanket over her body and her head.    Her stomach clenched. Her bottom lip trembled. Shardaie closed her eyes, and as she felt her breath flutter across her upper lip, she started to wave her legs and her arms. Nothing. How was everything all right? Shardaie continued to wave her limbs. She still couldn’t understand what she was feeling …

And now for the giveaway part! The author herself will give away three (3) eBook copies of her book RAVEN (eBook available in Kindle/PDF/ePub format) . There will be three (3) winners for this giveaway and it is open for international participants. All you have to do is fill-up the Rafflecopter form below and make sure to enter a valid email address so we can contact you if you win. The contest will run December 9th (12:01 am EST) to 23rd (11:59 pm EST).  Winners will be notified a week after the contest has ended. Name of the winners will also be posted here at Books4Juliet. 

Thank you for your time and for participating in this giveaway! Good luck and Happy Holidays everyone!

Love Lots!

Special Guest Post: Author Martin King

Hello fellow readers, bloggers and writers! Today, I am honored to have Author Martin King as a special guest on my blog site. This post is part of Martin's "100 Blogs As A Child" August Tour, where he writes 100 blogs in 100 different websites in the single month of August. Enjoy the post, and make sure you check his site and the other awesome blogs of #100BLOGFEST. Happy Reading!

JOKES by Martin King

So when you were younger you visited the Holy Grail of all shops – the Joke shop! I was fortunate to grow up in a shop with a fully fledged joke shop. Nowadays they are hard to come by, but even back then they didn’t encompass every street corner.

Do you remember the fake finger, the one with the nail straight through it and the blood painted on it? How was it even possible to believe that you could convince your parents that you had actually got a nail sticking in your finger? Looking back it was so fake.

Then there was Captain Windybottoms Fart Powder. And believe it or not, it actually worked. It was easy dropping it into your parent’s cuppa when they weren’t looking, but near on impossible getting anywhere near your mates drink.

This brings me nicely onto the whoopee cushion. The one item you hid under the cushion on the settee in time for the visit of Aunt Muriel. It seemed I was the only one who appreciated it. Why are parents so boring and fuddy-duddy?

Then there was blood capsules and snapits, those little white things you chucked on the ground and they made a faint ‘snap’ sound. Or what about the fake chewing gum, the one where you offered it to your friend and as they pulled it out, a spring snapped out and slammed on their finger.

But the ultimate joke has to be the fake dog turd!! Every kids perfect trick, placing it in the middle of the living room carpet. And to be totally honest, it was pretty real looking as well. But I’m not going to mention every joke, I will leave that to you.

These blogs are all about fun and sharing. Thank you for reading a ‘#100blogfest’ blog. Please follow this link to find the next blog in the series: http://martinkingauthor.com/blog/7094550076