Battle of the Sexies: Winners Round 3

I really wasn't expecting a third drawing.  If you're the SHADOW OF A VAMPIRE winner, please contact me ASAP.  Sooner you get in touch with me, the sooner I can run to the post office with all the prizes.

08/02

(International) Signed book of winner's choice by Keri Arthur & Tim Tams!

Beth (xmaybetomorrow@...)

When you contact me, please include which book you want

08/25

(US-only) Giveaway: 3 Signed copies of Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield
Robin K (robin@intensewhisper...)

Winners, you know the drill: please EMAIL ME by Midnight MONDAY, Sept 13th with the following:

• In the subject line: The DAY and BOOK PRIZE (with the author's name)
• Mailing address (if you're receiving a print copy of a book)
• Your preferred email (if you're receiving a gift card and/or ebook) 
• and your BOOK CHOICE if you won a book giveaway with multiple choices for the prize

Failure to contact me with all the necessary information by Monday night means you give up your prize to another participant.  

Battle of the Sexies: Winners Round 2

A few people never got back to me about their prizes.  Others entered the wrong giveaways.  Either way, it's great for the rest of you because there's a new set of winners for the following giveaways.  Also, for those of you who have contacted me: most of the authors have shipped the prizes out already.  You should be getting them sometime soon.  I won't be able to make it to the post office to ship the rest of the prizes until sometime next week. 

08/02

(International) Signed book of winner's choice by Keri Arthur & Tim Tams!

Tabathia B (tbarrettno1@...)

When you contact me, please include which book you want

08/11

(US-only) Kelly Meding

As Lie the Dead:

Jennifer M (received)

08/20

(US-only) Jaye Wells

Steph (received)

08/25

(US-only) Giveaway: 3 Signed copies of Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield
JoAnna B (received)
Melissa (books.things@...)

Winners, you know the drill: please EMAIL ME by Midnight SATURDAY, Sept 11th with the following:

• In the subject line: The DAY and BOOK PRIZE (with the author's name)
• Mailing address (if you're receiving a print copy of a book)
• Your preferred email (if you're receiving a gift card and/or ebook) 
• and your BOOK CHOICE if you won a book giveaway with multiple choices for the prize

Failure to contact me with all the necessary information by Saturday night means you give up your prize to another participant.  

The Battle of the Sexies... Winners!

I thought we'd start off with our 6 finalists in the polls. 

You know, somehow I'm not surprised that Mercy whooped everyone.  I am surprised that there wasn't as much Adam love, though.  Very surprised with that.

And so, without further ado, let's announce this lucky grand prize winner.

Winner of the GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY (US ONLY) is...

Dawn Saenz de Viteri AKA Froggy!
(received)

Please email me with your mailing address within 48 hours, thanks.

And just to recap what you've won ;)

• $20 Gift Card from Indiependent Books
• $25 Gift Card to Book Swim
• A book with a secret heart compartment cut out of the middle and lined with red velvet courtesy of the Etsy shop: Book Works
• Either an 8x8 or 8x10 print from the Etsy shop: Erin Reynolds Photography
  
  Signed/unsigned copies of:   
• The Devil Inside by Jenna Black 
• Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance (signed)
• Embrace the Night by Karen Chance (signed)
• Embers by Laura Bickle
• Blood Law by Jeannie Holmes (signed) (contacted)
• Under the Northern Lights by Vivian Arend (contacted)
• Swag pack from: Karen Chance, Faith Hunter, Jenna Black, Leah Cypess, Moira Rogers, Nalini Singh + more.

---

08/01
Abigail from All Things Urban Fantasy
(US-only) Giveaway: The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter
vslavetopassionv (received) 


08/02
(International) Signed book of winner's choice by Keri Arthur & Tim Tams!
Keri Payton (Keri.Payton@...)
When you contact me, please include which book you want


08/03
(International) Jennifer Rardin
Michikit (received)
sue brandes (received)
Brooke (received)

08/04
(International) Laura Bickle
Katiebabs (received)

Reading Angel (received)

 

08/05
(US-only) Artist Arthur
Cade (received)


08/06
(US-only) Kristin Stefanos
Sandyg02 (received)


08/07
(International) Lara Adrian
Elizabeth (received)
 

08/08
(US-only) Andrea Cremer
Smash Attack (received)


08/09
(US-only) Anita Clenney
Stella (stella.exlibris@...)


08/10
(International) Vivan Arend -- Happy release day!
Linda Henderson (received)
Stephanie (received)
Elaing8 (received)


08/11
(US-only) Kelly Meding
Three Days to Dead:
Cade (received)
As Lie the Dead:
Natalie (mindfulmusings@...)


08/12
(International) Laura Stamps
Megan (received)


08/13
(US-only) Sharon Ashwood
Dawn Embers (received)


08/14
(International) Jeannie Holmes
GABY aka: Maria G (received)


08/15
(US-only) Giveaway: Staked by JF Lewis
Aik Chien (received)


08/16
(US-only) Giveaway: Signed copy of Siren by Tricia Rayburn
Jessica (received)


08/17
(International) Carolyn Crane
Bridget Hopper (received)


08/18
(US-only) Alexandra Ivy
JoAnna B (received)


08/19
(US-only) Lindsey Leavitt
Cathie (received)


08/20
(US-only) Jaye Wells
Pick new winner.


08/21
(International) DB Reynolds
Donnas (received)


08/22
(International) Jennifer Ashley
Scottsgal (received)


08/23
(US-only) Jess Haines
Cathy M (received)


08/24
(International) Rae Lori
Missy (received)


08/25
(US-only) Giveaway: 3 Signed copies of Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield
Cathie (received)
Pick new winner.
Pick new winner.


08/26
(US & Canada) Tera Lynn Childs
Andrea I (received)


08/27
(US-only) Prize Pack

Paranormal Romance Pack:
Sharon K (received)
Urban Fantasy Pack:
Smash Attack (received)
"Black Jewels Universe" Pack:
Raquel (received)
The Dhampir Pack:
Elena (received)
The Demon Pack:
Sue B (received)
The Bad Boys Pack:
Latisha D (received)


08/28
(US & Canada) Merrie Destefano
Teril (received)


08/29
(US-only) Leanna Renee Hieber
Lena (received)


08/30
(International) Dakota Banks
Jen M (received)


08/31
(International) JK Beck
Bella F (received)

(US-only) Giveaway: 2 signed copies of A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER & a copy of DEMON FROM THE DARK
A Hunger Like No Other:
Amanda L (notreallysouthernvampchick@...)
Heatherzilla (received)
Demon From the Dark:
 Patti (received)

WINNERS: please EMAIL ME by Midnight Wednesday, Sept 8th with the following:

• In the subject line: The DAY and BOOK PRIZE (with the author's name)
• Mailing address (if you're receiving a print copy of a book)
• Your preferred email (if you're receiving a gift card and/or ebook) 
• and your BOOK CHOICE if you won a book giveaway with multiple choices for the prize

Failure to contact me with all the necessary information by Wednesday night means you give up your prize to another participant.  

The Battle of the Sexies: Thank you!

I didn't expect the end to come so quickly!  Back in April, the BOTS was nothing more than a simple idea buzzing about in my head like some annoying little gnat.  When I emailed a group of authors in May, the positive response was overwhelming... and that's when I knew I had to at least try to organize the Battle of the Sexies. 

Who would have thought so many wonderful people would contribute prizes and posts?  I'm still buzzing with excitement about that!

With that said, I thought that a post was necessary to thank everyone who helped make this possible.  Because seriously, all of these authors, publicists, assistants, and bloggers could have made my life a living nightmare with formatting posts and fishing for information, pictures, and whatever else you can imagine.

First and foremost, thank you to all the authors who contributed either a prize, a guest post, or both.  Without all of you, this really wouldn't have happened!

• Alexandra Ivy
• Anastasia Hopcus
• Andrea Cremer
• Anita Clenney
• Artist Arthur
• Becca Fitzpatrick
• Carolyn Crane
• Dakota Banks
• DB Reynolds
• Faith Hunter
• Gena Showalter
• Jaye Wells
• Jenna Black
• Jennifer Ashley
• Jeannie Holmes
• Jennifer Rardin
• Jess Haines
• JK Beck
• Julie Kagawa
• Karen Chance 
• Karsten Knight
• Kelly Meding
• Kelley Armstrong
• Keri Arthur
• Kresley Cole
• Kristin Stefanos
• Lara Adrian
• Laura Bickle
• Laura Stamps
• Leanna Renee Hieber
• Leah Cypess
• Lindsey Leavitt
• Meagan Hatfield
• Merrie Destefano
• Moira Rogers
• Nalini Singh
• Rae Lori
• Sharon Ashwood
• Tera Lynn Childs
• Tricia Rayburn
• Vivian Arend

A huge thank you to these other contributors, who worked behind the scenes:

• Alison, Kelley Armstrong's assistant 
• Brooke, Kresley Cole's assistant 
• Erica at Simon and Schuster
• Hallie at Disney
• Heather, Lara Adrian's assistant
• Lisa, the Online Publicist
• Natasha at Falk Associates
• Sara at Penguin

I also can't forget the wonderful bloggers who participated either!  So thank you: Kristi (The Story Siren) and Abigail (All Things Urban Fantasy) for contributing two amazing guest posts with these authors! 

And last, but certainly not least, thank you to everyone who was kind enough to retweet about the guest posts and giveaways more times than I can even count!  There were days when I thought TweetDeck was going to go haywire because there were so many. 

I hope you all had fun this month.  I certainly did!  And if you haven't done so already, I would appreciate it if you all could fill out the survey I posted.  Your responses will definitely help me decide whether or not I should organize something like this ever again :)  Hell, The Battle of the Sexies occurred during my 6 month blogversary... who knows what'll happen for the 1 year.

I'll be announcing winners between September 5th and September 6th.  Please make sure you keep an eye out for the winners post!  I will NOT be emailing winners this time around.

Battle of the Sexies Survey

Hey there everyone! I'm in the process of drawing winners for the month long event, so each daily giveaway, and the grand prize winner, will all be announced by the end of the week.

I hope everyone had an awesome time participating in this event! I know I had a lot of fun doing it, and learning more about a bunch of great authors is always exciting :)  Some of you were pretty sneaky in your approach towards getting people to vote.  It was so amusing to watch!

Because this event took a bit of time to plan and organize, and because there was such a huge turnout, I have included a survey form to fill out. Please fill it out! Your answers will help me decide if events like these are worth pursuing in the future here. I'd also like to make them more fun and enjoyable for everyone involved, so your input is extremely important!

If you fill it out, thank you so, so much! Likewise, if you guys would like to mention anything else, feel free to email me with questions, concerns, etc, or leave a comment on this post.

Thanks again, and have a great day everyone! :)

(Day 31) Guest Post: JK Beck

Click on the image to check out all other available/upcoming giveaways/events.

This is the final day of the Battle of the Sexies!  I never expected it to end so soon :(  Alas, all good things must come to an end (jeesh, do I sound like a fortune cookie, or what).  Today's guest poster actually has her debut novel that comes out... today!  Please give a warm welcome to paranormal author JK Beck!  HAPPY RELEASE DAY!


And also, to end The Battle of the Sexies with a BANG!, there will be a second giveaway.  Kresley Cole fans & soon-to-be fans will want to go to the giveaway post.
 

J. K. Beck spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and Central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge in her passion for writing. Now she uses her legal background as inspiration for her paranormal romantic suspense series, The Shadow Keepers, set in and around a secret judicial system hidden within and mirroring our own.

California born, J. K. now lives and writes in Texas, where she hangs out with her husband and daughters and drinks far too much coffee.

But wait! There’s more!

J.K. Beck is the new pen name for bestselling author Julie Kenner. We always knew Julie was a little bit schizo…"

Bio courtesy of JK's website.

Connect with JK:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

---

I'm so psyched to be participating in the Battle of the Sexes, especially since my new series, the Shadow Keepers (When Blood Calls releases TODAY--squeal!!!!) has some seriously alpha males in it, and they fall hard for strong, self-sufficient women.  For me, that's the perfect match, because they're each a foil for the other, and the sparks never stop flying.

So much of the writing process is organic that it can be hard to step back and analyze how you got to what ended up on the page--how an alpha male character is created and a strong heroine placed on the page.  For me, a lot of it comes across in revisions--especially for the men.  I have a tendency to write my guys in a first draft with a lot of talking--and a lot of self-awareness.  Um, nope.  To me, alpha's play it close to the vest, so that chatty first draft is me-the-author getting to know their character.  But then in revision, I go in and cull all that chaff away, because having gotten to know my alpha, I also know that he'd never talk so much.  And he'd certainly never sit back and be psycho-analyze boy.  Alpha men act.  They're fiercely loyal and very self-assured, and that doesn't engender a lot of navel-gazing.  It's fun to write, but challenging, but when you read a well-drawn alpha, you can tell as much about him by what he doesn't say as what he does.  

With an alpha male, a strong woman can be a double-edged sword.  A strong heroine knows her own mind--she has a life beyond the hero, and she's got her eyes set on her goal, whether it be running her business or skewering demons on magic swords.  She can be a bit alpha in her own right, but that's what makes it so much fun when she hooks up with an alpha male, because as their personalities grate against each other, sparks fly, too.  Our hero might think it would be easier to fall for a weaker woman, but the truth is that it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.  He's met his match in a strong heroine, and she's met hers.  And those sparks can burn into a truly hot passion.  

I won't say that the women are easier to write than the men, but for the most part the heroines are more self-aware than their male counterparts, so the red pen doesn't have to come out as much.  The challenge is to make them strong without being bitchy.  To make them self-sufficient without seeming stand-offish. To make them be someone you want to hang out with and root for.

I hope I've managed that with the Shadow Keepers!  The heroes in the first three books, Luke, Rand and Nick, are paired with some exceptional women in Sara, Lissa and Petra.  I love them all and hope that you do too!

 

You can read more about them at my website, www.jkbeck.com or www.theshadowkeepers.com -- you'll find contests, excerpts and more!  And please check out my book trailer at  http://jkbeck.com/the-shadow-keepers/fun-stuff/jkvideo/

---

JK is offering one lucky winner a galley of book 2 in her Shadow Keepers series: When Pleasure Rules

Seven innocents have been brutally murdered on the streets of Los Angeles, yet the Shadow Alliance has no suspects and no leads. And as more bodies are discovered, the age-old feud between the vampires and werewolves threatens to explode and turn the city into a living nightmare.
 
With her back to the wall, Lissa Monroe—a strong-willed, ravishingly beautiful succubus who entices men to surrender their souls—agrees to go undercover for the Alliance. Her mission: infiltrate the mind of werewolf leader Vincent Rand, a ferociously alluring enemy who has a powerful hold over her. Lissa has never lost control of her deepest desires, but Rand is an impenetrable paradox, a principled soldier who fears nothing—except perhaps the darkness of his own past. As the city of Angels teeters on the brink of apocalypse, these two adversaries must join together to have even the slimmest chance of surviving a more lethal enemy hidden in plain sight.

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to everyone!
2. Fill out the form.
3. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

Extra Entries:

• [+1] Tweeting about this giveaway (include link in the comment)

Being a blog follower is not required, yet is extremely appreciated!

(Day 31) Giveaway: Kresley Cole

Click on the image to check out all other available/upcoming giveaways/events.

Go here to see today's guest post & giveaway!

---

Are you a Kresley Cole fan?  Do you wish you could read the first book in Kresley's Immortals After Dark series?  Well, today is your lucky day!

Three lucky winners: two IAD newbies, and one IAD veteran will win a signed copy of one of Kresley's books!

Two copies of the first book in the IAD series: A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER are being offered, along with a copy of Kresley's latest release, DEMON FROM THE DARK for an IAD vet.

A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her . . .

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he's waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy . . .

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents -- until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae -- and their notorious dark desires -- ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire . . .

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

Includes an excerpt from Kresley Cole's next romance novel, No Rest for the Wicked.

A DANGEROUS DEMON SHE CAN'T RESIST . . .

Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he's pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.

A MADDENING WITCH HE ACHES TO CLAIM . . .

Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving.

TRAPPED TOGETHER IN A SAVAGE PRISON . . .

In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

SEE MY REVIEW

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to US-only.
   
2. Fill out the form below.
   
3. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

Extra Entries:

• [+1] Tweeting about this giveaway

Being a blog follower is not required, yet is extremely appreciated!

(Day 30) Guest Post: Dakota Banks

Click on the image to check out all other available/upcoming giveaways/events.

Are you a fan of the urban fantasy genre and thrillers?  If so, then stay tuned!  Today we've got the author of the Mortal Path series stopping by to chat!


"I have to believe that growing up in a converted turn-of-the-century funeral home, complete with blood gutters and a drain in the basement floor, warped my mind.
 
I set aside all those macabre thoughts spawned by reading books in the basement at night with a flashlight and undertook a relatively normal life. College, science fiction, husband, computers, Star Trek, mortgage, fantasy, Star Wars, kids, mysteries, writing, thrillers, horror, and cats. I'm not sure in which order all those things happened, but I haven't killed off enough gray cells yet that I've forgotten any of them. That brings me up to now, or at least the last decade.
 
I wrote short stories in high school and college, submitted them, and got rejection letters. I still have some of them. Writing was shelved while life ran amuck, and I came back to it in the 1990s. I published six books, all hard-edged suspense thrillers dealing with virtual reality, one of them set in a future world. None were written under the Dakota Banks name. I enjoyed these books because they were my first taste of the writing life, not to mention that they brought in some money and put 600,000 published words under my belt.
 

Something was missing, though, and it took me six books to find out what the missing piece was. Although my books were highly imaginative and extrapolated then-current trends in forensic science, computer simulation, and virtual reality, they didn't go far enough. I felt hemmed in by reality.
I needed to get back into the basement with a flashlight.
 
I took a deep breath and thought about what I really wanted to do with my writing career. I had an idea that had been playing around at the edge of my mind for a while, and I decided to see what I could make of it. Combining my love of archaeology with the freedom that comes from using mythological elements in a story, I came up with the basic concepts for the Mortal Path series. Developing that world and the characters who bring it to life has been tremendously rewarding for me, and I hope the books provide pleasurable reading for you.
 
I live on the western fringe of St. Louis, Missouri with my husband. Our two sons, one adopted from Peru and the other from Ethiopia, are in college. My cats Peanut and Marble sometimes ghostwrite my books. Good stuff, too, if you speak Cat.
 
I'm a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, the Horror Writers Association, and Mystery Writers of America."

Bio courtesy of Dakota's website.

Connect with Dakota:
Website | Blog | Goodreads

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Why is it okay for the male in the story to sleep with multiple partners, but the heroine has to be virginal?

Hi, I'm Dakota Banks. Thanks, Tori, for letting me guest post on your blog today. This question is a little ambiguous, so I'm going to break it down into two parts.

1. The male has slept with multiple partners before this current story even begins.
2. The male is sleeping with multiple partners during this story.

First, let's take YA of the table. Theoretically paranormal YA shouldn't be measured by the same standard as adult books, although these days those standards are shifting. With so many adults reading YA books, and with the target audience more aware of and struggling with sexual identity questions at an earlier age, it's hard to tell where this subgenre is going.

Let's talk about before the current story begins. There are a good number of paranormals based on an immortal male and a normal female who, in the process of the story, discovers her abilities, destiny, etc. So if a guy is three hundred years old, can we honestly expect him to be a virgin before page one given that today's men have their first sexual experience on average at age 16.9 years? Get real. If he is still virginal, he has a very serious mental or physical problem, and how often does that situation show up in the hero of the story? Maybe in the villain, but we're not rooting for the heroine and the villain to get together. He could be a creature that has a very slow development to adolescence, and that would work.

The heroine, generally speaking, is between twenty and thirty years old. She could be a virgin if she had been raised in an unusual situation, such as in a convent, and is just now stepping out into the world. That would be explained in the book to give her a believable background. Given a typical background, though, how likely is it that she's still a virgin? The Kinsey Institute says that 92% of women have had sex by ages 22-24. If the heroine is in her twenties and still a virgin, there has to be an explanation in the story. A strongly religious upbringing, extreme shyness, aversion to sex due to something horrible in her background. and so on. On the other hand, the woman might be a creature who is vastly older than she appears, which puts her in the same category as long-lived men: unlikely to be a virgin.

During the story, should the guy get to play around while the relationship with the heroine is developing? In reality, men usually do. The Kinsey Institute says that only 20% of men have had one sex partner in their lives, whether they are married or not (compared to 33% who have had 11-21+ partners). Do we want our fiction to mirror reality? I say no, because we're talking about paranormal stories. That means the author isn't bound to the behavior of a majority of men in real life. The author can decide whether the male lead is a player or not, and how that figures into the plot and the romantic relationship.

Now I want to take a step back and look at romantic relationships in paranormal books in general. What are we, the readers, looking for? To identify with the male or female lead and be swept up in the romance by putting ourselves in the story in place of the character. That's when the element of fantasy comes in, not only in the paranormal part of the story but in the romance. If I'm a guy reading the book, I want to put myself in the story as an experienced player, charming with women, and attractive. It doesn't hurt if I'm super-strong or immortal. This plays right into men's fantasies. A man's interest in the book might wane if his representative on the page is a loser in his eyes--I'm not a man, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I don't think too many men fantasize about being a virgin. If I'm a woman reading the book, I go straight for the fantasy of new love or first love, allowing myself to relive it or experience it. Women's fantasies tend to be more emotional and romantic than men's and that's what I'm looking for in the book--to escape into a romantic fantasy, something that--let's face it--probably doesn't closely resemble our current love lives.

Were there any actual conclusions buried in all that, or was it just a brain dump? I think that the age of the character is a strong factor, but it depends on how realistic vs. fantastical the author wants to make the relationship. It's possible to create any combination of experienced/virginal desired and mess with their individual characteristics. For example, let's invent a male lead a thousand years old to whom something bad will happen when he first has sex--he loses his powers, changes into a frog (!), or even dies. Understandably, he's going to be selective about choosing a partner. That's part of the fun of paranormal for authors--and if readers can form a bond with your characters, I think they'll stay with you through the end of the book no matter which combination you choose. At least, I hope so! My series features Maliha Crayne who, after 250 years of decadent living, is beginning to open her heart to love. She's certainly no virgin, and she hasn't quite gotten the whole relationship thing down yet. She's like some unmarried women today in that she'll have sex on her own terms, when it's meaningful for her.

Have I gotten your blood boiling yet because you disagree with me? Or are you glad someone said what you were thinking? Let me know. I'd love to read your responses.

---

Dakota is offering one lucky winner's choice of:
A copy of Dark Time (book 1) or Sacrifice (book 2; release: Tomorrow!)

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to everyone!
   
2. Respond to Dakota's question in order to be entered.
3. Include your email in the comment.
   
4. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

Extra Entries:

• [+1] Tweeting about this giveaway (include link in the comment)

Being a blog follower is not required, yet is extremely appreciated!

(Day 29) Guest Post: Leanna Renee Hieber

Click on the image to check out all other available/upcoming giveaways/events.

Reading the Strangely Beautiful series has been one of the highlights of my year.  Yes, the 2010 year.  Not only are these books so eloquently written, but it feels as if every single word was painstakingly chosen to resonate with the feel of the entire series.  It is with great pleasure that I introduce Leanna R Hieber to all of you today.  Oh, and if you have not yet had the opportunity to delve into these books?  You are truly missing out on some something spectacular.


"Award winning, bestselling author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories.  Graduating with a BFA in Theatre from Miami University, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London helped set the course for her Strangely Beautiful series. The Gothic, dramatic, historic, spiritual and paranormal are the primary forces in her lyrical, eerie, atmospheric fiction. While performing in the regional theatre circuit she adapted works of 19th Century literature for the professional stage and her one-act plays such as Favorite Lady garnered national attention and continue to be produced around the country.

She hit the fantasy fiction scene with her novella Dark Nest which won the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance."

Connect with Leanna:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Allow me to introduce myself. I am Persephone “Percy” Parker (if you know me beyond my first tale then you know I take the name of my beloved). I am nineteen years old in the year 1888. I see and can speak with ghosts, in every language, I’ve an uncanny ability with light and its power to keep darkness at bay. I can open doors to the Whisper-world. I have been called a freak throughout my life. I’ve no colour anywhere; not on my skin, my hair- my eyes alone have slivers of blue. I always thought I should belong with ghosts, but instead, I belong with the Guard, mortal arbiters between the living and dead. And I belong to my hero, Professor Alexi Rychman, who rallied me from self-pity and helped me grow into the woman I want to be. Through his acceptance, the grace of his love and my own fierce sense that fate wanted something great from me, I have come into the full scope of my powers.

 

I understand that Miss Tori and this fine, assembled entourage is talking about qualities of strong heroines. When I began my journey, I would hardly have considered myself a pillar of strength. In fact, I was a trembling mess. As I got to know Professor Rychman, he challenged me to find the inner strength he knew I possessed, but that simply needed the right touch to bring it forth. And oh, dear reader, does he have the right touch.

 

Strength comes in many forms. I beg you to imagine what a life of being called a freak will do. It will make you cringe at the world. It will strike you to the core when people are startled simply by looking into your eyes, when they regard you with a mixture of fascination, fear and pity. When you’re told very matter-of-factly that you’ll never be a wife, a lady, a normal woman, you believe it. Why wouldn’t you, when you don’t look like anyone you’ve ever met, other than the dead? I will credit myself with inner strength enough to climb out of my bed to face the day and find beauty in all manner of strange things. To treat the world with kindness, not bitterness. There is strength in love, in passion and in kindness. I’ve always been a passionate, loving girl, fierce in the knowledge that I was meant for a fate as uncommon as my ice-white body. Strength of purpose, the desire to ascertain my mysteries, drove me to great lengths. I am proud to say that when dangerous tasks were given me, I did not shirk them. I walked into the very heart of Darkness. And I triumphed. Timid though the world once made me, I will fight to the death for those I love.

 

As for whether or not I, as you say in this age, “kick-ass”, well that would depend. If you are a Gorgon, a Hell-hound or other minion of Darkness that dares lay a hand upon my beloved Alexi, my light will blaze forth and you- and your ass- will be reduced to cinders, thank you very much.

 

Remember what a holy man once said; “the meek shall inherit the earth.” Do not underestimate the meek if they are put to the test.

 

With love and blessings,

 

Miss Percy Parker Rychman

 

Should you be curious about my “Strangely Beautiful” stories, Miss Tori has kindly written very lovely reviews of my tales thus far and there have been some fine honours bestowed upon my tale. Should you be curious about She Who Created Me; Miss Hieber, you may visit her portal at www.leannareneehieber.com and courtesy of the little bird at www.twitter.com/leannarenee

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Leanna is generously offering one lucky winner a copy of her second book in the Strangely Beautiful series.

With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun.  Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares—may come.

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to US-only.
   
2. Fill out the form below.
   
3. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

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(Day 28) Guest Post: Merrie Destefano

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What would you do if you had nine lives?  Would you be reckless for the first few lives as an adrenaline junkie, or would you be too afraid to waste any of them?  Would you become a super hero or a super villain?  Since you've already had nine lives, would you search for a way to attain immortality? 

Merrie Destefano left a 9-to-5 desk job as a magazine editor to become a full-time novelist and freelance editor. With twenty years’ experience in publishing, her background includes editor of Victorian Homes magazine and founding editor of Cottages & Bungalows magazine. She lives in Southern California with her husband, their two German shepherds and a Siamese cat. For more information, visit www.merriedestefano.com.

Connect with Merrie:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Why I Love Urban Fantasy
By Merrie Destefano

Books are my life. Truly. If I’m not reading, or writing, I feel lonely—almost as if someone I loved went missing. Personally, I love urban fantasy and science fiction more than almost any other genre, although I’ve been known to read mysteries and thrillers as well. Why do I love urban fantasy so much? Well, answering that question could take hours, so I decided to tell you the top seven things I love most about the genre.

1. NO SOCCER MOMS: Don’t get me wrong, I think soccer moms are great. I just don’t want to read about them. Regular day-to-day life is boring enough. When I read fiction, I want to hear about women who lead a different life than I do, female characters who can save the world if necessary. Writers like Kelly Gay—with her police officer, Kim Harrison—with her bounty-hunting witch, and Patricia Briggs—with her shapeshifting mechanic, have all shaped and helped to re-define women by giving them roles where they are leaders in their community.

2. GRITTY WRITING: I love noir writing, dark twisted stories and rough characters. I like knowing that the lead character has dirt under his fingernails and that he’s got the skills to fight and win. I crave blood and guts and steamy settings. Writers like William Gibson (Neuromancer) and Richard Kadrey (Sandman Slim) and Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files) deliver that and more. And I know that William Gibson is technically classified as a writer of cyberpunk, but I love him so much that I just had to add him in the mix.

3. HOT MONSTERS: I fell in love with monsters when I was teenager. Vincent Price was my hero and I watched his films on a regular basis. Monsters ruled back in the ’50s and the ’60s. Classics like The War of the Worlds (Martian monsters), Dracula (vampires), The Mummy (monsters from the grave), Night of the Living Dead (zombies), and Rosemary’s Baby (demons) have all paved the way for the monster trend we’re experiencing in fiction today. I loved monsters back then and I still love them today.

4. YA LIT: I love literary writing, especially when a story crosses that bridge between poetry and fantasy. YA authors like Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth), Malinda Lo (Ash), Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder), Holly Black (Tithe), and Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely)  have all hit the literary nail on the head in my opinion. I could read their books over and over, because their stories are so rich and their writing is so lush.

5. MYTHS AND LEGENDS: Myths and legends—which evolve and change with each retelling—touch us on a deep, subconscious level. These primal tales come from our distant past; they’ve been written and rewritten until they’ve become part our collective subconscious—if a collective subconscious even exists. When these stories are at their most fantastical, their raw, visceral elements can make even the most intellectual, left-brained person pause and wonder.

6. PARANORMAL: Life doesn’t fit in a neat little box. There will always be things that we either can’t understand or can’t explain. I believe that the supernatural is forever entwined with the mundane—we just can’t see it for what it truly is. That’s why I love stories with paranormal characters or elements. They allow us to pull back the veil and see what might be on the other side. Paranormal stories force us to consider that there might more to this world than what we can see on the surface.

7. SETTING: Whether the story is set in a dystopian future (like Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins) or in a recognizable city (like New Orleans in my novel, Afterlife), I love it when the setting actually becomes a character. Also known as milieu, this story element adds both realism and believability to the book. This is why setting is so important in fantasy—if the writer misses here, he or she could easily lose the reader.

So, now you know what I love about urban fantasy. I’d really like to hear your thoughts. To get this comment party started, I’m giving away an advance reader copy of my upcoming novel, Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles.

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Want to win an ARC of Afterlife?

WELCOME TO YOUR NEXT CHANCE.

Chaz Domingue works as a professional Babysitter in New Orleans. His job is to integrate and protect the recently deceased into their new and improved lives—a position he reluctantly accepted after his father was murdered. Though Fresh Start has always been the only game in town, resurrection isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Nine lives are all a person can get—and a powerful group of desperate, high-level Nine-Timers will stop at nothing to possess the keys to true immortality. Unfortunately, this places Chaz at the lethal center of a maelstrom.

Now the only hope for Chaz and his family—and the ultimate fate of the human race—is secretly locked away in the mind of Angelique, the beautiful, mysterious Newbie who’s been entrusted to Chaz’s care…

Giveaway Guidelines:

To enter to win, please make a comment about why you love urban fantasy. You can earn points by:

+1 Posting in the comments section

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+1 Linking to the Supernatural Underground blog on your own blog/website (http://supernaturalunderground.blogspot.com/)

Just post the total number of points that you’ve earned in your comment. Winner to be announced September 4th.  Open to US & Canada only.

(Day 27) Giveaway: Prize Packs!

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Many thanks to all these authors for donating books to this event.
If you click on each picture, you will open a new window directing you to each author's website (and the book's summary).

The Paranormal Romance Pack
Red Rock Pass: Sanctuary by Moira Rogers (signed) Books 1 & 2
Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh (signed) Book 7

The Urban Fantasy Pack
Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready Book 1
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter (signed) Book 1

The “Black Jewels Universe” Pack
Tangled Webs by Anne Bishop (signed) Book 7
Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop (signed) Book 8

The Dhampir Pack
Midnight’s Daughter by Karen Chance (signed) Book 1
Death’s Mistress by Karen Chance (signed) Book 2

The Demon Pack
Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong
Bloodring by Faith Hunter

The Bad Boys Pack
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (signed) Book 1
Embrace the Night by Karen Chance (signed) Book 3

6 categories, 6 winners.  Please check which packs you want in the form, thanks.

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to US-only.
   
2. Fill out the form below.
   
3. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

Extra Entries:

• [+1] Tweeting about this giveaway

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(Day 26) Guest Post: Tera Lynn Childs

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Do you like mermaids?  I like mermaids.  In fact, The Little Mermaid was my #1 favorite Disney movie!  So now the question is: do you like your mermaids your YA books?  If so, then you'll definitely want to continue reading this post. 

"Tera Lynn Childs is the award-winning author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp, the mermaid tales Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever (coming June 28, 2011) and a new trilogy about monster-hunting descendants of Medusa (Fall 2011). Tera lives nowhere in particular and has spent time fleeing hurricanes, making character profiles on MySpace, blogging on her own and with the Buzz Girls, and writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages."

Bio courtesy of Tera's website. 
Or if you really want to get technical, the back of her book(s).

Connect with Tera:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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What qualities are heroines required to possess in order to be deemed a strong female lead?

When I sit down to write a female lead, I try not to overthink the process too much on the front end. I have an image in my head of this girl and who she is and how she reacts to certain situations. Then I just charge ahead in the writing. Occasionally, in that organic process, my character ends up doing something weak or out of character, and that’s when my editor steps in and says, “Fix this!” Over the course of several books, this back-and-forth has taught me three keys to writing a strong female character.

1. Solves Her Own Problems

A strong female lead doesn’t let other people (whether it be parents or friends or boyfriends) solve her troubles for her. She steps up and does the dirty work herself. And, if someone else tries to solve the problem for her, she asks them to back off so she can take over. In writing young adult I think is especially important, since teen characters (and teen readers) are just learning how to fight their own battles, an important step in the growing up process.

2. Has an Individual Identity

A strong female lead doesn’t lose herself in her love life. She maintains her individuality, despite being involved with the guy of her dreams (because, really, if she has to change to be with him then he’s no dream guy). She still has wants and interests and friends and a whole world of other things outside of their relationship, things that keep her life rounded and whole. She still has goals which have nothing to do with love. Her romantic interest should compliment her life, not consume it.

3. Overcomes Her Fears

Few things in life come easy, even for strong female leads. Sometimes she has to make hard choices, do things she’s scared to do in the name of what’s right or what needs to be done. The thing that separates her from weaker characters is that she shows courage in the face of her fears. She doesn’t let the fear overshadow her goals. She charges ahead and if, sometimes, doing the right thing means sacrificing the thing she wants most or confronting her greatest fear then she does it anyway.

So the next time you’re reading or writing a strong female lead, keep in mind these key traits. But always remember that, like us real life humans, no character is perfect. If she slips up for a moment, don’t judge her too harshly. Just give her a few pages to get her act together and make everything right.

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Tera is offering one lucky winner a personalized copy of Forgive my Fins!

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to US & Canada only.
   
2. Fill out the form below.
   
3. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

Extra Entries:

• [+1] Tweeting about this giveaway

Being a blog follower is not required, yet is extremely appreciated!

(Day 25) Guest Post: Karsten Knight

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Today we've got a different approach to the typical guest posts and interviews.  And we've got another debut author.  I cannot begin to describe how excited I am for our guest's upcoming book, and I hope that, after watching such an informative video, you'll check Karsten out and be excited about WILDEFIRE also!


"I grew up in the sleepy suburbs of Boston, MA. As a voracious bookworm, I would stay up late into the night, reading Goosebumps with only the glow of the television to light the pages. Years later, my eyesight would give me the middle finger.

I received my B.A. in English & Creative Writing from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and I am currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Writing for Children at Simmons College, where I am outnumbered 20-to-1 by women, but hey--who's complaining?

My novel WILDEFIRE will be published in Summer 2011 from Simon & Schuster."

Bio obtained via Karsten's website.

Connect with Karsten:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Click here to go to today's giveaway.

(Day 25) Giveaway: Meagan Hatfield

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Click here to see today's guest post.

Want to be one of the three lucky winner's receiving a signed copy of Meagan Hatfield's SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE?

Check out my review!

Even vampires should never sleep with the enemy.

Vampire princess Alexia Feodorovna has been undead for 125 years, so it's been a while since any man has made her pulse race. Until Declan Black. One look at his bronzed body and a fire like no other consumes her. Then she discovers that he's a dragon lord come to take revenge on the vamps who killed his parents. And claim a crystal said to imbue its owner with incredible powers.


Alexia is ordered to torture and kill the dragon lord. Yet with each reckless encounter, she finds herself consumed by his fiery passion. A passion Declan battles, as well. Will he be able to resist the fire of lust she kindles within him and keep revenge in his heart? Or will he risk everything to quench the burning desire and claim the vampire as his own?

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to US-only.
   
2. Fill out the form.
3. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

Extra Entries:

• [+1] Tweeting about this giveaway

Being a blog follower is not required, yet is extremely appreciated!