Thursday, October 29, 2020

Monday, September 28, 2020

YASH FALL SCAVENGER HUNT IS HERE!

 Welcome to YASH FALL Scavenger Hunt at LM Preston's House


LM PRESTON's HOUSE
YASH SCAVENGER HUNT


SEE ALL PARTICIPATING TITLES:  Goodreads

YOU ARE AT THE BLUE TEAM STOP


 
Please welcome authors of MERGED to my blue house! And don't forget my secret number is mumbo number 9

PRESENTING SMOKE
Darcy Woods    


This compelling drama reveals what lengths a straight-A student and avid rule-follower will go to in order to save her family. A look at the issue of poverty and marijuana legalization for fans of the TV show Weeds.

Sixteen year-old Honor Augustine never set out to become a felon. After all, she’s the embodiment of her name as an academic all-star, avid recycler, and dedicated daughter to her PTSD-afflicted father. Coloring inside the lines is what keeps Honor’s chaotic existence orderly. But for the sake of family, some lines must be crossed. 
 
When she discovers her father’s VA benefits drying up, coupled with a terrifying bank letter threatening the family’s greenhouse business—Honor vows to find a solution. She just doesn’t expect to find it on the dry erase board of English lit—“Nature’s first green is gold.”

The quote by Frost should’ve been as innocuous as the beige walls of the classroom. Instead, it becomes the seed of an idea. An idea that—with patience and care—could germinate into a means of survival. Maybe marijuana could be more than the medicinal plant that helps quiet her father’s demons. Maybe, it could save them all. What lengths we will go to for the people we love?


Hello my fellow adventurers, from Darcy. 

Greetings Hunters! And a big thanks to the prolific LM Preston for giving me a home along the hunt to reveal the cover for my forthcoming YA contemporary, SMOKE! This book holds such a special place in my heart since it borrowed heavily from chapters of my own life story. So it’s been especially meaningful to see the extraordinary care that’s gone into this cover—from conceptualization to creation. And the end result? Designer Ray Shappell completely blew me away (serious debt of gratitude over here!) with this eye-popping, nuanced, and well . . . dope reflection of the story inside.

Now please, go forth and ogle. ;) I hope you enjoy! 

Preorder link: https://bit.ly/3hVP3eZ

Goodreads add link: https://tinyurl.com/y4fb28kc


Also, I'm having a little giveaway of my own for FREE $5 Amazon Gift card and bookmark: CLICK HERE



GIVEAWAY!




CONTINUE TO THE HUNT at author Heather Reid

CLICK HERE



Wednesday, July 29, 2020

BREAK THE DARKNESS by LM Preston




Get Your Pre-Order here: Amazon

Rei was nosy. She’d been told it would always get her in trouble, but it never did. Until she met Megan, who promised her the job of a lifetime. Sure, the high school newspaper wasn’t the ideal job for most, but for Rei, it was a dream. She’d never considered putting her investigative nature to work, but what Megan was asking her to do was way beyond the requirements of a school newspaper. It was part of an underground news for favor service. Her partners, Asher and Eli, annoyed her by never trusting her to do a job alone. Maybe, this one time she should have listened, because being trapped with no one to bail her out may surely be the death of Rei. Not only hers but will spill the secrets about her family she’d been withholding, placing every one of them in grave and serious danger.



Friday, May 22, 2020

Being an Author in the Pre-Qual of a Dystopian Novel


QUARANTINE HAS GIVEN ME A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY WRITING

It's true. It's hard to live through dark and uncomfortable times, then write about it - but make sure there is a plausible ending that doesn't crush your readers - when you are feeling a bit crushed.

THE REALITY and MY FANTASY

There is a great difference between the reality of my life during the stay in orders and the crazy world I've created in my latest series, but one thing prevails. Hope. 

Also, the revealing of certain situations I had never considered would happen when the world starts to show a major change in the way it operates day to day. The response of people and the disorganized information being shared was something I realize happens, but to live through it is this unsettling feeling of unbalance that expressing through my characters seemed lighter than what a person feels in real life.

It makes me wonder if my readers will want to experience emotion so close to home during these times.

PEOPLE LIKE TO READ OTHER DARK REALITIES

It is amazing to me that many post apocalyptic books and fantasy novels had an uptick while people are forced to stay at home. I've even read and played games that reflected the times. (Yes, I have played Plague, Pandemic and Dead of Winter lately, several times) 

I believe it instills the hope that we will win. The human race will overcome it all. You know what, we usually do.


IF YOU WANT TO ESCAPE YOUR REALITY to one where YOU CAN SEE A WINNER a SURVIVOR, the paperback released this week to Scepter of Fire.






Friday, April 10, 2020

BEING STUCK AT HOME FOR A WRITER MEANS - WRITING MORE

I AM ENJOYING BEING FORCED TO BE AT HOME

As an author that also has other businesses and career moves, having time to write is always great. I've have the time to do all the things on my to do list, finish the expectations for my publishing of Scepter Of Fire release due May 2nd on time (I was falling way behind).

SCOPING OUT MY RELEASE SCHEDULE

I struggled with whether to release Scepter Of Fire during a pandemic. The rumor was book sales would dive during this period of time. I however, had hopes that books would be vital during this time. Therefore, I pushed myself to get the final manuscript edited, proof read, then designed. I also, finished the copyrights and marketing planning for the book. I debated on the print version and decided to release that after the pandemic and all clear since Amazon isn't pushing to fulfill orders that aren't essentials.



MARKETING COST SCALE BACK

When fighting the challenge of limited income, marketing had to change. There are some great vehicles I've been able to collaborate on that were free - one was the YASH SCAVENGER HUNT, that got over 180 eyes on my release and my giveaway got over two hundred interactions - all free advertising! There will also be a blog release tour (because I love doing them and the people I use are professional and reasonably priced). There was a cover reveal - a bit late in the process, but that was a great success. I am also doing some newsletter swaps with other authors that have great books. Have you signed up for my Newsletter here - click.

MORE TIME TO WRITE

Since, having more time at home (no commuting to my day job saves me 2 hours a day). I am able to get more books written. I scoped and started writing the next book in my The Vigilant Series, and plan to write the next two books in which I hadn't planned on writing until later this year.

Also, I plan to create content for my online courses (see them here: Homeschooling and Working Courses and College The Radical Way) Course creation is a great companion for my non-fiction books (Building Your Empowered Steps and Homeschooling and Working While Raising Amazing Learners), but it takes a lot of time.

ARE YOU READING MORE NOW?

With all that's going on, do you want to escape? The best kind is reading. Do you feel that you are purchasing more books or looking for more discounts?


WINNER OF THE YASH GIVEAWAY


BUY COPY OF SCEPTER OF FIRE for 99 cents  and FREE on KU this month only!

Monday, March 30, 2020

The HUNT is ON! YASH SCAVENGER HUNT Spring 2020

Welcome to YASH FALL Scavenger Hunt at LM Preston's House

LM PRESTON's HOUSE
YASH SCAVENGER HUNT


SEE ALL PARTICIPATING TITLES:  Goodreads

YOU ARE AT THE PURPLE TEAM STOP
Please welcome authors of MERGED to my blue house! And don't forget my secret number is mumbo number 3

PRESENTING PLAIN JANES by Cecil Castellucci


A DC COMIC!!!!
Buy HERE






When artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved city life behind for the boring suburb of Kent Waters, she thinks her life is over. But then she finds where she belongs: at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with fellow misfits Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things-a shared name and frustration with the adults around them–the girls form a secret club dedicated to fighting suburban apathy with guerrilla works of art scattered around their small town. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, the PLAIN Janes are out to prove that passion, bravery, and a group of great friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school.

TEASER



Hello my fellow art adventurers. 

My name is Cecil Castellucci.  In my book (with Jim Rugg on art) The Plain Janes, the Janes form a guerrilla art group that do art attacks in their small town of Kent Waters.  The Main Jane, Jane Beckles, uses this as a coping mechanism to combat PTSD that she has and to deal with her trauma from a bombing in fictional Metro City.  I believe, as she does, that Art Saves.  One of the first times that I remember really seeing street art when I was growing up was Keith Haring's Chalk Drawings in the NYC subways.   Everyday walking in the subway, there would be new drawings that people would walk by or walk on.  That was when I started to really appreciate the beautiful graffiti that used to be on NYC subway cars and big wall murals .  I love that art can be stitched into the day to day and be delightful. That’s what the Janes do in my book.  They do yarn bombings projects. and little toy dioramas and sound installations.  All to make the people of their town stop for a moment and see the world in a new way.  That’s what art does.  I was going to walk around Los Angeles, where I live and take pictures of little hidden beautiful things, but that’s not really possible now.  So here are some links to cool art installations that happened around the world. Maybe you will do  something in your front yard, as you social distance?  Something that those walking by can see and be delighted by while remaining safe.  Because art and books will help us now!

All best,  Cecil Castellucci 

Website, Buy Book Here

Also, I'm having a little giveaway of my own for FREE $5 Amazon Gift card and copy of Insatiable Darkness: CLICK HERE



FACEBOOK RELEASE PARTY!
JOIN THE FUN- MORE PRIZES 


CONTINUE TO THE HUNT at author Eliza Tilton 

CLICK HERE


Monday, March 23, 2020

YA Scavenger Hunt Time!!!!

The TEAMS are LINING Up

Check it out! Did you hear the news? The YA Scavenger Hunt, otherwise known as YASH, is almost here! Are you excited? I know I am. For those of you who are dying to know what to look forward to, here’s a sneak peek of the teams.

The "hunt" is just a simple math problem. You will write down all the secret numbers on a team, total them, and submit the answer to be entered for the grand prize.

There are 4 grand prizes being offered, one for each team. The team prize is a book from each author on that team.

Pick a Color:

Guess what color team I am on?

Red
Blue
Purple
Gold

Da da da!

What Books Can I Win During YASH?






There you go.
All eighty books you could win during the upcoming YASH.
Which team are you most excited about?

But How Do I Hunt?
If you’re new to the YA Scavenger Hunt, don’t worry. I have a YouTube video that tells you everything you’d ever want to know.

1) Read blog post
2) There will be a link at the bottom of the blog to the next link until you finish each author and finish the hunt
3) OR go to the YASH I'm STUCK PAGE

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER A GRAND PRIZE CONTEST from 4 DIFFERENT TEAM and YOU GET A BOOK FROM EACH TEAM
...and there's more, each author may have individual giveaways

You will get a SNEAK PEAK of something from their book or series


Okay, So I’m Interested, Now What?

Now all you have to do is wait for the hunt to start. You can begin hunting on my blog on March 31st, or to make sure you don’t miss out, you can head over to the YA Scavenger Hunt page, scroll down, and sign up for notifications with your email on the right, or you can sign up for my personal newsletter on my website and I’ll be sure to let you know when the hunt begins every season, which happens twice a year.

And You’re Revealing Secret Stuff?
That’s right! This coming season of the YA Scavenger Hunt I’ll be revealing some sneak peeks of my new book, SCEPTER OF FIRE.

 To win a prize, you’ll have to check out the YA Scavenger Hunt!

Also, here's a quick Giveaway For you!

CLICK HERE FOR GIVEAWAY $5 Amazon Gift Card and MORE

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Reading and Teaser of Insatiable Darkness now ON SALE and FREE in KU


INSATIABLE DARKNESS READING


BUY HERE: Amazon

☆ ☆ ☆ READING of INSATIABLE DARKNESS ☆ ☆ ☆




THE Vigilant Series:

EmVee didn’t know what to think about this new town her father’s passion for boxing lured them. It was an unlikely location for her to pursue her dream of going semi-pro. Just when she started getting used to the school with gorgeous jocks and strange cheerleaders, the depth of the danger her father’s choices dangled them in front of became clear. EmVee hoped Silas and Kayson will be able to help her uncover the mystery identity of the person who is threatening her family. The question is, will she survive to expose the mystery.

The VIGILANT SERIES
Insatiable Darkness - Book 0 - prequel to Caged Fire
Caged Fire Book 1: March 7th, 2019
Unbreakable Darkness - Book 1.5 - prequel to Book 2

JOIN THE FACEBOOK PARTY: Click Here
JOIN MY FACEBOOK READER GROUP: Click Here

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Life Versus The Writing Cave


THE Vigilant Series


The FOURTH book in this series has been a struggle to write.  Life has a way of stepping into a writer's life and smacking things down.

The first deadline has come and gone, and now I am on a tight deadline to finish edits, get it formatted and uploaded for ebook release. 

The paperback release will be a month after the ebook release.

And when will the release of the next book come? The story of what happened to Dexter Lewis? Since his sister EmVee (aka: Vida Emily Lewis) story has come to light?




FIND OUT MAY 1st.