@MaraValderran #Book #CoverReveal "Heirs of War" by Mara Valderran

Isn't that a great cover! However, this is more than a cover reveal. I'm going to give you some information about the book, tell you about a great giveaway by this author, tell you a bit about the author and even provide you some links, isn't it exciting?  So, off we go.

First of all, be sure to add this book to your shelves over at Goodreads (if you're still brave enough to be there).  Don't be worried if the cover over there looks a bit different; at the time I'm setting this up there is a "keeper" cover up there to help preserve the mystery until this reveal.  You can also stalk the author on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog by clicking on these links.

Oh, wait, did I mention a giveaway?
Right. You can sign up to win a paperback or e-book copy of the book, a poster, a $25 Amazon gift card, or a character named after you in book two! So, just slick anywhere in the sentence outlining the prizes and you'll be taken to the post you need.

So, I don't know about you, but looking at that cover makes me very curious as to what this book is all about, doesn't it you?  Are they sisters?  What is the deal with their fire and ice?  So, let me just help with that curiosity by providing the blurb for you here.  First of all, let me tell you it is a New Adult fantasy, and one that looks pretty interesting to me.

Heirs of War blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Zelene doesn't believe in magic or prophecies. When she's told she is part of the prophecy foretelling five powerful girls bringing peace to the war-torn worlds, she scoffs. The idea of other dimensions layered on top of the world she lives in is almost as ludicrous as the idea that she might be able to save them. After she is attacked by magic-wielding assassins, she finds she can't argue with reality.

As their enemies strike, the girls are taken back to their world and discover the ties binding them together. Rhaya has always had an uncanny knack for reading people, but can’t seem to unravel the mystery tying her to Isauria, the new friend she bonded with instantly. For years, Isauria has been dreaming of Terrena, a girl living her life on the run in a magical world ripped apart by the tragedies of war, completely unaware that she is psychically linked to the world she was born in.

Zelene views them all with a distrustful eye, familial bonds or no, and can think of a place or two she’d like to shove the crown she supposedly inherited. When she learns that her long-lost twin Ariana has been captured by the rebels, Zelene’s attitude changes. She doesn’t know how she is supposed to go against an army of magic-wielding rebels when her own ability to manipulate the elements is still locked within her. But can she trust the elders to rescue Ariana when it seems their medieval politics are what brought about the war in the first place? With all that is at stake, the answer becomes clear to Zelene.

Screw the worlds. She’s getting her sister back.

That sounds pretty cool, amirite? Let me tell you all right here, I am reading this book, second week of October, so be sure to watch for my review.

Now, then, but who is Mara Valderran?  Fair question.  Let me tell you a bit about her, okay?

About the Author:

Mara Valderran has been coming up with stories pretty almost since she could talk, often commandeering her brother's G.I. Joes to play out her fictional tales alongside her Barbies. Once she hit adolescence and realized playing with dolls wasn't cool anymore, she started putting her ideas to paper. And she hasn’t stopped since.

Mara is more than just a madwoman with a writing box. She lives in the south with her husband and demanding cat. She hopes to one day meet Daniel Jackson from SG1, or at least the actor who played him. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing video games, or spending time at her favorite local coffee shop.

So, I put all the stalking links above for you. But just because I want you to be sure to go stalk this great new author, I'll put them all down here, too.
Facebook
Twitter
Her blog
Her Website
Goodreads

Don't forget to go to her website and take part in the big giveaway! Link is toward the top.

"A Change of Plans" by Donna Weaver - NEW from Rhemalda!

You might remember from my cover reveal on this book that A Change of Plans was to be released on June 1, 2012.  Well, it is now available on all platforms, so I'm going to provide you a bit more information!

A Change of Plans is a New Adult book, which means it has been written to appeal to people who are recently graduated from college and just going out on their own.  Here is a bit more info about A Change of Plans (and you may or may not have noticed, but each mention of the title provides a link to a different place.  First Rhemalda directly, then Amazon, then B&N.com, so you can just click to go and pick it up wherever you prefer!). Be sure to check out the GIVEAWAY and cool trailer at the end!

Find it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads | Rhemalda Store

Blurb:

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive.

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

Their confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

Author Bio:

Donna K. Weaver has always loved reading and creating stories, thus she’s been ever entertained. A Navy brat and U.S. Army veteran, she’s lived in many U.S. states as well as South Korea, the Philippines, and Germany. An avid cruiser, she’s sailed the Pacific four times. When she retired from Shorei Kempo Karate with a black belt, she decided it was time to put her imaginary friends and places on paper. She lives in Utah with her husband. They have six children and eight grandchildren. 

Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Rhemalda's Facebook and Twitter (@Rhemalda) 

Donna's Facebook and Twitter (@TheDonnaKWeaver)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What people are saying about A CHANGE OF PLANS...

"A Change of Plans will keep readers up way too late in this fast-paced tale of love lost and found again." ~Melanie Jacobson, author of The List, Not My Type, Twitterpated, and Smart Move

"A Change of Plans is lots of romance sprinkled with pirates, shipwreck and adventure. Donna Weaver spins a tale that you will fall in love with, think about for days afterward, and then go back and read again. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn't put it down." ~Betsy Love author of Identity and Soulfire

"A captivating tale of love, grief, and hope that will tug at your heartstrings until the very end." ~Laura Josephson, author of the Rising series and Confessions from the Realm of the Underworld

"When someone says pirates and novel in the same sentence, I usually say, "Thanks, but no." Not in this case. Ms. Weaver brings a warm humor to her story of romance, travel and overcoming skeletons in one's past with her vivid characters and delightful scenes." ~Shaunna Gonzales, author of Dark Days of Promise

Book Trailer:

Cover Reveal and upcoming release announcement for "The Enlightened Ones" by Lacey Reah

Lacey Reah (who wrote the dark fantasy novella Fireflies, my review linked here) let me work on her soon-to-be-released second book, Enlightened Ones.  It should be available on Amazon and Lulu soon, and believe me when I say I'll be letting you know as soon as it's available!  This is a very dark and difficult book about the dangers of cults and brainwashing, a New Adult novel about how the attempts to find oneself can sometimes lead to subsuming that self within the confines of another's dreams, and I think anyone interested in these ideas will love this story.

Here's the synopsis:

When Maggi turns eighteen and realizes that she has nothing to show for it, she looks for meaning by joining a church of people called “Enlightened Ones,” led by the enigmatic John Cronus. As she is pulled deeper into this organization, the stories of its people are unveiled, showing how they all joined the church seeking their own form of fulfillment. The followers give up all their worldly possessions to start a commune on a distant island paradise. Will they find the utopia they seek, or will they be pulled into a menace that is even darker than the lives they left behind?

Watch for this one; it's going to be epic!  I'm so pleased to let you all know about this book, and to show you the gorgeous cover.

Book Feature and Guest Post by Amanda Thomas, co-author of "Warrior Girl"

Today I'm featuring the new adult book Warrior Girl on Now is Gone.

“Warrior Girl is a love letter to World of Warcraft.”

First, some information about the book, taken from the Warrior Girl website:

A beautiful young Korean girl, Sun Hi Kim, is beginning her first year at Oxford University. Thousands of miles away from home for the first time, she struggles to adjust to a different culture. Sun Hi befriends two English boys. Miles is a handsome final year student who is also captain of the Oxford rowing team. Adam, a first year student who is also a hunk, hero-worships Miles, his rowing idol.

Sun Hi knows that she’s naive and has never had a boyfriend, let alone an English boyfriend. Her first forays into desire very nearly end in disaster. Between rowing, her studies, boys, and an arrogant roommate, Sun Hi often feels overwhelmed. Playing World of Warcraft is the one thing she can do to escape her problems, at least for a little while.

Now, here is a guest post from the co-author of this book, Amanda Thomas.

Writing for a Warrior

By Amanda Thomas

I think writing any new book is a daunting experience. Warrior Girl was perhaps a little easier as I had the inspiration and support of my co-writer Matt Lazar.  Getting over that first expanse of blank page was still a hurdle but (luckily for me) once I am off and running, or writing, my imagination seems to take over.  I never plan out what I am going to write in advance.  I have an idea of what sort of characters my subjects are and I let them expand and come to life on their own.  I never force anyone that I have invented into anything that seems unnatural to them.  

A recent reviewer said the heroine of Warrior Girl, the timid and very gentle Sun Hi, was a bit too good to be true. In a lot of ways she might well be, although people like her do exist and through the whole story she was always true to her personality and the way that she had been raised. Her strength only really showed itself when she was playing World of Warcraft. I was pleased that Matt, who was in charge of the ‘gaming’ side of the story, did not make the game scenes too far out of the experience of non-gamers. Because of this, many non-gamers have read it and enjoyed the book.

I know that of all the work I have done, Warrior Girl has been a favourite. I do a lot of ghost writing work but it is nice to have something published in my own name for a change! I have enjoyed writing Warrior Girl and I hope that you enjoy reading it too.

You can learn more about Amanda Thomas at www.amanda-thomas.com.  

FREEBIE ALERT plus: "Should I Fight or Flight? New Adult" Guest Post by Matthew Turner

There's a new kid in town going by the name NEW ADULT  - have you heard of it by chance?

If you have then you're probably aware of a few things:

1. It's full of female writers

2. It's very romance centric

3. It's been termed as smut for teenagers and steamy young adult

It might be strange to learn, then, that a man's trying to break into this genre and convince people it's good idea. Never one for conforming, I'm doing just that - my name is Matthew Turner and I'm embarking on a campaign called The New Adult Man

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

This week my debut novel, Beyond Parallel is FREE (18/03/2013 - 22/03/2013), the reason being to show that MEN can be part of this wonderful New Adult World, too. I see great potential in this genre, and although I have absolutely nothing against romance or steamy sex scenes, I think limiting NA to this would be like limiting YA to vampires and wizards.

New Adult is about the young life, it's about a world away from the teenage years but before the real world hits, and it's about going through issues that those young folk know oh so well: careers, love, commitment, new beginnings, leaving old one's behind, friends, family, etc, etc.

Although trying to break into a genre full of romance may be hard, I honestly believe this is the home for my writing. No other book I write will be like Beyond Parallel, but my general style is to craft stories that focus on very real issues - for the most part those we go through when we're still coming-of-age.

During the writing process I worried where my book fit, but as soon as I found New Adult I knew I'd found home. The only issue was, was it ready for me?

Overcoming Adversity

There once lived a man who appeared in Titanic, appeared on every pre-teen magazine cover around, and was generally seen as an adorable sex symbol rather than an actor. I for one hated Leonardo DiCaprio, but I can't say the same these days.

Today he's one of my favourite actors because he's shown himself to be amazing.

That's the strange thing about perceptions and assumptions. They're so important, but they can easily change over time. Apple were once seen as Microsoft's geeky little brother, but is today the coolest, most successful brand around. Fashion, too is a great example. What's cool one minute isn't the next.

At the moment outlets like ABC News have painted New Adult with a particular brush, but that doesn't mean it will be like this forever. I believe New Adult fulfils a genuine need, but like most things in life it has to mature and earn it's stripes.

This is what I hope The New Adult Man Campaign achieves. Beyond Parallel is set around relationships, but isn't overly romantic. It's about the young life, a world after college, and a time when you can achieve anything.

For me, this is what New Adult is all about.

Will You Spread The New Adult Love?

I hope you'll download Beyond Parallel for FREE, but before that I hope you'll give New Adult a chance. Head to Goodreads and find a few books you think you might like, give them a read, and try and discover what New Adult means to you.

There's so much talent out there and the limits to what NA can achieve is infinite. I hope you'll uncover, discover, and share the love...

Should I Fight or Flight? Heck, the easy thing would be to flight I guess, but I have no plans to do this. In a year's time I hope I'll be one of many male writers happy to fit into the genre, and not only will journalists be happy to spread the word, they'll spread a varied and eclectic one - a word that helps everyone appreciate what New adult is really about.

It's about the young life. Are you on board? >>> JOIN The Party HERE

Matthew Turner - author of Beyond Parallel

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Matthew Turner is a Male New Adult Writer who's debut novel, BEYOND PARALLEL is FREE all week (18/03/2013 - 22/03/2013). 

The New Adult Man Campaign is geared toward exposing this great new genre and showing that men can play a part too. JOIN THE FACEBOOK EVENT and help spread the word, discovering some great New Adult reads along the way.