Monday, May 31, 2010

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (16)

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It's Monday What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Persons Journey Through a World of Books!

Ok, so I’ve been horrible and keep forgetting about this post. I’m not sure what’s wrong w/ me. But I finally remembered, so YAY! lol

Books Completed Last Week:

  • Moonshine by Alaya Johnson
  • The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
  • Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
  • Heirs to Darkisle by Cassandra Pierce

Books I am Currently Reading/Listening To:

  • A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
  • Lost Devil’s Throne by Kristin Stefanos
  • Dark of kNight by T.L. Mitchell

What’s Up Next:

  • Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams
  • The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith or Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Friday, May 28, 2010

Moonshine by Alaya Johnson Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!

*~Contest is closed.~*

Today I’m lucky enough to be the last stop on the Moonshine Blog Tour! So please, get to know Alaya Johnson, read about Moonshine, read my review, and why not leave a comment and enter to win your own copy of Moonshine while you’re at it!

Moonshine,Alaya Johnson

Book Synopsis

Imagining vampires at the heart of the social struggles of 1920s, Moonshine blends a tempestuous romance with dramatic historical fiction, populated by a lively mythology inhabiting the gritty New York City streets Zephyr Hollis is an underfed, overzealous social activist who teaches night school to the underprivileged of the Lower East Side. Strapped for cash, Zephyr agrees to help a student, the mysterious Amir, who proposes she use her charity worker cover to bring down a notorious vampire mob boss. What he doesn’t tell her is why. Soon enough she’s tutoring a child criminal with an angelic voice, dodging vampires high on a new blood-based street drug, and trying to determine the real reason behind Amir’s request—not to mention attempting to resist his dark, inhuman charm.

My Review

Moonshine transported me back to the 1920s Prohibition era right from the start. This isn’t your normal history class Prohibition era, though, because in this one vampires, and all Others, are out in the open and just another part of life. Zephyr Hollis, also known as the “singing vampire suffragette”, is a teacher at a night school for Others. She is also a major activist in most issues involving the rights of Others. She has no idea how involved she’s about to become though.

A mysterious and beautiful man named Amir asks for her help tracking down Rinaldo, the local mob boss who is also a vampire and reeking havoc on lives of so many in the city. Why? That would be a great thing to know, but finding out more about Rinaldo would benefit many, and Zephyr always has been one to help those in need. Amir also helps her out when she finds a young boy that has been attacked by vampires, so she must keep that in mind.

This hunt for the mob boss leads to the tutoring of a vampire child criminal, strange drugs that start effecting the city’s vampires in bad ways, and Zephyr getting closer to Amir who is some type of Other, but what? Amir’s character was so fascinating to me. Both he and Zephyr drew me in and wouldn’t let go. It wasn’t just them either. Zephyr’s friends, fellow activists, and a certain nosey reporter, were all wonderful characters. Even bad guys held me entranced. Alaya Johnson has built a fabulous world and uses language beautifully to reflect the time period without distracting from the story! I can’t wait for more!

*review copy was provided by Books And… Virtual Tour Coordinator*

Alaya Johnson

About the Author

ALAYA JOHNSON is a recent Columbia graduate, and denizen of New York City.

Find out more at www.alayadawnjohnson.com

Books And...

Moonshine Tour Stops
Monday, May 24       Books And... Chat
Tuesday, May 25      Parajunkee
Wednesday, May 26 Fang-tastic Books
Thursday, May 27     BrownGirl BookSpeak
Friday, May 28         Not-Really-Southern Vamp Chick

 

And today you get a chance to win your own copy of Moonshine!  All you need to do to enter is comment on this post, and leave your email in the comments. Sorry, this is only open to US residents ages 18 and up. It’s not required that you be a follower of mine, but I’d love it if you were! Contest ends June 11th.

What do you think of books where history is changed, like this one where in the 1920s Others are suddenly real and part of the public? Do you like books with supernatural beings out in the open, or do you like them hidden in the shadows?

*~Contest is closed.~*

Thursday, May 27, 2010

T.L. Mitchell Guest Blog

Werewolves and Wolves Fiction and Facts

by T.L. Mitchell

Over the years there have been many paranormal romances and thrillers written containing werewolves. In past years, the term werewolves struck fear into the heart of anyone who heard the term. However, lately werewolves are used in another form as friendly and loveable. So how do we term the evil creatures from the good creatures? What is the difference?

In our discovery, let’s start with understanding some facts about wolves. Wolves have been very badly misunderstood animals over the last decade. They are important creatures to our eco system. Many farmers and live stock owners disagree, claiming they are a nuisance and should be destroyed. Truth is wolves are just as important to our world as the air we breathe.

Wolves are the largest member of the canine family, with a height from 26-32 inches. They weight from 55-130 lbs and have a life span of approximately 7-8 years. Some wolves have been known to live 10 years or more. The diet of wolves consists of large hoofed mammals, such as dear, elk, moose and caribou. I think you see why live stock owners would consider wolves a problem. In Alaska, there are an estimated 7000 to 11,200 wolves and more than 5,000 in the lower 48 states. In earlier times, there were estimated populations of up to 2 million wolves, where now there are only estimated 200,000 in 57 countries.

In the mid 1930s, wolves were once common creatures in North America and killed in most areas. Today their range has been reduced to minimal areas throughout the US and Canada.

The behaviors of wolves are mainly pack-like. They live, travel and hunt in packs of 4-7 animals. The packs include the mother and father, their pups and several other young wolves. The alpha female and male are the pack leaders that track and hunt prey. These leaders choose den sites and establish the pack’s territory. Wolves develop close relationships with one another and strong social bonds. They demonstrate deep affection for their family and may even sacrifice themselves to protect the family unit.

Werewolves are considered wolf-shape shifters by many. The name werewolf comes from the “wer” Old English term for man. Man-wolf. Legends around the world speak of men and women who could turn into wolves and back into human form. In their animal form, the werewolves were bloodthirsty creatures that devoured humans.

The werewolf legends occur in all parts of the world. Some scholars have suggested that these transformation legends are no more than echoes of ancient ceremonies where people wore animal skins.

An interesting note, European werewolf tales date back from ancient times. A Greek king named Lycaon was turned into a wolf as punishment for serving human flesh to the gods. The Greek word lukos(wolf) and anthropos(man) comes the term lycanthropy.

Now let’s discuss the difference between werewolves and Lycans. We know they pretty much mean the same thing- a man (or woman) who can turn into a wolf. Truthfully, they do not need the light of the full moon to change. They can change at will. So where do we form the opinions of bad and good werewolves? In Europe, the werewolf folklore is not just a simple myth or legend. There was a time where werewolf legends were rich and varied in stories. These stories were interesting as we begin to see tales about hero werewolves and a variety of species. So in fact, the werewolves in the older, darker days were considered blood-thirsty beasts. Which is probably where we come up with the evil looking, more scary creatures in the movies.

Another folklore, I would not want to pass up is the one I use in my Dark of kNight Series. My wolf- shape shifters are termed Lycans and they hunt evil werewolves. The background history on their characters is from the Native Indian’s folklore. Some facts about where the Native Indians came up with their legends were said to be based on early settlers. The early settlers brought with them their European beliefs and either retold old tales or created new ones. This statement or fact, I disagree with. The Native Indians are rich in their folklore, legends and beliefs. It is my belief that the Native Indians already had stories about wolf spirits, eagle spirits and shape-shifting long before the European settlers arrived.

If we would take the true nature of a wolf as a Lycan, then we would see a family who has a strong relationship, loving and would die for one another. The parents would be the forefront leaders of the pack and the children would learn from examples and discipline. Does this sound like an evil creature? Not really. This sounds more or less what we find in our paranormal romances or shape shifter novels. I think any woman who reads a story about a strong male, determined and confident wouldn’t swoon in his arms…werewolf or not.

Dark of kNight website I Dark of kNight series on Twitter

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Julie Knight never really knew how much her life would change after the death of her father.

After returning home to Spring Place, GA, the mysterious animal attacks begin.  The small town is in an uproar over the horrific killings.

Julie finds herself in danger when the truth of who she is has been revealed.  The last of a thousand year old bloodline of Lycans, Guardians of the mysterious Fort Mountain.

Daniel Maxwell, the handsome, dark, yet mysterious scientist returns home for the funeral. He has changed, but his love for Julie remains the same.  She is what he has always wanted.  She is what he needs.  He would die for her.  He would kill for her.

The passions begin to flare and so does the romance between Julie and Daniel.  Joining forces with a mysterious group of moon-eyed people, together they must prepare for the ultimate battle - the battle against a deadly pack of werewolves.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Win on Wednesday: Contests Around the Blogosphere (18)

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From Abigail @ All Things Urban Fantasy

Here are some of the contests I have found. At the bottom of the page I’ve linked two other sites w/ great contest listings. Be aware that what’s listed here is not necessarily accurate or as detailed as the page will be, it’s just a guide so read the rules before you enter the contests. :)

My Contests: All run until May 31st 11:59 CDT

May 1st~ Intro & Rules & Giveaway

May 2nd~ Ask NRSVampChick & Giveaway

May 3rd~ Aria of Aria’s Dark Musings Guest Post & Giveaway

May 4th~ Some of My Favs... & a Giveaway

May 5th~ Laura Stamps: Interview & Giveaway

May 6th~ Michele Hauf: Interview & Giveaway

May 7th~ O.M. Grey: Interview & Giveaway

May 8th~ Miss Bohemia: Guest Post & Giveaway

May 9th~ Keta Diablo: Interview & Giveaway

May 10th~ Faerie Moon Creations: Interview & Giveaway

May 11th~ Nancy Holzner: Guest Post & Giveaway

May 12th~Carolyn Crane: Guest Post & Giveaway

May 13th~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! LOL- Interview w/ me by Book Faery & Giveaway!

New Contests:

~Susan K Mann is giving away Under A Vampire Spell Bag Charm by Miss Bohemia. Enter by May 27, 2010. (International)

~Seductive Musings is giving away a signed copy of Stroke of Genius by Emily Bryan. Enter by May 27, 2010. (International)

~The Bookologist is giving away 100 postcards by Digital Room. Enter by May 28, 2010. (US residents)

~Daydreams and Wanderings is giving away 500 business cards from UPrinting.com. Enter by May 28, 2010. (US residents)

~Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog is having 3 Armchair BEA GiveAways! Contests end May 28, 2010. (#1 YA-US only) (#2 Adult-US only) (#3 Outside US only- Where Book Depository delivers)

~Smexy Books is giving away Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep. Contest ends May 29, 2010. (US/Canada)

~The Bookologist is giving away 5 copies of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready. Contest ends May 29, 2010. (US only)

~Seductive Musings is giving away Dane by Elizabeth Amber. Contest ends May 29, 2010. (US addresses only)

~The Geeky Bookworm is giving away Beauty and the Feast, My Everything, and Captured by Julia Rachel Barrett. Enter by May 30, 2010. (International)

~The Geeky Bookworm is giving away Midnight’s Ghost by Sara Brookes. Enter by May 30, 2010. (International)

~The Geeky Bookworm is giving away an ARC of the novella Midnight Medusa by Stephanie Draven. Enter by May 30, 2010. (International)

~The Eclectic Reader is giving away a $60 GC to CSN stores.com. Contest ends May 30, 2010. (US/Canada residents)

~Welcome to Larissa’s Life is giving away a signed copy of Magic Bleeds by Ilona Adrews. Contest ends May 31, 2010. (International)

~Vampire Wire is giving away The Time Weaver by Shana Abe. Contest ends June 1, 2010. (US/Canada)

~The Cajun Book Lady is 2 free one year memberships to http://www.wholesalecostumeclub.com. Enter by June 1, 2010. (US/Canada residents)

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away a $50 GC to CSNstores.com. Enter by June 1, 2010. (US/Canada residents)

~Reading with Tequila is giving away signed copies of Secondhand Spirits and Cast-off Coven by Juliet Blackwell. Contest ends June 1, 2010. (US/Canada)

~Unbound! is giving away City of Ruin by Mark Charan Newton. Contest ends June 1, 2010. (International)

~The Story Siren is giving away a miniature glass slipper for The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy. Enter by June 1, 2010. (US/Canada residents)

~The Story Siren is giving away Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Enter by June 2, 2010. (US residents)

~Darkly Reading is giving away a signed copy of Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready. Contest ends June 2, 2010. (US/Canada)

~Book Junkie is giving away 2 copies of Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas. Enter by June 3, 2010. (International)

~Fiction Vixen Book Reviews is giving away Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur. Enter by June 4, 2010. (US residents)

~That’s QUEEN Bitch to You is giving away a signed set of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Contest ends June 4, 2010. (Continental US)

~Teens Read and Write is giving away WEREling by Steve Feasey. Contest ends June 4, 2010. (International)

~A Journey of Books is giving away 2 copies of My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent. Enter by June 4, 2010. (1- US & Canada res & 1-Int’l were Book Depository ships to)

~All Things Urban Fantasy is giving away 10 copies of Masked By Moonlight by Nancy Gideon. Contest ends June 5, 2010. (US only)

~Fiction Vixen Book Reviews is giving away 2 copies of Assassin’s Honor by Monica Burns. Enter by June 5, 2010. (International)

~Meghan’s Book Blog is giving away Alphas by Lisi Harrison. Enter by June 5, 2010. (US/Canada)

~The Wayfaring Writer is giving Amazon Queen by Lori Devoti. Enter by June 6, 2010.

~Vampire Wire is giving away Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur. Contest ends June 6, 2010.

~YA Highway is having an anniversary giveaway and the first day’s prizes alone are phenomenal, trust me you want to check it out! Contest ends June 6, 2010. (US/Canada)

~Lovin & Livin Life in the 808 is giving away Bengal’s Heart and Lion’s Heart by Lora Leigh. Contest ends June 6, 2010. (US addresses)

~Lovin & Livin Life in the 808 is giving away The Sword by Jean Johnson. Contest ends June 6, 2010. (US addresses)

~Book Junkie is giving away The Killing of Mindi Quintana by Jeffrey A. Cohen. Enter by June 7, 2010. (International)

~Parajunkee’s View is giving away Moonshine by Alaya Johsnon. Contest ends June 7, 2010. (US/Canada)

~Steph Su Reads is giving away The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. Enter by June 7, 2010. (US only)

~Writings of a Wicked Book Addict is giving away The Iron King by Julie Kagawa and a $25 VISA GC. Contest ends June 7, 2010. (US addresses only)

~LA FEMME READERS is giving away Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Enter by June 7, 2010. (US only, Int’l if US address to send too)

~Luxury Reading is giving away 5 copies of Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Contest ends June 8, 2010. (US/Canada residents)

~Steph Su Reads is giving away 10 ARCs of Dear Anjali by Melissa Glenn Haber. Contest ends June 10, 2010. (US only)

~Books at Midnight is giving away a Snuggle Bunny! It’s too cute! Enter by June 10, 2010. (US/Canada addresses)

~Fiction Vixen Book Reviews is giving away Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory. Contest ends June 12, 2010. (US/Canada residents)

~The First Novels Club is giving away signed copies of Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead, Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr, White Cat by Holly Black, and City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. Contest ends June 15, 2010. (US residents)

~From the Shadows is having a 300 Follower Giveaway w/ prizes of Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, and a signed copy of Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens. Contest ends June 16, 2010. (US addresses)

~A Journey of Books is giving away Amazon Queen by Lori Devoti. Enter by June 22, 2010. (US mailing addresses only)

~Tales of Whimsy… is giving away a signed copy of English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack. Enter by June 23, 2010. (US/Canada residents)

~A Journey of Books is giving away The Pearls of the Stone Man by Edward Mooney, Jr. Enter by June 26, 2010. (US mailing addresses)

~Candace’s Book Blog is giving away a signed copy of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready. Contest ends June 29, 2010. (US mailing addresses)

~I Heart Monster is giving away a signed copy of Firespell by Chloe Neill. Contest ends July 11, 2010. (International)

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving away an eReader or $100 Amazon.com GC! Contest ends July 15, 2010. (International)

 

Contests From Last Weeks Post:

~The Introverted Reader is giving away Thumb Flagging by Jerome Peterson. Contest ends May 27, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Book Junkie is giving away Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran. Enter by May 27, 2010. (International)

~The Bookologist is giving away 5 copies of Gone by Lisa McMann. Contest ends May 27, 2010. (US only)

~Book Junkie is giving away 6 copies of Still the One by Robin Wells. Enter by May 27, 2010. (5-US/Canada, 1-International)

~Daisy Chain Book Reviews is giving away The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell. Enter by May 28, 2010. (International)

~Ex Libris is giving away Pretties by Scott Westerfeld. Contest ends May 28, 2010. (International)

~The Neverending Shelf is giving away 100 Postcards by Digital Room. Contest ends May 28, 2010. (US only)

~All Things Urban Fantasy is giving away 10 signed copies of Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow and 1 L.O.S.T. mug. Enter by May 29, 2010. (US only)

~vvb32 reads is giving away one of several historical fiction books. Check it out and see which is your favorite to win. Contest ends May 30, 2010. (International)

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is having a Clear the Decks Giveaway! Fill out a survey and enter to win from a great list of books & swag that might still be added to. Contest ends May 30, 2010. (US & Canada only) (International entries for a GC)

~I Heart Monster is giving away Everlasting swag. Enter by May 31, 2010. (International)

~Book Faery needs a new button, and the one who designs her favorite will get to choose a book from her 140 Follower prize list. Contest ends May 31, 2010. (International)

~Book Rat is having a follower giveaway for a pre-order of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Contest ends May 31, 2010. (International)

~Bites is giving away Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick. Contest ends May 31, 2010. (US only)

~Book of Secrets is giving away His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone. Enter by May 31, 2010. (US &  Canada only)

~My World…in words and pages is giving away Lord of the Changing Winds by Rachel Neumeier. Enter by May 31, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~SciFiGuy has details for PYR’s 5th Anniversary Essay Contest.  Grand Prize winner gets a trip to Dragon Con! Other prizes as well. Contest open April 1, 2010-June 1, 2010.

~LA FEMME READERS is having a Spring Cleaning Giveaway! Amazing ARCs, books, GCs and other  prizes up for grabs. Contest ends June 1, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Smexy Books is giving away The Iron King by Julie Kagawa and a $25 VISA GC. Contest ends June 1, 2010. (US only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Doran. Contest ends June 3, 2010. (US only)

~Steph Su Reads is giving away a Nancy Drew Prize Pack! Enter by June 4, 2010. (US only)

~Extreme Reader Book Reviews is giving away The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos. Enter by June 5, 2010. (International)

~Bites is giving away a new book blog design! Enter by June 5, 2010. (International)

~A Good Addiction is giving away an ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. Enter by June 6, 2010. (US only)

~A Good Addiction is giving away Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Enter by June 7, 2010. (US only)

~TinasBookReviews is giving away The Galilean Secret by Evan Drake Howard. Contest ends June 7, 2010. (International)

~Leilani Loves Books is giving away Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles. Enter by June 9, 2010. (US only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away 3 audiobooks of The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker. Enter by June 12, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~At Home With Books is giving away 3 audiobooks of Put on Your Crown by Queen Latifah. Enter by June 13, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away Still the One by Robin Wells. Enter by June 14, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Black and Blue Ink is having a Birthday Blast and 120+ Follower Extravaganza! Multiple books are up for grabs to multiple winners! Contest ends June 14, 2010. (US only)

~Candace’s Book Blog is giving away Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey. Contest ends June 15, 2010. (US only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away Play Dead by Ryan Brown. Contest ends June 15, 2010. (US only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away 3 audiobooks of God Never Blinks by Regina Brett. Contest ends June 16, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~JoJos Book Corner is giving away an ebook by Stephanie Julian. Contest ends June 18, 2010. (International)

~JoJos Book Corner is giving away the first 3 installments of Laura Stamps serial erotica novel A Vampire’s Kiss. Contest ends June 18, 2010. (International)

~vvb32 reads is giving away Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben H. Winters. Enter by June 27, 2010.

~A Great Book is the Cheapest Vacation is giving away Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep. Contest ends July 1, 2010. (International)

~Leilani Loves Books is giving away a signed copy of Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey. Contest ends July 4, 2010. (International)

~I Heart Monster is giving away Arson by Estevan Vega. Contest ends June 15, 2010. (International)

 

Weekly Contests:

~Fang-tastic Books has giveaways weekly, with winners announced on Wednesdays.

~Bitten by Books has new contests daily, ranging from interviews to daily book chats.

Heads Up:

Check out Book Faery’s Contest Finds- A place to enter in your contests to help spread the word about them. This is a new Saturday feature!

Check out All Things Urban Fantasy for a HUGE list of urban fantasy contests going on!

Feel free to email me anytime at notreallysouthernvampchick(at)gmail(dot)com with any contests you want me to put in my next Win on Wednesday post. Also, if I missed a contest of yours, leave a link in the comments if you want to get the word out about it. Or if I got something wrong in the list, please let me know. :)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

In My Mailbox (14)

IMM

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren & inspired by Pop Culture Junkie

So, I was bad last weekend and didn’t do this post. Here’s what was in my mailbox for the last two weeks. Some of this is also what I got for my birthday! :) I also got a lot of my great aunt’s antiques that didn’t get sold at our yard sale, but they’re mostly packed away already. I feel like I’m forgetting something, so if I did, I’m really sorry!

For Review:

IMM,In My Mailbox

From Leanna Renee Hieber

  • The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber (signed)
  • The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber (signed)
  • a few signed bookmarks

From Kristin Stefanos

Won By Me:

IMM,In My Mailbox

From The Bibliophilc Book Blog

  • Demon Possessed by Stacia Kane

From Teens Read and Write

  • Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
  • Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
  • Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

From Lanae Tatman on Twitter from Scentsy

  • Plug-In Scentsy Warmer in Groovy-Black
  • Scentsy Bar in Tropical Twist
  • Scentsy Hanging Air Freshener in Peligro

IMM,In My Mailbox

Bought By Me:

From Amazon.com

  • Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey
  • A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
  • They Call Me Death by Missy Jane (Not pictured, on it’s way across country as a part of The Traveling Book Gnome Book Tour)

IMM,In My Mailbox

Sent/Given To Me:

From my parents for my bday

  • Burned: A House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
  • The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith

From my bro for my bday

  • GC to my fav local coffee shop!

From my grandma’s yard sale pile

  • Deadly Night by Heather Graham (I’m so surprised it wasn’t one of my gramma’s favorites. lol)

Borrowed from the Library:

R.E.A.D.S. (Regional eBook & Audio Download System) – Online Library for TN

  • The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
  • Magic Bites by Ilona Adrews
  • Kitty Takes a Holiday by Carrie Vaughn

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Raffle for Spina Bifida over at Rayment’s Readings, Rants and Ramblings

Today I want to bring everyone’s attention to a great cause. Jen over at Rayment’s Readings, Rants and Ramblings is having a raffle for those that donate to her Spirit Wheel Walk Run event for the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario. Jen’s oldest  son was born with Spina Bifida. You can read about their journey with his disease here.

Here is a description of spina bifida taken from the SB&H website:

Spina bifida is a neural tube birth defect (NTD) which occurs within the first four weeks of pregnancy. The spinal column fails to develop properly resulting in varying degrees of permanent damage to the spinal cord and nervous system.

Infants born with spina bifida may have an open lesion on their spine where significant damage to the nerves and spinal cord occurs. Although the spinal opening is surgically repaired shortly after birth, the nerve damage is permanent. This results in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs, depending largely on the location and severity of the lesion. Even with no visible lesion, there may be improperly formed or missing vertebrae, and accompanying nerve damage.

So not only would your donations be going to a wonderful cause, but for EVERY $5 you donate, you can choose which item you would like a chance at winning. These prizes are fabulous! To see them all, check out THIS POST!

Instructions for donating online:

  • Click on DONATE NOW (orange box with donate now)
  • Fill out your donation amount in box Donation Amount
  • In the next box click the button that says one-time donation
  • In the Fund/Designation Drop Down Box - scroll down and choose "2010 SWWR - Jake's Journey (Rayment Family)
  • IGNORE rest of the boxes and click on CONTINUE
  • On the next screen double check that the info is all correct and than choose CHECKOUT at bottom right hand corner
  • On the next screen type in all your contact info and answer all the questions and than click on CONTINUE
  • Choose your Payment option Paypal, Visa, Mastercard or AMEX and finish off the rest of the form

Please fill out the form AFTER you have made the donation. This raffle is separate from the donation form so just make the donation and then go hereCanada Helps has nothing to do with the actual raffle. If you donate over $5 and want all your raffle tickets to go to one prize only, put it in the comment box at the end of the form.

Sara Taney Humphreys Guest Blog

SECOND ANNUAL MILITARY FAMILIES CONTEST

By Sara Taney Humphreys author of the Amoveo Legacy

Last year, as a special thank you to our service members and their families, I held a unique contest for U.S. Military Wives. It turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience. I had the privilege of meeting several amazing women and their beautiful families. The war that our soldiers are fighting is splashed across our television and computer screens on a daily basis. In many ways, I think we become almost numb to it all. When that happens, it's easy to forget that there are real people who are deeply affected by it, people who don't have the luxury of tuning it out. The families of our soldiers live with the harsh reality of this war every single day. Hearing the personal stories of these families helped me remember that our troops are husbands, fathers, brothers and sons who are immensely loved and sorely missed.

I have decided to make this an annual contest. I am very excited to report that ASMBA-STAR, an outstanding organization for Vets and their families, has agreed to continue their partnership with me.

This year the contest will run from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Once again, a portion of my annual book sales will be donated to ASMBA-STAR.
Who is eligible? Well, this year I've opened the contest up to ALL U.S. Military Families-- Moms, Dads, Sons, Daughters, Wives, Husbands, Sisters, and Brothers. If you have a family member that is serving our country...tell us about them!

Once a week, beginning Memorial Day weekend, I will pick one entrant to be highlighted on my blog. These weekly entrants are semi-finalists. Labor Day weekend I will select three winners.

Second Prize: A $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of The Amoveo Legacy and a Team Amoveo T-Shirt.

First Prize: A $50 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of The Amoveo Legacy and a Team Amoveo T-Shirt.

Grand Prize: A book signing event at their local Bookstore and the winner will be the special guest of honor. Five free signed copies of The Amoveo Legacy. (1 for them and 4 of their friends) They'll also receive a $100 Amazon Gift card and a Team Amoveo T-Shirt.

For details on how to enter please visit my website and click on the "Contest" tab.

I hope you'll help me spread the word about this contest. I look forward to meeting more incredible families! You can support our veterans and their families by purchasing a copy of The Amoveo Legacy or donate directly to ASMBA-STAR .

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What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie?  You find out that you aren’t even human—at least not entirely. What if, one day, you realize your world will never be the same again? These are the questions that Samantha Logan must face in “The Amoveo Legacy”.  A dream on her thirtieth birthday compels her to leave her artists loft in New York City and move back to the beach with her Grandmother, Nonie.  However, the instant Samantha steps foot on the salty shores of her childhood home, she realizes the landscape has changed.

The moment she encounters the mysterious, arrogant neighbor Malcolm Drew, her life is never the same. Through a seductive courtship, he introduces her to the magical mystical world of the Amoveo. The dream walking, telepathic, shape shifters that he claims are her true heritage.  However, Malcolm holds back a secret that could destroy them both. Will he be able to protect Samantha and convince her of the secret legacy buried deep inside of her?

Sara’s Website I Blog I Twitter I Facebook I Myspace

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Win on Wednesday: Contests Around the Blogosphere (17)

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From Abigail @ All Things Urban Fantasy

Here are some of the contests I have found. At the bottom of the page I’ve linked two other sites w/ great contest listings. Be aware that what’s listed here is not necessarily accurate or as detailed as the page will be, it’s just a guide so read the rules before you enter the contests. :)

My Contests:

May 1st~ Intro & Rules & Giveaway

May 2nd~ Ask NRSVampChick & Giveaway

May 3rd~ Aria of Aria’s Dark Musings Guest Post & Giveaway

May 4th~ Some of My Favs... & a Giveaway

May 5th~ Laura Stamps: Interview & Giveaway

May 6th~ Michele Hauf: Interview & Giveaway

May 7th~ O.M. Grey: Interview & Giveaway

May 8th~ Miss Bohemia: Guest Post & Giveaway

May 9th~ Keta Diablo: Interview & Giveaway

May 10th~ Faerie Moon Creations: Interview & Giveaway

May 11th~ Nancy Holzner: Guest Post & Giveaway

May 12th~Carolyn Crane: Guest Post & Giveaway

May 13th~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! LOL- Interview w/ me by Book Faery & Giveaway!

All run until May 31st 11:59 CDT

 

New Contests:

~Book Chick City is giving away 5 signed copies of The Splendour Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore. Contest ends May 21, 2010. (UK only)

~Intense Whisper is giving away signed copy of It Happens In Threes by Denise Robbins. Contest ends May 21, 2010. (US only)

~Book Pushers Anonymous is giving away The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber and Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch. Contest ends May 21, 2010. (International)

~All Things Urban Fantasy is giving away an autographed poster of the Cara Mia cover. Enter by May 22, 2010. (US only)

~Bites is giving away The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen. Enter by May 24, 2010. (US only)

~The Bookish Type is having Monsters in May! Win the new edition of The Host by Stephenie Meyer and other prizes. Enter by May 24, 2010. (International)

~Enchanted by Books is giving away The Demon in Me by Michelle Rowen. Enter by May 25, 2010. (International)

~Fang-tastic Books is giving Honeymoon of the Dead by Tate Hallaway. Contest ends May 25, 2010. (US only)

~Book Faery is giving away a signed copy of The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter. Contest ends May 25, 2010. (US only)

~Book Faery is giving away a signed copy of The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter. Contest ends May 25, 2010. (US only)

~Book Faery is giving away a signed copy of The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter. Contest ends May 25, 2010. (US only)

~The Neverending Shelf is giving away a Nancy Drew Prize Pack. Enter by May 25, 2010. (US only)

~Hanging with Bells! is giving away a signed copy of The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter. Enter by May 26, 2010.

~The Introverted Reader is giving away Thumb Flagging by Jerome Peterson. Contest ends May 27, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Book Junkie is giving away Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran. Enter by May 27, 2010. (International)

~Book Junkie is giving away 6 copies of Still the One by Robin Wells. Enter by May 27, 2010. (5-US/Canada, 1-International)

~Daisy Chain Book Reviews is giving away The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell. Enter by May 28, 2010. (International)

~Ex Libris is giving away Pretties by Scott Westerfeld. Contest ends May 28, 2010. (International)

~The Neverending Shelf is giving away 100 Postcards by Digital Room. Contest ends May 28, 2010. (US only)

~All Things Urban Fantasy is giving away 10 signed copies of Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow and 1 L.O.S.T. mug. Enter by May 29, 2010. (US only)

~Book Faery needs a new button, and the one who designs her favorite will get to choose a book from her 140 Follower prize list. Contest ends May 31, 2010. (International)

~Book Rat is having a follower giveaway for a pre-order of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Contest ends May 31, 2010. (International)

~Bites is giving away Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick. Contest ends May 31, 2010. (US only)

~Book of Secrets is giving away His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone. Enter by May 31, 2010. (US &  Canada only)

~My World…in words and pages is giving away Lord of the Changing Winds by Rachel Neumeier. Enter by May 31, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~LA FEMME READERS is having a Spring Cleaning Giveaway! Amazing ARCs, books, GCs and other  prizes up for grabs. Contest ends June 1, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Smexy Books is giving away The Iron King by Julie Kagawa and a $25 VISA GC. Contest ends June 1, 2010. (US only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Doran. Contest ends June 3, 2010. (US only)

~Steph Su Reads is giving away a Nancy Drew Prize Pack! Enter by June 4, 2010. (US only)

~Extreme Reader Book Reviews is giving away The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos. Enter by June 5, 2010. (International)

~Bites is giving away a new book blog design! Enter by June 5, 2010. (International)

~A Good Addiction is giving away an ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. Enter by June 6, 2010. (US only)

~A Good Addiction is giving away Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Enter by June 7, 2010. (US only)

~Leilani Loves Books is giving away Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles. Enter by June 9, 2010. (US only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away 3 audiobooks of The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker. Enter by June 12, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~At Home With Books is giving away 3 audiobooks of Put on Your Crown by Queen Latifah. Enter by June 13, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away Still the One by Robin Wells. Enter by June 14, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Black and Blue Ink is having a Birthday Blast and 120+ Follower Extravaganza! Multiple books are up for grabs to multiple winners! Contest ends June 14, 2010. (US only)

~Candace’s Book Blog is giving away Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey. Contest ends June 15, 2010. (US only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away Play Dead by Ryan Brown. Contest ends June 15, 2010. (US only)

~A Journey of Books is giving away 3 audiobooks of God Never Blinks by Regina Brett. Contest ends June 16, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~JoJos Book Corner is giving away an ebook by Stephanie Julian. Contest ends June 18, 2010. (International)

~JoJos Book Corner is giving away the first 3 installments of Laura Stamps serial erotica novel A Vampire’s Kiss. Contest ends June 18, 2010. (International)

~A Great Book is the Cheapest Vacation is giving away Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep. Contest ends July 1, 2010. (International)

~Leilani Loves Books is giving away a signed copy of Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey. Contest ends July 4, 2010. (International)

 

Contests From Last Weeks Post:

~What Book Is That is giving away The Army of the Republic by Stuart Arthur Cohen. Enter by May 20, 2010. (US only)

~The Undercover Book Lover is giving away The Clearing, The Reason, and Swoon at Your Own Risk. Enter by May 20, 2010. (US only)

~The Bookologist is giving away 5 copies of the Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott. Enter by May 21, 2010. (US only)

~LA FEMME READERS is giving away I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan. Contest ends May 21, 2010. (International)

~The Bookish Type is giving away The Host by Stephenie Meyer as Part of Monsters in May! Enter by May 22, 2010. (International)

~A Good Addiction is giving away Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti. Enter by May 25, 2010. (US only)

~The Bookologist is giving away 5 copies of Gone by Lisa McMann. Contest ends May 27, 2010. (US only)

~vvb32 reads is giving away one of several historical fiction books. Check it out and see which is your favorite to win. Contest ends May 30, 2010. (International)

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is having a Clear the Decks Giveaway! Fill out a survey and enter to win from a great list of books & swag that might still be added to. Contest ends May 30, 2010. (US & Canada only) (International entries for a GC)

~I Heart Monster is giving away Everlasting swag. Enter by May 31, 2010. (International)

~SciFiGuy has details for PYR’s 5th Anniversary Essay Contest.  Grand Prize winner gets a trip to Dragon Con! Other prizes as well. Contest open April 1, 2010-June 1, 2010.

~TinasBookReviews is giving away The Galilean Secret by Evan Drake Howard. Contest ends June 7, 2010. (International)

~vvb32 reads is giving away Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben H. Winters. Enter by June 27, 2010.

~I Heart Monster is giving away Arson by Estevan Vega. Contest ends June 15, 2010. (International)

 

Weekly Contests:

~Fang-tastic Books has giveaways weekly, with winners announced on Wednesdays.

~Bitten by Books has new contests daily, ranging from interviews to daily book chats.

 

Heads Up:

Check out Book Faery’s Contest Finds- A place to enter in your contests to help spread the word about them. This is a new Saturday feature!

Check out All Things Urban Fantasy for a HUGE list of urban fantasy contests going on!

Feel free to email me anytime at notreallysouthernvampchick(at)gmail(dot)com with any contests you want me to put in my next Win on Wednesday post. Also, if I missed a contest of yours, leave a link in the comments if you want to get the word out about it. Or if I got something wrong in the list, please let me know. :)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Cassandra Pierce Guest Blog

VAMPIRES, THEN AND NOW…AND THEN

By Cassandra Pierce

The early descriptions of vampires that have come down to us through folklore, provide a stark contrast to today’s hunky, bare-chested bloodsuckers who no longer necessarily suck blood. It’s true that some of the old, scary vamps sometimes ran around shirtless (they might, for example, have escaped from their tombs clad only in a winding sheet), but in those cases they tended to show off discolored, cadaver-like rib cages rather than sculpted pecs and perfect six-pack abs. They also had terrible breath, bad skin, a hollow gaze, and a complete disregard for their human prey. Not exactly the stuff of sexy dreams.

Nowadays, in addition to having excellent hygiene, many vamps are also loathe to drink human blood, and those who aren’t rich (though most vampires are, probably thanks to earning centuries of compound interest) may work in life-saving professions like law enforcement or medicine. These new, sexy vamps move among humans (especially the heroine) almost the way the Greek gods were once thought to interact with their toga-clad subjects. Both alternately protect and seduce, throwing in a few punishments for the vain and wicked along the way.

As an ardent vampire fan and an avid reader and writer of vampire fiction, I couldn’t be happier with the current explosion of principled vamps. One thing does worry me, though. Now that the rehabilitation of the vampire from fearsome monster to ideal mate is complete, where do we go with the genre? I suspect that romance readers are already starting to get a little bored with detectives who use supersensory powers to solve crimes and avenging angels with archaic vocabularies. This might be why werewolf tales are starting to take up the shelf space formerly occupied by our favorite immortals.

One possibility might be a return to a traditional Gothic format, with tormented guys pacing the towers of possibly haunted manor houses. Another might be an even more extreme version of urban fantasy or steampunk, with futuristic settings and high-tech methods for the hero to slake his need for blood. There have been some rumblings about a line or two of Christian-centered vampire romances.

I doubt the vampire hero will ever devolve—Count Orlock, with his oversized bald pate and frighteningly long nails and teeth, just wouldn’t fit the bill in a romance novel. On the other hand, teen vamp dreamboats with pouty red lips and a passing resemblance to Elvis in the 1950s have already become the objects of parody (and cell phone commercials). The publishing industry will soon try to convince us that vampires are last year’s hot ticket, pushed out by shapeshifters and even zombies, but the truth is that they’ll be back on top—as soon as writers can find a new angle to sink our fanged friends’ lovely teeth into. That’s what immortality is all about.

Cassandra Pierce’s vampire e-romance, HEIRS TO DARKISLE, is currently available from Siren-Bookstrand: http://www.sirenpublishing.com/cassandrapierce/

Readers can also visit her website at www.cassandrapierce.com and check her out on Facebook!

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Sebastian and Ruby Morgan arrived in the small seaside town of Darkisle, claiming to be the grandchildren of the reclusive Edgar Morgan, who recently died at the age of 108.

From the beginning, Briana Dempsey has her doubts the Morgans are who and what they claim to be. She is, however, certain of one thing. Sebastian Morgan unnerves her in ways she's never experienced before. His skin is cold, his eyes are hypnotic, and he seems to have no heartbeat. Yet all she can feel when she's with him is an all-consuming fire that fills her with desire.

When a local woman is murdered and Briana is implicated because of her involvement with the Morgans, she must confront the truth about the mysterious man she has fallen in love with. Is he the lover of her dreams, or the architect of her nightmares?

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Happy Birthday to Me! Book Faery Interviews Me!

*Contest is closed*

Happy Birthday to Me! Happy Birthday to Me! Ok, so enough of that. This is going to be very strange, and very backwards for me. I asked Tori aka Book Faery if she would interview me for my bday post. We made it a little more fun and did it as a Google Chat! So, here you go everyone, learn more about NRSVampChick, LOL me!

Tori: HAPPY BIRTHDAY lady! As the dutiful little interviewer that I am, I found it necessary to start snoopin--ahem... searching for any juicy bits of information about you. You, my dear, have zilch for your readers up on your blog. So, I'm going to go with a twist to the first question I ask all authors who stop by Book Faery: what are 5 things that we, as readers, don't know about you?

Amanda: LOL Yes, I've been informed that I have been the secretive one... Hmm, five things. I'm a horribly picky eater, my room is pink even though I hate pink, I used to play D&D, I keep a poetry book, and I love RPG video games.

Tori: A picky eater, huh? So am I. Anything super chewy and/or slimy grosses me out. Do you hate tomatoes? They scare me... kind of... but in a non-threatening scary-type of way. Okay maybe I should just say that they gross me out because they have about five different textures to them.

Amanda: Yeah, tomatoes are nasty, but I love tomato products.

Tori: Anywhoo... what kind of RPG games are you into? (because I now think that you've just moved up 5 notches on my awesome scale)

Amanda: I love all the Final Fantasy games that I've played, but my all time favorite RPG will forever be Chrono Trigger for the Super Nintendo!

Tori: I knew there was a reason why we got along so well! I was a playstation girl, growing up. Final Fantasy was my crack, and I just have to say that FF8 definitely turned me into a romance junkie LOL

Amanda: LOL That's awesome! I still have that!

Tori: Which was your favorite out of them all, and why?

Amanda: I think FF7 was my favorite. Overall the story, the ending, and the characters all came together really well. Some of the other ones were just a good story but had a weird ending or good characters but not a great story.

Tori: So let's move on to your blog, miss vampire chick. How exactly did you come up with the title "Not Really Southern Vamp Chick?"

Amanda: Well, when I started the blog, I wasn't sure what I wanted it to be, but vampires are my favorite paranormal beings, so that part fell into place right way. As for the other part two things brought that about. I have family that lives farther north than me that for some reason seems to think they're more southern than me (b/c I don't have an accent?), and people around here are sometimes a little confused by me. My interests and personality don't always totally fit right in. It doesn't bother be though. I'm just unique! ;)

Tori: Where is "around here?"

Amanda: Tennessee

Tori: *cough* come visit NY *cough* So what is it about vampires that appeals to you?

Amanda: LMAO I'd love to visit NY!

Tori: I think BEA is calling for you. It's saying Amandaaa come and visit meee I have lots of awesome books for youuu

Amanda: I wish I could come to BEA! It sounds like such a wonderful time!! Let's see, vampires have always fascinated me. Ever since I was a little girl. I don't even remember what started it. I love the danger, immortality, sexuality, everything.

Tori: I was the same way. Vampires used to be my absolute favorite too, but I found that as a bunch of Americans started growing more and more obsessed with them, that my interests started migrating to their furry rivals. Did you find yourself ever growing weary of vampires since Twilight came out? Do you think that Meyer's series transformed vampires from that darkly seductive creature of the dark into wimpy little glow sticks in the sun?

Amanda: I honestly don't know if it's possible for me to get tired of vampires. Though I do love all different types of paranormal beings especially shifters. I appreciate Meyer's take on them. I think there's plenty of room for different views on vampires. Some people can have their friendly sparkly ones and others can still find their dark sensual ones. There're lots of paranormal fans, so I don't see why it has to be one way or the other.

Tori: What's your all time favorite vampire book?

Amanda: Ack! I hate picking favorites I can never choose.... I'm so indecisive. Today I'm going to go with the Night Huntress series because I love me some Bones, but tomorrow it could be something completely different.

Tori: Hehe, I think I've fallen in love with Wraith from Larissa Ione's Demonica series. Then again, I think I also have about 10 other vampire books I adore also, so I'm the same way.

Amanda: I haven't read the Demonica series yet, but I intend to soon.

Tori: Let's backtrack a bit... What made you decide to read and blog about PNR and Urban Fantasy over any other genre of books? For me, I grew up watching old school horror flicks like Dracula with my parents, so the supernatural has always held a special place in my heart. Reading Anne Bishop's Black Jewel Trilogy (a dark fantasy book) is what started my reading craze. It was then, as I searched for new books, that I realized that there were so many genres dedicated to the paranormal. Was there one particular book for you that ultimately persuaded you into diving into this area of blogging, or something else?

Amanda: Well, I've always loved anything paranormal, like I said I've loved vampires as long as I can remember. I've read fantasy books since I was a kid. My brother got me started reading the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings. My mom got me to read Harry Potter. Then she saw something about the Twilight saga saying it was like Harry Potter w/ vampires, and picked it up right away for me. From there I branched out into more YA paranormal books and finally to Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. Then I found some places I liked online for recommendations of books and contests and met some great people to discuss books with, and ended up starting my blog.

Tori: Yep, I think that's one of the top reasons for book bloggers: it's a great medium to discuss the books you love with other fans. Have you found that since you've started blogging you interact with authors a lot more?

Amanda: I interact with authors way more since I’ve started blogging. I really didn’t much before. Well, I would a little online on review sites when they’d have author interviews or something, but that was about it.

If you only had twenty dollars in your pocket, what would you buy? gas, a book, and coffee
Coffee or Mountain Dew? *cackles* Ah Coffee. no Mountain Dew. No Coffee. Crap.
Cookies or Brownies? Brownies!
Day or Night? night
Summer or Winter? summer
Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy? Urban Fantasy… I think.

 

So there you have it folks! I hope you enjoyed getting to know me, and Tori LOL, a bit better. Please don’t stop reading my blog now that I’m not all shrouded in mystery! Oh, one more thing before I get to the giveaway…

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Yep that’s me! NRSVampChick at a previous bday celebration!

On to the Giveaway! Want to know what all you can win today?

~1 US/Canadian winner will receive a signed copy of Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens and swag pack

~1 US/Canadian winner will receive a personalized to Amanda copy of Demonkeepers by Jessica Andersen (I have 2 & only need 1)

~1 International winner will receive a copy of a book of choice (up to $15 in value from the Book Depository or an ebook if you prefer) by any of the authors that have appeared this week! Those are Laura Stamps, Michele Hauf, O.M. Grey, Keta Diablo, Nancy Holzner, and Carolyn Crane!

I guess it depends on your book choice on whether or not this will require an 18 and up age. Most books will though. lol You must be a follower. If you have any other questions see the rules. This and all other giveaways in my bday bash end May 31st. Fill out the FORM to enter.

You are not required to comment this time, but you MIGHT want to do so if you stop by today, May 13th! *wink wink*

*Contest is closed*

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Win on Wed…. had technical difficulties…

Ok, so I know you all won’t be happy w/ me not having my Win on Wednesday: Contests Around the Blogosphere post, but I’m having issues. First, Google Reader yesterday wouldn’t work. Then today multiple internet crashes. Add in the craziness of this birthday bash thing, and well, sorry again.

I will however point you to a few places that have contest listings, so you can get your weekly fill.

First, a shameless plug for my own contest!

I have had giveaways everyday since the beginning of May, and you can enter until May 31st. Most are international. If they aren’t, it’ll say so in the post.

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Abigail at All Things Urban Fantasy, who is the source of this Wednesday feature, has a list of 103 urban fantasy giveaways!



Book Faerie has a place where you can enter in your own contests every week!

 

It’ll be back next week! Sorry again!

Carolyn Crane Guest Post & Giveaway

*Contest is closed*

Day 12 of my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My Birthday Bash brings us Carolyn Crane. So now I turn things over to her:

Amanda, AKA Not-Really-Southern-Vamp-Chick, is having a birthday tomorrow! (May 13th! Yow!) Okay, so as a special gift, I consulted a special blogger psychic to find out what will happen on her 25th year! And amazingly, this psychic provided pictures from the future.

Carolyn Crane

First, Amanda, the psychic told me to tell you that your blog will get really famous, and you become a celebrity on TV. Wow, Amanda, that is really amazing. It must be all that twittering that you do.

Carolyn Crane

Your love of UF and paranormal literature endears you to people all over the world. Your face is everywhere! Or, at least, your eyes.

Carolyn Crane

The psychic went on to tell me that you, Amanda, become so amazingly famous, that you begin to forget about the little people. Like your cat, who now only relates to you through social media. Like Max Headroom. Oh, sorry Amanda, you’re too young to know who that is. Unfortunately, Carolyn Crane is not! Gah!

Carolyn Crane

The psychic then informed me that Chris Pine, who played Kirk on the Star Trek movie, would fall in love with you during your 25th year. I was like, are you SURE? And the psychic said, yes, Amanda, Not Really Southern Vamp Chick, will have Chris Pine’s heart!!

Carolyn Crane

The psychic sez: “Watch out, Amanda, because trouble starts when Robert Patterson also falls in love with you and your blog. You might not know this, but he is a little crazy.” The psychic told me to specifically warn you about that. And Robert’s love for you, which you will not return, will drive him over the edge. And he will kill Chris Pine.

Carolyn Crane

Chris Pine fans everywhere will be angry with you. They will think your clever blogging led to his death, and in a way, they will be right. Naturally, by this time, your blog is getting millions of hits each day. And you pimp Mind Games and I get amazing sales! Wow! You rock! Also, you have your own line of T-shirts and lingerie.

Carolyn Crane

Robert Patterson can’t give up. He goes into hiding, but puts wanted posters everywhere for you. He cannot live without you. He offers $5000!

Amanda, I’m sorry, after this, the psychic fainted. When I revived him, he said that’s all the further he could see, and beyond that is your 26th year, which I didn’t pay him for. Oh well. Happy birthday tomorrow! And I have prizes!

A gift pack of stuff I collected at the RT convention (bookmarks, pens, postcards, sexy playing cards and more) PLUS a signed copy of PASSION UNTAMED, a Feral Warriors novel (with shape shifters) by Pamela Palmer!!

How to enter: Answer this question: Will Robert Patterson ever find Amanda? AND fill out THE FORM.

Happy Birthday Amanda! xxoo Carolyn Crane

www.authorcarolyncrane.com

 

Thanks so much Carolyn! ROFL I must say I wasn’t expecting anything like this. LOL It’s great!

Ok, so above, the giveaway prizes are listed, as is method of entry. This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY to my followers who are 18 and up. For any other questions see the rules.

Check out the schedule for all other events and giveaways!

 

Here is information on Carolyn’s debut novel Mind Games,which is out now:

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Mind Games heroine Justine Jones isn't your typical kick-ass type - she’s a hopeless hypochondriac whose life is run by fear.

She's lured into a restaurant, Mongolian Delites, by tortured mastermind Sterling Packard, who promises he can teach her to channel her fears. In exchange, she must join his team of disillusionists - vigilantes hired by crime victims to zing their anxieties into criminals, resulting in collapse and transformation.

Justine isn't interested in Packard's troupe until she gets a taste of the peace he can promise. Soon she enters the thrilling world of neurotic crime fighters who battle Midcity’s depraved and paranormal criminals.

Eventually, though, she starts wondering why Packard hasn’t set foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant for eight years. And about the true nature of the disillusionists.

Check here for links of places to buy Mind Games.

*Contest is closed*