Alternative-Read.com: July 2011

JULY 2011 Book cover contest winner!

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Good morning everyone! I am pleased to announce this month's winner for the July 2011 book cover contest is Cate Masters for this cover -

Buy Now Link!

The Magic of Lavender
Written by Cate Masters

Blurb: Jocelyn Gibson forgot about the realm of magic. But it never forgot her. Gram always told her: don’t ignore your magical gifts, it will insult the family. But Joss didn’t realize her gifts included channeling the energy of powerful ley lines. Or that her family included a goddess. Family connections come in handy when the Lord of the Underworld kidnaps local vet Eric Hendricks. He’s an amazing lover, but Joss didn’t know she loved him until too late. With a little help from the Goddess Iris, Joss defends the new life she’s forged, and helps save the town of Boiling Springs from destruction. Once Eric escapes Hell, can she stop loving him to keep him safe?

Want to join in with the fun?

Authors, if you'd like to join in and send a cover of one of your books into the contest, please click on the 'contact' tab and get in touch! If you have already, we'll be in contact with you closer to the time of your "appearance". Please ensure you provide all the details required.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to enter and vote. Your support is greatly appreciated!

For guidelines and how to enter your book cover please click here.

Book cover poll stats:

#1 Mere Mortals	32 (21%)
#2 Fallout	14 (9%)
#3 Vampire Dreams	15 (9%)
#4 Danae's Lesson	1 (0%)
#5 Bound to Love	15 (9%)
#6 Black Market Romance	7 (4%)
#7 No Ordinary Love	16 (10%)
#8 My Novel Affair	2 (1%)
#9 The Magic of Lavender	46 (30%)
#10 Seared by Desire	15 (9%)

Votes so far: 151
Poll closed

Don't forget voting for this has now closed, but I thought you might like to take one last look at all the contestants. Next month there'll be another promotional video for all the August nominees.

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Our Author in the Spotlight is Mike Arsuaga

۞۞۞۞GIVEAWAYS۞۞۞۞

*All giveaways are open to all WORLDWIDE unless otherwise stated.

Join our chat over at theYahoo Chat and Promo group! (and claim your free e-books!)

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Author Promos:

(28th July) Author Blog Hop! Can you think of a better title for this book?

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Today's question is also a giveaway: Thursday, July 14th 2011:

QUESTION: After reading the blurb and excerpts, how would you rename the book My Life as a Dog?

PRIZE: The winning entry will receive a braided ribbon tether book marker with a miniature book cover charm. From our SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR MIKE ARSUAGA

A recent reviewer of "My Life as a Dog" faulted the title and cover while praising the content as follows:

" ...it saddens me that people may not have a chance to experience it; because the cover or title might put them off."

"True there are funny moments in the story but this is an erotic mystery with elements of the detective genre of old. At least that’s what my brain kept flashing back to and that’s due in part to Drake’s ‘voice’ and persona. Does “My Life...” deserve its erotic tag? You bet your life it does. The heat level and sex between Drake and Kady is graphically detailed by the authors. This is hot stuff! This sexuality, combined with Drake’s absolute devotion to Kady, surprise revelations, and the suspense of the unknown while trying to stay alive, will hook you. There are intense and believable emotions in this story, especially shown by Drake."
{Permission to reproduce part of the review given by Mike Arsuaga}

Click the link below for the blurb:
http://mikearsuaga.weebly.com/my-life-as-a-dog.html

Excerpt: http://mikearsuaga.weebly.com/chapter-14.html

For anyone who doesn't wish to take part in the contest here's a different question: Please can you share with us an example of a contest you had to promote your work, or one you entered and really enjoyed.

If you wish you can answer both questions!

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What's this all about?

New Information Page!

Every Thursday we ask our authors (and aspiring writers) a writing related question and post it to the Alternative-Read.com Review and Promo Blog for all writers (pubbed or not) to join in.

Q: How Do I Play?

A: It's easy as #AltRead (Our Twitter tag! )

A - Answer the weekly question on your own blog and publish it on Thursday.

L - Leave YOUR DIRECT blog post LINK on the Linky Tools Blog Hop Listing (found on the blog).

T - THURSDAYS Take a hop around the rest of the blog participants blogs!

READ - The views of other writers and respond by leaving a comment!

Full details of how to play are available here.

You should see the Linky below this sentence. Should you have any trouble, please refresh the page, or leave your link and picture in comments and I'll add you as soon as I can. Thank you!

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Once a month we open our Thursday chats to guests! Book a group chat, or visit our guest list/vacancies page here and click the “Contact” tab to get in touch. Join us every Thursday for a live chat starting from 3:00pm UK GMT +1 Time onwards. Click here--> please visit our Yahoo chat group to chat with our affiliate authors, their guests and all members. If you want to get a group of authors together to guest, please let us know!

What is author blog hop? Blog hop, also known as blog hopping, is to move from one blog after another to read the entries or to leave comments.

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Our Author in the Spotlight is Mike Arsuaga

۞۞۞۞GIVEAWAYS۞۞۞۞

*All giveaways are open to all WORLDWIDE unless otherwise stated.

Join our chat over at theYahoo Chat and Promo group! (and claim your free e-books!)

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Author Promos:

REVIEW: Finding Destiny (Sons of Destiny #9) | Jean Johnson | Berkley Trade | Reviewed by Blodeuedd

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Title: Finding Destiny (Sons of Destiny #9)

Author: Jean Johnson

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Genre: Fantasy romance

Format: Print

Length: 352

Reviewer: Blodeuedd

Alternative-Read.com

The slave...Chanson, a privileged Arbran dyara, discovers an unexpected connection with the excitingly different Eduor, a bracingly sexy war-slave who desires his freedom.

The knight...The Arbran diplomat Sir Zeilas must turn the Guildaran people from former enemies into allies. But in the case of their intriguingly beautiful leader, perhaps something more intimate is in order.

The mage...Gabria never expected to become a Guildaran envoy to Aurul. But the most stunning surprise was what waited for her in His Majesty's winter palace-and why.

The pirate...Captain Ellett would do anything for his king-even hunt down the pirates plaguing the Jenodan Isles. But he never counted on the seductive powers of the pirate's captain-beautiful, tempestuous, and impossible to resist.

(Goodreads)

I have not read the Sons of Destiny series but from what I can figure out that is not necessary and neither are they mentioned here. Those 8 books about 8 brothers take place on an Island only briefly mentioned on this book since they make chocolate there. Instead this anthology is about 4 kingdoms and 4 couples falling in love.

The Slave is about Eduor who used to be a nobleman in a country were women were only there to please men. But he ended up a sex slave in another country and is now damaged. But in the desert kingdom of Sundara he starts a new life as a farmer and falls in love. This story was my favorite as he had his problems with the past and she was so kind and sweet. It is a nice love story about how love can heal. Though I must mention that when I read her name, Chanson, I thought she was a guy.

The Knight was my least favorite story. I do not know what made it so, perhaps it was that the country was so high-tech with motor horses and electric dildos. In it we meet Sir Zeilas who we already met in Eduor’s story. Zeilas is a diplomat who is sent to the new country of Guildara to build a relationship. There he falls for their leader. But I just felt something was missing, perhaps chemistry, perhaps it was the technology like I said. Because of they were that advanced then it should spread and nothing would be left of this old world.

The Mage is about Gabria, who we again met in the previous story since she is sent to another kingdom as an envoy. This story was better again but I do wish I could tell you about the freakiness of her love story but that would spoil it. Personally I thought one thing was rather gross, but it would not have been gross if it hadn’t happened before. Oh yes I am cryptic but you will see. Still it was a nice story about getting to know someone and making a new life.

The Pirate is about Captain Ellet who is sent to the Jenodan Isles to take care of a pirate problem but falls for the pirate instead. Nothing wrong with a bit of pirate loving and there is also another story in it since they are trying to figure out what is wrong on Jenodan. Someone is causing trouble.

All in all a nice enough book about an interesting world. I would certainly like to read about Sundara and Aurul again. And like always, some stories better than other ones.

Blog:
Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
http://books-forlife.blogspot.com

Twitter
http://twitter.com/blodeuedd83

Facebook
Blodeuedd Bookgirlofmurycastell

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Our Author in the Spotlight is Mike Arsuaga

Join our chat over at theYahoo Chat and Promo group! (and claim your free e-books!)

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Author Promos:

The Monday "Movie" Book Trailer Swap: Share your book trailers here!

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

Happy Monday Everyone!

Welcome to the Monday Movie post where we share each other our book trailers. I'll either spotlight a trailer I've made, or one of which I've found through this fun feature. If you've got one to show off, please leave a link in comments directing us to it and we'll pop on over and pay you a visit to watch it. I'll also add your "movie" to my YouTube Channel OhSassyOne and befriend/subscribe to you, if I'm not already. Please add me, too. Thanks :)

Today I am sharing a "movie" I made for this month's Alternative-Read.com book cover award poll. If you fancy voting for your favourite cover after watching this, please find the poll in the sidebar on the right.

What's your book trailer like? Please do leave the link below in comments so we can come and pay you a visit. I visit you all!

Don't you just love Monday's?

Check out past Monday Movie posts and all the great trailers already shared here.

Sassy
:)

Tags: Monday Movie, Book Trailers, Trailers, YouTube, Weekly Event, Bookish Meme, Leave your link,
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Join our chat over at theYahoo Chat and Promo group! (and claim your free e-books!)

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Author Promos:

SSSS: (24th July) Can you finish author Cheryl Rainfield's Sunday Writing Prompt?

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Sassy Brit

This week's writing prompt is from author Cheryl Rainfield:

'This is the last time,' I thought, my throat tight. But I knew I was lying to myself.

My short story "The Healer," a paranormal suspense tale, appears in a collection of horror stories by Red Deer Press. "The Healer" is about a teen girl who heals people--only to find someone's using a similar power for evil.

As with much of my writing, I draw on my experiences of pain and healing from child abuse to create fiction that speaks to me--and, I hope, to many others.

http://www.cherylrainfield.com/
Website | Blog | Twitter

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About the Sassy Sunday Story Starter (Writing Prompts)

Can you finish this as a flash fiction story in under 1000 words? Does this prompt inspire you to write more? Whatever you write -- if you publish your story on your own blog do come back and leave your link here, so we can come and pay you a visit and read your response to this prompt!

Anyone can send in a writing prompt and if you are an author we'll also promote your latest book cover and blurb, too! Just get in touch and send us your prompts and links you'd like featured. We'd love to hear from you.

For full details of what to send, and for ideas of how writers can use these prompts please check out the SSSS guidelines by clicking here.

Check out previous prompts. Good luck and happy writing!

May the muse be with you!

*Jedi Sassy* and *Darkside Devlyn*
:)

SSSS, Sassy Sunday Story Starter, Writing Prompts, Writing Prompts 2011, Weekly Event, Bookish Meme, FREE Author Promo with Alternative-Read,

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Join our chat over at theYahoo Chat and Promo group! (and claim your free e-books!)

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Author Promos:

THE FRIDAY ARTICLE: The Almighty Crush by Amy Romine

Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: Amy Romine

One of my favorite things in the editing phase is character analysis. Most people do this before they start writing and then forget about it once complete. I started it before, add to it during and review it in the editing stages to ensure the character I see in my mind is that character coming out on the page. One of those items that is so important for reader connecting and general depth are the silly inane things that make us unique as individuals. One of these is, of course, the crush.

Crushes are something teenage girls have on movie stars, the local football jock, or the boy she sits next to in history with the dreamy smile. The almighty crush is something of legend and by the time we age and become adults the crush shouldn’t be a word in our vocab right? When we think of a crush, it is defined as unrequited feelings for another. In the world of adults it takes on a different tone, I believe Ross Geller from Friends called it his top five. It is perfectly normal for all of us, single or committed to be attracted in one form or another to other people. We are in fact human. It is also healthy to share these ‘crushes’ with your partner as they probably have them as well.

So here is my question, who does my character have a crush on. Who makes her giggle or him smile wide and bright. It is not necessarily a sexual crush, there are all kinds of crushes. Personally I have several.

Physical – Their body makes your body…uh huh… you are happy to have the movie on mute is just to see the rippling abs.

Romantic - Not necessarily hot bodies but definitely dreamy, these crushes are more romantic fantasy than physical hotness.

Intellectual – Their brains get you riled up and you are just in love with their brilliance!

Same Sex – Someone of the same gender that we just drool over because they are so amazing.

As we all have these types of admiration for people so should our characters. I discovered that my heroine has an intellectual crush on Anderson Cooper. I have an intellectual crush on Seth MacFarlane, Physical crush on Mark Walberg and Romantic crushes on Daniel Craig, and George Clooney. My Female crush is on Ellen DeGeneres, I am just so enamored by her spirit. If you look at my choices and think about them you can probably discover a lot about me.

So who are your crushes? Too many to name? Spread them around a bit, share with your characters and weave it into what makes them unique! This is also another way to make your characters relateable, grounded and more real. You think this might be a wasted detail but you never know how something so buried could pop up in the end.

*And yes, I did this topic just so I could look up fabulous pictures of hot guys!! LOL!

Amy Romine

Suspense for the Romantic Heart

Red Lipstick Journals

Alternative Reads

BellaOnline - Prime Time TV

Amazon

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