LA Times FOB - Mysterious Galaxy Schedule

At the LA Times Festival of Books, Mysterious Galaxy bookstore will be hosting many awesome authors at their booth! Come on by and meet some wonderful authors. (And I'll be there, too!)

Mysterious Galaxy LATFB Booth #368!

Saturday, April 20, 2013 Author Signings

10:30 AM: Terri Nolan signs Burden of Truth
Michael Robertson signs The Baker Street Translation

11:00 AM: Robin Benway signs Also Known As
Sherri L. Smith signs Orleans

noon: Avery Aames signs To Brie or Not to Brie
Gennifer Albin signs Crewel
Gustavo Arellano signs Taco USA
Stuart Woods signs Unintended Consequences

1:00 PM: Joanne Fluke signs Red Velvet Cupcake Murder
Laura Levine signs Death of a Neighborhood Witch

1:30 PM: Reyna Grande signs The Distance Between Us
A.S. King signs Ask the Passengers
Ed Kovacs signs Good Junk

2:00 PM: Stephen Blackmoore signs Dead Things
Cindy Pon signs Fury of the Phoenix

2:30 PM: Connie Archer signs A Spoonful of Murder
Melissa Buell signs The Hidden Blessing

3:00 PM: Leslie Margolis signs One Tough Chick
Rochelle Staab signs Bruja Brouhaha

4:00 PM: Orson Scott Card signs Ruins * see staff for restrictions and questions
Orson Scott Card & Aaron Johnston sign Earth Unaware * see staff for restrictions and questions
Wendy Lawless signs Chanel Bonfire

4:30 PM: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl sign Beautiful Redemption
Meredith Maran signs Why We Write

5:00 PM: Ridley Pearson signs Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage * see staff for restrictions and questions

*Authors will sign and visit with fans for approximately 30 minutes.
Signing etiquette: Please, no more than three books at a time per author, and no more than six books
per author total. Some authors may have less availability – see staff for details. Please purchase your
books prior to author signature.
Giveaways: We have some great gifts with purchase available during the Los Angeles Times Festival of
Books. Ask a staff member for details.

www.mystgalaxy.com
Great Customer Service and an Out of this World Staff!Mysterious Galaxy LATFB Booth #36

B&N Book Signing - Feb 2013

I was at the Fullerton, CA Barnes and Noble on Saturday, February 16 to sign copies of THE SEVENTH BLESSING and THE HIDDEN BLESSING. Thank you to all of my family and friends who came by! I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. :-)  Here are a few photos from the signing.

My mom and me

A friend from my son's school came by

My friend Amanda, one of my beta readers and writer friends

Friends from my husband's work

I'm up on the big Nook in the store!

My aunt and my little cousin. I speak his language. ;)

My little fan club! (My husband, my sons, and two of my nieces)

Here I am! Ready to sign books!

My sister Tiff came by to help keep an eye on the kids during the signing

March Book Signing

Hello book friends!

I'll be back down in San Diego on March 30th for a signing at the amazing Mysterious Galaxy bookstore! Both of my YA fantasy books THE SEVENTH BLESSING and THE HIDDEN BLESSING will be there. I will be signing with YA author Stacey Joy (author of JULIET IMMORTAL).
I have a feeling I will bring cupcakes. And possibly cookies. Maybe Rice Krispy treats. 'Cuz, you know, I like to make yummy stuff.
If you like YA books, fantasy books, non-prissy princess books (warrior princess!), come on down!

Mysterious Galaxy Event Page

Book Signing Poster!

So, if you're going to attend, will you let me know so I can look for you? :)
Facebook Events

Giveaway at Goodreads

Goodreads is hosting a giveaway for two paperback copies of THE HIDDEN BLESSING! You can enter to win a copy by going to the link: Goodreads Giveaway.

Books?! Happy dance time!

"Indie Spotlight" @ Reading Teen blog

Hey!

I'm over at the awesome Reading Teen book blog with my music playlist for Book 2, THE HIDDEN BLESSING. Come on by and see what I listened to while I wrote and what you can listen to while you read. :-)


Happy listening, friends!

Book Signing for Book 2!

Hi friends!

THE HIDDEN BLESSING releases this week!!!!!

And I have ALL OF THE FEELINGS!!!

I'm happy to announce that I'll be signing THE HIDDEN BLESSING, book 2 in my YA fantasy series, on Saturday, December 1st at the "Holiday Party" down in San Diego at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore. Several other authors will be there, too. Come on down, pick up some great books and gifts, and talk about books with us! :-)  (I'll also have copies of book 1 to sign!)

Love! And hugs! And confetti! And twirly dresses! And glitter! And cupcakes!

Blog Tour: Post 5

Blog Tour: Post 5

Today's tour takes us over to "To Read or Not to Read" blog. Thanks for hosting, Marcie!

Blog Tour: Post 4

Blog Tour: Post 4

Next stop is over at my friend Leslie's page: Yes, This Will Be On The Test.

Thanks, Leslie!

Blog Tour: Post 3

Hello friends!

Today's blog tour stop is over at "A Word's Worth" blog with Rebecca! Thanks for having me, Rebecca, and for interviewing Will. :-)

Blog Tour: Post 2

Hi friends!

Blog Tour continues over at Julie Musil's blog with Post 2. Thanks for having me, Julie!

Blog Tour: Post 1

This kicks off the Blog Tour for THE HIDDEN BLESSING! 

Post 1 is over at "Laurie's Non-Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews." Thanks for having me, Laurie!

You can still pre-order THE HIDDEN BLESSING  from TLT Publishing with coupon code: thb12mb2 to get 30% off!

THE HIDDEN BLESSING book trailer

Trailer for Book 2, THE HIDDEN BLESSING, is here!! 

The book will be released November 23, 2012!

 

Thanks to my actresses, Emma C. and Tiff A. for agreeing to be "Little Emma" and "Big Emma." You both were perfect! <3

Music credits go to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com with "The Path of the Goblin King."

Pre-order THE HIDDEN BLESSING now at the 
TLT Publishing Co. site. 

Use coupon code: thb12mb2 to get 30% off your order.

More about Book 2

ARC Requests - THE HIDDEN BLESSING

THE HIDDEN BLESSING, book 2 in the Tales of Gymandrol series.

If you would like to request an Advance Review Copy, please fill out the form below. My publicist will get it and send out the review copies once the final typeset is complete. Thank you SO much! :) (And I hope you like my book.) <3

Sneak Peek of Book 2 - THE HIDDEN BLESSING

Hi there! Today I have for you...a sneak peek of Book 2, THE HIDDEN BLESSING!

-An excerpt from Chapter One-

Chapter One

The morning sun streamed through the stained glass windows in the small room, casting intricate designs on the rows of empty chairs. Thick draperies framed the raised dais where a baby cradle was positioned in the center of the stage. A narrow writing table with a scroll on it stood against one wall. A small, dark haired figure set down an ink well and quill next to the scroll with a smile.

The heavy door at the back of the dais creaked open, causing the tiny figure next to the table to start in surprise. A tall blonde woman quietly entered the room, holding a blanket-swaddled infant in her arms.

            “I didn’t mean to frighten you, Talia,” Samantha, Princess of Mittra, whispered to the fairy as she crossed the dais.

            “I wasn’t expecting anyone to arrive so early,” Talia replied. “Bring Emmalyn Meredith in here. Oh, Sam, she has your eyes, doesn’t she?” the fairy asked while cradling the newborn.

            “Nolan says she does, but they still might change color. He also insists that she wrinkles her nose the same way I do, but I told him he’s ridiculous!” Samantha laughed as she tucked the pink blanket more tightly around the baby. “Shall we put her in the cradle while we wait for everyone to arrive?”

            Talia sighed as she walked over to the cradle. “I suppose you are right. I have not been able to hold her for the last few days with your mother and Nolan’s mother being in constant attendance,” she complained good-naturedly as she laid Emma down in the wooden cradle.

            “But you have the honor of being her first fairy godmother,” Samantha assured her friend as she looked down at her daughter. “I know that I have benefitted from having you as mine!”

            Talia wiped away a tear with a smile as she turned to the little table set on the dais. “It seems like only yesterday when you were in that cradle while your mother and I discussed your fairy blessings. And, before you ask, I do have the list of acceptable blessings for today’s ceremony,” Talia said teasingly as she set out a long sheet of parchment from her bag.

            “And your magic quill?” Samantha asked, lightly touching the pen.

            “Of course! I never go to a blessing ceremony without it now,” Talia laughed. “I have asked a few of the older fairies to be here at Emmalyn Meredith’s private ceremony. And I did not include Osric and Elan!”

            Samantha rolled her eyes. “Oh dear. What would they give my poor daughter that they did not give to me? Hopefully she’ll grow up to appreciate the thought we put into her gifts.”

            The door to the chamber opened and the guests began to file in. Samantha smiled and beckoned to Nolan, who joined her on the dais.

            “Everything set?” her husband asked after he dropped a kiss on her cheek. “No secret fairy blessings lurking behind the draperies?”

            Samantha playfully swatted him. “None that Talia has been able to detect. And I didn’t turn out so bad, did I?”

            Nolan smiled down at her. “Not after I educated you.”

            Samantha’s eyes shone back at him. “You’re lucky there are witnesses around right now,” she whispered in his ear. “I’ll have to get you for that later.”

            “Am I late?” an elderly fairy called out from the doorway in a high-pitched voice. “Oh, dear. I had such a good gift to give to the little princess!”

            “Hush your voice, Sophronia!” another fairy called out. “The baby’s sleeping! We all only arrived a minute ago. You have not missed anything.”

            “Hush yourself, Hazelora!” Sophronia grumbled as she found a chair.

            Talia shot a look at Samantha. “I don’t want to have a repeat of Osric and Elan,” the fairy murmured to the princess.

            “Let’s bring them to order and . . . you can charm them into silence if it gets out of hand,” Samantha said.

            King Bennett, Queen Adelaide, King Elden, and Queen Nadette made their way into the room, settling into the row of chairs set on the left side of the dais.

Samantha smiled at her parents and in-laws. King Bennett’s once red hair had now faded to gray but his mind was still as sharp as ever. King Elden walked a bit slower than he had before but his eyes sparkled merrily, especially when surrounded by his grandchildren. Adelaide and Nadette both had fine wrinkles around their eyes, a fact they lamented when they visited each other. We’re so blessed to have both of our parents, Samantha thought before standing next to Nolan at the side of the cradle.

            “Thank you for joining us today,” Nolan said in a clear voice that carried to the back of the chamber. “Our daughter, Princess Emmalyn Meredith Adelaide Chrysanthemum Talia of Mittra is to receive her fairy blessings today from this esteemed body of fairies. We thank you for being in attendance and blessing our child.”

            “You have all received a card with a number on it, and the blessing you will give to Princess Emmalyn Meredith. Will the fairy with the first blessing please step forward?” Talia asked with a smile.

            Alvara stood and a dazzling purple shimmer shone about her. “Princess Emmalyn Meredith, I bless you with the gift of confidence,” she said and then sat down.

            Talia glanced over to see the charmed quill writing out the blessing. Good, it still works. ”Number two?”

            Gelsey was a young fairy with a delicate lavender shimmer. “Little princess, I bless you with the gift of being a hard worker,” she said in a soft voice.

            The remainder of the gifts was given quickly. Laila gave the gift of languages, Hazelora gave the gift of being a graceful dancer, Alvin gave the gift of courage, Orin gave a strong sense of justice, Dain gave the ability to listen thoughtfully, Wyston gave the ability to be compassionate, Rhoslyn gave the gift of curly hair, and Lorelle gave the gift of long fingernails. Nolan raised his eyebrows towards his wife at the last gifts given and she rolled her eyes.

            “I let my mother and your mother each choose one,” Samantha explained in a whisper. “I thought it would help make up for my deficits.”

            Nolan had to hold his breath to keep from laughing while Talia called up the last fairy, Sophronia. The tiny fairy bobbed her way to the center of the room and smiled widely at the royal family on the dais.

            “I am number eleven! And I have written here a very worthy blessing, I must admit. I would have liked to have a blessing like this myself,” Sophronia bubbled, her shimmer a faint lilac surrounding her white hair. “I also must say how glad I am to be here and how honored I feel to be invited to a princess’ blessing ceremony! I know you could have invited someone else and yet you chose me! I was so excited that I decided to give the princess the gift of loving the color pink! Pink is a splendid color for any girl to wear, especially a princess.”

            The entire room was silent for a moment before the shouting began.

            “Did you really just bless the princess with a preference for a color?” Hazelora yelled, her shimmer sending out deep purple sparks. “You—you—I can’t even speak to you! What a disappointment!”

            “Do not yell at me! I am your older sister!” Sophronia squeaked back. “I think this is a better gift than long fingernails.”

            “The fingernails blessing was your mother’s choice,” Samantha murmured to Nolan as they watched the fairies yell back and forth.

            “What do we do now?” he asked Talia, who was staring out at the normally good tempered fairies with a look of amazement on her face.

            “I do not know,” she replied faintly.

~~~

THE HIDDEN BLESSING will be available very soon for you to buy! 
Add it to your Goodreads "to be read" pile. :)

Thanks for your support! <3

Book and Writing Updates!

Book and writing updates!

Vlog #4

Just in case you don't go onto Youtube, you can see my newest vlog here. :)

Book 2 COVER REVEAL!

Thank you to everyone who has asked about Book 2! I got the final final FINAL cover this morning from the awesomesauce Matt Maniscalco. He was (once again) able to take my ramblings and turn them into...gorgeousness. No spoilers here. When you read the book, you'll know EXACTLY what the cover is about.

THE HIDDEN BLESSING is slated to be released June 2012. (That's in 4 months, guys!!) *squee* I'll have to have another birthday party for this book! Let me know if you're interested in holding any interviews, blog tours, etc. for my book. I'm so excited to be able to share with you!

*drum roll...*

I SO SO SO love this!! I will very soon (I promise!) have the back flap summary up here on my blog. (I'm working on writing it and...it's taking a while to get right.)

Let me know what you think!

Book 3 Updates/Conundrums

I know some of you are scratching your heads thinking, "Book THREE? What about Book Two?!" Rest assured, faithful followers, Book Two is totally done. :)  It's been written, revised, edited, revised, edited, beaten the tar out of it, restuffed with awesomeness (hopefully!), and waiting to be put into the bookish format it needs to be in to print properly. Cover art is being worked on right now, yay!!! to Matt Maniscalco for that.

So...Book Three. Yes, I'm already writing the third book. I've been writing it for a while but had to put it aside to do the edits, etc. for Book Two. And now I'm stuck. No, not writer's block. I know where the story is going, I have the plot outlined, all that good stuff is in hand. The thing I'm "stuck" with is my main guy. I knew I had trouble with him when I couldn't even remember his name! I've given him three names, apparently. None really seemed to encapsulate who he IS. And I need for a name to do that. I finally figured out the reason I couldn't give him a name was because I didn't know him yet. I know Holly, my main girl character. I've been in her head for MONTHS. I know why she does what she does. I know her family background. I know her issues with impulse control. I know why she's so amazing at archery.

*Le sigh* I don't know Duncan/Donovan/Corbin in this way. I need to make a back story for him. The one I have is way too simple and boring. I need to give him some drama, some tragedy, some pizzazle. And that's where I'm stuck. I've been making notes in my head as I go through the day. "Oh! Maybe his mother is dead and that's why he..." "Maybe he had an older brother die and that's why..." and on and on and on.

That's what is taking up my time lately. I hope to give him a personality (AND a name!!) and then I'll let y'all know how that works out. ;)

Happy writing!

First drafts for Book 2

I spent Friday night, most of Saturday, and Sunday evening on the first draft line edits for Book 2 (tentatively titled THE HIDDEN BLESSING) in The Tales of Gymandrol series. Line edits are essential to having a good book. My editor, Farrah, sent me back my novel with her suggestions for changes (along with essential changes -- like making those double hyphens into a "em dash" and the proper way to make an ellipses.)
What happens in "line edits":
-Taking out all those wretched adverbs that I am so good at including! (Farrah had dubbed me "The Adverb Queen" during Book 1.) Thankfully, I've grown out of saying things like, "She ran quickly." Duh! If she's running, it's quickly! :-P  (Same with "yelled loudly" "whispered quietly") Those like to sneak into writing. If you're not sure if you do this, use the "find" feature in Word and search "ly" for those adverbs. Let me know how many you find! :)

-Redundancies. This is one I'm guilty of. It's very hard to find other words for "room" or "face" when you're writing a whole scene where a room is important or faces are important. The thesaurus doesn't help with this. My editor does. Because she's awesome. It's also important to have someone else read your work because you won't notice that you've used "face" three times in three sentences right away. What else? Check if your character always does the same thing. Does he "quirk his eyebrows" ALL the time? Does she "cross her arms" when she's mad? EVERY time? Change it up a little! :)

-Making sentences active instead of passive. This was a hard one for me to think about first but once I saw Farrah's first example, I totally understood. (You can google search for it for good examples.)

-Changing the way a phrase reads. Sometimes it just reads awkwardly. And it has to be rewritten. More than once. If you're not sure, read it out loud. It can be a lot of work but it'll make it better!

I'm now re-reading the whole manuscript to see if the changes I made fit. I'll be rather boring for awhile on Twitter and blogging. It's all for the greater good! :)

Happy writing!