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Come visit me at

www.dragonthing.com

Saturday, December 13, 2014

A Dream Within A Dream

A Dream Within A Dream

blog tour

RELEASE DAY for Novel #4 Burn Baby Burn Baby! Blog Tour Continues!

My 4th novel comes out in three days. My publisher has set up a blog tour for it! It runs from December 8th to December 19th and includes reviews, guest blog posts, excerpts and more! (-:



Here's a schedule of all the dates and blog types:

12.08.14: TMBA Corbett Tries to Write – Review
12.08.14: So I am a Reader – Review
12.08.14: The Caffeinated Booknerd – Excerpt
12.08.14: Katie Teller at Katie’s Stories – Guest Post
12.09.14: A Creative Mind – Review
12.09.14: Kayl’s Krazy Obsession – Excerpt
12.09.14: Ink of Blood – Guest Post
12.10.14: Twining Lvtwriter – Review
12.10.14: Jennifer Greenleaf: Author & Artist – Review
12.10.14: Coffee&Books – Excerpt
12.10.14: Coffee Books & Art – Guest Post
12.11.14: Shelf Life – Review
12.11.14: M&EM Read YA – Excerpt
12.11.14: Home Is Where the Wine Is Book Blog – Guest Post
12.12.14: Little Whimsy Books – Review
12.12.14: Her Book Thoughts! – Review
12.12.14: A Dream Within A Dream – Excerpt
12.12.14: Love, laugh, and read – Guest Post
12.15.14: Seinda – Review
12.15.14: Revenge of the Feels – Excerpt
12.15.14: Collette Yvonne – Book Spotlight
12.16.14: Cheryl – Review
12.16.14: Mimi Jones-Taylor – Review
12.16.14: Mallory Heart Reviews – Excerpt
12.17.14: A TiffyFit’s Reading Corner – Review
12.17.14: Bookishly Britt – Review
12.17.14: JeanzBookReadNReview – Excerpt
12.18.14: Pages To Explore – Review
12.18.14: Book Sense – Review
12.18.14: G. Donald Cribbs – Excerpt
12.19.14: Colleen Knight: Writes. Reads. Reviews – Review
12.19.14: LostBrainCell’s Bookish Blog – Excerpt
12.19.14: Dale Long – Interview

Just a heads up...a couple of the guest blogs are written by characters from the novel...so, bonus material. (-:

The synopsis...
About Burn Baby, Burn Baby:

Quote:
Seventeen-year-old Francis Fripp’s confidence is practically non-existent since his abusive father drenched him in accelerant and threw a match at him eight years ago.


Now badly scarred, Francis relies on his best friend Trig to protect him from the constant bullying doled out at the hands of his nemesis, Brandon Hayley—the unrelenting boy who gave him the dreaded nickname of Burn Baby.


The new girl at school, Rachel Higgins, is the first to see past Francis’s pariah-inducing scars.

If Brandon’s bullying doesn’t destroy him, Francis might experience life as a normal teenager for the first time in his life. He just has to avoid Brandon and convince himself he’s worthy of Rachel’s attentions.


Sounds easy enough, but Francis himself has a hard time seeing past his scars. And Brandon is getting violently frustrated, as his attempts to bully Francis are constantly thwarted.


Francis is in turmoil as he simultaneously rushes toward his first kiss and a possible violent end.
Pack your bags and hop on board...
__________________
One-Stop Shopping - My books on Amazon

Author! Author!

Author! Author!



gingerbread family

While lazily re-reading the letters of Madame de Sévigné, as one so
often does at this time of year, I stumbled across a particularly
revealing review of a book released several centuries ago. Quoth the
great lady:


This Morale of Nicole is admirable, and Cléopatre
is going along nicely, but in no hurry; it is for odd moments.
Usually, it is reading this that lulls me to sleep — the large print
pleases me much more than the style.
That prompted me to cast a hurried eye at the calendar, as you may
imagine. “Good gravy!” I exclaimed. “Aspiring writers across this
great nation are about to be having Thanksgiving dinner with otherwise
charming relatives and friends who wouldn’t know literature if it were
floating in the cranberry sauce! It’s time to trot out my annual balm
for the souls of writers passing the mashed potatoes while trying to
answer well-meant questions like ‘So you’re a writer? What have you
published?’ and ‘What — you’re still working on that novel
after all this time?’ Not to mention the ever-popular ‘Oh, you’re
writing these days? I’d just assumed you’d given up on that dream.'”


And writers throughout the land groan with recognition. There,
there, campers — you didn’t think I was going to send you over the river
and through the woods without a few words of encouragement, did you?

...to read the rest of the article, click the Author! Author! link above.







Author! Author! :: Anne Mini's Blog

Anne’s Bio

July 22nd, 2006



Anne Mini grew up in the middle of a Zinfandel vineyard in the Napa
Valley, the daughter of California’s best-known 1930’s radical (subject
of John Steinbeck’s In Dubious Battle) and the beatnik ex-wife of
renowned science fiction author Philip K. Dick. She spent her childhood
continuing the Minis’ four hundred-year-old fine winemaking tradition;
her great-grandfather and great-uncle were purportedly the first
Americans to win a major enological prize in a European competition. By
the second grade, she already knew how to run a still.



find the rest of the bio here

Reviews and press - Miss Gish

Reviews and press - Miss Gish

 Picture

The Farthest Shore (Eden Series Book 3) - Kindle edition by Marian Perera. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

The Farthest Shore (Eden Series Book 3) - Kindle edition by Marian Perera. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

 

He’s racing for a prize. She’s running for her life. And they’re on a collision course.



Eden, Book 3



Captain Alyster Juell is relishing the taste of his first command for the fleet of Denalay. The steamship Checkmate doesn’t carry weaponry, but that doesn’t matter. His mission is to win an ocean-crossing race—and its hefty prize.



As
the voyage gets underway, Alyster hits his first snag—there’s a
stowaway on board, a reporter who poked around for information about his
ship the day before. And it’s too late to turn back.



Miri Tayes
didn’t intend to stow away. She was forced to run for her life when a
colleague discovered her secret: She can pass for normal but she’s a
half-salt—daughter of a Denalait mother and a pirate father.



Despite
her lack of seaworthy skills, Miri works hard to earn her keep, and
Alyster, taken with her quick wit and steely nerve, falls for her. But
as the race intensifies and the pirates use a kraken to hunt down Checkmate for its new technology, the truth could be the most elusive—and dangerous—prize of all.



Warning:
Contains a reporter hiding a dangerous secret and the captain who’d
like to strip her bare in more ways than one. Also pirates, prejudice
and passion.

Amazon.com: Hunting Monsters eBook: S.L. Huang: Kindle Store

Amazon.com: Hunting Monsters eBook: S.L. Huang: Kindle Store



“Happy birthday, child. Careful not to shoot any grundwirgen.”



Ever since she was a small girl, she has learned to be careful on
the hunt, to recognize the signs that separate regular animals from
human-cursed grundwirgen. To harm a grundwirgen is a crime punishable by
death by the King's decree - a fatal mistake that her Auntie Rosa and
mother have carefully prepared her to avoid.



On her fifteenth birthday, when her mother is arrested and made to
stand trial for grundwirgen murder, everything she thought she knew
about her family and her past comes crashing down.



Auntie Rosa has always warned her about monsters. Now, she must find and confront them to save her mother, no matter the cost.

Tangible Dreams: Simran Silva: 9781500208288: Amazon.com: Books























Tangible Dreams: Simran Silva: 9781500208288: Amazon.com: Books

 Tangible Dreams is about two people, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, a
photographer for a travel magazine and Christian Dominguez, a skilled
craftsman. They are different in so many ways, except for one thing -
They both have the desire to be able to take charge of the situations
they have been handed in life and out of them create their own tangible
dreams.

Amazon.com: Worlds of Tomorrow eBook: Tom Johnson, Teresa Tunaley: Books

Amazon.com: Worlds of Tomorrow eBook: Tom Johnson, Teresa Tunaley: Books



 In the far future, the worlds of tomorrow will bring many dangers to the
travelers of the star ways. Space Rangers like Captain Steve Danger
will be hard pressed to protect those settlers on distant planets. Even
the Ghosts, the secret police, will have trouble discovering the
mysterious galactic thief known as the Forever Man. Here are five
exciting tales of our future problems on worlds of tomorrow.

J. Michael Favreau, Author | MY NOVELS

J. Michael Favreau, Author | MY NOVELS



My Novels

Book
one of the Jordan Rose Dueology, Break Away is a character driven
science-fiction story of love lost, of resolve, of digging deeper than
you thought possible until you find the strength not to crumble, and
ultimately, of surviving even when you think you have no hope left.  It
is the first novel in a two novel series chronicling the adventures of
my heroine, Rose.

Rose has only been a police
officer in northern Maine for two years when her world is suddenly
ripped apart by a deadly new disease out of New York City.  All who are
infected by this new disease are rapidly reduced to husks of their
former selves leaving only rabid wild beasts bent on death and
destruction.  After her wife’s gruesome and violent death, Rose learns
that she is immune and must decide whether to sacrifice herself for a
cure or fight to survive.  Rose’s choices set in motion a desperate trek
north into the solitary deep woods of Northern Quebec where she must
elude capture by an unchecked CDC, the military, and bands of impetuous
survivors.


"Homecoming"
is the follow-up to "Break Away" and concludes the Jordan Rose
Dueology.  Rose and companion Jamie begin another journey back to
Jamie's home town two years after the deadly outbreak that erradicated
the human race.  
Will
two years have been enough for the infected to die off?  Are there
others that survived?  After surviving so much for so long, Rose faces
her greatest challenge yet in the thrilling conclusion to the series!

Cover art by Fiona Jayde Media

http://fionajaydemedia.com/

 

Author FAQ

Author FAQ





Home Page




Greetings from the mysterious smoking monkey



This is my author site in all of its wacky glory!



                     WELCOME!





Here you will find excerpts from my novels, art work created by Michael
O'Manion of Lightning Farm Designs, and updates regarding my work.



Friday, December 12, 2014

Character Development | LinkedIn

Character Development | LinkedIn
The most important part of your novel is the part that will never been seen by the reader.  It’s the part that’s just for you.  It’s the part that only you know.  Well, you and your character, that is.
It’s the character study.  You simply cannot write a good novel without knowing your characters inside and out.
- See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/novel-writing-10-questions-you-need-to-ask-your-characters?et_mid=709381&rid=238567132#sthash.s6eTekxx.dpuf

writersdigest.com

BY BRENDA JANOWITZ You simply cannot write a good novel without knowing your characters inside and out. Here are the top 10 questions you need to be able to answer about each of your characters:

Novel Writing: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Your CharactersWritersDigest.com | WritersDigest...


This guest post is by Brenda Janowitz, author of Scot on the Rocks, Jack with a Twist and THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB. Her work has also appeared in the New York Post, Publisher’s Weekly, Long Island Woman Magazine, Mom.me, Hello Giggles, and xoJane. You can find her at brendajanowitz.com and on Twitter at @BrendaJanowitz. - See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/novel-writing-10-questions-you-need-to-ask-your-characters?et_mid=709381&rid=238567132#sthash.MTDqmhQu.dpuf

Bitten by Books

Bitten by Books



 




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Saturday, December 06, 2014

bing on making good ads

info gleaned from bing ads

Here are a few tips that can help make your ad
stand out.

    Keep your ads relevant. One way to improve
relevance is to use your customers' most popular search terms in your
ad titles and text.
    Describe what sets your product apart.
    Use your customers' language. Use words and
a writing tone that are likely to attract your typical customer.
    Be specific. The clearer and more specific
the offering, the better. For example, rather than "big
discounts," specify an exact percentage, such as "50
percent off."
    Give customers a reason to click your ad
right now. Offer a specific call to action, such as encouraging
customers to request a brochure or consultation, download a free
e-book, subscribe to a newsletter, or take advantage of a
limited-time discount.
 
 



 Which keywords should I choose?
You have a few options to help choose your
keywords. First you’ll want to think of the terms one of your
customers might use to search for your products and offerings. Those
search terms are a great starting point. Then you can use tools right
in your account to find more keywords.
Within Bing Ads, click Campaigns on the top of
the page, click the Keywords tab, and then click Add Keywords. This
will let you:



    Search for new keywords based on one you
enter.
    Search a website for keywords.
    Search your destination URLs for keywords.

Friday, December 05, 2014

Review: After We Collided by Anna Todd - Words Read and Written

Review: After We Collided by Anna Todd - Words Read and Written





Blurb:


After a tumultuous beginning to their relationship, Tessa and Hardin
were on the path to making things work. Tessa knew Hardin could be
cruel, but when a bombshell revelation is dropped about the origins of
their relationship—and Hardin’s mysterious past—Tessa is beside herself.


Hardin will always be . . . Hardin. But is he really the deep,
thoughtful guy Tessa fell madly in love with despite his angry
exterior—or has he been a stranger all along? She wishes she could walk
away. It’s just not that easy. Not with the memory of passionate nights
spent in his arms. His electric touch. His hungry kisses.



this is the beginning of a review posted on the blog, Words Read and Written.



Jody says:

 "Welcome to Words Read and Written.


"My name is Jodie, I'm a 27 year old Aussie, aspiring author, book blogger, Red Bull addict, and lover of international travel."



read the rest of her review at her blog

Survive The Holiday Party, Leave With Material | LitReactor

Survive The Holiday Party, Leave With Material | LitReactor

 



 I have to believe that the movie Die Hard originated in the
mind of a hapless plus-one at a real office Christmas party. Plus-One is
standing around with a horrible plastic airplane cup of horrible red
punch. Plus-One doesn't know anybody. And Plus-One starts fantasizing....

Ryan Mueller's Writing: The Fantasy Reading List

Ryan Mueller's Writing: The Fantasy Reading List

Monday, November 24, 2014

The Right Place - Miss Gish

The Right Place - Miss Gish

The Right Place - Miss Gish

The Right Place - Miss Gish

The Severed Streets – Book 2 of The Shadow Police, by Paul Cornell | SFReader.com Book Review

The Severed Streets – Book 2 of The Shadow Police, by Paul Cornell | SFReader.com Book Review

Practicing Perfection by Practicing Perfection | Fantasy Magazine

Practicing Perfection by Practicing Perfection | Fantasy Magazine





Practicing Perfection

Amber never regretted becoming a giant, though she ached with the
walking. It didn’t matter; she rejoiced to ride so high upon her long
bones, never minding the precarious balance. She’d done it to be close
to the angels.




She never saw the things the angels fought, way up there in the
sun-white sky. She never knew the battles that they won. She only knew
that every once in a while, an angel lost. She’d find him, then, as she
trudged along the foot of the high stone wall that stretched across the
face of the world.




Always on the wall. Always clutched by vines, whose job, it seemed, was to prevent an angel falling, desecrated, to the ground....

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Brand New Web site!



I've got a new web site up and running at www.dragonthing.com . I'll be adding to it in the coming months, so be sure to check it out.



This is a pic by Tabitha Brown and Phil Smith. It was a sketch Tabitha did, back when I worked with Daverana Enterprises.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Ryan Mueller's Writing: The Fantasy Reading List

Ryan Mueller's Writing: The Fantasy Reading List: Always a work in progress (check back for updates): Here's a page where I'll provide a fantasy reading list to help out other aspi...

Monday, November 03, 2014

Ghost Stories: Snowball Mansion

Ghost Stories: Snowball Mansion: Many flock to the Taj Mahal to lay eyes on one of the most grand romantic gestures a man could do for his wife. In 1877, John Wells Snowball...



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Ted's Creepy Van: Monsters Do Not Equal Horror!

Ted's Creepy Van: Monsters Do Not Equal Horror!: It must really suck being a vampire and knowing that some asshole thinks you need an image make-over so emotional teenage girls will buy yo...

Ted's Creepy Van: The Rumor Mill at Work







"Ted's Creepy Van: The Rumor Mill at Work: I work in an interesting place full of unusual people.  And let me tell you, if I'm calling them unusual, you can take that to the bank..."



you gotta follow this blog

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The Big Bad Man by Steven Beeho — Daverana Enterprises

The Big Bad Man by Steven Beeho — Daverana Enterprises



sharp writing, good, clean plotting, exciting, likeable characters. Fun stories: a great book!

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

What is ’300 Stories’? | 300 stories Dieter Rogiers

What is ’300 Stories’? | 300 stories

 Dieter Rogiers says:

" I should write more. That’s what I said to myself on the eve of my 35th birthday. This blog is my way to grab the bull by the horns. My aim? To produce a short story in 300 words or less practically each day for the next year.

"Some of the stories will be hardly more than a sentence. Some of them will be hell to whittle down to a mere 300 words. But that is the challenge I’m setting myself. I’m hoping you’ll enjoy these stories and you’re free to comment on them.

"A word of warning though: there will be some industrial language and graphic descriptions along the way. But that shouldn’t spoil your fun."

 taken from an interview at http://www.readmill.com/

Tell us a little bit about yourself, who are you and what do you do outside of 300stories?
My name is Dieter Rogiers, I’m 35 years old and I live in Brussels. After dabbling for a while in screenwriting (not all that successfully alas) I now am part of the communications team of Belgium’s biggest political party. From an early age I devoured books and started writing my own stories. And that has proven to be a common thread throughout my life. Since putting my screenwriting career on the backburner my output has diminished considerably though I have published over a thousand online movie reviews over the past decade and a graphic novel of mine called Tunguska was published weekly in a big Flemish newsmagazine in 2010 and 2011.
What is 300stories all about?
I should write more. That’s what I said to myself on the eve of my 35th birthday. 300stories is my way to grab the bull by the horns. My aim? To produce a short story in 300 words or less practically each day for the next year. Some of the stories will be hardly more than a sentence. Some of them will be hell to whittle down to a mere 300 words. It won’t always be easy to keep up the pace and the quality of the stories. But that is the challenge I’m setting myself.

The Realm of the Purple Dragon is a children's book that will take you on a magical journey to a Realm of gods, magic and fairytale. | LinkedIn

The Realm of the Purple Dragon is a children's book that will take you on a magical journey to a Realm of gods, magic and fairytale. | LinkedIn


The Realm of the Purple Dragon is a children's book that will take you on a magical journey to a Realm of gods, magic and fairytale.

Author, poet, artist. I am a trained Nursery-Nurse and student of Psychology. Top Contributor
Blurb - Ellenor is a young girl who is about to discover a secret Realm - and the portal to this realm is hiding in her bedroom. The key to opening this enchanted World has been hidden in a console game called 'The Realm of the Purple Dragon'which had been bought by Ellenor at a car boot sale for 50 pence. Soon she will find the characters of her favourite game are all too real. Some will help her and some will try and stop her from finding the Dragon Amulet that would free the Realm from the dark hold of the evil tyrant - Vindalf, a wicked Wind Elf who answers to Loki. Thankfully the Rainbow Rune Master has some very special magical tools to help Ellenor in her quest, and the Little Purple Dragon is sure to help keep her on track. Welcome to the first book in the blue Rainbow Rune Series.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Realm-Purple-Dragon-Laura-Crean/dp/1470974800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388164019&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Realm+of+the+Purple+Dragonhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Realm-of-the-Purple-Dragon/308511272516313?ref=hlhttp://lauracrean.webs.com/welcome.htm
The Realm of the Purple Dragon: Amazon.co.uk: Laura Crean:...