Cindy M. Hogan's Book Blitz: First Kiss, Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips

What It's About
VL. Virgin Lips. You may not have heard of it, but where I live, it’s a thing with a card, even if it is a figurative card. I was Brooklyn Hill, certified virgin lips, and I planned on clinging to that figurative card with all I had—while dating as many of the hottest guys at school as I could.

Maybe that’s a bit strange. I mean, what teenage girl isn’t interested in kissing? Locking lips definitely interested me, but the drama that came with it didn’t. No kissing, no drama. Simple.

But on my sixteenth birthday, on my first real date even, the drama found me. His name was Luke Graham—cute, funny, and bad news for the whole female race.

GOODREADS | AMAZON  

Short Excerpt
We all laughed and ran outside and stormed the hot tub.

After the obligatory splashing and dunking settled down, Parker jutted his chin at me and teased. “You’re sixteen now, Brooklyn, the question is, are you still in the VL club?”

A strange silence fell over the group. I guess they really wanted to hear my response. I paused just long enough to give the answer away. I looked up, noticing a few stars speckled the skyline.

“Oooh,” Mike said. “’nough said. Well, my dear, your pain will now be over.” He moved toward me, lips puckered, eye brows waggling. I turned my head before he could make contact. My whole body was on fire.

Ali and Katherine, my two red-headed friends, pushed him back. “Down boy. Unlike you, she wants her first kiss to be special, meaningful, and with someone she wants to kiss. So, back off.” Ali could be forceful when she wanted to be. I loved and hated that about her.

He whimpered like a wounded dog as he sat back in his spot.

“Buurrrn!” Mike yelled.

“Burn, baby, burn,” Parker sang.

Cindy M. Hogan is the bestselling author of the Watched series (the first book just happens to be free on Kindle right now). She has two books coming out in October: Adrenaline Rush and Gravediggers. Adrenaline Rush is a YA suspense novel with a dash of romance and Gravediggers is a YA mystery novel with a dash of romance.

First Kiss is Cindy's first serial. Stolen Kiss is the second book, and Rebound Kiss is due out in a few weeks.

And the winners are ...

Woohoo! Congrats to our two winners:

Renae Mackley

Cindy Hogan

Final Day - A Change of Plans Audiobook Giveaway Blog Tour

The Last Day!

The blog tour continues for my A Change of Plans audiobook. 

Don't forget there are TWO opportunities to win and TWO blogs to visit.
I'd like to thank all the awesome people who have helped out this week!

Date        Blogger    

24-Aug    Amber Argyle     
24-Aug    Shantal Session    

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's a short sample of the book:

 

Day 6 - A Change of Plans Audiobook Giveaway Blog Tour

It's time for a random picture. I had a Harry Potter party a few years ago and went all out. I replaced all my family photos with pictures of the characters. Yeah. Totally embraced my inner geek. We even had a cauldron of Polyjuice Potion brewing in the bathtub and Moaning Myrtle peeking from the mirror.

And now for Day 6!

The blog tour continues for my A Change of Plans audiobook. 

Don't forget there are TWO opportunities to win.

 

Date        Blogger    

23-Aug    David Powers King    
23-Aug    Maria Hoagland . . . . . . . . Interview
23-Aug    Merita King    
23-Aug    Robin Ambrose     
23-Aug    Taryn A. Taylor

24-Aug    Amber Argyle     
24-Aug    Shantal Session    

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's a short sample of the book:

 

Day 5 of the A Change of Plans Audiobook Blog Tour

The blog tour continues for my A Change of Plans audiobook. 

Don't forget there are TWO opportunities to win.

 

Date        Blogger    

22-Aug    Angela Corbett    
22-Aug    Phil L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guest post on showing vs. telling
22-Aug    Lindzee Armstrong     
22-Aug    Stephanie Abney

23-Aug    David Powers King    
23-Aug    Maria Hoagland . . . . . . . . Interview
23-Aug    Merita King    
23-Aug    Robin Ambrose     
23-Aug    Taryn A. Taylor

24-Aug    Amber Argyle     
24-Aug    Shantal Session    

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's a short sample of the book:

And if you don't win? Audible is an Amazon company, so the ebook and the audiobook are linked. When you purchase the ebook, you can download the audiobook for $1.99. So ebook and audiobook for $6.98.
 

Author Interviews - Mine and Cas Peace, Author of King's Artesan

First off, don't forget about the A Change of Plans audiobook giveaway going on this week. As part of the tour, I'm being interviewed today at Taffy Lovell's blog, where you can sign up on the rafflecopter for a chance to win!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have a special guest today, my friend and sister in writing, Cas Peace. She's the author of the wonderful Artesans of Albia fantasy series. I love these books. This is one of those that I read to my husband. We're reading King's Artesan right now, and you should have heard him yesterday: "Can we read some more?" Seriously. These books are that good!

Cas is here today to celebrate the launch of King's Artesan and has agreed to do an interview. Take it away Cas!

First I would like to thank Donna for inviting me on to her blog. I loved these questions, Donna – I hope you enjoy the replies!

What do you think about when you're alone in your car?
This is a question I’ve never been asked before, and I’ve never given it much thought before, either. But now that you’ve asked it, I realize how relevant it is to my writing. I don’t do it much now because I don’t have to drive to work, but when I was commuting to my Civil Service job years ago, I used to pass the boredom of being stuck in traffic by acting out little scenes in my head. These would usually center round TV programs I’d seen. I would become a character in the program, or make up a new one, and have fun imagining what the regular characters would say, or how we would react to each other. Generally, I ended up saving one or more of them from some dreadful fate, or from being murdered, by doing something clever. It was fun. This playing with TV characters was also the way my entire Artesans series came about!

What songs best describe your writing philosophy?
Because of the way my books came about (i.e. - with no conscious thought or planning from me!) I guess Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver is the song that just about sums it up. All the ideas and plots for my entire Artesan series came at me so fast, it was as if they were rocket-driven. And the experience of writing them out once I got started was the equivalent of being bundled onto a plane and having it take off like a rocket beneath me, with me having no idea whatsoever where I was going or where I’d end up. And I’m still not sure!

Pick two celebrities to be your parents and explain why they are your choices.
I’m not really sure I’d want a celebrity for a parent - they never seem to stay married for long! But I know what you mean ….

Ok. For a dad I’m going to pick Nelson Mandela. He just seems like a really, really nice guy. Anyone who can survive what he has and still forgive those who did it to him has to have superb strength of character. And I so admire people who put themselves in the way of harm for the good of others. And for a mum (or mom, as my American friends spell it!) I’m going to choose Joy Adamson, the woman who helped raise Elsa the lioness in Born Free, and then returned her to the wild. Nature conservation and respect for wildlife are two ideals very close to my heart. I’d have loved the opportunity to meet Joy, and I think she was probably a very feisty person. We need more like her in this world! 

I know you love horses. What's your history there? Did you grow up around them or did that come later?
I have no idea where my love of horses came from – I was born with it, I think. My aunt rides horses, or did when she was younger, but no one else in my family has ever been connected with them or interested in them. We weren’t wealthy enough for me to have a pony when I was a kid, but there was a riding school close by that I went to. I say “riding school”, but really it was a woman who kept a few horses on a local naval base, and she gave rides and “lessons” to kids from naval families. My dad was in the Fleet Air Arm rather than the Navy, but it was close enough for me to get accepted. I loved it, but the “lessons” weren’t very good. I fell off more than I stayed on. When I was about 16, I saved up enough to have some proper lessons, and when I left school, I went to train at a recognized center for Equitation and got my teaching qualification. It was hard work, but I loved it. Unfortunately, it paid very little, and eventually I had to get a different job that paid decent wages. It was only then that I was able to afford a horse of my own, although I don’t have one now.

What was your inspiration for the world and the magic system in your Artesans of Albia series?
I have always been fascinated by the natural world. My dad grew up in the countryside, and when I visited my grandparents, my granddad would take me on long, country walks. Animals and birds delighted me, and I soaked up everything I could learn about them. As I grew older, I also developed a keen interest in places like Stonehenge, ancestral sites with an air of mystery and majesty about them. I l also love forests and the deep, sacrosanct feeling of being among ancient trees. I began reading books about Druids, and the ancient Celts, and felt an emotional connection to their brand of spirituality. I have always suspected there is an ancient force buried deep in our Earth, one that our long-ago forebears knew how to tap into. So it was a natural progression to explore this force through my writing. Artesans are attuned to this force and can use it if they learn how to channel and respect it. 

The setting for my world is a variant of medieval England. While I appreciate the hypocrisy and irony of my making use of technology, something within me hankers after a simpler, pre-Industrial Revolution life. I’m sure I wouldn’t like it if I had one – there are too many modern conveniences I would miss! – and so it is merely romance on my part. But I can live in it vicariously, through my writing.  

I understand there's supposed to be nine books in the series, essentially three trilogies, right? What's next?
Yes, there are three trilogies to my series. Artesans of Albia is the first trilogy, Circle of Conspiracy is the second, and Master of Malice, the third. Currently, I am working on a YA prequel to the series, called Maiden of Mysteries. This will concentrate on Sullyan’s childhood and then her struggles to be accepted at the Manor. It will also cover her early relationship with Robin, and some other stuff only hinted at in the other books. After that – who knows? There are five realms in my world, and I’ve not even begun to explore three of its races. A Sinnian makes a fairly brief but vital appearance during Circle and Malice, but Roamerlings and Relkorians don’t feature much at all. Plenty of book material there! Or maybe I’ll write something completely different. That might be fun! 

Oooo...I can't wait! Did I mention I'm a big fan of this series?

Well, to celebrate the book's release, there's a giveaway. Well, actually three! How cool is that?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unable to purge herself of the poison that is slowly killing her, Major Sullyan remains trapped in Andaryon. The only thing that can save her is the Staff, which still lies buried in Taran’s cellar.

Robin Tamsen sets out on a desperate quest to recover the artifact, but the enemy is two steps ahead of him. Sonten knows where the Staff is, and he will stop at nothing to get it back. If he does, Sullyan’s life will be forfeit and no Artesan will be safe.

The race for the Staff has begun.

Author Website | Amazon | 

About Cas

As well as her love of horses, Cas is mad about dogs, especially Lurchers. She enjoys dog agility training and currently owns two rescue Lurchers, Milly and Milo. Milly has already had some success in the agility ring, and Milo will begin competing in late 2011.

Cas loves country walks, working in stained glass and folk singing. She has also written a nonfiction book, "For the Love of Daisy," which tells the life story of her beautiful Dalmatian.

Day 3 of A Change of Plans Audiobook Giveaway Blog Tour

Woohoo! Day 3. 

Don't forget, there are TWO prizes.

Here are the blogs to visit:

20-Aug    JoAnn Arnold     
20-Aug    Heidi Murphy  . . . . . . . . . . Interview
20-Aug    Sherry Gammon     

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Day 2 of A Change of Plans Audiobook Blog Tour

 Don't forget ...

Because Audible is an Amazon company, the ebook and the audiobook are linked. When you purchase the ebook, you can download the audiobook for $1.99.

Yeah. You read that right. You can get the ebook AND the audiobook for $6.98.

AUDIBLE | AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | RHEMALDA | GOODREADS | ITUNES 

Well, my publisher, Rhemalda, and I are hosting a giveaway. 

And there can be two winners!

These are the people who are up today! You can sign up on their blogs.

19-Aug    Heidi Tighe     
19-Aug    RaShelle Workman     
19-Aug    Brenda Gallagher     
19-Aug    Wendy Knight     

A Change of Plans Audiobook Giveaway!

If you've followed my blog much in the last month or so, you'll know that my adventure romance, A Change of Plans, has come out in audiobook. You'll also know that I'm a huge audiobook fan, so I'm really jazzed to have my book now available in that medium. I want to spread the word!

And how cool is this? Because Audible is an Amazon company, the ebook and the audiobook are linked. When you purchase the ebook, you can download the audiobook for $1.99.

Yeah. You read that right. You can get the ebook AND the audiobook for $6.98.

Well, my publisher, Rhemalda, and I are hosting a giveaway. 

And there can be two winners!

 Here's a short sample of the audiobook:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You have several chances to win
and different blogs to visit each day:

Date        Blogger    

18-Aug    Jaclyn Weist     
18-Aug    Cindy Hogan    
19-Aug    Heidi Tighe  
19-Aug    RaShelle Workman     
20-Aug    JoAnn Arnold    
20-Aug    Heidi Murphy  . . . . . . . . . . Interview
20-Aug    Sherry Gammon    
21-Aug    Taffy Lovell . . . . . . . . . . . . Interview
22-Aug    Angela Corbett    
22-Aug    Phil L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guest post on showing vs. telling
22-Aug    Lindzee Armstrong    
23-Aug    David Powers King    
23-Aug    Maria Hoagland . . . . . . . . . Interview
23-Aug    Merita King    
23-Aug    Robin Ambrose    
23-Aug    Taryn Taylor
24-Aug    Amber Argyle     
24-Aug    Shantal Session    

19-Aug    Wendy Knight     

23-Aug    Stephanie Abney 
   

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

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

It’s hard to avoid someone when stuck on the same ship, and the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

A Visit and a Spotlight

I'm being featured today--along with my workspace--over at The Writing Nut. There are even pictures of me when I was little. Come and say "hi".

Author Michelle Argyle is spotlighting A Change of Plans today. Woohoo! You can check it out here.

Cover Reveal - Cassie Mae's "Switched"

I have a special guest today
to reveal a little secret...
Take it away
Cassie Mae!

Yay! Tis time for another cover from yours truly.

Covers are the best part. Not gonna lie. So... time for the booty shake!

Are you reading still? I'm wondering how many of you have scrolled down to the hot guy down there. (Because, I admit, I do this) Hmm... testing... tell me your favorite color in the comments if you read this part! LOL.

Here's my stuff, and the book blurb and all that:

Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. She’s the author of the Amazon Bestseller REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND, and is the debut author for the Random House FLIRT line with her New Adult novels FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI and SWITCHED. She also has a three book deal with Swoon Romance Publishing, including her book HOW TO DATE A NERD. She spends time with her angel children and perfect husband who fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

SWITCHED:

Cassie Mae redefines the New Adult genre with a novel that answers the eternal question: What do you do when you’re head-over-heels for your best friend’s guy?

Ever since high school, Kayla has been crazy for gorgeous football player Talon. But before she could muster the courage to tell him, he became a hot item with her beautiful BFF, Reagan. The only person who knows Kayla’s secret is Wesley, Talon’s best bud—and he’s got it bad for Reagan. Now they’re all in college together, hanging out 24/7. For Kayla, seeing the two lovebirds together is absolutely unbearable. So Kayla and Wesley hatch a plot to drive them apart. But time is ticking and they must act now, before Talon gives Reagan the Christmas gift she’s been waiting for.

Sure enough, the once-happy couple is fighting, Reagan suddenly can’t get enough of Wesley’s goofy sense of humor, and Talon seems to be paying more attention to Kayla than a guy who’s “just a friend” ever should. But something just isn’t right. Then Kayla and Wesley accidentally spend a night together, and discover a hitch they never considered: that switching partners may not lead to a perfect ending after all.


*dramatic drumroll!*

Okay, I love all my covers. But that guy, I can't stop looking at him. The girl is a perfect replica of Kayla too. So this makes me a happy pappy author :D

Spell for the day:

Incendio!

Kumadai Run by Jaleta Clegg

The biggest danger of the Kumadai Run lies on a fractured world deep in its twisted space. When the Phoenix is caught in a trap five hundred years old, Dace faces the most demanding challenge of her life.

Goodreads | Amazon

Check out the other books in the series here.

Aleta Clegg, writing as Jaleta Clegg
Webpage: www.jaletac.com
Blog

Visiting Angie Today and IWSG

I'm visiting over at author Angie Lofthouse's blog today and doing one of her one-word interviews.

Click here to find out more.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Since I'm hoping you'll visit Angie, I will keep this short. My biggest insecurity right now is finding balance. My real life is insane as I'm caught in the throes of the worst election I've run. Ugly stuff. I've had family visiting that I haven't seen in four years. Wonderful times. I've got a book out, a book with my publisher, and plans for a new NaNo book. And marketing.

Seriously. I need a clone. How do you guys do this?

Giveaway

Laura Johnston is hosting a giveaway on her blog--and the prize is an ecopy of A Change of Plans! And you can see her lovely review here.

Check it out here!

Cover Reveal - Awakening by Christy Dorrity (Book One of The Geis)

What It's About
. . .because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.

A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery’s family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn't need magic. She just moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.

 When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.

After Aunt Avril comes to the valley in pursuit of the supernatural killer that she has been chasing her entire career, people in the valley begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When an ancient curse, known as a geis, awakens powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.

A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

Goodreads

BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:

Awakening: Book One of The Geis by Christy Dorrity

Publication date: September 24th 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy

AUTHOR BIO:
Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, and is the author of The Book Blogger’s Cookbooks. Christy is a champion Irish dancer and when she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.

Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Twitter

LTUE Blogfest

Anyone who's been following my blog knows that I love the LTUE (Life, the Universe and Everything) SciFi/fantasy symposium that's held every February. Well, to get folks excited about the upcoming event, they're holding the LTUE Contests Blogfest.

The 2014 conference is going to be amazing. Not only will they be having writing contests, but they'll be PUBLISHING the WINNERS! Woohoo! You can find details here.

Come and play and help get the word out. You can sign up at Robin Ambrose's blog here.