Blog Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway: Searching for Beautiful by Nyrae Dawn

Hi there gorgeous people!  Welcome to Reading with ABC's stop Nyrae Dawn's Searching for Beautiful. This tour is presented by Rockstar Book Tours, please visit the other stops in the tour, scroll down to find the links. 

About the Book

Title: SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL 

Author: Nyrae Dawn

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pub. Date: March 4, 2014

Pages: 304

Before it happened…Brynn had a group of best friends, a boyfriend who loved her, a growing talent for pottery. She had a life. And then…she had none.After it happened…Everything was lost. The boy she now knew never loved her. The friends who felt she betrayed their trust. The new life just beginning to grow inside her.Brynn believes her future is as empty as her body until Christian, the boy next door, starts coming around. Playing his guitar and pushing her to create art once more. She meets some new friends at the local community center, plus even gets her dad to look her in the eye again…sort of. But letting someone in isn’t as easy as it seems.Now…Can Brynn open up her heart to truly find her life’s own beauty, when living for the after means letting go of the before?

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes& Noble

Guest Post 

About Writing YA Romance

I’ve always been a romantic at heart. I like that “butterflies in the stomach” feeling of a new crush. I love the secretive glances, the brush of fingers, first kisses, and the possibilities of where it all may go. It’s like an adventure, where you never really know what’s going to happen. Will it go somewhere? Will it end?

I always knew that’s what I wanted to write about but that’s not the only reason I wanted to write romance. You know what I believe? That love can change the world. I know that seems like “head in the clouds” thinking but it’s true. Love can change us and we as people have the power to change the world. It can make us feel like we can do anything, it makes is willing to make changes. We learn from getting our hearts broken, breaking hearts, and falling in love. Those experiences mold who we are and what we do.

It’s pretty incredible when you think about it. When I’m writing romance, anything is possible. It’s writing about dreams but yeah, it’s about real life too. It’s about people and growth and the lessons we learn that we’ll take with us for the rest of our lives.

That’s why I wanted to write about romance. It’s universal.

What’s your favorite thing about reading young adult romance?

About the Author

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn’s passion. There have been times in her life where she wasn’t able to chase that dream the way she desired, but she always found her way back to telling stories.

One of her loves has always been writing about teens. There’s something so fresh and fun about the age that she loves exploring. Her husband says it’s because she doesn’t want to grow up. She doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing and luckily for her, he doesn’t either.

Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she’s a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her.

She writes for Entangled Publishing, Grand Central Publishing and is self-published.

Nyrae is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

Nyrae Dawn also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.

Website/Blog/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway

1 $25 Amazon Gift Card US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/3/2014- Watcha Reading- Review

3/3/2014- Jenna Does Books- Guest Post

3/4/2014- The Storybook Kingdom- Review

3/4/2014- Dazzled by Books- Interview

3/5/2014- Reviews By Molly- Review

3/5/2014- Reading with ABC- Guest Post

3/6/2014- Nanna Three and Counting- Review

3/6/2014- A Book and a Latte- Guest Post

3/7/2014- Shayna Varadeaux Books & Reviews- Review

3/7/2014- FicWishes- Guest Post

Week Two:

3/10/2014- Book Chick- Review

3/10/2014- Books Forget Me Knot- Guest Post

3/11/2014- Book Bitches Blog- Review

3/11/2014- Consuming Worlds- Interview

3/12/2014- No BS Book Reviews                - Review

3/12/2014- Reese's Reviews: My Addiction to Fiction- Interview

3/13/2014- LeAnn's Book Reviews- Review

3/13/2014- Fictitious Delicious- Interview

3/14/2014- Nette's Bookshelf Reviews- Review

3/14/2014- girls in the stacks- Review

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Rockstar Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Rockstar Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Blog Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway: Landry Park by Bethany Hagen

Hi there gorgeous people!  I'm excited to be part of the Landry Park blog tour and to have author Bethany Hagen as a guest in the blog today.  You can find more information and the rest of the tour at the Merp Squad website, here. 

About the Book

Title: Landry Park 
Author: Bethany Hagen (Landry Park #1)
Published by: Dial
Release date: February 4th, 2014
Pages: 374

In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate. As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the estate she loves dearly - and desire.

Find it here: Goodreads | Amazon 

Guest Post

Does Love Really Conquer All?

I think we live in kind of a cynical time, which is the natural outcome of decades of highly commercialized romance: Valentine's Days and formulaic rom coms and seventeen different wedding dress shows and the like.  We tend to be suspicious of anything that smacks of the saccharine, and we tend to embrace things that underscore the dark or ironic elements of romance.  But love isn't the same thing as romance, and I think it's good not to throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to narratives of love and romance.

In Landry Park, there are many different kinds of love at work.  Firstly, Madeline Landry loves her house and her land.  Her estate is her anchor and her center, and all of her decisions about the future are made with the estate in the front of her mind.  We have the love that Alexander Landry bears for his daughter--a stern, demanding kind of love--and the love that Madeline bears for her father, which is riddled with doubt and confusion and distance.  And then Madeline meets David Dana, a person who challenges her, who puzzles her, who seems to adore and scorn her, and a romantic love blossoms.  

All these different kinds of love push Madeline to step outside of her normal bounds of behavior and thinking, they all exert pressure on her to act, and to that end, it's love that compels her to make a decision about where she stands.  Not necessarily romantic love, but the deep love she feels for her family and for her house, and for the promise of deep love with David, is the force that eventually leads her to conquer.  

So does love conquer all?  Yes and no.  Love isn't an all-consuming force that takes over our bodies and make us do the hard things.  Love urges us, nudges us, to make difficult decisions, and it's up to us whether or not we choose to.  And some of the most wonderful books out there right now--Code Name Verity, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, the Divergent series--they demonstrate this principle beautifully.  

Love can help us conquer all.

About the Author

Librarian by day, Bethany Hagen is the author of the forthcoming LANDRY PARK, set to be released from Dial February 4th, 2014. She lives in Kansas City with her husband and two children.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

The giveaway is for one finished copy, bookmarks, & stickers. US Only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Merp Squad Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Mero Squad Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Blog Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway: Made of Stars by Kelley York

Welcome to Reading with ABC's stop for the Made of Stars Blog Tour.  This tour is sponsored by Rockstar Book Tours and you can find more information here.

Title: Made of Stars by Kelley York

Published: October 1st, 2013 by Entangled Teen

Genre: Contemporary thriller

Age group: Young Adult

Blurb:

When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.
The reason they've never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance's quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off. 
Then Chance's mom turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance and his dad. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent...they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Goodreads

Guest Post

Why Friendship is Important in YA

I often find myself thinking, “It would be nice if more books I read had a main focus of a relationship that was not a romance.” Now, don’t get me wrong. I do love romance in my books, but the romantic aspect of a story is not my favorite part when I’m writing. In the case of Made of Stars, my favorite parts were those involving Ashlin and Hunter, and developing their close friendship. In Suicide Watch it was Adam, Vince, and Casper’s interactions because their dynamic was what the story was all about.

I wish so many books didn’t brush off the other relationships in a teen’s life. Family, friends. Friendships are important. How you treat your friends says a lot about you as a person. Like if you’re comfortable being yourself around them. If they know your deepest, darkest secrets. If they can see you first thing in the morning with your hair a mess, no makeup, morning breath and all, and still want to sleep over again next weekend. Friends will give you the advice you may not want to hear but need to hear, and friends will be the ones there when you don’t take that advice and come running back to them in tears.

Friendships will, more often than not, last you a hell of a lot longer than a high school romance. My best guy friend I met in high school and we lost contact for years, but when we found each other again, it was like no time had passed at all. Even 15 years later, my sister’s best friends are still those she met in school. Even the friends I’ve had falling outs with are still strong in my memory, because they, too, defined the kind of person I turned out to be.

These relationships you build with people who watch you grow and who grow with you are just as defining as the romances you find yourself in. I think it’s important for those of us writers to portray that in our works, to show that there are other connections just as deep and meaningful. Whether you’re writing a romance story or not, make sure not to neglect these other aspects of a person’s life. Far too often, you see an MC who neglects their current relationships because the romance in their life becomes this all-encompassing thing and everything else ceases to matter. Not only is this not healthy and not something actual teens should aspire to, but it bothers me on a personal level. (Maybe I spent too many years being the friend in high school who was only needed when Friend A or Friend B wasn’t wrapped up in their boyfriends.)

Whether you’re reading or writing YA, just remember that romance isn’t all there is.

About the Author

Once upon a time, Kelley York was born in central California. And it's there she she still resides with her lovely wife, step-daughter, and an abundance of cats, while fantasizing about moving to England or Ireland. She has a fascination with bells and animals, is a lover of video games, Doctor Who, manga and anime, and likes to pretend she’s a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or at least write about them.

Kelley is a sucker for dark fiction. She loves writing twisted characters, tragic happenings, and bittersweet endings that leave you wondering and crying. Character development takes center stage in her books because the bounds of a person's character and the workings of their mind are limitless.

Her first book, HUSHED, was released by Entangled Publishing in December 2011. Her second and third books, HOLLOWED and SUICIDE WATCH, were released in 2012, and her next Entangled book, MADE OF STARS, is slated for October 1st, 2013. She is currently seeking representation.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway

1 signed copy of Made of Stars and some bookmarks US Only

1 eBook Package of Hushed, Suicide Watch, and Hollowed International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check Out these stops:

10/7/2013- My Daily Romance- Review

10/8/2013- Reading with ABC- Guest Post

10/9/2013- Sarah Elizabeth's Bookshelf- Review

10/10/2013- Mom With A Kindle- Interview

10/11/2013- Such A Novel Idea- Guest Post

Review, Guest Post and Giveaway: Take This Regret by A. L. Jackson

Hi there gorgeous people!  Welcome to Reading with ABC and today’s stop for the Blog Tour of Take This Regret by author A.L. Jackson. 

Title: Take This Regret by A. L. Jackson

Published: July 28^th, 2011 by The Writer’s Coffee Shop

Source: This book was provided to me for free for by honest opinion

Format: PDF

Challenge(s):

Grade rate: B

********Adult Book*********

There are some mistakes we make that we will regret for the rest of our lives.  For Christian, it was the day he betrayed Elizabeth.

Christian Davison has a plan for his life.  He is determined to become an attorney and to one day take his place as partner in his father’s law firm.  Nothing will stand in his way, not even Elizabeth Ayers and their unborn child.

After Christian cuts her from his life, Elizabeth spends the next five years struggling to provide for her daughter and willing to sacrifice anything to give her child a safe, comfortable life.

For five years, Christian has regretted the day he walked away from his family and will do anything to win them back just as Elizabeth will do anything to protect her daughter from the certain heartache she believes Christian will bring upon them.

When Christian wrestles his way into their lives, Elizabeth is faced with asking herself if it is possible to forgive someone when they’ve committed the unforgivable and if it is possible to find a love after it has been buried in years of hate.  Or are there some wounds that go so deep they can never heal?

They say everyone deserves a second chance.

My Review

Take This Regret is an incredible adult romance by author A. L. Jackson.

Elizabeth (pretty name, right?), had a very hard time with the betrayal of the love of her life. She has made progress in her life, putting her dreams aside and focusing on her daughter Lizzie.  She is a great mother and tries to do her best with the support of her friends and family. What baffled me was her insistence that Christian’s only goal was to hurt her and Lizzie, even when all evidence pointed to the contrary.  Elizabeth was deeply affected by Christian and the callous way that he set her aside when she needed him the most.

For some reason, I like Christian more than Elizabeth.  He did a horrible thing and he had to live with the consequences for a long time; but he was more willing to change and embrace the future.  I think was thawed my heart a little was the amazing, almost instant bond between him and Lizzie.  Even though he failed Elizabeth in the worst way, he tried to be the best father he could be and make up for lost time with Lizzie. 

Characterization was a big plus for Take This Regret.  Other characters, like Natalie, Mathew and Christian’s mother played a big part in the story and were very well developed.

The story is told in alternating points of view, from Elizabeth and Christian’s point of view, which is always refreshing. The plot is fairly simple and the synopsis is more than adequate for the reader to get the gist of it.  Nevertheless, some twists and turns are thrown into the mix to keep the reader  interested.  The writing is truly beautiful, almost lyrical and in it we can feel what the characters are going through. 

I will definitely read more from Ms. Jackson, as I really enjoyed Take This Regret and her writing style.

About the cover:  The cover is pretty, in it we see Lizzie walking on the beach. I think what I love the most is the font.

About the Author

A.L. Jackson first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student.  She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three beautiful children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

Publisher Website

Twitter

Facebook

Blog

Guest Post

Why Covers are so Important

Hey All! I’m A. L. Jackson, author of Pulled and Take This Regret. I just wanted to thank Insomnia of Books for allowing me to share with all of you today, and on such a cool topic, Why Book Covers are so Important.

So let’s be honest…how many of you have purchased a book based on the cover alone? I have!  Most of us are very visual creatures, our attention caught by the beautiful, the unique, and at times, the incredibly strange. We’re drawn to color and style, sharp lines, and bold words.

But what does that mean for covers?  They say you only have a few seconds to capture someone’s attention on the internet, and when 80% of books today are sold on Amazon and with the massive number of titles that are listed there, it’s now more important than ever for covers to catch a potential reader’s eye. 

There are a few key elements every book cover should have. The first and foremost is it should be pleasing to the eye—something that makes someone browsing titles stop and think, Wow, that’s an amazing cover. This is the point where your cover has done its job in making someone take a closer look at the book itself. The cover should also tell the potential reader something about the story inside, the design consistent with the genre of the book, although it should be unique enough that it stands out from the crowd. It should also give the reader a hint at the amazing story they will find inside.

Covers are so important because it’s the first thing someone sees—the main thing that will tell a potential reader to move or to take a closer look.

So what is it about a cover that draws your attention?

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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Guest Post: Daniel A. Cohen Author of Masters of the Veil

Masters of the Veil was my featured "Waiting on Wednesday" novel this week and author Daniel Cohen is so awesome that he contacted me to thank me and he also provided this guest post for all of you.  Enjoy!

Daniel A. Cohen was just your average business student. Microeconomics, finance, marketing… you name it, he had to do a PowerPoint presentation on it. One dark and stormy night, he was bitten by the radioactive realization that memorizing business jargon could possibly be the most boring activity known to man.

After gaining eagle-eye vision, abs that could grate cheese, and a talent for imagining things (including his cheese-grating abs), he wrote his first novel and began his epic battle against the formidable business jargon. He continues to fight the good fight by playing saxophone and writing YA fantasy, forever hoping his Veil trilogy will help inspire others to join his cause.

MAGIC FAQ + A SHORT LESSON FROM BARIV  THE CONDUIT

Congratulations! You can do magic!

Here’s what you need to know about your exciting new ability:

Q: WHAT IS MAGIC? AND WHY CAN I DO IT?

This can be a very thrilling, confusing, and even frightening time for a young sorcerer, so let’s start with the basics. Magic is just another way of saying, “Connecting with the Veil.” As you may already know, the Veil is an ancient energy that lies all around us that some fortunate few (YOU!) can even use.

The Veil gives the sorcerer communities everything we need to survive. The more the Veil is used, the more She gives us. All sort of wonderful plants, animals, food, clothing, and shelter… they’re all there, waiting to spring forth.

There is no conclusive evidence explaining why some people can use the Veil and some people cannot. Some speculate it’s genetic, while others believe it’s spiritual. Alas, we will probably never be sure, so just be thankful that you are one of the lucky few.

Q: HOW DO I DO MAGIC?

There are two methods of doing magic: A “grip” and a “drape”

A Grip: Connecting with the Veil to perform a specific feat.

A Drape: Essentially it’s wrapping the Veil around an object to give it extraordinary properties.

As you may have seen from the older sorcerers in your magical community, we use something called a “Second-Skin” to access the Veil.  A second-skin is a covering for your hand that allows you to grip the Veil. Second-skins must be made from materials that have sprung from the Veil in order to work. One of the first things that you will be instructed to do is create your own second-skin in order to create the deepest connection. You can use anything from dried aansi leaves to the bark from a zigzag tree, just know that attempting to do magic that is beyond your reach with break your second-skin.

Q: HOW SOON WILL I BECOME A MASTER SORCERER?

Whoa there! Don’t get ahead of yourself. Magic is extremely difficult and it’s going to take some time for you to become proficient at it. You have a magnificent, bumpy road ahead of you.

Q: BUT WHO IS GOING TO TEACH ME?

The sorcerer community doesn’t take your new ability lightly. We will provide you with the finest teachers available. Train hard enough and you might even get to be in Rona’s group (but don’t get your hopes up)!!! You will be matched up by your skill level and organized by the type of magic you’ll be pursuing.

Q: IS MAGIC DANGEROUS?

It can be if used wrong. To avoid causing unnecessary pain, make sure you study hard, respect your clan elders, and eat your vegetables.

Q: VEGETABLES?

Yes, vegetables.

Q: WILL I HAVE TO LEAVE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY?

For a short time, yes. Whether you’re from the flathand (those who can’t grip the Veil) world or a magical community, you will be brought to Atlas Crown to study with Bariv. Bariv is the conduit to the Veil, and he will be the first—and probably the most influential—teacher you will have. After learning about your ability from Bariv, you will have the choice of returning home or staying in Atlas Crown.

*Special note for those who come from the flathand world. In the rare occurrence that you choose to return to the non-magic world, you will be draped with the inability to speak of our world or perform magic outside of a magical community. Sorry. The good news is that if you choose to join a magical community, your immediate family will be invited to come with you and will be provided for.

NOW TAKE A SEAT AND ENJOY A QUICK LESSON FROM BARIV ON THE THREE DISCIPLINES OF MAGIC

Welcome. Please have a seat. Before you are three second-skins that I have created for choosing purposes. As you may already know, there are three disciplines of magic that come from the Veil.

First, there are natural magics, which are best gripped with the aid of plants. The green second-skin is made from the leaf of the grampith tree.

Natural magics are very useful. They feed, they clothe, they help us interact with the world around us. We would not survive without them. Nature is dough and you shape it to your desires—if you are skilled enough. Mountains can be leveled and water can fall upwards. Nature’s secrets will whisk you away to another plane where you can realize the awe-inspiring connections we hold with the world around us.

Next, there are the mystical magics. The metal second-skin you see on the left was mined from beneath Grus’ pass and made from silver-palladium mixed by my own hand. A mystical sorcerer would use this second-skin. The mystical magics keep true to their namesake. Even I don’t fully understand all that can be accomplished with this, and I have been close to the Veil for a very long time. Those who excel at the mystical arts can reach into the deepest, darkest parts of the mind and cast dreams into reality. They can navigate the vast and powerful river of time. Reap gold out of metals like a glorious harvest. Harness fear, and ride on its back until it tires.

 And last… there is the second-skin made from the hide of Sectus remisican, the skull-wolf. This is a tool of power magics. These tools work best if taken forcibly. In Atlas Crown, we do not kill when we do not have to; however, in this particular case we had to. The power sect is a dangerous one, yet it brings with it the ability to forge oneself into the greatest ruler and purveyor of dominance. Authority is a given. Supremacy is taken. The true power sect is scarcely found here. Those who have chosen it, or rather have been chosen, usually take the road down another path, a false path that can only lead to death and misery. However, when applied for good, the power sect can be the most useful of them all. An iron body has no need for a suit. That is what the Veil is at Her heart. She is power. She holds possibilities so grand, we can never understand, only observe.

Now why don’t you try one on?

Guest Post: From Anthea Shap, the Author of Feyland

Hi everyone, today I have a guest post from Anthea Sharp, the author of Feyland (see review below).

Thanks, Liza, for having me as your guest at Reading with ABC! This week my YA urban fantasy Feyland: The Dark Realm goes on sale, which is a dream come true for me. I’m excited to be here to share a little about how people can make their own dreams come true.

With 2012 on the horizon, it’s the season to celebrate what the past year has brought, and think about the year ahead. This year, I encourage everyone to dream big. Whatever it is—planning that trip you’ve always wanted, gaining the courage to talk to your secret crush, or even writing a book—believe that you can do it. And then put everything you have into making it happen.

Two years ago, I started writing Feyland. The story wouldn’t let me go, so bit by bit, page by page, I wrote it. Eventually, a few chapters became half a book. Then several hundred pages. The day I typed “The End” I sat back, amazed. Of course, the first draft of a book is just the beginning. I revised and edited and got feedback from some amazing readers until I felt that the story was as polished as it could be.

I spent the better part of the next year sending the manuscript out to agents. I got lots of enthusiastic responses—but no offers of representation. Publishing is going through enormous changes right now, and a lot of agents and editors are being extremely conservative about the kinds of projects they take on. My young-adult-urban-fantasy-faeries-scifi-futuristic-gaming novel doesn’t slot nicely into a specific subgenre, which made it a very hard sell in traditional publishing.

Sometimes you have to make your own luck. I believed in this story, and in myself, so I decided to self-publish. I hired a graphic designer to work with me on the cover, and the book went through another round of editing and copyedits. Feyland: The Dark Realm was released in both print and electronic formats on December 16^th to rave reviews. I’m incredibly pleased with the results. I hope readers are, too!

No matter how far-fetched or difficult your dream may be, hold on to it. Believe in yourself, and don’t let go. Your success is out there, waiting.

I’d be delighted to answer any questions people leave in the comments, and thanks again to Liza for inviting me to guest post!

Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/Feyland-The-Dark-Realm-ebook/dp/B006IBU9PQ/

B&N link http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/feyland-anthea-sharp/1107868180

Goodreads link http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12953903-feyland

www.antheasharp.com – YA fantasy

Guest Post: When Twilight Meets Vampire Academy by Jez

As you might have noticed from the dire cry for help on the sidebar on my blog, I am taking graduate classes for a certificate and needless to say, it is a LOT of work.  Oh, I am reading all right, but not what I really want to read (I can’t wait for Christmas break!)  Jezebel from Jez’s Bookcase has been kind enough to volunteer to do guest reviews and posts for Reading with ABC. 

 

As you know, I'm a fan of Twilight. If you don't, I declare my adoration again: I Love Twilight! I'm also a fan of Vampire Academy - what can you do? A girl loves her vampires. And being a fan of both, I could just imagine what would happen if both the characters clashes with each other.

     Fights. There will be fights. The Volturis will freak when dhampirs come into the scene. And there will be a fight of mental powers of Twilight vamps with the ass kicking karate kicks and the powers of elements. I'd love to see how Lissa and Aro fighting as they both have strong mental powers. Not to mention the Strigoi will be fighting the werewolves. Next, more romance. The vampires, dhampirs and Alchemists in both the series need new lovers. Sparkling vamp plus vampire hating Alchemists; spirit wielding Moroi with the likes of Renesmee. That would be a very peculiar sight. What can I say, love conquers all. Plus, half-vampires and dhampirs are abundantly needed in both series. Maybe there will be a new batch of sparkling dhampirs with mind-reading powers.

     Would you give anything to see Edward with Dimitri; Bella with Rose? The boys could find out a way to efficiently wipe out the Strigoi, perhaps even overthrowing the Volturis (they're so mean compared to Vampire Academy's vampire court). Bella could teach Lissa how to protect her mind, and Rose could teach Bella how to throw a good punch without breaking her wrist. Adrian need a good dose of Jasper to calm down his mind. And who would not love sweet little Renesmee? The society of Twilight is less complicated compared to that of Vampire Academy. If Twilight blends with Vampire Academy, there'll be a lot of drama between the Volturis and the high court of Vampire Academy. A tug-of-war between the two forces, both sides are sure to suffer.

     Ah, we could just imagine the epic scene when the two series clashes together. Epic, my dear.  Epic.