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Monday, March 11, 2013

Researching A Novel: How Far Do You Go? by Kim Purcell + Giveaway



TRAFFICKING:
traf-fic-king
Deal or trade in something illegal
Title: Trafficked
Author: Kim Purcell
Pub. Date: February 16, 2012
Pages: 352
Find it: Amazon | Goodreads B&N
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
A 17-year-old Moldovan girl whose parents have been killed is brought to the United States to work as a slave for a family in Los Angeles. Hannah believes she’s being brought from Moldova to Los Angeles to become a nanny for a Russian family. But her American dream quickly spirals into a nightmare.

The Platonovs force Hannah to work sixteen-hour days, won’t let her leave the house, and seem to have a lot of secrets—from Hannah and from each other.

Stranded in a foreign land with false documents, no money, and nobody who can help her, Hannah must find a way to save herself from her new status as a modern-day slave or risk losing the one thing she has left: her life.



You can read the stats about human trafficking and they’re pretty shocking. Over a million slaves are in America today. At least 100 000 American kids are trafficked as slaves across America. 15 000-17 000 foreigners are trafficked into America each year to be used as America’s modern-day slaves in homes, in brothels, in sweatshops. But this doesn’t tell the story, not really. It’s hard to connect with a number. When I decided I wanted to write Trafficked, I knew I had to find a way to get inside the head of a modern-day slave in America, without actually getting trafficked myself.

For this, I decided I had to travel to a country that has one of the worst trafficking problems in the world - Moldova. I needed to talk to girls and women from that country, as well as girls and women in America. I needed to speak with anti-trafficking nonprofits both in America and in Moldova, learn from the people who help the victims of this crime. I had to go where my girl would go.

I traveled into Moldova via Romania because this is cheaper and therefore would be a likely travel route if Hannah were coming to America. Fortunately, my cousin was living there so I could stay with her. I flew into Bucharest, took a taxi to the bus depot and took the bus to Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova. At the border between Romania and Moldova, they made everyone get off the bus and go into this huge warehouse, with a small bulletproof glass room in the center. There was one light on inside this little glass room, but no one inside, and the rest of the cavernous warehouse was dark. There were no windows, no chairs, nowhere to sit. We all had to stand or lean against the walls, for hours, in the middle of the night.

After the first hour, a young, beautiful woman with long dark hair and fur vest approached me. She showed me pictures of her boyfriend’s hotel, tried to convince me to come there with her. Her name was Ina and she appears in the book. I told her no thanks. I wanted to see Hannah’s world through her eyes, but going to that hotel sounded like a bad idea. I told Ina I was meeting my cousin in Chisinau and said I wouldn’t have time to go. She shrugged and said it was my choice, as if it were my loss. I asked her why we were waiting for so long. She said the immigration officials were waiting until they got a big enough bribe from the bus driver. Finally, after three hours, the immigration officials showed up and let us through.

The bus arrived in Chisinau in the middle of the night on a random road, nowhere near the bus depot. There were no phones, no way for me to call my cousin. On top of that, several large men in black trench coats were standing next to the bus. One of them asked me if I wanted a ride. I said no. Again, Ina tried to get me to come with her. Now, an older man was standing next to her in a fur coat. I recognized him from the border, and thought it strange she hadn’t talked to him there. Again I refused. They left. I grabbed my backpack and ran for a nearby hotel sign and waited there until morning.

I had traveled all over the world, but I never felt more frightened than when I was in Moldova. Many people have said the main character, Hannah, feels so real that she must be based on one actual modern-day slave. However, the reality is that she’s a mix of many different girls and women I interviewed for the book both in Moldova and America, as well as many of the foreign students I taught over the years.

Hannah’s memories do come from my observations in Moldova. For example, in Moldova, if you want to pay for the bus, you sit down and people pass the money up and the driver sends you the money back. Despite the poverty in this country, you always get back the correct change. Naturally, if you took the bus in America and you tried to figure out what the change machine was all about, you might be confused. I used this when Hannah has to take the bus in Los Angeles. 

Interviewing people wasn’t always easy. Sometimes, it was tough to get them to share difficult memories. I sat with one Moldovan woman in her apartment in New York City, surrounded by about fifty machetes and knives that hung on the walls, and we talked for two hours. When I called with some follow-up questions, she didn’t answer my calls at first and finally emailed to say she didn’t want to share any more. When I asked her why, she said her boyfriend, the owner of the machetes, was back in town. I didn’t argue.

I could have made the story up entirely, but it feels real because it contains a lot of real details, and that’s the trick to researching a novel. You don’t have to experience everything yourself, but the details make it feel like you could have. And they give the reader the feeling that they are right there, holding your character’s hand. 



Kim Purcell is a journalist, teacher and novelist.


When she’s not writing or teaching writing workshops, she loves doing yoga, going for long runs with her dog, playing board games with family, and dancing in empty elevators to cheesy elevator music.


My bio, in many ways, is about never giving up. And doing what you love because you love it and that alone is a great reward.
                                                                                        
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Book Trailer Tour + Kindle Fire Giveaway - FIRST KISS (Heavy Influence, #1) by Ann Marie Frohoff @rockinwriterchk


Guys! I have been waiting for this for so, so long. I stumbled along the path of Author Ann Marie Frohoff close to two years ago and have been working with her ever since. She is seriously the bomb diggity, and her stories totally rock my socks off. Even better? There's original music. I thought immediately, this is it. I'm finally in Heaven. I hope everyone enjoy this trailer as much as I do. 
 
                                                       
Author, Ann Marie Frohoff, releases the book trailer for her debut novel, FIRST KISS, book one in her edgy hard-hitting trilogy, Heavy Influence. FIRST KISS is due to release June 11th, 2013.  

You can get hooked on the series by downloading her prequel novella, SKID OUT, for FREE at Goodreads.

It was all about the band, until the girl next door. Her innocence is tempting. A sexually charged coming of age story set in the throes of stardom. 

About an up and coming teenage rocker on the verge of stardom, when the girl next door becomes something more; they're forced to face the harsh realities on his road to fame and the expectations of their friends and family.
 Sacrifices are made as everything changes as they know it.
Title: First Kiss 
(Heavy Influence Trilogy, #1)
Author: Ann Marie Frohoff
Pub. Date: June 11, 2013
Pages: 483
Find it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary


Ann Marie ("Annie") Frohoff grew up in sunny Southern California. As a teen and young adult she spent her time frequenting and living in nearly every beach-side city up and down the coast.
The first installment in her Heavy Influence Trilogy, FIRST KISS, is tentatively set to release June 11, 2013 — the series is a story about young, reckless love between a rising rock star and his younger muse, spanning 10 years of their tumultuous and passionate relationship.

Each book in the Trilogy will come with a soundtrack of original music, of which the lyrics will appear in the pages of the books.
Annie is now settled in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with her family.

March 11th – Amy at Lady Reader’s Bookstuff

March 12th – Mandy at I Read Indie

March 13th – Ali at Ali’s Bookshelf

March 14th – Bella at Paranormal Book Club

March 15th – Taneesha at A Diary Of A Book Addict & Kaidan's Seduction

March 16th – Destiny at Totally Bookalicious

March 17th – Christina at A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books

March 18th – Lucia at The Loyal Book

March 19th – Evie at Bookish

March 20th – Kriss at Cabin Goddess

March 21st – Mia at A Shade Tree

March 22nd – Jodie at Uniquely Moi Books  
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Saturday, March 9, 2013

Blog Tour + Giveaway - IMMUNE (Rylee Adamson, #2) by Shannon Mayer




  

Title: Immune: A Sexy Urban Fantasy Mystery (Rylee Adamson, #2)
Author: Shannon Mayer
Pub. Date: March 6, 2013
Publisher: HiJinks Ink LTD
Pages: 183
Find it: Amazon & Goodreads
Genre: Adult - Urban Fantasy

When children go missing without a trace, there is only one person who can find them.


Welcome to the world of Rylee Adamson, a woman with unique abilities, some wild friends and an unstoppable drive to save those who can't save themselves.

But when the details of a missing child duplicate that of her worst case, things start to get freaky. And not in a good way.



*Warning* I’m so sorry Mom; this one will be no good for you to read either. There is a full on sex scene (nipples and everything), violence and well, lots of bad words. You know— the ones you used to wash my mouth out with soap for? Consider yourself warned.






Reading and writing from a very young age I learned early on that stories built in a fantasy world were where the fun was at. Reading books by Robert Jordan spurred me on and it was the first real epic fantasy that I fell in love with. Then came Piers Anthony, Melanie Rawn and into my older teen years, Anne Rice.

Shannon Mayer lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband, dog, cats, horse, and cows.


When not writing she spends her time staring at immense amounts of rain, herding old people (similar to herding cats) and attempting to stay out of trouble.

Especially that last is difficult for her.


Find Shannon here:


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Blog Tour + Giveaway - PRICELESS (Rylee Adamson #1) by Shannon Mayer





Title: Priceless: A Sexy Urban Fantasy Mystery (Rylee Adamson, #1)
Author: Shannon Mayer
Pub. Date: November 11, 2012
Publisher: HiJinks Ink LTD

Pages: 215
Find it: Amazon & Goodreads
Genre: Adult - Urban Fantasy

When children go missing without a trace, there is only one person who can find them.


Welcome to the world of Rylee Adamson, a woman with unique abilities, some wild friends and an unstoppable drive to save those who can't save themselves.

But when the details of a missing child duplicate that of her worst case, things start to get freaky. And not in a good way.




*Warning* If you are my mother, do not read this book. There are things like "F" bombs, sexual tension, and naughty, sexy supernatural creatures. Please don't say I didn't warn you.







Reading and writing from a very young age I learned early on that stories built in a fantasy world were where the fun was at. Reading books by Robert Jordan spurred me on and it was the first real epic fantasy that I fell in love with. Then came Piers Anthony, Melanie Rawn and into my older teen years, Anne Rice.

Shannon Mayer lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband, dog, cats, horse, and cows.


When not writing she spends her time staring at immense amounts of rain, herding old people (similar to herding cats) and attempting to stay out of trouble.

Especially that last is difficult for her.


Find Shannon here:

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Everything Mattie Guest Post by Jill Hathaway + Giveaway


           What if a killer took control of you? 


Vee Bell’s gift (or curse) of “sliding”—slipping into the mind of another person and experiencing life, briefly, through his or her eyes—has been somewhat under control since she unwillingly witnessed the horrific deaths of her classmates six months ago.


But just as things are getting back to normal, Vee has a very bizarre experience: she loses consciousness and finds herself in a deserted area, at the edge of a cliff, with the broken body of the boy who took advantage of her on the rocks below.


As Vee finds herself in stranger and stranger situations with no memory of getting there, she begins to suspect that someone she knows has the ability to slide—and that this “slider” is using Vee to exact revenge on his or her enemies.


Author: Jill Hathaway
Title: Impostor (Slide, #2)                                                                                            
Pub. Date: March 26, 2013
Publisher: Balzer & Bray - HarperCollins
Pages: 278


Everything Mattie (A Polyvore Collage):


You know, younger sisters have it rough. They’re always living in the shadows of their older siblings. All the teachers expect you to live up to (or down to) the image your sibs have created. You always have to wear hand-me-downs. By the time it's your sixteenth birthday, no one really cares anymore. It’s a rarity to get something totally to yourself.

That’s why I feel for Mattie, Vee’s younger sister. A cheerleader (just as Vee used to be), she runs with the crowd Vee left behind… or maybe outgrew. I made Mattie’s stuffed animal in SLIDE a sheep for a reason. She was kind of a follower.

But after the events of SLIDE, she’s really come into her own, making new friends and trying new things. I’m… proud of her… in a weird way. If that makes any sense.

Anyway, check out IMPOSTOR (sequel to SLIDE) to catch up with Mattie.


Jill Hathaway earned her BA in English Education from the University of Northern Iowa and her MA in Literature from Iowa State University, she teaches high school English and dual credit courses for Des Moines Area Community College.

SLIDE, her debut, was released from Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins in March 2012. The sequel, IMPOSTOR, will be out in March 2013. She is working on two additional books to be released in 2014 and 2015 (not related to the SLIDE series).

Jill lives in the Des Moines area with her husband and two young children.



Find Jill Hathaway on the following websites:

Open to US & International Residents 14+
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Monday, March 4, 2013

Triple Threat Tour Wrap-Up + Giveaway @bwkids




Guys! I am so lucky that I was able to attend this event. Meeting these three four ladies was surely the highlight of my week. I was lucky enough to meet the very darling Katy Hershberger, (boss lady at Bloomsbury) back in January 2012 when I attended another event. So, you can imagine my surprise and happiness when I was able to see her again. (And this time I have a photo!) I have been wanting to meet Megan Miranda since way back before FRACTURE was released and I finally got my chance. Robin and Yelena both had me super curious for different reasons. Yelena - because my daughter danced for 8 years so that will always be interesting to me and Robin, well, if you know me at all then you know how much I dig music. Robin wrote a book called AUDREY WAIT! and there is plenty of it in there. I had the opportunity to interview them, ask embarrassing questions and take lousy video footage, that I definitely not be using. I hope you enjoy!



Title: Hysteria
Author: Megan Miranda
Pub. Date: February 5, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Pages: 336


Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.



Title: Also Known As
Author: Robin Benway
Pub. Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 320



Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.



Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.



Title: Dance of Shadows
Author: Yelena Black
Pub. Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 447


Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .


Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . .
         1.       How long did it take to write your current novel?

  •          Megan – Nine months
  •          Yelena – One year
  •          Robin – One year

   2.      Were you made to “kill any of your darlings?”

  •          Megan – I consolidated a few characters and also added one into a later draft.
  •          Yelena – One character was a little too racy for my editor, so I had to tone him down some.
  •          Robin – Offensive language. I usually add more than usual because I know some will be cut.

   3.      Who is your favorite character(s) in your current novel?

  •          Megan – Colleen. She is actually the most favorite character I’ve ever written.
  •          Yelena – Justin and Vanessa
  •          Robin – Roux and Angelo

   4.      Do you have certain rituals that you perform when writing?

  •          Megan – I write from 9-12. Do misc. emails from the school carpool line.
  •          Yelena – I write 10-5. Turn off the Internet and phone. I also think of food and showers as a goal.
  •          Robin – Must have a structured day. Definitely get dressed and apply make-up.

   5.      What are some of your favorite authors?

  •          Megan – Michael Crichton
  •          Yelena – Kurt Vonnegut
  •          Robin – Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary and Roald Dahl.

   6.     Is there anything we should be looking out for?

  •           Megan The sequel to FRACTURE, which is VENGEANCE and is told from Decker’s point of view.
  •           Yelena The sequel to DANCE OF SHADOWS. Takes place in London and will be a trilogy.
  •           Robin The sequel to ALSO KNOWN AS. Takes place in New York and I'm hoping for a four book series.
Megan Miranda signing my books.




Yelena Black
Robin Benway
Megan Miranda


Yelena Black and me! (So freaking Groovy!)

Katy Hershberger and me!
Robin Benway = THE SHIZZLE

Megan Miranda and meeeee!
BOOKS!
Open to US & International Residents 14+
Winner must respond in 48 hours.


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