Ilyon & Acktar Blog Tour Wrap Up

Did everyone enjoy the tour? Tricia and I sure did! Now I wish we had books releasing together all the time! Just . . . not around the holidays again. I think both Tricia and I just want to crawl into bed for a solid month of doing nothing. Right, Tricia? Anyway, if you missed any part of the tour, you can find the links below. My favorite part was the character chats! While it was a lot of work, it was amazingly fun seeing how my characters and Tricia’s interacted with each other. I’m still laughing over Kaden and Martyn’s interaction at the end of the final chat yesterday. And I think Kaden, Talas, and Brandi are Ilyon and Acktar’s new three musketeers. Can you imagine the misadventures they would have if left alone together for an extended period of time?

Let me just say, if you have not read Tricia’s books yet, DO IT. *whistles innocently as she drags readers to Amazon and pushes them toward the Buy Now button* Basically, Tricia’s books give me a taste of my own medicine. They’re exciting, heart-wrenching, and just plain awesome. And there’s Leith. If you love Jace, you’ll love Leith. So go do it. You know you want to. *smiles angelically*

Character Chats

• Chat #1
• Chat #2
• Chat #3
• Chat #4

Reviews

• Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors
• Jessica Looks Again
• The Music of a Story
• Chosen by the Potter
• Thriving Hope
• The Writer’s Song
• Perfectly Quirky In Every Way
• A Great God and Good Cocoa (Bitter Winter & Lacy)
• A Great God and Good Cocoa (Decree)
• Morgan Huneke
• Backing Books
• Honey Rock Hills
• TJ’s Musing
• Resting Life (Bitter Winter)
• Resting Life (Lacy)
• Resting Life (Decree)
• G. Willoughby
• Sarah Plain & Average
• The Artful Author
• Meagan Davenport
• Brie Donning
• Kaylee’s Kind of Writes
• Smyling Girl
• Faith Blum
• Allison Grace Writes
• Hannah Gaudette

Author Interviews

• Jessica Looks Again
• Perfectly Quirky In Every Way
• Brie Donning
• Saver of Memories
• The Ink Lizard
• Dreams and Dragons
• Allison Grace Writes
• H. Elrich

Book Spotlights

• Time of the Immortals
• The Book Sprite
• Between the Pages of This Bookish Life
• Ruffles and Grace

The end is coming…

As is my usual tradition at the end of my blog tours, today I am officially announcing the title of the final book of Ilyon Chronicles! Can you believe there is only one left?!

For three years, the Resistance has suffered under oppression, first from Emperor Daican, and then from his daughter. Now it is time to fight back.

As you can tell, red is the theme of this book. What do you hope will happen in Daican’s Heir? What are you most excited for? I don’t have a release date for the book since I’m still writing it (you can see my progress meter in my sidebar), but I did set up my Pinterest board for it with some teaser images. ;)

Something new…

So, two years ago, I did something completely unexpected. I participated in NaNoWriMo for the very first time writing a contemporary romance novel, which is titled No Chance Meeting. Yeah, I always said I couldn’t write contemporary romance to save my life, but what do you know? It actually happened. And it actually went very well. So well that it spawned a series. Ahhh! I first posted about No Chance Meeting when I was writing it. With the book, I won my very first NaNoWriMo and went on to finish the story fairly quickly afterward.

Of course, once it was finished, I started thinking about publication. NCM is quite a departure from my usual genre, so I decided I am going to publish it under a slightly different pen name. A lot of you probably know this already from Facebook updates, but for those who don’t, said pen name is Jaye Elliot.

I’m hoping to publish No Chance Meeting sometime this spring. So today, I am officially launching my new website AND revealing the cover for NCM! Tada!

NCM is the first in what I plan to be a three book series, No Chance Romance. Though they are connected, each one has different protagonists and can be read as standalones. Each of my female protagonists has a different creative professional—an artist, a musician, and a writer (yay!)—while each of the male protagonists is former military. I’m super excited about it and can’t wait to share. Below you can find all the links to my new website and social media accounts if you would like to follow this new writing adventure of mine.

So, what do you think of this interesting new direction? Don’t panic! I won’t quit writing Spec Fic any time soon! No worries there. I have a a huge secret Pinterest board of nearly a dozen ideas for future adventure stories that I’m sure will only grow with time.

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Pinterest

Bitter Winter and Lacy Release Day!

Thanks, Buddy! There were times I felt like this day would never come. Or that I wouldn’t be ready when it did. I can’t say how prepared I feel, but Bitter Winter and Lacy are here! I’m so excited about sharing this release with Tricia Mingerink, who’s next Blades of Acktar book comes out in four days. If you haven’t heard yet, we’re doing an epic shared blog tour that include character chats! We’re also giving away a full set of our signed books! Plus even more giveaways. Do check out the tour here. There is SO much going on!

Buy Now!

Amazon Paperback

Kindle Book

Signed Copy

Buy Now!

Amazon Paperback

Kindle Book

Signed Copy

Etania's Worth Blog Tour—Book Spotlight

Today I am spotlighting a new book by M.H. Elrich!

About Etania's Worth:

Etania's new apprenticeship as a librarian is shattered when she fends off an attacker with a power, or Neuma, she didn't know she had-the ability to disable evil beings. When her father discovers Etania's gift, he wants to use her as a weapon to stop a new threat rising over Tamnarae. Etania doesn't want to be her father's new weapon and wonders if that really is the purpose of her Neuma. Yet, the death of a loved one brings the struggle closer to home, forcing Etania on a journey to embrace her newfound power before it's too late.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KFRXRYG?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

Other Bookstores: books2read.com/u/4EyrZe

About the Author:

M.H. Elrich is a writer, reader, teacher and editor who wears too many hats. This means she consumes coffee and tea with a mug that reads "Wait until I've drained the cup." In her free time (if she has any), she watches T.V. with her husband, rides horses, and travels to places with lots of trees. She received her B.A. in English at a local university where they handed her a paper certificate that said she could write term papers the night before and still pass. She was published in The Write Word, Orpheus, and Short Fiction Break. She currently resides in a part of California where "perfect" weather comes with a layer of smog.

Contact Information:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mhelrichbooks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhelrich247/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mhelrichbooks

Book Quote:

” ‘Neuma? I don’t have Neuma. Besides, Tamnarae doesn’t need to be saved, we’ve been at peace for a hundred years.’

‘Everyone needs to be saved.’ Melchizidek asserted.”

-Etania and Melchizidek - Etania’s Worth

Blog Tour:

Monday, December 3- C.M. Fritzen

Tuesday, December 4-Stacey Patrick

Wednesday, December 5-Tricia Mingerink

Thursday, December 6- Jaye L. Knight

Friday, December 7-C.E. Stone

Christmas Duet Tour

Rebekah Morris and Faith Blum have teamed up for a fun Christmas Duet Blog Tour! Why Christmas Duet? Because both books have titles that have to do with a Christmas song! Be sure to check out all of the blog posts as well as the giveaway.

His Law is Love

Book Description:

Will hate and fear drown the song of Christmas love?

Amelia is eagerly anticipating her first Christmas in the west, but she soon finds that her brother-in-law's worry and her sister's exhaustion reach far deeper than the cares of a ranch and a family. A rash of fires and cattle thefts is plaguing the area, and the three young orphans they've sheltered are under suspicion from their prejudiced neighbors.

As hostilities mount, Amelia seizes every opportunity to help and encourage, but how much can one girl do? Will Reverend Brown win the community over to the true spirit of love? And will help arrive before everything they hold dear is destroyed?

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZ8HGSR

Author Bio:

Rebekah A. Morris is a homeschool graduate, an enthusiastic freelance author and a passionate writing teacher. Her books include, among others, Home Fires of the Great War, The Unexpected Request, Gift from the Storm, the Christmas Collection series, and her best selling Triple Creek Ranch series. Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn’t writing, include reading, playing with her seven nieces and nephews, and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. (Sometimes with the nieces and nephews!) The Show-Me state is where she calls home.

Excerpt

“I like him,” Phoebe remarked suddenly after they had left the town behind them. “I wish I could marry him.”

Amelia, who had been confident of who her niece was talking about, turned a puzzled look at Phoebe. “Who, Sissy?”

“Reverend Brown. I like him. He’s not like the other men. But I can’t marry him.”

Hiding a smile, Amelia, glad to have something to distract her thoughts from the trouble, asked, “Why can’t you marry him?”

“‘Cause Mrs. Findley said girls shouldn’t marry men who are a great deal older then them. It was bad for . . . for . . . well, it was bad for something.”

“I see, but I think you should talk about those things with your mama, not Mrs. Findley.”

“Oh, I didn’t. Mrs. Findley was the one talking,” the little girl explained quickly. “But Aunt Amelia, why hasn’t Reverend Brown caught up with us yet?

After a glance behind them at the empty road, Amelia shook her head. “I don’t know. Perhaps he was delayed. There could be any number of reasons for a minister to be delayed. Now, what shapes are we going to cut these cookies in?”   

O Come All Ye Faithful and other short stories

About the Book

O Come All Ye Faithful Edwin wanted to be home, but instead he crouched in a trench. The English on one side of No Man’s Land and Germans on the other. What a way to spend Christmas. Could anything make it better?

Peace on Earth Emmie and Elana are estranged sisters, torn apart by an old boyfriend five years earlier. Will they survive a night in the same hotel room after a blizzard forces them together or will peace on earth go out the window?

Silent Night Christmas decorating had never gone this wrong. Jenna had just started when a crazy, gun-waving woman, walks right in the front door and ties her up in her own Christmas lights. Will Jenna even see her family this Christmas? T

he Gift Goes On Four friends and a year to reflect on. The year had been good for Carlotta, but Priscilla, Remus, and Newton all had at least one trial through the year. A mysterious giver the previous year had helped them all out, though. What would this year’s gifts bring?

O Christmas Tree Gareth loves Christmas. But more than that, he loves Christmas tree hunting. As the family prepares for their annual trip, Gareth can barely contain his excitement. But what are all the spray bottles for?

Purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JR7FSDT

About the Author

Faith Blum is a small-town Wisconsin girl. She’s lived in, or outside of, small towns her whole life. The thought of living in a city with more than 60,000 people in it scares her, especially after some interesting adventures driving through big cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Faith currently resides in the middle of the state of Wisconsin with her husband and their cat, Smokey. She is blessed to be able to have writing as her full-time career with household work and cooking to do on the side. She loves to paint walls as long as she doesn’t have to do hallways or ceilings.

When not writing, you can find her cooking food from scratch due to food allergies (fun), doing dishes (meh), knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, or spending time with her husband (yay!). She is also a Community Assistant for the Young Writers Workshop and loves her work there. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her on her website.

Excerpt

Edwin blinked against the dim light of the dawn. What had awakened him this time? A dull boom in the distance startled him. Distant or not, that boom was much too close for comfort. Who had fired their artillery and where? It was far enough away to not be a danger to him or his men, but if it was the Germans, that meant another company was getting artillery shells lobbed at them.

Not for the first time, Edwin wished he lived back during the days of King Arthur. Boulders catapulting toward him would be preferable to the devastation from a shell. He had always imagined boulders would be easier to see and move away from. If he couldn’t, then being crushed had to be better than shrapnel. He shuddered as memories of the army hospital tents came back.

The captain shouted orders to them and Edwin bit back a groan. Another day, another fight, another depressing… Wait, it was Christmas Eve. Not that it mattered, but being gloomy on this holiday was not something his sister would approve of. A smile flitted across his grim face. It didn’t stick, but that tiny seed of hope lifted his spirits just a little.

Giveaway

Just like Rebekah and Faith teamed up for this tour, they have also teamed up on the giveaway! Grand Prize: Paperback of each (US only) 1st Prize: eBook of each (International and US) 2nd Prize: eBook of choice (International and US) Enter here: https://kingsumo.com/g/ocz29j/the-christmas-duet-giveaway

Tour Schedule

November 26

Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory Post

Cover Lover Book Review – Book Spotlights

November 27

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight

Kaylee's Kind Of Writes – Two Book Reviews

Jaye L. Knight – Excerpts

November 28

Lit Aflame – Book Review and Excerpt

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Book Review of His Law is Love

Jenny Berlin – Excerpts

November 29

Frances Hoelsema's Blog – Two Book Spotlights

Rebekah Ashleigh – Review of His Law is Love and Book Spotlights

Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors – Book Review and Spotlight

Salsa And Tea – Author Interviews

November 30

Purely by Faith Reviews – Two Book Reviews

Once Upon An Ordinary – Author Interview and Book Spotlights

In the Bookcase - Excerpts

December 1

Books, Life, and Christ – Two Book Reviews

Maidens for Modesty – Two Book Reviews

Chosen Vessels – Two Book Reviews

Harvest Lane Cottage – Two Book Reviews

Jessica Greyson – Book Spotlights

Twin Thoughts – Book Spotlights

Heart of the Rose – Two Book Reviews

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight and Review

December 3

Bookish Orchestrations – Giveaway winner

May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

The craziest day of the year has arrived! Heading into town on Black Friday can definitely feel like entering The Hunger Games. But, if you prefer to avoid the madness and shop from the comfort (and safety!) of your home, then you’re in just the right place to enjoy these holiday sales! Today is also the last day to signup to be part of the Ilyon & Acktar blog tour!

Ilyon & Acktar Blog Tour and Reviewer Signup

The release date for Bitter Winter and Lacy is only a month away! *commence author panicking* With December coming fast, Tricia and I are opening the sign up form for the Ilyon & Acktar blog tour. Signup will be open through Friday, November 23. Just use the form below to take part in this epic co-release. If you don’t have a blog or don’t want to be part of the tour, you can still sign up to review one, two, or all three books!

And don’t forget to submit your questions for our character Q&A chats!

Things are happening!

I was trying to think of an epic title for this blog post and that’s basically all I came up with. Because, really, that’s the big thing. I feel like so much has NOT been happening in the writing side of my life for a while. Finally that’s changing. But I won’t keep you in suspense. Here’s what’s happening:

Aaahhh! Bitter Winter FINALLY has a release date! Lacy too. They are both coming out on December 14th! You probably feel like it has taken forever to get to this point. Trust me. So. Do. I. Absolutely forever. But it’s finally happening. Both Kindle books are up for pre-order! Sadly, Amazon STILL doesn’t allow its authors to set pre-orders for paperbacks. *sigh* So that will have to wait until the release day.

Pre-Order Bitter Winter

Pre-Order Lacy

Since many of you are also fans of Tricia Mingerink, you know that her 5th book in The Blades of Acktar series is coming out on December 18th, only 4 days after BW and Lacy. So we’re joining forces to bring you an epic co-release! As part of the blog tour, we’re going to do Q&A chats with both Ilyon and Acktar characters. TOGETHER. That’s right, our characters will be in the same “room” with each other. This means we need questions from you, our awesome, loyal fans!

Just follow the link below to visit the form Tricia created and submit all those burning questions. We’ll have more info and a sign up form for the tour itself sometime in the next few weeks. So make sure you check back if you want to be part of the blog tour!

Ilyon & Acktar Character Questions Form

Stars and Soul Cover Reveal

Today I have a another cover reveal for you! Stars and Soul is a collection of stories by the lovely Rosalie Valentine. I got to meet Rosalie this summer while staying at her house and riding with her on the way down to Realm Makers. I’m so excited to help her share her beautiful cover!

About the Book

A scheming imperial family. A bedraggled starship captain. A runaway artificial intelligence. A dying general.

Four small stories of stars and soul.

Releasing November 20, 2018

Pre-Order Now!

Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage Blog Tour

Today I’m sharing a spotlight post for the release of my friend Morgan Huneke’s  new children’s book! Isn’t it adorable? You can check out the rest of the tour here.

About the Book

Martha Squirrel made her journey down the big hill seem like a grand adventure. But what happens when Carrie Mouse disobeys her mama and explores the giant garage?

Inspired by a true story, Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage tells the story of a young mouse who gets trapped in the garage of the human house at the bottom of the hill. Beautifully illustrated with clay sculptures, this is a book you won’t want to miss!

Buy Now

A Note from the Author

This book has been about fifteen years in the making.

When I was about seven years old, a mouse got trapped in my family’s garage. Yes, this is based on a true story. My mom and sisters and I came around the corner of the house and frightened a mouse into the garage. It lived in there for days, in spite of the fact we put mouse poison out for it. Eventually, we had to take care of the problem. My dad tried to frighten it out with the leaf blower, but when it only ran to a different corner of the garage, he scooped it up in a piece of an old gutter and carried it to the top of the hill in our backyard where he left it. And I, budding young author that I was, wrote a book about the incident.

I told the story from the mouse’s perspective and it became a story of the consequences of disobedience. We seriously considered pursuing publication for Carrie Mouse, but for one reason or another, it never went anywhere. Carrie was shelved. Yet every so often, I would remember Carrie Mouse and think about reworking it for publication.

The lightbulb went on one day in early 2018 when I was at work at the local library. I was checking in books and I came across Barbara Reid’s The Night Before Christmas in the stack. As soon as I saw it, I went “That type of illustration is perfect for Carrie Mouse!” I checked the book out and took it home to show my sister Rebekah and my mom. They agreed that flat clay pictures would be perfect, and the official version of Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage was born.

Now, approximately fifteen years after the mouse in the garage incident, Carrie is finally ready to meet the world.

~Morgan Elizabeth Huneke

About the Author

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Books have always been a big part of her life, never more so than when working at the local library. She is the author of several middle grade novels including the Time Captives fantasy trilogy and one YA fairy tale retelling novella entitled Twisted Dreams. Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage is her first picture book.

To learn more about Morgan and her work, visit:

www.morganhuneke.com

or www.morganhuneke.blogspot.com

About the Illustrator

Rebekah Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia with her parents, sisters, and yellow Labrador named Sophie. She has been working with Sculpey since age nine, and sells her creations in the Klay Kottage Etsy shop. She also creates and sells stuffed animals and knitted goods. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, and playing cello and piano. Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage is her first book.

To learn more about Rebekah and her work, visit:

www.etsy.com/shop/klaykottage

or follow @klaykottage on Instagram

Giveaway!

Morgan and Rebekah will be giving away a signed copy of Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage with a handmade Carrie Mouse doll! Second prize is a signed copy of the book only. Be sure to enter the giveaway!

Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kill the Beast Blog Tour—Guest Post

Today I have a guest post by author Michele Israel Harper for the release of her book, Kill the Beast! This is especially fun considering I got to meet Michele at Realm Makers this last July, which I was super excited about. :D So, without further ado, here is her post!

Kill the Beast: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling

Thank you for having me on your blog today, Jaye! I am honored to be your guest as I chat about my new release, Kill the Beast.

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale in the entire world.

When I was a little girl, it was the fact that Belle had brown hair and brown eyes like me—unlike the other blonde Disney princesses at the time—and loved books almost as much as I did that made me connect to the story as deeply as I did. I also adored castles, and imagining having one all to myself, with a kind beast as my friend who later became a handsome prince . . . sigh.

It was the perfect fairy tale.

Then I read Madame Villeneuve’s version, the original La Belle et la Bête. Wow! There is so much more to the story! True, it meanders quite a bit, and I truly wish she had more dialogue instead of simply telling us what they said—and some of it may be a tad on the dramatic side—but I fell even more in love with Beauty and her Bête as I studied Villeneuve’s writings for my book.

Did you know the servants are still at the castle, but they’re invisible? (And then later they show up as monkeys and apes and peacocks?) Did you know the guests have been turned to stone, and the prince into a Bête—not just a beast, but a stupid beast, which is the word’s dual meaning in French?

Then a kind fairy gives a counter-curse so he won’t actually be stupid, but just have to appear that way? That he and his mother, the queen, can never say what happened, or the curse becomes permanent? And Beauty’s biggest lament, besides wanting to see her family again, is that he seems stupid and offers her no stirring conversation?

And then, and then, the prince’s mother is a warrior queen who is off on a campaign, protecting the realm, while the curse plays out? That fairies have a huge role in La Belle et la Bête? That Beauty herself is half-fairy? (And blonde, which makes me laugh so hard after my childish reason for connecting with her so deeply. And yes, I spell feminine “blonde” with an “e” because I have taken so much French in my life. Lol!)

Oh. My. Goodness! There is so much good story fodder here!

I certainly didn’t use everything, and what I did use I twisted to my heart’s content to make it my own, but I had no idea how different the original tale was from Disney’s retelling.

My Ro is a huntress, hired by the mysterious Gautier to kill a beast who has cursed their realm, taking it in a completely different direction than Madame Villeneuve’s or Disney’s.

And since I love fairy tales so much, as so many do, Kill the Beast is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with nods to both Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella, but Beauty and the Beast is the main story here.

In the next book, Silence the Siren, I have nods to three more fairy tales, with another as my main storyline, but I can’t quite say what they are yet. ;) (Huge points if you guess what they are!)

Kill the Beast took me four years to write, and I think part of that was because I was under an enormous amount of pressure to get this story right, since it is my fave fairy tale.

And I may be wrong, but I think I nailed it. (I love reading it, anyway. Is that bad? Lol!)

They say write the story you would love to read, and I did just that.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of my new book! And thank you again, Jaye, for having me!

In Him,

Michele

About the Book

Ro remembers the castle before. Before the gates closed. Before silence overtook the kingdom. Before the castle disappeared. Now it shimmers to life one night a year, seen by her alone.

Once a lady, now a huntress, Ro does what it takes to survive—just like the rest of the kingdom plunged into despair never before known. But a beast has overtaken the castle. A beast that killed the prince and holds the castle and kingdom captive in his cruel power. A beast Ro has been hired to kill. Thankful the mystery of the prince’s disappearance has been solved, furious the magical creature has killed her hero, Ro eagerly accepts the job to end him. But things are not as they seem.

Trapped in the castle, a prisoner alongside the beast, Ro wonders what she should fear most: the beast, the magic that holds them both captive, or the one who hired her to kill the beast.

Buy Now

About the Author

Michele Israel Harper spends her days as a work-at-home mom and her nights typing away furiously on her laptop. Sleep? Sometimes… She has her Bachelor of Arts in history, is slightly obsessed with all things French—including Jeanne d’Arc and La Belle et la Bête— and loves curling up with a good book more than just about anything else. Author of Wisdom & Folly: Sisters, Zombie Takeover, Beast Hunter, and Kill the Beast, Michele prays her involvement in writing, editing, and publishing will touch many lives in the years to come.

Visit www.MicheleIsraelHarper.com to learn more about her.

Make sure to check out the Online Facebook Release Party (Thursday, September 27th, 2018, 8-10 PM EST)

The Wolf Prince Cover Reveal

Today I’m helping Claire M. Banschbach reveal the cover of her upcoming book, The Wolf Prince!

Release date!!!! August 21, 2018!

Synopsis:

One prince. Two brothers. Three companions to prevent a sorcerer from destroying the faeries.

Prince Killian has always known he’s different. It’d be impossible to miss the whispers of an age-old family curse, to ignore the call of the wolves on his birthnight and the barely-veiled hostility from his people. His family insists there’s no curse. If only they were right.

When an evil sorcerer bent on destroying the faeries turns Killian into a wolf to use in his diabolical spell, Killian must rely on the help of his playboy brother, Lars, and Rose, an aspiring ranger they meet on the road, to escape the sorcerer and find the faeries who can turn him human again.

There’s only one problem. Faeries haven’t been seen in over 50 years.

Together Killian and his companions must overcome their differences and prejudices to defeat malevolent creatures along the road, evade the sorcerer and his minions, and find the faeries before the sorcerer can kill them all.

Author Bio:

Claire M. Banschbach is a native West Texan. She discovered a deep and abiding love for fantasy and science fiction at a young age, prompting her to begin exploring worlds armed only with an overactive imagination and a pen. She's an overall dork, pizza addict, and fangirl. She enjoys meshing stories of family and faith with healthy doses of action and adventure. She talks to fictional characters more than she should while trying to find time for all their stories.
She currently resides in Arlington, TX where she works as a Pediatric Physical Therapist.

Giveaway!

You can be entered into a giveaway for an ARC ebook copy for The Wolf Prince if you share a post about the cover on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)! Just make sure you tag Claire in your post!

Facebook – Claire M. Banschbach

Twitter/Instagram - @cmbanschbach

A Realm Makers Interview and New Pen Name

If you follow me on social media, you know I was at Realm Makers this past week. It was not only my first RM, but my first writer’s conference! Let me tell you, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life. I had the best time and got to meet so many of my online friends. Every single one of them was amazing. I can hardly wait for next year.

While at Realm Makers, I had the pleasure of taking part in a flash interview. It was a ton of fun, though I completely messed up my age. LOL That’s what you get from a sleep deprived introvert writer’s brain that late at night. I’m only human after all. ;)

During the interview, I made the spontaneous announcement that I am going to be using a different pen name to publish my contemporary romance novels. Oh yeah, there’s another spontaneous announcement for you. The contemporary novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2016 has turned into a trilogy! Ah! So the new pen name is Jaye Elliot. It’s very similar to Jaye L. Knight but will differentiate between my two very different writing genres. :)

Even though it’s a trilogy, each book can be read as a standalone. While the first book is finished and I hope to publish sooner rather than later, I won’t start working on the next two until I’m finished writing the last book of Ilyon Chronicles.

Since my new name is out there, I wanted to share the Facebook page for it. A shiny new website will come along eventually, but with FB you can keep up with any updates as I post them. Also, you can watch the RM interview below and all laugh with me at my math mistake. If only I were still 20 and not turning 30 in September.

Overrun By Your Love Blog Tour + Giveaway!

Overrun By Your Love, a collection of inspirational poetry by Erika Mathews, has been released! Join in the excitement with the giveaway below, and don't forget to check out the other blog tour stops here.

About the Book

Immerse yourself in a lyrical, artistic story older than time: the story of the kingdom of God.

Receive encouragement and refreshment in your spiritual walk with a collection of poems on our awesome God, trusting God, family, God’s creation, special occasions, and ministering Christ.

Inspirational and joyful poetry hones in on Biblical truth in a meditative manner. 

Purchase on Amazon

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  About the Author

Erika Mathews is the author of Promise’s Prayer and an editor who lives in the farm country of Minnesota with her husband and young children. She’s a homeschool graduate with a Bachelor’s in Communications, a Master’s in Biblical Ministries, and a passion for sharing Jesus Christ and His truth. When she’s writing, she enjoys letting God’s message shine through her, crafting pleasing sentences, and using the Oxford comma. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, outdoor activities, music, and organizing. She's been writing poems since she was four years old. Swings, hammocks, fields, waterfalls, and lakes near her Minnesota home are her favorite places for Scripture meditation. You can connect with Erika at restinglife.com.

Website: restinglife.com

Blog: writtenrest.wordpress.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ErikaMathewsAuthor
Amazon: amazon.com/-/e/B06XK4TFQL
Goodreads: goodreads.com/resterwen
Pinterest: pinterest.com/resterwen

Giveaway!

Click here to enter to win Overrun By Your Love in paperback or ebook!

Double 4th of July Ilyon Chronicles Cover Reveal

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday. It always has been. It’s fully summer and warm (usually) and I love it. I’m a total summer/warm weather girl. I NEED summer. So yes, this is definitely my favorite holiday.

What does that have to do with Ilyon? Absolutely nothing. Lol! But I thought, why not celebrate with a cover reveal? I wasn’t going to reveal the cover for Bitter Winter until I had a set release date, but then I changed my mind. It seemed like a fun thing to do on my favorite holiday. Not only that, but I’m revealing the cover for Bitter Winter’s companion novella, Lacy! I also happened to realize while making the graphics that the colors match the holiday perfectly—blue and red! Crazy coincidence.

Swords of Time Blog Tour—Character Spotlight

About the Book

Braden has one goal: knighthood.

Unfortunately, he lives on a horse farm in modern day America with his uncle, his younger brother, and an aunt who absolutely hates him.

Against all odds, Braden and his brother, Jamie, stumble across a pair of special swords that sweep them back into medieval times. They land near a castle whose lord has a task for them.

His older son is lost somewhere in time, and only someone who can control the Swords of Time can save him.

With the goal of knighthood suddenly in sight, Braden's not sure he wants to leave, but he wishes to impress the lord. Can he protect his brother, find the lost heir, and fulfill his dreams, or will the lord's younger son ruin everything?

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Character Spotlights

Sir James

Physical appearance: He is tall with reddish hair, brown eyes, and a beard.

Personality: He is kind, yet firm when he needs to be.

Background: Sir James was born in the castle. He is the oldest of three boys. He became the lord of the castle after his father was killed in battle. He now has two sons of his own, Arthur and Darren.

Sir Richard

Physical appearance: He is tall with brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard.

Personality: He is patient but firm when necessary.

Background: Sir Richard is the son of a knight who used to serve Sir James. Sir Richard became a page when he was seven and worked his way up to knighthood. He was given Braden as his squire and Jamie as his page. Sir Richard’s mistakes as a page and squire give him patience toward Braden who can prove a little challenging at times.

Tour Schedule

Monday 25th

A Day in the Life - CS: Braden

Rachel Rossano - Interview

Tuesday 26th

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke - CS: Aunt Anna

O.Scarlett Reviews - Review

Wednesday 27th

A Day in the Life - Interview

Hunting for the Truth - Review

Thursday 28th

Jaye L. Knight - CS: Sir James+Sir Richard

Knitted By God's Plan - Interview

Friday 29th

Bookish Orchestrations - Interview

Reality Reflected - CS: Jamie

A Day in the Life - Review

Saturday 20th

Roxbury Books and Book Dragons - CS: Darren

Book Review—More Than Meets the Eye

About the Book

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers.

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

My Review:

A new Karen Witemeyer book is something I always look forward to with great anticipation. It’s hard to pick favorites with Karen’s books, but More Than Meets the Eye is definitely high up on my list. And Evangeline is one of my favorite of Karen’s female characters, which is a big deal because I have trouble finding female protagonists I like. But Evangeline is just so happy and sweet you can’t help but like her. One of my favorite things about this book is the sibling relationship. I LOVE sibling relationships (even when they are not blood siblings). The way the book started out was so tragic and sad! But there were so many lovely, lighthearted moments throughout the story to make up for it. And, as many readers, I can hardly wait to read Zach’s story next! You gotta love tough, broody characters like that with hearts of gold. Do yourself a favor and get reading Karen’s books if you haven’t already.

Dagger’s Sleep & Dissociate Blog Tour

Today on my blog I’m spotlighting two new books—Dagger’s Sleep by Tricia Mingerink (one of my favorite authors, which many of you know) and Dissociate by Sarah Addison-Fox!

About Dagger’s Sleep

A prince cursed to sleep.

A princess destined to wake him.

A kingdom determined to stop them.

High Prince Alexander has been cursed to a sleep like unto death, a curse that will end the line of the high kings and send the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia into chaos. With his manservant to carry his luggage and his own superior intelligence to aid him, Alex sets off to find one of the Fae and end his curse one way or another.

A hundred years later, Princess Rosanna learns she is the princess destined by the Highest King to wake the legendary sleeping prince. With the help of the mysterious Daemyn Rand, can she find the courage to finish the quest as Tallahatchia wavers on the edge of war?

One curse connects them. A hundred years separate them. From the rushing rivers of Tallahatchia’s mountains to the hall of the Highest King himself, their quests will demand sacrifices neither of them could imagine.

Dagger’s Sleep is available for preorder on Amazon Kindle.

About the Author

Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.

You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, and her blog.

About Dissociate

Freedom begins with finding the truth.

Amidst the turmoil caused by Smyth’s arrest, Celeste is stuck in limbo, stripped of her citizenship, with no choice but to flee to a peaceful Kyraenean hideaway with the tumultuous Amaya Mason.

When bounty hunters threaten the local orphanage, Celeste and Amaya must work together and fight. Even if it means risking what they cherish the most.

His plans in tatters, his career in jeopardy, Mick Haynes is forced to leave Kyraenea with the enigmatic Torrance Kyle, the agent he still can’t trust.

Torrance is good at lying, and even better at hiding his pain, but is he strong enough to deal with the consequences of betraying his own father?

Can Celeste accept the truth, accept her place in the Haynes family or will lies chain her to the past and destroy her chance at a new life?

Dissociate is available for sale on Amazon here. The first two books in the series Disowned and Dissemble are also available on Amazon.

About the Author:

Sarah Addison-Fox is a New Zealand-born home-schooling mother of two who loves action-packed fantasy with strong heroines. She has an astonishing amount of nail polish, has all her creative writing credentials shoved in a drawer somewhere, and has a husband who, after 27 years, can still make her blush. When she’s not working on her Christian YA fantasy series', she can be found fangirling on Goodreads or sending GIFs on Twitter.

To celebrate the release of Dissociate and Dagger’s Sleep, Sarah Addison-Fox and Tricia Mingerink are hosting a day-long Facebook Festival. There will be plenty of games and giveaways, not to mention Serena Chase, author of the Eyes of E’veria series, will be the guest of honor. It’s a party you won’t want to miss! You’ll be able to stop by any time during the day to join the fun, no matter what time zone you live in!

Link to the Facebook Festival: https://www.facebook.com/events/244246872802075/

Giveaways!

Sarah Addison-Fox and Tricia Mingerink are each hosting a giveaway for their books for the blog tour.

Sarah Addison-Fox is giving away a paperback set of the first three books in the Allegiance Series. The giveaway is open internationally where such giveaways are permitted and where Createspace ships. The books may or may not be signed depending on where the winner lives.

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Tricia Mingerink is giving away a paperback of Dagger’s Sleep. The giveaway is open internationally where such giveaways are permitted and where Createspace or the Book Depository ships. The book may or may not be signed depending on where the winner lives.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday – May 22

Laura Grace – Author Interview

Reading Anyone – Book Review

Jaye L Knight – Book Spotlight

Quirky Faith – Book Reviews and Author Interview

Wednesday – May 23

Allyson Kennedy – Author Interview

Sam H. – Book Review

Addyson Huneke - Book Review and Author Interview

Ivie Brooks - Book Reviews

Thursday – May 24

Shantelle Mary - Book Review and Book Spotlight

Brie Donning - Book Review and Multi-Character Interview

Blooming with Books - Book Review and Author Interview

Julian Daventry - Book Review and Author Interview

Friday – May 25

Faith Thompson - Book Reviews and Author Interview

Hannah Gaudette - Author Interview

CM Williams - Book Review

Chloe Parker - Book Reviews

Saturday – May 26

JM Christian - Book Review and Multi-Character Interview

Abigail McKenna - Book Reviews

Liv Fisher - Author Interview

Book Wolf - Book Reviews and Author Interview

Liz Koetsier – Book Spotlight

Monday – May 28

Jessica Dowell - Book Review and Author Interview

Lila Kims - Book Reviews

Marie Elrich - Book Reviews

Faith Potts - Book Review and Book Spotlight

Facebook Festival – begins 5PM EST May 24th through 9PM EST May 25th with special guest Serena Chase