Amazon/ Barnes & Noble Gift Card Giveaway!

You know I have a soft spot for dragons (Spell Fire), so how could I pass up the chance to feature

Descended From Dragons by Tricia Owens? Be sure to enter the Giveaway raffle to win a 

$75.00 Amazon/Barnes & Noble Gift Card!

Descended From Dragons

by Tricia Owens

GENRE: Urban Fantasy/PNR (sweet, sensual)

BLURB:

Beneath the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas lies another city. A secret city in plain sight, full of warlocks and demons, shape-shifters and golems. A city that feeds off the chance magick that is generated by gamblers and which is ruled by mysterious beings called the Oddsmakers.

It is in this strange underbelly of the occult that Anne Moody runs a cursed pawn shop for the desperate, the curious, and the magickally inclined. Though the job is boring, it keeps her under the radar. None of her customers have any inkling that she is a dragon sorceress with a power that's been feared throughout history. However dragons are no help when a stone statue ends up in her shop that is more than it appears. The statue is a gargoyle named Vale, who is shrouded in mystery and secrets. When she learns that Vale is possessed, and that the person responsible for cursing him plans to take over Las Vegas with a horde of demons from Hell, Anne realizes it is up to her to defy the Oddsmakers and save the city, and possibly the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

After silently parting the bead curtain I paused just at the threshold, listening. The shop was spooky enough without the lights on thanks to all the strange silhouettes, but knowing that half the objects were also cursed gave me another reason to shiver as I panned my gaze over the place.

Tick tick tick

I sent Lucky toward the sound. My dragon flew a loose circle around the left side of the room. That narrowed it down a bit, not that I felt comfortable putting my back to everything that was on the other side of the room. I displayed a few katanas and items that could be used as weapons there, but thankfully none of them were cursed with movement. At least, I hoped not. I guess I'd find out for certain when a spear pierced my back.

A fluttering sound, like the flapping of thick canvas, made me instinctively drop into a crouch. Lucky reared up, ready to attack. But nothing flew overhead. Breathing shallowly, I crawled toward the counter. I'd feel safer behind it and with the wall at my back.

As I rounded the counter, I realized I knew what had had made the noise. The only new thing in my inventory was the gargoyle statue. When I raised my eyes above the countertop, the gargoyle was gone from where it had sat. The cameos were quick to offer their opinions.

"You met the love of your life today…"

"…he'll try to kill you, Anne Moody."

"The cursed shall pay, Anne Moody!"

Yep, the damn gargoyle statue had come to life and was flying around Moonlight. Definitely a way to make me remember you, Christian.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Tricia Owens wants you to know that Las Vegas is actually a pretty cool place and you won't be eaten by a troll there. Probably. A former casino games dealer and cruise ship editor, Tricia has traveled extensively, visiting over 70 countries. She writes full time in several genres including urban fantasy and romance. Her favorite setting is her home town, the city of sin.

Website: http://www.triciaowensbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tricia-Owens-Author-348774068467200/

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Tricia-Owens/e/B009HBB3FY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Tricia Owens will be awarding a $75 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you cannot embed the code, please use this HTML link:

Enter to win a $75 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer is for Reading!

Spell Check, Book One: The Teen Wytche Saga, and
The Beltane Escape, Book One: The Two Realms Trilogy
Both by Ariella Moon

The thermometer will climb into the triple digits all this week in the Coachella Valley. So of course, I dream of sitting poolside or at the beach, and reading. Instead, I am locked in my writing cave, finishing the first draft of The Viking Mist, Book Two: The Two Realms Trilogy.

Book Signings!

Saturday, June 4, will find me signing and selling books at the 2016 Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, California, where the anticipated high temperature will be a perfect 76 degrees Fahrenheit. I will be at the SF Area Romance Writers of America booth from 1:30-3:30. Please stop by! We will be on "Writer's Row."

For my SoCal fans and friends, you can catch me at the Westfield Mall on June 11 signing books at Barnes & Noble Palm Desert at 10:00 AM for B-Fest, Teen Book Festival.

Stop by and discover two intriguing paranormal Young Adult series. Let the summer reading begin!

Copyright 2016 Ariella Moon

52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks, #5

My Family Fun, Teen Fun, Friends Fun list continues…

May’s Flower Full Moon will light tonight’s sky. The Old Farmer’s Almanac will stream the moonrise through the Slooh’s Canary Islands Observatory at 5:00 PM PDT, 6:00 PM MDT, 7:00 PM CDT, and 8:00 PM EDT. Watch Here

The flower moon made me think of flowers, and flowers made me think of butterflies. So…

Fun Thing #5: Go On A Butterfly Photo Safari

Cactus, bougainvillea, verbena, and many other plants are blooming in the desert right now. Every day I see bright yellow Sulphur Butterflies flitting about my front patio. But a photo safari takes you beyond your front door. Are you ready for an adventure?

3 Things You Will Need For Your Photo Safari

1  .    A digital camera/smartphone.

I snapped (can I say “snapped” when I used my iPhone camera?) the butterfly photos on this page at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, California. Their Butterflies! Winged Wonders! exhibit closed May 1, but will return in the fall.

2  .    Lots of patience.

Expect to take a lot of photos. Butterflies are not great at Sit. Stay. Some brilliant colors are only revealed when the butterfly’s wings are open. Others, when their wings are closed. Some butterflies are so artfully camouflaged you will have to look hard to find them.

3  .    A Butterfly Field Guide

Great adventures often start with a great book, right? Check your library, online bookstore, or (bless them!) neighborhood bookstore for a Field Guide. For North America, check out Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America.

Butterfly totems represent transformation. So gently go forth and bring Butterfly into your life.

52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks – The List So Far:

   1.     Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

   2.     Experience a Bamboo Forest.

   3.     Enjoy Warthog Piglets.

   4.     Search For Stone People And Animals 

   5.     Go On a Butterfly Photo Safari

           

Copyright 2016 Ariella Moon

52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks, #4

My Family Fun, Teen Fun, Friends Fun list continues..

52 Fun Things To Do in 52 Weeks

Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park 

Fun Thing #4 Search For Stone People And Animals

When I came upon a stone cow while hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, it reminded me of my friends and family who were born under the sign of Taurus (April 21-May 22). My Taurus tribe members are my rocks. Their slow and steady style calms and reassures me. But like the Bull that symbolizes their sign, I sense Taureans have coiled power.

The stone cow set me on a search for more stone people and animals. At first, my hiking buddy, Judy, thought I was crazy. But then she started spotting faces in the rocks, too. Our hike transformed into a scavenger hunt to see who could find the next stone person first. Imagine what fun children would have searching for stone people and animals!

Although we searched for spirits within the stones, we also encountered several stacked stones, both as trail markers and as art. These reminded me (I am an art historian and shaman) of the Inuit Inunnguaq, stones stacked to resemble humans.

Once you start searching for spirits in rocks, or you create stone sculptures, you’ll discover why these free and imaginative activities are fourth on my list of 52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks!

Coming soon on http://www.shamanariellamoon.com:
Hard lessons learned regarding magic and stones, and the difference between the stone people of the USA and those of the UK.

Top of the Palm Springs Tram, Nature Hike

Some of my most magical adventures began with a book. #LibrariesRock

52 Fun Thing To Do In 52 Weeks – The List So Far:

   1.     Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

   2.     Experience a Bamboo Forest.

   3.     Enjoy Warthog Piglets.

   4.  Search For Stone People And Animals 

Copyright 2016 Ariella Moon

Interview With Author Karen King

Welcome back Karen King, author of 120 children's books, and fellow chocoholic!

Congratulations, Karen, on your new novel, I Do?…or Do I? Love your cover! I have a few questions...

1. Do you like to plot out in advance, or do you prefer to see where the story takes you?

I work out a basic outline so I know where the story is going and the main conflicts and events. Then I write character profiles so that I know my characters well, what their background is, what makes them tick and their driving emotional force. Then I start writing and see where my characters take me.

2. Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

I think there's probably bits of me in, Cassie, I like to wear a maxi dress with a denim jacket, like she does in the first chapter, and I always paint my toe nails red. I'm also a bit of a chocoholic!

3. Which character was the most difficult to write, and why?

Jared. He hurt Cassie badly, and is obsessed with his career which makes him a bit selfish and could make it difficult for the readers to warm to him. I wanted the readers to like him and to understand why he'd let Cassie down and to see how much he loves her.

Author Bio

A member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, the Society of Authors and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists, Karen King writes sassy, contemporary romance just right for reading on the beach. 'I DO - or Do I?' is her first chick lit for Accent Press. She has been contracted for two more.

Karen has had two other romance novels, several short stories for women’s magazine and 120 children's books published.

When she isn’t writing, Karen likes travelling, watching the ‘soaps’ and reading. Give her a good book and a box of chocolates and she thinks she’s in Heaven.

Author links

Website: http://www.karenking.net/

Twitter: @karen_king

Karen King Romance Author Facebook Page

Karen King Children’s Books Facebook Page

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/karenkingauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkingauthor/?hl=en

Blurb

Local journalist Cassie is getting married to hot-shot lawyer, reliable Timothy, and his mother Sylvia, who Cassie has nicknamed ‘Monster-in-Law’, wants to plan the entire wedding. When Sylvia books the exclusive ID Images to take photographs of the extravagant do, Cassie has no idea what she’s walking into. 

The elusive JM, ID Images’ newest photographer, just so happens to be Jared, Cassie’s first love and ex-fiancé, who broke off their engagement to travel and take photos of far-reaching wonders. He’s back to pay for his next wild adventure. 

Cassie decides it’s best to pretend not to know him, but when she’s asked to write an article for her newspaper, she’s tasked with a column surrounding all things wedding related. When Cassie jokingly writes a column meant for herself depicting her situation, a co-worker submits it in place of the real article and it’s soon making headlines, with readers asking the age old question - Who Will She Choose?

Buy Links

Amazon preorder link

Amazon - http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01CGKLOKQ

Waterstones - https://www.waterstones.com/book/i-do-or-do-i/karen-king/9781910939345

Book Depository - http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781910939352

 

Excerpt from I Do?…Or Do I?

One  

‘June! That’s only two months away!’ Sam squealed down the phone. ‘You can’t plan a wedding in two months.’

Which is exactly what Cassie had told Timothy when his mother, Sylvia, had suggested it. She could hardly believe she’d let them both talk her in to it.

‘The thing is, Sylvia heard there was a cancellation at Hollington Castle and she booked it for us. It’s a really sought after venue and we’d be mad to turn it down,’ she told Sam.

‘Are those Sylvia’s words or yours?’

‘Sylvia’s,’ Cassie admitted. ‘She’s right, though. We got a good price, too, because of the cancellation. Timothy and I went to look around yesterday and it’s an amazing place. It dates back from the eighteenth century, you know.’

‘You only got engaged on Valentine’s Day,’ Sam pointed out. ‘I thought you weren’t planning on getting married until next year?’

‘We weren’t, but it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. It’s normally booked up at least eighteen months ahead. Especially in the summer.’ She was repeating Timothy’s words to her yesterday when she’d expressed some doubt about arranging the wedding so quickly. ‘You do want to marry me, don’t you, darling?’ he’d said, and when she’d assured him she did he’d pooh-poohed her protest that two months wasn’t long enough to plan a wedding, saying his mother would help, and she’d found herself agreeing. Now it was all arranged, the venue was booked, they were getting married on 26^th June – and she was starting to panic. How the hell was she supposed to organise everything in that time? There was her dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses, invitations, flowers, food, reception, favours, wedding cake … she was hyperventilating just thinking about it.

‘Look I know it’s short notice but you will be my maid of honour, won’t you?’

‘Yes, yes, yes!’ She could just see Sam, jumping up and down with excitement. ‘Oh, I was hoping you’d ask me.’

‘Of course I’d ask you, you’re my best friend. Who else would I want?’ Cassie told her. ‘Can you meet me for lunch and I’ll fill you in on all the details? Twelve thirty at Benjo’s? We’ve got an appointment with the photographer this morning so I can tell you all about that, too.’

‘What, already? I’m guessing that’s Sylvia’s doing, too?’

‘Yes, the people who cancelled the wedding had booked I.D. Images so of course they have a cancellation too, and Sylvia knows Daniel, the “D” in I.D., so he’s agreed to hold the slot for us. If we want it.’

Sam whistled. ‘As if you’d turn that down!’ She paused. ‘I thought you were going to the Discover France show today.’

‘I was, but Sylvia booked the appointment and Timothy can’t make it. He’s got to work.’

‘Whereas you just mess around… ’

Cassie sighed. Sylvia never took Cassie’s job as a features writer for the local newspaper seriously. Timothy was a partner in a law firm, whereas Cassie filled in time until she became Timothy’s wife as far as Sylvia was concerned. Sylvia had given up her secretarial job when she married Timothy’s father and devoted her whole life to looking after him, then Amanda and Timothy when they came along. She made it obvious that she expected Cassie to do the same when she married Timothy, even though Cassie had clearly stated that she had no intention of giving up work. ‘Luckily, Owen’s cool about it. He said I can swap my day off.’