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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Feeding Fandom with Ally Carter, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Rachel Vincent, and Sarah Rees Brennan

Young Adult and authors and books have been on my mind since I returned from the Romance Writers of America national conference and Indie Book Signing in San Antonio, Texas.

L-R: Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Ally Carter, Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Vincent


Jennifer Lynn Barnes (http://www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com), Ally Carter (http://allycarter.com), Sarah Rees Brennan (http://sarahreesbrennan.com), and Rachel Vincent (http://rachelvincent.com) led an excellent marketing panel on “Feeding the Fandom: How to Turn Regular YA Readers into Raging Fangirls (and Boys)."

“Fiction is an Invitation to Imagine.”
Readers are passive. But in fandom, Super Fans rally around characters, stories, romances, and/or an author. The Super Fans live and breathe the stories, creating their own related art, stories, and character romances.


Gaps and Hints
Of the many great tips the panel offered, this one particularly resonated with me. Super Fans latch onto gaps or hints left by the author. And if an appealing minor character doesn’t have a love interest, Super Fans will create a romance for the character. If the author has dropped hints that two characters are interested in each other, Super Fans will create a fan fiction romance.

Acknowledge Your Fans
Fans and word of mouth can drive a book or author onto the Best Seller lists. So acknowledge your fans! Some authors (Ally Carter is an excellent example) provide links on their website or blog to their Super Fans' blogs and other social media accounts. This not only acknowledges the Super Fans, it gives them a place to connect with each other.

Middle Grade vs. YA
Here’s an excellent article from Publishers Weekly. "Middle Grade and YA: Where to Draw the Line." Enjoy!

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/63358-middle-grade-and-ya-where-to-draw-the-line.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=73eb1488aa-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-73eb1488aa-304449477

~Ariella Moon
http://www.AriellaMoon.com

Monday, July 28, 2014

Susan Rush Inspires with Just Over the Horizon

The spotlight on summer reading continues with Susan Rush's 
contemporary inspirational romance, 
JUST OVER THE HORIZON 
Please welcome fellow Astraea Press author, Susan Rush!

                                 Can one small box mend a grieving heart?

Just Over the Horizon
by Susan Rush
 Blurb:
   While grieving the death of her eccentric nana, Sarah discovers an unexpected gift. She soon grows dependent on the heirloom, a little box, for comfort and guidance. Feeling restless and needing a change, Sarah accepts a job as a traveling hospice nurse and ends up in the quaint, historical town of Camden, South Carolina. Although she loves caring for her patients, loneliness creeps in and threatens to take root. Eventually she opens herself to new friendships, and two remarkable yet vastly differing men compete for her attention. Nate is a true Southerner with a sarcastic wit and genuine warmth, while Dr. Joseph Thornton is a caring oncologist who is known as the best catch in the state. 
     Facing heart-wrenching trials, the faith of her childhood is all but shattered. In spite of this, Sarah seeks comfort from her box and is determined to cling to Nana’s godly legacy. But when a mysterious stranger appears with devastating news, can her cherished box continue to provide answers or will Sarah realize her life has been based on nothing but lies?



About the author:
Susan grew up in Charlotte, NC and has a psychology degree from Furman University and masters in social work from the University of South Carolina. She jokes that God didn't lead her to a career in hospice; He took her kicking and screaming the whole way. Now passionate about end-of-life care, she has worked with hospice for more than twenty years. She presently serves as a hospice director. She lives in Columbia, SC with her husband and three children.

Just Over the Horizon Available at:
Goodreads:
  https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93 HYPERLINK "https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=just+over+the+horizon"& HYPERLINK "https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=just+over+the+horizon"query=just+over+the+horizon




Monday, July 21, 2014

Win a Free Young Adult book during the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop!

Celebrate Christmas in July with a Free ebook Copy of 

Spell Fire, Book #3, The Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon

Here in the California desert, July temperatures can reach over 120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 Celsius). So who wouldn't want to escape into a Christmas book? I'll be giving away one ebook copy of Spell Fire, a sweet, Young Adult paranormal romance.


A dragon wants to be her new BFF.
There is something her boyfriend isn’t telling her.
And no one will explain the hissing spell book.

Second worst Christmas EVER! 

High school sophomore Ainslie Avalon-Bennett works hard to hide her Crazy Girl past. But as long as her best friend’s disappearance remains unsolved, she can’t shake the depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder that once landed her in a mental ward. Then she meets Thor Grael, a teen dragon shaman who spikes her pulse and calms her OCD.  But will Ainslie lose him once he discovers her past? Or will Thor’s deadly secret be their undoing?

USA Today chose the Spell Fire Book trailer as a "Must-see"!


Congratulations to Giveaway Winner Brandi Dagwan!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The following blogs are also participating in the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop:


Friday, July 18, 2014

USA Today Picks Spell Fire as a Must-See Video

Robin Covington, special to USA Today, picked the trailer for Spell Fire as a featured, "Must-see" video. I'm so glad the trailer (Videos by O) made Robin "giggle in all the right places."



Opal Campbell of Videos by O and I exchanged many late-night emails as we collaborated on the making of the trailer. Opal is awesome to work with!
Here's the link to the USA Today review and the trailer. Enjoy!


Thank you Robin Covington for your wonderful review!

And special thanks to Barbara Millman Cole who devised one of the lines in the Spell Fire book blurb/trailer.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Spell Struck: Sweet Teen Fiction



The Teen Wytche Saga skewed a little edgier last July when Astraea Press released Spell Struck, Book #2 in my Young Adult paranormal romance series. The story alternates between the point of view of Salem, a high school goth outcast and Aidan…




As a child, Aidan thought he was being rescued, not abducted. Now fifteen and homeless, he realizes he was taken because of his Gypsy blood. His kidnappers believe he’ll lead them to the Grey Grimoire, a valuable gypsy spell book. Madness. The book doesn’t even exist.


Or does it?

Salem is charged with fixing a half-destroyed spell book, her last hope for saving her sister. Amy attempted suicide and the meds aren’t helping. Maybe a powerful Get Well Spell will cure her.


Aidan’s kidnappers will kill to attain the Grey Grimoire. But if he destroys it, Salem will hate him. Either way, he loses. Again.


Excerpt
Aidan lowered his hand. His finger pressed against my skin, shooting a delicious tingle up my arm. When I didn’t move away, he hooked his finger over mine. My breath caught. We stayed, frozen, hyper-focused, for what seemed like three lifetimes. Then Aidan trailed his fingertips across the back of my hand. The soundtrack, popcorn smells, and theater audience melted into the background. The world narrowed down to the unspoken grief and need entangled in Aidan’s touch.
I rotated my hand so my palm faced upward. Aidan hesitated. Our gazes locked in the flickering light. The spell link humming between us lit up like blue lightning. At least I think it was the spell link. Aidan plunged his fingers between mine. Our palms pressed together, igniting a current. Air shuddered from my lungs. Magic rippled from us in successive waves.
My heart stuttered. My breath ceased. Every cell within me vibrated. Troops of fairies or dragonflies took flight in my lower abdomen. It’s possible blue lightning shot from my boots.
Good thing I wasn’t holding the popcorn.

Buy Links for Spell Struck and the rest of the Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon