Sunday, December 30, 2012

Review ~ Know Thy Neighbor, Shawn Maravel

Hey Lovelies!
I haven't done this in awhile, but I have a review for you all! Yes I read the newest Shawn Maravel novel, Know thy Neighbor! I completely loved this book. Her writing is just seems to continue to grow better even though her other works are all well done too. She gave me the ebook copy to do a review for her, and I'm going to have to get my own paperback copy because I loved it so much. It was a little different then her other books since it is a little bit of a crime mystery and I haven't read that before.




Review:
Where is the light at the end of the tunnel when things are spinning out of control. Shawn Maravel has done it again with heart warming characters that will cause any reader to feel for these two two characters. Evangeline is at the end of her rope after being kicked to the ground so many times in life. She walks through life disheartened as she has lost her parents and her store that she owns is nearing closure. Now we might not all have been in that situation, but Evangeline is a character all readers can relate to and wish they can have a hang out to cheer her up. She starts to really sit on edge though after years of overdoing it with books (like that's possible!) and living alone when a new neighbor comes in, John Smith and Evangeline feels like her life has been thrown into a mystery book.

Know thy Neighbor is a real page turner that will have the readers completely soaked into each and every page wanting to know what happens. This is a different genre then her other books, but Shawn has continued to show that she is up to any challenge and created a great book. I have the e-book copy and I will be getting a paperback copy because it is a must read! :)





Blurb:
Evangeline has already lost everything once. She’s no stranger to reassembling the shambles of her life and trying to make peace with the outcome of the greatest tragedy that she’s ever had to face. But when a life of selling antiques in the Lower East Side proves to be less than enough to maintain her meager lifestyle, she turns to the pages of her thriller novels for distraction.

When a mysterious new tenant moves into the apartment above hers, she indulges her desire for danger and adventure by trying to figure out exactly who the stranger in 6C is. In time, the intrigue about a neighbor she has yet to actually see, isn’t enough to keep her distracted from the threat of having to close down her shop and start from scratch for the second time. Just as she tries to refocus her attention to breathing life back into her business, she meets the handsome stranger for the first time and she loses sight of everything else.

Soon her life takes on the exciting appeal of her novels and she can’t seem to get enough. But as she draws closer to the mystery tenant, she discovers that the danger is real and her life is left in the hands of a dangerous killer.


Blog
Paperback
Ebook
Goodreads

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Reviews

Hey Lovelies!
When you write a book you probably think of all the excitement that goes in and think of all the people who will love your book. However what about the people who don't like your book? Rejection isn't fun, between the letters from agents and bad reviews. The tick is how to deal with them. I believe it was a few months back an author or a couple of them it seemed was having some trouble via Facebook and Goodreads because they had asked for reviews, but didn't respond well to the reviews that they had received. That really caused problems with people who do the reviews/bloggers. They are taking time out of their lives to read the book. Wouldn't you want honesty? I've gotten a couple of 1 star reviews in which most of them write why. I like taking the comments and building off of them for other stories I write, if it is a tip. But at the end of the day you are going to get a mix of reviews and you want that. If you only have 5 star reviews where everyone is raving some people might wonder if the book might have been fluffied up. It's also good for the author to get feedback. With all that said and done remember you have to watch what you say.

Between teaching and the author world I have become I think pretty good about censoring myself. With the internet there really isn't any real way to delete anything. Once it's up there, it cannot be taken away. You really have to watch what you say and how you act. With writing you are only as popular as your fan base. If you are an amazing writer, the second Shakespeare, but you bash everyone you are only going to go so far. I actually got a 3 star review from a blogger and had asked her to do my next book as well because I loved the feedback she gave. Now typing this I really hope you all do not think I'm preaching or venting about bad reviews. I didn't even know I had 1 new review on Amazon and 4 on Barnes and Nobles about End of the Line. Which is apparently free for nooks right now, found out through a friend. A true mix of 1 and 5 stars, it's fun living in a world with everyone having different opinions to have these conversations pulling out ideas. I get where the not so good review was coming from, but at the end of the day you can't please everyone. :) No I'm going to stop myself now so I do not keep rambling on about this and think I'm talking in circles!
~Ottilie

Friday, December 21, 2012

Glided Wings ~ Amy Lignor

Hey Lovelies!
Today I am a day of the Glided Wings (book 2) Book Tour! Which is a delight because I did a review of the first book in March, Until Next Time. Which was a good book. Now the crew is back on another mission, follow these angels and the idea of what determines love. This time the book takes place during the Glided Age. If you don't know when that is it is right before the break of 1900's in American history. ALSO here's a giveaway for it!




Sample:
Walking around the bed, Anya stared at the three closed doors. One was chained from the inside. Unhooking the manacle, she peered into the darkness and saw the light of the moon spilling across Gregori’s already sleeping face and breathed a sigh of relief. He’d fallen asleep the minute his head had touched the pillow. Anya prayed that all of his dreams would be filled with heroic sheriffs and colorful pictures of high-flying angels, instead of the dark and gruesome reminder of his father being led away forever.

Closing the door softly, she moved to the next one. Inside door number two there was a strange bulb underneath a pink glass shade; a small mirror, a basin of warm water and a bar of lavender-scented soap had been laid out for her. A chamber pot was nowhere to be found; in its place was a strange invention that she’d only read about. Anya pulled the silver handle above her head and the water flushed away, refilling with fresh water in seconds. Anya heard a giggle coming from the other room and ran out into the bedchamber.

She stifled a gasp. The third door now stood wide open and on her bed sat a woman at least fifteen years her senior. Anya instinctively bowed to the visitor as the woman raised her hand and waved politeness aside.

“Not necessary, darlin’.” The woman winked. She pointed to the door of the water closet. “Sorry to laugh, but you looked like you’d seen a ghost or somethin’.”



Amy Lignor's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/alignor


Amy Lignor's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/HelloWritersAmy


Amy Lignor's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5222068




Nook buy link - $4.95
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gilded-wings-amy-lignor/1113106076?ean=2940015537970 

iBookstore buy link - $4.99
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id567467882 

Smashwords buy link - $4.99
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/241186?ref=tributebooks 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, December 20, 2012

"Last" Day 4 ~ Update of failure

Hey Lovelies
I know I was suppose to do a week long of celebration, these doctor visits are bothering me. Today an MRI for my wrist. For those who don't know that I've been having wrist pain, yes I can have worse injuries or be in a worse situation with all that is going on in the world so I feel bad sounding like I'm whinnying. It's been hurting for over a month and I couldn't get a doctor appointment till after I was student teaching. So Monday I went to the doctors and had X-rays. Today I had MRI's and needed contrasts so had to be in the machine twice and my brain just feels so mushy. I don't know if I'm so drained because puppy hasn't been letting us sleep or because of the MRI. I bruise easily so my arm is a little banged up from the shot. I really had every intention of surprising everyone on Saturday with a 1.5 ebook for End of the Line. There is a section of the book a few people told me that they wish I didn't skip time. I had started it, but I don't want to put out something that is rushed. I'll still try to get it out soon, but I felt bad keeping everyone out of the loop. Sorry for sounding like a baby. I've just been wearing a ace bandage on my wrist everyday, I even have trouble using a stapler with my right hand. I'm hoping Monday when I go back to the doctors they figured out what is wrong...
~Ottilie

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The "Last" week, Day 3

Hey Lovelies!
Sorry for posting this one so late. Today's my birthday and I was tending to our little monster in the making of a puppy. Sorry about today being lame, but I'm working on something good for the last day! Sorry to do this, but there really won't be a post today, but I'm extending yesterday's giveaway so check that out!
~Ottilie

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The "Last" Week, Day 2

Hey Lovelies!
Today is the second day of the "last" week of Earth. So I will be continue the countdown till Friday on this blog with End of the Line. Today we had to get special permission from a couple of people to go inside a prison to talk to a cellmate. This is a high rate criminal for his multiple offences. Dean Manson was once the Major of a small town and had connections to the police force. Till one day his path crossed with Aaron's then everything was turned upside down. Now I got a chance to sit down with Manson and his Lawyer Jim Henderson.



::Enter cell and sits down:: Manson is sitting in the chair across from me in an orange jumpsuit as his lawyer is sitting besides him.

Jim
Remember, don't answer anything you don't want to. We don't want to ruin chances for parole.

Manson
(Smirking.)
Don't worry I have things under control.

Me
(Shifts in seats.)
So...(pauses) what exactly did you do to end up in here?

Manson
(Face is calm as his tone is smooth.)
I do not know I am innocent.

Me
But you were tried-

Manson
I was wrongfully accused, if it had not been for that boy's testimony I would not be in here.

Me
Maybe you wouldn't be in here unless you did something you weren't suppose to have done.

Manson
It is rare, but sometimes our court system does put an innocent man away.

Me
I see we are not going to go anywhere on this question. So how about that prison food?

Manson
(Raises an eyebrow.)
I doubt you got permission from a lawyer to see me to talk about prison food.

Me
Fine, when you get out in what, ten years, what do you plan to do when you are free?

Manson
Well, I lost my job, my wife just sent me divorce papers, and my reputation is forever tainted so that I will forever be labeled as a criminal. I will never be able to work another day. I do not have anyone to take care of my estates or what is left of them which the courts have not taken away. And you want to know what I will do when I am free?

Me
Well yeah that was the question. So next question, what do you do in prison?

Manson
The only real thing that gets me by is thinking what I will do to that Aaron boy once I am let out. How I will make him pay for putting me in here. That I-

Jim
(Standing up quickly cutting off Manson)
I think we have had enough for now.

Me
But-

Jim
No, my client is now done.


Fun Fact of the Day:
This story when it was a nightmare was actually taking place in the future with flying cars and such.

QUESTION
If you answer these two questions right you win a free ebook copy of End of the Line, just comment this post.

1. What was the villain's name in Sleeping Beauty.

2. What was on the original cover of End of the Line?

Monday, December 17, 2012

The "Last" Week, Day 1

Hey Lovelies!
As we know that the Mayan calendar ends on Friday. That the world will apparently end on Friday. With that sad, we also know my humor is a little well off. That being said I decided to spend this week showcasing End of the Line, a post apocalyptic tale about a group of teens trying to stick together and survive. This story is very dear to me because it is based on a nightmare I had every couple of years since I was nine. Each day something will be done differently in order to play around with this idea of the end along side with End of the Line. So keep your eyes out!

Today I decided to let everyone get to know the other cast members in this journey, a good way to get the ball rolling, introduction day. I have done Leading Lady or Men of Ottilie for the main characters for now Family Ties and End of the Line, but not much further then that. However without the other members in End of the Line a lot of what happens and what else is in store for the cast.


Lauren
Aaron


Cole
Brown Hair
Lightish Eyes
Hates Aaron
Wants to help more
Likes playing cards



Jill
Dark hair and eyes
Athletic
Friendly
Smart
Is into the medical field


Mandy
Brown hair
9 years old
Only child
Looks up to Jill
Shy


Sean
Reddish Brown hair
5/6 years old
Lauren's little brother
Has a crush on Paige
Becomes attached to Aaron


Paige
5/6 years old
Sweet
Has a crush on Sean
Follows Lauren like a little sister
Loves stuffed animals
Fun Fact of the Day:
Cole was originally named Alex in the first edition.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

An ending

Hey Lovelies!
So yesterday was a whirlwind of emotions. Yesterday was the last day I was student teaching my 8th graders. It was sad saying bye to the kids and the teachers that I've spent the last couple of months with. I'm going to miss everyone. One of my students gave me a flower in hope that my career will grow strong like the flower. Then I came home to find out about CT shooting. It is terrible when small kids can not go to school. Small kindergartners getting killed beyond their years...the world is truly scary beyond words.
Ottilie

Monday, November 26, 2012

Wrist and Doctors

Hey Lovelies!
I just need a mini moment to vent. So if you haven't already heard, I'm a spaz. I fall up, down, sideways, pretty much you name it and I fall that way on the stairs. I trip over air, I'm a real klutz. I fell down the stairs a few years ago and silly me decided to attempt to catch myself. So my wrist hurt afterwards, but I never really got it looked at. So every once in awhile the last few years my right wrist hurt, no biggie I put an ace bandage on it. This is now going on like 2 or 2.5 weeks where it has been hurting and I have been wearing the wrap on my hand every single day. I have a doctor appointment on the 17th because they don't have hours after school and no weekend hours. I don't really care for doctors and hospitals make me nervous I'm really hoping nothing is seriously wrong, at the same time I hope the doctor doesn't think it's in my head...
~Ottilie

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Need people for Mini Blog Tour...

Hey Lovelies!
I've been wanting to do this, but with time against me it hasn't really worked out. I want to get the news of the second edition of End of the Line out there so I wanted to do a mini blog tour. I will probably will do one for Family Ties a few months later. But I was thinking later in December starting the 15th when I'm done with teaching. Plus how fun would it have a mini blog tour about an end of the world book around the time of the whole end of the world time? I'm thinking a couple of reviews (I have a few people who said they would do so already, but would like a couple more), interviews of me or the characters, giveaways or if you have another suggestion I'm willing to hear it :) I'd really appreciate some volunteers it would mean a lot to me. You can either comment this post or email me at : ottilieweber (at) gmail (dot) com. 


End of the Line:
When so much is lost how does one to have the strength to move on? At seventeen Lauren was prepared for yet another year of school. Then asteroids hit, killing all of those she knew except for a few other teens from her neighborhood. Joining forces with her classmate Aaron, they work together on the journey in the hopes of finding more people that are alive. On the way, threats of starvation, illness, and freezing to death don’t compare to the danger of Dean Manson. Manson is an ex-con out for revenge against Aaron. With so much working against them these teens fight for everything even if it means denying their feelings just for the chance to see a new day.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Leading Ladies ~ Lauren

Hey Lovelies!
A bit ago I did a Men of Ottilie with the character Aaron! He is the star character of End of the Line. Well, one of the stars. Sorry to say I tend to write my stories in Male and Female POV's which you will learn as I hopefully get more out there. End of the Line you learned about Aaron who is tough and takes on the world, his counter part feels the same heavy weight on her shoulders. As Aaron is stubborn Lauren is his soothing friend that helps him along their journey. Lauren is a Leading Lady
                     Lauren

Auburn hair
Blue eyes
Self Sacrificing
Motherly
Sweet
Understanding
Peace maker
Leader

Scene:

 Our neighborhood was having one of those very family-oriented, corny block parties as a celebration for Labor Day, which it has every year. I, being seventeen at the time, didn’t like being at the celebration at all. First of all, the party wasn't exactly for my age group. The parents thought we were still into the little ponies and treasure hunt games. Secondly, most of the kids in my neighborhood were younger than I was, and the few who were my age were able to escape the festivity. Later I would wonder, Was it worth staying at the gathering and living or escaping the party and possibly dying?
I was hanging around my little brother, Sean, during the party since my parents were with the other adults. They wanted someone to stay with him so he was being supervised. They were able to go drink while I was here waiting in line for a smelly animal, whose long face looked even more excited than mine at being there. I loved my brother, but I just didn’t want to be outside on the blocked-off road, with people racing around who weren’t ashamed to show their enthusiasm.
At the time, my brother was six and fearless. Slightly on the hyper side and full of questions, he tested my patience at times. At the moment, he was holding my hand, jumping up and down and searching for his miniature friend, Paige, so they could go on at the same time. My brother had a girlfriend.
I was currently single. Okay, so I went on a few dates. I didn’t need a full hand to count the guys, but I just never really had a full-out, real boyfriend. I’ve never had the genuine, strong emotions toward any of the guys I went out with. It was frustrating.
“Lauren, there she is! Paige, over here!” yelled Sean, letting go of my hand to wave his in the air while still hopping about. I was starting to blame those double-chocolate cupcakes for his energy.
I smiled, not sure whether to be embarrassed or to think his behavior was adorable. A little girl with dark red hair in long pigtails came running over to us. She was wearing a yellow shirt with a big kitty on the front. She was wearing yellow shorts, one of those little kid matching outfits you later yell at your parents for, wondering what they were thinking when they bought it. Yet Paige and my brother were too cute together.
That’s when the sky started to get darker. The past week, the sky was getting an odd glow of obscurity, not that I really noticed since I always kept my shades closed from laziness ‘til my mom threw a fit. The sun still set at night, but always had that little morning glow to it. Almost like a storm was about to start, but no rain ever fell. At this point, the sky wasn’t pretty to look at, possibly looking worse than it had previously. The atmosphere gave me the chills, to be honest.
“Sean, you want to go in and watch a movie with Paige? It looks like it is going to start raining. I’ll make you guys a big bowl of popcorn,” I said, letting my voice fill with excitement to try and draw them in.
I really hoped they wouldn’t pull the “I haven’t gone on the pony yet” card. The sky was giving me the creeps and I wanted to get out of there. I shifted from one foot to the other with my arms crossed over my chest. They looked at each other and whispered, their tiny hands cupped to each other’s ears. Then they both glanced at me and agreed to see a movie. I sighed in relief as I took their hands so we could stroll back to my house. I had to tell my parents and Paige’s parents so they wouldn’t worry when they didn’t see us outside.
We walked to the Jones’s back yard where most of the parents were sitting on the porch at the tables they had brought. Their laughter could be heard clear as a bell from the front yard where the horses were. Finally, I saw my parents sitting on deck furniture, drinking some form of alcohol that appeared summery with fun, tropical colors. Someone said something funny that had the parents howling once more. I would have needed aspirin if I were with them the whole time.
“Mom, Sean and Paige want to go watch a movie at our house. They’re getting bored.” I added the lie knowing she wouldn’t care about that little detail because she’d seen right through it.
We were close, and she knew her two children very well, our likes and dislikes even our very small habits. A lie could be sensed from another floor in or out of the house by my mother.
“Honey, didn’t you at least try to have fun?” my mom asked, pushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear before looking down at my brother.
I looked into my mother’s bright jean-blue eyes. I’ve got the same ones while my brother has green eyes. Sean and I both had the same auburn hair my mother had. Mine was curly like my grandpa’s, and it fell two inches below my shoulders.
“Lauren, how about you take Cole and Jill with you to watch the movie? They’ve been here playing cards the whole time. They’re probably bored out of their minds.”
“Okay, Mom, I’ll take them.”
It wasn’t like it would affect me. They would be watching a little kid movie. I didn’t care. I had no problem admitting I still liked Disney movies.
I turned around to see Cole (who was sixteen) and Jill (who was fifteen) playing war with a deck of cards, looking really bored and sitting at a circular, wooden picnic table on the deck. Mandy, on the other side of the table, sat with her head rested on her folded arms. At nine years old, Mandy was an only child, so she attached herself to the other neighbors. I walked over to them with Paige and Sean at my side. They were whining about how they wanted the movie now. The movie that I had to talk them into seeing was now taking too long to get started for their taste.
“You guys want to get out of here and watch a movie at our house?”
The two of them gazed at the cards as the parents continued on with high pitched laughter and then glanced at each other. They got up and trailed the three of us to my house. The door was unlocked since my parents lived next door and the whole neighborhood was outside, so we didn’t have to bother with carrying around keys. I pushed open the door; then the six of us headed downstairs to the basement. Flicking on the lights, we got to the corner of the basement, which my father had separated from the rest of the basement. In this spot my dad built a sound-proof room so everyone in the house wouldn’t have to listen to the video games or the shows that would be playing.
We walked in and I closed the door behind us. Sean and Paige ran over to the shelves of movies in order to pick one they both would like. Their eyes gazed at each title. The other three went to the table and started a new game of cards, whispering to each other. I guess they couldn’t really talk with the adults always chuckling. It was always a lot easier to talk when the adults weren’t in hearing range. I was the same way at times.
The two finally picked some Disney movie so I set it up and then sat on the couch with them. I put my thin-rimmed glasses on so I could get the screen to focus a little better. Forty minutes into the movie, when all of us were settled and calm, it started. The house began to vibrate and the TV went black. The lights flickered, then went completely off. The two little ones bellowed in annoyance, but that quickly turned into apprehension. My nerves were set off as I felt my hands start to shake along with the rest of the house.
Thinking quickly, I pushed all six of us under the table that just a moment ago was the home of a card game. I mentally thanked my mom for putting the old kitchen table down here instead of getting rid of it. I drew Sean closer to me as we squeezed as close as possible in order to fit. I buried my face in my brother’s hair as I felt the fear of death breathing down my neck.
As the tremor continued, heat and a gagging smell filled the basement. Paige started to cry into my shoulder while holding tightly to me. Her tiny fingers gripped the top of my shirt. I wrapped an arm around Paige to bring her closer to Sean and me. I could feel the sweat on my body from the heat, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was getting through this.
The sounds of wood buckling and glass shattering were muted against the clashing noises that I couldn’t pinpoint. The TV fell over and the screen shattered, shooting glass fragments around the room. The shelves that once held DVD’s and games quivered before collapsing to the ground.
After what felt like forever, though it was more likely just over an hour, the earth started to wobble less. Eventually, it completely stopped and the world seemed still. It took me a bit to even realize the shaking had stopped. The sudden quiet left a new air of heat on top of the New Jersey humidity, which already lingered over the state. A weird stench filled my nose, nearly burning the inside of my nostrils. I didn’t want to move for fear the floor would be taken from right under me. My legs were probably as undependable as the house had been just a moment ago. Slowly, I let go of the two little ones to creep out from under the table. I had to pry their fingers from me. None of us wanted to let go.
“Where are you going?” asked Cole, looking very worried.
The others were appearing more frightened than him. All of them were still clinging to one another. Mandy was holding onto Jill, trembling. Jill’s dark eyes were wide with fear as she held onto Cole. Paige and Sean attached themselves to Cole since I was gone. They were too petrified to move.
“Stay there, you guys. I’m going to see what just happened.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Cole, starting to shift to see if he could find a way out from underneath the table.
“Cole, stay with them.” I tried to muster up a hiss of an order, yet my voice wavered. “Someone needs to keep an eye on everyone, so you stay.”
I tiptoed toward the door. Each step was hesitant. I was preparing for the floor to start moving again. I could see the door only because steam poured through the cracks of the frame. I went to open the door, but I could feel the heat radiating from the door knob a few inches above it. Knowing I had to go through, I grabbed the blanket from the couch and wrapped it around the knob so I would be able to turn it.
When it swung open, I never thought I would witness anything like it. In front of the door, a rock the size of half my house blocked the stairs, a searing smoke emanating from it. The little of the sky that could be seen was black, and an eerie red glow striped the dark clouds. Utter silence has never sat well with me. There wasn’t even any laughter from where the parents were.
We needed to get out of there right now. This was all very, very bad. “Hello! Someone help us!” I screamed, my voice cracking with panic several times.
After what seemed to be the hundredth time of high-pitched screeching for help, I felt tears in my eyes. Smoke drifted around me, irritating my throat and eyes. I fell to my knees, wondering what just happened and why no one was coming to help us. I coughed, feeling the smoke filling my lungs. My throat felt raw from the yelling. I knew I had to get the kids out of here if there was any chance of surviving. I got up and pushed some of the ash that was mixed with parts of my house off of my legs. That was when I heard a sound.
“Help!” I screamed, feeling a little relief come.
I stared up in the haze to try to make out the face above me. I couldn’t, but it was someone who could help us out of here. Ash, drywall, and God only knows what else was clogging my sight.
“Is someone down there?”
“Yes!” I shrieked, not able to hold back the jumpiness of my nerves. “Yes, there are six of us down here! Can you help us?”
“There are six of you?” His voice was deep. “So more people did survive.”
I took a deep breath because I felt sick after his last sentence. “What do you mean?” I questioned, not really sure if he heard me.
“Hold on a second. I’ll come down and help you guys!”
Rope appeared a few minutes later. I didn’t bother moving, since I was stuck where I was. I watched the stranger as he lowered himself down to help us. When he was a few feet above the ground, he let go and landed right in front of me. By the little light provided by the scarlet, smouldering sky, I was just able to see who was standing in front of me. Part of the reason I could tell who it was is because I had seen him so often.

Cutting this scene short ;)


End of the Line
Kindle .99
Nook $1.99
E-reader .99
Paperback $8.99

Friday, November 23, 2012

Cover Revealing ~ Shawn Maravel!

Hey Lovelies!
Sorry for all the MIA-ness! I have a treat for you, a cover revealing of the lovely author Shawn Maravel's book Know Thy Neighbor! Not only that, but I have an interview!


Blurb: Evangeline has already lost everything once. She’s no stranger to reassembling the shambles of her life and trying to make peace with the outcome of the greatest tragedy that she’s ever had to face. But when a life of selling antiques in the Lower East Side proves to be less than enough to maintain her meager lifestyle, she turns to the pages of her thriller novels for distraction.

When a mysterious new tenant moves into the apartment above hers, she indulges her desire for danger and adventure by trying to figure out exactly who the stranger in 6C is. In time, the intrigue about a neighbor she has yet to actually see, isn’t enough to keep her distracted from the threat of having to close down her shop and start from scratch for the second time. Just as she tries to refocus her attention to breathing life back into her business, she meets the handsome stranger for the first time and she loses sight of everything else.

Soon her life takes on the exciting appeal of her novels and she can’t seem to get enough. But as she draws closer to the mystery tenant, she discovers that the danger is real and her life is left in the hands of a dangerous killer.


Interview:


1. Where did the idea of this story come from?

Know Thy Neighbor was inspired by a dark stairwell and a wild imagination. I wondered what it would be like to run into a talk, dark, and handsome stranger in the stairwell of your apartment. The idea snowballed from there.

2. This story is a little different then your other stories, did you find it hard to write?

I did actually. I loved presenting myself with a challenge but it ended up taking me over a year to complete this story. There were a few times I thought I never would. I wasn't sure how to end it and at times I thought it was going nowhere. I finally recruited my husband to help me with the action scenes and to help with certain other plot details and that made it much easier to complete. Without him I doubt I'd have the confidence or the material to see this project to the end.

3. Are you similar in any way with the main character?

Not at all. We both like antiques, that's about it. haha. Evangeline is very curious and adventurous. I've always been a lot more cautious. She likes the suspense aspect of books and life and I'm much more content to know as little as possible about what scares me. If it scares her, it occupies a great deal of her attention. She's much braver than I am.

4. Where did you get the cover idea from? Was there almost another option?

I wanted a photo of a girl looking out her window, that much I knew. Evangeline watches John on a few occasions as he sneaks around at night and for a while the view from her apartment window is all she has to go off of. Originally I'd wanted to use a different image but I found this one right around the time I completed the book and I just knew that it was perfect. I hope that readers agree.

5. What is your favorite part about cover design?

Know Thy Neighbor is the second book where I've used a stock photo, Shifting Gears being the first. I like having options for cover design. I can use stock photos through the site that I publish through, Createspace which I did for Volition & Severance's first edition covers. I can also use my own photos like with my Volition series second edition covers as well as with my other Rider series novel, The Wanderer. OR, like with this novella and Shifting Gears, as mentioned, I can use a stock photo website. Being self-published means that it's my choice as to which outlet I use. And in this case I had already seen a bunch of stock images that I liked, so it was just a matter of finding the right one. And once you do, it's like everything's real all of a sudden. It's the beautiful wrapping on a gift you hope that you readers will enjoy.

6. What is your favorite part of writing a story?

My favorite part is finishing it and looking back on a story that had started out as no more than an idea. It's like a huge weight has been lifted and I can just enjoy that I've written another book.

7. What is your favorite type of muffin?

Haha, hmmm....let's see. I'm not a big muffin fan but my go-to muffin would have to be cornbread.

8. On facebook you are known for showing your latest fashion in nails, what has been your favorite design/color you have done?

Since becoming pregnant my nails have been super long and they haven't been breaking. This is something that is very new to me so YES I am taking as much advantage as I can. I think I paint my nails about once or twice a week. My fall-back is usually a french manicure but I love sparkles, so if I can incorporate them somehow than I'm usually pretty happy with the outcome.

9. You have had both objects and people on your cover, do you prefer one over the other?

I think it all depends on the book. I also like scenery, which I have for the first edition covers of the Volition series. It all depends on the target audience and the book's theme. I liked using objects in the Volition series on their covers but I also like using photos. Though with people I prefer that they're suggestive, like with The Wanderer and Shifting Gears. You can't see the men's faces. If you could, not everyone might find them attractive. I like to allow my readers to be able to create their own image of my characters, even if I have my own vision of what my characters look like, I don't want to force them on readers.

10. Do you have a favorite out of your own book covers?

I really like my second edition Volition series covers. It took a while and some tweaking to arrive at them but they're colorful and vibrant and I was able to use my own photography for them.

11. You are having your first little one, little Landon, is there a book you grew up with that you can't wait to read to him?

Goodnight Moon :). There are quite a lot actually but that one I remember the most. It's simple but it's sweet.

12. What is your favorite color?

Light green. 

13. What book are you currently reading?

I am reading Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman. 

14. Do you picture your books as movies?

Oh definitely. I'm a very visual person, so when I write my books I write them as if they are movies playing out in my head. 

15. What is your least favorite chore to do around the home?

Favorite chores? Is there such a thing? haha. I guess if I had to pick, I'd have to say vacuuming. It's pretty quick and painless chore with instant gratification. I do quite a lot of chores since I'm a homemaker and I really enjoy a well kept home. 



Saturday, November 17, 2012

Free Ebook ~ End of the Line

Hey Lovelies!
Sorry for being so MIA! To make up for that, this weekend only End of the Line will be FREE for all ebooks! All you have to do is get it off Smashwords during this limited time! Then well, enjoy :)
When so much is lost how does one to have the strength to move on? At seventeen Lauren was prepared for yet another year of school. Then asteroids hit, killing all of those she knew except for a few other teens from her neighborhood. Joining forces with her classmate Aaron, they work together on the journey in the hopes of finding more people that are alive. On the way, threats of starvation, illness, and freezing to death don’t compare to the danger of Dean Manson. Manson is an ex-con out for revenge against Aaron. With so much working against them these teens fight for everything even if it means denying their feelings just for the chance to see a new day. 

Friday, November 16, 2012

Indie Giveaway Winners!

I would like to thank Shawn for hosting this fabulous giveaway. Indie authors are less known, true diamond in the rough at times. Just waiting for a reader to discover the story that the author worked so hard to get out there. Thank you Shawn again for hosting this and congrats for all the winners! (Again sorry for most of this post is not mine I am 'borrowing' it from Shawn because my brain is still scattered from student teaching. I will be back soon! Actually the words I'm noticing it's mostly the pictures I'm using!

Thank you for everyone who entered their work into the contest. Thank you for all those who entered, and lastly thank you for all those who helped spread the word of the giveaway! Without all those factors the contest would not be to the grand extent that it became. I hope everyone got to learn about new authors they might not have heard of before.

CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS!!!


AND NOW TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS

The winner of prize pack number one is....Tich!
Congratulations, Tich, I hope that you enjoy your new bundle of books!


The winner of prize pack number two is...Hana!
Congratulations, Hana, I hope that you are as moved by these stories as I was!

The winner of prize pack number three is...Cordelia!
Congratulations, Cordelia, you will definitely enjoy this bundle of books!

The winner of prize pack number four is...Kassandra!
Congratulations, Kassandra, you've got quiet the variety there!

And the winner of Emily White's pre-ordered ecopy of To Love or Die in a Steamy-reamy World is...Heather!
Congratulations, Heather, this sounds like such a cool read!


Sunday, November 4, 2012

Indie Giveaway!

Hey Lovelies!
Hope Sandy was nicer to you all then to me, I still don't have power! However here is an Indie Giveaway that the lovely Shawn Maravel is hosting. I have 600+ emails and not going to go into how much school I'm behind not only my class but teaching wise! So out of this I am stealing Shawn's post for the giveaway! enjoy :) End of the line is one of the options and you'll win not one book, but FOUR!


This giveaway is to help get the word out about some really great Indie and Self-published authors and their books. Be sure to check them all out. So many awesome books have been donated to the giveaway and a lot of them are even signed. I have also included my reviews for some of the novels in the giveaway that I have had the pleasure of reading thus far. So, read the reviews, check out these awesome books, and enter for a chance to win some great bundle packs. And don't forget to spread the word.

There will be FOUR winners. That's right, each giveaway package will be given to one lucky winner, so be sure to let me know which package you've got your eye on by leaving a comment below. 

In addition to donating Elemental, Emily White is also offering a pre-ordered ebook copy of To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World, release date set for December 22, 2012 on all major online retailers ($.99 for ebook/$2.99 for print).

Blurb: 10 Tales of Steampunk Silliness and Spookery.

In the cozy seaside village of Steamville, New Hampshire, an unfaithful zombie, out of control werebots, succubi in corsets, and more wreak havoc in this short story collection.


Find These Books on Goodreads: SLAMMED, Volition, Severance, End of the Line, Love Story, Kiss Me, I'm Irish, Souls in Peril, Spiritus, Tiger's Curse, Tiger's Quest, The Z Word, Preservation, Hollowland, Shifting Gears, Elemental, Babe in BoylandTo Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World


My Reviews For: 
End of the Line by Ottile Weber 
Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman 
Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck 
SLAMMED by Colleen Hoover 
Love Story by Jennifer Echols 
The Z Word by Bella Street 
Kiss Me, I'm Irish by Bella Street 
Spiritus by Dana Michelle Burnett 
Souls in Peril by Sherry Gammon
Elemental by Emily White
Preservation by Rachael Wade
(Review by Ottilie Weber) Volition by Shawn Kirsten Maravel
(Review by Ottilie Weber) Severance by Shawn Kirsten Maravel
(Review by Ottilie Weber) Shifting Gears by Shawn Kirsten Maravel

a Rafflecopter giveaway