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.
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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
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
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
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
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?
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.
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
