Friday, January 29, 2016

STATE OF DESTRUCTION RELEASE: Win a BRAND NEW 7" KINDLE FIRE TOUCH TABLET




Title: State of Destruction 
Series: Collapse Series #7 
Author: Summer Lane 
Release Date: January 29th, 2016 

Synopsis: 

The destruction of California is at hand. 

Cassidy Hart and Chris Young have survived a dangerous mission into the heart of Sky City, a secret Omega base hidden deep in the mountains, but their vengeance has come with a price. The dark, ominous cloud of nuclear war threatens to destroy everything they love, and they are forced to make one final stand against Omega's western invasion force. 

San Francisco. 
Cassidy and her friends retreat to Alcatraz Island, regrouping with their lethal strike team, the Angels of Death. Their mission: infiltrate the most important Omega base on the west coast, and assassinate everyone they find there, including a new and dangerous enemy, the ruthless Omega leader Veronica Klaus. 

The clock is ticking. 
Ashes rain from the sky. Cassidy Hart must make a choice. 
What is more important? Victory, love or revenge?

Omega is the enemy's name. 
Survival of the fittest is their game. 

Cassidy Hart will not stop until she has saved California...but will she be too late? 

Book 7 of the Bestselling Collapse Series by Summer Lane.


Get it on Kindle and Barnes & Noble!

Add to your Shelf on GoodReads.


Happy Release Day! 
I feel like this book has been a really long time in the making, and sharing it with you guys today is both a relief and a privilege. Thank you for your support - and if you love the book, please leave a review on Amazon! Your public words of kindness mean a lot to authors like me. 

Win A Kindle Fire Tablet
Love to read? Love to play? Then you'll adore this 7" Kindle Fire Tablet, full of vibrant color, giving you access to millions of books in the Kindle Store. I'm also giving away two collectible art prints from the Collapse Series - one of Chris Young, and another of the winner's choice. 
There will be three winners, total. 

This is an international giveaway. 
Good luck, and thanks for the love! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Monday, January 25, 2016

Get a Copy of State of Destruction for FREE!

State of Destruction, the seventh installment in the Collapse Series, is releasing this Friday, on January 29th, 2016. As you know, it's wonderful readers like YOU who make the writing world go round, so, as always, I'm offering complimentary copies of my book to anyone willing to leave an honest review of the novel on Amazon and/or GoodReads. 

You don't HAVE to own a blog or website to participate in this. All you have to do is leave a review on Amazon.com or GoodReads. Easy! In return, you get a free copy of my book - something that has taken months and months of hard work to create! 

To snag your free copy, all you have to do is sign up below! Thank you! 


Friday, January 22, 2016

"I'm Currently Reading...." January 2016 Edition!

Every once in a while I write a post about the books that I am currently in the process of reading. Right now, I'm working on three. I've been really busy this month with work and wedding-related-planning, so I haven't had much time to read. But I'm working on it! Here are my January picks, from my shelf, to yours! 

Battle Dress
by Amy Efaw 
17 year-old Andrea Davis joins West Point as a cadet, determined to overcome the odds and prove to herself that she has what it takes to make it in the U.S. Army's most prestigious service academy. 

This is a book about the first six weeks of training, also called "The Beast." This book was loaned to me by my fiance's mother, and I'm really liking it so far. I'm getting Cadet Kelly flashbacks while I'm reading. 

The Martian
by Andry Weir 
Man gets stranded on Mars. Consequentially, somebody's gotta rescue him, and in the meantime, he has to learn how to survive on a barren planet. 

Unlike the rest of the country, I have not yet had a chance to see the movie or read the book. I snagged this one at Barnes and Noble last week, and I am VERY excited about it. 

House
by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker 
Okay, I admit it. I am guilty of hanging onto this book for a full year before actually reading it. I lost it in the trunk of my car. It was buried under two blankets and a first aid kit. Sorry, okay? I've never read an adult novel by Frank Peretti so I'm hoping it lives up to my expectations. 



So there it is! My January reads. I used to read three books a week, but now I read about three a month because I am so busy WRITING books these days! 

I also just downloaded a collection of Virginia Woolf's extended essay, A Room of One's Own, so there's another reading idea for you! Have a great week - I'll be checking back in soon!






Monday, January 18, 2016

APOCALYPSIS: BOOK ONE (And Novel Giveaway)


Kahayatle
Elle Casey
(Apocalypsis #1)
Publication date: June 22nd 2012
Genres: Horror, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Young Adult


NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, ELLE CASEY, brings readers Book 1 of 4 in the YA Dystopian APOCALYPSIS Series, suitable for older teens and adults.

KAHAYATLE. My name’s Bryn Mathis. I’m seventeen years old, and I live in a neighborhood outside of Orlando, Florida. I live alone because my dad died almost a year ago, along with all the other adults in the world. I’m almost out of food and the gangs of kids that roam around my town are getting more vicious by the day. It’s time for me to leave and find another place to live … a place where I can find food and shelter … a place where they won’t be able to find me. Alone, it might have been possible, but now I’ve got company. I’m worried that I don’t have what it takes to get from here to my final destination, and I have no idea what might be waiting for me when I get there.
Content Warning: Mild violence and some foul language. Meant for older Young Adult readers (age 15+). This book is in the Dark Science Fiction / Horror / Post-Apocalyptic genres, featuring teen characters only.



APOCALYPSIS SERIES READING ORDER
Kahayatle (Apocalypsis Book 1) **Special introductory ebook price**
Warpaint (Apocalypsis Book 2)
Exodus (Apocalypsis Book 3)
Haven (Apocalypsis Book 4)

This series is dedicated to the amazing, wonderful Native Americans who populate our nation, continuing their traditions and reminding the rest of us that sometimes, progress isn’t always the best thing for our people. I invite you to learn more about the Miccosukee tribe, their history, culture, and lifestyle by visiting this website: http://www.miccosukee.com/indian-village/
Currently available for FREE!
EXCERPT:

Prologue
I STUFFED THE SLEEPING BAG down into my backpack with angry, punching motions, sick and tired of having to be here and having to do the same thing over and over again. I hated camping, I hated being organized, and more than anything, I hated what this exercise stood for.
“Don’t do it like that. I told you – you have to conserve the room as best you can. You have to travel as efficiently as possible. Take it out and start over.”

“I don’t see what difference it makes.”
“Trust me, it’s going to be a really big deal to you in the not so distant future.” His voice sounded hollow.
“Says who?” I was being ornery. I knew the answer to the question already.
“Says me, Bryn. And the news. Look around, would you?” He sounded like he was pleading now. “Stop defaulting back to the rebellious young teen act, and get serious. We don’t have enough time to play those games anymore.”
“They’re not games, Dad. I am a teenager. I don’t care what the news jerks and the government say.” I threw my backpack down on the ground. “And it’s not rebellious to not want to play friggin’ survivor in the backyard every day.”
My dad looked at me with a sad expression and sighed, reaching over to pull me into a tight hug. He dropped his nose to my head and inhaled deeply.
My face was pressed up against his shirt, and I could smell his sweat mixed with the sweet scent of his aftershave. My dad always said he was the last of a dying breed, using that stuff. He couldn’t have been more right.
“Maybe it’s not going to happen here … to us.” I said it just to hear the words, but I knew it was only wishful thinking.
I could tell he was getting choked up again when he started talking, his voice now hoarse.
“I wish, more than anything else in this world, that you didn’t have to be standing here with me in this backyard playing survivor.” His whole body started to shake with silent sobs. “Oh, God, Bryn. If I could do anything to change this, anything at all, I would. I swear to God I would. But it’s happening. No one can stop it.”
I put my arms around his waist, letting go of my earlier stubborn anger, now choking back my own tears. “I know, Dad. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, you did,” he said, sniffing hard and clearing his throat, shifting to hold me at arm’s length. He was staring at me while he smiled through his tears, giving me that look. The one that always made me confess.
“Okay, so maybe I did mean it. But I’ll shut up about it for a little while.”
“Not for too long, though. You wouldn’t be my daughter if you weren’t complaining about something.”
I tried to slap him playfully but he moved too fast for me. My dad is light on his feet, an expert level-one practitioner of krav maga – a certified badass. He’d only recently taken up camping.
“Pick it up,” he ordered, now back in control of his emotions. “Do it again. Only this time, get the air out of that bag first, condense it down …”
I cut him off. “I know, I know … ‘down into the smallest footprint possible.’ Geez, Dad, I’m not an idiot.”
I shook the sleeping bag out and started rolling it up quickly, using the moves I’d been practicing for four months straight to squeeze it down into a lump the size of a small loaf of bread. I folded the whole thing in half, pushed it to the bottom of the backpack, and then let it unfold itself one time, before putting the other items in on top of it: unbreakable water bottle, half-liter of bleach, square of plastic, cup, hunting knife, and various other tools my father was quite certain I would need … once all the adults in the world had died off, leaving us kids alone to fend for ourselves.


Author Bio:
Elle Casey is a prolific, NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling American writer who lives in Southern France with her husband, three kids, and several furry friends. She writes in several genres and publishes an average of one full-length novel per month.

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Thursday, January 14, 2016

10 Things to Think About When The World Ends (Do Me A Favor and STAY ALIVE!)

Have you ever just sat around and thought, "If the world ended right this second, what would I need to survive?" 
No? Yes? 
Is my inner apocalyptic-nerd showing? 
Oh. Well, don't worry. I'm unashamed about these things. 

I sit around and think about this every once in a while (Translation: I think about this A LOT.), and it got me to thinking: what sorts of things do we live with every day that we would HAVE to find a way to obtain to survive in a post-apocalyptic world? Here are 10 things I thought of, that perhaps you haven't yet! 

1. Dentists. I took my mom to a dentist appointment a couple of days ago, and it dawned on me in the parking lot: can you imagine living in an apocalyptic wasteland with a toothache? I'm not even joking! For centuries, people would die of tooth infections and an apocalypse would certainly make such a fate very real once again. My advice? Find yourself a dentist and marry him. Just in case. 
2. Pain Medication. Let's be real. When we have a headache, we reach for an Advil, and when we have a cold, we reach for DayQuil. In a world without medications, something as simple as a small cough could quickly become fatal. Luckily, I've heard that over-the-counter pills like Tylenol and NyQuil in tablet form could save well into the apocalypse as long as you keep the bottles sealed. Stock up, guys! 
3. Glasses. For people like me, who whole-heartedly depend on prescription glasses to get my work done, the prospect of being deprived of said lenses is petrifying. Thankfully, I think there are enough cheap reading glasses from Dollar Tree to make foraging for them in the end times worth our while. Crisis averted. 

4. Soap. I go into red alert mode when I haven't showered for just one day. Can you imagine going for weeks - or even months? Yeah...here in America, it's hard to think about. I honestly think that stocking up on soap and hygiene items is a good idea - apocalypse or not! 
Say hello to your new bedroom. 
5. Hot Water and Indoor Plumbing. Speaking of soap, we'll most likely be deprived of clean, filtered, hot water during the dog days of destruction. And hey, say goodbye to a flushing toilet. We'll all just have to get used to using shrubs. And honestly, during the apocalypse, that's the least of our worries, so OH WELL. (Note: Although you might want to store five tons of toilet paper in your basement. Just in case.) 
6. Telephones. This one is a no-brainer. I mean, come on. Who would be carrying around their iPhone 6 Plus after the apocalypse strikes the globe? (Please don't say Kim Kardashian. PLEASE.) Think about it, though. Without phones, you will have to resort to staying in touch with your fellow survivors the old fashioned way. The Pony Express, smoke signals, and cryptically delivered codes scratched on pieces of torn tree bark. (You get what I'm saying, right?) 
7. Matches. Starting a fire with two rocks is NOT EASY. I don't care how many times you've seen Bear Grylls do it. He doesn't count. He's not a real person. For most people, staring a fire with just a couple of rocks or some sticks is darn near impossible unless you've had a LOT of practice, and believe me, you're going to miss the heat of a fire on cold winter nights. I suggest you either join the Boy Scouts or buy Costco's entire stock of matches. Either or is a suitable option. 
8. Tweezers. I want to be one of the first to say: the facial hair on women in apocalyptic movies is not realistic! Let's face it, women tweeze and pluck a little bit now and again, and keeping our faces smooth and hairless would be a lot harder in the middle of a barren desert. Keep some tweezers on hand at all times. Mankind's fate may someday be in your hands, and you don't want to be sporting a unibrow when your big moment comes. 
9. Dog and Cat Food. I know, I know. Dogs and cats can hunt their own food...but if they have been domesticated, they most likely won't. What will they eat? Better be prepared to share your food portions with your sweet babies! It's one of the first things that I think of when I'm thinking about emergency supplies. 
10. Entertainment. Well, duh. No more movies, no more radio and no more television. Say goodbye to Food Network. Don't worry, there's an easy fix for this one. Books! They cannot be affected by the apocalypse. Thank goodness. Collect all you can, while you can! **ominous music** 

What kind of things would stock up in preparation for the apocalypse? What things would you miss the most? 

Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend! 




Monday, January 11, 2016

IMMUREMENT: Post-Apocalyptic Undergrounders Series #1 (Also: Win a BUG-OUT BAG!)


Immurement
Norma Hinkens
(The Undergrounders Series, #1)
Publication date: December 16th, 2015
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult

The earth’s core overheats. The sovereign leader vanishes. A young girl is the survivors’ only hope …
What little land is habitable is patrolled by cutthroat gangs of escaped subversives, but that’s not the greatest threat facing sixteen-year-old Derry Connelly, her brother Owen, and a ragged band of Preppers holed up in a bunker in the Sawtooth Mountains. Mysterious hoverships operated by clones are targeting adolescents for extraction.
Owen, is one of the first to disappear. To save him, Derry must strike a deal with the murderous subversives, and risk a daring raid to infiltrate the heart of the extraction operation.
But will the rookie leader falter when forced to choose between her brother and a clone who ignites something inside her she didn’t know was possible?
Are you a reviewer? You can request a review copy here!
EXCERPT:
Someone gives a feeble clap. 
“Magnificent! A most rousing speech to rally the heathens, Mason!”
My feet fuse to the floor at the raspy voice that wafts into the room. Tucker strains at his collar. I yank him back, my heart pounding.
A shrunken man with an unnatural stoop steps into view. My skin crawls with a new level of fear. My gun’s in the Crematauto, along with the rest of the weapons. I fumble around in my pocket and latch onto my switchblade. A trickle of sweat runs down behind my ears. The man standing in the entry looks freakishly old and frail. Tucker could take him down in a heartbeat, but my brain sounds an inner caution. He probably didn’t come alone.
Before I even finish my thought, the doorway darkens and four armed men in black fatigues troop through. Big-shouldered, faces set like flint on necks thick as tree stumps. Schutz Clones! I tighten my grip on Tucker and command him to stay. One false move and he’ll end up another carcass waiting to be incinerated. He minds me, but tension radiates through his collar.
“Welcome to the Craniopolis,” the old man says. “My apologies for the modest welcoming committee, but your timing is most unfortunate. Everyone is at the unveiling of our new Hovermedes prototype.” His body shakes out a shallow breath, as he shuffles toward me. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Lyong.”
I slide my gaze in Mason’s direction. His face registers confusion. Then a flicker of recognition.
“What … happened to you?” he asks, in a half-whisper.
Dr. Lyong jerks to a stop in front of me and lets out a long, trembling sigh. It’s all I can do not to gag. His breath smells of decaying compost.
“Restructuring DNA proved more complex than I had hoped.” Dr. Lyong runs a finger under his beaked nose and waves it dismissively in Mason’s direction. The skin is stretched so tight over his hand I can see the grape-colored veins forking out beneath it. He barely looks human.
I can’t repress a shudder.


About the Author 
Norma Hinkens grew up among vibrant storytelling traditions in her native Ireland. A Celtic bard at heart, she wields her wordsmithing sword with as much wit and eloquence as a bard can muster. She's a legend-loving author who takes a fiendish delight in pushing reluctant characters over cliffs to find out what they're made of. Epic odds, seemingly impossible missions, pasts that haunt, intrigue and misadventure. She's happiest when wrangling provocative big picture ideas that are never black and white when you turn them inside out. It's all about the tension in the journey. She lived and worked in Germany for several years, and currently resides in California with her husband, three children and Chihuahua extraordinaire. She is the author of The Undergrounders Series, Immurement, Embattlement and Adjudgement, a Young Adult post-apocalyptic, sci-fi adventure trilogy.

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Friday, January 8, 2016

The Dogs of War: How K-9 Units Inspired Me to Write Bravo: Apocalypse Mission

I'm currently in the midst of writing a brand new adventure series called The Bravo Saga. It takes you on a journey with a loyal, stalwart German Shepherd bomb dog named Bravo, who becomes separated from his handler and friend when the apocalypse descends upon the world. 

Cheery stuff, I know. 
That's how I roll. 

Anyway, when I was around ten years-old, I was able to watch a demonstration of a law enforcement canine tracking and attacking a criminal. It was the highlight of my year, let me tell you. Watching that German Shepherd, in all of his furry glory, streak across a parking lot and sink his teeth into a planted "criminal," was a lot of fun. I was obsessed. German Shepherds - and working dogs of all kinds - became my secret (and by secret, I mean NOT SO SECRET) love. 

I've had a story about a dog brewing in my mind for a long time. I adore animals, and I've always felt that they are done an injustice in the literary world, in that there really aren't a lot of books starring the dog. Even my own Zero Trilogy features a dog as a supporting character. 

I was slightly afraid, at first, to branch out and write a series that starred a dog - and only a dog. A series in which the supporting characters are the humans, and the dog takes center stage. How do you get into a dog's head? How do you see what he sees, and feel what he feels? How do you make that experience realistic and gritty? 

First of all, lots of research. My dad has been working in law enforcement since before I was even born, so I was naturally raised with a deep appreciation for K-9 units. I've talked to dog owners, K-9 handlers and trainers, and seen canines trained and walked. I've done all that and more. 

But honestly, when it comes to understanding the mind of a dog, the best thing you can do is just spend time with one. Nobody is more loyal than a dog. You can learn a lot about a canine by watching and listening. My approach to Bravo the bomb dog was fairly simple: what matters to a dog? I asked myself that question constantly. I wanted to write a very adult, very realistic look into the inner world of a canine. It was one of the most educational experiences of my life - and it still is, because I'm not finished with the book yet! 

The most fascinating part of Bravo's book was the research into the training procedures for K-9s bred to go into the field, be it law enforcement or the military. There definitely is a difference between how a police dog is trained and how, say, a dog in the Marines is trained. BIG. 

These dogs are dangerous, loyal to a fault, totally selfless, talented and willing to die to keep their handlers safe. They are the dogs of war, and they kick (or bite!) major butt. Canines bred for work like this are raised in an environment that fosters loyalty to their handler. A dog will bond with their handler, too, so it is important that the dog be trained by the same person he will be going into the field with. They will learn to trust each other, to love each other. In many cases, the dog actually lives in his handler's house and protects his family, too, even when he's off duty. Talk about selfless! These dogs are amazing. 

By extension, I think it's important to note that canines in law enforcement and the military are not bred to kill. They are bred to protect and save lives. They're heroes! Remember Diesel, the working canine who was slain in the Paris Terror Attacks? Dogs deserve just as much recognition as their human counterparts. 

I cannot wait to share Bravo: Apocalypse Mission with you guys. The release is scheduled for this Spring, and I am feverishly trying to get everything done to prepare for it. Wish me luck - because I'm going to need it! 

I would encourage anyone reading this post to check out the Warrior Canine Connection, an organization who "enlists recovering warriors in a therapeutic mission of learning to train service dogs for their fellow veterans." It's really an amazing concept. Wounded or recovering vets are given a dog to train for other veterans, and in the process, the dog provides much-needed therapy for a soldier suffering from PTSD or any form of injury.

I would also like to recommend The Wounded Warrior Project. I'm sure you already know all about these guys, but they do really great working helping our wounded servicemen and women, and by reaching out to their families, as well. 




Monday, January 4, 2016

Setting Your Writing Goals for 2016: Divide and Conquer!

Welcome to 2016! 
It's a brand new year, and the rush to fulfill all of those New Year's resolutions has fallen upon us. No more diet sodas, start swapping your TV time for a quick run around the track, and for goodness sakes: START WRITING. 

Don't worry, I'm only joking. 
Kind of. 
In all seriousness, the new year can present the seemingly terrifying realization that yes, you have to start writing again. Whether you're a professional author or a writer who spends their free time whiling away on their keyboard, building a thousand imaginary realms, achieving your writing goals can be a bit tricky. Here's how I do it every year. Maybe my tips can help you! 



  • Divide. Let's face it. It's a lot easier to face a massive goal if you have divided it into littler pieces. For example, if you want to eat a whole pie, you start with one slice, and then go from there - one slice at a time. (Unless it's a pie-eating contest, but that ruins my metaphor, so HUSH.) Every year, I decide how many books I want to write. For you it might be one book or fifteen. It doesn't matter. Slice your projected finishing dates for those books into units. March, June, and October. Set some deadlines for first drafts and second drafts. 
  • Stay motivated. Believe me, I know that it can be really hard to stay motivated to write. I keep that motivation by keeping two projects going at a time (at least!). If I'm bored of one manuscript, then I can switch to the other and give myself something new to work on. By extension, I never write on weekends. It's just a rule. I write Mondays through Fridays, and the weekends are the time to rest my creative brain. It keeps me fresh. 
  • Reward Yourself. I play a game with myself when it comes to cranking out 5-6 novels a year. I allow myself to stop and celebrate at the completion of each novel, whether it's a dinner date, a movie in IMAX or a trip to the zoo. Give yourself a fun reward. It's OKAY. 
  • Find Other Writers. I'm not saying that you need to go break the stereotype that writers are isolated hermits living solitary lives because WHO NEEDS PEOPLE, RIGHT? (I may be feeding that stereotype just a BIT...) You can still be the writerly type, because honestly, writing IS something you must do alone. But connecting with other writers and talking about your passion will encourage you to keep writing, too. Try joining NaNoWriMo or joining chats on Twitter. 
  • Keep Your Goals Realistic. It is now that I warn you: DO NOT BE LIKE ME. I am a full-time career author. I write 5-6 novels a year, which means I'm writing, editing and releasing a book just about every 2-3 months. If you are just starting out, I'm telling ya: start a little slower, or you will approach burnout, and no writer wants that. Make your goals realistic and hittable. YOU CAN DO IT. I write like a fiend because I AM a fiend, and because writing is as much a part of me as my beating heart. I cannot make the separation. 
  • Do Your Best. Here's the thing. Even if you're not a career author or aspiring J.K. Rowling: what you have written still matters. Writing is special, and even if you have penned only one sentence, you've done better than most. Writing is really hard, sometimes, but if you keep trying, you're already a winner. Keep at it. I believe in you! 

I have always felt that the best writing in the world is the writing that is done from the heart of someone honest. In other words, don't conform to someone else's style. Be yourself, and let your emotions and thoughts pour onto the page. Pump that lifeblood into your story. Real emotion and real feelings make stories powerful - and it's what makes YOUR stories uniquely YOU. 

Come on. Start writing!