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Saturday, July 23, 2016

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Carver by Jacob Devlin @jacob_devlin @XpressoTours


The Carver
Jacob Devlin
Published by: Blaze Publishing
Publication date: July 19th 2016
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult



THE GIRL IN THE RED HOOD has been looking for her mother for six months, searching from the depths of New York’s subways to the heights of its skyscrapers . . .

THE PRINCE looks like he’s from another time entirely, or maybe he’s just too good at his job at Ye Old Renaissance Faire . . .

THE ACTRESS is lighting up Hollywood Boulevard with her spellbinding and strikingly convincing portrayal of a famous fairy. Her name may be big, but her secrets barely fit in one world . . .

Fifteen-year-old Crescenzo never would have believed his father’s carvings were anything more than “stupid toys.” All he knows is a boring life in an ordinary Virginia suburb, from which his mother and his best friend have been missing for years. When his father disappears next, all Crescenzo has left is his goofy neighbor, Pietro, who believes he’s really Peter Pan and that Crescenzo is the son of Pinocchio. What’s more: Pietro insists that they can find their loved ones by looking to the strange collection of wooden figurines Crescenzo’s father left behind.

With Pietro’s help, Crescenzo sets off on an adventure to unite the real life counterparts to his figurines. It’s enough of a shock that they’re actually real, but the night he meets the Girl in the Red Hood, dark truths burst from the past. Suddenly, Crescenzo is tangled in a nightmare where magic mirrors and evil queens rule, and where everyone he loves is running out of time.


The #roadtripwithpeterpan has begun! THE CARVER is a young adult fairy tale retelling that takes you on a road trip with an adult Peter Pan as he and the children of some of your favorite characters. Together, they must find out what happened to their missing family members as secrets of the old world and new are revealed, with only Pinocchio’s carvings to guide the way. You can get your copy of THE CARVER by Jacob Devlin on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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EXCERPT:

“Welcome to Sirenetta’s Diner, gentlemen. You boys ever dined here before?”
Liam cut right to the chase. “Are you Mr. Bellamy?”
The man’s face fell into a tight frown, but Crescenzo assumed by the figurine that the frown was just his natural expression. “I am he. The Lord of the Diner.”
“Violet sent us,” Crescenzo said.
“Mm. You mean Heather, yes?”
“Sure?” Crescenzo was still trying to figure out the rule on what he should be calling the Old World people. He supposed Pietro would forever be Pietro to him and he understood why he needed the new name, but he didn’t feel that somebody like Violet, who wasn’t a part of any story Crescenzo had heard before, needed an alias.
Mr. Bellamy plopped two brunch menus in front of Liam and Crescenzo and poured them each a cup of coffee, to Crescenzo’s dismay. Then the old man leaned over the counter and furrowed his eyebrows. In a tense whisper, he said, “Your presence brings ruin to my happy New World life! Where you go, trouble will surely follow. Now, what can I serve you this morning?”


Author Bio:
When Jacob Devlin was four years old, he would lounge around in Batman pajamas and make semi-autobiographical picture books about an adventurous python named Jake the Snake. Eventually, he traded his favorite blue crayon for a black pen, and he never put it down. When not reading or writing, Jacob loves practicing his Italian, watching stand-up comedy, going deaf at rock concerts, and geeking out at comic book conventions. He does most of these things in southern Arizona. 

About the Publisher:
BLAZERUN1500Want to stay up to date on everything from Blaze Publishing? Sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing! The first 100 subscribers get free Blaze bookmarks (UK, US, and Canada only) AND get added to our Loyal 100 group, which gives you access to exclusive news, teasers, prizes, and ARCs!


Get ready to give up your time to THE SURRENDERED by Case Maynard–a young adult dystopian sure to suck you in further to with every page! Want to be a part of this new release? You can sign up for the Facebook parties, blog tours, or to review. The #taxonkids is coming!



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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Somniare by D.T. Dyllin @DTDyllin @XpressoTours


Somniare
D.T. Dyllin
(Somniare, #1)
Publication date: July 19th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult



Remy Novem was murdered…

But she didn’t die.

Forced to escape to Somniare, a dream landscape, Remy must somehow survive living nightmares, and endless torment without using her magic. Her only hope for freedom is to hitch a ride with a human back into reality, tricking the poor creature into believing no harm will befall them.

Remy isn’t troubled by the fact that she must kill to live…

Until love changes everything.


*Are you a reviewer? Request a review copy of Somniare here!*

death

bloody


Author Bio:
D.T. Dyllin is a bestselling author who writes both paranormal and contemporary romance. Anything with a love story is her kryptonite. Her obsession with affairs-of-the-heart is what first drove her to begin twisting her own tales of scorching romance.  

D.T. was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Black & Gold for life, baby!) She now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband and two spoiled German Shepherds. 


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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Stolen Twin by Michele Pariza Wacek @MichelePW @XpressoTours


The Stolen Twin
Michele Pariza Wacek
Publication date: November 16th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Psychological Thriller


On the surface, Kit Caldwell has it all. A senior in college with her future ahead of her, lots of friends, lots of parties…not to mention also having the eye of Tommy, the star quarterback of the football team.

But underneath, Kit’s life is a charade, built on a foundation of secrets and lies, including one so dark it threatens to tear her world apart: her twin sister, Cat, was kidnapped when they were both seven, never to be heard from again.

That is, until one dark Halloween night.

But is it really Cat? Or is it someone else, someone playing a sinister and deadly game?

To save herself from imminent danger, Kit, with the help of Tommy and her friends, is forced to go back in time and confront her own personal demons, as she finally discovers what really happened to Cat, all those years ago.


—

Guest Post by Michele Pariza Wacek:

Why it Took Me 10 Years To Publish “The Stolen Twin”

Back in 1998, I quit my job to become a fulltime freelance writer/copywriter.
At the time, there were no coaching, masterminding or mentoring programs that taught you how to set up and run a successful business (or, if there were, I didn’t know about them as the Internet was still in its infancy) so I went to the Small Business Association (SBA) and got myself a counselor.
When the counselor learned what my business plans were, he invited a retired freelance writer to come in and give me some tips.
Well, her “tips” turned out to be her trying to talk me out of becoming a freelance writer. For about 45 minutes, the conversation went something like this:
“Being a freelance writer is a really difficult way to earn a living.”
“Okay, what should I do?”
“Can you get your job back?”
“No, I can’t get my job back.”
“Are you sure? It’s really difficult to earn a living as a freelance writer.”
“Yes, I’m sure I can’t get my job back.”
“You could work full time at your job and on nights and weekends do freelance work until you have enough work to quit.”
“I really can’t get my job back.”
You get the idea. Finally at the end she said “Okay, I guess I can’t talk you out of this so here are a few tips.” And she finally gave me those “tips,” which I dutifully wrote down.
We were getting read to leave when I decided to chime in and tell her “you know, one of the reasons why I’m so excited to become a freelance writer is because then I’ll have time to finally work on my novels.”
She got a look of complete horror on her face and said “Oh my God, NEVER tell anyone you’re working on fiction. You’ll NEVER get any work.”
Now, basically this woman was pretty much dead wrong on everything she told me that day. Even her “tips” were basically worthless. But, for some reason, what she told me about the novels stuck. So, I didn’t talk about my fiction very much, I especially didn’t share about the novel I had written 2002/2003.
If you do have a dream or a creative project that in your heart you know you really want to be working on (what Stephen Covey calls the “important but not urgent”) I’d love for you to take a moment and just breathe into what’s stopping you. You don’t necessarily need to do anything — just take a moment to see what’s keeping you from working on this project.
In my case, I had completely forgotten about this whole exchange until I was getting ready to publish my novel and one of my clients exclaimed “why isn’t it we’ve never heard until now that you’re publishing a novel?”
In other words, something I didn’t even remember kept me stuck.


Author Bio:
When Michele was 3 years old, she taught herself to read because she wanted to write stories so badly. 

As you can imagine, writing has been a driving passion throughout her life. She became a professional copywriter (which is writing promotional materials for businesses), which led to her founding a copywriting and marketing company that serves clients all over the world. 
Along with being a copywriter, she also writes novels (in fact, she just published her first novel, a psychological thriller/suspense/mystery called "The Stolen Twin" and her second novel "Mirror Image'" is set to be published in May 2016) plus, she is also the author of the "Love-Based Copy" books, which are a part of the "Love-Based Business" series and cover both business and personal development. 

She holds a double major in English and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently she lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband Paul and her border collie Nick and southern squirrel hunter Cassie. 

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Friday, July 22, 2016

Review: TV Apocalypse by Kathleen Rovner @KathleenRovner @WTMOreads


TV Apocalypse
by Kathleen Rovner
Published October 16th 2015
Genre: Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Science fiction, Suspense


Blurb:
Even the suburbs aren't safe from the end of the world…

Daisy Danner is your typical busy stay-at-home mom. On most days she tries to keep her head down and finish her never-ending work. Today is different. Today is the apocalypse.

When an eerie attack starts to tear the neighborhood and the world apart, Daisy shuts the doors and prays that her husband Justin will return soon. Her mind begins to fray as she tries to cope with the possibility of single motherhood in a menacing new world.

With her mental and physical abilities compromised, Daisy must keep her family together as the world falls apart.

TV Apocalypse is a psychological apocalyptic thriller set in an all-too-real suburb. If you like end-of-the-world tales, humor mixed with tragedy, and incredible suspense, then you'll love Kathleen Rover's chilling glance into post-apocalyptic suburbia.
BUY LINK:
AMAZON



My Review:

Daisy Danner is your typical stay at home mom with two very wonderful kids; five year old Ian and three year old Darcy. One morning Daisy is woken up by her two little ones wanting her to fix the TV. Daisy wakes slowly as she has the worst headache ever. She has never had migraines before but wonders if that is what is going on. When she finally makes her way downstairs to the living room she finds out the TV is just fine but that there is just an emergency broadcast running across the TV telling everyone to turn off their TVs and turn on the radio to find out what is going with the world.

When she turns on the radio Daisy learns that there is some kind of virus going around that is causing people to go crazy and start killing people and its cause is somehow related to the TV. So she finally gets the kids settled down with a movie on the DVD player. At this point all Daisy is worried about is keeping her family safe and trying to keep two toddlers occupied without a TV which could turn into an ultimate ordeal in itself.

Daisy is also concerned about her husband Justin as he has not made it home yet. Justin along with a lot of other people not only where he works but other places as well were all sent home until further notice; he was sent home that morning but by that evening he had still not made it home.


While TV Apocalypse is about people going crazy and changing and killing people it is not your average run of the mill zombie story. No the zombie/crazy people in TV Apocalypse are different is so many ways. I loved reading TV Apocalypse and I really liked Daisy and how she was with her kids. She was a great mom and knew how to keep kids happy without screaming at them even though she had the worst headache of her life. Daisy had always depended on her husband to protect her and the kids not that she couldn’t do it herself and it was looking like she just may have to do that but hopefully not. She was a real strong woman and mother. But she also had two very great kids to help her out too. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. TV Apocalypse 2: The Death Box. 




About Kathleen Rovner:
I am a mother, a writer, and an avid reader. I write under a pen name due to another professional career. Everyone has a secret in their life, mine is writing.

What's your secret?



Book Blast + #Giveaway: Because I Love You by Tori Rigby @trigbywrites, @chapterxchapter, @BlazePub


BILYBlitz
 
Hello readers!
Are you looking for your next read?
Well, let us help make things easier for you!

Welcome to the Book Blast for
Because I Love You by Tori Rigby
presented by Blaze Publishing!

Check out the teaser below, and be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
 
As a special treat, we’ve got another book that may tickle your fancy… What is it? Read on, dear reader, read on!
 
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Eight weeks after sixteen-year-old Andie Hamilton gives her virginity to her best friend, “the stick” says she’s pregnant.
Her friends treat her like she’s carrying the plague, her classmates torture and ridicule her, and the boy she thought loved her doesn’t even care. Afraid to experience the next seven months alone, she turns to her ex-boyfriend, Neil Donaghue, a dark-haired, blue-eyed player. With him, she finds comfort and the support she desperately needs to make the hardest decision of her life: whether or not to keep the baby. Then a tragic accident leads Andie to discover Neil’s keeping a secret that could dramatically alter their lives, and she's forced to make a choice. But after hearing her son’s heartbeat for the first time, she doesn’t know how she’ll ever be able to let go.

add to goodreads

Because I Love You by Tori Rigby 
Release Date: May 17, 2016 
Publisher: Blaze Publishing

 
What Readers Are Saying:
 
“emotional and heartfelt read” – Laura H (The Voluptuous Book Diva)
 
“one of the most amazing books I have ever read and a great contemporary read” – KittyKat (Goodreads Reviewer)
 
“It's one of those books where everything worked really well together. The story. The characters. The relationships. And the writing. It was just so beautiful.” – Nicole (Bookish Thoughts)

 
excerpt


Jodi squeezed my hand. “Do whatever you think is right. Your gut won’t lie. Mine sure didn’t, and look how you turned out.”

I smiled.

After a few more questions, like did I have any siblings—no—and where did my cousins live—just over the border into New Mexico—the guard announced our fifteen minutes were up. I fought the urge to cling to Jodi’s hand as she stood. I hadn’t spent nearly enough time with her.

“You write me. Let me know how you’re doing, ‘kay?”

I nodded, my mouth drying, and she backed out of the room with a wave. When the door from the visitation area to the cellblock closed, I covered my mouth, my chest hitching. Mom put her arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into her. I’d been so afraid that Jodi would have considered me a burden, that she would’ve hate me for ruining her life, like I originally loathed my baby for messing up mine. But that was so far from the reason she’d placed me for adoption.

“She had loved me, Mom,” I said, my voice shaking.

 About-the-Author2
rigby
 
Adopted at three-days-old by a construction worker and a stay at home mom, Tori Rigby grew up with her nose in a book and her fingers on piano keys, always awaiting the day she’d take her own adventure. Now, she goes on multiple journeys through her contemporary and historical romances. She longs to live in the Scottish Highlands, and her favorite place in history is Medieval England—she’d even give up her Internet and running water to go back in time! Tori also writes high-concept genre fiction as Vicki Leigh, and when she isn’t writing, she’s kicking butt in krav maga or attending classes to learn how to catch bad guys.
 
YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO CHECK OUT…
 
Asleep EBook (1)
 
Seventeen-year-old Rose suffers from terrifying, painful nightmares that leave her bruised, exhausted, and questioning her sanity. Desperate to hold on, she makes a choice: Trust her doctor who claims he can cure her, or listen to another patient who swears the asylum will kill them.
add to goodreads

Asleep by Krystal Wade 
Publication Date: February 16, 2016 
Publisher: Blaze Publishing

 
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Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
 
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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: November Rain by Shannon A. Thompson @AuthorSAT @XpressoTours

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November Rain
Shannon A. Thompson
(Bad Bloods #1)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: July 18th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult



Seventeen-year-old Serena isn’t human. She is a bad blood, and in the city of Vendona, bad bloods are executed. In the last moments before she faces imminent death, a prison guard aids her escape and sparks a revolt. Back on the streets determined to destroy her kind, Serena is spared by a fellow bad blood named Daniel. His past tragedies are as equally mysterious as her connection to them.

Unbeknownst to the two, this connection is the key to winning the election for bad bloods’ rights to be seen as human again. But Serena is the only one who can secure Vendona’s vote. Now, Daniel must unite with her before all hope is lost and bad bloods are eradicated, even if it means exposing secrets worse than death itself. United or not, a city will fight, rain will fall, and all will be threatened by star-crossed love and political corruption.


PO

EXCERPT:

“She used to tell me that a full moon is when mysterious things happen and wishes come true.” I stared at the little paper in my hands. “Do you think she tells my sister those stories?”
Daniel didn’t respond. He only listened. I had told him before I had a sister. He had probably assumed I lied, but I hadn’t. It was the truth, and it tumbled out like a story my mom created before bedtime. I tried to picture her telling stories to my sister, but nothing came. I only saw the little girl, with Mom’s hair and Dad’s eyes, standing in the road, saying my name.
“I’ve never met her,” I confessed, staring at the writing bleeding through the folded end. “I think her name is on this, but I can’t read.”
Daniel reached for it. “I can—”
“No.” I held the note against my chest. “I want to learn and read it on my own,” I explained, softer than my previous snap.
Daniel’s head tilted. “Robert never taught you.”
I wasn’t sure if it was a question or a statement, but I responded anyway. “He can’t read.”
Daniel’s eyes swept over me. He took the time to rub his face before looking away.
“He can’t read,” I repeated, studying his reaction. “Right?”
Daniel’s hand lowered to his lap. “I can teach you,” he said, and when he faced me again, he was remarkably closer than I realized. His hand moved to rest on my knee. My heart stabilized. “What else do you want?”
It was a question I had never heard before, and the way Daniel stumbled over the sentence suggested he had never been able to say it before either. Bad bloods weren’t allowed to want anything. Not even life. So, when I was asked, my mind spiraled into obscurity, never actually solidifying an answer even though I searched for one.
“I’ve never been allowed to want anything,” I confessed.
“Me neither,” Daniel agreed, and for a brief second, I was oblivious to the fact that his lips were on mine.


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Author Bio:
Shannon A. Thompson is a twenty-three-year-old author, avid reader, and habitual chatterbox. She was merely sixteen when she was first published, and a lot has happened since then. Thompson's work has appeared in numerous poetry collections and anthologies, and her first installment of The Timely Death Trilogy became Goodreads' Book of the Month. As a novelist, poet, and blogger, Thompson spends her free time writing and sharing ideas with her black cat named after her favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart. Between writing and befriending cats, she graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in English, and she travels whenever the road calls her. 
Visit her blog for writers and readers at www.shannonathompson.com. 


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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: State of Fear by Summer Lane @SummerEllenLane @XpressoTours


State of Fear
Summer Lane
(Collapse Series, #8)
Publication date: June 24th 2016
Genres: Dystopian, New Adult


The world has gone nuclear, and the militias have met their first major defeat.

Torn and desperate, Cassidy Hart and her team make a difficult decision to relocate their forces to the cold, barren wilderness of Alaska. In the snowy mountains of the Gates of the Arctic, Yukon City has become a stronghold for survivors of the apocalypse.

Or has it?

Commander Chris Young remains in California to combat the shadowy forces of Omega, while Cassidy attempts to rebuild the militia’s strength at Yukon City. Uriah True has ideas of his own when it comes to surviving, and the militias are splitting apart.

Veronica Klaus is unleashing hell upon the west coast. The true, terrifying nature of Omega is revealed at last. A dangerous, desperate move is made to find reinforcements and seize a weapon that could give the militias an upper hand.
The downside?
It just might kill everyone on planet earth.

Cassidy, Chris and their friends have made it this far.
How much longer can they survive?
How much longer can the world survive?


—

Q&A WITH SUMMER LANE

This is the 8th book in the Collapse Series. How do you keep the storyline and world going this far into the series?

The issue with Cassidy Hart is not running out of stories – it’s containing them! Cassidy’s world is monstrously huge and the options for story pathways are endless, so I really had to zero in on what I wanted the eighth book to be. In terms of technicality and research, this was a challenging book – but it was also exciting to write. I was able to utilize some elements that I have wanted to use for a long time, like submarines and ice…trust me, it’ll make sense when you read the book!

Do you find it difficult to write about one set of characters for ten books?

No, I don’t. The longer you’re with your characters, the better you get to know them. In this case, I have had the opportunity to get familiar with my characters to such a level that their development and characteristics are incredibly organic. It’s a real blast!


Are you Team Uriah or Team Chris?

A lot of people like to think that Uriah is the perfect guy for Cassidy – while some much prefer Chris, since he is the original male lead (and he’s pretty awesome, in all honesty!). I have my own secret thoughts on this subject, and I don’t like to project my opinions on such an emotional element of the series. I leave that to my readers. But I will say that, in the end, Cassidy is a strong woman who doesn’t need anybody. She’s one of those kickass characters that can survive no matter what – and anyone she falls in love with is just a bonus. I don’t say to belittle the importance of the male leads, but to stress that Cassidy is just that kind of character at this point in the series.


What’s with the title? Why ‘fear?’ What’s there to fear in this book?

The title is really a projection of the underlying theme of this book. My characters are thrust into a type of warfare that’s really unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. They go to the barren wilds of Alaska, where the icy glaciers surround them and the dark winter solstice blots out the sun. Omega could kill them all – so many terrible things have happened, and could continue to happen. Cassidy is doubting herself and her relationships. This book is about exploring all of those fears, and then figuring out if our heroes are going to succumb to the darkness or stand up and kick its butt. It’s gritty, it’s dark and it’s intense. It’s my kind of story, and that’s why I wrote it.




Author Bio:
Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of The Collapse Series, The Zero Trilogy and The Bravo Saga. She is also the author of Collapse: The Illustrated Guide, a #1 bestselling graphic companion to the phenomenal original series. 

She is the owner of WB Publishing and Writing Belle, an online magazine where she has worked with countless authors from around the globe. Summer is also an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher. 

Summer lives in the Central Valley of California, where she spends her days writing, collecting tea, and writing some more. 


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Cover Reveal: White Collar Woman 4: The Executive by Nicholas L. Maze @AuthorMaze @XpressoTours


White Collar Woman 4: The Executive
Nicholas L. Maze
Publication date: July 23rd 2016
Genres: Adult, Suspense



It is the fourth installment of the White Collar Woman series. The first book (White Collar Woman) was centered around the main character, Marla Evans. A young, successful woman with the daily issues that a woman encounters; and some not so daily. As the series continues to grow, so does Marla. This is why the forth installment is perfectly titled “The Executive”.

Marla was the main character, but the story continues to grow and now other characters are sharing the spotlight. Majority of the story takes place in New York. Marla is a manager for a marketing company. And now, she is embarking on becoming the head manager. Just like with any change in life, you can expect the unusual.




Author Bio:
Nicholas Maze is an author and guest lecturer based in Atlanta, GA. Excelling in education with a Masters in Fine Arts/Creative Writing, Maze is starting to build his own library of literature. With a love for writing versus a specific genre, Maze has accomplished both, fiction and non-fiction. 

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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Blog Tour + #Giveaway: invisible-i-am by Gregg Davis @iaminvisibleiam @XpressoTours


invisible-i-am by Gregg Davis
Harriet Showman
Publication date: August 18th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult


An experimental, literary YA multimedia narrative centered on the experiences of 16-year-old Gregg Davis, who undergoes brutal bullying and sexual violence by her peers. Spanning the mediums of the printed page, online social media and the screen, this story offers a wrenching, empathetic look at the experience of bullying through a victim’s eyes, and then extends this theme of oppression, humiliation and violence to address issues of historical and systemic racism in the U.S. today. A picture book.

Read Chapter One for free at invisible-i-am.com.

For updates on Gregg and the invisible-i-am story, follow her on Twitter @iaminvisibleiam, Tumblr via http://iaminvisibleiam.tumblr.com, YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ3_…, and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/invisibleiambook.

Goodreads / Amazon


Author Interview:

What inspired you to write invisible-i-am by Gregg Davis?

With respect to Stephenie Meyer and all Twilight fans, a 21st Century story about a teenage girl who falls for a blood-sucker promising eternal bliss frustrated me. No doubt lost a bunch of readers with that one!


 When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Golly. As a creative renegade, limiting myself to writing never appealed to me. (I am an artist and a filmmaker as well : ) Then there was that pesky reality of having to earn a living! So I used words to convince people to become child advocates, to raise money for children’s issues, and to effect social change. My book, invisible-i-am by Gregg Davis, grew from those passions.


What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?

My parents read to me until I could navigate the words myself. We went to the library once a week to get more books! My husband and I now use e-readers because we ran out of bookshelves.


What genre of books do you enjoy reading?

Everything. Depends on what’s happening in my life.

A troubling or challenging event? Find a book with answers.
Release from tension? A book.
Imagining other worlds? A book.
Hungry for chewy words? A book.
Want to challenge myself? A book.

Fahrenheit 451 would be devastating to me.


What is your favorite book?

There’s way too much yumminess out there to not enjoy the feast!

But, my favorite Young Adult book is The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. Gotta love a girl who subverts the dominant male paradigm! Lockhart also wrote We Were Liars, a story that haunts me.


You know, I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author, and why?

Oh man. I’m a lush and fall in love with different authors all the time!

A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, Louisa May Alcott, Lucy Maud Montgomery, James Michener, James Clavell, Ray Bradbury, Hermann Hesse. I miss Christopher Hitchens and his crisp logic. Toni Morrison, Isabel Allende, Alice Walker, Hilary Mantel, Amanda Foreman, Margaret George, Stephen Hawkings, Daniel J. Siegel, Marie Cardinal (for her amazing courage), Suzanne Collins, J.K. Rowling, (as mentioned) E. Lockhart, J.R.R. Tolkien, George RR Martin, Margaret Atwood, Cormac McCarthy, John Steinbeck, and, of course, Harper Lee. My “writing god” is Elmore Leonard.


If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time, where would you go and why?

To the meadow of my childhood where gazillions of fireflies sprinkled fairy dust into my life.


When writing a book, do you find that writing comes easy for you, or is it a difficult task?

Depends on the position of the moon and whether or not dogs howl. Joking aside, the ease of writing comes and goes. Sometimes I’m on fire, and other times, it’s a struggle to get a good sentence on the page.


Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?

Does Harvey count? (Gotta love the imaginary friends!)


What is your “to die for” favorite food/foods to eat?

Chips & Queso from Curras in Austin, Texas
Chips from Chuys in Austin
Chips from Torchy’s Tacos in Austin

Yeah. At least there’s a theme.


Do you have any advice for anyone who would like to be an author?


Find a good therapist.



Author Bio:
Harriet Showman (born 9 May 1954) is an author and multimedia artist born in South Carolina and raised in Pennsylvania. She returned to South Carolina for university and lives there today. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in colonial South Carolina history and has spent much of her life helping children and young adults succeed amidst challenging circumstances, including poverty and abuse. With a strong core of allies, Showman helped to establish a statewide Guardian ad Litem program to provide legal support for abused children; a Cities in Schools organization to serve underprivileged students; and a vehicle for the accumulation of monies to be distributed in grants through the Children’s Trust Fund. As a development officer for South Carolina’s flagship university, Showman attracted resources from major, national foundations to target South Carolina’s most urgent needs. She remains interested in the plight of children, teens and adults who suffer abuse, oppression and the paralyzing pain of invisibility. 


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