New Construction/New Weirdness On the Horizon

[I originally tried to add this as a page, but I swear Blogger hide this little bad boy... 
so here it is as a post.]

Change, It is a-Coming!

I'm ready.  

The time has finally arrived to come back 

into the light 

and breathe life back into the blog.  

While this happens, you may start to see changes.  

More Stuff!

I'm still playing with it all but I anticipate adding more about my hobbies - other than reading (but reading and reviews will continue, fear not.)  

I'm a knitter (it takes balls to knit)

I'm crafty (I didn't choose the glitter life, the glitter life chose me.)

I'm a geocacher (though it has been some time since I've braved the Muggles to seek a cache)

XOXO AfterDark also has some great reads that I am eager to share with everyone!

I may even visit a nearby Little Free Library... exciting times!

*Click*Click*Click*

I'm still very much a novice but I'm really keen to start using more of my own photos in addition to showcasing as much of Mars' beautiful photography as well.  It may be a simple picture-a-day challenge (that is not going very well holding up that 'daily' part) but I'd love to see if I can make some unique content that will hopefully be pleasing to the eye.

*Lights*Camera*Action*

I'll likely share some of the videos the family has put together for the

Polemic Goblin YouTube Channel.

I've even started dusting off my acting skills and expanded into camerawomen territory, for a few videos at any rate.

I hope y'all will bear with me as this blog transforms.  

Did I also mention giveaways?  

Giveaways - it's out there now.

I've been collecting several signed books and swag for upcoming giveaways so stay tuned.

*In fact I really need the shelf space so these should happen sooner rather than later*

Thanks so much for sticking with me, I'm excited to try out a few new things.

Outsider - Blitz - Giveaway + Sale

Outsider Book Release and Goodies

This week marks the release of Outsider, the second book in Becca J. Campbell's New Adult Paranormal series Flawed. To celebrate, Becca is hosting a giveaway and a book sale! The Prize Pack The giveaway at the end of this post is for a prize pack that includes: one autographed paperback of Outsider, one 12" x 18" poster of the cover art, and two square collector's buttons (one of Empath and one of Outsider). Please note, this giveaway is open to those with an address in US or Canada.
   
The Book Discount The regular price of the Outsider eBook is $3.99, but for the first week, you can purchase a copy for only $2.99 (ends January 12th). On Jan. 13th, the price increases to $3.99, so make sure to get your copy now! Here are the purchase links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

About Outsider (Flawed #2)

After a psychopath tried to kill his friends, Josh Schuyler figured 'normal' was far off. The real problem: Josh's friends have all acquired supernatural abilities, while he's still the same average guy. Josh has always believed he was destined for greatness, but he's been out of college for two years without a clue of his purpose. After watching his friends and siblings develop superhuman traits, he wonders if he might be meant for something grand, too. Can Josh even hope for an extraordinary event in his own future? And how long must he wait for this transformation - if there is one? When Alex met the Schuylers, she was grateful for new friends to whisk her away from her lonely life in California and give her an escape from her divorced, bickering parents and aimless future. But Josh won't drop his defenses, and Alex isn't sure she wants to trade her old life for this new, uncertain one. Nicodemus has an amazing ability he's been milking for years to get whatever or whomever he wants. Things are going great until a young woman - Alex - inadvertently busts his latest swindle. Nic is furious when he discovers his power has been disabled, and he vows to find her in order to wreak his vengeance. She will be punished. All he needs is a little help from his friend, Ethan Black. Josh has been waiting for his big break, or for the chance to be a hero, or just the opportunity to stand out in his own, extraordinary way. Will Josh discover his purpose in time to stop Nic?

More Flawed Books

Empath (Flawed #1) Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her. Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings. When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her, unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal. Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Kobo | Inktera | Scribd

Pulled (A Flawed Short Story) Eight-year-old Juniper has been labeled many things—troubled kid, orphan, runaway—but none of her foster families have known what she really is: a girl with a unique and brutally inconvenient ability to teleport. Her spontaneous jumps are not only beyond her control, they get her into trouble. When Juniper disappears, no one believes her wild stories, so she's stopped trying to convince them. One day when Juniper gets pulled away, finding her way back is harder than ever. Stranded on the side of a deserted highway, she must rely on her own instincts to determine who is a creepy stranger and who she can trust. Resourcefulness may get her home, but is getting home enough when you don't have parents that love you? Juniper knows something most people don’t: there are others like her with unexplained abilities. Until now, she’s exercised stranger-danger caution, but maybe these people can offer what she needs. Will Juniper find a family she can share her secrets with?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Kobo | Inktera | Scribd

About the Author

Becca J. Campbell is the author of the Flawed series as well as Science Fiction novels Foreign Identity and Gateway to Reality, and Sub-Normal, a series of short stories. An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality, Becca looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. You can find her on her Author Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Amazon.

Giveaway

Enter the Outsider prize pack giveaway below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Time to #SayWhenToRidge Again for the #NACrushTourney14!

Are you ready for your favorite New Adult Heroes to duke it out to see who is the last crush standing?  

I know I am; I've got some popcorn and a comfy bean bag chair here for you to join me!  

But wait!  There's a twist!

We have a whole 'quad' of hot heroes that have banded together to provide a virtual buffet of swoon... all you have to do is vote!

"Where, O Where, is the Link?" Why, right here:

Loren vs. Ridge

Jack vs. Rule

Ford vs. Matt

No vote today for Travis- but as if it's a surprise, he's moving up.  I'm nervous about a standoff between Travis and Ridge!

#SayWhenToRidge

#NACrushTourney14

#QuadOHot

... And let's finish with my favorite song from Maybe, Someday performed by Griffin!

The Donor ~ Part One is Coming! +Giveaway!

Synopsis:
[Disclaimer: This is a serial novella that will be told in parts about the length of a short story (20-30 pages)]

Casey Williams and her family are poor. Her parents work non-stop and so does she, just so they can keep the trailer roof from leaking.

They’re getting by fine enough when the headaches start. Then there’s the nosebleeds. And the inevitable doctor’s bills.

Fortunately for Casey, there’s MyTrueMatch.com: an exclusive, quick, and almost easy way to pay it all back before her parents even have to know.

All she has to do is give a man she’s never met whatever he wants from her body.

I am totally intrigued by the blurb alone... but must confess, I've just not had the time I anticipated to have this read and reviewed.  Bad Alana.  But fear not!  The book is coming out on July 14th, and I am going to have a fabulous review on the release day blitz.  In general though, can I just say that Nikki Rae is totally awesome, and a sister of my heart.  Anyone that loves Rocky Horror as much as myself: that's a keeper right there. 

You ROCK Nikki!

Author Bio:
Nikki Rae is a writer who lives in New Jersey. As an independent author, she has appeared numerously on Amazon Best Seller lists and she concentrates on making her imaginary characters as real as possible. Nikki writes mainly dark, scary, romantic tales, but she’ll try anything once. When she is not writing, reading, or thinking, you can find her spending time with animals, drawing in a quiet corner, or studying people. Closely.

Goodreads

Amazon

Facebook

Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Say When to Ridge ~ NA Crush Tourney 2014 Round #1 Match #7

Howdy y'all!  Alana here from Dark Obsession Chronicles, A Diva a Day, GoodReads, and all-around book pimp.  Not only that, but I live in Austin, TX where my crush from the NA Crush Tourney 2014 -Ridge from  Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover - lives.  Seems fitting that Ridge lives in the live music capital of the world; I'm not just whistling Dixie about his swoon-worthiness, so let me show you why...

One Word: Guitar

Y'all know if a guy can play a guitar, his swoon factor always goes up.  It's a universal 'boy-truth'.  But pair that with the fact that just the sheer fact of Ridge to be able to do that?  *knees grow weak*  I would venture a guess that every modern women has had at least one 'musical' crush at some point.  It's practically encoded into our DNA to melt when a guy plays a guitar.  And boy, oh, boy - the way he plays it!

"I realize he's playing with both hands, one from underneath my head and one over me,  his head is against my chest, and I can heel his hair brush my neck.  He's pretty much sprawled across me in order to reach his guitar with both arms."

I wish I could make a video half has wonderful as this one, and instead of making a mediocre attempt, let's just see Ridge in action in this video created by MollieK featuring music from the book's soundtrack.




SONGWRITER
That brings me to hot fact #2, not only does Ridge play the guitar, but he writes his own music and lyrics (when not plagued by writer's block.)  OK, now picture, if you will Ridge writing these words, for you...

"But I must confess my interest
The way that you move when you’re in that dress
It’s making me feel like I want to be
The only man that you ever see "

-  I'm in Trouble

"I want to be your end
But you gotta let it begin

So won’t you
Won’t you let it begin
So won’t you
Won’t you just say when"

- Let It Begin

Writing lyrics is a very intimate thing...

 "Oh, Lord. What is he about to do?  Put his hands on me?  Does he want to feel me sing this song?  Feeling requires touching, and touching required hands.  His hands.  Feeling me."

Now that you've got another peek at the oh-so-talented Ridge, let's catch another video of my favorite song written by Sydney and Ridge (during Maybe, Someday), performed by the actual writer Griffin Peterson.  This beautiful man is the voice behind the soundtrack, and I think he makes a great Ridge himself (with the obvious main difference).  This song, of all the music from Maybe, Someday, makes me think of Ridge and swoon.



“… holy crap.  He’s beautiful.”
I know, you're saying, "OK, we get it, but what does he look like?  Is he funny?"

 He was hot enough to make Sydney gasp, full-on gasp, when she first saw him up close and personal.
 "I don't think I've ever seen eyes that can actually speak."  Unruly light brown hair, even the 'whore' thinks Ridge is "hot", his arms "look as if they were built for the sole purpose of carrying a guitar" and he looks "incredible" on stage.  *Sigh*  So, he's not an unattainably famous rock star, but rather a really hot boy-next-door with some serious talent.  He's considerate enough to let you lounge on the bed while he sits on the uncomfortable floor.  Funny?  Considering the long-standing prank war in the apartment, he is ready to create humor at a moment's notice.  Got an ex-boyfriend that needs punishing?  Ridge will show you the merits of duct tape and fish; just don't leave any Sharpie markers lying around in his arm's reach.

“I failed miserably at trying not to fall in love with you."  Me too, Ridge, me too.

To quote Sydney, “Oh, my dear sweet baby Jesus in a wicker basket."

He is the total package here ladies!  Smart, dedicated, loyal, talented, funny, he's one fast texter, and he's a little bit evil.  The evil bit is one of my favorite parts.  There is simply not enough time and space to contain the enormous swoon of Ridge.  He even finally 'gets' us girls...

“I've done nothing for the past five years but try to be the hero who protects her. The problem? Heroines don't need protecting.”

See how great he is?  There is no doubt you can see!

Won't you say 'When' and Vote for Ridge?

Show your support on Twitter #SayWhenToRidge

.... And after all this (which I tried Oh-So-Hard NOT to include spoilers) you still haven't read Maybe, Someday.  Stop.  Whatever you are doing... stop.  (Well, unless you're driving and that would cause an accident, but in that case- you shouldn't be reading this right now anyway!)  Go immediately to your bookseller of choice, and get the book.  Seriously.  *Taps foot*  You don't wanna miss this!

My Thoughts on Maybe, Someday:

Just read it. If you like New Adult, and if you've liked Colleen Hoover before... just stop bothering with reviews and read it (or listen to it- great narration!)

If you MUST have some kind of idea going in: I will warn you, this touches (and more) upon the subject of cheating. Don't get your panties in a wad yet, though. Even if you don't generally read 'cheating' romances, this may well still be the book for you. It gave me chills. I was rooting for EVERYONE. Even the bitchy roommate, but not the evil slut former roommate. My heart both bent and broke, and I didn't want it to end. Exquisite pain that was worth every second.

Just do it. Just read it. Grab the seat of your pants, swoon, and mouth "I Love You."

Pressed Pennies by Steve Manchester ~ Release Day!

Brief Synopsis:

Rick and Abby grew up together, became best friends, and ultimately fell in love. Circumstance tore them apart in their early teens, though, and they went on to lives less idyllic than they dreamed about in those early days. Rick has had a very successful career, but his marriage flat-lined. Abby has a magical daughter, Paige, but Paige's father nearly destroyed Abby's spirit.

Now fate has thrown Rick and Abby together again. In their early thirties, they are more world-weary than they were as kids. But their relationship still shimmers, and they're hungry to make up for lost time. However, Paige, now nine, is not nearly as enthusiastic. She's very protective of the life she's made with her mother and not open to the duo becoming a trio. Meanwhile, Rick has very little experience dealing with kids and doesn't know how to handle Paige. This leaves Abby caught between the two people who matter the most to her. What happens when the life you've dreamed of remains just inches from your grasp?

Pressed Pennies is a nuanced, intensely romantic, deeply heartfelt story of love it its many incarnations, relationships in their many guises, and family in its many meanings. It is the most accomplished and moving novel yet from a truly great storyteller of the heart.

AMAZON US 

AMAZON UK

Early Praise:

"Pressed Pennies is priceless! Steve Manchester has an obvious love of words and an amazing ability to use those words to create lasting images in the reader's mind. His detail-oriented, richly drawn characters and descriptions make this story leap off the pages." - Joyce Handzo, In the Library Reviews

"Pressed Pennies is a warm, lovely story about generosity, unconditional love and acceptance, and a celebration of family." - Jane Bowers, Romance Reviews Today

"An exceptional story about family, life and love...Pressed Pennies examines family life at a much simpler time" -Books2Mention Magazine

"From Steven Manchester and the wonderful characters of Pressed Pennies, we learn about real life and true love…and that you can go back." - Phyllis Muhlhauser, Romance Book Cafe

Be sure to check out my review of another book 

by Steve Manchester - The Rockin' Chair

I've found his writing surprises and enthralls me - even if I'm a little skeptical at the onset of my reading.  Alas, my current schedule is not allowing the precious reading time I need to get to this book, but it's definitely going on my TBR mountain.  

About this author

Steven Manchester is the author of the The Rockin' Chair (to be released June 18th), as well as the #1 best seller, Twelve Months (2013 San Francisco Book Festival award winner). He is also the author of Goodnight, Brian, A Christmas Wish, Pressed Pennies, The Unexpected Storm: The Gulf War Legacy, Jacob Evans, and several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or his four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

Visit: www.StevenManchester.com

Night & Day ~ 'A Suze-sized Short Set after the 19th Year'

Something is wrong with Suze. His memory, his magic, even his muscles have all gone mental. If he's not careful, the underworld's version of the loony bin may be his next stop.

Not ready to give up the goat yet—if he had one he didn’t eat that is—Suze sets out to stop the mystical mayhem. Unfortunately, this isn't a fairy tale, and Suze isn't Snow White felled by an apple waiting for a kiss. Nor is he Prince Charming. 

Nope, he's just Suze. A destroyer demon stuck without the one person who probably kept him sane for the last eighteen years. Mackenzie Thorne. Or, maybe, just maybe, Mac made him insane, and what was once wrong is now right.

The only thing Suze is sure of—maybe—is that he needs to find the cure. However, with boy wonder memory-less and Mac in California, he’s not even sure where to start.

Of course, once he does figure it out, everything will fall into place like a well designed set of dominoes. Where the path leads, though, is a place Suze never would have expected.

The entire series has been a blast thus far ~ so many supernatural critters!  I can't wait to sink my teeth into this little morsel!  And Suze is just fabulous!  How cute is that cover, too!

• This is a novella (<30 k--="">
• This will be available in print and ebook.
• Release date is February 10, 2014 - just in time for Valentine’s Day
• The price will be $.99!

Be sure to check out Emi Gayle's Blog Post!

Add Night and Day to your GoodReads shelves!

Here is the 19th Year series reading order:

The Moon Dwellers Birthday BASH

Today, The Moon Dwellers 

by David Estes 

turns 1 year old! 

It was 1 year ago today (June 30 th) that David Estes first published the first book in his first ever YA dystopian series, The Dwellers Saga, and changed his life forever. Since then, The Moon Dwellers has outsold and drawn more hype than any other of his 13 published books, and has risen to the top 10 of many YA dystopian lists on Listopia, finding a place amongst bestselling books such as The Hunger Games, Delirium and Divergent. The birth of The Moon Dwellers also changed David’s life forever. As he’s gone from struggling Indie author to fulltime writer, he’s watched in amazement as his Goodreads fan group has swelled from 300 members to over 1,300. 

Since writing The Moon Dwellers, David has gone on to write and publish two sequels, The Star Dwellers and The Sun Dwellers, as well as three books in a sister series, The Country Saga (Fire Country, Ice Country, and Water and Storm Country). He plans to release the 7th and final book, The Earth Dwellers, in the combined series on September 5th later this year.

So what did David Estes want to do to celebrate The Moon Dwellers book birthday? His answer: “Give away as many free ebooks of The Moon Dwellers as possible!” So if you’re like so many others who are obsessed with YA dystopian novels like The Hunger Games, Delirium, and Divergent, and haven’t yet read the growing phenomenon that is The Moon Dwellers, now’s your chance to do so FOR FREE.

You can grab your free ebook of The Moon Dwellers from Smashwords.com using the coupon code below. And please feel free to share with your family and friends and pets, the more ebooks are given away the happier David will be. The only thing David asks for in return is that if you enjoy the read and continue on with the series, to please leave a positive review on Amazon.com for each of his books that you read.

Where you can find The Moon Dwellers: SMASHWORDS

Coupon Code: AQ92E

Please note, this code expires on July 31, 2013
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And for those of you planning on reading The Dwellers and/or The Country Saga, here’s a special note from the author, David Estes:

The Earth Dwellers will cap off an eighteen month journey that has taken me from unknown Indie author to still-mostlyunknown fulltime Indie author. The change is a subtle one for most people, but for me it’s a dream come true. To the hundreds (and now maybe even thousands!) of readers who have come along for the ride with me, either by reading the Dwellers Saga, the Country Saga, or both, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now down to business. There may be some of you who have only read the three books in the Country Saga or only the three books in the Dwellers Saga, and are now thinking you’ll read The Earth Dwellers, which is supposedly the 4th book in BOTH the Country Saga and the Dwellers Saga. Well, that’s awesome!

However, I must highly recommend that before reading The Earth Dwellers that you read the three books in BOTH series. Trust me, doing so will greatly enhance your experience, as The Earth Dwellers will be taking significant characters from both series and crashing them together (yes, like a water country wave) into an action-packed tale of struggle and loss and hope and friendship…and maybe a little love, too. 

Anyway, that’s my advice, it’s up to you what to do with it. In any case, thanks for being a part of my own adventure, I’m a better person for having written stories for you!

Recommended Reading prior to The Earth Dwellers

Fire Country

Ice Country

Water and Storm Country

The Moon Dwellers

The Star Dwellers

The Sun Dwellers

Other YA Books by David Estes!

The Evolution Trilogy:

Book 1- Angel Evolution

Book 2- Demon Evolution

Book 3- Archangel Evolution

Children’s Books by David Estes

The Nikki Powergloves Adventures:

Nikki Powergloves- A Hero is Born

Nikki Powergloves and the Power Council

Nikki Powergloves and the Power Trappers

Nikki Powergloves and the Great Adventure

Nikki Powergloves vs. the Power Outlaws (Coming soon!)

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife and soul mate, Adele, who he’s now been happily married to for more than two years.

A reader all his life, David began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and has completed 13 novels, 11 of which have been published. In June of 2012, David became a fulltime writer and is now traveling the world with his wife while he writes books, and she writes and takes photographs.

David gleans inspiration from all sorts of crazy places, like watching random people do entertaining things, dreams (which he jots copious notes about immediately after waking up), and even from thin air sometimes! Recently he’s been inspired by some of his favorite authors, like Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, and Maggie Stiefvater.

David’s a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, an obsessive Goodreads group member, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.  He loves responding to e-mails, Facebook messages, Tweets, blog comments, and Goodreads comments from his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends.

Where you can find David Estes hanging out: 
 David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite

Blog/website

Facebook page

Goodreads author page

Twitter

Check out ALL his books!

Want MORE Interviews, Character Bios, 

and Oodles of Fun, Fun,Fun from (or about) David Estes and his books?

Water and Storm Country Blog Tour

Fire Country Release Day Book Blitz

The Sun Dwellers Book Blast

The Star Dwellers Blog Tour

The Moon Dwellers Blog Tour Finale

Moon Dwellers Review

Overall, I'd give his Dwellers series 
(what I have read thus far)