Sugar Rush is Reviewed

Nayu's Reading Corner

Sugar Rush is Showcased

SOS Aloha

Guest Author: Walter Greatshell

Greetings to my fellow Enduring Romantics!

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Walter Greatshell here. Since Halloween is fast approaching, our host Kimber An has graciously invited me to share a few thoughts about writing.
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Why me? Well, I am the author of the Xombies series of novels: Xombies: Apocalypse Blues, Xombies: Apocalypticon, and the upcoming third book in the saga, Xombies: Apocalypso. I also have a short story, The Mexican Bus, in the just-released zombie anthology The Living Dead 2, as well as a non-zombie novel due out this December, a sci-fi psychothriller called Mad Skills.
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How do I come up with this stuff? Why do I come up with this stuff? Am I warped, twisted, sick in the head? Sure, but that has nothing to do with it. The fact is, when you spend years working at mind-numbing jobs for low pay, you have to do something to keep yourself sane, whether it’s Sudoku or fantasy football. I chose to create fantasy worlds that I could escape to during those long, uneventful graveyard shifts. Eventually my fantasies took on a life of their own, demanding that I write them down.

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It’s something I’ve done all my life. When I was a little kid, my best friend and I used to reenact all the Godzilla movies we loved and then improvise sequels and spin-offs involving new characters we created. We made monsters out of papier-mâché and wrote up complex stage directions and cast lists. When my friend got a Super-8 camera as a Christmas gift, we started making actual movies, and that was even cooler…but then my friend moved away, taking his camera and projector with him.
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Since I couldn’t afford a camera of my own, I began to write. First short stories, then articles and reviews for the newspaper, and finally books.
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My first novel, Xombies (2004), was a crazy quilt of everything I ever read, from Candide to I Am Legend to True Grit to On the Beach to the Bible and Greek mythology to Native American folklore. That was the whole point—I was deliberately subverting what I felt was a stale genre marketplace. I believed and still believe that pulp fiction is literature, and that authors should experiment, follow their passions, take risks. It’s tough in this hypercommercial environment, but you have to do it. And just as I prefer satiric-minded movie directors like Stanley Kubrick (dead) or the Coen brothers, my literary idols are folks like Mark Twain (dead), Kurt Vonnegut (dead), Ken Kesey (dead), James Dickey (dead), Shirley Jackson (dead), Charles Portis (?), Thomas Berger (?), and even the comic artist Bob Fingerman (very not dead), who has recently started writing novels (Bottomfeeder and Pariah) that are as disturbingly funny as his comics.
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In recent years there’s been a whole new wave of horror maestros like David Wellington (Frostbite), Nate Kenyon (Sparrow Rock), Jonathan Maberry (Patient Zero), Joe Hill (Horns), and Justin Cronin (The Passage), all of whom are doing their part to keep the form interesting. Then there are all the new women superstars like Charlaine Harris, Stephanie Meyer, or Suzanne Collins, whose Hunger Games series is probably the most shocking and subversive YA I’ve read in a long time, God bless her. All these people inspire me…and give me something to aspire to.
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In fact, while I’m waiting for the trick-or-treaters to arrive, I might as well work on my new book. It’s just so hard to concentrate. Those candied apples look so tempting, so red and shiny, but it wouldn’t do to bite one—definitely not. They’re for the children…only for the children.
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Shhh, I can hear them coming now.

The Devil-ution of A Short Story

Hello everyone! My name is Leslie Soule and I'm a new addition to the Enduring Romance blog crew! It's a pleasure to be here.

Since Halloween is coming up tomorrow, I wanted to talk about my short story "The Devil's Bidding" and the evolution of it. Also, I will be giving away a free copy of it in ebook form to a lucky winner - chosen at random from those who post a reply.

 So let me begin by saying that this is a story I'd had for a while, and it sat there in its lonely Word document form, silently following me as I went to college and worked many different jobs. Even trying to recall what I originally wrote it for seems problematic - I know I must have written it around the same time as another short story of mine called "Poisoned", and I remember writing "Poisoned" as notes on receipt tape when I was a cashier, back when the basis for my novel Fallenwood was only just barely forming. My two short stories were both only about three pages in length, so they might have been written at about the same time, and possibly were class assignments for one of the many English courses I've taken over the years, but the details of the actual writing of the original version utterly escape me.

  I wrote "The Devil's Bidding" and "Poisoned" as my foray into the horror genre. I originally wrote them as parables - the ensuing horror being the result of the foolish actions of a main character, who is then punished.

  Well, like a character in one of my own stories, I made a foolish decision and let my boyfriend at the time choose the title of my short story, as if to highlight all of the other ways in which I had lost all sense of who I was for the sake of trying to make a bad relationship work. When we broke up, I began getting rid of things that reminded me of him, but this short story still remained like a loyal, lost puppy and I knew I wanted to keep it - it just needed a new name and a lot of work. The title was easy enough, surprisingly. For me, often the most difficult part of writing any story is finding the perfect name. I can't begin to explain what a grueling search it was to find a name I love for my jester in Fallenwood, Terces Solario. (And Hieropraxis - my sorcerer - his name was even harder to come up with!)

  Anyway, it'll suffice to say that I did come up with a title that had been floating around in my head for a while - "The Devil's Bidding". The title is a double entendre that refers to "doing the devil's bidding" and more literally to the devil bidding for souls online.

  I decided to submit it to Decadent because I thought I might at least get some feedback. What I got instead was a million times better. Through the editing process, it became the kind of story I'd only dreamed about it having the potential to be. What began as a simple parable about not selling your soul, became this incredible tale of love and redemption and I feel like my lost little puppy of a story has grown into a more mature, confident companion.

  As always, I love feedback and would absolutely LOVE to hear from my readers!

  To be entered into the contest for a chance to win a free copy, just leave a reply telling me what the strangest thing you've found on ebay or craigslist is.



SUGAR RUSH is Featured at Amaterasu Reads

Kai and Tin generously showcased Sugar Rush at Amaterasu Reads   Thank you, Kai and Tin!

Guest Post: Cover Artist Dara England

Hello all. When Kimber invited me to do a guest blog today I immediately knew what I wanted to talk about. So many people—especially Facebook friends—message me with questions about cover art and how someone interested in it can get into designing book covers. So that’s what I’m going to talk about today. Book cover design.

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First off I should say that I don’t have an artistic bone in my body when it comes to things like painting or drawing. But that’s what’s so fun about photo manipulation. It gives those of us who aren’t great at other mediums a go at expressing our artistic side in a different way.
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Here’s how to get started. Or rather, how I got started; there’s not really any one right way to do it.
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1. I downloaded a free program I’d heard about called GIMP (you can find it with a quick Google).
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2. I went to Dreamstime  and  iStockPhoto and purchased some nice royalty free images (high resolution, 300 dpi).
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3. I spent a few months playing with GIMP and learning how to use it (there are helpful tutorials on the GIMP website).
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4. I started emailing various e-publishers and small presses I knew of, sending them sample covers I’d worked up and asking for work. Surprisingly, a lot of them said ‘yes ‘.
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From there on out, word spread until I started having publishers and authors emailing me, offering work. Facebook is a great help with that and I recommend it as an awesome way to meet people in the publishing industry. I’d say 90 % of the projects I take on these days come to me via people I’ve networked with on FB.
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So get out there and start designing! : )
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--Dara E.
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Want to know more about my work? Visit my design site at: My Cover Art or drop by my author site at: Carol Green

The Week Behind and the Week Ahead

Good evening, Blog Buds. 
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Oh, you wouldn't buleeeve the week I've had!  Oh, wait, if you hang out here much, you already know, so I guess you would.  Let us reflect upon it anyway.
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Decadent Publishing released SUGAR RUSH a few days early.  SUGAR RUSH at Decadent   Logistically, I was ready.  I'd already lined up guest posts and was recruiting co-bloggers and all that.  Emotionally, I was AHHHHHHH!  Scroll down to read all the goings-on this week, the guest posts, interviews, shout-outs, and the Cyber-Launch Book Party, which Writer and Cat won.  SUGAR RUSH is now available at Amazon too.
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All this beget other forthcoming guest blogs, such as for Blake Snyder  That was a thrill because it was through the late genius' screenwriting book, SAVE THE CAT! that I learned a lot of what I now know about structuring a story.  I never would have made it this far without him or Jacqueline Lichtenberg
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This coming week I'll be seeking out more ways to connect with my target readership, Young Adults.  So, if you know anyone with a YA focused blog or whatever, please let me know.  Fellow reviewer, Nayuleska, does a lot of Young Adult at her Reading Corner and I think she's going to be reviewing SUGAR RUSH there at some point.
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Friday will be the first Friday in a series of guest posts by industry professionals, starting with the cover artist who did my novel, Dara England.  She's also an author.
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Three of my fellow YA authors at Decadent will begin co-blogging with me on Saturdays, starting with Leslie Soule.  Their schedule is on the sidebar.
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And then Sunday will begin another new feature, Storytelling Sunday, in which an established author shares insight into the writing craft.  Walter Greatshell wrote for this Sunday, Halloween.  He gave a scientific spin to old monsters in XOMBIES Apocalypse Blues, you know.
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And I'll be guest posting at SOS Aloha which is a blog that celebrates romance reading, military families, international travel, and Hawaiian culture.  We made contact when author Susan Grant gave me a shout-out on her Facebook page.
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Meanwhile, my fellow book reviewers here, Rebecca, Nayuleska, and Mfitz, will continue to help you find the books you'll love.
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By now you might be wondering how it feels to suddenly be on the other side of the Eeeevil Book Reviewer's Desk.
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Terrifying.
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Exhausting.
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And wonderful.
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Scheduling is the key to everything I do and I've decided I will be taking Mondays and Tuesdays off the computer, except email checks once in the morning and once at night.  Otherwise, I will get no rest and my hands will be Tendonitis-Toast.  And I still have a ton of promo to do for Sugar Rush and more stories to write and rewrite and edit and promote, all on top of raising my four children.  I need to completely reorganize my Master Schedule now.
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Not that I'm complaining.
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P.S. (added Monday morning) I forgot to add that I need to blog at The Ophelia Dawson Chronicles Monday through Thursday in order to keep the encyclopedia growing.  This morning I posted about Ophelia's medical alert bracelet.  Okay, so email and that.  Now, I'm getting off and staying off!

New Kids on the Writers' Blog

Good morning again.  I'm at fellow reviewer Rebecca's blog, New Kids on the Writers' Block
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Besides my harrowing tale of publication, you can find all sorts of resources for aspiring authors!  Take your time and explore. 

Writer and Cat Win the Cyber-Launch!

Good morning, Blog Buddies!
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Well, my very own Cyber-Launch Book Party ended last night at six, as scheduled.  A good time was had by all, despite Larry lurking around for a snack.  I don't know how I ended up with that vampire-reject.  Anyway, Writer and Cat won the drawing.  The human part of that team, author Jody Wallace , will be officially receiving the prize, although I'm sure Meankitty will help inspect the Alaskan moose plush toy at least.
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P.S. Here's some FREE YA fiction Jody wrote, a good taste of her many talents.
Worst Christmas

Cyber-Launch Book Party for SUGAR RUSH!

At last, after four long years of learning, writing, and querying, I'm throwing my very own Cyber-Launch Book Party. 

To read about past Cyber-Launch Book Parties here at Enduring Romance, please click on the link in the directory or the tag at the bottom of this post.  It all started organically four years ago after I read GAMES OF COMMAND by Linnea Sinclair and wished I could attend a book party for it.  I threw a virtual one on my old blog.  That was all fine and good, but after the initial excitement things started getting boring.  So, I started making stuff up.  Pretty soon, we had Tribbles with fangs bouncing through the comment section and a mummy who lost its head in a lightsaber duel, staggering around searching for it.  Things got a little crazy, but everyone seemed to have a good time.  Now, it's finally my turn.

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There will be a drawing when the party ends at 6 p.m. tonight.  If you wish to enter this drawing, you must leave a comment with some way of contacting you via email.  If you have a username that links to your Blogger profile, that's perfect.  I must have some way of contacting you to let you know you won.  The prize is a free eBook of SUGAR RUSH, plus a few goodies sent by snail-mail, including an Alaskan moose plush toy. 

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If you want to learn more about SUGAR RUSH before attending the party, please scroll down to read a review, excerpt, and links to guest posts.  And/or, you can visit Kimber An's Main Site  Additionally, Sugar Rush is now on sale at Decadent Publishing   and   Amazon

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Okay, got your blaster and protective footwear?  Life insurance?  Good!  I shall now wave my fairy wand and zap you through the Temporal Vortex Chamber! 

SUGAR RUSH Now at Amazon

SUGAR RUSH at Amazon
Oh, crap, I still haven't created my author's page there yet!
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By the way, the Cyber-Launch Book Party starts in just under three hours?  I've just sent the Blood-Sucking Dead Guys to breakfast so they won't be hungry when the party starts.  If you're diabetic, try to remember you're only a lollypop to the Oldbloods and the Newbloods weren't invited.  Still, it's a good idea to bring your diabecracker along to watch your back.  What's a diabecracker?
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A diabecracker is someone who loves a diabetic.  The nickname was originally created as an insult by the Newbloods (alien/human hybrids,) but the diabecrackers embraced it like the American revolutionaries embraced the British insult, Yankees.  Newbloods find diabecrackers extremely annoying.  Diabecrackers are always helping or trying to help diabetics avoid and escape the Newbloods, and making sure they test and eat right and all that.

Cyber-Launch Book Party for SUGAR RUSH in the Morning

The party officially starts at 6 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Alaska Time.  Pop in and out, but do watch out for the trolls.  They ate chili tonight and they're very cranky.  And stinky.  For an example of the general lunacy of our parties, please read Lisa Shearin's party for Armed and Magical
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By commenting, you will be entered into a drawing for a free eBook of SUGAR RUSH and an Alaskan moose plush toy and possibly other goodies.  See you in the morning!  Be careful going into the Temporal Vortex Chamber though.  If you get nauesous upon rematerialization, there's nothing we can do about it.

Daily Dose of Decadence

Good evening, Blog Buds!
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I'm passing on news about a contest at my publisher's blog, Name Our Blog!
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Also, Decadent Publishing is looking to bail a few more authors out of Queryland.  Check this out-
What Decadent is Looking For

Kimber An Around the Blogosphere This Weekend

Hello, Blog Buddies!
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First off, don't forget about the Cyber-Launch Book Party for SUGAR RUSH in the morning.  It will run from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Alaska Time.  Feel free to pop in and out and you will be entered to win a free eBook of SUGAR RUSH and an Alaskan moose plush toy and maybe some other goodies. 
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Today, you can find posts by me at
Alien Romances
and
SFR Brigade
and this evening sometime
The Galaxy Express
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Tomorrow is the party, of course, and Tia's Announcement of Sugar Rush and the next day, Sunday, I will be at ER reviewer Rebecca Lynn's blog
New Kids On the Writers Block
See you there!

Lisa Shearin Shouts about SUGAR RUSH

and the SEVENFOLD SPELL by longtime Blog Buddy and fellow new author, Tia Nevitt.
http://www.lisashearin.com/2010/10/21/new-book-releases-from-my-blog-buddies/

Beyond Ecstasy by K Lynch

August 2010, Outskirts Press

E-book, review copy

Suspense romance

Summary from Outskirts 
Beginning with the time of the French Revolution through today, the "trilogy" emulates the intricate yet unpredictable, ever changing events in peoples' lives. The occurrences for the most part are factual, with only names and locations having been changed. Through these series of events, the Island of Berneau emerges as a paradise for all those who desire to make their fantasies a reality. 

One begins with a young single mother who, as a marital therapist is faced with a difficult dilemma. This is followed by a young, driven ER physician who attempts to run from tragedy only to be faced with his own mortality. Events finally culminate with the emergence of a career criminal who is a remorseless killer. His effect on the island inhabitants will be profound.


This was an intriguing book. I admit that I would happily have read the prologue (which introduced the history of the island) at the end. It provided background details, but I was eager to get on with the book. And the book really is all in the modern day - the French revolution part was to do with the prologue. 


That aside, the book itself was interesting. I enjoyed watching the story unfold, and how the lives of all three protagonists were interwoven. Carol's plight is scary. Some of it is her own fault - ok, a lot of it is. What she doesn't isn't necessarily morally right. She just wants to keep her son safe, fed and housed. She does that, but she doesn't stop when she could. She gets a bit greedy. However, she can escape from her life - although it does come and catch up with her in the third part of the book. I can't say the ER doctor gained my emotional investment - but he is pivotal in the story. I'm not sure whether it says something that I was more intrigued by the criminal than the doctor! There is no question the criminal had evil motives. He really should have done his research about where he was going - his demise is his own fault. I think rage drove him to his death - most people know what would happen in the situation he threw himself into. 


I class this as an easy read. There were a couple of plot twists which were a surprise, but most were obvious. It was enjoyable though. There is infrequent violence, cursing is kept to a minimum. I class this as sensual. 

Kimber An at Goodreads

Really, I mean it this time.
Kimber An at Goodreads

Kimber Jr's Review of SUGAR RUSH by Kimber An, plus an Excerpt from the Story

***Decadent surprised me and released SUGAR RUSH early!  Here's the link-   SUGAR RUSH at Decadent Publishing  ***
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Yep, it’s finally time for this fabulous book to come out! Of course, I’ve already read it, obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be writing this. But seriously, I did love this book. My job is to tell you why, so settle down and strap in, ‘cause Sugar Rush is heading your way!!!

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The story opens with Ophelia, the main character, getting mauled by the ultimate jerk ex-boyfriend, Martin Brynner (did I mention he’s a jerk?) Luckily, though, someone throws a rock and hits Martin in the side of the head and frightens him off, good riddance!
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Then we meet the rest of the supporting cast-Bianca, Ophelia’s hilarious twin sister, Worf the husky, and Ophelia’s mom Mrs. Dawson.
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We also find out Bianca’s obsessed with making dresses. She’s currently preparing hers and Ophelia’s for the high school party that night.
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That night, we find out just who threw that rock at Martin- none other than Ophelia’s currently anonymous “Sweet Wesley”. But when she collapses in the bathroom from lack of insulin (did I mention she was diabetic? It’s kind of crucial to the story, you know…..) we encounter an undercurrent of tension between Martin and another guy whose name you’ll figure out in about two seconds.
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Adrian Grayer. He’s the one who’s been fending off Martin. He’s the one who’s been leaving all those drawings and Star Trek trinkets in Ophelia’s locker. He’s also the one who’s Ophelia’s Secret Admirer……
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Some fun facts about Adrian: he likes birds, especially raptors. And his symbol is the griffin, a half-eagle, half-lion mythological creature that is very loyal and will fight to protect its mate (or whatever else it might be guarding) to the death. What this implies, I’ll leave up to you. However, I have some definite ideas…..
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If one of your ideas was “he likes rehabilitating eagles” you’d be right! In fact, that’s where we catch up with him and Ophelia next, checking out some beautiful bald eagles that were released into the wild. Of course, Martin has to come and interrupt (what is it with bad guys interrupting kissing scenes?!), but luckily Bianca covers for her and he leaves. I’d better not say what’s next, though, or the boys might get angry and leave, and we don’t want that. But girls, I think you can figure it out.
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In the meantime, we meet Raven, an ultra-intelligent raven with strange blue eyes. Is he important? Well, you could say that……
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But before we can figure out just how, Ophelia’s dad finds out about her and Adrian, starts to throw a major hissy fit, finds out Worf approves, trusts the dog, and drives off. A few days later, Ophelia’s mom finds him………in a ditch, dead. And drained of all his blood. Now, what sort of creature would do something like that? Hmmm…….
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However, all curiousness aside, it is a major All Is Lost moment. Ophelia’s father is dead, and, according to Adrian and newcomer Brandon Kelly, he was murdered. By vampires.
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Yeah. Really.
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(((Kimber An here- "They're not vampires. They're alien-human hybrids!"
(((Kimber Jr. here-  "Hey, if it sucks blood..."
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Well, as always, life goes on. The next thing we know, Ophelia’s heading off to a New Year’s party. Things aren’t looking good then-it seems the Adrian’s run off with Katelyn, local bossyboots and complete jerk. Ophelia, however, has a few tricks up her sleeve…….
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But more sinister things are hanging over the party. Martin nearly runs Trevor off the road just because he tried to help Ophelia and it looked……awkward. Why is Martin so possessive of Ophelia? Is it just because he’s the ultimate jerk ex-boyfriend, or is there another, more sinister reason?
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Sorry, Folks, but that’s all I’m allowed to say. However, I would like to say a bit more about Brandon. Well, he’s a shapeshifter, and, as a matter of fact, he’s Raven, remember him? That’s why he had those strange blue eyes. He also loves Nintendo DS, Ophelia, and moose meat……….
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Once again, I’m at the end of my rope. However, a little birdie (it looked an awful lot like a raven…..)Told me it’s out, so if you want more I suggest to hop over and get the e-book. Until then, VAMPIRES RULE!!!!!
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(((Kimber An- "ALIEN/HUMAN HYBRIDS!")))
(((Kimber Jr- "Hey, none of the other authors I've reviewed yelled at me!")))
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P.S All I can say is, thank goodness this book is published because the author was driving me crazy by singing “Sugar Rush” by the A-Teens all day for months. It wasn’t even on-key! Arrrrrrgh!!!
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***EXCERPT from SUGAR RUSH***
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Ophelia pressed pencil to paper and the lead broke. She sighed.

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“You all right?” Adrian Grayer sat next to her in nearly every class.
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“Fine.” She didn’t look at him, but leaned over and dug into her backpack for another pencil. Too bad he doesn’t like girls.
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All the while, her mind raced, trying to figure out which of the others her ‘Sweet Wesley’ could be. Josh Taylor has full lips, so he can’t be the one. I know my secret admirer’s lips very well now. They’re pouty and cute, like he needs a chocolate chip cookie. She always kept three perfectly sharpened pencils and three Sharpy pens in her backpack, but came up empty.
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Straightening in her seat, she eyed the electric pencil sharpener on the teacher’s barren desk. She did not want to walk up. The guys would all look at her and she didn’t know which one was her secret admirer.
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“You can borrow mine.” Adrian offered his mechanical pencil, left-handed.
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“Thanks.” She glanced his way just enough to see his sunny blond hair. When he leaned over to give her the pencil, she caught his scent too, the scent of birch trees in the winter. I love birch trees. She’d overheard him talking about helping at the nature center, rehabilitating eagles back into the wild.
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Wait, that’s familiar somehow. She drew breath through her nose again. Very familiar.
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His gold ring glinted in the lights as he placed the pencil above her book on the desk. A signet ring, its flat face was etched with the image of a creature, half lion and half eagle.
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“Griffin!” Ophelia couldn't stop the gasp. "Oh, my!” She stared at the ring, and then looked into his stormy blue eyes, and then his pouty lips.
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Adrian blushed deep red.
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"You really are the one!”
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"Does that mean you wanted…"
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“But, you’re gay.” Ophelia’s voice squeaked just a little.
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He pressed lips together and shook his head slightly.
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Ophelia’s mouth dropped and she didn’t even try to stop it. Her face burned and she hid behind her textbook, certain the entire class could hear her heart pound. He’s been sitting right next to me for four months! Geez, I’m an idiot! She peeked at him around the edge of her book and knew it was true. He’s gorgeous!

I'm a Published Author!

Well, my darling editors sprung one on me and released SUGAR RUSH today!  Pop on over and check it out!   Sugar Rush at Decadent Publishing
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Meanwhile, the festivities will continue on schedule.  Speaking of schedules, my baby is crying for dinner, so I must go.  Freaking out will resume later.

Back to Square One at Goodreads

(((sigh))) Well, I was good for go at Goodreads, but then I noticed something which needed changing.  I tried and tried and tried and tried to change it.  But, it would not change.  It just wouldn't.  eMailed Goodreads, but I decided I didn't want to wait around for them to fix it.  So, I deleted my whole dang account and started over.  On the bright side, I'm a little wiser for the experience.  I'll work on it again in the morning.
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Meanwhile, I'm still befuddled by Cafepress.  Shelfari and I are getting along nicely, but I'm only have way updated there.
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The first review, as far as I know, of SUGAR RUSH goes up this evening.  I know this because it's my daughter who's writing it and she's sworn not to go easy on me, and I suspect she'll try to get back at me for all those months I walked around singing, 'Sugar Rush' by the A Teens, off-key while I was writing the novel. 

Release Week Festivities for Sugar Rush

Good evening, Blog Buds!
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I can't believe it.  My first novel will be out this coming Friday, October 22nd.  My main site is complete with a partial sample first chapter-
http://www.kimberan.com/p/sugar-rush-sample-chapters.html
And a Media Kit for Bloggers-
http://www.kimberan.com/p/media-kit-for-bloggers.html
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If you would like to help spread the word, you can find all you need on the Media Kit page.  Of course, I'm happy to guest blog and all that too.  Just email me.   kimber.an@yahoo.com 
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I am so busy and tired and my To-Do List is long.  Several blog buddies have graciously agreed to post or let me post about the blessed event.  I'll post here to let you know when and where that happens.  So far, I know I'll be at the SFR Brigade, the Galaxy Express, Alien Romances, Debuts & Reviews, and Lisa Shearin's blog.
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My daughter, known here as Kimber, Jr, is reading Sugar Rush and will post her review on Tuesday.

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On Saturday, I will throw a Cyber-Launch Book Party for myself, just like I used to for other authors.  If you want to know about those, follow this link to Lisa Shearin's last one-
http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2008/04/cyber-launch-book-party-for-armed.html
I wonder if I can get her to bring her goblins to be the bouncers?  Hmmm...
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Meanwhile, today we tried really hard to take my author's photograph, but the Alaskan weather did not cooperate.  We've had snow, but it hasn't stuck for the winter yet.  Today, the wind blew ice-cold as you can tell from the very best (waaaah!) picture of the ones we took

We did manage to get this one before my baby girl started crying from being so tired and hungry. 

A good book puts off just about anything bad, but when a girl is tired AND hungry only Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joose will work.

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So, anyway, I reckon we'll try to do the pictures again next weekend.

Kimber An Braces for the Launch of SUGAR RUSH

Good morning, Blog Buddies!  I've been working hard this week, final proofing Sugar Rush for release on Friday, October 22nd, and upgrading my web presence.  I guess it's having been in that evil, dreaded purgatory known as Queryland for four years, but I put off most of the preparations until the last couple of weeks out of fear, fear it would all blow up in my face.  I'm still not doing the Snoopy Dance because of that, and also because all I can see is a TON of work in front of me!  Okay, I'll schedule my New-Author-Freak-Out for Saturday, October 23rd at precisely 4:17 a.m., once my coffee is working and before I need to return emails.  Yeah, yeah, that should work with the Master Schedule.  Did I mention I have four children?
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Anyway...
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I now have a main site and I own my domain name.  The thing is I don't have the money for a professional job. (My four children need to eat.) So, I went searching and discovered that Blogger has upgraded a lot.  There are some new beautiful themes and I was able to set up a blog which looks like a website for only the cost of my domain name, $10 plus tax.  Here's the address-
http://www.kimberan.com/
I still need to finish a couple of pages.
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I noticed that my target readership, teens, enjoy an encyclopedia of sorts for their favorite stories, whether movies or novels, so I've established a blog which is all Sugar Rush stories all the time-
http://opheliadawsonchronicles.blogspot.com/.
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I'm also on Facebook (most active,) as well as MySpace and Twitter.  I'm not active much on either MySpace or Twitter, because I simply do not have time. (Did I mention I homeschool two of my children and the fourth's a toddler?)  There are several other places I need to work on, YouTube, CafePress (have a shop, but not complete,) Shelfari, and Goodreads, as well as Amazon.  The list just keeps getting longer!
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In addition to all this, you may have noticed I've re-organized this blog.  Starting the weekend after next (October 29th through 31st), I will be hosting guest bloggers from the publishing industry on Fridays, fellow ePublished Young Adult authors will be co-blogging with me on Saturdays, and established authors will guest blog on Sundays about the writing craft.  No one's turned down my invitations yet!  Everyone has been so generous!
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For publishing industry professionals, I have Dara England, who designed my cover art, awesome SFR blogger, Heather Massey, my own fabulous executive editor, Heather Bennett, and fellow blogging book reviewer and new author, Tia Nevitt.
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For guest authors, I have Walter Greatshell putting a Science Fiction spin on old monsters for the Halloween post, YA Fantasy Historical author Marissa Doyle, the legendary author and generous mentor, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, and Hawaiian author Patricia Wood who lives on a sailboat.
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My new co-blogging YA ePublished authors are Vanessa Barger, Rebecca Royce , and Leslie Soule.  You can find their blogging schedule on the sidebar. 
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I'm still trying to figure out what to do for promoting Sugar Rush over the next couple of weeks, especially next weekend and on the day.  If you have any ideas or want to invite me to guest blog or blog swap or whatever, please contact me!  You can comment here or here is my authorly email addy-
kimber.an@yahoo.com
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If you feel so generous, I would appreciate you all posting my cover art on your blogs and such.  Here is the link to my About Sugar Rush page-
http://www.kimberan.com/p/about-sugar-rush.html
I'll be posting a sample chapter on my main site soon too.
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Ohmigosh, there is so much to remember and to do.  You should see the size of my daily planner!  Okay, maybe not.  Too scary.  I'll post a showcase of Sugar Rush tomorrow.  My daughter is threatening to review Sugar Rush, but first, she says, she has to pretend I didn't write it, because there's kissing scenes and it's just too weird reading a kissing scene your mother wrote.
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Big thanks to everyone for all your advice and encouragement over the past four years!

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by J.K. Rowling

Countdown to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Month Four-Book Six-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
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It’s getting down to the wire now- one month till the release!! Today I’m doing the second-to-last book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Talk about awesomeness! Here we go!!
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The story opens with Britain’s Prime Minister (the Muggle one) trying to deal with a string of freak disasters. A nearby bridge collapse has nearly chased him out of office, and he doesn’t even know what caused it.
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But he knows someone who does (not that he likes it)! Yep, it’s our old friend Fudge, now ex-Minister of Magic! That’s right, Fudge has been kicked out (no offense, but good riddance!) and was replaced by a guy who really knows his stuff and is ready to believe Lord Voldemort is back named Scrimgeour.
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But in the meantime, things aren’t going well. That bridge collapse was no technical difficulty (please stand by). It was the Death Eaters! And that hurricane was no hurricane. It was a giant (not Grawp, thank goodness, but one of the bad giants.)! Voldemort is clearly growing stronger.
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Many miles away, another plot twist is beginning. Two women appear in a small, mostly Muggle village somewhere. One of them, Narcissa Malfoy (does that ring any bells?), seeks out one house in particular. The other, her cousin Bellatrix Lestrange (if the previous one didn’t, this definitely should!), tried to persuade her not to do whatever it is she’s doing.
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Turns out the person Narcissa Malfoy’s going to visit is our old friend Professor Snape, of all people. Apparently a little birdie told Narcissa that Voldemort himself has given her son Draco a mission, a very, very dangerous mission, and she wants Snape to promise to protect Draco as best he can. Bellatrix isn’t impressed, but she consents to perform the Unbreakable Vow on Narcissa and Snape.
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Many miles later, we finally find Harry-asleep against his window. A letter lies nearby, telling Harry that Dumbledore will come and pick him up at exactly midnight. Well, it is now.
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Dumbledore, of course, is punctual as always. Harry is awoken (at last) by the streetlights being put out (read your Sorcerer’s Stone, people!), and hastily starts to pack. But before he can finish, he rushes downstairs to find Dumbledore politely greeting the sternly anti-wizard Dursleys. He then proceeds to inform Harry that he has 1) inherited Sirius’s house, number 12 Grimmauld Place, and 2) inherited Kreacher of all house-elves! Needless to say, Harry is less than pleased, but better that than handing both over to Sirius’s cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange-and, incidentally, the very person who killed him!
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Yeah. Really.
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Happily, though, Harry also gets our old friend Buckbeak the hippogriff. He’d been living with Sirius ever since his big getaway, so now he’s Harry’s. Harry decides to let Hagrid take care of him.
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So then Dumbledore sets off with Harry in tow to find an old friend of his, Horace Slughorn. They find him in a Muggle house, hiding out from the Death Eaters. At the first sign of Harry and Dumbledore’s appearance, he had made it look like he’d been attacked by Death Eaters.
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One tip for that though: if you’re gonna convince anyone who knows anything at all about Voldemort and his henchmen (least of all Dumbledore) you’re going to have to remember one crucial point: the Dark Mark.
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Slughorn forgot his, so Dumbledore isn’t fooled. Now, here’s one spell I need: the Cleanup spell. They show it in the movie, and it’s totally awesome. They use it to clean up Slughorn’s mess, and then Dumbledore leaves to let Harry work his charm on Slughorn.
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In the end, it works: Slughorn agrees to teach at Hogwarts, which of course is the very reason why Dumbledore brought Harry along in the first place. He needs Professor Slughorn, but you really only find out some time later, so you’ll have to wait a bit to find out.
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With that little task done, Dumbledore drops Harry off at the Weasleys’. But before they go in, we find out several important things.
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Now, here’s the problem with cutting things off early so that you don’t give the ending away: if the character learns vital information after the big huge final battle, then I can’t tell you. But I am telling you now, so don’t be upset. Turns out that prophecy was about Harry. It said a boy born to parents that had defied Voldemort several times would come, and Voldemort would choose him as his equal, but he would have powers ol’ Voldemort doesn’t. Oh, yeah, and he would be born at the end of July. Does that ring any bells?
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It should. If you were thinking “Harry” you’d be right. But the funny thing is, if you thought “Neville”, you’d also be correct! Well, would have. Obviously, Voldemort picked Harry, or else the title would be Neville Longbottom and the Half-Blood Prince instead of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. And, sorry Neville, but somehow Harry’s name looks better on the cover of the book. Could be that I’m just used to seeing it, but anyway, moving on.
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So, essentially, Dumbledore warns Harry to stay out of danger, like that’s gonna happen! After that, though, the two head inside to find Mrs. Weasley soothing a distressed everybody’s favorite don’t-call-me-Nymphadora awesome Auror, Nymphadora Tonks. Since Sirius’s death, she’s been beating up herself because she thought she could have saved him. “Survivor’s guilt,” is what Hermione names the condition.
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Next morning, Harry is reunited with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, the twins, and the rest of the Weasleys. That day, among other things, they get their O.W.L’s in. I’m not telling what they are, of course; you’ll just have to make like Hermione and get the book! They also go to good ol’ Diagon Alley with-surprise, surprise!-Hagrid as their guard. But when they get there it’s to find that nearly everything is closed, including the wand shop Ollivander’s, where Harry got his wand so long ago. Rumor has it that he was dragged off by Death Eaters for whatever reason. Mysterious, huh?
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One thing that is open, though, is Fred and George’s joke shop! Remember way back when Harry gave him his prize money from the Triwizard Tournament? Well, after they made their grand escape from Hogwarts they flew here and built their joke shop. It’s awesome too, but that doesn’t stop Harry from noticing our old friend Draco Malfoy looking very suspicious.
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Harry being Harry, he persuades Ron and Hermione to tag along as he tails Malfoy. Malfoy being Malfoy, he decides to lead them right into the weirdest place in Diagon Alley-Knockturn Alley. There they find Malfoy inquiring at a creepy shop called Borgin and Burke’s about something he wants to repair but doesn’t want the shopkeeper to see. He also threatens the poor shopkeeper with a visit from resident creepy guy Fenrir Greyback. In case you don’t know, Greyback is a werewolf-as a matter of fact the very same one who bit our friend Professor Lupin!
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Soon we find ourselves back on the train to Hogwarts. Harry tried to persuade Ron and Hermione that Draco is a bad guy, but they aren’t buying it. So he decides to spy on Malfoy, with the help of his trusty old Invisibility Cloak and a little of Fred and George’s Instant Darkness Powder. Unluckily, though, he gets caught by Malfoy, who breaks poor Harry’s nose and covers him with the Invisibility Cloak so no one will find him.
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Luckily, though, someone does: everybody’s favorite don’t-call-me-Nymphadora Auror, Tonks! Now, depending on whether you’re reading the book or watching the movie, it could be Tonks, or, if you’re watching the movie, good old Luna Lovegood. My personal favorite is Luna (for obvious reasons) but you can pick whichever you like. But anyway Tonks takes Harry back up to school, where we discover security has been tightened all around Hogwarts. We also find out Tonks has a new Patronus-something the movie just didn’t think important enough to feature. Ah, well. They’ll probably spring what that Patronus was hinting at in the Deathly Hallows. At least, I hope they will.
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So finally Harry gets back to Hogwarts, just late enough for Snape to put Gryffindor back about fifty points. Ah, well. At least something’s still the same. Harry is reunited with a worried Ron and Hermione and they begin the school year together. Turns out Harry’s been appointed Quidditch Captain this year, so he has to pick out a new team. He does (after some hilarity, of course), and at the end of it Ron’s on the team again playing Keeper. Yay!!
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Meanwhile, Harry’s lessons with Dumbledore have been going well. Dumbledore has been telling the story of Tom Riddle, a.k.a Lord Voldemort, starting at the very beginning with Voldemort’s mother Merope Gaunt and his dad, Tom Riddle Senior. But even as this story is unfolding, another mystery arises….. this one in the form of a seemingly innocent potions book. It’s been written all over by its previous owner. According to a scribble in the front, it used to be owned by a person called the “Half-Blood Prince”. But who could it be? That’s the mystery. It’s got helpful tips for potions all over the place; who do we know who’s good with potions? Hmmm…..but more than that, it has spells too. Spells that appear to have been written by the Half-Blood Prince himself. One of particular importance that I’d like to point out now is called “Sectumsempra” and it’s very important.
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Dumbledore has also been teaching Harry about another critical point: Horcruxes. These little….objects….are the reason Voldemort didn’t die that night when he attacked Harry, and the reason why no one’s been able to kill him since. See, what happened is that he split his soul by killing people and putting the pieces into containers, called Horcruxes. An example is Tom Riddle’s Diary, waaaaaay back in the Chamber of Secrets. Yep, that was a Horcrux. He made seven in all. Tom Riddle’s diary was one, and so was a certain ring belonging to the Gaunts that Dumbledore managed to destroy, at the cost of a wilted hand. This particular ring is very, very, super-duper astronomically so-important-it’d-be-really-stupid-not-to-mention-it important. Maybe not so much now-though it definitely is important now-but in the next book, it is. Very much so. But anyway, he made seven in all. Six I’m pretty sure Dumbledore, Harry, and Voldemort all know about. The seventh…..well, I’m pretty sure Dumbledore knows it, but that’s about it. I’m not saying what it is…..or, rather, who……..
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Back to a lighter subject, though. Soon Harry’s on Christmas Break and heads to the Weasley’s for Christmas. There the movie deviates quite a bit from the book. In the movie, the Death Eaters interrupt what was going to be a very awesome kissing scene between Harry and Ginny, Bellatrix lures Harry and Ginny into a cornfield (where’d that come from? The Burrow was by a forest…..), and the Death Eaters blow up the house. Ka-boom. In the book, Harry just basically has a good Christmas and discusses the possibility of Draco’s being a Death Eater with Mr. Weasley, Lupin, and everyone else within earshot. Personally, though, I like the movie better, though it does make you wonder where certain events take place in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, if they hadn’t interrupted that kiss…….
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Anyway, back at the school of magic, Ron manages to take a love potion (meant for Harry) and is taken by Harry to Slughorn’s office. There he manages to take a deadly poison (meant for Dumbledore). Only Harry’s quick thinking saves him to act goofy another day. But the incident leaves Harry reeling. Earlier, a cursed necklace had sent a girl named Katie Bell to St. Mungo’s. Who’s behind these attacks? Harry has his suspicions, of course. But nothing’s for sure.
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The next day, at the Quidditch game (narrated by none other than Luna Lovegood), Harry manages to get knocked out and joins Ron in the hospital wing. There he sets our old friend Dobby the house-elf and the unsavory character of Kreacher to tail his prime suspect-none other than our old friend Draco Malfoy. Is he going too far with this, or is Harry on the right track? Nothing’s for sure yet.
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Later, we’re sure of two more Horcruxes: a locket of Slytherin’s and a cup of Hufflepuff’s. We also know Harry has a little job: he has to recover a crucial memory from Slughorn. This he does, with the help of a little Felix Felicis.
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Just after that comes a pivotal chapter in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It comes when Harry corners Draco in a bathroom, accusing him of cursing Katie and poisoning Ron. They duel, and we finally figure out what Sectumsempra means. And it’s not good at all.
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Here again the movie deviates from the book. In the movie, Ginny comes along to the Room of Requirement to get rid of the Half-Blood Prince’s book and kisses Harry there (YES!!!!!!!). In the book, Harry gets detention and misses a Quidditch game and the Gryffindors win and Ginny kisses him at the celebratory party. Either way, we finally get payback for that interrupted kiss!!!
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But now it’s time to get back to more serious stuff. Dumbledore has found out where another Horcrux might be located, and, this time, Harry’s coming along for the ride. So they Disapparate from the Three Broomsticks to a little cave by the sea.
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Sound familiar? Well, I didn’t mention it, but this cave is special. Tom Riddle took two children here to torture, and since then he’s turned it into a fortress to protect one of his Horcruxes.
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There’s just one problem: it’s in the middle of a lake. And in the lake are Inferi, enchanted dead guys. And they’re super ugly, nowhere near as cute as the blood-sucking dead guys of the Twilight series. Aw, man!!
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And they’re not even blood-sucking. Oh, well.
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Somehow, though, Harry and Dumbledore reach the island. But an even more pressing problem steps up: the Horcrux is at the bottom of a cauldron filled with impenetrable potion. The only way to get at the Horcrux is drink the potion.
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Dumbledore does, and it makes him very weak. Harry manages to grab the Horcrux and get him back to Hogwarts. But it’s only to find that his suspicions about Draco were correct: he has been trying to kill Dumbledore all year. Not only that, he’s also fixed a Vanishing Cabinet down in the Room of Requirement, and now a whole host of Death Eaters has invaded Hogwarts. And Draco has Dumbledore cornered good and proper.
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But then Snape comes up.
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I’m not saying what happens next-it’s against my policy of never giving away the ending-but I will say that it ends up being a HUGELY MAJOR All Is Lost moment, if you know what I mean. And it’s pretty easy to figure out. And Snape is at fault.
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Oh, and did I mention SNAPE is the Half-Blood Prince? Who would’ve known?!
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Well, I don’t like to end on a negative point, but that’s pretty much it. Well, see you next month---FOR HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS!!!!!!!! That’s a happy note, right? I should think so!! Until then, happy hippogriffs to you and see you then!
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P.S And a special thanks to everybody’s favorite super-ultra-extra-awesome-person Nayuleska, ‘cause……well, you know why. Thanks, Nayuleska!!!!!!!

Kimber An Finally Buys...

...her domain name.  http://www.kimberan.com/   Also, SUGAR RUSH has a tentative release date, October 22nd.

Walter Greatshell to Guest Blog on Halloween

You know how I love a Sci-Fi spin on an old monster tale.  Walter has provided a couple of really great ones here at Enduring Romance.

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XOMBIES APOCALYPTICON-
http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2010/02/xombies-apocalypticon-by-walter.html

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and XOMBIES APOCALYPSE BLUES
http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2009/11/xombies-apocalypse-blues-by-walter.html

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He has a new book coming in December too.  It's the cover art at the top of this post, MAD SKILLS.  Pop over to his website to learn more about it.  http://www.waltergreatshell.com/
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Walter is going to terrify us with how he goes about world-building for his stories.  I asked him to do that because his fictional 'worlds' are just so cool and, hey, I can use the writing lesson.  So, pop in on Halloween, our first Storytelling Sunday of the new blog reorganization.

Review: Only You

Only You
by Deborah Grace Staley

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Belle Books
Cost: $12.95 (free right now on Kindle)

What I Liked:
I adored the hero in this book. Cole Craig was everything a perfect Southern gentleman should be, plus a little rough around the edges and blue under the collar. It only makes him more attractive. I was very impressed with the way he was written. It made me want to read more of Deborah Grace Staley's books. And that's a good thing, because there are three books in this series, and I still have two left.

I did enjoy the heroine, as well, and saw a bit of myself in her. She's an intellectual, has worked her whole life to accomplish her goals, and is now faced with obstacles that are more than just professional. The small town of Angel Ridge could easily have been any small town in the South, or the North for that matter. It was very familiar and comforting while simultaneously being frustrating. I loved that.

Deborah Grace Staley has been compared to Debbie Macomber. And while I'm not much of a Macomber fan, I would definitely keep reading the books in this series. So that's a good sign for me. Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Book Blurb:
A charming romance about the lives and loves of people in a small Tennessee town. In the tradition of Debbie Macomber. "Hey, ya'll. Dixie Ferguson here. I run Ferguson's Diner in Angel Ridge, Tennessee. Population three hundred forty-five. It's a picturesque town in the valley of the Little Tennessee River, established in 1785. In the early days, its first families--the McKays, the Wallaces, the Houstons, the Joneses, and, of course, the Craigs--staked their claims on hundreds of acres of the richest bottom land anyone had ever seen. After all the years I've spent behind the counter at Ferguson's, I could probably tell ya'll a story about near everyone in town. But we only have so much time, so I'll narrow it down to just two for now. This is a story about coming home. It's also a story about acceptin' folks for who they are. You could say it's a story about Josie Allen, a librarian, and Cole Craig, a handyman, but I say it's a story about finding love where you'd least expect to."

~Rebecca Lynn

Review: His Forever Love

His Forever Love
by Missy Tippens

Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Series Romance
Publisher: Harlequin (Steeple Hill)
Cost: $4.12

What I Liked:
I really enjoy Missy Tippens' voice. It's very conversational and accessible. Her storytelling drew me in to this story right away. Of course, I've read a lot of Steeple Hill Love Inspired books, now, and this is definitely one of my favorites. I love the Southern small town setting, and the two main characters. Especially the hero. Love the whole sexy, brainy guy angle. That's definitely something new for me in a romance novel.

I really like the second-chances stories, and this is definitely a great one. The hero and heroine don't seem perfectly matched from the start, which I also like. They sort of evolve into each other--even though you know, of course, because it's a romance novel, that they'll end up together. But the things that keep them apart feel real, and when they do get together (I hope I'm not ruining the surprise), it's satisfying.

I've never read a book by Missy Tippins before, but this definitely won't be my last. She's definitely got the best of what is great about Love Inspired books. Her voice has an ease to it, her characters are engaging, and the story is satisfying. If you like Love Inspired books, I recommend this great love story.

Book Blurb:
In Magnolia, Georgia, local legend says that a couple who holds hands around the "forever" tree will have an unending love. Even so, Bill Wellington held Lindsay Jones's hands around that tree years ago...and then left her behind. He chose the big city, and now he wants to bring his grandmother there. But to his amazement, he finds that Granny has a boyfriend--and a vibrant life. A life that includes Lindsay, Granny's caregiver. Bill never thought he'd want to come home, yet Magnolia clearly has its charms. As does Lindsay, who makes him long for a second chance at forever love.

~ Rebecca Lynn

SUGAR RUSH on the 'Coming Soon' Page!

Check it out, the little book that could.
http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com/p/coming-soon.html
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Here's Burl Ives to help celebrate-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEhyiNVVaeU&feature=related
Yeah, I know The Little Engine That Could is a children's story, but, hey, I used to be a nanny and now I have four children of my own.  I can quote Yertle the Turtle word for word in my sleep!

Fire Study by Maria V Snyder

January 2009, Mira
Paperback, Personal Copy
Fantasy, Young Adult

Summary from Mira

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder – able to capture and release souls – spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena`s unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena`s fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before.

Honour sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies and enemies. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself – and save the land she holds dear.

Regular readers will know I love this series. I'm currently reading the Glass trilogy, which is supremely awesome! Anyway, back to Yelena's current dilemma. Wherever she goes, she isn't popular (apart from her friends, who always love her). I think trouble and suspicion have attached themselves to Yelena. I like her. The problem with having a rare skill, is that people only hear the bad parts about it from history, and never remember the positive aspects. It is the Council's duty to figure out whether Yelena's power as a Soulfinder is something that can be tolerated in the world. Poor Yelena. The executioner's noose follows her everywhere. That doesn't deter her from setting out to do what she feels is right, even if it will cost her everything.

She's already apart from Valek, and technically she can't ever see him again (for, if she goes back to him by law the Commander will have her killed. By Valek.) So she doesn't have him by her side. And yet he does end up helping her along the way. She has her family. Her mother's love is without question, but Leif - well he is still a tricky brother. Yelena learns to find a way to work with Leif (with a good teacher at her side). She learns that rushing headlong into danger leads to an interesting life. It's very hard to take one form of action when everyone around you feels it is wrong. But Yelena does it.

I liked the ending because Yelena bares mental and physical scars from her ordeals. They are tough, and life threatening. But she will do everything to protect the family she is only just beginning to know safe, and the other citizens who she cares for.

The good thing about Fire Study is that it isn't the end of Yelena's story. She appears briefly in the Glass trilogy, which produced cheers from me. It's a series that I rave about, that I read as my comfort books. Yelena rules! (And not just because of a pretty cover!)

Content is a bit violent, some romance, lots of danger and tension. Tissues are needed. And possibly a camera, because I was grinning at the end (while crying. They were happy tears!)

Be sure to check out book one Poison Study and book two Magic Study.

Review: The Perfect Love Song

The Perfect Love Song
by Patti Callahan Henry

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Cost: $10.85

What I Liked:
Having never read a Patti Callahan Henry book before, I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. The reviews I read were mixed. It seemed to be a book that you either hated or loved. I'm please to say that I came down somewhere in the middle.

I enjoyed Patti Callahan Henry's lyrical voice, which will likely make me pick up others of her books. I really thoroughly enjoyed Charlotte, the heroine of the book, and Kara, the secondary heroine. Both were endearing, patient, and loving. Charlotte's story was bittersweet, of course, though she came to a satisfying end.

But Jimmy... Oh, Jimmy. And I don't say that in the adoring, fangirl voice of Thoroughly Modern Millie. More like the frustrated, disappointed voice of a parent with a misbehaving child. One you want so desperately to see make the right choice, yet who continues to turn away from everything he thought he loved in search of something unattainable. He was only a "hero" in that he was the main character of the book. Even the end did not redeem Jimmy for me, because I didn't feel like he really learned his lesson.

Granted, it wasn't my story. And I think at least the author felt like she brought him to a satisfying end. It was good to read her note in the back about why she wrote this book. I always like to hear from the authors what they attempted to "say" in their books. What the intended message was. I like to see if that's what really happened or not. In this case, I think part of her message connected, and part of it did not.

But regardless of where I fell on liking or not liking this book, I really enjoyed the writing. I will pick up another Patti Callahan Henry book, because I think she's a good writer. And I want to get a chance to see what her other books are like. For now, I'm happy to leave Jimmy behind, but part of Charlotte will stay with me forever.

Book Blurb:
Jimmy Sullivan has been living on the road with his brother, Jack, and his band The Unknown Souls. Without a place to call home, Jimmy and Jack lead a nomadic life filled with music and anonymous cities. When they return to a place Jimmy never wants to see again—their old hometown of Seaboro, South Carolina—he falls in love with Charlotte Carrington.

With his soul now filled with hope, Jimmy writes his first love song. When he performs it at a holiday concert to a standing ovation, the lyrics are dubbed the “Perfect Love Song,” so much so that Jimmy finds himself going on tour with famous country music stars, catapulted into a world where the trappings of fame and fortune reign supreme.

All too soon, the hope that had once inspired Jimmy to write such beautiful, genuine lyrics is overshadowed by what the song can do for him and his career. In his thirst for recognition, he agrees to miss Jack’s wedding in Ireland to sing at a Christmas Eve concert. And his ties to Charlotte seem to be ever so quickly slipping away.

Alone in New York City on Christmas Eve, Jimmy finally sees—with the help of a Christmas miracle or two—that his material gains are nothing compared to love, that he is losing all that really matters in his life. Is it too late to find his way to Ireland, to his brother, and to love?

New Life! Backlist eBooks

I thought I'd let you all know about some authors who've e-released novels which have gone out of print.  Pop over to
http://backlistebooks.com/
for some greats by the likes of C.J.Cherryh, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, and others.