Happy Halloween!!!! This is not a Werewolf Story by Sandra Evans! w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @sandraevans111

Oct 30, 2017

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Blitz for
This is Not a Werewolf Story
By Sandra Evans

This Middle Grade Fantasy is perfect for Halloween! Full of fun and mystery, and set at a boarding school where everything isn’t quite as it seems. Read the excerpt and enter the giveaway below…

This is Not a Werewolf Story
by Sandra Evans
Middle Grade Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 352 pages
July 26th 2016 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

This is the story of Raul, a boy of few words, fewer friends, and almost no family. He is a loner—but he isn’t lonely. All week long he looks after the younger boys at One Of Our Kind Boarding School while dodging the barbs of terrible Tuffman, the jerk of a gym teacher.

Like every other kid in the world, he longs for Fridays, but not for the usual reasons. As soon as the other students go home for the weekend, Raul makes his way to a lighthouse deep in the heart of the woods. There he waits for sunset—and the mysterious, marvelous phenomenon that allows him to go home, too. But the woods have secrets . . . and so does Raul. When a new kid arrives at school, they may not stay secret for long.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Book Depository

Excerpt

Chapter 1

This is the chapter where the new kid runs so fast, Raul decides to talk

New kid. New kid. The words fly around the showers and sinks. I can almost see them, flying up like chickadees startled from the holly tree in the woods.

All the boys are in the big bathroom on the second floor, washing up before breakfast. The littlest kids stand on tiptoe to peek out the windows that look onto the circle driveway.

I pick Sparrow up and hold him so he can see. He’s the littlest of the littles but the kid is dense–like a ton of bricks.

I can’t believe my eyes. No kid has ever come to the school on the back of a Harley. Not in all the years I’ve been here, and I’ve been here longer than anyone. The driver spins the back wheel and a bunch of gravel flies up.

The new kid is holding onto the waist of the driver. He must have a pretty good grip because the driver looks over his shoulder and tries to peel the kid’s fingers away one by one. Then the driver takes off his helmet. We all gasp, because it turns out the driver is a lady with long straight black hair.

Next to me Mean Jack whistles. “What a doll!”

Mean Jack thinks he’s a mobster. A made man, that’s what he calls himself. I call him a numbskull, but not out loud.

About the Author

Sandra Evans is a writer and teacher from the Pacific Northwest. Her forthcoming middle grade novel, This is Not a Werewolf Story (Simon & Schuster July 2016), was inspired by her favorite 12th century French tale, Bisclavret, by Marie de France. Born in Washington state, Sandra spent her childhood on U.S. Navy bases from Florida to Hawaii, and returned to the Northwest as a teenager. Since then, she has lived and traveled in France and Europe, but has never strayed far for long from the Puget Sound region.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter

Blitz Giveaway

2 winners will receive a print copy of THIS IS NOT A WEREWOLF STORY plus Swag
Open to UK and US entrants
Ends October 31st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Book Birthday to J.C. Valentine’s Buried Secrets w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @AuthorJCV

Nov 29, 2016

Buried Secrets

by J.C. Valentine
Publication Date: November 29, 2016
Genres: Adult, New Adult, Mystery, Thriller, YA, Suspense

BUY:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2eSJkHQ

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2gw1jn2

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2gl3EBQ

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2ecVSJ5

Synopsis: How do you live with yourself when you don’t even know who you are?

On a chill October night, a girl goes missing setting the small town of Oakridge on edge. James has spent the last five years running from a past that still haunts him to this day. Now he finds himself thrust back into a life he thought he left behind. Finding out his new home may be haunted and reconnecting with an old friend while being thrust into a murder mystery, James finds himself trying to figure out which end is up while questioning his own sanity.

**AUTHOR’S NOTE** Buried Secrets is a New Adult, mystery thriller with very little romance but heavy on the suspense.

EXCERPT

Blackness surrounded him, its endless pools of ink swallowing him whole. He couldn’t see his hand in front of his face, but he felt the terror seeping through his skin, past his bones and making its way down to his very soul.

James knew he was in the throes of one of his nightmares again. He could never make out a thing, just knew the feeling it left him with.

He tried to make himself wake up, but couldn’t find his way out. The feeling that someone was coming for him caused panic to swell and his heart to accelerate, threatening to break free from his chest.

Not knowing what was coming, fear lacerating his insides, James started to run blindly. In his bed, his feet kicked out wildly, tangling in the linens and ratcheting up his terror, because to James, he was trapped.

His breathing labored and coming in short, sharp bursts, James cried out at the same time his body bolted upright in the bed. Sweat beaded on his brow and dampened his skin, his clothes suctioned to his body uncomfortably. He was clammy and winded, shaken, but he already felt better for knowing he was free from that awful feeling of suffocating terror that had threatened to overtake him just moments ago.

Scrubbing his hands down his face, James breathed deeply, hanging his head to his chest while his body calmed. As his adrenalin levels normalized, and he began to feel more like himself, James gave a final sigh of relief. Stabbing his fingers through his hair, he was readying himself to try to go back to sleep when he looked up and choked on his breath.

His entire body went rigid in an instant. His breathing, his heartbeat. Everything ceased to work. In the next instant James threw himself back against his headboard, fear gripping him once again.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He would chance rubbing his eyes to be sure his vision was true, only he was too frightened of what he would find once he opened them again.

ABOUT J.C. VALENTINE

J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Series. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry.

J.C. earned her own happily ever after when she married her high school sweetheart. Living in the Northwest, they have three amazing children and far too many pets and spend much of their free time together enjoying movies or the outdoors. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors.

Sign up for J.C.’s newsletter and never miss a thing! http://bit.ly/1KxXWWB

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Pinterest • Google+ • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Cover Reveal for Amber Sky (C.O.I.L.S. of Copper and Brass #1) by Claire Warner! @ClaireWarner5

Nov 13, 2016

“You thought I did this out of the
goodness of my heart?” He gave a short mirthless laugh. “Not a bit of
it, this is going to be dangerous for me. What are you offering for my
help?”

#Review of My First Travel Book (the Anna Othitis Travel & Learn series #1) by Anna Othitis! w/a rafflecopter giveaway #Travel&Learn @aothitis @BooksOnFireTour

Nov 2, 2016

#Travel&Learn with Author Anna Othitis

 

 

The Series

Are you ready to take to the skies? Welcome Aboard Children! Come join the adventures of Captain Frankie and his flying angel as they travel across the world to some of the most popular, entertaining, and educational places in the world. Captain Frankie is waiting for you to book your ticket, safely stow your bags, and open your eyes to the beautiful places created for all of us to visit in My First
Travel Book series.

The Cookbook:

Have Fun and Enjoy These Greek Recipes “LET’S GET GREEK COOKING NOW”

Natural Traditional Healthy Cooking with flavors from natural herbs.
Nutritional home cooked Greek food has been proved by researchers to lessen health problems. The answer is to cook and eat a wide variety of minimal processed foods to cover all the nutritional bases.
The beauty of genuine Greek cooking and eating is using a good amount of extra virgin olive oil rich in oleic acid. Legumes are rich in vitamins, vegetables high in vitamins and fibres, the probiotics in yogurt, cheeses, antioxidants in red wine, whole wheat breads, cold-pressed vegetable oils along with good exercise such as walking all increase “good” cholesterol and a healthy heart.
Eat moderate portions and now and again spoil yourself with a Greek desert, baked with nuts and semolina.

As served aboard “Angelic Airlines”

 

AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE BOOKS-A-MILLION BOOKTOPIA

 

Anna Othitis lived and was raised in the beautiful land and country of Zimbabwe, Africa (home will always be home. She left all of her life long memories, endless charity work and good people behind vowing that she will continue supporting the needy children in her land Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond.

Her husband George, sons Johnny, Elia and Frankie encouraged her to write her first children’s book titled “My First Travel Book”, inspired by Frankie (Captain Frankie), who is graduating
from his Masters degree in Aeronautical Science and beginning his career as a professional pilot. Anna’s favourite saying is “Be Bold Be Brave”.She was inspired to write her children’s books with a vision to link up the children of the world with magical flights to so many beautiful places of interest and popularity on our wonderful planet Earth with all its beautiful some natural and some man made creations and resources. One of the beautiful natural wonders featured in her books is in her birth land of Zimbabwe “The Mighty Victoria Falls” All of her books educate our children and widen their scope of interest in the amazing surroundings, creations and nature to appreciate and look after our environment for many
generations still to come.

So come along and fly these magical flights with Captain Frankie and Anna!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

 

 

Why did you decide to write a book? (Why do you write?)

I decided to write because I love teaching young children and giving them my knowledge. Children have to be taught to read from a young age and they love books, they have curious little minds.

 

How long have you been writing? (Did you write at school? Did you start recently?)

 

I started writing at a young age, but I only published a few years ago when I came to the USA children were curious and had questions of the world beyond them, they did not realise and know that there was a world bigger than theirs.

How do you think you’ve evolved as a writer since you’ve started? (what have you learnt?)

I have learnt to be patient when it comes to selling and learnt that a lot of tweeting and push is needed to get my work and books known. We did not have this technology in Africa, so this was all new to me. Self publishing is also something I learnt to do.

Do you do a lot of research when writing a book? (if so, explain how or what you did)

Yes I do as I like and have to get my facts right as I am writing for children that are absorbing interesting information in my books.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? (what drives you creatively)

I draw my inspiration from our son Captain Frankie who is the main character in our children’s travel books and from my family in general as well as my autistic student children that I love to teach and read to.

The Real Captain Frankie!

Can you relate to any of your own stories? (Give a personal explanation if you can!)

Yes when I travelled to Greece at a young age I was curious and fascinated that one could see other parts of the world and fly in the sky with an aeroplane. I loved discovering and being adventurous, curious about other cultures around the world.

What draws you to this genre? (why do you prefer to write the stories you do?)

I love to teach the children of the world and especially the unfortunate children of Africa who are unable to travel to the rest of the world due to poverty. They love to learn and hear about the world and beyond them. They love to watch aeroplanes flying above and wonder where they fly to and their purpose of being in the deep blue skies.

How many books have you written?

I have written 4 children’s books and two Greek recipe books.

 

What is your favourite quote from a book?

 

Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t who don’t believe in magic will never find it. – The Minpins by Roald Dahl”

 

Any tips for aspiring authors?

 

Be proud of your work and never let anyone bring you down you have a unique talent and work on it. “Be bold and be Brave” my favourite quote in life.

 

WEBSITE GOODREADS FACEBOOK TWITTER PINTEREST LINKEDIN GOOGLE+

 

 

 

 

 

Zimbabwe

Greece

Montreal

Toronto

Paris

New York

South Africa

England

Mexico

Mauritius

 

Okay, it took me no time to read this book but I truly did enjoy it.  I am a substitute teacher and ironically, I was in a 1st grade classroom today.  This book would have been perfect to read to the class.  It’s short, beautifully illustrated and teaches so much in a short period of time.

Captain Frankie doesn’t dumb it down for the children either.  He’s to the point and gives the cool highlights of each landmark.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to any classroom and/or library.

Review by Books On Fire Tours

I thought I knew everything and so did my son. That is until we read this book! Filled with interesting places and educational facts, we got to learn more about places we had visited. We also learnt about places we had never been to before. Now we want to visit those places desperately! What made this book even more special was the poems, quizzes and the beautiful illustrations. Together with the facts, poems, quizzes and the friendly pilot, this is a highly educational and entertaining read!

This is the perfect children’s book for bedtime with a kid that LOVES to procrastinate going to sleep. It took us less than 5 minutes to read and it was mentally stimulating enough to make him sleepy.

But more than that! This little book inspires our little dreamers to one day travel the world. If enough kids read, and open their minds and hearts to new cultures and experiences, perhaps they will have a better chance of making this world a peaceful and better place. Maybe they will look after our beautiful world better than we ever could. Perhaps our future generations will succeed where we have failed.

Review by Nick Vee

Excellent book for younger children!! I was able to show my kids some of the different wonders of the world without leaving the comfort of my living room! It was entertaining and educational and I would recommend it to all parents trying to immerse their kids in educational and fun reading. I am really looking forward to the next book.

 

Review by Robin Leigh Morgan

After reading/reviewing a slew of adult books I felt the need to start reading/reviewing books intended for the inner child in me; books which would allow my inner child’s imagination to blossom and flourish, while at the same time educate my mind with interesting new places and facts.

After perusing Amazon for children’s books I found three books written by Anna Othitis which would satisfy my desire to be a child again, reading a book intended for me.Being a child of the 1950’s when I wanted to play with my friends; besides playing all the regular games we loved to play, we would ultimately wind up playing pretend or make believe sometimes for hours.

In “My First Travel Book” not only did I get, or any reader will get, is to pretend we’re on a plane with Captain Frankie who will take us to several places around the world so we can learn about them.

The book begins with showing the flags of the various places its readers will be taken to. Arriving at each of the planned destinations readers will be given a poetic description of the place/site, followed by information about is being seen. And to make sure everyone reading the book understands what they’ve been taught, Captain Frankie then asks questions about it.
I, as I’ve already said, found this book to have a twofold purpose; to turn on a child’s imagination while at the same teaching them something in an enjoyablemanner so their minds will remember it. For having done this so imaginatively, I’m giving Ms. Othitis 5 STARS

Review by Jessica Cassidy;

Little traveller best book buddy to carry anywhere in a trip.

My summer babe who’s 8 loves to read this book. I let her read the book and tell me the story. We were happy that our famous tourist spot Niagara Falls is mention in the book. We lived about 45 minutes drive from the famous waterfalls in the world. She also learnt different countries and continents aside from USA. This book is amazingly beautiful. The illustrations are so beautiful. I know that all kids will LOVE reading this book.

My First Travel Book by Ms.Anna Othitis is now part of her book collections in her room. It is now part of her bedtime story to read. I highly recommend this book to all the kids who only not loves to travel but would love to explore the world by reading each pages. There are many beautiful places to learn and explore about this travel book.Frankie the pilot is very friendly. All the kids will have a fun ride and travel with him. You will also love the name of the airlines. It is one of the sweetest airlines my summer babe reads.

Kids before you travel and maybe your first time in an aeroplane, do not forget to tell your parents to grab this book. It will help you to enjoy your plane ride and explore places you never imagine.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY & GET YOUR KIDS THEIR PASSPORT TO ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tweet #Travel&Learn @aothitis @BooksOnFireTour and tell us your favorite place to travel to as many times as you like!
The two (2) people with the most tweets will be chosen as the winners!
Don’t forget to add your email in the Rafflecopter form above at least once, so we can get hold of you!

2 x Kids I-pad Air 2 TO BE WON!

 

Image created by Books On Fire Tours and Cool Text: Free Logos and Buttons –

Book Blast featuring The Ever Fiend by Randy Ellefson w/a rafflecopter giveaway!

Oct 3, 2016

 

The Ever Fiend

by Randy Ellefson

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE: Fantasy

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

Only a fool steals from a wizard.

 

Talon Stormbringer thought he knew the risk of stealing from Viland Shadowbreaker – until he got caught. The wizard will spare him if Talon performs a service – fetch the deadly silver elixir from the Everway, a supernatural land that Talon assumed wasn’t real. Only children believe the stories about what lies within – lost souls, corrupted magic items, and mysterious destinations that most people never escape. Ruling over it all is the Ever Fiend, a bogeyman that people use to scare unruly youngsters into behaving.

 

Talon agrees to go, if only to stop Viland from doing something unholy with the potent elixir once retrieved. Joining him are a band of people he can’t trust. Their leader, a sorelia with nefarious plans of his own. The sorelia’s battle-trained mynx, a large cat who obeys only its master. An alluring swordswoman who wants to enchant her blades with the elixir. A cocky guard whose bravado might prove more liability than asset. A warrior kryll whose curiosity about the elixir might cost him more than his life. And a tortured Knight of Coiryn who seeks redemption in a place where most are damned. Of all the things they might discover on their journey, one is the most obvious and yet the hardest to learn…

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Excerpt One:

 

While most in Talendor slumbered, Talon Stormbringer crept through a hallway dark with flickering shadows, his human ears and eyes alert. He’d already slipped undetected past a jhaikan and a mynx, undeterred by their ferocity and taste for man-flesh. Even the dozen sleeping riven in the courtyard hadn’t given him pause, when even fully armored knights would have turned away. The little monsters were infamous for stirring at the slightest sound and waking to become like a whirling dervish of steel, not unlike what Talon himself could unleash from the sword he gripped in one hand.

 

Now he heard nothing, not even his own passage, the supple black leather pants and tunic he wore never squeaking as he crept toward the doorway and his prize—the gold figurine of a great bird of prey, said to be magical and worth a fortune. Stories in taverns had piqued his interest but also warned him of the dangers, the greatest of those being the wizard whose white tower he now prowled. Some said Viland Shadowbreaker enjoyed unsavory habits when few were looking, his public persona of benevolent charm masking a dark truth. But men with great secrets often hide things of greater importance than their private sins.

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Randy Ellefson has written fantasy fiction since his teens and is an avid world builder, having spent three decades creating Llurien, which has its own website. He has a Bachelor’s of Music in classical guitar but has always been more of a rocker, having released several albums and earned endorsements from music companies. He’s a professional software developer and runs a consulting firm in the Washington D.C. suburbs. He’s married and loves spending time with his son and daughter when not writing, making music, or playing golf.

 

http://www.RandyEllefson.com

 

http://www.llurien.com

 

FREE eBook: http://fiction.randyellefson.com/freebook/

 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/randyellefson

 

FaceBook (as author): http://www.facebook.com/RandyEllefsonAuthor

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

 

Randy will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

<a Rafflecopter giveaway