Blog Tour: Feng Shui For Writers by M.C. Simon + Giveaway

Book Details

• Title: Feng Shui For Writers
• Series: How To Master Your Life
• Author: M.C. Simon
• Genre: Non-Fiction
• Format: Paperback and Kindle
• Length: 152 pages
• Publication Date: June 16, 2015
• Publisher: IML Publishing
• Regular Price: $7.99 Kindle

 

Synopsis

DISCOVER HOW TO MASTER YOUR WRITING LIFE

FENG SHUI FOR WRITERS provides all the dots that you have to connect to control the flowing Chi for each writing category. What is harmony for a romantic novel writer is different from what is harmony for a journalist writer, and for sure very different than for the writer writing for the horror domain. To bring the Feng Shui technique into the writer's life, it is not enough to merely explain general principles and ideas; we have to dig deeper because the branches of writing are so numerous.

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Find Out HOW TO:

• Attract productivity, successful publishing and money using Feng Shui
• Overcome writer's block with Feng Shui help
• Organize your writing place to achieve your goals
• Influence your writing life through colors
• Use crystals for creative writing
• Use lighting to Feng Shui your writing space
• Choose the plants that will boost your creativity
• Influence your "writer's zone" and the creative mind
• Boost your children's creativity (yes… children are young writers also)

And much more.

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon IN
 

Excerpt

6.2 - THE WRITER'S ZONE

To understand what a writer's zone is, you must first experience the previous state called a writer's block. Then and only then will you understand how you can face it and how you can move to the writer's zone. This zone is exactly the opposite of a writer's block; it is the optimal phase in which a writer can find himself. It is the phase in which Chi flows freely on the writer's path, the creativity is boosted and the writing productivity reaches maximum level.

Having knowledge about both states, a writer's block and a writer's zone, you can save the wasted time between these two phases.

There are some elements that influence your entering into this zone.

• One of these is your location. Depending on where you live, you must find a writing environment that boosts your writing mood. Find a place suitable for you that you feel relaxed in and totally prepared to let the words flow.
• Take a walk in the park or the woods, go for a drive on a long unpopulated road. Don't forget to take the camera with you and take pictures that will help you relax the next time you need to enter into the writer's zone without having to walk again. A walk in a quiet and relaxing place is a good Feng Shui method to un-clutter your mind of stress.
• Do some brainstorming for your future book; try to prepare a good plot for your novel. Do some research on the theme that you want to write about.
• Avoid emails, other online temptations, phones and any other distractions that are blocking the Chi flow of your creativity and productivity.
• Listen to some music and prepare a playlist with your favorite relaxing songs. Use this list until it becomes a habit that is helping you enter into the writer's zone.
• Breathe! Yes, breathe. Fill your lungs with fresh air until they expand to the point where they touch, take a small pause then exhale slowly. Learn to breathe again, so the good Chi also enters your body.
• Burn some incense and use aromatic lamps for fragrance.
• Find a writing retreat in your area. Make it a part of your writing process. This will always get you into the zone. There are two kinds of retreats: solo retreats (suitable for writers who prefer solitude far away from any distractions including other writers) and group retreats (provides a chance for face to face group brainstorming). The best writing retreats are those that include both solo and group retreats. When you go to a writing retreat, be sure that you are applying the Feng Shui principles in that place also (you can even take a Bagua map with you).
• If your mind feels unclear in ideas, use a yellow vase where you place orange flowers. This will boost the intensity of your writing and will give you the necessary clarity.
• Don't forget to always include the water element in your space.
• Avoid too many electronic devices in the moments when you write because they will drain your energy, and soon you'll have to face another writer's block.
• Hang a wooden chime near you so its movement will activate any stagnant Chi.

Previously Published Excerpts

Who Is A Writer?
3 Things You Should Do Before Using Feng Shui
 

About the Author

Writer, translator, engineer, researcher, project manager, blogger, eternal student... these are only a few words to describe MC Simon.

She strongly believes that energy is ours to use freely, and we need only to open our hearts to regain the lost perception of our true powers. She thinks that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. For this reason, M.C. Simon has never hunted the information but rather waited for the right moment when she would be ready for the information to find her. In the same way, she knows that when someone needs her, the Universe will proceed in such a way that the meeting will take place.

Contact The Author

Amazon Author Page
MCSimonWrites.com
FengShuiForWriters.com
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter
GooglePlus
LinkedIn
 

Giveaway

Giving away a copy of "Feng Shui For Writers" E-book to 10 lucky winners. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: The Breaking of Bonds (Bad Blood #2) by Alina Popescu + Giveaway

Title: The Breaking of Bonds
Series: Bad Blood, Book Two
Author: Alina Popescu
Genre: paranormal, supernatural, paranormal romance, vampire
Length: Novel

 

Synopsis

A human sacrifice throws vampires of two worlds, trueborn and baseborn, into an escalating conflict. One side pushes for revenge, the other for freedom. The trueborns stubbornly hunt for Anthony and Louis, pushed by Hesrah’s desire to avenge her human best friend, Alexa. The baseborns are divided between rallying with those challenging the rule of Ankhsis and obeying the trueborns.

What emerges from the portal between Earth and Ankhsis in the middle of the turmoil rocking both worlds is more dead than alive. Neither human, nor baseborn, and certainly not trueborn. This new being will either damn them all or be their race’s most powerful weapon. Will they trust it not to destroy them, or will Ankhsis decide putting it down is the only solution?
In the end, who is guilty? Who will pay? Will anyone survive its wrath?

 

Book Trailer

 

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y4P5C5U
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Y4P5C5U
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00Y4P5C5U
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00Y4P5C5U
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-breaking-of-bonds-alina-popescu/1122051367?ean=2940151945226
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thebreakingofbonds-1814960-140.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/546554



Excerpt
What was going on? I thought to check my lip and felt the same sting of a cut on my index finger. I felt the inside of my mouth carefully and there they were, the fangs! Right then it all came back, storming in. The excruciating pain of Anthony’s bite on my throat, the betrayal of seeing Louis there, doing nothing; the awful taste of blood forced on me, Hesrah pushing me to have more and more, then the burning and drowning sensation that seemed never-ending. I felt hurt and angry and ready to run back to those bastards and make them pay.

I jumped out of the bed and screamed as loudly as I could, to try and let the flooding emotions out somehow. The man got up and took a few steps back, looking at me cautiously. He was much taller than me and I could guess the shape of his body under those comfortable and functional clothes of his. One more breath turned his scent into the focal point of my attention and with that came an intoxicating memory of fresh blood pouring from a vein onto my lips and tongue and filling up my mouth with pure pleasure. Not any blood, it had been his blood and the realization made my entire body shiver with pleasure in anticipation of more.
He was looking straight into my eyes, no longer moving, no longer analyzing. He was mesmerized by my slow but steady approach. I felt I was smiling, which meant I looked like a tiger prowling. I remembered how disconcerting the feral side of a vampire looked like. I stopped when my body touched his and put my arms on his shoulders, then jumped and crossed my legs around his hips. He reacted to my movement and caught me in his arms. I could feel his arms on my legs as if there were no fabric between them and my skin and I kissed him. His familiar smell and his touch made me want him in every way. He was a bit stunned at first but it did not take him long to kiss me back. He turned around, carrying us both through the room and pressing me against the nearest wall.
Then the inevitable happened. My fangs pierced through his lip and I felt a few drops of blood on my tongue. His eyes, his face, the room, everything turned red. That sweet taste of fresh blood was everything to me. It was the only thing that mattered, the only one that I needed, and I just had to take it! I pushed his head to one side and bit deep into his neck. Taking hungry, long pulls, I let it flow down my throat, along with the strong scent of his skin, tasting the adrenalin and fear and sweetness of it as it nourished my senses.
“Alexa, stop! You’re killing him!”
I growled in the direction of that voice, ready to defend my prey. This was not the time to share, I was still so hungry! Luckily, my instincts that told me to identify the threat cleared my vision and I saw Hesrah, scared and desperate.
“Get off him, you’ve had enough,” she said in a pleading voice.
What was she talking about? Every cell of my body was screaming for more and my stomach had started to hurt again the very moment I stopped drinking. But that was Hesrah telling me to stop, my friend and my maker, and I chose her over my instincts.
I let myself slide down from his arms, but Seth was still leaning against me. Maybe he hadn’t had enough either. I realized how wrong my assumption had been the moment I felt him falling. I caught him and took him to the bed. I was carrying this tall, strong, ravishing man and it felt like nothing, as if he were weightless! But that wasn’t the right time to explore my new found strength. I placed him on the pillows and listened to his breathing and his heart beats. They were slower than when we were kissing, but normal, I was guessing.
“I couldn’t have taken that much blood,” I heard myself say.
“This is the second time you drank from him today. You nearly killed my brother!” I had never seen her so worried and angry over anything and it finally made sense.
“Your brother? Seth, your brother? Hesrah, why didn’t you stop me, there was no one to talk me out of it!” I couldn’t believe she’d just stood there, letting me feast on him. I knew they had a poor relationship, but still.

Make sure you read book one of the series before enjoying book two!

 

The Edge of Hope – Bad Blood Trilogy, Book 1

 

Everyone she loved betrayed her. She felt lost and broken. Getting away from the pain and embracing a new path, Alexa decided to leave her old life behind and chase a long forgotten dream in Malta. There she met a gorgeous man, bearing the scent of fresh love. He led her to a new city to explore, Amsterdam. Is the tall, dark, and delicious man a dream come true or just a risky gamble?
Alexa chose hope and new beginnings over fear and warning signs only to be brutally dragged into a world she never really thought existed. Vampires, their feuds, and her future held tightly in their hands.
Trapped in a mysterious world, Alexa gives love chance after chance. Following her quest of self-discovery in a blood bound world, will she survive the journey?

Take advantage of the sale for The Edge of Hope – $0.99 everywhere
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JEBJXDQ
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JEBJXDQ
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00JEBJXDQ
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-edge-of-hope-alina-popescu/1119064391?ean=9781497436305
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theedgeofhope-1472664-143.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424918

 

Giveaway

Prizes: 3 e-copies of The Edge of Hope, 2 e-copies of The Breaking of Bonds, 1 bundle of Bad Blood, books 1 & 2
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and even won awards in local competitions. She has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm, which explains her deep love for vampires and is also to blame for this trilogy.

Social Links
Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu
Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu
Google+:  https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu
Amazon:  http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu

Blog Tour: A Game for Assassins (The Redaction Chronicles #1) by James Quinn + Giveaway

Title: A Game for Assassins
Series: The Redaction Chronicles, Book 1
Author: James Quinn
Length: novel (528 pages)
Genre: mystery, thriller, spy thriller, espionage

 

Synopsis

The assassination of a Caribbean dictator….The “hit” on a traitor in Beirut……The brutal murder of a young CIA officer behind the Iron Curtain…..So begins the game……
It is 1964, the height of the Cold War, and British Intelligence is riding high with its top double agent network: Constellation.
But in the secret war fought across Europe the enemy is never far away and soon the agents of Constellation are targeted by an unknown team of assassins. In desperation British Intelligence sends in their best agent to protect the network and hunt down the killers.



Jack “Gorilla” Grant isn’t your typical Cold War secret agent. Short, tough, uncompromising, rough edged. He doesn’t fit in with the elitist spies and debonair intelligence agents. He prefers working at the rough end of British covert operations.
But “Gorilla” is one of the best “Redactors” in the business. He’s an expert at close quarter shooting: quick to the draw and deadly accurate when it comes to the elimination of traitors and extremists on behalf of the British Secret Service (SIS). He is soon drawn into a game of cross and double cross where nothing is as it seems and even the most perfect spy can die in a wilderness of mirrors.
“A Game for Assassins” is an action packed edge of your seat thrill ride played out across the global stage of the Cold War.

Buy Links

Free with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VQORC0K/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VQORC0K/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00VQORC0K/
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00VQORC0K/

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author

James Quinn spent 15 years in the secret world of covert operations, undercover investigations and international security before turning his hand to writing.
He is trained in hand to hand combat and in the use of a variety of weaponry including small edged weapons, Japanese Swords and Hunting Bows. He is also a crack pistol shot for CQB (Close Quarter Battle) and many of his experiences he has incorporated into his works of fiction.
He lives in the United Kingdom and travels extensively around the globe.
Website: http://jamesquinn.webs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Quinn/1558765681046413
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ape101Quinn

Blog Tour: Spring into Love

Release Day Blitz: The Weight of a Wing by Ioana Visan + Giveaway

 

Title: The Weight of a Wing

Series: The Stolen Wings #1

Author: Ioana Visan

Release Date: April 2015

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

Alise has achieved the impossible. After her wings were chopped off, the fairy survived and now finds herself in the human world, once again hunted like prey by the sadistic Gorem.

Locating him with her help means that the two Guardians of Balance, Rafe and Vale, will not only be able to turn him in and make him pay for maiming her, but make him accountable for the deaths of other fairies as well.

Gorem has plans of his own for the rogue fairy. With the help of a wizard, Fabian, and an army of monsters by his side, Gorem will stop at nothing to recapture Alise.

With already so much on the line, Alise not only has to keep herself safe from harm, but will also have to protect her new human friend, Cassie, in the process.

Who will win the battle of good versus evil? Is capturing Gorem worth risking what remains of Alise's life?

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25053046-the-weight-of-a-wing

Buy Link: Amazon

Promotional Price: $0.99

Free via Kindle Unlimited

About the Author:

Award-winning writer Ioana Visan has always dreamed about reaching the stars, but since she can't, she writes about it.

After fighting the apocalypse aftermath in “Human Instincts”, she played with shapeshifters in “Blue Moon Café Series: Where Shifters Meet for Drinks”, she dealt with vampires in “The Impaler Legacy” series, and then she designed prosthetics in “Broken People” before tackling longer works like a fantasy trilogy and a science fiction series.

Aside from publishing short stories in various Romanian magazines and anthologies, she published a Romanian short story collection “Efectul de nautil” and the Romanian edition of “Human Instincts”.

She received the Encouragement Award from The European Science Fiction Society at Eurocon 2013.

Social Links:

Website:     http://www.ioanavisan.tk

Blog:           http://weirdvision2001.blogspot.com

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/AuthorIoanaVisan

Twitter:        https://twitter.com/weirdvision

Amazon:      http://amazon.com/author/ioanavisan

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/ioanavisan

Facebook Release Day Party:

You're all invited to attend the book release party for The Weight of a Wing on April 16. We'll chat about books, magic, throw in some giveaways, and have a lot of fun.
Join a wingless fairy in her quest for justice!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1397224523926211/

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: The Edge of Hope (Bad Blood I) by Alina Popescu - Interview + Giveaway

Title: The Edge of Hope
Series: Bad Blood, Book 1
Genre: paranormal, supernatural, urban fantasy, romance, vampires
Length: novel

Synopsis

Everyone she loved betrayed her. She felt lost and broken. Getting away from the pain and embracing a new path, Alexa decided to leave her old life behind and chase a long forgotten dream in Malta. There she met a gorgeous man, bearing the scent of fresh love. He led her to a new city to explore, Amsterdam. Is the tall, dark, and delicious man a dream come true or just a risky gamble?

Alexa chose hope and new beginnings over fear and warning signs only to be brutally dragged into a world she never really thought existed. Vampires, their feuds, and her future held tightly in their hands.
Trapped in a mysterious world, Alexa gives love chance after chance. Following her quest of self-discovery in a blood bound world, will she survive the journey?
Find out more: http://alina-popescu.com/badblood

 

Book trailer

 

Buy links

Ebook
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JEBJXDQ
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JEBJXDQ
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00JEBJXDQ
***Free with Kindle Unlimited
***Celebrate a year of The Edge of Hope with the Amazon Countdown Deal – March 29 – April 5. Discounted price starts at 99c.

Paperback
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Edge-Hope-Blood-Volume/dp/1497436303/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Edge-Hope-Blood-Volume/dp/1497436303/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-edge-of-hope-alina-popescu/1119064391
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4729236

 

Coming Soon: The Breaking of Bonds, Bad Blood #2

The Breaking of Bonds, book 2 of the Bad Blood Trilogy will be released on May 28^th, 2015
A human sacrifice has forced vampires, trueborn and baseborn alike, into an escalating conflict with one side pushing for revenge, the other for freedom. The hunt for Anthony and Louis is the trueborns’ main objective, driven by Hesrah’s desire to get even with the two baseborns and avenge her best friend, Alexa. The baseborns are rattled and divided between rallying around the rebels and obeying the rules imposed by Ankhsis.
What emerges from the portal from Earth to Ankhsis in the middle of the turmoil rocking both worlds is more dead than alive. Not human and not baseborn. Certainly not trueborn. This new being will either damn them all or be their race’s most powerful weapon. Will they trust it not to destroy them, or will Ankhsis decide putting it down is the only solution?
In the end, who is guilty? Who will pay? Will anyone survive its wrath?

 

Interview

Hello, Alina. It’s nice seeing you again. Tell us what happened in the year that passed since our last interview.

Hi Ioana, hello everyone *waves* Well, it’s been a crazy year! I kept writing and had a few more stories published (or accepted), and this year seems to be crazier than the last. Book 2 and 3 of Bad Blood are coming out, plus a lot of other stories.

We’re celebrating one year since the release of your debut novel The Edge of Hope. Do vampires still rock or did we come a little too late to the party?

Oh, the party never ends for my vampires! Especially Anthony, that bad boy likes his party, even if the guests are not there willingly. Not late at all, more people join the Bad Blood family every day and it just warms my heart, to be honest. Every time someone reads and enjoys the book, I feel like I’m on top of the world.

When is the second book in the Bad Blood series coming out?

The second book in the series, The Breaking of Bonds, will be released at the end of May. Not a long wait at this point :). To be more precise, it’s May 20^th.

Your short stories have been included in two Wayward Ink anthologies, Stranded and Encore.  

Yes, they have! Wayward Ink has been one of those completely amazing experiences that take you by surprise and you can’t stop smiling! I only saw the submission call for Stranded two days before the deadline. Luckily for me, the description of the anthology inspired me and I just opened a blank document and started writing. The Encore short story was another one I have had a lot of fun writing. And the two WIP anthologies I skipped… well, that was because the stories they’ve inspired turned up to be too long!

I have never been as nervous as when submitting Craving Stains! Speaking of Craving Stains it has since been expanded into a novella and it will be released on April 10^th.

How did this happen and why gay romance?

Like I said, luck! I was in the right group, at the right time. Clicked the right link and the submission call inspired me. As for gay romance, that’s not entirely new. One of the two free short stories I’ve released before The Edge of Blood was gay romance. I like gay fiction and gay romance, although like is a bit of an understatement. I read a lot of stories in these genres and I enjoy writing them.

How did this year change your perspective on the self-published world?

Completely and not at all! I was very reluctant to work with a publisher. Before releasing The Edge of Hope as a self-published novel, I had been offered a contract by a small publisher. I was less than pleased and decided to go my way. As far as my male-female or mainstream (if you prefer the term) titles, I am going to continue to self-publish.

All my gay fiction and gay romance titles though, those will be most surely released through WIP. We have a few stories that we’re working on, series of novels and novellas, and since the first moment of my collaboration with them, it’s been going great. I love how they nurture and encourage their authors. As someone who does not write stories that stick to rules as standards, that’s very important to me.

What’s the best thing that happened to you since becoming a published writer?

The best thing that happened is the fact I do see myself as a writer. Every day, I wake up and know this is what I’m supposed to do: write. Yes, it not just fiction, I am a freelance writer for a few online magazines, but I have finally found what I love doing most. I love books, I love reading them, and I love helping other authors promote their stories.

What’s the worst thing that happen to you since becoming a published writer?

Not enough time! There are so many stories I am currently working on. Between those, my freelance work, the book PR clients, and promoting published books, I do tend to spent 10-12 hours per day, every day, stuck to my computer and working.

You’re part of the management team of Eyes on Books where you promote indie writers. Tell us more about this adventure.

Well, it was a project I had in my head for quite a while. One day I decided to make it happen. You see, my main area of experience is PR and marketing. When I decided I was going to invest time and effort into my writing career, I tweaked my knowledge to help me better promote my books. I’ve noticed a lot of authors either did not know how to do that, or lacked the time, so I started helping them. That turned into me having paying clients and later turned into the Eyes on Books business. Although it used to have two partners, for the moment I am the only one running it and the amazing Adrian Rafail is our designer, the ones who makes all the lovely banners we use.

I know indie authors need all the support they can get, and so do published authors. Publishing houses (with few exceptions, WIP being one of them) lack the time and resources to promote all the titles they release and a lot of that work falls on the authors’ shoulders. Eyes on Books offers both paid and free services from authors. The free ones include promoting their books on our site, reviews, multi-author events on Facebook, how-to marketing and PR articles, and a section of resources that will be released soon.

Is there any chance we’re going to see your writing published in Romanian any time soon?

If you asked me this a few weeks ago I would have said no. :D A friend of mine has since offered to translate The Edge of Hope in Romanian. I honestly lack the time to do that but is she does it, then the book will be released in our mother tongue. I have no dates or concrete plans on when or how that will happen.

What do you have planned for us next?

I have a lot planned! This year will pretty much have one Alina Popescu release every month :D Or almost! Encore has hit the waves on March 20, Craving Stains will be released on April 10, The Breaking of Bonds in May (and the third book of Bad Blood sometime in November), Strength to Let Go, which is a first in a werewolf series, should be released in late June or early July, and there are plans for a few more novellas, a standalone and a series – Famous on the Internet. That’s not all, but I have to keep some surprises for later :D

Thank you, Alina, for taking the time to answer these questions. Good luck with your plans!

Thanks for having me here, Ioana! It’s always a pleasure to chat with you and your readers!

 

Giveaway

Prizes: 1 signed copy of The Edge of Hope and 3 Ebooks
Prizes: 1 signed copy of The Edge of Hope and 3 Ebooks

About the author

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and even won awards in local competitions. She has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm, which explains her deep love for vampires and is also to blame for this trilogy.

Social Links
Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu
Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu
Google+:  https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu
Amazon:  http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu

My Book Loving Valentine – Chat with Authors and Win Prizes in #Giveaways

What better way for a book lover to spend their Valentine’s weekend than with their favorite authors and the books they’ve written? 22 authors are taking part in Eyes on Books’ My Book Loving Valentine event on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/423499887808955/). On February 13, 14, and 15, you will have 13 hours of fun chats, games, contests, and new books to discover per day.

The amazing authors you will hang out with, in order of appearance are: 

Day 1

Cheryl Headford, James Commissioner Gordon, Algenon Lusch, Karen Stivali, Layla Hagen, Teodora Kostova, Louise Lyons, Lily Velden

Day 2

Lisa Harris, Lily G. Blunt, Taylin Clavelli, Michael Thomas, Alina Popescu for Eyes on Books, Geoffrey Huda-Wakeling, J.T. Cheyanne, Author VL Moon, Lily Velden for Wayward Ink Publishing

Day 3

Algenon Lusch, Devika Fernando Author, LE Fitzpatrick, Ioana Visan, Aimee Brissay, Susan Mac Nicol, Kim Fielding, Alina Popescu

To make it even better, the Rafflecopter giveaways start early and end late! From now till end of day Tuesday (PST time), you have a chance to enter and win signed paperbacks, ebooks, swag and a lot of gift cards!

My Book Loving Valentine – Valentine’s Weekend Giveaway

~36 prizes~

(1) signed copy of a Michael P Thomas novel (winner's choice)

(1) ebook copy of either Conflicted (novel) or In Darkest Peru by Louise Lyons

(1) ebook copy of Tyrian's Mist, (1) of Love Life & Circumstance and (1) of Grand Slam from VL Moon and JT Cheyanne

(5) ebook copies of Broken People by Ioana Visan

(1) eBook of any Lily Velden title – winner’s choice

(2) $10 WIP gift cards

(1) Signed copy of Project X by Nephy Hart

(1) Ebook copy of Daring Adam (Taking Chances book 1) by Aimee Brissay

(10) Ebook copies of The Running Game by LE Fitzpatrick

(3) Taylin Clavelli Swag Pack inc 8 Gig USB Bullet, Hip Flask key ring, credit card mints, 3-in-1 Stylus pen

(1) ebook copy by Karen Stivali – winner’s choice (excluding anthologies or collections)

(1) Signed copy Pilgrimage by Kim Fielding

(3) kindle copies of Withering Hope by Layla Hagen

(3) ebook copies of The Edge of Hope (Bad Blood 1) by Alina Popescu

Giveaway link:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Book Loving Valentine – Book Buying Should Be Rewarded Giveaway

~16 prizes containing swag, signed books, and gift cards to buy more goodies~

(1) $20 Amazon gift card from Michel P. Thomas

(1) $10 Amazon gift card from Louise Lyons

(2) e-book sets of books 1 & 2 of the Crimson Nights Saga by VL Moon and JT Cheyanne

(1) Pack of any 2 Ioana Visan ebooks, winner’s choice

(1) ebook Kaleidoscope of Hopes by Devika Fernando

(1) Gift pack containing: novelty USB drive, pen, fridge magnet, bookmark, Dreamspinner gift card for any Lily Velden title (value $6.99)

(1) WIP Gift Pack containing: novelty USB drive, USB extension cord, 2 x pens, fridge magnet

(1) $5 Amazon Gift Card from Nephy Hart

(1) 1 ebook copy of Perfect Timing by Aimee Brissay

(1) Swag pack (including 2 signed books) from LE Fitzpatrick

(1) $10 Wayward Ink gift card

(1) Any backlist ebook OR a $5 Amazon gift card from Karen Stivali (anthologies excluded)

(1) Kim Fielding surprise swag

(3) kindle copies of Withering Hope by Layla Hagen

(1) $10 Amazon Gift Card from Alina Popescu

Books by these authors can be purchased from any reputable retailer – Amazon, AllRomanceEbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, WaywardInkPublishing.com, Dreamspinner Press, any other publisher of these authors.

List of authors to buy from to be eligible for this giveaway:

MichaelP. Thomas

Louise Lyons

VL Moon  and JT Cheyanne

Ioana Visan

Devika Fernando

Lily Velden

Wayward Ink Publishing

Nephy Hart

Aimee Brissay

LE Fitzpatrick

Taylin Clavelli

Karen Stivali

Kim Fielding

Layla Hagen

Alina Popescu

Giveaway link:

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Blog Tour: The Edge of Hope (Bad Blood I) by Alina Popescu - Interview + Excerpt + Giveaway

Title: The Edge of Hope

Series:  Bad Blood I

Author: Alina Popescu

Release Date:  April 3, 2014

Genre: Fantasy romance

Book Description: When tall, dark, and gorgeous shows up on your self-prescribed emotional recovery vacation, some would call it fate smiling down on you. If he also happens to be interested in your work and ready to make all the room you need in his life, it starts to sound too good to be true. Alexa skips the doubts and jumps right in, only to be thrown into the mysterious world of vampires. 

The secrets of their origin and their very existence are far more important than her life to some of her new acquaintances. They are ancient, they are powerful, they have unlimited resources, and they are keen on controlling what the world knows of their kind. As Alexa discovers their complicated, blood feud bound world, she tries to better understand herself, heal old wounds and give love chance after chance. Will she survive the journey?


Buy Links: AmazonUS  * Amazon UK  * Barnes& Noble  * iTunes  * Smashwords

Author Bio:

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict; Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and even won awards in local competitions. She has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm, which explains her deep love for vampires and is also to blame for this trilogy.

Author Links:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Google+ * Amazon

Interview with Alina Popescu

  

Hello, Alina. Please introduce yourself.

Hi everyone! *waves* I’m Alina, writer, coffee and Internet addict, dog owner, voracious reader. I’ve been writing all my life, probably part of my life-long passion for books. 

How does it feel to have your first novel out?

Oh, wow! It feels… scary as hell, exciting, a bit dreamy still. It’s a unique feeling, I don’t think I can describe it properly. But getting to see your book out there, getting to touch it when you get your first copy, that’s a high nothing can ever top.

Why did you choose self-publishing?

I actually was offered a publishing deal by a UK publisher and almost went that way. After analyzing everything, I felt self-publishing was the best option for me. I like the freedom and the madness it gives me, I like deciding the pricing and the timing for everything related to my writing. I did use an editor, the issue was never my not being open to suggestions or criticism. Going the full indie way just felt right.

What was the most challenging part of getting your novel published?

Making my inner editor/critic shut up for a second. That was definitely the hardest part. Everything else was difficult and time consuming, but manageable.

How does your professional background help your writing career?

I studied journalism and worked in PR and Marketing most of my adult life. That helped both my writing and my ability to promote my book. I don’t find it hard to promote my writing, I know how to take ideas and adapt them and I am comfortable being online a lot, I was already doing that long before publishing.

After Oliviu Craznic, Stefana Czeller, and Ioana Visan, you’re another Romanian writer who writes about vampires. What novelty does your book bring to the vampire lore?

If we count the writers in other countries, the numbers are pretty high! I was always fascinated with vampires and how they were portrayed, sometimes feeling their individuality got lost in the vampire part of their character. I did not reinvent the vampire lore, but I did give them a new point of origin, a different history, and put my own spin on how the vampire society is organized.

Why did you set the action abroad and not on the familiar Romanian ground?

I didn’t really choose unfamiliar places. I either did a lot of research on the places I wrote about or traveled there before even starting to write the book. I wanted a Romanian MC but, frankly, there is nothing familiar about vampires in Romania. Our folklore is dominated by our version of zombies, strigoi, vampires aren’t really that big here, not in a natural way. Vampires and Romania were associated by other writers, starting with Bram Stocker’s Dracula and ending with the vampires of the sparkling kind.

From the first page, we find out not only that this is the first book in the Bad Blood trilogy, but that it also ends in a cliffhanger. Why did you make this controversial editorial decision?

I did not think of it as an editorial decision. When I started writing this story, a trilogy made sense to me. I knew what separate parts of the story would fit into each book. I wanted book one to stop where it began, it felt right to end it there. I considered changing it because it seemed a lot of people decided to hate books and series because of their cliffhangers. I know I want to throw my kindle away when that happens, especially if I have to wait to find out what’s next. But if I love the story, I will buy the next book. In the end, I decided to go with the story I wanted to tell. I also thought it better to warn people about the cliffy.

Will the second book end in a cliffhanger too?

No, this is the only cliffhanger in the trilogy. Book two won’t have one.

What drives Alexa? Give us a reason to root for her.

Hope is what drives Alexa, along with her love of life. No matter how badly she’s hurt, she’ll always find a way to hope it will get better. She picks herself up and grows stronger every time she does. 

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