Tuesday, July 09, 2013

11 Most Anticipated books of 2013 (Part 2)

Back in December I complied a list of 13 books I was looking forward in 2013. The list had 13 books that came out during the 1st half of the year and as promised this is the list for the second 2nd half of 2013 (narrowed it down to 11 this time).  Again, there are tons of great books coming out from now till December but the following books are what I'm DYING to read (books are listed in order of release date)!

Let me know in the comments if you're looking forward to the same books, or what books you're looking forward to reading! I would LOVE to hear what you all have to say! :)




Publication: July 30, 2013

The Kate Daniels series is probably one of the first Urban Fantasy series I read when I got back into reading in 2008-09'. I still remember buying the first 3 books on a whim after reading so many rave reviews for it, I took the books with me to Comic-Con that year and finished the 3 books in a matter of days. Kate Daniels is by far the most kick-butt character I've ever read and I love the growing chemistry/relationship she has with Curran. 


Publication: September 3, 2013

The October Daye series by Sean McGuire is another solid Urban Fantasy that I fell in love with. October is a changeling, half human and half fae. The book takes place in San Francisco and in the Fairies realm. The book is part mystery, and each book can be read as a stand-alone (although I suggest reading this series in order because there is an overall arc and character development still going on) because the main/individual problem usually occurs/ get solved in each book. I'm actually a book behind but will definitely read Ashes of Honor before book 7 comes out.


The Elites
 Publication: September 3, 2013

GAH! I love this cover and the synopsis sounds super cool...guards with superior DNA, and a boy named Butterfly?! Sign me up! This book will be published in the UK but the author said that US folks can probably buy it on Amazon!


 Antigoddess (Goddess War #1)
Publication: September 10, 2013

I love Greek mythology! The cover is very simplistic with the white feather but the drops of blood hints at a dark and sinister read.! I actually have this in my TBR pile but will be reviewing it a little closer to the release date. :)


 Thornhill (Hemlock #2)
Publication: September 10, 2013

Man, I cannot wait to read Thornhill. It feels like it's been forever since I read Hemlock.What made Hemlock standout from being a typical werewolf novel is the way it was written, the depth of the story was beyond just the paranormal aspect instead it raised more important themes such as friendship, love, prejudice, loyalty etc. Hemlock was by far the best paranormal-fantasy YA I read last year, and definitely a series not to be missed.


Shadows 
Publication: September 26, 2013

The whole gist for Shadows is that there are two worlds; Oldworld where there's magic and a Newworld where everything is technology/science. I was intrigued when I first heard of the synopsis, sounds like it's going to be an interesting book. (click link above to learn more.)


 Cold Blooded (Jessica McClain #3) 
Publication: October 8, 2013

I love love the first two books in the Jessica McClain series, and can't wait to see what happens in Cold Blooded since readers were left with a cliff hanger in book 2, Hot Blooded. I'm hoping to learn more about Jessica (her new abilities) and the prophecy. Also...more Rourke please! ;)


Parasite (Parasitology #1) 
Publication: October 29, 2013

Grant combines science-fiction, horror and dystopian genres in her new series, Parasite. I read the summary before there was ever a cover, and it definitely intrigued me...but with a cover like that shown above, you know it's going to be crazy good. I haven't read any books by Mira Grant (pseudonym) but I read her other books which she writes under Seanan McGuire and if this series is anything like the October Daye books, I have no doubt this is will be a hit.  


 
Publication: November 12, 2013

This is a fun alternative steampunk-victorian London, where the main sups are vampires, werewolves and goblins. I enjoyed Xandy's adventures in the previous two books, and look forward to reading more of the world that Ms. Locke has created.


Afterglow (Wildefire #3)
Publication: November 12, 2013

I can't wait to read Afterglow, especially how things ended in book 2, Embers & Echoes. If you enjoy mythologies/ or reading about different gods and goddess then you should definitely check this book out! There are tons of gods/goddess from different cultures all over the world. The first book took place in California, and the second book took place in Miami. I wonder if the gods/goddesses will have a new playground in Afterglow.


The Grendel Affair (SPI Files #1)
Publication: December 31, 2013

This is a new series from author Lisa Shearin who is known for her Raine Benares series, and a series I adore (If you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend it!). I can't wait to for her new series, it sounds like so much fun, a secret organization battling those monsters that go bump in the night! The author goes in more detail about this series on her blog, and though she only gave readers a small one-paragraph snippet of  TGA...it was a really GOOD paragraph LOL.

Sunday, July 07, 2013

Review: Chameleon by Kelly Oram

Title: Chameleon
Author: Kelly Oram
Genre: Young-Adult, Paranormal-Fantasy
Series: Supernaturals #1

E-book, 356 pages
Publication: June 25, 2013 by Bluefields 
Source: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for a honest review. 

Buy the book

For small-town rebel Dani Webber magic and monsters are no more real than the Easter Bunny… until the day she accidentally stops time.

Dani quickly discovers that not only do supernaturals exist, but she herself is one of them. This is great news for her life-long best friend Russ, who can finally come clean about his own supernatural status and his undying love for her. Before the two can start to enjoy the long overdue relationship, Dani is taken by a powerful council of supernaturals who believe she is the Chosen One destined to save them from extinction.

As if being kidnapped and expected to save the world isn’t bad enough, an ancient prophecy warns of the Chosen One’s dark nature: “Only the truest love will keep her an agent for good.” The council believes they know who this “true love” is and, unfortunately, that person isn’t Russ. The mysterious, powerful and devastatingly handsome Seer is the last person Dani wants in her life, but when she starts having visions of a horrific future, she has no one else to turn to for help.

Soon Dani finds herself torn between two very different boys with two very different opinions of whom she can trust. With the visions getting worse and time running out, Dani is forced to put aside her feelings and work with both the Seer and Russ before an ancient evil is unleashed upon the earth.

I am a big fan of Oram’s Being Jamie Baker, so when given the chance to read CHAMELEON I jumped on it because I really like Oram’s writing style and voice. CHAMELEON is about supernaturnals living amongst humans but in secret. There are every supernatural you can think of packed into this book from; warlocks, witches, werewolves, vampires, fairies, demons to seers and oracles. Dani, our heroine just turned sixteen and found out that her best friend Russ is a warlock, a supernatural…and apparently she is one too. Dani isn’t an ordinary supernatural though, she’s the chosen one that been prophesied to battle against a rising evil.  

As you can guess from the title, Dani’s power makes her somewhat like a chameleon. When Dani has skin-to-skin contact with any supernatural, she takes on their form/power…she literally becomes the supernatural she is touching. I found Dani’s power fun and unique, since the only time I read of a character with chameleon-like ability was in (Linda Grimes’s In a Fix) similar but still different.  This book is quite difficult to rate, there were parts I love and parts I really loathe. I’m going to start with the good points.  I love the world and supernatural aspects that Oram created. The mystery-plot had me engrossed the entire time, and the dialogue between the characters ensure there were never any dull moments.  I loved Dani at the beginning (she reminded me of Jamie Baker a bit but still her own character) she’s funny; snarky, and has kind of a rebel-troublemaker attitude.  I love her relationship with Russ, and right off the bat you can tell how close they are and how much they care for one another in the first couple of pages. They’ve been close friends since they were kids, inseparable and just their interactions with one another screams soul-mates (or at least I thought).  When Russ and Dani are about to move their relationship from friendship to the next level, supernaturals appear out of nowhere trying to kidnap Dani or kill her. She ends up getting taken away to the Consulate (like the central government for supernaturals) for her own safety.

Now, on to the things I didn’t like in the book.  If anyone has ever read my past reviews, there is one thing you know I dislike the most in books…love-triangles.  I extremely loathe them, whether I’m reading YA or Adult. While I’ve come across some real crappy ones, the love triangle in CHAMELEON takes the cake.  Dani went from being a smart and snarky girl to someone really naïve and annoying. I couldn’t stand Dani or her relationship with Gabriel the Seer. Dani arrived at the Consulate because the governing supernaturals thought it is best to keep her protected. They were worried that since she grew up with Russ and his father that she formed an unhealthy bond with the two and especially with Russ. They were afraid that she was intentionally starved from interacting with other supernaturals and therefore brainwashed by Russ and his dad. 

What does the Councilor (Highest member of the council) do? HE intentionally starves Dani from supernatural interactions for two weeks to the point of killing her, and then forced her to bond with Gabriel the Seer (which is like the councilor’s son).  At first Dani tries not to feel so attached to Gabriel but she’s in the ‘cravings state’ meaning she needs to be around people like herself or she’ll feel weak. Gabriel then breaks the news to her that they’re married! Married at 16!!! Dani freaks out but only for a few days or was it hours (sigh)? Then Russ comes to visit her at the Consulate and finds out that she’s married and he’s shocked because it was just two weeks ago that she said she loved him. When Russ attempts to physically and verbally attack Gabriel, Dani comes to Gabriel’s defense right away and tells Russ he can’t be a jerk to her husband (sigh). The way she says husband, is so weird and so natural that it bugged me. Dani is totally A-OK about being tortured, and married to a guy she barely knows. She was practically brainwashed because the girl at the beginning of the book is NOT the same girl towards the middle-end. 

Dani doesn’t help the situation when she’s married to Gabriel and she still has lingering feelings/thoughts for Russ, and in a few scenes she even snuggles and kisses Russ. Dani eventually realizes that what she has with Gabriel is like what she had with Russ…a forced bond. But no, she convinces herself that though it’s forced it still feels right to be with Gabriel. MY GOD, she known Russ her entire life and Gabriel for less than a month…like really, it makes no sense. Gabriel has got to be the blandest character I have ever read. He’s been sheltered his entire life and the way he talks is like a robot unlike Russ who is a jerk-wad but still has more life and personality. I really felt bad for Russ, he got the worst part of this whole deal.  

The love-triangle drove me nuts, and I still can’t believe how accepting Dani was of the entire situation. I honestly would have DNF-ed this book because of how the love-triangle was written but Oram unique concept kept me  invested in the story (let me tell you that is a feat in itself lol). Oram did a great job on the mystery element and the characters that I found myself reading till the very end. When I thought I knew who the baddie was, I was thrown for a loop when the real villain was revealed. CHAMELEON is the first book in a planned series, and though I am curious to see how the prophecy will play out, the ending revelation about Dani/Gabriel‘s relationship tells me all I need to know to continue or not and... I will probably not continue with the series. 

Since I did enjoy most of the book besides the love-triangle, giving the book anything less than a 3 would feel unfair. Truthfully, CHAMELEON had everything to make it a 4/5 stars book except the love-triangle killed it therefore making Dani an unlikeable heroine…and the most important element to me when reading a book is the characters. (this is the first time I dislike a character so much, but still felt invested in her story and the overall plot/ the need to finish the book.) 


Saturday, July 06, 2013

Review: The Year of the Great Seventh by Teresa Orts

Title: The Year of the Great Seventh
Author: Teresa Orts
Genre: Young-Adult, Fantasy , Mythology
Series: The Tropic of Cancer #1

Trade-paperback, 295 pages

Publication: July 6, 2013 by Drayton Press

Source: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for a honest review. 

Buy the Book
|AMAZON|


Sophie has always felt out of step — an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.

To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.

The Year of the Great Seventh is narrated by sixteen-year-old Sophie Bennett, a junior at West Hollywood High.  Everyone around her is in the movie industry, from her mom to her two best girl-friends or if they’re not they’re awestruck by the idea of it. Not Sophie. She can care less about celebs and fashion, all she wants is to leave sunny California and go to NYU to study anthropology like her dad.  It’s always been just Sophie and her friends but suddenly the school most popular and beautiful guy Nate seems to catch her attention or vice versa. Nate who never noticed Sophie’s existence before seems to bump into her everywhere she goes…but the thing is there’s a weird connection between them but Sophie doesn’t bring anything but the worst out of Nate.

The first half of the book was just the usually hustle and bustle of high school life and the Hollywood movie industry. It was a pretty slow start, introducing the characters and laying out the facts and clues to the mystery behind Nate’s odd behavior.  Nate is extremely extra violent ever since he met Sophie, unable to control himself and harming innocent people as the result. Sophie does some digging, trying to find a plausible answer to why Nate is acting the way he is and why he thinks he’s going insane which leads her to an Egyptian prophecy.  The scattering of Egyptian clues at the start of the book don’t make any sense till the last few chapters. I loved how everything tied together in the end, because I was pretty lost on the whole Egyptian mythology/history at the beginning of the book. 

I enjoyed the majority of the book, but my only flaw is the heroine, Sophie. Sophie had her moments, but overall is the type of heroine I prefer not to read about.  I was close to giving up because of Sophie’s voice. Sine Sophie met Nate, her only thoughts were of him…thoughts of college and friends went on the back burner. Day in and day out, Sophie only thought about Nate even though she didn’t really know him or talk to him. She put Nate’s well-being above herself, and does things she would never consider of doing for him. From start to end, it was Nate this and Nate that. I don’t like girls who throw their future away for a boy (example: Sophie went from being a straight A student to getting C’s and even a F). 

The Year of the Great Seventh is a great start to a new series. I love the Egyptian mythology/history aspect of the novel since I haven’t come across many young-adult that incorporates it. While the first half of the book was slow it wasn’t so bad, I just felt like the characters were just going through the motions of high school. The last half of the book is where the story picked up, more action and revelations. I’d rate this book 3 ½ stars, 3 stars for the first half and 4 stars for the last half.


Sunday, June 30, 2013

Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Unspoken
Author: Sarah ReesBrennan
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Series: The Lynburns Legacy #1

Hardcover, 373 pages

Publication:  September 11, 2012 by Random House BFYR

Source: Personal library

Buy the book
|AMAZON|B&N|

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

Ever since Kami was little she heard a voice in her head. Her parents didn’t think too much of it, because what kid at a young age didn’t have an imaginary friend? As Kami grew older the voice in her head didn’t go away but grew stronger. Kami had a few friends but none of them were as close as she was with Jared. Kami lives in the small town of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and nothing much ever goes on until the Lynburns returns. The Lynburns were the first family and founders of the town, and even till this day, generations later the family still resides in Sorry-in-the-Vale. The Lynburns are infamous and are feared by the town people, and Kami wants to know why. Kami starts to investigate the Lynburns and during her investigation she stumbles upon an animal sacrifice and a body. Kami thinks the deaths are related to the Lynburns since they occurred at the same time the family arrived back in town. Things get stranger when Kami finds out Jared isn’t an imaginary voice in her head, but a real person…and he happens to be a Lynburn.

If I had to describe Kami in two words, it’d be sarcastic and spunky.  Kami’s voice can be either annoying or funny, and thankfully I found it to be the later. Kami is the type of girl that doesn’t care about being the most popular in school, how many friends she has or attending the hottest parties…she’s pretty content with her life and has a BFF that gets her. Angela  a.k.a the “BFF” even knows about Jared but accepts it as part of Kami’s quirkiness. Kami is pretty confident in everything she does and says but that changes when she’s around Jared.  Since Kami and Jared are linked, they can real each other’s mind/feelings. Kami constantly has to watch what she thinks, trying to maintain a mental wall between her and Jared. It was easier for both of them to deal when they thought the ‘other’ person wasn’t real, and now they’re both trying to cope with the change. They have always been linked, and with the possibility of breaking the link…Kami is all for it if it mean she can actually live her own life independently. Jared on the other hand isn’t happy about it.

Jared has the words “delinquent bad boy” written all over him, from the way he acts, talks to the way he dresses (I mean he has the dark rugged-mysterious look, and rides a motorcycle for crying out loud). When Jared found out that Kami is a real person living in Sorry-in the-Vale, he automatically storms off and tells her to leave him alone but no matter what he can’t avoid her. While Kami struggles with the situation, Jared thinks the reason for their link is because they’re soul mates. Jared even suggests that they date, but Kami is unsure if the feeling for him is real/his mixing with her or her own true feelings. She laughs at the notion of them dating, crushing the idea every time Jared mentions it/or hints it even IF she thinks of it too. I think Jared continually proves himself to Kami, but she always tells him that the two of them being more will NEVER happen. In the end I think she came to terms with her feelings but it was a little too late...we won’t know the true fallout till book 2, UNTOLD. 

UNSPOKEN had all the ingredients for a fun young-adult fantasy-paranormal.  I love the balance between humor and mystery (two things I always look for in a book). Going into UNSPOKEN I didn’t know what to expect because the synopsis didn’t give away much. When I found out about the Lynburns, I was pleasantly surprised because I definitely didn’t anticipate that particular paranormal sector/supernatural to be the feature of the book.  The characters were well-written and had a uniqueness of their own. I especially adored Kami’s friends; Angela who hates pretty much everyone and has an obsession with napping everywhere and anywhere she can. Her brother Rusty was just that brotherly, Holly a newcomer to the group, and the other Lynburn Ash…the total opposite of Jared. UNSPOKEN kept me glued to the book from page one, and kept me guessing till the very end.  I’m like the other fans and didn’t like how the book ended (cliffhanger!) but am looking forward to UNTOLD nonetheless.  I recommend this book to anyone looking for a light paranormal-mystery read. 


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Summer Book Crush!!



Hot sun, hot sand, cool drinks, dark tans. Ahhhh. But your summer won’t be complete until you land a new BOOK BOYFRIEND, right? Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered!  



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SUMMER BOOK CRUSH offers 50+ titles in many genres. This means 50+ chances to (fictitiously) fall in love. And the best part? Each of these gems is only 99¢, but for a limited time only. The SUMMER BOOK CRUSH event starts on June 26th and ends (yes, even the best things in life end at some point) on June 28th. So don't wait up! Mingle with our BOOK BOYFRIENDS and invite all your friends to participate too. There are plenty of BOOK BOYS to share!




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Find your summer’s fling between the pages of a book. And don't stop on one - after all we have many BOOK BOYFRIENDS for you to mingle with.




* HAPPY READING * HAPPY SUMMER *
 

Monday, June 24, 2013

Blog Tour: Sea Change by S.M. Wheeler + Giveaway


I'd like to welcome S.M. Wheeler, author of SEA CHANGE to the blog today! On today's Sea Change blog tour stop S.M has provided readers with a trailer and excerpt from her debut novel.

Don't forget to enter the awesome giveaway at the end of the post, TOR BOOKS is giving away three (3) copies of SEA CHANGE.



ABOUT THE BOOK


Published on June 18, 2013 by TOR BOOKS.


The unhappy child of two powerful parents who despise each other, young Lilly turns to the ocean to find solace, which she finds in the form of the eloquent and intelligent sea monster Octavius, a kraken. In Octavius’s many arms, Lilly learns of friendship, loyalty, and family. When Octavius, forbidden by Lilly to harm humans, is captured by seafaring traders and sold to a circus, Lilly becomes his only hope for salvation. Desperate to find him, she strikes a bargain with a witch that carries a shocking price.

Her journey to win Octavius’s freedom is difficult. The circus master wants a Coat of Illusions; the Coat tailor wants her undead husband back from a witch; the witch wants her skin back from two bandits; the bandits just want some company, but they might kill her first. Lilly's quest tests her resolve, tries her patience, and leaves her transformed in every way.

A powerfully written debut from a young fantasy author, Sea Change is an exhilarating tale of adventure, resilience, and selflessness in the name of friendship.

TRAILER

 


---SEA CHANGE EXCERPT--- 

Acid flowed at the table more often than wine and had long since ceased to cause Lilly alarm; her attention remained on the soup even as Father asked, “Does the thought of me still pain your head, love?”

Cool, Mother replied, “I fear I am coming down with some strange illness, for I suffer still.  I should go to the baths and—”

His habit was to swallow such lies with a drought of the liquor at hand, but tonight the bottle had been emptied already. “And by what means will you have a child of mine while resting there?”  He laughed, a deep, drink-rough noise.  “Mourning the parting, will you lie with me the night before – then abort whatever is thus got and have a bastard by another man, to return to this house and claim—”

“Lilly.”  Mother looked to her, fire on her tongue such that all her husband’s anger seemed but sparks.  Here was not the woman who called Lilly sweetheart and cradled her face between her hands; in such a temper, she looked taller than Father, her presence heavy with the soot of past fury.  “Dinner is over.  Go to your room.”

Lilly filched a glazed bun from the table as if she refused to go without something sweet; wrapping it in a napkin as she went out, she shut the door behind her then put her ear to the keyhole. She dismissed the thought of capture, for the servants were all stiff-faced and silent at the edges of the room, or gone away to the kitchen if they could, ashamed to serve a family that would descend into this crudity – unless households of old blood were the same, and all servants must foster the ability to overlook lapses in decorum.  

Though not given to eavesdropping, this argument concerned her; younger siblings would mean a sea-change, a reshuffling of priorities, danger along with freedom.  The thick door muffled their voices but it didn’t matter; when their war came to open battle they fought lustily, snide murmurs giving way to shouts.

“If you won’t have my child—”

“I promised you one, and that one is enough.”  She spoke now in her country burr, the honest voice; and softer, almost inaudible: “I will not die with the second.”

“I know.  I know.  But you’re better than your forebears.  And what is she, this girl?”
Giving a short laugh, Mother said, “Your child.”

“But no sweet girl for me, not soft-eyed: no, sharp and sea-loving—”

Miss Scholastika caught Lilly by the ear, and dragging her by it as she only did outside of Father’s sight – though happy to do so when Mother watched – took her from the door.  Both of them stayed quiet; Lilly bit her lip with eyes brimming, and Miss Scholastika kept herself to the pinch-mouthed look that the toothless excelled at.  Only when they reached Lilly’s room did the servant release her and ask, “How shameless are you to be eavesdropping?”  Her voice quavered – not angry, but fearful.  “There are things a child shouldn’t hear.”

“They voiced those before I left,” Lilly said, reasonable, and flinched as the woman’s hand came up; but Miss Scholastika only rested it against her cheek, the side of her face where the skin looked darkly bruised, brown and black, swollen.

Whispering, now, “Both of them love you.”

“Yes.  —Father wants a daughter he can parade or a son to become a merchant-marquis in his place, though.”  Lilly moved away, smiled – and meant it.  “Ma’am, I am happy.”

“You don’t know what that means,” the old woman said, bitter, and before leaving added, “Turn your mind to your books, child.  I will want to hear what you know about our neighbor kingdoms tomorrow.”

Lilly did no such thing, knowing that the servants’ ability to turn a blind eye extended to her behavior.  Slipping off her satin shoes and stockings and full skirts, she donned instead last year’s skirt – it fell just above her ankles and still fitted her waist – and on her feet put the soft leather shoes Mother gifted her with a conspiratorial wink and a finger held over her lips.


--GIVEAWAY--
 
US/CA ONLY: Will be mailed from publisher. 


TOR BOOKS has generously offered three (3) copies of SEA CHANGE and a SEA CHANGE button to Short & Sweet Reviews Readers! To enter please fill out the Rafflecopter below. Good luck you guys! 






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ABOUT THE AUTHOR  
S.M. Wheeler
I spent the first thirteen years of my life on a slow-motion tour of the United States, following my father’s work in the telecommunication business, with a brief side trip to Jamaica. Settling down at last in Upstate New York when my parents purchased an inn, I spent a difficult year attempting to adapt to the small local school and the company of my agemates. Ultimately, my family made the decision to educate me at home. Some of my time came to revolve around the business, which grew to include a bookstore and restaurant; some of my attention went to the school textbooks from which I learned. Mostly, I read and wrote. 

Fantasy, science fiction, myth, folklore—I favored the unreal in reading and told the same sort of stories as soon as I could articulate those ideas in words. This became an important tool when I developed several chronic health problems in my adolescence. Rather than using the world of fantasy to escape from these, I normalized them by creating disabled characters within the familiar landscapes of the fantastic. One o’ clock in the morning with an unruly mind and aching joints was best faced with characters whose hallucinations and missing limbs were oversized projections of my own difficulties. 

I flew out of Upstate to California for college with one suitcase of clothes and ten boxes of books. I am now living with family while attending the University of San Diego, where I am pursuing an English degree, Classics minor, and all excuses to write fiction.

Connect with the author!
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Thursday, June 20, 2013

Spontaneous Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop (US & INT)

Welcome to my stop on this Spontaneous Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop (started just yesterday) by I Am a Reader Not a Writer!

GIVEAWAY
One (1)  winner will get to choose from the three (3) choices below:

1) Box of used book (some new, never read) (US ONLY)
 (UF, PNR, Sci-fi, Fantasy, YA)
*edit: I'm about to move again, so I plan to add more books! :)
**Edit #2, If you haven't already seen on Facebook and Twitter, I just added 14 more books to the box, so that means what you see in the picture above PLUS another 14 books!!! WHEEE :D

--- OR---

2) $10 Amazon Gift Card (US ONLY)

---OR---

 3) Book Depository book choice valued up to $10 (INT)



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