Blog Tour Stop: Persephone of Erebus- Giveaway and Interview with RIya

This tour stop was so much fun!

Riya popped by and answered a ton of questions, and she had some surprising things to say.  Don't forget to comment on her post to be entered for a chance to win!

Blog Tour Stop - Paranomal Bookclub

Are you looking for more chances to enter the awesome giveaway for the Souls of the Stones blog tour? Or do you want more yummy excerpts from the books?

Check our stop at the Paranormal Bookclub yesterday!
http://paranormal-bookclub.com/souls-of-the-stone-blog-tour-with-awesome-giveaway/

Souls of the Stones Blog Tour Stop: Pauline Creeden's blog

Pauline has an excerpt from Cornerstone up for you all today. One of my favorite early Garith and Emariya scenes!

http://paulinecreeden.com/2013/06/04/blog-tour-spotlight-souls-of-stones-by-kelly-walker/

Kindle Worlds: More Vampire Diaries from (the real) L J Smith?

So I heard the announcement the other day about Kindle Worlds, and that one of the licenses already secured is for The Vampire Diaries. I believe it is for the show's "world" not the book's "world" but right now I don't want to split hairs.

If you haven't seen the hype yet, the gist is that Amazon will be providing the opportunity to publish 'for profit' fanfiction from specific "worlds" that they are able to obtain the licensing for.

I have to admit, that my very first though upon reading the promo site was, "does this mean that we can finally get L J Smith's ending/vision/endgame for The Vampire Diaries?" It would be incredible if so. I have never abandoned a series before its completion before, but The Vampire Diaries lost me shortly after the ghost writer took over.

I don't know, but I can make an educated guess, that LJ Smith was significantly limited in what she could do or publish regarding Vampire Diaries after she was fired from the series, but what about this new avenue? Could she publish "Fan-fiction" for the series to which her name has already been attached?

It certainly seems possible to me, and this fan certainly hopes it becomes a reality.

The Driving Force Behind Great Characters: Morality and Motivation

Souls of the Stones is on the road again today, and this time we're visiting The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club!


This tour stop is soo much fun! Not only are they congiously enthusiastic about books, they have a guest article by me today - The Driving Force Behind Great Characters: Morality and Motivation. Plus, they put up their dream cast for Severed Stone, which I think is really cool. I love who they picked for Ciorstan.

So go check them out =)

Souls of the Stones Blog Tour Starts Now!

The Souls of the Stones blog tour is kicking off today, starting at Momma Says Read!

Momma asked me a few nifty questions, and you can earn giveaway entries by posting a comment on her tour stop. 

I have so many awesome things planned during this tour. Lots of individual giveaways, plus a tourwide giveway with a super cool awesome really neat bracelet.

I loved this style of bracelet, because it reminds me of the wedding bind that is traditionally used in the world of The Three Corners. The wolf is for the Ahlen family crest, and the leaf for the Warren crest. I  liked the anchor for Sheas better than their Fish crest, because Emariya anchors herself through their gift.

The etsy shop The Gift Of The Magi has several of these bracelets for sale (I asked her to make a few of them) and you can order yours here



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Sponsored Review - 5 Stars to Contributor

Contributor (Contributor Trilogy, book 1)  by Nicole Ciacchella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a reviewer's copy through Netgalley.

This book is brilliantly constructed. I was immediately taken by how much it sucked me in. Ciacchella intimately trusts her reader, and she doesn't waste any words on explaining things, or infodumping. The world is handled as if we are as familiar with it as Dara is, and we truly see through her eyes. Enough context is given that what might be foreign concepts readily become clear, even though this is an entirely new world, with tons of phrases.

There is so much new in this book, that it would almost be expected to have lots of infodumps and infosprinkles for us to understand, but there isn't and the book is so strong because of it.

It really set the tone of "this is how things are, and you should just accept it" because that is exactly what Dara had to face.

I can't say enough times how impressed I am. Because it was so skillfully woven, there was almost no distance between Dara and me. I always knew what she wanted, what her goals were, what her fears were, and why.

Every aspect of the world is carefully crafted and intricately designed, but it is up to Dara (and us) to figure out how things really are.

I read this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

Sponsored Review: The Wrong Girl

The Wrong Girl by C.J. Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of The Wrong Girl as an arc through Netgalley.

To start with, I have to say this book has one of my new favorite opening lines.

To say I'd been kept prisoner my entire life in an attic wasn't quite true. It was only fifteen years out of eighteen, and I was allowed to walk in the gardens for a half-hour some days.

Hannah's story picks up quite quickly--as soon as we have a taste of what her normal life is, and calling it normal is quite a stretch and she's immediately painted as a sympathetic character--she's yanked away. Literally.

Although she's been kidnapped, her circumstances have actually improved and that creates a lot of tension between who she wants to be loyal to, and what resolution she wants. Someone, and quite possibly a lot of people, are being less than honest with her and the majority of the book is centered around her finding out the truth about who she is, and why her circumstances are what they are, all while trying to keep her very big secret.

The more I read the more curious I became and I found myself flying through pages, searching for answers. A few times I found myself accidentally skimming not because it was boring, but because I just had to know what was going on.

The twists were surprising and well-crafted. I didn't see several of them coming.

Hannah is a very likeable heroine. She's sassy, smart, determined and loyal. There is a light undercurrent of potential romance that I expect might get picked up in other books, but there isn't much of one in this one.

If you like paranormal, historical and suspenseful reads, you'll probably like this one.

Authors Aiding Oklahoma

I've banded together with a group of authors with the goal of increasing donations to organizations aiding Oklahoma.

From Now through June 1st, simply make a donation to an organization of your choice, then email me at kelly@kellywalkerauthor.com with the title of the book you are requesting (Second Stone, Gifted Stone, Broken Stone--If Broken Stone is requested, it will delivered as soon as it is completed, even before it goes on sale), as well as your preferred format (Mobi, epub, pdf.) I will respond to you as soon as possible to fill your request.

I'm not asking you to provide proof, because I want the amount you give to be whatever you are comfortable with. Your donation is handled entirely between you, and the organization. This is simply my way of saying "Way to go!" Yes, I know some people will abuse the honor system, but I hope you aren't one of them.

For a list of suggested organizations accepting donations to benefit those effected by the devastating weather in Oklahoma, as well on tips for selecting a reputable charity, see the following article: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/20/18381508-how-to-help-oklahoma-tornado-victims?lite

If you are a fellow author, and would like to join me in this effort, please feel free to snag the image and leave a link here so we can find you.

WIP Teaser - No One's Angel

I know it goes against conventional branding wisdom, but one of my current projects is a steamy NA Contemporary Romance. It most definitely will not be appropriate for younger readers (But I will keep excerpts and such pg-13ish out of respect for those that follow me because they like Souls of the Stones, but perhaps aren't as fond of the steamier NA.)

Allow me to introduce you to Arion and Angel. #NoOnesAngel  #TeaserTuesday
***************


“Hey, wait,” a voice I’ve heard a million times says from the doorway behind me. I freeze, suspended somewhere in the middle of hope and heartbreak. It’s him. He’s here. I found him, but what will I say? I had it all worked out in my head, but now, for once in my life, words fail me. I can talk my way into trouble with a deaf priest, but at this moment, my lips have taken a vacation. I can’t even breathe. I want to throw my arms around him, but who throws their arms around a guy they’ve never met? Then again, who bolts across the country to meet the guy she’s never met just because she used to tell him everything from the safety of behind a computer screen. Only someone desperate.
I guess he’s grown tired of me standing in the hallway like a mute moron, facing away from him because he reaches for my arm just as I turn toward him. I don’t even mean to, I just react, jerking my arm away and pressing myself again the wall. My heart is flapping around my chest like a trapped bird, slamming itself into a windowpane because it sees safety on the other side without realizing its desperate attempts to live free will actually bring its death. I’m the stupid bird and I know it.
Somewhere beneath the panic, I register the concern on his face. He’s backed away, and his hands are up, palms outward, fingers loose. But I’m not looking at his hands. At least not anymore. While I take deep gulps of the stale hallway air, my eyes rove over him. I’m both waiting and watching, trying to reconcile what I expected with what I see. This can’t be Arion. I’ve spent more hours than I can count talking to him through the computer. If I’d been talking to a Greek-god incarnate, I think I would have known it.
His chest is bare, glistening beneath a light sheen of sweat, which I guess makes sense considering the blonde who just left. Considering how slender I am, it would be hypocritical of me to think he couldn’t possibly be the same guy who’d spent hours playing W.O.W. with me into the small hours of the night, because someone with those abs couldn’t possibly spend so many hours in a computer chair. Call me a hypocrite, because that’s exactly what I was thinking.
Honey hair falls to the base of his neck and yesterday’s stubble dots his cheek. I blink hard, trying to rein in my runaway thoughts.
“See something you like?” His voice, that teasing tone, is exactly like I remember it even though its been over a year since we talked.
I finally find my voice, at least enough to manage one word. “Arion?” I ask because I still can’t believe this is him.
His cocky smile collapses on a field of grief. “Angel?”
No ones called me that in a long time. Something stirs within me, some remembrance of who I used to be. I don’t know whether to nod or shake my head. We stand there staring at each other for a moment, and then he steps back, ushering me inside. After the unimpressive hallway, the living area we step into catches me by surprise. The gray in the hallway was drab, but Arion’s living room can only be described as wow. Grays blend with warm chocolate brown topped with splashes of black and cream. I’ve stepped into the Venti Mocha-Rich-a-chino of apartments. Like a fancy six dollar coffee, it’s worth every penny but way out of my league.

Sponsored Review: Tragic - A New Adult Romance by J.A. Huss

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Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far – just sucks. Some girls get parents. Rook got the foster care system. Some girls get Prince Charming. Rook got an abusive frog. Some girls get lucky…

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it. Because when fate throws you a bone – you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look. The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy! He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s camera.

Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modeling world. It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay – and Rook is about to get the bill.

New Adult Contemporary Romance *Mature Content* Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language usage

My Review:

TRAGIC: Rook and Ronin, #1 by J.A. Huss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of Tragic from the author.

At the start of the book, I was honestly a little worried I wouldn't like it. I'd loved the blurb, but the first few pages had me a bit hesitant. It felt like it was trying too hard to be popular and cool. We all know the setup - A girl with a broken past falls in love with a hot guy.

This story is everywhere right now in NA, and I think the reason why is because so many people can relate to it. I don't think my issue was as much with the trope, as it was the early delivery. It seemed only on the surface.

So why 4 stars? Because by a chapter or two in, I was completely hooked and had lost all reservations. The book pulled me in and I devoured the rest of it like a last meal that I probably should have savored. It was fun, and an easy read. It remained a light, surface read and the characters never really became "real" to me, but it was so enjoyable I didn't care.

Put simply, this book is sexy as hell. The plot is sexy, the hero is sexy, and the situations are sexy. (And mildly disturbing.)

Rook is both resilient and resourceful. Her voice is very clear throughout the book, and she isn't whiny or irritating. She is strong, and it is because of her strength that she's homeless. She was in an abusive relationship, and instead of succumbing, she fought back and she ran. She's no one's victim.

Ronin is hotter than Mcdonalds coffee, and as smooth as they come. He is very genuine, and protective, and not your typical bad-boy alpha male. He's trying very hard to be good, and doesn't hold back his heart.

I would have liked a bit more resolution at the end, but it is a series, so I can be patient. I didn't give it five stars because of the shaky beginning, but it is definitely worth 4.5. Surprisingly, I found myself not even minding the bit of a cliffhanger/open ending, because it wasn't the hope that Rook and Ronin would find a way to be together that pulled me through the story. I read because they are fun to be around.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

Find J.A. Huss at:

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446815.J_A_Huss
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/JAHuss
WEBSITE: http://newadultaddiction.blogspot.com/

Buy it at Amazon

Have you entered yet? 190 title giveaway

Click this link to view the covers of all the books we are giving away. Incredible, right? And you can enter for as many individual books as you like. Pick the ones that interest you! Then go here to fill out the entry form.

Feature and Follow: Author Playdates and Moms

I got a little confused this morning. I'd like to say it is because it was too early and I hadn't had enough coffee, but really, I'm just easily confused. And I like shiny things. Wait...

Ok, back on track. I saw a link on twitter to F&F this morning and clicked it, but it was to a different week's F&F. Once I figured out my mistake, I decide to just leave that answer, and add this weeks too. So, ignore my silliness. 

Q:  If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

I can answer this one easily, AND it ties in really well with an awesome event I've got going on this week. Without a doubt, I'd want to hang out with Elle Casey. Not only do I absolutely adore her books, she is very inspiring, approachable, and just an all around awesome person. She never fails to take time to help out a new author, and she's given me invaluable advice over the last year or so. Elle is truly committed to giving back to the Indie community. This week, as a way of doing that, she is holding a massive giveaway with 190 authors participating. She's doing all the work of handling signups, picking winners, everything! And that is no small feat when giving away 1500 books. It really is incredible. As for what I'd want to do if we got to hang out for a day, I don't really know. Maybe get coffee, (or something stronger.) But no matter what we did, it would be a day to remember. If you haven't read Elle's books, you should =) and you can follow her on facebook, where she regularly chats with fans, which is the next best thing to getting to hang out with her for a day.

Q: Happy Mother's Day - Who is your favorite Mom from fiction? This may be a totally unpopular answer, but Cersei Lannister. I hate the things she does to characters I love, but as a Mom, you can't beat her (unless you don't want your children to grow up to be rotten spoiled brats, of course.) She will do anything (even awful, despicable things) for her kids.

Just How Massive is Massive? 1500 Books Giveaway!

We have 190 titles and 1,554 copies to give away

Click the image to head on over to Elle's site to get the scoop on this enormous giveaway. I put 10 copies of Second Stone into the digital hat, and there are a ton of books on the list I can't wait to read. 

Worldbuilding: Guns, Swords, and Realism

This is a post I've been meaning to make for a while, but I'll admit it frequently slipped my mind. I noticed someone mentioning it on Goodreads today, which reminded me I'd never covered the topic in any depth.

First, let me say, I'm not a historian by any means. Back when I was writing Cornerstone, I had a few hard choices to make about just how much technology would be available to my characters, especially when it came to weapons.

After consulting with others, and doing my own research, I decided guns would be a very small part of the available arsenal to my characters. I based the mechanics off of very early, primitive types of firearms based around the principle of a flintlock style of weapon. Not only were they often inaccurate and slow to load, wet weather also reduced their effectiveness, and in both Cornerstone and Second Stone snow and rain were quite frequent.

One of the things that I tried to build into the world was the sense of each land having distinctions. Thalmas produced more weapons, but they didn't share them any more than they had to. This helped keep guns rare.

I won't claim that any of the following resources are, or are not, historically accurate, but they can make for interesting further reading if you are curious.

http://www.medievality.com/gunpowder.html
http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/technique/gun-timeline/

I hope this helps shed light on any confusion about what type of weapons Emariya and company did or did not have, why and when.