FLAWED

Wistful YA is a regular feature on Writer's Alley geared to bringing bright, new authors and their books to light. I'm doing an extra post this week to bring you the work of one of my wonderful Oasis for YA sisters, blogging bud, and talented author friends. (Note: Oasis for YA is currently on hiatis as each of our contributors is progressively moving forward with their writing careers.) Here's the latest work by J.L. Spelbring: 

You can request an ARC copy of FLAWED 

HERE 

In a world where Hitler won the The War, and perfection is constantly sought, Ellyssa has broken free from her austere life and has found another meaning for her existence.

Family, friendship, and love.

But her happiness is short lived. Ellyssa finds herself on the run, again. Her father's work didn't die with him, but lives on in her siblings, Aalexis and Xaver, and they are determined to complete his unfinished dream. 

FLAWED BY J.L. Spelbring 

Book Two in the PERFECTION series.

Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication: August 12th 2014 by Spencer Hill Press

Pre-order FLAWED TODAY

AMAZON † B&N 

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CHECK OUT BOOK ONE IN THE SERIES

Praise for PERFECTION...

The personification of Aryan purity, Ellyssa's spent her whole life under her creator's strict training and guidance; her purpose is to eradicate inferior beings. She was genetically engineered to be the perfect soldier: strong, intelligent, unemotional, and telepathic. 

Only Ellyssa isn't perfect. 

Ellyssa feels emotions--a fact she's spent her life concealing. Until she encounters the epitome of inferiority: a dark-haired boy raised among renegades hiding since the Nazis won the war a century ago. He speaks to her telepathically, pushing thoughts into her mind, despite the impossibility of such a substandard person having psychic abilities. 
But he does. 

His unspoken words and visions of a place she's never visited make Ellyssa question her creator. Confused and afraid her secret will be discovered, Ellyssa runs away, embarking on a journey where she discovers there is more to her than perfection.

Praise for PERFECTION...
"This book is seriously so unique and amazing it's mind-blowing!" ~ Lauran Hammond

"Wow! That was my initial reaction after finishing Perfection. This is without a doubt one of the most well thought out, cleverly-written and unique books I have ever read." ~ K-Books

"4 stars - Chilling and provocative, these characters will get to you." ~ Stuck In Books

Available on
Amazon † B&N 

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Please read the TERMS & CONDITIONS at the bottom of the rafflecopter before entering.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

J.L. Spelbring - lives in Texas, where she wanders out in the middle of the night to look at the big and bright stars. Besides knocking imaginary bad guys in the head with a keyboard, she enjoys being swept away between the pages of a book, running amuck inside in her own head, pretending she is into running, and hanging out with her kids, who are way too cool for her.

WEBSITE † FACEBOOK † TWITTER † GOODREADS

Reading Lists & Young Adult Teen Tuesday

I'm over on Oasis for YA today, with my latest YA suggestion and a question. I'll give you a hint: the story is paranormal and fantasy and encompasses a world imprisoned. I'd love to hear from you over there.

Splat: my recovery is still going well. Just really exhausted, so if I don't catch up with you as readily as I'd like I hope you'll understand.

Thanks so much and enjoy your Tuesday!!

For more YA, visit these YATT Meme Supporters:

Margo Berendsen

The Write Game

Julie Musil (not every wk)

Rosewood Pencil Box

Misha Gericke (not every wk)

Fairbetty's World 

Concrete Pieces of Soul 

The B.L.O.G (The Bizzare Life of One Girl)  

A Day into the Writer

Want to take part in spotlighting young adult literature? Join our team. For more information, go HERE.

Cover Reveal for AE Rought's BROKEN!!

It is my pleasure to welcome all of you, especially those who've followed AE's amazing cover reveal from JA Sounders blog, where a snippet of BROKEN'S chapter one was released! The next segment of Chapter One has been included at the bottom of this post, so keep reading.


AE is not only an amazing writer, but she's also one of my Oasis for YA sisters, dear friend, and mentor. I'm SO excited to hop back into blogging from my summer break to be a part of this reveal! The book is scheduled for release January 2013, simultaneously in paper and ebook formats.

Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where a young couple’s undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all. 

Fills me with an eerie, romantic
vibe. GORGEOUS!!!

A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry’s boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetary and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.

When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she’s intrigued despite herself. He’s an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely…familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel’s. The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there’s something very wrong with Alex Franks.


And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks’ estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows.


Continuing snippet of BROKEN'S first chapter starts BELOW...

Bree may be my best friend, but she will never let me forget my walking, talking, tripping over a fire hydrant incident of last year. To return the favor, I often remind her of her Orange Kool-aid hair dying event.

A branch swings in  sudden breeze and knocks the phone out of my hand. Spitting swear words, I squint at the ground, covered with a layer of gold, browns and red. It didn’t hit the sidewalk—no horrid crack followed the fall. My backpack slides to the ground when I bend down, scoping the yard to either side. Then, I see the faint glow of the screen display reflecting from the underside of an oak leaf.

The screen goes dark before I can grab it, and I fumble in the leaf litter through another string of cuss words before wrapping my fingers around the hard plastic case.

Standing, I feel the same heavy stare wash across my face like a warm damp cloth. Prickles crawl over my skin, my scalp tightens, and I’m sure if I could see myself, the blue of my eyes would be swallowed by my pupils. I spin slowly, taking in every inch of Seventh Street and its shadows. Comfortable two-story houses, some with open porches, most with narrow siding and painted trim. Grinning pumpkins, a skeleton in the Miller’s yard, Mrs. Jones’ witch-in-a-tree…        

For the next segment in Chapter One, hop over to Nikki Katz's site!! 

YA Teen Tuesday: That's YAmore!

Welcome to another edition of our Young Adult Teen Tuesday Meme and the 2nd annual That's YAmore Blogfest hosted by my team blog, Oasis for YA! The participants agreed to post 250 words of their most swooning love scenes. Kid-friendly, of course. Last year, we had some awesome segments. But this year, we've upped the ante. Anyone who posts by today is entered for a chance to win a YA read of their choice!!


If you haven't entered, you still can. Just hop over to Oasis for YA and add your name to the linky, so others will know to stop by and read your work. You'll be entered into our giveaway. Just like that.

Before I move on... HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! Mmwwhhaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I guess I can't let myself off that easy, huh? Here's a segment of one of my scenes. Enjoy!!

(Setup: girl chasing something in the woods she believes she imagined; she's leaning over her knees, her view behind her is upside-down between her legs.)

The ground behind me shifts. My eyes flash open and capture the upside-down image of boots—dark and looking all leather and fancy—from between my legs. I flip my head up, my hair slapping my back, my elbows still denting my knees. An aura illuminates the surrounding trees, bumping off stumps and earthy debris. No shadows, at least that I can see. 

Fingers wrap my upper arms and pull me to stand. A warm body presses against my back. It feels pretty real. I gasp, but inhale nothing.

“Don’t move. I won’t hurt you.” His tone blankets me in softness.

Fear, or in my case, anger should be my first reaction. But his energy is sugar to my veins. I can’t think. Bellyflies—girly nerves as Mem called them when I was six—flutter in my stomach. Strong forearms cross my chest, thick biceps cradling my torso. His heartbeat plays a lullaby against my spine. I melt, slowly. 

With his fingertip, he tilts my chin, exposing my neck and resting my head back on his shoulder. The scent of sweet musk mingles with the musty bark of the forest. It’s soothing, but I want more. Mint and mocha exhales off his breath, taunting my tongue. Mmm, vibrates between my lips. I’m floating and drowning at the same time. Mem’s wordless poetry.

He shushes me and lifts my amulet. The sensation of invisible fingertips massages my mind. My mouth quivers, but I’m too lost in his intoxicating cloud of euphoria to care.

For more YA, visit these YATT Meme Supporters:
Margo Berendsen
The Write Game
Julie Musil (not every wk)
Rosewood Pencil Box
Misha Gericke (not every wk)
Fairbetty's World 
Concrete Pieces of Soul
The B.L.O.G (The Bizzare Life of One Girl)

Here's the other participants!

1.	Jessie Harrell	12.	Angelhorn	23.	Patricia Marques
2.	Catherine Stine	13.	Georgia Summers	24.	Christa Desir
3.	Charity Bradford	14.	Larissa	25.	Susan Rocan
4.	Sheri Larsen	15.	Jessica @ Angels, Demons, and Portals. Oh My.	26.	Taryn
5.	Nikki Katz	16.	Liz Czukas	27.	Stephanie Diaz
6.	Nicole Zoltack	17.	Connie Ann Michael	28.	Cara M
7.	Adrianne Russell @ The Writer's Republic	18.	AE Rought	29.	Sarah Negovetich
8.	Cecilia	19.	Roza Marie	30.	Elizabeth Prats
9.	Commutinggirl	20.	Theresa Paolo	31.	Jamie Ayres
10.	Katy Upperman	21.	LM Preston	32.
11.	Lori M. Lee	22.	B. Pine

RENEGADE Scavenger Hunt Cover REVEAL!

In my opinion, Fridays are all featherbrained and are for chatting about life, love, friendship, motherhood and my sometimes failed attempts to keep my sanity. So today, I have a special treat for you! I'm giving major props to a special friend, who happens to be an amazing writer. 

I am so excited!!! One of my Oasis for YA sisters, the fabulous Jessica Souders, is releasing the cover for her YA novel! It is beautiful, my friends. 

Jessica Souders
w/a J.A. Souders
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

J.A. Souders was born in the heartland with an overactive imagination and an over abundance of curiosity that was always getting her into trouble.  She first began writing at the age of 13, when she moved to Florida and not only befriended the monsters under the bed, but created worlds for them to play together.  

    Because she never grew up, she decided she’d put her imaginary friends to work and started writing.  She still lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and their two children and is an active member of the RWA, CFRW, YARWA and SCBWI.  

She is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency.  Her debut book, RENEGADE, surfaces Fall 2012 from Tor Teen.

So, you want to see the cover now? You really didn't think we'd make it that easy, did you? No worries. You don't have to do much at all. In her brilliance, Jessica has broken the cover into six equal parts, real scavenger hunt style. Simply visit the following blogs and collect a word along with the puzzle pieces and head over to the three blogs hosting the giveaway on Monday. Your STARTING POINT is Jess's blog, Angels and Demons and Portals, Oh My!

7 AM: Woven Strands (http://wovenstrands.wordpress.com/)
9 AM: Writer's Ally (http://writersally.blogspot.com/)
10 am: The Oasis  (http://oasisforya.blogspot.com/)
11 am: Fire and Ice (http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/)
1 pm: Confessions of a Bookaholic (http://www.totalbookaholic.com/)
3 pm: Jessie Harrell-The Daily Harrell  (http://jessie-harrell.blogspot.com/)

For the final cover, on Monday visit one or all of the following blogs:

Reading Teen  (http://www.readingteen.net/)
Books Complete Me (http://www.bookscompleteme.com/)

Mundie Moms (http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/)

Simple Love of Reading (http://simpleloveofreading.blogspot.com/)

Stuck in Books  (http://www.stuckinbooks.com/)

Here's your word: LIFE

Here's your puzzle piece. Pretty, isn't it??? 

Want FREE Books?

Well, here's your opportunity to scratch off a few of those 'need to buys' from your Christmas shopping list.

Hop over to my team blog, OASIS FOR YA, and add your name to the list of over 200+ bloggers!! 

Oasis for YA is teaming up with I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, and The Daily Harrell (Jessie's blog) to host the second annual Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop. The dates for the hop are December 21st through December 27th. What better way to keep your blog occupied while you celebrate the holidays with your family than to have an opportunity to win books posted on your blog?

Each participating blog can give away whatever they'd like and there's no minimum requirements. You do whatever you'd like and link to all the other participating bloggers!! Easy as that! We'd be very grateful if you'd spread the word. TY!!

BTW - I designed that logo. Do you like it??

Click HERE to ENTER.

Splatter: Today's the last day to ENTER my Holiday Book Giveaway!! And if you need an instructional writing book, I'm giving away one HERE!

DESTINED Released!! Book Tour

I could not be more happy for today!!

Jessie Harrell, author of DESTINED

 Approximately a year and a half ago, I met the Graffiti Wall's next featured author. We were both members and moderators of YAlitchat--our fabulous online writing community. She took on the duties of a MOD before I did. But when I decided to lend my volunteering gene to YAlitchat's wonderful mission of guiding writers on their road to publication, she welcomed me with open arms--as did the others. *waves at MODS*

Jessie and I began to blog together. Then chat, sharing ideas. Before I knew it, we were launching a team blog, Oasis for YA, with three (now four) other YA writers. It's been a fabulous experience, not to mention getting to know Jessie even better. I've watched her grow during her personal journey to publication, and I could not be more happy for her. She has worked very hard.


Without further chatter from moi, here's Jessie answering my questions in her own words.



Isn't she just fabulous!!!

And check out this gorgeous cover! So beautiful.

Please feel free to visit Jessie on her Blog, Website, Goodreads, and Facebook.

Have the itch to purchase the book now?? You may do so in paperback form: Book Depository & Amazon; ebook form: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, & Smashwords.

Even better, want to win an ebook copy?? Jessie is graciously giving one away, right here on Writers' Ally. Click HERE to enter and read my review of DESTINED.

I'll be taking the rest of the week to finish some edits and spend with my family, giving thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The Renaissance of Writing: Part 2

I had an amazing weekend. As most of you know, I'm a former dancer who still takes adult lessons and dances with the most amazing group of ladies ~ my dancing angels, the Monday Night Hotties.

My daughter Kate & ME

We are woman ranging in ages from 23 to 61, from all walks of life and occupations. There's nurses and massage therapists--yes, for those inevitable boo-boos we incur as we age and it becomes a bit more difficult to 'hit our marks'. *winks and grins*

 Medical/legal transcriptionists, who are there with advice (see previous sentence.) Then, we have educators and even a US Senator's assistant to keep us in line. Waitresses, office clerks, secretaries, writers (well, just me), and more add to the mix...as well as daughters, mothers, wives, grandmothers, and friends.   

Being backstage brought many different post ideas to mind, ways in which we can explore our writing from choreography to music choice to line selection and configuration. But for today ~ (seeing how I am totally spent and will have to spend most of today recovering) ~ I'd like to encourage you to think about what extra-curricular activities enhance you as a person: THE WRITER. What other parts of your life have molded you to be a better writer and given you more to offer within your stories and your character's lives.

I started PART 1 of this thought over on Oasis for YA, this morning, and encourage you to comment here as well as to take a gander over there and answer that question. Inquire minds want to know. :)

*I will be taking today off from blogging and concentrate on resting. I'll also try and rewrite my next chapter of MARKED BEAUTY, which I've been dying to share with you all but have waited until the A-Z challenge was over. I have so much to tell you. :)*

OASIS Thankful Meme!

I know you normally don't hear from me on Thursdays, but I couldn't resist supporting Oasis for YA and my blogging sisters.

Today Oasis for YA joins the ranks of the Meme owners!! 

See our new Meme! Isn't it beautiful! The lovely Jessie even went down to the beach in Florida to take the warm tropical photo. Just love it. 

We figure that there is something to be thankful each and every day. Times when your work is validated through receiving a request for material or when you finish plotting your next best novel. And what about when one of your children does something that reminds you why you wanted children. Then there's Mother Nature and how simply sitting and listening can make you feel alive.

You can even be thankful when times are tough. And yes, even more so then.

So join us every Thursday in being thankful for something, someone, or whatever else your creative minds can conjure. The only criteria is that you use our Meme logo and be thankful. That's it. You don't have to write YA. All genres are welcome. We are a writing community. Let's be thankful for that.

I am, and I thank you for your support in advance.

That's YAmore Blogfest!!

I'm a love sap.


Yup. I LOVE romance.


And lucky for all of you, so do my team blogger sisters over on Oasis for YA. In honor of the Month of Love, February, we've decided to host a BLOGFEST.


Starting February 11th, the Friday before Valentine's Day, we invite you to post 250 romantic, swoon-worthy words from your YA WIP or feel free to make up something new. 


Then check out the entries from some of the other participants. We know your Valentine will appreciate you getting yourself in a romantic state of mind...


Head over to Oasis for YA for more details and sign up using Mr. Linky. This is an easy blogfest and one that can help us meet more amazing writers. 


Feel free to grab the blogfest badge and link it to the post, too!! Thanks for all your help!


Best of luck! I can't wait to read all the steam....

Blog Carnival Time

The ladies and I over on Oasis for YA have decided to do a blog carnival about the five senses. You are invited to join in.

Here are the rules of this particular carnival: You've just graduated from high school and your awesome parents have taken you and your boy/girl-friend on the trip of a lifetime to the Seychelles Islands off the coast of Africa. (Um...yeah, I wish.)  The picture above is the view from your hotel window.  You have ONE paragraph to describe the setting, and you can use only ONE of your senses. I have touch. Ready. Set. Go!


Soft and subtle, a warm breeze fanned through my hair. My fingernails dug a little deeper into the wooden molding of the doorway. Marcus was now halfway down my neck, his supple kisses moistening my skin. The lace strap of my cami tumbled off my bare shoulder, Marcus coiling it on his finger, tightening it against my chest. Beads of sweat pooled my pores. At first I thought it was the mist off the water...but it wasn't. His muscular chest pressed into my back, his inner growl funneling through me. I arched my back and cupped his baby-face chin in my palm. The lace of the sheer curtains framing the open doorway billowed around us, shielding us from any other touch.


Please take a peek at what the other Oasis ladies have written: Jessie, Nikki, JA, & AE.

I ask you to go on the honor system and visit my good girl homie, Lola, on Sharp Pen/Dull Sword and enter her Stephen King giveaway!! Don't you want good'ole Stephie and his clownhead from IT living with you?

Make sure to check out my bestie Book Butterfly Kim's signed book giveaway!! Enjoy your week next week. I'll be unplugged most of the time, but I'll still post on M-W-F. Thanks, Alleywalkers.

Treat Your Writer Like A Parent: DON'T LISTEN

Psst...

Yeah, you. Look here.

No, not literally at the word here. (I know a lot of bloggers do that, but I'm no blogger.) It's me: Ebony, lurking closer to the laptop screen, whispering in a raspy tone. Shhh...Sher~ told me no more talking to you guys, at least not yet. And no, she hasn't drawn me a set of sexy legs yet, or a smack-worthy butt either.

Relax. Don't be too hard on her. (Really, it's my fault.)

If you tell her I said that I will SO deny it! I've been messing with her.

What? * ogling my undecided teenage eyes*  It's all about HEAD GAMES in junior high and high school, don't you know. Young Adult and Middle Grade literature, isn't that what you folks write? If you're not one of those, no worries. This wisdom will apply to you too. And hey, on behalf of Sher, tanks fo dah vee-sit. (She is going to put me in some awkward, embarrassing scene for that one. *sigh*)


Did you like the opening of my story found HERE. Yeah, you can click that one. Well, there's more where that comes from only I won't let her write it. I've decided I'm regressing back to junior high. Ninth grade will not cut it for me.


Batting my overly-large emerald eyes--if you forgot those, check them out HERE. Again, Yeah. It's my life. Sure, she's writing me, but it's my story. I don't think going back one year is going to kill her. What is the big deal? She has to come up with my back story, right? Well, I'm giving her more to use, more books to write about me and my coming-of-age experiences. Granted, it's not your average coming of age. 


Did you really expect her to write something normal? She can't help herself, and for that I'm thankful. Without her quirky slant of the 'Unseen' and 'What Lies Beneath', I would not exist. 


You think I'm being too hard on her? Okay. Not really. The Powers That Be say MG is roughly from age 8-12. But YA beings around 14 or 15 through 18ish. Where does that leave my favorite and most eerie number, peeps???


For all you YA writers out there, how do you decide what age to give birth to your characters? 


And for those who write YA and MG, where do you draw the line? How do you begin with a character of MG age, let's say bordering 13, and age that character through the YA years?


Don't forget to head over to Oasis for YA. They've got a great contest going on!!

I CHEATED

Yup. I'm a cheater. Scoundrel, loser, and sinister whistler. Scratch that last one. Can't whistle to save my soul. 

I wanted to honor our country with a post, but I didn't want to repeat myself. So I decided to eh...rewind...fast forward...rewind...fast forward...

I've reposted my Oasis for YA post from last week. If you follow Oasis, I apologize for the repeat episode. If you don't follow Oasis (Uh...why the heck aren't you???), then I hope you enjoy my pondering over our nation's independence. 

In honor of America’s greatest holiday, the Fourth of July, I thought it’d be fun to compile a group of songs fit to celebrate our independence. I also wanted to keep with the theme of summertime, BBQ’s, and the beach. Or in my case, the back fields. I grew up in the puck-a-brush.

We did have The Cove, where we’d stupidly leap off a 10, 30, or 60 foot cliff. Eh…yeah, I never made it past the 10 footer. But that really can’t compare to the warmth of a sandy beach or the salty breeze wafting off the ocean water.

Stupid human info: Is the Pacific Ocean warmer than the Atlantic Ocean? Any answer gets a round of applause by the Oasis ladies. Maybe we’ll even to a happy dance.

When I began combing the catacombs of my brain for related songs, the first one that hit me was “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen. It reminds me of grit and grime, and what it truly took to make this country work.

Neil Diamond’s “America” was next. This is one of my ultimate favorite songs. I can picture myself guitar in hand, hips gyrating, and the crowd going wild. Oh, sorry. That was my dream last night. Erase visual please.

And how could we celebrate the Fourth without Don McLean’s “American Pie”? Can’t be done.

Bye, bye miss American Pie

Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry

And good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye

Singing this will be the day that I die

this will be the day that I die

You can hear it as you read it, huh?? Love that.

One of my personal faves is from Phil Vassar, “American Child”. I think we all can relate to this song. It captures the true essence of growing up in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

(Supporting a wonderful artist.)

And here are a few great songs to upload onto the iPod and jam to while barbecuing this weekend.

“American Woman” The Guess Who

“Back in the U.S.A.” Chuck Berry

“Born to be Wild” Steppenwolf

“Blowin’ in the Wind” Bob Dylan

“Independence Day” Martina McBride

Of course there are songs like “America the Beautiful”, “God Bless America”, and even “Take me out to the ballgame”. Yeah that one is different but it’s all American.

May we be thankful to those who have come before us and ensured our way of life. May we also celebrate the wonderful culture we have in our music, how it carries us and inspires us.

I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy Fourth of July.