Center Stage with WORTH the EFFORT's Male Lead ~ Ayden & Enter the Giveaway!

This is PART II of my WORTH the EFFORT by Kai Strand spotlight. In last Tuesday's POST, we met Ella--the story's leading lady. Today, Ayden--the story's leading man--is center stage. And just like last week, Kai's offering a giveaway. But she's offering up something extra, too! Scroll down to see. 

AMAZON

WORTH THE EFFORT ~ Ella's Story by Kai Strand
Distributed: Amazon Digital Services Pages: 78
Description: Ella Jones is a coward. There is a teen boy living in the alley behind her work and she is terrified of him. 
Desperate to leave behind the stereotypical and judgmental world she was raised in, Ella forces herself to make a true connection with seventeen-year-old Ayden Worth. As their friendship grows Ayden’s quiet, gentle ways teach her true courage. 
But there’s more to Ayden’s story than Ella knows. When their worlds collide in the most unexpected place, Ella feels betrayed. Will she find the courage to learn who Ayden really is, or will she determine he’s not worth the effort? 
Please, give a warm welcome to Kai's leading man, Ayden.
Ayden, tell us a little about yourself. Hey. My name's Ayden. Thanks for having me, I guess. I'm not really one to talk about myself. But - you know - it's nice of you to have me here and stuff.
When the reader first meets you, your current situation appears bleak. Tell us about it. You don't want that. My world is cold. Never comfortable. Lonely, except when Ella's around. Truthfully, I feel the same whether I'm tucked up next to a dumpster or tucked into a warm bed with a roof over my head. I'm not looking for sympathy. I can't handle that kind of attention anyway, but - well, you asked and I'm an honest guy. I guess.
Having read your story, I know you really aren't looking for sympathy. 
How were you handling life's essential such as food?  I never really thought much about food, but one day Ella - the girl who works in the cafe I've been sleeping behind - brought me a bagel with peanut butter. That peanut butter...nothing has ever tasted so good before. I grew up eating peanut butter, you know? But having it there, in the alley, it was the most decadent thing I'd ever tasted.
Okay, now you're getting an 'Aw...' out of me. ((Hugs))
Speaking of Ella, tell us about her. If I had any sort of artistic talent, Ella would be my muse. Her spirit radiates from her. It wraps me in a cocoon and makes me think I might be worth something. She's completely oblivious to how beautiful she is. I don't mean physically, though she is that, too. I've just never known anyone to be as fundamentally kind as Ella is, without having been through some personal horror first. It makes her feel a bit like a fairy tale character to me.
Oh gosh, I think I just teared up. You are so sweet! 
What would you say is your biggest quirk? To me you need to have confidence and be outgoing to have a quirk. I work so hard at not being seen and having a quirk would make me stand out. I don't know, maybe working so hard not to have a quirk is quirky in itself.
Could you share something about your creator? If I had to compare Kai to a holiday, I'd say she's Fourth of July when I was five-years-old. She's a day-long picnic with warm sun that eventually burns you, good food that you eat too much of. Then the fireworks. The visuals are stunning, but the accompanying explosions are frightening.
Major *snort*.
Just as with your counterpart, Ella, I loved having you here, Ayden! Thank you for agreeing to splatter your thoughts in the Alleyway. 
I can personally attest that Ella's story is wonderful, because I was fortunate enough to have been a beta reader for it. Honestly, it's a sweet tale you won't forget long after you've read it. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Beyond Kai's rafflecopter, she will mail this bookmark to one lucky commentor, to be draw randomly on 5/19. (International okay) 
Tell us either the best place you've lived or the worst place you've lived and why.

Worth the Effort~Ella's Story & GIVEAWAY!

Breaking News: I'm interrupting my normally scheduled Tuesday to share a wonderful young adult contemporary romance novella with you. The story's main character has even stopped by to say 'Hi'. 

AMAZON

WORTH THE EFFORT ~ Ella's Story by Kai Strand
Distributed: Amazon Digital Services Pages: 78
Description: Ella Jones is a coward. There is a teen boy living in the alley behind her work and she is terrified of him. 
Desperate to leave behind the stereotypical and judgmental world she was raised in, Ella forces herself to make a true connection with seventeen-year-old Ayden Worth. As their friendship grows Ayden’s quiet, gentle ways teach her true courage. 
But there’s more to Ayden’s story than Ella knows. When their worlds collide in the most unexpected place, Ella feels betrayed. Will she find the courage to learn who Ayden really is, or will she determine he’s not worth the effort? 
Please, give a warm welcome to Kai's leading lady, Ella Jones.
Ella, tell us a little about yourself. Hi, everyone! I'm a senior in high school. I go to the public school in our area, much to my parents' chagrin. I'm a barista at a downtown cafe. Another thing I do mostly to bug my parents. Hey, if you knew my parents, you'd want to annoy them too. But I'm off topic. You asked about me. Um...that's kinda all there is to say about me. I guess.
What about your world. Share a few insights? There really isn't any insight to give. I'm just a normal kid. Product of a divorce, going to school, balancing a job and homework. You know. Kids like me are a dime a dozen. I work really hard to be this normal!
Yeah, sounds like you do. But that also tells me you're not so average. (But I also read your story, so I have a little insight myself.)
What's the biggest quirk about yourself? I'm not allowed to have any quirks. Any quirkiness that may have started to develop in my younger years was schooled out of me by my parents. (Did you catch the nose tipped in the air and the affected tone I used? Didn't want that to get by you!)
Care to share the scoop on another character, maybe a crush? *wink* Well, I haven't told anyone about...Ayden. He's this boy that lives in the alley behind my work. Oh my gosh, at first he scared me. A lot. I mean, seriously, what did I expect? That he'd attack me? He's homeless, not evil. Anyway, I've been getting to know him a little and he's nothing like I thought he'd be. And I can't get him out of my mind.
Can I just say that I heart, Ayden, and I'm sure the Alleywalkers will, too, when they get to meet him up close and personal next week. He's agreed to come by for a chat, too.
What's your biggest challenge in life, thus far? Definitely my parents. But I'm pretty sure you figured that out by now. They have these wacky double standards and crazy high ideals and I just want NOTHING to do with any of it.
Fun Fact: What's your favorite snack food?

Author Kai Strand

Oh my gosh! We have these chocolate filled croissants at the cafe that I'm totally addicted to. I had a customer order the last one the other day and I might have growled at her, because I was going to have one when my shift ended.
Care to share a few deets about your creator?  She and I are a lot alike in that we try to just do our thing and not impose ourselves on others. I really admire how close her family is. She and her husband and her kids are like my ideal family.
Gosh, what a sweet thing to say. I'm sure she loves to hear that.
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I can personally attest that Ella's story is wonderful, because I was fortunate enough to have been a beta reader for it. Honestly, it's a sweet tale you won't forget long after you've read it. AND make sure to come back next Tuesday, when Ayden pays us a visit to share his thoughts. 

If you have one, share a story that stayed with you long after you read it?

Secrets Within The Pages

GRAFFITI PROMOTIONS is a regular feature on Writer's Alley for members of the publishing world to share valuable wisdom and experience, and to promote their work. Features include Author or Character Interviews, Book Promos, Seven Sneaky Secrets, and Guest Posts. Just signup to be featured!

Readers read (fiction) to escape or learn or grow. Writers give readers that escape and chance to grasp something new.
When I pick up a book, one of the first elements I look for is character. WHO is this story about? WHAT are they like? WOULD I want to know them in real life?
I'd like you to meet Myra and Jeremy, the main characters in Author Beverly McClure's Young Adult story -  NOVEL ON HOLD.
Hey guys, it's great to have you here. Why don't you give the Alleywalkers a little bit of Myra and a little bit of Jer... Sure, I'm Myra Gibson, sixteen years old, good daughter, perfectionist, everything must be in its place. At least I was a good daughter, until I discovered the secret.
Hey, Jeremy Carlyle here. I'm seventeen, a senior in high school, and Myra's boyfriend, or at least I was until I made a dumb mistake. Now she's not allowed to see me.
Ouch! But ... as a writer, I see a story here. So let's share your story blurb.

A paper found. A secret revealed. A girl's life changed forever.
Myra Gibson's life is a lie. For sixteen years her parents have kept their secret, but the adoption paper she discovers while cleaning the guest house tells the truth. As the past and present collide, Myra finally stands up for herself and begins a journey she may regret. Amazon (print) | Amazon (eBook) | 4VR Publishing | B&N | Goodreads
LIFE ON HOLD by Bevery Stowe McClure Blog | Website | Twitter | Facebook Genre: Contemporary Publisher: 4 RV Publishing LLC Released: February 2012 Pages: 191

Gosh, that sounds serious. So Myra, then what's been your biggest challenge in life? Myra. Biggest challenge? Accepting the truth about my life, that I'm not exactly who I thought I was; neither are my parents.
Jeremy?  My biggest challenge was learning that life is unfair, but we do the best we can because others, my mom, sister, and Myra, are there to help us.
Wow. So grown up. Let's lighten things up a bit. What do you really think of each other? (Jeremy): Me first this time. I think Myra is just about perfect. She cares about others. She's honest. She's beautiful.
(Myra): Honest? Me? Did you happen to notice how many times I lied to my folks so we could go out? You're the honest one, Jeremy. You always wanted me to tell them. You said you didn't like sneaking around behind their backs. And beautiful? Do you need glasses, boy?
(Jeremy): I'm grinning. You also have a temper, Myra, though you don't show it often. And are you saying the kidnapping note I wrote your parents was honest?
(Myra): Haha! The note worked, didn't it? Dad, um Neil, thought it was clever. Mom, she wasn't so sure.
(Jeremy): Maybe one day your folks will accept me again.
Myra sighs. Maybe they'll accept what I plan to do too. Maybe not. But I have to do it anyway.

What's your biggest personal quirk? (Myra): Being clean. Sweeping the driveway every time a car drives in and stirs up the dust. It's outside, right? It's supposed to have dirt on it. I'm sick.
(Jeremy): I'm not telling.
LOL. Wise guy... ;) One last thing: Is your creator more movie star, pro athlete, nature trail junkie, or bookworm? (Myra): Our creator is more the nature trail junkie. She takes long walks, her camera always with her. She snaps pictures of clouds, flowers and wild critters. Once I saw a picture of a huge rattlesnake at least four feet long that she took. Luckily the thing was dead. It still gave me the heebie-jeebies.
(Jeremy): I want to add she's a pretty good photographer, and I should know cause I'm one of the best.
(Myra): You're not shy about bragging on yourself, are you, Jeremy?
(Jeremy): Not when I'm right.
Aw, it's been a hoot getting to know you both better. Thanks for stopping by and to Beverly for creating you!!
Alleywalkers, Beverly has offered up a paperback copy of LIFE ON HOLD to one lucky winner!!! (US only.) To ENTER: just leave a comment sharing a secret you learned as a teenager or what you liked most about meeting Myra and Jeremy! Winner of the giveaway will be announce on January 31st. BEST OF LUCK!

What Would U Do If U Went To School With A ZOMBIE Middle Grader?

MMGM aka Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday was created by Shannon Messenger to give middle grade reads the attention they deserve. I'm joining in, today. If you'd like to see more MG books, Click HERE to follow other participants.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Thanks to MaryAnn at Chapter by Chapter for doing such an amazing job organizing this book tour. It's been quite a ride for Jed. I know that I, for one, am thrilled to see him out and about! FYI: you'll see a review for Jed's story. Feel free to skip down and meet Jed personally, first. He is such a hoot. I wouldn't want you to miss him. Plus, his creator is offer up a great giveaway!

Dead Jed delivers the Sandbox meets Warm Bodies with flare, sensitivity, yet hilarity that gets you right where it counts.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N | TBD | KOBO | INDIEBOUND

DEAD JED: Adventures of a Middle Grade Zombie by Scott Craven
WEBSITE | TWITTER

Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Release Date: October 2013
Pages: 214

Favorite Lines/Passage: As we made it to the door and I reached forward to open it, it came toward me as if kicked from the other side. The handle smashed into my fingers, and I wondered if anyone else heard the sharp crack of bones breaking. 

Not the way I wanted to start things. I quickly straightened my fingers with my left hand, glancing down to make sure they were pointing in the same direction. And they were, or the most part. 

Description: Dead Jed is Shaun of the Dead meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jed's not your typical junior high geek. He is, to use the politically-correct term, cardiovascularly-challenged. And while his parents have attempted to shield him from the implications of being 'different' for as long as they could (Jed was 8 and at a friend's sister's birthday party when he blew his lips off onto the cake in front of everyone, finally prompting the “Big Talk” from his parents and an emergency SuperGlue repair by his dad), 7th grade at Pine Hollow Middle School as a target of Robbie the supreme school bully and his pack of moronic toadies is rapidly becoming unbearable.

From being stuffed in a filled trash can as “dead meat” and into a trophy case as the bully's “prize,” to literally having his hand pulled off in the boys' room (Jed's always losing body parts. Luckily, a good stapler and some duct tape and he's back in the action) and a cigarette put in it and try to frame him for the recent reports of smoking in the school, Jed's had enough and is ready to plan his revenge. Besides, it's awesome what you can do when you're already dead!

NIGHTSTAND WORTHY!

My Splats: Middle Grade humor at its finest.
Let me start with the title. Really? What could be more awesome or more enticing then DEAD JED and this cover art? LUV.
So the entire book is written with phrase like cardiovascularly-challenged or meatstick or Dude, that pass was dead-on ... Get it? The voice is great, totally age appropriate and funny. At times, Jed even has a dry sense of humor. Mostly, he pokes at himself. The kid RAWKS! 
Honestly, there were times I wanted to reach inside the pages of the book and squeeze him to death. Well, if he wasn't already dead. Such a sweet boy and refreshing change from either the shy-geek boy or the swank, dark-haired boy. Don't get me wrong, though. Other than the his-heart-doesn't-beat thing, he's a normal middle grader. He daydreams about the future, isn't all that excited about school, is desperate to avoid the main bully on campus, gets annoyed and angry, and, of course, he thinks about girls. But, he figures with a little duct tape and staples he'll be all set. 
Seriously. Limbs fall off every once in a while for a zombie. And this kid comes prepared. I'm chuckling as I'm writing this because it's told in such a silly way, I feel it's appropriate for this age group. No gore or anything of that nature. It's normal for this world of a zombie kid living among humans. 
Jed's view of his world is unique, for obvious reasons. But then again, not so obvious. He's a thinker, a dreamer. And, although he has wished to be 'normal', he comes to see the value in who he is and how he can influence others. That doesn't mean things get any easier for him, just that he gets it.
Through all this hilarity, Craven addresses such issues as bullying, self-esteem, and family. All of which kids of this age group must address. Each is dealt with through plausible scenes; frankly, a few I remember from my own middle grade years - minus the zombie kid. Jed is clever, but genuine and thinks of others. I love how Craven points out that most in Jed's position would scoff at society; instead, Jed embraces people. Even the bully who relentlessly badgers him. He learns to trust other kids, and in turn, teaches them a thing or two about themselves. 

Hey Jed! I'm beyond thrilled you've come to visit. Would you tell the Alleywalkers a bit about you? I'm Jed Rivers. A lot of people call me Dead Jed, which is technically incorrect. I'm actually a zombie, but Undead Jed apparently doesn't roll of the tongue as well. And "Dead Jed" often rolls off the tongue of Robbie, an eighth-grade bully whose mission statement is "Destroy all zombies, even if there is only one." Not that Robbie is hard-working enough to have a mission statement, since he's spent most of his educational career in middle school. Some say he had a driver's license, but again, that implies effort. And the only time he shows effort is when it comes to making my life miserable, as if having limbs fall off is not already a challenge. I really hope Robbie doesn't see this. Oh wait. He hates to read.
Yeah, I met Robbie throughout your pages. Don't think you need to worry about him reading. What's your world like on a daily basis? Being undead is not all that it's cracked up to be. Sure, when you play "Pull my finger," you can scare the heck out of people. While that's fun, it would be nice to shake hands with a girl I really like and not have the hand come off. You know how embarrassing it is? Then you have to put up with all the puns when she gives it back to you. "Looks like you need a hand," or "You are hands-down the weirdest kid I know." Still, being undead is pretty cool. It's a great way conversation starter, and I am the death of any party when I launch into Michael Jackson's "Thriller" zombie dance. And it takes me all of two seconds to get ready for "Dress Like a Zombie" day at school. There hasn't been one yet, but I'm still hoping.
What's been your biggest life challenge. I mean, aside from Robbie? Convincing people zombies mean them no harm. Hollywood has made it so difficult. When World War Z opened, I distributed leaflets outside the theater, a list differentiating zombie myth from zombie fact. For example, zombie myth No. 32 -- our closets contain nothing but shredded, blood-soaked clothes. Fact is, I wash my jeans and T-shirts every week, and pride myself on my fashion sense. And zombie myth No. 15 -- our body odor is that of rotting corpses. No way. I smell like any other teen boy. So it's a combination of rotting corpse and body spray.
Eau'De Jed, isn't that what Robbie said? lol So, Inquiring minds want to know: share your crush? (Remember, I read the book...) Anna. She is this goth girl who is really cute. I'm hoping to ask her to the school dance, but I am still trying to figure out how to do it in a way that does not involve actually talking to her. I know how a face-to-face meeting would go. 

"Hi Anna, would" ... there goes my left leg ... "you like to go" ... right arm falls away ... "to the dance?" ... and the right leg joins the left, leaving me twisting on the ground. And Anna saying, "I'm going to wait for a guy who doesn't fall to pieces when he's around me."

And it will bother me the rest of the day wondering if she meant that as a pun, or merely making an observation?

I know you're serious, sweetheart, but you honestly crack me up! One last question - what do you eat?
I love finger food. Do not confuse that with "fingers as food." Yes, I am a zombie, and yes, I am a carnivore. But I prefer burgers to brains, and I am sensitive enough to stereotypes that I prefer my chicken skinless. Last thing I need showing up on Instagram is a photo of me pulling the skin off a drumstick with my teeth, with the caption, "Flesh-eating zombie on the loose."

There are so many more things I want to ask Jed, but I've kept him here long enough. Feel free to find out more about him in his book by purchasing your own copy or entering this giveaway for a chance to WIN 

• ONE of 3 ebook copies of Dead Jed by Scott Craven (International)
• OR One (1) signed paperback copy of Dead Jed by Scott Craven (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
I'm going extremely LAME on you, all, but ... what would you do if you went to middle school with a zombie? (Hee...let's see what answers we get. I'll share. PROMISE...)

~Meet Arionna Jacobs, lead in A.K. Morgen's NA novel FALL~

So often while watching a movie or reading a book I'll think 'Dang, it would be way cool to meet this character in person.' Granted, there are times I'm thankful I can't. Hannibal Lecter & Voldemort, to name a few. 

Today's visitor is one I'm sure you'll be glad to meet--Arionna Jacobs, of this gorgeous cover.

Title: FALL ~ The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book Two

Author: A.K. Morgen

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Release Date: October 5, 2013

Description: 

How do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?

Those called to stand guard against the end are broken, and Sköll and Hati run free. Now Arionna Jacobs and Dace Matthews face a threat unlike any before. Ragnarök is coming and they aren't strong enough to stop it.

Arionna thought she understood sacrifice, but she never counted on her destiny tearing Dace apart. Ever since she nearly died, he has been consumed with guilt. Now it threatens to turn him into the monster he always feared.

It's up to Arionna to stop him before it's too late, but the path to hell is paved with good intentions, and Dace is hurtling toward self destruction. This time, Arionna isn't sure she can save him from himself. Can she convince him to let the past go, or is her true destiny to sacrifice her heart in exchange for the lives of the people she loves?

Welcome, Arionna. Instead boring the audience with more of me, let's hear what you'd like to say.
My name is Arionna Jacobs. I'm nineteen years old. My mom died a few months ago, so I live in Beebe, Arkansas with my dad. I was a full time student, but I got hurt pretty badly, so I had to withdraw. I will go back someday though. Um... otherwise, I'm just an ordinary girl with an extraordinary and infuriating boyfriend, trying to survive the scary things happening to me and my friends.

I'm so sorry to hear about you mom. Cyber((hug)

How did things get so crazy?

Well, let's see... not too long ago, my world was honestly a little boring. I never got into trouble or did anything questionable, and I liked it that way. Then my mom died, and everything changed.

For starters, I moved in with my dad and met my soul mate, Dace Matthews. Our town is full of shapeshifters, demigods, the human ancestors of Norse gods, gray wolves who adopted me, and a Nephilim. The Norse equivalent of the flipping apocalypse is coming, and Odin thought sending me and Dace to stop it would be a good idea. Of course, neither of us remember this, so we literally just figured all of this out. Neither of us have a clue what we're doing, and the people we care about might be sacrified to bring about Ragnarok. Oh, and a demon wolf tried to murder me. 

*huffs* 


I really miss the days when the world made sense and myths were, well, myths!

Other than the obvious pain over losing your mom, what's been your biggest challenge?
Trying to figure out how to save the world from a giant, angry wolf that can't be killed. If you have a plan, I'd love to hear it.

Uh, yeah. I'm running short on ideas. I'll get back to you.

Care to share a secret aggravation about one of your fellow characters?
Oh, yes! Dace and Ronan never stop arguing. Ever! I kind of want to run them both over with a tractor.

I ...yeah...wouldn't recommend that. Could be a bit messy. Not that I know that from experience or anything. Hmmm... On that note, what's your favorite food?
*laughs* Dace has me hooked on dry Cookie Crisps. He's always munching on them. He makes it so hard to resist sneaking a few!

I'm siding with the Dace-man. Love that cereal! Last probe: What's your creator really like?
Oh, man. I am going to pay for this, but she's a hippy with absolutely no patience for what she sees as "stupid stuff". She wants everyone to love one another and do good things and blah blah blah, and she's always happy and laughing and dancing. But just let someone tick her off, and she can be downright scary! I don't remember there ever being a hippy dictator, but she is totally like that! Oh, and she's completely insane about the most bizarre stuff. But she's really sweet and lovable too.

Sounds like you're rather fond of Adien. Can't ask for more than that. Thank you for leaving your mark in the Alleyway, Arionna. It's been a pleasure.

FADE – The Ragnarök Prophesies: Book One is available now at Amazon US, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and other major retailers.

A.K. Morgen lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband, three dogs, and demonic cat. She has a graduate degree in Criminal Justice and Law, and plans to save the world some day. When she’s not writing, she spends her time teaching her niece and nephews how to cause mischief. You can also find her dancing in the grocery store, building a spork army, and fundraising for nonprofits close to her heart.

You can learn more about Ayden at http://akmorgen.com or by following her on Twitter, Goodreads, or Facebook.

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More Middle Grade! THE SILVER STRAND & Giveaway!

 A middle grade blog tour, a middle grade blog tour... I don't sound too excited about it, do I?

Tour Schedule

GO MG!

Today, I have, not only a middle grade tour with all the bells and whistles and fantabulastic giveaways, but also words from two of the characters. Read on to give yourself a foundation of the story through the blurb and seriously eerie cover, and then get ready to meet Boldrick & Esme of THE SILVER STRAND.




Description: Ever since twelve year old Isabelle Tresdon’s silver strand of hair sprouted, it’s been nothing but trouble: bleeding pink dust and sparking like a firecracker. Refusing to be known as the girl with the freaky, grandma hair, she wishes it never grew and the hair withers and tarnishes. The only problem is, the strand is Isabelle's source of magic, and she can transform particles of energy into matter. It's also her ticket into Mastermind Academy, a secret school inside the earth’s core. Five days remain before the strand drains her magic and life, forcing Isabelle to enter into a deal with two trickster Masterminds to save it. But what she doesn't count on is there is more at stake than just her life. The Silver Strand, a MG Fantasy Adventure for 9-12 year olds, is book 1 in the Mastermind Academy Series.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads

Hello, Boldrick and Esme. I'm so excited you've agreed to join us today. Hope the Alleyway wasn't hard to find?

Esme shakes her head.

Good. Could you tell me, Esme, a bit about your world?

Esme attempts to speak, but Boldrick obviously wants to be heard first and takes center stage.

Good day SA Larsen and friends! *settles on Esme’s lap and extends a paw* Boldrick Cavendar and Madam here. Pleased to meet you.

Esme: *pushes Boldrick’s fluffy, black tail away from her nose* Yeah, yeah, yeah. We recruit new students to Mastermind Academy, a secret school of magic located in the Agartha aka inner earth. For the last fifteen years we also doubled as secret agents, spying on the corrupt Councilors and collecting evidence to foil their plans to betray Agartha.


Ooh, secret agents? How do you prepare?
Boldrick: Delighted you asked! Looking this good takes work, you know. Every morning before breakfast, I use magic to brush my tail 100 times, then wax my whiskers-including my silver one-whiten my teeth and style my fringe with Sassy Bloke Sheer Luster Lacquer for the fussy tom.

Esme: *yawn* Sorry I almost fell asleep. I’m get up at the crack of dawn, gulp down an organic rainbow juice, take the Mesura out for a spin and then tend to the Mastermind Academy.

Mind sharing your biggest challenge in life thus far?
Boldrick: Well right now it is keeping my teaching job at Mastermind Academy! You see, in book 2, I get myself into a spot of bother.

Spot of bother...you seriously crack me up, Boldrick. Esme?


Esme: Training for the annual Agarthan Mesura races was pretty exhausting and mentally draining, but worth it when I won.

Time to turn on the fun. I mean, not that you both aren't really fun already because you are and ... um, what's your biggest quirk?
Esme: Boldrick rubs his fur in seaweed fertilizer to maintain a glossy coat.

Boldrick: Well, if we’re going to point claws then, you stick your nose in people’s gardens and give them unwanted gardening advice! Telos forbid if they have a plant with yellowing leaves.

What's your favorite food and why?
Esme: Boldrick loves sardines. He always eats them before we fly in the Mesura and his breath stinks out the cabin!

Boldrick: I beg your pardon, Madam. The last time you ate your beloved organic homus, the cabin turned into a fire hazard.

Haha! Oops, probably should have swallowed that. Movin' on. What's the real scoop on your creator?
Boldrick: She likes to exaggerate the truth. I for one am not as clumsy and vain as she portrays.

Esme: *rolls her eyes* LJ’s cupboards are cramped full of more herbal tea boxes than a shop’s shelves. She has a magical ability to attract food and stains to her clothing, and regularly goes out to cafes with her shirt on backwards.

How and when do you chat with your creator?
Esme: I get very little time to chat with LJ because bigmouth here natters away to her during the day, leaving me to poke and prod her when she’s trying to sleep.

Boldrick: A thousand pardons, Madam.

No more! No more! I can't stop laughing. You both are killing me! I'm thrilled you've left your signature splats in the Alleyway. And Boldrick, good luck with that spot of bother in book II. ;)

Author L.J. Clarkson One thing you need to know about LJ Clarkson is that she tells BIG lies. She tells everyone that she gave up her career as an Environmental Engineer and Project Manager to write full time. But that's not entirely true. Ten percent of the time she sleeps in. Fifteen percent of her day, she spends surfing the internet, researching for new books and her business. Ok, fine. Two percent is for research. But she's only admitting it so she doesn't end up like Boldrick.

For eighteen point seven five percent of her day, she runs her promotional and support site for authors, called Indicated (www.indicated.com.au). The rest of her time involves writing, reading, watching movies and TV, walking her dogs and falling asleep whenever her boyfriend talks technical computer lingo. Truthfully, she hates early mornings, mondays, grammar (yuck! just ask her poor editor!), broccoli and cleaning. If you would like to drop her and line and let her know what you think of the book, she would love to hear from you. Just not before 8:30am in the morning.

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    Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/9/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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YA/NA Dancers & Divas Stars: Elena & Seb, plus 2 MAJOR Giveaways!!!

Some extra blogging was necessary for me to follow through with all the interviews and reviews I'd committed to, plus be ready for my summer blogging break, so I'm blogging on a Tuesday and ....

... I'm doing a Wistful YA Wednesday. Yes, on a Tuesday, but hey, after a while it all blends together anyway. :)
This next novel series I'm sharing with you is right up my alley. Being a life-long dancer myself, I totally fell into this story. Here's Book I & Book II:  

AMAZON LINK | Author WEBSITE

PASSION and PAIN (Book I in the Dancer & Divas series) by Kathy Petrakis

YA/NA Contemporary Romance

Description: Does passion and desire guarantee success? Can friends really be trusted? Can true love be found beneath lust and deceit? 

These are questions street dancer Elena Martinez faces as she struggles to compete against the most talented students at New York's top Performing Arts High School. Along with her best friend, the carefree and mischievous Sebastien Duval, they are determined to make center stage.

But the singing diva Letitia has other plans. Beautiful, talented and popular, her desire for revenge could ruin everything for Elena and Sebastien. Now, they must fight against prejudice, treachery and deceit as Letitia sets out to destroy Elena's friendships, her romance, her dignity and her dreams. Can Elena win the battle for true love, happiness and success? 

"The perfect package - FAME meets GOSSIP GIRL wrapped up with a touch of GLEE."  

"A compulsive tale of auditions, performances, friendship, first love and life's lessons not yet learned . . . both uplifting and tragic - completely captivating."  

"Entertaining, engaging drama that covers it all - determination, disappointment, success, love, lust, betrayal, heartbreak and forgiveness."

GOODREADS LINK | B&N

BITTER SWEET (Book II in the Dancers and Divers series) by Kathy Petrakis - a YA / NA Contemporary Romance. *Contains mature content - recommended for ages 15+*

Description: Can secrets stay hidden forever? Can people really change? Are some mistakes unforgivable?

As Elena and Sebastian embark on a fresh start, will Letitia keep his secret, or will she use it to destroy them? 

As Veronika falls in love, Frankie is out of rehab and trying to make amends, but will it last for either of them?

Meanwhile, as Anya is torn between loyalty to her Nana and love for Darius, could Darius fall for the new temptress, Rosa? With her stunning looks, her powerful, sensual dancing and her desire to seduce, she has everyone nervous but what secret is she hiding? 

Continue the roller-coaster journey with your favorite characters as they try to survive junior year at the country’s top performing arts school.

“There is drama, stress and anger all wrapped up in a neat bow just waiting to be unleashed.” 

“.. at first, it felt like I was reading a new version of Step Up 2... LOVE... then it merged into a little Glee... then it merged with Center Stage... then in the midst of it all was the Gossip Girl...” 

“It is extremely well written, and the plot is very engaging. I couldn't put it down..” 

BRING ALONG + 1

My Splats: Blood, sweat, tears, and courage is what it takes at a private school for talented kids; oh, and bit of spunk, too.

The story begins during Elena's middle grade years, giving the reader a slice of what made the young adult Elena. Then we travel to an active feel,  a cross between Fame of the '80s and the more recent Step Up series, with the setting an artsy high school, a scholarship, and Elena specializing in hip hip. The author includes tangible elements like Elena's elation during her first day upon seeing the performance stage; as a performer myself, I found these scenes accurate and easily visible.

I enjoyed the regular teenage obstacles such as not fitting in or crushing on the wrong boy that constantly blocked Elena's path to achieving her goals. By far, my favorite roadblock in this story was the villainist. Superb. Seriously, she's a character to despise. And Elena's goals weren't just about becoming a better dancer, but also to extend herself beyond her usual means and comfort zone, to push, explore, and be more.

Ultimately, what continually drew me back to the story was the friendship between Elena and her BFF-boy, Seb. Their relationship was real and, if we're lucky, one that any reader would cherish in real life. Of course, there has to be another complication of Seb having the sweetest crush on Elena since middle grade and her always being too busy to notice. That definitely added another human ingredient and humor; humor which is short-lived. Only after a tragedy, when it's curtain's last call, does Elena realize the true depth of her friendship with Seb. You'll have to read to discover their final steps.

So, on that note, I'm pleased to welcome Elena & Sebastian here!!! I can't wait for the Alleywalkers to meet you both. Being a former dancer myself--well, technically I still dance. Um, just not like I used to professionally--I totally related to your story, especially the setting. Care to tell the Alleywalkers a bit about yourselves?

ELENA: Okay. Hi, I'm Elena Martinez and I'm a student at Montacrue Performing Arts School.

SEB: Scholarship student

ELENA: Yes, I have a dance scholarship for hip hop but I also study acting.

SEB: Like me. I'm her best friend.

ELENA: I haven't finished Seb.

SEB: Sorry.

ELENA: I live in the Bronx and I have an awesome mom who wants me to live my dream.

SEB: Your mom likes me better.

ELENA: And I have annoying best friend who goes to the same school.

SEB: That's me. Sebastien Duval. My dad is French and I have twin younger sisters. I'm an acting student.

ELENA: ‘Cause you love being the center of attention.

SEB: Hell yeah!  I also help to keep Elena calm when she gets a bit....tense.

ELENA: And I make sure Seb keeps focused.

SEB: We're a good team.

ELENA: Yes we are.

Care to give us a little peek into your world?

ELENA: Rehearsal, audition, train, dance, act, study, rehearsal, audition, train, spend time with my friends.

SEB: Alright, there is a lot of work, especially if you're Elena and want to do EVERYTHING. But for me, I don't finding acting hard. I like spending time with my family and friends too. I love being at Montacrue.

ELENA: I do have great friends and they give me perspective.

SEB: It can get really competitive between the students sometimes.

ELENA: That's an understatement. As we know, some people would do anything to get what they want. But I guess that's what it's going to be like in the real world. I'm ambitious, but hurting others to get there..it's not me.

SEB: Not us.

ELENA: No. I don't know what that will mean for the future but I hope I'll work it out before I graduate!

What do you really think of each other? Now remember, I've read book I. *cheeky grin*

ELENA: Hmmm

SEB: Too many things to choose from actually.

ELENA: Ummmm. Does he need to hear this?

SEB: Come on…..

ELENA: He’s easy–going and funny which is completely opposite to me. I stress out but he takes everything as it comes, mostly. And he makes me laugh. Plus he’s considerate. He sees me. He notices things and I really appreciate that. There. Your turn.

SEB: Thank you Elena. Now what can I say about you. Hmm. Elena does have her moments. There have been times I wanted to kill her.

ELENA: Don’t hold back.

SEB: But I have to say her undying loyalty and affection for her friends is truly remarkable. She’s not okay unless her friends are okay and she would do anything to help them, even when they hurt her. Her heart is huge and she sees the best in people. Oh man, she’s crying. You can be annoying too you know.

What's been your biggest challenge in life?
ELENA: Learning to take life one step at a time and not stressing about things.
SEB: Getting Elena to relax.
ELENA: Very funny. (jabs Sebastien) Romance. I mess up every relationship. I am a disaster
SEB: I second that. She's doesn't know a good thing when she has it.
ELENA: Or a bad thing.
SEB: I struggle to get people to take me seriously.
ELENA: It would help if you stopped joking around. (she holds his hand) But I know you're there for me and your friends.

NOTE from the author: I was born and raised in Sydney Australia to Greek immigrant parents. I have always loved the performing arts – dancing, acting and singing but considered them merely hobbies with the expectation of a ‘serious’ professional career. I won an award when I was 11 for a short story competition but didn’t pursue any sort of creative writing at that point. My mother always encouraged me to keep writing but the most I did was entertain friends via emails about my endless travels overseas.

After nearly twenty years in the corporate world, my means of financing my passion for dancing, singing and acting classes, I decided to live in London for an indeterminate amount of time. I do not know why but I found myself with a desire to rekindle my creative writing, the first novel burning in my head. Thus began the birth of the Dancers and Divas Series. It began as one book and has evolved as a trilogy. Since then, I have not been able to stop and have so many ideas constantly begging me to be written.

I am also playing with Play and TV Script formats as alternate way of telling stories. Maybe the Dancers and Divas series will be a TV series one day – it is definitely the right type of story for it! If only my skills could keep up with my brain! I hope you enjoy my books and please feel free to contact me in regards to my writing or to ask any questions. Facebook | Twitter | Mailing List | Goodreads

 Regards Kathy

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Alleywalkers, do you dance???

MMGM~THE TROUBLE with TOADS: Meet main character Bettony of Austerwalia & a Giveaway!

Tour Schedule

MMGM aka Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!! It was created by Shannon Messenger to give middle grade reads the attention they deserve. If you'd like to see more MG books, click HERE to follow other participants. 

A few weeks ago, I was part of my next spotlight's BOOK BLAST, which was hosted by the fabulous Kathy of I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. It was one of the cutest BBs I've ever been part of. SO...I'm extra psyched (Yup, used an '80s clique), to now be part of this book's Blog Tour! I have Bettony, the main character, here to spread some splats about THE TROUBLE with TOADS!

Firstly, here's a reminder of what the books is about!

The Trouble with Toads Once upon a time a young girl wanted revenge. But first, she wanted to be beautiful. Twelve-year-old Bettony has read enough stories that begin with ‘Once upon a time’ to know what happens to the ugly stepsisters at the end, and she’s determined to escape that fate by any means necessary—even by magic. Unfortunately, when it comes to magic, there is no place for regret, refunds, or exchanges. Even if you accidentally turn your older sister into a toad. If Bettony wants her Happily Ever After to end well, she’s going to have to find a way to turn her sister back into a person before their mother finds out she’s been dabbling with magic and grounds her for life. Tracking down the family magic turns out to be surprisingly easy. Now, if only it came with directions . . . THE TROUBLE WITH TOADS (45,000 words) is the first book in a new upper MG series The Secret Stepsister Society. The second book will be released Summer 2013.

Amazon

Hello, Bettony! So excited you came for a visit. Feel free to tell my friends a bit about yourself.

I am Bettony of Austerwalia and more than anything else in the world, I want to sing. Not on street corners or by the hearthside. No, I want to sing in big stately buildings with colored glass and chairs draped with velvet and silk. I want to sing in front of people who appreciate beautiful music. I want to share the joy of my song.

Unfortunately, that means I have to be beautiful. Or, barring that, pretty at the very least. Because, you see, no matter what my Manners Mistress says, people do judge you by how you look. If looks weren't that important, then why does the prince or hero always search for the fairest in the land? Why are all the princesses or deserving peasant girls in the stories beautiful? Why, when I sing, are most people unable to see beyond the limp-haired, whey-faced girl and into the beauty of the song? Why are all the wicked people in the tales ugly?

Fortunately, my grandmother is handy with magic . . .

I'd say that does sound fortunate for you.

Let's do a fun fact, just because. What's your favorite ice cream and why?

I'm not sure what "ice cream" is, but it sounds rather chilly. My favorite treat in all the world are those little pastries with cream in the middle and spun sugar roses on top. They're almost too beautiful to eat, but when you do, the pastry is buttery and flaky and everything melts in your mouth in a kind of confectionary bliss that almost rivals the most beautiful of arias.

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be and why?

I would sing for the king. There's no greater honor for a singer than to be invited to be one of the royal madrigals. I would study with the best teachers and be allowed to travel all over the land--and possibly to other countries. There is so much about singing I want to learn, and the palace would be the best place to learn it in.

Yeah, I'd like to sing too. But it would probably be for moose. There are no kings where I live. 

'K, I lied. Another fun fact: Any other strange food or beverage?

So many are fond of tea, but I prefer hot water with honey. Tea tastes too much like drinking dead things no matter how much sugar you put in it, but serving tea is the highlight of my sister Cadmilla's day so I go along with it.

If you were honest, what is your biggest quirk?

Having a toad for a sister. But prior to that little . . . mishap, having a witch for a grandmother. Or a grandmother for a witch. In general, I'm not very fond of sweets, especially after the stories I've heard of Grandmother's gingerbread and watching her toffee peel itself off of the furniture (who knew magic could be so explosive?) and back into the toffee tins. It was unsettling to say the least.

Sorry. That answer just made me chuckle. Got a mental image of my little brother as a toad. Haha!

What's your world really like.

My world is like any other, I suppose. Most witches keep a low profile and magic is fairly common, although there are some--like my mother--who want nothing to do with it. Princes and heroes kill all manner of dragons and Magical Pestilences, or so I've heard. Neither Mother nor my Manners Mistress allow much for exciting current events and history is deadly boring.

My family is fortunate enough to have a fairy godmother, although she's trapped in a mirror as some sort of fairy godmother-type punishment. As such, she's good at lecturing and tattling but falls short when it comes to providing beautiful gowns and high ranking marriage-type opportunities.

Favorite type of music? Song that moves you all sappy?

I love arias. There's something so very bird-like about them. When I'm singing or listening to one, I feel my very essence spread its wings and look to the sky. Arias are the only way besides magic that people are able to fly and reach for things that are so impossibly high. But, like all things that begin on the ground, the flight is only a moment of triumph before the song returns to the land. But that moment is everything.

Care to share a secret crush, feeling, or aggravation about one of your fellow characters?

Most things are fairly aggravating when you're an ugly stepsister, but the two biggest things would be my sister Cadmilla and my stepsister Désire.

Cadmilla is all Wide Gestures and Dramatic Flair. At her heart, she's a dreamer or dreams instead of a doer of dreams. She also holds grudges, even when the mistake was completely on accident and not really my--er--anybody's fault. And it's only gotten worse now that she's a toad. She wants me to fix everything, even though I have no idea how to begin, and yet she still sees and treats me like a child. It would be much simpler if she could make up her mind and have her Dramatic Moment and leave me in peace to figure out how to turn her back into a human.

As for my stepsister Désire, she's that sort of perfection that's like fork tines scraped across your teeth. She's beautiful and lovely, good-tempered, sweet . . . Let me put it this way: her biggest flaw is that she doesn't have any. While perfection is all well and good, it isn't so easy to live with--especially when everyone compares you to it. Her. And she's so busy being perfect that she comes to tea when we usually only have two--just Cadmilla and me--and, well, it would have worked out better for everyone if she'd chosen to come to tea some other time. Like yesterday or tomorrow. Or never.

*sigh*

I know I'm really sounding like an ugly stepsister. It's just hard to see everything come so easily to her when things don't for Caddy and me.

What's been your biggest life challenge?

Having a toad for a sister. I thought life was difficult before, but it's been a thousand times harder with Caddy in toad form. Especially since Grandmother won't help--magic has no room for regrets, refunds, or returns--and Mother bartered off the family magic.

Life was a lot simpler when all I wanted was to sing.

Give it up. What's your creator REALLY like? 

*how to put this nicely*

Have you ever tried to herd a goat? Or cats? In the rain? While wearing a blindfold? It's like that, only harder. I know she tries, but really! Just when things start to get interesting, she turns off the computer. Something about adult responsibilities and children. Not to mention that she takes perverse pleasure in making things more difficult for me. Would it really have killed her to leave Caddy out of it--or at least toadless? Or given me a fairy godmother that could actually be of use?

I suppose it could be worse, but she's left me hanging for the last week. If she doesn't come back soon, I might have to take some Drastic Measures . . .

I can't tell you how much fun this was for me, Bettony. Thank you for coming. Best of luck...um...with the whole useful fairy godmother thing. :)

Author Danyelle Leafty writes upper MG and YA fantasy, and is the author of THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA series. Danyelle has always loved fairy tales, and prefers stories where someone gets eaten, or at the very least, transmogrified. Much of her inspiration has come from fairy tales, because as G.K. Chesterton so aptly states, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." In her spare time, she collects dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers. She also collects books, and one day hopes to make a house out of them. She enjoys learning languages, fiddling with her harp, and perfecting the fine art of mothering. (It's a lot like trying to herd chickens during a lightning storm while a goat stampede is going on.) One of her heroes is Albert Einstein, particularly for the following quote: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The most important thing is not to stop questioning."

~Collector of dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers~ 

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Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/28/13

 a Rafflecopter giveaway
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $25 US.  

So Alleywalkers, what'dya think? Any siblings you could picture as a toad?