Eyecandy Monday: Mathias Sutton from The Life and Death of Lily Drake by T. Michelle Nelson12/31/2012
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy! The Life and Death of Lily Drake features two hot guys each trying to capture Lily's heart. Mathias Sutton is the vampire who first lays eyes on Lily and has been watching her for a long time. Will he be the one who wins her heart? EXCERPT:Mathias Sutton became hopeful as Lily smiled at him. His plan was turning out much better than he had anticipated, but only because she thought he was someone named Terry. Struggling with the decision to correct her or to go along with the charade of being mistaken for someone else, Mathias concluded that this pleasant interaction might make his job for the night easier. He wouldn’t lie, but a simple omission of his true identity couldn’t hurt anything for the moment. “Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes, just let me lock up.” Mathias walked Lily to his car and opened the door for her. She gave him a warm smile as she sat and smoothed out her skirt. The woman was even more beautiful up close. He had admired her for years, but he’d never experienced this side of her. That exquisite smile of hers was meant for him, not someone else. He hoped this time things would be different, that he could finally have everything that had eluded him for more than five hundred years. She would choose to stay with him, and all his long-standing dreams would come to fruition. “So where are we headed?” Lily inquired. “If you don’t mind, I really need to stop by my house first.” Mathias had already begun driving in that direction. Everyone would be waiting for their arrival, and most likely would be surprised to see Lily walk in of her own volition. This whole mistaken-identity thing would work well after all. “Well, actually, I do mind. I was under the impression we were going out on a date. I’ll admit the suit, the car, it’s all very impressive, but you’ve got the wrong gal if you’re looking for some one-night stand.” Taken aback by her assumption, Mathias pulled the car over to the side of the road. He didn’t want to upset her, and his goal was certainly not to use her and throw her away. She had been correct, however, in assuming he had an ulterior motive for going to his house. The others could wait; he might never have this chance again to be so close to her and enjoy her company. What could it hurt? He’d take her out. “I’m so sorry I gave you that impression. A one-night stand certainly isn’t my intention. You’re right, let’s go to dinner.” The Cove, Mount Vernon’s most celebrated restaurant, would be the obvious choice for a romantic dinner date. Not that Mount Vernon had tons of choices for fine dining, but The Cove could hold its own against any haute cuisine establishment in a much larger city. Nestled downtown in the historic district, the elegant century-old building towered above the quaint little town. She was clearly pleased as they pulled up to the parking valet. “Is this good?” Mathias asked. “My favorite, thanks.” “Shall we?” As the valet drove off with the car, he extended his arm to her. “We don’t have a reservation, do we?” Lily would have no idea that Mathias needed no reservation for a private table upstairs in the banquet room typically reserved for weddings and dinner theatre. Being a bachelor for five hundred years had done nothing for his cooking skills, so he frequented The Cove often. The special table upstairs, kept reserved for him alone, gave Mathias the respite he often needed. He flashed her his best grin. “I don’t think it will be a problem.” Two other couples were waiting for a table when Lily and Mathias walked into the foyer of the restaurant. Megan, the weeknight reservation girl, interrupted the man at her podium, who was inquiring about the wait time. Before she could properly greet Mathias, and subsequently call him by a last name that wasn’t Terry’s, he asked, “Do you have room for us upstairs this evening, Megan?” “Of course, if you’ll follow me.” Relieved she hadn’t blown his cover, Mathias turned to smile at Lily and catch a glimpse of what appeared to be surprise. He knew she wouldn’t be terribly impressed with the restaurant alone. She brought her son here to eat from time to time. Every week they went out on a special mother-son date night. She loved her boy dearly and took pride in being a wonderful mother. Mathias had always prized that trait in her. “Would you like a menu?” “Oh no, I have a favorite. My son loves it here. We try to come every few months.” “Would you like some wine?” “Sure, but I only drink red.” He already knew that about her. When she seemed to have a hard day at work, she’d sit outside on her deck and have a glass. He knew almost everything about the woman, and yet she thought him to be someone named Terry. “Good. That will go well with the big steak I’m ordering.” After a couple of glasses of wine as they waited for their entrees, Mathias began to wonder if he had made a mistake by not taking her directly to the house. She asked entirely too many questions regarding this Terry person, and he had no answers. Obviously, she had never met the man or she would have known what he looked like, and she didn’t seem to know very much about him. Mathias suspected it to be a blind date perpetrated by her friend, Angie Travis. The Travis woman was the only person he’d ever seen Lily hang around with outside of work, and he’d overheard a few conversations between the two. Angie pushed relentlessly when it came to finding someone for her friend. “Enough about me, Lily. Tell me about you.” “Well, not much to say. I’m a graphic designer, a single mom, divorced. That’s about it. I’m really boring. I’d rather hear about you. Tell me about your business, Terry.” Mathias paused. He was many things, at times even a killer, but he would not let himself become a liar to the woman he’d adored for so long. As Lily had grown, his job had become so much more. He’d begun admiring her and eventually caring for her. He’d selfishly wanted to spend time with Lily, but not if it meant he couldn’t be himself. He did the only thing he could think of: he abruptly excused himself from the table. Mathias knew the others wouldn’t be happy with his spur-of-the-moment decision to take Lily out to dinner. The plan had been to gently knock her out with his otherworldly powers, return with her to his mansion, and explain her birthright. They would all be upset, except possibly Val. His cousin, a habitual rule-breaker especially where the ladies were concerned, would likely understand. That trait, which normally annoyed Mathias, would lend him an ally this evening. Don't you love a man who is determined to get what he wants? Mathias has had his heart set on Lily for years. Can he be the man she wants and needs? Read The Life and Death of Lily Drake to find out! Even though Christmas is over, we decided to keep the celebration alive by asking the Inkspell authors about their favorite holiday present. Reading about the authors really gives you an insight into their lives and their stories! What do you think? Which is your favorite gift and why? Mark Jay Harris: Sleep in the afternoon after the kids have opened their presents. Santa's pretty tuckered out by that time, and sleep makes a wonderful gift! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rebecca Hart: The best Christmas gift I ever received was when I was either a junior or senior in high school. As the oldest of four children, I understood better than my siblings the "price" of Christmas for a large family. I thought I would hedge my bets for the one thing I wanted that year -- new skis -- by not asking for another thing that Christmas. I had figured, one gift request -- they gotta fill it, right? Well, at the end of the morning of opening gifts, I had all sorts of new gear -- new ski jacket, gloves, hats, etc. -- but no skis. I put on my happy face, knowing deep down the skis, boots and poles were just too expensive for my poor parents to be able to buy while still providing a Christmas to my sisters and brothers. My mother had other plans. She sent me into the bathroom to clean up because "there is no way I am going to shower in that nasty thing on Christmas day." So I went and dutifully cleaned up the bathroom -- grumbling the whole time about how the oldest always gets a raw deal. I grumbled until I returned to the living room to find the skis I had wanted pulled up from where they had been hiding behind our couch. The shock on my face must have been priceless. I spent close to the next 30 minutes bawling my eyes out, amazed at what my parents had done for me, knowing the sacrifices that must have been necessary for them to afford all the ski stuff they got for me. Like they always have, somehow, my parents managed to make Christmas perfect. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Annabelle Blume: Of course, I love books. It's always wonderful to get books, gift certificates for books, or anything even remotely related to books as a Christmas present. But as a mom, the best gifts are always how your children experience the holidays. My kids (3,6, and 8) have this unusual tradition of wrapping up things from around the house and giving them to each other for Christmas. They usually pick toys they've had for years. It's odd, and I don't know where they got the idea, but it's been going on for a few years now and I think it's hilarious. Watching them go though this gift exchange is undoubtedly my favorite gift of Christmas. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Majanka Verstraete: My favorite Christmas present would be a surprise romantic trip to a castle or monastery turned into a hotel. I saw something like that while I was browsing yesterday and I thought it must be wonderful to receive a present like that under the Christmas tree. Besides that, of course my answer would be books. I love books in all shapes and forms, and a bookish Christmas present always makes my day! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Deb Peterson: This one is easy. My most favorite Christmas present of all time is my sister! As I went to bed on that particular Christmas Eve I was surrounded by three brothers. Two that were older than me, and one a few years younger. I remember wanting a baby sister more than anything! And although our baby was supposed to arrive in January, I remember my father coming into my bedroom on that early, early Christmas morning (so early it was still dark. He flipped on the light and with a big smile on his face, said, "Merry Christmas, Deb! You have a brand new baby sister!" We've been the best of friends ever since! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Stephanie Keyes: When it comes to Christmas, my favorite Christmas present is having everyone at home and together for the holiday. Over the past couple of years, there have been a lot of changes at our Christmas dinner. We lost some of our numbers, then added a few. Some of us have moved away. Each of these things has changed our family's dynamic. So for me, having everyone together, in one place…that's easily, the very best gift I could ever hope for. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ T. Michelle Nelson: My favorite Christmas present is my very first one. I was adopted in October of 1974 at six weeks old. My mom wanted to go Christmas shopping and my dad needed to go get some motor oil or some other manly type thing and had no interest in going with my mom to get presents for me. While they were out getting Dad's manly purchases, my mother no doubt pitched a fit about not having their new baby any gifts so when Dad came out of the store he had bought me this plastic fish. 38 years later and I still have it, maybe a little worse for wear, but it is my most prized possession. Everyone at Inkspell Publishing hopes that you had a wonderful holiday and received your heart's desire. We'd love to hear what your favorite gift was and why!Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy! Character Name: Diana Keller Age: 15 Hair: Brown Eyes: Blue Height: 5’5" Distinguishing features: Big blue eyes Most resembles: young Claire Danes Teaser: Despite her growing problems, Diana's unable to resist Jesse, even when he threatens all her plans. Character Name: Jesse Age: 16 Hair: Short,light brown Eyes: Dark brown Height: 6' 0" Distinguishing features: Strong hands, deep-set eyes Most resembles: young Heath Ledger Teaser: Jesse's the new kid at Snowden High running from his past by dedicating himself to wrestling ... and Diana. Will Diana find a way to resist Jessie or will he be her forever love? Lily Drake is our vampire queen. She's recently married and facing her first Christmas in her new home with her husband and his vampire family. You would think that life would be easier but... well.. let's have her share! The Chapman Mansion during the holidays is a place like no other. Imagine a giant gray stone house with green wreaths and huge red velvet bows hanging from every entrance and window. Twinkle lights wrap every tree and shrub. The aroma of cinnamon and sugar waft from the kitchen as fresh baked cookies and goodies emerge from the ovens. Mistletoe hangs from strategic locations and holiday music fills the air. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Yet, here is the reality. Every time I pass by the kitchen I get a cookie shoved into my mouth by Rose. “Do you like this one better than the last?” She questions. No, not questions. Interrogates. My son, Keaton, put her in charge of the treats he is signed up to provide for his school Christmas party and she is taking the job entirely too seriously. Mathias blinds me with constant camera flashes, because apparently “this is our first Christmas at the mansion and we will want to make these memories last.” Val’s idea of helping me relieve stress is by jumping out of various hiding spots around the house and helping me practice sneak attacks. I’ve given him two shiners and busted his lip already. Thank goodness he heals almost immediately. Or not. I almost wish he’d have to wear one of those shiners for a few days and maybe he’d be reminded that I’ve said at least a dozen times that I don’t enjoy him jumping out at me! And, my not-so-friendly ghost, Elizabeth, always decides to pop in at the most inopportune moments. For example, the last time Val jumped out at me and I busted his lip. For a good half hour I had to endure a lecture from her on acting ladylike and proper etiquette. Right now Keaton is loudly playing drums to the songs for the Christmas program at school, and although I am so proud of my very talented son, the incessant drumming is pushing some homicidal urges to the surface. The next time Val jumps out at me, or Rose shoves a cookie in my mouth or Mathias blinds me, it’s entirely possible I may snap. I love my family. I love my life, but let me be the first to tell you - a vampire Christmas is no less stressful than a human one. ~~ Love Lily If you haven't read how Lily got herself into this situation, make sure you check out her story in The Life and Death of Lily Drake available at the Inkspell Store. Also stop by T. Michelle Nelson's blog for more information on Lily's life and death!
Another Beautiful Cover! Another Book to Desire!"Lovely, evocative, painful and joyful all in one...much like high school!" Jenny Lawson- author of Let's Pretend This Never Happened and TheBloggess.com. The Obvious Game is a story that will touch the heart of each reader as they experience the painful reminders of high school and dealing with the hardest part of growing up--learning to accept yourself. Diane must face her biggest fears as she deals with her mother's illness and her first love. “Everyone trusted me back then. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice at first.” Praise for The Obvious Game: “I couldn’t put down The Obvious Game. Arens perfectly captures the hunger, pain and uncertainty of adolescence.” -- Ann Napolitano, author of A GOOD HARD LOOK and WITHIN ARM'S REACH "THE OBVIOUS GAME is a fearless, honest, and intense look into the psychology of anorexia. The characters—especially Diana--are so natural and emotionally authentic that you’ll find yourself yelling at the page even as you’re compelled to turn it." -- Coert Voorhees, author of LUCKY FOOLS and THE BROTHERS TORRES "Let’s be clear about one thing: there’s nothing obvious about The Obvious Game. Arens has written a moving, sometimes heart-breaking story about one girl’s attempt to control the uncontrollable. You can’t help but relate to Diana and her struggles as you delve into this gem of a novel." -- Risa Green, author of THE SECRET SOCIETY OF THE PINK CRYSTAL BALL Book Information: Publisher: Inkspell Publishing Release Date: Feb 7th, 2013 ISBN: 978-0-9856562-7-0 (ebook), 978-0-9856562-8-7 (Paperback) Paperback Price: $13.99 E-book: $4.99 To be available at all major online outlets: Amazon, B&N, The Book Depository Pre-order now at Inkspell Publishing Website at a special discount of 30% on both paperback and ebook! About The Author: Rita Arens is the author of The Obvious Game and the editor of the award-winning parenting anthology Sleep Is for the Weak. She writes the popular blog Surrender, Dorothy (www.surrenderdorothyblog.com) and lives in Kansas City with her husband and daughter. The Obvious Game is her first young adult novel. She is at work on a second. Rita has been a featured speaker at BlogHer 2012, BEA Bloggers Conference 2012, BlogHer Writers 2011, BlogHer 2011, Blissdom 2011, Alt Summit 2010, BlogHer 2010, BlogHer 2008 and BlogHer 2009, the 2008 Kansas City Literary Festival and 2009 Chicks Who Click and appeared on the Walt Bodine Show in 2008. She’s been quoted by Bloomberg Businessweek, The Associated Press, Forbes Woman, the Wall Street Journal, Businessweek and Businessweek Online and featured in Breathe magazine, Get Your Biz Savvy, The Kansas City Star (archived material available on request), Today Moms (Today Show blog) and Ink KC. Website/blog: http://www.surrenderdorothyblog.com or http://www.ritaarens.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritaarens Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.arens BlogHer: http://www.blogher.com/member/rita-arens LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=4048495&trk=tab_pro Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/ritajarens/ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002KRLEHE Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1371209.Rita_Arens Do you want to get a copy of The Obvious Game before anyone else? Win a print copy or e-book copy of The Obvious Game. Contest open only to US, UK and Canadian residents. Enter below! Inkspell Ambassador Hosts
Thank you!! http://monaliz-mindreading.blogspot.com http://mrbookwonder.tumblr.com http://www.readergirlsblog.com http://bookmavenpicks.wordpress.com http://mnkbooklife.blogspot.com http://thelifeofanasiandreamer.wordpress.com/ http://read-a-holicz.blogpot.com http://LittleBookStar.wordpress.com http://ahandfulofconfetti.wordpress.com/ www.workadayreads.com http://overflowingbookshelves.com http://www.paranormalopinion.blogspot.com/ http://mystorywithyouandher.blogspot.com books.4ish.net http://momwithakindle.blogspot.com www.bookwormsavenue.blogspot.com http://myescape84.blogspot.com http://readingwithanacrasia.blogspot.com http://raelori.blogspot.com http://www.neverendingstoriesbookblog.com/ http://enchantingreads7.blogspot.com/ www.bookmarkbelles.com http://StressedRach.co.uk http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.co.uk/ www.avidreadermusings.com http://cecereadandwrite.blogspot.com http://mylibraryinthemaking.blogspot.com http://melissaseclecticbookshelf.blogspot.com http://selena-lost-in-thought.blogspot.com http://www.inbetweenwritingandreading.blogspot.com/ http://www.alwaysyaatheart.blogspot.com http://sikbookreviews.blogspot.ca http://to-procrastinate@hotmail.com http://3psinapod.org http://www.living-fictitiously.blogspot.com Www.beccabookbug.blogspot.co.uk http://bookshelfconfessions.blogspot.com/ sonythebooklover.com lisavoisin.wordpress.com www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com http://bookloversity.wordpress.com madbookreader.blogspot.com http://andisyoungadult.blogspot.com http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com http://pinkfluffyhearts.blogspot.com/ http://www.leisurereads.com http://sarahelizabethsbookshelf.blogspot.co.uk/ http://andreaheltsley.blogspot.com http://www.lettersinsideout.net http://www.paperbookprincess.blogspot.ca/ http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com http://we-do-write.blogspot.com http://anateasbookshelf.blogspot.com/ www.FallingforYA.blogspot.com http://readingunderthewillowtree.blogspot.co.uk/ www.fictitiousmusings.com http://lustforstories.blogspot.ca/ http://fullmoonbites.blogspot.com/ http://bookluvrshaven.blogspot.ca/ http://www.ohchrys.blogspot.com http://reviewingshelf.wordpress.com http://doctorsnotes-shy.blogpot.com http://www.bookishlydevoted.blogspot.com http://www.vanessaleighwrites.blogspot.com http://readingcave.blogspot.com/ http://baawisdombooks.blogspot.co.uk/ http://booksbycenteno.com http://www.moosubi.blogspot.com http://readreviewsmileblog.blogspot.com/ http://pnrurbanfantasyreviews.blogspot.com http://booksdownmypillow.blogspot.com http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com www.thereadiacs.com http://raindropreads.blogspot.com http://openthepage.blogspot.com/ http://booksiview.com/ http://thekookybookworm.blogspot.com/ Wednesdays are the middle of the week. We're halfway between mundane Monday and fun Friday. At Inkspell we like to use Wednesdays to find out a little more about our authors and showcase their more fun and quirky sides. After all, authors are like the rest of the world, only they have conversations with the voices in their heads. This week, we asked our authors about their favorite holiday songs. These are the songs that inspire us and rejuvenate us over the holidays. These are the songs that you'll catch us humming or tapping our feet to. What songs of the holiday season are your favorites and why? Deb Peterson: I have two songs that I equally favor, "Silent Night" and "O' Holy Night." I'm not exactly sure why, but every time I hear these songs I recall huge snowflakes dancing gracefully to the ground beneath a darkened sky. I see pine trees with snow-covered branches and colored lights throughout the neighborhood where I spent my early childhood. Perhaps carolers came to the door and sang them, or maybe I heard them at one of the Christmas concerts we attended. Regardless of the reason, these two songs can fill me with the Christmas spirit faster than any other. ******************************************************************************************************************** Aubrie Dionne: I love the really solemn and reverent holiday songs like Oh Holy Night, Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and Greensleeves. I think they set the perfect mood for Christmas and reflection during the holiday season. I also like some of the jazzy ones, too, like Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire and White Christmas. Being a classical musician, I love the Nutcracker Suite and have played it many a time- although the flute solos are some of the hardest I've ever played! Thanks a lot, Tchaikovsky. Happy Holidays to everyone at Inkspell! Rita Arens: I like "Angels We Have Heard on High," because I was so proud of myself when I was able to hold the chorus. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rebecca Hart: My favorite holiday song is Carol of the Bells by Trans Siberian Orchestra. I habour a secret love of classical music and the emotion conveyed by their heavy metal influences really rev me up for the holidays. My own version of head banging holiday tunage, I guess -- always gets me in the mood for Christmas. Well, Carol of the Bells and eggnog...gotta have eggnog. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Sasha Summers: When I was growing up, Christmas was HUGE in my house – we dressed up, had a fancy meal, and went to Midnight Mass as a family. And one of my favorite parts of Midnight Mass was when we lit candles and sang Silent Night. I felt like a grow-up for getting to hold my own candle – which was cool – but I also felt such emotion when the church was illuminated by candlelight. Even when I was little, I couldn’t stop the tears that filled my eyes. I always thought about Mary and Joseph, and how exhausted they must be – how terrified they must have felt – even knowing they were chosen to do something so very important. And I felt so peaceful and thankful as we sang those beautiful lyrics. So, I have to say, Silent Night! This is an especially good version - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pY3LlB7Pxc Have a blessed and peaceful holiday! T. Michelle Nelson:
Admittedly, I’m not the biggest Christmas person. I sort of despise shopping and the whole snowy weather thing just gives me the shining. I much prefer Halloween. I wouldn’t call myself a total Grinch though. There are a few holiday songs that put me in the right state of mind for the season. A Christmas staple in my house is the classic, “A Twisted Christmas” by Twisted Sister. Dee Snider’s interpretation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” called “A Heavy Metal Christmas” always makes me smile. There’s no partridges in pear trees in this song, instead it’s a tattoo of Ozzy. Gotta love that! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Stephanie Keyes: One of my favorite holiday songs is I Want A hippopotamus For Christmas, which was sung by Gayla Peevey. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7xjjlUbpJ4 Never heard of it? You're probably not alone. They started playing it on the radio about ten years ago here and I loved it immediately. There's something about the joyous march that goes along with it. It celebrates everything exciting about Christmas for kids, particularly the possibilities. Remember when you were a kid and you thought that anything was possible? When I listen to this song, I remember that time. Happy holidays, folks? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Majanka Verstraete: One of my favorite holiday songs is "All I want for Christmas is you" by Mariah Carey. It may not be an absolute classic, but I love Mariah's voice, and how delicate it sounds when she sings. Definitely one of my favorites. Now that you've heard some of ours, we'd love to hear some of yours. And if you can't get that song out of your head, don't worry, just enjoy the holiday spirit! Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy! EXCERPT:
Beckett pretended not to watch me, peeking up from his holo-tab from time to time. I hadn’t done anything interesting in the hours that passed and I took great satisfaction in knowing he needed to occupy himself with the electronic tethers of technology while I sat content with the freedom of the day. In the afternoon, music filled the uncomfortable space between us. I scanned through hundreds of songs on his holo-tab, eventually selecting a list of amazing tunes from times gone by. We found common ground in our love for Green Age sounds made with instruments as opposed to the digital contortion known as music in the modern world. “How did you find this music? I thought only eccentric old citizens longing for the Green Age still listened to this,” I teased him, his preference for the Green Age clear in everything in his home from the pillows to the color on the walls. Actually, the fact that he had any color on the walls at all was unusual for a home in the Collective. Citizens preferred modern, industrial materials and utilitarian design. No stylization, no personality, and certainly no fluffy green pillows and golden-hued walls. “Everything is available in digi-file; you just have to know where to look for it.” He smirked, hinting at some secret digital knowledge. “You also need one of these special issue tablets from the Affinity, but, you know, no big deal.” I laughed at my own sarcasm and stuck my tongue out at him. Beckett tried to look annoyed but his face resembled that of an adult trying not to entertain the smart remarks of a petulant child. I lounged on the sofa while he fitted himself into the far corner where his mattress met the wall. Music floated all around us, bouncing off the walls and making the air heavy with beautiful color and emotion. One of the songs on the list featured a gorgeous falsetto male voice layered on top of thunderous drums and a driving bass guitar. I closed my eyes and let the music completely sweep me away. Beckett noticed my abandon and increased the volume so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. Music came blaring through the speakers expertly placed throughout the cabin. I’d never been immersed in sound like that before. Even in my youth, I hadn’t experienced the consumption of my mind and body within melody. Everything outside of this room, these four walls, everything waiting for me over the mountain and deep in the forest, it all disappeared. All that I could think or feel was the rhythm in the music. My heart followed the sultry pace of the bass and my chest constricted with the painful lyrics bleeding out of the soulful singer. The song ended and I shot up from my prone position, finding Beckett smiling at me from across the room as the beginning notes of the same decadent music filled the cabin again. I returned a grateful smile and sank back into the overstuffed cushions beneath me. As I lay, swept away in the power of the song, I felt Beckett watching me. I opened my eyes and met his in a gratuitous appraisal of my body, stretched out as if it were on display for him. Our exchange felt right, not dirty or salacious at all, just one person enjoying the vision of another person in complete physical and emotional rapture. We were happy there together, in that moment. As the last note sounded, I immediately wished I could hear it again. If I could have bottled the feeling of that song, of our shared experience of pure bliss, I would have in a second. The remainder of the day, Beckett and I let the bleat of the horns, the sigh of the strings, and the pounding of the percussion fill up all the empty space around us. Will Cassie and Beckett give into the smoldering passion that is sizzling between them? Can they afford to since they are on different sides of the battle over personal rights? If you love a thought-provoking, passionate science fiction story, you are going to love Frozen Heart! Do you love having a paperback book in your hands, the way the pages turn crisply? Do you love the smell of a new book, the smell of the ink? Do you enjoy collecting signed books by your favorite authors?
Inkspell is offering signed copies of Hollywood Ever After or Hollywood Holiday (Books one and two of the Red Carpet Series) for anyone who purchases a print copy of either book today on our store site. The Red Carpet Series are stories that will make you fall in deeply love with the lives of Hollywood's "A-list" celebs and the people who fall for them. Due to the nature of the promotion, there will be a delay in the shipping. Here is what people are saying about The Red Carpet Series: "If you’re looking for something funny, something sweet, heartbreaking and steamy, Hollywood Holiday might just be it." Elle (Ligia) - Goodreads. "Ms. Summers conveyed the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and all its trappings in a realistic manner as well as the serenity of London. The scenery took on a life of its own and I felt like a part of the action. The business side of Hollywood with all its positives and negatives was well done and was another issue this new couple had to cope with and was handled in a mature way." Jody- Goodreads. "Wow. This is what came to mind, after I finished Sasha Summer's beautiful story. I want to mention first that I love to connect with the characters, and see how they can be relatable to the readers, and to me there were relatable issues here." Marissa Aldana - Goodreads. Stop by to purchase your special signed book today! This is a limited time purchase so be sure to get your copy today! You know you want one or both! And at only $13.99 each, they're sure to be a collector's item! http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/store.html Recently there has been a big discussion about book covers around the water cooler. In the past, the bodice rippers were often hidden because of the indecency of the characters on the cover. Today covers have come under fire not because of the content but whether or not the people had heads or if they were just torsos. There are many different blogs where people vote on the cover that they like best. Inkspell decided to ask our authors for their take on the Cover Wars. We want to know what they like in a cover and what they don't like. Brooke Moss: I think that a good book cover design is pivotal to the success of a book! I enjoy books that are decorated with colorful, whimsical, and intricate designs; and I like for them to be a clear expression of what the content of the book is. I despise the books that have computer generated people on them. I think real models are always best. And fun, creative fonts are a must. When I saw the cover for my book, The Carny, I almost fell out of my chair. It was so, incredibly gorgeous...and it so very clearly represented what was inside the book--it was perfect. I think that authors should always be allowed to have a say in their covers, and that book covers should always bring out the very best in that author's story. Anyone who says a cover doesn't matter is lying. It is the first impression a reader has of your work, and can either make or break your chances at sharing your story with that reader. Mark Harris: You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but you can't escape the allure of a really intriguing book cover either. I think the more mysterious the cover the better. The more it piques intrigue the more likely one is to wonder what it is about and pick it up and read the back cover. Of course it depends on the genre. Romance books aren't going to necessarily want to go in that direction. Mystery, thrillers, paranormal, YA, on the other hand want to make people ask themselves, "What exactly is that book all about?" "Why is that on the cover?" "What does that picture represent?" Kristy Centeno: Book Covers by far are one of my favorite things about a book. I can’t possibly count the number of times I’ve been induced to buy a book by the cover alone. My thoughts about covers are simple. I, personally, used to believe that a cover with real people was better than those with cartoonish figurines. However, as time has passed and technology grown, I’ve changed my mind about this debatable subject. Although I still very much prefer covers with real men and/or women in the front, there are times I will look to others that are different in order to find a good read. My preferences vary also. I enjoy covers with real people, beautiful backgrounds, or even with some art thrown in the mix, which show with pictures what the story is about. There’s nothing more alluring than a cover that entices you to open up the book and find out what it’s about. Jill Kaelin: I'm usually drawn towards the darker book covers, where less is more kind of thing. I like the mystery and intrigue it offers. A glossy finish with high contrast colors on the cover is a nice touch, also. Having people on the cover doesn't draw my attention as much as say a unique object or design, but I have bought books with people on them. I'm not too picky. I think there's a lot to be said about judging a book by its cover and I try not to do that, but I admit I often find myself choosing what catches my eye. Lisa Voisin: What’s in a cover? I’m a huge fan of book covers. Going to the book store is like a trip to a mini art museum. I know the old idiom “never judge a book by its cover”, but covers are a big part of what makes shopping for books so fun. As an author of YA fiction, I’m also a fan of those types of covers. I love the dramatic colors and exotic font scripts, the pretty dresses, the moody backgrounds. There are some amazing artists devoting themselves to cover art, and I must say I’m really impressed with what’s coming out these days. I’m a big fan of seeing a person on the cover with a scenic background. In young adult fiction there are several trends in book covers that feature a person. Some authors prefer the cover art not show their face, so that readers can come up with their own ideas of what the characters look like. Apparently, this is quite a trend in YA book covers. I’m not adverse to this. The other trend is to show the character’s back. This also allows for mystery, and lets the reader put a face on the character. Another trend is the main character, presumably, wearing a pretty dress and a melancholy expression (called ‘The Mope’). For a fun list of young adult book cover trends featuring a person on the cover, check this blog out: http://jillianaudrey.blogspot.ca/2012/05/trends-in-young-adult-book-covers.html Of course, I’m a huge fan of the cover for The Watcher and think artist Najla Qamber did an amazing job of combining a few of these trends. Mia, the main character is showing her back, and yet she’s also looking at the camera, so it’s a mysterious pose. Since I’m also fond of wings, I love the use of the tattooed wings on the cover, as they pertain to the character and have a special significance in the story. Cecilia Robert: I love a good cover. And let's face it. If the book has a gorgeous/appealing cover, say while browsing on Amazon, I will click on the book immediately, to read the excerpt. If the excerpt doesn't entice me enough, I won't buy it. So, covers do play a big role on whether to click and view a book or not. But then, there are times when browsing the library shelves or bookstores, I stumble upon a book whose cover isn't very appealing, but the description sends shivers all over my body. I guess, if an author has taken the chance, and worked on a story for months to make it shine, then she/he should consider a good cover. After all, it's the eye that leads the way--most of the time. Kacey Vanderkarr:
I’m the type of person who wants to say EVERYTHING! I can spend hours in a bookstore, looking at covers, reading the jackets. A cover can sell me on a book even before I know what the book is about. I love covers with people on them, especially if they’re doing interesting things, like underwater (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin), flying (Tempest by Julie Cross), dying? Oh my gosh, what’s going on here?? (This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers). I’m especially particular to the covers for The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare. The Victorian and steampunk elements of Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince make me drool…not the mention the hot models. The novelty of single-object covers is lost on me. Between Twilight, 50 Shades of Grey, and the million spin-offs, I’ll pass on a cover like that any day. But just as easily, I can be sucked in by a simple, yet to the point cover like the cartoon zombie and unicorn which grace the front of Zombie vs. Unicorn. And tattoos. Tattoo your cover models, people, I’ll read your books. Moral of the story? I LOVE books. And I might be guilty (SO GUILTY!) of judging them by their covers. Now that our authors have weighed in on the debate, we'd love to hear from you! What interests you in a book cover? Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy! EXCERPT:I stared at the seats. The empty one was the window seat. The other seat was occupied. By a seriously good looking guy sleeping peacefully. He filled the seat to capacity. His broad chest was hugged by an olive green shirt that said MARINES in all caps.
I chewed my lip. “Can I sit somewhere else?” I asked, hating to wake him up. And hating that my seat was by the window. “I’m up,” he said suddenly, rubbing a hand across his face. I jumped. “Holy crap. I thought you were sleeping.” He grinned and I stared. Good looking didn’t cut it. He was seriously hot. And he had a dimple. A really adorable dimple. “Nah.” He smiled. “Just resting my eyes.” “Oh,” I said. The attendant cleared her throat; there were a few people waiting behind me. Great, no pressure. It’s not like everyone, Hot Guy included, needed to know I was freaking out. The words spilled out: “I have a weakness for guys with a military haircut.” Smooth, Jen, really smooth. I tried to smile, but I’m not sure it worked. Sparkly blue eyes met mine. And for a few seconds the cabin of this first class airplane didn’t feel like an upscale coffin. His eyes were amazing…distracting… But then he turned, shifting his long legs so that I could squeeze by. “It’s okay,” I offered. “You can take the window seat.” I had no desire to look out the window. Actually, I’d prefer not to look out the window. If I had it my way, I’d take a sedative and have them wake me when we arrived in Los Angeles. But sedatives weren’t an option, not anymore—not for me. He glanced at the flight attendant who was hovering behind me. “I don’t think that’s allowed.” I looked at the attendant, a little thing with a tired face and swelling ankles. “Sorry, Miss Smith.” I had to admit, she looked sorry. “If we’re not full, you might be able to move around once we take off. We’ll have to wait and see.” I didn’t miss what she was saying. No guarantees, and right now I was stuck here…by the hot guy. I took a deep breath, shoved my ponytail off my shoulder, and forced a smile onto my lips. “Alrighty, then.” Clutching my leather bag to my chest, I forced myself into the row of seats. I focused on breathing in and out. Not the low ceiling or the cramped seating or the soft hissing of the cabin air. No, I wouldn’t think about that. All that mattered was climbing into my seat without falling on Mr. Hotness. I guess he was a plus. He was totally a step up from some nosy old woman or, God forbid, a lady with a crying baby. I sat, sucked in another deep breath, and buckled my seatbelt. My hands were shaking as I pulled the belt tight. “You okay?” Hot Guy asked. I hugged my bag to my chest and pressed myself into the seat. Was I okay? Yes, I was so okay. Way okay. I would stare at my lovely designer bag for the next couple of hours and not worry about the plane falling from the sky and sending us all to our deaths. “Ma’am?” I turned quickly, surprising him. “Me? Oh, I’m fine. Really. Great. Good. Peachy-keen.” “Fine?” “Yep.” I nodded. “Fine.” I tried again to smile at him. You’re acting like a total nutjob. He was probably worried about having to sit beside me for the next few hours. I would be. I looked at him, saw his smile, and felt strangely calm. So I repeated, trying to sound a little less frazzled, “Fine.” I had to look up at him to meet his gaze. Even hunched into my seat, his shoulder almost touched mine. He wore a strange expression, one that looked less than convinced. One brown eyebrow rose, the corner of his mouth turned up. There was the dimple again. He shook his head. And then I heard the words coming out of my mouth: “Could you be any cuter?” He blinked, his half smile growing. He didn’t have just one dimple; he had two dimples. So apparently he could be cuter. Holy crap. Aren't you excited to see more of Gunner? Hollywood Holiday is the sequel to Hollywood Ever After with some of your favorite characters showing up! Pick up your copy today! |