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Guest Post: Laurie Bowler

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Please welcome Laurie Bowler, author of numerous paranormal books!

 

Laurie Bowler, author

Firstly, I want to tell you a little something about myself. My name is Laurie Bowler and I live in the United Kingdom. Normally I write paranormal/fantasy but lately I have been writing horror, and I am enjoying every second of writing. The process is fantastic, new characters, worlds and even the settings and the plots are just some of the aspects of writing that I adore. I can never get enough of creating a new storyline, every story I am keen to make as unique as I can.

When I first started to write I had no idea that it would lead this far, neither did I know at the time that I would become known by my friends as ‘The Writing Machine’. I must admit I am finding the name suits me well though. It seems I finish a story and I am starting again the next day on another story, I love the hype and the excitement of writing. Creating new worlds, and characters, inside my stories I can be anyone that I want to be, and I can even create a creature that lets say might be in a nightmare and then have the creature revenged somehow inside my story.

I guess I find it very therapeutic and relaxing, some of the horror stories I have written lately have been pretty gory through and I’ve almost made myself puke writing the specific scenes! I would say they are not for the faint hearted but they have a very good storyline and I always wanted to write in a different genre other than paranormal fantasy to broaden my horizons and to test myself. I test myself daily, to see if I can write different genres of stories, and horror was one of my small tests, my horror stories are published Death Bite, Bloodthirsty Gruesome Tales and Hacked Up.

Most of my books are paranormal romance, and for me I love to add the romantic element, what compares to anything when a woman is in love? All the romantic flowers, chocolates, secret glances and holding hands, it is the best part! You are probably thinking it’s not especially after the 9-month wait and then you’re holding your pink bundle of joy in your arms. That is why I believe romance should be kept alive as much as possible, I love to relive my own romantic heart inside my books and share it with readers. Everyone has a different perception of romance and mine is one thing I want to share. My paranormal stories are Moon Rising, Sunrise to Sunset, Serena Embracing Darkness, Depths of Darkness and Golden Horizons.

What I do for fun? The fun part of me does exist!
Now, I bet everyone is curious about when I get to have fun. Well I will tell you, I don’t write all the time (well I try not too). For fun there is nothing quite like going to visit the zoo with my daughter. In the United Kingdom, we have a safari park, which is awesome! I don’t know who loves it more me or my young daughter!

The best part is the drive through the monkey enclosure, but obviously not when they are tearing parts of your car apart and throwing them around. Most of the time my car doesn’t seem to get broken, but I watch all the other people having their wiper blades ripped off, or their side mirrors that the monkeys start to chew and then freak out when they see their own reflections. It is the best fun in the world, and very relaxing. Oh except for the time my little one was trying to get a lion to get inside the car by shouting at it, I soon drive out of that particular enclosure and into the next one!

How can I write about the zoo animals inside my books? Well I have created many different species inside Depths of Darkness, that was deliciously fun. All of them are unique in every way, and it was while I was driving through the safari that I decided to write about witches, vampires and plenty of other paranormal mystique! And, that’s Depths of Darkness and where the ideas stemmed from to write this novel.

* * * * *

Thanks for stopping by, Laurie!  Everyone- if you haven’t checked out Laurie’s books yet, you should!  She has plenty of them to chose from and most are $2.99 or less!

Depths of Darkness by Laurie BowlerDEPTHS OF DARKNESS

by Laurie Bowler

Kindle Edition
Published May 29th 2011 (first published March 24th 2011)
ASIN:  B0053DCBYW
Patty is a low level worker for The Agency, an organisation of witches that controls the world of the supernatural. Patty grew up an orphan with normal human parents, but when her powers as a witch emerged she was drawn to, and joined, The Agency.
When her friend and mentor, the high witch Matace, is murdered, Patty is unsatisfied with the reports of his death and begins her own investigation. With the aid of Luke, her vampire friend, Patty delves deeper into the dangerous circumstances behind Matace’s death and finds more than she bargained for, the truth behind her own past.
As the dangers deepen and the truth behind Patty’s past are revealed, it becomes clear that the fate of the world is at stake and Patty may be the only one that can prevent the world’s destruction, but at what cost.

Buy DEPTHS OF DARKNESS:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble

 

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PhotobucketABOUT THERESA (a.k.a. Fade Into Fantasy): As a part time book store employee, editing intern, and the mastermind behind BLB Book Tours, Theresa is able to surround herself with her favorite things, BOOKS. When she isn’t working, learning, or attending her sons’ sporting events, she’s lost between the pages of a paranormal novel. Her hope is to someday earn a living editing books, but until then she’s happy to help spread the word about the fabulous books and authors she encounters along the way.

Book Trailer and Giveaway: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

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Book Trailer and Giveaway: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon SmithLOCKDOWN (Escape from Furnace #1)

by Alexander Gordon Smith

Paperback, 273 pages
ISBN: 9780312611934

Beneath heaven is Hell… Beneath Hell is Furnace!

Furnace Penitentiary. The world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. One way in, no way out. Once you’re here, you’re here until you die, and for most of the inmates that doesn’t take long - not with the sadistic guards and the bloodthirsty gangs. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, ‘new fish’ Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world.

Only in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and as dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.

Together with a bunch of inmates - some innocent kids who have been framed, others cold-blooded killers - Alex plans the prison break to end all prison breaks. But as he starts to uncover the truth about Furnace’s deeper, darker purpose, Alex’s actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that’s hidden from the eyes of the world.

Buy LOCKDOWN by Alexander Gordon Smith:  Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Macmillan

Read all five books in the series: Lockdown, Solitary, Death Sentence, Fugitives (available 2012) and Execution (available 2012).

Macmillan page for the book & author: http://us.macmillan.com/author/alexandergordonsmith

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!

The fabulous people at Zeitghost Media have offered up one copy of LOCKDOWN!

TO ENTER:

-Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you if you win!

-winner will be chosen Sunday, August 28th

US/CAN ONLY

Prize will be shipped to winner by Zeitghost Media

GOOD LUCK!

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PhotobucketABOUT THERESA (a.k.a. Fade Into Fantasy): As a part time book store employee, editing intern, and the mastermind behind BLB Book Tours, Theresa is able to surround herself with her favorite things, BOOKS. When she isn’t working, learning, or attending her sons’ sporting events, she’s lost between the pages of a paranormal novel. Her hope is to someday earn a living editing books, but until then she’s happy to help spread the word about the fabulous books and authors she encounters along the way.

Book Review: Riversong by Tess Hardwick

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Riversong by Tess HardwickRiversong

by Tess Hardwick

Kindle Edition
Published April 12th 2011 by Booktrope(first published March 30th 2011)
ASIN:  B004WDRYVE

When Lee Tucker’s husband commits suicide, he leaves her pregnant and one million dollars in debt to a loan shark. Out of options, she escapes to her deceased mother’s dilapidated house located in a small Oregon town that, like her, is financially ruined, heartbroken and in desperate need of a fresh start. Lee’s resilience leads to a plan for a destination restaurant named Riversong, to new chances for passion and love, and to danger from her dead husband’s debt as her business blooms.

Author Tess Hardwick assembles a colorful cast of endearing small-town characters and takes you on a journey that will make you believe in the possibilities of life – even in the face of overwhelming adversity and unimaginable grief. Lee Tucker is the kind of woman you find yourself rooting for long after the last page is read.

A surprising mix of romance, humor, friendship, intrigue and gourmet food – Riversong entertains while reminding you of life’s greatest gifts.

Review:

This is a sweet read that I enjoyed very much.  The story follows Lee’s life; she spent her childhood feeling unwanted and unloved.  She grows up, graduates from high school, and leaves town to go away to college, promising herself she would never to return.  She is very talented and smart and makes something of her life.  She finely reaches the top when tragedy strikes.  She is a strong woman who has to face some tough obstacles, has to learn to trust, face some significant life lessons, truly forgive and realize she is loved.  There are loads of surprises in this book, some sweet romance, yummy eats, and a wonderful cast of characters.  She does make some choices that as an individual annoyed me, but is this not what really occurs in life?  This is a lovely beach read that is well written and I would recommend to anyone who wants a good story with some tears, laughter, and joy.

Rating: 4/5!

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PhotobucketABOUT THERESA (a.k.a. Fade Into Fantasy): As a part time book store employee, editing intern, and the mastermind behind BLB Book Tours, Theresa is able to surround herself with her favorite things, BOOKS. When she isn’t working, learning, or attending her sons’ sporting events, she’s lost between the pages of a paranormal novel. Her hope is to someday earn a living editing books, but until then she’s happy to help spread the word about the fabulous books and authors she encounters along the way.

Book Review: Shadow People by C.L. Bevill

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Shadow People by C.L. Bevill Shadow People

by C.L. Bevill

Kindle Edition
Published September 5th 2010
ASIN:  B00422LLWI

Penelope Quick is a thief. Taught her skills by the best second-door man in the business, her father, she is a rarity in the field, a thief with honor. Unfortunately, her deceased father left Penelope with debt and obligations. Consequently, she steals from crooks and supports her disabled mother. On the fourth of July during a dazzling display of fireworks that occupies half the city, Penelope breaks into the one house she should have left alone. The house is owned by a consortium and has shady objectives, making it a valid target for the daring young burglar. There she finds Native-American artifacts and a safe that holds a brilliant, egg-sized black diamond. She also makes the chilling discovery that Native-American stories of things that go bump in the night are very much real. And the very real things are intent on retrieving the items she has stolen, especially the black diamond called ‘The Tears of the Spirit.’ Penelope runs for her life, rapidly learning that she has inadvertently stumbled into a world where shadow people lurk, witches truly exist, and a thing composed of the people it has killed chases her relentlessly. William Littlesoldier, a doctor of anthropology and a member of the Enumclaw Tribe, is just the man to help Penelope out. He has his own agenda, which includes stopping the man who’s determined to end the world, and the very same individual who is pursuing Penelope with all of the dark creatures at his disposal. This man is Will’s brother, Anthony, once a member of the Enumclaw Tribe and cast out for tampering with magicks so black and foul that his soul was forever tainted. Together Penelope and Will have to learn to trust each other, and fight against terrifying beings that are stalking them both.

Review:

This book is very clever and you have to love Penelope.  She is one tough cookie who can think on her feet – even when she is in a real mess.  She is a thief who was born into a family of thieves.  Her father mentored her in the business so she learned from the best. Her father died and her mother subsequently contracted a debilitating disease and went blind.  The only way Penelope can support her is to go into the family business, even though her mother never wanted that for her.  This story is jam-packed with supernatural baddies – there are zombies, witches, and of course a sociopath who has allowed his hunger for power to allow him to be deceived by darkness.  Of course I will give you one guess who’s house Penelope decides to rob – here on out it is a roller-coaster ride for good to triumph over evil.  This book was well written and characters enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a little something different in the supernatural world.

Rating: 5/5!

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PhotobucketABOUT THERESA (a.k.a. Fade Into Fantasy): As a part time book store employee, editing intern, and the mastermind behind BLB Book Tours, Theresa is able to surround herself with her favorite things, BOOKS. When she isn’t working, learning, or attending her sons’ sporting events, she’s lost between the pages of a paranormal novel. Her hope is to someday earn a living editing books, but until then she’s happy to help spread the word about the fabulous books and authors she encounters along the way.

Day In The Life of Amber Argyle, author of Witchsong

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A Day In The Life of…

Amber Argyle, author of WITCHSONG

Witchsong by Amber Argyle

Expected publication: September 1st 2011 by Rhemalda Publishing
ISBN: 9781936850167
The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fades, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can’t stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn’t, there won’t be anything left to save.

A Day in the Life of Amber Argyle, author of WITCHSONG:

*note, my schedule changes dramatically based on my kids activities.
7:30–wake up, hit snooze button.
7:40–crap, now we’re gonna be late!
8:05–Why is it you guys never put your shoes in the bin. I tell you and tell you and tell you
8:15–On the road to swimming lessons
8:35–Arrive 5 minutes late for 9 YO’s swimming lessons.
8:36–9–Try to wrangle bawling 5 YO into his swimming suit.
9–drag screaming 5 YO to swimming lessons. Throw in pool.
9:30–comfort 5 YO because the water was cold and the deep end is, “scawy”
10–Start cleaning the house
10:30–take 5 YO to speech
10:40–clean
11:15–Get 5 Yo from speech.
11:20–read stories
12:20–Lunch
1–put 2 YO down for nap
1–3 or 4–Write/edit/market/try to keep other two kids happy playing with friends or watching cartoons/playing the WII.
3-4:30–play with kids
4:30-6:30–make/eat/clean up after dinner
6-8 or 9–Family time or kid’s baseball/soccer games
9–network
10:30–shower then bed

Amber – thank you so much for giving us readers a glimpse into your daily life!  Readers – if you haven’t checked out Amber’s book yet, I highly suggest you do!  I, for one, can’t wait to read it!

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PhotobucketABOUT THERESA (a.k.a. Fade Into Fantasy): As a part time book store employee, editing intern, and the mastermind behind BLB Book Tours, Theresa is able to surround herself with her favorite things, BOOKS. When she isn’t working, learning, or attending her sons’ sporting events, she’s lost between the pages of a paranormal novel. Her hope is to someday earn a living editing books, but until then she’s happy to help spread the word about the fabulous books and authors she encounters along the way.