Waiting on Wednesday: InkMistress and Goal Hop/ Update Day.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that allows us to spotlight books we are eagerly anticipating to be released.

I am actually super excited about the release of this book. Even check up on this author's tweets online weekly. Audrey Coulthurst writes beautiful tales of you want lesbian romances steeped in fantasy, betrayals, and drama. Then there's even more for you to enjoy.

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Summary: Asra is a demigod with a dangerous gift: the ability to dictate the future by writing with her blood. To keep her power secret, she leads a quiet life as a healer on a remote mountain, content to help the people in her care and spend time with Ina, the mortal girl she loves.

But Asra’s peaceful life is upended when bandits threaten Ina’s village and the king does nothing to help. Desperate to protect her people, Ina begs Asra for assistance in finding her manifest—the animal she’ll be able to change into as her rite of passage to adulthood. Asra uses her blood magic to help Ina, but her spell goes horribly wrong and the bandits destroy the village, killing Ina’s family.

Unaware that Asra is at fault, Ina swears revenge on the king and takes a savage dragon as her manifest. To stop her, Asra must embark on a journey across the kingdom, becoming a player in lethal games of power among assassins, gods, and even the king himself. Most frightening of all, she discovers the dark secrets of her own mysterious history—and the terrible, powerful legacy she carries in her blood.

Goal Hop/Update Day



The hop has changed its posting location. Click here to go to the new site for the monthly event. Sadly this will be my last time taking part. But thanks for all the nice times.

This month I made two submissions of short fiction. One to a fantasy anthology for an online magazine and the other to Third Word's monthly under hundred word flash fiction challenge. I have more submissions in the pipeline including to Bustle Magazine and Chicken Soup for the Soul. I can't wait to see how many submissions I make by the end of the year. Will keep you updated on my blog regardless. Have a great day.

Thanks for stopping by.

IWSG Summer 2017 and Goal Hop Update

Welcome to another IWSG with host Alex Cavanaugh and his fellow ninjas. Also, thank you to his latest batch of cohosts.

I've been on and off the blogging arena. Life and health issues have taken up a chunk of my time. Plus I've been helping look after my mother since late July after her surgery. So I'm a busy girl. But I have been working on getting back into writing and reading. I read two books during a read-a-ton and I'm reading another right now. Bought a couple new books recently. Most for my Kindle. My insecurity is pretty much finding time for writing and myself. The answer I already know. Make time. It is just that simple and oh so damn hard to do. I'm doing it though, trying alone is not enough.

August Question: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?

My pet peeves for all of these are when careless mistakes are made. In reading it is when authors don't keep characters consistent. Like having a warrior character suddenly act opposite just for a plot twist that makes no sense. Or to push a love interest. In writing when I'm not focused and write myself into a corner that could have been avoided. Editing? Yeah that's a whole other story and not a top expertise of mine. But I'm extra careful when it comes to that process.

On a whole, there will always be something that bothers us. We have to decide to move past it. Because just fuming over it without moving forward helps no one. Trust in God and all the best.




The Goal Bloghop is a hop where you sign up with the goal you have in mind. It can be a small or big goal. Either way after joining you share your progress the last Friday of each month. Started by Misha, it is now co-hosted along with Jen and Brittney.

I submitted to The Mary Sue and waiting to hear back from them. I had planned to make some other submissions but when I went to check where I had stored some sites to submit to, the list was gone. I have no idea how that happened. But I have to remake the list and update myself on submission terms. Annoying but doable. I'll be sure to have multiple submissions to report at the end of August. Those are the breaks. You win some, you lose some. Just don't give up.

Thanks for stopping by. See you on Friday and have a great day whether IWSG or otherwise.

Waiting on Wednesday: Whichwood (Diverse Covers) and Goal Hop Update

The battle for my health soldiers on. Recovering from swollen gums due to sinusitis is my latest stumbling block. But I'm trying to get back to blogging and reviewing. Hey guys glad to be back.
God is by my side and I'm still able to dig up time to work and do what I love. I'm blessed.



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that allows us to spotlight books we are eagerly anticipating to be released.

Earlier in May I got to see the cover of this book via twitter and I'm even more excited for it. The summary intrigued me before but now I know I must have this book in hardcover greatness come November. A long wait but also my birthday month! Also I love that this is a diverse read and 2017 has been the year of some jaw-dropping covers from authors of color. 

Release date: November 17, 2017

Summary from Goodreads: A new adventure about a girl who is fated to wash the bodies of the dead in this companion to Furthermore.

Our story begins on a frosty night…

Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way). Before she was left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days washing the bodies of the dead and preparing their souls for the afterlife. It’s become easy to forget and easier still to ignore the way her hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair, and her own ever-increasing loneliness and fear.

But soon, a pair of familiar strangers appears, and Laylee’s world is turned upside down as she rediscovers color, magic, and the healing power of friendship.

Links: Amazon, Book Depository


Goal Hop Update



The Goal Bloghop is a hop where you sign up with the goal you have in mind. It can be a small or big goal. Either way after joining you share your progress the last Friday of each month. Started by Misha, it is now co-hosted along with Jen and Brittney.

Uhhhh no. Health, freelance work...yup. Wasn't able to make any May submissions. Nada. I did keep up some consistent social media thanks to timing and apps/programs set with advanced post. New followers all around and even gave away a book on my Author Facebook Page. So while I didn't update my set goal. I feel some accomplishment social media wise. 

Thanks for stopping by and God willing I'll be here again Friday. Otherwise whenever I can pop in.

IWSG: May is here and Goal Hop Update

IWSG is back and time to share your thoughts.



Hey, guys, I'm back. Took a break from April's IWSG. My blogging habits have changed. I don't blog as much and QueendSheena has now become mostly a book review blog now. I move more around social media via Twitter and Facebook mainly. Still, I'm writing and happy to say my freelance work is going well. I look forward to seeing what will happen this month and the rest of 2017. What about you guys?




The Goal Bloghop is a hop where you sign up with the goal you have in mind. It can be a small or big goal. Either way after joining you share your progress the last Friday of each month. Started by Misha, it is now co-hosted along with Jen and Brittney.

Sadly I was unable to send in any submissions for April. Issues including health had me guarding my time. Freelance work took precedent and my personal writing time shrunk quite a bit.

Thanks for stopping by. See you guys on Monday.

Book Review: The Little Mermaid and Goal Hop Update

Hey guys. Today I have a lovely graphic novel to share with you. I believe it will entertain both children and adults alike. It takes an old tale and turns it into a true wonderland of imagery. I have decided to not go on hiatus. But I will not be taking part in any hops or promos (unless already arranged) this month including no Insecure Hop post. I will be back to IWSG and everything else in May. This week I'll be posting a book review every day (minus weekends).

Title: The Little Mermaid by Metaphrog

Source: Netgalley

Publication Date: April 4, 2017

Purchase: Amazon, The Book Depository

Summary: The Little Mermaid is Hans Christian Andersen's most celebrated tale and is beautifully adapted here as a graphic novel by the Eisner award nominated duo Metaphrog (Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers), winners of the Sunday Herald Scottish Culture Awards Best Visual Artist 2016, and authors of the acclaimed The Red Shoes and Other Tales.

The Little Mermaid lives deep under the ocean and longs to see the world above. When at last she is allowed to rise to the surface at age fifteen, she falls in love with a young prince. In order to become a human and to be with him, she makes a dangerous pact with the Sea Witch. 

Book Review

This version of The Little Mermaid is perfect for both kids and adults. The imagery alone is breathtaking and you will want to turn the page to read the story but also not because of all this spectacular eye candy. The sad tale of the mermaid (yes this is the original, not the Disney version) is told in under a hundred pages but masterfully so. The words are somewhat eclipsed by the beautiful art but only because it has been done so perfectly. The duo who created this masterpiece are award winners and I can see why. If you have heard of the tale of the little mermaid, then you know how it ends with the sea foam. But I truly believe the way that it's done here really emphasizes the heart of the story and this ill-fated mermaid. The themes of love, family, and sacrifice are well explored in a way appropriate for both children to read and adults to understand the deeper meaning. I highly recommend this book both for it's touching take on this old tale and for the captivating artwork. I got this e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5 Stars


Goal Hop Update

The Goal Bloghop is a hop where you sign up with the goal you have in mind. It can be a small or big goal. Either way after joining you share your progress the last Friday of each month. Started by Misha, it is now co-hosted along with Jen and Brittney.

I had decided to go with a new goal for the new year. One hundred submissions a year. Well, I can say that so far that I have made one submission. It was for a small online contest for flash fiction under 100 words. Don't know the results yet but I'm hopeful. Admittedly I've been procrastinating on my poetry submissions. Perhaps I'm just nervous since I haven't sent in poetry for a long while. Either way this month I'm determined to get my numbers up. I am excited to see where this new goal takes me by the end of the year.

99 more submissions to go.

Thanks for stopping by. See you tomorrow.

Goal Hop and Celebrating Woven Release

Honestly I'm in between goals right now. I plan to update to a new goal for 2015. But I will say that I'm still working on my AYA genre goal from last year.



Celebrating Woven Release

Due to issues with my internet provider early in the week I couldn't really get online beyond a blip on my facebook app on my tablet so I'm kind of late to the party. I had to copy the information from another blog since I couldn't get the packet to download in my email but I still have my own words to say about Woven. This book went through quite a journey to get published. But both David and Michael stuck to their guns and here we are celebrating the release of this magnificent book. While I have known David as a blogger for a while, I barely know Michael. Yet the way David has described him through his posts I'm sure he is a swell guy and both have written a marvelous novel that both children and adults can curl up with and enjoy. My own copy is still in the mail but based off the crazy sales and top notch reviews this book has received. I have no problem telling everyone in advance that this is a must read. Now keep on reading to find out more about this magical book and the wonderful authors who wrote it.

WOVEN by Michael Jensen and David Powers King, published by Scholastic

Two unlikely allies must journey across a kingdom in the hopes of thwarting death itself.

All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.

But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.

Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person—his only hope for understanding what happened to him—the kingdom’s heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.

Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.

Available now wherever books are sold

IndieBound

Amazon

Barnes&Noble

Books A Million!

Rakuten

iTunes            

About the Authors:

Michael Jensen is a graduate of Brigham Young University’s prestigious music, dance, and theater program. Michael taught voice at BYU before establishing his own vocal instruction studio. In addition to being an imaginative storyteller, Michael is an accomplished composer and vocalist. He lives in Salt Lake City with his husband and their four dogs.

Photo credit: Michael Schoenfeld

Links:

Facebook

Goodreads

Woven Website

Woven Facebook Page

David Powers King was born in beautiful downtown Burbank, California where his love for film inspired him to become a writer. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, David also has a soft spot for zombies and the paranormal. He now lives in the mountain West with his wife and three children.

Photo credit: Katie Pyne Rasmussen

Links:

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

Blog

Praise for Woven:

"It’s not often that you read a fantasy that feels as epic and original as Woven by King and Jensen. Clever, well-paced, and full of intrigue, it’s a superb read. Highly recommended."

— James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner

"WOVEN reads like a lost classic that was somehow just rediscovered. It has the feel of a comfortable, familiar blanket that's somehow been newly-made of the brightest, most original material possible, and it is pure pleasure to read."

— James A. Owen, author & illustrator of Here, There Be Dragons

"The worldbuilding is dynamic, original and intriguing … and the characters, appealing. A sure bet for high-fantasy fans." — Kirkus Reviews

"This brisk adventure from first-time authors Jensen and King is a charming quest tale in classic fantasy tradition." — Publisher’s Weekly

Rafflecopper Giveaway Link (One of 5 copies of Woven – signed by both authors):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Say Hi to The Black Pied Piper/Follow Fest and Goal Hop Update

The Follow Fest is an annual online event hosted by Melissa Margrove

Name: Sheena-kay Graham



Fiction or Non-Fiction: Fiction and Poetry.

What genres do you write: Fantasy, Dystopian, Paranormal, Poetry/Verse. I took a break from starting a Dystopian series to focus on a two book novelette series based off a missing girl. Hopefully the first one will be released in December. Click here for more info.

Are you published: I had a few poems published locally in Bookends Magazine that comes with the Sunday Paper. Did a submission for the benefit anthology Overcoming Adversity last February. I also plan to self publish my first book later this year or early next year.

Do you do anything in addition to writing: I am a ghostwriter (technically also writing) for novels, plot ideas and short stories. Also host my blog Queendsheena.

Tell us a little about yourself: I am a proud Jamaican Christian Virgin Author. Love reading, wanted to be a writer from I was a kid (also an actress and ballerina once upon a time). Anything else you can check around my blog which is where you are now. Kisses!

What are you reading right now: Meg's Secret by Kelly Abell

Which authors influenced you most: Louise Bennett, Emily Dickenson and J.K. Rowling. I am also inspired by William Shakespeare who has written all kinds of amazing works and had a huge influence on the English Language.

Where can people connect with you?

Blog/Website: Queendsheena

Goodreads

Facebook

Author Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

AYA Forever Blog

AYA Website

Is there anything else you'd like us to know: I'm working on creating a new writing genre AYA (Adults for Young Adults). This genre is for characters age 27 and older but written for a young adult audience. Publishers claim that teenagers only want to read about other teenagers (authors have had to drop ages of characters to teenagers in order to get published within the young adult genre) and I hope this genre will expand and prove them wrong. I have a website and blog up as well as working on two titles specific to this genre.

P.S.: Ever wonder what became of the famous child painter in My Kid Could Paint That. Marla Olmstead is now a teenager and you can check out her website (click here).

Goal Hop Update

I have rebooted and I'm currently dealing with my AYA Blog and starting on my AYA novella Save My Soul. Happy to say that I'm back on track on making Adults for Young Adults (AYA) an official fiction genre for the masses. To find out more visit the AYA Website. Enjoy the rest of the week and I will not be posting again until Monday. But I will be around popping by on you guys blogs. Ciao.