Countdown to Release: Rachael Becoming Red

Rachael Becoming Red is my debut novel about Rachael Wood who finds out her family was killed by werewolves and that her own village is hiding secrets. The ebook will be released April 30, 2012 on Smashwords and they will henceforth release it on Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other online retailers dutifully. This novel is book one in the Red Series.

Summary on Goodreads: Rachael Wood was only seven when her family was murdered in a vicious animal attack. Now eleven, she lives with her guardian Amanda and lives a happy life in the forest village of Kare. Then she meets Terry, leader of T.O. (The Organization) and learns her family was murdered by werewolves. But to get justice she's have to leave Kare, so she turns it down. Worse Amanda and Terry clash on meeting and both fight to make Rachael see their side. As this goes on Rachael slowly learns the truth about Kare and that things don't just lurk in the dark. They also bite. What is a girl who's to be betrothed to an elder's grandson to do? Live the life she was born into or go out into an unknown world and fight both paranormal and human foes?



Five Questions For You To Consider.

1. Would you be able to move on if your family was murdered?

2. If someone gave you the chance to avenge them would you? And if you had to leave everything you know, could you?

3. If your guardian said someone who you think is trying to help you is a bad person would you cut them off? Or would you make your own decisions.

4. If your home was in danger, what would you do to save it?

5. Could you make any of these decisions at eleven years old like Rachael has to?

You can also leave your thoughts on twitter using these hashtags: #RedSeries or #RachaelBecomingRed

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion: A Different Look On Zombie Life

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

I discovered this book over the weekend while looking up information on Eden by Keary Taylor. All I have to say is that the concept of this novel blew my mind and the premise drew me in completely. Warm Bodies follows a love story between R, a zombie, and Julie, a human girl. R while being a zombie wants more in life and Julie being human can probably provide it. But how can a zombie and human be together, especially when he takes her into his world of the undead? Guess you'll just have to read the book to find out. I plan to. This book seems to have taken both a fun and deed approach to what it's like to be a zombie. That they can be more than the ones we see in movies screaming 'brains!' I like that.

Also I got the chance to read the fisrt two chapters for the kindle on Amazon. After enjoying that snippet I know I'll be buying this book before the month is over. Check it out and decide for yourself.



Offficial Summary: R is a man with an existential crisis—he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.
After experiencing a teenage boy’s memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim’s human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R but also his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world. Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies is about being alive, being dead, and the blurry line in between.



Book Trailer

Warm Bodies will also be made into a movie. The cast includes Nicholas Hoult  as R and Teresa Palmer as Julie. For more information click here.

You can purchase Warm Bodies at the following stores:

Amazon US, Barnes & Noble, Amazon UK, The Book Depository.

Thank you for stopping by and tomorrow starts the countdown to the self-published debut of my novel
Rachael Becoming Red, Book One in Red Series. Also Thursdays will now be Book Review Thursdays and this week I'll be reviewing Hanger 13 by Lindsay McKenna. This book took romance novels to a different level for me and I think it might do the same for you when you read my review.

Rachael Becoming Red: The Backstory

Rachael Becoming Red is book 1 in the Red Series. In this ebook Rachael is an eleven year girl living with the loss of her family in Kare, a religious forest village. She finds out their real cause of death when she meets Terry. A man who leads T.O. (The Organization), an agency that fights paranormal and supernatural elements deemed dangerous. Even humans who allied with them could be arrested. Rachael turns down an offer to join because she didn't want to leave Kare. Her guardian Amanda has a negative confrontation with Terry and from then on they're openly bitter enemies. How can Rachael choose between staying where she's always been or moving to the unknown to avenge her family and save others from the same fate? Also, what of Kare's secrets and is her own giardian Amanda what she seems. The truth will both open her eyes and strengthen or break a little girl's heart.

Rachael Wood: An eleven year old redhead whose life is turned upside down when she finds out her family was murdered by werewolves. Not an animal attack.

Quote: I loved them...I want the monster who killed my family dead. I want them all dead. (says to Terry)

Terry: A man in his late thirties. He leads the T.O. an organization that eliminates paranormal and supernatural beings deemed a threat. He wants to recruit Rachael to help her avenge the murder of her parents. But he seems to have a deeper agenda and her guardian Amanda hates him on sight.

Quote: Don't know why you're alone with a strange man at nighttime. Where I'm from such silly little girls don't last long. (says to Rachael)

Amanda: A blonde woman who befriended Rachael before the death of her family. She takes Rachael in and raises her as her own. She's a woman who lives outside the norms of Kare but goes along with some rules to keep Rachael. She warns Rachael to stay away from Terry but is there more to their anger than meets the eye? And is Kare where they truly first meet each other?

Quote: You stay away from Rachael and never address me again! Get out! (shouts at Terry)

Duncan Clay: An important man in Kare. He wants Rachael to marry his son Paul. He's a holy man but can be quite domineering and scary if things don't go his way.

Quote: You should be grateful God spared Rachael for you. Apologize and talk to her, not about your incompetence at accepting a girl might actually marry you. (says to Paul)

Paul Duncan: A sickly short little boy. He's shy but a lot of girls want him for his father's family name. He speaks honesty about his feelings for Rachael and pays the price.

Quote: I don't like her. (Responds to his father's demands)

That's it for this exclusive peek into Rachael Becoming Red. You can check more tidbits on twitter with hashtags #RedSeries and #RachaelBecomingRed. Thank you for stopping by and remember to check out the Red Series Page before you go.

Bonus: If you enjoyed the Hunger Game Trilogy check out these novels. I'm seeing the movie tomorrow.

Also I posted earlier today on the death of Trayvon Martin. Click here to read.

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Remember the blogfest: A Picture Paints a 1000 words Blogest. Go to this page to enter.

Made My Red Series Page

So for all you followers and Red Series lovers. I have finally made the Red Series Page. It's under the blog header and has all you need to know about the series. Especially the anticipated first ebook Rachael Becoming Red which after much hobob has a final release date. April 25, 2012. This is to ensure all kinks, computer isssues and promotion delays will be out of the way before RBR is released.

So in other news I read an interesting post by Amanda Hocking tonight. It's on the lost art of blogging. I think she's just getting used to life as a traditional author after being a successful self-published one. The pressure must be tremendous. But don't think I'm a party pooper. I'm sure it's worth it and plan to be there someday. I never plan to stop self-publishing though. I just think that some of my stories are best kept in my hands. *Grins.*

P.S. - Check out A Picture Paints A 1000 Words Blogfest. I will be participating March 26-28.

Rachael Becoming Red

Rachael Becoming Red ebook will be released on Smashwords by March 25, 2012. The main character Rachael has to decide whether to stay in a place she's always known or go into the unknown to achieve both justice and revenge for the murder of her family. I'm very proud of this novel and hope those who read it will enjoy it too.

You can also go to:
Goodreads
Facebook

Rachael Wood was only seven when her family was murdered in a vicious animal attack. Now eleven, she lives with her guardian Amanda and lives a happy life in the forest village of Kare. Then she meets Terry, leader of T.O. (The Organization) and learns her family was murdered by werewolves. But to get justice she's have to leave Kare, so she turns it down. Worse Amanda and Terry clash on meeting and both fight to make Rachael see their side. As this goes on Rachael slowly learns the truth about Kare and that things don't just lurk in the dark. They also bite. What is a girl who's to be betrothed to an elder's grandson to do? Live the life she was born into or go out into an unknown world and fight both paranormal and human foes?

Gone By Michael Grant and Other News

The finished reading a kindle sample for Gone by Michael Grant earlier today. This young adult dystopian novel blew my mind. Everyone, you need to get this series. I've only read a sample for book one but I'm getting the series. This book is so intense and engaging. One moment you're a teen and next you're oldest person left on the planet. Freaky. Michael Grant has six books in the series, the last one Light will be out in 2013.

Book Description off Harper Teen

In the blink of an eye.

Everyone disappears.

Gone.

Everyone except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not a single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Gone, too, are the phones, internet, and television. There is no way to get help.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen and war is imminent.

The first in a breathtaking saga about teens battling each other and their darkest selves, gone is a page-turning thriller that will make you look at the world in a whole new way.

I recommend everyone who loves reading conspiracy theories, science fiction, adventure, action, ya and just any book that gets your blood pumping with can't-put-it-down goodness...to get this book NOW.

In other news Rachael Becoming Red will be released on Smash Words by March 10, 2012. From there it will be distributed to Barnes and Noble, Amazon and other websites that network with Smash Words bookselling.

Also to all my followers who didn't get a chance to read the prologue to my soon to be an actual w.i.p. manuscript Circa. Click
here. Circa is about a teenage girl who's turned into a computer program then gets a second chance at life.

Ebook cover for Rachael Becoming Red

Update: Release date moved to March 10, 2012.

My novel isn't coming out until February 20, 2012 but here's the cover. After trying to create a cover by myself (total fail) and using another ebook cover artist (won't name her out of respect but her work was poor) who thought I was too dumb to check on the progress and cancel crappy work, I found nataliepink. Her order page on Fiverr seemed well done but I was still a little wary due to my past experience with another cover artist who had very nice ebook samples but herself did terrible work (I cancelled after the seller refused to communicate with me when I made it clear the cover needed a complete overhaul). But nataliepink was different. From just going back and forth with her before ordering it was obvious she wanted to help. After I ordered we worked together in finding the best layout and characters for my cover. The process went so smoothly it actually was done a day earlier. Below is the end result and I'm certain the art and ebook creating impaired and not so impaired can agree it looks awesome and was worth paying just five bucks.

Rachael Becoming Red Excerpt

The following is an excerpt from my upcoming ebook YA novel Rachael Becoming Red. It's a pre-novel to the Red Series. You can comment here and/or send feedback on twitter: #RachaelBecomingRed

Quick Summary: Rachael Wood loses her family in a brutal animal attack. Years later she finds out from Terry that werewolves exist and that knowledge eventually leads not only to the killers but a confrontation with her own village and their secrets.

Rachael Becoming Red

Chapter One

......

"Rachael..."

"How do you know my name?" I asked stepping back.

"Your family was mentioned at the meeting. I'm sure you were there." He pointed out. "Rachael, the man you ran from smelled you. He had your scent and could follow it to anywhere you've been over the past few days."

"I don't understand," I said, "how do I smell?"

The man sighed. "He killed your family while he waited for you. He must've become impatient. The council said Amanda kept you late because of the man you saw."

My legs gave way and I fell in the dirt. My family died because of me? Mom, dad, the twins, my big brother. How could they all be killed by a rampaging werewolf? Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. My brother would've tried to get the twins out and anyone who wanted to harm my family had to kill my dad first. He worked with lumber and was huge. There had to be a distraction because my father was killed behind our house and the rest quickly exterminated before anyone would take notice of the screaming. "How many were there sir? Why did it take Amanda and I to find them dead? Wasn't there someone else around? People still move around when they have the prayer vigil at church."

"Call me Terry," he said. "My theory is there were at least three werewolves. The strongest must've led your dad around back. Then he went about exterminating witnesses while the others dealt with the rest of your family." He walked up to me and kneeled. "It's not an easy thing to hear Red. You led that thing to your house by mistake. It wanted to turn you. Must've thought someone your age would've made a good daughter for his mate or something. Most children don't survive the change anyway. A few months at best. Terrible thing to do to a child. Be glad it didn't happen to you."

"He wanted a kid? Why didn't he just have one?"

Terry chuckled. "Werewolf D.N.A. is different from human D.N.A. It's hard for a werewolf male to impregnate anybody. It takes several attempts and even then some babies are born deformed. One even had a werewolf head in my records. Never went away, he was shot days later."

I was horrified. Monster or not it was a baby. I promised myself I'd never harm children. No matter where my quest to find my family's killers took me. I was no child killer. "Did they at least bury him?"

"Yeah, a shame." Terry looked up at the night sky. I looked at his hands and saw them in his pockets. So nonchalant about the death of a baby. A baby that never chose to have a monster head in the first place. It made me angry.

"You bully!" I cried and started hitting his legs. "A baby is precious and defenseless! How dare you ok one being shot just because he had a wolfhead. You're just a big meanie," i declared hitting him harder.

Suddenly I was in the air. Terry had grabbed me by the collar and lifted me to his face. His glasses were gone and his eyes were furious. He shook me twice then flung me on the ground. "No one hits me, not even stupid little girls!" he raged and kicked me.

I screamed. I knew immediately he had broken something. I felt around and got shooting pain by my ribs. This would take a long time to heal here. I slowly propped myself up and took out my whistle. It would bring someone to my aid in minutes. I'll tell them everything this mean man said. That he's just as bad as the monsters.

"Wait," Terry said suddenly. "Don't blow that."

"Why not, I'm injured. And you kicked me, what if I can't have babies?"

"Huh? No, no," Terry said coming closer. "You can still have beautiful babies. As many as you want. Just don't blow that whistle. It will only bring trouble." He was beside me now and I realized how far I had flown.

"You hurt me," I said tearfully, "why did you do it? I'm just a little girl." I broke into tears. My tummy hurt a lot and I knew I couldn't stand up. My fist grabbed a handful of grass and tore it out.

"Rachael look at me," Terry said stroking my face, "I can help you fight these creatures. Make you strong enough that noven I can harm you without injury. You'll be able to find out who killed your family and maybe one day return to protect your village." He took me in his arms and lifted me off the ground. I leaned into him but still held unto my whistle.

Yes! I found the perfect Song!

I went looking for a song for my Rachael becoming Red novel. I did something different from many authors. Most just create a playlist of well known songs that they couldn't possible afford to play if they decided to ask permission.

I took a different tack. Going to Jamendo I looked for songs that had creative licenses that allowed you to either play it on your website cheaply with permission or free. I found a song quickly. Paul Lisak and After the Ice - It Happens all the Time . The song is in the alternative category and has the perfect angsty style for a story about a girl who lost her family. I hope to try and contact the creators tomorrow.

I also did a lot of editing for my online store. I don't have any items on sale yet but here's the website.
http://queendsheena.weebly.com/

This was a very productive day. Look out for my novel 'Rachael Becoming Red' on December 15, 2011 on the Kindle.