Waiting On Wednesday: Level 2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Publication Date: January 15, 2013

Summary on Goodreads: Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow prisoners, Felicia passes the endless hours downloading memories and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and the boy she loved, Neil.

Then a girl in a neighboring chamber disappears, and nobody but Felicia seems to recall she existed in the first place. Something is obviously very wrong. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, she learns the truth: a rebellion is brewing to overthrow the Morati, the guardians of Level 2.

Felicia is reluctant to trust Julian, but then he promises what she wants the most—to be with Neil again—if only she’ll join the rebels. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself in the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

This book has an amazing cover and the concept is mind blowing. I can't wait for 2013 to be able to purchase this gem.

Pages From My Thoughts: Win a Signed Copy of Struck Giveaway

Today I'm featuring a giveaway from fellow blogger Soumi March.

Her blog Pages for My Thoughts is offering a signed copy of Struck by Jennifer Bosworth. The giveaway page also has an interview with Jennifer and reads can find out more about the book and the author herself. To enter giveaway click here. This giveaway is international and ends July 20, 2012. Good luck.

Author: Jennifer Bosworth

Sacrifice Her: A Promo

For all those in the know Sacrifice Her is my debut novella set for release this August. For those less informed Sacrifice Her has antagonist Deidra Moore escaping human sacrifice to go on the run into the dessert surrounding her home, Faux City. She doesn't believe in the Gods her people worship for divine protection but they do. Lord Brinn their leader is persnally tasked with the job of bringing her back and completing the sacrifice. Failure means destruction of Faux City. Unless Deidra's right and there's really no God at all.

Please Note: I have posted new stock photo images on this post as of January 13, 2013. Feel free to use these as badges. Thank you.

Interviews

Deidra and Lord Brinn

Lord Brinn

Character Interview: Lord Brinn from Sacrifice Her

I sit with a sheet of paper. Today I will be trying to interview Lord Brinn once again. If you're unfamiliar with the failed attempt click here. Lord Brinn is the main antagonist in Sacrifice Her

Lord Brinn walks in wearing golden robes and carrying a bouquet of flowers.

Me: Um, Good Morning Lord Brinn.

Lord Brinn: For you.

I take the flowers as he sits down. I have nowhere to place them but the small tabler between us.

Me: Thank you, white roses. Nice.

Lord Brinn: I'm sorry about getting off on the wrong foot scri... I mean Sheena-kay.

I force myself to keep up a smile. At least he called me by name.

Me: So let's get to the interview. I have five questions like I did with Deidra.

Lord Brinn: Yes she really showed me up the other day.

I look on in silence. I never recalled it going like that at all.

Me: First question. Why do you have to do human sacrifices for The God of Gore.

Lord Brinn: Long ago before my generation's time. We were cared for by another god. I will not call her name but we disrespected her and l;ost her blessings. She was merciful enough not to destroy us but she left my ancestors to the mercies of other gods and sypernatural elements which harm anything or anyone left unprotected. For a time my people were slaves to the The River Women. Able to transform into sea creatures, they were terrible masters to my people who once lived on an island. You see being surrounded by water left us at their mercy and those who tried to escape had their boats smashed to bits and were eaten by the River Women and their children which were creatures of the sea. Then one day God of Gore offered our people salvation. For yearly sacrfices he'd take us away from the island and to an oasis in the desert where the River Woman couldn't venture. We accepted and today we still do human sacrifices in servitude, worship and gratitude to God of Gore's gift of our freeeom to us.

Me: Excuse me but isn't that just exchanging one prison for another?

Lord Brinn: If our lives are as prisoners. I'd rather it be on our terms than the random lashings and brutality of moody river womem.

Me: Hmmm...next question. Why did God of Gore task you with returning her? Aren't there guards and specific individuals tasked with doing that?

Lord of Brinn: (sigh) Alas there was incident years ago I'd rather not talk about. All I'll say is that it had to with the human sacrfices and was before my time. It left God of Gore very angry and among other punishments he increased the number of human sacrifices, terrible affair.

Me: What kind of family life do you have?

Lord Brinn: I have a wonderful family. As Top Class I wanted for nothing and my family line is full of leaders, advisors and men of worth. I was married in my early teens and have two sons and one daughter. I have a statue up in my honour you know. Want to see?

Me (carefully) Sure.

Lord Brinn proudly shows a drawing of his statue. A large several feet long scroll version.

Me (slowly) : Great. Huge.

Lord Brinn: Of course you're too awed to say many things. On with the interview.

I stare intently at my interview sheet before looking up.

Me: What would happen if you fail to recapture Deidra?

Lord Brinn: One of three things. None of them good. All end with our lives in the crapper. The best being God of Gore increases the number of human sacrifices expenentially and worst he destroys the city and everything it. I'd rather not discuss it anymore.

Me: Oh. Final question. What would you if Deidra's right?

Lord Brinn: Blasphemy! I refuse to answer that question. (whispers) Are you trying to bring down God of Gore's wrath.

Me: No because I believe in a God who'd kick his blood loving ass.

Lord Brinn: So you serve a god too?

Me: Christianity has a different set of rules but yes.

Lord Brinn: You have some good morals. Maybe even for a second wife.

Me: Um, I think this interview is over. Farewell Lord Brinn.

Lord Brinn: Wait, I was going to invite you on a night tour of Faux City.

I dash off grasping my belongins to my chest.

Lord Brinn leans back in his seat.

Lord Brinn: She wants me.

Book Review Thursday: Let's Get Invisible

Let's Get Invisible by R.L. Stine
Genre: Horror
Published: Steptember 01, 2003 (first published January 1, 1993)
Source: Borrowed at Library
First heard of: Through reading Goosebumps books.
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Summary from Barnes and Noble: In this spooky, middle-grade thriller, Max and his friends discover that being able to be invisible isn't so terrific if you can't make yourself reappear.

When a magic mirror holds twelve-year-old Max invisible for too long, he fears that he may be changed forever by a reflection of his real self.

Review: Today I'll be taking many readers back to their childhood by reviewing a book from the goosebumps series. To me R.L. Stine.  Max and his friends find a mirror in the attic that can make you invisible. This seems great at first until things start taking a darker turn. His annoying younger brother Lefty doesn't help and as things go south Matt needs to save both himself and those around him. Goosebumps series are the perfect books for small children. The plot is simple yet interesting and the end always leaves some surprise or new horror for the main character. For children it's an excellent. I loved them as a kid and still love some now. But adult hood does expand your reading palette and when I reread this book at the library earlier this year I noticed the simplicity of the plot and the faults of writing a book for a younger crowd who won't notice plot holes or quick fixes 'word wise' to get a desired effect.

I still love Goosebumps and R.L. Stine's works mind you. But I can see why this one won't be in the top 100 best written books for children.

Rating: I will give this two ratings.

Me now: 3 Stars (meaning a solid read but nothing necessarily special)

My Childhood Self: 4.5 Stars

P.S. : Lord Brinn's interview will be tomorrow. Don't know who he his? Click here to familiarize yourselves.

Character Interview: Deidra Moore and Lord Brinn

Today I will be interviewing Deidra Moore and Lord Brinn from my August debut novella Sacrifice Her. This will be Book one in The Sacrifice Series and if you'd like you can see interviews for book two (The Choice) characters Jessica Hatfield  and Joseph Rowe.

Me: Hello Deidra, Lord Brinn.

Both sit in chairs bristling at each other. The female brinette adjusts her dress and blonde Lord Brinn sits statuesque in his white robes.

Me: Ok, I have five questions for each of you. Deidra goes first. Tell me about yourself and your home.

Deidra: I'm a teenager from Faux City. We have a class system to keep order and most believe in Gods watching over us. Faux does sacrifices to please God of Gore in exchange for keeping us safe from harm.

Me: In Sacrifice Her you decide to run instead of dying. Why?

Deidra: Why? Because I want to live and I think this God stuff is crap!

Lord Brinn: Blashemy!!

Me: Lord Brinn please. Your turn is coming.

Lord Brinn sits back red faced.

Me: In my novella you meet someone while on the run. Can you tell a little about him?

Deidra: His name is Kale. He's a wanderer who thinks it's time for the world to end. That it's become too rotten. He's also strong and kind.... he's nice but I can't stand him sometimes.

Me: Would you ever go home?

Deidra: I miss my family but no.

Me: What if Lord Brinn and your city is right about the Gods and their wrath if you don't get sacrficed.

Deidra pales and refuses to answer.

Lord Brinn smiles superiorly.

Me: Well I guess it's your turn Lord Brinn.

Lord Brinn: The best is always saved for last. Hello commoner.

Me: Um let's stick with Sheena-kay.

Lord Brinn: You're a commoner.

I do my best not to lose my patience.

Me: Call me writer or something.

Lord Brinn: Ok scribe, talk away.

Me: ??

Deidra: No you see what we deal with.

Lord Brinn: Silence!

Me: Don't talk to her like that!!

Lord Brinn: I will not stand for this.

Me: Then go home I'll interview you some other time then.

Lord Brinn: If you're lucky.

Me (mutters): Bet that's what all the unlucky ladies hear.

Deidra: Why am I not surprised.

So readers Lord Brinn will be interviewed later in the week. Keep your eyes peeled.

Waiting on Wednesday: Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1) by Sarah Rees Brenham

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Publication: September 11, 2012

Summary on Goodreads: Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?