Meet Author Hannah Lokos

Hannah Lokos is a fellow author at Champagne Books Group.

Hannah Lokos is a sleep-deprived college student. She’s a biology major by day and an author at night, writing usually between the hours of 1 and 4 a.m.  She’s wanted to be a published author ever since she was five years old. Now, fifteen years later, she finally is! Her first novel to be published, Labyrinth of Lies, was released this December 2, 2013 by Champagne Book Group. Fun facts about Hannah? She has climbed Mt. Whitney, been stung by a jellyfish, and yes, unfortunately, she’s even eaten a cricket. (It was dead, so no worries!) She likes anything artsy, enjoys challenges, and absolutely loves cats.

Book Blurb:

"Something foul is afoot in Ancient Greece. Athens is bruised from a previous war with Crete. Worse still, King Minos annually demands fourteen Athenian youths to be fed to the Cretan Minotaur, which is locked inside a maze. Theseus has grown up amidst this tangle of pain. When his own beloved, Zosemine, is taken to be fed to the Minotaur, Theseus finds himself at the heart of a web of conflicting motives, with the sense that even those closest to him cannot be trusted. Questions abound. Why is his father so ashamed? What is King Minos hiding? Is the Minotaur even real? And if not, what truly lies at the heart of the labyrinth? Little does Theseus know that all the various plots, motives, and secrets all weave around one terrible truth. Theseus must navigate the labyrinth and see past the masks, to slay the Minotaur.”

Excerpt:

Pallas raised his eyebrows. “You are brave, indeed, if you seek to kill the Minotaur. I dearly hope you succeed, for blessed is the one who will rid us of that beast. But the world is a fearsome place, Theseus. It is filled with twisted hearts and hopes and dreams. You think to enter the Minotaur’s maze once you arrive in Crete, but here you are wrong, Theseus. You have already entered the labyrinth—you were born into it, and in it, you can trust no one.

Links:

Buy Links:

http://burstbooks.ca/product.php?id_product=114

http://www.amazon.com/Labyrinth-Of-Lies-Hannah-Lokos-ebook/dp/B00H1ZC0NW/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Social Media:

Email: hannahlokos.writer@gmail.com

Website: www.hannahlokos.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hannah-Lokos/358739397569904

Twitter: https://twitter.com/

GooglePlus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110488086288456380245/posts

Meet Author Hannah Lokos

Hannah Lokos is a fellow author at Champagne Books Group.

Hannah Lokos is a sleep-deprived college student. She’s a biology major by day and an author at night, writing usually between the hours of 1 and 4 a.m.  She’s wanted to be a published author ever since she was five years old. Now, fifteen years later, she finally is! Her first novel to be published, Labyrinth of Lies, was released this December 2, 2013 by Champagne Book Group. Fun facts about Hannah? She has climbed Mt. Whitney, been stung by a jellyfish, and yes, unfortunately, she’s even eaten a cricket. (It was dead, so no worries!) She likes anything artsy, enjoys challenges, and absolutely loves cats.

Book Blurb:

"Something foul is afoot in Ancient Greece. Athens is bruised from a previous war with Crete. Worse still, King Minos annually demands fourteen Athenian youths to be fed to the Cretan Minotaur, which is locked inside a maze. Theseus has grown up amidst this tangle of pain. When his own beloved, Zosemine, is taken to be fed to the Minotaur, Theseus finds himself at the heart of a web of conflicting motives, with the sense that even those closest to him cannot be trusted. Questions abound. Why is his father so ashamed? What is King Minos hiding? Is the Minotaur even real? And if not, what truly lies at the heart of the labyrinth? Little does Theseus know that all the various plots, motives, and secrets all weave around one terrible truth. Theseus must navigate the labyrinth and see past the masks, to slay the Minotaur.”

Excerpt:

Pallas raised his eyebrows. “You are brave, indeed, if you seek to kill the Minotaur. I dearly hope you succeed, for blessed is the one who will rid us of that beast. But the world is a fearsome place, Theseus. It is filled with twisted hearts and hopes and dreams. You think to enter the Minotaur’s maze once you arrive in Crete, but here you are wrong, Theseus. You have already entered the labyrinth—you were born into it, and in it, you can trust no one.

Links:

Buy Links:

http://burstbooks.ca/product.php?id_product=114

http://www.amazon.com/Labyrinth-Of-Lies-Hannah-Lokos-ebook/dp/B00H1ZC0NW/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Social Media:

Email: hannahlokos.writer@gmail.com

Website: www.hannahlokos.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hannah-Lokos/358739397569904

Twitter: https://twitter.com/

GooglePlus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110488086288456380245/posts

Global E-Book Award Winner Suzanne de Montigny

Fantasy, that world that exists in an author’s mind to share with readers, one that transports us away to another time, another place, another culture. Award winning author, Suzanne de Montigny talks about her tween novel, The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, winner of the Global E-Book Award for Best Fantasy/Alternate History. And she says she’ll give a free copy to one lucky person who leaves a comment at the end of the blog. Welcome Suzanne. Please tell us about your novel.

Thank you, Victoria. The story began as an off-shoot of a class project in grade six. I was fascinated with horses, but never got one, and so I wrote about unicorns instead. The project got an A, and the teacher made me read it to the rest of the class. I always kept this little novella with me for some reason, and I guess the reason was I was meant to write a new unicorn tale to share later on in life.

The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy takes place 12,000 years ago when all the beasts of the earth dwelled together, unicorns, lions, dinosaurs…you name it. They were all there. When the great stallion is summoned to the dinosaur’s valley, he and his son Azaria meet Darius-the-seer, a young dinosaur who foretells a cataclysmic event. Disaster strikes in the form of a great asteroid and the unicorns struggle to survive. But nothing compares to the coming of the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs, the humans. Their leader, Ishmael, will stop at nothing including extinction in his pursuit of the healing power of their horns. If you want to watch my booktrailer, here’s the link:

http://youtu.be/St9OsyK974o

That sounds fascinating, Suzanne. How did you come up with such ideas?

I haven’t a clue. They just came as I wrote. I liked the dinosaur from my original story, and so had to figure out a way to make unicorns and dinosaurs hang out. Thus the asteroid that destroys the entire dinosaur population except for Darius. When the humans arrived, my imagination went absolutely wild. Suddenly there were ghosts and rotten teenagers, and gosh, all sorts of things. I went nuts. That’s what I like about writing. I tell people it’s like reading a really good book except that you’re writing it. I have a few events in mind to guide me as I write, but the rest just kind of happens.

How did you feel when you received word you had won a Global E-Book Award?

I found out at about 10:30 at night right before going to sleep. I squealed with delight and jumped up and down. Of course I couldn’t sleep for hours afterward. It’s just so nice to be recognized for all my hard work.

Are there any other unicorn stories on the horizon?

Yes, I’m working like a mad woman to rewrite an earlier version of the second of the series. This book takes place 60 years into the future when the Legacy of Azaria has been twisted to suit the corrupt leader of the herd. Terrible things happen at his hands, or I mean hooves, and Ulysees must search for the truth before it’s too late. And just to give you a hint, Darius-the-seer is found again!

Where can we get a copy of your novel?

At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Shadow-Unicorn-Legacy-ebook/dp/B00AIVD5EE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354909859&sr=8-1&keywords=the+shadow+of+the+unicorn%3A+the+legacy

Kobo:  http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/Search?Query=the+shadow+of+the+unicorn%3A+the+legacy

And  Muse It Up Publishing, one of Canada’s fastest growing publishers: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=466&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=230&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Thanks Suzanne. This has been really interesting. Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment to win a copy of Suzanne’s novel.

Play the What If Game with Author, K.L. Pickett

The “What If?” Game
with Author, K.L. Pickett

            Like many authors, I’m often asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” Most of my stories start out with one simple question: What if?...

            That’s how my middle-grade science fiction eBook SEVENTH GRADE (ALIEN!) HERO began. After watching a falling star (which is really a meteor), I asked myself “What if someone were to find that meteorite? And what if the meteorite turned out to be a tiny spaceship? My story was off and running!

            As a fourth grade teacher, one of my major tasks is to help students become good writers. It never fails when I give my students a topic to write about, one of them says, “But I can’t think of anything to write!”

            That’s when I play the “What if?” game with them. It’s a game I play with myself when I write a story. For example, here is a possible writing prompt: Write a short story about being lost. The “What If?” game might go like this:

Start with the setting:

·        What if I got lost in a mall?

·        What if I got lost in a forest?

·        What if I got lost in an amusement park?

·        What if I got lost in a haunted house?

·        What if I get lost on another planet?

After you have decided on a setting, think about why you got lost:

·        What if I stopped to tie my shoe and my family went on without me?

·        What if I was camping and went to fetch some wood?

·        What if I was visiting a friend and he ditched me as we rode our bikes?

·        What if a bully was chasing me?

·        What if I ran away from home?

Next think about the characters in your story:

·        What if you’re lost by yourself?

·        What if you’re lost with a dog or cat or horse?

·        What if you’re lost with someone you hate?

·        What if you’re lost with a young sister or brother?

·        What if you’re lost with a space alien?

You might also want to think about the time and weather:

·        What if you’re lost during a tornado or hurricane?

·        What if you’re lost late at night?

·        What if you’re lost when it’s really hot?

·        What if you’re lost and it snows?

·        What if you’re lost for several days?

Another thing to think about is how you’ll solve the problem of being lost:

·        What if you follow your dog (cat, dog, horse) home?

·        What if you climb a tree to see where you are?

·        What if you wait until morning?

·        What if find a safe place to stay until after the storm?

·        What if you work with your enemy to come up with a plan?

Finally, look back at all of the ideas you came up with. Choose an interesting setting. Pick a reason for being lost. Decide if you’re lost by yourself or with someone else. Select a time of day and the type of weather. Figure out how you solve your problem.

            Now you have everything you need to write a great story. All that’s left to do is to write it down.

So never again can you say, “I can’t think of anything to write.” Just play the “What If?” game, and you’ll have more ideas than stars in the sky!

 

K.L. Pickett

Author SEVENTH GRADE (ALIEN!) HERO

By MuseItUp Publishing

www.klpickett.weebly.com

Kay LaLone's Writing Pet Peeve

Author, Kay LaLone

My writing pet peeve

Hi, I’m Kay LaLone author of Ghostly Clues. My first middle grade novel and I hope not my last. Everyone has a pet peeve, right? My pet peeve is people’s attitude or misconception they have about writers. Most people I know think writing is just a hobby, not a job or a career. Writing is hard work. I have worked years on my craft and have written many stories that might not ever get published. But that is not why I write. I write because I love to write and I have a story to tell whether I ever get another book published or not. (Hopefully I do) To me writing is a career, a job.

I’m a stay-at-home mom which is a job that I love also. I have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law (still waiting on grandchildren) and a teenage son still at home. Writing and mothering are very similar because first I must learn to listen to my characters just like I listen to my children. I need to know them, now what they want and need. Once I know my characters, then I’m able to tell their story. Just like my children, my characters need to grow. How do my characters grow? I put them into situations, conflicts, and problems. There have been many problems my children have gone through that have taught them and as a result they have grown. When my characters have grown and are ready, I send them out into the world. Just like my two older sons.  My teen is still learning and growing.

So it bothers me when people think writing is just a hobby and not a career. People don’t realize that writing is hard work especially when my characters aren’t talking to me. (I’ve been there plenty of times with my kids) Then once I do get a rough draft, there is like what a million revisions to go through before I feel it is ready to send to a publisher. Once I send my masterpiece out (we all write masterpieces, right?), then comes the rejections, and then more revisions before I get the courage to send it back out. Then a magical day happens and there is a publisher who wants to publish my story. (thank you MuseItUp) Happy dance time before back to work on edits. Publication day comes and my book is out there for the world so see. How exciting. My job is done. I can sit back and relax while the money rolls in. Umm … no. Now it is promoting time. Getting the attention of my readers to read my book is hard work. Sometimes I find it hard to work on my next project, but I do.

So people can’t tell me that writing is just a hobby. To me my writing is a career and that is the way I look at it. I work at my writing everyday. And I know someday, my attitude will help my friends and family understand that yes writing is a career. It may take a lifetime to make any money at my career. But one of these days, I hope to make a living off my writing. If I don’t make a lot of money, I’ll continue to write because just like being Mom I love to tell my characters stories. Believe me. My characters have a lot of stories to tell.

Thank you, Victoria, for hosting me on your blog.

Media Kit for Ghostly Clues

Blurb

The sweet scent of lilacs permeates the air around Grandma’s gravesite. Only Sarah Kay can smell Grandma’s favorite flower, and they’re not even in bloom. 

Sarah Kay and her best friend, Mary Jane, believe the lilacs are a sign from Grandma’s ghost. The girls follow one ghostly clue after another, uncovering a secret that Mom never wanted Sarah Kay to know.

Grandma makes sure Sarah Kay gets the message even from the grave. As the evidence piles up, Mom still refuses to accept the possibility Sarah Kay’s father is alive.

Sarah Kay finds Dad’s parents. A set of grandparents she didn’t realize existed. They make it clear her father is alive but days and miles separate the father and daughter reunion because Dad is a truck driver on a long haul. 

Sarah Kay waits. The news reports a fatal car accident involving a semi and Sarah Kay fears the worse. She runs away which leads to Dad and the truth, Mom wanted Dad to remain dead.

Dad had faked his death so why not just stay dead.  The ghostly clues of Grandma wouldn’t allow Dad to remain dead to Sarah Kay.

Excerpt

The house was blanketed in a quiet slumber. I snuggled under the sleeping bag with Allison, trying not to think about ghosts, as I drifted to sleep.

Random pictures floated in my mind like ghostly images.

I tiptoed among tombstones and my heart ached as if I had lost something or someone. He had to be here, somewhere. The gravestones rose like stone walls. No names engraved on them. No dates. No R.I.P. Nothing. Just smooth, flat stones. Ghosts—grayish, smoky forms with black eyes—floated over the tombstones.  I shivered, suddenly cold, freezing. My breath visible like a little ghost. I didn’t want to look at the ghost anymore so I looked down at my feet. A tombstone with Grandma’s name appeared out of nowhere. The earth moved. The dirt around the headstone broke away and gnarled fingers clawed their way into the air, searching, grasping. Shriveled fingers clutched my leg.  

Something grabbed at my leg—the hand, I screamed and frantically wiggled out of my sleeping bag, bumping MJ as I tried to get away from the hand I thought I felt grab at my leg.

Bio

I’m Kay LaLone. Ghostly Clues is my first middle grade novel published by MuseItUp. I live in Michigan with my husband and teenage son (two older sons and a daughter-in-law live near by) and two dogs and a cat. I love to get up every morning and write about ghosts, the paranormal, and anything that goes bump in the night. Or anything that interest my characters. Making my characters come to life for readers is important to a good story. I’m an avid reader of just about any type of book. I do reviews on the books I read and post them on my website and blog.

Links

MuseItUp

http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=527&category_id=144&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

My website   www.kaylalone.weebly.com

My blog  www.kaylalone.blogspot.com

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/ghostlyclues

Twitter   https://twitter.com/kaylalone

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostly-clues-kay-lalone/1114821562?ean=2940044359321

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-Clues-ebook/dp/B00AFGJRLM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365020103&sr=8-1&keywords=ghostly+clues

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/292448