I am thrilled and honored to be part of this year's Writers for Hope auction to support victims of sexual abuse. The annual auction includes many writing and publishing related items, all with a starting bid of ten dollars, and 100% of the profits go to RAINN the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. Donors range from bestsellers like James Patterson and Saaba Tahir to publishers and agents. I am items 10 and 68, but please check out the full auction! https://www.writersforhope.com/2017auctionitems
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Today, I want to feature fellow author Debbie Manber Kupfer to talk about her newest release: Umbrae! |
Step into the Shadows of Umbrae ... Miri’s world at P.A.W.S. in St. Louis is falling apart. First, Danny is accused of stealing her opapa’s charm. But before he can defend himself, he mysteriously disappears. Miri seeks Josh for help and advice, but he too has gone missing. Then Lilith has a vision – Miri dragged away by wolves. Miri needs answers, answers that she feels sure are hidden in the blank pages of the book of Argentum. With the help of Lilith, she travels to the ancient city of Safed. There, with the aid of a mystical rabbi and an outspoken werecat, her omama’s story is slowly revealed. And Miri uncovers something else, a world hidden deep beneath our own – the labyrinth of shadows also known as Umbrae. Available on Amazon Join the Facebook event |
It's February, a month often associated with love, and in MythicMondays, I mentioned the story of Cupid's most famous love affair. Psyche was a mortal who was so beautiful, people started worshiping her as a goddess of love. Jealous, Venus sent her son Cupid to force her to fall in love with a monster. Cupid accidentally scratched his leg with his arrow, falling in love with Psyche himself. Psyche's father consulted an oracle, and decided to sacrifice her, to avoid the wrath of Venus. Cupid convinced the west wind, Zephyr, to abduct Psyche for him, saving her from being sacrificed. She awoke in a magnificent palace. Every night Cupid visited her, but remained hidden in shadow and darkness, since he wanted her to love him for himself and not because he's a god. Psyche fell in love with Cupid, but she became terribly homesick. Unable to refuse her anything, Cupid granted her a visit with her sisters. Zephyr brought Psyche's evil sisters to the palace. Jealous of her opulent life, they convinced her she's been loving a monster. Under their advisement Psyche used a lamp to illuminate Cupid while he slept and find out the truth of her sisters words. She startles him awake. Angry that she didn't trust him, he cast her out of the palace and returned to Olympus. Psyche wandered the world, suffering from love sickness. She went to Venus and begged her to intervene and convince Cupid to return to her. Venus doesn't believe that Psyche is good enough for her son, so she sends her to complete impossible tasks to earn her blessing. Psyche meets every challenge, determined to win back Cupids love. Cupid, upon watching his loved one struggle to win back his love, saves her from the disastrous last task in the underworld that nearly takes her soul. He begs Jupiter, King of the Gods, for help. Jupiter grants Psyche immortality, and a great wedding for Psyche and Cupid is held in the heavens, with all gods present. Their love became a symbol for the first "soulmates" for artists and writers for the rest of time. | |
I enjoy working with him, but there are a few difficulties.
For starters, he really likes to throw his weight around. Once he gets on a roll, there's no stopping him. He also drops the ball a lot. I try to pick up the slack, and the ball, and everything else.
The new boss sleeps on the job, and even makes a mess in the office. He's lately got me confused with one of my fellow co-workers ("Mama") and can really throw a fit if we don't listen to his ideas, and sometimes even if we do.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday season. This is my son's first Christmas (pictured below) and we are thankful for him and for all of our readers.
I became stranded in Tintagel, and the following morning I climbed to the edge of that rocky piece of land pictured above, fighting fierce winds as I watched the dawn. The experience inspired me to write about a character attacked from all sides, totally alone, and the inspiration quickly evolved to become The Scythe Wielder's Secret.
Today, I am thankful for the experience, and nostalgic for my trip. The entire original blog post about Tintagel, written 5 years ago, with many pictures, can be found HERE
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are eight contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PURPLE TEAM- which is good because it's my favorite color-but there is also a red team, an orange team, a gold team, a green team, a teal team, a blue team, a and a pink team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've hidden my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the purple team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Oct 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
SCAVENGER HUNT POST
I'm thrilled to host Norwegian YA author NINA ROSSING, and her book FJORD BLUE, published by Harmony Ink Press.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24955343-fjord-blue
Author Website: http://www.ninarossing.com
Twitter: @NinaRossing
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorNinaRossing
Seventeen-year-old Benjamin is shipped off to work on his grandparents’ remote farm in the fjords of Western Norway for the summer. It’s not like he didn’t deserve it. After all, he crashed his dad’s vintage Bonneville in a car-chase duel on a Miami freeway. Ben is mad at the world and not ready to reveal the reason for his bad behavior the past year, when he partied and got into fights to forget his attraction to his best friend’s hot cousin Dino.
Norway is cold and rainy, the farm is desolate and resists modernization, and the grandparents are quiet and religious. On to the scene waltzes Even, the eighteen-year-old farmhand, who counters Ben’s restlessness and complaints with friendship, fresh perspectives, and problems of his own.
With the mounting expectations of Ben taking over the farm one day, getting closer to Even becomes Ben’s only reason to stay put. As the friendship deepens, the two boys learn that secrets can turn into both beautiful and ugly truths, and that support can be found in unexpected places.
Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/Nina-Rossing/e/B00MTBAP3K/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nina-Rossing/e/B00MTBAP3K/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Publisher:
https://www.harmonyinkpress.com/books/fjord-blue-by-nina-rossing-361-b
The Book Depository:
http://www.bookdepository.com/Fjord-Blue-Nin-Rossing/9781634763851?ref=grid-view
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fjord-blue-nina-rossing/1123437579?ean=9781634763851
And, as a special treat for the YA Scavenger Hunt, Nina's shared a playlist and an inspiration board. Check both out below, and then CLICK HERE for Nina's own rafflecopter giveaway (more chances to win great stuff!)
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