YA Scavenger Hunt Fall 2015

Hey everybody! Welcome to the YASH Fall 2015!

I am Deidre Mapstone, your hostess on this leg of the hunt, representing TEAM PINK!

I am a stay at home mom who likes to bake, sew and write! Old fashioned loves for a new age society!
I invite you to check out the #Awethors & #IndieBooksBeSeen any time over on Twitter for some amazing authors and books! Welcome to my blog, and enjoy the hunt!

This biannual event was created by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors, and a chance to win some amazing prizes! You not only get access to exclusive content from each author, but you also receive a clue to continue the hunt! Add up all the clues and you can be entered to win TEAM PINK's fabulous prize: a signed copy of each book on the team!

Don't delay! This hunt, and all the authors' bonus material will only be available for 72 hours! 

Now, let's get to the rules so you can get on with the hunting!

How to Scavenger Hunt

Directions: Below you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on TEAM PINK, and then add them up (don't worry, this isn't a test, you can use a calculator).

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, be sure to fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize! You must have the correct final number to qualify.

Rules: Open internationally. Anyone under 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 October 4th, noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

If you have any problems or questions, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page. There are 8 contests running in total! You can go enter all of them at the Scavenger Hunt page for a chance to win a whole other set of signed books!

With all of the technical jargon out of the way, let's meet one of TEAM PINK's authors!

I am pleased to be hosting Hilary Thompson!

I’m Hilary, and I used to be such a practical girl. Then I let the stories out.

Now I create worlds, people, and problems that are grounded in real life, if you accept that real life has magic around every turn.

I was born to parents who made a habit of taking roads less traveled. But I was also a first child, and an independent, willful child, so I’ve made a habit of taking a few roads on my own.

Now I teach Creative Writing, English, and AP Literature, write whenever and wherever I can, and read as much as my eyes can handle. I play superheroes and dress up games and read books in bed with my own independent, willful children and play at homesteading and world traveling with my wonderful soulmate of a husband. I tend to ignore laundry and dirty dishes.

Deidre here - I too ignore my dirty dishes and laundry...maybe it's a writer thing!

The book Hilary is sharing with us is Balance Broken Starbright, Book Two. Let's take a look!

The world cries for Order, but she’s igniting a revolution.

One hundred years before, the Great Sickness reduced the world to three cities. Now, Asphodel no longer lingers underground, and the Starbright Maiden of Justice has returned.

Everyone has faith in Astrea’s ability to save the world – but only she knows the dark truth about her powers.

Trea teams with Stian, Lexan, and Zarea to enlist the help of Lord Hadeon of Tartarus. They hope Hadeon will aid in attacking Asphodel’s First Leader Keirna, but the Destroyer usually takes lives, not sides.

As Trea discovers life outside of Asphodel, she begins to wonder whether the remaining world is too broken to save – especially since the price of freedom just might be her own life.

Wow! Sorry, Deidre here again - That sounds amazing! I absolutely am in love with all the names! It sounds like a riveting story! And a redhead on the cover...I am loving it all already!

You can find this and all of the Starbright series books at Hilary's Book Store!

!*!*!BONUS CONTENT ALERT!*!*!

A special scene from the Balance Broken story!

The Destroyer Finds Peace

            A man’s face bends closer to mine. I can barely focus my eyes, but I do notice the darkness, and the tickling scent of oranges.

            “What do you remember, Irana?” he asks, his voice kind and calm but oddly distressing.

            I do not want to answer the question, but he leans in closer. I try to clear the scratchiness from my throat. “The first thing I remember is my mother, telling me she would soon be employed by Lord Hadeon, and that there was someone she’d like me to meet.”

            I feel the grin in his mind before it spreads to his lips. I’ve always been able to sense things like that – satisfaction, displeasure. I try to move to adjust my arm, which is beginning to tingle, but I can’t quite figure out how to lift it.

            “The last thing I remember is Pacem. My friend. My everything else. Being dragged away. His beautiful brown eyes were afraid, but not for himself. For me. Afraid of Lord Hadeon, and what he might do to us, now that Mother had fled.”

            The smile dims a bit, leaning more toward displeasure. I wish I could see the man well enough to know who I am speaking to. I close my eyes to rest them, hoping the burning will soon stop.

            “And do you remember how to dance?” he asks when I have been silent for a few moments. My heart stutters, then seems to stop altogether. Only one man has ever seen me dance: Lord Hadeon himself. The smile has returned to his face.

            I squeeze my eyes tighter, but I still see the darkness, lit by that infernal grin. Finally, “Perhaps,” I hear myself whisper, although I’m truly not certain if I could ever dance again.

            There is nobody left for me to dance for.

            A soft flutter wakes me, followed by a light tapping on my stomach. I open my eyes slowly, noticing the light, and the scent of houseplants. Something is glinting, moving on my stomach, and I close my fingers around it tightly, meaning to crush its robotic life from it. But it is not one of Hadeon’s machines, I realize.

            Machine, yes. But I can immediately feel the balance of its parts – peace instead of the hectic grinding and clicking of the Destroyer’s creations. I bring it closer to my face.

            A bird – made of metal? Its head tilts, pin-point black eyes helping to focus and straighten my vision. Its beak opens and a red light blinks on, then off. The belly splits apart and the smallest scrap of paper is discharged. I grasp at it, and my heart leaps in my chest as I see the writing.

            11

            This is the number Pacem and I share – it is ours alone, and insignificant to anyone but us.

            It means he is alive, and he knows where I am.

            Tears wet my still-burning eyes, and it is only then that I begin to see where I am. A pure white blanket covers my legs, and a white tent, supported by golden filigree panels and arches curve above me. But not far above – the top is actually quite near. The space is egg-shaped and barely wider than my outstretched body.

            Unease begins to spread through my limbs as I struggle to move fingers and toes, one by one. I push up, wondering at how weak I’ve grown. I have no idea how long I’ve been here, or where here really is.

            Just then the tent begins to rise around me, leaving the arches and panels. I swiftly tuck the bird under the blanket. Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I can see now that I am in a cage. Lord Hadeon stands before me, sunlight glinting behind him, throwing his face into shadows.

            He sleeks his black hair and smooths his hands over his white tunic, fingering the golden fringe along the edges of his sleeves.

            “Where is my mother?” I ask, because I can’t bear to ask the location of anyone else.

            “She is no longer with us, I’m afraid,” Hadeon answers, his face grave. I lower my eyes and wait for the feelings of sorrow, but instead I feel soothed. Peaceful. My mother was never well – not in her body, and not in her mind. Death may be kinder to her than life.

            “And…and where are we?” I ask, again hesitant to ask the only question I truly need the answer to – where is Pacem?

            “In my throne room, of course. This is an antechamber, but through that lovely screen is the very room where we first met.”

            “What do you want from me?” I ask, my mind spinning with every horrific story I have ever heard about Lord Hadeon of Tartarus, the Destroyer of Lives.

            He steps closer, his eyes shining with blackness. “You, my dear, are the first glorious piece to the puzzle which the whole world is trying to solve. You are the maiden of Peace, are you not?”

            I’d like to tell him I’m not, but he’s right, and there’s really no sense in denial. “I am.”

            “Well, then Eirênê, welcome to Tartarus.” He smiles and spreads his arms wide, as though to grant me the kingdom. Suddenly I feel very un-maidenly, and decidedly the opposite of peaceful.

            “You may call me Irana, and I already know exactly what Tartarus is. And who you really are.”

            His smile spreads even wider across his beautiful dark face, as self-delighted as a demon who has escaped the fire. “Will you stay with me?”

            I glance around at my golden cage, eyes narrowed in disbelief. “I am not a prisoner?”

            “No. Peace cannot be forced. Only chosen. So sayeth the Prophets.”

            “What is your bargain, then?” For there is one. There is always a bargain, where the Destroyer is concerned.

            He claps his hands lightly three times, and a screen slides apart behind me, opening what I had thought to be a blank wall.

            I breathe in too quickly and nearly choke when I see what the screen has been hiding.

            It is Pacem, but it is not Pacem.

            Not the way I once knew him.

            His beautiful brown eyes are no longer brown, but a glittering, glassine blue. His fine pale skin is covered over with metal sheeting, and his joints creak like those of the bird I still have clutched beneath the blanket. His steps stutter across the floor, uncertain as a newly-made child.

            My Pacem, my everything else, is barely more alive than my little robotic bird. Yet I know without thought that while he is here, I will be as well.

            Hadeon clears his throat gently. “I’ll ask again, then. Do you remember how to dance?”

            I nod without hesitation this time, and a sweet, peaceful music begins to play as I rise shakily to my feet, and Pacem is led away.

Oh, my aching heartstrings! I don't think I could go another 10 days without knowing what will happen! I don't know about you, but I am hooked! Stalking now! Feel free to join me:



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Thank you so much for visiting my blog today! It's been terrific having you! Because I love to give more than I receive, I am having a separate Rafflecopter giveaway below! Show the love and enter! Tell me in the comments when you're done, and how much fun you are having! What books are you looking forward to digging into?

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What? You're still here? Oh, you need to head over to the next page to continue the hunt! Good luck, and have fun!

Your next stop is CHASE NIGHT

Sigrun: The Bandamann Saga | Book Trailer

So excited to bring to you, my trailer for Sigrun, the Bandamann Saga! 

Thank you to my family for helping me to create this, and my daughter for her filming and editing genius!

Enjoy!

New Release!!! Kelly Hall's the Secret of Strange Waters

Hidee-ho there folks!

It's been a while since I've been here on a regular basis, but that is because I have been ultra busy networking with tons of amazing people!

Way back in January, I self published Sigrun, the Bandamann Saga. Since then, I've been swirling through the world of indie authors, and it has been incredible!

One of the first indie authors I met was Kelly Hall, author of the Light Keeper series. I helped host her release party for the first story in her series, the Legend of the Light Keeper.

By the end of the party, I'd ordered the book, and was super excited to read it! I was not disappointed! It is a wonderful YA story, with lovable characters, and a fascinating mystery! (You can read my review on Amazon, here.)

I have been looking forward to the next installment in the series ever since!

Luckily, and I don't know how she did it, we didn't have long to wait!

The Secret of Strange Waters was released August 3rd!

Stephanie Latham Stacker and Kelly Hall hosted a fabulous release party on Facebook, and I helped host once again! Of course, I ordered the book, this time for my Kindle, as I didn't want to wait for it! I am super excited to get my eyes on this book! Take a look at why, straight from Amazon:

Unfortunately for Lily Jordan, being a Light Keeper doesn't come with an instruction manual, but neither does being sixteen. While learning to use her powers, she’s confronted with unforeseen obstacles and forced to break her own rules in order to save her circle of friends. With her mom’s wedding on the horizon, will misinterpreted visions create new enemies who could threaten Lily’s exposure? Will death and heartache ruin the big day? For Lily, the answers only lead to impossible decisions. Does she embrace her powers or abandon them for false normalcy? Kelly Hall’s second book, The Secret of Strange Waters, proves paranormal powers aren’t always a blessing.

Today, Kelly has shared with us some of her characters in the story! I am both honored and excited to be able to introduce them to you. Let's take a look!

So many great characters to meet in this series! Trust me when I say, get these books today!

AAAAANNNNNNNDDDDD... in celebration of her release of the Secret of Strange Waters, the Legend of the Light Keeper is only $0.99 in digital form for the month of August! You can find it on Amazon, iTunes and B&N!

What are you waiting for???

Go start your journey with the Legend of the Light Keeper!

New Things

New Things

Coming Soon!

Since the release of my first self-published novel, Sigrun, the Bandamann Saga, I have met more authors than I could have imagined! It's been a true eye-opening experience that I will never forget!

These authors are not only amazing in their own rights, but come together to support each other in ways that I never even thought possible. I feel privileged to be a part of it all, and have been welcomed with open arms.

It's been a long while since I've posted regularly here, but that's because I was busy submersing myself into the world of the Indie Author (self published, self marketing authors). It has been a wonderful, incredible ride, and I hope to share more with you very soon!

Over the next months, I hope to bring you features on some of my new author friends! I will be blogging on their new releases, old favorites, interviews, or just to say hello!

I hope you are as excited as I am to meet some of these amazing, talented individuals! Join us soon!

Memorial Day Memoirs

When I was a young child, old enough to know that there were soldiers and wars and such, I thought they were very brave people. Even though I didn’t know why people would want to fight a war. I was a very girly girl, and didn’t understand what there could possibly be to fight that hard for.

As I entered my teen years, going into the military became something you did if you weren’t going to college. Since I knew I was going to college one day, I didn’t pay the military much attention. I knew we were supposed to respect them, etc, but I didn’t really think about them much one way or another. The only close relative I had involved in the military was a cousin, who was older than I, and that was about all I knew about him at the time.

I got older, went to college, and saw the ROTC men and women. I had respect for them, mostly based on their discipline. I was so very undisciplined at that age, and theirs was most impressive.

At that time, I can remember Desert Storm. It was the first time I remember being scared that war might come into my life. Before it was only stories and memories from older uncles. It wasn’t our life. We lived in peaceful times (or so I thought…so young…so naïve). This was the first time I thought of my brothers, and my other relatives and friends. Of course, I keep showing my lack of knowledge of military here, because I was later told there was no longer a draft. I stopped worrying. War went back to the background of my life, with a little more respect for those who actually volunteered.

Growing up in a peaceful generation made the idea of wars and military seem a mere precaution. They were there, just in case. In case of what, I could hardly imagine. Who would have the nerve to mess with the United States?

Three months after the birth of our second child, our first son, my thoughts on all of the above were changed forever. I watched 9/11 unfold live on television after I received a phone call from my dad, telling me to put the news on. (I had blissfully been watching Nickelodeon with my 4 year old daughter, like we did every morning.) I tuned in shortly after the first tower was hit, and watched as the second one was. I thought it was some sort of huge prank. I thought I had just entered the Twilight Zone. I thought it all had to be some sort of nightmare. We all know it wasn’t.

To watch events unfold afterward were more than amazing to me. Faith in humanity was strengthened to a degree that hasn’t lost its luster yet with me. Watching the military response put these people at the top of that list of humanity. I watched as the ones already listed fulfilled their duties with a bravery I could never hope to possess. I watched as many others volunteered to defend our great country. I watched the numbers of dead soldiers rise every single day. Crazy, mad respect doesn’t even cover how I felt. I said a prayer every day for the fallen soldiers. Men and women I never knew, fought for me, for my family, for my children.

How do you possibly express thanks enough to these people? How do you tell them that because of them, because of their willingness and sacrifice, you go to bed at night feeling safer? I haven’t quite figured that out, but I silently have the utmost, crazy, mad respect for every single one of them. I add the soldiers of the past to the list too. All the stories from great uncles and other families, suddenly become important and found a bigger place in my heart.

So, this great, long weekend, and unofficial start to summer marks a time when we can all take a moment to remember. Social media is over-flowing with memes, posts, expressions of thanks (this blog included). It is one of the ways that most of us choose to thank every single soldier past and present for what they do. It makes us feel good to be able to express our thanks world-wide.

The question that lingers in the back of my head is; do they know? Do they truly understand how truly thankful we are? Are the families of fallen soldiers comforted in the knowledge that they have my crazy, mad respect? The fact that they live with loss every day, makes my thanks seem terribly, terribly small.

Do the soldiers that come home with injuries both physical and mental feel like the glorious beings we see them as? Because they are the true heroes of this world. People who put themselves right into the thick of it, where man is most hostile, and fight to defend a country of people that they don’t even know (well, aside from their families and friends). The ones who make it home, but can’t cope with what they’ve gone through, and decide they can’t make it here, and take their own lives. Didn’t they know that they are heroes of the utmost kind?

All of these people, men, women; soldiers. They are heroes. They are our Avengers. They are our protectors. Crazy, mad respect is only the tip of my feelings for each and every one of them. I am sorry that it took a major attack on our country for me to come to this understanding. (It may have come eventually with age and maturity, but coming to this understanding sooner was better.) This little blog is only a tiny way I could possibly begin to express how I feel for them. Thank you is hardly enough, but believe me when I say, it is with my whole being that I say it to you today.

T H A N K  Y O U

The Teen Book Festival As a Hopeful Author

This past weekend I went to our local Teen Book Festival. It was their 10th year at one of our local colleges (one I attended for a semester back in my college days). I had been there before, because of my bookworm daughter. She introduced me to the world of Young Adult books years ago, and this time I was attending as not only a young adult book fan, but also a hopeful, new author. I had spent the week before preparing bookish swag to hand out to every eager teen I came across. My daughter and youngest son volunteered to help me, and we were all set!

I thought I would share the top 10 things I learned while there in a different capacity than just an attendee. So, here we go!

1)    It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. I don’t know why I thought there would be more people, there were already plenty.

2)    It was confusing how to tell the volunteers from the festival goers. There were groups of people in the same colored shirts, but there were so many of them. It was hard to tell whether they were volunteers, or just there with a group. I wasn't sure whether to hand them some swag, or ask them directions.

3)    There are so very many Young Adult Authors! It really amazes me every time I see/meet more!

4)    I am better at meeting people online than in real life. I am really quite awful at trying to strike up a conversation with…well…anyone. I should really write questions down ahead of time or something. I gave it thought for weeks before, but I couldn't come up with anything. Quite awful.

5)    It’s always really great to see how many types of “booky” teens there are. They are their own, very unique species, and they should be well cared for.

6)    Always wear my hair up when in a crowd. Dang it was hot! Even if it’s not hot, my stress level rises in crowds, which then makes me hot. I should have remembered this and dressed accordingly.

7)    I definitely over prepared. Not that it’s a bad thing, but I came home with more of my swag than I intended. So, it felt disappointing, even though it went fairly well. I keep telling myself it was better to have too much than run out too early.

8)    Seeing the range of reactions to me walking up and asking someone if they wanted something free was, and is always interesting. We had the full range of reactions. From, “Sure, thanks!” all the way to, “Mmm, no thanks.” I can’t imagine refusing a bookmark at a book festival, but to each their own.

9)    Next festival I really have to find out how to get a table set up. We met a lovely young author with a table set up at the area where you buy the other authors’ books. I wanted to do that, but I wasn't sure how. I really have to get more aggressive when it comes to finding out information.

10)    I was very grateful to my daughter and youngest son for coming with me. Not only did they help, but they kept me company, which was invaluable throughout the day. My oldest son decided he couldn't handle talking to strangers in any capacity, which I thoroughly understood. Apparently it’s a gene.

All in all it was a very good day. My children were so helpful and fun, and even found books to enjoy. My son had his signed by the author, and it made his day, he was so excited! Thank you, Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival! Perhaps one year I will be asked to be a participating author there!