Cover spotlight: The Sea Inside

Thanks to David Lowbridge for hosting me on his blog today. I'm doing a Cover Spotlight of my new book, The Sea Inside. 

Check it out if you'd like to know how the cover came about and who the wonderful photographer is.

Thanks!

http://indieebookreview.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/cover-spotlight-sea-inside-by-vickie.html

New book release: The Sea Inside

Yesterday I published my new book, The Sea Inside. It is the first part of the Cerulean Songs series. I started the novel in 2009, but kept getting stuck as I was not sure where to take the story. I never write outlines and stuff for my books, so it depends what enters my mind... and for a while nothing did. But now it's finished and out there! Horrah!

The beautiful cover photo is by Maja Drazic - http://maay.deviantart.com/

Book 1 in the Cerulean Songs series. 

Time is all we have; it flows – it cannot stop.

Jayne wakes up in hospital following a terrible accident, which changes her life as she knew it. While struggling to recover, she is visited by a mysterious woman who offers her a gift. To the girl’s astonishment, she finds herself on a journey, on both the physical and mental plane. It brings her to the mystical realm of Entyre, where life is very different and power lies with the creatures of the deep. While the threads of time keep flowing, Jayne must decide what is real, who to trust, and regain her inner strength in order to find herself and her true destiny.

Early excerpt:

Every night Jayne experienced a recurring dream in which she was running across an empty beach. Her red hair blazed in the sunlight, sweeping, flying in the wind. Dancing and twisting in the sand, the girl’s feet sank into the cold, damp heaviness. She charged forward with Glen barking in the breeze, leaping over him as he twisted, his tail wagging for all it was worth. The midday sun beat down on them, and the blue sky was dotted with silken wisps of softest white cloud. But it was only a dream. Jayne would never feel the coolness of the water trickling between her toes. The girl would be able to smell the sea, its salty breath, but never feel it; she would never run, never walk; never sink her feet into the soft sand. 

Reviews from my beta readers:

Nickie Storey, author of the Grimsley Hollow series: “A delicious brew of invention, enchantment and refreshing characters, Vickie Johnstone has a firm grasp on the fantasy genre. I can’t wait to read more of her work!”

Greta Burroughs, author of the Wee People series: “Strange worlds, interesting characters, suspense and a surprise ending – what more can you ask for? This book has it all and more.”

Jennifer Thomas: “A gripping and fascinating mythical adventure that is beautifully described. There is suspense, fear and emotion throughout the entire novel that makes you want to keep turning the page.”

Amazon UK
Amazon US

Thanks :))

Video Trailer - the Kiwi Series

Hi, yesterday I couldn't go out because I've got a horrid cold, so I made a book trailer. I've been meaning to make one since publishing my first book in 2011! So it's only taken me 2 years! haha!

I used iMovie and it was okay to use. Not to hard and the guide is easy, although there's a lot that I didn't look at using, so it could probably be better! :)

The awesome music is by Ed Drury - it is also his music that normally plays on my blog.
This tune for the trailer is called Streetlight Desire. The illustrations are by Nikki McBroom.

Kiwi in Cat City is still on sale at 99c / 75p (ebook) everywhere...

Cheers!!

Win 13 books in the Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop

May 13th – 19th

Hosted by KidLitFrenzy, Mymcbooks & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

This week, I'm excited to be celebrating Children's Book Week by teaming up with author Greta Burroughs to give away a massive bundle of our books. Some are for middle-grade readers, others for YA and some for children aged 5-10. Just enter the contest via the Rafflecopter to win.

What you can win from me -

A signed paperback copy of Kiwi in Cat City and a set of 7 ebooks. 

Five runners-up will win the ebook sets. 

What you can win from Greta -

The winner will receive ebook copies of all 3 books in the Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat series plus Gerald and the Wee People and the House on Bo-Kay Lane.
The first 30 people to enter the contest will win a book of their choice!

About our books...

The Kiwi Series (furry fun for ages 9-99)
Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you're not around? Kiwi is a magical cat from a world called Cat City. With her two humans, Amy and James, she finds mysteries and adventures, dealing with catnappings, gem thieves, giant mice, time travel, haunted houses, Santa, ancient gods, pyramids and more. The fun stories contain positive messages about loyalty, friendship, honesty, bullying and the power of standing together.

Kiwi in Cat City opens on one dark night. Amy cannot sleep and she looks out of the window into the garden to see her cat, Kiwi, transfixed by the moon. Waking her brother, James, she suggests they follow Kiwi to see where she goes... whether it involves a hunt for mice or something else. Little do they know that with a flick of her tail, Kiwi is going to magically change them into kittens and lead them on the adventure of their lives. In the blue-lit world of Cat City, the budding detectives help Inspector Furrball to investigate the mysterious catnapping of Mr Katz and find out what happened to Madame Purrfect.

Day of the Living Pizza (comedy detective series - age 10 up)

Detective Smarts of Crazy Name Town has a problem. Doctor Boring and his receptionist have been bumped off, and the only clues at the scene are some olives, tomatoes and a sprinkle of oregano. With the townsfolk dropping like flies and strange figures stumbling down the streets mumbling “Pizza”, Officer Dewdrop has an unusual idea.

Day of the Pesky Shadow 

There is a new mind boggler to solve – who is the mysterious dark figure nicking knickers off washing lines, scaring cinema-goers and causing folks’ legs to go wibbly wobbly? Smarts and Dewdrop are hot on the trail.

Gerald and the Wee People (book 1 - MG/YA fantasy)

Gerald and his best friend, Vernon, discover a mysterious spot in the woods where Gerald visualizes a miniature village complete with wee inhabitants. He enjoys going back to that spot and watching the day-to-day activities until trouble starts in the village, and he tries to convince Vernon that his visions are real - that the wee people need help. The boys literally fall into the new world, get caught up in a war, and embark on a quest to face down the deranged forest god who started the mayhem. 

House on Bo-Kay Lane (book 2)

Gerald and Vernon encounter strange happenings at an abandoned house. Ghostly images of familiar faces from the wee people village are seen in the windows, echoes of voices from the past haunt the boys’ dreams, and an undeniable curiosity draws then to investigate. What they find takes them back to the world of the wee people and into a new adventure.

The adventures of Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat

Christmas with Patchy and Calico

Patchy and Calico’s Summer Vacation

(picture book series for ages 5-10)

Patchwork Dog has a knack for getting into trouble and his best friend, Calico Cat, usually winds up right in the middle of the mess with him. Calico would rather spend her days sleeping in her nice comfortable bed, staying safe and worry free. She knows better than to follow Patchy when he is out looking for a new adventure, but she tags along anyway just in case… On the other hand, Patchy is very curious and is always investigating new sights, sounds and smells. He follows his nose wherever it goes. Sometimes that leads to trouble, but other times it gives Calico a chance to play a trick on her not so smart friend.

About Greta

Greta Burroughs loves to read. No matter where she is, there is always a book close at hand. As a preschool and elementary school teacher, Greta tried to instill the joy of reading in the children she worked with. Books were an important part of her classroom and story time was the highlight of the day. She now resides in SC with her husband, Robert, and three dogs. Greta has six books published: the Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat series, Gerald and the Wee People and House on Bo-Kay Lane, and a nonfiction account of her experiences with an autoimmune blood disorder called ITP - Heartaches and Miracles.

Website: http://booksbygretaburroughs.weebly.com

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/256288

Amazon US:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A9I4XB0

What is Children’s Book Week?

Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast! For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Page Turner Book Tours presents...

  

The Tide Breaker by Sonya Watson

Once upon a time, there was a sixteen year-old girl that lost both her parents under unusual circumstances. Abrianna was lonely and found some comfort in the arms of her boyfriend, Michael. Life turned grim when she realizes that a man, who was once the enforcer of fate, wanted her to die. The disgraced enforcer had taken great steps to ensure Abrianna’s death and planned to do this by enlisting the help of humans and creatures without their knowledge. Evil had washed over the land the humans named Dainesville. Abrianna had the power to heal the land and when she did she would return prosperity to the lives of the townspeople. When the time came for Abrianna to stand alongside her half-brother, Stephen, to fight the coming evil she did so without hesitation. Life ended. Darkness fell. Love faded. The End?

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Smashwords

Barnes And Noble

Author Bio: 

Sonya was born in Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica but moved to Canada eleven years ago. She discovered writing when she was eleven. However, was unable to pursue it since she lived in a country where writing was impractical. She rediscovered the art during third year at York University. Kinesiology, the program she was enrolled in, was no longer simulating and found herself questioning her purpose in life. This led her to poetry and poetry led her to writing novels.

Goodreads

Anastasia Pergaki's Cleanse Fire! Special interview & book giveaway

Thanks to Captain Derac Vidor, hero of Cleanse Fire! and 

Blood Trade, by Anastasia Pergakis, for taking time out of his busy schedule for this interview...

What is your day job?

I am Captain of an elite military unit of elves, known as the Kinir Elite. We handle top secret missions, hostage rescues and other specialized missions that require a small task force, rather than the entire Kinir Army.

What missions have you completed so far?

There are so many and some I am not allowed to talk about. However, in our book, Cleanse Fire, our mission was to track down a traitor, our own Commander. In the end, we discovered he was not the mastermind of the plot to kill us. We also dealt with a powerful wizard who wanted us dead for his own revenge. He simply enlisted our Commander to help him accomplish his goals. Greed and lust for power caused him to betray his country. I'll never fully understand how or why he could do such a thing.

What other missions are in the works for you?

In our next book, Blood Trade, we will be working closely with the Kinir Army. The Vaxies attack our capital city and begin kidnapping people from all over the country. When we retaliate, we realize that fighting these new beings will be tougher than anything we've ever encountered before. You see, the Vaxies are very small creatures – almost like bats – and they swarm much like locusts do. We have to replan our entire history of warfare and strategy in order to defeat them.

Why did you join the Kinir Army and how long have you served?
 

Good question. Let's see, I grew up on a farm with two brothers and my twin sister. I didn't have any need to escape my family home or had feelings of wanting adventure. I joined the Army because someone needed to do it. It's a privilege for me to serve my country. I enjoy what I do and feel pride in wearing the uniform. Someone had to do it, so it might as well be me. At this point, I've served 20 years: 10 years in the Army, 5 years as a Kinir Ranger and, so far, 5 years as Elite. I must serve another 20 before I have the option to retire or not.

What/who inspired you to write and still inspires you?

My father is probably my biggest inspiration. As a farmer, he taught me how to appreciate the land, plants and all the creatures in the world. I think those lessons helped me decide to join the Army, truthfully. I wanted to protect the beauty and good in Kinir, and what better way to do that in the Army?

Fave things: animal? food? drink? film? colour?

I find dragons to be beautiful creatures, but I believe my favorite would have to be the Pegasus. My favourite food? Simple – steak and potatoes. We don’t have 'films' in our world and I'm not really sure what they are to begin with. My favorite color is green.


What other hobbies do you have?

I paint portraits, mostly of family and close friends. I don't have a lot of time to paint usually, but on the few occasions that I'm at home I find it very relaxing.

What would you like to achieve in the next five years?
 

To continue to protect Kinir. I'll do so until I can't do it anymore, whether that be by death or injury.

CLEANSE FIRE!

Complete the mission, no matter what…
 
Captain Derac Vidor has served Kinir for nearly 20 years. It’s his life, his blood, his soul. And then his Commander betrays everything Derac holds dear. Now he has to focus on his own life and his team instead of saving the citizens of Kinir.

Treason is only the beginning…
 
Fuelled by rage, the team chases the source to their Commander’s betrayal – a powerful wizard bent on revenge. The wizard seeks to destroy the Kinir Elite, in both mind and body. No place is safe, even among their allies.

The past holds the key…
 
Derac’s tragic past may be the key to saving the team, but can he face the gruesome nightmare in time?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – ANASTASIA PERGAKIS

Anastasia knew she always wanted to write. She began at a young age, writing little stories about the apple tree in the yard. Though her love of stories stayed with her through her poetry stage at high school, she didn’t begin writing novels until she was almost an adult. That’s where she found her true passion.

Her characters visit her dreams – and sometimes during the day – to share their stories with her. Anastasia is merely the writer, but the characters are really the storytellers.

Anastasia lives in Columbus, Georgia, with her husband and son. A stay-at-home Mom, she loves spending time with her son during the day, then writing furiously at night. 

GIVEAWAY

Purchase Cleanse Fire!

• for your Kindle at Amazon
• for your Nook at Barnes & Noble
• for your other e-readers at Smashwords
• in paperback at Amazon
• in paperback at Barnes & Noble
• in hardback at Kinir Elite Website

Join the Kinir Brigade by signing up for our newsletter! Get exclusive deals, access to special giveaways and inside information about the series! Join the Kinir Brigade now and receive the first five chapters in your email! And don't forget to visit our Facebook page and website too!

~ * ~ * ~

Anastasia is giving away a signed paperback copy of Cleanse Fire! Leave a comment on this post to enter into the random draw. She will draw the names at the end of her tour, on January 31, 2012. If you want more chances to win a copy, visit her website to follow the tour! The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win!

All those who leave a comment will also be added to the draw to win a signed hardcover copy. This draw will also take place on January 31, 2012.

You can gain more chances to win by tweeting or posting on Facebook! Just leave a link to the tweet or post in a comment below!

**All winners will be announced on the Kinir Elite Website on February 1, 2012**