New Release - If I Fall by Anna Cruise

It is very cool to have Anna Cruise visiting us today. I am so super excited about her books! Just the cover of If I Fall is enough to get me interested.

Today she's here to tell us about her musical inspiration for this book.

Welcome to YAlicious, Anna!

I love music. Almost as much as books.

What do I not love? Listening to music while writing books.

I know, I know. Tons of writers have playlists that they write to, songs that propel their stories forward, that help mold and shape their characters. Yeah, not me.

Here's what would happen if I listened to music while I was writing.

Now, with that being said, I do have songs that inspire me to write my stories. Um, I just can't listen to them while I'm writing.

For IF I FALL, my new YA book, I had a slew of songs I would listen to...when I wasn't writing. When I was thinking about Meg, my main character, and the monumental mess she'd made of her life. When I was thinking about Aidan, the gorgeous bad boy who helped her make that mess. And when I was thinking about Case, the friend she didn't even know she had, championing her cause.

Instead of writing a guest post about the story, I thought I'd share some of the songs I listened to while I was thinking about Meg and Aidan and IF I FALL.

Nobody's Home – Avril Lavigne

This song pretty much sums up Meg's life. She wants to go home—but nobody's there. Nobody she can connect with, anyway, and certainly no one who can help her navigate everything that's going on in her life.

Le Pony – Italian Japanese

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6J85cC8XFM

(Sorry - I am having trouble uploading this clip, so follow the link...it's worth it. Melissa)

This is an obscure, brilliant band from Southern California. Listen beyond the instrumental opening and you'll hear a sweetly haunting song about saying “your last goodbye”—just like Meg did when her father drives away in the opening scene.

Free Falling – Tom Petty

One of my most favorite songs in the Universe. The first four words of the song pretty much sum up Meg: “She's a good girl...” and these words, “And I'm a bad boy 'cuz I don't even miss her...” have Aidan written all over them.

Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars

I'm not a big Bruno Mars fan, but this song—for me, anyway—speaks exactly to how Case feels about Meg. He's not trying to change her, he's not trying to make her into someone she's not and he's not trying to make her feel bad about who she's become. He doesn't care about any of that. He likes her for who she is, flaws and all. Just the way she is.

I could list more, but I think those four tell the story pretty well. But you won't hear them playing while I'm working. My words and their lyrics have to keep their distance from one another.

You might, however, hear me singing them while I'm in the shower...

Wow - I have to say that I LOVE your taste in music. Thanks so much for sharing, Anna :)

*****

Anna Cruise has been writing and drooling over boys since middle school. Lots of years have passed but some things never change...

IF I FALL is her second book but her first YA title, IT WAS YOU, a New Adult title, was released February 2013. She is currently at work on two additional NA books (including Tana's story from IT WAS YOU) and another YA title.

Anna loves to hear from readers and authors. Email her at authorannacruise@gmail.com. You can also like her Facebook page, find her on Twitter @AnnaCruiseBooks, friend her on Goodreads or check out her blog: http://annacruisebooks.blogspot.com

New Release - Zarconian Island by Aja Hannah

Aja Hannah is a young author, releasing her very first novel - Zarconian Island. I am very happy to be part of the blog tour. She's here today to answer some questions about her writing and her debut novel.

Welcome to YAlicious, Aja. It's very cool to have you.

What first got you interested in writing?

In second grade, I found out that being an author was a job. A real life job. We were handed out papers and shown the basics of writing a story. Pick a title, pick a subject, name some characters, chose a setting, add conflict, find a solution. I always picked all the characters and my setting before I settled on a title. And, as I sat there with that first paper and wrote about a cat who climbed a mountain, I knew this was what I was wanted to do for the rest of my life.

What was your very first story about... you know the first one you ever created, but will probably never publish :)

I don't remember my first story very well, but I do remember my first series. It was called The Adventures of Cherish and Tisia. It played on the names of my siblings and it was written for my little sister who had recently learned to read. I illustrated it, stapled it, and read it to them. Sometimes we'd even act out the scenes. The two girls in the story would go raft down rivers, climb trees, explore spooky forests, only to always end up safe at home in the end. In fact, in one of the stories they were even stranded on an island, though it was much smaller and less dangerous than Zarconian Island.

I really like the concept of the tropical island and the Zarconians. How did you come up with the idea?

Oh, dear. Well it's been a long process and it has developed quite a bit over time. The idea of a tropical island has always fascinated me. After I read a few novels with strange islands and stranded youngsters, I knew I wanted to use that. I started writing the first draft in high school. 

I've also always liked the old world idea of explorers hacking through jungle to unknown ruins. But nowadays, GPS makes that rather impossible. So I was doing some research when I stumbled upon this idea of the ten dead zones around the world, including the Bermuda Triangle. They each line up and alternate longitude and latitude, and I started to think: "What if Atlantis was the capitol and these were all connected somehow?" 

Without giving too much away, that's how the nation of Zarconia was created.

Which authors inspire you?

That's a toughie. John Green for saying what's on his mind despite the press. Meg Cabot's characters' voices and her strong female leads. Michael Chrichton's mastery of plot development (Chaos Theory!) and weaving of science and reality. Amy Tan's mysticism and strength of culture.

What's the best lesson you've learned so far in writing?

Here are my five biggest:

1. Don't give up.

2. Keep Revising.

3. Market Appropriately. (I begrudginly admitted my work was paranormal romance.)

4. Show, Don't Tell.

5. Don't take criticism personally. (Though I loved some dialogue and some scenes, they had to go in order to make the book more concise and coherent.) 

Excellent pieces of advice, Aja. I totally agree :)

If you'd like to connect with Aja online, you can follow the links below:

Twitter: @AjaHannah

GoodReads

Facebook Fanpage

Blog: ajahannah.blogspot.com

Overcoming Writer's Block by Kelly Anne Blount

Kelly approached me a few weeks ago asking if I'd like to highlight her book on YAlicious. I took one look at the cover and said, "YES PLEASE!!" I'm super excited to have Kelly visit today so I can showcase her book and she can share a little about her writing experiences.

Today she is telling us all about how she overcomes writer's block...something every writer will find useful.

Thanks for being here, Kelly.

*****

Uh oh… I’m stuck! I’m guessing that all writers have uttered this phrase once or twice or even dozens of times during their writing career. I know I have! So, what should one do when they get stuck on a scene, the ending for their book, or even worse, they experience a complete shut down, popularly referred to as writer’s block?

            I have several methods that help me get “unstuck.” The first thing I like to do is step back and take a short break. This helps me clear my mind and I find it helps to get up and stretch my legs. If I’m really perplexed and unable to figure things out, I may go for a run with my dog.

            If getting up and taking a break doesn’t help, I search through my Kindle library and look for a book in the same genre of the manuscript I’m working on. I’m a huge fan of Amanda Hocking’s Trylle Trilogy and Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart Trilogy. I usually don’t reread books; however, I make an exception for my all time favorites. Anyways, I may read a few chapters or half of the book, just depends on how I feel and if the words of another author inspire me to get back to work.

            Another sure-fire way to get my creative juices flowing is to bounce ideas off of my husband, online friends who write, or members of my critique group. I often find that talking through ideas with people I trust is extremely helpful. The simple act of expressing my thoughts out loud to another person is usually all I need to break through the block.

            One last activity that almost always helps me get over my writer’s block is watching a movie or television program in the same genre that I’m writing. You see, I’m a very visual person, and as a visual person who is stuck and unable to think, seeing Jennifer Lawrence experience life in the capital or watching Josh Hutcherson desperately swim to get away from a monster-sized electric eel, helps me visualize scenes and characters in my own books.

            Not being able to work on a manuscript due to writer’s block is an unbelievably frustrating experience that most, if not all of us have experienced while writing. Mounting pressure, such as deadlines or achieving personal goals often increases the stress during this troublesome time. When I encounter this issue, I use the activities discussed above to “snap out of it” and get back to my manuscript. Although what works for me may not work for others, I always find it helpful to hear how other writer’s and authors deal with common problems in the literary world.

*****

 In the world of Necoh, everyone fears Grishma, a hideous murderous beast responsible for ruining or ending the lives of anyone who dare cross her.

As a young boy, Ryder lived with his family, deep in the caves underneath the Kadin Forest, unaware of the horrors of the world. His simple world was turned upside down one horrible night when Grishma attacked his family, killing his father and kidnapping his mother and younger sister.

From that night on, Ryder devoted his life to killing Grishma. He tracked the monster from Necoh, to our world, and back again. Unfortunately, during his quest, he accidentally transported Brooklyn, a high school junior into his tumultuous world, where she is mistakenly identified as Princess Sophie, the missing princess of Sumner.

Days after Princess Sophie’s return, Grishma plots and manipulates the King into drugging and marrying off his only daughter to Prince Algid of Dratun. Desperate to save Brooklyn, who now believes she is the long lost princess, his mother, and his little sister, Ryder embarks on the deadliest part of his quest.

Will he save Brooklyn? Will she ever regain her memory? What will become of his mother and sister?

Through epic adventure, loss, and love, GRISHMA depicts the strength of the human spirit and the tight bonds formed by the unique creatures of Necoh.

If you'd like to connect with Kelly online, you can follow her links below:

Website: www.kellyanneblount.com

Amazon Grishma Page: http://www.amazon.com/Grishma-Necoh-Saga-ebook/dp/B00BSG4XG2 

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Blount/e/B00BSKKA5Q 

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/KellyAnneBlount 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyAnneBlount (@KellyAnneBlount) 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16421118-grishma

Goodreads Best Fantasy Covers List (currently in first place): http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3307.Best_Fantasy_Book_Covers#16421118

Work In Progress Update - Unseen, The Elements Trilogy #2

We have had so many guest authors recently and I have loved highlighting their books. There are so many cool things happening in the publishing world. It's super exciting :)

I have not published anything so far this year because I am working on a trilogy that I want to release in rapid succession. I made the decision to hold off releasing the first book until all three were written so that readers would not have to wait to find out what was going to happen. You know me and my cliff hanger endings. I just can't help myself :)

So - currently my works in progress are going really well. Unknown - Book 1 is written, edited and awaiting a decent proof-read. The cover is finalised and if you'd like to add the book to your reading list, you can do so here - Unknown on Goodreads.

Unseen is now complete as well. The first draft is done and in the hands of six very amazing authors. They are critiquing it for me. I can't wait to find out what they have to say. I know I have some major edits ahead of me, but I love this stage of a book's journey.

Unseen delves deeper into Jethro and Kyla's journey and their relationship. They are forced to face their feelings for each other head on. I have LOVED writing their scenes together and seeing how they've handled this conflict. The book also introduces three new characters I have come to love plus some very cool creatures. Writing the fight scenes was intense and fun and the climax had me typing on the edge of my seat.

I can't wait to share this series with you!!
It's definitely like nothing I've ever written before and it's been a huge, yet totally thrilling, challenge.

Cover Love - April Edition

Welcome to April's Edition of Cover Love. I had some gorgeous covers to share with you this month.

The top billing for me is an upcoming release called Skin Deep by T. G. Ayer. This cover is gorgeous and I'm super excited about reading the book.

Panther Shape-shifter Kailin Odel just wants to be normal. Leaving her clan, and her Alpha responsibilities, to live with her grandmother in Chicago had been the best thing for her. Only then did she discover her ability to track and kill the soul sucking undead creatures called Wraiths. Now she protected the humans, and had something to be proud of.

But, when she discovers the body of a murdered shape shifter, Kailin has to come to terms with the reality that her own kind are just as vulnerable as the humans.

The closer Kailin gets to the killer the more she has to face the intricacies of her people. When the time comes can she accept who and what her real purpose is?

Here is the Goodreads link so you can add the book to your reading list: SKIN DEEP

Another cover that caught my eye this week is If I Fall by Anna Cruise. I love what the girl is wearing, how she's leaning against the railing...the look on her face. It's all good!

You can check out this book on Goodreads and add it to your reading list: IF I FALL

The fourth book in Alexia Purdy's A Dark Faerie Tale series is coming out later this year. Here's the cover... isn't it cool! I love the mysterious vibe.

You can check out this book on Goodreads and add it to your reading list: EVER WRATH

There are SO many more covers I can share. Books seem to be firing onto the web at lightning speed, but I'll stick with those three for now. I hope you enjoy them when they are released later in the year.

Komal Kant's Top Five Ingredients In A Contemporary Romance

Komal Kant is here today to tell us about contemporary novels. Yay! It's like one of my favourite genres.

It is so, so cool to have you here, Komal!!

So here are Komal's Top Five Ways To Know You're Reading a Contemporary Novel...

So, as a writer (and reader) of contemporary novels, there are certain things that I have come to expect from a good contemporary novel. These things are what make us so invested in the story and the characters. They make us fall in love, laugh, cry, and sometimes scream out in frustration. I’m specifically focusing on Young Adult/New Adult Contemporary novels for this post. These are some of the elements I think most contemporary novels share. Feel free to add your own! =)

Hot/sexy male character who makes you swoon

Come on. Isn’t this one of the main reasons we read contemporary, to add to our list of fictional boyfriends? What’s a good contemporary novel without a sexy male character for us to drool over?

More drama than a soap opera

It ain’t a contemporary unless there is some major drama going on. So and so slept with the ex-tennis instructor of the butcher’s son. Oh my!

Main character or love interest has a tragic past or serious issue

She has a broken family. He has a violent past. She has commitment phobia. He is allergic to shellfish. Whatever the issue is, you can be sure that at least one of the characters will have something that they need to overcome.

Steamy make out/sex scenes

Um, hello? Of course there has to be a little steaminess present! I love reading about the character’s first kiss or how they get all tingly when the hot guy is near. There can never be enough steaminess to make us swoon!

Misunderstanding

She said WHAT? Misunderstandings can often make up a good portion of a contemporary novel. It’s that super annoying moment when the main characters misinterpret what has been said or done, but we eat it up anyway because we know things will work out in the end, despite the drama. It’s all part of what makes contemporary novels so addictive!

What do you think is a must-have in a YA or NA Contemporary novel?

You can purchase Komal's AWESOME contemporary novels on Amazon.

Impossible

Falling for Hadie

Komal Kant is the author of IMPOSSIBLE and FALLING FOR HADIE, which are the first two novels in her Young Adult Contemporary series. She is currently working on her first YA Paranormal novel, RUNAWAY MORTAL, which is about a girl accused of murdering her powerful angel Headmistress.

Komal lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband, and one too many dogs and cats (although she never seems to think she has enough!) Komal talks too much, laughs too loud, sings out-of-tune, and generally says inappropriate things at appropriate times. She is overly enthusiastic about video games, comic books, Spiderman, Batman films, Byronic heroes, horror movies, baking and pretty shoes.

If you'd like to connect with Komal online, you can check out the links below.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Series Highlight - A Dark Faerie Tale by Alexia Purdy

Alexia Purdy is a fantastic author who has become a great friend. I really respect her and am totally stoked to have her on YAlicious today.

She's here to tell us about her A Dark Faerie Tale Series as well as 5 things we didn't know about her. Fun!

Welcome to YAlicious, Alexia :)

Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale #1) 
CURRENTLY FREE ON AMAZON

A dark twist on Faeries. 

For Shade, a chance meeting with a powerful Teleen faery warrior who wields electrical currents and blue fires along his skin has her joining him on a treacherous mission for the good Seelie Faerie Court across the land of Faerie. Magic and malice abound and nothing is what it really seems to be.

The evil Unseelie Queen and her treacherous allies are round every corner as Shade makes her way across the breathtaking landscapes of the world of Faerie, which exists alongside the mundane human world. Shade discovers her own uncharted magic and meets some of the most powerful warriors in Faerie while battling evil dryads, conniving Teleen guards and challenges on her life with every step in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.

Ever Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #2)

Magic & Fire burn...

The Serenity of the Land of Faerie is threatened as the Unseelie Queen Aveta rages war against the three remaining Seelie Realms of Faerie. As Shade's powers grow, she finds she is running out of time to keep the war from spilling into the human world. Winter is growing in strength as the evil Queen's horrifying legions scar the land in their frigid wake. No one is safe. Shade becomes enemy number one for the Unseelie legions. Questioning her true role of power, Shade discovers the cost of winning may come at a much higher price than she ever imagined.

Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3)

Shade has been left all, but shattered. Travelling to the Ice kingdom, along with her 'body guard' Dylan-who continues to be bound to her-to where the holder of her magic dwells. The war of Faerie amplifies and her only chance to save it will be to resist the enchantments of the Ice King, one of the Ancient rulers of Faerie. But, he has his own agenda and will do anything to stop her from making it to the Summer Kingdom, with her family, to claim back her throne

These Ancients of Faerie don't want her to succeed, and the wards between the land of Faerie and the mortal world are blurring rapidly. Shade must face treacheries in every crevice of the land, even among the human mortals and trusted allies, before all is lost.

Alexia currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada–Sin City! She loves to spend every free moment writing or playing with her four rambunctious kids. Writing has always been her dream and she has been writing ever since she can remember. She loves writing paranormal fantasy and poetry and devours books daily. Alexia also enjoys watching movies, dancing, singing loudly in the car and Italian food.

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ALEXIA

1. I’m a twin, yep, I look nothing like my brother!

2. I hate typing. Bad thing for a writer, No?

3. On my bucket list: go to as many beaches as I can to either, A) sleep or B) read lots of books and C) maybe dip my feet in the water (I’m afraid of drowning).

4. Favorite bribe: Mambas, bring me some.

5. When I was 3, I wanted to be a nurse, an author, a dancer, a singer, a movie star, an artist, an ice skater, and be a circus trapeze performer. Yeah, I was ambitious early in life.

LOL. It's always good to have dreams, Alexia :) Thanks so much for sharing and I'm so grateful you decided to become an author.

If you'd like to connect with Alexia online, please follow the links below:

Alexia Purdy’s Blog

Alexia Purdy’s Website

Twitter

Goodreads Author page

Alexia Purdy’s Facebook Fan Page

Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale) Facebook Fan page

Reign of Blood Series Facebook Fan Page