May's author spotlight : Lily Paradis

May's Author spotlight:

*Drum Roll*

The Lovely Lily Paradis..

Lily Paradis Published works :

After her father’s untimely demise in a mining accident and her mother’s abandonment, Lauren Lindsay is no stranger to loss. She’s used to living life for one person: herself. That is, until another family tragedy thrusts three children into her care and uproots her life in ways she could never imagine. 

Lauren's first instinct is to run, until she meets their striking, mysterious neighbor Dean Powell. Their immediate chemistry and his connection with her late father just might be enough to keep her in town long enough to uncover pieces of her past that she never had answers to. Dean’s shady past and her reluctance to trust him could cost her the life she's always been searching for, but will she run back to her old life? 

Or will she choose to stay and live the life her father always imagined for her?

You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach that stays with you, then tears you apart slowly at first, and all at once shreds every fiber of your being? 

It’s because you’re contradicting the universe. 

Everything lines up so perfectly that you couldn’t have imagined it to work out better, but then you have to go and do everything humanly possible to ruin it because you can’t stand to have it go right? 

That’s what I did. 

I did it because there’s a darkness that surrounds me, and I think I want it there. 

My name is Tate McKenna, and my soul is blacker than my heart.

Future books to be published:

Arc Light ( Ignite #2)

Ragnarök - "Everybody wants to find love, right? That beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime love that you'd do anything for? Well, I think I found it. So what's the problem? Everybody wants to find love, right? That beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime love that you'd do anything for? Well, I think I found it. So what's the problem?  I also think I'm the last person alive on earth." -Via Goodreads

Q&A with Author:

What is the main reason you write?

I write because I love it, and because it's what I've always wanted to do with my life. I have to do other things since I currently don't make enough to have it be a full time job, but it's not about the money for me. 

So Far out of all the novels you have written published or not published which has been you favorite to write?

So far, Volition! 

What gives you the most inspiration when you write ?

I get inspiration from listening to music and feelings in my daily life. Something might happen and I'll think "Wow, I need to write this down," so that I can use it someday.

What is your favorite thing about being and author?

Meeting other writers and readers! I totally did not expect to make so many wonderful friends and connections this way, but it's surpassed any expectations I've ever had.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on re-writing a few projects that were lost when my computer crashed about two months ago. It's slow going since I'm also in graduate school, but hopefully I'll be able to re-coop it all!

What is next to be published?

I haven't quite decided yet, we'll see! :)

How did your writing style evolve?

I think it matured a lot with me. You can see a stark difference between Ignite and Volition because of how I was feeling and what stage I was at in my life. I like writing that way because it's so genuine and personal.

How do you develop your characters?

I don't consciously develop them, I kind of see them as real people that I would interact and I go from there. I use little characteristics and habits from my friends and myself that they find later on. For example, I have a serious phobia of cherries, and I gave that to Hayden in Volition. Not a lot of people know that because it's so ridiculous, but my close friends and family all had a laugh over it. I put a lot of myself in to Hayden, surprisingly. People who are very close picked up on those small nuances, and I kind of love him even more because I relate to him so well. You'd think it would be Tate, and it kind of is, but I see a lot of myself in Hayden too.

What do you do when you have a writers block?

I go for a drive and listen to music. I have playlists for each book as I'm working on them, but the radio is so important to find new songs. I honestly wish I could type and drive at the same time, because that's when I feel like scenes develop in my mind. Sometimes that doesn't even help, so I just have to wait a couple of days until my brain works it out

How do you develop your characters?

I don't consciously develop them, I kind of see them as real people that I would interact with and I go from there. I use little characteristics and habits from my friends and myself that they find later on. For example, I have a serious phobia of cherries, and I gave that to Hayden in Volition. Not a lot of people know that because it's so ridiculous, but my close friends and family all had a laugh over it. I put a lot of myself in to Hayden, surprisingly. People who are very close picked up on those small nuances, and I kind of love him even more because I relate to him so well. You'd think it would be Tate, and it kind of is, but I see a lot of myself in Hayden too. We also have the same color eyes! I imagine his are a bit brighter and bolder than mine, but someone once described my eye color as "lightsaber green" since they know about my deep, nerdy love of Star Wars. 

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About Lily Paradis (via Goodreads)-

Lily lives with her family and loves reading, running, and hiking. New York City is her favorite place in the world and fosters her borderline unhealthy obsession with the Empire State Building and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

She loves hearing from her readers and can be reached at paradis.lily@gmail.com.

Giveaway on our Insta 

@BooksHavePower.

-Tee shirt, A signed copy of Volition, Book Marks.

Crashing Souls by Cynthia Rodriguez Cover Reveal and Release Date

Crashing souls

Cynthia Rodriguez

I am darkness; what you would consider a thief amongst the living.

I’ve spent time, so much of it that it seems a trifle word to call it, in that gloom being swallowed whole by human grief and human tears.

I am the angel of death.

And all was dark until I met a man, searching for a woman.

Given a second chance to find the love of his life, whose soul was placed inside someone else after a tragic accident, a young man finds himself taking over the life of a teenager named Dexter. But there are rules: She will not remember him and he will only have fragmented memories, not knowing anything about the life he has been placed in and barely anything about the life he once lived. He embarks on a journey to right Dex’s wrongs and find the woman whose soul belongs with his, no matter what it takes. Finding her is one thing, loving her and her self-destructive ways is another. 

Artful, sharp, and compelling, Crashing Souls explores the permanent mark left behind when two souls crash together.

OUR RELEASE DATE IS... *Drum Roll*

OCTOBER 27TH !!

AND WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO SHARE BELOW:


Preview:

There’s always that moment where you realize just how close you’re standing to someone. That was my moment. I was breathing her air.

            I leaned in closer to her, feeling like I was being pulled toward her. So close. So damn close.

            “Don’t you kiss me, Dexter,” she said, placing her hand on my chest. “Don’t ruin me for anyone else if you aren’t going to stick around.”

            “You think you haven’t ruined me already?” I asked, playing with the ends of her hair. I didn’t want to betray the fact that my heart was beating erratically in my ribcage.

            She stepped back, out of my reach. “You said I was someone to be won over and over. Win me, please.” She walked away and out of the room before I could tell her that I would. I had no idea how, but I would.

(*Disclaimer the following is from Cynthia A. Rodriquez's book, Crashing Souls. May be edited or deleted prior to publication.)

Cynthia A. Rodriguez writes because the voices in her head demand it. In her down-time, you can find her watching movies, ranging anywhere from classic movies to action flicks (she has a weakness for Marvel adaptations), and reading steamy novels. She is stationed in Germany, where she lives with her husband and their Miniature Pinscher, Winnie (as in Pooh).

She loves hearing from her readers! You can reach Cynthia at mysticwatersbook@gmail.com. Both her Twitter and Instagram handles are @socynthsays. 'Like' her Facebook page at facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaARodriguezand visit her website, www.cynthiaarodriguez.com, where she blogs about books, writing, and leaves really great song suggestions.

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Shelsea's Super Saturday

Hello lovelies,

Today, I’ll discuss about five books that I’m ecstatic to read. Psssst. I also have another special guest! Aliya McReynolds is an inspiring seventeen-year-old author. This just proves that anyone and everyone can be an author. A piece of paper does not define your intellect. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned is that we’re all bound to fall, but we keep living even in our own pity.

I’m so sorry that I’m late with my SSS post. Life got in the way. I also had to accept the fact that I can’t change time. I would like to dedicate this post to my cousin who graduated in Business Management.

We’re more like strangers than actual cousins.  I have no idea what you’ve gone through in life and vice versa. I’m sorry we’re so distant when we’re freaking family. I know nothing about you, and saying congratulations sounds corny. How can I wish you congratulations? When we don’t even talk.  I wished you played that role on being my big brother because I need you to be that big brother more than ever. Here’s to the future.

Five Books That I Desperately Want To Read 

Admit it there are too many books on your bookshelf that you haven't read yet. It's bad enough that you have a tbr pile, and it's the fact that you keep adding more books to your pile. Books are not cheap. Instagram makes it worse as people continue to taunt you with their latest reads. Being a book lover is not easy. We struggle and strive in the book world. We are greedy with our books and we aren't afraid to admit it.

 People think our bookshelves are their personal libraries. Excuse me, m'am the library is across the street. Do us both a favor and get yo grimy hands off of my books! 

Don't even get me started on the imaginary list of books that we have to buy.

This is my list of books I've been dying to read:

• Mystic Waters by Cynthia A. Rodriguez
• Creed by Trisha Leaver & Lindsay Currie
• The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow 
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
• An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

_________________________________________________________________________________

 ALIYA MCREYNOLDS TAKEOVER

When did you know that you wanted to write?

There was honestly never a time when I didn’t know that I wanted to be a writer. From the age of six I remember asking my mom to publish a fantasy book I’d written about this boy that discovered a new world from the drain in his swimming pool. I’d draw little pictures and then I’d staple the pieces of paper together and I’d keep them in my room. I wish I’d known what happened to them because I’d love to go back and read them now. Funny enough, I still have ideas for that fantasy book stored away on my computer and I plan on someday publishing that.

Did writing ever feel intimidating for you, or was it something that just came naturally for you?

Because I’ve been writing for so long, I wouldn’t say that it ever intimidated me, but there were times when I questioned whether I was really good enough to continue writing. I remember feeling this way specifically when I started reading the Harry Potter series. Comparing yourself to J.K. Rowling will discourage anyone I think. For a long time I felt like my book needed to be written in a specific writing voice that’s found in classic literature like To Kill A Mockingbird. I think that when I really started reading more modern young adult novels, I realized that they didn’t all have to be super lofty and in third person.

How does it feel to write a book and influence others in the process?

Finishing a book is such a big achievement and I’ve really tried to enjoy it as much as I can. The hardest part for me was letting my book go and not feeling the need to constantly go back and change it. I don’t think art can ever be fully finished in the eyes of the artist. As far as it influencing others, that is definitely my goal with it! Stories are one of the most powerful forms of communication and if it doesn’t move the audience, then it’s not doing the job right. As a Christian, I want to show the world that you can create a good story without having to glorify sexual content and pervasive language. Whatever success comes from that will be because God allowed it.

For those wondering what I’m working on now, it’s a fantasy/romance novel called Wolf Heart! I am super excited about this book because I feel like the writing style is incredibly strong and the story has a lot to offer. What’s it about? Well, here is the synopsis: When Andrea wakes up in a log cabin in the middle of the woods; she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. All she knows is that she almost drowned in a river and her rescuer, a handsome but mysterious boy, is determined to help her. Can she trust him and his mother? Are they hiding something? Andrea must unveil the truth about her rescuers in order to find the truth about herself. . . I start professionally editing Wolf Heart this month and plan to publish it before the end of the year!

Aside from being an author, I am a huge film buff! On my website aliyamcreynolds.com I am constantly writing reviews for all of the movies I see. Not into movies? Well, I started a blog on my website that might interest you. My intention with the blog is to provide helpful articles for authors who need writing/publishing advice and share everything I’ve learned.

For all of those still with me, I have a special treat for you! A sneak peak from Wolf Heart.

When I wake up the next morning, I am still on the boat, but it's halfway on land and Luka isn't in it.

I blink the sunlight from my eyes, wrap the blanket tighter around my shoulders, and step out onto the cool ground. The smell of mud and trees is more potent today than usual.

 I go to the spot where I’m supposed to meet Luka for hunting and his gun is still there. I guess all I can do now is wait for him.

I lean back against the tree and let the warmth of the sun kiss my skin. After a while, I begin to worry. What if he’s hurt? What if something attacked him? I should look for him. He’d never tell me to meet him somewhere and just not show up. It wasn’t like him at all.

I head toward the river, thinking that he might have gone back for me––it’s eerily still.

“Luka?” My voice is strangled with foreboding. No reply. He must be at the cave. I trudge back to the original meeting spot and make a right from it. From a distance I can see nothing, but I check inside just to make sure.

“Luka?” The cave is dark and empty. There’s only one more place he can be. Trying not to get ahead of myself, I race back to the house. When the little cabin is in view, I see Ediline and Luka together in conversation. I slow to a stop within hearing distance and hide behind a tree.

“You’re being ridiculous, Mama,” I hear Luka say. She grips his shoulder tightly.

“No, you’re the one who is being ridiculous.” Anger is lit behind her eyes as she speaks, every word bathed in frustration. “That girl finds out what you really are and it’s over. I just don’t want her to break your heart! Who knows how long she’ll have to be here. I don’t know if we can afford for her to find out the truth.”

What truth? What are they talking about? I feel betrayed, but even more so, I feel anxious because right now I have no escape. I’ve been so vulnerable with him, so exposed. One lie will shatter our whole friendship––or whatever it is we have. One lie will shatter every truth I’ve ever known.

“What are you suggesting?” he says, the lines on his forehead wrinkled in concentration.

“I’m suggesting that you end this before you get too attached. We need to be extra cautious, Luka. We need to be proactively trying to help her remember things. She can’t stay here forever or she will find out about you. About us. If that happens, we’ll have to get rid of her and I don’t think you’ll want to do that.”

Thank you so much thedailystrugglesofabooknnerd for having me! It’s been a real pleasure! J

                                                   www.aliyamcreynolds.com