Finished Rewrites on Dark Night of the Soul!

WooHoo!

I can't even begin to describe this feeling. It's second only to the feeling of finishing the first draft...which makes sense, since the feeling of finishing a first draft would obviously come in first in a feelings contest when comparing the feelings of finishing a second draft...in which those feelings would come in second.

I'm #2!

Last Tour Stop! - Frankie Blooding's Bookshelf

Are you sad? This is it for this tour! This is also one of my favorite guest posts I did. Be sure to scroll all the way down because the last paragraph is at the bottom of the post.

http://frankieblooding.wordpress.com/

Dark Night of the Soul Update!!!

Just finished chapter 13 rewrites on DNOTS!  Half way there. Can't wait to release it....but I will. Needs to be great!

Blog Tour Stop and Wrap up - Reading Addiction Blog Tours

Here's today's stop. Can you believe it's almost over? This is the wrap up post from the coordinator. I have one more promo and guest post tomorrow and it's DONE! Whew...what a ride.

http://readingaddictionvbtreviews.blogspot.com/

Blog Tour Stop Review and Guest Post - The Wormhole

Got a great review today and a great guest post.

Check it out!

http://wormyhole.blogspot.com/

Blog Tour Stop - Gimme The Scoop

Here's today's stop. It's just a Promo.

http://gimmethescoopreviews.blogspot.com/2013/04/em-havens-fate-war-alliance-virtual.html

If you missed it, my interview was posted at this website:

http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.com/2013/04/fate-waralliance-e-m-havensexcerpt-rabt.html

Blog Tour Stop and Guest Post - Booked and Loaded

Somehow I forgot to post about this stop. It's a guest post about getting started in fiction writing.

http://bookedandloaded.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/giveawayspotlightguest-post-fate-war-alliance-by-e-m-havens/

Blog Tour Stop - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews

Here's today's stop. There is supposed to be an interview. Maybe it will pop up later

http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.com/2013/04/fate-waralliance-e-m-havensexcerpt-rabt.html#more

How 'bout them Pickles

Or Apples maybe, but that would be cliche...

Blog Tour Stop and AWESOME Review - Shelfspace Needed

Another stop, and other superb review!  If you were waiting to hear some pro's and con's of the book this review will convince you to either read it or reject it.

 http://shelfspaceneeded.blogspot.com/

Blog Tour Stop and Review - Queen of all She Reads

Here is today's stop. She left me a phenomenal review! WOOT!

Please leave a comment if you have the time. She's invited you all to ask me questions.

http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com/

Heart of a Witch FREE this weekend

This book is free until Friday. Snag a copy. Read it. Then leave an awesome review on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Heart-of-the-Witch-ebook/dp/B00AR5HMZO/

Here's my review:

http://www.emhavenswrites.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-heart-of-witch-by-judy.html

But seriously...it's free. You lose nothing if you try it!

Blog Tour Stop and Review - My Cozie Corner

Here's today's stop with a nice review!

http://coziecorner.blogspot.com/2013/04/fate-war-alliance-by-em-havens-review.html#more

Dark Night of the Soul UPDATE!

I've started rewrites on DNOTS...FINALLY.  It was a tough two weeks staying away from it but I was good. I'm already on chapter 3!  I'm also working on a trailer for it so I hope to be able to show that to you soon.

Blog Tour Stop - Andi's Book Reviews

Today's stop is just a promo but check it out!

http://andisbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/04/fate-war-alliance-by-em-havens.html

Blog Tour Stop with Review - Author Ever Leigh

Here is today's stop with a review.

http://authoreverleigh.blogspot.com/

If you haven't entered the giveaway, it's really easy. It may look intimidating, but there are instructions for each entry. Go for it!

Book Review - On a Wing and a Dare by Lina Ulleseit

Description

Flying horses...it's what comes after the wizards, after the vampires, after the Games. In Tremeirchson, a barn leader’s children are expected to follow their parents into the sky, becoming riders of the magnificent winged horses that are the medieval Welsh village’s legacy. Neither Emma nor Davyd, however, want to follow that tradition.

Sixteen-year-old Emma risks losing her family by following her heart. Eager to take her place in the air, she longs to ride a forbidden winged colt born in barn of her father’s biggest rival. She also dreams of the rival’s sons, not sure which she truly loves. Bold and exciting, Evan will someday lead his father’s barn. Davyd is quieter, more dependable, with an ability to get things done. Her father disapproves of both boys and pushes her toward an ambitious newcomer. He also insists she ride the colt he’s picked for her.

Davyd, also sixteen, is plagued with a secret—he is afraid of heights. Refusing to become a rider means public humiliation, his parents’ disappointment, and lifelong ridicule from his brother, Evan. He reluctantly prepares to join his family aloft in the Aerial Games that provide the entire village with its livelihood and tries desperately to think of an alternative.

As Tremeirchson’s barns prepare for the Rider Ceremony, winged horses suddenly start dying. Shocked, the adults hesitate, mired in tradition and politics. Is it a disease or poison? Accidental or purposeful? Someone must discover the answer and act before all the winged horses in the world are gone forever.

Excerpt

As she fastened the leather strap of the helmet, Emma felt a moment of doubt. Her father would disapprove. And her mother might need help with Rhys. But Davyd had been a friend forever, and he needed her. She shooed him out of the stall so she could slip on the divided skirt with its unfamiliar green and gold pattern.

Turning to Wynne, she stroked the mare’s nose and talked to her, watching the ears twist to catch the words. “This is going to go well, Wynne. I know it is.” She knew the mare but had never been alone with her. She knew how to ride, but had never done so alone. “My father won’t ever know. It’s not your fault, Wynne, del. My father just doesn’t understand how I long for the sky, or how much I want to be a real part of the barn. He wants a serf, not a daughter.”Continuing to pet the horse, Emma moved around her, admiring the snowy mane and silver-tipped wings in a soothing tone. Wynne ignored her. “We can do this, girl, together.”

Shouts from the courtyard told Emma time was running out. Morgan’s barn was preparing to take flight. She took a deep breath, muttered a hasty invocation to Rhiannon, and led Wynne from the stall. Ten horses in various stages of being mounted milled about the yard. It was easy to find her place and swing up into the saddle like she’d done it a thousand times. Trying not to draw Morgan’s gaze, she kept her head down and fiddled with her reins.

“Cutting it pretty close, Elen. Everything all right?” a rider asked.

Emma grinned. He’d mistaken her for Wynne’s regular rider! She nodded and waved to him, pretending to adjust something on the saddle so that she could turn her back instead of answering.

A trumpet sounded, and the horse beneath her tensed. Emma gathered the reins and gripped Wynne with her legs. For an instant her heart fluttered, then they were galloping to liftoff, then gliding above the ground. As Wynne stroked powerful wings to gain altitude, Emma’s heart sang.

Author Bio

Linda Ulleseit was born and raised in Saratoga, California. She currently lives in San Jose with her husband. They have two adult sons and two yellow Labradors. Linda enjoys cooking, cross-stitching, reading, and spending time with her family.

Linda is a sixth grade teacher at James Franklin Smith Elementary School, where her students were some of the early reviewers of her books. Her favorite subject is writing, and her students get a lot of practice scribbling stories and essays. Someday Linda hopes to see books written by former students alongside hers in bookstores.

As a child, Linda always loved to write. She took her first creative writing course in seventh grade, accumulating a closet full of stories that she never showed anyone until 2007. At that time, she gave the first draft of a flying horse book to a teacher colleague to read. ON A WING AND A DARE began as a NaNoWriMo novel in 2009. It was revised with the help of reviewers on thenextbigwriter.com over the next two years. For NaNo 2011, Linda drafted the sequel, IN THE WINDS OF DANGER

My Review

I love horses. I've always loved horses so when I came across this book about horses with wings, I was ecstatic! On a Wing and a Dare is an easy read about these magnificent creatures. Although they are in the story a lot, there is also a large focus on relationships. While the biggest relationship struggle is a love triangle between Emma and two brothers, Ms. Ulleseit also tugs at the heart strings while she delves into parent/child, parent/parent, and friendships. Of course, none are easy.

This book is an easy read with great descriptions of the winged horses and flying, but I would not say it is a light read. A plague among horses and people is the main antagonist and there is quite a bit of death and sorrow. But you know the author did her job when you can feel the fatigue of the people working tirelessly to save the village.

The only thing that bothered me, and this is just personal taste, is the point of view switching. The book begins with the POV hopping from Emma to David almost paragraph by paragraph. While I completely understand why Ulleseit chose to go this route (she's trying to get all angles of a super action packed beginning), it was a bit distracting. The good news is for POV sticklers, it doesn't continue that way, and the POV switches happen less frequently throughout the rest of the book.

Because of the themes of loss and kissy romance, I would definitely suggest this for older YA. You would have to determine if your child  is ready. I know my 14 year-old could read it just fine, but I will let my 11 year-old wait another year because of the romance scenes. Their not explicit by any means, but my child is just not ready for some of the detail. Or rather I'm not ready for her to read that level of detail.

Overall, this is a great book and easy read. I'll definitely be reading the squeal, In the Winds of Danger.

                                                                  

Amazon

http://flyinghorsebooks.wordpress.com

@lindaulleseit

Facebook

Goodreads

Movie Review - The Croods

I.Like.This.Movie!

From a literary standpoint, there is nothing new or original.  The characters are your basic stock and there isn't really a great "take away" that leads to discussion with your kids.

 But why I like it so much is for the humor.I literally laughed out loud several times during the show. Also, the creativity behind the environment is astounding and it is visually stunning. If I can take my kids to a movie and enjoy it myself, I'm pleased, so I wasn't disappointed in this one.

What did you think?

Blog Tour Stop - Bibliophile and Mythical Books

Here is yesterday's stop. I was waiting to post it until the review went up.  You can take a look at her short review and I'll post again when the whole thing goes up.

http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2013/04/tour-fate-war-alliance-by-em-havens.html

Here is today's stop.  Pretty interesting. There is a different excerpt from the book.

http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

Tour Stops - Library at the End of the Universe and Fictional Reality

There are two stops for today!! Both of them are reviews.

http://livinginafictionalreality.blogspot.com/2013/04/fate-war-alliance-4-star-review.html?showComment=1365604243509#c1743340807666077486

and

http://libraryendofuniverse.blogspot.com/

I want to give a special shout to Penelope from Library at the End of the Universe for seriously inflating my ego today. :)

Blog Tour Stop and Review - My Reading Adiction

So, it's been a quiet few days, but LET THE REVIEWS BEGIN!

http://myaddictionisreading.blogspot.com/2013/04/blog-tour-fate-war-alliance-by-em-havens.html

Book Review - Heart of the Witch by Judy Goodwin

Description

Zerrick Dhur holds a dangerous secret. As the Pastor's son, it is his duty to uphold the ways of the church. But he practices magic, feels it singing to him through the jungle outside the colonial town walls. Witch burning fever strikes his town, forcing him to flee or be killed. Worse, his abilities spin out of control, threatening darkness and madness. He meets several other lost souls in his search to tame the wild magic. A young woman with visions. An old native scout. A hidden city of magic users. As he draws nearer to the truth, he fears he will also have to face his greatest nightmare, the Ravenger, a demon of unspeakable power.

In the end, Zerrick must decide whether witchcraft will lead him to goodness . . . or to evil.

Excerpt

A great black shape descended from the sky, seeming to come right out the air itself. At first all Mira could see were wings: four black-feathered wings, each about ten or twelve feet long, all flapping in a blur of movement. Then the head of a horse, also black, reared up out of the tangle of wings, and four cloven black hooves appeared, each hoof chiseled into a razor-sharp point, churning at the air as the creature landed in a cloud of dust.

It reared up, shrieking again, and struck at something--Tibit, Mira’s mind sluggishly registered, trying to fight the terror of the creature’s ghastly voice. She saw the familiar sent flying by a powerful kick to lie unmoving, a little bloody heap.

Beside her, Zerrick whimpered, but he too seemed frozen, all his color suddenly fled from his face. Very soon Mira understood why. The pressure of the magic was all around, making it difficult to breathe, difficult to think. It seemed to whisper fell things, of woe, of destruction. She could feel it seep into her skin, trying to change her. She gripped Zerrick and the sensation lessened somewhat, at least enough to be able to see clearly again.

The four-winged horse strode up to them, and horror struck Mira anew. The eyes that gazed out of the equine features were human, opened wide in a semblance of hate, but clouded with pain and fear, as if within the beast cringed a poor human, trapped. The voice which came from the creature’s mouth, however, was steady, calm, and extremely arrogant. “You have been allowed to live long enough, and since you continue to foolishly use your magic in my Master’s domain, you will now face the Master’s wrath.”

About the Author

Judy Goodwin developed a passion for writing at a young age, creating picture books from the time she could read and write. She continued this passion throughout her schooling, earning her BA degree in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. Along with the passion for English came a love of all languages, and Ms. Goodwin went on to study other languages as well, including German, French, and Japanese. She spent time as an exchange student in Germany, which helped to develop her love of other cultures.

She has published short stories in small press and online magazines including Space and Time, Dreams and Nightmares, and Beyond Centauri. With the advent of eBooks and indie publishing, she decided to move into the brave new world of publishing with the debut of her first novel, Heart of the Witch.

Her second novel is anticipated in early 2014, entitled Journey to Landaran.

My Review

Heart of the Witch is a coming of age adventure. It is action packed from page one and rarely stops to let you take a breath. When there are some lulls, it's because you're taking a little time to savor the sweet romance between Zerrick and Mira. It's the perfect combination for Young Adult fantasy. 

I was skeptical about this book. I don't normally like witches and spells stuff. It's a bit overdone since Harry Potter, but this is not that kind of book. First of all, I guess you could call this a pseudo-historical fiction. While most of the culture is based on 1600's colonists, Ms. Goodwin adds a fantastic element of fantasy. She has created her own religion, her own countries, and in essence a new world. She's even recreated magic. It's isn't your typical wand wielding. As a matter of fact there are no wands. But I won't ruin the adventure of discovering how magic is used in this world.

I really liked this story. It was well written, fast paced, and I could really get behind the characters.

Links

Amazon

 Website

Goodreads

Tour Stop #11 - The Faery Book Review

This is another guest post stop. I was actually serious for once on this one.

http://tbfreviews.net/2013/04/03/the-hardest-thing-about-character-development-guest-author-e-m-havens/

Tour Stop #10 - Book Lovin' Mamas

This is a guest post stop.  You can learn about my writing process!

http://www.booklovinmamas.blogspot.com/

Tour Stop #9 - Feed My Need for a Good Read

This is just a promo stop, so there is no review or guest post. Check it out and enter to win the $25 Amazon gift card!

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/

Tour stop #6 (after all!) - For The Love of Film and Novels

Well, I guess things got a little messed up. No biggie!

Here is Saturday's stop that I thought wasn't going to happen.

http://www.fortheloveoffilmandnovels.com/2013/04/em-havens-fate-war-alliance-virtual.html

Learn how to cuss in Fate War!!!

Tour Stop #8 - Mallory Heart Book Reviews

This is my first review from the blogging world. Check it out!!!

http://archiestandwoodsreviewsandwritings.blogspot.com/