Book Blitz for Dark Lullaby by Mayra Calvani (International Giveaway!)

This Book Blitz Tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Dark Lullaby
By Mayra Calvani

Blurb:
     At a trendy Turkish tavern one Friday night, astrophysicist Gabriel Diaz meets a mysterious young woman. Captivated by her beauty as well as her views on good and evil, he spends the next several days with her. Soon, however, he begins to notice a strangeness in her–her skin’s abnormally high temperature, her obsession with milk products, her child-like and bizarre behavior as she seems to take pleasure in toying with his conscience.
     The young woman, Kamilah, invites him to Rize, Turkey, where she claims her family owns a cottage in the woods. In spite of his heavy workload and the disturbing visions and nightmares about his sister’s baby that is due to be born soon, Gabriel agrees to go with her.
     But nothing, not even the stunning splendor of the Black Sea, can disguise the horror of her nature. In a place where death dwells and illusion and reality seem as one, Gabriel must now come to terms with his own demons in order to save his sister’s unborn child, and ultimately, his own soul…

Author bio:
Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, and Bloomsbury Review, among many others. A reviewer for over a decade, she now offers online reviewing workshops. When she’s not writing, reading, editing or reviewing, she enjoys walking her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Visit her website at www.MayraCalvani.com. Join her mailing list and receive the first two lessons of her book reviewing workshop, as well as her free ebook, Reviewers Talk About Their Craft.
Twitter URL: http://twitter.com/mcalvani
Facebook Fan Page URL: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mayra-Calvanis-Fan-Page/162383023775888

Notes From the author...

"Dark Lullaby is about a young astrophysicist who is lured into the Turkish countryside by a mysterious young woman, of course, she ends up being something totally unexpected. In the end, he has to face his own demons in order to save his twin sister’s unborn child.

I’ve always been very interested in moral dilemmas and in the concept of a higher good. For instance, is it okay for a man to steal in order to have money to save his little girl, who is dying? In the case of Dark Lullaby, I went a step further: is it okay for a man to kill for the higher good? More than horror, it is a bizarre, suspenseful tale. It is based on Turkish lore. I lived in Turkey for five years and the culture, the people, the stories I heard there had a big influence on my writing."

*****

Why I decided to use Turkey as my setting...

"The first part of Dark Lullaby takes place in Baltimore, but it was inevitable for the setting to move to Turkey. This has to do with the nature of the anti-heroine which I will not reveal here, of course. J I also wanted to add a primitive, exotic flavor to the story, and what could be more primitive and exotic than a small village in the Black Sea coast, a place surrounded by woods and influenced by strange lore? I don’t think there are many scary stories out there connected to Turkish lore, so I thought: hey, this is something different, something readers may find unusual and original. So for this novel, I felt the setting was very important for the plot."

*****

What appeals to me about the supernatural...

"I detest gore. What appeals to me are the unknown, the unexplainable, and a good story with good characterization and a lot of dark atmosphere. Paranormal is probably my favorite of all genres, but I hesitate to say I like horror because horror has turned to trash these days. I like the classic, traditional ‘horror’ ala Edgar Allan Poe, very different from the average horror being written these days. I can think of a novel I read a couple of years ago, a ghost story with stunning writing: The Ghost Writer, by John Hartwood. I guess what I like falls more under paranormal or supernatural suspense, but the lines are so thin between genres and subgenres these days, sometimes it’s hard to categorize a book."

Mayra is offering an ebook copy of the story collection, The Cat Cellar. 

Enter to win this collection by filling out the form below - international - must be 18+

giveaway ends Jan. 21, 2012

Buy link HERE.

Review: Heart Over Mind by Sara Trimble

Heart Over Mind by Sara Trimble

Amazon Product Description:
Nala gets life-altering news. She has a family, and more than one secret power. Even worse is that she also has a mad man seeking to kill her. Gabriel arrives and promises to protect her. With him around, she may be safe from Broncestan, but her heart is in danger of breaking. Gabriel makes it clear from day one that he's not interested in a relationship. Despite the fact that sparks fly whenever he and Nala touch, he wants to focus on the one thing that matters to him. His job. It's too bad that Nala's determined not to let that happen. And when multiple signs point to their being together as Fate deems right, Gabriel wonders if he's fighting a losing battle. As Broncestan's attacks get stronger, and more dangerous, Nala finds it more important than ever to experience the kind of relationship she'd always wanted, but never had. Seeing Nala suffer at the hands of a power-hungry Damned soul, Gabriel realizes keeping his distance isn't working. Soon, they give in to the passion and proclaim their love. Just when things are supposed to work out, things hit rock bottom again. Will they ever be able to defeat Broncestan and enjoy a relationship together or are they doomed to live their lives alone and miserable?
My thoughts:
     Wonderful story! Sara Trimble has created fantastic characters.  Gabriel is truly a dream man and Nala is the perfect combination of tough and caring.  I found myself falling for so many of the supporting characters as well.  I enjoyed the way they all interacted and was thrilled with the various powers held by all the different species living in the castle.
     Every once in awhile I felt like the story skipped a bit, not so much that I would be lost, just that I would notice, but I truly enjoyed reading this entertaining, unique, original story.
     It's a great love story ~ we see the love of couples lasting through the ages, sharing their fated bonds for the binding ceremonies.  The author has combined almost every mythical creature and species into this clever, engrossing, beautiful story.  We are given the opportunity to bear witness to: struggle, destiny, love, jealousy, fear, forgiveness, misunderstanding, denial, acceptance, determination, and drive.  
  I will be looking for more from Sara Trimble!

About the author (from Amazon.com):
Sara Trimble is a romance author with one romance novel published and another novel in the final revisions process. She also has a collection of over eighty short stories stored away. She works as a columnist with Night Owl Reviews, conducting interviews with best selling authors and reviewing their books. She is also a reviewer for Night Owl Reviews, as well as Fallen Angel Reviews. She resides in West Tennessee, with her fiance and family. The mother of 5, she's proud to be a good ole' Southern Belle. When she's not giving in to the wily whims of her Muse, her children or her mischievous Beagle, Sara enjoys spending time at the river with friends, fishing, and hanging out on the Mississippi Coast with her in-laws, listening to stories of days gone by. Sara enjoys country music, simple life, gravel roads, nature, and sitting on the porch swing under a blanket of stars listening to the crickets sing. Sara's stories often have elements of romance, paranormal, and/or fantasy. She loves taking readers on a magical journey that she hopes they'll never forget. Her sense of humor has often been referred to as twisted. She likes to include her own brand of sarcastic humor and flirty wit in each of her stories.
Author bio (from Amazon.com):
Sara Trimble is new to the world of publishing, though not to writing. She has one published novel, two in the final revisions and a stack of stories ready to work on. She's also venturing out of her comfort zone of Romance to work on a new suspense novel, she hopes to have done by December 1st. When she isn't writing, Sara spends her time with her three children, wonderful husband Justyn, spending time with friends, and just enjoying life.

2012 E-Book Reading Challenge

This reading challenge is being presented by The Eclectic Bookshelf!

This is where I will be listing the e-books I read this year!

I am hoping to make the Mega Size Challenge = 25+ e-books.

1. 

The Midget's House by Anita Bartholomew (Giveaway - US and International)

This book blitz is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my stop on the Blitz!

I am pleased to present:

The Midget’s House

By Anita Bartholomew

BLURB:

The Midget's House is a tale of two women (one alive, and the other long dead), each mourning lost love and struggling for control of the one place that feels like home.

Marisa Delano is thrilled when she unexpectedly inherits the fairy-tale like cottage on the bay—until she learns that Lucinda Lacey, a sideshow midget who died on the property in 1924, still inhabits it. As Marisa searches for answers about the unwelcome presence in her new home, all the clues lead to one conclusion: on the day Lucinda died, she murdered her lover, circus owner Cyrus Parker. 

Alternating between Lucinda's and Marisa's perspectives, The Midget's House takes readers from the carnivals, circuses, and freak shows of the early twentieth century, to the boom-and-bust of today's Florida. 

Haunting in every sense of the word, this genre-blending tale will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

*You can buy this book Here.

*You can enter to win this book below.

The Midget's House Giveaway
2 Print Copies Open to US Shipping
2 ebook copies winner's choice of format open internationally



And now...for your reading pleasure:

Prologue

March 2004

The Height of the Last Florida Real Estate Boom

   A faded gray Buick clunker idled in the winding drive. Palm trees whipped by the wind blowing off Sarasota Bay cast tentacle-like shadows across its chassis.

   The plump young night nurse slipped out of the house by the side door. She hadn't dared leave until she was certain her patient was asleep but, having heard the deep, even snores, she felt confident that the amply medicated old lady would be unconscious at least until daybreak.

   Enid Parker's bones had gone brittle and her muscles had atrophied, making it impossible for her to do much beyond lie in her bed if she did awaken. Her hair, long since leached of all color, had thinned to baby fine strands. As senile and infirm as she was though, Enid could still make a ruckus when she felt ignored. The nurse had earned several screeches of complaint over the past three evenings, which was how long she'd been employed as Enid Parker's caregiver. She was glad for the work and accustomed to difficult patients so she didn't consider turning down the assignment even after learning that an earlier nurse had walked off the job in the middle of the night, blithering incomprehensibly. Some other nurses simply couldn't hack it, she knew, but she didn't have much sympathy for them. Handling the job, where crotchety old folks were concerned, meant sucking it up when they heaved verbal abuse, not just parceling out the pills at the appropriate hours or cleaning up the messes from their saggy bottoms to their soiled linens.

   But now that the old woman slept, she saw no reason to lurk in the creaky old house through the night.

   She darted to the car, swung her wide hips onto the passenger seat, and quietly pulled the door closed behind her. The young man at the wheel put his sputtering vehicle in gear, drove it past the decorative iron gate and on toward the outside world. She'd be back in plenty of time with no one the wiser.

  

*

  

   Despite enough medication to sedate a Clydesdale horse, Enid Parker did not rest easily. Moments after her nurse's departure, her creped eyelids fluttered open.

   "Papa?" she murmured. "Are we going to the circus? Can I ride the elephant? You promised."

   Not getting an answer, she reached out tentatively with one arthritic hand, as if attempting to see through her fingertips. Wispy white eyebrows bunched together as clouded pupils strained to focus.

   Then anger sparked in those dull eyes.

   "Lucinda!" she shrieked. "You get out of here. Get out. GET OUT OF MY HOUSE. My house ..." Her heart accelerated, pumping blood through tired veins and arteries, tingling her desiccated skin to an almost healthy pink.

   Forgetting her infirmity, Enid forced herself upright, determined to eject the intruder.

   The effort exhausted what little life was left in her. 

About the Author:

Anita Bartholomew is a former long-time contributing editor to Reader’s Digest whose articles have also appeared in numerous other major periodicals. She is the co-author of Dr. Yvonne Thornton’s award-winning memoir, Something To Prove (Kaplan 2010), and has acted as an editorial consultant to a great many other authors, including some whose books have appeared on US and international bestseller lists.

About the House:

There are many legends about the house in the Indian Beach neighborhood of Sarasota, Florida:

That it was built for Ringling Circus midgets... that there is a treasure hidden inside its walls... that it is haunted.

 Its true history may never be known, but Anita Bartholomew's imaginings about what that history might have been form the basis of this novel.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 www.anitabartholomew.com

www.themidgetshouse.com 

Twitter: @AnitaBart

Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole! Happy Reading! 

Review: 8: The Previously Untold Story of the Previously Unknown 8th Dwarf by Michael Mullin

8: The Previously Untold Story of the Previously Unknown 8th Dwarf by Michael Mullin

Amazon Product Description:
This is the previously untold story of the previously unknown 8th dwarf, named Creepy. He was banished to the basement for being different and , well, weird. Yet he played a vital - and of course previously unknown - role in the popular tale of Snow White (whose title character is an intruder Creepy refers to as "the Maid").


My thoughts:
This is a super fun, hilarious, short little story told in verse!  
It was a blast to read!  Creepy is a bit twisted, in a funny way.  He is sarcastic and bold.  The story he tells about Snow White is wonderful.  I enjoyed the three-times-a-loser tale of how the old woman comes to the cottage three days in a row, dressed differently with three different fatal items for "the maid."  The twist on the "true love's kiss" was interesting, and I loved how he drilled the holes in the glass coffin and left her for someone else!
Michael Mullin is a clever and creative writer.  I hope to see more from him!

Michael grew up in New England, where all his sports allegiances remain. He is co-author of the successful Larry Gets Lost picture book series, and was recognized by the WGA’s Written By magazine for an animation screenplay. Before writing as a career, he taught preschool and college, two positions he found disconcertingly similar. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and 10-year-old twins who pretty much run his life (despite his best efforts to appear as if he is running theirs).

Blog Tour: Damian's Oracle by Lizzy Ford

This virtual Book Tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

You can see the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

I am pleased to present Lizzy Ford!

Lizzy Ford is the hyper-prolific author of the "Rhyn Trilogy" and "War of Gods" series, both launched in 2011, as well as multiple single title young adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Lizzy's books have reached into the bestseller lists on both Amazon US and Amazon UK in multiple categories. Through her unconventional online marketing strategies, Lizzy has gone from selling 20 books in January 2011 to around 5000 books in September 2011 and from over 7,000 free downloads of her work in January 2011 to over 40,000 downloads in September 2011.

The Lizzy Ford team consists of: Matt, IT and search engine optimization expert; Christine LePorte, freelance book editor; Dafeenah, graphics artist; and Toni, English-Spanish translator.

Lizzy is considered by most to be the ultimate writing freak of nature for her ability to write and epublish a new book every 30-45 days. She is also a regular contributor for the Curiosity Quills website and is an active member of a small guild of nine passionate, talented writers, the Indie Eclective. Lizzy's books are available from Amazon, BN, Smashwords, iBooks/iTunes, and all other eReader libraries.

Amazon Product Description:
Caught in the war between the White and Black Gods, Sofia and her rare gift bring victory to he who grabs her first. Her difficult transition from human to oracle forces her into a new world, where she struggles in her role as Damian’s mate and to help a mysterious man who’s supposed to be dead.

My quick review:  Lizzy Ford has created incredible characters!  Her well-developed, strong characters carry the story, which is creative, intriguing and original.  The plot draws you in and holds you.  It is well written and nicely paced.  Totally worth the read!  I can't wait to start book two!  

Damian’s Oracle links:

· BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damians-oracle-lizzy-ford/1029664032

· iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/damians-oracle/id416014301?mt=11

· Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10183211-damian-s-oracle

· Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Damians-Oracle-War-Gods-ebook/dp/B004JN0KHM/

Lizzy has graciously offered an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Technically, I knew I could write in the third grade!  It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I decided writing was my calling.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I’ve worked full time since I was 17, so I wrote whenever I had a chance, until recently, when I lost my job about a month ago.  Now, I’m hoping to make writing my full time job.  I probably had about 10 jobs before I finally realized it’s time to do what I’d always dreamed!

? How long does it take you to write a book?

It really depends.  The quickest I’ve ever written a novel has been a week, so between a week and a month, sometimes six weeks.  I write, have edited, and publish a new book every 30-45 days.  Now that I’m a full-time writer, I hope to do this consistently every 30 days rather than 45, but we’ll see.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I don’t know if it’s a quirk, but all my writer friends call me a freak of nature for being able to write so much.  My books are like movies in my head, and I’m trying hard to write fast enough to keep up with them.  Haha!

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

I usually have a cup of tea when I write.  If I’m hard core writing, as in, 10,000 words a day, I’ll put on headphones with my favorite songs replaying.  If I’m just normal writing, then I’ll just have my tea!

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

Much of the inspiration for characters come from seeds planted during dreams.  I’m a really active dreamer, and some of my best characters and scenes have come from dreams.  Another source is emotion, like if I’m feeling frustrated or happy or going through something rough.  Characters are born from strong emotion, too.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I have two ongoing series right now (Rhyn Trilogy and War of Gods/Damian series), so I’ve been fluctuating between writing the books in those series and single-title stories that I like.  Most of the time, I just write whatever my dreams tell me to, though my readers are really great at providing feedback about sequels they’d like to see. 

? What are you reading right now?

I’m finishing up Julia Crane’s “Conflicted: Keegan’s Chronicles.”  I love her little series, and she’s releasing the third book in the trilogy next month, so I’m excited.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I have two dogs and a cat, so I walk the dogs or play with them.  I’m also online a lot doing social media to support my online presence and expand my platforms, and I talk to readers and other writers a lot.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Anything chocolate or pastries or sweets in general!  I’m so bad with sweets, which is why I weigh a million pounds!

? What do you think makes a good story?

Strong characters and plot are tops.  I try to kidnap my readers from the first page and take them with me through the story, so I think engaging readers from the beginning is another key trait of good stories. 

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

Pride and Prejudice.  LOVE that book!  Every time I read it, I discover some new little detail that I missed before.

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats?

o       Dogs! 

·        Coffee or tea?

o       Tea

·        Dark or milk chocolate?

o       Depends on the brand.  Godiva: milk chocolate!

·        Rocks or flowers?

o       Flowers

·        Night or day?

o       Day. I’m totally solar powered!

·        Favorite color?

o       It’s a tie most days between blue and pink.

·        Crayons or markers?

o       Crayons

·        Pens or pencils?

o       No. 2 pencils.