Due to a technical difficultly, there was no author guest spot this week. So I thought I would get the Monthly Giveaway going a little earlier than usual so you all wouldn't get too bored :)
Here is how it works!
Just go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book. Here is a little info about each book on offer. Just click on the book title and author to see my review -
Well in the sidebar <--- there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. I pick a name from the subscibers list and that person wins the book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for! To subscribe to Amberkatze's Book Blog all you have to do is use the box in the sidebar <--- or at the bottom of this post. Everyone who is already subscribed will be entered in the contest as well as new subscribers. If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!! The poll will stay open for votes until Sunday 10th of October 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced later than day.
For more chances to win -
Post about this giveaway somewhere on the internet eg. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter etc. Make sure you post the link here so I can confirm your extra entry.
Email your friends about this giveaway. Make sure you add my email address so I also get a copy and can confirm your entry. Amberkatzes_Book_Blog@gmx.eu
Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)
Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.
Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.
My Review -
Cate Tiernan is the author of the very successful Sweep and Balefire books and I have been waiting eagerly to hear that she would be bringing out a new series. So when I saw Immortal : Beloved I ordered it straight away. I was addicted to her other books and I was sure that this one would not let me down. I was right. If anything I think Cate has out done herself with this new trilogy.
The imagination this author has is amazing. Such detail and depth goes into each book and you never know how things are going to pan out. I was captivated with this new offering from the first chapter on and didn't want to put this book down. Beloved had everything I hoped it would have and a bit more. It is only a shame that the next book doesn't come out for a year.
Magick and immortality come together to make a paranormal romantic historical delight. This may be aimed at Young readers but the main characters are all hundreds of years old so nobody will feel lost in this book. Younger readers may just learn from some of the mistakes the characters in this book have made but older readers will just be able nod and agree. Fantasy vs. Facts in this book but it is clear to see what is what. Ideal for any paranormal loving reader.
Now I have the worst part to get through. The wait. A trilogy that makes me wait a year for the next book is really not what I expected but it was only when I saw the last page that I also found out what was in store. However Cate Tiernan is a YA author that I would highly recommend to anyone. Even mothers looking for something good for their Teenage daughters. Maybe this one will land in a few Christmas Stockings?
My author guest last week was Jennifer Estep. Not only was she here telling us a little bit about her Elemental Series but she was giving away a copy of her newest release. Venom, book three in the series, comes out on Tuesday and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! The previous books, Spider's Bite and Web of Lies, are two of my favourite reads this year and I am sure Venom is going to make the top of the list too!
Thanks for all the great title ideas! Some of them were really cool! So who is the lucky winner? Congrats to -
Audra!!!
If you didn't win this time then make sure you enter the next contest! Also the Monthly Give away will be coming up soon!
How to claim your prize!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address.
If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.
Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now!
Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog where ever you can ;)
Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for each contest!
A lost soul in limbo, Kevin Fahey is trying to prove he’s a better ghost than he ever was a man. And trying to help Maggie Gunn, the detective who replaced him, is a good way to start.
My Thoughts -
Angel Interrupted is the second book in the Dead Detective Mysteries and was a fantastic read. The actual idea of having a dead detective following an investigation and trying to help the living solve the case not only new and fresh but the story being told from the ghost perspective makes things even more interesting.
The emotional plot great sequel was fast paced and addictive while the mystery itself was extremely well thought out and full of surprises. I was pretty sure I knew how things were going to turn out but the way things unraveled was full of twists and kept me wondering if my hunches were indeed correct.
It is a shame that it has been over a year since the debut in this series was released. I had forgot a lot of the little details and would have liked to caught up with the dead detective again sooner rather than later. I hope there will be more books in the series and look forward to being shown the world through the eyes of a ghost once more.
This week my author guest is Jennifer Estep! Her Elemental series is one of my favourite reads this year and I am really looking forward to the newest book, Venom, when it comes out next week.
If you haven't already tried this series then I highly recommend you do! Why not take a look at the interview to find out more about the books and the author?
Also make sure you enter the contest for your chance to win a copy of Venom.
Don't wait too long! The contest closes on Sunday!
Practical Melanie Middleton hates to admit she can see ghosts. But she’s going to have to accept it. An old man she recently met has died, leaving her his historic Tradd Street home, complete with housekeeper, dog—and a family of ghosts anxious to tell her their secrets.
Enter Jack Trenholm, a gorgeous writer obsessed with unsolved mysteries. He has reason to believe that diamonds from the Confederate Treasury are hidden in the house. So he turns the charm on with Melanie, only to discover he’s the smitten one...
It turns out Jack’s search has caught the attention of a malevolent ghost. Now, Jack and Melanie must unravel a mystery of passion, heartbreak—and even murder.
What I Thought -
I don't remember where I saw this book advertised or recommended but it somehow got on my wish list and then I found it on audible and decided to give it a chance. So for the last couple of weeks I have been listening to this book to and from work whenever I got the chance and finally I finished listening to it today.
The story wasn't at all bad and the mystery itself was well thought out and exciting. Unfortunately it was also a little drawn out and long-winded. I already realised what had happened way before the main characters solved the case and the last hour or so was therefore a little boring. I am sure if I had of been reading this I would have sped read it just to check I was right about things. Now you can fast forward an audio but I was a little worried about missing something. So I listened to the very end and got that smug feeling when my theory was proved to be correct.
The paranormal aspect was a little weak at times but it was also added a nice twist to things. Anyone who has read and enjoyed Madelyn Alt's or Juliet Blackwell's books will also find this cozy mystery a good choice to snuggle up with. The House on Tradd Street had a few giggles and some very amusing characters to keep it lively and light as well as a hint of romance.
I liked the characters and would like to meet up with them again. Sure the story seemed a little long at times but the overall idea was different and the history lessons included will please and interest quite a few people. So I have already put the next book 'The Girl On Legare Street' on to my iPod and will start listening to it sometime soon. Now that I have gotten used the narrator I think I will miss the sound of her voice.
Blurb - It takes a strong woman to keep the peace in a city of endless night. . . .
Deep beneath Underground, a cunning bid for power and revenge has begun—one that threatens to make Atlanta the new battleground in the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. The powers of hellish Charbydon have the upper hand after plunging the city into primordial night. And under the cover of darkness, a serial killer targets the most powerful Elysians in the city, the angelic Adonai.
For Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner Hank, tracking deadly predators is all in a day’s work . . . but this case will test the limits of their strength and friendship as it draws them into a deadly world of power plays, ancient myths, explosive secrets, and a race against time that risks all that Charlie holds dear.
What I Thought -
The Better Part of Darkness, the first book in this debut series by Kelly Gay, really impressed me. So I have been waiting for The Darkest Edge of Dawn to come along and see if the first book was a fluke. It wasn't. This second part was even better than the first. The foundations had been laid and everything looked good but now work has begun on the structure, I am really seeing how good this could get.
What really impresses me is that the lead character is not only a cop but also a mum. Too many leading ladies in the Paranormal genre are not mothers or have some problem with getting pregnant. I guess the lack of child serves its purpose in the general way of things but it can also be a little annoying. Why can't a woman kick supernatural ass and have a kid? Well this one does and she is doing a great job!
In this new release there is a lot of sexual tension between Charlie and her partner. I won't give away anything but it does make for great reading. Also the storyline with Charlie's sister and ex-husband also kept me glued to the pages. It sometimes feel like a paranormal sitcom in some sense but the book is more grown up and better written.
So Kelly Gay makes it to my must buy list. I hope the third book is coming out sooner rather than later because I don't want to forget the little details from this book that I need to remember. However the author does do a great recap so I am not too worried. Try this and be surprised! This new Urban Paranormal writer brings in some fresh and unique ideas with a whole bunch of cool supernaturals. Worth reading but make sure you start with the first book!
This week I am really really happy to have author Jennifer Estep as my guest! Her first book in the Elemental Assassin series, Spider's Bite, is still one of my favourite reads this year. Book two, Web of Lies, made the series a must buy and now I am eagerly awaiting book three, Venom, which releases at the end of this month.
The Elemental Assassin books are definitely one of the best new Urban Fantasy series out there and I absolutely love the main character Gin. If you haven't already tried the books then make sure you do soon! This is a series that is not to be missed.
Enjoy the interview and make sure you enter the contest! Jennifer is giving away a copy of Venom to one lucky Amberkatze's Book Blog reader!
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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your Elemental Assassin Series?
Jennifer – Thanks for having me! Of course. Some of you might know me as the author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.
The first two books in the series are Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies. Venom, the third book, is coming out on Sept. 28. Tangled Threads, the fourth book, will be published in May 2011, while the fifth book (untitled) will be released in October 2011.
Amber - How did you come up with the idea for the Assassin series? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?
Jennifer – I’ve always loved reading about assassin characters, especially in fantasy literature. One day, I thought it would be cool to write my own assassin with my own magic/world.
Over the years, I tried writing the story first as an epic fantasy. I tried a couple of different drafts, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, I decided to write the story as urban fantasy, which is when the characters and plot really started clicking for me. After I made that switch, everything got a lot easier. So yes, it was sort of a long process in that it took me a while to find just the right voice/setting for the series.
Amber - What can we expect from the third book in the series? What is Venom all about?
Jennifer – In Venom, Gin takes on her most dangerous enemy yet – Elliot Slater, a giant who is stalking one of Gin’s friends. Complicating matters is the fact that Elliot Slater works for Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered Gin’s family when she was a kid.
In many ways, Venom is a turning point in the series as Gin makes some big decisions about how she’s going to get her revenge on Mab, what to do about her long-lost sister Bria, and how she wants to handle Owen Grayson, the sexy businessman who is showing a romantic interest in her. The book is definitely action-packed, and I hope readers enjoy all the magic, fights, and romance.
Amber - Gin has seen a lot of action so far. How do you decide what to throw at her in each book?
Jennifer – I always try to make the bad guys a little tougher and meaner and more powerful in each subsequent book. Gin is growing as a character and her magic is growing too, so it only makes sense to throw tougher and tougher challenges at her when it comes to the bad guys. Basically, I sit in front of my computer and think about the worst situation that I could put Gin in and how she might get out of it. Then, I start writing.
Amber - What kind of research have you done for your books? Anything interesting or is the research boring?
Jennifer – I don’t do a lot of research since my books are urban fantasies. Instead, I spend most of my time working on the magic/world building and making sure that the magic is logical and believable. That all the people and their powers make sense and seem as real as possible – like elementals, vampires, and the like could actually exist if we lived in Gin’s world. Coming up with interesting and realistic magic is what writing fantasy books is all about to me.
Amber - There has been quite a lot of Paranormal TV series and Films hitting the screens lately. Why do you think that is? Would you like to see Gin come to life in the same way? Who would play her?
Jennifer – I think the paranormal genre is so popular right now because folks are looking for an escape from all the bad news in the world, like the crappy economy. I’ve love to see the Elemental Assassin books turned into a movie or TV show. I think Jennifer Garner would be a great choice for Gin. Garner can be tough and vulnerable at the same time, just like Gin is.
Amber - I have already seen there will be a fourth book in the series. How long would you like to see things continue for Gin? Do you see an end in sight?
Jennifer – Right now, I’m contracted for five books. Tangled Threads, book 4, will be out in May 2011, and book 5 is tentatively scheduled for October 2011. These five books will let me wrap up all the major story arcs, like who Gin ends up with romantically and how she gets her revenge on Mab Monroe.
Of course, I’d love to write more books in the series beyond these five, but that will depend on sales, like everything else does.
Amber - You also write the Big time series. What are those books about and are there going to be more of them? Or are you working on something else?
Jennifer – The Bigtime books are paranormal romances. They feature sexy superheroes, evil über-villains, and smart, sassy gals looking for love. Titles in the series are Karma Girl (2007), Hot Mama (2007), and Jinx (2008).
Unfortunately, I’m not going to be writing any more of these books. My publisher decided not to continue with the series after Jinx. I have a fourth book written – Nightingale – and hope to publish it someday maybe as an e-book. But I’m busy with other projects right now, so I’m not sure when that will happen.
I’ve recently also sold a young adult urban fantasy series called Mythos Academy. The first book is called A Touch of Frost and will be out in 2011. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen finds herself shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendents of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, and more.
Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Did you pick the Paranormal genre or did it pick you?
Jennifer – I’ve always loved books. But somewhere along the way, after reading some books that weren’t so great, I started thinking about writing my own books with my own characters and telling the stories that I wanted to. Fantasy books have always been among my favorites, so it just made sense to me to write in the fantasy genre. I love the magic and powers that are possible in fantasy books. If you can dream up something, you can write about it.
Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?
Jennifer – A few years ago, someone gave me a list of Welsh names and their meanings. I’ve used a lot of those in my books. For example, for Bria, Gin’s baby sister, I originally got the idea for her name from Briallen, which is a Welsh name that means primrose. Also to tie into that, I made Bria’s rune necklace a primrose. Gin’s mother is named Eira, which is a Welsh name that means snow, and Eira also has a rune necklace that’s a snowflake.
Other times, I’ll surf baby name sites and see which names mean what until I find one that I like. And then sometimes, I’ll just pull a name out of thin air, especially if it’s for a character who’s not very important or who’s not going to be around a long time.
Amber - What are you listening and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?
Jennifer – I watch way too much TV. Some of the shows that I’m enjoying right now are Chuck, Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Friday Night Lights, Burn Notice, The Closer … yeah, I watch too much TV. ;-)
As for music, I don’t listen to music when I write, but some of my favorite bands/artists include The Killers, The Pretenders, and Jimmy Buffett. I also love oldies music.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Jennifer – Hmm. That’s a toughie! There are so many interesting creatures out there – vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters, giants, gods ... But if I had to pick just one, I’d say an elemental. It would be really fun being an elemental like Gin and having all her powers to play around with. ;-)
Amber - Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will come by again sometime!
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Contest Time
Jennifer is giving away a copy of Venom (US/Canada readers only!). That is the third book in the series and the newest release which comes out at the end of this month.
How To Enter
All of the Elemental series titles have something to do with spiders. Can you come up with another good title?
No Title = No Entry
Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your entries in one post.
Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest!
You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.
Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.
Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com links/Banners below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 26th of September 2010 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.
My guest last week was author Sherry Ficklin! Her debut book Foresight is out now and she was here telling us a bit about herself, the book and the triology it belongs to. She was also giving away a nice prize! The contest is now closed!
One lucky person has won a Book Bag! It's a reversable book tote and will have a beaded bookmark and some random goodies inside. All you had to do to enter was recommend a YA author and/or book to us! Now some people obviously didn't read that part or have no idea that YA stands for Young Adult because some suggestions were definitely not for younger readers :)
Who is the lucky winner though? Congrats to -
Audra!!!
If you didn't win this time then make sure you check out the next contest and also the Monthly Giveaway will be coming soon!
How to claim your prize!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address.
If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.
Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now!
Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog where ever you can ;)
Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for each contest!
Brett Kavanaugh is a tattoo artist and owner of Vegas's hottest tattoo shop, The Painted Lady. And in her spare time, she does some sleuthing. After discovering the corpse of a Dean Martin impersonator-sporting a spider web tattoo and a clip cord from a tattoo machine wrapped around his neck-Brett infiltrates That's Amore, a drive-through wedding chapel, as a bride-to-be looking for the mark of a murderer..
My Thoughts -
I needed something easy to read this week due to the lack of reading time. I decided a cozy mystery would be a good choice and seeing as this book had arrived in the post it was the first one I laid my hands on. The cute covers and the tattoo theme really caught my eye when I first came across this series. Since then it has been the main characters and well thought out mysteries that have kept me coming back for more.
Driven to Ink is the third book in the Tattoo Shop Mysteries and I am still enjoying this series. The whole tattoo spin on things is very interesting and the regular characters are very likable. The Las Vegas setting is somewhat apt but I am sure this series would have worked well in other locations as well. All in all this has become a must buy series for me. A definite favourite in the cozy mystery genre.
Although I have to say that this wasn't the best in the series so far. The plot, while good, was a little confusing at times. With so many players I started to lose track of who was who and what that meant in the big frame of things. Also I am a little frustrated about Brett and Jeff's relationship. I would really like to see them get together but it looks like their 'friendship' is just going to tease the reader for the foreseeable future.
As Cozy mysteries go this is a great one. Anyone who has tattoos will love the detailed in-depth workings of a tattooist. Readers who love a good cozy will find Brett to be an all round great part-time sleuth. Nosy, getting into trouble and just finding herself in the wrong place at the wrong time is what she does best and what just what a cozy reader enjoys. I just hope that the author manages to come up with a few more interesting and surprising mysteries for Brett!
Sherry is giving away a very cute prize! This week one lucky person will win a Book Bag! It's a reversable book tote and will have a beaded bookmark and some random goodies inside. Open internationally!
This week I would like to introduce a new author to you! Sherry Ficklin is a new writer on the block and the debut book in her Gods Of Fate Trilogy is already out for you to enjoy. Foresight is the first in the YA trilogy and and I am looking forward to reading it.
Here is your chance to get know the author and maybe even win a Book Bag?
Enjoy!
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Amber - Hello Sherry! Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your debut book, Foresight?
Sherry - Thanks for having me! Foresight is the saga of Grace Archer, a modern teen who discovers she's the daughter of the Greek Goddess Pandora and it has fallen to her to protect her mother's deadly box.
Amber - Foresight is the beginning of a trilogy. How did you come up with the idea for Gods of Fate Trilogy? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?
Sherry - The story has been rattling around in my head for forever. As soon as I put pen to paper and decided to write it down, it just sort of tumbled out. It's been amazing.
Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Did you pick Young Adult and Fantasy or did it pick you?
Sherry -I never wanted to be an author! I've always loved writing and reading, but the idea of OTHER PEOPLE reading my stuff? Terrifying! But after I wrote Foresight, I couldn't wait to share the story.
As for YA and Fantasy, I've never limited myself or my stories. They just are what they are. Even Foresight starts off with Grace as a teenager, but she's a woman by the end of the series. So is it really YA? Maybe. Maybe not.
Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?
Sherry - I don't usualy pick the names. I know, it sounds strange, but the characters usualy tell me who they are.
Amber - What is the hardest part about writing a book?
Sherry - For me it's finding a balance between writing time and family time. I'm on hiatus from writing right now to spend time with my kiddos while they're on summer break. When they go back to school, I'll head back to 'work'.
Amber - Foresight is a very interesting title. How did you come up with the titles for your books and series? Did you go with the first title or is there a history of titles for the trilogy?
Sherry - The trilogy is Foresight, Secondsight, and Hindsight. The first book was named because of Grace's father and the Demon of Foresight. The sceond was named because of Grace's unusual powers in book 2, and the third is a reflection on all the choices (and mistakes) she's made throughout the series. It's a progression, a maturing of her life.
Amber - Alot of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music influenced your books?
Sherry - I do actually have a soundtrack for Foresight on my website. It's a small selection of the music I listen to when I write. My husband jokes that he can tell what scene I'm writing by the music playing. For example, the fight scenes are Pocrupine Tree, the love scenes are usualy Needtobreathe, and the scenes in Faerie are Enya.
Amber - Being an author must have its ups and downs. What experiences have you had so far?
Sherry - The most fun so far was the photo shoot for the book trailers. Seeing these models bringing my characters to life was beyond surreal. The worst, the most nerve wracking, is the rejections. Although, after Foresight was under contract with Dragonfly Publishing, I got a rejection from someone I'd sent it to almost a year earlier that was particularly harsh. I just laughed and tossed in in the trash. It was very carthardic.
Amber - What is like being a new author on the writing scene? Wild parties with other authors or sitting at home writing more books as fast as possible?
Sherry - Both and neither. Lots more invites to writing conferences and requests for apearences. At the sime I've had to cut back on my play time to make deadlines and meetings with editors. I'm not complaining. It's been wonderful.
Amber - What is next? When is the rest of the trilogy due for release? Are you working on any other projects you would like to tell us about?
Sherry - The release for the trilogy is Foresight: Out now. Secondsight: May 2011. Hindsight: September 2011.
I'm working on my first paranormal romance right now, at least I think that's the genre it will land in. Like I said, I'm not good with genre boundries. I'm also looking for a home for my new YA mystery (think Nancy Drew 2010) and I'm tinkering with a new MG novel based on King Arthur. Hopefully You'll see something new from me soon!
Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?
Sherry - I read everything. I devour books. I'm not a fan of true crime or literary fiction (think Nicholas Sparks). I LOVE paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi, teen, horror, romance (not smutty), and mysteries. My fave authors are Terri Goodkind, Laurel Hamilton, and Homer. (yeah, I'm a nerd)
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Sherry - That's a tough one. I think I'd like to be a Dark Hunter. (thanks alot, Sherilyn Kenyon)
Amber - Thank you so much for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog! I hope you will come back again ;)
Sherry - Anytime! thanks for having me!
-----------------------------
Contest Time
Sherry is giving away a very cute prize (see photo)! This week one lucky person will win a Book Bag! It's a reversable book tote and will have a beaded bookmark and some random goodies inside. Open internationally!
How To Enter
To win the prize just recommend a YA author and/or book to us!
No Author/Book = No Entry
Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your entries in one post.
Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest!
You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.
Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.
Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com links/Banners below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 19th of September 2010 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.
There is one author contest that just closed and also the Monthly Giveaway is now over! Did you win something this time? Let us have a look :)
Maria V. Snyder was my guest last week and she was giving away a signed copy of her latest release 'Spy Glass'. This is the third book in the Glass Trilogy and if you have been following the books then you really want to know what happens to Opal :)
So congrats to -
Pink Panther!!!
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did! Please keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!
So who has won a copy of the winning book? Well done to the lucky Amberkatze's Book Blog newsletter subscriber with the email address beginning with -
rae_reads!!!
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Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.
Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.
While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires -- and they're armed with pesto.
My Review -
Where do I start? Do I even need to start anywhere? Because in general all this review is going to say is 'Bloody Brilliant'. Not only does Blameless continue the already amazing story of Alexia Tarabotti but it manages to make the previous books look poor and dull. Things were good in Soulless and exceedingly delightful in Changeless but this third book in The Parasol Protectorate really does take things that little bit further and left me craving not only the next book but also a good cup of tea and some pesto.
The characters shine in this new addition and the storyline progresses in a way that I honestly had no idea what was going to happen next. As a reader, you comes to a point, where not much surprises you in a plot because you have already realised what is going to happen and what possible scenarios the author is going to go with next. However Gail Carriger really does manage to surprise and doesn't give away any clue as to what will happen in her witty British paranormal mystery.
What appealed to me about this series is it's Britishness. I am myself a proud UK Passport holder and even though I am a little far away from the land I was born and raised, I still love a good British based book. However the Paranormal genre seems to be highly dominated by the States and any books that usually attempt at being British usually fail miserably in my eyes. Here we have a series that captures Britain completely and even incorporates the black humour and mannerisms that makes Britain stand out. Well done to the author for managing to make this realistic and doing it in style.
I can't say much for the Victorian side of the book but I can say that it is a lovely angle. I don't believe I have been introduced to 'Steampunk' before this series but it is a genre I now what to take a better look at. As for the Paranormal side of things, well I know a bit about that. Vampires, werewolves and some other stuff (don't want to give anything away) are shown in a new light and blend in nicely.
As us Brits would say, smashing book! If you haven't tried this witty Steampunk paranormal delight then you are missing out on a very enjoyable read. I am not one for historicals but I am addicted to this series. Have the BBC been made aware of this series yet? A TV adaptation would be a wonderful thing to see and could be, imho, as big as Dr Who.
Now I am still shock that we have to wait till July for the next book. However I have seen that Soulless is available on audio and I am going to find it somehow. I also hope the other books will come out on audio before Heartless does. To end, this series is not only a must buy for me but it is one I am sure I am going to visit again and again. Try and enjoy! I wasn't sure at first but now I am very glad I did!
PS - One tiny problem I had with Blameless...Ladybug vs. Ladybird. Any Brits will know what I mean :)
I am currently reading Blameless, book three in The Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger, and I am enjoying every moment!! If you haven't tried this series yet then I highly recommend it! Definitely one of my favourite reads this year.
Oh and to celebrate the release of book three I have a little interview to share with you all. Enjoy getting to know Gail Carriger and the Parasol Protectorate Series. Make sure to add the books to your wish list or even better add them to your shopping cart!
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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your Parasol Protectorate Series?
Gail – Thank you for having me to visit. The Parasol Protectorate books feature Alexia Tarabotti, soulless, autocratic Victorian harridan, and her increasingly eccentric group of friends. Alexia is prone to charging about London, then across England, and eventually through Europe on her quest to foil various evil plots. She is assisted, and sometimes hindered, in her endeavors by a band of scruffy werewolf soldiers, a cadre of gay vampires, a cross-dressing female inventor, and a very silly best friend with a predilection for atrocious hats.
Amber - I have had the pleasure of reading the first two books in the series. Soulless and Changeless were two of my favourite reads so far this year. How did you come up with the idea for the series? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?
Gail - The simple fact is: this was what I wanted to read. I like steampunk but it tends to be a little too dark and riddled with technobabble for me. I enjoy urban fantasy but am not wild about a modern setting. So I thought I might just combine the two, and then shake it up with a jot more romance and a whole lot of comedy. Then I started thinking about what kind of world could accommodate all these different elements. I'm familiar with the Victorian era and I find it a rich source of amusement in and of itself. Those ridiculous fashions and that obsession with etiquette seem the perfect time period to drop in vampires (dictating such things) and werewolves (chaffing against them) not to mention steam technology. It seemed to me that what comedy I couldn't supply with plot and character, an alternate Victorian London could provide just by being itself. The whole idea for the first book came to be really quickly, within the space of a week.
Amber - Book three in the series, Blameless, is out soon. What can we expect from the next installment?
Gail – This one is high adventure, Alexia is being chased across Europe, encountering rude German scientists in appalling sleepwear, and battling legions of French mustaches.
Amber - Is Victorian Britain a time and place you have always been interested in? Did you have to do much research about the era for the books?
Gail - As much as I love the Victorian era my areas of expertise were limited to things such as fashion, manners, food, and the antiquities market. I had to do a lot of research into the science and technology of the day. I also looked into vampire and werewolf lore. It's remarkable what obscure detail one suddenly needs to know as a writer. Most recently, I had to figure out what kind of small gun a gentleman might sport in 1841, and what the political climate was like in Italy in 1875. Even if it doesn't make it into the book, it will irritate me if unwritten background information is flawed.
Amber - Alexia has been involved in some very interesting paranormal adventures so far. How do you decide what to throw at her in each book?
Gail – Mostly I'm interested in revealing more and more about the world Alexia inhabits. Her adventures, as a result, tend to highlight certain aspects of supernatural life and society as the series progresses, and also reveal more and more about her own mysterious preternatural powers.
Amber - Will there be more books in the series? How long would you like to see things continue for Alexia? Do you see an end in sight?
Gail - Currently the Parasol Protectorate includes five books, 1. Soulless (2009), 2. Changeless (2010), 3. Blameless (2010), 4. Heartless (2011), and 5. Timeless (2012). I am 90% certain Alexia and Conall's story will end there. I don't see this as a Butcher, Hamilton, or Harris situation. I do love the world, though. So I'd like to explore 20 years after the Parasol Protectorate series, possibly in an American Old West steampunk setting. Or possibly 20 years before, with the more intellectual espionage side of early steampunk (beware the Picklemen). I'm hoping to write a single book about Alexia's father, mostly because it's becoming increasingly necessary to know his back-story. And, of course, there are always short stories.
Amber - How do you pick the names of your characters? Are they just names you like, people you know or do they have some other meaning?
Gail - On a very few occasion the character will choose his/her own name (Alexia was always going to be Alexia). But most of the time my names are cookies, that is: a reward for the careful reader. The name either tells readers something about the character, where he came from, her real identity, his true purpose, her future place in society; or the name relates to someone historical (Tarabotti), or is some kind of hint or foreshadow. I love names so I always play with them if possible.
Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Do you write full-time?
Gail - I always wanted to be an archaeologist, writing was rather more like breathing, just something I did. It was only with Soulless that I realized I might actually have a career as a writer. I still haven't recovered from the shock. I currently write full time, but that is a condition subject to change without notice.
Amber - If the series was going to be made into a TV Series or Film who could you see playing the lead characters?
Gail - I used to like Claudia Black for Alexia, but the more I watch Leverage, the more I like the idea of Gena Bellman. I've always seen Sean Bean (with died hair and contacts) as Lord Maccon. I wrote Lord Akeldama thinking about Richard Chamberlain from Slipper and the Rose, but I'd love to see Paul Bettany play him.
Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?
Gail - I love Tanya Huff's Valor series. I'll read anything Tamora Pierce, Robin McKinley, or Susan Cooper write. Some of my all time favorite books include: _The Forgotten Beasts of Eld_ by Patricia McKillip, _The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy_ by Douglas Adams, and _The Eyre Affaire_ by Jasper Fforde.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Gail – I'd probably be a vampire queen, I kind of have that aura. If I could pick? Mermaid, no question. I've always wanted to be able to breathe under water.
Amber - Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! I hope you will visit the blog again someday!
Due to a technical difficultly, there was no author guest spot this week. So I thought I would get the Monthly Giveaway going a little earlier than usual so you all wouldn't get too bored :)
For more chances to win -
