Monthly Archives: May 2012
Suburban Vampire feature & Memorial Day sale
Memorial Day Commemoration 2008 (Photo credit: davidyuweb)
Happy Memorial Day weekend!
I hope everyone has a safe and fabulous bit of downtime, while we remember those that have lived and died for our country.
To honor our military heroes I’m reducing the price of all Quirky Gurl ebook titles to $0.99 for the weekend, including the newly released novel Kill Me! I’ll provide direct links to all on-sale books at the end of the post.
In other news, my novel Kill Me is featured today over on Suburban Vampire. So hop on over there if you have a second. (But don’t forget to come back for big savings on our ebooks!)
Now, onto the sale!
(Make sure you check the price before buying… sometimes Amazon is slow to update pricing!)
Kill Me by Alex Owens
Skin: Short Fiction by Alex Owens
Memories for Sale by Karen Fowler
Reflections on Motherhood by Karen Fowler
Just Desserts by Karen Fowler
Still Life Paintings by Karen Fowler
Strangers on a Plane by Emma Shane
Phone Play by Emma Shane
Book Review – Breakers by Edward W. Robertson
Breakers by Edward W. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Although not my usual genre, I found myself captivated by this novel, Breakers. It was like watching the downfall of man-kind in technicolor. In fact, I could see this novel hitting the big screen at some point.
Although (to me) it started a little sluggish, within a few pages I was hooked and I ended up reading Breakers in one sitting. I won’t mention that I completely forgot about a “thing” I was supposed to attend, and instead spent the time deeply invested in the characters and their tribulations.
I found the premise a unique amalgam of the typical apocalyptic books. There’s a pandemic that kills off most of civilization. Aliens come to take over. And both are tied together seamlessly in this novel. So much so, that it was totally believable, and I didn’t even have to worry with suspending my beliefs.
The writing was fluid and sometimes so perfect I had to highlight certain phrases in my Kindle app. I don’t do that often, so that’s saying something. I love how Robertson gives us independent characters without the dreaded author-injection, letting the reader decide what they are thinking or feeling.
Overall an extremely well-done novel and I’d recommend it to just about anyone– not just readers of sci-fi or end-of-the-world tales.
Quickie Book Review – Children of the Fog by Cheryl Kaye Tardiff
Children of the Fog by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great book, started off with a bang and pretty much kept up the page-turning pace. With the creepy fog comes danger and something no mother ever wants to have to deal with…she has to let a madman walk out of the door with her six year old son.
Overall the book clipped along at a good pace and was well plotted. It had a few twists that I didn’t see coming, a suspenseful (sometimes too suspenseful) story line, and flawed characters. Tardif has a knack for setting a creepy scene and found myself with goosebumps more than once. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes suspenseful, twisty novels with great settings and a flawed heroine that just needs to find her strength to come out the other side.
View all my reviews
Cleaning Out the Cobwebs
Since moving to our new house right before Christmas, and the months-long push to get Kill Me out into the world, my mind and my dedicated office space have been suffering from a severe case of the Clutters. Tonight, after putting in a eight hours at the day job, I came home to do something about it.
I figured cleaning up my office would get my household moving in the right direction. Little did I realize it would also juice up my creative side via a trip down memory lane. But I’ll get to that in a minute.
First I want to show you my office-in-progress. It’s mostly organized and once I get all of the computer tower chords tucked away, it will be decorating time! (I have so many Pinterest ideas!) So here are the before pics and I’ll come back and post After pics at some point.
Now, about that trip down memory lane…
I organized three filing boxes into one and had to go through sooooo many files. Some of those were things I’d written up to twenty years ago. I cringed at some of my melodramatic, flowery poetry and stunted prose. It was bad. Very bad.
I also discovered that I had the bare bones, scribbled on multi-colored bits of paper and tucked in several folders, of a dozen novels that I’d completely forgotten about.
A dozen novel ideas. Some only a few paragraphs, while others had a fleshed-out synopsis, chapter outline and pages of notes. Cleaning reminded me about why I write, and just how long I’ve been at it. And it was just the kick-in-the-pants that I needed to get working on something new.
While I do that, you can enjoy (not) two of my early little ditties. Be kind, I wrote these as an impressionable teen and over-tired young mother. And I’m embarrassed enough all on my own, thank you very much!
(This was written way back yonder when I worked on greeting card scripts.)
Seasons pass, and years go by We ditched a class and learned to fly Spouses appeared and children were had We’ve reminisced on the times we were Bad So many memories, we have shared And when it mattered most, I knew you cared Storms came and went, and in the end We’ve weathered it all, because we are friends.(Then there is this… not sure what else to say about that.)
When the question is posed to me- at my job, online, in a bar- Who am I? What Am I? What singular word describes the Who of Me? I speak, I type, I slur- one word, on compulsion (a habit I don’t recall forming) It falls out of my mouth like errant food. dropped on my blouse A stain to wear all through the day Like a badge, a dull cookie-crusted badge of reproductive capabilities Who Am I? What am I? I am a Mother.(That’s all Folks!)
Book Review – Driving Me Nuts by PJ Jones
Driving Me Nuts! by P.J. Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having read a short story by PJ Jones (Ralphie the “Special” Werewolf, I think it was) in an anthology collection, I already knew the Jones has some serious comedic chops. So I expected this novel to be funny based on that and of course the cover. And it was… that’s quirky-funny, not silly-funny. There is a big difference.
What I wasn’t expecting was for Driving Me Nuts to have some substantial meat to it as well. Funny yes, but only funny– no. In fact, the absurd/ crazy moments balance out the more serious notes perfectly, making for a complex, satisfying novel.
And what better way to deal with life in all it’s craptastic glory, than to inject a little humor into it? In the end, I knew those damn nut-jobs, felt like they were friends or neighbors. Who am I kidding– they were my kin 
Excellent fast-paced, quirky plot, tight writing and 3-D :jump out at you” characters. I will not hesitate to read more books my PJ Jones. In fact, I’m off to search for whatever else she’s written.
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As an aside, Amazon Select seems to have lost it’s luster (more on that once I get all my thoughts together) so I’ve decided to go ahead and burn through the last few freebie days I have left with the newly released Kill Me.
Download Kill Me for FREE only on May 14th or 15th, 2012 here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007UPOLR6
Paperback Version of Kill Me Released!
Paperback Version of Kill Me Released!.
Yay! Finally… I can hold a copy of Kill Me in my own lil’ hands! And you can too Check it, peeps!
Book Review – The Eve Tree by Rachel Devenish Ford
The Eve Tree by Rachel Devenish Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect while reading this book, and it turned out to be a little more literary than I had anticipated (in a good way!)but overall I adored The Eve Tree. It’s a compelling cross-section of familial shortcomings, and how those shape our lives.
Set on a family farm in a time where a crawling forest fire threatens everything, the family converges to make preparations. Three generations of people that grew up on the land, nurtured from and by it, struggle to come to terms with themselves and each other.
The author’s writing style is simple at time and lyrical at others, but throughout the novel her prose is cohesive fluid and I made myself slow down from my normal break-neck speed while reading it because I didn’t want to miss her evocative turn of phrases. Stellar writing and compelling plot made for a A+ novel!
Book Review on Masquerade Crew (Day 12 – Kill Me Blog Tour)
It’s day eleven of the blog tour and today over on Masquerade Crew is a review of Kill Me! So hop on over there and check out what Mark has to say about the debut of the Blood Chord Series!
4 Star Review: “The biggest thing for me that brought it down to a 4 from a 5 was the amount of sexual material.”
Source: The Masquerade Crew (http://s.tt/1aQfd)
(Blushes… what can I say? I like my vamps with a little bit of heat )
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You can also check out the tour calendar over on the press page of the Blood Chord Series Site or Kill Me on Amazon if you’d like!
And don’t forget to enter to one one of the Fab prizes for the Kill Me end-of-tour Giveaway!!
Get to Know Claire, from KILL ME (character interview- Blog Tour Day 11)
I thought I’d have a little fun today by interviewing the main character from the new release, Kill Me. So put your paws together and lets extend a warm welcome to our guest Claire!
Come on in Claire, grab a seat and settle in. Would you like something to drink? A glass of Merlot perhaps?
Hi! Thanks for having me… mind if I sit over here? No offense, but it’s been a few days since I last fed, and you’re smelling extremely scrumptious today.
Uh, sure. Make yourself comfortable on the stool waaaaay over there in the corner. So nothing to drink? Wait… never mind.
It’s okay. I’m getting used to my diet and I have it under control now, mostly. It’s been quite an adjustment though. By the way, I love what you’ve done with the place. It’s just so… you!
Aww, thanks! I’ve put a lot of thought into the decor. I call it Controlled Chaos Chic. Though to be fair, my husband gets the credit for the Deer heads. And any crumbs/trash/toys would be courtesy of the kids. But I’m sure you understand about all of that.
Do I ever. My daughter’s nine now and it’s a good thing I don’t need to sleep, because my house is in a constant state of disaster. From weird science experiments to makeup and shoes (oh, lord the shoes!) her mess is spread from one end of the house to the other.
You just moved too. I bet that’s kept you busy.
Yes, we did. Within a few days of getting back from my trip to Florida, I found the perfect house for me and Quinn. It’s out by itself, so I don’t have to worry about any nosy neighbors. We’ve got a a sunset view of the creek that will make your eyes water.
That’s great! I’m glad you were able to find something that would work for you guys. And so fast!
Oh, I got lucky. The owners needed cash and I came into some money recently, so I offered a bonus if they could move out within a week. It was a win-win for both of us.
That was lucky. What did you do, win the lottery or something?
Or something… I probably shouldn’t tell you this since they frown on humans knowing our business, but during my trip, I received a nice chunk of change. You could call it an inheritance, but I’ve come to think of it as my Vampire Disability Fund. Because, you know, being a vampire is a huge disadvantage, at least in the begginning. We can’t go out in the sun (most can’t anyway) which makes things like grocery shopping, school plays, and errands super-hard to accomplish. Keeping a job is almost impossible until you get the hang of everything. I won’t even mention how difficult it is to be around friends and family when all you want to do is sink your teeth into them.
Wow, I’d never thought about it like that. I thought being a Vampire was all glamour and romance and crazy supernatural abilities. Seems like the reality of living as a Vampire is something that popular culture glosses over.
Exactly. As my maker, Bette once told me, “Do not believe everything you read or see on television about us. Books and movies often make stuff up for the purpose of entertainment.”
Twilight-Smilight. I’d like to see that little waif of an actress try to work a blood-drive at her child’s school on a sunny Saturday in April. Or figure out how to pretend to eat in front of a child that doesn’t miss a thing.
We live in the land of sun and sand. I’m outside 4-5 times a day, so I’ve had to get creative with things. I have my daughter to think about and I wanted to live as normal as possible. Certainly makes life harder, but I wouldn’t change a thing about our lives now.
It sounds like you’re happy! I’m glad it’s all working out for you. I image that blood drive was something to see too!
Yes, that was a very interesting day. I came home hungrier than I’ve ever been in my life, only to find out that power had gone out while I was gone and my bags of “dinner” were ruined. Good thing I knew where some takeout was!
Too funny! Now, you’ve mentioned your trip several times, and I’m wondering if that’s where your story begins?
Yes, it was. I went to Florida a harried working-mother and came back as something completely different. I blame the violin.
Care to elaborate? Come now, don’t be shy. It’s just us girls here.
Well, it called to me from down the aisle and brought me to Bette and her collection of antique instruments. Then she put the stupid thing in my hands and told me to play it!
Before that, I was normal— I cooked, cleaned and brought home every bit of the bacon. I thought I had life figured out, but I had everything so completely wrong that it’s almost comical. Now the husband is a non-issue, my freakish talents are not of the domestic variety, and being a good mother just became a whole lot tougher.
Holy-Llamas. That was rather on the cryptic side, don’tcha think? Is that all you’re going to give us?
Yep. If you want to know more, you’ll just have to read the book. Anyway, I’ve got to run. I’m due to pick up Quinn from school in a few minutes so she can get to her softball game on time. Yeah, I know. Softball game, vampire Mom– an odd combination, right?
It sure is! Well, it was great having you on the site Claire. Maybe you can come back some time to keep us posted on how abnormally-normal your life is? In the meantime, we can get the scoop from the novel you star in, KILL ME, correct?
Yep! It has a little bit of everything: mystery, magic, suspense, some smoking-hot romance, a sprinkling of rockin’ music and the occasional stripper pole. Oh, and a haunted violin. I can’t forget that, it started everything off.
No need to sell me on it. That sounds like my kind of book Thanks again for stopping by. Give Quinn my best! Ciao’
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If you’d like to read more about Claire and her life-changing business trip, check out the newly released novel Kill Me, Book One of the Blood Chord series, by Alex Owens. And do an Indie Author a solid and tweet, FB or share this interview or the book link with your friends and enemies. They’ll appreciate the gesture.
KILL ME (Book One of the Blood Chord series)
Three days ago, she was a wife, a mother, and very much alive… then the music called for her.
Kill Me, the debut novel from author Alex Owens, is a quirky paranormal fantasy complete with music, magic, fangs and freaks. It is also the first in a planned series, with the second book due out by the Fall of 2012. Be forewarned, this is not your daughter’s paranormal.
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Also, being the slacker that I am, I neglected to post to let everyone know that Kill Me was featured over on the fabulous Heidi Hall’s website yesterday, so please so hop on over there and take a gander
If you’d like to participate in the Release Blog Tour for Kill Me, more information can be seen here on the Blood Chord series web site.
Related articles
- Book Blurb Butchering (bloodchordseries.wordpress.com)
- Working on the Book Blurb for Kill Me (quirkygurl.com)
Guest Post on Good Choice Reading (Day 9 -Kill Me Blog Tour)
Good morning and hold on to your shorts, because today I’m over on Good Choice Reading with a fabulously fun guest post from the main character Claire (from my new novel Kill Me) and she’s there to let everyone know Why Being a Vampire Mom Rocks.
Check it out and leave a comment, tweet or something. Pretty please, with Eric Northman on top?
