Dust Blog Tour Stop #13!

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Stop #13 – ME.  You are here!
Have you ever wished the story of Peter Pan went on?  That the cute, precocious, and crazy little spitfire who never wanted to grow up – actually DID grow up a little?  My best friend, Kara, has written a sequel to Peter Pan – and (no lie) it was one of my VERY favorite books of all of last year.  I adored it.  You need to get yourself a copy right here.
*Dust is on sale on Amazon right now! (For $17.98 hardback instead of $22! And the ebook is only 5.99!) 
EXCLUSIVE ZANY INTERVIEW WITH KARA SWANSON BELOW!

 

DUST BT TREASURE HUNT - CLUE-13
Want to play in the blog tour hunt?  Visit all the stops and collect the keywords!

Anyone who completes the blog tour hunt wins a small physical swag pack that includes:

  • Bookmarks
  • Print of Dust art
  • Peter + Claire Character Cards
  • Signed Bookplate

The first winner to solve the clues and finish the hunt wins:

  • All the above swag plus
  • An autographed Advanced Reader Copy of Dust with exclusive notes from Kara in the margins

DUST TREASURE HUNT PRIZES-2

NOW TO INTERVIEW KARA:

Me: If you could be Peter Pan, where would you fly to first?

Kara: Go find Tom Holland in London? 😉 Juuuuust kidding. I’d probably go visit some of my closest friends (like you!) and then whisk us all away to somewhere 57277731_3133754463305035_7940320590911504384_obeautiful like New Zealand or Greece or Mexico or something 🙂

Me: Awwww.  I wish you could fly to me too! If you could slap Peter Pan over any point in the story, when would that be?  (Careful about spoilers!)

Kara: Hehehe I love this! Probably the midpoint, after he’s first met Claire and Tiger Lily shows up and they have a conversation that could have gone…very differently if he’d been honest.

Me: Yep, yep. I know exactly what you’re talking about.  *wink* When did you feel the most Peter-Pan-ish as a child in Papua New Guinea?

Kara: Probably flying in a tiny Cessna 206 through the clouds and blue sky and seeing birds flying by the window! Or climbing trees or swimming in our clear river.

Me: Makes sense! Do you think Peter would’ve bemoaned your fate or laughed in your face when he found out you ate a cockroach in your sleep as a child in the jungle?

Kara: He would have just laughed, hehehe

Me: Bad Peter.  😛 What is Peter’s least favorite human food that he tries in London?

Kara: Brussel sprouts? Or maybe salad, hehe

Me: They’re totally both rather gross. If Claire could pick any spot for a first kiss, where would it be?  And do you agree with her?

Kara: Well, her Big Ben/flying kiss in Dust is quite a thing to behold. She’d probably find some quaint little private nook in Kensington Gardens though. Either sounds good to me 🙂

Me: Thank you, Kara!  Can’t wait for friends to read this book!

 

RJ Conte, “BlondeRJ,” has kissed only one boy in her entire life – and she married him – inspiring her to write about sweet or powerful love stories ever since. She writes issue-driven fiction that explores human nature and the depths of the soul while pointing readers to their Creator.  Check her books out here on Amazon!

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Links: 

Add Dust to your Goodreads list!

Preorder Dust from Amazon or Barnes & Noble! You can also follow Kara on Amazon to stay tuned for all her new releases!

Connect with Kara on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for awesome bookish boards, photos, chats, and more!

Follow Kara on Facebook or join her Starchasers group where we have loads of fun getting to know one another and nerding out on all things bookish!

And, lastly, you can find all things Kara on her website and even sign up on her newsletter to receive a free short story!

 

New Steampunk by Shauna Black!

I have not read this book yet, but it looks amazing!

Phantom-FB-cover-2

As the Phantom Nightingale’s first mate, Brayde’s life is full of harrowing adventure. He and the crew of the intrepid Carpathia are devoted to Captain Xanthe and his mission to save children from slavery. But when news of Xanthe’s lost sister comes to light, Brayde must decide whether to follow him on their most dangerous mission yet—into the heart of the empire that wants the Nightingale, dead or alive.

Avilene’s plans after graduating from the empire’s most prestigious academy include escaping the overbearing academy director that has dictated the course of her life since childhood. They do not include being kidnapped by a renegade airship captained by the notorious Phantom Nightingale.

When their purposes clash, can Brayde persuade Avilene to forego her duty to bring the Phantom Nightingale to justice, or will the crew lose their captain and their freedom in a desperate attempt to heal the scars of Xanthe’s past?

A swashbuckling adventure full of airships and magic in a future world ruled by a tyrannical Empire. If you enjoyed Scott Westerfield’s Leviathan or Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines, you’ll love The Phantom Nightingale!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ShaunaEBlackAward-winning author Shauna E. Black smiles a lot. But her appearance can be deceiving. Like the legendary sirens of old, she enjoys luring innocent readers into the stories she creates and trapping them there. Her home is sprinkled with spontaneous singing and the enticing smell of fresh baked bread, but her most cherished ploy lies in her passion for writing. Readers should beware of entering her fantastical worlds, lest they lose all touch with reality and find themselves waiting under lampposts for fauns and talking beavers to appear. If you decide to ignore this warning, you can find out more about her adventurous fiction on her website, ShaunaBlack.com.

LINKS: http://PhantomNightingale.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Nightingale-Andul-Guardians-Book-ebook/dp/B07Y5FLPSM

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-phantom-nightingale-shauna-e-black/1135744217?ean=9781912775149

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-phantom-nightingale/id1493922931

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-phantom-nightingale

 

HUGE GIVEAWAY – Free Book, Tumbler, Keychain, and Art!

HUGE GIVEAWAY:

Sick of winter? Many might hit a low in January. You’re tired of being cold, snowed in, sick with plague, and broke from Christmas.

Didn’t get that item on your wish-list? Can’t spend another cent but really want a warm, fuzzy, happy beach read to heat your heart?

CAPTIVATED BY CATALINA GIVEAWAY! – Estimated value of $75!!

Catalina Giveaway

You’ll win:
*A free paperback copy of my clean Christian romance, Captivated by Catalina
*Captivated by Catalina keychain by Literary Treasures
*Gorgeous, sparkly, beach-themed tumbler by Tumble & Twinkle Custom Creations
*Original “Sunset and Palms” watercolor and acrylics art piece by RJ Conte

Catalina cover smaller

HOW TO WIN:DSC08341
*Share this entry! Tag me (@blonderj.wordpress.com) in anything you share for one entry point each. Make sure you tag me so I can see your shares!
*Tag a friend’s account in a comment – who you think would be interested in this giveaway for one point per each tag.
*Like and follow me at any and all of my social media handles for FIVE entry points each
– My Facebook author page: RJ Conte – Authoress
– https://twitter.com/BlondeRJConte
– https://www.instagram.com/blonderjconte/
– https://blonderj.wordpress.com/

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on JANUARY 23rd, 12:00 AM PST

Happy summer in January!

Captivated by Catalina blurb:

Getting stuck on an island might be the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

Marcella Brighton is a single, lonely career woman whose job promotion means she is forced to move away from everyone she knows and loves. When her older sister offers a comfort cruise to exotic islands, she jumps on it, and falls in love with Stop #2: Catalina Island. The charm of the small city of Avalon is both refreshing and heartwarming. And she especially bonds with the hot Hispanic zip line guy, Josef, who’s also a dedicated Christian.

Yet when a lost phone keeps her from getting back to her cruise on time, Marcella finds herself stuck on the island without a single familiar face – except Josef’s. But is forty-eight hours enough time to truly fall in love?

Dear Author

thumbnail_Dear Author - ebookGuys, guys!  I got a chance to beta read this super encouraging book of letters, and I HIGHLY recommend this for every author out there.  Our art can be super discouraging on even the best of days, and Laura A. Grace takes it upon herself to gush, encourage, and move us authors to tears with her sweet praise.  Please check this book out!

 Words have the power to change lives, especially when they are used to create meaningful stories. In this collection of letters, bookish fangirl Laura A. Grace addresses topics related to every writer’s journey. From “character conversations,” to embracing one’s unique writing style, to celebrating a release day—there is a letter for every author no matter where they may be in sharing their story with others.

“Dear Author” includes six illustrations by Hannah S.J. Williams.

AmazonBarnes & NobleBook DepositoryGoodreads

About the Author

thumbnail_Laura A. Grace

Laura A. Grace had a lifelong dream of getting to know authors behind the covers of her favorite reads. Little did she know that one day she would become an author too! Now an avid book blogger at Unicorn Quester and writer of clean, Christian manga, Laura creatively balances her passions of supporting indie authors and feeding her readers new stories. In between, she wields plastic lightsabers with her children and binge-watches anime with her husband. Join her quest to find wandering unicorns for your favorite authors at unicornquester.com!

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My Blood is Warm

It always surprises them that blood is warm

They expect it to be cold

Lifeless

Dead

When they slice, when they stab

They expect my blood to leak like a long-abandoned puddle of rainwater

 

But it gushes

Flows

It is a life-force

Hot

Fresh

Attached to me

Directly pumped from my heart

 

It coagulates on their hands and they grow angry

Why is it warm?  Why is it thick?

Why does it have weight?

Why does it stick and stain?

Why doesn’t it evaporate like transparent tears?

Why doesn’t it come off without painful scrubbing?

 

Because it is me.

Because you haven’t speared through condensing steam.

You have killed me.

And I beat warm for you.

My blood, my life-force carries my love

And it is hot.

 

Frost

Waking up, toes frigid

Gray daylight stripes through blinds

Prickly bumps on skin

Ice embedded in the chest

Ears rosy, breath cloudy crystals

You too

I wake and you still have not thawed

It shocks – gray stripes in your heart

No warmth, blocks of fear

Hide the sunlight that used to light your face

The tears that once shared

Crystals melted on your face

If only your soul was not frost too

Thanksgiving

When I was a child, the lists came easy

Four or five of the same things, always consistent

Mom and Dad and pecan pie

Stuffed animals, best friends, and a really fun movie

 

Giving thanks meant spouting the list

Not complaining or you’d get extra chores

Writing obligatory lines of gratitude on stationery

Making sure I smiled when shaking hands

 

Now that I am grown, the things I could name

Have sprouted along with me, an endless monologue

But instead of just writing my one thousand gifts

And calling it a holiday, I am now aware

 

That Thanksgiving isn’t a feast with loved ones

Or a card to satisfy a homework assignment

It’s an attitude like a heavy breastplate that must be strapped on

And the process each day can take hours

 

Giving thanks is a battle, the key fight in a larger war

It’s bloody and sweaty and exhausting

It’s ongoing because the enemy stretches like waves on the horizon

And each step makes my muscles scream, “I can’t!”

 

But each new foot place in front of the other

Is less hard than the last, I found

Each swing of the blade hurts a little less

And habits and disciplines appear

 

Because my Captain fights beside me

Gleaming white horse thundering forward

We’re all in a war against gratitude and joy

But I know who’s going to win

 

 

 

 

 

Gossamer Tears in a Patchwork Heart

If this isn’t bravery, I don’t know what is
Entering again with your second little lamb
Trying when advised even though you were the statistic
Arriving at the place where your heart stopped beating
Where his heart stopped beating and yours with it
Bravery isn’t falling off cliffs or high dives into the ocean
It’s not wrestling crocs and swimming in Amazons
At least not for me
It’s walking on your own two feet toward the dark stain of past blood
Erecting an altar and saying, “God I’ll try again.”
It’s letting the shiny gossamer tears reflect the light boldly
And not wiping them away.
it’s announcing my heart is a patchwork quilt of ragged, messy stitches
But it’s warm
It can keep us both warm
I have everything to lose, but my heart will add another patch
Let me hope and try again
If this isn’t bravery, I don’t know what is

– from Gossamer Tears in a Patchwork Heart
(Coming in 2020)

MY NEW NOVELLA! – Captivated by Catalina!

Guys!!!
I spent my tenth anniversary enjoying my husband and the beach and charm of Catalina Island!  Getting inspired by one of my favorite places, I wrote a Christian romance novella set right in the gorgeous town of Avalon.

The novella is being edited and will be available on December 5th, but is up for pre-order now!

You can get it HERE.

Here’s the blurb:

Getting stuck on an island might be the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

Marcella Brighton is a single, lonely career woman whose job promotion means she is forced to move away from everyone she knows and loves. When her older sister offers a comfort cruise to exotic islands, she jumps on it, and falls in love with Stop #2: Catalina Island. The charm of the small city of Avalon is both refreshing and heartwarming. And she especially bonds with the hot Hispanic zip line guy, Josef, who’s also a dedicated Christian.

Yet when a lost phone keeps her from getting back to her cruise on time, Marcella finds herself stuck on the island without a single familiar face – except Josef’s. But is forty-eight hours enough time to truly fall in love

AND DRUMROLL

The cover!!!

Catalina cover smaller

A Kiss

Sparks of light

Moonlight beams

Rushing torrents

Swooping dive

 

Tornado winds

Delicious sweet

Hypnotic trance

Summer heat

 

One small touch of flesh on flesh

Says acceptance

Enough

Desired

Beautiful

 

Tell me you love me

Tell me you’re mine

You think of none other, you don’t

But unless you kiss me,

Believe it I won’t