Twist of Fate – A Charity Anthology

Twist of Fate
A Charity Anthology
Coming Soon

In May of 2013 storms and tornadoes ripped through the midwestern United States leaving destruction and desolation in many areas. One of the hardest hit states was Oklahoma. “Twist of Fate” is an anthology of writing, poetry, prose, and artwork from contributors around the world, better known as the group: Indies In Action.  100 % of the proceeds from the sale of the book “Twist of Fate” will go to benefit tornado victims in Oklahoma through the May Tornadoes Fund, administered by the United Way.  You can learn more about the May Tornadoes Fund at the United Way of Central Oklahoma Website.

ToF

Follow the Indies In Action Website

Like Twist of Fate on Facebook

The Indies In Action (IIA) group has been hard at work to create a beautiful collection of prose and poetry dedicated to the victims of the tornadoes which devastated Oklahoma in recent weeks. This touching collection is punctuated by well-known authors and poets from all over the globe, stirring photography, and a brilliant cover by the talented graphic designer Ian Smith.
IIA
We know that the families who have suffered so much rely on the care of others to help them through their vulnerable times, and our efforts are going to be well-received. Please take the time to ‘Follow’ the Indies in Action website and ‘Like’ the Facebook Page for Twist of Fate to get updates on the book release (links above). These small gestures go a long way toward encouraging those who have spent long hours crafting this work of love.
Thank you for your support!

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Teaser Sample from the Anthology

A Poem

By Marshall G. Kent Sr.

Copyright 11/19/2012

I drove all night chasing a twinkling star,

High and low, fast and slow; still it sits running afar.

Slowed and bloated, if not svelte;

It seems as if I’ve often felt,

I’ve been a bit struck by Orion’s belt.

I see my query blurry in a dash,

But alas my vision is through a glass,

In which the twinkling shall never pass.

My thoughts thus run into a jar,

Inside lightning bugs dance on a bar.

In the pitch fabric of darkest night,

I focus my might on a flittering sight;

Once of darkness, now light passes this way,

Is that a needle stuck in the hay?

Opulent orb calling wolves to play,

Or bay,

Nay stay;

Still the deafening roar of utter silence,

Wherefore these thoughts and whereto whence;

In the black a white picket fence.

The sky bruised by a nightwing in flight,

‘Tis just the entry into this plight.

‘Twas without warning came the scream,

Fabric blurred then split at its seam:

Like the birthing of phantasmic delight,

Buttery bleeding of crimson insight.

I reach forth into the heavenly abyss,

to steal of my soul a kiss-

-I miss.

But there stand I

embrassing the specters with my heartbeat,

Glaring, I bid them (for a story) take their seat.

Once many times and shortly long ago, on and on stopping there I go;

Bestowing stealing knowledge I will never know, but heave it so,

Or to and fro–nevertheless, always it will be in tow, as sweet bitter winds blow.

A swaying ribbon or no, of the fabric pull a thread,

An orgasmic explosion within my head.

The sky is cheese and earthen bread,

I, the meat ground in my stead.

And I awaken asleep underneath on top of my bed.

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My Part in the Project

When I heard about the Twist of Fate project from Stephen I knew I wanted to help out in anyway I could.  With life in general plus my focus on Women’s Island, I wasn’t able to submit a short story.  I did however get the chance to contribute photographs to the group and am overjoyed at least one of them will be in the publication.  The mini-photoshoots I did were fun and knowing they were intended for a good cause made the time spent worth it.  Indies In Action has brought me into a new circle of writers & artists who share my passion and giving nature to help others.  I’m so glad I was able to participate in such a project and look forward to working with the IIA writers & artists in the future.

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Blogs to Check Out for info on the up and coming anthology “Twist of Fate”

1. Sheenah Freitas                                                     2. The Book Rack
3. Author Crystal Schall – What I’m Up To                 4. hülya yılmaz
5. Stephen Wilson                                                      6. Kiriti Sengupta
7. Dasgupta Ranadeb                                                8. Guy Anthony De Marco
9. Noah Smock                                                          10. Simone Beaudelaire
11. The Artistic Persuasion                                         12. Linda Bonney Olin
13. Lowlights for lowlifes                                            14. Cathrina Constantine
15. Donna J. Sanders                                                16. Vallory Vance
17. Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman                18. story of my life
19. Random Thoughts                                                20. mtmc2
21. Monkey Vines                                                       22. Post Poetry MFA

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More Charity Anthologies by Indies In Action

Angel’s Cried
Help the victims and families in Newtown

Angels Cried

On 12/14/12, tragedy struck. Authors and artists combined, so that their expressions of emotion could be put to good use. Contributors from around the world came together and shared their souls for charity. The effort has resulted in the creation of the anthology “Angels Cried.” This inspiring collection is a wonderful way to make a difference for those who truly need it the most. The proceeds from this eBook go to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, managed by the United Way. The 40 authors and artists who contributed to this anthology represent caring people from all over the world. There is information about many of the contributors at the back of the anthology, so you can learn about the people who cared enough to create this collection.
Thank you for sharing hope.

Paperback version now available at
Createspace and Amazon
U.S. orders, please use Createspace. They don’t charge as much to publish. Thank you!

eBook copies available for $5.99
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords

Visit and like the “Angels Cried” Facebook page.

Please take the time to provide a short review at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Smashwords. Thank you for your support!

New Portland

This past Thursday the Facebook fan page AshleyNicole Books exceeded the 800 fan mark!  I was going to share a teaser before dinner to celebrate the increased fan base but when I tried to get online I realized the storm knocked out our internet.  Now that it is back up I’ve decided to share the revised beginning to Women’s Island.  This isn’t the whole of the first chapter but a good teaser of it.  It’s bound to change again once it goes to the editor but I hope you’ll enjoy it.  You may notice the present year has changed from 2029 to 2035.  The reason for this is after doing some fact checking Senator Andrew Chamberlain wouldn’t have the chance to be elected until the year 2030 in the state of Maine (fictionally speaking of course *wink*) so I have altered the timeline a bit.  Thank you and I hope you all enjoy the teaser.

hydro shuttle

Rainy Night by Steve-Burg on DeviantART

Teaser from upcoming Women’s Island

 

Senator Andrew Chamberlain is a tall, strong man.  Everything about his appearance is a look of success.  From his serious but friendly eyes, and blonde well groomed but slightly disarrayed hair to his broad shoulders and defiant stand.  He has always commanded attention and carries the properties of a good leader.  But today, he is on his way home in New Portland from Washington, D.C. and has disturbing news to reveal to his wife.  When Andrew was elected as a senator of Maine in November of 2030 he never thought his country would fall this low.  When he began his campaign he saw his country as one technologically advancing to a world that cures cancer, solves the economic and environmental problems of the world, and justice treats everyone fairly.  The dream of being a part of the government to take his country to the next level was what drove his determination to be elected.  Now, five years later, he realizes his country is not what it seemed.  In hindsight, there were signs of society changing for the worst while technology and economy rose, but once he noticed, it was too late.  Ever since he has been fighting with his political strength, trying to open the eyes of the other men in government, but today, was the greatest failure so far.

The hydroshuttle stops, allowing Andrew off several blocks from his home.  Too lost in his thoughts, he ignores his surroundings, walking on autopilot to his home, his wife, his children, and the horrific news he must share.  The heart-wrenching plan he must put into motion.  Tonight maybe the last moments he will ever share with his family.

 

ⓒ Copyright 2013 AshleyNicole Books

Sacrifice Blog Tour

Welcome to the final stop on the Virtual Launch of “Sacrifice” by Stacey Rourke brought to you by GWR Publicity.

Tour Banner

Get the Rafflecopter code:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NzRiYmVmOTVmMjk2ZGRjMDljNDNlYTAyYTAzYjMxOjI2/

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Sacrifice
Book Three of the Gryphon Series
by Stacey Rourke

Book Cover

 

Summary

Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there is any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling itís that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything sheís ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.

As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there is no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?

Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding Conduit-style!

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My Review

Love, Loss, Mystery, Humor,
Kick-Butt Action, Mythological Power,
This book has it all!

Review: 5 of 5 Stars!

Sacrifice is the third book in the Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke.  After reading downloading my copy of Sacrifice it didn’t take me long to finish reading it.  I had to feed my starving mind with the words after waiting so long since Embrace.  Let me first say, Stacey knows how to satisfy her readers…and making them beg for more.

This story is full of emotional pain in different forms for the conduit and her team.  The experiences are heart wrenching. The characters have grown since the last book both with their skills and their survival while grieving, which is necessary in their line of life.  After the cliffhanger of book two, the reader doesn’t know what Celeste is so scared of.  I must say, it wasn’t what I was expecting, but let me tell you, it definitely makes the story awesome.

Something I love about Stacey’s books is how she tells the love stories.  She writes of kissing, holding hands, blushing, charming talk, having a shoulder to cry on, and doesn’t get into the “details” of their personal experiences… those are my favorite romances to read about. There are times I just want to hit some sense into Rowan’s head, and other times I want to kiss him.  The love triangle is definitely a good one and I can see it going either way.

Stacey really knows how to write a mystery into her stories and have all the pieces fall into place at the end.  With each book in the series it just keeps getting better and better.  The twists are unexpected and placed in just the right places, not fully clicking together until the end is near.  On top of that, the puzzle gets bigger as more questions arise.  Continuing from the first two books, the plot flows fluently, with no holes, and a direct path that doesn’t leave the reader lost trying to grasp what is happening.  In this book however, there is a mystery at the end you may or may not realize.  I certainly did and had a fictional heart attack in worry over what might take place in book four.

Sacrifice has a cliffhanger thrice as shocking as Embrace and The Conduit.  At the last words I mentally screamed “NO!!!!!” I really hope I get the chance to read book four soon because I NEED to KNOW!  Another Phenomenal job Stacey! 5 gold stars!

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes and Nobel | Smashwords

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Character Feature: Alaina

alainabackground

She first appeared to the Garrett kids as a beautiful winged vixen sent to lead them toward their callings as their Spirit Guide. Alaina was to remain aloof, to guide but not get involved. That all changed when she met Gabe, the oldest Garrett. For him she would risk what the Council that governs her proclaims is forbiddenóa relationship with a mortal. For their love she will be ridiculed and cast from the only home she has known for centuries. Now her mortality is restored and she must find a way to blend in to this frightening new world.

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About the Author, Stacey Rourke

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

Stacey

Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects.

Social Media Links

www.staceyrourke.com
Facebook Page
Twitter @Rourkewrites

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Other Books by Stacey Rourke

The Conduit
Book One in the Gryphon Series
By Stacey Rourke

The Conduit

All 18-year-old Celeste Garrett wants is to head off to college and make those fun, yet ill-advised, choices college kids are known for.  And maybe to spend some time with the hot cameraman she just met.  Instead, because of a pact her ancestors made in the 17th century with a mythical creature, she has to save the world.
While normal kids are slamming energy drinks and cramming for exams, Celeste will get her adrenaline rush fighting a fire breathing dragon.  She wants to meet friends in the quad to exchange lecture notes, but first she must exchange blows with a shapeshifting demon on the rooftop.  Life isn’t always fair for a superhero, but at least she doesn’t have to do it alone.  With her brother and sister as sidekicks, they alternate between saving lives and getting on each others’ nerves.  Together the trio encounters unspeakable odds, mystical forces and comes face-to-face with an image that will haunt them forever—their grandmother in a leopard print bikini.

Excerpt:

“Okay, little side note here. If a psychopathic killer asks if you want to see a trick, say no. That’s the smart thing to do. I, on the other hand, responded, ‘Bring it’.”

Embrace
Book Two in the Gryphon Series
By Stacey Rourke

EmbraceWhether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms  with being  the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky,  between intense training  sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know  at what cost it would come. That is,  until a dear friend is harmed by the  malicious forces hunting her.
Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.

Excerpt: (I chose this excerpt because I can just imagine hearing Celeste say it to herself and it so incredibly awesome.  Makes humiliating yourself in front of a guy not seem so bad in comparison.)

With narrowed eyes, he peered past me to the counter.  ”Ya sure it’s broken?  Sounds like it’s on now.”
I turned my head in the direction of the counter.  He was right, something was whirring.  I could hear it, too.  But it wasn’t coming from the counter, or the DOA cappuccino machine.   It was closer than that.  Close enough that I could feel the vibration in my chest. 
Oh, sweet-mother-of-all-that’s-good-and-pure, IT’S ME!! I’m purring!

The Sidekick Chronicles
A Gryphon Series Novella
by Stacey Rourke

Gryphon seriesCeleste isn’t the only member of the Garrett family whose life changed when destiny called. Every sidekick has their tale and in this Gryphon Series short the spotlight is turned on Kendall, Grams and even Gabe. Get an inside look at the hilarious stress that goes along with being a…sidekick.

Sidekicks…ya can’t live with ‘em and you’d probably die horribly without ‘em.

Purchase Links

       Amazon                                       Barnes and Nobel     

The Conduit                                         The Conduit

Embrace                                               Embrace

Sidekick Chronicles                           Sidekick Chronicles

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Blast Info

Buy the books for 99 cents each!
Be sure to follow the full tour for reviews, interviews, excerpts, and the inside scoop on Stacey Rourke and the Gryphon series. To celebrate the third book in the Gryphon series, Stacey Rourke is offering one lucky fan an awesome prize pack. Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A GWR Publicity promotional tour paid for by the
author. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee
is earned when purchases are made via the above links. Rose Petals background is a public domain image courtesy of Виталий Смолыгин.

Fighting Back – Women’s Island Teaser

In honor of reaching 700 likes on the AshleyNicole Books Facebook page I am sharing a teaser from Women’s Island that I hope you will enjoy :)

Fighting Back

teaser from upcoming novel women’s island

andrew banner

Hunched over the desk sits a man fighting a war inside, trying not to lose himself and remember what side he is really on.  His hands clench the disheveled hair atop his head, inflicting a slight of pain so he knows how to separate what is a nightmare, and what is real.  Digging his elbows into the top of his desk, Senator Andrew Chamberlain raises his head, not bothering to fix his hair at the sound of someone knocking on the door, “Enter.”

Officer Fremont comes in and quickly closes the door behind him, “We have received news of your wife.”

Andrew’s voice comes out level and monotone, “Only of my wife?”

Fremont drops his head, “It may not be her, just a woman claiming to be.”

Clenching his fists, “Where?”

“She’s in Kentucky.  No one knows which direction she came from, only that there were a lot of explosions one week before they found her.  The explosions were all near labs in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.  Something triggered a chemical reaction within the water pipes.”

“How were only the labs affected?  What does that have to do with my wife?”

Fremont shrugs his shoulders, “The labs that were affected ran off of their own nuclear power plants and somehow, that small difference in the water, maybe the radiation, triggered the explosive reaction.  The one lab in Kentucky managed to only have minimal damage but the others will be out of commission for a while.”  Fremont sits in a chair across from Andrew, “As for your wife, if it is her, she admitted to blowing up the facilities and demanded to see you.”

“And what would you advise?” Andrew asks, wondering why his wife would blow up labs, and where his children could possibly be.

“I would advise, you go see this woman.  And if she is your wife, find out if your children are safe.  Keep in mind; they have her at a lab.  And if you don’t want anything bed to happen, you need to get there quickly.”

Andrew jumps out of his chair, realizing what Fremont is insinuating.  “We need to go.  We need to go right now.”

“Slow down Senator.”  Fremont pulls back on Andrew’s shoulder making him realize he had been racing for the door.  “They are already getting a jet ready.  We will be there soon enough.  I promise.”

“I never thought I’d admit it, but I think I’m going to need you around for this,” Andrew says looking at the firm hand holding him in place.

Fremont suppresses a laugh, knowing Andrew is being serious, “Don’t worry.  I’ll help you keep your sanity and remind you what side you’re on.  We will protect her and your children.  There is a lot you’re going to accomplish in this war, and I’m going to be there to help you do it.”  Fremont drops his hand to his side as Andrew turns around.

“I thought you knew which side I was really on.”

Fremont laughs, “Don’t start doubting me now Andrew.  Don’t you see what it would mean, what you could do?”

“No Fremont, I don’t.  What wonderful bout of destruction do you imaging I could unleash as the leader of such a war?”  Andrew forces himself to pace the room and hear Fremont’s plan before he takes violent action.

“You could destroy the government’s power over women,” Fremont smiles mischievously.

Andrew stops in shock facing Fremont, “Come again?”

“Honestly, how did you become a senator?”  Fremont shakes his head.

“I have an intelligent wife to fill in the blanks for me,” Andrew states mournfully, worrying if she is alive and safe, or being tortured in a lab states away.

Fremont just nods and continues, “If you are the face of the war, if the government believes that you are on their side, then you can lead them away from the real path, away from the real haven of the women.”

“And how would I know if I am leading them away?” Andrew asks.

Fremont smiles, “Women are smart and strong.  They know the chances of getting caught, and when they are interrogated, they know when to give the false bust close to the truth information, so the government never finds their trail.”

Andrew shakes his head, “Cressida told me the truth when I interrogated her.”

“She told you a partial truth.  They did go through the sewers and onto a logging road, but they didn’t go north towards Canada.”  Fremont sits back down feeling that this conversation is going to be longer than he thought.

Andrew drops his head in thought and suddenly snaps it up to look at he’s only trusted friend, “That’s why Mercy blew up the labs.  So that no one would know which direction to find Luke and Christian.  The only reason she would have done that was to protect them.  And the only reason she would need to protect them is because they are safe.  My children are safe.”

teaser not yet edited
ⓒ Copyright 2013 AshleyNicole Books

original image link

Welcome New Fans

Well so far my dream to be an author has been quite a journey.  While I have been busy with life in general and working on the Women’s Island project, my fan base has been increasing.  I have all of you to thank for your continued support through the project and spreading the word about my pages.  So thank you all so much!  Today I have over 1,800 followers across WordPress, Facebook, and Twitter.  That’s almost 2k fans!  Thank you for those who have stuck around and thank you to the new fans for following me.  I can’t wait to hear what you think about Women’s Island once it comes out <3

With all the new recent fans, I’ve decided to create this blog post to introduce myself and maybe reintroduce my stories and website to the fans who’ve already been following.

First things first…

artistic-persuasion-april-showers.jpg

My website has a new look ;)  I know, I change the colors and banner a lot but I like to keep it up to date with the theme of the holiday, season, etc…  Hope you like it.

Next, I’ll share with you a little bit about myself.

AshleyNicole Books

My name is AshleyNicole Shelton.  I am a full-time mother and a part-time writer.  So far I have three free companion stories available for download.  This year you can expect to see Women’s Island, a dystopian society novel about love, family, survival, and equality, in both eBook and paperback editions.  On the side I enjoy reading, drawing, and photography.  Places I am in my element for writing are: coffee shops (even though I don’t like to drink coffee), forests, mountains, and beaches.  My favorite colors are purple & green and my favorite foods are salad & chocolate.

Ready to Start Browsing?

You may have noticed that my blog title isn’t AshleyNicole Books.  The name of my blog is actually The Artistic Persuasion while my website is AshleyNicole Books.  Click here to find out about my blog name!

Want to know about my published stories and my publishing plans for the future?  Then check out my Novels page.  And don’t forget to check out my book pages Women’s Island, The Gifted Series, and Deathly Vortex.

Are you interested in being a writer?  Check out my Novel Insanity Challenge for motivation you might find helpful or inspiring.

Looking for other authors to read and support?  I have a page titled Authors of Note that lists some of the authors who have made an impact on my journey in the writing world and also have great publications of their own.  I will be adding more to this page soon so be sure to come back again for more authors.

follows

Follow me on Twitter!   |   Like my Facebook Page

Commission my Cover Artist   |   Ask my Editor for a quote

Thank You!

Thank you everyone for stopping by, your support, and interest in my stories.  It really means a lot to me that you all encourage my writing.  Have a great evening/morning/afternoon!

Women’s Island Movie Deal

Releasing a Secret

Okay… I’ve been keeping this a secret long enough and now that fan base has exceeded my expectations I’d like to announce it officially. A screenwriter ran across my Women’s Island project and loved the story idea so much he asked to have a meeting with me, my agent, and some producers. I was so surprised, especially since the book hasn’t even been released yet but I decided it was worth going to the meeting. It was an amazing experience and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

I GOT MY FIRST MOVIE DEAL

I never dreamed my writing would actually become a movie. If any of my books did, I thought it would be one of my series, but I’m glad Women’s Island will have the chance to make such an impact. Most of the casting has already been completed and the script is going through edits as we speak. The movie will come to theaters Fall 2015! I’m so excited!
Thank you all for your support. I hope you will love the movie as long as the book. I better get to bed. I have a production meeting in the morning.
women's island movie poster

APRIL FOOLS!

It would be awesome if my novel Women’s Island gets a movie deal but I don’t see that happening in the foreseeable future.

***Disclaimer – I do not own the images used to make this movie poster and the actors did not consent to play a part in the movie. It was simply for April Fools Day purposes.***

 

Seriousness

Women’s Island is getting closer to being publication ready.  In the meantime I recently got in the Cavern Dweller bookmarks and can now take orders from those of you who would like to buy t-shirts and/or autographed bookmark sets.  For more information on buying Women’s Island products, send me a message by clicking the “Contact” tab from the menu at the top.

imPRESSive Update

This idea of imPRESSive came from a similar documentary appearing on YouTube called Becoming YouTube, which talked about YouTubers and the different elements of YouTube. So, I thought that I would start a documentary blogumentary about WordPress, and the different elements it involves and provides.  You’ll find me quoted once in each episode so be sure to check it out :)

Webisode One - Blog Names and URLs
So basically, blog names and URL’s are usually quicker to make and helpful in the long term if they have a personal connection. For example, mine derives from the fact that I love psychology and thought – provoking things, and some can come from some small things in people’s lives. But with people using pseudonyms rather than their actual names, but why is this the case?
“Just like book titles, a blog name needs to catch the readers attention, intrigue them, make them come visit your page. And a URL needs to be easy to remember and spell so access to the site isn’t difficult.”-AshleyNicole Books

Webisode Two - The Blogger Persona
What should the perfect blogger blog about?
“I personally enjoy blog posts about book reviews, giveaways, fiction stories, and survivor stories but I think everyone is different. But you can count on one thing for sure. As long as you are writing about what you love, there will be someone who loves to read it.”-AshleyNicole Books

Webisode Three - Stats and Attracting Views
Do you consider yourself “stat-obsessed”?
“I look at my stats every now and then out of curiosity, wondering where in the world my page has been viewed but other than that, no.”-AshleyNicole Books

Webisode Four - Blog Conferences – Where Are They?
Have you ever heard of WordCamp conference by WordPress?
“Nope, but I’ll look it up later now that you brought it up.”-AshleyNicole Books

Webisode Five - Akismet and Spammers
Why are spammers common on WordPress, and why do you rarely see them on Blogger and other famous blogging sites?
“Honestly, I don’t think they are more common. I’ve tried several different blog site and WordPress is by far my favorite. My twitter on the other hand, that gets a lot of spam!”-AshleyNicole Books

Webisode Six – Freshly Pressed
Have you ever been Freshly Pressed and would it make you feel more pressure to reach your readers expectations?
“No I haven’t but if I ever am, I would probably take more time editing my posts than I do now.”-AshleyNicole Books

 

Have a great April everyone!

imPRESSive: Webisode One - Blog Names and URLs

Reblogged from The Life of A Thinker:

Welcome to imPRESSive. For those who are new to my blog - Hello, I am Liam, a.k.a. The Life of a Thinker...

This idea of imPRESSive came from a similar documentary appearing on YouTube called Becoming YouTube, which talked about YouTubers and the different elements of YouTube. So, I thought that I would start a documentary blogumentary about…

Read more… 1,382 more words

A blogumentary about WordPress, and the different elements it involves & provides. You will find a quote by me in this webisode of imPRESSive. If you want to follow more about it, check out #DocPRESS on Twitter and don't miss next week's webisode!

Gryphon Series Blog Tour

Gryphon Series Banner

Welcome to today’s blog stop on the Gryphon’s Series Blog Tour with author Stacey Rourke.  I had the delightful opportunity to read The Conduit, Embrace, and interview Stacey Rourke.  In this post you will learn about the amazing author behind the Gryphon Series and read my reviews on the two books I read by her.  I hope you’ll enjoy todays stop.  You’ll find ebook buy links and the schedule at the bottom of the post if you’d like to visit previous stops and future stops.

Stacey

About Author Stacey Rourke
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects.

Where to Connect with Stacey

Visit her at www.staceyrourke.com
Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacey-Rourke/

or on Twitter @Rourkewrites

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My Review with Stacey Rourke

Hello Stacey.  Thank you for giving me the chance to interview you for The Gryphon Series Blog Hop.  I’m just going to jump right in with the interview questions.  What is your favorite drink to accompany writing?
Sweet Tea!

Cool, refreshing, and sweet.  Now I want some.  I’ll be right back.  — AshleyNicole goes to the kitchen to gets some sweet tea…then decides on cinnamon apple spice hot tea with honey instead.—  I’m back, next question.  Is there one thing about life that truly fascinates you?
That miracles really do happen.

That they do.  What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Coffee creamer, left over pizza, fresh fruits, and veggies, oh and pickles!

I love pickles!  Okay, away from the subject of food before I leave to make a three course dinner.  *wink* Tell me a clean joke.
Polar Bear walks into a bar and says to the bartender “I’ll have a rum and………………………………………………………………………….coke.”

Bartender says, “What’s with the big pause?”
Polar Bear says, “I don’t know, I’ve always had them.”

That is probably the best clean joke I’ve heard in a long time and I may be slightly biased.  I love polar bears so that just made the joke ten times better. I’d love to travel and see some one day.  Speaking of travel, what is the most interesting trip you’ve ever taken?
All trips are interesting if you people watch at airports! I once saw a lady in a full body leopard print spandex outfit. Now THAT is interesting! She voluntarily left the house like that!

That IS interesting.  I can’t imagine wearing a full body spandex outfit, let alone being leopard print.  Maybe she was a Therianthrope?  Anyways…  I’ll get to the serious questions now. ;-)  What inspired the Gryphon Series?
It was shortly after I had my daughters. Something about being the mother to two little girls opened my eyes to how few strong female role models the entertainment industry gives to our youth. One night I had a dream; it was the scene toward the end of Conduit where the hand comes out of the orchestra pit. It was such a real dream that it I NEEDED to flesh it out and breathe life into it. That was the birth of my series.

It’s amazing how children can inspire us and we definitely need more depictions of strong female roles.  How do you come up with your book titles?
My book titles are actually wildly unimaginative and completely straight forward. Hah! The Conduit- the main character IS the conduit of the Gryphon; the one being on earth chosen to possess all the powers the creature holds. Embrace- Celeste embraces her role as the chosen one. Sacrifice-again it’s pretty self-explanatory once you read it. Apparently I use up all my creativity writing and go basic for the titles.

Yes, I can see where the titles came from while reading the books, but they are great titles and are intriguing nevertheless.  Do you have any writers you consider to be your mentor(s)?
I look up to so many writers, but I really don’t have a mentor. Creativity spawns creativity so I find just immersing myself in the works of others inspires me. That said if Willow Cross would let me be her Padawan I could totally jump at the chance.

Who designed your book covers?
Actually that is a team project. Each cover in the Gryphon Series has an original art piece in it created by Crystal Ord. From there I give that to my cover artist KC Designs and she integrates the picture into whatever new fangled idea I’ve come up with. Lucky for me they both seem capable of reading my mind.

I love how you all contributed to the cover, incorporating hand drawn art. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in creating your books?
As the story of the Gryphon Series has progressed the plot seems to get deeper and more complex, which is to be expected. The challenge for me has been to maintain the same level of humor that fans have come to know and love. Hopefully I’m succeeding!

The humor makes the characters seem witty and I love it.  Makes me wish I could comes up with things to say like that, but I always come up with what to say after the fact.  *Ashley laughs at the thought* What have you learned in your writing experience thus far?
That there is always more to learn.

True, true.  When did you first think, “I’m a writer?”
Just now when you called me that. I am?!

Absolutely!  You’re a great writer!  What goals do you have in the writing world?
To take over the world!!! Bwahahahaha!!! Or … just get more people to read my books.

Do you have a dream that you hope your writing will lead to?
Let me tell you a little secret, any author that says they DON’T want either of those things is a big, liar. Seriously, check and see if their pants are on fire. Would I like a movie deal or to make a best sellers list? Darn skippy I would. But if I don’t? I have a job I love, following my passion. I’m a pretty frickin’ lucky girl.

Thank you for sharing that secret with us *winks*  What do you hope readers will take from reading your books?
There are so many books full of dark emotional angst out there I hope my books remind them it’s okay to lighten up and laugh! In addition to that the underlining message in the entire Gryphon Series is that there is a hero in each of us. In hard times we just have to dig deep to have the strength we need to overcome. We can all be the hero of our own story.

Your message definitely makes it through when I read your books.  Thank you so much Stacey for the interview!  I look forward to reading Sacrifice!

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Reviews by Me

The Conduit
Book One in the Gryphon Series
By Stacey Rourke

The Conduit

 Synopsis:

All 18-year-old Celeste Garrett wants is to head off to college and make those fun, yet ill-advised, choices college kids are known for.  And maybe to spend some time with the hot cameraman she just met.  Instead, because of a pact her ancestors made in the 17th century with a mythical creature, she has to save the world.
While normal kids are slamming energy drinks and cramming for exams, Celeste will get her adrenaline rush fighting a fire breathing dragon.  She wants to meet friends in the quad to exchange lecture notes, but first she must exchange blows with a shapeshifting demon on the rooftop.  Life isn’t always fair for a superhero, but at least she doesn’t have to do it alone.  With her brother and sister as sidekicks, they alternate between saving lives and getting on each others’ nerves.  Together the trio encounters unspeakable odds, mystical forces and comes face-to-face with an image that will haunt them forever—their grandmother in a leopard print bikini.

Excerpt:

“Okay, little side note here. If a psychopathic killer asks if you want to see a trick, say no. That’s the smart thing to do. I, on the other hand, responded, ‘Bring it’.”

My Review: 5 of 5 stars

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Embrace
Book Two in the Gryphon Series
By Stacey Rourke

 Embrace

Synopsis:

Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms  with being  the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky,  between intense training  sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know  at what cost it would come. That is,  until a dear friend is harmed by the  malicious forces hunting her.
Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.

Excerpt: (I chose this excerpt because I can just imagine hearing Celeste say it to herself and it so incredibly awesome.  Makes humiliating yourself in front of a guy not seem so bad in comparison.)

With narrowed eyes, he peered past me to the counter.  ”Ya sure it’s broken?  Sounds like it’s on now.”
I turned my head in the direction of the counter.  He was right, something was whirring.  I could hear it, too.  But it wasn’t coming from the counter, or the DOA cappuccino machine.   It was closer than that.  Close enough that I could feel the vibration in my chest. 
Oh, sweet-mother-of-all-that’s-good-and-pure, IT’S ME!! I’m purring!

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Other Books by Stacey

The Sidekick Chronicles
A Gryphon Series Novella
by Stacey Rourke

Gryphon series

Synopsis:

Celeste isn’t the only member of the Garrett family whose life changed when destiny called. Every sidekick has their tale and in this Gryphon Series short the spotlight is turned on Kendall, Grams and even Gabe. Get an inside look at the hilarious stress that goes along with being a…sidekick.

Sidekicks…ya can’t live with ‘em and you’d probably die horribly without ‘em.

A Review Coming Soon!

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Coming Soon!

Sacrifice
Book Three in the Gryphon Series
By Stacey Rourke

Sacrifice

Synopsis:

Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there’s any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling it’s that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything she’s ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.

As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there’s no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?

Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding…Conduit-style.

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eBook Purchase Links

Amazon                                                             Barnes and Noble

The Conduit                                                      The Conduit

Embrace                                                           Embrace

The Sidekick Chronicles                                   The Sidekick Chronicles

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Previous Stops in the Gryphon Series Blog Tour

Autumn Nauling | Angie EdwardsKymberlee Burks-MillerBeth Calloway EdwardsBecky JohnsonAndrea CoventryRaeBeth BudaBrandy Jeffus Corona

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Future Stops in the Gryphon Series Blog Tour

MaryAnn InabinetTejasvini RaoAllana KephartAmanda EdmundsCasse NaRomeStacey Rourke

Kidnapped

Yesterday I was working on a Women’s Island scene where my characters are reading a news article and although they don’t have “newspapers” anymore, I decided to type up the article for fun and inspiration as if it were a newspaper.  This is just for fun and I used the image I found of Chris Evans for The Next Big Thing Blog Hop to play the part of Senator Andrew Chamberlain.  I hope you’ll enjoy it.  I put a faint watermark all over it.  So hopefully no one will think it is a real article about Chris Evans being a senator who’s children were kidnaped…  Anyway, here it is.

DISCLAIMER: The newspaper image above is not a real article.  The image of Chris Evans is not owned by or claimed by AshleyNicole Shelton, WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, or any other website this newspaper image appears on.  You can find the original image of Chris Evans by clicking here or typing this into your address bar: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/chris-evans
The rest of the image was made by AshleyNicole Shelton using Microsoft Word and basic image editing.

The Revolution TimesA just-for-fun Newspaper Article set in the world of Women's Island by AshleyNicole Shelton.

The Revolution Times
A just-for-fun Newspaper Article set in the world of Women’s Island by AshleyNicole Shelton.

Teaser from Women’s Island
(not yet edited)

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Fremont pulls out a transparent, holographic card from his pocket before he begins swiping and taping away at the surface.  Finally he finds what his is looking for.  Holding the card parallel to the floor an image projects into the air above them.  It is the front page of an electronic newspaper.  Andrew’s picture is in the center while the headline reads, “Senator’s children kidnapped by wife.”

“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” – Colossians 3:18 – There is one woman, who did not follow these wise words.  Just two short weeks ago, Mercy Chamberlain kidnapped Senator Chamberlain’s three-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, a terrible transgression punishable by death.  Since then he has be doing everything he can to get them safely back home.  He is heart broken and thirsty for justice.  After many hours of finding evidence on Women Rebels, Senator Chamberlain followed a trail, hoping to find his children and sadly the evidence has gone dry.  But he has not given up on them.  He will find them and bring the kidnapper to justice.  His assistant released a statement this morning that Senator Chamberlain has vowed, “I will not stop at finding my children.  It has come to my attention, that there have been many instances where women are kidnapping their children at the insistence of the Women Rebels.  Because of this, I will not stop, until we bring these children home safely.  I don’t know why it has stayed quiet for so long, but I will make sure, the issue is quiet no more, until the children are returned.”  Such motivating words, but he does not have to do this alone.  Help Senator Chamberlain’s cause to stop these rebellious and traitorous women.  Wives, you can start by submitting to your husbands as the Lord demands and keep your children safe at home.  Able men, go to the closest recruitment office, and help those who have been victimized to get back what is rightfully theirs.  Bring home the children, safe and sound.

ⓒ Copyright 2013 AshleyNicole Books

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Now, which side do you think Andrew is on?  Do you believe the media, or do you think Mercy knows her husband as well as she believed she once did?  I’m really getting excited about Women’s Island (more so with every word I write) and I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I do.  Have a great day everyone!

2013 Hopefuls

2013

Like the original image on DeviantART

2013 Hopefuls
Created by M.S. Fowle
A great idea that I wanted to try too.  Thank you M.S. Fowle for posting this.

“For this New Year I am not making resolutions. I don’t believe I’ve ever made a resolution before. They just feel like promises I won’t keep or will eventually forget. So, for 2013, I will be making Hopefuls for this year. It feels like a lot less pressure, if you ask me. I’m still setting goals for myself, but I’m not going to beat myself up if I don’t achieve one thing or another.” ~ 2013 Hopefuls & The Coffee Quiz

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My Hopefuls for 2013

 1.    Publish Women’s Island.  Obviously I really want this to happen and I am pretty sure it will.  I just have to work really hard, and hope I get enough time to finish it.  Still, a year is quite reasonable, so I’m not too worried about this hopeful not happening.

2.    Reach 600 Downloads.  Last year I reached 583 downloads for The Blind Lily on Smashwords.  So this year, for Women’s Island, I want to reach 600 downloads.  I think with enough social media promoting I can make it.  Plus Women’s Island will be professionally edited and my cover artist did and amazing job!

3.    Finish My Secret Project.  I have a project I am working on for fans of The Blind Lily.  I think you’ll really be excited about it once I share it with you.  I’m hoping to spread the word about it in August.  So keep a look out for news on the surprise.

4.    A Book Signing.  This hopeful is a little far fetched but I’d really love to have a book signing at a local bookstore.  If not this year, I can always move the hopeful to next year, but until January 1, 2014 arrives, I’m going to keep hoping and shooting for that goal.

5.    Have a Successful Blog Tour.  This hopeful is very vague and general.  I just hope that my blog tour for Women’s Island is fun, reaches a lot of readers, and helps build my audience.  If those three things are met, I’ll consider it a success.

6.    Print Women’s Island.  Once Women’s Island is published in eBook, it shouldn’t be too difficult to publish in paperback.  The reason for this hopeful, is because my first attempt to publish a paperback book, did not go well.  It was my crash course into the self-publishing would and I don’t want that to happen again.

 

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I’m sure I’ll come up with more as goals are met and opportunities arise, but for now, I think I’m pretty happy with my Hopefuls.  What are your Hopefuls for 2013?