So I had several things that came to mind for my shout out today. I was ready to mention this one blog. Then I thought of a couple sites. Then there were a few books. And then it was one book that made me KNOW what today's post should be about.
Karen Amanda Hooper
I read Grasping At Eternity by Karen Hooper this past weekend and it was OH SO GOOD! As soon as I finished it, I knew I had to shout out Karen in this post. I have a review coming Wednesday, so I'm not going to get into the awesomeness that is Grasping At Eternity. What I will say is this:
Karen is one of the best authors I've read in a LONG time. I'm not sure that she realizes her awesomeness, but she is very awesome. Not just as a writer either. She's an awesome, genuinely sweet person. She's humble and down to earth. She gives without thought and she listens, talks, connects. I don't know her know her, but every interaction I've had with her has been wonderful.
Not only does she take the time to interact with her readers, fans, other writers, friends; she does it all while being a fabulous writer. She stays humble through it all. All the positive feedback and all of the five and four star ratings of her books and she still graciously takes the compliment. She takes them to heart, cherishes them, appreciates them, and never lets it get to her head. It's rare to find someone who's books are so fantastic, who writes so well, and still manages to take compliments without their ego becoming inflated.
I could keep going on about how wonderful she is, but it would possibly get repetitive and even if I didn't repeat myself I think what I've said tells enough for you to see how great she is.
Here's some places and things to check out Karen Hooper:
Books-
Tangled Tides
Grasping At Eternity
In His Eyes Anthology
Like Karen on Facebook
Follow Karen on Twitter
Find Karen on Goodreads
Karen's Website
Karen's Blog
The Indelibles
Thursday TAG! with Karen (Q&A w/ me )
Please take a moment to 'meet' this AWESOME woman/writer/author.
Happy Monday Everyone! :)
Showing posts with label Tangled Tides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tangled Tides. Show all posts
Monday, May 28, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Weigh In Wednesday- Review: Tangled Tides by Karen A Hooper
And that's five in all caps because this book is AWESOME!!! It's the best book I've read this year and last. It was one hell of a page turner and I HATED when I had to put it down. I was pretty sure it'd be good when I read it, but it surpassed any feelings I could've come up with. I bow, humbly, to Karen Hooper for this book. She did an excellent job.
Yara is a seventeen, almost eighteen, year old girl who lives semi on her own and semi with her Uncle. In the midst of a Hurricane she's rescued and then thrown into a world she never imagined was real.
Here's the deal, and you all know what's up, it's time for SPOILERS. This is another one of those books that I SOOOOO don't want to spoil for anyone who hasn't read it. I should just leave it here and be done. However, I know some people like spoilers so if you MUST, then go ahead and click read more...but you really shouldn't.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
And The Moment...
...we've all been waiting for...because my followers are AWESOME!!!
I bring you the first ever....GIVEAWAY!
Okay, so maybe I'm the one who is EXTRA excited, but hey-oh well. It is exciting. :D
Yesterday's TAG! featured the super nice, super awesome, Karen Amanda Hooper. Along with being an awesome person, she's an awesome author.
EDIT: The awesome publisher of TANGLED TIDES (Rhemalda Publishing), has just put this book on Amazon for FREE! So, go to THIS LINK to download your FREE copy.
SO, now what can you win?
The amazingly awesome Karen Hooper is offering her newest book (out on May 25, 2012) in place of Tangled Tides.
An ebook of GRASPING AT ETERNITY by Karen Amanda Hooper!!!
So, remember, go to the link I provided above and download Tangled Tides for FREE and when you enter the Rafflecopter, the first prize is Grasping At Eternity instead of Tangled Tides.
And of course, there's still more...
and five people will win a query critique or story critique (up to 20K words). I felt like only awarding one follower wasn't good enough. Those are some pretty awesome prizes too. Well, Zombie Whisperer is awesome, I'm not going to say how awesome my critiques are :p but I can say I know they're beneficial. :)
All you have to do is use the Rafflecopter entry form at the end of this post. This giveaway is open beginning now, Friday, May 11, 2012 @ 1201 AM Eastern Time and it will end Saturday, May 19, 2012 @ 1201 AM Eastern Time. There are several ways to earn entries, so have at it.
(Small sidenote because I want to make sure there's full disclosure....If you win Grasping At Eternity, your copy will not be sent until after it's published (May 25, 2012) since it isn't available yet. The winner will have to wait a very small amount of time, but they're getting first dibs on it and for free, so YAY ;) )
I apologize for the last minute change and thanks again to all of my followers and anyone else stopping by :)
Happy Entering :D
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I bring you the first ever....GIVEAWAY!
Okay, so maybe I'm the one who is EXTRA excited, but hey-oh well. It is exciting. :D
Yesterday's TAG! featured the super nice, super awesome, Karen Amanda Hooper. Along with being an awesome person, she's an awesome author.
EDIT: The awesome publisher of TANGLED TIDES (Rhemalda Publishing), has just put this book on Amazon for FREE! So, go to THIS LINK to download your FREE copy.
SO, now what can you win?
The amazingly awesome Karen Hooper is offering her newest book (out on May 25, 2012) in place of Tangled Tides.
An ebook of GRASPING AT ETERNITY by Karen Amanda Hooper!!!
(Here's a description from Karen's website)
Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she’s supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.
X-MEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY in Karen’s latest young adult release.
So, remember, go to the link I provided above and download Tangled Tides for FREE and when you enter the Rafflecopter, the first prize is Grasping At Eternity instead of Tangled Tides.
And of course, there's still more...
BONUS:
I'm also giving away an ebook of Zombie Whisperer by Caterina Torres
and five people will win a query critique or story critique (up to 20K words). I felt like only awarding one follower wasn't good enough. Those are some pretty awesome prizes too. Well, Zombie Whisperer is awesome, I'm not going to say how awesome my critiques are :p but I can say I know they're beneficial. :)
All you have to do is use the Rafflecopter entry form at the end of this post. This giveaway is open beginning now, Friday, May 11, 2012 @ 1201 AM Eastern Time and it will end Saturday, May 19, 2012 @ 1201 AM Eastern Time. There are several ways to earn entries, so have at it.
(Small sidenote because I want to make sure there's full disclosure....If you win Grasping At Eternity, your copy will not be sent until after it's published (May 25, 2012) since it isn't available yet. The winner will have to wait a very small amount of time, but they're getting first dibs on it and for free, so YAY ;) )
I apologize for the last minute change and thanks again to all of my followers and anyone else stopping by :)
Happy Entering :D
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday TAG! - Karen Amanda Hooper
EEEEP! I'm so excited about this TAG! And for more than one reason. One, she's SO AWESOME! I've only met her recently when I asked to feature her and she's so nice, sweet, and genuine. I'm very honored and excited to have her on my blog. Two, I just finished her book on Tuesday and it's SO AWESOME! It's one of THE BEST books I've read this year, and last year. Three, this TAG! is coming at you the day before my first giveaway and it's...yep you guessed, SO AWESOME! Check back tomorrow for the full announcement of what I'm giving away :D
On to the TAG!
Author Karen Amanda Hooper, as I said above, is a sweet and genuine person. She's a member of The Indelible Writers. You can also find her on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog. Her book, Tangled Tides, is awesome and I'll be reviewing it on the blog, so check for that. Also, I mention it in the TAG, but Karen did a letter to her teen self and it's so touching, find it here.
1. When did you start writing?
I wrote A LOT in middle and high school, but then I took a hiatus until my late twenties. I wish I had never stopped.
2. What made you want to write?
My mind never shuts up. I have to write down (or type out) some of my ideas, musings and stories or I'd go crazy.
3. When did you decide you wanted to write to be published? (As opposed to writing just to write)
When I figured out that I didn't need a Masters degree in English to get a novel published. Most of my life I believed book deals were only offered to people with lots of education and credentials.
4. What genre(s) do you write?
Young adult fantasy and paranormal, but so far most of my stories are crossover for adults.
5. Why that(those) genre(s)?
I write what I love to read, and I've always loved magic, fairy tales, and supernatural--with some romance mixed in, of course.
6. Do you have any particular ritual when you write? (A specific way things are done during the process)
Not really. I write best in the mornings. And having my dogs napping nearby always helps.
7. Do you use an outline, or do you just start writing?
I just write. Most of the time I write random scenes and figure out how they'll tie in later. Luckily, they always fit together somehow.
8. Is there something you MUST have when you're writing? (Aside from the typical writer tools-computer, pen, paper, etc)
A yummy cup of coffee.
9. Do you write out your story on paper and then transfer to a computer, or straight to the computer?
I make notes in notebooks and will jot down lines or ideas for scenes that come to me, but mostly I create on my computer.
10. How many books/short stories have you written? (Published or not, even those you wrote and then thought-what the hell?)
Three books, started three others, and maybe 6-7 short stories. However, I have countless journals, poems, letters-never-sent, etc.
11. Is there, or has there been, anyone in your life (real or online) who thought you being a writer is/was just another hobby? Or that you are/were wasting your time as a writer?
Of course. Many people have thought that, and I think a few still do. Coincidentally, I don't talk to those people very much. ;)
12. Do you do Social Media sites? If so, which ones? If not, why don't you?
Yes, I'm on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I dabble on Pintrest but there aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with all of the social media sites out there.
13. Any advice for writers that makes you cringe every time you hear it? (I know there is some cringe-worthy advice still worth following, so only advice you don't follow.)
The whole "you're not ready" thing. (Ready to query, publish, etc.) You might be ready. People irk me when they publicly give that advice to everyone. Some of the people listening to that advice could very well be ready.
14. If you could be a mermaid, would you be one?
Heck yes. Especially if it was a mermaid from the world I created in Tangled Tides because I'd have some very cool abilities.
15. Is there a specific magical power you would love to have?
I'd love to be able to read minds, but only when I wanted to. And teleport. And control weather. Can you tell I like magical powers?
16. I read your letter to teen you...it was touching and it made me cry a little. Was it hard for you to write it?
It was very hard to write, and my original letter was A LOT longer, but it was a little cathartic. I started writing a book that's inspired by that experience (The Second Chance Society) but I'm sure it will take my years and years to finish it because it's so close to my heart.
17. How did you become a member of The Indelibles?
S.R. Johannes sent me an invitation to be part of the original group of authors and I happily accepted.
18. Did you always want to go Indie, or was it something you went to after attempts at querying agents/big publishers?
I tried the traditional route and queried a couple manuscripts over a three year period, but nothing ever came of it. I had actually shelved Tangled Tides, but an author friend suggested I submit it to her publisher, Rhemalda, and a few weeks later I had a book deal.
19. What do you do when you aren't writing?
Hang with my dogs, family and friends. I go to Disney World like every other weekend (it's my happy place), and I love to read and travel.
20. Any words of wisdom for anyone who is thinking of becoming a writer, or just something you think all writers should know?
Don't expect to get rich at it, write what you love, and grow thick skin.
On to the TAG!
Author Karen Amanda Hooper, as I said above, is a sweet and genuine person. She's a member of The Indelible Writers. You can also find her on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog. Her book, Tangled Tides, is awesome and I'll be reviewing it on the blog, so check for that. Also, I mention it in the TAG, but Karen did a letter to her teen self and it's so touching, find it here.
1. When did you start writing?
I wrote A LOT in middle and high school, but then I took a hiatus until my late twenties. I wish I had never stopped.
2. What made you want to write?
My mind never shuts up. I have to write down (or type out) some of my ideas, musings and stories or I'd go crazy.
3. When did you decide you wanted to write to be published? (As opposed to writing just to write)
When I figured out that I didn't need a Masters degree in English to get a novel published. Most of my life I believed book deals were only offered to people with lots of education and credentials.
4. What genre(s) do you write?
Young adult fantasy and paranormal, but so far most of my stories are crossover for adults.
5. Why that(those) genre(s)?
I write what I love to read, and I've always loved magic, fairy tales, and supernatural--with some romance mixed in, of course.
6. Do you have any particular ritual when you write? (A specific way things are done during the process)
Not really. I write best in the mornings. And having my dogs napping nearby always helps.
7. Do you use an outline, or do you just start writing?
I just write. Most of the time I write random scenes and figure out how they'll tie in later. Luckily, they always fit together somehow.
8. Is there something you MUST have when you're writing? (Aside from the typical writer tools-computer, pen, paper, etc)
A yummy cup of coffee.
9. Do you write out your story on paper and then transfer to a computer, or straight to the computer?
I make notes in notebooks and will jot down lines or ideas for scenes that come to me, but mostly I create on my computer.
10. How many books/short stories have you written? (Published or not, even those you wrote and then thought-what the hell?)
Three books, started three others, and maybe 6-7 short stories. However, I have countless journals, poems, letters-never-sent, etc.
11. Is there, or has there been, anyone in your life (real or online) who thought you being a writer is/was just another hobby? Or that you are/were wasting your time as a writer?
Of course. Many people have thought that, and I think a few still do. Coincidentally, I don't talk to those people very much. ;)
12. Do you do Social Media sites? If so, which ones? If not, why don't you?
Yes, I'm on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I dabble on Pintrest but there aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with all of the social media sites out there.
13. Any advice for writers that makes you cringe every time you hear it? (I know there is some cringe-worthy advice still worth following, so only advice you don't follow.)
The whole "you're not ready" thing. (Ready to query, publish, etc.) You might be ready. People irk me when they publicly give that advice to everyone. Some of the people listening to that advice could very well be ready.
14. If you could be a mermaid, would you be one?
Heck yes. Especially if it was a mermaid from the world I created in Tangled Tides because I'd have some very cool abilities.
15. Is there a specific magical power you would love to have?
I'd love to be able to read minds, but only when I wanted to. And teleport. And control weather. Can you tell I like magical powers?
16. I read your letter to teen you...it was touching and it made me cry a little. Was it hard for you to write it?
It was very hard to write, and my original letter was A LOT longer, but it was a little cathartic. I started writing a book that's inspired by that experience (The Second Chance Society) but I'm sure it will take my years and years to finish it because it's so close to my heart.
17. How did you become a member of The Indelibles?
S.R. Johannes sent me an invitation to be part of the original group of authors and I happily accepted.
18. Did you always want to go Indie, or was it something you went to after attempts at querying agents/big publishers?
I tried the traditional route and queried a couple manuscripts over a three year period, but nothing ever came of it. I had actually shelved Tangled Tides, but an author friend suggested I submit it to her publisher, Rhemalda, and a few weeks later I had a book deal.
19. What do you do when you aren't writing?
Hang with my dogs, family and friends. I go to Disney World like every other weekend (it's my happy place), and I love to read and travel.
20. Any words of wisdom for anyone who is thinking of becoming a writer, or just something you think all writers should know?
Don't expect to get rich at it, write what you love, and grow thick skin.
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