Catching Up

Just wanted to drop in and let everyone know that I am still around. I have just been without internet service for the last week. It looks like it will be a few more weeks as well, thanks to AT&T. Very frustrating, but I am getting settled into my new house and loving it. I think that I will take my little unplanned vacation from the net and write my little heart out. I should be able to get a lot accomplished without the temptation to Tweet or Facebook.

I couldn't help but add another picture of my new cover for Stay. It is just so awesome. Meghann Pardee did such a phenomenal job. I can't wait to get started on the cover for Rose, By Another Name. I wish that I had a more accurate date for when it will be released, but I promise it will be soon.

Goodreads Giveaway #2 Winners

Congratulations to the winners of my second Goodreads Book Giveaway. 

You girls are awesome!  A signed copy of Stay will be shipped out to you shortly.

And the winner is....

Sarah Silva from San Jacinto, California

Veronica Amundson from Anchorage, Alaska

Roseanne Wilkins from Tooele, Utah

Mindy Anderson from Killeen, Texas

Wendy Chenoweth from Bansalem, Pennsylvania 

31 Days of Fairy

Hop on over to The Fairytale Nerd for something fun and fairy every day in October. There will be guest posts, interviews, and even swag giveaways. Don't miss it! You might even see me over there. ;)

A few words from JoAnne of The Fairytale Nerd

I cannot believe tomorrow is the start of October already. It feels like it was only yesterday when I was planning the 31 Days event. But now, it's here, and you guys are in for a fairy treat!

31 Days of Fairy will be a month long event, and I hope you join us in celebrating books about fairies. Looking back when I was hunting for fairy books, I realized that they are not as common as vamps and shifters. Hard to find, that's what fae books are... so more reason for us to have a ball this October.

For this event, my posts will be mostly about fairies. This means that the memes, the reviews, the interviews, guest posts, and of course giveaways will have something to do about fairy book, fairy movies, fairy art... You get the picture.

Anyway, I have created a homepage in my blog especially for this event. You can visit it HERE anytime you want to check out the schedule, giveaways, and posts related to the event. I will also put it up on the sidebar of the blog for an easier access.

For one of the giveaways, I will be trying something new - The Top Commenter Giveaway. 

New Cover for Stay...

Here is the finished cover for Stay....

It was done by the amazingly talented Meghann Pardee. She is a fantastic artist to work with. She included me on the design every step of the way. I highly recommend her for cover art or anything else that you may need. 

If you want to take a look at her other projects you can view her portfolio here... Kurios Illustrations

You can also follow her on Twitter... @whatakuriosgirl

Link with her on LinkedIn... Meghann Pardee

Or check out her blog for more of her awesome designs... What A Kurios Blog

Do Not Go Gentle

I have never been one to be overly superstitious, but when something seems to keep popping up time and time again, I do eventually pay attention. Not one, but two of the books that I have read this week referenced Dylan Thomas's poem Do Not Go Gentle.

I had to stop and ask myself... am I raging against the light?

In some ways I think that I am but I also think that it's time I started living my life to the fullest. I need a bucket list, I need to try new things and meet new people.

Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe it was some sort of sign. Either way, I think I need to take heed and find my rage.

I hope that you find your rage too.

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Matched by Ally Condie- Review

Synopsis

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Review

I truly thought this book was amazing and I am in awe of the author's brilliance. Ally Condie depicted this dystopian society down to the tiniest detail. It's a world that is completely controlled by the government, even down to what is eaten and who we marry.

Cassia is a seventeen year old girl who has just learned who has been chosen to be her mate. She is happy to learn that it is a long time childhood friend until she sees a flash of another face she knows on the screen. 

As hard as she tries to abide by the ways of the society, Cassia can't help but wonder which guy she was really supposed to be with. She soon founds herself drawn to someone else and despite everything she begins to fall in love. 

As her society begins to fall apart and life as she knows it gets turned on it's side, Cassia has to learn to fight for what she wants.

I fell in love with this book and it's characters and found it difficult to do anything else but read until it was finished. 

I can't wait to read Crossed to find out what happens to Cassia and her family.

I gave it 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Halloween Reading Challenge

I absolutely love all things Halloween!! What better way to celebrate than to take part in a spooky read-a-thon? Especially one hosted by The True Book Addict. Check out the details on her blog- Castle Macabre. I'll list a few here as well.

I would also love some suggestions on what books to read.

Details

• Dates:  Monday, October 3 at 12:00am through Sunday, October 9 at 11:59pm (your time zone).
• To go along with the scary theme, this time I will have a requirement.  You must read at least ONE scary book during the read-a-thon.  If you are not a horror fan, then make it a thriller or a mystery, as long as the book has some kind of spooky premise to it.  Those of you who fulfill this requirement, and sign in at the starting line, will automatically be entered in the participant giveaway.
• Read as much or as little as you want.  You do not have to join in all week.  Start during the week or just do the weekend.  It's your decision.  Just be sure to sign in at the starting line when you start reading.
• I will be hosting a scary themed mini-challenge and hopefully we will have other mini-challenges and/ or giveaways (see note above).
• Our hashtag for Twitter will be #frightfall 

Zombie Prom

This is a great cause being put on by some awesome people close to where I grew up in Harford County, Maryland. If you know or are a High School aged person in the area, this event looks like it is one not to be missed. The best part is ALL proceeds go to Scares That Care and that means 100% of the money donated goes to help kids in need.

There is a new website in the works... 2011 Zombie Prom and a Facebook Page Harford County Zombie Prom

Please check it out!! There is also a link on the website if you would like to donate. They can use all the help that they can get to make this event a success. 

I am contributing a C.C. Jackson swag pack to be given away as a door prize. I'm sure that they would love something like that from other writer's too. 

Here is a some info from their website...

Zombies from all over Harford County will gather together for prom.  Come out and join your fellow undead as they dance the night away for a good cause.  There will be a DJ spinning all of the tunes Zombies love to hear as well as some awesome food to munch on.  That should help save a few people from the Zombie invasion on their brains!  Don't forget to vote for our Zombie Prom King and Queen! Circle the calendar;Saturday, November 5th!! Tickets are just $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Unfortunately there will only be a limited number of tickets at the door, so get 'em quick! Proceeds from this event will go to Scares That Care.  A great non-profit that gives 100% of it's funds to sick kids.  How awesome is that?!

Huff and Puff, Just Don't Blow My House Down

A house about two miles from mine.

It looks like we are winding the summer down with a bang this year. An earthquake and a hurricane within a week of each other on the east coast. Excessively hot and dry temperatures here in the south. Now a tropical storm that has stalled just off the coast of Louisiana. Mother nature is an awe inspiring force.

The end is near? 2012? Global Warming? Who knows? 

I don't really buy into all of that. I think there have been catastrophic weather events for thousands of years and these are no different. Still, they can be pretty scary.

I hope that everyone manages to stay safe. Take care.

Stay Giveaway

My last giveaway was so successful that I decided to do it again!

I am giving away 5 signed copies of Stay in anticipation of the upcoming sequel, Rose By Another Name.

Don't forget to watch for brand new covers for both books. The cover artist is the amazing Meghann Pardee of What a Kurios Girl. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Stay

by C.C. Jackson

Giveaway ends October 01, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Writers for Kidd's Kids

Writers for Kidd's Kids

I have been a long time listener of the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning radio show and every year Kidd hosts a trip to Disney World for terminally and chronically ill children from all across the country. If you have ever listened to the show, then you know what a special program Kidd's Kids really is. If you haven't had the pleasure, I assure you that the joy those children experience during their time in Disney is amazing. 

The majority of the kids that participate in the trip spend most of their time in hospitals or hooked up to medical equipment. The emotional and financial hardship that these children and their families have to endure is heart wrenching. To see the smiles on those little faces during their little week of reprieve will bring tears to your eyes. 

Kidd's Kids is a charity that I am very passionate about and I hope that you will help me in my endeavor to help them keep this cause going year after year. I ask that you only donate what you can afford. I know that times are tough but every penny that we can give will make a difference in a child's life.

Every donation made through the C.C. Jackson website will be entered into a drawing to win an autographed copy of Stay, a C.C. Jackson T-Shirt, and a Kidd's Kids T-Shirt.

I would love it if other writers would like to contribute swag to the drawing as well.

Thanks so much for your support!

Please visit the Kidd's Kids website for more information, stories, pictures, and videos of past trips.

A Message From Kidd Kraddick-

I founded Kidd's Kids in 1991 with the hope of making a difference in the lives of terminally and chronically ill children. Each year, Kidd's Kids offers five amazing days of suspended reality to
children whose lives have been ravaged by disease. Kidd's Kids children and their families are given the chance to experience the exuberance of being "normal." That is the gift that you and I can
offer by supporting the Kidd's Kids organization. Signed,

Kidd's Kids Mission and History-

Our Mission - SERIOUS FUN

At Kidd’s Kids, our primary goal is to provide chronically ill and/or physically challenged children (ages 5 to 12) with an unforgettable adventure! Throughout the year, we work hard to raise the funds necessary to send these special kids on an all-expenses paid, fun-filled, vacation to Walt Disney World ® in Florida. Most of our funding comes from donations made by listeners to the Kidd Kraddick In The Morning radio show, corporate sponsors, and various fundraising events.

Each year, we sponsor approximately 40-50 children and their families (including siblings between the ages of 5 and 16) for the trip, or as many as the Kidd’s Kids Board may deem appropriate under the circumstances. The Board will work with such sources as it deems appropriate to select children based upon the nature and severity of their illnesses, their ages, and the status of their financial needs.

All aspects of the trip are coordinated by Kidd’s Kids. All funds raised go directly to cover the cost of sending the children and their families to Walt Disney World®, administrative expenses of Kidd’s Kids, and to sustain an endowment fund for the purpose of providing long-term growth and stability for the charitable programs of the Kraddick Foundation dba Kidd’s Kids.Kidd’s Kids is a 501 (c)(3) organization, founded by nationally syndicated morning show personality Kidd Kraddick. Kidd’s Kids was founded on the premise of making a difference in the lives of children with special medical needs. Kraddick Foundation dba Kidd’s Kids is certified by the state of Texas and registered with the appropriate state departments of each syndicated affiliate market.

Our History

Over 15 years ago, due to a story on the news, Kidd Kraddick realized the power of radio. On TV, a woman was being interviewed about her car being stolen. It became clear that she didn’t care about the car nearly as much as what was inside, her 7-year-old daughter’s wheelchair. The little girl had cerebral palsy and that wheelchair was her only form of mobility. The next morning, Kidd shared the story with his on-air audience. He talked to the little girl’s mom and by the end of the show he not only raised enough money to replace the wheelchair, but had also found someone that could deliver it to the family in two days. That story, plus a few personal experiences, is what lead Kidd to start Kidd’s Kids. Kidd’s dream was to gather families together going through the enormous struggle of having a child with special medical needs and treat them to a fantasy-filled vacation.

The first Kidd’s Kids trip was to Sea World® in San Antonio and benefited five families. Due to the generosity of Kidd’s listeners and corporate donations, we now take between 40 and 50 families to Walt Disney World® in Florida each year. Many of the children selected for the trip have “fallen through the cracks” of other organizations that grant wishes or provide trips. During this five-day trip, which takes place every November, these kids and their families enjoy all the excitement that a Walt Disney World ® / Kidd’s Kids vacation can offer.

For many families with terminally ill or physically challenged children, this is a very rare opportunity to leave behind hospital and treatment centers to share laughter and fun in a magical environment. It’s the goal of Kidd’s Kids to make this a trip of a lifetime. With that in mind, Kidd’s Kids covers all expenses including airfare to/from their local market to DFW, chartered jet to/from DFW to Orlando, hotel, park passes, all meals, transportation while in Florida, souvenirs, special private character visits and so much more!

Children selected for the Kidd’s Kids trip are between the ages of 5 and 12, suffer from a chronic or terminal illness, and/or are physically challenged or have a catastrophic impairment due to an accident/birth defect. The child must also reside in one of the Kidd Kraddick In The Morning radio show listening areas and demonstrate a financial need. Each child selected attends the trip along with their family members who reside in the same household (this includes parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and any siblings that are between 5 and 16 years of age).

Kidd Kraddick In The Morning is nationally syndicated. Kidd’s show originates in Dallas, Texas and can be heard in over 80 markets across the country.

The Kidd Kraddick Morning Crew

Review of Forever Mine By Elizabeth Reyes

Forever Mine

(A Moreno Brothers Novel)

by

Elizabeth Reyes

Synopsis

Forever Mine is for Mature Young Adult Readers

Seventeen-year old Sarah’s life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her one goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno.

Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl.

With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark about the guy waiting for her back home? 

Review

Forever Mine is a story of first love. It delves into all of the trials and tribulations that the  young heart goes through at such a tender age. Sarah is a seventeen year old girl who finds herself in a new school after some unfortunate circumstances in her life. She meets Angel who is a dreamy but a bit over possessive boyfriend. They fall head over heals in love but soon learn that sometimes it takes a little more to make a relationship last, like trust and honesty.

I have to say that I loved this book. It was written with such description and emotion that I felt as if I were in the story and falling in love for the first time all over again.  I felt that the writer portrayed an accurate depiction of a whirlwind high school romance. All of the characters that are introduced are dynamic and easy to fall in love with. Forever Mine was heated and exciting. I literally could not got to sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about this book. The best part, No werewolves or vampires anywhere! Finally an awesome book about real people with real circumstances.

I gave it 5 stars and would give it six if I could!

************   

Let's Go Fishing In A Crawfish Hole...

Don't you just love this picture. It's my son playing in a crawfish hole when he was about four years old. It started out as dipping a little butterfly net into the puddle in an attempt to catch a crawfish. This is how it ended up. I can't help but laugh every time I come across this photo. Just thought I'd share it with you.

I have three sons actually. My oldest is nineteen, my second and the one in the picture is twelve, and my youngest is about to be eleven. Sometimes I just can't believe how fast time flies. It seems like just yesterday that I watched my middle son edge closer and closer to that mud.

I guess that's part of the reason that I write Young-Adult books. Maybe I'm trying to hang on to that carefree part of youth. Although, I think that I would have gotten the switch if I had ended up in the mud like that. :) 

Website and Other News

Alligator in The Florida Everglades

Just wanted to mention that I was having a lot of trouble with my website/host. It was freezing up and causing a lot of people's browsers to crash. Not to mention that it is so hard to keep up with so many websites/social networks. My solution as of right now is to redirect my web address to my blog. That way I can share everything that I need to in one spot. Hopefully, this move will work well for all. 

The URL may go down briefly next week as I move everything over from one host to another. Just an FYI, but hopefully it will go smoothly. 

Other than that, I have been working hard on the sequel to Stay. I am hoping to have it out by the middle of September. I even came up with the title- Rose, By Another Name. I am playing around with the cover design, as soon as I have one worthy I will post it here.

I hope that everyone is staying cool. This has been one hot summer. My kids started back to school today. It seems to get earlier and earlier every year. At least I'll be able to get more work done. :)

Review of Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon

by

Meg Cabot

Synopsis

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Review

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Abandoned. I loved how the story fed from Dante's Inferno and Divine Comedy. The story line kept me enthralled. They book was full of mystery and suspense, not to mention just the right amount of romance. I found myself rooting for John and Pierce to fall in love. I would like to have read more on John's history and gotten to know him a little better. The cliffhangers at the end have left me anxious for the next book in the series. I can hardly wait!

I give it 5 stars.

Reader's Favorite Award Contest

   Stay has been selected as a finalist in the Reader's Favorite Awards under the category Young Adult- Fantasy! It has also been given the 5 Star Award by Reader's Favorite and their reviewers! Woo hoo!! I just want to give a big THANK YOU  to my readers, fans, all of the awesome book reviewers and bloggers out there, as well as Reader's Favorite.
   The winner's will be announced on September 1st. I have some really amazing writers going up against me. Good luck to all.

Ashley Has Been Found!!

My friends daughter has been found. I know that the police have taken her to the hospital to get checked out, but I do believe that she is okay. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

This is the daughter of a friend... Any help would be appreciated .

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 15-year-old Bel Air girl who was reported missing from her home last week.

Ashley Michelle Testerman, 15, of Bel Air, was reported missing from her home on the 400 block of Rambler Road in Bel Air by her mother and step father on Wednesday, July 20 at 8:24 p.m. She was last seen on that day at approximately 4 p.m.

Testerman is described as a fair-skinned white female, approximately 5-feet, 7-inches tall and weighing 134 pounds with hazel eyes and straight blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a t-shirt with a fluorescent “peace” sign, dark blue jeans and hot pink flip flops. She has a burn mark on her left arm of half a “peace” sign.

Sheriff’s Office officials said Testerman had been grounded over missing money that she admitted taking. Testerman’s parents reported finding the screen missing from her bedroom window after they discovered she was not in the home. Testerman has been reported as missing in the past and usually returns that same night or next morning, police said.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Ashley Testerman is encouraged to contact the Harford County Sheriff’s Office at             410-838-6600       or by dialing 911.

Article from- http://www.daggerpress.com

The World of Lor Mandela

Lor Mandela

Destruction from Twins

by

L. Carroll

Synopsis

When a selfish enchantress steals mystical powers from her twin sister, she sentences 
the far away world of Lor Mandela to an untimely death. Only one can save it--
a Child of Balance named Audril Borloc. All hope seems lost, however, when shortly after 
her fourth birthday, Audril disappears without a trace.

Desperate to save their world, a group of spies travel to Earth in search of the little girl 
with black hair and bright blue eyes, traits that on Lor Mandela are exclusive to the ruling 
Borloc family. Instead, they find sixteen-year-old Maggie Baker. While the age difference 
between the girls is obvious, Maggie has the Borloc traits--evidence enough for the 
desperate spies.

Following an earthquake that no one seems to have felt but her, Maggie's mundane 
existence is launched into a roller coaster ride of twists and turns as she finds herself 
bouncing back and forth between her hometown of Glenhill, Iowa and the mysterious 
lands of Lor Mandela. On this strange world, she must learn who to trust and who to 
fear. More importantly, she must find a way to convince the Lor Mandelans that she is 
not their missing "Child of Balance", and her family and friends in Iowa--and herself for 
that matter--that she's not going insane. 

Amid battling a ferocious two-headed beast, being captured by a lawless band of 
Shadow Dwellers, and falling head-over-heels for the enchanting son of an evil 
warlord, Maggie discovers that her blasé reality could be the real fantasy, and 
that the fate of an entire world may actually depend on her.

Review

I have to be honest, Lor Mandela- Destruction from Twins is not my normal type of read. I usually stick to romance or young adult. Honestly, I have never even read any of the Harry Potter series. 

I picked this book because L. Carroll is one of my Twitter favs and I have been wanting to read it for a while and with the second book in the series about to be released I figured it was about time. 

From the minute that I opened the cover, I found myself transported to another world. Lor Mandela is a magical place that is full of wonderful creatures and beautiful landscapes. L. Carroll has an awesome imagination and I am awe struck at her creativity.

The story starts out with a world that has been corrupted by deceit and power. A single vicious act has caused the total destruction of the planet itself. Only through a magical riddle and the chosen one, The Child of Balance, can Lor Mandela be saved. 

This is a story that will have you on the edge of your seat and keep you turning pages. It is full of action, and twists. I found my heart racing as I cheered on the heroine. It is definitely a must read. I am counting down the days until the release of the second book in the series... Four Hundred Days.

Lor Mandela

Four Hundred Days 

by 

L. Carroll

Scheduled for Release

on

July 15, 2011!

Synopsis

When Audril, the heiress to the Lor Mandelan throne, sneaks away to Earth to save one of her dearest friends, she finds that a power hungry tyrant from her own world has begun systematically obliterating towns and cities to get her to turn herself over to him. 

On Earth, she meets a wildly eccentric old lady named Teedee Venilworth whose imaginary butler/fiancé supposedly holds the key to her success. But how can someone help if he doesn't exist? Could it be that creatures who dwell in shadow are not exclusive to Lor Mandela? 

Book number two in the Lor Mandela Series, Lor Mandela – Four Hundred Days, is an action-packed whirlwind of intrigue and fantasy. Join the extraordinary characters from the first book, (both the good and the evil), as they traverse the haunted corridors of Alcatraz Penitentiary, travel via portal to an ancient castle on the cliff shores of Ireland, and meet a foreboding race of mystic warriors known as the Solom. 

Soar on the back of a large horse-like creature to the Northern High Forests and discover that on the picturesque world of Lor Mandela, your friends can become foes, your enemies your allies, and just because someone dies, it doesn’t always mean that they’re dead.