Telesa: The Covenant Keeper

When Leila moves to Samoa, all she wants is a family, a place to belong. Instead she discovers the local ancient myths of the telesa spirit women are more than just scary stories. The more she finds out about her heritage, the more sinister her new home turns out to be. Embraced by a Covenant Sisterhood of earth's elemental guardians - what will Leila choose? Her fiery birthright as a telesa? Or will she choose the boy who offers her his heart? Daniel - stamped with the distinctive tattoo markings of a noble Pacific warrior and willing to risk everything for the chance to be with her. Can their love stand against the Covenant Keeper? A thriller-romance with a difference. If you enjoyed Twilight, then you will be enthralled by Telesa as it blends the richness of Pacific mythology into a contemporary young adult love story that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.

About The Author- Lani Wendt

I  was born and raised in Samoa, in the South Pacific.  I went to university in the USA and New Zealand, studying English Literature, Women's Studies and  Education. Back in Samoa I worked as a secondary school English teacher for 7 years and did lots of writing in between for the local newspaper and for myself. My short fiction has been published in Samoa, NZ, Australia and the UK. My collection of short stories "Sleepless in Samoa" won the 2011 USP Press Fiction Award.  My story 'Beast that Came from the Sea' was one of 24 Winners in the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition and has been professionally recorded and broadcast in over 50 countries.  I also write stories for children that are used in primary school reading programs.In 2009 I was commissioned to research and write the narrative non-fiction book 'Pacific Tsunami Galu Afi' about the devastating tsunami which hit Samoa, American Samoa and the islands of Northern Tonga. The book was funded by the Australian Govt Aid program and all book sale profits go back to tsunami survivors who were interviewed for the record. My book 'TELESA The Covenant Keeper' is the first in a YA fantasy/romance/thriller series.  I'm married to Darren Young (who is probably the most patient and most hottest man alive) and we have five children ranging in age from 4 to 16yrs. We now live in New Zealand where I try very hard never to leave my hermit cave. I blog as a slightly demented Domestic Goddess at  Sleepless in Samoa.

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.

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