C.H. Armstrong's Blog, page 5
October 8, 2018
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Roam by C.H. Armstrong
I’m super excited that the release of ROAM, my young adult novel about a homeless teen and her family in Rochester, MN, is less than four months away! In celebration, I’ve decided to run a series of GIVEAWAYS for a Signed Advanced Reader Copy of ROAM!
What does that mean?
It means that in the coming weeks, a series of lucky social media users will get their hands on a copy of ROAM months before its release date of February 5, AND that copy will be signed!
And the best part?
It’s free to enter!
The first giveaway has just begun on Twitter and ends on October 15, 2018! For Twitter users, all you have to do is CLICK on the black box below, FOLLOW @C_H_Armstrong on Twitter, and RETWEET that tweet to your followers. That’s it! I’ll choose a random entry and announce it here on my blog next Monday!
It’s Easy and Free…What do you have to lose?
ABOUT ROAM
[image error]Seventeen year-old Abby Lunde and her family are living on the streets. They had a normal life back in Omaha, but thanks to her mother’s awful mistake, they had to leave what little they had behind for a new start in Rochester. Abby tries to be an average teenager—fitting into school, buoyed by dreams of a boyfriend, college, and a career in music. But Minnesota winters are unforgiving, and so are many teenagers.
Her stepdad promises to put a roof over their heads, but times are tough for everyone and Abby is doing everything she can to keep her shameful secret from her new friends. The divide between rich and poor in high school is painfully obvious, and the stress of never knowing where they’re sleeping or where they’ll find their next meal is taking its toll on the whole family.
As secrets are exposed and the hope for a home fades, Abby knows she must trust those around her to help. But will her friends let her down the same way they did back home, or will they rise to the challenge to help them find a normal life?
Now available for pre-order at a pre-release discounted price through Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
Read What Early Reviewers are Saying: Click Here!
PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | IndieBound |
The Book Depository
TO INDIE BOOKSELLERS: If ROAM is available at your bookstore, please email me a link to your website (or the name and location if you don’t have a website) and I will list your information with the purchase links listed above!
[image error]
SEE THE VIDEO TRAILER!
February 23, 2016
"Easter Eggs" in The Edge of Nowhere
The Edge of Nowhere
I think most writers probably leave little "Easter Eggs" in their novels for readers. Sometimes those Easter Eggs are generic enough that anyone will find them, and other times they are intended for certain audiences. In The Edge of Nowhere, there are a ton of Easter Eggs. Some of these are a silent nod to important people in my life, and others are to the places and things that are important to me. Over the next several days or longer, I've decided to dedicate this blog to sharing them with you.
Dr. Heusman
Dr. Heusman is a main character in The Edge of Nowhere. Like Doc Baker from Little House in the Prairie, Dr. Heusman is always the go-to guy when people have a problem. He's the first person Victoria's mother calls for when she has difficulty in child birth, and many many chapters later, he's the first person Victoria turns to when her son has been bitten by a rabid animal. He's presumably the best educated of the many characters presented, and so he's somewhat of an authority figure to his patients.
When I was writing The Edge of Nowhere, my dear friends Theron and Elena Heusman were two of my strongest supporters. I remember a conversation with Theron one day when we were talking about books. The conversation went a little something like this:
"Make me a character in your book," he said.
"What would you like to be?"
Theron didn't hesitate even a second before responding, "I want to be a doctor -- if you can swing it. An authority figure that people turn to."
I laughed because the comment was completely Theron. But the idea had taken root. I needed a doctor as a supporting character and didn't really have a name for him. So the Good Dr. Heusman was named in honor of my dear friends Theron and Elena Heusman.
Recently a discussion regarding name pronunciation took place on Facebook, and people were asking how to pronounce Dr. Heusman's name. It's easy: it sounds like "Hughs-man" or "Hews-mun."
Jeannie Herrick
The character of Jeannie Herrick only gets a passing comment, but the name is no mistake. In fact, the name is a deliberate nod to my husband's grandmother, Jean Herrick.
Gram, as I came to call her after I married her grandson, was maybe one of the most important women in my early adulthood. She was a professor in the Classics Department at my alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, where she taught Latin Reading and Roman Women. She was an amazing woman who was loved by all who knew her, and who is still remembered fondly today by those in the OU Classic's Department who knew her.
When she passed away, my mother-in-law found in her wallet a tiny strip of paper -- a quote she'd picked up somewhere and (presumably) carried with her at all times. It read:
This quote defined Jean Herrick and, since her passing, it has been a quote that I've taken to my own heart in an effort to "carry the torch" in her absence.
When I began dating her grandson in early 1990, Jean Herrick took me in as family and treated me as her own granddaughter. She had decided that I was her granddaughter, and she became my grandmother in every sense of the word. She even "checked up on me" in some of my classes at OU by checking in with a few of my professors who were her friends. Oh the embarrassment! But the truth is that I loved that she loved me enough to care, and I simply adored her.
In 2001, Gram became very ill from complications with COPD. My husband, daughter and I rushed back to Oklahoma to say our goodbyes and, while there, Gram forced a promise from me. I would've given that woman anything, so it was without a second thought that I gave her the promise that I would someday write a book. It didn't matter that my writing was centered on the occasional newspaper or magazine article; or that most of my writing at the time was purely for the benefit of non-profit organizations. I had received my degree in Journalism and, in her mind, that meant I was a writer; and writers must write books. For my part, if that woman wanted me to write a book, then by goodness I'd write a book. Of course, giving that promise meant that I'd spend the next 15 years finding a way to make good on it. At the time, I honestly didn't even know where to begin.
George Holly
The character of George Holly is a slimy weasel of a bully who appears first in Victoria's childhood, then again later as an adult. The name "Holly" is a direct nod to my best friend since high school, Holly Hammert-Glenn. No, she's not a bully. The truth is that I wanted to mention Holly in some way, and remembered that her name had been used as both a first and last name over time. "Holly" didn't seem "right" for a first name for this period, so it got tacked on to the character as a last name in a silent nod to my friend. I don't have a good answer as to why I gave her the name of a notorious bully, though. If you know Holly, you know that she's one of the kindest and most generous of women. She'd give you her last meal or the shirt off of her back, so one shouldn't identify any of the character's personality traits to my friend. I love her dearly, and am so blessed to call her my friend.
Julianne (Kirk) Sykes
The last one I'll give you for today relates to the character of Julianne (Kirk) Sykes, the adopted sister to Victoria. Though not the same name exactly, the name for Julianne was a nod to my sister, Julianna (Hedrick) Brodeur. Julie, as we called my sister, passed away from breast cancer two months before I began the writing of this novel. At eighteen years older than myself -- and out of the home and a thousand miles away for most of my childhood -- Julie and I were not as close as I think either of us would've liked. We were sisters and interacted as sisters when together, but the combined distance and age gap limited our ability to interact in the way of true sisters. In many ways, Victoria's relationship with Julianne is much the same as I'd always hoped my sister's and mine would've been if the miles hadn't separated us.
There are many, many more "Easter Eggs" held within the pages of The Edge of Nowhere, and I'll spend the next several days (or however long it takes) to reveal those to you. In the meantime, feel free to ask me questions by leaving a comment below. Do you have a specific question about any part of the novel, its characters, or even the landmarks? Ask me a question and I'll try to address it in an upcoming post.
For more information on this novel, take a moment to read the synopsis and/or view the video trailer. You can do that by following THIS LINK .
The Edge of Nowhere is now available in e-book and paperback formats, and will soon be available as an audiobook. To purchase a copy of this novel, select your favorite retailer from the list below. And Enjoy!
PURCHASE LINKS
I think most writers probably leave little "Easter Eggs" in their novels for readers. Sometimes those Easter Eggs are generic enough that anyone will find them, and other times they are intended for certain audiences. In The Edge of Nowhere, there are a ton of Easter Eggs. Some of these are a silent nod to important people in my life, and others are to the places and things that are important to me. Over the next several days or longer, I've decided to dedicate this blog to sharing them with you.
The Characters in The Edge of Nowhere:
A Silent Nod to the Important People in My Life
Part One
A Silent Nod to the Important People in My Life
Part One
Dr. Heusman
Dr. Heusman is a main character in The Edge of Nowhere. Like Doc Baker from Little House in the Prairie, Dr. Heusman is always the go-to guy when people have a problem. He's the first person Victoria's mother calls for when she has difficulty in child birth, and many many chapters later, he's the first person Victoria turns to when her son has been bitten by a rabid animal. He's presumably the best educated of the many characters presented, and so he's somewhat of an authority figure to his patients.
When I was writing The Edge of Nowhere, my dear friends Theron and Elena Heusman were two of my strongest supporters. I remember a conversation with Theron one day when we were talking about books. The conversation went a little something like this:
"Make me a character in your book," he said.
"What would you like to be?"
Theron didn't hesitate even a second before responding, "I want to be a doctor -- if you can swing it. An authority figure that people turn to."
I laughed because the comment was completely Theron. But the idea had taken root. I needed a doctor as a supporting character and didn't really have a name for him. So the Good Dr. Heusman was named in honor of my dear friends Theron and Elena Heusman.
Recently a discussion regarding name pronunciation took place on Facebook, and people were asking how to pronounce Dr. Heusman's name. It's easy: it sounds like "Hughs-man" or "Hews-mun."
Jeannie Herrick
The character of Jeannie Herrick only gets a passing comment, but the name is no mistake. In fact, the name is a deliberate nod to my husband's grandmother, Jean Herrick.
Gram, as I came to call her after I married her grandson, was maybe one of the most important women in my early adulthood. She was a professor in the Classics Department at my alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, where she taught Latin Reading and Roman Women. She was an amazing woman who was loved by all who knew her, and who is still remembered fondly today by those in the OU Classic's Department who knew her.
When she passed away, my mother-in-law found in her wallet a tiny strip of paper -- a quote she'd picked up somewhere and (presumably) carried with her at all times. It read:
“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” ~ Stephen Grellet
This quote defined Jean Herrick and, since her passing, it has been a quote that I've taken to my own heart in an effort to "carry the torch" in her absence.
When I began dating her grandson in early 1990, Jean Herrick took me in as family and treated me as her own granddaughter. She had decided that I was her granddaughter, and she became my grandmother in every sense of the word. She even "checked up on me" in some of my classes at OU by checking in with a few of my professors who were her friends. Oh the embarrassment! But the truth is that I loved that she loved me enough to care, and I simply adored her.
In 2001, Gram became very ill from complications with COPD. My husband, daughter and I rushed back to Oklahoma to say our goodbyes and, while there, Gram forced a promise from me. I would've given that woman anything, so it was without a second thought that I gave her the promise that I would someday write a book. It didn't matter that my writing was centered on the occasional newspaper or magazine article; or that most of my writing at the time was purely for the benefit of non-profit organizations. I had received my degree in Journalism and, in her mind, that meant I was a writer; and writers must write books. For my part, if that woman wanted me to write a book, then by goodness I'd write a book. Of course, giving that promise meant that I'd spend the next 15 years finding a way to make good on it. At the time, I honestly didn't even know where to begin.
George Holly
The character of George Holly is a slimy weasel of a bully who appears first in Victoria's childhood, then again later as an adult. The name "Holly" is a direct nod to my best friend since high school, Holly Hammert-Glenn. No, she's not a bully. The truth is that I wanted to mention Holly in some way, and remembered that her name had been used as both a first and last name over time. "Holly" didn't seem "right" for a first name for this period, so it got tacked on to the character as a last name in a silent nod to my friend. I don't have a good answer as to why I gave her the name of a notorious bully, though. If you know Holly, you know that she's one of the kindest and most generous of women. She'd give you her last meal or the shirt off of her back, so one shouldn't identify any of the character's personality traits to my friend. I love her dearly, and am so blessed to call her my friend.
Julianne (Kirk) Sykes
The last one I'll give you for today relates to the character of Julianne (Kirk) Sykes, the adopted sister to Victoria. Though not the same name exactly, the name for Julianne was a nod to my sister, Julianna (Hedrick) Brodeur. Julie, as we called my sister, passed away from breast cancer two months before I began the writing of this novel. At eighteen years older than myself -- and out of the home and a thousand miles away for most of my childhood -- Julie and I were not as close as I think either of us would've liked. We were sisters and interacted as sisters when together, but the combined distance and age gap limited our ability to interact in the way of true sisters. In many ways, Victoria's relationship with Julianne is much the same as I'd always hoped my sister's and mine would've been if the miles hadn't separated us.
There are many, many more "Easter Eggs" held within the pages of The Edge of Nowhere, and I'll spend the next several days (or however long it takes) to reveal those to you. In the meantime, feel free to ask me questions by leaving a comment below. Do you have a specific question about any part of the novel, its characters, or even the landmarks? Ask me a question and I'll try to address it in an upcoming post.
For more information on this novel, take a moment to read the synopsis and/or view the video trailer. You can do that by following THIS LINK .
The Edge of Nowhere is now available in e-book and paperback formats, and will soon be available as an audiobook. To purchase a copy of this novel, select your favorite retailer from the list below. And Enjoy!
PURCHASE LINKS
January 11, 2016
FREE SIGNED COPY AS PART OF A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY!
Good morning! In case you haven't noticed, THE EDGE OF NOWHERE, was just added to the list of GOODREADS GIVEAWAYS! Registration is open for only one week, so pop over and sign up before it closes!
January 1, 2016
FREE SWAG GIVEAWAY
Happy New Year! This morning on my blog (www.charmstrongbooks.com) I kicked off a new program where I'll be raffling off free swag related to the release of my novel, The Edge of Nowhere, on January 19. If you've ALREADY purchased a copy, or if you PLAN TO purchase a copy of The Edge of Nowhere, then you really want to read on! This is my way of saying thank you to all of you for supporting me and for believing in my book enough to purchase.
HERE'S HOW YOU ENTER TO WIN!
1. You must purchase by 11:59 PM on January 25, 2016.
2. You must complete the entry form found on my website (linked above) by 11:59 on January 25, 2016.
3. You must e-mail me a copy of your receipt (or a screen shot or photo taken with a digital camera) by February 1, 2016. That should give you plenty of time to figure out how to find your receipt or take a screenshot. The e-mail address is included with the directions on my page (again, linked above).
4. This contest is OPEN TO ALL ORDERS through January 25th. That means that if you've already preordered, I just need you to fill out the entry form by January 25th and send me proof of your purchase via e-mail no later than February 1, 2016.
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF!
* MULTIPLE COPIES PURCHASED BY THE SAME PERSON COUNT FOR MULTIPLE ENTRIES FOR THE SAME PERSON. That's right -- purchase a copy for yourself and one for a gift, and get two entries. Buy your mom a paperback, and purchase an e-copy for yourself, and that's two entries. Do your 2016 Holiday shopping early and get an entry for each copy purchased!
* If you're a subscriber to this newsletter, you automatically get one additional entry with your purchase -- just one, though! (I can see y'all adding this up in your heads: "Hmmm...if I order ten copies and give nine as gifts, then I get ten entries and another ten entries for being on this list..That's twenty entries!" Nope...just one extra entry for being a subscriber! Nice try, though!)
* If I happen to be lucky enough to receive a ton of entires, I will add one additional winner for every 250 units purchased! So tell your friends!
So -- if you've already purchased or decide to before January 25 -- head over to my website at C.H. Armstrong Books & Blog and sign up to win!
HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS
HERE'S HOW YOU ENTER TO WIN!
You'll find all the information you need -- including the entry form -- on my website. Here's the link that goes directly to that post: CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL RULES AND ENTRY
The official rules are listed on my website at C.H. Armstrong Books & Blog, but here are the key pieces of information you'll want to know:
The official rules are listed on my website at C.H. Armstrong Books & Blog, but here are the key pieces of information you'll want to know:
1. You must purchase by 11:59 PM on January 25, 2016.
2. You must complete the entry form found on my website (linked above) by 11:59 on January 25, 2016.
3. You must e-mail me a copy of your receipt (or a screen shot or photo taken with a digital camera) by February 1, 2016. That should give you plenty of time to figure out how to find your receipt or take a screenshot. The e-mail address is included with the directions on my page (again, linked above).
4. This contest is OPEN TO ALL ORDERS through January 25th. That means that if you've already preordered, I just need you to fill out the entry form by January 25th and send me proof of your purchase via e-mail no later than February 1, 2016.
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF!
* MULTIPLE COPIES PURCHASED BY THE SAME PERSON COUNT FOR MULTIPLE ENTRIES FOR THE SAME PERSON. That's right -- purchase a copy for yourself and one for a gift, and get two entries. Buy your mom a paperback, and purchase an e-copy for yourself, and that's two entries. Do your 2016 Holiday shopping early and get an entry for each copy purchased!
* If you're a subscriber to this newsletter, you automatically get one additional entry with your purchase -- just one, though! (I can see y'all adding this up in your heads: "Hmmm...if I order ten copies and give nine as gifts, then I get ten entries and another ten entries for being on this list..That's twenty entries!" Nope...just one extra entry for being a subscriber! Nice try, though!)
* If I happen to be lucky enough to receive a ton of entires, I will add one additional winner for every 250 units purchased! So tell your friends!
So -- if you've already purchased or decide to before January 25 -- head over to my website at C.H. Armstrong Books & Blog and sign up to win!
December 29, 2015
Read the First Two Chapters FREE & Kobo Coupon Codes!
How would you like to READ THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS of The Edge of Nowhere FOR FREE? You can do that through Kobo. Just follow
this link
to the Kobo page for The Edge of Nowhere. Then, click on the tab for "Preview Now" found under the book image on the left. A window will pop up that allows you to preview the first two chapters of the novel. And the best part? There is no purchase necessary AND you don't have to use a Kobo or smart device to view! You can do it from the comfort of your recliner while checking Facebook on your laptop!
Did Santa Bring you a New Kobo OR Do You Have a Smart Device that Allows You to Download the Kobo App?
Kobo is currently running TWO specials for new users. I doubt you can use them together, but you can decide if one or the other appeals to you.
Sign up for a new Kobo Account and get a FREE $5 credit toward your first purchase. Note: You have to spend $5.01 to get the credit, but it's applied to your first purchase. Use THIS LINK to sign up.
2. If you've never purchased from Kobo before, they're offering a 50% discount on all first purchases. Simply use the following code at checkout: Grt50dis. Some exclusions probably apply, though I didn't see any on the offer, but the offer does expire on January 12 at 11:59 PM EST.
Here's the link for the Kobo Website . Enjoy!
Note: While I'd love it if you'd use these codes to purchase a copy of my novel, please know that the most important thing is that you find something you enjoy reading! So use them for whatever you wish! And be sure to share this blog post with your friends so they can benefit from these great deals!
Tweet
Did Santa Bring you a New Kobo OR Do You Have a Smart Device that Allows You to Download the Kobo App?
Kobo is currently running TWO specials for new users. I doubt you can use them together, but you can decide if one or the other appeals to you.
Sign up for a new Kobo Account and get a FREE $5 credit toward your first purchase. Note: You have to spend $5.01 to get the credit, but it's applied to your first purchase. Use THIS LINK to sign up.
2. If you've never purchased from Kobo before, they're offering a 50% discount on all first purchases. Simply use the following code at checkout: Grt50dis. Some exclusions probably apply, though I didn't see any on the offer, but the offer does expire on January 12 at 11:59 PM EST.
Here's the link for the Kobo Website . Enjoy!
Note: While I'd love it if you'd use these codes to purchase a copy of my novel, please know that the most important thing is that you find something you enjoy reading! So use them for whatever you wish! And be sure to share this blog post with your friends so they can benefit from these great deals!
Tweet
December 24, 2015
Merry Christmas!
About four years ago at this time, my (now) 11 year-old was so excited for Christmas that -- in his rowdy play with our boxer -- he knocked over my Christmas tree. It still stands crooked and, try as I might, I just can't seem to get the crooked side moved into the corner "just right" so that the whole world can't tell that it's crooked. At the time, I was angry -- but today I think it's hilarious. Even though my tree leans noticeably to one side, it makes me smile to think of the antics of a small boy and his dog at Christmas.
It's Christmas Eve now and that small boy no longer believes in Santa. I'd give anything to go back through time and let him knock that tree over again!
Today I'm wishing all of you a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! To those who don't celebrate Christmas, my sincere wishes for joy and happiness go to you and your family for whatever holiday you do celebrate. It doesn't really matter whether we call it Christmas or Chanukah or Ramadan or Kwanza or some other name...all of it means the same thing: Joy, Peace, Love and Good Will! To each of you, I wish you all of these things.
In honor of Christmas, I leave you with a short passage from the first chapter of The Edge of Nowhere which, appropriately, is all about Christmas and the near demise of a Christmas tree. Enjoy!
(P.S. I had planned to post a photo of our Christmas tree, all wrapped up in the glory of its own lights and surrounded by gifts, but that same boy who knocked over the tree so many years before decided to "save energy" by unplugging the lights. Rather than risk knocking the tree over again by wedging my adult body between the tree and the wall, I figured I'd wait for the tiny little body of that boy to wake up and plug them back in for me! ).
CHAPTER ONE
It's Christmas Eve now and that small boy no longer believes in Santa. I'd give anything to go back through time and let him knock that tree over again!
Today I'm wishing all of you a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! To those who don't celebrate Christmas, my sincere wishes for joy and happiness go to you and your family for whatever holiday you do celebrate. It doesn't really matter whether we call it Christmas or Chanukah or Ramadan or Kwanza or some other name...all of it means the same thing: Joy, Peace, Love and Good Will! To each of you, I wish you all of these things.
In honor of Christmas, I leave you with a short passage from the first chapter of The Edge of Nowhere which, appropriately, is all about Christmas and the near demise of a Christmas tree. Enjoy!
(P.S. I had planned to post a photo of our Christmas tree, all wrapped up in the glory of its own lights and surrounded by gifts, but that same boy who knocked over the tree so many years before decided to "save energy" by unplugging the lights. Rather than risk knocking the tree over again by wedging my adult body between the tree and the wall, I figured I'd wait for the tiny little body of that boy to wake up and plug them back in for me! ).
THE EDGE OF NOWHERE
CHAPTER ONE
“VICTORIA,” Mama said, stepping away from the tree we’d placed in the corner of our small sitting room. “I hope you’re almost done with that last string. I’m just about ready.”
“I’m finished.” I placed my creation into her outstretched hands and waited excitedly for her assessment.
“Oh, Victoria! It’s perfect!”
Mama moved around our Christmas tree, expertly draping my popcorn-and-berries decoration as she went. My face beamed with pride.
“Will it fit all the way around?” I asked.
“Oh, I’m sure it will. If not, we can make it work. You did a nice job, baby girl.”
Singing a familiar Christmas carol, Mama placed the last touches on the tree. Though I didn’t know the words, I hummed right along with her.
Mama continued her circle around the tree, taking special care not to knock it over with her pregnant belly. Sadly for our tree, that was an impossible task. In slow motion, I watched Mama push against the tree, tilting it first to a forty-five degree angle then sending it crashing to the floor.
“Aaaaa!”
I giggled at Mama’s surprised screech.
“What’s so funny, young lady?” she asked. Mama wore a severe expression, but her twitching lips couldn’t hide her amusement.
“Mama!” I gasped, still giggling. “Your tummy is huge! Are you sure there’s only one baby in there?”
Shooting me a glare of mock scolding, Mama reached down and picked up our small tree. “Yes, Miss Smarty Pants. That’s your baby brother or sister growing in there. Only one, thank you very much!”
“It’s so big, though! Will it be here in time for Christmas?”
“Oh, I hardly think so. He needs a bit longer to grow and get stronger. Six or eight weeks more, I think.”
“You’re sure it’s not a litter? Jeannie Herrick’s dog just had a litter of puppies, and there were nine in there! You might have at least two or three.”
“Not likely,” she laughed.
“Mama stepped close to the tree, straightening a few last ornaments, and then took a step back to admire her work. “Perfect,” she said, pulling me close to her side.
“Perfect,” I echoed.
Together, Mama and I admired our tree. It was now flatter on one side, so Mama turned the flat side toward the corner. It would be our secret. Picking up the strains of the forgotten carol, Mama’s voice rang clear throughout the room. Christmas was only a week away.
December 17, 2015
FREE $10 iTUNES GIFT CARD FOR SHARING!
Hey everyone! This morning on my e-newsletter, I opened up a new raffle for a FREE iTunes Gift Card. It's easy to enter! All you have to do is follow a link in the entry form to my blogpost from earlier this week. Then, simply share it on Pinterest. That's it! No cost, no purchase--nothing!
To enter, follow THIS LINK!
And don't forget to share with your friends so they have a chance to win, too!
December 15, 2015
Looking Book Bloggers for Book Blitz!
Hi everyone! I'm looking for bloggers who would help me with my "Book Blitz" to kick off the release of my novel, The Edge of Nowhere, on January 19.For those who aren't familiar, a Book Blitz is when a bunch of bloggers come together and make the same post on the same day, which -- if done well -- can start a topic trending.
If you would be willing to help me with this, I'll send you all of the information - and even the HTML file that should work well on Wordpress and most other blogs. You can change the information, if you wish, to meet the formatting of your own blogs/websites, or you can just paste it in, schedule the date and time, and it's all done.
If you agree to help me with this, I will reciprocate by creating a tab on my own website/blog with those bloggers (and links to their websites) who've agreed to participate. I will then advertise that page through Facebook, Twitter and other social media (most likely Google+, Tumblr, Blogger, LinkedIn, StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit, and any other social media platform I can identify).
TO SIGN UP, FOLLOW THIS LINK!
Thank you all in advance for any help you can give me! Your assistance is deeply appreciated!
December 9, 2015
Pre-Order by Midnight to Win!
The Edge of Nowhere went LIVE yesterday morning on Amazon for Kindle! Yay! I'm so excited! While the paperback version isn't available yet, I can promise you that it will be very soon and will update you as soon as it's ready!
So let's celebrate!!
If you pre-order an e-book edition of The Edge of Nowhere by MIDNIGHT tonight, you can enter to win a FREE Coffee Mug!
As shown below, the mug has an image of the book cover on the front. On the back is a map of Oklahoma with El Reno (the book's setting) highlighted. The writing reads:
"El Reno, Oklahoma (is) The Edge of Nowhere."
Here's what you must do:
You DO NOT have to order through Amazon, and previous orders do count! You can order through Amazon, B&N, Kobo or iBooks.Here are the links:
You DO need to e-mail me a copy of your receipt. A screen shot is perfect, so don't panic! The e-mail you send me will be your "entry form," and I will send you an e-mail confirmation that you have been entered.
I would LOVE it if you'd share this post announcing the contest with your social media friends. In fact, if you share it on Facebook and/or Twitter, you get an EXTRA ENTRY FOR EACH SHARE (one share per social media site) Facebook and Twitter links are below.
If you are signed up for my newsletter, you get an EXTRA ENTRY. If you're already signed up, no need to do it a 2nd time. If you're not signed up and want to be signed up, simply mention it in the e-mail you send me and I'll you to my list and give you that extra entry.
That's it! Enter once or enter four times!
So, to recap: This is how you can get the most entries:
First Entry: Send me a receipt or screen shot of your pre-order
1 Additional Entry: Share this page on Facebook
1 Additional Entry: Share this page on Twitter
1 Additional Entry: Sign up for my newsletter
So let's celebrate!!
If you pre-order an e-book edition of The Edge of Nowhere by MIDNIGHT tonight, you can enter to win a FREE Coffee Mug!
As shown below, the mug has an image of the book cover on the front. On the back is a map of Oklahoma with El Reno (the book's setting) highlighted. The writing reads:
"El Reno, Oklahoma (is) The Edge of Nowhere."
Here's what you must do:
You DO NOT have to order through Amazon, and previous orders do count! You can order through Amazon, B&N, Kobo or iBooks.Here are the links:
You DO need to e-mail me a copy of your receipt. A screen shot is perfect, so don't panic! The e-mail you send me will be your "entry form," and I will send you an e-mail confirmation that you have been entered.
I would LOVE it if you'd share this post announcing the contest with your social media friends. In fact, if you share it on Facebook and/or Twitter, you get an EXTRA ENTRY FOR EACH SHARE (one share per social media site) Facebook and Twitter links are below.
If you are signed up for my newsletter, you get an EXTRA ENTRY. If you're already signed up, no need to do it a 2nd time. If you're not signed up and want to be signed up, simply mention it in the e-mail you send me and I'll you to my list and give you that extra entry.
That's it! Enter once or enter four times!
So, to recap: This is how you can get the most entries:
First Entry: Send me a receipt or screen shot of your pre-order
1 Additional Entry: Share this page on Facebook
1 Additional Entry: Share this page on Twitter
1 Additional Entry: Sign up for my newsletter
December 3, 2015
47 Days Until Release and a Short Teaser
Only 47 days until my novel, The Edge of Nowhere, is finally released. I feel like I've been dreaming of this day since I was a little girl. And dreaming is what I've always done, because I never truly thought the day would arrive when I might find my own words bound in a book that others might read for the simple joy of reading.
To say I'm excited is an understatement. I'm ecstatic. But with that excitement comes no small amount of fear. Will people like it? Will my family like it? Will people even read it? To these questions, I can only remind myself that I wrote the book that I wanted to read. I wrote with the pacing and the elements that pull me in as a reader, and the end result is all that I'd hoped it would be. I truly hope y'all like it.
In celebration of this novel's upcoming release, I thought I'd offer you a little teaser. Below you will find a short passage from one of my favorite chapters. It's not enough to tell you what's gonna happen...just enough to hopefully may you want to read more.
To set up the scene, I will tell you that the main character, Victoria, has recently been left widowed with nine children, four of whom are mostly grown. The remaining children aren't much more than babies. The main child referenced in this short passage is Sara--the youngest of Victoria's children at only two. I hope you enjoy!
* * * * *
I loved April. The cold of winter was over, yet the summer season hadn’t quite set in. On a warm afternoon, just as I’d finished milking the cow, I heard the children screaming, and the dogs going crazy. I couldn’t imagine what those children were up to now. Tired and sweaty, I wasn’t at all in the mood to settle another dispute.
I stepped out of the barn, prepared to scold them for their incessant squabbling, when I was stopped dead in my tracks by the sight before me. Racing toward me with Sara cradled tightly in his arms was a man I’d never seen before. He was tall and broad- shouldered, with dark black hair. Catherine met his strides and, close on her heels were Grace, Jack, and Ethan— all screaming as though Satan was chasing them.
I met their distance and took Sara from the man’s arms, then raced back toward the house to set her down.
“What happened?” I called over my shoulder.
“Cottonmouths! A nest of ‘em down by the creek!” the man replied.
- Excerpt from The Edge of Nowhere coming January 19th by Penner Publishing.
If you'd like more information about me or the release of this book, visit my website: C.H. Armstrong Books & Blog, or find me on Twitter or Facebook.
Let's connect - I love talking to other readers and getting ideas on what I should read next!
Until next time...Cathie
