Kristie Cook's Blog, page 43

Like Eisley, Michelle Gregory is another angel in our midst, and, like Karly, she is also an indie author. Michelle has been a great help to me in preparing for Purpose's release...while also preparing for her own re-release of her first book Eldala and finalizing her second book, Black Heart, coming soon (very soon, I hope!).


I've had the pleasure of reading Eldala and was swept away. Michelle is an excellent story teller, with beautiful descriptions and fabulous characters. Eldala takes place in another world that is similar to our medieval times on earth. Michelle captures the imagery, immersing you into this strange but believable place. I fell in love with the characters and was disappointed when the book ended because I wanted more. I recommend Eldala, especially if you're a fan of historical fantasy.


Besides writing, Michelle homeschools her three children and runs a blog, beautiful chaos, and a website. You can also find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/michelle.d.gregory and http://www.facebook.com/michelle.d.gregory#!/pages/Michelle-D-Gregory/240386576394

*For the Purpose Virtual Release Party , I'm paying it forward by highlighting books and their authors, blogs and their writers, and charities and causes. For a list of those I've featured, stay tuned to the party's page .

So far, this weekend has been spent catching up on interviews and guest posts, as well as reading and sleep. Our family received a staggering blow last week that knocked me way off course for pretty much everything. So it's been nice to just relax and try to get back to a (new) normal.

The release of PURPOSE and all the exciting news surrounding it has been a huge mood lifter. So thank you to everyone for your good wishes for the release and participation in the party and tour. Thank you for sharing the series with your friends and followers. Every purchase, every review, every recommendation helps and I love and appreciate them all.

Anyway...yes, the party has gone on and it still does! In case you've missed anything, here's what's been happening:

One of my favorite interviews yet posted up on YA Addict . Jami had some tough, but good questions for me.I introduced you to a real-life angel and a very special cause that we hope you'll support.Help me take on Amazon! We're trying to take PURPOSE to the Amazon Bestsellers list and it only takes a few purchases in a short amount of time to get there. So I'm offering a giveaway for anyone who purchases PURPOSE for Kindle by midnight tonight. Whether you actually have a Kindle or you download a FREE application for your phone, iPad or PC, you can buy PURPOSE for your immediate reading pleasure. Then send me the receipt and I'll enter you into a drawing for a signed print copy and swag. It'd be great if you shared this!!!
Still going on today:
I'm going to a cookie party with the girls, many of whom I haven't seen in a long time. About 10-14 of us making cookies together, flour, sugar and laughs flying. That will be lots of fun! It's also turned into an impromptu signing party for all their books.Tonight, starting at 7 EST/4 PST, I'll be chatting LIVE with Book Reader Addicts on Facebook. Come join us for some fun and laughs.
I have some Soul Savers swag to give away! To enter, just comment with your favorite homemade cookie OR share a baking-related tradition you have for the holidays. Winner will be picked by random.org and prize includes special edition bookmark, bookplate and other swag.

Don't forget to enter the 'BIG ONE' - the Grand Prize drawing.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I hope to see you tonight on the chat!

I write about angels and their...hmm...activities on Earth (that's sort of a way to put it without giving the books away, anyway :-P). If angels do reside on Earth, embodied in human form, then Eisley Jacobs must be one.

I think Eisley was the first writer-friend I met on Twitter and I am so grateful I did. She's a beautiful person and a wonderful writer. And, dude, she'll make you laugh until you literally are rolling on the floor. Or, at least, falling out of your chair.

Eisley leaves right after Christmas for a mission trip to Ethiopia. She's been sponsoring a child for several years and she might even get to meet her. How cool is that?!? Her story of how this trip finally came about for her is a lovely one. You can read it here .

If you're looking for a worthwhile way to give this holiday season and throughout the year, Eisley and I ask that you consider sponsoring a child through the World Vision Organization . I've heard so many great things about this organization and what they're doing for children around the world. You get back way more than you ever give.

If you don't know Eisley yet, you want to. She'll bless your life, even if just with some much needed laughs. You can stalk her get to know her at www.EisleyJacobs.com or @eisleyjacobs on Twitter .

*For the Purpose Virtual Release Party , I'm paying it forward by highlighting books and their authors, blogs and their writers, and charities and causes. For a list of those I've featured, stay tuned to the party's page .

Purpose is now available on Smashwords and Amazon! Woohoo!!!

The Amazon listings include the Kindle version and I have a favor to ask you all. If you have any kind of Kindle app, whether for the ereader itself or on your phone or computer, and you've been waiting for the Kindle version of Purpose, you can help me take on Amazon and get it on the Bestsellers list! How? Just purchase your copy for $5.99.

See, it only takes a few purchases in a short amount of time to get ranked on their Bestsellers' list. I'd love to see Purpose on there, if only for a short time. How cool would that be?!? Here's the link:

Also going on today...

Get to know Tristan and Alexis a little better. Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic interviewed the couple the other day and has posted the interview . Warning: Tristan is NOT on his best behavior.

More giveaways! Email a receipt of your Kindle purchase dated 12/8-12/12 to kristie (at) kristiecook (dot) com and I'll enter you into a drawing for a signed paperback. You get the ebook to read right away AND a signed copy for your bookshelf and collection...or to give away. You can enter through next Friday, 12/17, midnight, but the receipt must be dated no later than Sunday, 12/12, midnight. Please pass the word! (Open to US residents only. Kindle version not yet available internationally. If you know otherwise, please tell me!!)

We'll be doing another giveaway - a random one - on the interwebz tonight. So pay attention! :)

We have a winner for Karly Kirkpatrick's Into the Shadows!
Congratulations to...
NOOKIE!!!
I don't have an email address or way to contact you, so send me an email with your address to kristie (at) kristiecook (dot) com and I'll forward it to Karly. You have 24 hours or might just keep it myself. :)

For everyone else, you can support a new and independent author by purchasing Karly's book for yourself or as a Christmas present for a Young Adult on your list:

Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic kicks off the Purpose virtual release tour with an interview of yours truly. Also this week, she'll be interviewing Alexis and Tristan and posting her review of Purpose (I'm so excited, I can't wait!).

And that's not all! (said in late-night infomercial voice)

Confessions of a Bookaholic and A Life Bound by Books are hosting a Promise and Purpose Re-cover Contest! Here are the deets:

You can decide to only enter for one cover, or both. They each have their own prize pack for the winners.


Prizes:


The Promise cover winner with the most votes will receive...
A signed copy of Promise, a t-shirt, and a bookmark.


The Purpose cover winner with the most votes will receive...
A signed copy of Purpose, a t-shirt, and a bookmark.







Rules:

You must be at least 17 to enter.
You must sign up through the Linky tool below.
You can have a PROMISE and PURPOSE cover in the contest. Only one of each.
You can do a blog post with the cover(s) or just link the image below.
Contest is US ONLY and sign ups end 12/18 .
Covers will be voted on starting 12/19 and the contest ends 12/31 .
Once contacted, the winners will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.

Details:

You can re-create the Promise cover, Purpose cover, or both. Here are the covers and summary to give you ideas.



Summary:
Alexis Ames has a life full of promise…but not all promises can be kept.
When Alexis Ames is attacked by creatures that can't be real, she decides it's time she learns who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their family's secrets closely. After meeting the inhumanly attractive, multi-talented Tristan Knight, however, Alexis retreats behind her façade of normalcy…until she discovers he's not exactly normal either. Then their secrets begin to unravel.
Their union brings hope and promise to her family's secret society, the Angels' army, and to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy – Satan's minions and Tristan's creators. After all, Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.


Summary:
Lost in despair, Alexis teeters on the edge of an abyss, her lifeline of hope fraying into a thin thread. If it snaps, she'll plunge into complete darkness. With the help of her son and her writing, she's been able to hold on. Until now. Erratic impulses, disturbing delusions and her own demonic blood threaten her sanity. When she's forced to choose between hanging onto hope or letting go to serve her Amadis purposes, she faces a decision with inconceivable sacrifices.
Alexis runs to the one place she thinks will provide answers, only to find herself at the center of another battle of good versus evil, not only with the Daemoni, not only within herself…but also against the worst opponent imaginable. But even if she wins, what will she lose?

Character Descriptions:

Alexis: Petite; long, reddish-brown hair usually pulled into a ponytail; big brown eyes; olive skin; Mediterranean look (her heritage is mostly Greek and Italian); can usually be found wearing jeans and a T or shorts and a tank; shy and reserved and full of secrets; a writer.

Tristan: Tall; muscular build but not overly brawny (yes, think of your wildest fantasies); light brown hair; hazel eyes with gold sparkles (or flames – yes, real flames) around the pupils; square jaw; full lips; enjoys physical activity, especially aikido (martial arts) and basketball; usually rides a motorcycle – owns both a crotch rocket and a Harley; almost always in jeans, and, in my mind anyway, hardly ever wears a shirt LOL.

Sign up on their sites or right here:

Karly has recently joined me and a growing number of others in the indie/self-publishing world with her brand-new book, Into the Shadows.


Paivi Anderson has it all—friends, a spot on the varsity basketball team, wonderful parents, and quite possibly, her first boyfriend. It was everything a freshman in high school could ask for. Her perfect life begins to crumble when she discovers her name on a list distributed by a power-hungry presidential candidate. How could anyone think of Paivi as an Enemy of the State? Could it be because of her special powers? No one was supposed to know about them, but the mysterious messages in her tater tots say otherwise. In INTO THE SHADOWS, Paivi quickly learns who her friends are and is forced into a reality she didn't see coming.


Karly is a teacher and a mom, living with her family in the Chicago suburb of Elgin, Illinois. She's also pursuing a Master's degree. How she finds the time to do it all, I have no idea. Plus, she also blogs, hangs out at Facebook and on Twitter . Go follow her! And check out her book!

I haven't had a chance to read Into the Shadows yet, but it's definitely on my TBR list. Lucky you - you get a chance to win a copy of Into the Shadows. Just ask Karly a question in the comments and you're entered. I'll randomly pick a winner and announce tomorrow.

*For the Purpose Virtual Release Party , I'm paying it forward by highlighting books and their authors, blogs and their writers, and charities and causes. For a list of those I've featured, stay tuned to the party's page .

Every party needs some music, including the Purpose Virtual Release Party! So I'm sharing a couple songs that could be theme songs for Purpose. Listen to the words and you'll get a tease about the book. These weren't out yet when I was writing, so they're not part of my playlist. But they definitely belong on the Purpose soundtrack, if there ever is one.








Yesterday, I gave away a signed copy of Purpose to a fan of my author's Facebook page . Congratulations to Melissa R! She has until 7 p.m. tonight to claim her prize.


Where will I be giving away a prize today? I don't know yet...that's the idea of random, right? So make sure you're following everywhere: here, the Promise site, the Purpose site, my Facebook author page, my Twitter account, Alexis's Twitter account and Tristan's Twitter account.

One of my favorite writers I've met online is Ebyss. You might already know her, but if not, you should. She's known as Ebyss Writer or Ebyss Leann on the interwebz. She was kind enough to critique Purpose for me after reading and reviewing Promise. I've had the pleasure and immense honor of beta-reading for Ebyss. Watch out for her, lovelies! Her dystopian fantasy RAWKS!!!

She's also managed to land some great interviews with authors, agents and publishers over at her blog, Ebysswriter . Be sure to follow her, especially if you're a writer.

You can find her on Facebook as Ebyss Leann and on Twitter as @ebyss .

*For the Purpose Virtual Release Party , I'm paying it forward by highlighting books and their authors, blogs and their writers, and charities and causes. For a list of those I've featured, stay tuned to the party's page .

To start off the Purpose Virtual Release Party , I'm giving all of you a blog award! It's the brand-spanking-new "Living My Purpose Blog Award," because I believe we are all living our purposes in one way or another.



To accept the award you must:
Right-click the picture to save and post on your blog.Share one way you are living your purpose.Share three other things about yourself.Give the award to at least three other people, including links so we can check out their blogs.
I'll start:
Writing is my purpose and, more specifically, writing the Soul Savers Series is what I was meant to do. You can read about it over at my writer's blog .3 other things about me:

I love spicy food.I'm a Certified Professional Resume Writer (yes, there is such a thing!).When I was young, instead of playing "house," I liked to play Secret Garden and other books, and, when I was a little older, "Grease." I was a Pink Lady, of course!

Let me know in the comments if you decide to take the award so I can learn about your purpose and see who you pass it on to.