@HJLawson1 on Happiness, Writing & Motivation #AmReading #AmWriting #YA

Hayley Lawson is the author of War Kids. She has written a young adult contemporary novel set in Syria; a story about the Syrian Civil war though the eyes of children.

She was born in Lancaster, England. Growing up in a single parent household with five other siblings; was hard, and also character building.

As a young child she found a passion for drawing, and continued this into adulthood, graduating from the University of Central Lancashire, England with a BA(Hons) in fashion design.

At aged twenty seven, Hayley and her husband packed up their belongings for a lifelong dream to move to California. Her American dream was complete with the birth of her daughter. Her love for traveling, continued after the birth of her daughter traveling around America with the family, and the best travelled dog.

A new job position opened up New York, and the family decide to relocate to Long Island, NY, which is where she currently resides.

On August 21 she was moved by the images of the Syrian conflict, and embarked on an unlikely journey of writing her first novel.

What scares you the most?

Car washes

What makes you happiest?

My daughter's laughter, and when she plays with her dad. That, and sunshine and a cocktail.

What’s your greatest character strength?

I will never give up.

What’s your weakest character trait?

I will never give up.

Why do you write?

I have always found people and places interesting, now I have found a place in writing to share them.

Have you always enjoyed writing?

No, writing terrified me for a long time. My teacher when I was seven told me if you got a pound for every spelling mistake he would be a millionaire, in front of the whole class. I have very bad dyslexia and from that day I never shared any written work, other than emails.

What motivates you to write?

Mainly to get everything out of my head, and I think people will find the stories interesting. I found them very interesting to research, but also heart-breaking.

What writing are you most proud of?

My first book War Kids, I have a bad memory, when I read it after final edits were completed I was surprised how good it was.

All profits from the book will be going to the save the children charity.

When fourteen-year-old Jada wakes up in a hospital, the last thing she thinks is that her life has completely changed forever. But when the very real civil war forces her to flee from every open space, she must use the firearm skills her father taught her to reunite with him and protect herself. Armed with a single gun and a key to an unknown locker, Jada crosses Syria on a journey with a group of children called the Fearless Freedom Fighters. With the leader, Zak, they mount a plan to rescue their fathers while they try to cope with the merciless murders of their families. As Jada and Zak lead the group together, love blossoms, but with soldiers hot on their tail, they need to stay vigilant in the face of war.

Reviews from wattpad

Very interesting story, very powerful. I can really feel the emotion...Peter

This book really touches my heart because there is so much truth is in this book. The detail is so brilliantly displayed, its beautifuly written. There are pretty intense chapters, its good... scrap that its excellent. Loe the work ...although I am upset. I know this is a fictional story, but I just can't help but feel extremely bad for all the lost lives especially the innocent and young ones...Saddy

A REMARKABLE BOOK, DEMANDS TO BE READ Goodreads review from Joe Eliseon

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Genre - Young Adult 

Rating – PG-13

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#TimeTravel & More with @PMPillon's THE REALITY MASTER (Vol.1) #SciFi #YA

ARRIVAL

On a cool and clear night, a sheer and towering cliff awaited its approaching moment to become the temporary abode of a celestial interloper. It stood stoic, unimpressed by the clamorous sea imperiously fulminating with an incessant barrage of waves against its base. A stone’s throw away was the exit point of an effluent stream, a capillary of the fecund land mass it flowed through. With the aid of a clear sky and a full moon, a distant horizon was visible in every direction; ocean filling the entire sight in one, verdant and untrammeled panoplies of mountain forest in another. A hundred miles of this California Big Sur coast and its regions to the east were in virtually pristine condition, more than two hundred thousand acres with relatively few human inhabitants.
Inland, the luminescence of moon and stars bestowed an unfettered. evergreen view of redwoods, maples, pines, firs and oaks. Flying about the natural paradise were raucous jays, crows, magpies and woodpeckers. Invisible in the shimmering light, a sonorous ocean air swept in from the west, rustling the trees; a natural refrain emanating from their dancing, undulating branches and leaves, increasing and decreasing in compliance with the invading force. The wind’s voice eerily equivocated, fluctuating back and forth from a bare whisper to an angry, frightening ululation of dominant abandon; now gradually quieting, at last dying, only to be reborn and assiduously grow unto a mature and bellowing rage. Animals added their sounds to the holistic cacophony: a bark, a howl, a burst through bushes, crackling twigs and branches stepped on or dragged. The stars were in full bloom, complimenting the moon to illuminate the peaks, the canyons, and all within.
One of the star lights was moving, and as it came nearer the earth, it grew in size until was clear that it was not a star but a far smaller, soaring, perhaps piloted, object. As it came into the atmosphere, it developed color – an orange tint. A few hundred feet from the ground, it stopped and remained in place for more than an hour. Finally, a smaller light emerged from it, and the larger light rose again until it disappeared. The new light was purposeful, changing directions as it descended. It floated down and meandered among the trees as though surveying the scenery, until eventually it traveled westward, following a gushing stream to its merger with the ocean. Hovering above the beach, the light hesitated, then floated into a crack on a shrubbery-laden boulder that was lodged partway up the cliff next to the stream, as though perching there for a view of magnificent sunsets. The object continued to glow for some minutes, its light gradually diminishing and finally extinguishing completely. Someone who saw it at close range would describe it as small and round, and maybe add that it looked for all the world to be nothing more than an ordinary stone.

His celestial companion was waiting for him

Precariously climbing a sea-side cliff near Big Sur, ten-year-old Joey Blake was as yet unaware that near his grasp was an object, so odd, mysterious and alien to earth that it would change his life forever and the lives of countless others in the next few astonishing days. Reaching up as far as he could for a handhold it was just there; it had subconsciously lured him, occupied his mind, and made him find it. It was like he was meant to see and discover this object of unimaginable power … the power to change reality.

Time travel and more

This young adult series of sci-fi fantasy novels begins with The Reality Master and continues through four other exciting and amazing stories about time travel and mysterious alien devices. Joey and the reader will face dangerous shadowy criminal organizations, agents of the NSA, bizarre travelers from other times and even renegade California bikers and scar-faced walking dead.

- Vol 1 The Reality Master
- Vol 2 Threat To The World
- Vol 3 Travel Beyond
- Vol 4 Missions Through Time
- Vol 5 The Return Home

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Science fiction, Fantasy, Young adult

Rating – G

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Rising Tide: Dark Innocence (Maura DeLuca Trilogy) by Claudette Melanson #PNR #AmReading

I’d never been close enough to him before to really see him.

“Hey, aren’t you Maura?”

*Huh?*  How did he know who the heck a nobody junior like me was?  Or did my freak status make me far more noticeable than I realized.  I started to feel sick to my stomach.  I realized I was staring at him dumbfounded, mouth hanging open.

“How do you know my name?”  I asked weakly.

He actually blushed and brought a hand up to nervously brush the soft wisps out of his eyes.  “Oh, I’ve just seen you around.  You really made a mess of me didn’t you?”  He laughed and it was the warmest sound.

I opened my mouth wider, horrified.  “I wasn’t watching where I was going.  I’m really sorry about your shirt!”

He put his hand on my shoulder, “Don’t worry, it’s just a shirt.  No harm, no foul.  I can just get my t-shirt out of my gym locker and put it on.”  He winked at me then.  “I’ll forgive you, but only if you promise not to give it another thought, okay?”

“Okay,” I promised.  His smile and that light in his earthy eyes were leaving me completely shell-shocked.

Much to my surprise, he turned his head to look at Wendy, who was still barking loudly with amusement.  He rolled his eyes and picked up the bit of brownie on my tray and quickly whipped it at her.  The chocolate collided with her straight brunette hair, then fell to the floor in pieces.  “I can’t stand that girl,” he muttered.

It was my turn to laugh.  She looked so startled I really couldn’t help it.  Wendy was now picking out crumbs and glaring at both of us.  “Ronnie Stine, I swear I’ll get you back for this!”

He was obviously unconcerned by this, ignoring her threat and turning his back to her.  He was just a few inches taller than me, but enough I had to glance up a bit to find those glorious eyes of his.  He must have been about six feet to my five foot nine.

CHOSEN AS ONE OF 400 FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD FOR 2014!!!

ARE YOU A FAN OF VAMPIRE ROMANCE?

Rising Tide will sink it's teeth into you, keeping you awake into the wee hours of the night

Maura's life just can't get any worse...or can it?

Isolated and sheltered by her lonely mother, Maura's never been the best at making friends. Unusually pale with a disease-like aversion to the sun, she seems to drive her classmates away, but why?

Even her own father deserted her, and her mother, before Maura was born. Bizarre physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring, drive Maura to fear for her own life. And her luck just seems to get worse.

Life is about to become even more bewildering when her mother's abrupt...and unexplained...decision to move a country away sets off a chain of events that will change Maura forever. A cruel prank turned deadly, the discovery of love and friendship....and its loss, as well as a web of her own mother's lies, become obstacles in Maura's desperate search for a truth she was never prepared to uncover.

Featured on one of the most popular health blogs on the internet as a giveaway!

Be sure to check out the blog on Maria Mind Body Health to win a free copy today! Go to Mariamindbodyhealth.com and check out the blog Chicken “Wild Rice” Soup for your chance to win!

Offered as a giveaway on Goodreads!

Head over to Goodreads for a chance to score a free copy today!

Featured on Litpick.com

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Genre – YA Paranormal Romance

Rating – PG

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Website http://claudettemelanson.wix.com/author

JR Tague Talks About Writing, Tacos & Friends @jr_tague #YA #AmWriting #AmReading

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

I like going for hikes when the weather is good. Getting some fresh air and being away from all the everyday complications of life always helps me relax and clear my head.

Sometimes it’s so hard to keep at it - What keeps you going?

When the writing gets rough, my characters keep me going. I have a really strong sense of obligation to my characters. Even when my outline is vague, I usually have a couple exciting “payoff” type scenes in my mind that happen towards the end of the book. I know I eventually have to get my characters there, or what have I been spending all that time working on?

Have you met any people in the industry who have really helped you?

I’ve taken a few classes with author Jonathan Maberry and he’s been a huge help. He’s very knowledgeable about the industry and has a lot of practical, no-nonsense type of advice for writers. He’s very generous with his time and information and is genuinely interested in creating an active writing community.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?

I hope my stories will inspire people to improve themselves. I want my readers to feel empowered; if my character can rise to the challenge, they can too.

What’s your favorite meal?

Tacos!! I could eat tacos every day of my life and never get sick of them.

What’s your next project?

Aside from the rest of the Leveling Up series, my next project is a YA steampunk series beginning with the book Air Pirate. It’s about a post-apocalyptic society divided into two factions, and the loveable scoundrel who brings them together. Also, airships.

How important are friends in your life?

Friends are immensely important. I can’t say I know the full meaning of life yet. But I think part of what we’re supposed to be doing here is learning, improving, growing. I like to have friends that are better than me, in at least some aspect, so that I can learn from them. It’s also important to have people who know you, and love you, well enough to call you on your shortcomings.

Do you find the time to read?

It’s really hard to find the time to read. But it’s also extremely important! So my friends and I formed a book club to help us read more and also expose us to different genres and formats of storytelling. A lot of our picks are available as audio books, so I like to listen to those while I’m driving or cleaning.

What is your favorite quality about yourself?

I don’t take myself too seriously, which, I think, is an important quality to have. It allows me to try different things and experiment, without getting too wrapped up in being great at every little thing.

What is your least favorite quality about yourself?

Like a lot of people, I’m afraid of failure. So with things that are very important to me, like writing, I tend to procrastinate and self-sabotage because then the story I have in my mind can remain perfect. That is a terrible way to go about being a writer, obviously, so I’m working on it. But the tendency is there.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?

The hardest part about writing a novel is the freaking middle part. It’s where you’ve done all the exciting, fun part of setting up a character and making readers interested in him. But you’re not ready for the climax yet. So you just have to have him go around and…do stuff. And that stuff has to be important, and eventually lead to the thrilling climax and cathartic ending. But it can’t be TOO interesting that it overshadows the climax.

Max McKay gets a second chance at life when, after a bizarre accident on his sixteenth birthday, he is reanimated as a new breed of thinking, feeling zombie. To secure a spot for his eternal soul, Max must use his video game prowess as well as the guidance of Steve the Death God to make friends and grow up. As if all that weren’t hard enough, Max discovers that he’s not the only zombie in town. As he enlists the help of his new friends, Adam and Penny, to solve the mystery of their un-dead classmate, Max discovers that he must level up his life experience in order to survive the trials and terrors of the upcoming zombie apocalypse. And, even worse, high school.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – YA

Rating – PG

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Connect with J R Tague on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://jrtague.wordpress.com/

The Wings of Dragons (The Dragoon Saga, Book 1) by @JoshVanBrakle ##YA #Fantasy #Excerpt

Toah. Toah. Toah.

Iren Saitosan’s eyes snapped open at the sound of something he almost never heard, yet instantly recognized: the echoes of footsteps on the stone tower stairs leading to his chamber.

Toah. Toah. Toah.

He threw off his tattered blankets and leapt out of the hard bed. Almost no one came up here. Every so often, children would dare each other to see who could climb the farthest up the steps without getting frightened. They considered scaling the tower all the way to the top and knocking on the Left’s door the ultimate sign of bravery.

Toah. Toah.

These steps didn’t belong to children though. They were too heavy, and there was no associated chatter. Those not making the climb always teased the challenger, alternating between goading them on and threatening them with what the evil Left might do to them if they dared to continue. No, these steps came from an adult.

Toah. Toah.

Iren tensed. Since the day King Azuluu had decreed that he must live up here away from “normal people,” no adult had ever climbed the tower.

Toah.

That was odd. Iren furrowed his brow. The steps were slowing down, as though whoever made them were hesitating. It was probably just some gawker, no different from the children, coming to see the freak, the Left.

The sound of nervous breathing made Iren focus on his chamber door. Whoever had come had made it all the way to the top and now stood just outside. The door was already slightly ajar, just as Iren had left it. He grinned. This was his favorite part. He couldn’t help but glance above the door at the wooden bucket resting precariously against the top of the door and the wall. His little trick always worked on the kids; he wondered if an adult would be stupid enough to fall for it too. Folding his arms, he leaned against the windowsill and waited.

After a moment a loud grunt came from the steps, and then the door flung open as the intruder shoved his way in with a shoulder charge.

“Ow!”

The bucket slammed into the man’s head, dumped its load, and then rolled away, rumbling on the stone floor. Its former contents, a full load of water, now soaked the intruder. Across the room, Iren cocked his head sideways and smiled innocently, saying, “Should have knocked.”

The intruder put a hand to his head, feeling for a bruise. “Captain Angustion warned me you might pull a stunt like this.” He started to say more, but some of the water snuck inside his mouth, making him gag.

“That’s smart, Balear, spitting it out,” Iren said lightly. “Do you know how many times I’ve washed my clothes in that?”

Balear’s face paled, then just as quickly reddened as he shouted, “You left-handed demon-child!”

From fantasy author Josh VanBrakle comes an epic new trilogy of friendship, betrayal, and explosive magic. Lefthanded teenager Iren Saitosan must uncover a forgotten history, confront monsters inspired by Japanese mythology, and master a serpentine dragon imprisoned inside a katana to stop a revenge one thousand years in the making.

Lodian culture declares lefthanded people dangerous and devil-spawned, and for Iren, the kingdom's only known Left, that's meant a life of social isolation. To pass the time and get a little attention, he plays pranks on the residents of Haldessa Castle. It's harmless fun, until one of his stunts nearly kills Lodia's charismatic heir to the throne. Now to avoid execution for his crime, Iren must join a covert team and assassinate a bandit lord. It's a suicide mission, and Iren's chances aren't helped when he learns that his new katana contains a dragon's spirit, one with a magic so powerful it can sink continents and transform Iren into a raging beast.

Adding to his problems, someone on Iren's team is plotting treason. When a former ally launches a brutal plan to avenge the Lefts, Iren finds himself trapped between competing loyalties. He needs to figure out who - and how - to trust, and the fates of two nations depend on his choice.

"A fast-paced adventure...led by a compelling cast of characters. Josh VanBrakle keeps the mysteries going." - ForeWord Reviews

Buy @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – YA epic fantasy

Rating – PG-13

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Website www.joshvanbrakle.com

Eileen Maksym's Debut #Novel "Haunted" + #Giveaway @EileenMaksym #Paranormal

The real estate office was bright and cheerful, with large potted plants in each corner and flowers on the counter.  The young receptionist was happy to buzz the agent for him, and a minute later, a woman with dark, perfectly coiffed hair and a red business suit strode out from the back.

“Mr. Trent?”

Steven stood and offered his hand, which the woman shook firmly.  “Ms. Smithe,” he said.  “Thank you so much for taking the time.”

“Not that much time, Mr. Trent.”  She held out a single key on a ring.  “This will open the front door.”

Steven took the key from her.  “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.  The electricity and water are still on, and the heat's set warm enough so the pipes won’t freeze when the temperature drops.  It is a little chilly in there, though, so if you’re spending the night, I’d recommend dressing warmly and bringing a good sleeping bag.”

“Will do.” He debated briefly, then decided that he had nothing to lose (he had the key in hand, after all).  “Ms. Smithe, have you experienced anything in the house?  Anything supernatural?”

The young woman behind the desk looked up.

Ms. Smithe glanced at her, then back at Steven, her eyes narrowed.  She stepped closer and smiled tightly.  “Mr. Trent,” she said in a low voice, “It is a house.  It is a property that I am trying to sell.  And that is all.  Mr. Lacey has requested that you be granted access, and that’s his right.  But I would appreciate it if you left me out of it – and didn’t go blabbing your mouth and making my job harder.”

Steven tilted his head.  “You did see something, didn’t you?”

Her smile vanished, and she turned around.  “Slide the key into the mail slot tomorrow morning.”  Then she walked back to her office.  “Good day, Mr. Trent.”

Steven heard a door slam.

The woman behind the desk watched her go, then looked back at Steven.  “This is about the Lacey place, huh?”

Steven shifted his eyes to her.  “Yes, it is.  Why?”

The woman nodded.  “I figured.  She doesn’t like that house.  She’s supposed to show the house and everything, but every time someone wants to see it, she has some excuse why she can’t show it, and has one of our trainees do it.”

“Has she said why?”

“Not as such.  I do remember her saying something about a baby…but I’m pretty sure the Laceys don’t have any kids.”

Steven nodded, pressing his lips together.  “Well.  Thank you for telling me this.”

“No problem.  Only…”  She craned her neck to look down the hallway, then turned back to Steven.  “Just don’t tell her I told you, okay?”

Steven smiled.  “You got it.  Have a great day.”

She sighed.  “I’ll try, but I’m guessing she’s in a foul mood now; she’s a total bitch when she’s in a bad mood.”  She again glanced quickly down the hall.  “Don’t tell her I told you that, either.”

Tara Martin – exceptionally accomplished neurobiology major with a troubled past. Steven Trent – confident political science major with an irresistible attraction to Tara. Paul Stratton – history major who is able to hear spirits. Together, they make up the Society for Paranormal Researchers at their prestigious New England University. When they’re not in class or writing papers, the three friends are chasing their passion….ghosts.

When the group learns of a local retired couple trying to sell a house they claim is haunted, they decide to investigate. As the clues unfold, a familiar spirit interrupts their investigation and Tara finds her life in danger. Can her friends save her before it’s too late?

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Genre – YA paranormal, NA paranormal

Rating – PG-13

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Connect with Eileen Maksym on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://eileenmaksym.wordpress.com/

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