Sunday, November 18, 2012

COLONIZATION Blog Tour and Book Excerpt w/ GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the COLONIZATION Blog Tour hosted by Inkspell Publishing! If you remember, we posted the cover reveal for COLONIZATION a few months ago, and now we have a book excerpt for you! Oh, and stay tuned because there's a giveaway too! 
 
“Forbidden love on a paradise planet that’s anything but paradise...Dionne’s Colonization will keep you guessing.” – Cherie Reich, author of Defying Gravity

Blurb:
Finding a new home has never been so dangerous.

Andromeda has spent all seventeen years of her life aboard a deep space transport vessel destined for a paradise planet. Her safe cocoon is about to break open as Paradise 21 looms only one month away, and she must take the aptitude tests to determine her role on the new world and her computer
assigned lifemate. As a great-granddaughter of the Commander of the ship, she wants to live up to her family name. But, her forbidden love for her childhood friend, Sirius, distracts her and she fails the tests. The results place her in a menial role in the new colony and pair her with Corvus, “the oaf”.

But when Andromeda steps foot on Paradise 21, her predestined future is the least of her worries. Alien ghosts from a failed colonization warn her of a deadly threat to her colony. And when Sirius's ship crashes on the far ridge in an attempt to investigate, she journeys to rescue him with Corvus.

Andromeda now must convince the authorities of the imminent danger to protect her new home. What she didn't expect was a battle of her own feelings for Sirius and Corvus.

Can she save the colony and discover her true love?

You can buy the book at:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Inkspell Publishing


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About the Author:

Aubrie Dionne writes science fiction fantasy with romantic
elements. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Inkspell Publishing, Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She’s also a professional flutist in New England.

Please visit her website: http://www.authoraubrie.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2964057.Aubrie_Dionne
Blog: httphttp://authoraubrie.blogspot.com
Twitter: @authoraubrie
*****
And now we have a special little glimpse at COLONIZATION for you.
 
"The wallscreen beeped behind us and flashed the words Incoming Message. Mom took up my job at the food congealizer. “Go see what it is, honey.”
  
I jogged into the family room and clicked on the main screen. As I read the words, I
froze. Life Assignments for Class Omega.
Oh, no. When my grandpapa had announced they’d be speeding everything up at the meeting last night, I didn’t think it’d be the next day. My insides tightened and I felt sick and goose-bumpy all at once. Half of me wanted to run into my room and hide, and the other half yearned to get it over with and press the damn button."

***** 
GIVEAWAY: Look what we have for you! That's right, this gorgeous locket could be yours. Open to US, UK, and Canada residents only. Just enter through the rafflecopter form below. (Giveaway sponsored by Inkspell Publishing. Living Fictitiously is not responsible for for delivering prize or selecting winners)

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Epic Force Blog Hop - Review + Giveaway + Interview!


 
Epic Force by Alexi Raymond Synopsis:
Trinity has given up everything to reach her dreams as a professional wrestler in the national spotlight; even though it's breaking her heart to stay away from her trainer, Derek.

Derek knows the road Trinity is walking and wants to be there for her to see her succeed, but he wants so much more than that for them.

After having a wrestler break her heart once, Trinity isn't willing to jump back into another wrestling-relationship. That doesn't stop her heart from pounding at the sight of Derek or her hands from trembling with their touch.

Convinced she has to focus on her dreams, Trinity leaves the safety of home and wrestling federation,(Epic Force Wrestling), and heads out for the chance of a lifetime. The things she sees don't make her more sure of her goals, but they do make her sure of something else - she can't outrun her old wrestling school or the trainer that holds her heart in his hands.

Sometimes true love is an epic force all its own.
 
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Because I'm lucky enough to have a friendship with an upbeat, beautiful ginger (aka Alexi Raymond), I had the delightful opportunity to read Epic Force in its beginning and final stages of writing. I was able to see the writer’s words blossom into a beautiful adult contemporary love story that will have you in a headlock. The story and its characters flung me into the ring in the beginning chapters. And baby girls and boys lemme tell ya, I was high off reading! This is a story that will cater to everyone's taste, women and men. Epic Force isn't your average contemporary read. There was flare in it. Not Rick Flair, but wrestling flare. And if you aren't a fan of the sport, that's okay. After reading Epic Force you'll gain a respect for it. There were some very wooo hooo yeah baby yeah moments, but all with taste. There were some very heart felt moments that a lot of us may have endured. And there was so much craving.

Trinity is a top female character that I have the utmost respect for. Because she has respect for herself. Confidence. She's a young, average woman with some muscle behind that beauty. All she wants is a shot in the ring and to experience true love. But if it takes putting love on the back burner while she proves herself fit to be in the ring, then so be it. But don’t expect her to tap out on love, because Derek will be coming in full force. And let me tell you, Epic Force, by Alexi Raymond is one hell of a love story full of challenges and yearning endurance.  Get ready to let your eyes soar line by line and keep those pages a turning! And that’s the bottom line, cause Stone Cold… I meant, Kimberly Callegan (that's me) said so!

While I adore the main characters Trinity and Derek, there is a certain supporting character in this book that I am absolutely GAGA over and holy hell he can rock some wrestling tights, but more importantly, I lurve his quirky personality! And, I *may* have gotten in the ring with him. ;)

So, stay tuned after the interview with this fabulous author so you can have a chance to win Epic Force by Alexi Raymond… or, why wait? Go download Epic Force at the end of this post!

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We’d like to welcome Alexi Raymond to Living-Fictitiously. Alexi’s debut novel, Epic Force was released on 10/4/2012. I must interrupt this introduction to add Epic Force IS in fact, epic!! Ok, so let’s get started!

KIM: Hi Alexi! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and have an interview. We are excited to have you on the blog. I’d like to start the interview by asking, what was your motivation in writing Epic Force? Because I definitely had the motivation to continue reading it!

 Alexi: I'm so glad you liked it!! Epic Force actually started as a form of self-therapy! Professional wrestling is a very passionate sport and with any kind of passion comes conflict and of course, drama. I needed to get some stuff off my chest, ya know? One of my friends suggested that I write about it in a journal but yeah - no. Someone could FIND that! I know what you're thinking, "someone could find that...so you published it?" Au contraire! After lots of writing I realized that Trinity would actually have a much cooler story if she were truly her own person with her own experiences! And so back to the drawing board I went, completely re-writing the first "book" I'd written!

KIM: I have to commend you on writing such an awesome story. While the premise of the story surrounds the desire for love, there is also the adoration for one’s career to succeed in wrestling in a predominately
male environment. Do you feel that you took a chance in writing a story about wrestling and love?

Alexi: Weeeeeeell, since it didn't start as something I'd ever intended to publish I never really thought about it. However, if I'd never written Epic Force...I can't say I'd change it. I know it's hard to ask a publisher to trust you on a book, especially a debut novel, that involves pro-wrestling. But I also know that a good story is a good story, even if it involves things you've never known before! I don't know anything about hockey, but I have still read hockey themed romances and learned a lot about the sport...or maybe I focused more on the studly guy and his body shots...either way, I think if the characters are real the story should have a shot. So yeah, I guess pushing to publish it was taking a chance but I'd definitely do it again!

KIM: As I mentioned above, Trinity is a top female character that I have respect for because of her confidence. What was your favorite characteristic in Trinity’s character and why?

Alexi: Oh man. I think her determination. Whether it was foolish or not, relating to boys or her dreams, whent Trin makes up her mind she really sticks to it! A lot of times in life we have goals but when the going gets tough we back off or give up completely. Not Trin!

KIM: Derek was nearly a perfect male character in my eyes. What was your least favorite characteristic in Derek and why?
 
Alexi: EASY. Personally, I want a man that has little to no hesitation. You want to kiss me? Go for it! Trust me, you'll know if it's unwanted ;) But Derek? He's so cautious and caring! The poor guy cares almost too much what his woman is thinking and feeling!

KIM: Dave was my favorite character in Epic Force. I definitely have a slight (winks- okay, major) crush on him… I meant his character. Can you tell us what inspired you to write about him? (And will he get his own book, with his own love story? LOLOLOL!!!)

Alexi: I should have known this was coming!! lol! Here's a little secret: Dave is one of my favorite characters in Epic Force, too! There is a very real man, also named Dave, who is one of my favorite people involved in wrestling. He's been a friend for years and when the first drafts were flowing from my pen I had to include him but then when the story became Trinity's I just couldn't see taking him out. Well, that and he promised I'd sell more copies if I made him the hero. I would LOVE to give Dave his own book! He's got a good thing going with his little lady; it would be interesting to see what their lives together might entail!

KIM: Did you have an alternate ending for Epic Force, or did you know from the moment this story developed how it would end and stick to it?

Alexi: No clue! I had went through my "journal" stage and titled the draft "Meeting The Boys" and I wanted to do two more books but I had no idea where book three would even start!! Three's just a magical number, I guess! But once I really got moving on Epic Force I just kind of let the characters lead me! Somewhere about the time Trinity has to make her final decision about Epic Force Wrestling I knew what the ending would be!

KIM: Would you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert?

 Alexi: Hahahahahahaha...Extro. Totally, definitively, every sense of the word, extrovert!

KIM: List two things you are passionate about.

Alexi: 1 - Taylor Swift. Yep. I have been known to unfriend for Taylor Swift Trash Talk.
          2 - Life! I hate when people waste time they have! You never know what moment is your last, use it all up!!

KIM: Who is your favorite male wrestler? Female wrestler? Tag team?

Alexi: OH MAN!!! Yay for super awesome question!! Ok ok, calming down... Favorite Male Wrestler of all time: Curt Hennig aka Mr. Perfect!!! Everything that man did was magic! He was a showman and a skilled athlete! Good news: His son wrestles, too! WOO HOO!   Current: Dolph Ziggler. Hands. Down. The man is beautiful, devoted and talented!! Female Wrestler - Would have to pick Fabulous Moolah! But all of the oldschool women wrestlers helped me to be able to lace up the boots! Current: Tara! She used to wrestle as Victoria on WWE but goes by Tara on TNA Impact now! She is strong, beautiful and one of the most talented female wrestlers I've ever seen! And Tag Team....hmmmm.....Ok, I'm not crazy about tag teams currently, HOWEVER I used to absolutely love the Hardy Boyz. Obsessively. But I think it's partly because they had this awesome redhead manager named Lita that used to be able to hold her own too!!
 
KIM: It's Saturday night. You can sleep the whole day on Sunday. Do you
A) Party it up Prince style like its 1999
B) Read the whole night away, kitty in lap, glass of wine on the side
table, hubby fast asleep
C) Hit up a live taping of WWE Smackdown while they are on tour in your state


 Alexi: A!! I hit the Country Junction and learn those sweet line dances with my should-be-sis and friends OR hang out elsewhere! As long as I've got a good friend with me I'm happy! Especially if I have a BUNCH of those friends and it's, oh I don't know, the Romantic Times Convention?!

Thank you guys so much for being on the tour!!! It means a lot to me and the questions were awesome!! Can't wait to hang out, soon I hope!!

YAY!! Thanks again Alexi for being the awesome person and author you are and for stopping by the blog. As always, it's lovely hangin out with ya. Um, I guess I need to get my ducks in a row and make some definitive plans in attending RT!
 
And now, how about a Chapter 1 Excerpt from Epic Force? Well, heck yeah! Do you smellllllll –la-la-la-la-la-la, what the Rock, er- Alexi Raymond issssss cooking?

From chapter 1 with Trinity and Derek.

"Don't go." His whispers were lost in her hair. He remained so silent, so nervous, and yet his arms snaked around her. Trinity’s heart soaked in the familiar security that came with his embrace. "Please, Trinity, please don't leave me." He squeezed, no longer hugging her. They clung to each other as tears rolled down her face, or maybe they were his, there was no way to tell.

He had always been there for her; from the first time she walked through the doors of the warehouse into the poster filled walls of Epic Force Wrestling, to the first time one of the boys refused to hit her like a real wrestler and even now, as she stood there breaking his heart. She would never find another man like Derek; but the truth was that regardless of how she felt for him, she couldn’t let herself. Nate had broken her heart. She’d never let another wrestler get that close to her again.

"I'm going to be late." She sniffled and wiped her face with the back of her hand, still wrapped around Derek's neck.

"Be late. Be late forever, just stay."

"Derek."

With a kiss on the cheek, Derek relinquished his hold. The chocolate swirls in his eyes were moist, his lips pursed together. Trinity trailed her hands down his arms and squeezed his huge warm hands. Her palms fit inside of them, tucked neatly away from the harm of the world. She wanted to face the world, regardless of the risk, she felt she needed to. She squeezed one last time, took a longing look into where they both knew she belonged and left him standing alone under the singular light on the pier.

**********
 
About the fabulous author:

 

Alexi lives in Indiana with her husband and kittens! You can find her throwing the boys around the ring, shooting sports highlights or curled up on the couch with Castle and her "writing kitten" working on a never ending supply of ideas for all of the books she wants to write!
 
Find Alexi:


 

Smashwords

To win a copy of Epic Force by Alexi Raymond, leave a comment below on what your wrestling name would be if you were a professional wrestler. If you want to get creative and make up your personal wrestling move, we'd love to hear it!!

Blog Hop Schedule:
November 12 -- Fictitious Delicious Interview with Trinity

November 13 -- Living Fictitiously Review/Interview with Alexi

November 14 -- Adriana Ryan: Captivating Fiction Guest Post: What's your publishing story? Why did you decide to take the route you took?

November 15 -- For What It's Worth Guest Post: Where you came up with the idea for writing a book about professional wrestling

November 16 -- Blog - O - Rama Interview with Dave


November 17 -- What's On the Bookshelf Interview with Derek

November 18 -- The Reviews News Guest Post: Balancing Writing and Personal Life

Thanks,

Kimberly