Reading Into Romance - Guest Post w/ Cayla Kluver

Hello, all!  I'm happy to have the chance to host a stop on the Harlequin Teen Reading Into Romance blog tour today.  Stopping by today we have Cayla Kluver, author of the Legacy trilogy.  Cayla will tell you all about a vital key to romance in her books: kissing.  I hope you enjoy and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post.  Good luck!

First Kisses

As we know from the beginning of Legacy, Steldor is a lady’s man, well-experienced in wooing women, and an excellent kisser.  This is clear from Alera’s reactions to some of his advances.  Even though she dislikes him, she recognizes his masculinity and inherent attractiveness, noting after one kiss: “…he departed, leaving me slightly off balance, as I had not anticipated such tenderness from him, and highly unsettled by the knowledge that I had enjoyed both his kiss and his touch.”

As for Steldor, his first kiss with Alera is one he will never forget, for it was the first time a woman ever rejected his advances.  He is at his romantic best, having taken her to dinner and then for a walk in the Palace gardens.  But when he sits with her on a bench and leans in to kiss her, she pulls away, appalled that he would make such a presumptuous move on her.  Before he can kiss her again, she springs to her feet and hastens to London.  Certainly not the way Steldor is used to having his evenings end!  This was, of course, not only Alera’s first kiss with Steldor, but her first romantic kiss, period.  And even though it was entirely unwelcome, she admits to London that “when we were sitting on the bench, I couldn’t think.  He has this amazing… scent.”

Interestingly, up until this first kiss, Steldor was pursuing Alera primarily because she was his way to the throne.  But after this experience, he sees her as a challenge, a handful, and well worth pursuing in her own right.  As strange as it seems, her rejection makes her more attractive to him.

Alera’s first kiss with Narian occurs later in Legacy, and is presumably the first time he has kissed a woman.  It is a forbidden kiss, and comes in the aftermath of Alera learning about the Legend of the Bleeding Moon and being advised to stay away from him.  He has just defeated Steldor in the Exhibition at the Harvest Festival’s Tournament, and she seeks him out in his tent, where his injuries are being treated.  She confronts him about the legend, and the kiss is his way of telling her that he loves her and has no intention of hurting her or her kingdom.  Alera describes the kiss in this way:  “His vivid blue eyes captured mine of deep brown.  As my heart pounded, his lips met mine, lightly at first, then more insistently, and I succumbed to his embrace.  I melted against him, my hands upon his back, all reason having abandoned me.  After several moments, our lips reluctantly parted…”  While she has long been attracted to Narian, this may be the moment when she realized she has fallen in love with him.

So what’s the power of a kiss?  Both Steldor and Narian would seem to be excellent kissers, which would indicate the magic is not in the manner of the kiss itself.  But perhaps a kiss helps to identify your true feelings about someone.  In the case of Steldor, it strengthens Alera’s dislike of him.  With Narian, it confirms that she loves him.  So don’t take a first kiss too lightly, or engage in one too soon.  And above all, pay attention to what your instincts are telling you!

About the Author

With the book industry currently in a debate over print vs. digital, Cayla Kluver, born October 2, 1992 in Wisconsin, truly embodies the next generation of author. At just 19 years-old, Cayla has already published her debut novel Legacy in three different formats.

It all began with self-publication and the creation of her own publishing house (with the help of her mom, called: Forsooth Publishing) in 2008. Cayla was then offered a digital debut with Amazon (was the premier title for Amazon’s self-publishing program, Amazon Encore) in 2009. Finally in 2010 Cayla was signed to a three book publishing deal with Harlequin TEEN.

She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy.  Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors.  She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

Check Out the Other Stops

Monday, March 4th - Karen Ann Hopkins and Temptation:

• Bittersweet Enchantment

• The Cozy Reader

• Paulette's Papers

Wednesday, March 6th - Liz Fichera and Hooked:

• Bumbles and Fairy-Tales

• IB Book Blogging

• Chick Loves Lit

Friday, March 8th - Cayla Kluver and the Legacy series:

• YA Bibliophile

• Rex Robot Reviews

• Starting the Next Chapter

Monday, March 11th - Aimée Carter and The Goddess Test series:

• Coffee, Books and Me

• Book Nook

• Bookshelf Banter

Wednesday, March 13th - Julie Kagawa and The Iron King series:

• Refracted Light Reviews

• Page Turners

• Mundie Moms

Friday, March 15th - Katie McGarry and Pushing the Limits:

• Alice Marvels

• Bewitched Bookworms

• Katie's Book Blog

Monday, March 18th - Rachel Vincent and The Soul Screamers series:

• Fiktshun

• Parajunkee

• The Bookish Brunette

Wednesday, March 20th - Hannah Harrington and Saving June:

• A Bookish Escape

• The Book Cellar

• Basia's Bookshelf

Friday, March 22nd - Jordan Dane and In The Arms of Stone Angels:

• Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf

• Fantasy Book Addict

• Swoony Boys Podcast

The Giveaway

Today's Daily Prize:

Your Choice of 1 of the Books in the Legacy Trilogy

The Grand Prize:

HarlequinTEEN dresses you for a romantic date with this beautiful, unique heart shaped locket! And in case it’s a chilly spring evening, don’t forget the matching beautiful Pashmina!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta Blog Tour

Welcome to another great blog tour stop at StNC, brought to you today by Month9Books!  Today I have the pleasure of presenting a character interview with the namesake of Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta, Gabriel!  This MG debut premiered on February 5, 2013, and is authored by Shannon Duffy.  I hope you'll find yourself caught up in a new read and discover a new author.  Enjoy!

Marla: Hi, Gabriel. Welcome to Starting the Next Chapter! My first question for you is: What is your favorite thing about sharing your story with all of the readers out there?

Gabriel: Hey. Well, there're so many awesome parts of what happened to me and my friends in Valta, but I'm not gonna lie, some of the animals in Valta were really cool. It was fun to talk about that stuff. And, well, I like that people are gonna see how cool my friends are and how we stuck together no matter what...even when things got real crazy.

Marla: What is your best school subject? Which one do you hate the most and why?

Gabriel: Hmmm. Does gym count? Cause I totally like gym the best. Especially soccer! And well, if gym doesn't count, then I think I'll go with history. I like learning about war stuff and things that happened a long time ago. And yeah, I hate math. To be honest I think it sucks. There, I said it. And I just hate it. Math doesn't need a reason.

Marla: Not going to argue with you there. What did you think when you first found the crystal?

Gabriel: Well, first I thought I was gonna drown under the stupid ice, but then thankfully Brent managed to pull me out. And I knew right away it was something really cool or magical cause what kind of rock glows, lets off heat, and hums? I felt like I hit the jackpot and found something really epic...and I was right.

Marla: What has been the hardest thing about your mom's disappearance?

Gabriel: It felt pretty bad, I'm not gonna lie. I mean, I had been bugging my mom to hang out with me at night a lot cause I was kinda freaked out about the dark, so I figured that I was a pain in the butt and maybe that's why she took off. But if you read my story, you'll find out more about that.

Marla: Who has been your best supporter through everything?

Gabriel: Brent and Piper, my two best friends. They're pretty cool about everything and I know we always have each other's back....unlike dudes like Cedric--but again, I hope you read my story and you can find out more about that loser. Oh! And my dog Zigzag is pretty awesome too.

Marla: How would you describe Valta for those who haven't read the book yet?

Gabriel: Valta is beyond sick--if the Divinities are with the empress anyway. It's really bright with the golden dust, and there are lots of cool creatures like flying tigers and talking monkeys. But, the only thing is, you have to be careful cause as many friendly creatures that they have there, they're probably even more dangerous ones--like gruocks, death mongers, shape-shifters, and ghosts....seriously not the kind of things you want to run into in a dark alley or...a dark, creepy Valtan forest.

Marla: This last question is just for fun. What is the strangest thing you've come across in Valta?

Gabriel: This is a funny question cause strange and Valta when Duke Malgor is being a jerk kind of go together. He makes everything sort of strange. But one really weird thing was when me and Brent and Piper got to the Tandem Wood, we found out that the way to get in there was a lot freakier than anything I could have ever imagined. I think it was called the Unseen Boundary or something weird--and it needed magic to get through. Totally epic!

About the Author

Shannon Duffy grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and son, Gabriel. She’s mom to one boy, and several pets. Shannon loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions: shopping. 

GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIAN, Book 2 in the Gabriel Stone series will be available from Month9Books in February 2014!

About the Book

January 1, 2013 from Month9Books

Add it on Goodreads

Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.

Triple Threat Tour - A Guest Post by Yalena Black

Welcome once again to the Triple Threat Blog Tour.  Today's stop on Starting the Next Chapter comes to you courtesy Yelena Black, author of Dance of Shadows, coming tomorrow to bookstores near you.  Yelena is here today to talk to you about her decision to center her story around sisters.  I hope you all will enjoy and look forward to Dance of Shadows as much as I have.

The bond between siblings is undeniable. Although I don’t have a sister, I do have an older brother … and often times he is my refuge and companion when my parents are acting crazy and I don’t what to do, or when something bad—or extremely wonderful—happens in my life. We have a special connection, and I wanted to write about a character who also had that kind of connection with her older sister.

In Dance of Shadows, Vanessa’s older sister Margaret is also a dancer—and she goes missing from the New York Ballet Academy, the very same school that Vanessa is about to attend. For Vanessa, Margaret was the person she always looked up to: she was a caring, kind sister and a talented dancer. She and Margaret were extraordinarily close, so when Margaret disappeared, it broke Vanessa’s heart.

Vanessa doesn’t want to believe that Margaret is dead, and so finding out what happened to her sister gives Vanessa a drive, and raises the stakes for her—she must find out what happened to Margaret because she cares about like her no one else does in the entire world.

In my own life, I have seen friends come and go, relationships begin and end … but family is always there, for better or for worse. This is true in Vanessa’s case as well, and it is why I wanted to include sisters in my story.

About the Author

Yelena Black is a recent MFA graduate of Columbia University. She currently resides in New York City and is a full-time writer. She has a keen interest in dance and all things devilish.

About the Book

February 12, 2013 from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Add it on Goodreads

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .

Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed .

Triple Threat Tour - An Interview with Megan Miranda

Welcome to Starting the Next Chapter's first post on the Triple Threat Blog Tour.  Today, I have the pleasure of hosting an interview with Megan Miranda, author of Hysteria and last year's Fracture.  Without further ado, I hope you all will join me in welcoming Megan to StNC.

Marla: Hi, Megan, and welcome to Starting the Next Chapter! For readers new to your books, how would you describe Hysteria in 140 words or less?

Megan: 16-year-old Mallory can’t be charged for the death of her boyfriend because it’s ruled self-defense. She can’t remember exactly what happened, but that doesn’t change the way people look at her. She’s sent away to her father’s old boarding school for the chance of a fresh start, but her past follows her—as does something else. Someone, or something—or both—is stalking her. There’s the voice she hears at night… and the mark on her body… and someone has definitely been in her room. The only person who seems to want to have anything to do with her is an old friend, Reid, and she’s not so sure that’s such a great idea. When another classmate turns up dead, Mallory has to figure out what happened both nights to prove her innocence. That is, if she is innocent.

Marla: What do you find to be the most compelling thing about Mallory?

Megan: The thing I admire most about her—and why I found her a compelling character to write—is that she doesn’t let the horrible things that have happened (and that she has been a part of), ruin her faith in people.

Marla: Where were your favorite writing spots while writing Hysteria?

Megan: Honestly, I wrote the majority of Hysteria from my bed J Occasional editing happened at the kitchen counter, but mostly it was written at night while my kids were sleeping. I’m partial to writing upstairs at night, because it’s warmer.

Marla: What is your most recent favorite read?

Megan: Gone Girl. After reading it, I didn’t want to read anything else because I felt like nothing would live up to it. It’s also the type of book that gives you writer envy. I know a lot of people either love or hate the book, and I am firmly in the LOVE category.

Marla: What authors have been your biggest inspirations in writing?

Megan: Michael Crichton, for the way he wove science and story together, Edgar Allan Poe, for the way he could evoke a mood, and John Green, for his characters.

Marla: Last question: If you were Mallory, how would you handle the predicament she is in?

Megan: At 16, I don’t think I was nearly as resilient as Mallory. I’d probably have been much more passive, hoping things would work out on their own (which they probably wouldn’t have), hoping time would provide some sort of clarity (except she’s definitely running out of time, so that would not have been a good move). Like Mallory, though, I probably would’ve kept the things that were happening—the things she wasn’t sure were real—to myself.

About the Author

Megan is a scientist - turned - teacher - turned - stay-at-home-mom - turned - writer. She is not nearly as indecisive as she sounds. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, where she volunteers as an MIT Educational Counselor, does the mom thing by day, and writes by night.

Her first novel, FRACTURE, was published in January 2012 by Walker/Bloomsbury. HYSTERIA, a YA psychological thriller, will be published in February 2013. VENGEANCE, a companion/sequel to FRACTURE, will follow in 2014.

About the Book

February 5, 2013 from Walker Children's
Add it on Goodreads

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others. In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

Wings of Tavea Blog Tour - A Review

Welcome to day 3 of the Wings of Tavea blog tour.  Having had the pleasure of participating in the tour for Wings of Arian, I am pleased to be back again to review the next installment in Devri Walls' epic story of fantasy, adventure, and romance.  If you haven't checked this series out yet, it's a must.

by Devri Walls
publisher: Stonehouse Ink
date of publication: December 11, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 450
source: from the author/tour company

From Goodreads:

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros.

Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

Wings of Arian introduced us to a young girl coming into her powers in a land that had long been devoid of evil... or so she thought.  Now Kiora is in for a real shock as she learns just what is really out there.  In Wings of Tavea, you're in for an even bigger whirlwind than ever before.  If you thought you had seen it all in Wings of Arian, well, you haven't seen anything yet.

Kiora continues to grow so much as the series progresses.  As she comes into her own in both her powers and her knowledge, Kiora becomes an even more formidable character.  Emane is every bit as interesting as he was in the previous installment and I had very little to complain about with him.  It is the introduction of Alcander that really puts a new twist on everything as an entirely new dynamic is introduced to the group.  Even though he's a grump, it's hard not to enjoy this new cog in the machine.

The world of Wings of Arian was an idyllic world with evil lurking where few can see it.  The other side of the gate, however, is the exact opposite.  It is a land teeming with evil with good hiding where few can find it.  It makes for such a stark, imposing landscape, a landscape that creates a wonderful feeling of foreboding.  I became so immersed in the story thanks to this land as I waited with bated breath to see what Kiora and company would do and what would become of them.

I've had such a great time getting to know Ms. Walls' writing.  Being a fan of fantasy, Wings of Arian was just what this reader needed.  Filled with danger, humor, and a nice amount of romance, this book was a pleasure to read.  If you, too, enjoy the fantasy genre, Devri Walls is a good author to check out.  This series is bound to continue delivering with each and every new book.

Buy Wings of Tavea at the Following Locations:

Amazon / B&N

The Giveaway

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Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the author via Xpresso Book Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Blog Tour - Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

Welcome back, dear readers, for another awesome blog tour.  Today I am happy to be able to play host to the final stop on the Sacrifice Blog Tour.  I first started reading this series shortly after I began this blog, so it has pretty much been with me from the beginning.  I have enjoyed reading this series so much, so I'm very glad to get to be part of the tour for the last book.  Today, I am going to give you the top 5 things I love most about the Legacy series.  Feel free to chime in with all the things you like about it, as well.

Top 5 Things I Love About the Legacy Trilogy

1. The World-Building: I have always liked the ways in which the kingdom of Hytanica are described and brought to life on the page.  You can really get a sense of what you would see around you if you were to be transported into the book to see for yourself.

2. The Characters: Watching the various characters develop and change has been a great experience, especially when it comes to Alera.  Seeing her morph from a princess whose days are filled with the social engagements expected of her to a strong queen more than willing to lead her people has been simply great.

3. The Intrigue: Just when you think you have things all figured out, something will happen to make you think twice.  The nature of the conflict between Hytanica and Cokyri is one of intimidation and mystique.  It's hard to know who is on which side, but it sure is a lot of fun trying to figure it out!

4. The Society: When I get down to the sheer base of things I find interesting about this series, underneath it all is an appreciation for the social gatherings Alera gives and frequents.  From the fashions to the friendships and acquaintances, there is so much to observe. 

5. The Adventure: I couldn't get enough of the sense of adventure that is present in this story.  That it builds and builds through each book just makes things even better.  C'est magnifique!

About the Author

With the book industry currently in a debate over print vs. digital, Cayla Kluver, born October 2, 1992 in Wisconsin, truly embodies the next generation of author. At just 19 years-old, Cayla has already published her debut novel Legacy in three different formats.

It all began with self-publication and the creation of her own publishing house (with the help of her mom, called: Forsooth Publishing) in 2008. Cayla was then offered a digital debut with Amazon (was the premier title for Amazon’s self-publishing program, Amazon Encore) in 2009. Finally in 2010 Cayla was signed to a three book publishing deal with Harlequin TEEN.

She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy.  Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors.  She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

About the Book

Click the Cover to Add to GR!

This is not the time for the fight to end. Now is when the fight will begin. This is the time to regain what has been lost.

This is a story told by two:

ALERA – Queen of a fallen kingdom, secretly in love with the enemy.

SHASELLE – Daughter of a murdered father, rebel with a cause.

One was ruler of Hytanica, but now walks the razor’s edge to keep the fragile peace in her beloved homeland.

The other slips through the war-torn streets, seeking retribution for her family’s tragedy, following whispers of insurgency.

Both face choices that will separate them from those they cannot help but love. As their stories intertwine, a conspiracy ignites that may end in slavery or death—or lead to freedom anew, if only each can face what must be sacrificed. Told in part from within the castle by Alera and in part outside the walls by a new character, Shaselle, SACRIFICE showcases the final epic battle for love and freedom.

The Giveaways

One reader of this blog will win a copy of Sacrifice, the third and final book in the Legacy trilogy.  The grand prize that will be awarded to one winner from the entirety of the tour includes all that you see below:

Good luck, everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two and Twenty Dark Tales Blog Tour - Interview w/ Angie Frazier

Welcome old readers and new!  Today I have for you the latest stop on the Two and Twenty Dark Tales Tour.  In case you haven't heard, Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes is a collection of short stories by several YA authors we all know and enjoy.  Month9Books is donating proceeds from the sale of the first 5,000 books to YALitChat.org, which "fosters the advancement, reading, writing and acceptance of young adult literature worldwide," (their words, not mine). Be sure to check out my review, which is forthcoming.

For today's stop, Angie Frazier was gracious enough to answer a few questions for us all.  Angie is the author of the Everlasting series and the Susanna Snow series, both published by Scholastic.  Her contribution to the anthology is a take on the rhyme "Boys and Girls Come Out to Play" where the boys and girls are called out to play... by witches!  Definitely one to look out for!

Marla: Hi, Angie! Welcome to Starting the Next Chapter. Thanks for being here today.

For those out there meeting you and your work for the first time, can you tell us all a little about yourself and your books?

Angie: I’ve written two YA novels, EVERLASTING and its sequel, THE ETERNAL SEA. They’re historical fantasy adventure/romance, but one reader called them “Indiana Jones in skirts” and I think that suits them perfectly! I also have two middle grade mystery novels out starring Suzanna Snow, THE MIDNIGHT TUNNEL and THE MASTERMIND PLOT.

Marla: How would you describe your contribution to Two and Twenty Dark Tales?

Angie: It’s a spin on the little known rhyme, Boys and Girls Come Out to Play. It starts out, “Boys and girls come out to play, the moon doth shine as light as day” and I wondered why children would go outside to play in the middle of the night. My imagination went to work and my retelling resulted in a tragic story about two sisters and some dangerous witches that beckon teenagers to their woods for a life or death game of magic.

Marla: What has been the best thing about contributing a story to this anthology?

Angie: I fell in love with this short story and I think I’d like to explore it a little more. It could definitely be a full-length novel someday.

Marla: Where is your favorite place to write?

Angie: very comfortable but ergonomically incorrect couch in my writing cabin!

Marla: Which authors are your biggest influences?

Angie: For contemporaries, I adore Sarah MacLean and Jennifer Donnelly. They make me want to be a better writer. For classics, Edith Wharton and Dodie Smith are close to perfection in my opinion.

Marla: What is your favorite thing about writing?

Angie: When I’m writing, I’m not living one life, but multiple lives. My characters and their stories take me along for the ride. When their story is complete, I can begin a new adventure.

Marla: What is your favorite Mother Goose rhyme and why?

Angie: So many! After reading Leigh Fallon’s Wee Willie Winkie in this anthology, I think that’s the one that most freaks me out now!

Marla: Last question: Which Mother Goose rhyme would you most want to find yourself in the middle of?

Angie: They’re all so messed up, I’m not sure I’d want to find myself in any of them! I know the one I’d most like to avoid though: Little Miss Muffet!

Thanks for the interview, Angie!


About the Author

Angie Frazier is a writer and mom, a good cook, and a horrible housekeeper. Angie’s debut novel, Everlasting, published by Scholastic Press, is a mixture of everything she loves in a good book: history, mystery, adventure, romance, and fantasy. Her middle grade novel, The Midnight Tunnel: A Suzanna Snow Mystery is a Spring 2011 Kids' Indie Next Pick, and Kirkus has called it "a likely and likable Edwardian Nancy Drew." She lives in southern New Hampshire with her husband and their three daughters.

 

About Two and Twenty Dark Tales

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

Useful Links

Angie's Site / Angie on Twitter / The Eternal Sea on GR / Two and Twenty Dark Tales on GR / The Tour Schedule

The Giveaway

One lucky reader will win an ebook copy of Angie Frazier's book, The Eternal Sea!  This giveaway is open internationally.  Good luck, everyone!

The Prize

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crewel Blog Tour - A Special Guest Post from Gennifer Albin

Welcome, readers!  Today's stop on the Crewel Blog Tour features a really fun guest post from the one and only Gennifer Albin.  For those who don't know, the Spinsters are seen as glamorous figures in Arras society.  As such, they are expected to appear flawless and dressed to the nines.  Gennifer has prepared a post to show you just how much of a role fashion plays in Crewel.  It's a lot of fun, so I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I did.

Fashion is key element in Crewel for two reasons. First, it builds the atmosphere of Arras, and second, it’s a lot of fun to write. When I decided to call my girls Spinsters (after a lot of deliberation, see why on my stop at Emily's Reading Room), I wanted to upend expectations, and what better way to do that then to turn them into femme fatales. The girls of Arras are power and dangerous, even if they don’t quite realize it, so I outfitted them like the screen sirens of Old Hollywood.

Spinster Style by gennifer-albin featuring stiletto high heels

Their hair and cosmetics reflected a similar, classic aesthetic.

Cosmetics of Arras by gennifer-albin featuring a wedding nail polish

The male population of Arras has a similar sense of style. This is an outfit you might see Erik, or Jost on his best behavior, wearing on a typical day: a pinstripe suit, polished cufflinks, and a fedora. Who could resist that?

Crewel men by gennifer-albin on Polyvore

About the Author

Gennifer Albin holds a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Missouri. During her student years she served as an editor for Pleaides and The Missouri Review, and since then she’s founded the tremendously popular blog theconnectedmom.com.  She lives in Kansas with her ridiculously supportive husband, two small children, and a Tuesday cat.

About the Book

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

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