Cover Reveal: Taking Back Forever, by Karen Hooper (designed by Alexandra Shostak)

I'm super excited and incredibly honored today to be one of the hosts for this reveal. Karen and Alexandra are two of my best internet writing friends who I've never met. Together, we're also three tenths of the authors at YA Confidential, being a part of which has been an amazing experience for me, so I'm very thankful to be a part of everything we do over there.

Anyway, all gushing aside, today is the big reveal for Karen's next book in the Kindrily series: Taking Back Forever. Is this not the swirliest, stompingest, most gorgeous cover ever?

I know. When I do covers, I go big. I can't help it. I love this cover just as much as I loved the first one (or maybe even a little more, since I think that might be Alexandra in the photo, rocking those killer stompers).

I've read both of Karen's previous books (the unrelated Tangled Tides, and the first in the Kindrily series, Grasping at Eternity). I recommend them both.

And now, some more about the book, and the lovely ladies who created its cover:

Forever is worth the fight.

Maryah erased all memory of her past lives, but she couldn’t erase her soul mate Nathan, or his undying love. Now, Maryah and Nathan have a second chance at a future together, but first Maryah must remember the person she used to be and embrace her supernatural gifts—more than one kindrily member’s life depends on it.

Maryah’s power is Harmony’s best hope of finding her kidnapped soul mate, Gregory. But Harmony isn’t big on asking anyone for help, and she’s tired of waiting, so she’s taking matters into her own hands. Heaven help anyone who stands in her way.

To celebrate, Karen and Alexandra are giving away signed paperbacks of Grasping at Eternity. (Signed by Karen AND Alexandra!)

Contest is open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Karen was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years, and is currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two beloved dogs. She's addicted to coffee, chocolate, and complicated happily-ever-afters. Due to her strong Disney upbringing, she still believes in fairytales and will forever sprinkle magic throughout all of her novels.

www.KarenAmandaHooper.com
Twitter: @karen_hooper

Alexandra Shostak is a writer of dark and fantastical things, mostly meant for teenagers. She is a freelance cover designer, and is available to do covers and interior artwork directly for authors. She is also a former Irish dancer, a guitar player, and the person who can get you through the zombie apocalypse without getting bitten.

If you’re especially worried about the zombie apocalypse, you can find her in one of these places:

www.alexandrashostak.com
www.coversbyalexandra.com
www.yaconfidential.com
or on Twitter as @a_shostak

High Ate Us

Before you read this, head over to Afterglow Book Reviews, and read my recommendation of Karen Amanda Hooper's Grasping at Eternity.

Back? Okay. I have some announcements.

First, if you're not watching The Newsroom, on HBO, you're missing a great show. I never got into The West Wing when it was on, but I can definitely see why so many people think Aaron Sorkin is a genius.

Second, if you didn't see Roni Loren's post about using photos in your blog posts, go read it, STAT. It's a sad lesson, but an important one all bloggers must learn.

Finally, in more sad news, I'm going to be taking a break from blogging. Lately it's gotten in the way of writing and critiquing I've needed to be doing, and traffic and comments have been down anyway, so it feels right to step back and re-evaluate for a bit.

Don't worry, I'm not quitting, I enjoy it too much for that, but things have gotten so busy at work lately, I really only have time for writing or blogging, and writing has to come first. There is no news on the agent front, so I'm trying to just focus on some projects I have in the pipe, and hopefully things will work themselves out while I'm not worrying about them.

This may only last a week, or it may last a little longer, but you can still look for me at both Project Middle Grade Mayhem and at YA Confidential in the meantime. Otherwise, thanks, as always for your support.

Tangled Tides: I Choose Gorgons!

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO TANGLED TIDES!

Karen Amanda Hooper’s young adult novel, TANGLED TIDES, is officially being released into the world today. I’m joining the celebration by fighting in the war--the underwater web war between the sea creatures!

Karen’s story contains battling merfolk, selkies, sirens and gorgons. She says she loves all of them, but she wants everyone else to choose a side, so…

I choose Gorgons, because they're awesome. Also, both my daughter and I were born in the year of the snake. Off topic, I know, but still fun!

I'm going to let Karen break down the creatures for you guys, as they appear in her novel:

MERFOLK: of the sun, need warmth, gifted singers, can control water. Fun fact: in my story merfolk are ranked by color. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet (yes, the rainbow. And yes, my MC makes fun of it.) Each rank has a designated role and duties to their kind. Also, they must smoke C-weed to survive. You'll have to read the book to find out what C-weed is.

SIRENS: of the sun, need warmth, seductive singers, can control the weather. Fun fact: There are 3 siren sisters, one for each of the original gorgon sisters who were eternally banished to the dark and cold gorgon grotto. The sirens fly and swim between the worlds doing the gorgon sisters' dirty work, but the sirens evolved to be feisty rebels who do whatever they want most of the time--including stealing memories from humans.

SELKIES: of the moon, need cold, phenomenal dancers, can control human minds. Fun fact: selkies need the cold to survive but they're trapped in warm FL weather, so they hang out at Jack Frost's, a bar that is freezing cold and everything (seats, tables, walls, etc) are made out of ice. Their chic fur coats also help keep their bodies cool. They smoke seagarettes and have lots of scars that are invisible to humans.

GORGONS: of the moon, need cold, seductive dancers (though that doesn't get revealed til book 2 ((SHHHH. No one knows that yet but you guys!)), can control the sea creatures (the original 3 are like the gods of their world). Fun fact: Just like Medusa, the gorgons can turn any living thing to stone, but they aren't the heartless evil monsters that are portrayed in most legends. They are wicked smart, fast, and powerful. The male gorgons are tough as rock.

So I'm sure you can see why I selected Gorgons, Medusa aside. Now I want to give Karen a chance to tell you guys about her book. I haven't finished it yet, because I'm very busy, but I have read the first few chapters, and so far it's awesome!

Take it away Karen:

Yara Jones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one.

When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious.

Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people—until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process—or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans.

Now let me announce the totally original contest she's running:

Wanna learn more or join in on the fun? Go check out the details at Karen’s blog:

http://www.KarenAmandaHooper.com

Karen is giving away a signed copy of her book and some other sea creature themed prizes. To enter, join the underwater web war on Twitter. Tweet which sea creatures you’re rooting for and why. Include the hashtag #TangledTides and you could win.

Karen will be on Twitter all day celebrating and answering questions, so stop by and say hello.

@Karen_Hooper

And finally, here's where you can find Karen, and her book:

Karen's blog: http://www.karenamandahooper.com/

Amazon:   http://amzn.com/1936850435

Rhemalda Bookstore:   http://tiny.cc/BuyTangledTides

Barnes & Noble:   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tangled-tides-karen-amanda-hooper/1035791101?ean=9781936850433&itm=1&usri=tangled%252btides

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12047201-tangled-tides