Top Three Reading Resolutions for the New Year (KaLyn)

The 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge has ended! How did you do?

After adjusting my goal half-way through the year, I managed to squeak by in the end with twenty-four books. Twenty-four books is a realistic goal for me, and I'll be sticking with it again this year. But I will be changing some reading tactics.

More Focus

Oh, how the marvels of technology have influenced the flow of information and the formats in which we consume it. Don't get me wrong. I love tech. It's part of what drew me into the world of coding and software development before I left the workforce to homeschool our youngest child who is both gifted and challenged in some of the same ways I am. But it is those same tech changes that continue to impact my attention span through overstimulation.

So, this year, I aim to reign-in my screen time and use of technology by doing more work the old fashioned way - books and paper - and to set boundaries for when and how long I do fire up a computer, pick up a smartphone, or even read on an e-reader.

More Audiobooks

Sometimes it's nice to have someone else read to you, especially after you've been staring at words on a screen all day. Even with a nice set of glasses to reduce blue light exposure it can be taxing. Plus, audiobooks are great for road trips.

More Fiction

Only a third of the books from my Goodreads challenge last year was non-fiction, but it doesn't reflect the amount of time I spent reading non-fiction. I often combed over passages, materials from professional development classes, and various articles multiple times.

Honestly, learning is somewhat of a compulsion for me so my consumption of non-fiction will not change. However, I do plan to spend more time reading fiction. Starting with two books releasing this month that I've been looking forward to reading: Black Blood, the conclusion of the Children of the Blood Moon series by S.D. Grimm and Flare, the second book in the Firebrand Chronicles by J.M. Hackman.

Do you have any reading goals for the new year?

Amber Eyes by S.D. Grimm (KaLyn)

The blog tour for Amber Eyes by S.D. Grim is in full swing and, today, we get to be a part of it! More about the book and the author are included below, along with the details about an exciting giveaway for a signed copy of Amber Eyes! Don't miss it!

Amber Eyes is the second book in the Children of the Blood Moon series. In this medieval saga, seventeen-year-old Jayden is revealed as a Deliverer after her family is murdered. Unsure of herself, she rejects her destiny. However, fighting against both her destiny and her enemies puts those she cares for at risk. Only by embracing her abilities and her role as a Deliverer, can Jayden become the protector needed to save the world from darkness and her people from extinction.

Action-packed and well-crafted like the first book, Amber Eyes delivers on the romantic conflict we see brewing in Scarlet Moon. With plot twists and new insights into the characters' psyches and bonded abilities, book two finishes strong, leaving the reader wanting more and setting the stage for an epic ending to the trilogy.

Where are the Wielder and the remaining Deliverer? What is the power Conner fights to contain? And on which side of the battle will Ryan land?

I enjoyed reading both books and look forward to the final installment releasing next year.

Amber Eyes is available for purchase from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Unicorn Quester to view the full blog tour schedule.

Here's the book blurb for Amber Eyes:

Destiny can be cruel.

Darkness retreated from the light of the scarlet moon, but has since grown even stronger. The Mistress of Shadows has found a new pawn—one that may be the key to unlocking the door to her underground prison. Now evil threatens to escape its shackles and destroy the land.

In the aftermath of loss and betrayal, Jayden’s fight with the enemy still isn’t over. But while she isn’t sure she can stop the Mistress alone, leaving her friends might be the only way to keep them from being consumed by the darkness.

With lives hanging in the balance—and no time for error—can Jayden make the right choice?

Amber Eyes is the second book in S.D. Grimm's Children of the Blood Moon series. Scarlet Moon is the first book in the series and is available for purchase from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Here's the book blurb for Scarlet Moon: 

Destiny can pick someone else.

Evil is slipping through the cracks of its prison, and all Soleden trembles in its wake. Yet some would harness that evil to their own ends, and first among them is Idla, the sorceress queen bent on distorting the world.

Only one can stand in her way: Jayden. Upon realizing her mark as the prophesied Deliverer, Jayden conceals herself from her enemies and her Feravolk countrymen. But after the harm the Feravolk caused to her family, she's loath to rescue the not-so-innocent.

Hiding her mark was never easy, but now that Jayden knows both Queen Idla and the Feravolk are after her, hiding her gift of the Blood Moon will be impossible.

About the author:

S. D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult fantasy and science fiction, which is to be expected from someone who looks up to heroes like Captain America and Wonder Woman, has been sorted into Gryffindor, identifies as rebel scum, and loves elevensies as much as afternoon tea. Her patronus is a red Voltron lion, her spirit animal is Toothless, and she totally has a superpower. She is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency, her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-sized dog, and you can learn more about her upcoming novels at www.sdgrimm.com.

You can also connect with S.D. Grimm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, Pinterest, or Goodreads.


Sign up for her newsletter here.





DON'T MISS OUT ON THE GIVEAWAY!!!

Want to dive into a new world? Enter to win a signed copy of both Amber Eyes and Scarlet Moon, a grimmlie dragon of the dragon on the cover (made by the author), a charm bracelet (made by her Captain America), and a $10 Amazon gift card. (US only. Sorry!)

Enter the here for a chance to win. Ends February 4th at 12 am CST.

Summoner by S.D. Grimm (Laurie)

Me again :) I know you just heard from me on Tuesday, but Erin let me take her spot today because I got the opportunity to review an advance reader copy of Summoner as part of S.D. Grimm's blog tour! Yay!!

I ended up reading Summoner in only a few days in order to get my review posted on time, but I have a feeling I would have flown through it regardless, because it's just that kind of book! Allie reluctantly accompanies her friends to a cemetery to go "witching" as a dare. But while the others get a little creeped out and laugh it off, Allie hears a spirit calling to her, asking for help. Thus begins a series of nightmares and subsequent visits to the cemetery, in which Allie discovers she's fallen prey to the Summoner's curse, which must be broken before the spirit harms Allie and the ones she loves. In the mix is Cody, Allie's cute new next-door neighbor, who has secrets of his own but will do anything to protect her.

I'll admit that ghost stories aren't usually my thing, but I was willing to give this one a try since I highly respect the author both as a person and as a writer :) The creepy factor definitely made me glad I'm rarely home alone at night, but I liked how it all contributed to the mystery of the ghost's intentions and Allie's curse. I also loved how loss was handled in this book. Both Allie and Cody had lost a close family member, the way it affected their mindset and relationships felt very natural and insightful.

I loved Cody's character. Sweet, vulnerable, and protective, I fell for him right away as he showed a playful, humorous side while battling the darkness of past tragedies. And you've gotta love a guy who can cook :) My reaction to Allie was more mixed. I found it hard to relate to her rush to push her relationship with Cody beyond friendship, and her jealousy of other girls who interacted with Cody got a bit extreme at times. But on the other hand, her interactions with her dad were really touching and I appreciated how she went out of her way to let Cody know she accepted him for who he was and challenged him to move past his guilt and insecurities. As a couple, I enjoyed watching them get to know each other between banter and deeper conversations, and by the end my romantic sensibilities were quite satisfied :)

Despite my reservations about Allie and my occasional confusion about the curse, what really struck home for me about Summoner was the engaging writing style and the beautiful themes of self-forgiveness and loving and living to the fullest. For older teens looking for a well-written romance / ghost story, definitely check this one out!


You can purchase Summoner at Amazon, Amazon Australia, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, or Entangled. If you'd like to check out other stops on the blog tour, click on the banner at the top of the post. And don't miss the Facebook Summoner Release Party, which is taking place on Tuesday, Sept. 19th at 7:00 PM EDT! Here's the synopsis:

When Allie’s best friend dares their group to play a game in a cemetery—something she calls “witching”—Allie never expects what it might mean for her. When she plays, she doesn’t just find bodies, she summons their souls. But one soul wants more than Allie is willing to give.

And the boy next door could be the key to saving her.

Cody Burkhart. Straight from Montana, cowboy hat wearing, and smoking hot, he’s just the thing to help Allie become “normal” again after the death of her mother. And as her newly appointed Guardian, he’s also just the thing to help Allie ward off the vengeful spirit who’s after her soul. Except Cody has his own demons to slay that keep him closed off. But as the full moon approaches, so does their only chance to break the curse, and Cody will have to make the biggest sacrifice of all.




And here's a little bit about the author (S.D. Grimm also stopped by to do an interview with us last year, which you can find here):

S. D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult fantasy and science fiction. She is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency and author of SCARLET MOON. She currently has four books under contract, including the remainder of her YA fantasy series Children of the Blood Moon. When she’s not writing or editing, Sarah enjoys reading (of course!), practicing kickboxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu, training dogs, and binge-watching shows with great characters. Her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-sized dog. You can learn more about her upcoming novels at www.sdgrimm.com. You can also connect with her on  Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, Newsletter, Spotify, and Entangled Publishing. 



Congratulations on your new release, Sarah!!


How do you feel about reading ghost stories? Do you have any favorites?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie


*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*

Interview with S.D. Grimm (& Giveaway!)

We have a lucky winner...Caryl Kane!!! (Winner chosen via Rafflecopter.) Congratulations to Caryl, and many thanks to S.D. Grimm and all of you who stopped by to enter! Check back for more giveaways in the coming months :) Have a wonderful weekend!


We are thrilled to welcome S.D. Grimm to Lands Uncharted to celebrate release day for her debut YA speculative novel, Scarlet Moon! Sarah is a woman of many talents in addition to writing (and has a great sense of humor!), and we're so grateful she took the time to answer some questions for us today. And, did you notice GIVEAWAY in the post header?! That's, right, Sarah has generously offered to give away a signed copy of Scarlet Moon to one lucky winner. Find out how to enter below!


And now, without further ado, here's Sarah!


First, a little introduction:

S. D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult speculative fiction. She is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency and her debut novel, Scarlet Moon, is slated to be published in October 2016. When she’s not writing or editing, Sarah enjoys reading (of course!), making clay dragons for her Grimmlies store on Etsy, practicing kickboxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu, training dogs, and doing anything outdoorsy with the family. Her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-sized dog.


What's something we wouldn't know about you just by looking?

Well, I do like Brazilain jiu jitsu, kickboxing, fencing, and shooting. Archery is next.


Do you have any go-to foods or beverages while writing?

Ummmm . . . water. :)


What fictional character(s) best describes your personality?

Well, I’ve been called Rapunzel from Tangled. I think that scene in Tangled where she flits back and forth between feeling horrible and amazing for leaving the tower pretty much nails it. That and the singing while cleaning. Holy awkward, Batman.


Since we're all about exploring new worlds here at Lands Uncharted, if you could choose one place to visit, real or fictional, where would you go?

Real: the UK
Fictional: Hiccup and Toothless's world from How to Train Your Dragon


Why do you write speculative fiction? What draws you to it? 

Magic. I love the endless creative possibilities of fantasy and sci-fi. Something about this genre sparks to life the kid inside me that makes me want to share the wonder I experience in believing and hoping and knowing the impossible is somehow possible. I like to encourage others to embrace that inner child and believe it too.


What advice would you share with an aspiring author?

Don’t give up. Find supporters and a few people you trust to critique your work. Then treat them like gold.


What has your journey to finding an agent and the road to publication been like?

Hard. Crazy. The thing about this business is it’s not for the faint of heart. You better your craft all the time. You build your social media presence. You try to send the right work at the right time to the right people. You attempt to stay ahead of the curve without knowing where the curve is. You survive getting your heart broken again and again and again. You don’t give up. You make connections. Friends. Partners in writing who help and encourage you. You have fun. You learn a lot about writing and about yourself. And when something good happens and you take another step forward down this path, all those people celebrate with you. You find community. You work your heart out and wear it on the pages of your work. People will crumple it up, step on it, and some will even use it wipe the snot off their own faces. And then there will be those who feel what you’re trying to say. They’ll cherish it, and they’ll recommend that others read it. Some will misunderstand it. Others will get it. And still that journey—probably on the road less traveled—is just beginning.


No visit to Lands Uncharted is complete without Top 3s! Give us a Top 3 list, in the category of your choice.

Top 3 Favorite Animal Characters (besides mine, of course):

Toothless the dragon, Ghost the direwolf, and Bigwig the rabbit from Watership Down


Now, we can't forget to talk about Scarlet Moon, which releases TODAY! What's it about?

Told from multiple point of view characters, Scarlet Moon is a young adult fantasy about Jayden, a seventeen-year-old, dagger-wielding, storm-detecting orphan who can save the race of people known as the Feravolk from a sorceress queen bent on annihilating them. Maybe they should have thought of that before they killed Jayden’s family.


What was your inspiration for writing Scarlet Moon?

I love animals. The novel I wrote prior to this one (which sits in a proverbial dark, secret drawer) was about animals. All the characters were animals. And one day I decided to get serious about publishing. Then I decided I was going to write about people. I still wanted animals to be a big part of the story so I chose to write about a race of people who can commune with nature. These people basically get certain talents or abilities from animals—and they reciprocate, giving animals certain abilities too. Then I researched some really cool animals, including mythological ones, and the story world really grew from there.


What do you hope readers will take away from Scarlet Moon?

Persevere. And real love always protects, no matter the cost.


And I can't help but ask, can you tell us what you're working on now?

A Cyberpunk with superheroes.


Sounds amazing, right? Thank you so much for visiting and letting us celebrate your release day, Sarah! You can find out more about Sarah at http://sdgrimm.com, or by connecting with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. You can purchase Scarlet Moon on Amazon.

Now, about that giveaway :) Enter using the form below (U.S. residents only). The giveaway closes at 11:59 Central Time on Thursday, October 27th and the winner will be announced here on Friday, October 28th. Good luck!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway