Creative Spirit - Scott Nicholson

"Scott Nicholson explores the dark legends of the southern end of the Appalachian mountain chain, a nightmare country that ends in Stephen King's yard."-- Sharyn McCrumb, author of The Ballad novels

CREATIVE SPIRIT

A paranormal thriller by Scott Nicholson

After parapsychologist Anna Galloway is diagnosed with metastatic cancer, she has a recurring dream in which she sees her own ghost at Korban Manor. She’s compelled to visit the historic estate to face her destiny and the fate of her soul.

Sculptor Mason Jackson has come to the manor to make a final, all-or-nothing attempt at success before giving up his dreams. When he becomes obsessed with carving Ephram Korban's form out of wood, he is swept into a destructive frenzy that even Anna can’t pull him from.

The manor itself has secrets, with fires that blaze constantly in the hearths, portraits of Korban in every room, and deceptive mirrors on the walls. With an October blue moon looming, both the living and the dead learn the true power of their dreams.

View or sample it at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Kobo, Smashwords, BN.com, or Goodreads. Look for Liquid Fear and Chronic Fear from Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer imprint.

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CREATIVE SPIRIT is Scott Nicholson’s revised edition of the 2004 U.S. paperback THE MANOR. Scott is Kindle bestselling author of 12 novels, including THE RED CHURCH, DISINTEGRATION, LIQUID FEAR, and SPEED DATING WITH THE DEAD. Connect with Scott on Facebook, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Twitter, blogspot, website or Amazon page.

2011 Reading Challenges

2011 100+ Reading Challenge

1. The Long Weekend - Savita Kalhan
2. Least Wanted - Debbi Mack
3. The Lake of Dreams - Kim Edwards
4. A Long Walk to Water - Linda Sue Park
5. Sleepless - Cyn Balog
6. Lost on Spirit River - Tommy Batchelor
7. The Vyne: Mystery of the Hidden Ember - Daniel Walls
8. Goddess Girls: Artemis the Brave - Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
9. XVI - Julia Karr
10. The Fates Will Find Their Way - Hannah Pittard
11. The Book of Tomorrow - Cecelia Ahern
12. Solid - Shelley Workinger
13. Shades of Atlantis - Carol Oates
14. Bloodmaiden - Christine E. Schulze
15. The Big Show Stopper - Ken Dalton
16. The Raven's Gift - Don Rearden
17. Haven - Kristi Cook
18. Darkness Becomes Her - Kelly Keaton
19. Cows Can't Jump - Dave Reisman
20. The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson - Jerome Charyn
21. Across the Universe - Beth Revis
22. Jekel Loves Hyde - Beth Fantaskey
23. The End of Marking Time - C.J. West
24. The Weird Sisters - Eleanor Brown
25. The Final Alice - Alycia Ripley
26. The Altar of Bones - Philip Carter
27. Shadow Cat - Reena Jacobs
28. When Colors Bleed - Estevan Vega
29. The Hate - S.L. Pierce
30. A Blue So Dark - Holly Schindler
31. The Second Coming - David H. Burton
32. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
33. Blood of My Brother - James LePore
34. Wither - Lauren DeStefano
35. Compuls1on - Heidi Ayarbe
36. Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott
37. Unsavory Delicacies - Russell Brooks
38. The Lipstick Laws - Amy Holder
39. Hickey of the Beast - Isabel Kunkle
40. Boyfriends With Girlfriends - Alex Sanchez
41. Bubble White Hair - Timothy D. Cameron
42. Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives - Edited by Justin Gustainis
43. Broken - Susan Jane Bigelow
44. The Shepherd - Ethan Cross
45. A World I Never Made - James LePore
46. Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma
47. Effie at the Wedding - Tracy Marchini
48. Antara - Marilena Mexi
49. Dreamwalk - Sarah MacManus
50. Death of a Lesser Man - Thomas Rendell Curran
51. Angel Star - Jennifer Murgia
52. Homefires - Emily Sue Harvey
53. Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer - Maureen McGowan
54. Cinderella: Ninja Warrior - Maureen McGowan
55. The Eighth Scroll - Dr. Laurence B. Brown
56. Possession - Elana Johnson
57. The Lens and the Looker - Lory S. Kaufman
58. Mistwood - Leah Cypess
59. Personal Demons - Lisa Desrochers
60. The Chosen - Andrea Buginsky
61. The Queen Bee of Bridgeton - Leslie DuBois
62. A Season of Eden - Jennifer Laurens
63. Cursebusters! - Julie Smith
64. The Mumbo Jumbo Circus - Jane George
65. Amaretto Flame - Sammie Spencer
66. Flesh & Bones - Paul Levine
67. The Sext Crime - Jason Ancona
68. Revelations - Laurel Dewey
69. Aurora Undefined - Kate Hinderer
70. Bitter End - Jennifer Brown
71. Kings & Queens - Courtney Vail
72. Progeny - R.T. Kaelin
73. Inherit the Throne - Steve DeWinter
74. Sharks & Boys - Kristen Tracy
75. The Witch of Babylon - D.J. McIntosh
76. The Day Before - Lisa Schroeder
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The Contemps Challenge

Rules: Read at least 18 of the 21 upcoming Contemps books between now and August 15, 2011. 

1. Losing Faith - Denise Jaden

2. The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend - Kody Keplinger

3. Girl, Stolen - April Henry

4. Freefall - Mindi Scott

5. The Mockingbirds - Daisy Whitney

6. Fixing Delilah - Sarah Ockler

7. Fall for Anything - Courtney Summers

8. Trapped - Michael Northrop

9. Rival - Sara Bennett Wealer

10. Sean Griswold's Head - Lindsey Leavitt

11. Like Mandarin - Kirsten Hubbard

12. Family - Micol Ostow

13. Back When You Were Easier to Love - Emily Wing Smith

14. Pearl - Jo Knowles

15. Saving June - Hannah Harrington

16. Between Here and Forever - Elizabeth Scott

17. The Day Before - Lisa Schroeder

18. Small-Town Sinners - Melissa Walker

19. Third book in the Carter series - Brent Crawford

20. Sharks & Boys - Kristen Tracy

21. Want to Go Private? - Sarah Darer Littman

2011 Debut Author Challenge

1. Maurissa Guibord - Warped
2. Cynthia Hand - Unearthly
3. Terry Lynn Johnson - Dogsled Dreams
4. Julia Karr - XVI
5. Mariam Maarouf - Rosie
6. Alexandra Monir - Timeless
7. Eilis O'Neal - The False Princess
8. Beth Revis - Across the Universe
9. Jeff Sampson - Vesper
10. Elizabeth Woods - Choker
11. Courtney Allison Moulton - Angelfire
12. Sara Bennett Wealer - Rival
13. Leah Clifford - A Touch Mortal
14. Kristi Cook - Haven
15. Paige Harbison - Here Lies Bridget
16. Kelly Keaton - Darkness Becomes Her
17. Karen Mahoney - The Iron Witch
18. Kimberly Marcus - Exposed
19. Jana Oliver - The Demon Trapper's Daughter
20. Ty Roth - So Shelly
21. Lisa Cach - Wake Unto Me
22. Lauren DeStefano - Wither
23. Heather Dixon - Entwined
24. Kim Harrington - Clarity
25. Gwen Hayes - Falling Under
26. Kirsten Hubbard - Like Mandarin
27. C.C. Hunter - Born at Midnight
28. Lisa and Laura Roecker - The Liar Society
29. Ruta Sepetys - Between Shades of Gray
30. Ryan G. Van Cleave - Unlocked
31. Ann Aguirre - Enclave
32. Tessa Gratton - Blood Magic
33. Amy Holder - The Lipstick Laws
34. Lucy Jago - The Coven's Daughter
35. K. Ryer Breese - Future Imperfect
36. Josephine Angelini - Starcrossed
37. Tracy Deebs - Tempest Rising
38. Holly Goldberg Sloan - I'll Be There
39. Hannah Harrington - Saving June
40. Myra McEntire - Hourglass
41. Amy Plum - Die for Me
42. Veronica Roth - Divergent
43. Karyn Henley - Breath of Angel
44. Tara Hudson - Hereafter
45. Dawn Metcalf - Luminous
46. Carrie Harris - Bad Taste in Boys
47. Karsten Knight - Wildefire
48. Sarah Porter - Lost Voices
49. Victoria Schwab - The Near Witch
50. Kendare Blake - Anna Dressed in Blood
51. Kiki Hamilton - The Faerie Ring
52. Michelle Hodkin - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
53. Helen Landalf - Broken Wings
54. Caroline Starr Rose - May B.
55. Scott Tracey - Witch Eyes
56. Mary Lindsey - Shattered Souls
57. Marianna Baer - Frost
58. Megan Bostic - Never Eighteen
59. Rae Carson - The Girl of Fire and Thorns
60. Jocelyn Davies - A Beautiful Dark

Sins of the Angels - Linda Poitevin - Review

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.

Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Sins of the Angels (Grigori Legacy #1)

Author: Linda Poitevin

Genre: Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Ace Books

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Format: E-ARC

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Brady from Penguin US for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters

My rating: 4/5

Sins of the Angels is aptly named as the world is set to pay in blood for the sins of one angel in particular. Aramael is sent to hunt the Fallen Angel wreaking havoc on earth, and goes undercover as a police officer to assist in the hunt for said angel. Alexandra Jarvis is one of the lead detectives on the case, and is highly annoyed when she learns that she has acquired a new partner midway through the investigation. She does not realize that the case has a supernatural angle, and it will take more than the entire police force to stop this killer. 

Sins of the Angels ramps up the action, and keeps us guessing as to how different characters are tied into the story. Motives vary, and it is hard to decipher just which side of the playing field some of the characters are on. Alexandra Jarvis is a tough detective used to relying on no one. She is a believable character, and I enjoyed reading her story, even when she balked at various points throughout the novel. The interaction between her and her new partner, Jacob Trent, led to some interesting scenes. She doesn't want a partner and he doesn't want a partner, but they are forced to work together.

The action keeps the plot flowing rapidly, and the reader will inhale the book until they finish it. It is that captivating. There is a romantic sub-plot as well. Watching the two characters fight their feelings was intriguing especially knowing that said feelings should not exist. I'm curious to see what happens in the rest of the series, as the world could be irrevocably changed by said feelings. Trent or Aramael is also an engaging character. Watching him fight his emotions, and fulfill his duty to hunt down the Fallen Angels adds another dimension to the read. Knowing who the killer is and his relationship to Aramael also adds another twist to the story. 

Certain descriptions and scenes are particularly gruesome, and realistically portrayed. The killer is methodical, and his lack of caring make the scenes all the more chilling. 

Though there is a romantic sub-plot in the novel, it ramps up from barely there to all-consuming in moments without really spending time in between those stages. With the twist thrown in though, I'll be waiting to see what happens next between the characters, especially since there is the potential for a love triangle to develop in the next few books. 

All in all, a bold and brilliant new read to add to the roster of great urban fantasy reads. Those new to the genre, and those who voraciously read the genre will enjoy this new author. Sins of the Angels may have left us with more questions than answers, but I'm sure Sins of the Son will answer some of them for us. I know I'll be reading it as soon as it comes out. Poitevin is one to add to the must read list. 

Blog Tour: Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi - Author Book Picks

Veronica Rossi is here today with an author book picks post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her soon to be released book, Under the Never Sky. Thank you for being here today, Veronica! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Thanks for having me on the blog! I'm a huge fan of Kristin Cashore's books, so I'm really looking forward to BITTERBLUE. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor was one of the best books I read this year. I absolutely adored Karou and Akiva.

Recently I've been reading books by fellow debut authors. I've read BORN WICKED, EVERNEATH, INCARNATE, to name a few. 2012 is going to be an incredible year for books.

There's a strong part of me that has always loved epic stories with richly imagined worlds and a host of diverse characters. Lord of the Rings, The Game of Thrones, Harry Potter.... I can't get enough of those series.

As for my characters, I think both Perry and Aria would enjoy THE HUNGER GAMES for tough characters who know how to survive at all costs. I'd actually love to see how they'd fare in the games, if they'd been chosen as tributes. I think they'd both do pretty well.

Thanks so much for having me!

You are more than welcome! Thank you for being here today, Veronica! 

Veronica Rossi can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter.

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Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers abarbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

The first book in a captivating trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s enthralling debut sweeps you into an unforgettable adventure.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Asha in Time - Mandy Nachampassack-Maloney - Author Interview

Mandy Nachampassack-Maloney is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, Asha in Time. Thank you for being here today, Mandy! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

If you could live in any time period in history, which would you prefer and why?

I think I’d choose regency England but only if I could be a Lady at court and near the Virgin Queen. To be around a woman that was pioneering a new independent reign, new religion, and new devotion to the arts would be wonderful. Still, living the life of an average person where sanitation was a low priority and women married in their early teens- no thanks. Pass on that.

What one song defines the world as you see it?

“She’s Crazy But That’s Alright With Me”- Cross Canadian Ragweed

If you were dropped within the pages of Asha in Time, what would you do first?

I’d have to head over to the Temple of Isis to watch everything unfold and probably to scrounge up even the most menial of jobs. I’m not qualified in anything that would make a woman a good priestess.

There are two doors before you. One opens to Narnia, the other to Hogwarts. Which do you go through?

Hogwarts! Oh man, wouldn’t that be wonderful. Would Harry still be there? If so, I’m doubly in.

Can you give us a description of Asha in Time in haiku?

One young girl in Egypt

Must find her way and herself

And find her own throne

Thank you for answering my questions, and for being here today, Mandy! 

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She was special. Her parents knew that; though it was not her sable hair, her wide amber eyes, but the fact that she had memories of things she could not possibly know. She remembered the palace of ancient Thebes, the palace pharaohs and queens had walked in. Finally, on her thirteenth birthday, she would find out where her memories were born. She would return to ancient Egypt to get her answers, but she had no idea that he was waiting for her.

She'll have to use all her wits and wiles to find her way in Egypt and into his heart without destroying herself.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Around the World in 80 Kisses - The International Kissing Club - Ivy Adams - Word Association & Giveaway

Ivy Adams is here today with a Word Association post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for their new book, The International Kissing Club. Thank you for being here today, Ivy! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Around the World in 80 Kisses Smooch Stop #27

Smooch: Hugs and Kisses

Besmirch: A 1980s historical romance novel

Chris Evans: Silver Surfer (my boys love that movie) and Oooh, pretty

Avengers: Chris Hemsworth (Oooh, pretty)

International: Paris (one of my favorite places on earth)

4-H: Piper kissing a 4-H pig

Cookies: Snickerdoodles

Cows: Happy Cows come from California

Siamese: The King and I (One of my favorite musicals when I was a kid)

Running: Ugh

Writing: Bright, Shiny Idea (I write best when I have another shiny idea waiting for me)

Twelve: Days of Christmas

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: Just a Spoonful of Sugar

Music: Pearl Jam

Wind: Four elements

Dragons: The dragonshifter romance series I write under a different name

Boys: Oooh, pretty

Thanks so much for hosting us today. Now it’s my turn to ask a question for the daily giveaway: What comes to mind with the word snowflake?

Tell me in the comments below (and leave your email so we can contact you) to be entered to win the Around the World In 80 Kisses daily and weekly prize and also become eligible to win the Grand Prize, a Kindle Fire. For a list of all our Smooch Posts you can visit and earn more entries to win, visit us here.

Tracy Deebs along with Emily McKay and Shellee Roberts writes under the psuedonym Ivy Adams. They shop, gossip and watch movies in Austin, Texas.

Thank you so much for being here today ladies!


The authors writing as Ivy Adams can be found at their website, The International Kissing Club.

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Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: In My Dreams - Cameo Renae - Lizzy Character This or That

Cameo Renae is here today with a character this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, In My Dreams. Thank you for being here today, Cameo! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Tomboy or Girly-girl? I’d say girly-girl, because I’m definitely not a tomboy.

Hair straightener or blow dryer? Hair straightener. I fumble too much with the blow dryer.

Lip gloss or Lipstick? Lip gloss.

Chocolate or Cookies? Chocolate! That one was easy… unless it is a hot, gooey, chocolate-chip cookie right out of the oven.

Hot beverages or cold beverages? Hot. It’s usually too cold in Alaska for cold drinks anyway.

Horses or Rabbits? Rabbits. Cute, fluffy and cuddly. Need I say more?

Pop/Rock or Hip Hop? Pop/Rock

Country or City? Always have and always will be a country girl.

Books or magazines? Books, for sure. And here’s a personal recommendation… In My Dreams by Cameo Renae. My life’s story. It’s pretty awesome… and pretty sad.

Sweet or Salty? I love every sweet thing.

Ethnic food, or down home meals? Down home meals, which I didn’t get a lot of growing up.

Daredevil or responsible? I am totally responsible. Michael was the daredevil.

Guy friends or girl friends? Girl friends. Especially now that Michael is gone. :’(

Thanks Corrine for letting me visit!

Thank you for being here and answering my questions today, Lizzy! Thank you also to Cameo for being here! 

Cameo Renae can be found on her website, and on her blog. 

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It was happening again. The dreams. The nightmares. It was something seventeen year-old Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hayes thought she'd outgrown; dreams that would come true; detailed premonitions of how people would die. This time she dreams about her boyfriend, Michael Young, and soon discovers that he's been found... dead.

Michael hasn't crossed over because he was murdered, and now his murderer is coming for Lizzy. His spirit won't rest until she is safe, and as a newbie spirit, the easiest way for him to make contact is through Lizzy's dreams. When she dreams, it's as if he hasn't died.

Lizzy must learn to pull on her inner strength to survive horrifying events. Meanwhile, in the spirit world, Michael learns everything he can about his supernatural gifts to help. But will it be enough to save her?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: The Girl is Murder - Kathryn Miller Haines - Character Book Picks & Giveaway

Kathryn Miller Haines is here today with a Character Book Picks post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new book, The Girl is Murder. Thank you for being here today, Kathryn! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Iris loves two things: detective fiction and comics. In terms of books of her day, she loved Nancy Drew, though she’s getting too old for it now and, frankly, who wants to read about a perfect girl with a perfect life (and a cute little roadster) when your own world is falling apart? She reads Archie comics, but her fondness for them is fading for the same reasons: Archie and his friends are living the perfect high school experience, where bullies are punished, everyone is included, and the biggest trauma anyone faces is whether or not the guy they really like is going to ask them to the big dance.

That’s not Iris’s world anymore.

What she wants to read are dark stories. Eventually she’ll discover Raymond’s Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe and Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade, a cat so cool Humphrey Bogart will play him in The Maltese Falcon, and the novels of James M. Cain, whose dangerous femme fatales (Cora in Postman Always Rings Twice, Phyllis in Double Indemnity, Veda in Mildred Pierce) prove what Iris has long suspected: that being a woman doesn’t mean you’re morally superior.

And if she’s trading in Nancy Drew for darker detective fiction, she’s also exchanging Archie comics for Pulp magazines like True Detective, Dime Detective, and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. These quick tales with the lurid illustrations will help her hone her skills and strengthen her stomach.

Thank you for sharing Iris' book picks with us today, Kathryn! Also, thank you for being here today! 

Kathryn Miller Haines can be found on her website, and on her blog. 

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Iris Anderson is only 15, but she's quickly mastering the art of deception in this YA novel for fans of Veronica Mars. It's the Fall of 1942 and Iris's world is rapidly changing. Her Pop is back from the war with a missing leg, limiting his ability to do the physically grueling part of his detective work. Iris is dying to help, especially when she discovers that one of Pop's cases involves a boy at her school. Now, instead of sitting at home watching Deanna Durbin movies, Iris is sneaking out of the house, double crossing her friends, and dancing at the Savoy till all hours of the night. There's certainly never a dull moment in the private eye business.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

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Giveaway Details

Kathryn Miller Haines has graciously provided Lost For Words with a copy of The Girl is Murder to give away. 

Thank you, Kathryn! 

Giveaway is US only.

Giveaway will end December 23, 2011. 

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, won't be counted as entries. 

Thank you! 

Blog Tour: Happy Birthday to Me - Brian Rowe - Teenage Garage Sale

Brian Rowe is here today with a Teenage Garage Sale post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his Happy Birthday to Me book trilogy. Thank you for being here today, Brian! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

“Halloween” VHS Tape: DVDs were all the rage in my teenage years, but I was still hoarding a few special VHS tapes from my childhood. The original Halloween is my favorite horror movie of all time, and in the early 2000’s, I still owned the old VHS tape, even though I didn’t even have a VHS player anymore! $20.

Clearasil: Because my acne was out of control from the age of 14 to 17. It finally calmed down after high school. And that was a very, very good thing. $0.25.

Goosebumps Box Set: Up until about age 14, I loved loved loved R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series. But I don’t remember ever cracking one open once high school started for me, back in 1999. I probably owned at least 50 of the books at the time. $50.

Half-Opened Hair Gel: I had a tube of gel from eighth grade that reminded me of a former girlfriend everytime I smelled it. I eventually threw it in the trash, because I couldn’t take the pain anymore. But I probably should’ve tried to make a nickel off it by selling it at a garage sale. $0.50.

My Car: $1,000,000.

Last Action Hero DVD: the first DVD of a movie I ever owned. I still have it all these years later. The DVD menu is so archaic it’s tragic. But it’s a piece of history! $10.

Spice Girls – Spice & Spice World: I’m not afraid to admit I enjoyed Spice Girls music when I was 13 and 14. But come freshman year of high school, I probably would’ve tried to get rid of the CDs in any way possible. $5.

Floss: $0.01.

Box of Pumpkin Puree Cans: ever since I tried pumpkin ice cream at the Nut Tree outside of Sacramento,California, when I was six, I’ve been obsessed with pumpkin foods, and I always buy way more cans of pumpkin puree in October to December than I should. $8.

Michael Myers Mask: Going back to my love for Halloween, I bought the Michael Myers mask when I was 13. By the time I was 15, the mask had been pretty worn out and torn. I probably should have sold it around then. But here we are, fourteen years later, and I still have it in my closet! Long live Halloween, Michael Myers, and Dr. SamLoomis. $15.

Thank you for sharing these items from your 'garage sale' days and for being here today, Brian! 

Brian Rowe can be found on his blog, and on twitter.

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Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day!

High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect.

All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Blood on the Pen - David W. Huffstetler - Author Interview

David Huffstetler is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Tribute Books blog tour for his book, Blood on the Pen. Thank you for being here today, David! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy! 

Can you give us a description of Blood on the Pen in haiku?

Autumn of terror

By a killer they don’t know

Can they survive it?

If you found yourself in Jack and Elsie’s world, what would you do first?

Get the heck out of Texas. Well, maybe not, but their world is more than chasing a psychopathic killer. Their relationship gets more complicated, perhaps more special, by the day, so I might spend some time with a therapist. Of course, Jack already has one.

What one song describes the world as you see it?

I assume this means Jack and Elsie’s world, and it isn’t a song so much as it is a verse from a song. When I listen to Ed Ames, yes I said Ed Ames, sing Try to Remember, I am stricken by the line that says, “Without the hurt the heart is hollow.” It captures the pain of life, but also the hope, that eternal breath that says the pain comes from something deeper. If the people we care about weren’t so important to us, then it wouldn’t hurt so much to lose them, and you can’t have one emotion without the other.

If Murphy’s law applied to you, what scenario would you most likely encounter?

I only accept Murphy’s law in part. Bad things can happen, and they can happen at the worst time, but they don’t always happen. If it did apply to me, then the devastating bad thing would be for something to happen to my family. My writing is important to me, but the possibility a bad review or finding someone who can’t wait to trash your work on in a chat room is part of the price you pay when you step into this world.

Do you have any quirks about writing?

Quirks? Why, whatever do you mean? I like to be alone when I write. Some writers like to have a drink or play music, but not me. Perhaps a cup of coffee, but all I really want is to be left with my characters, so we can talk.

You’ve made the newspaper headline. What does it say? What don’t you want it to say?

Extra, Extra, Strange Author Writes About Love and Murder in Texas.

What I don’t want it to say is, Huffstetler’s Work Mediocre, Predictable.

Thank you for being here today, and answering my questions David! 

David W. Huffstetler can be found on his website, his blog and on facebook.

Blood on the Pen can be found as an ebook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Wild Child Publishing.

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Jack Harden is a modern-day Texas Ranger haunted by his wife's death a year ago.

But when a murderer strikes, he is called into duty. Now he must battle the urge to kill the drunk driver responsible for her death and the hunger to kill himself as he hunts for a serial killer who wants him dead.

Elsie Rodriguez is assigned to report on the murders for her newspaper and ordered to stay with Jack Harden. He's old school, tough, and doesn't want her there, but, despite his gruff manner, the big Ranger triggers something inside her. Something more than just her Latin temper.

Can she pull him back from the edge of sanity? Or will death win again?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

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Educated in Dallas, North Carolina, David Huffstetler holds degrees in Engineering and Business Administration. He has worked in the area of human relations and spent fourteen years weaving through the maze of politics, including participating in a Federal Law suit as Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, with a sitting governor over issues of separation of powers. David has served on Boards of Directors for numerous professional organizations including Crime Stoppers, SC Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, SC Safety Council, the SC Fire Academy, and the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Workers’ Compensation. He has advised governors and legislators on matters of public policy and legislation. His wealth of experience is broad and brings deep insight to his writing.

David’s work as a senior manager with a major industrial concern took him to international venues and exposures that helped feed his urge to write Disposable People, a dramatic expose of the working conditions and politics that engulf undocumented workers. Disposable People is a top-ten “Suggested Book” at Tufts University in Boston, MA.

He turned the frustrations and rejection that plagues thousands of yet-to-be-published authors into the heralded mystery/thriller Blood on the Pen, with a serial killer disposing of literary agents. David, an avid history buff, led him to write Dead in Utah, the story of Joe Hill, the controversial musician and union organizer accused of a double murder in 1914.

His books receive praise from mystery readers across the globe.

As an editor, David edited a treatise on the South Carolina workers’ compensation laws, as well as, Shannon Faulkner’s novel Fire and Ice. Shannon was the first female cadet at the Citadel. She received national publicity for her federal lawsuit and was a guest on Good Morning America.

As an editor, public speaker, and seasoned professional, David has appeared on television and radio, and has lectured on the East Coast, California, Canada and Mexico.

David currently lives in Lexington, South Carolina with his wife, Trudy.

Blog Tour: Can You Survive: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Ryan Jacobson - Teenage Garage Sale & Giveaway

Ryan Jacobson is here today with a Teenage Garage Sale post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his brand new release, Can You Survive: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Thank you for being here today, Ryan! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy! 

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Welcome to my teenaged garage sale. I’m something of a pack rat, so I could probably really have this sale. (Hmm, maybe next summer.) I’ll try not to embarrass myself too much, but here are some of the must-have items you’ll find:

1. Transformers & G.I. Joe toys. I confess: I played with toys WAY too long. When my friends started going to movies and hanging out at the local pizza place/arcade, I stayed home with my Transformers and G.I. Joes.

2. Comic books. I will always love comic books. Back then, my favorites were Batman, Daredevil and Iron Man. I’m kind of over Daredevil and Iron Man, but my collection of Batman comics is still going strong.

3. Football cards. I was obsessed with football in general and collecting football cards in particular. I mixed in a little baseball and basketball here and there, but I was all about football.

4. Minnesota Vikings paraphernalia. If football was my game, the Vikings were my team. My entire bedroom was decked out in Vikings posters, magazines, autographed cards, calendars, toys and more.

5. Sports Illustrated. I had a subscription for most of my teenaged years and never threw a single issue away.

6. Tasmanian Devil T-shirts. My high school wardrobe consisted almost exclusively of jeans and Tasmanian Devil T-shirts. No kidding, I think I wore a Taz shirt almost every day. In completely unrelated news, I never had much luck with the ladies.

7. Track & Field ribbons. By seventh grade, my body was the size of a full-grown adult. I was the star athlete of my middle school. Too bad everyone else had to go and catch up with me by high school.

8. Bon Jovi cassettes. Come on, what child of the ’80s didn’t have Bon Jovi on tape?

9. Ninja costume. Yes, I was in a ninja club. Yes, it ended with a ride in a police car. No, I won’t say any more about that.

10. Miami Vice coat. I had this obnoxiously yellow coat that looked like something Sonny Crockett would wear. I felt so awesome in it, but it was a hand-me-down from my older brother. So I think I was probably three years too late for that look.

11. Alto saxophone. I was in band, and as much as I pretended to hate it, I actually quite 

liked it.

12. Notebooks. I still have most of my old notebooks. They’re pretty fun to look through once in a while, as they’re filled with doodles, cheesy poems and far too many love letters that were never delivered. [Sigh.]

Thank you for sharing items from your teenage years with us today, Ryan! Thank you for being here as well! 

Ryan Jacobson can be found on his website, on his blog, and on twitter. 

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He's the world's most famous detective, and thanks to this brilliantly adapted book, he's you! The cases, the clues, the suspects, they're yours to sort through in this exciting Choose Your Path book. You are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. You make the choices. But be careful; the wrong decision could lead to your doom.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

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Giveaway Details

Ryan Jacobson has graciously provided Lost For Words with a copy of Can You Survive: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes for giveaway.

Thank you, Ryan! 

Giveaway is open to US only. 

Giveaway will end December 14, 2011.

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, won't be counted as entries. 

Thank you!

Blog Tour: Shattered Souls - Mary Lindsey - Guest Post: Writing Method

Mary Lindsey is here today with a post on her writing method courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her soon to be released, Shattered Souls. Thank you for being here today, Mary! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Method Acting Applied to Characterization in Fiction

I’ve been asked if I use a particular method to write. Coming from a theatre background, “method” means something different to me.

I was trained in the Stanislavsky Method of acting, and I’ve discovered that some of the principles of the system apply to developing richer characters in novels.

Method acting derived from the system created by the Russian actor, Constantine Stanislavski in the late 1800’s. “Method” acting was popularized in the U.S. in the 1930’s and advanced by Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio from the 1940’s until his death in 1982.

In Stanislavski’s system, actors deeply analyze motivations and emotions of their character in order to personify them with psychological realism and emotional authenticity.

The character has to come from somewhere or something within the actor—or in this case, the author—in order to be believable.

I won’t bore you with an essay on Method Acting, but I’ll give you an example of how it changed a scene once I got into my own head and memories before going into my main character’s.

In the opening of the book, Lenzi, the protagonist is approached by the spirit of a dead child in the school bathroom. After escaping the locked stall and finding the main bathroom door locked, Lenzi does something entirely different than she did originally: she slides down the door, curls in a ball, and rocks.

When I first wrote it, I had her bang, scream and fight her way through her fear. But after I put the scene through a couple of acting exercises (internal mental and emotional ones—I didn’t scream and bang on my door), I realized her reaction was more intense and believable if she withdrew for a moment. I based this on an experience I had in Kindergarten when I got locked in a school locker for many hours.

So, although each book dictates a different approach and organization, my consistent tool when writing is the emotional and sense memory recall exercises I used on stage. It adds a richness to the characters that makes them more believable to me as well as the readers.

Thank you so much, Corrine, for having me on you blog today!

Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your writing method, Mary! Also, thank you so much for being here today! 

Mary Lindsey can be found on her website.

Shattered Souls can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Penguin, and Goodreads.

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A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger.

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.