Rose's Will by Denise DeSio is a finalist in the Book Cover Contest over at Bookplex. Please take a moment to go on over and VOTE for it. Pretty Please :) :) :)
This cover was created by the amazing Sean Samborski, the man behind Therian's cover!!
Hello, and welcome to my stop on The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar by Steven Katriel Blog Tour.
When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to
the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for
her disappearance and the death of several friends. Once in the town of
Carliton, Gabriel finds only malice and mystery in the tales told by the few
brave enough to speak ill of Salazar and the sinister Cousin Beatriz. And within
shadows, in the guise of night, walks Alatiel, the creature Helena has become. .
. .
REVIEW
First off let me just say that the cover of this novella reminds me of a
Lady Gaga music video!! It's weird and creepy, and is a beautiful impression of
what to expect under the cover.
This story is probably one of the best horror tales I have read in forever.
I only wished it was a full length novel and not a novella. From the very
beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to so many characters that it
was easy to become a little lost trying to keep up with all of them, and if
this story had been stretched out a little, perhaps they could have been better
developed.
However, Katriel's writing style is superb and flows so easily, that even
with everything going on it wasn't difficult settling into the macabre and
twisted story of Alatiel Salazar, the muse who lures her victims in with her
innocent looks and then turns their passion and desire into a dark obsession that
leads to their ultimate demise.
It is quite clear from her first introduction that Alatiel is not exactly
normal, and as Gabriel Holland goes in search of his beloved Helena, a chilling
mystery reveals the truth of Alatiel’s existence and the darkness that stalks
Carliton; A town under the control of Christian Salazar, a man stricken by
grief and out for vengeance.
This is an unnerving ghost story that will send shivers down your spine.
Just check out the book trailer to see what I mean!!
It gets...
About the Author
Steven Katriel writes Gothic Horror, Paranormal Fantasy, and Literary Fiction. He has lived in Wales, UK all his life. In recent years, he wrote history articles for a community magazine. Steve’s literary heroes and heroines range from Oscar Wilde to Hilary Mantel. He has a passion for past times and this is reflected in his writing.
To learn more about Steven Katriel and his writing projects, please visit the website below:
What is E-Piracy, and why are we making such a big deal about it??
Well, quite simply put, E-piracy is THEFT!!
That's right, when you click on that free download link, you are in every sense of the word stealing!
As an author, I'm thankful that I haven't fallen victim to this trend, yet. As a reader, I cannot believe that anyone would want to disrespect the very people who provide the tools that keep our imagination alive!!
Having said that, I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt before prosecuting them, so I have to believe that readers who download free books from unauthorized sellers are ignorant to the detrimental effect their actions will have. So I'd like to help them better understand why E-piracy can be so damaging. Time to bust some myths!
Myth 1: It's only one download, what harm can it do.
Imagine if a hundred, or even a thousand people all shared that sentiment. And let me assure you that illegal downloading equates to much more than a few thousand downloads!!
Myth 2: Authors can afford the loss.
Authors do not make millions from book sales. It normally takes months, or at least 10 000 or more copies sold before an author even starts to reap the rewards. Even then, the amount an author receives on each copy sold is not substantial. We write because it's our passion, not the path to becoming rich.
Myth 3: Illegal downloading doesn't hurt anyone.
Of course it does! Authors spend weeks, months, and in some cases years perfecting the art of writing, creating characters and stories for our entertainment. They pour their heart and soul into everything they write. Stealing their work is a slap in the face! But authors are not the only ones hurt in the process. The time and resources spent on making a book the best it can be, will mean that publishers are forced to increase the price of books, which means readers will have to fork out more for the books they love!
Myth 4: Only Indie Authors are affected by E-piracy
E-piracy has no bounds. Whether an author is self-published or represented by a large publishing house, there is a chance they will fall prey to pirates.
Myth 5: Books are too expensive to buy through an authorized seller
There are many other ways to get your hands on a book you want to read! Go to the library, borrow a book from a friend or save up until you have enough money to buy the book. Just don't steal it!!
There are so many torrent and free download sites, but if readers stop supporting their illegal activity, perhaps we can stop these pirates from destroying the industry we all love so much!!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope I have shed some light on this topic, and I hope you will take a moment to think before pressing that download button!
Remember to check out the other blogs participating in this hop:
I never thought I'd enjoy reading books on an eReader, but now I have two and I haven't read a paperback in months. I carry my eReaders with me wherever I go!!
Don't get me wrong, I still think there is something magical about the feel and smell of paperbacks, but eReaders are so much more convenient, compact and hey, who doesn't love having an entire library of books to read, whenever, wherever, right?
Okay, so now onto the important stuff...the giveaway :)
Up for grabs is a copy of my debut novel, Therian (The Bloody Crescent #1), as well as any other 48fourteen release (Can be a future release, if you are willing to wait for it)
Click on the covers to find out more about each book:
Current Releases
Coming Soon
Rules:
Giveaway is International ( eBooks available in ePub, Mobi. and PDF format )
Entrants must be 13 years or older
The Winner will be contacted via email, and will have 72 hours in which to respond.
I really didn't do very well! I only managed to read 3 books. Life has been just a little too hectic at the moment, but I will try my best to finish all of the books I listed :)
So what did I read?
I will post my reviews for Something Strange & Deadly and Over You this week. My review for The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar will only be posted at the end of the month when my post for the Blog Tour goes up :)
Now before you go...don't forget that the Review Copy Cleanup is still under way, and you have until August 15th to sign up!!
The
Guidelines
The challenge runs from 1 to 31 August
To sign up, just fill in the Mister Linky below. Link to your sign up
post directly please! The Linky is the same for both our blogs, so you only
have to sign up once
The sign up is open until 15 August 2012
When you post your sign up post on your blog, either include the
challenge button with your post or link it back to this article so that people
know where to sign up. Thank you!
Every book you received for review counts towards the challenge, both ebooks
and hard copies, including all genres and lengths
You don't need to follow the two hosts in order to be able to sign up for
the event (although it's appreciated)
Feel free to use the #RCCleanup hashtag on Twitter for your RCC
related tweets or join in the Twitter party at http://tweetchat.com/room/RCCleanup and meet
lots of awesome bloggers (:
The dates of the readathons and Twitter parties will be announced closer to
the RCC
Want to join in the fun??? Click here and sign
up!
Exiled by J.R.Wagner is FREE on Amazon for two days ONLY (Aug 7-8)!!
Click on the pic above to get your copy now!
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Stripped of his powers and banished to The Never, James must
save himself before he can save his fellow sorcerers from imminent demise.
Prophesied by the greatest of all seers to be the sorcerer who would bring an
end to the Epoch Terminus—the destruction of his kind—James grew up developing
his powers under the watchful eye of his mentor, Akil Karanis. James’s insular
world is shattered when he is found guilty of murdering Akil and exiled to The
Never, a mysterious and dangerous place reserved for the worst of the worst, a
land from which no one returns. Powerless and alone, James quickly learns that
the land itself poses a greater threat than its inhabitants. If he is to have
any chance of returning to his family, any chance of proving his innocence, any
chance of saving his kind, he must survive the dangers and temptations meant to
ensnare both body and mind in order to discover what no one else has been able
to discover—a way home.
The Bloggy Awards' nominations are officially open! You have until August 13th to nominate your favorite Blog for this prestigious award!!
The categories are:
Well-known blogger
Best design
Best reviews
Most helpful
Best breakout blog (Best new blog, meaning within six months)
Best review for a contemporary book (For this, if you nominate somebody
leave a link to their review)
Best review for a paranormal book (For this, if you nominate somebody leave
a link to their review)
Best review for a dystopian book (For this, if you nominate somebody leave a
link to their review)
Best review for a sci-fi book (For this, if you nominate somebody leave a
link to their review)
Best review for a fantasy book (For this, if you nominate somebody leave a
link to their review)
Best reviews in general
Best meme
Nicest blogger
Most creative blogger
Hottest blog (best content: I just got tired of constantly saying "Best" and
"Most")
Best group blog
Most influential
Best author blog
Promo Queen
Best tour group blog
So rush on over and nominate your favorite blogs :)
Oh, and while you are at it, I would LOVE it if you voted for my super, awesome, amazing friend Maghon @ Happy Tails & Tales. Mags has been nominated for the Nicest Blogger award, and she truly deserves it. We met through Goodreads and although I've never actually "met" her, she is just one of those people you know you'll love! I get the impression that she is always bubbly and happy, even on the bad days!!
To vote for Mags, CLICK HERE and look for Maghon @ Happy Tails & Tales.
Today marks the start of The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar Blog Tour hosted by Immortal Ink Publishing!!
When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for her disappearance and the death of several friends. Once in Carliton, Gabriel finds malice and mystery in the tales told by the few brave enough to speak ill of Salazar and the sinister Cousin Beatriz. And within shadows, in the guise of night, walks Alatiel, the creature Helena has become.
About the Author
Steven Katriel writes Gothic Horror, Paranormal Fantasy, and Literary Fiction. He has lived in Wales, UK all his life. In recent years, he wrote history articles for a community magazine. Steve’s literary heroes and heroines range from Oscar Wilde to Hilary Mantel. He has a passion for past times and this is reflected in his writing.
To learn more about Steven Katriel and his writing projects, please visit the
website below:
Oh my gosh!! I can't believe I missed the beginning of this Read-a-Thon!! But better late than never, right??
So anyhoo, here is my TBR list ( As this Read-a-thon falls in conjunction with #RCCleanup my list will be the same )
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Defiance by C.J. Redwine
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox
The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech
Something Red by Douglas Nicholas
The Portrait of Alatiel by Steven Katriel ( I will take part in a blog tour
and be hosting a giveaway for this book at the end of August )
Liberator by Bryan Davis
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer
Love Bomb by Lisa Zeidner
Night Forbidden by Joss Ware
Cascade by Maryanne O'Hare
Homecoming Weekend by Curtis Bunn
Of course I won't be able to get through all of these books in a week, but as I'm not really sure which order I'll read them in, I've listed all of the possibilities :)
Tweet updates using
hashtag #SWUR
Challenge Schedule Times are Pacific you
can use a time converter HERE Challenges will run for
24 hours
August 4 START OF THE READ-A-THON Some Like it Paranormal & In Between – Show us
your TBR
8:00am Jessica
@Wickedly Bookish - Wicked Summer Cover Challenge
2:00pm Misa @The Magic
Attic – Rewrite the Synopsis - INT
It's finally here!! The olympics of read-a-thons!! Review Copy Clean-up 2.0
Okay, so we all know how it goes...we start off by reading a few review copies of books sent to us by authors or publishers, we join Read 2 Review discussions on Goodreads, and then bham! we discover websites such as Netgalley and Edelweiss, and before we know ir our TBR pile is overflowing and we've lost all control!
Yes, reading is fun and we all love it, but review copy requests can become an addiction!
Thanks to the counsellors over at Nyx Book Reviews and Books, Biscuits and Tea :) there is hope for us!! And this Review Copy Clean-up intervention is just what we need!
If you haven't signed up for this event, you may do so by clicking on the picture above. Sign ups end August 15th.
My list of review copies is so exhorbitant that I don't even have time to read the books I have bought or even those I have won through some amazing giveaways! I keep walking into bookstores, only to walk out empty-handed because the thought of buying a new book, only to have it sit on my shelf for months without being touched actually scares me a little.
So here is my plan:
Between working and writing three of my own books, I will do everything possible to read the following:
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Defiance by C.J. Redwine
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox
The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech
Something Red by Douglas Nicholas
The Portrait of Alatiel by Steven Katriel ( I will take part in a blog tour and be hosting a giveaway for this book at the end of August )
Liberator by Bryan Davis
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer
Love Bomb by Lisa Zeidner
Night Forbidden by Joss Ware
Cascade by Maryanne O'Hare
Homecoming Weekend by Curtis Bunn
I have many more which I will add to this list, if I get through all of these books. As well as reading and review the books listed, I still have so many reviews to write for books I have already read, so I will make sure to post all outstanding reviews within the month of August as well :)
Let's get this thing started!! Good luck to all my fellow readers!! Look forward to connecting with you all on Twitter #RCCleanup.
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