Book Tour: Goth Girl, Virgin Queen by JoAnne Keltner...

Welcome to the 2-week blog tour for Goth Girl, Virgin Queen by JoAnne Keltner.

Follow the tour and connect with bloggers, read reviews of the book, read guest posts, and meet the author.

Book Information:

Title: Goth Girl, Virgin Queen

Author Name: JoAnne Keltner

Genre(s): Young Adult Paranormal

Length: Approx. 298 pages

Release Date: December 3, 2015

Publisher:  Solstice Publishing
(http://solsticepublishing.com/)

Tour Schedule:

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2017/10/goth-girl-virgin-queen-book-tour.html

About Goth Girl, Virgin Queen:

Calling Jackie Turov psychic makes her cringe. But Jackie’s no normal seventeen-year-old. She picks up emotions from people and objects like a freak. The emotions make her sick, and the guilt she feels for lying to her church when she was twelve causes her to deny her psychic abilities.

So Jackie goes goth to make others stay away from her and forget her past. But her past is soon resurrected when her jealous friend Trish invites a demon, a persecutor of healers, to steal away Jason’s love for Jackie. The demon causes Jackie to be bullied for the lie she told and puts her best friend, Jason, in danger.

Jackie must learn how to use her gift to protect Jason and herself and to heal the negative energies of those around her. To do so means she must overcome her guilt and accept who she is before the demon claims her soul.

Enter the Goodreads Giveaway (ends October 31, 2017)



https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/252425-goth-girl-virgin-queen

Grab Your Copy from Amazon for only $0.99 Oct. 23-25, 2017!



Amazon http://amzn.to/2yx3uCH

Read an Excerpt:

The medicine cabinet mirror—dotted with rust and turning gray—made the powder foundation on Jackie’s face look ashen and her jet-black hair, blurry. She looked like a shadow of a girl. She smeared black lipstick on her lips and shook out her shoulder-length hair. Her straight-cut bangs veiled her mascara-lined eyes, and the layered ends of her hair stuck out in defiant wisps.

Some of the kids at school—the ones she didn’t hang out with—called her Goth Girl. Some, whose memories wouldn’t die, called her VQ for Virgin Queen.

Jackie preferred Goth Girl, to be one of the living dead, to be numb to the emotions that plagued her. But this was what she wanted, not what she got.

Goth Girl or Virgin Queen, she was a freak, absorbing the emotions around her like a sponge. Sometimes the emotions made her sick. Sometimes they made her see things.

Because of this, she kept to a tight-knit group of goth friends—Jason, Zeta, and Trish—and avoided social activities. She attended high school only because Mom wouldn’t let her homeschool. Mom was afraid she’d hang with Babu all day, making piroshki and doing needlepoint instead of studying. Jackie, afraid of what life offered a freak like her beyond high school, had to admit that hanging with Babu all day was tempting.

Typically, Fridays were movie nights for Jason and her, but tonight would be different. Tonight, she’d subject herself to a hodgepodge of emotions from crowds and rides and the very ground she’d walk on to protect Jason. For this, she would need physical and spiritual strength, which she sought from Babu these days.

Babu’s door was cracked, and Jackie slowly pushed the door open. “Babu?”

The room smelled of beeswax and down. A candle burned on the shrine on the dresser. The flickering flame animated the icon of the Virgin of Vladimir and cast shadows across the picture of Babu, Grandma, Mom, and Jackie. Although Babu didn’t speak English, and Jackie didn’t understand much Russian, Jackie knew Babu kept that picture on her shrine to pray for Grandma, who passed away several years ago; for Mom, who divorced Dad; and for the girl who saw the Virgin when she was twelve—for the girl she had become as a teen.

Babu sat in bed, a country quilt spread over her legs, her thumb pressed against a knot of her prayer rope, her head bowed sleepily, and her lips wording prayers.

“I wanted to say goodbye,” Jackie whispered.

Babu crossed herself and then smiled at Jackie, her gold eyetooth shining from the light of the bed-stand lamp. She patted the empty space beside her. “Sadees.”

Jackie sat down beside Babu at the edge of the bed and took Babu’s hand in hers. Babu’s hand was warm and knotted with arthritis. Jackie rubbed her thumb over the bumps on Babu’s knuckles; her black fingernails were a sharp contrast to Babu’s flour-white skin.

She wasn’t afraid to touch Babu’s hands and absorb her emotions. Jackie got a good feeling from her. Babu filled Jackie’s inner vision with white light. She renewed her spirit. And this is what Jackie needed for the commitment she had made for tonight.

“Kooda eedyosh?” Babu asked.

“I’m going out,” Jackie said as if Babu understood her. This is how they communicated: Babu telling her stuff she couldn’t understand, Jackie telling Babu stuff she couldn’t understand. Somehow they carried on fine this way.

“Eedyosh sdroozyamee?”

“I’m going with Jason.”

Babu rubbed the top of Jackie’s hand and ran her thumb over black fingernails. “Fsyevo kharoshevuh,” she said in a comforting tone and gently squeezed Jackie’s hand. Then she cupped her hands around Jackie’s jaws and pulled her forehead to her lips. Jackie imagined Babu’s kiss imprinted on her forehead and carrying Babu’s blessings and love with her tonight.

Meet the Characters of Goth Girl Virgin Queen

Jackie: A psychic—oops, she doesn’t like to be called that—and the seventeen-year-old protagonist who denies her paranormal abilities and hides from her past. She’d do anything for her best friend Jason, anything except … well, you’ll have to read the book.

Jason: Jackie’s best friend in the whole world, a total emo who wears his heart on his sleeve and a heavy weight on his shoulders. He’s totally in love with Jackie.

Driving to the Oktoberfest, Jackie focused on the road. Sometimes she looked at Jason, but focused only on his mouth or his jacket. When he was around her, his aura turned from black to reddish purple, almost like his spirit had been bruised. She interpreted it as a mixture of pain and love—the love he felt for her pouring over his pain like salve. Yes. She sensed Jason was in love with her. But this relationship worked out well for the both of them, she supposed. Jason liked to suffer. It made him feel alive. Though, she knew he’d never admit it. And she was comfortable being around him, not just because he allowed her space, but because he accepted her as she was. He made the guilt she carried more bearable.—JoAnne Keltner, Goth Girl Virgin Queen

Trish: Jackie’s brooding and fickle friend who draws Gothic crosses in her school notebook and loves the occult. Using her Ouija board, she unwittingly summons a demon and is the reason Jackie gets into the trouble she’s in.

Zeta: Jackie’s sassy and most energetic friend. Always there to give Jackie moral support … no, seriously.

Babu: Jackie’s great grandma. Once a devout Russian Orthodox Catholic, she now burns her holy candles at home, prays the chotki, and religiously watches Wheel of Fortune. She can’t speak a word of English, only Russian, but still she and Jackie (who knows only how to say “the soup is good” and “I love you” in Russian) communicate just fine.

David: The smoking hot seminarian whom Jackie can’t shut off emotionally. He’s from her old church and shows up at her door one day looking for her help in understanding a paranormal phenomenon that occurred there.

She wanted to shut the door in his face, but he was looking at her with those dreamy, mesmerizing eyes. She pressed her fingers to the business card. She was having a hard time reading him. She only got a feeling of him being hung in a balance, but maybe that was her.—JoAnne Keltner, Goth Girl Virgin Queen

If you’d like to get to know Jackie and her friends better, pick up a copy of Goth Girl Virgin Queen today!

Book Links:

Amazon http://amzn.to/2yx3uCH

Solstice Publishing: http://solsticepublishing.com/goth-girl-virgin-queen

Meet the Author:

JoAnne Keltner is the author of Goth Girl, Virgin Queen (Solstice Publishing, 2015) and Obsession. As an only child and avid daydreamer, she spent hours alone in her backyard on the South Side of Chicago, which she imagined to be everything from an alien planet to the Antarctic. She currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband, four dogs, cat, and three chickens. When she isn't writing or freelance editing, she's obsessively streaming popular TV shows.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.joannekeltner.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/JoAnneKeltnerAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6896673.JoAnne_Keltner

Twitter: @JoAnneKeltner

What’s New in my Writing World this Summer…

With my new book release through Mirror World Publishing just around the corner, I’ve been scrambling to get things prepared and ready to go. Honestly, with the stuff authors have to do nowadays, it feels as if I’m birthing a baby, rather than launching a book! Some of my tasks include creating blog posts for my upcoming book tour with Sapphyria’s Book Promotions (June 17^th to 23^rd), whipping up recipe posts for friend and gourmet cook, Sloane Taylor, working with my web designer to make the necessary additions to include my new book and buy links, and making plans to attend the Summer Craft and Gift Show with author friend, Christine Hayton on June 25^th in Windsor.

Last month, I just finished up with a three week long Goodreads Giveaway for The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, the latest book in my young adult time travel adventure series. I was tickled with the amount of entries I received (1444) for that giveaway, and I’m grateful for all those readers who entered! Now on the cusp of a new book series, I’ll be planning another Goodreads Giveaway once, Lost and Found, Book One of Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls launches on June 17^th. Please stay tuned for my next Goodreads Giveaway announcement on my blog, and in my Facebook and Twitter feeds. This book giveaway will run for about two weeks, so the winner will receive his/her book during the summer months.

I’ve also been busy contacting animal shelters and animal rescue organizations to offer them a fundraising opportunity to sell my book, Lost and Found on consignment at their events and fundraisers. In this proposal, I offer some unique marketing and selling points:

·         The author wrote this novel after her experience with working at a local animal shelter as an animal care attendant

·         A true labor of love, every dog and cat featured in this novel is based on an animal for which the author cared or handled in some capacity

·         A story that speaks for the animals

·         Cat and dog lovers worldwide will adore this heartwarming animal tale

·         Brings awareness to struggling animal shelters everywhere.

·         Brings awareness regarding the important issue of neutering/spaying our pets, as well as the importance of animal adoption

·         The importance of volunteering at local animal shelters to help offset the high cost of running a shelter

The intent for this fundraising idea spawns from creating awareness for animal shelters and the continuing challenges to keep their doors open, and care for the lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals. We must remember, without the backbone of volunteers and community support, animal shelters and rescues would not survive. I know this, and unfortunately have seen it firsthand.

If you’re curious about Lost and Found, here’s the tagline and blurb:

Fairy Falls was bores-ville from the get-go. Then the animals started talking...

The Fairy Falls Animal Shelter is in trouble. Money trouble. It’s up to an old calico cat named Whiskey—a shelter cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack leader so that their home will be saved. With the help of Nobel, the leader of the shelter dogs, the animals set out to use the ancient skill of telepathy to contact any human who bothers to listen to them. Unfortunately for fifteen-year-old Meagan Walsh, she hears them, loud and clear.

Forced to live with her Aunt Izzy in the safe and quiet town of Fairy Falls, Meagan is caught stealing and is sentenced to do community hours at the animal shelter where her aunt works. Realizing Meagan can hear her, Whiskey realizes that Meagan just might have the pack leader qualities necessary to save the animals. Avoiding Whiskey and the rest of shelter animals becomes impossible for Meagan, so she finally gives in and promises to help them. Meagan, along with her newfound friends, Reid Robertson and Natalie Knight, discover that someone in Fairy Falls is not only out to destroy the shelter, but the animals as well. Can Meagan convince her aunt and co-workers that the animals are in danger? If she fails, then all the animals’ voices will be silenced forever.

Well, that’s all the news I have for now, and that’s a good thing, seeing as my work is cut out for me! If you’re an author, have you ever come up with a unique marketing or fundraising idea based on the premise of your book? Would love to read your comments. Cheers, and as always, thank you for reading my blog!

Celebrate the month of May with my Annual Goodreads Giveaway…

Last week’s post marked a day of remembering the Holocaust victims during World War Two. You can read it HERE if you missed it. In that post, my friend and fellow author, Carol Browne and I wrote a poignant piece about two people we chose who had survived the terrible Holocaust, and went on to make a difference to the world in their own way.

I picked the latest book in The Last Timekeepers young adult time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret for my annual May Goodreads Giveaway because the story touches on the lives of people who not only endured World War Two, but fought the Nazis on their own ground. I touch briefly on the Jewish round-ups, the injustices, and what my characters experienced on their time travel mission in Amsterdam during 1942. If you think you’d be interested in going back in time and fighting the Nazis with my time traveling crew, then I urge you to enter my giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy.

There’s plenty of time to enter the giveaway, as it runs from May 1^st to May 22^nd, (that’s Victoria Day for us Canadians!). All shares and tweets would be most appreciated! Did I mention I’m throwing in a signed postcard to sweeten the pot? BTW—this giveaway is international so all Goodreads readers have a chance to win!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Cheers, and good luck!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends May 22, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Fire up those Time Portals for The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret...

Well, it’s finally here! Book release day for The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret through Mirror World Publishing. There’s a Facebook Party happening today from 4-6 p.m., so if you get a chance, I’d love for you to surf by and get to know me, and even enter for a chance to win some awesome prizes. Plus, I’ve hooked up with Sapphyria’s Book Promotions for a virtual book blog tour starting today, October 17^th to October 21^st, so I’m pumped about that! And as an added bonus, I’ve got one signed first edition paperback up for grabs through my Goodreads Giveaway starting October 17 to November 11^th.

I also want to include what I have written for the Dedication and Acknowledgements section in The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret because it’s so important to be grateful to those people who have supported me throughout this particular venture, and will most likely continue to do so in the future. So, without further ado, here’s the icing on my proverbial cake:

Dedication

For my brother, Ian. I am truly grateful to have gotten to know you better during the last two years of your life. Until we meet again, please reserve a glass of scotch for me.

Acknowledgements

As always, life is a team effort, and nothing is done without the help and support of others. The following people are in some way connected to the fabric of this work, to which I am eternally grateful:

Thank you to Justine Alley Dowsett, my fabulous boss at Mirror World Publishing, editor extraordinaire, and now one kick-ass book cover artist! I applaud you for keeping the vision of my young adult time travel series intact and unique, and I truly appreciate your support, investment, and creative expertise. Also, a big high five to Robert Dowsett, our resident expert on anything Double-O-Seven. Cheers, mate!

Thank you to my mother Peggy, who experienced World War Two first hand as a young girl, and survived to pass down her many war stories. And always, thank you to my hubby Mike, who keeps me grounded, balanced, and most times sane.

A special shout out goes to my Authors Moving Forward group, especially to my cohort and our fearless leader, Sloane Taylor, and to author and friend, Christine Hayton. You’ve all shown me that it truly takes a virtual village to raise an author. Thank you all for your show of kindness, support, caring, solidarity, and teamwork. May your lives be blessed with many bestsellers!

Last but not least, I want to thank all the men and women who fought courageously in past wars, and continue to fight today to keep our country free and safe. I salute all of you. God Bless.

Follow the Tour:

http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-tour-schedule-last-timekeepers-and.html

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends November 11, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Suiting Up for the Worlds Collide Gala…

This upcoming Friday, I’ll be suiting up to join my colleagues at Mirror World Publishing for a much anticipated event! The Worlds Collide Gala will be celebrating Mirror World Publishing’s new partnership with Adventure Worlds Press and all the 2016 book launches!

If you’re in the area, please join us at 7pm Friday September 30, 2016 at Sho: Art, Spirit, and Performance 628 Monmouth Dr, Windsor, Canada for a night to remember. You can meet several of the authors, along with myself, my publisher, and the team behind Adventure Worlds Press, listen to some readings, win some prizes, enjoy the cash bar and light refreshments, music, and participate in the Q and A afterwards.

As a part of Culture Days in Windsor, this event is free and open to everyone to attend. For more information, or to RSVP, please head over to our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1186485788080361/

Also, a reminder that I have a GoodreadsGiveaway still going on until September 30^th for a chance to win Book #1 in my MG/YA time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis. If you haven’t read the first book, please consider entering for a chance to escape to the past and have a blast before Book #2 The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret comes out on October 17^th!

Here’s some more information about the Worlds Collide Gala:

Back to Life. Back to Reality. Gearing up for my New Release, a Gala, and a Goodreads Giveaway…

Wow the summer just flew by, didn’t it? And if you live in the southern hemisphere, I’m sure you’re glad to see the back end of winter. Honestly, I’m going to miss the hot, humid days of this summer, and I don’t think I’m quite ready for autumn just yet. However, there are a few things I am looking forward to in the next couple of months—one of them is the cover reveal of my newest book, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret on September 7^th. I absolutely love it, and hope you do too!

I’ve also got a Goodreads Giveaway happening starting today and ending September 30^th. I thought it would be a great idea to schedule a giveaway for the first book in my MG/YA time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis to give a reader a chance to win Book #1 to catch up on the premise of the series and meet the characters before Book #2 comes out on October 17^th. If you haven’t read the first book, please consider entering for a chance to escape to the past and have a blast!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends September 30, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Sandwiched in between my cover reveal and book release is a party worth attending if you happen to be in the Windsor/Essex area of Ontario, Canada. My publisher, Mirror World Publishing is hosting a party aptly named Worlds Collide Gala to announce their new imprint, Adventure Worlds Press which will be publishing horror, science fiction, graphic novels, and anthologies. Plus, there will be readings from authors (including yours truly), light refreshments, a cash bar, door prizes, and books for purchase. Here's the Gala link if you’re interested: https://www.facebook.com/events/1186485788080361/

Last but not least, I’ve managed to get some book reviews posted on my blog throughout the summer, so if you haven’t had a chance, check out my take on these great books by Elizabeth J. M. Walker, Rita Monette, and K.S. Jones. I’ve also started researching and planning Book #3 in The Last Timekeepers series, so it seems I’ll be juggling a lot of reading, writing, marketing, and promoting throughout the upcoming fall season. Sigh. Good-bye shorts and sandals. Hello power (yoga) pants and shoes. Cheers and thank you for reading my blog! 

Come Celebrate my 5th Blog Anniversary with 2 Goodreads Giveaways…

Authentic 1977 Star Wars Poster

Luke Skywalker Day—a.k.a. May the fourth—is a milestone for me. It marks the 5^th Anniversary when I started this blog and ‘stepping out into the world’ as a serious writer. I remember I was quite scared at the time – terrified actually. I knew nothing of blogging, and hardly anything about navigating cyber space. My computer and technical skills were meager, and my author platform was nil. The only social media account I had was Facebook, but I barely used it, and I had no clue about author branding. Now, five years later, I can honestly say I’ve come a long way, baby, and I have so many people to thank for that giant leap of faith.

So to celebrate my 5^th Anniversary, I’m having an International Goodreads Giveaway for both my books, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and the prequel to my young adult time travel series, Legend of the Timekeepers. It’s just one way I can thank my readers, as well as give back to the reading community of Goodreads. High fives and thank you, readers, I wouldn’t be doing what I love without you!

May the Fourth be with you! And if the Force moves you, please enter my Goodreads Giveaways for a chance to win one of my autographed time travel tales and signed postcard starting May 4^th. Cheers and thank you for reading my blog!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends May 23, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Legend of the Timekeepers

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends May 23, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Great Giveaways for the 2015 Holiday Season...

‘Tis the season to start thinking about giving and receiving, isn’t it? So what better way to kick off the upcoming holiday season with a Goodreads Giveaway and a chance to receive a Kindle full of over fifty tween reads via the Emblazon Christmas Giveaway! Sounds like Santa is coming early, doesn’t it?

The Emblazon Kindle Christmas Giveaway begins Tuesday, November 17^th and ends Tuesday, December 1^st. That’s two full weeks for a chance to win your adolescent a new Kindle pre-loaded with over fifty ebooks for your tween. Just visit HERE to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance win this awesome gift for your tween girl or boy!

I’ve also decided to create a Goodreads Giveaway for only Goodreads members in Canada and the United States so the winner will be able to receive a signed copy of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis in time for Christmas. The Giveway commences on November 18^th and ends December  9^th, so there will be plenty of time to mail the winner his or her copy. Wishing you all good luck and happy holidays! Cheers!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends December 09, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Rev up those Time Portals and get Ready for a Blast to the Past...

Well, it’s finally here! Book release week. Or in my case, book re-release week! On June 17^th, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis will officially be back on the market through Mirror World Publishing. There’s a Facebook Party happening that day too from noon to 9 p.m., so if you get a chance, I’d love for you to surf by and get to know me, and even enter for a chance to win some awesome prizes. Plus, I’ve hooked up with Sapphyria’s Book Promotions for a virtual book blog tour starting June 17^th to June 26^th (excluding the weekend), so I’m pumped about that! And just in case you didn’t know, I’ve got two signed paperbacks up for grabs through my Goodreads Giveaway for the whole month of June.

So much has happened since my former publisher closed their doors at the end of February. I was lucky enough to score a new publisher immediately. Since signing contracts with Mirror World Publishing for both my time travel books on February 26^th, a lot has happened. Both books got re-edited and polished, and I decided to purchase the image rights and keep my covers because I felt they were beautiful, vibrant, and eye-catching.

I’m really looking forward to a fresh start with another publisher, and hopefully I’ll be as good a cheerleader for Mirror World Publishing as I was for Musa Publishing. As I’ve always said, “Life is a team effort. Period. Nothing is ever done without the help and support of others.” True that. I’m also excited to have an actual book launch party thrown for me! Woo hoo! So if you’re in the neighborhood, I’d love you to come and attend! Here are the details:

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis Book Launch Party

When: June 19^th, 2015

Where: Artspeak Gallery, 1942 Wyandotte East, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

From what I understand, my publishers Justine and Murandy will be serving coffee and baked goods (yum), and there will be plenty of chances to win some great prizes and gift baskets. They will also have copies of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis on hand which I would love to sign for you! Plus there will be a reading by yours truly, and a question and answer session. Thank goodness for all those author interviews I’ve done in the last three years—at least I’m primed!

I want to take this opportunity to thank Mirror World Publishing for investing in me and my books, and for breathing life back into my career. Seriously, thank you, Justine and Murandy. I also would like to thank all the readers I’ve got to known in the last three years who have taken the time in their busy lives to read my books, and care about my characters the way I do. Cheers and salute!

Books: Products or Experiences…

As an author I had to ask myself this question: do we sell a product (book) or an experience (memory)? I recently read a marketing post where there was a study conducted in which people were asked if they would prefer to purchase a product (car, couch, etc.) or an experience (holiday, concert, etc.), and guess what most said? Yup. You guessed it. An experience.

So this got me to thinking that authors have it pretty good. Yes, we sell a product whether it’s a book or an ebook or an audio-book or all three. We still have to market and promote these ‘products’ in order for our consumers (readers) to find them. But once our books are in the hands of readers, magic happens and they’re whisked away into another place, and another time. We authors create an experience for each of our readers. And that’s the payoff. Experiences tend to have a lasting effect on people. Sure, buy a car and you’ve got that new car smell for about a year. But I bet you remember going to your first concert, don’t you? Or maybe your first trip to Disneyland? I certainly do.

If you purchase a book, true you may lose it, but I guarantee you that story will stay with you for years to come if the tale hits an emotional cord. And isn’t that why we authors are in this vocation to begin with?

And since February is my birthday month, I’m hoping to generate lasting memories for readers by offering two Goodreads Giveways. One for The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and one for the prequel to my time travel series, Legend of the Timekeepers. BTW—both giveaways are international so no one is left out in the cold! Happy Birthday to me!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends February 25, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Legend of the Timekeepers

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends February 25, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

November Happenings, Goodreads Giveaways, and other Great Stuff…

This month will prove to be a busy one for me! I’m already sweating buckets. First up, I’ve got two Goodreads Giveaways happening for each of my time travel books, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and the prequel to the series, Legend of the Timekeepers beginning November 1^st and running until midnight on November 22^nd. The giveaway is open Worldwide, which gives me plenty of time to mail the winners their signed paperback copies before the end of holiday season. BTW – I’m including a set of signed trading cards to go along with the books, so go to the end of this post to enter these giveaways!

Second up, I’ve signed on as a participating author with the Mother Daughter Book Reviews for their Kindle Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet Holiday Giveaway. I know, that’s a mouthful to say! This is a fantastic opportunity for authors and book bloggers to reach new readers and put a smile on a child’s face at the same time. Here’s what Renee, the hostess of this event has to say:

"I was pretty excited to see this pretty cool new product available through Amazon starting October 21. This is a HOT PRODUCT! The all-new Kindle Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet also comes with 1 year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited (which means kids get unlimited access to 5,000 books, movies, TV shows, educational apps, and games—at no additional cost!). It includes a quad-core processor for great performance, a vivid HD display, front and rear-facing cameras, and Dolby Audio PLUS comes with a Kid-Proof Case, and a 2-year worry-free guarantee – if they break it, return it and Amazon replaces it for free. No questions asked! Um… can you say Christmas present?"

Wow, now I want one! Here’s the gist of the giveaway: One winner will receive either a new Kindle Fire HD Kids Edition 7” Tablet (US only), a $200 Amazon gift card (International) or $200 PayPal cash prize (International). The event will take place from November 1^st to 30^th, 2014. The giveaway is open Worldwide.

Third up, I’ve got a two week Mini Social Media Blitz set up with Mother Daughter Book Reviews starting on November 24^th. This will be an experiment for me, as I’ve never used this type of service before. This particular book promotion includes 10 Tweets (provided by me), 2 Facebook shares, 1 Google+ share, Pinterest Pins to at least 2 Mother Daughter Book Reviews boards, and adding my book (I choose The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis) to Goodreads “Want-to-Read” shelf. It should be interesting to see if this promotion generates interest in my books. BTW—their monthly page views range from 45,000 to 55,000 so it seems like a win-win to me.

Fourth up, I’m part of this fantastic tween writers group called Emblazon. We Emblazoners are planning a HUGE Rafflecopter giveaway which will run for 2 weeks beginning Monday, November 3^rd. There will be books, ebooks, and book swag up for grabs. Oh, did I mention the Kindle preloaded with 40 of the Emblazoners middle grade books? There will also be a Facebook party where readers can interact with authors and win great prizes. Any teachers or librarians out there will benefit from this fun event as we release our newest catalogue into the world just in time for the holiday season!

Fifth up, and finally, I’m participating in the Windsor-Essex Book Expo on Sunday, November 23^rd. This gives me a chance to meet and connect with readers and authors in the area. They’ve got some awesome sponsors, and there will be children’s events, autographs, and readings from local authors. I’m personally bringing Twizzlers® to hand out to the kids (and most-likely some adults), along with signed trading cards and postcards. BTW—anyone who buys one of my books scores a Last Timekeepers rubber wrist band! For more information on this event, please click HERE to go to the Windsor-Essex Authors Facebook page.

Whew! Still sweating! Thanks a heap for reading my blog. If you have time, please leave a comment and share what you’re planning to do to boost your book sales and author presence during the upcoming holiday season. If you’re a reader, what type of events would grab your interest and draw you into an author’s world? Cheers!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends November 22, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win