Author: Katie L. Carroll (Page 111 of 142)

Elixir Bound in the Wild

August 30, 2012 / Katie L. Carroll

Elixir Bound technically doesn’t release until tomorrow, but it’s already been spotted out in the wild (and is available on Amazon a day early!).

Out in the wild means on my twin-not-twin’s computer! It is a real purchased version, though…not just one I gave her!

As if you weren’t sick enough of hearing about Elixir Bound, I’ve got a whole schedule of guest blog posts lined up. This week I’ve already talked about the cover art process on Mary Ann’s blog, writing lessons from The Boy on Sarah’s blog, and scene revision on Stephanie’s blog.

If you only read one of my guest blog posts, please check out tomorrow’s very special post on Meradeth’s blog. It’s the sad, but hopefully inspirational, story of how I became a writer.

In other book news, one of my favorite writing buddies Kimberly Sabatini is giving away swag for her upcoming novel Touching the Surface. You should definitely check out her book and blog.

Happy Birthday to The Boy

August 28, 2012 / Katie L. Carroll

Last I knew it was just a few months ago when I posted about the birth of The Boy during Hurricane Irene. Oh wait, it’s been a year! I don’t consider myself much of a poet, but let me have a little clichéd moment and share this poem I wrote for my son on his first birthday.

Battling bottle boycotts,

bumps, bruises, and booby bites

“Bah bah” brought a smile.

Drowning in dirty diapers,

deprived of sleep, and doubting

“Dada” drew endless laughs.

Missing pre-mommy me time,

my memory, and warm meals

“Mama” melted my heart.

Doggies say “eh eh,”

Ducks go “cack cack,”

Dragons breathe “haaaa.”

So much to learn

you from me and me from you.

A year gone by

all the ups worth any downs.

Watching you grow

finding new levels of love.

Baby says “gah gah,”

Daddy goes “boo,”

Mommy breathes “I love you.”

Eleven Days Until Elixir Bound!

August 20, 2012 / Katie L. Carroll

Eleven days and counting until the release of Elixir Bound! That means you only have eleven days left to pre-order it at a 20% discount! Yes, I’m speaking all in exclamation points! What else would you expect when my book comes out in eleven days?

What have I’ve been doing in the eleventh hour leading up to the release? Mostly working (even while I’m on vacation in Newport this week…okay, I have been having a little fun too!).

Yesterday we took a walk around Fort Adams in Newport and I took this picture of the Claiborne Pell Bridge. The weather has been very pleasant…almost like fall. We saw a little rainbow in the evening as we were eating dinner on the deck of our suite.

I had bookmarks made up for Elixir Bound, but there was a “cutting error” and they images were all off-center, so they’re being remade. Hopefully they’ll be ready for my first in-person appearance as an author at my local library on October 13.

The blog tour officially starts next week, so I’ve created a sidebar with all my stops listed. I’ll hopefully have some reviews to share with you all soon (don’t worry, I’ll only share the good ones!).

Talking about vacationing in Newport has made me think of all those essays you used to have to write when you got back to school in the fall about what you did over the summer. So please comment in 250 words or less what you did this summer!

Sue Perkins Author of Dragon Clans

August 13, 2012 / Katie L. Carroll

Today Sue Perkins, author of the Dragon series, is guest posting about her newest YA fantasy Dragon Clans. Welcome, Sue!

Thank you Katie for inviting me to your blog.

My young adult fantasy ‘Dragon Clans’ has been released. It’s the second in the Dragon series, following the first book ‘Dragon Flame’ and with one more to come. The second book continues the tale of the dragons of Nuer who have come to an alliance with the human settlers on the planet.

Nuer is an earth like planet with two continents. The humans settled on one, unaware there are dragons on the other continent. The dragons have their own culture and are divided into four clans. Each clan has its own area, the Fordra have the forest, the Mondra the mountain, the Seadra the sea and the Landra the desert. To the south in a mountainous arid region are the red dragons, the Valdra, outcasts from the other clans and considered to be dangerous rebels.

Sie, an orphaned young woman rescued by the Valdra, is adopted into the clan. She and her new family must convince the other dragons they are no threat and only want to be part of the dragon treaty. The problem is how to convince the other clans when every approach ends in an aggressive response.

I’ve included an excerpt from ‘Dragon Clans’ to wet your appetite. Don’t forget to leave a comment and be in to win an ebook of ‘Dragon Clan’. The winner will be by random draw at the end of the blog tour.

Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/dragonclans

Webpage: http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

Excerpt

The waves washed over the boat, swamping the small vessel. Sie huddled in the stern, her knuckles white with cold, hands clamped to the wooden sides. The hood of her cloak had blown back some time ago, allowing the rain to plaster her red hair across her face. She didn’t dare raise her hand to clear her eyes, this would mean letting go of the boat. Clothes soaked with rain clung to her body, and the chill went through to her bones.

What am I doing here?

At the front of the boat her two older brothers struggled to keep them afloat. The crashing waves filled the vessel with water and with food bowls in hand they tried to bail the water back into the sea. Gorva, the eldest, yelled at her to come and help, but Sie couldn’t move for fear. She knew this would mean a beating later, but surviving the present held more importance.

Ever since her parents’ death her life had been miserable. The older brothers had grudgingly provided a home for appearance sake, but they didn’t want her with them. A fifteen-year-old cramped their style. She hated her life in their house as a drudge. If anything went wrong they blamed her, and the rebuke often ended with a smack across the face or worse.

They’d come up with this stupid idea and dragged her along. Dragons lived on the other continent, and they were convinced there would be dragon treasure to steal.

The two idiots hadn’t planned anything, the normal way for their escapades. They’d set off in a boat too small for the journey across the ocean. The food had run out after a few days, and she’d borne the brunt of their anger, catching the blame for everything. Now the storm had descended on them with the sea and rain crashing and pounding their frail craft.

Someone help us, please! We’re in the middle of an ocean in a terrible storm. The boat will sink soon. Please, if you can hear me, I need your help!

Sie knew no one would hear her mental scream. If they did, who would care enough to rescue them? A clap of thunder shook the sky, followed by a lightning flash into the sea. Huge waves crashed across the boat. Her younger brother lost his grip, and Sie heard him cry out as he disappeared overboard.

“No!” Gorva lunged to the side, but his movement made the boat lurch and dip lower, curtseying to the waves. Sie grabbed the sides as the vessel overturned and threw her into the water.

Her cloak tried to keep her beneath the surface, but Sie fought against the drag and rose up for air. Nearby, the upside down boat tossed in the waves, and she swam toward it, grabbing hold of the ridge along the upturned bottom. Once secure, Sie looked round for her brothers, but could see no sign of them. The tumultuous sea and the dark clouds scudding across the sky filled her view.

Elixir Bound and Other Book News

August 10, 2012 / Katie L. Carroll

After receiving so many great comments on my lucid dreams post, I have been planning (and by planning, I mean thinking about in my head, but not writing down a single word) another thoughtful blog post.

Instead (given I have an almost 1-year-old, a full-time job and several part-time ones, and a vacation to get ready for), I present to you this slightly less thoughtful newsy post.

Elixir Bound is up for pre-sale on the MuseItUp website! Feel free to order a million copies (give or take a few) for your reading pleasure. You can also read an excerpt from the beginning of the book.

This weekend I met a young author (and by young, I mean she’s 13 and is already working on her second book!) at a book signing. Kyla LoPresti had a dream about reincarnation that inspired her to write Flashback. She is certainly an inspiration to all writers, young and old!