Tag: Giveaway (Page 5 of 6)

Japanese Wedding Traditions from S.J. Pajonas Author of Released

January 29, 2014 / Katie L. Carroll

I’m super thrilled to have S. J. Pajonas and her Nogiku Series back on the blog. She is celebrating her the release of book #2 Released (see my 5-star Goodreads review here) and sharing a bit about Japanese weddings and offering a giveaway. Welcome, S. J.!

Whenever I sit down to write another book in the Nogiku Series, I first think hard about what new and interesting Japanese traditions I want to highlight in that book. For REMOVED, I introduced a lot of Japanese language and culture but made sure to touch on a few bigger events: New Year’s Eve, swordfighting, Japanese food and the izakaya phenomenon, a geisha party, and then a taiko drumming concert. It was a hard one to beat!

So when RELEASED came before me, I was pleased that one main event would stand out: a wedding! Now, I’ve been a Japanophile for as long as I can remember and when my husband and I got married, I incorporated a few Japanese traditions into our ceremony. Let’s look at a few of the more obvious Japanese wedding traditions and then I’ll touch on the traditions of attending a wedding.

Japanese Wedding

The dress, the umbrella, and the cups

A traditional Japanese wedding kimono is called a shiromuku (“Shiro” meaning white and “muku” meaning purity) and it is one beast of a kimono. I actually own one. I bought it before we got married because I thought it might be fun to get married in one, but I tried it on once and decided against it. They are very heavy, made of silk and usually woven in intricate patterns across the back. Mine has a heron and bamboo woven into it. The hem is unusual as well. It’s stuffed and padded, rounded so that the fabric weighs straight when worn.

In the photo above, you’ll notice that everything the bride is wearing is white. This is also a tradition symbolizing her purity and her willingness to be dyed the colors of her groom. The wedding hood she wears is the wataboshi and is usually only worn during the ceremony.

The red umbrella is very symbolic of Japanese weddings. The color red in Japan means life and wards off evils and the umbrella itself keeps the bride dry if it happens to be raining. It’s quite large and usually carried by man who follows the bride in a wedding procession.

The tradition of san-san-kudo was a component of my own wedding ceremony. I describe it in RELEASED as:

“One of the temple maidens lays out three cups of different sizes: small, medium, and large. I’m familiar with this ritual called san-san-kudo, three-three-nine times. The tradition is the bride and groom each take three sips from each of the three cups, going from smaller to larger cup, until each has consumed nine sips of rice wine. Nine is a lucky number for couples because it cannot be divided equally in two, and the number three is also lucky because it’s prime. So three, three times, is three times as lucky.”

So the interesting thing about san-san-kudo is that the number 9 itself is considered an unlucky number in Japan. It’s pronunciation, ku, sounds like the word for “torture” or “agony” and it is often omitted from places like hospitals. All Nippon Airways does not use the number either. But in the case of this ceremony, since it’s three times three, it’s different.

Writing a wedding ceremony

I have never been to a Japanese Shinto wedding so, writing about one, I wondered what they were like. I’m so thankful for YouTube! I watched several before I sat down to write the wedding in the book. Here’s a playlist of several videos you might be interested in. (The first one in this list was so beautiful it made me cry. Make sure you have tissues.)

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWPSOQScLodyOkoVh7p8kfuF7fTj56mSg

Attending a Japanese wedding

I don’t go into much detail in RELEASED about what guests are expected to do at a Japanese wedding because the event is very dramatic for Sanaa, my heroine, all on its own. But here are a few things to remember if you’re ever invited to one.

A wedding gift is usually cash and sometimes the invites will come with a suggested Yen amount to be gifted depending on how well you know the bride or groom. The gift should be given in one-man bills (equal to about $100) and should be an odd number so they cannot be split evenly between the couple. There is a special white envelope tied in red that should be used and the fancier the envelope the better. Most stationery stores in Japan have them.
Dress nicely! Japanese weddings are not dressed-down affairs. It’s not black-tie, but it’s close. If you’re a woman, wear a nice dress (not black), get your hair done, etc. Men, please wear a nice suit. Ties are a must. If in doubt, dress conservatively.
There are usually several after-ceremony parties unlike Western ceremonies. The first one you attend is the main one, then there may be several after that organized by the friends and/or family. You are usually required to pay to attend them (which covers drinks, food, the venue, etc). Be sure to have plenty of cash on hand.
Please do not be late! Arrive early for everything.
You may be asked to give a speech. Yes. It seems most people at a Japanese wedding are expected to say something nice to the bride and groom. A short, congratulatory statement will do.

Still interested?

If you’d like to learn more about Japanese weddings, read this article on GoJapan.About.com.

And I have also put together this Pinterest board on Japanese Weddings. Enjoy!

(All images in this post are used under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)

S J Pajonas Removed

REMOVED (The Nogiku Series, #1)
By S. J. Pajonas
Genre: Science Fiction Romance, Post-apocalyptic
Age category: Adult
Release Date: September 11, 2013

Blurb:
Can she piece together the truth before Earth’s last city tears itself apart?

It’s easy for Sanaa to ignore the first signs of trouble. After all, she’s living her dream with a job and life she loves. But when she’s reassigned as a data analyst for a mysterious, well-connected man, she starts to piece together the alarming reality. Corrupt clans vie for control of the city, desperate for a ticket off the dying planet.

As war looms between the clans, Sanaa’s new boss sends her to train with Jiro, an expert swordsman. Forbidden to share the dangerous secrets she’s learned with her family, she confides in Jiro, bringing them closer with every word, strike, and parry. Together, they realize that Sanaa’s boss is keeping secrets of his own.

When the truth comes to light, the war and Sanaa’s world could be changed forever. To save her family and forge a new peace for her city, Sanaa has no choice but to risk her life for the human race.

REMOVED is the first installment in the Nogiku Series, a saga of post-apocalyptic sci-fi novels set in future Japan. If you like tenacious heroines, sizzling chemistry, and unique post-apoc settings, then you’ll love S. J. Pajonas’ dystopian adventure.

You can find REMOVED on Goodreads

Want to view some inspirational images for REMOVED, visit the REMOVED inspirational Pinterest board

You can find all the links to download REMOVED at https://www.spajonas.com/removed/

S J Pajonas Released

RELEASED (The Nogiku Series, #2)
By S. J. Pajonas
Genre: Science Fiction Romance, Post-apocalyptic
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: December 17, 2013

Blurb:
Sanaa must deal with her fate.

Left in the desert to recuperate from her injuries, Sanaa Itami paces the floors and contemplates her mistakes. She trusted too easily, and now people she loved are dead, killed at the hands of men coming to assassinate her. Sanaa feels beaten, but life awaits her at home. While her city recovers from the devastating earthquake, negotiations for Sanaa’s future continue. New allies must be made, new friendships brokered, new skills acquired — at all costs.

Life at the top of the chain is complicated and lonely, though. With all her friendships rocky and uncertain, Sanaa must learn to trust others again more than she’s willing. Who is left holding a grudge? And will the new family Sanaa has found with Jiro support or betray her?

RELEASED is the second installment in the Nogiku Series, a saga of post-apocalyptic sci-fi novels set in future Japan.

You can find RELEASED on Goodreads

You can find all the links to purchase RELEASED at https://www.spajonas.com/released/

About the Author:

Stephanie (S. J.) is a writer, knitter, amateur astrologer, Capricorn, Japanophile, and USA Today Best Selling author. She loves foxes, owls, sushi, yoga pants, Evernote, and black tea. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing or spending time outside, unless it’s winter. She hates winter. Someday she’ll own a house in both hemispheres so she can avoid the season entirely. She’s a mom to two great kids, one feisty dog named Lulu Ninja Assassin, and lives with her husband and family outside NYC. When it comes to her work, she writes about everyday women and uncommon worlds. Find her online at https://www.spajonas.com

You can find her online here…
Website: https://www.spajonas.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SJPajonas/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/spajonas/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/spajonas/
Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/s-j-pajonas
Amazon Profile: http://www.amazon.com/author/sjpajonas/
Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7233209.S_J_Pajonas

The Princes of A Different Kind of Knight by Mary Waibel

January 24, 2014 / Katie L. Carroll

It’s always a pleasure to have my writing buddy and fabulous author Mary Waibel on the blog. Today we get a truly swoon-worthy character interview in triplet as Mary chats with Princes Devlin, Trevor, and Brody. Mary’s latest YA fantasy A Different Kind of Knight comes out next week. She has a great BOGO deal going on and a giveaway, too. Welcome, Mary and Princes!

A peek inside a meeting with Prince Devlin, Prince Trevor, and Prince Brody

I cannot believe how lucky I was to get an invitation to visit Wyvern Castle. This palace is absolutely gorgeous! Towers, incredible stonework, amazing tapestries. My guest room, on the second floor, is almost the size of my living room and kitchen together- HUGE!

A large mirror hangs on the wall, touching the floor. Noticing it looks crooked, I step over to straighten it, gasping when it swings open, revealing a servants passage. So that’s how they got my cases up here without me seeing them. Curious, I step inside and wander around. Hearing the sound of muffled voices, I stop and look through an opening in the wall.

I peer into what looks to be a library, filled wall to wall, and floor to second story ceiling, with books. On the wall to the left is a fireplace, the blazing fire taking the damp chill from the air. Lounging on overstuffed leather chairs are Princes Devlin, Trevor, and Brody. They each wear their respective kingdoms’ colors. Trevor in blue and silver, Devlin in black and silver, and Brody in green and gold. Trevor wears his dark blond hair loose, while Devlin has his black hair tied at the nape of his neck. Brody’s sun-streaked blond hair is loose, and his beard braids nice and neat.

It’s easy to see the three are close friends, especially given the teasing comments flying around the room. I take a step forward, and a door swings open. Three pairs of eyes pin me in place as their hands drift toward their waists, and the blades they’ve concealed there.

Me: (blushing, hands held up) Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you.

Trevor: (chuckles) That’s okay. We’re all a little on edge. (stands and waves to a seat) Please, come in and join us.

Me: (sits and looks around) Has something happened that has you all so nervous?

Trevor: No, but given the events of the last year one can never be too careful.

Devlin: So true. It’s hard to know who’s a friend or foe; even family can be out to get you.

Brody: At least your sister only put you under a spell. It’s worse when they try to kill you.

Trevor: (grins) I guess I’m the lucky one. No one in my family has it out for me.

Brody: (arches a brow) If that’s true, then why does Bri’s brother Sebastian keep looking at you like he wants to pound you?

Trevor: (pales and looks at the library door) Slight misunderstanding. Something about making Bri cry. I’m sure she’ll explain it all and everything will be fine.

Devlin: (eyes crinkle as he laughs) Oh, a protective brother type?

Trevor: (mutters under his breath.) Overprotective, if you ask me.

Brody: Shall I mention that when I see him?

Trevor: (glares at Brody) No. Not unless you want a repeat of what happened in your aunt’s flower garden.

Brody: (laughs) I’ll pass. By the way, how did you manage to get Aunt Yvonne to let you off the hook for destroying her prized rose bush?

Trevor: (smiles) That’s something I’ll take to my grave. Can’t have you learning all my secrets, now can I?

Devlin: Speaking of secrets, what’s in the future for you, Brody?

Brody: (smiles widely) Well, I don’t know if I should spoil the fun. I mean, my book hasn’t even come out yet, and you want me to give up secrets about it?

Trevor: Maybe not all, but just one?

Brody: (strokes his beard braids as he thinks) All right. Just one. How do you think I’d match with Princess Gabrielle of Faldaera?

Trevor: (laughs loudly) I think she’d never have you. She turned down my father’s proposal―said I wasn’t, and I quote, a skilled enough warrior for her liking.

Devlin: (chuckles and shakes his head) Sounds like she had your number, but certainly the same cannot be said for Brody. He’

s a much more skilled fighter than you. After all, tales of his skill have reached far to the north of Breneira. So, is it a good match?

Brody: I guess you’ll have to read my story and find out.

Different Kind of Knight 300 dpi A Different Kind of Knight blurb:

Through a twist of fate, Princess Gabrielle became First Knight of the King’s Elite Guard, a position always held by the second born male. She’s spent years proving to the Minsters of Faldaera she is capable of leading the king’s Army.

When mythical creatures plague her kingdom, Rielle is sent to capture Captain Brody, the alleged culprit behind the attacks and the man who broke her heart four years ago.

Brody, Crown Prince of Delphine, is living in self-imposed exile, atoning for the sins of his father. But Fate has different plans for him. Tired, beaten down, and ready to give up on life, he is tossed into the path of the one person he would do anything for―Princess Gabrielle.

With a traitor in her ranks, and a mark on her head, Brody joins forces with Rielle, hoping to keep the woman he loves safe. Happily-ever-after is not guaranteed, and mythical creatures aren’t the only danger the couple face. As battles rage, Rielle has the chance to prove herself a capable leader, but will doing so cost her the love of her life?

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Book Blast for The Shadow of the Unicorn by Suzanne de Montigny

December 4, 2013 / Katie L. Carroll

I’m very happy to host Suzanne de Montigny’s fabulous middle grade story The Shadow of the Unicorn (see my Goodreads review here). Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card or Pay Pal cash!

Title: The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy (The Shadow of the Unicorn, Book #1)

Author: Suzanne de Montigny

Recommended age: 9+

Summary

A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror.

Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change in the world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. Danger of a more sinister nature threatens when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley and their leader, Ishmael, discovers the healing power of the unicorns’ horns. Azaria, now a young stallion, must use his wits to save the herd from complete extinction.

* #1 in the Animals in their World list on Goodreads Listopia *

* #1 in the Christmas Stocking Stuffers list on Goodreads Listopia *

Winner of the 2013 Global E-book Award for Best Fantasy/Alternate History

The Buzz

“Kudos to Ms. de Montigny for writing an original variation on the fantasy epic–unicorns intermingling with dinosaurs! The book’s themes include the humane and environmental concerns that Watership Down and the films of Hayao Miyazaki have in common. If you have a middle grader or are just young at heart, pick up The Shadow Of The Unicorn.” ~ 5 Star Review, Stuart W., Amazon

“The Shadow of the Unicorn is a must-read for all unicorn lovers, but even more so for the ones, like my self, who hadn’t read anything about them yet. It is a thrilling and encouraging story about a young unicorn that has to save his herd after a meteor nearly destroyed their environment and killed the dinosaurs. Suzanne de Montigny created a compelling universe with believable characters and a great adventure story to challenge them with. While the story finishes in this book, I can’t wait to read about the new adventures the unicorns will face..” ~ 5 Star Review, Antje H., Amazon

“This story pulled me in with a beautiful portrayal of a time and place where unicorns and dinosaurs live side by side. It moved me forward with unexpected twist and turns (a requirement in any good story). I found it hard to put the book down and was totally engaged in seeing the young characters (unicorns and dinosaurs) survive and grow because of the challenges they faced.” ~ 5 Star Review, NW Harris, Amazon

“I just finished reading The Shadow of the Unicorn. What a story teller Suzanne de Montigny is. She combined unicorns with dinosaurs and spun a tail of magic that kept me turning the pages, not to mention throwing in an evil that came in the form of a human! What an enjoyable story – and here I thought these mystic animals were extinct. I just didn’t know what to look for!” ~ 5 Star Review, Penny E., Amazon

“What a delightfully unique book. Unicorns and dinosaurs facing changing conditions. Darius is a young dinosaur capable of seeing the future. Azaria is a young unicorn who becomes a friend and learns from Darius. Yes, there are humans in this book. They are the villains of the story. Greedy beasts. I think both boys and girls will love this story. Very quick paced and easy to read. A delightful story, and I look forward to more from this author.“ ~ 5 Star Review, DM Lawrence, Amazon

*Half of all proceeds go to the Third World Eye Care Society, a group of eye specialists who travel to third world countries with thousands of pairs of glasses and perform eye surgery for free.*

About the Author: Suzanne de Montigny

Suzanne de Montigny wrote her first unicorn story at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with unicorns. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, is her first novel. Suzanne lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the three loves of her life – her husband and two boys.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)

Contest runs: December 2, 2013 to January 1, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Suzanne de Montigny and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
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Elixir Bound Blog Tour Giveaway Sneak Peek

September 25, 2013 / Katie L. Carroll

The Elixir Bound in paperback blog tour is in the home stretch! Thanks to everyone who’s been following. As I announced last week, Elixir Bound in paperback is up for pre-order on my publisher’s website. You get a free ecopy of the book when you order it through MuseItUp!

Today, I’m at Behind a Million and One Pages talking about strong females in YA (those of you who have been following my Females in YA series might be intersted in this post). There’s also a small giveaway going on at Tina’s Book Reviews for an ecopy of Elixir Bound. And, of course, there’s the big giveaway that’s been going on throughout the whole blog tour!

Now for your sneak peek at some of the items that might be included (disclaimer: the items in the picture may only be representative of the actual items!). We’re close to having 200 entries…if we get to 200, I might even throw in a bonus signed copy to a lucky winner! So please feel free to spread the word about the giveaway. So without further ado (do people still say that?), here’s the sneak peek!

In addition to the above items (the signed book, bookmarks, your very own Elixir bottle, a map of the Great Peninsula, and a sticker for my picture book app The Bedtime Knight), I’ll probably throw in some Elixir inspired recipes, some bonus bookmarks for books by some of my favorite authors, and a few more surprises! Here’s how to enter:

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Make Me Laugh and Giveaway Winner

March 19, 2013 / Katie L. Carroll

First things first, I have a winner for the giveaway in honor of announcing that Elixir Bound is out in paperback. And the winner is…*drum roll*…Megan! She got to choose either a signed copy of Elixir Bound + Swag or a 3 chapter critique. Thanks to everyone who entered.

I’ll probably be running another giveaway when Elixir Bound releases in paperback later this year. And don’t forget that it’s already available as an ebook from the MuseItUp bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other ebook retailers.

In other news, last night I attended a humor-writing video chat with Robin Mellom, author of the humorous YA Ditched and the MG The Classroom series. She shared her secrets of writing funny.

We talked potty humor, slapstick, reading and watching funny shows and films for inspiration, age appropriate humor, and the importance of adding heartfelt moments into humor writing. One interesting thing Robin mentioned was how she likes to immerse herself in all things funny while working on a humorous story.

That got me thinking about the funny moments in my life. And just this morning, The Boy provided me with a little humor. I was eating a grapefruit and he indicated he wanted to try some, so I gave him a piece. He played with it for a minute and then shoved it in his mouth. His face puckered up in the classic lemon-face pose, but then he asked for more! Despite continuing to make the face, he gobbled up piece after piece.

This reminded me of when my nephew (who is now six, but at the time was maybe two) ate a lemon at a diner. He sucked on it and his face puckered up. All the adults at the table laughed hysterically. So you know what he did? He started sucking on the lemon again!

Humor is everywhere! What made you laugh recently?