Welcome to the Ch-ch-ch-changes Young Adult Blog Hop

Welcome!  So glad you hopped in for a visit to Dark and Dreamy with C. C. Marks for the Changes YA Blog Hop.  It's all about change today, and what's more of a transition than the aftermath of an apocalypse and the surviving dystopian society?

Charlie Little (AKA Charlotte Baker) copes with the changes the best she can by disguising herself as a boy and protecting her little sister, first in the community (Edge of Mercy), then in the Dead Forest (Heart of Mercy).  If that wasn't trouble enough, human beings are no longer at the top of the food chain.  Now they must protect themselves from Draghoul--once human, now monsters--bent on infecting others.

This is not the typical "zombie" story.  Instead, the story focuses on Charlie's changing, daily journey and the mystery of her world as it develops.

Blurb:
Charlie Little exists in a dangerous world. Her best chance of survival is to disguise herself as a boy and guard her secrets well. Yet just when things can’t possibly get worse, they spin completely out of control.

With Zeke and her sister Star by her side and the fresh memory of Thomas’s kiss still on her lips, she narrowly escapes the horrid plans of Jonas Bannon, a monster of a human being. Forfeiting the safety of the community, they leave and begin the search for the city of Mercy, the one secure place Charlie knows. However, as she struggles to reach her sanctuary, doubts creep in that anywhere is truly safe. If the Draghoul don’t get them, the human scavengers just might, and the assumption Mercy will be a place of protection could be the most dangerous risk of all.

Click for an Excerpt or skip down to the YA mini-book of excerpts to read them all.

Buylink: AMAZON


Now, here's a little more fun.  I found a jigsaw puzzle maker, and with HoM's amazing cover, put together by LFD Designs for Authors, I couldn't help but want to share it with you all as a puzzle.

Also, you'll find a mini-booklet of excerpts from all the hop participants.  Feel free to open it and read all the great offerings.

Finally, I decided to giveaway a $10 gift card to the e-tailer of the winner's choice.  Just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway if you are interested.




YA Mini-Book of Excerpts








a Rafflecopter giveaway


Don't forget to hop on over to the other blogs!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Summer Giveaway Hop! Who Likes to Win?

Who doesn't like to win? Okay, put your hand down, Debbie Downer. The rest of us are here for some prizes and fun. So, let's get right to it.

First of all, thank you for stopping by. I'm verra, verra excited to share my brand-spanking new release, Heart of Mercy, the second book in the Mercy Series. I know I'm biased, but it is action-packed, suspenseful, blended with a little romance. I'll let you judge for yourself:

Charlie Little exists in a dangerous world. Her best chance of survival is to disguise herself as a boy and guard her secrets well. Yet just when things can’t possibly get worse, they spin completely out of control.

With Zeke and her sister Star by her side and the fresh memory of Thomas’s kiss still on her lips, she narrowly escapes the horrid plans of Jonas Bannon, a monster of a human being. Forfeiting the safety of the community, they leave and begin the search for the city of Mercy, the one secure place Charlie knows. However, as she struggles to reach her sanctuary, doubts creep in that anywhere is truly safe. If the Draghoul don’t get them, the human scavengers just might, and the assumption Mercy is a place of protection could be the most dangerous risk of all.

Interested? Link to an excerpt here. Just don't forget to come back and enter the drawing.

Just in case you want to start with book 1, Edge of Mercy, I want to let you know that it is currently on sale for the bargain price of $.99. That means you could get both books for less than $5. Here's a little about EoM:

Charlie hides her true identity inside a community made up only of males, but her presence places everyone around her in danger. This community is surrounded by Draghoul, once-human creatures bent on infecting others. Left with no other choice but to remain, she fears her secret will be discovered, and she’ll be thrown to the creatures she dreads. Yet, the longer she stays with these survivors, the less benevolent they appear.

In this new and dangerous version of the world, where the friend beside you might be an enemy and an enemy might be your only friend, seventeen-year-old Charlie protects her baby sister and herself from grotesque monsters outside the community as well as human ones inside. Will the truth she discovers about her protectors save her or ultimately doom her to a fate worse than death?

And if you just need a taste to see if you might like this series, you can get "Mercy," a short story of about 30 pages that introduces you to Charlie's world. Oh, and it's FREE.

Charlie’s true identity is a secret, but her very presence places everyone around her in danger. With no other choice but to remain where she is, she stays with a community that might not be as benevolent as it appears. In this short dystopian romance where a friend might be an enemy and an enemy might be a friend, seventeen-year-old Charlie must protect her baby sister and herself from grotesque monsters outside the community as well as human ones inside. Will the truth she discovers about her protectors save her or ultimately doom her to a fate worse than death?

Around 9800 words. Part of a larger work titled Edge of Mercy.

All three can also be found at Barnes and Noble: "Mercy," Edge of Mercy, Heart of Mercy

Kobo: "Mercy," Edge of Mercy, Heart of Mercy

And Smashwords: "Mercy,"

Now, on to the good stuff: a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don't forget to look for more great giveaways on the list:

Edge of Mercy Goodreads Giveaway and Story Cartel

Winner, Winner, Reading Through Dinner! I just snail-mailed paperback copies of Edge of Mercy to five different winners of my very first Goodreads giveaway.  I love that I get to share this amazing cover in real-life with reader-peeps.  So cool!

Don't worry if you didn't get a chance to enter to win.  It was a little bit of a surprise to me that the giveaway was approved and going on (that'll teach me for not checking my e-mail).  I have another opportunity for you to get Edge of Mercy for FREE! All you have to do is go to storycartel.com, sign up, and if you feel compelled, submit an honest review.  That's right.  I want your honest opinion.

Okay, so let's be real a minute.  You might not have time (or the inclination) to sign up for an account at storycartel.  I aim to please, so I've dropped the price of EoM to $.99 for a limited time.  It's to celebrate the release of Heart of Mercy, the second book in the Mercy Series.

I've also decided to start on some bonus material while I'm working on book 3, and I'm so excited about these stories.  The series is told in first person, from the main character Charlie's point of view.  But two secondary characters have particular interest in her.  What if we could go inside Thomas's and Zeke's heads?  I'm seriously so anxious to get working on two short stories that coincide time-wise with Charlie's account, but their told from the boys' POV's instead.

If you'd like to be notified when new reads are available, sign up for my news-only newsletter here: New Release Newsletter or it's also on the side panel of my blog.

Happy Reading and Writing!

C. C. Marks
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No Room for Oneitis-Or How to Get Your Books Noticed

According to Mo'Urban Dictionary, compiled by Aaron Peckham, Oneitis is "the dreaded ailment of liking that 'one special girl' and wanting her more than any other woman on earth.  A want so intense that it's actually painful."

That's all well and good, and I'm sure it's a real phenomenon, but I suffer from a different kind of Oneitis. Many authors do.  Though I've finished multiple manuscripts over the years, I only have one book/short story published under each pen name.  I've spent too much time promoting the same book with very little to show for it. At one time, it was part of my plan to only publish short stories so I could continue to enter contests, but somewhere along the way, I figured out I'm not really a short story writer.

Unfortunately, I'm hesitant to put my work out there myself, so I still have one manuscript on submission, and I'm hanging onto another until I finish at least one more in the series.  So, this puts me in the awkward position of still suffering from Oneitis.

Let's face it though, if an author is going to get noticed, the more books, the better the chance. Wallowing in a sad case of Oneitis is no longer an option for me.

However, that is soon to be rectified.  The medicine is coming fast.  I'm about to publish the second in the Mercy series of books, titled, Heart of Mercy.  It's in the final editing stages, and I will be purchasing a professional cover at the end of the month.

Here's the blurb for the book:

Charlie Little exists in a dangerous world. Her best chance of survival is to disguise herself as a boy and guard her secrets well. Yet just when it seems things couldn’t get worse, they spin completely out of control.

With Zeke and her sister Star by her side and the fresh memory of Thomas’s kiss still on her lips, she narrowly escapes the horrid plans of Jonas Bannon, the self-proclaimed leader of the community, and begins the search for the city of Mercy, the one secure place she knows. However, as she struggles to reach her sanctuary, doubts creep in that anywhere is truly safe. If the Draghoul don’t get them, the human scavengers just might, and the protection of Mercy could be a costly lie for them all.

I'll also be dropping the price of Edge of Mercy for a month, so hopefully some folks will take a chance on a new author, and I'll soon be cured of my Oneitis.

To completely eradicate Oneitis from my writing career, I'll be releasing a series of novellas, beginning in August.  And I can't wait to share those.

Do you suffer from Oneitis?  If so, what's your plan to move past it?

Happy Writing and Reading,

C. C.

New Cover for Edge of Mercy!!

I've decided to become legitimate! Well, in publishing at least. Professionalism and all that makes a difference, so I took the plunge and bought a custom cover for Edge of Mercy.  It's everything I wanted and more.  Not only does the girl on the cover help me picture Charlie perfectly, but the overall feel is so much more dystopian.  Hope you love it as much as I do.

I have LFD Designs For Authors to thank.  The whole process was so easy and the very talented graphic artist gave me mock-ups to consider, and I was able to explain what I liked and make suggestions.  She listened and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Check it out at Amazon:  Edge of Mercy for Kindle

Or BN:  Edge of Mercy Nook Book

Happy Reading and Writing,

Cherie

Things That Amaze Me Lately

Time is a rare commodity these days, but despite all the cuckoo-crazy-cakes responsibilities I've taken on, I sit here amazed at how great life really is.

Some things that amaze me lately:

• How much can be accomplished in one measly weekend, day, hour, and minute.
• How time with people whose brains work like mine can re-energize and renew my passion for creative writing.
• How tasty Irish Cream can be.
• How generous people can be with their time and information.

Turns out, USA Today Bestselling Author, Liliana Hart's visit to The Kentucky Romance Writers of America, Spring Into Writing workshop, was the most amazing of all.  Sometimes it makes all the difference when someone who has gone before in something and is highly successful takes the time to lead the way for the rest of us.  She truly is "paying it forward."

Check out the work of this popular author.  Two of her books are listed here, and you'll find a complete list at her website when you click on her name above.

http://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Rebellion-Liliana-Hart/dp/147007169X

WHISKEY REBELLION: AN ADDISON HOLMES MYSTERY My name is Addison Holmes, and I teach history at James Madison High School in Whiskey Bayou, Georgia. You might be under the assumption that my life went to the dogs when my fiancé left me at the altar for the home economics teacher, or when I got notice that my apartment building was going to be condemned, or even when I was desperate enough to strip to my unmentionables to earn some extra cash. The truth is that I'm pretty much used to disasters following me around on a daily basis, but I could have gone without finding my principal dead in the parking lot of a seedy gentlemen's club. After the initial shock of finding my first dead body, which included throwing back shots of Jack Daniels like it was water, I decided to take stock of my life. I was in a desperate situation and if the school board ever found out I'd been a stripper, even a bad stripper, I'd be jobless as well as fiancé-less and homeless. Fortunately, I had a friend who felt sorry enough for me to give me a job doing some surveillance work at her detective agency. Not to mention the fact that I was now able to stick my nose into other people's business for a good cause, find a murderer, and pick up helpful tips from an incredibly attractive detective. Come check out my story and be thankful your life is relatively normal. Other Full-Length Titles by Liliana Hart DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS CATCH ME IF YOU CAN ALL ABOUT EVE PARADISE DISGUISED What readers are saying: Romancing the Book – “An entertaining, fun read.” Romanceaholic Book Review – “This book is hysterical. It’s a true comedy of errors…A perfect summer read… lighthearted and funny” Reader review at Barnes & Noble - ”I haven’t read a book this funny since the first few Janet Evanovich books… A definite recommendation for everyone.”

http://www.amazon.com/Erotic-Romance-Mackenzie-Family-ebook/dp/B005C5YZ86

In this novella, bad boy, Dane MacKenzie, is coming home to Surrender, Montana. It’s been ten years since he left the woman he loved behind to make a name for himself, and now he’s bound and determined to claim her once and for all.

But Charlotte Munroe has no desire to welcome home the Prodigal Son with a fatted calf. The bitterness of Dane’s betrayal runs deep, and she has no plans of letting him back into her life. Especially since she’s trying to protect the son Dane isn’t aware exists from heartbreak, since she’s sure he’s only going to walk out of their lives again.

USA Today Bestselling Author Liliana Hart is Headed to Kentucky!

Kentucky Romance Writers

2013 Spring into Writing Workshop, Saturday, March 16^th, 9am-4pm


With USA Today Bestselling Author 
Liliana Hart

Liliana Hart spent five years teaching music in the public education system. She molded America’s youth, busted kids for smoking pot in the restrooms, and broke up illicit affairs behind the stage on a regular basis, so she finally decided to hang up her hat and let someone else have all the fun. (Liliana’s Addison Holmes Mystery Series, about a small town teacher who gets into a whole lot of trouble, is somewhat autobiographical, but she won’t confess to which parts).

Liliana’s books have won awards such as: The Daphne Du Maurier, The Suzannah, The Linda Howard Award of Excellence, The Maggie, and many others. A recent USA Today Bestselling author, her affiliations include Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Liliana loves to cook, and is addicted to reading, Internet Boggle, kickboxing, and Bones. She lives in a big, rambling house in Texas with a couple of cats to keep her company and she loves to present about the writing life.

-  Liliana Hart Will Present On--

Getting Started in Self-publishing

The Roll/Role of an Agent (going it alone or with help)

Author Branding and Covers

Marketing 101

Algorithms

The Worth of an Author

____________________________________

Where:  Hyatt Place Conference Room

2001 Bryant Rd.

Lexington, Ky 40509

859-296-0091

Directions and Rates- Phone: +1 859 296 0091

Time:  9am-4pm, with lunch break 12-1

Cost for the Saturday event is $25 for KYRW members and $40 for non-members. (Does not include lunch.)

Hosted by The Kentucky Romance Writers. Please visit our website: www.kentuckyromancewriters.com or contact

KYRW Pres. Cherie Marks at authorcheriemarks@gmail.com