Soul Journey Tour / Interview

Book Title: Soul Journey

Series: Soul Series book 1
Author: Miranda Shanklin
Release Date: August 31, 2014
Presented by: As You Wish Tours

It has been many lifetimes since the cycle began. 

The cycle that still haunts Annisa Lawson. 

A spell cast in desperation to help, which only caused heartache. 

Now, Annisa has found her way out of the varying repeats of her past; only to bring more danger to herself, and those around her. Now she must learn to survive with the help of her friends: Chase, Penelope, and Landon have all gone through each life cycle with Annisa. Sometimes helping, sometimes hindering. Now that Annisa has broken the cycle of their collective punishment, she finds that she needs her friends more than ever to keep their enemies, known, and unknown, at bay. As the group of friends learn of their souls' journeys through their many life cycles, they must also learn to control the magick they have discovered within themselves and each other, in order to defeat the most feared assassin in their world. 

Interview with Miranda

When did you begin writing?

I have been throwing the idea around for a couple of years, but I didn’t actually start writing until about February or March of this year. 

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I love coming up with a story in my head and watching as I breathe life into it. 

What is your writing style? Do you like to outline or just write as you go?

I have tried to do an outline, but I feel too restricted by it. I write as I go. I find that if I think too far in advance it never ends up flowing the way that I thought it would. I am just as surprised by what happens next as you are. 

Do you have a favorite spot where you like to write?

Right now I have my laptop set up on my dining room table, but hopefully I will be able to find somewhere in the house that is not as central. 

What authors do you like to read?

I like to read all authors. I don’t limit myself to one genre and I enjoy all types of books. I would say that some of my favorites are Ednah Walters, Tara Brown (and her many pseudonyms), Quinn Loftis and Bonnie Lamer. This list changes constantly though as I discover new authors. 

If you could choose a dream cast for Soul Journey, who would you pick?

I don’t really have a dream cast but here are some people that I could see playing the roles: Tori – Julia Roberts; Brad – Matt Damon; Lydia – Jennifer Garner; Derek – Ben Aflak; Rachael – Kaley Couoco; Henry – Chad Michael Murphy; Rayne – Peyton List; Peter – Ian Somerhalder; Annisa – Abigail Breslin; Chase – Grey Damon; Landon – Shane Meier; Penelope – Alexis Bledel

Would you say you relate to any of your characters? If so, which one and why?

I am a little bit of each of the characters. I have put a lot of myself into this book. I think I relate most to Rayne as she is the most like me in the second book. As her character evolves I find that she is more and more like me. 

If you were deserted on an island, which author would you want to be stranded with?

There are so many authors that I respect and find would be excellent in keeping us entertained on an island. I don’t think I can choose just one!

If a genie granted you three wishes, what would they be? 

1: For my children to see that if you work at it then your dreams really can come true and you can do whatever you put your mind to. I have dreamed of doing this for years and now that my children are mostly self-reliant I find I have the time to put into it. I want them to see that as long as you are willing to put the work into it, anything is possible. 

2: Of course, my next wish would have to be that people actually like what I wrote and buy my books. I would love to be successful as an author and be able to quit my day job and write full time. 

3: That my family remains as close as they are now. We are all really close and it would not have been possible for me to do what I am doing without their love and support. I hope that never ends. 

If you had the opportunity to live one year of your life over again, which year would you choose?

That’s a hard one. I would have to say the year that I turned 18. I made a few mistakes that year that would be great to be able to go back and not make the same decisions. 

About the Author

Miranda Shanklin resides in Central Illinois with her husband and their two children. When she is not working at her day job as a paralegal, running her children to practices or supporting them at events she is writing. She has been an avid reader most of her life and has always dreamed of writing her own books someday. Now that her children are reaching their teenage years she is finding the time to sit down and chase her dream.

Miranda loves to hear your opinions and uses the feedback to improve. You can find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mirandashanklinauthor or email her at mlshanklin@gmail.com.

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The Parker Harris Series / Guest Post @AmythaMcclung @asyouwishtours

Why Writing is a Form of Personal Therapy

Writing for me is like keeping a personal journal but changing names for privacy. When I write I tune out the rest of the world and put my emotions into my story. Sometimes the words can be a bit overdramatic depending on how I feel when I write them. Every story I have written so far has involved an issue I've had to deal with in real life. It's my way of going through my feelings over an event by getting closure through my character’s narrative. Even The Parker Harris Series, a paranormal story, has many real life issues that took a toll on me. Focusing on writing has helped keep my blood pressure lower since I began. It gives me a real outlet for my stress and allows me to open up about parts of my life that I normally would keep private. I always try to set aside two hours of writing time per day that gives me my "therapeutic escape" and on the days that I am unable to have two hours for it I can tell a difference in my mood. Somehow living in someone else's mind for a few hours a day is very relaxing.

Cascades of Moonlight

The Parker Harris Series Book 1

Pages: 259

Publication Date: May 13, 2012

FREE

***UPDATED VERSION 07/11/13****

Parker Harris was a normal teenage girl with a normal teenage life. That was true until two years ago when she was bitten by a werewolf, forcing her to endure the painful shifting each month during the full moon. She has kept this secret from everyone she loves. One day a stranger enters her small town and knows this secret. Nothing ever happens in the small town of Cascade Idaho, and new people rarely move in, but its Parker's senior year now and two new faces show up in town.  Shortly after their arrival, there is a brutal murder which becomes the first in Cascades history.

Dreams, Spells, and Moonlit Tales 

The Parker Harris Series Book 2

Pages: 278

Publication Date: December 18, 2012

$1.99

Parker Harris desires a normal life, but it's just not in the cards for her. Parker is a werewolf. She has been for three years now. It’s the summer after she graduated high school and she is preparing for college. If only grades and college classes were her only worries. Parker and Jackie are trying to mend their fractured friendship from her betrayal. Jackie and Mitchell are working on their relationship, fighting jealousy and trust issues of their own. Quinn, a vampire, is the love of Parker’s life. He begins to look into his family’s past and what he finds is not pretty. In fact, it could mean the end for his relationship with Parker. A mistake from Parker's past is revealed and proves to be more enormous than she realized. Dreams—Parker is having dreams and visions of Will. She can’t decipher real from illusion it seems. Spells—Charisma, a new friend to the group, brings magic into the fold. Moonlit Tales—it seems that the full moon is not only a time for Parker to feel the pain of shifting. It’s also a time for unexplained occurrences and secrets being revealed. Can Parker and Quinn's love survive the obstacles they encounter? Is Jackie trustworthy? Are Parker’s feelings for Mitchell becoming too strong for her to ignore? Dreams, Spells, and Moonlit Tales summarize the events of Parker's life in this book.

The Dark Moon

 The Parker Harris Series Book 3

Pages: 251

Publication Date: May 5, 2013

$1.99

This book picks up from the moment we left off in book two. Quinn received a call from Parker stating Will is alive. Quinn drops everything to rush to her aid. Will he make it in time or will his father stop him? Parker and Mitchell's feelings are not going away and they begin to take a toll on Mitchell's relationship with Jackie. Everyone seems to have a secret they are keeping from Parker and it seems they have feel "there's something she should know" and now is the time. Parker is overwhelmed with all the new information coming her way. Parker's secret life as a werewolf is on the brink of being exposed.

The Cold Moon 

Novella

The Parker Harris Series Book #3.5

 YA Paranormal

Releasing: Aug 22

This is a story told from Mitchell's point of view. This is Book 3.5 in The Parker Harris Series. This novella is broken into three parts: The Change: In this portion we will learn what events happened leading to Mitchell's change into a vampire and how he dealt with it. Lupita and Fangs: The story of how their friendship blossomed into something more. What Happens Next: The lead in to the spin-off series, The Crispin Sinclair Chronicles. We'll learn what happened to the fab four after The Dark Moon ended. We'll also meet a new character who will be pivotal to Crispin's story

The Shimmering Pool

The Crispin Sinclair Chronicles Book #1 

(spin-off from Parker Harris)

 YA Fantasy

Releasing: Oct

Crispin Sinclair isn't your average teenage boy. He inherited precognitive dreams from his mother who died during childbirth. His other unique quality was inherited from his father; Crispin is a werewolf. Growing up as a supernatural being in a world that doesn't know they exist is difficult to say the least. Crispin's been lucky that his family is made up of supernaturals; witches, vampires, and werewolves. As he begins to obtain his werewolf abilities, his life will be thrown into turmoil placing everyone he loves in danger.

Amytha Roberts feels like the most ordinary girl in the world. She was adopted at age five but not by your traditional idea of parents; her mom's a werewolf and her dad's a vampire. Amytha's best friend Crispin is a werewolf with futuristic dream abilities, while she is a normal sixteen year old girl surrounded by paranormal beings. Stories of Amytha's past begin to surface causing her family to investigate more into where she came from.

Crispin and Amytha take turns telling this story of being in a family that you choose, being abnormal in a normal world, and the importance of friendship. Together they will go on adventures into a faraway place where they'll encounter new creatures and discover truths they never imagined.

Author Bio

Amy McClung was born in Nashville, TN. She is the second oldest of four girls. She married Daniel McClung in September 2005 and they currently reside just outside of Nashville. She graduated from Father Ryan High School in 1996. In 2002 obtained her general certification in medical coding and billing and in 2009 she obtained a specialty certification in Hospital medical coding and billing. Amy and her husband are both fans of fantasy novels as well as avid movie collectors. The Parker Harris Series is the first series of books by this author. Cascades of Moonlight is Book #1, Dreams, Spells, and Moonlit Tales is Book #2, and The Dark Moon Book #3 and The Cold Moon Book #3.5 a Novella from Mitchell's POV. Her second series is a New Adult Contemporary Romance, The Southern Devotion Series, with each book having as a standalone novel with crossover characters. The first book in that series is For the Love of Gracie. Curves in the Road is her newest release as Book 3 in the NA series. Her favorite past times include watching movies, drawing, and reading fantasy novels. Her first book was a means of therapy for her as it enabled her to escape reality for a while during a difficult transition in her life. Her current work in progress is a spin-off of The Parker Harris Series called "The Crispin Sinclair Chronicles" that will be released in October 2014 as a YA Fantasy series. 

Social Links:

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Book Purchase Links:

Curves in the Road on Amazon  

Cascades of Moonlight (The Parker Harris Series Book 1)

Dreams, Spells, and Moonlit Tales (The Parker Harris SeriesBook 2)

The Dark Moon (The Parker Harris Series Book 3)

The Cold Moon: Mitchell's Novella (The Parker Harris SeriesBook 3.5)

The Shimmering Pool (The Crispin Sinclair Chronicles Book 1)

RELEASE DAY / The Divine Book 2 by Desiree DeOrto

The Divine (Divinity Stone book 2)

The legend has become reality, even if the people of Shiloh, Virginia don’t know it yet.

Starlette McKinley had moved across the US only to find that the darkness raging inside of her wasn’t something of her own creation. It wasn’t something that could be medically treated by psychiatrists or any type of medication. The darkness was her power, and it was going to stay.

When she accepts that the greatest threat of all lies within herself, she will have to choose: Push away all those that she loves in order to keep them safe, or keep them near and witness their deaths.

Only through the help of The Divine will she be able to face what is to come. But at what cost? What sacrifice will The Divine demand as payment?

Author Bio

Desiree DeOrto is a mother of four adorable little hellions. When she's not busy wiping noses, stopping toddler WWIII, cooking, or cleaning she can be found creating complex characters in believable worlds, throwing confetti, or causing general mayhem. Desiree believes in the power of words, and works hard to create an escape from reality through her stories. She loves to hear from readers so don't hesitate to contact her through Facebook

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The Prophecy Book 1

SEVEN STORIES TO INSPIRE YOUR INNER GODDESS

SEVEN STORIES TO INSPIRE YOUR INNER GODDESS

Featuring many of the same authors who brought you STRANDED WITH A BILLIONAIRE, HOT SOLDIER and WICKED FAIRYTALES this is one 
BOXED SET you won’t want to miss! Especially for ONLY .99! (Buy link at bottom)

Be sure to join our Facebook party for some fun, games and prizes! PLUS a chance to chat it up and hang out with all of the contributing authors!

Click HERE to join

APHRODITE’S WISH
by Seraphina Donavan

Scorned, desperate and broke, Penny has no idea that her housekeeping job at a luxurious Vegas hotel has placed her in the paths of meddling gods and goddesses. She also has no idea that in an effort to make her happy and give her the love she deserves in the form of Marik, a cursed demigod, Aphrodite might very well have released Armageddon. But every couple has their issues, right?

SORROW’S MUSE

by Shyla Colt

Julian Sorrow has lived a life that would break most people, but his music has helped him survive. Colette, his muse, has watched helplessly in love with him and unable to ease his suffering. Striking a deal with Aphrodite, Colette has one year on earth to win him. When put to the test, will Julian choose the woman who loves him or the music that saved him?

ENVY’S CURSE
by AR VON

For every gift there is a price, even for the gods. Medusa and Poseidon have nurtured their secret love for one another for years, until one fateful day, they succumb. But for that moment of bliss, the price is steep indeed. Can Poseidon save the woman he loves from a curse that will mean death to them both?

ANGRY BODING

by Siobhan MacKenzie

On a mission from Odin, Loki has journeyed to Midgard to visit a seerees about a prophecy. But the trickster finds himself to be the tricked when the short, squat woman he expected turns out to be a beautiful Jotun woman with a dark past. As passionate as she is prickly, Loki must submit to her to have her And Loki submits to no one...or does he? 

DREAM GIRL
by Kate Baum

After losing eighty pounds, it isn’t just Lauren’s body that has changed. Her dreams have become increasingly sensual and erotic, a gift from the Maiden of the Mist, according to the women of her tribe. Then she meets time face to face and has to ask herself, is it real or is it all just a dream?.

LIVING GODDESS
by Leanore Elliott

Bored and miserable, Delaney escapes her life at the Date Palms Inn at Indian Wells, reinventing herself as the mysterious and enigmatic Gigi. Little does she know that she isn’t the only celestial being at Date Palms. What’s up with the hunky Val and his sister Jade who are running the Inn? And why does her life as Gigi suddenly feel more like reality while Delaney is fast becoming a distant memory?

TWISTED DESTINIES
by Leigh Savage

Writing everyone else’s destiny, but never living her own, Moerae decides to take matters into her own hands. Alexander, a demigod living obliviously on Earth, has always had women falling at his feet but he’s never loved any of them. He’s also the perfect instrument for Moerae’s rebellion. What she intended to be no more than a little fun, soon turns into much more for both of them. Could it be they were destined for one another?

Available only at AMAZON

Books vs The Screen

     

       Over the last couple years, I have watched TV less and less. Either the shows I watched have ended or the time of the show just doesn't work with my daily timeline. The ones that ended were typically due to ratings; if enough people don't watch the show then "Bye bye" and everyone that did like/love the show has to suffer
      Now lets talk about the books turned into shows and movies....They change so much, that you are better off reading the book. You don't miss out on as much reading the original work. I could go through and list all the unnecessary changes in Hunger Games, Divergent, Vampire Diaries, and so on but that would take me for ever. The book is better than the show/movie 90% of the time. Yes they are entertaining but for someone that has read the book before the showing it is highly annoying when you can't help but say "that didn't happen", "why didn't they show...?", "why is her hair that color, in the book..."... You see my point? It can drive a person insane and I am sure the people around them that have to hear it, lol.
.

Total crap! I have watched as they get us addicted and then just cut us off cold turkey and in most cases with a cliff hanger from hell...you just cant do that to people. It isn't right!!! Then, not only do they take these beloved shows away, they replace them with crap that makes you want to beat your head against a wall. A good example would be 'Starcrossed'. Many people loved this show, but they take it away and what do they say they are bringing in instead....Jane the Virgin (accidentally get inseminated? O..K...), Flash (the comic dude), iZombie (Zombie works as a coroner eating brains to solve murders.) and more useless reality shows!!...Yeah, so not excited to see these and even if I was, what are the chances that these shows will make it past the first season? Do I want to take a chance to get hooked again only to be crushed by low ratings? No!! Oh, and don't forget all the freakin commercials you have to watch!
      With book who decides when it is over? The reader and the author! Either the author writes the final book of the series and 'The End' or you decide you have out grown that series and move on. Either way, in most cases you have fulfilled your minds craving for the story. Even when the author closes the addicting story you love so much, you might be sad it is the last book; but you are happy to have all the lose ends tied
up in that final book, unlike first series TV series. I like having that control, the choice. Did I mention that your mind craves knowledge? By reading your mind absorbs a lot more than if you were to watch it on a TV or Movie screen. Your vocabulary gets bigger and you will actually get smarter...God knows we need more smart people around because there is an abundance of stupid running around. We need to get things more balanced....Read a book, Save a life, Save an author, and Save a brain cell.

       So in the end my brain chooses a book over The Screen. I would not be as smart as I am today with out them. Do I still have some shows and movies I watch? Yes, but there are very few now and even at that I DVR the shows because of the late show times, then watch them when ever I feel like it.

Summer Time!

It will be interesting to see how I get work done this summer with also keeping the children entertained. Though I do expect to get a pretty good tan with weekly trips to the pool and a beach trip planned towards the end of summer. It has been a few years since we have been, so I know the kids will enjoy it.

Also our local Regal movie theater has a cool kids program where they have $1 movies for the kids on certain days of the week. You might want to check your area to see if they have something like that for you.

What are your plans for the summer with your kiddos?

 If you are a writer, then how do you plan to get your work done and keep the kids happy this summer?

I hope everyone has an enjoyable summer and all of your hair stays intact.

The Amethyst Dragon: Prologue

Prologue

When she was born it was as if everything in the universe stopped moving. With her little brunette curls framing a perfect baby face, she was everything anyone would want in a child. Knowing that her husband would not accept their little miss, she needed to prepare her for a hard road ahead. So tired from giving birth, she smiled down at her lovely new daughter. As a tear slipped from her eye she quietly said a prayer to the goddess for her newborn daughter.

"Blessed Goddess come to me

Protect this child as your own

Cleanse the heart and spirit of this child

Prepare me for what I am to do

The mother kissed the little one on the crown of her head before continuing and a white beam of light encompassed the baby.

Fire for your truth & protection

Let truth burn with in her soul

Be with this child to keep her mind & sight open to what is to come

She said then kissed her baby girl just above her belly button where a yellow spark of light flared to life.

Earth for your nurturing and grounding force

As you are the foundation of all elements

Be with this child, as the mother I cannot be

As she placed a kiss at the base of her loved ones back, it causes a red spark appeared.

Water for your control and balance

With purity & unbiased sight

Be with this child to help heal her in her time of need

She then placed a kiss just below her belly and yet another spark, this time orange.

Air for your energy and intellect

Provider of strength and wisdom

Be with this child and embrace her with your guidance.

After she placed one more kiss over her daughter’s heart, a spark of green light appeared.

Blessed Be and May the Goddess Light Your Path."

The mother kissed her daughter again sweetly on crown of her head one last time. The white light disappeared and she laid her daughter beside her on the bed with an arm wrapped around her. The house maid leaned over to check on the child.

"What is her name Mistress?" she said meekly, knowing what is to come.

With what little strength she had left, she closed her eyes as she whispered “Adaira" and drifted off, never to wake again.