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Goodreads Giveaway – A Shadow in the Past

January 30, 2013 Melanie Leave a comment

It’s not too late to sign up! My Goodreads giveaway for two signed copies of my novel, A Shadow in the Past, runs until March 11th and is open to Canada, the UK and the US.

My cover was designed by the uber-talented Aidana WillowRaven. Don’t you just love it?

Whilst I’m name-dropping, I have to thank Vivian Zabel, President of 4RV Publishing for taking a chance on an unknown commodity.

Okay, so what’ my novel about? Well, here’s the blurb…

Nineteen-year-old Sarah Shand finds herself thrust back into the past. There she struggles to keep her real identity from a society that finds her comments and ideas strange and her speech and actions forward, unlike Victorian women. When Sarah verbally confronts confining social practices, including arranged marriages; powerful enemies commit her to a lunatic asylum. After falling in love with the handsome Laird of Weetshill, Robert Robertson, she must decide whether to find her way back to her own time or to remain in the past with him.

So, if you fancy your chances of winning a copy in my giveaway, click here. Winners will be notified after on or after March 11th (it’s my first giveaway so I’m not sure how soon after it ends that winners are notified).

If you don’t want to wait for the giveaway to end, you can buy a copy of A Shadow in the Past from the following sources:

If you’ve entered my giveaway, good luck (winners are chosen by goodreads) and if you decide to purchase my book, I hope you enjoy it.

Appearances, Authors, cover reveal, Novel covers, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, Reading, Writing

COVER REVEAL – The Fallen Stars by Stephanie Keyes

January 28, 2013 Melanie 8 Comments

“Imaginative and fast-paced. Couldn’t put it down!” – E.G. Foley, New York Times Bestselling author of The Gryphon Chronicles

“This well-written and intriguing fantasy was a delight to read. I can’t wait to read the second novel in this series!” – Linn B. Halton, author Never Alone on The Star Child by Stephanie Keyes

When all is lost, he will have to make the ultimate decision.

Kellen St. James was just your average seventeen-year-old prodigy, until he eighty-sixed the Lord of Faerie and proposed to a Celtic goddess. Now everything in Kellen’s life gets turned upside-down when Calienta, Kellen, and friend, Gabriel Stewart, find themselves on the run from a seriously irritated group of faeries. The worst part? They have zero idea why.

Suddenly, Kellen finds himself stuck in the middle of another prophecy that questions everything about him including where his loyalties lie. Plus, Calienta’s more than a bit different; she’s making choices that he doesn’t understand. And Gabe, his best friend? He’s started doing all sorts of freaky things that make Kellen question who he really is.
Kellen and Calienta will fight to stay together and keep the hidden part of the prophecy from becoming reality.

When the ultimate power is within reach, which side will he choose?

Release Date: 12-April-2013, Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Sounds good? If you liked Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, Need by Carrie Jones, or Fallen by Lauren Kate, you will love this book!

About the author:
Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. Today, she’s still doing the same thing, except now she puts those ideas down on paper.

When she’s not writing Stephanie is also a graphic designer, presenter, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she’s best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years.

Keyes is the author of The Star Child YA Fantasy series, which currently includes The Star Child and The Fallen Stars. She is currently hard at work on the third book in the trilogy.

Interested in joining the blog tour from 6-Apr? Click here to register!

Blog Tour Registration Link

Giveaway (Open to US, UK and Canada)

1 wired star bookmark, 3 Star Child (Book 1) ebooks and 5 The Fallen Stars eBooks

Rafflecopter Link

4RV Publishing, Authors, Books, Famous Five Plus, loveahappyending, Novels, Publishing, Reading, Writing

Romancing the Genres

January 26, 2013 Melanie Leave a comment

I’m guest blogging at Romancing the Genres today. Please drop over for a visit.

Suggested tweets:

Talking writer’s journey @RobertsoKing describes hers from inspiration to published novel http://ow.ly/h9m9j #shadowpast #lahe #4RV

Talking writer’s journey @RobertsoKing describes hers from inspiration to published novel http://ow.ly/h9m9j #shadowpast #FFP #4RV

haggis, Holidays, neeps, Robbie Burns, Scotland, tatties, Tradition, whisky

Robbie Burns Day

January 25, 2013 Melanie 5 Comments

burns portrait
Scots around the world celebrate the country’s national bard today. Celebrations include a feast of soup (cock-a-leekie – fancy name for chicken and leek), haggis, mashed potatoes, turnips and trifle. Of course most is washed down with Scotland’s national drink – whisky!

For those who take part in The Scotsman’s annual Haggis Hunt, the season ends today (sniff…)

Today, I’m celebrating Robbie Burns Day with Scottish author, Ali Bacon, over at her blog.

It promises to be great fun so drop over and celebrate with us.

Suggested tweets:

#burnsnight with @alibacon and @RobertsoKing http://ow.ly/h7B5Y Traditional Burns celebration in the virtual world. Haste ye back!

Traditional Burns celebration in the virtual world with @alibacon & @RobertsoKing http://ow.ly/h7B5Y Haste ye back! #burnsnight #lahe

Authors, Awards, Bloggers, Books, characters, Famous Five Plus, loveahappyending, Novels, Publishing, readers, Reading, Scotland, work-in-progress, Writing

I’ve been awarded The Very Inspiring Blogger Award!

January 20, 2013 Melanie 9 Comments

I was pleased to discover that my Scottish author friend, Janice Horton, awarded me with The Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

Before passing it on, I need to provide seven random facts about me… here goes.

I’m Canadian by birth but Scottish in my heart.
I’m the proud(?) owner of the dog with the $1000 ear (affectionately referred to as the “alarm dog”.
I recently placed 3rd in the 2012 Preditors & Editors Readers’ Poll in the YA category for my novel, A Shadow in the Past.
In 1999, I met the Princess Royal at the former orphanage in Scotland where my father and four of his nine siblings were raised (Quarriers Village) near Bridge of Weir.
I’ve lived in and around Brockville my entire life.
I work for a trucking company (not a driver but in the office) and have a background in computer programming.
When I’m not reading, I’m working on the second book in my Shadows series – Shadows from her Past.

Now to pass the gauntlet on to seven more intrepid bloggers, so here goes. The names are in a hat. Mr MR-K is reaching in. The tension is building. And we have our first recipient! Yay!

Congratulations ladies!

4RV Publishing, Aberdeenshire, Artist, Authors, Awards, Books, bookstore, Brand, characters, Children's author, Contests, Famous Five Plus, illustrators, loveahappyending, Novel covers, Novels, Photographs, Publishing, readers, Scotland, Writing

Preditors & Editors 2012 Readers’ Poll Results

January 19, 2013 Melanie 4 Comments

The annual Preditors & Editors Readers Poll, sponsored by Critters Workshop has drawn to a close. The results have been tallied and in the end, 4RV Publishing (with nominations in Children’s Books, Young Adult Books, Artwork from Books, Book Covers, Publisher, Author, Artist and Bookstore) finished with seven in the top ten.

Children’s Books (2 4RV nominations) took 8th place with First Flag of New Hampshire written by Stephanie Burkhart and illustrated by Ginger Nielson.

My novel’s cover created by Aidana WillowRaven

Young Adult Books (2 4RV nominations) took 3rd place with with my novel A Shadow in the Past.

Artwork from Books (2 4RV nominations) had two results tied for 6th place. Ginger Nielson who wrote and illustrated Willow, an Elephant’s Tale and my talented artist Aidana WillowRaven for her cover design for A Shadow in the Past.

Artist saw Aidana WillowRaven earn a 9th place finish in addition to her tie with Ginger in the Artwork category.

Author saw 4RV Publishing President, Vivian Zabel place 6th.

Bookstore 4RV Bookstore placed 3rd in the bookstore category.

Congratulations to everyone who placed!

4RV Publishing, Aberdeenshire, Authors, Books, characters, Famous Five Plus, Local Authors, loveahappyending, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, Reading, Scotland, Writing

Guest Posts

January 18, 2013 Melanie Leave a comment

It’s been a busy day for my character, Sarah Shand, and me. Sarah did an interview with Kai Strand at her blog Strands of Thought. You can read her interview here.

While she was off with Kai, I was in the spotlight over at Famous Five Plus You can read that post here.

I hope you’ll stop by both blogs and find out a bit more about us.

Suggested tweets:

Featured author @RobertsoKing today at Famous Five Plus http://ow.ly/gWG49 @famousfiveplus #Shadowpast #4RV #FFP #lahe

Get to know @SarahShand96 from @RobertsoKing’s novel A Shadow in the Past http://ow.ly/gWGf9 @4RV #shadowpast #4RV #lahe #FFP

4RV Publishing, Artist, Authors, Awards, Novel covers, Novels, Publishing, readers, Writing

EXTRA, EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

January 13, 2013 Melanie 7 Comments

My publisher, 4RV Publishing, was recently awarded the prestigious Best of Edmond Awards in the Book Publishers category! How exciting is that?

I am so happy to say that I’m a member of the family because that’s what we are from every level within the company. We care about each other and support each other. You don’t get that at every publishing house.

So as Stuart McLean says about Dave’s record store on the Vinyl Cafe, “we may not be big, but we’re small”. There’s nothing wrong with that, don’t you think?