C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Soulless Blog Tour & Hats Off Corner

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THINGS THAT ARE EVIL: Happy Halloween

The Soulless are coming.

Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is destroyed by the Soullessówho then steal the only protection her people haveósheís forced to unleash her true power.

And risk losing everything.

Get your free copy of MOONLESS  (book 1) October 13, 20, 27, 31 and Nov 7.
Author Bio: 
Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and ìfriendî (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. 
You can find her on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, or follow her on Twitter.

Hats Off Corner


SAMANTHA GEARY JONES

It’s official. Tina Downey’s Tribute Book is now available for download on AMAZON.

JESSICA BELL’S NEW BOOK IS OUT

I JUST WON A COPY. 


Pros Part 5, Crystal Collier

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If you’re a regular, you know that I’m featuring  some writer friends who have some excellent books out this year. I asked them to send me their latest book, their tagline and a short piece of advice they wanted to pass on to writers, especially those still seeking publication. Last week MEDEIA SHARIF visited with her book, SNIP SNIP REVENGE. Today I have girl who knows her cheese, Crystal Collier.  


Tagline: MOONLESS: Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.
               SOULLESS: Everything has its cost.
Best Advice: Writer, know thy audience. Read like your writing depends on it. It does. Gobble up everything you can in the genre. Spend time with teens. Get inside their heads. Find their hangouts and habits.
❀Unleashing the dream world, one book at a time ❀

  Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Website


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At one of my high school visits I met a young writer who asked if I’d meet with him to answer some questions he had about writing. So I did. His questions were along the lines of Crystal’s advice. He wanted to know what I did to be able to write for teens. 
I said, “I talk to them whenever I can.  Just as I’m talking to you.”
“Is that why you go to schools?”
“Yep, but since I also feel my books have crossover appeal, I get to hang out with other age groups and do my ‘research.'”
“Crossover?”
“That means, I want my books to appeal to older readers. I have grandmothers and grandfathers who read my books and send me emails.”
Then he wanted to know where he should start with his writing. 
My advice was  this: 
  • Decide who your reader’s going to be. 
  • Find other books that are written for that group and see if they’re the kind of book you’re considering writing.  
  • Go to a bookstore and find the shelf where you think your book will fit. 
  • Read the blurbs and the jacket flaps. 
  • Find out who publishes the books that are most similar to yours. 
  • Go home and write. . .a lot.

What did I leave out? 


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My quote for the day: If you don’t feel that you [have] read enough, you haven’t read enough” Nicholas Taleb, Author.
So does Crystal’s advice ring true for YA writers? Was my advice good for a young writer? Read much this summer?

I never post on TUESDAY, but I will tomorrow to celebrate The International Blog Hop. You don’t want to miss my lip-licking recipe. Trust me. 



Two Cover Reveals and Celebrating Some Small Things, Too.

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VIKLIT

LG KELTNER @writing off the edge
KATIE @TheCyborg Mom
CAFFEEMAGGIEATO @mscoffeehouse
Thanks for being good helpers!
July is treating me well. I’m writing. I’m reading. I’m hiking. I’m even sleeping these nights. Small things like this add up to some pretty spectacular life events. Hope you’ll stop by others who are celebrating with me this Friday.

And here’s a great cause that Evernight Teen is supporting. I’m buying some books and supporting a cause I believe in.

EVERNIGHT TEEN BOOKS

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And now for the COVER REVEAL moment. Ready? Take it away Crystal.


Have you met the Soulless and Passionate? In the world of 1770 where supernatural beings mix with humanity, Alexia is playing a deadly game.

SOULLESS, Book 2 in the Maiden of Time trilogy

Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and
lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to
reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her
wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her
people have—she’s forced to unleash her true power.
And risk losing everything.
What people are saying about this series: 
“With a completely unique plot that keeps you guessing and interested, it brings you close to the characters, sympathizing with them and understanding their trials and tribulations.” -SC, Amazon reviewer
“It’s clean, classy and supernaturally packed with suspense, longing, intrigue and magic.” -Jill Jennings, TX
“SWOON.” -Sherlyn, Mermaid with a Book Reviewer

Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, three littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. You can find her on her blog and Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

COMING October 13, 2014
PREORDER your print copy
or 
Sign up for Crystal Collier’s newsletter to receive release news and freebies.

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And there’s more! Here’s Elizabeth Seckman’s novel, BELLA’s POINT. And does her heroine look and sound enticing?


Cover art by Sprinkles on Top Studios.


Isabella Troy Stanley is a divorced, slave freeing pariah surviving in the shattered post Civil War south the only way a fallen debutante knows how. She heads to a Yankee prison and buys herself a husband. 

Jack Byron is the former Troy plantation stable boy and object of young Bella’s affection. He rejected her then, and he’s still not sold on the idea of marrying her now.  

 It’s complicated.

 Though to Bella, it’s simple: make Jack love her, marry her, and live happily ever after. The plan seems to work…at least until her secret is revealed.

Be sure to enter Elizabeth’s CHALLENGE  to win some great prizes!


About the author: Elizabeth is a wife, a mom, and a writer. She has four wonderful boys, one dusty house, and three published books to her credit. Feel free to check them out and buy them HERE! Erm, the books, not the kids or the house…though all things in life are negotiable 😉

You can find her here - Blog // Facebook // Twitter

Truth or Lie? Can you tell?

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Today I want to introduce Crystal Collier’s debut novel, Moonless. We’re going to play the Truth or Lie game, and you have a chance to win her book! 
Alexia’s nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless. 

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.
“MOONLESS is powerful, compelling, and packed with soul.” -Bethany Kaczmarek, editor at A Little Red, Inc. 
“I fell head
over heels for the characters. The story itself was magnificent and the way
Crystal writes is beyond that.” -TC Mckee, acquiring editor at BookFish Books 
“The mystery is dense and pulsating… Power-packed action, heart stopping mystery, unpredictable twists and turns…” -Review on I Am a Reader Not a Writer

Buy MOONLESS HERE or add it on Goodreads.
Crystal gave me two truths and one lie to test your “lie detector” skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will be entered in a random drawing to win one of three ebooks of MOONLESS. How cool is that? You have until November 30, at 11:59 p.m. to guess-and be sure to come back for the answer and winner announcement on ANY DAY AFTER DECEMBER 3!
TRUTH OR LIE

1. Crystal answers proudly to several nicknames, one of which
is “Chicken.”

2. She won her first and only ice skating competition at the age of ten.
3. She has had her art work featured in a couple literary magazines. 
Okay human lie detectors, which is the lie? Enter your guess below!

Crystal Collier, author of MOONLESS, is a former composer/writer for Black Diamond Productions. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, three littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. 

You can find her on her blog and Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

AND you have one more chance to win!

Cover Reveal Crystal Collier’s Moonless & Then There’s the Small Things to Celebrate

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QUITE A COVER!

MOONLESS: Alexia’s nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless. 

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.

Release Date: November 13

Visit Crystal Collier’s Website for more about her and her books.



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VikLit’s LINKY



CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS


My regular readers know this year has been a little hectic. It seems that all the small things started snowballing into rather LARGE things. 
Then I had this break through and I’m managing much better in October than I was for the previous few months. I even took an unexpected trip. It was only a week, but that was enough to set me right again. Want to guess where I went? Bish is disqualified from guessing because she knows.
Here’s where it happened.

Turtles Hatching. Hundreds of Them.
The Reef Only a Few Minutes Out-Great Snorkling 
At Last! Sand Between My Toes