It keeps getting better and better. Check out my latest book blurb at Stormy Nights and my fabulous review! I made it a point to not read reviews because it’s like saying the glass is either half full to some and half empty to others. So, I try to put my heart and soul into not only the story, but into a fabulous book blurb that says you have to have my book now.
However, I perused a few words of the review and I couldn’t resist reading the rest. A huge thank you to my host blogger(s) for giving my little book that could a chance.
Before I forget, tomorrow is your last chance at entering my contest for a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card. All you have to do is visit Kit ‘N Kabookle tomorrow and post a comment. Simple as that. Good luck to all who enter!
Hello, everyone. I know it’s a bit late, but I’ve been busy trying to finish something I’m working on and almost forgot to visit the latest stop on my blog tour. Anyway, I have an updated list of where SILENT SCREAM will be featured next, so be sure to stop by. There’s still time to win a $15 Amazon gift card, but you have to comment to be entered into the contest.
Oh man! Check out this incredible review from The Faerie Review for Silent Scream.
5 out of 5
Silent Scream is a wild ride. I’ll start of by saying I haven’t read book one of the series – yet. But I had no problems diving right into Phaedra’s world. There are some heavy themes covered in this book, and is definitely not something I’d pick up to escape for a few hours into a fun fantasy world. That said, I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking to get sucked into a world where the paranormal invades the everyday, and thrills are mixed with twists, then you’ll absolutely love this book. I’m definitely going to have to pick up book one!
This comes as a complete surprise because I had forgotten that the tour also included a chance to get Silent Scream reviewed. I don’t normally count on that because so many reviewers already have their review schedules built out and I have no idea if they have time to fit in another book. Plus, I make it a point to not read my reviews, so I can focus more on writing that next novel.
Either way you slice it, I can’t be more happier right now. So a huge thank you to Liliyana for taking the time out to read my book and the extremely cool review!
As for the rest of you, if you’re curious about the rest of the blog stops, here’s the list. Don’t forget to leave a comment, too, to enter your name into the $15 gift card drawing at the end.
Woohoooooo! Silent Scream is out and about and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I know for Phaedra it’s only been a few months, but for me, her author and creator, it’s been a good couple of years, if not longer. Silent Scream almost didn’t come into being, but my daughter finally became old enough to where I’d let her read the first book (definitely PG due to language). She liked it so much that she wanted a second book. I wasn’t sure I wanted to write one, but she begged enough, so I did it. So more than anything, this book is for her, though I wanted to share it with the rest of the world, too.
Please help make a little girl proud of her mama by purchasing a copy today!
I can’t believe this day is already here. It’s amazing how fast time flies. The e-book version of Silent Scream will be available, but I don’t know how long it’ll take for the paperback version to hit Amazon. Either way, it’s out there for the world to either love or hate. Although, I’m hoping for a little love more than anything. 😉
In case you’re still on the fence about whether or not it’s for you, I’ve shared a little excerpt below. This one is different from the ones on my blog tour, so you’re getting another glimpse into the world of Phaedra Thorne.
I missed a lot of school while trying to raise my six-year-old sister and take care of my schizophrenic and psychokinetic mother. That meant she had no control over her powers, which were ten-times the strength when she was having a mental meltdown. Unfortunately, she could barely tell my voice from the vehement voices in her head. That’s when things got really explosive. I usually end up sleeping with ice packs and bandages covering parts of my body. Better me than my seven-year-old little sister. It was as dysfunctional as a mother-daughter relationship could be and we all knew it. Seeking help from outside the paranoid supernatural community would have cataclysmic consequences ten times worse than Nadia and I going into foster care. Since psychokinesis tainted our family tree—as did mental health issues—it was best not to open up to the human world either.
We had nobody after my father and older brother left. So, up until six years ago, I missed a lot of school to take care of her, I made up by learning things I really wanted to learn rather than follow a curriculum. Strangely enough, I discovered I was a language prodigy.
“More like you had nothing better to do because you came from a messed up high school.” Ryan reached across the table for a nacho and scooped up some dip with it. “Plus, a five-star school in North Carolina is like a one-star school in the city. You’re from New York, Phaedra, so you know what I’m talking about.”
“My parents are from upstate New York,” I replied, feeling the claws of offense gripping my shoulders. I twisted my neck as though I had cramps when I really needed to break my anger welling up inside. “I was born here.”
“You’re still not exactly a native either. No accent. You don’t like sweet tea from tea bags. No Bible-thumping on Sundays either.”
“And if you want friends, you should do less talking,” Sonya Murelle, from Alabama, said as she slapped his hand for double-dipping before she went in for a chip, too.
“Come on, seriously? A Bachelors degree down here is like an Associates up there. That’s the only reason why I came here. I want an easy ride for maximum return.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Anyway, we’ve fallen completely off track. We were talking about the exam.”
“That was until your prejudiced, arrogant attitude showed up.” Sonya cut him with a poker-face glower.
“Sounds like you got a D on that test.” Ryan reached for a hot wing next.
“But getting back to my point, the exam was easy for Phaedra because she’s a mastermind. There. I said it.”
“Anything else you want to put out there about me that’s nobody’s business?” My mulatto hand clutched around my fork before I realized it had happened.
“Whoa. Wait.” He lifted his hands in defense. “I thought that was open knowledge like you not having any other friends, except for us.” He laughed at his own joke.
Everything slid off the table and onto either the floor or laps. Silverware, menus, napkins, salt and pepper, and all of our appetizers. Everyone squealed or yelled as they jumped back or tried to dodge the mess. Anything not being held had hit the floor.
I sat there still staring at Ryan and clutching my heated fork. Unlike the rest of them, I was unfazed because I knew what my powers could do. No sense in getting upset and making it worse. I calmly wiped away something that splashed onto my cheek and stood.
“You’re right,” I told him. “I don’t have friends. Life gets more interesting when I make them my enemies. Good luck getting a ride back to whatever hole you crawled out of, too.”
I picked up my purse, apologized to everyone else, and left. Sonya high-fived my still heated hand on the way out.
It’s happening! Check out my list of blog stops for my Silent Scream blurb blitz tour. Not only will in drop in at some point later in the day to answer any questions, but one person will be chosen to receive a $15 gift card from Amazon. All you have to do is show up and leave your thoughts in the comments to be entered in to win. Can wait to see you there!
Guess what’s coming out on October 30th? SILENT SCREAM is on sale now on Amazon, so as long as you’re buying a copy of SLAY, pick this one up, too.
And if you’re curious about my YA paranormal, be sure to check out my Blurb Blitz tour starting October 26th. There’s a $15 gift card on the line, too. As soon as I get a list of stops, I’ll share it with you. See you on the blog side!
Psychokinetic teen Phaedra Thorne is back! Her life consists of balancing her high school and college courses while trying to keep the peace between her older brother Kurt and little sister Nadia. On top of that, their schizophrenic and psychokinetic mom remains locked away in the attic. Believe it or not, things are better than they have ever been.
Those “better times” go up in flames when the only sanctuary the Thornes have ever known–their home–is burnt to the ground. With Kurt severely injured and their mother missing, Phae and Nadia have been left in the hands of the supernatural foster care system. Just as the Thorne sisters start to settle in with her temporary family, a blast from their horrific past comes to their foreboding rescue. Phae has good reason to be apprehensive about the new arrangements, considering many supernaturals want to buy the burnt out husk of a home and have taken a liking to her psychokinesis and Nadia’s uncanny prowess. There’s only one thing Phae can do. Find their mother.
Having been kidnapped, assaulted, and sold to the highest bidder, Phae will have to learn how to trust other members of her estranged family, if she has any hopes of saving the immediate one she loves.
Did you get your copy of SLAY, yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Yesterday, we had a fantastic release day party across both Facebook and Twitter. Oh, and I would be remiss to not include some early reviews. Check them out!
“I have pages and pages of notes as well as a bunch of new authors to follow on social media/support and start buying their books. Wow! What a collection. Thank you to the publisher, Mocha Memoirs Press for sending a digital review copy for consideration.
… I encourage reviewers to read this book with minds and hearts open to hear unique and diverse voices. I love that there was a strong adherence to the theme represented in all of the stories. There’s intentionality among the authors to be united with one purpose but also remarkably unique.” – Sadie Hartmann, aka Mother Horror 🌟🌟🌟🌟
“Sharing only a common thread of vampires and afrocentricism, SLAY is a diverse collection of paranormal tales, ranging from the sweetly charming to the grimly dystopian with stories both action-packed and emotionally-driven in the past, the present, and the future. Loaded with twenty-nine stories, there is a broad enough selection that folks of all tastes are guaranteed to find shorts that they love. In particular, I was take by the manifold interpretations of “vampire”. Alongside new twists on traditional lore, there are narratives that conceptualize these predators in entirely novel ways.” – ‘chelle 🌟🌟🌟🌟
“Each story in this anthology leaves it own unique mark on the reader. It is very rare to get a consistent selection, but I can honestly say that there is no weak story within this anthology. Although it could be commented that certain stories may not have worked in the short story format and could have been longer, I still loved reading them and did not rate any individual story below a 3 star. I was hooked throughout, and each story left its impression on me. I can’t wait to re-read these wonderful stories.
I will say that there are many different stories involving vampires and slayers, and some stories have a completely different take on the mythos that I have not seen before. This makes for an interesting read as you are never sure where the stories are going to go. There are vampires in many different forms, from space vampires to monsters in vents, this collection has something for everyone who has an interest in vampire mythos.
All in all, this is a brilliant and stunning collection that I would definitely recommend. ” – Heather Withington 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“What Mocha Memoirs Press achieves with ‘Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noire’ is something quite impressive: a fresh look at the vampire mythos that not only expands how we see vampires, but also how we see ourselves.
The stories in “Slay” deliver everything you want in a vampire story: blood, sex, terror. But also get windows into worlds and experiences not normally centered in horror fiction. It’s a meal we didn’t know we were hungry for.
What I liked most about “Slay” was the scope and breadth of these voices, and the confident ways these authors staked their claim to the vampire story. I discovered a lot of new writers here that I’ll definitely be following. Any lover of the vampire legend should pick up this book. It absolutely slays.” – Cody Daigle-Orians 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Don’t forget to check out Con-tinual from 6:00 to 9:00 PM today to meet some of the authors. Or…if you’re interested in talking to me, I’ll be on the Continual forum from 4:30 to 4:45 PM just talking about stuff.
The big day is tomorrow and I can’t believe it! SLAY‘s release day is upon us and we’re pushing to get it not only recognized, but on as many bestseller lists as possible. This unique anthology breathes new life into the vampire world and lore and it’s told from the African American perspective, which is extremely rare in this day and age.
So, help us celebrate by not only buying a copy (ebook, hardback, and paperback are available), but come out to the Con-tinual online convention that happens all day everyday. SLAY authors are taking over from 6 to 9 PM and we’ll be having a party to end all online parties. Come hand with us…if you dare.
Marcia Colette 