Author Melinda Friesen shares writing advice + her latest release SUBVERSION + a chance to win a copy!

Today I'm excited to welcome author Melinda Friesen, who's here to chat writing and her latest release SUBVERSION. Make sure you scroll to the bottom of the post for a chance to win your own copy of Subversion, and check out it's predecessor Enslavement if you haven't already!

Thanks so much for coming to Thinking to Inking! We're so excited to have you here! Tell us a little bit about Subversion.

Subversion the sequel to Enslavement and book two in the One Bright Future series picks up a few months after the end of Enslavement when Rielle James, protagonist extraordinaire, is hell bent on rescuing her friends. She refuses to live free while her friends are still enslaved. She devises a plan to save one of them who has been sold to a logging camp in northern Montana where slaves are disappearing without a trace.

Who's your favorite character from Subversion?

I dearly love Rielle and Nathan, my two main characters, but I introduced a new character in Subversion named Dek. Dek is a rugged, crusty, crotchety old man. He’s got a hot temper and smokes a couple packs per day. Despite his tough and cranky exterior, he’s got tons of heart. He sprang to life in my head, fully formed from his nicotine-yellowed fingers to his dirty work pants to the way his truck floor is a dumping ground for jackets and plastic coffee mugs.

How did your writing process for Subversion differ from Enslavement, the first book in the One Bright Future series?

I wrote the entire series in nine months. The writing part wasn’t much different from book to book, however, I revised, edited, and rewrote huge portions of Enslavement, so those changes had to be reflected in Subversion. Bringing Subversion into line with Enslavement was a huge task. A book that had taken me a couple of months to write, took me nearly a year to edit.

The covers for both books in the One Bright Future Series are amazing! How much input did you get in the design of your cover and what was that process like?

I really love my covers too. I did get some input, mainly in the sense of the publisher showing me the cover and me giving it the go ahead. At first, I wasn’t sure about the bar code idea because the book uses microchips, not bar codes, but eventually it grew on me because it symbolized my protagonist as a product. In terms of conveying the subject and tone of the books, the designer nailed both covers.

What advice would you give writers still working to make their publishing dreams a reality?

Work at improving your writing. Never allow yourself to stagnate. Learn everything you can about writing and publishing. Get some writer friends for moral support and good advice. And keep going!

What advice do you have for authors working on writing book two in a series? Any tips or tricks you learned along the way that you can pass along to us?

Write book two, but don’t spend a ton of time revising it. You will make changes to book one in the editing process which will translate into changes to book two. The series may deviate from your original direction as you go, so it’s best to hold subsequent books loosely and be open to going in a different direction.

What are you reading now?

I’m currently reading Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and Blood of the Dead by A.P. Fuchs.

If you could be one character from any book or movie, who would it be?

I had a hard time of this question, but I finally narrowed it down to Elizabeth Swan from Pirates of the Caribbean. She had an amazing adventure. Or maybe it was the drinking rum with Johnny Depp on a beach in the Caribbean that intrigued me.

Congrats on the launch of the second book in the One Bright Future series, and thanks so much for stopping by!

Thank you so much for having me!

About Subversion (One Bright Future #2) by Melinda Friesen 

Publication Date: August 31, 2016

“I surrender my days, my efforts, myself to the OneEarth Bank . . .”

After fleeing slavery, Rielle James burns with the desire to topple OneEarth Bank and end its enslavement of young people as Contracts. When she learns that her friend Nathan has been sold to a logging company where Contracts die or vanish without a trace, she assumes a false identity and becomes a slave again to help him escape.

Her act of subversion uncovers the horrific truth behind the OneEarth Bank’s role in Contract disappearances and its link to a global pandemic.

Can Rielle and Nathan escape and expose the truth before it’s too late?

Goodreads | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

About Melina Friesen:

Melinda Friesen writes novels for teens and short stories. Her contest winning short stories have appeared in various periodical and an anthology. Enslavement, book one in the One Bright Future series, is her first novel. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Giveaway Details:

·         Two (2) winners will received a physical copy of Subversion by Melinda Friesen (US/Canada) and  Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Subversion by Melinda Friesen (INT)

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FINGERS IN THE MIST Bloghop, Review & Giveaway!

I'm thrilled to bring you yet another exciting new release - FINGERS IN THE MIST by O'Dell Hutchinson.  Make sure you scroll to the bottom of the post for your chance to win a copy!

I started reading FINGERS IN THE MIST on a dark and stormy night...which was a terrible idea because the story starts with a spine-tingling scene on--you guessed it--a dark and stormy night. It's a great read for anyone who likes horror, suspense and creepy leave-the-light-on stories.

In addition to the scare factor, I loved Caitlyn, the main character, who had just the right amount of bite to her. She was nicely juxtaposed by the small-town setting, complete with a fire-and-brimstone pastor and the stuck-up pastor's daughter. Add in the mystery surrounding the town and Caitlyn's mother, Caitlyn's questionable past, and a creeping killer-mist with ghoulish figures climbing out of it, and you have a nice page-turning suspense-filled roller coaster ride.


ABOUT FINGERS IN THE MIST

Title: Fingers in the Mist
Publication date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: O’Dell Hutchison

Sixteen-year-old Caitlyn Foster never believed in the legend of the Redeemers. That was before the trees started to whisper her name. Before a murder of crows attacked the town. Before she and her family came home to find a bloody handprint on their front door, marking one of them as a sacrifice. As Caitlyn’s friends are ripped from their homes, she knows it’s only a matter of time before the Redeemers come for her. Caitlyn has the power to stop the terror, but she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to sacrifice herself to save those she loves.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TBD

ABOUT O’DELL HUTCHISON:

O’Dell was born in a small rural town in Idaho. There were no Redeemers living there (that he knows of). After attending college in the Pacific Northwest, he found his way to the Houston area. By day, he is a Business Systems Analyst and at night you can either find him sitting at home, dreaming of random super powers he wishes he had, or directing plays and musicals at various theaters around Houston.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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THE NIGHT HOUSE: Blog hop, guest post and giveaway!

To celebrate the release of THE NIGHT HOUSE, author Rachel Tafoya has graciously offered to guest blog here at ThinkingToInking and share her writing advice with us. Yay!  We are thrilled to have her.

Check out her post below, and be sure to scroll down to the bottom for a chance to win your very own copy of THE NIGHT HOUSE. 

Writing With Others by Rachel Tafoya, author of THE NIGHT HOUSE

I’ve been writing all my life, telling stories and telling other people about the books I’m reading. My writing was highly influenced by what I was reading at the time. It still is, but when I was younger, I borrowed characters and settings. And I had people who would write with me. Back in elementary and middle school, I had a writing partner and we would send chapters back and forth to each other. I can’t say the writing was good, but I had fun, and I wrote a ton. 

Having a friend to talk about writing with and to share stories with is paramount. When I got a little older, I joined a teen writing class, and that was when my writing really improved. I was able to get weekly new inspiration and hear other people’s work. I think the biggest inspiration was our teacher, Jonathan Maberry who wrote the Rot and Ruin series, which I love. He told us his wild tales of publishing and told us all the time that it IS possible to get published, anyone can do it, and we should try. 

I had thought to myself before this class that I wanted to be a writer. My dad is a writer, and his story inspired me too, but this class was when I really dedicated myself to it. So my advice to anyone trying to become a writer: find other writers! Nothing will inspire you more than talking to others about it, and sharing your writing with someone else. It’s scary for sure, but it’ll make you more comfortable with your own work, and it’ll allow you to learn how to critique others. Mostly, I think you’ll have fun! 

ABOUT THE NIGHT HOUSE
Publication date: December 9, 2014
Author: Rachel Tafoya

Bianca St. Germain works at a Night House, a place where vampires like the aristocratic Jeremiah Archer, pay to feed on humans, and she doesn’t much care what others think of her. Themoney is good, and at least there, she’s safe. Bianca also doesn’t care that the Night House is killing her. All she cares about is: nauth, the highly addictive poison in vampire bites that brings a euphoria like no drug ever could.

But when Bianca meets James, a reclusive empath who feels everything she does, for the first time, she considers a life outside of the Night House and a someone worth living for. But Jeremiah has decided to keep Bianca for himself; he won’t allow her to walk away.

As she allows her feelings for James to grow, she struggles to contain nauth’s strong hold on her life. If they are to have a future, James must make her see what she’s worth, what she means to him, before Jeremiah and nauth claim her for good.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound

ABOUT RACHEL TAFOYA:

Rachel Tafoya studied creative writing while at Solebury School and was published in their student run literary magazine, SLAM. She attended a writing program for teens at both Susquehanna University and Denison University, and the Experimental Writing for Teens class and Novels for Young Writers program, both run by NY Times bestselling author, Jonathan Maberry. Rachel is the daughter crime author Dennis Tafoya.

Tumbler | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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FIRE IN THE WOODS Bloghop and Giveaway!

I'm excited to bring you guys another exciting new release and give away, this time for FIRE IN THE WOODS, by Jennifer M. Eaton.  Be sure to scroll to the bottom to enter to win your own copy!

ABOUT FIRE IN THE WOODS:

Title: Fire in the Woods

Publication date: September 2014

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Jennifer M. Eaton

When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel.

But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met?

Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. It just means she can’t get caught.

Helping David get home while protecting her heart—that’s gonna be the hard part. After all, she can’t really fall for a guy who’s not exactly from here.

As they race through the woods with Major Dad and most of the U.S. military one breath behind them, Jess and David grow closer than either of them anticipated. But all is not what it seems. David has a genocide-sized secret, and one betrayal later, they are both in handcuffs as alien warships are positioning themselves around the globe. Time is ticking down to Armageddon, and Jess must think fast if she’s to save the boy she cares about without sacrificing Earth—and everyone on it.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | iBooks

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I absolutely love the cover, and when I read the premise I could wait to get my hands on FIRE IN THE WOODS.  I love when authors keep secrets, and I found the beginning really intriguing because I didn't realize what David was or why he was hiding in the woods, and I had to find out. That alone was enough to get me to turn the pages. (Some of this is now given away in the extended jacket copy, but that wouldn't have deterred me from reading.)  Once the story unfolded, I really like the sci-fi bend on the romantic plot line. It was a nice change from other books on the market. I also loved that the setting of the military base and the impact that had on Jess and her father's relationship, which was a key driver of the plot tension.  Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable read with a unique sci-fi romantic premise that was a nice change of pace.

ABOUT JENNIFER M. EATON:

Corporate Team Leader by day, and Ranting Writer by night. Jennifer M. Eaton calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle.

Jennifer hosts an informational blog “A Reference of Writing Rants for Writers (or Learn from My Mistakes)” aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be.

Beyond writing and motivating others, she also enjoys teaching her dog to jump through hoops—literally.

Jennifer’s perfect day includes long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but her greatest joy is using her over-active imagination constructively… creating new worlds for everyone to enjoy.

Author Links:  Website  | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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BONESEEKER Blog Tour, Author Interview and Giveaway!

I'm taking a little break from our 2 year Blogversary celebrations to participate in Brynn Chapman's amazing BONESEEKER blog tour. Check out my interview with Brynn below, and make sure to scroll down to the rafflecopter and enter to win your own copy of BONESEEKER!

Interview with author Brynn Chapman:

How long did it take you to write BONESEEKER from start to finish?

BONESEEKER was written many times—but the first time, with my normal process—9 months.

What was the inspiration for BONESEEKER?

I saw traits in Sherlock Holmes that raised red flags for me—reminded me of people on the spectrum. I basically live the spectrum, work, home. I imagined it would be hard to be Holmes. How he needed Watson as his conduit to the outside world. How he ignored many societal norms. I wondered if that time period would be so forgiving to a woman. WAIT...a woman.

If you had your choice, what movie star(s) would you pick to play the main character(s)?

I am reluctant to answer this, lol, but as I do not use any names in my novels—I would say Robert Pattinson (he clinched it with Water for Elephants for me) and Ellen Paige.

Where's your favorite place to write?

Outside, on my deck in summer. In winter, I typically hide at Panera, with a big, fattening cappuccino.

The cover is really cool (seriously, I love it!) How much input did you get to put into the design? And tell the truth - how many times a day do you stare at it? ;-)

Month 9 is totally responsible for the cover. I merely said, “I love it.” I actually love all their covers, so I wasn’t worried I would not like my own.

Do you have any trunked manuscripts? If so, how did you know it was time to move on?

I don’t. My first was pubbed by small press. That said, it can be compared to child star’s—people watching you grow up. Our writing changes drastically with every book—so having manuscripts under the bed is not always a bad thing. (Not that I don’t love my books-they are all like your children)

You're a pretty prolific writer. Congrats on all your success! Do you find it hard to let go of one story and move onto the next?

The more you write, the easier that gets. I used to have difficulty shifting between the right and left brain—so storyteller brain and editor brain.

I do it easily now. Same with story—those characters you cannot let go of…series, anyone?

Any words of wisdom for authors trying to find the balance between writing new stories while editing and promoting already published or soon-to-be published books? (This is a selfishly motivated question. :-))

Use touchstones to get you where you need to be creatively. I create a playlist and pintrest page for each book. That often helps writers get in the correct zone for each book.

Here is BONESEEKERS page http://www.pinterest.com/rrsmythe/boneseeker/

What have you learned from your publication journey that surprised you?

It is never the same for anyone. The most important thing you can do, is remember you love to write. That is WHY you write. If you keep that foremost in your mind, success, failure, book sales, reviews etc, cant touch you. Because it’s about getting lost in those words on the page.

Congrats on the launch of your book, and thanks for the time! I can't wait to read BONESEEKER!

ABOUT BONESEEKER:

Title: BONESEEKER
Publication date: June 17, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Brynn Chapman

Arabella Holmes was born different and raised different. After it became apparent she wouldn’t fit the role of a proper 1900′s lady, her father, Sherlock, called in some lingering favors, and landed her a position at the Mutter Museum. The museum was Arabella’s dream; she was to become a purveyor of abnormal science. What her father called a BoneSeeker.

Henry Watson arrives at the Mutter Museum with a double assignment–to become a finder of abnormal antiquities and to watch over and keep Arabella Holmes. An easy task, if he could only get her to speak to him instead of throwing knives in his general direction.

But this is no time for child’s play. The two teens are assigned to a most secret exploration, when the hand of a Nephilim is unearthed in upstate New York. Soon, Arabella and Henry are caught in a fight for their lives as scientific debate swirls around them. Are the bones from a Neanderthal … or are they living proof of fallen angels, who supposedly mated with humans according to ancient scrolls?

Sent to recover the skeleton, they discover they are the second team to have been deployed and the entire first team is dead. And now they must trust their instincts and rely on one another in order to survive and uncover the truth.

Add it to Goodreads here!    

Buy it today: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo

ABOUT BRYNN CHAPMAN:

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

Author Links:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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SCION OF THE SUN: Bloghop and Givaway!

Hello readers!  It's my pleasure to bring another amazing new release to you - Nicola Marsh's SCION OF THE SUN!
Synopsis (from Goodreads):  When she least expects it, sixteen-year-old Holly Burton’s unremarkable life is shaken to the core. A vision of the mother Holly never knew leaves her questioning everything she believes. 

Eager for answers, Holly enrolls at a boarding school for highly gifted students in Wolfebane, New Hampshire. But Holly's complicated life worsens when she accidentally transports to a parallel existence where she's confronted by a dark and ancient evil.

With the help of Joss, a sexy alpha warrior sworn to protect her, and her new BFF, the equally swoon-worthy Quinn, Holly faces her fears and an unlikely adversary in a showdown that is worse than anything she could’ve possibly imagined …

Publication date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Holly, the main character, is full of spark and spunk, making SCION OF THE SUN a fun and voice-packed read.  Not to be missed are Joss and Quinn, which add an engaging and page-turning which-one-will-she-pick romance to the story. And who can deny that beautiful cover?

Win a FREE copy via the rafflecopter below!

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About the author:
USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flair for adults and riveting, spooky stories for teens.

She has published 43 contemporary romances with Harlequin, Entangled Publishing and indie, and sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Her first mainstream romance BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD was nominated for Romantic Book of the Year 2012. Her first indie romance, CRAZY LOVE, was a 2012 ARRA finalist.

Her debut young adult novel, a supernatural thriller BANISH, released with Harlequin Teen August 2013, and her YA urban fantasy series kicks off with SCION OF THE SUN, November 2013, with Month9Books.

She’s also a Waldenbooks, Bookscan and Barnes & Noble bestseller, a 2013 RBY (Romantic Book of the Year) and National Readers’ Choice Award winner, and a multi-finalist for a number of awards including the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and has also won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

A physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, and her favorite, curling up with a good book!

Website: http://www.nicolamarsh.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/NicolaMarshAuthor?_ft_

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NicolaMarsh

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