Shaking the January Blues

Christmas is wonderful.

January... not so much.

For me it's typically a time to get cozy and hibernate, doing lots of writing and sculpting and whatever other creative pursuits catch my attention. While finished off the edits for Bittersweet (I know, I've been promising its release for ages it seems, and it it is coming soon, honest) and revising an New Adult series called Daring Magic, I've been looking and watching for little things that come along to brighten the winter blahs. Tons of snow and super cold, that's been our winter so far. Short of a trip south, I've had to get creative with the things that bring me joy and add a little sunshine. Here are a few things I've stumbled upon along the way:

Receiving a shipment of my book in paperback: Very exciting!

The first person I've seen holding a paperback version of my book Fire & Ice. Sooo exciting to get that photo!

An awesome fan video for Fire & Ice made by the incredible Natasha Vahora who also helps manage my Facebook fan page! :)

Okay, what else... well there's the collaboration with a company exploring the possibility of producing a toy line with my doll sculptures.... very exciting!

And some other potentially SUPER-exciting news, that I can't share with the world just yet. ;)

Winning a contest to submit my latest manuscript to Entangled Publishing! Whoot whoot!

Rocking a new hair style that everyone compliments me on. :) Love that!

Hiring a personal assistant to help take care of some of the social media tasks for me. Someone to manage my Facebook street team... Golden! Thanks so much Sheri Vidal from Author Accomplice!

Somedays its as simple as having my hubby or son surprise me with a latte in the mornings.

Or receiving a lovely note or positive review from a satisfied reader.

I guess the point is that there are little gifts to make us smile all around if we're willing to look for them. So now it's your turn... tell me, what are you looking for to brighten your day or that makes you smile? No winter blues to deal with, all the better... you get to find things just for the sheer delight of it! 

I guarantee that by the mere act of looking, you're sure to find!

Here's to shaking the January blues.

Happy hunting everyone!
xo

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Wishing you all many joys of the season! 

It was been a fabulous year for me, for which I am extremely grateful, and I hope it has for you as well. I wish you all a magical holiday season, and a very Happy Christmas and all of the joy, love, blessing & abundance for the coming new year!!!

Exciting news is coming in 2014, so stay tuned. New novels, new sculpting projects, new tutorials, new collaborations, and many more fun and exciting things to share with you. (shhhh... they're all still top secret for now, promise I'll fill you in as soon as I can! ;) ) 

Thank you all so much for all that you do!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

love,
Michele

HO! HO! HO! Holiday Books & Prizes from Astraea Press!!!

"Warm Your Heart" Christmas Blog Tour from Astraea Press :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Astraea Press! We have lots of Christmas/holiday/winter books we'd love for you guys to check out. It is one of our favorite times of the year!



Is it the cooler weather? The fires in the fireplace? Family gatherings? Or our sweethearts under the mistletoe... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....



Whatever the cause, we want to celebrate Christmas and this holiday season with you. This is the fifth stop on a two week tour. Check out the rafflecopter for a chance to win a free Astraea Press Christmas book of YOUR choice (eep!). There is also a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!



I want to thank Michele and all the other blogs who have offered to help. All of their facebook pages and/or twitter are on the rafflecopter. I hope you get a chance to visit them all.



So... MERRY CHRISTMAS from Astraea Press and our authors. We love our readers! Thanks for a great year.



~Kelly from AP



Here's a sample of our Christmas books. We have two books for you guys today. You'll love them both.

From Liz Botts

Eighteen year old Virginia didn't ask to be the oldest daughter of the current Santa Claus, nor did she ask to be betrothed to a complete stranger. When the elf elders turn her world upside down by announcing that she must convince her fiance, Nick, not only to marry her but also to become the next Santa Claus, Virginia has no desire to have any part of the craziness.

From the beginning Virginia's interactions with Nick are filled with awkwardness, tension and disbelief. Despite Nick's love of the holiday, he has no openness to the magical or the mythical. Still, somehow the two forge their way toward one another. Meeting a special little girl named Merry helps Nick and Virginia bond and focus on the true meaning of the Christmas season. Virgnia quickly grows to love and trust Nick, with the only dark spot being his disbelief in all the things she tells him. Nick for his part must come to grips with meeting his real father, the King of Winter, and the fact that he does indeed possess magic.

Will the Nick and Virginia be able to overcome all of the exterior forces seeming to control their lives and fall in love with one another in time to save the future of Christmas?  

BUY LINKS

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Astraea Press

~*~*~

From award winning author, Elaine Cantrell

Christmas is supposed to be the most joyful time of year.  Instead, Caylie Abrahams finds herself consumed by doubts and misgivings as her wedding date to Rick Marshall approaches.  From two different walks of life, Caylie fears Rick's family, and his money, will be too much to handle. Matters don’t improve much when Rick is forced to give her a prenuptial agreement.

Knowing the marriage contract may be the last straw for Caylie, Rick has to find a way to show his bride-to-be the agreement doesn’t mean their marriage is doomed.  Not only does he need to make sure her worries are addressed, but the pressure of keeping his hands to himself until their wedding night is proving more difficult than he anticipated. 

BUY LINKS

Amazon

Astraea Press

ENTER TO WIN A $50 Amazon gift card or a free AP Christmas book of your choice!

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Welcome to our 18th Keep Calm and Read On via Spreecast.

Live Video Author Interviews and Reading

Don't miss this video interview and book reading with four wonderful authors, myself included!! 

Saturday November 23rd 4pm eastern

#ReadOn 11/23 4pm EST @Tina_Moss @Yelena_Casale @RhiannonPaille @Michelebelisle @Romilybernard

Click here to join the party!  http://www.spreecast.com/events/readon18-5-authors

@Tina_Moss 

                                                Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

@Yelena_Casale

                                                 Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Tina Moss is an author of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and New Adult novels. She lives in NYC with a supportive husband and alpha corgi, though both males hog the bed and refuse to share the covers. When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching cheesy horror flicks, traveling, and karate. As a 5'1" Shotokan black belt, she firmly believes that fierce things come in small packages.

Repped by Frances Black & Jennifer Mishler at Literary Counsel.   Yelena Casale writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She was born in Kiev, Ukraine and came to New York at the age of 13, which gave her a great perspective into two very different cultures.

Yelena believes that the world of vampires, shifters, angels and demons is a wonderful way to escape and let her imagination run wild. In Yelena’s ideal world, she would be a full time writer and travel as much as possible, experience various cultures. She’s also a second degree black belt and an instructor of Shotokan karate. She is represented by Literary Counsel.

Cassie’s working for a tightwad boss at a pretentious NYC diner, dealing with paralyzing pain that doctors can’t diagnose, and trying to hide her hands that glow purple whenever she ...well, whenever. 

So, when a mysterious stranger walks out of her dreams and into her life to spout some nonsense about her being a mythical creature, she chalks it up to one more crazy thing to add to her it’s-a-crappy-life list. Yet, when the stranger’s predictions start to come true, she discovers a world that could shake up her humdrum existence.

4 Stars

Great Characters, Great Story, Interesting Plot and more awaits the reader of A Touch of Darkness!

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

@RhiannonPaille

 Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Rhiannon is a Booksmith from the North, telling her fantastical tales to unsuspecting folk on mountains, in valleys and mostly in cities around the world. She holds a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology, which is to say she happens to know a lot about what goes bump in the night. When she's not writing she's singing karaoke, burning dinner, and hiding her superhero identity. She'd like to own a unicorn one day, as long as it doesn't eat her. 

How far would you go to betray everything you've ever known?

Kaliel didn't think second chances came with this much turmoil. Exiled from her home, surrounded by strangers and in love with a boy she barely recognizes, she can't take it. She has her best friend, a new mentor, and a chance to win the war against the Valtanyana, but it's all wrong. Desperate to salvage some semblance of her former life, she makes a deal that shatters everything.

@MicheleBelisle

                                                  Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Michele Barrow-Belisle is chocoholic author and artist living in southern Ontario, Canada with her super-sweet husband, brilliant son and a ridiculously affectionate cat. Often told by teachers to stop dreaming and get her head out of the clouds, Michele still spends much of her time lost in make-believe worlds, populated with fascinating and occasionally terrifying characters. Her passion for fantasy extends beyond her writing into her clay figure sculpt-ing, creating miniaturized replicas of the paranormal beings she writes about. Michele is as passionate about reading as she is about writing. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found sculpting tiny fairy desserts in polymer clay. She also loves mocha lattes and watching fireflies at twilight. Did we mention she loves chocolate?

Adventure wasn’t something Lorelei Alundra was interested in. Gifted with two otherworldly talents for singing and healing, she’s always shied away from her gifts and the spotlight, preferring quiet anonymity, over attention and fame. But when she meets the enigmatic Adrius, with his dark and dangerous mystique and eyes that peer into her soul, her uneventful life becomes irrevocably altered.

Adrius turns up in every one of her classes and knows more about her than any newcomer should. Including the condition of her mother who is suffering from a mysterious illness. Accepting his offer to help leads her into a terrifying and thrilling world, where Elves are even hotter than Legolas, and Faeries.... are nothing like Tinkerbell. Lose the butterfly wings and add a tattoo. The two magical beings are fire and ice opposites. One Lorelei can’t help falling for, and the other she's compelled to be with.

Now she’s trapped in their world, expected to prevent a war between witches and faeries, or forfeit her mother’s life. Nothing is what it seems. Not her family. Not the Fey. Not even Adrius, whose feelings for her balance precariously between danger and desire. 

As secrets unravel and unsettling truths are revealed, Lorelei must fight to save much more than her mother’s life. One mistake could put the fate of his world— and her soul, in jeopardy. 

But hey, no pressure… right.

5 Stars

Magic, Fairies, and more await you in this epic fantasy when Lorelei finds out that she has more to fear than school issues! Its a gripping tale of a girl who finds herself and learns what she is made of!

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

@RomilyBernard

                                                 Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

I graduated from Georgia State University with a Literature Degree. Since then, I worked as a riding instructor, cell phone salesgirl, personal assistant, groom, exercise rider, accounting assistant, and, during a very dark time, customer service rep. So don't let anyone tell you a BA Degree will keep you unemployed. 

“Find Me.”

These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.

Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.

Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.

But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.

Because it just got personal.

4Stars
Find me is a gripping wonderful story!  It is slow at times but don't let that scare you!  Also don't let those pesky 1 star reviews on Goodreads scare you either! This book was a great read!

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Don't Forget to tune in below or on site at this link! Click Here

And also don't forget that you can support 

Read On by purchasing one of our bag/bookmark sets!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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Fire and Ice Blog Tour & Giveaway

Fire & Ice by Michele Barrow-Belisle Tour Stop with Giveaway! (via Paranotmal Book Club)

Fire & Ice by Michele Barrow-Belisle    Mrs Potter’s Book Publicity Services   Presents   Fire and Ice by Michele Barrow-Belisle Blog Tour   October 21, 2013 to November 21, 2013   Fire and Ice (Faerie Song Trilogy)   Blurb/Synopsis: Adventure…

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Why I'm Happy Dancing.... AGAIN!!! (Hint visit Two-Tall-Tales Blogspot)

Once again Fire & Ice is given a 5 star review! I'm happy dancing as I type! :)

Take a peek at Two-Tall-Tales Blog for all the juicy details and remember to get in on the giveaway before it closes!

(*I received a ecopy of Fire and Ice for this tour. I'm not a paid reviewer. All thoughts are my own*)

Wowzerrific! hehe, Yes I love making words up and  Fire And Ice deserved a new word for it's awesomeness. :P I really don't even know where to start this review. So many great things packed into one book made for one epic read!

What I liked loved the most:

Adrius!! .........

 

Click here to read more, and see why I have A LOT in common with Brenna!

Two-Tall-Tales: {{Mrs.Potter's BPS}} Blog Tour + Giveaway:[Review]...

Paperback Cowgirl Reviews by Miss Laurie Williams: Blog Tour Review & Giveaway

Nothing warms the heart and soothes the soul like a kind word. So, please permit me one more opportunity to share another fabulous review of Fire & Ice. There have been so many of them lately that it takes the sting out of the very few unfavorable reviews, rendering them nearly non-existent.

And now I'm off to conquer my flu bug with some hot chicken noodle soup, a warm blanket, a box of tissues and my laptop. If there's any other feel-better remedy you know of that I've forgotten, please do let me know!

Have an awesome day everyone!

Paperback Cowgirl Reviews by Miss Laurie Williams: 
Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Michele Barrow-Belisle
Title: Fire & Ice Author: Michele Barrow-Belisle  
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance

Here's a sneak peak at Laurie Williams's review:

My Thoughts:

I know the plot seems intense and maybe far fetched BUT I promise all the characters and their magic will pull you in and make you believe the impossible.  Fire & Ice is a delightful mixture of healing powers, love, secrecy, legends and so much more!  If you love Fae and fantasy this is a MUST read for you!!! Enjoy!!

 You can read the full review here:
http://paperbackcowgirl.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-tour-review-giveaway-michele.html?spref=bl