Saturday, April 29, 2017

Announcements

**Cross-posted from my Author site**


Good evening, everyone!

I've been a busy bee over here. You'd never know it from how quiet I've been, but when I'm silent it's usually because I'm knee-deep in writing. And boy, have I been!

I'm taking part in a contemporary romance anthology through my new publisher. It's military themed and will contain a collection of short stories with the same theme. Also, I am currently about 70% through my first full-length contemporary romance novel. I've never written contemporary before so it's a big change from fantasy and paranormal. I'm also playing around with 1st person POV and learning new writing methods.


Here are some updates on current and future projects:

July 11, 2017 - Craving: Soldiers Anthology will be released!
 - My short story is about two Navy sailors getting a second chance at love. Aww...

August 15, 2017 - Masked will be released!
 - I'm still waiting on the cover and will start working with the editor mid-June.
 - As soon as ARCs are available, my ARC team will be the first to know!


Projects I'm working on now:

~ Masked Sequel (unnamed)
 - I'm over halfway through the second book of the Superheroes Undercover series. I've paused in writing but will pick it up after my editor and I finish working on the first book.

~ Contemp. Romance (unnamed)
 - At around 70%. This was actually supposed to be another anthology submission (holiday themed) but once I got started, I just couldn't stop at 10,000 words! It's a fake date romance set in the South.

~ Song of Shadows (Songs of Everealm - Book Four)
 - I'm on Chapter 17 at the moment. I am tweaking the plot a bit for the next book-and-a-half to add more variety to the storyline. Turns out, a short break from Everealm was exactly what I needed to get my creative juices flowing!


Don't forget to join my general mailing list if you haven't already. It's on the right side of my author website, at the top. When it gets closer to Masked's release date, I will start sending out newsletters more regularly.

That's all for now. I'm super excited about the stuff I'm working on this year. If you have any book recommendations, let me know! I'm always on the hunt for a new book to read. :)

~J.D.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Update & New Author Site!

Greetings, readers!

I know it's been awhile since I posted anything here. If you follow me on Twitter and Facebook, you might have seen that I have been taking a short break from Everealm and busy with a new project (that has been picked up by a publishing company!!!) More on that in a moment.

First up: I have a new author website!


This website (everealmseries.blogspot.com) will still include all things related to Everealm. The new site is more of a general page where all of my future and current projects will be highlighted. Feel free to check it out now and subscribe to my general mailing list here:


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And now... drumroll please...

I am happy to announce that Masked, the first book of my new superhero series, has been accepted by Limitless Publishing

I will be posting on my new author site as soon as I have a release date. So make sure you sign up for the mailing list or follow me on social media so you're the first to know.

For now, a little bit about that series:

  • Title: Masked
  • Series: Superhero UnderCover (Book One)
  • Genre: Paranormal with Romantic Elements
  • Age: Upper YA

Synopsis

Vada’s To-Do List:
- Turn 18 (check!)
- Register super name
- Order supersuit
- Attend superhero indoctrination
- Graduate high school
- Start kicking criminal tail!

Vada Lawson isn’t your average teenager. She’s a superhero. Well, almost. Her famous super parents made her promise to graduate high school first but after that… It’s on! She’s been training for this her entire life and she can’t wait to put on the mask and start defending Cyper City against all criminals, humans and supervillains alike. There’s just one small problem…

Someone has been doing the impossible—giving normals a drug that causes them to gain superpowers. As if that weren’t crazy enough, there is also a mad doctor on the loose, kidnapping supers and experimenting on them before dumping their bodies around the city. When Vada’s parents learn about this, they’re more than a little uneasy about letting their teenage daughter roam the streets, searching for bad guys. Especially, since it seems that supers are the new targets.

No matter who this devilish villain may be, Vada isn’t about to let them interfere with her future career as a superhero. Teaming up with her supertech agent, a couple of friendly supers (and one that she’d much rather leave behind!), Vada is determined to stop the murders and save her fellow supers from the clutches of the mysterious mad doctor. Along the way, she makes some allies, a couple enemies, a few mistakes, but most importantly—a difference.

No one ever said that being a superhero was easy…

And now... Meet the Main Characters!!

Vada  (a.k.a. Majestic)



Name: Vada Renee Lawson
Age: 18
Occupation: High School Senior & Hero-to-be
Parents: Bill & Michelle (AKA Siege & Comet)
Siblings: Josh & Garret

Bio: Vada is finally turning 18 and eligible to register her own super name, Majestic. A master of martial arts and tumbling, she is ready to kick some criminal ass and look good doing it!

Likes: Action movies, fantasy books, gummy bears, and motorcycles
Dislikes: Crime, waiting for graduation, and her annoying younger brother's attempts to sneak into her room

Aspirations: She wants to be the best superhero that Cyper City has ever known. And she's trained since birth to do just that. So don't get in her way!

Nick  (a.k.a. Orion)



Name: Nicholas Grayson
Age: 18
Occupation: High School Senior & Athlete
Parents: Phillip Grayson (District Attorney) & Deceased Mother
Siblings: No Known Siblings

Bio: Nick has been well-liked and popular since he was old enough to catch a football. His father is the city's D.A. and Nick's life has been a series of galas and parties, less since the death of his mother. But after a seemingly harmless party favor gives him a special ability, Nick's life is turned upside down in an instant.

Likes: Sports, comedies, kickboxing, and blondes
Dislikes: Being alone and pretty much every vegetable

Aspirations: Nick hadn't decided if college was in his future or not, but now he's seriously considering a career of the crime-fighting sort!

Henley  (a.k.a. Eden)



Name: Henley Jean Abernathy
Age: 18
Occupation: High School Senior
Parents: Julia & Howard Abernathy
Siblings: None

Bio: Henley's life has been a series of disappointments. Her parents are idiots and in the middle of a nasty divorce. But just when she thinks things are hopeless, a mysterious guy hands her the key to getting everything she wants...

Likes: Being the center of attention, collecting pretty things, the color green, and dancing
Dislikes: Homework and being told 'no'

Aspirations: Henley wants her independence and to live in luxury for the rest of her life

Victor (a.k.a. Velocious)



Name: Victor Cursey
Age: 19
Occupation: High School Senior (when he goes)
Parents: He'd rather not say
Siblings: No Known Siblings

Bio: Victor isn't your typical teenage boy. Raised by his father (a villain in hiding) and the local drug dealer, he tries to stay under the radar so as not to get caught. That is, until a certain sexy vixen enters his life. Then, all bets are off!

Likes: Reading, motorcycles, swords, and the color black
Dislikes: Authority and doing his father's dirty work

Aspirations: Considering his main job for the past eight years has been distributing illegal drugs, he doesn't have high aspirations for himself. He just wants to keep his girl safe and escape from under his father's shadow.

James (Codename: Whiskey)


Name: Jameson (James) Bennett
Age: 18
Occupation: High School Senior & Supertech
Parents: Charles & Tracy Bennett
Siblings: Sasha & Charlie

Bio: James is a supertech and Vada's best friend. He was arrested at the age of 10 for hacking into government databases but has since pinky-promised not to do it, again. Yeah, right.

Likes: Video games, collecting t-shirts, and pizza
Dislikes: Broccoli and losing to diamondintheruff14 (his gaming nemesis)

Aspirations: As Majestic's agent, he hopes to make her the very best hero this city's ever seen. Oh, and beat his own record of eating a large pizza in under 5 minutes.

Vortex


Name: Unknown
Age: 19
Occupation: Aerokinesis Super
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: Unknown

Bio: Vortex finds enjoyment in most anything he does, even the late nights spent training to be a superhero. With his air superpower, he's the kind of ally you want on your side in a fight.

Likes: Food, sports, and red heads
Dislikes: He's pretty much open to anything, especially if food is involved

Aspirations: To get his photo on a hero super card one day.

Gypsy


Name: Unknown
Age: 18
Occupation: Psychic
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: Unknown

Bio: Gypsy sees things. Sometimes they're things that she doesn't want to see. That's her gift and curse. Her visions began in middle school and have been reoccurring since.

Likes: Dancing, reading, and the color purple
Dislikes: Depressing visions and exercise

Aspirations: As the first in her family to choose to work in the field, rather than behind the scenes, she wants to put her power to good use and save lives!

Well, there you have it!

Let me know what you think about the new series. I'm excited to try something new. Don't worry, though. Everealm is still my baby and I will return to my fantasy realm shortly.

P.S. If you'd like to be added to my ARC team and be the first to read Masked, CLICK HERE. Don't wait too long to sign up. I'll be cutting off the list when I reach around 10-12 readers. Thanks!

~J.D.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Release Day & 5 Chapter Preview!

Finally! Song of Sorrows, Book Three of the Songs of Everealm Series has been released, today. (Review copies were sent out. If you didn't receive your copy or want to volunteer to review, just comment below and I will send it your way!)

In celebration, I have put Song of Sovereign (Book One) for FREE on Amazon through the 22nd. Also, starting tomorrow, Song of Sparrows (Book Two) will be reduced through October 26th. Be sure to grab your copies while they are at a free/reduced price.

If you haven't started the series and are undecided, I have also created a 5 Chapter Preview of Song of Sovereign, available on instaFreebie! Click here or on the image below to snag a copy!

Image result for instafreebie

And don't forget that Song of Sovereign is FREE right now!

    
FREE thru Oct. 22nd! 

Reduced thru Oct. 26th!

Available NOW!

~J.D.

Monday, October 10, 2016

NEW Cover Reveal!!

The cover for Song of Sorrows (Book Three of the Songs of Everealm Series) is finally here!

TA-DA!


I am on the final stage of editing for the book and will be releasing it within the week, if everything goes as planned. There will be no blog tour with this one, so if you would like a copy for review, please comment below or email/message me!

~J.D.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Blog Tour - Kick-Off!

Today is special for two reasons. One, it's my birthday! Two, it's the first day of the Songs of Everealm (1&2) tour!

Make sure you check out at least one of the stops so you can read an excerpt and enter the giveaway for:

~ $25 Amazon Gift Card
~ Magic Bottle Bookmark from EnchantedBottleCraft
~ Set of 4 Scented Crystal Soaps from TheLittleSoapStore

Set of 12 Assorted Soap Rocks, Bulk Stocking Stuffer, Soap Party Favor, Unique Party Memento, Geode, Bridal Shower Favor, Baby shower favorsAmazon.com $25 Gift Card in a Gift Box Reveal (Classic Black Card Design)

Here are a couple of the first stops:

Mikayla's Bookshelf - Excerpt #1Wordish Wonderland - Excerpt #23 Partners in Shopping - Spotlight


I'll post more as they come in. Thank you, everyone!!

~J.D.






Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Blog Tour Schedule & Updates!

Tour schedule is up! I have posted it below.

I always get nervous when I know people are reading my books. I am like an anxious child, I know. There are a lot of bloggers who signed up to review which makes me giddy with excitement but also a little nauseous. Ha!

UPDATE:
~Song of Sorrow (Book Three) is in the proofreader's hands. Yay! Working on the cover for that one so everyone can add it to their to-read shelves on GR.
~I am currently on Chapter 14 of Song of Shadows (Book Four).
~Also looking to the future and where we'll go next after this series is finished. Have a crazy idea to continue on with a mixture of characters from both series. There is just too much that can happen in Everealm. And just as the Everealm Series set events into motion which changed the realm, the Songs Series is doing that, as well. It will be nice to know what havoc those changes cause. We'll have to see where the story takes us! :)

NOTE:
If you signed up for the tour (to review or not), your copies of the first two Songs books have already gone out via Sara@YABound. If you couldn't join us on the tour, I have just sent your copies to you. I saw no reason to send them twice to the ones who were already doing the tour. If you are on the tour and didn't receive the copies from Sara, let me know. Things may have changed and they might not send review copies to everyone anymore.

Also, there are a few Family Trees that I put together (with the help of software). They are located in the back of the Songs books. Hopefully, it will help to keep everyone straight. They are not available on the blog because they are spoilers of the first series. However, if you can't see them very well in ebook form, there is a link there to larger ones on the blog (hidden page). Hope that makes sense!

Blog Tour Schedule –
July 25th
Mikayla's Bookshelf    http://mikaylasbookshelf.blogspot.com     Promo Post
WordishWonderland    http://wordishwonderland.wordpress.com     Review
The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange   www.anneliselestrange.wordpress.com     Promo Post
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy,&,Sissy, Too!  http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com    Promo Post
Book-o-Craze    http://book-o-craze.blogspot.gr/   Review

July 26th
The Travelogue of a book addict - The Book Drealms   http://thebookdrealms.blogspot.com   Review
Pippa Jay    http://pippajay.co.uk    Promo Post
Happy Tails and Tales Blog    http://happytailsandtales.blogspot.com     Review
Forever Obsession   https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com   Review
The Silver Dagger Scriptorium     http://silver-dagger-scriptorium.weebly.com/   Review
Adventures Thru Wonderland   http://adventuresthruwonderland.blogspot.com/   Promo Post

July 27th
What Is That Book About   www.whatisthatbookabout.com   Promo Post
Trips down imagination road   Http://a-reader-lives-a-thousand-lives.blogspot.co.uk   Review
deal sharing aunt     www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com     Promo Post
alwaysjoart     http://alwaysjoart.blogspot.com/    Promo Post

July 28th
Million Book Mill      http://www.millionbookmill.blogspot.com  Review
Reading, Writing, and What Not    http://pixiescanread.blogspot.com/  Review
Haddie's Haven https://haddieshaven.blogspot.com      Review
Kovescence of the Mind    http://kovescenceofthemind.blogspot.com/    Review
Don't Judge, Read    http://dontjudgeread.blogspot.ca     Review

July 29th
Laura's Interests    http://dogsmomvisits.blogspot.com/   Review
books are love  http://hello-booklover.tumblr.com    Review
Books and Kats http://katticusbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/   Review
Owl Always Be Reading Www.owlalwaysbereading.com     Review
Literary Dust    http://literarydust.wordpress.com    Promo Post
Sylv all about books and film   www.sylv.net    Promo Post

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Dream Cast - Songs of Everealm Series

UPDATE: Spots have been filled for the Songs (1&2) blog tour! Review copies should be going out to bloggers in the next few days. Please note, the first book is finalized. The second book still has one more run through of proofreading. There may be a few left over errors to catch in book 2 before release. Song of Sovereign is final manuscript. Song of Sparrows is ARC. Thanks!

I've been working on the dream cast for the Songs Series for months now. A few of the characters came easy to me. A few took a loooong time. For instance, Oliver was immediate. I saw a movie trailer and spotted my Oliver and never looked back. But for Cassidy, I poured over Google for the past two months trying to figure out who would make a better fit for his character. Finally, they're all done. Drumroll please...

Sarita

For our magic-loving princess, I chose Virginia (Ginny) Gardner. Her character is 18 at the beginning of the series and ready for adventure! I think Ginny is a great fit for Sarita's independence, yet still has a bit of youthful innocence about her.






Gabrielle

Ksenia Solo was an immediate pick for Gabby. I fell in love with her in Lost Girl and I think Ksenia can easily nail Gabby's spunky attitude and independent nature as a healer and Sarita's bestie.






Cassidy

This one was so difficult. I changed actors at least six times. Cassidy was hard to cast because I couldn't find someone who looked the part and was age appropriate. They were either too young or too old. Technically, John Deluca is a bit too old but can play younger, thankfully. He is definitely the image I see in Cassidy. And I think he could also pull off the king's confident-if-not-a-bit-cocky behavior. Swoon...






Oliver

Brenton Thwaites. Oh, Brenton. I only went to the theater to see Gods of Egypt because he was in the movie. And I loved the movie, by the way. :) He is soooo Oliver. I haven't even thought of anyone else. Oliver is our favorite squire who is both loyal and playful. Perfect combination.


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Garrison

Garrison was another that took me a few tries but I finally nailed down Luke Mitchell. Garrison is a bit more mature and proper but still soft around the edges. He is looking for love, maybe in the wrong places. His character becomes more fleshed out in the third book of the series and after.






Asher

Chord Overstreet is my Asher. I can already imagine him as our white-haired wizard. Strangely, most of the photos I have chosen for him have the same haircut as Asher, too, so it's easier to picture him. The mage and Cassidy's best bud has a big role to play in the series as he finds his magical mate may not be what he was expecting. Poor guy... ;)



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Calista

This one was pretty easy, too. For Cali, I chose Aimee Teegarden. I've seen this actress in many shows and can confidently say that she is perfect for the role. Calista is a lady whose life will be turned upside down in this series. Like Dahlia in Everealm, Cali will probably be the one who changes the most throughout the story. Wish her luck!

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Jolene

Another easy one was Molly Quinn for Jolene. Jolene has spent half of her life in Junacave and the other half with the Sabras. So as you can imagine, Jo has a wild side. We get to see more of her in the second half of the series.







Emery

For Emery, I chose Alexandra Daddario. Emery is a fairy with a mysterious past and miraculous magical abilities. We meet her in Sovereign and I think you'll take to her quickly. She may be naive in many aspects but isn't the least bit shy or afraid of adventure. Perfect companion for our group!






Jake

Matt Lanter is Jake. Or maybe Jake is Matt Lanter. I can't distinguish between the two. I started writing his character with this guy in mind. You might see someone else for Jake but I can't. Our wizard is both witty and humorous. He makes enjoying life a sport! You may wonder why I chose the following gifs but when you get to Song of Sparrows, I think you'll understand. :)



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Well, there it is! Let me know if you had someone else in mind the characters. :)

~J.D.