Cover Reveal – Ashes in the Sky

Most of you know by now that I have a serious lurve for covers. Today, I have a goodie for you. Check it out.

 Click the cover above to add it to your Goodreads TBR list

Blurb:

After inadvertently saving the world, eighteen-year-old Jessica Martinez is ready to put adventure behind her and settle back into the familiar routine of high school.

Though when she’s offered an opportunity to photograph the inside of an alien space ship, Jess jumps at the chance. After all, she’d be crazy to turn something like that down, right?

Spending time with David on the ship has definite advantages and the two seem to pick up right where they left off. But when Jess discovers a plot to sabotage David’s efforts to establish a new home for his people on another planet, neither David’s advanced tech nor Jess’s smarts will be able to save them.

ASHES IN THE SKY is an action-packed, romantic Sci Fi adventure that will leave readers screaming for more.

Check out http://jennifermeaton.com/ for more deets.

Find out what goes bump in the night for Jennifer M. Eaton #meettheauthor

Please welcome Jennifer M. Eaton to the hot seat today as part of her First Day of the New Tomorrow blog tour.  Great to have you here!  What’s your favorite paragraph from The First Day of the New Tomorrow?  No spoilers now, just a nice, slow tease if you please.

I pondered this for a while, and decided my favorite part of the book is when Maya realizes that having her every thought come true is not necessarily a gift.  When things start to go wrong, Maya begins to search herself, and is not happy with what she finds.

Excerpt:

The sound of the bell jolted her to jump through the door. She took her seat, lost in a wavy fog eating away at her humanity. In the recesses of her mind, she heard the teacher giving direction, and she saw the test paper slide in front of her, but she couldn’t find the desire to care. How could she have done something so horrible? Did Mrs. Harris have a husband? Kids? Were there people suffering because of a stray thought she couldn’t control?

Ooo, intriguing.  Now I want to know what she did.  Which, of course, was your plan, right?  🙂  Are there any other fantastic novels waiting to burst free from your imagination in the future?

Yes!  I have a few ready or almost ready to meet the world.  “Fire in the Woods” is a young adult high-paced, high action science fiction story based in present-day New Jersey.  “Fire” is complete, and I hope it will be in reader’s hands sometime next year.  I also just finished the first draft of “Optimal Red” which is a prequel to my short story “Last Winter Red” that was published about a year ago as part of the “Make Believe” anthology.  I’m really excited about both these books, because up until now I’ve published “shorter” works.  These are both full-length novels.

Very cool.  I’ve ready one, and am looking forward to reading the others.  How much of you is in your heroine? 

A whole lot, to be honest.  I mirrored her after me at her age, except math was never my favorite subject. Math actually made me think of numbers, and what fun is that?

Oh yeah, I hear you on that.  And I went and married a math teacher.  *snort*  Speaking of school, what kind of high school personality were you?  Band dork?  Jock?  Loner?  Brainiac?

I was kind of a brain in High school and college alike.  Everything is a competition to me, and my goal in every class was an “A”.  I usually achieved it.   I was in the middle of the crowd – not a cheerleader, but not a “burnout” either.  I was in art club and I acted and sang in the school plays.  I guess I was always the creative type.

I think you’re the first author I’ve interviewed that wasn’t a band dork of some flavor.  🙂  If you could be a superhero, what would your power be?

My first reaction, since The First Day of the New Tomorrow is a superhero story, was to say Maya’s power, which is near-omnipotence.  However, after seeing what happened to Maya, I might want to choose something a little less dangerous.  I think it would be fun to be able to read people’s minds, as long as I could turn it off and on at will.

That would come in handy.  No more guessing at what’s going on in people’s heads.  Yep, I would definitely be down with that.  Do you have any phobias, like run-screaming-at-the-mere-mention-of-it, fears?

Okay. I’ll fess up.  I have a fear of places I’ve never been to.  It is a HUGE handicap. I’ve made big strides to overcome it in the last year, because I’ve been traveling to make personal appearances and I’ve had to walk into dozens of places I’ve never been to before.  The first few times I was practically hyperventilating, but it’s getting better every time. Come to think of it, I didn’t even blink walking into my last speaking engagement.  Maybe I’m cured!

Well, now that you’ve braved the new places, tell us…have you ever done something so crazy and reckless you think back on it and wonder how you lived to tell us about it? 

I wish I could say I have.  I’m the type that tends to be overly cautious.  I even research items on the internet before I make a purchase.  I don’t like surprises, and I don’t like stress.  Does that make me boring?

There’s nothing wrong with cautious.  Oftentimes it will save you a crap tonne of pain.  If you could have an hour alone with any literary character, who would it be?  What would you say to him or her?  Or do with, if you’re more adventurous 😉

I’d love to run through an enchanted forest with Legolas.  Legolas could double as a handsome date and also a bodyguard in case anything tried to jump out and eat me. (See above.  Remember… I like to play it safe.)

I’m more of an Aragorn admirer, but Legolas would do.  🙂  And he does live in a lovely wood.  Do you love the country or the city?

I am totally a country girl.  I love to get out into the wild where there are no cars and you can’t see anything but nature all around you.  Nature relaxes me and makes me forget about all the stress that civilization forces on us.

A girl after my own heart.  I am so totally with you on that.  If you could build your dream house in the middle of the woods, and you could only paint it one color on the inside, what would it be?

Yellow.  I actually decorated my basement all in different shades of yellow.  Yellow just seems like a happy and bright color to me.

I have yellow in my house, and I agree.  It is a happy color.  Best.  Movie.  Ever.  As in, went to the theatre ten times to see it.

Well, I can’t say I went to the theaters ten times, but I do have a few DVD’s that I grab time and time again.  Best ever I’d have to say “True Lies”.  It is the perfect combination of laughter, action, romance, and explosions.  It’s definitely my favorite… followed by “Speed” for exactly the same reasons.

I’ve seen Speed, but not the other one.  I’ll have to check it out.  If you were to write yourself into a novel, would you be the heroine, or the villain? 

Ha!  Just for grins and giggles, I’d like to be the villain for once.  I tend to be overly nice/helpful to a fault. It’d be fun to see myself and the “bady” for a change.

I always go for the villain, too.  They do have more fun, don’t they? 

And now that we know Jennifer a little better, it’s time for the pretty!

Back of the Book:

Maya dreams of perfect skin, beautiful hair, good grades, and Eric Brighton—the boy she’s been crushing on since middle school. No matter how hard she tries, all these things elude her, but when a creepy college recruiter arrives with news that Maya has omnipotent powers, things change quickly.

Having everything she wants is a lot harder than Maya expects, though. Will she give it all up for the chance to be normal again, even if it means losing Eric?

Bio:

Jennifer M. Eaton is a contemporary blender of Science Fiction, Dystopian, and Romance.  Her work ranges from the sweet contemporary romances of Paper Wishes, to the dystopian society of Last Winter Red and Optimal Red, with a dusting of young adult paranormal just for fun in The First Day of the New Tomorrow.

While not off visiting other worlds, Jennifer calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle.

Full time team leader, full time mom, and full time novelist… what more can you ask for?  Writing help did you say?  Well, sure!  Jennifer hosts an informational blog aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be. Stop on by and chat. She loves to hear from fans! http://www.jennifermeaton.com/

***

Her contemporary sweet romance, Paper Wishes is currently available in ebook format.  The Dystopian novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe” Anthology.   Each title is available from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords.

Paper Wishes:  Jill has no idea what she wants for Christmas, but when it looks like her best friend Jack is going to get exactly what he asks for, Jill makes a Christmas wish that will change both of their lives forever.

Last Winter Red:  In search of a husband, Emily leaves the safety of the city and risks her life stepping into the outside world.  What she finds there will question the foundations of everything she believes in. Available as part of the Make Believe anthology.

The First Day of the New Tomorrow: Maya dreams of having everything she wants, but when she gets it, she can’t give it back fast enough.

Links

Email | Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Manic Readers |  Goodreads | Amazon

{Meet the Author} Jennifer M. Eaton

It’s time for another round of Meet the Author.  Today I welcome Jennifer M. Eaton to the hot seat so she can introduce her newly released story, Jack and Jill, Volume I.

Welcome, Jennifer! 

Let’s turn up the heat a little, shall we?  😉  If you met a yummy man who had a time machine, where would you ask him to take you, and when?

Oh!  So many scrumptious choices!  Let’s see… He’s yummy right?  Well, there’s nothing sexier than a guy in armor jousting, so lets go back to Medieval England.  Yeah, a big flowing dress for me, and a knight in not-so-shiny armor.  Sounds like a date to me!

I’m a medieval girl, too, when the men were mostly devilish brutes.  *swoon*  What’s your favorite paragraph from Jack and Jill?  No spoilers now, just a nice, slow tease if you please.

This is the paragraph that immediately came to mind.  It might lose a little without the lead in, but these are the woes of a secret office romance… 

He leaned back down to my computer and moved the mouse. The cursor swept across my screen, pointing at nothing. “Do you realize how long it’s been since I kissed you?”

“Before Christmas, you’d never kissed me.”

He kept his eyes on my monitor and brushed his smooth cheek against mine. A sweet musky scent embraced my senses as the heat of his touch raged through me with the speed of a chariot. “What a waste of six years.” He stood and walked toward my cubicle doorway. “Thanks. I’ll go get those reports.” He winked and slipped into the hall, leaving me trembling in the wake of his Jack-ness. 

Ooo, I’m all tingly.  Nice scene setup.  Do you have any odd rituals when you write, like stand on your head to get the blood flowing or turn around three times before you sit at your desk?  Not that I do that, just saying.

Ha!  I totally bet you do… I hope you keep those drapes drawn at all times.  I have caught myself “turning into” a character and talking “to the right” then I turn into the other character and “talk to the left”  It helps me to get a feel of the conversation if I’m part of it.  🙂

I have no curtains 😉 and I can honestly say I’ve never thought of acting out my scenes.  *nods*  That could be interesting.  Where did your hero come from?  Someone you know?  Dreams of the *ahem* daytime persuasion?  What makes him tick?  Inquiring minds would like to know. 

Tee Hee.  Everyone needs a little daytime persuasion, right?  I must admit, the guys in my stories are hunky from MY PERSPECTIVE, but I have very particular tastes, which don’t match what’s on the covers of Romance Novels.  The funny thing is, I married a cute, plump guy who just lost 60 pounds or so, and is coming close to looking like one of these cover-guys.  I’m not complaining. 

Right on!  Good for him.  Mine recently lost a great deal too.  What scared you most as a child?  Has it changed as an adult?

As a child I was scared to death of things that went bump in the night. There was an old movie called “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” that kept me up and terrified for over a year.  I recently got a copy of it for my husband, but I have not had the guts to watch it yet myself, even though the dark doesn’t bother me anymore.

I’ve never seen it, but now I have to.  With all of the lights on and long before I have to go to bed, of course.  🙂  Are there any other fantastic novels waiting to burst free from your imagination in the future?

Oh Yes!  Always a ton on the Horizon.  Jack and Jill Volume One is (you guessed it) volume one of a series.  I’ll be telling their story through the first year concentrating on events that happen during holidays.  Great fun.  I also have a Paranormal Romance called Une Variante that I am currently shopping at publishers.  I should have my first Young Adult novel, Fire in the Woods completed in the next few months.  That’s my current baby.  It’s a roller coaster chase through the woods while dodging explosions kind of novel.  Tons of fun!

Wow, you’re a busy girl!  Good luck with your submissions.  Speaking of that nerve-wracking task, tell us about your road to publication.  Was it short and sweet?  Long and winding with many bumps?

I was lucky enough to pay my dues before actually getting to the point of being slapped by publishers.  I did a deep dive into the beta world and learned everything I could from anyone willing to teach me.  It took several years. I also shelved the first novel I wrote after a twenty year hiatus, and started fresh with my new wealth of information.  Because of this, I think I was a little more honed than some.  My first two submissions to publishers (for anthologies) were accepted.  Jack and Jill Volume One is my third publication. I’m far from perfect, though.  I’m still learning every day.

You’re far more patient than I am.  🙂  Do you have any phobias, like run-screaming-at-the-mere-mention-of-it, fears?

This is going to sound weird, but I have a fear of places I’ve never been to before.  I can go into a new store, or restaurant, but usually not alone.  Lately I’ve had to force myself into situations like these for book-signing and the such, so I am getting better, but it still makes me uncomfortable.

That almost sounds like something akin to agoraphobia, but for places instead of people.  I have a bit of that myself, so I sympathize.  Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better!

About Jennifer

Jennifer Eaton lives on the East Coast USA with her husband, three boys, and a pepped up poodle.  She hosts an interactive website www.jennifermeaton.com aimed at making all writers the best they can be. 

Her Contemporary Sweet Romance, Jack and Jill Volume One is currently available in both print and ebook.  The Dystopian novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe” Anthology.  Jennifer M. Eaton’s Christmas Romance “Connect the Dots” is available as part of the “For the Love of Christmas” Anthology.  Each title is available from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords.

And now for the pretty!

Back of the Book

Jack and Jill Volume One:  Jill stumbles back into the dating world after twelve years of motherhood.  But things have changed a lot since the last time she dated.  Jack and Jill stories follow the challenges of a woman holding on to traditional values in a world that has evolved without her. Now that she has found the man of her dreams, will Jill be able to hold on to him without compromising what she believes in?

Connect with Jennifer

Twitter:

Goodreads

Facebook

Web

Blog

Purchase you copy

Amazon.com

{Cover Reveal} Make Believe Anthology

I’m privileged to be able to share with you yet another stunning cover from J. Taylor Publishing.  This one, an anthology based on the image you see below, will be out December 3, 2012 in eBook..

Make Believe – Back of the Book

Sacrificial Oath by Terri Rochenski

An impetuous act unwittingly makes Alesuela the fulfillment of the Sovereign’s Blood Oath to their Goddess. In five days, she’ll be forced to make the greatest choice of her life: become the virginal sacrifice already promised, or force the man she loves most to die in her place. 

With an impossible choice in front of her, she searches for ways to undo the oath, and in her quest, finds not everything in her life is as she expects.

The Amulet of Ormisez by J. Keller Ford

There is only one way to save Elton Fletcher’s brother from an insanity-ridden death.

After years away from home, fighting for his people, Elton returns to discover his only sibling, Cayden, possessed by greed and malice, and responsible for malicious, unthinkable deeds. Cayden, though, isn’t the only one afflicted by the Amulet of Ormisez, and Elton finds himself in yet another battle, where the price of failure could be his own life.

Birthright by Lynda R. Young

Christa can mask the pain and hide the scars, but running from a birthright is impossible. 

She’s tried to escape her grief by fleeing to a small town in Florida. Much to her frustration, the locals think they recognize her even though she’s never been there before. To make things worse, a man named Jack spouts outrageous theories about her.

Both spur Christa to bolt, to start fresh yet again, but there’s something about Jack that intrigues her enough to stay. The only problem? Someone else wants her to leave, and they won’t stop until she’s dead.

Petrified by Kelly Said

A mysterious storm has replaced summer with winter, devastating crops and smothering Castle lands in snow.  Prince Sterling August stands alone as a leader, lost in personal grief as well as a desire to help his people but with an inability to do either. 

The answers he needs await him, but without Lochlyn, a woman who’s just as isolated as Sterling, he’ll never see what stands before him, cloaked in illusion.

Last Winter Red by Jennifer M. Eaton

Emily is a Red, a woman whose sole purpose in life is to produce offspring. When her husband dies and leaves her childless, she risks her life and forsakes the safety of Terra—a disease-free city born after the nuclear holocaust. Beyond its boundaries, she knows, survives a man with whom she can be properly paired.

The Outside, though, holds secrets the government struggles to keep, and what Emily discovers on her quest for a mate will change her life forever.

Escort to Insanity by J.A. Belfield

From a charity auction, to a stroll in the park, to the craziest night of her life. Nicole Harrington can’t help but wonder how a simple event went so drastically wrong.

Of course, the male escort she booked is wholly to blame. Not only charming but shrewdly intelligent, Benjamin Gold drags Nicole into a platoon of unimaginable problems—ones from which she’ll have to find the courage just to survive.

URL: http://www.jtaylorpublishing.com/books/17

I’ve read works by some of these authors–all amazing–and knowing the high standard of writing J. Taylor Publishing puts out, no doubt all of these stories will be vividly written and enthralling to read.  Can’t wait. 

So, what do you think?  I’m a sucker for bold colors against plain backgrounds.  If you saw this little beauty, wouldn’t you at least want to pick it up to have a closer look?