Catch Me When I Fall Blog Tour: An Excerpt

Guys! There are some things I love about being an author, and one of those things is the amazing people I get to interact with who are also authors. This week, I am helping my agency sister, Vicki Leigh, to celebrate the release of her debut book, Catch Me When I Fall.

Don't miss out on the chance to enter Vicki's contest for the My Worst Nightmare blog hop. 

Here is an awesome excerpt: 

“Kayla, I’d like for you to stay a minute.” When the others had filed out of the room, Dr. Malcolm closed the door and sat across from Kayla. “You were pretty shaken up last night, so I didn’t have a chance to get much information from you. I’d like you to tell me what happened.”“It was another dream.”“The same as last time?”Kayla nodded. “I grabbed the gun and tried to shoot him, but I kept missing. Then he burst into flames, just how I… wanted him to.”
Dr. Malcolm paused, calculating her response. “You mean, just how you remember?”Kayla’s eyes fell to the floor.Dr. Malcom sighed. “Kayla, we’ve talked about this. You need to start believing that what you thought you saw was your brain’s way of protecting you during the attack —”“I know what I saw!” Kayla yelled. She gripped the seat of her chair and fought the tears that pooled in the bottom of her eyes.
Dr. Malcolm spoke calmly. “This is why you’re here, Kayla. What you saw was your mind’s reaction to what that man did to you. As soon as you come to terms with this, the dreams will stop feeling so real and you can move past the pain.”The word “attack” brought up memories from my past I’d tried to forget. I’d died saving two women from the brutality of savage men. By the way Kayla’s face looked right now, I was positive I knew where this was going, what happened to her. Having heard enough, I balled my hands into fists, closed my eyes and evaporated to Rome.Tabbi was awake when I arrived, though my sudden appearance startled her. “Jeez, Daniel. You could’ve at least knocked.”“Sorry.” I sat in the chair next to her bed and tried to appear unfazed. “How are you feeling?”“Better. Trishna did a good job healing me, but Bartholomew wants to keep me one more night until he’s certain I can return to work.” She squinted at me. “What’s wrong?”Damn. Can’t hide anything from her. “When you read Kayla’s mind, did you read all of it?”
Tabbi scrunched her small nose. “Well, yeah. It is my job to know my charge.” She spoke like I was stupid to forget. I would’ve smiled if my heart wasn’t already consumed with anger.
“Then you saw what happened to her the night she was attacked.”Tabbi frowned. “Yeah.”“Was she raped?”Tabbi shook her head. “Here. Let me show you what happened.” She held her hand out to me.Since I was Tabbi’s partner in protecting Kayla, I could see what she saw in Kayla’s mind once I linked hands with her. The connection was part of the supernatural bond we’d created with Kayla when we performed our ritual the first day we were assigned to her. I grabbed Tabbi’s hand and closed my eyes. Within seconds, I was in Kayla’s head, seeing through her eyes and feeling her emotions. I had become Kayla.

Genre: young-adult, urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release­­: October 23, 2014

Cover Artist: Conzpiracy Digital Arts

About Catch Me When I Fall:

Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop.

Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. He fights ruthlessly to keep the Nightmares from overwhelming his team and Kayla. Soon, Daniel finds himself watching over Kayla during the day, drawn to why she’s different, and what it is about her that attracts the Nightmares. And him.

A vicious attack on Kayla forces Daniel to break the first Law and reveal his identity. Driven by his growing feelings for her, he whisks her away to Rome where others like him can keep her safe. Under their roof, the Protectors discover what Kayla is and why someone who can manipulate Nightmares has her in his sights. But before they can make a move, the Protectors are betrayed and Kayla is kidnapped. Daniel will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means giving up his immortality.

Find Catch Me When I Fall Online:

Goodreads | Amazon  US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

--

About The Author:

Adopted at three-days-old by a construction worker and a stay-at-home mom, Vicki Leigh grew up in a small suburb of Akron, Ohio where she learned to read by the age of four and considered being sent to her room for punishment as an opportunity to dive into another book. By the sixth grade, Vicki penned her first, full-length screenplay. If she couldn’t be a writer, Vicki would be a Hunter (think Dean and Sam Winchester) or a Jedi. Her favorite place on earth is Hogwarts (she refuses to believe it doesn’t exist), and her favorite dreams include solving cases alongside Sherlock Holmes.

Vicki is an editor for Month9Books and Curiosity Quills Press, an intern at TriadaUS Literary agency, and is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Find Vicki Leigh Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

My Worst Nightmare: Catch Me When I Fall Blog Hop (and a contest!)

Today, I’m taking part in Vicki Leigh’s “My Worst Nightmare” blog hop, to celebrate the recent release of her young-adult, paranormal-romance/ urban-fantasy, CATCH ME WHEN I FALL, which centres around seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham, a Protector of the Night, who has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears.

Rules:

·         On 11.03.14 post about your worst nightmare, and what form the clawed, red-eyed creatures would take if they fed off your fears.

·         Visit the other participants of the blog hop, and comment on their worst nightmares

At the end of the blog tour, on 11.14.14, Vicki Leigh will pick one of the participants at random and award them with [prize].

Okay, I know that participating in blog hops (which are different from blog tours) is not something I typically do on this blog. I have my reasons, but a lot of times it's because I generally don't have time to keep up with everyone's everything, and if I do one, I will feel like I need to do them all.

But with Halloween recently passed, and since I'm participating in this blog tour anyway, they are pretty much interconnected. So. I'm supposed to write about my worst nightmare.

Here's the thing. I don't like writing about nightmares. I am not necessarily a horror writer, at least, not that I have yet discovered. In fact, on my last author panel, someone asked what we like to write about, and my answer was kissing. I write kissing books! And romance. And yes, they all have conflict, some of which is pretty scary stuff. But in my mind, it all revolves around the kissing.

And since I'm in confession mode, it's been a very long time since I had a sleeping nightmare. By that, I mean a really bad dream that occurs while I'm asleep, and that I remember when I wake up. You should understand by now, though, that I am the person who takes precautions to avoid this kind of issue. We simply don't let the stuff of nightmares into our home. Saves me a lot of grief with my kids.

So instead of writing my personal nightmares, which I absolutely can't remember, I have decided to post some pictures of things that might cause anyone a few nightmares. Okay? Okay.

Captain Hook anyone? 

Yeah, this just...yeah. 

This guy is so scary people are afraid to even utter his name. *coughcoughVoldemortcoughcough*

Need I say more? I don't know anyone who is not afraid of clowns.

My Preciousssssssss...

*Insert Jaws theme music here*

*shuddershudder*

Other blog hop Participants:

Cassidie Jhones at Rebook424 - Cassidie's Reviews | Tawney Bland Twinning for Twins   

Laura Rueckert | Katie Teller at Katie's Stories | Ayden Morgen at A.K. Morgen Writes  

Sharon Bayliss | Emma Adams at From the Writer's Nest               | The Writer Diaries      

Katie at Writing, Reading, and Life | Robyn Koshel at Elder Park Book Reviews   

Jenny at J. Keller Ford - Fantasy Author YA Junkie | S. K. Anthony            

Merisha Abbott                at Blissful Book Reviews                | Sarah at Ink of Blood 

Amy at Home Is Where the Wine Is Book Blog | Zoraida Cordova at Wonderlands            

Ryan Hill at Ryan Hill Writes | Christie Gibrich at A Geek In Librarian's Clothing     

Nichole Giles at Random-ish | Kayl Hughes at Kayl's Krazy Obsession      

Rebecca at Sister Sinister Speaks | Kathy Kozak at Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews 

Victoria Biram at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author | Vicki Keire at Vicki Keire Writes                          Chelsea                at To Each Their Own Reviews | Sarit at Coffee Books & Art                        

Jennifer Brooks at The Cubicle Escapee | Katja at Cautious                          

Cait Spivey | Lucy Lala at Book-A-Holic                    

Find Catch Me When I Fall Online:

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

And for all you NaNoWriMo participants, I hope you're killing the word counter with your productivity.

**Also, if you're looking for the announcement I mentioned last week, worry not. You haven't missed it. BUT if you want to hear about it first, and be among the first to enter my most epic contest yet, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter. It's happening soon. Very soon.

GUTGAA Meet and Greet

A couple weeks ago, I signed up to participate in a Gearing Up to Get an Agent blog hop that involves authors getting together and preparing our works and the materials we’ll need to query agents and/or submit to publishers. If you haven't signed up and want to, you should visit Deana Barnhart's blog and find out more,

Hurry up and go do that. I'll wait.

Also, since you're here, I'd love it if you'd click the follow button to your right--show me a little love, and I'll stop by your blog and return the favor. Deal? I promise to make it worth your time by doing an awesome giveaway in the next few weeks.

I'll wait while you do that too.

*whistles*

Right. Okay.

Today is introduction day. This will explain why my first post this week went live on Monday instead of Wednesday, and also why I won’t be posting anything new until Friday. Because two blogs a week is still two, regardless of what day they post.

Anyway, here's my official blog hop introduction:

~Where do you write?

Usually in my bedroom, but sometimes in the back yard, the car, soccer games and, when I travel, on planes.

~Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?

Don’t laugh. Seriously. It’s a bookshelf that is overflowing with all my current most favorite books.

~Favorite time to write?

Late at night. It’s when I’m most creative because I’m either sleepy, or goofy, or both.

~Drink of choice while writing?

Dr. Pepper. It’s my addiction.

~When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?

Depends on the day. Most often, silence is best. But sometimes a little music is great for setting the mood I need.

~What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?

Picture this: Me, on a treadmill at the gym, watching music videos while listening to something totally different on my iPod. Thinking of rebellion, watching some lady cry in a cemetery, and then a news clip about the rising price of gas, followed by a clip about wildfires burning across the country. There’s a whole lot of what if involved, but it will all become a full story someday. (This is a work in progress, not a finished manuscript, FYI.)

~What's your most valuable writing tip?

Never. Give. Up.

That is all.

Actually, wait. I changed my mind. FINISH before you edit. Now really, that is all.

Thanks to Deana Barnhart for putting this thing together! And hello to all my new friends. *waves*

Wanna meet the other crazy authors? You can find them here:

Blog-hop Winner!

I know, I'm totally a slacker because I haven't announced a winner for the blog hop drawing yet. But as my regular readers know, I don't blog on the weekends.

The prize was a copy of Pride and Popularity by Jenni James. And the winner is...


Carolyn V.

YAY Carolyn! That random generator must just love you! I'll get a hold of you this week and make the necessary arrangements.

Thanks for playing, everyone!

Apparently, November = the Month of Giveaways

In case you didn’t see yesterday’s post, which is totally unrelated to this one, but IS, in fact, a giveaway, here’s the link. Or you can scroll down. Either way. But first, you’re going to want to read this one.

Amusing story: A bunch of people I know decided THIS must be the lucky week to hold all types of November giveaways, and I (not paying much attention to important details like dates) signed up to do a few of them. Because, well, why not? Right? (This is not me jumping on a bandwagon so much as wanting to support my friends who are hosting events—TOTALLY different situation.)

So this is how I have come to be posting TWO separate giveaway posts in two days, and also how I will post one more next week.

For today’s opportunity to win, I will be offering a copy of Pride and Popularity by Jenni James. (And if I can track her down, I may even get it autographed.)

Check out this really adorable cover:

The blurb:

Chloe Elizabeth Hart despises the conceited antics of the popular crowd, or more importantly, one very annoying self-possessed guy, Taylor Anderson, who seems determined to make her the president of his fan club! As if! Every girl in the whole city of Farmington, New Mexico, is in love with him, but he seems to be only interested in Chloe. This modern high school adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is a battle of wits as Chloe desperately tries to remain the only girl who can avoid the inevitable falling for Taylor.


It’s easy to enter. Simply become a follower (see the upper sidebar) and then leave me a comment telling me one thing for which you are thankful this month.

And since I won’t be doing a giveback giveaway for November (sorry, my budget can only handle so much this month) , I’ll give you an extra entry if you tell me one nice thing you’ve done to give back to someone else. This thing can be big or small. (For some great ideas, check out this post and this one.)

This contest will close on November 11th. US shipping, only, please.

Totally Awesome Harry Potter Blog Party and Contests.

Okay, peeps, I know it’s Sunday, and I usually take Sundays off, but I have to make an exception this week. As you know (or should know—if you don’t, have you been living in space or something?) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2 is coming out way soon, and I’m joining a huge online party to celebrate.

Guess what? You’re invited to play! I'm a sponsor, so you’ll want to be sure to come visit my blog on TUESDAY—which is another day I don’t usually post. (Clearly, I’m feeling rebellious this week!) I will be giving away another $10 iTunes giftcard so the winner can purchase Harry Potter media (music, MP4 movies, audio books, etc).

Here are the basic deets:

Our party starts on Monday, July 11th and goes through Friday, July 15th.

Here are some basic instructions. At the very end, I'll tell you how you can get started earning entries for prizes today!


How do you participate?

• Visit Inksplasher every day of the party and play our Party Games!

• There will be multiple posts and ways to enter to win each day, with specific instructions, deadlines, and actions posted—so read each post carefully.

• Most posts/entries will require you to email your name AND COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS to kbrowning59 [at] gmail [d0t]com .

• Don’t worry, all personal info will magically disappear at the end of the contest. You won’t be added to any spam lists. Promise.

• All winners will be chosen using www.random.org and announced on the Inksplasher blog.

• Every daily entry also gives you a chance at the Grand Prize.

Party Games:

Harry’s Hunt for the Horcrux:
Since Harry and the gang will be searching for horcruxes and following clues, we’ll be doing the same, with an online scavenger hunt. Each day we’ll feature a sponsor and a question. Visit the sponsor’s blog or website, follow the clues to find the answer to their question, comply with any additional instructions, then e-mail the answer to the question to me. Each entry in this contest will enter you to win the sponsor’s prize AND the Grand Prize.


Hermione’s Hogwarts Trivia Test:
Always the source of trivial facts and information, Hermione will be matching wits with us. She’ll post a new Hogwarts trivia question each day. Your entry in this contest will enter you to win a Harry Potter Trivia Bingo Game* AND the Grand Prize.


Fred & George’s Magical Mix-Ups:
When you mix magic and teenagers, your bound to get some hilarious results. Each day there will be a wacky adventure (see our Chasing Twilight party), with it’s own set of rules specific to that post. Each entry in this contest will enter you to win a Harry Potter Bingo Game* (this is a visual bingo game, not the trivia bingo) AND the Grand Prize.


We have two Party Games that are on-going and you can start NOW!

The Daily Prophet Party Game:
Simply do something to help spread the word about Inksplasher’s Totally Awesome Harry Potter Blog Party. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

Ron’s Read-a-Thon:
Read the Harry Potter books or watch the previous movies. This contest is retroactive to January 1st, 20011. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

See you soon!

Rockin POSSESSION to the Top with a Bloghop and Contest

“What?” you ask. “You’re doing another POSSESSION contest? Seriously, Nichole. It’s almost like you’re obsessed with this book.”

(You can read more of what I thought about it here.)

Dudes, I know. But really, this is a phenomenal book, written by a completely phenomenal author and people, the day is coming. POSSESSION IS ALMOST HERE!

*cheers and dances in excitement*

The blogosphere is a buzz. In a totally good way. You DO NOT WANT TO MISS OUT. This is your chance to participate in the fun and win signed copies of POSSESSION along with other wicked-cool prizes.

Ali, Windy and I are hosting this particular activity, and it has two parts:

PART ONE: The Bloghop

Sign up today, or any day between now and June 7th, on any of our blogs. On June 7th, Possession’s birthday, write a post on your blog about a time when you broke the rules.

Three lucky winners will win a signed hard-cover copy of POSSESSION. (Can you say shiny?)

PART TWO: The Pre-order

Anyone who pre-orders a copy of POSSESSION between now and June 7th, will be entered in a drawing to win a prize of your choice, but get this: they all are your own personal Elana-time! (Ridiculous, I tell you. Is that not the coolest prize ever?) You’ll choose a query critique, OR an online or Skype talk with Elana!

To enter, send a copy of your receipt of purchase to me, Ali or Windy no later than June 7th. (writenichole @ gmail . com)

All winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 8th.

**UPDATE: The deadline on the Elana-time portion of this contest has been extended to accommodate those who are purchasing their books at actual bookstores. (We *heart* bookstores.) Send in your proof of purchase from ANY store (online or physical) by no later than noon on JUNE 16th. Elana will announce the winner during her virtual launch party during her online chat. (Also, I will post the name here.)**

So there you have it—yet another frawesome contest. But dudes, there is a point to this, so maybe you could help us out? Advertise these contests on your blogs, Facebook,Twitter, linkdIn, Goodreads, and everywhere else. Rent a billboard, mention it on the radio, have it written in the sky, etc. With a little help from our online friends, we have the power to make POSSESSION debut on the New York Times Bestseller list.

Sign up here:



Let’s rock this thing.