Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Announcements {11-29-11}

Hi everyone! I just want to say welcome to all the new followers and thanks so much for being a reader of my blog. I have a few announcements today. One being that I apoligize for not being around lately, with Thanksgiving and the fact that my lil sis was home all week from school for the holiday, left me with no time to spend with you all. I just want you to know that I am back and ready to share some things with you all. 

#2 - Most of you are probably wondering where your prizes are that you have won. After quitting my job and starting school full time, I cannot get them all out at once. I am expecting my student loan money to come in around February 2nd and hopefully I can get them out some time soon. If you have not already received your prize then once again I am sorry and just know that it is ready to go and I am just waiting for some shipping money :]

#3 - When I first started blogging a year ago I wanted it to be about nothing but books. So I meet all of you wonderful readers. As I started visiting other blogs and meeting more and more wonderful people; it made me want to include more than just books on my blog. Reading is great, don't get me wrong, but life is so much more interesting and fun. I want to create a place where I can share my thoughts, crafts, projects, ideas, and family life all in one place, so with those thoughts...Ashley Suzanne {the blog} was born, or re-born for that matter. I completely understand if any of you do not want to read a blog that has all of that in there, but I promise you that I will not completely through out the books, I will still be reading and reviewing and doing book giveaways, that will just not be all I post though.

#4 - Also for the potential businesses that are thinking about using me as a reviewer, please note that I do not ONLY review books, but also any and everything else. Just because I have a book review posted as the first post please don't take this as it is the only thing I review.

#5 - For all my lovely readers out there who truly participate and thoroughly enjoy reading my blog and visits often, not only when I have giveaways, what are your thoughts about the blog? Hate it? Love it? What would you change?

#6 - This may be the MOST IMPORTANT announcement! Fall 2012 I hope to begin Nursing classes! So that means for the next 2 years I will not have a life at all. Which will also mean that I will not be able to blog as often. I hope to be able to spend my weekends catching up and blogging some. I WANT your help for GUEST POSTs!!! This would be great publicity for you and your site, blog, etc. Please email me at ashleysbookshelf at gmail dot com if you are interested!


Thanks for stopping by!
- A

Monday, November 28, 2011

Static and Demon Whisper {Interview & Excerpt}

"STATIC is an edgy, dark, and delicious read! Tawny Stokes is a tasty new voice in YA fiction." –Michelle Rowen, national bestselling author

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During the summer before her senior year, 17 year old band groupie, Salem Vale, has been following her favorite punk rockers, Malice, from gig to gig hoping that one night she might get backstage and meet the sinisterly sexy guys. She’s been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane.  One fateful evening she gets her wish.  It’s a dream come true.

Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday’s trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out.  Soon she realizes she’s changing…turning into something not quite human.

Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her.  Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band’s roadie shows up and stops her from killing.  With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he’s just like her.  And in return he wants her help to do one little thing…

Help him kill the members of Malice.

 
Excerpt
 
 

Chapter 1
You belong to me…

I own you…

The hypnotic timbre of Thane’s voice surged through my body making me tingle all over. Like a rush of heroin injected into my vein, soothing me, exciting me, I was completely and utterly hooked.

The bustling crowd in front of the stage swayed back and forth and I swayed with them. I was caught in the movement—the flow of people stirred like a whirlpool to the intoxicating rhythm and razor sharp lyrics of Malice.

Your life’s in my hands…

I’m sucking your soul…

My favorite band for the past year, I’d traveled, with my best friend Chloe, across Idaho and Washington in the past two months to see them play. My mom had been really cool about it, even lending me her car—an old POS, but a vehicle nonetheless—to drive to the shows just as long as I didn’t drive home trashed. I’d attempted it one night, but got scared when I couldn’t keep it on the road, and pulled over at a rest stop. Chloe and I slept in the car.

Thankfully no crazed psycho killer raped and mutilated us. The worst that came at us was a stray dog looking for some scraps. Chloe gave it the rest of her cheeseburger that we’d picked up a MacDonald’s drive thru after the show.

For eight gigs, I’d been entranced by the four member—three guys and one girl—band. My body responded to every aspect of their music. My head pounded to the constant heady thump of the drums, my heart thrashed to every guitar riff, and my thighs clenched with every word lead singer Thane uttered into the microphone.
Some songs he looked like he was making love to the equipment, running his fingers up and down the silver pole, uttering a lover’s words in its ear. I ached and throbbed wishing I could be that thin pole of shiny metal. If only he’d hold me like that, gripping me tightly, running his sweet lips over my face and neck. My eyes nearly rolled back in my head in ecstasy imagining what that would feel like.

That was when Chloe punched me in the arm starling me from my fantasy. “Salem?”

“What?” I grunted, peering at her between strands of black and blond hair hanging in my eyes.

“Do you want some of this?”

I glanced down to see her passing me some vodka. I took the offered bottle and tipped it to my lips swallowing down a good portion. It burned going down, but it was a good burn, telling me I was still sober. Which I needed to be if I was going to complete my mission of getting a back stage pass to meet the band. This was their final gig for the summer in my home city—Boise, Idaho—and I wouldn’t get another chance to offer up my virginity to Thane. I’d been holding onto it just for him.

My mom had always told me that virginity was a gift and the guy better be someone special enough to give it to. I figured Thane was extremely special. I mean, my mom had given hers up to some Rock God in the 80’s, I suspected it was either Keith Richards or Iggy Pop because she had signed pictures of them both thanking her for a stellar night and when she mentioned either one of them she got this little smile on her lips and a devilish sparkle in her eye.

Before I could hand the bottle back to Chloe, the couple next to us bumped into my arm and I nearly dropped it. I turned around to glare at them, but they were so busy making out that they didn’t notice. That was one thing I did notice about Malice gigs, there always seemed to be a lot of couples kissing and groping each other either on the stage floor or in darkened corners peppered around the venue.

In Spokane, when I went to the bathroom at the club the band was playing in, I happened upon two girls making out in one of the stalls. Although I was an equal opportunity snogger, that had thrown me for a loop. I certainly knew some people were gay, I didn’t have an issue with that—I had an uncle who was gay and a friend at school—it was just I’d never seen it so graphically displayed before.

Once I’d finally given the bottle back to Chloe, she wiped the top with the hem of her t-shirt—I guess she didn’t appreciate my spit—and took a pull, then tucked it back into the pocket of her army green jacket that swam on her lanky but scrawny frame.

“Did you figure out how we’re going to score backstage passes yet?”

Shaking my head, I set my attention on the security guards off to one side of the stage, handing passes on strings to a few big-breasted Goth wannabes. At every show I watched similar guards giving passes to similar types of girls. The two times I’d asked for one, they’d looked me up and down, likely taking in my black 10 holed Doc Martens, jeans-a few worn spots at the knees and on the ass—shaggy mop of black and white hair, and Betty Boop t-shirt that didn’t stretch out to a DD cup, or to a C for that matter and disregarded me in the time it took to do the bra calculations.

This time I came armed. I’d shoved my mom’s silicone gel boobs into my bra under my vintage Sex Pistols t-shirt. That made me go from an A cup to a perky B. I was also wearing my extra special pair of worn jeans that made my ass look good. I’d considered also wearing my mom’s butt enhancer panties—she had real body image issues—but decided against it. I didn’t want to look like a complete whore.

“I’m going to ask real nice.” A trickle of sweat ran down the back of my neck. I wiped at it. I really didn’t want to have sweat stains on the back of my t-shirt. The heat in the club was nearly oppressive. Too many bodies packed into too small a room.

Chloe eyed me dubiously, black eyeliner starting to run down her gaunt cheeks. “You did that the last time. And the security dude was a real dickhead about it.”

“That was before I had these.” I stuck out my chest and cupped my boobs.

Chloe shook her head, her short cap of fire-engine red hair swinging. “Do you really think that’s going to work?”

“Duh? That’s all guys understand. Boobs. It’s as if they are actually communicating with them, the way they stare.”

“Well, then, good luck with hypnotizing these security assholes with your perfect B boobs.” Chloe laughed. “You should go soon cuz it sounds like they’re getting ready to wrap up the set.”

She was right. Devon, the girl band member, stepped forward to roll into her bass solo, her pink Tokyopop pigtails bouncing to the rhythm. It was the beginning of their song, Sin City, which they always played second to last. Straightening my shoulders, I made my way, by pushing and shoving, through the pulsating crowd toward the right side of the stage.

When I reached my destination, there were three bimbos standing in front of me giggling and jiggling at the two beefy security guys. It just about made me want to barf. I actually had to put my hand to my mouth just in case I did.

“Excuse me,” I yelled over top one of the girl’s bleached blond head. “Can I get a couple of passes?”
The blond whipped around to glare at me. She had one of those hoops in her nose that made her look like a bull. I wondered if I waved a red flap if she’d charge at me. She looked scary enough to do just that.

One of the security guys looked me up and down. “Sorry. I just ran out.”

I noticed the passes dangling from the all three of the girls’ hands. “They got some.”

“Those were my last three.” He shrugged and went back to ogling one of the three girls who was wearing a black fishnet top and nothing underneath. I think her nipples were even pierced. I managed to spy a glint of sliver when she turned to glare at me too.

Blondie continued to glare at me. “Why don’t you run along little girl? Go play with your Goth Barbie.”

I hated when people assumed I was so young. I was seventeen but short—five feet one—and I got mistaken for fourteen all. The. Time. It didn’t help that I was small too—a whopping size one—with petite delicate features courtesy of my mom who looked like a punk pixie most days with her short spiky black hair and colorful tattoos covering a lot of her tight compact body.

So it didn’t surprise me when my hands began to shake from the anger welling up. I despised confrontation but right now I hated not having a back stage pass even more. I glanced up at the stage and watched as Thane moved around with his long sinuous limbs and silky black hair falling in his perfect pale face making my stomach clench. I had to get backstage no matter what.

“I wasn’t talking to you.” I finally said.

She arched her pierced eyebrow and set one hand on her ample hip. “Excuse me? Who do you think you’re talking to?”

I took in her appearance, noticing she wore cheap purple hair extensions, I could plainly see one of the clips in her hairline at her temple, and her face was adorned with several piercings. She looked like she’d been put together with pins.

I smirked. “Skankenstein?”

The two security guys laughed at that, as did one of her friends but not the one with her nipples poking out.

“You bitch!” she shrieked.

I didn’t expect her to hit me. But she did. Hard. An open hand slap right across my left cheek. It stung like hell. I’d never been slapped before and didn’t realize how badly it could hurt. I think my lip was cut as well because I could taste blood in my mouth. I glanced down at her hand and noticed the solid silver rings on her hand. The bitch had turned them in.

“Hey,” one of the security guards shouted, “If you’re going to fight take it outside.”

A little crowd started to form around us. The scent of blood always got teenagers’ attentions. We were like animals in that regard. I don’t know how many times I’d been in one of those crowds watching as two or three or more people beat the crap out of each other for pathetic and irrelevant reasons.

I could read the lips of the guys standing closest to us as they passed the word on about the bitch fight about to happen. What was it with guys wanting to watch two girls fight? I really hated to be in the middle of one, all eyes watching, ready for the scratching and hair pulling that usually entailed in a girl fight and hoping for blood.

Usually a loner, I didn’t like a lot of attention. Preferring to stick to my three or four good friends, I didn’t much like being in a crowd, except at a gig. But then when I came to a Malice concert, it was always just between me and the band. The crowds never bothered me. I just came to hear the music and watch the sexy guys on the stage—I came for the rock fantasy.

So standing in front of a fuming blond bimbo out for blood in a fighting circle surrounded by twenty or thirty people wasn’t making me feel all that good. Again, I felt like I was going to barf. I didn’t want to fight. I wasn’t big on violence; I didn’t even play fighting games on my DS. But I was not the type of person to back down either. My mom had always taught me to stick up for myself. Although I’m sure she didn’t mean that I should punch the shit out of this girl. Even if I wanted to.

Rubbing my cheek, I tried to appeal to the girl’s reasonable side, assuming she possessed one. “I think for that you should give me your backstage pass. We’ll call it even.”

She laughed. “Not likely.” Then she shoved me hard. I stumbled backwards into the murmuring crowd. Two sets of hands pushed me back into the circle. Hey, thanks guys!

It was obvious I wasn’t going to walk away from this easily. Or at all by the murdering look in the blond’s eyes. But no one ever said being a groupie was easy.

Not sure what to do, I glanced up and locked gazes with Thane. He was standing near the side of the stage looking down at me; the microphone stand gripped tightly, his dark eyes piercing me. Heat blossomed inside of me. I’d never been looked at like that by a guy before. As if he wanted to devour me from the toes up. I put a hand to my stomach where butterflies started to flip flop around like beached fish.

A rush of something I couldn’t name shot through my body. Adrenaline or lust, I didn’t know which, but whatever it was made me feel really good. Powerful even. Sexy. Like one of the female members of the X-Men. Storm maybe, or Rogue, maybe even Dark Phoenix before she went insane and killed everyone.

Whatever it was, I liked it.

Putting my attention back on my blond nemesis, I decided I needed to act if I was going to get out of the situation. Faster than I knew I could move, I reached up and snatched the bull ring from her nose.

She screamed and grabbed her nose with both hands. Blood seeped between her fingers to drip on the floor.

The sound of her skin and cartilage ripping made me shiver. Even above the music I had heard it ring in my ears. I felt bad for liking the sound, but she had it coming.

Her two friends gathered her in the safety of their arms but they both stared at me with a mixture of venom and apprehension. I suspected no one saw that coming. I certainly hadn’t.

In a daze, I looked around me, and noticed that she’d dropped her backstage pass onto the floor. Leaning down I snatched it up and smiled. I finally got my backstage pass.

As I hung it around my neck, my gaze met Thane’s once again. He was singing the last lines of their last song but he was watching me. And he smiled.

I smiled in return.

 

“You’re going to love Static — a deep, dark and sexy ride. This is a creepy and unique addition to the YA paranormal genre that goes a little bit further and gives a little bit more.” – Janet Gurtler, author of I’m Not Her and If I Tell, Sourcebooks Fire.

”STATIC is an edgy, dark, and delicious read! Tawny Stokes is a tasty new voice in YA fiction.” –Michelle Rowen, national bestselling author of Demon Princess series

“Static is an edgy, unique, whirlwind paranormal story with great action and amazing storytelling. This one leads you down a path you won’t forget. Don’t miss it!” – Denise A. Agnew award-winning author of Dark, Deadly Love

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Awake a year-long coma, where he literally spent in hell, Caden Butcher, 17, developed a special power.  He can speak to demons in their own language.  This new trick helps him take over the family exorcism business, from his broken alcoholic father.  Having to take care of the finances, Caden makes a decent income getting rid of demons.  He’s known as the young whiz-kid exorcist to the stars, obtaining most of his work in Hollywood.  But what others don't know is the exorcisms are all staged with the help of his best buddy, a demon he met in hell named Dantalion (Dan).

When an exorcism goes wrong, Caden discovers the demon inside a teen girl is not the run of the mill malicious entity but an adversary from down under who is hell bent on Caden’s destruction.  The International Order of Exorcists, an organization that tolerates Caden at best because of his respected father, starts their own investigation because of his screw up.

Now with the help of his demon buddy, and Caden’s girlfriend Aspen Spencer, a skilled necromancer, Caden must track down the rogue demon before he can expose Caden as a fraud and destroy everything that matters to him in his life, ending his reign as the one and only Demon Whisperer.

Excerpt

 

Chapter 1

The skin on Alan Bigby’s pock-marked face rippled as if something was alive underneath it. Something big and bad and nasty wanted out to rip something apart. Unnatural black veins popped out on his forehead and temples as he bucked and writhed against the iron shackles chaining him to the chair. The fat rolls of his enormous ass hung over the sides and jiggled with each spasm. If it had been under different circumstance I would’ve laughed at that.

“I’m going to rip out your innards, Butcher, and eat them raw,” he spat at me.

Then he really did spit. Viscous green phlegm spewed from between his thin cracked lips and landed on the toe of my black Doc Marten. Disgusted, I shook it off, and then dug into the beat-up, brown leather bag I had slung over my shoulder and across my chest for the holy water. It was time to get busy. No more messing around. I had to exorcise this guy and be done with it. The money from this one would pay the rent for the condo my dad and I had. Groceries too for a few months.

“Not today, you’re not,” I said as I unscrewed the sliver cap on the bottle of holy water.

I glanced over at Eleanor Bigby standing in the corner wide-eyed, wringing her hands as she watched in horror as her husband twisted and pulled at the restraints I had put on him. He was bound to a metal chair in the middle of a pentagram that I’d inscribed in blessed chalk on the blond hardwood floor of their big expensive house overlooking the Hollywood Hills. I could see the white sign out the front bay windows.

She probably had no idea that when she called the Butchers to exorcize the demon possessing her husband that it would look like this. She probably thought watching her fat husband crab-walk across the ceiling of their bedroom was disturbing enough.

“Dude, is he going to hurt himself?”

I glanced over my shoulder at the guy holding the camera trained on Alan Bigby. He had shaggy blond hair and a freshly clipped soul patch that I nearly envied. Except I didn’t like him much. He was a dick with too much time and money on his hands.

“For the last time, dude, shut up. I’m the only one supposed to be talking,” I answered, forgetting that the exorcism was being televised.

Trey Summers was an up-and-coming film maker, touted to be the next Tarantino, but I thought he was a hack. He’d directed one lousy music video for some useless pop star and voila he was an insta-star. I thought he was a talentless hack with delusions of grandeur and of getting a lot of ass. Although he did appear to be getting quite a bit by the looks of the two chicks he’d come to the house with.

The red-head smiled at me around the little white straw she had in her mouth. She was enjoying that drink just a bit too much.

I didn’t smile back. It kind of made my stomach churn that she’d come to an exorcism for a good time. The fact that the house was full of people, watching, waiting, while drinking and enjoying finger food passed out by waiters in tuxes, made me down right nauseous. Why in hell did I hang out with these people? Why did I ever agree to this being put on TV? Ten thousand, that was why.

Seven in my pocket, well me and my dad’s pockets, and three to the International Order of Exorcists. Because they were going to be some pissed that I agreed to the recording. It was against the order’s mandates to involve the media in what we did. The world knew we, meaning exorcists, existed but it was in keeping the peace to keep our business on the down low. But since I’d been crowned the exorcist to the stars, I figured it was good publicity for everyone involved. I was hoping the three grand would appease the more militant members of the I.O. into letting me off with a warning.

I returned my attention to Alan, who was still struggling against his restraints and mumbling under his breath. He was speaking Latin. I recognized the dialect but not the particular words. As far as I knew, it was probably a bunch of gibberish. A bunch of scary sounding Latin words strung together nonsensically to sound menacing and ominous. It was par for the course. Every exorcism was the same. Demons were so predictable.

I took off my black wool cap, shoved it into my bag, and then ran a hand through my short mess of brown hair. I was starting to sweat a little. It wasn’t the exorcism that had me sweating it was the scrutiny from the masses of people watching. I had to be careful with this one. More cautious than I usually was in situations like these.

I took a step toward the pentagram, making the sign of the cross with the bottle of holy water. It splattered everywhere. Drops landed on Alan Bigby. Smoke curled up from blackened spots on the back of his hands, and two pinpoints on his cheek. I winced as the demon inside writhed from the pain. Holy water was like acid to them.

“Dues, et Pater Domini nostril jesu Christi…”

I started the exorcism, incanting the Rituale Romanum, in the original Latin. I’d done the ritual so many times before it was like reciting Jingle Bells at Christmas time. Cake, man. Cake. Although this time, like all the other times, I changed a few words. The last thing I wanted to do was send the demon back to hell. It just had to look like I did.

If I did accidentally send him back, Dan would be so pissed at me. And I really didn’t want him mad. He was a bastard when he was angry. I knew that well. I still had the scar on my chin from his last temper tantrum.

As I continued to say the verse, I recapped the holy water and slid it back into my bag. I figured I’d inflicted enough pain for the crowd’s enjoyment. I didn’t want to damage Alan Bigby anymore than he already had been. His wrists looked pretty raw from rubbing against the iron handcuffs. But he’d heal. Besides, Alan Bigby was a dick. He screwed around on his wife and he bilked two of his business partners for millions. I’d done my research on the guy. My marks always had certain traits—they were rich, influential and total assholes. People who had it coming to them in all kinds of ways.

Karma was definitely a bitch.

Exorcisms were never all that easy on the possessed. Some demons really messed around with their hosts. Inflicting all kinds of horrors on their bodies and minds. I’d seen one demon tear the fingernails off an eight year old girl just for fun. That image still made my gut roil. Luckily, Dan was cool. He’d never do that. Deep down he was a decent shit for a demon. Besides, that was part of our deal. No permanent physical or emotional damage.

For show, I thrust my hand out toward Alan and said the words even louder, letting the pitch of my voice rise higher and higher over the din of the murmuring crowd. They were leaning in, eager for more. I glanced around me and took in all the awestruck faces. They were mesmerized, enchanted by the scene. By my power.

Man, did I have an enormous ego. My dad was right. It was going to get me into trouble one of these days. Hopefully not today.

As I neared the end of the ritual, Alan twitched and convulsed, his eyes rolling back in his sockets. That got a gasp or two from the crowd. The demon was really putting on a show now. Undulating like rippling water beneath Alan’s pale skin. At one point, it looked like it he was going to punch a hole through Alan’s midsection. Mrs. Bigby cried out, putting a shaky hand to her mouth. I hated doing this to her, she was a decent lady, she just managed to marry a dickwad, but hell, a guy had to make a living.

“Qui cum Patre et eodem spiritu sancto vivit et eregnat Deus…”

I could feel Trey pressing in behind me with his camera, like a media happy vulture. I wanted to whip around and knock the guy once or twice in the face. He had no manners. And he had no understanding about personal space. Because he was definitely invading mine.

But I didn’t need to do anything, because the demon inside Alan took that moment to focus on Trey.

“Trey Summers, you lecherous son-of-a-bitch.”

It was funny hearing those words with Alan’s voice. Especially since the two men were business partners. Alan was funding Trey’s first movie. Which after tonight, I imagined was going to be in the dumper. I mean, who would want their exorcism broadcasted to millions on YouTube. Alan really wasn’t looking his best right now. No one looked good with a demon inside them.

I glanced behind me and saw Trey’s face pale. I had to bite down on my tongue to stifle the laugh that wanted to burst out. Not that I enjoyed wallowing in other people’s misery, it’s just that his misery was fair game.

“Have I ever told you how much of a loser I think you are, Trey? You suck.”

Trey looked around, his cheeks reddening. “That’s just the demon talking, right?” He looked at me, pleading in his gaze. “Right?”

I let him suffer for a few more moments while I finished the incantation. “Amen.” I signed the cross in the air.
Alan’s body made one more desperate back breaking spasm, and then slumped down into the chair, his head hanging slack, his mouth open, drool dribbling down his double chins.

“Yeah, Trey, it was the demon talking.” I could hear his sigh of relief. I crossed the lines of the pentagram to unlock Alan’s wrists. “But guess where he gets his material from.” I tapped my finger against Alan’s forehead.

That roused Alan from his stupor and he blinked up at me, spittle coating his chin. Wide-eyed, he looked around, taking in the spectacle that was his exorcism. He would’ve had no idea what was going on. The last thing he likely remembered was whatever he’d been doing twenty four hours ago before he’d become possessed. Everything else would be a blank. Although some demons allowed their hosts to be aware of what was going on. It was the biggest mindfuck of all to watch yourself do horrible unimaginable things and be unable to stop.

I knew Dan kept his hosts dumb. It was also part of our bargain.

I unlocked the cuffs and helped Alan to his feet. He stared at me, his dark bushy eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Who the hell are you?”

“Caden Butcher, sir.”

“The exorcist?”

I nodded.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Saving your soul, sir.”

Mrs. Bigby took that moment to rush to her husband’s aid. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his doughy cheek. “Oh Alan, I was so scared.”

He didn’t immediately respond to his wife, but continued to gape around the room as more people started to crush in on him, wanting to welcome him back, or take pictures. I saw flashes out of the corner of my eye.

“Who are these people?” Alan sputtered. “Someone tell me what the hell is happening here?”

I put my hand on his big shoulder, preparing him for my big speech. I one I’d practiced like a hundred times before in front of a mirror. Doing exorcisms in Hollywood was very much like acting. “Alan Bigby, you were possessed by a level one demon and I performed an exorcism on you to banish the demon back to hell.”

He looked to his wife for confirmation. She nodded vigorously, as she continued to cling to him and kiss his cheeks. “I was so scared, Alan. You were actually crawling up the walls in the bedroom.”

He looked back at me. “You’re serious?”

“Completely.”

Shaking his head, his gaze settled on Trey who was still holding the camera on his shoulder. His face darkened. “Are you taping this?”

Trey licked his lips nervously. “Ah, yeah, I am, Alan, but it’ll be really-,”

Alan shrugged off his wife’s hands and rushed toward Trey. “Turn that fucking thing off you asshole!”

Smiling, I got the hell out of the way. Good thing I got my fee upfront. There was no way in hell Alan Bigby, up-and-coming producer, was going to pay me for making him look like an ass on TV.

Interview

 

How would you describe Demon Whisperer and Static?

 

Dark, dangerous, original thrill rides that you won't be able to put down.

 

Which of your characters do you feel you relate to the most and why?

 

Probably Salem from Static, because of her love of music and her stubborn pigheadedness to do things on her own.

 

Were you a reader in your teen years and if so, who was your favorite author?

 

Big time reader.  Stephen King was my main source of literature.  Probably explains a thing a two about me.

 

What one 2012 release are you most looking forward to reading next year?

 

Fear: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant, I LOVE this dystopian series.  So good.

Are you currently in the process of writing a sequel or newer book?

 

I am writing the next Caden Butcher book, and working on something completely new, something really high-concept and exciting. Can't wait to talk about it.

 
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Tawny Stokes has always been a writer. From an early age, she’d spin tales of serial killers in love, vampires taking over the world, and sometimes about fluffy bunnies turned bunnicidal maniacs. An honour student in high school, with a penchant for math and English, you’d never know it by the foot high blue Mohawk and Doc Martens, which often got her into trouble. No longer a Mohawk wearer, Tawny still enjoys old school punk rock, trance, zombie movies, teen horror films, and fluffy bunnies. She lives in Canada with her fantastical daughter, two cats, and spends most of her time creating new stories for teens.

Tawny also writes adult paranormal/urban fantasy fiction under the name Vivi Anna, and is an aspiring screenwriter.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

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Happy Reading!

Ashley Suzanne

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

{Closed} Gratitude Giveaway Hop {2011}














Congrats to....Ms Saba (aka Teacher007.5)- Comment #34!!



Thanks to all my followers who have stuck with me through the year. I am hear again to offer you all a giveaway that I am sure you will all enjoy!

The Faerie Ring (The Faerie Ring, #1)

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.
The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.
Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.
Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…
One winner will win a finished hardback copy of The Faerie Ring!! This book was a wonderful and eventful book. It had a lot of action and twist and turns that made the reader unable to predict what would happen next.

In order to win this book all you have to do is be a follower and leave a comment below.

Open to US only!


21st Birthday Bash {Giveaway Page}

Hey all! I am gearing up for my birthday bash that will be taking place on the 12th-14th. My birthday falls on that Sunday the 13th! This page is where I, and you will link up the giveaways that will be happening randomly throughout the day. Now I won't be able to do much on Saturday because I am going to be PARTYING!!!

I really hope you all enjoy this giveaway event and I hope it goes as smoothly as Princess Bookie's Contest Craze did {after all it will be in that format}. Please follow the rules and only enter if you are legible. Most of these giveaways are not coming from me, but from authors.

I am also needing a HUGE help with the shipping costs for me to ship out the books. I am offering up a giveaway for a chance to win 3 new releases for those that donate.

PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY


- Shifting {Spotlight}{Giveaway
- Believe Ornament {Giveaway}
- Body of Water {Giveaway}
- My Double Life {Giveaway}
- Solstice {Spotlight}{Giveaway}
- The Education of Hailey Kendrick {Spotlight}{Giveaway}
- Heavenly {Spotlight}{Giveaway}
- The Shifter {Spotlight}{Giveaway}
- Beyond the Grave {Spotlight}{Giveaway}
- Swag Pack {Giveaway}
- Ruling Passion {Giveaway}
- Breaking Up is Hard to Do {Spotlight}{Giveaway}
- Dana Designs {Spotlight}{Giveaway}
- Ecstatic Evil {Giveaway}
- Clockwork Angel {Giveaway}
- City of Bones {Giveaway}
- City of Ashes {Giveaway}
- City of Glass {Giveaway}
- City of Fallen Angels {Giveaway}
- Tell Me a Secret {Giveaway}
- The Death Catchers {Giveaway}
- Crystal Velasquez {Spotlight}
- Your Life but Cooler {Giveaway}
- Your Life but Sweeter {Giveaway}
- Your Life bu Better {Giveaway}
- Earrings {Giveaway}

Monday, November 14, 2011

Win Glass Pearl Drop Earrings

Glass Pearl Drop Earrings

My name is Amanda. I love rats, and so many other things! I can never seem to focus on just one thing; I suffer from Depression/Anxiety, Bi-Polar Disorder and Multiple Personality Disorder, and I've found that with art, I can keep calm, and express myself better.

Donated by Amanda @ My Rats and More
2 pairs = 1 winner
Open to US

Win Your Life but Better

Your Life, But Better: Step Back or Step Up

Have you ever read a story and wondered what you would do in that situation? Would you run into the abandoned house after the killer? Or run screaming from the scene to analyze the whole thing with your friends? Would you be bold enough to flirt with your crush—even though he has a girlfriend? Or would you quietly back off, in hopes of meeting a better guy to crush on?

In Your Life, But Better, you don’t just read a story—you become the story. Take a quick personality quiz at the end of each chapter, and find out how you would act if you were confronted with the scene you just read. Are you star material? Or the queen of romance? What will you learn about yourself?

Donated by Crystal
3 books = 3 winners
Open to International

Win Your Life but Sweeter {Key Chain}

Your Life, but Sweeter!

Your Life, but . . . is the only series that lets your true personality lead the way! In this book, you are the main character, so the narrator talks directly to you about everything that’s happening. At the end of each chapter, you’ll take a quick personality quiz, and the results will show you what you would do in that exact situation. Some roads lead to love, fame, and fortune, while others lead to embarrassment, arguments, and rejection. Along the way, you just might learn a little something about the kind of person you are and the kind of person you want to be.
 
This is a pretty exciting day for your class—because you’re taking a field trip to New York City! Your teachers have lined up an educational day of visiting museums and seeing the sights, but you’ve heard that one of your favorite celebs is in town, and you and your friends would like to do a little against-the-rules sightseeing of your own. Are you brave enough—or crazy enough!—to break free from the pack? Find out what you would do in Your Life . . . but Sweeter!

Donated by Crystal
10 key chains = 10 winners
Open to International

Win Your Life but Sweeter

Your Life, but Sweeter!

Your Life, but . . . is the only series that lets your true personality lead the way! In this book, you are the main character, so the narrator talks directly to you about everything that’s happening. At the end of each chapter, you’ll take a quick personality quiz, and the results will show you what you would do in that exact situation. Some roads lead to love, fame, and fortune, while others lead to embarrassment, arguments, and rejection. Along the way, you just might learn a little something about the kind of person you are and the kind of person you want to be.
 
This is a pretty exciting day for your class—because you’re taking a field trip to New York City! Your teachers have lined up an educational day of visiting museums and seeing the sights, but you’ve heard that one of your favorite celebs is in town, and you and your friends would like to do a little against-the-rules sightseeing of your own. Are you brave enough—or crazy enough!—to break free from the pack? Find out what you would do in Your Life . . . but Sweeter!

Donated by Crystal
3 books = 3 winners
Open to International


Win Your Life but Cooler {Tote Bag}

Your Life, But Cooler

Have you ever read a story and wondered what you would do in that situation? Would you run into the abandoned house after the killer? Or run screaming from the scene to analyze the whole thing with your friends? Would you be bold enough to flirt with your crush—even though he has a girlfriend? Or would you quietly back off, in hopes of meeting a better guy to crush on?

In Your Life, But Better, you don’t just read a story—you become the story. Take a quick personality quiz at the end of each chapter, and find out how you would act if you were confronted with the scene you just read. Are you star material? Or the queen of romance? What will you learn about yourself?

Donated by Crystal
Tote Bag
Open to International

Win Your Life but Cooler

Your Life, But Cooler

Have you ever read a story and wondered what you would do in that situation? Would you run into the abandoned house after the killer? Or run screaming from the scene to analyze the whole thing with your friends? Would you be bold enough to flirt with your crush—even though he has a girlfriend? Or would you quietly back off, in hopes of meeting a better guy to crush on?

In Your Life, But Better, you don’t just read a story—you become the story. Take a quick personality quiz at the end of each chapter, and find out how you would act if you were confronted with the scene you just read. Are you star material? Or the queen of romance? What will you learn about yourself?

Donated by Crystal Velasquez
3 Books = 3 Winners
Open to International

Spotlight: Crystal Velasquez {Your Life but...}

Your Life, But CoolerYour Life, But Better: Step Back or Step UpYour Life, but Sweeter!

How would you describe your books?

My books are choose-your-adventure stories aimed at 8-12-year-old girls. The reader is the main character. But instead of getting to the end of a chapter and making a random choice, you are asked to take a personality quiz, which decides which chapter you go to next. So the way the story goes depends on the reader's personality. You get to see what could happen based on choices you would make in real life. (For example, in Your Life, but Better, you're approached by a model scout in the mall about doing a photo shoot. If you're a risk taker, you might go for it right away. But if you're a little more cautious, you might take some time to think about it.) My hope is that it will help girls figure out what kind of people they are and who they want to be--while having fun, of course.  

Which of your characters do you feel you relate to the most and why?

I guess I'd have to say I'm most like Lena. She's really into books and writing, and she thinks a lot about her future. She has an ambitious streak, but she's more comfortable when she's not the center of attention. She's kind of a tomboy, although she has her girly moments. And she's friendly to everyone but has a close group of friends that she'll probably hold on to her whole life. (Lena is 12, which is how old I was when I met my best friend.) 

Were you a reader in your teen years and if so, who was your favorite author?

Oh, definitely. I always had my nose in a book. When I was younger, I love love loved S. E. Hinton's books. (My first attempt at writing a novel was pretty much The Outsiders with different character names. Ha ha...) I read a lot of Stephen King novels back in the day. It, The Stand, Four Past Midnight... I ate it all up. When I got to college I fell in love with Toni Morrison's books and Sandra Cisneros. (The House on Mango Street is one of my favorites.) Oddly enough, I think I read more young adult and teen fiction now than I did when I actually was a teen. My current obsession is the Hunger Games trilogy. I loved them so much. I can't WAIT for the movie to come out. 

What one 2012 release are you most looking forward to reading?

Jennifer Lynn Barnes has a book coming out in a few months called Every Other Day that sounds really good. It's about a normal 16-year-old girl who, every other day, turns into a supernatural demon hunter. Being a big Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, it sounds like it'd be right up my alley. 

Are you currently in the process of writing a sequel or newer book?

I was in the middle of a writing project that recently fell through, so now I'm excited to start working on a book I've had on the back burner for a while. It won't be part of the Your Life series. But I'm hoping fans will like what I come up with. I'll keep you all posted! 

Win The Death Catchers

The Death Catchers

On her fourteenth Halloween, Lizzy Mortimer sees her first death-specter.

Confused at first, Lizzy soon learns from her grandmother Bizzy that as Death Catchers, they must prevent fate from taking its course when an unjust death is planned-a mission that has been passed down from their ancestor, Morgan le Fay. Only, Lizzy doesn't expect one of her first cases to land her in the middle of a feud older than time between Morgan le Fay and her sister Vivienne le Mort. Vivienne hopes to hasten the end of the world by preventing Lizzy from saving King Arthur's last descendant-humanity's greatest hope for survival. It's up to Lizzy, as Morgan's earthly advocate, to outwit fate before it's too late.

With its unique spin on Arthurian legend, this fresh, smartly written story will stand out in the paranormal genre.

Donated by Jennifer Kogler
Paperback
Open to US

Win Tell Me a Secret

Tell Me a Secret
It's tough living in the shadow of a dead girl. . . .
In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda's death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister's world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.
When two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears, Miranda is stripped of her former life. She must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister's demons and her own.
In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future.
Donated by Holly Cupala
Special Edition Audio Book
Open to US

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Extreme Couponing!

After watching a marathon of the Extreme Couponing that comes on TLC. I have decided to take the challenge! Would any of ya'll like to join me? HAHAHA. If any of you know of any good sites or how a beginner is to get started please, please, PLEASE let me know! My dad is currently working and going to school, but there is about to come a time when he will no longer be able to work due to going to nursing school full time and we will lose a major part of income. I want to be able to do this to help my parents to be able to follow their dreams and to support them in all they do while using the very power that I have to make it a comfortable transition for not only them, but my sister and I also.

I will be updating this page {hopefully} will different sites that I come across that help me on my way and for those of you who would like a starting place also. If any of you have any stories or any other sites to share, please leave me a comment below and I will add it to this page or feel free to email me at ashleysbookshelf at gmail dot com. I would love to see how extreme couponing has changed your life :]

Also if any of you receive coupons throughout the mail and would like to pass them on to someone who would appreciate it the send me an email and I will give you the address to ship them to me :]

Thanks!

- Wal-Mart
- Publix
- Target
- CVS
- Rite Aid

Win City of Fallen Angels

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4)

Who will fall in love, and who will find their relationship torn apart? 

Who will betray everything they ever believed in? 
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. 

In the heart-pounding fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series, the stakes are higher than ever.

Donated by Catie Vargas
eBook
Open International

Win City of Glass

City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3)

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters — never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and her best friend, Simon, has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. 

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City — whatever the cost? 

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling The Mortal Instruments.

Donated by Catie Vargas
eBook
Open International

Win City of Ashes {Mortal Instruments #2}

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father. 

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father? 

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

Donated by Catie Vargas
eBook
Open International

Win City of Bones

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? 

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. 

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Donated by Catie Vargas
eBook
Open International