Giveaway Winners
Alice in Wonderland Ponytail Holders http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/if-shoe-fits-giveaway.html Princess Samy
Handmade Journal http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/books4bonkhe-handmade-journal.html Joonieshoney
Damask Bookmark Truth Be told Blog who donated to our Chile relief fund http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/damask-heart-bookmark.html
Recycled Book Purse Shelnell who donated to our Chile relief fund http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/book-purse-giveaway.html
Dragonfly Bookmarks SmartGirls_read http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/dragonfly-bookmark-giveaway.html
Austenland Hardback Twitter 600 followers giveaway hatshepsut0011
Please email us your street address within 48 hours to fireandice.heather@gmail.com and we will mail you your prize! Today is he last day to enter the Cinderella Society necklace giveaway! GO GO to our right sidebar 🙂
As for Chile earthquake relief, I am sad to say our donations have slowed down quite a bit. I have about 10 boxes ready to ship but no money to send them. We’ve had news from the South that winter has set in and the tents people are living in are not holding up to the cold and rains. They are in need of thick warm clothing as many don’t have water to wash. If you are interested in donating please do so 🙂 via PayPal at heatoddgardner@yahoo.com or email me for a street address to send supplies or a check. Also, check out my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeatherZahnGardner. there are over 200 YA book related items and fine photos. 40% of the proceeds go to Chile.
If you are interested in donating today I will give away these three unclaimed prizes to the first donations received! Comment below if you donate to Chile relief and wish to enter:
Unclaimed and up for grabs!
Pop Up paper towns by Neskita http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/neskita-paper-towns.html
Spiderwick Chronicles #2 Hardback Book
Handmade Perfume
http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/yellow-rose-perfume-chile-relief.html
Fire and Ice Fan Fic!
Daniel writes…”I got the idea while reading Eclipse for the second time
when Seth and Riley are fighting wouldn’t the wolfpack’s sixth sense notify Jacob of what was going on? No way he’d leave Bella alone if he knew she was being attacked. “
To learn more about Daniel click here :
http://fireandicereads.com/2009/08/introdcing-daniel-jackson-as-edward.html
See him performing live at Twicon here
http://fireandicereads.com/2009/09/daniel-plays-last-song.html
Visit our Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/eternalconflictmusic
You Tube and Reelz TV Coverage http://fireandicereads.com/2009/12/bellas-waltz.html
and click HERE to purchase our CD from the Etsy shop!
Any thoughts?
Shadow Hills Review and Giveaway
to be published July 13th 2010 by Egmont USA
details Hardcover, 400 pages
isbn 1606840835
4.5 Stars
After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.
But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life
.Waiting on Wednesday http://fireandicereads.com/2010/01/
Steampunk Book Thong Giveaway
I seem like a totally suburban housewife by the light of day. But, after a goodnight song, hug and kiss for my babies I turn into the Steampunk Goddess.
I spend my long insomnia filled nights working on designs, creating, searching Etsy for things I don’t need but must have or I will die.
What is Steampunk? Plain and simple, its old stuff made into something new. There is great beauty in vintage items that can not be found in the mass produced items in chain stores. Why adorn yourself with something hundreds of others have? It seems to me an easier, less painful self expression than a tattoo but with the same effect. Wearing a piece of Steampunk jewelry explains exactly who you are without having to say a word.
Unique
Individual
Classic
Beautiful
Everlasting
~~~~Don’t be another lost soul
It’s never wrong to know
what creates life to be free
it’s just called Individuality~~
Proud Member of the Indie Artists Street Team
My book thongs have been featured in the Storque
http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-burn-after-reading-7117/
My art has also been featured in break out new fashion magazine Cry Havoc.
http://www.cryhavocmag.com/
To Enter To Win a steampunk book thong: Leave your name and email address below
Waiting on Wednesday "Mistwood"
To be published April 27th 2010 by Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins
Goodreads Synopsis…The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.
But when she is needed she always comes.
Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.
Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty–because without it, she may be his greatest threat.
Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can’t help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.
Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.
Giveaway Winners
Congrats to our latest giveaway winners!
Pop Up Paper Towns by Neksita http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/neskita-paper-towns.html : Rinei @divailllumi
Russian Doll Resin Ring http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/russian-doll-resin-ring-giveaway.html: Sprkily/ Kim Long
Alice In Wonderland Necklace http://fireandicereads.com/2010/03/alice-in-wonderland-necklace-giveaway.html : Claudia, Dream Clau
Please email us your mailing address so we can send them to you! And continue to contribute to our Chile relief fund! We have sent 32 boxes, but the requests are rolling in steadily by those in need and we need help! Thanks!
Hope Whispers Art Print Giveaway
Time to stock up!!!
AND IN OTHER NEWS:
~I am thrilled to have an article and artwork in the spring 2009 issue of Artful Blogging!
~My second rubber stamp release with Sugar Nellie is now available at Funky Kits.
details here: http://sugarnellie.blogspot.com/
~Teamed up with Cat over at Polarity to put some images on her wonderful lockets!
Find them here: http://www.polarity.etsy.com/
I am so lucky to be able to do what makes me happy. MANY thanks
to all of my customers for making that possible
To enter to win: leave your name and email address below
Shadow of the Sun by Laura Kreitzer
details Hardcover, 524 pages
characters Andrew, Gabriella Moretti, Joseph Carter
isbn 1450211758
Synopsis from Godreads: Gabriella’s past is a mystery, but that never stopped her from achieving her goals. As a supernatural specialist, and far more intelligent than anyone her age, she has always been ignored by her peers. Because of the isolation she has always felt, she put her life and soul into her job. Being a supernatural specialist hasn’t given her the divine intervention she always longed for, until one day a shipment arrives from Italy containing three dead bodies with an uncanny ability to regenerate. Gabriella is frightened and intrigued, but not as scared as she becomes when a dark creature attacks her.
As the bodies come back to life, the plot takes an unexpected twist that you won’t see coming. The supernatural world only begins to unfold before her as angels appear, her dreams start to haunt her, and the very past she has forgotten comes back with startling clarity. Romance blooms, escape plans are made, an assassin is out to kill her, and death is only around the corner. But what is more terrifying than all of it is the fact she is the chosen one, the Illuminator, the one who will save them all.
To Enter to Win: leave your name and email address below
Introducing Author Laura Kreitzer
Shadow of the Sun is the first book in the Timeless Series of books about a young woman, Gabriella, who is a doctor in charge of paranormal investigations at an influential government lab. A sudden delivery to her lab reveals the possibility that angels actually exist and she must use her skills in both science and discernment to decide if the previously thought of science fiction is a reality.
The main character is similar to the author in many ways, the least of which is her incredible intelligence. Both Gabriella and Laura are both strong women who let very little stand in their way.
Becoming a published author is a harrowing, and often disheartening, experience. Laura bravely decided to pursue the path of self-publishing. The editing experience was an exercise in patience as version after version were carefully picked apart for proper grammar, spelling, formatting, and appropriate storyline continuity.
Although the storyline of Shadow of the Sun poured from her fingertips onto her computer screen, the process itself of bringing the book to life has been one of hard work and dedication and Laura has also decided to use this website not only to promote her book, but also for author support to encourage other writers to publish their work and become authors in the eyes of the rest of the world.
Please keep in mind that this website is a work in progress, as is everything in life. That being said, the team that supports Laura is always ready and willing to answer any questions that adults or young adults may have regarding her process to becoming published and the intense determination she has shown to make it a reality.
The first book, Shadow of the Sun, is now available for purchase. Laura is currently writing the second book in the Series, Soul Stalker.
How did you come up with the idea for your series?
I told my Grandmother that I wanted to write my own book and she said Angels sounded like a good idea. So, I let the idea simmer in my head for a few months until I decided I didn’t want to write the typical angel. Actually, I didn’t want to write about anything that anyone else had ever written about. And . . . tada! Shadow of the Sun.
Do you feel like you relate to any of your characters?
I relate to each of my characters for different things. But I probably relate better to the main character the most, mainly because of her anti-social nature. With each character I brought out something in me–whether it be their evil side, their loving side, or their need to protect.
What did you do in the way of research for the book?
Absolutely none! I decided that when I wrote it. Some things about Italy geographically I just knew from school (Went to school to study geography). Mainly, I wanted everything to be my own ideas. The angel world in my book was just something that came out of my mind with no help from the outside. I’m probably incorrect in some of my history ways–but at the same time I’m not because it is my own world. Things are different than what they are for us . . . in the “real world.”
How long did it take to write?
I started writing in August and finished in December. I edited through the day it was published in February. I am going to talk with my employer about going part-time so I can finish the next novel in less time then that!
Describe your path to being published.
I researched for about 5 months on what I wanted to do. Traditional publishing is a great way to go . . . if you can get someone to actually publish your book. Well, I didn’t want someone to tell me that I wasn’t good enough to publish my book. The whole process was one I didn’t think I could handle mentally. So, I saved money and went the self publishing way through iUniverse. I picked out my font, the layout of my book, I had a graphic designer take my idea (with help of some friends 😉 to make the beautiful cover. I literally did all the things a publisher would do. You have to be dedicated to go self publishing, that is for sure. And here I am today! My book is sold in over 30 countries, through B&N.com, Amazon.com, and Books-a-Million. From what I hear, Borders will also be picking up my book. We’ll see.
What things inspire your writing?
My Muse, friend, and Beta Lisa! It sounds silly, but sometimes I can’t even write unless I am talking with her on messenger. She cracks the whip, is a wonderful, dedicated person, and loves my characters. Especially Joseph. Oh, she is going to love book two, then! 😀 Well, she already does. The fact that when I reread some of the things I wrote and go “I actually wrote that?” is another thing that inspires me. Sometimes I don’t realize I can write the beautiful things I do until I reread much later. Sounds cheesy . . . well, I’m just a cheesy person! Also, sometimes I really try to feel what my character is feeling. Hell, through the whole Abelie scene I was crying my eyes out! So I understand how people feel when they email me and tell me that I made them cry. I cried too!
Do you have a playlist?
Not really. I listened to music while writing but there wasn’t anything in particular that I had to be listening to. Anything from The Beatles to Shinedown. (Both of those are my favorite bands!)
Any photos of the places you imagine in your scenes in Italy?
Well, I just tried to google pictures in Italy to see if I could find something like the picture I have in my head but I was unable to find what I was looking for. Close, but not close enough to use. My mother has been to Italy several times in her lifetime and some of her pictures come to mind when I think of Italy. Of course, in my mind it isn’t these large cities, but small villages thousands of years ago, or a vast, empty field with mountains in the distance for the scene in the book. We’ll see more of Italy in book two!
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Write! Always write, never stop. Doesn’t matter if it is bad or in need of major help . . . WRITE! You can’t aspire to be a writer if you only dream of it. You must act upon it. And never, ever give up.
Are you working on any future writing projects?
I am 35% done with Soul Stalker, book two in the Timeless Series. There will be a book three, too, and possibly more. It all depends on where I take the story in book three, I suppose. 🙂 I also have a few ideas brewing for another book or series. Pirates come to mind . . . I guess we’ll have to wait and see where that takes me. 😀
Check out her amazing site at http://laurakreitzer.com/and be sure to check in tomorrow for a review of her book and giveaway!