The Wasteland Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway!

by Emily Sims

The world of “The Wasteland” began very simply.

The story unfolded in the most organic of ways. At first, I only saw a decimated countryside with wind and sun scorching the earth mercilessly. It was like an introduction to this completely formed world that already existed somewhere in time, I just hadn’t found it yet. As I followed the characters through “The Wasteland”, I realized there were mountains in the distance and an expansive forest on the fringes. None of it was entirely pretty, but when I dug down deeper, I realized, “Hey, there is history here…a rich history.”

Hundreds of stories come alive inside “The Wasteland”.

There are the Commoners. They struggle to make a living. Commoners band together in order to survive. They live off the land and are a rough people. Before the Great War, they were more carefree than they are now. The years have made them paranoid. They are beaten down, but their spirits still smolder under the surface. It wouldn’t take much to set them on fire.

Commoners live together in secret tribes throughout the Wasteland. 

 Then there are the mythical people. They are the ones who live in legend. The great Kings and Queens of old, and the invincible ones…the pure-blooded Royals, loyal Guardians, Watchmen, Prophets, and the like. Once proud and strong, now they hide among the tribes and live in far off places. The land they once occupied has been taken from them. The Commoners they once protected have been made casualties of war. 

 Prophecies and stories abound in the world of The Wasteland. 

Some say the High King will return, but after almost 70 years of waiting, most people have lost hope. There are rumors of the King’s death, but no one really knows for sure.

The Opposition rules over the wasteland. 

 They have decimated it and hold the land tight in their cold grip. Led by Lucius, a hate-filled, jealous Guardian, the Opposition lurks throughout the land. They whisper lies to all unsuspecting souls.

This is a story about a kingdom, and the magical, utterly real people who live there. It’s about an enemy who is devious and horrific. It’s about fighting that enemy to preserve good in the world. And it’s mostly about love…love between a man and woman; between a woman and her children…it’s about how love can cross great distances and live on even after death.

This is the world of “The Wasteland”. .

The Wasteland by Emily Sims

Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing

Release Date: January 7th 2014

Blurb:

In another world, one far removed in time and space altogether, a timeless journey awaits. The path is steep, the road is long, and it encompasses a wild evil. Here, in a place entirely different from our own, we discover the lost remains of a once vast empire and a love story long forgotten.

In The Wasteland, set against a barren landscape, we find a terrified woman named Lylah. She races along the overgrown highways of a war-torn country, pursued by a deadly enemy. Try as she might, Lylah remembers nothing about her past or who she is. Without quite meaning to, she stumbles upon a sinister forest and a small tribe of people. They have dark skin and hair. They speak in thick accents. Nothing about them is familiar, but at least they’re safe.

As she struggles to unlock the keys to her past, Lylah falls deeply in love with this primitive way of life…a way of life she’s never known before. The tribe’s leader is a fearless man they call “Matteo.” He is formidable and abrasive, but Lylah is inexplicably drawn to him.

In spite of uncertainty, one thing remains: an evil force governs this rugged land. The Opposition uses its power to oppress the tribes-people and they are quickly closing in on Lylah. Will she summon the courage to face her past in time? Somehow, Lylah’s memories hold secrets that could destroy the Opposition and break its tyrannical power.

You can purchase The Wasteland at the following Retailers:

    

  

Author Bio

Emily is a mother, writer, photographer, and home-schooler. She loves family, thrift shopping, chai lattes, good books, nature, and learning new things. She strives to find beauty and divinity in imperfect things…she searches for God in the earthy and the grit and the ordinary and the joyful stuff of life. She lives in Texas with her husband and five children.

Follow her on these sites
  

3 Winners will receive a Copy of  The Wasteland by Emily Sims.
2 Winners will receive a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card.
Must be 13+ to Enter
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The Secrets of Lily Graves - Excerpt

Today we welcome Sarah Strohmeyer on our blog to feature her new YA book that was released this May, The Secret of Lily Graves. Scroll down to read an excerpt from the book and follow the tour courtesy of Pinoy Book Tours. Have fun!

The Secrets of Lily Graves

 by Sarah Strohmeyer

Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Release Date: May 13th 2014

Blurb: With the intrigue of Pretty Little Liars and plenty of romance, bestselling author Sarah Strohmeyer weaves a story of secrets and lies—set in a funeral parlor.

Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like.

But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper.

So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects.

As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.

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Excerpt

  “Well, you know how guys are in their senior year,” I said, trying to be diplomatic. “Got to spend their final semesters with their bros and all that.”

She swung out her leg, blocking my path. “Um, I don’t think bros are the problem. It’s more like the hos.” Her lips twisted. “Or, to be more specific, one ho. You.”

I sucked in a breath. “Actually, Matt and I. . .”

“Eh, eh, eh.” She tick-tocked her finger. “Correction. There is no Matt and you. Never has been. Never will be.”

I bit my lip and remained still, staring at her outstretched leg. There were five rows to go and I didn’t want to have to come back. But I also didn’t want to get into a confrontation.

“Look, Erin, I have to keep moving if I want to get this finished while there’s daylight.”

I attempted to sneak by, but she slid off the tombstone and blocked my way. “You’re not going anywhere until we hash this out.”

The caretaker was in the gatehouse watching the game on TV. My phone was locked in my aunt’s car on the street. We were almost in the woods and it was beginning to dawn on me that if something happened, no one would hearme scream.

She took a step forward. I took a step back, my heel hitting the base of a headstone. She was so close, I could smell her breath; it possessed an alarming metallic odor.

“Come on, Erin, cut it out.” I gave her a slight push, but she wouldn’t budge.

“You tried to turn Matt against me.”

My pulse had started to race. I was beginning to panic. “Excuse me,” I said, shifting to the right.

Erin shifted to her left. “When he realizes you told him a pack of lies, he’ll be back.”

“And I’m sure you’ll be very happy. Now, if you don’t mind. . .”

“I’m the only one he’ll ever really love.”

If I could just get to the gatehouse, I’d be safe. But the gatehouse was all the way at the bottom of the cemetery road. At least I was in Doc Martens, while Erin was in Frye boots with clunky heels. There was a chance.

And then a gust of wind stirred up a curtain of leaves and I went for it, ducking under her and running as fast as I could, leaving my bag of debris behind. The road was in sight, when I stupidly slipped on the damp grass and stumbled.

It was all she needed.

Erin clamped onto my forearm and gave it a cruel twist, taking her hissy fit to a whole new level. I whimpered as she hauled me upright, and I cursed. I did not deserve this kind of abuse. Lots of girls had practically thrown themselves at Matt. I’d merely been his friend. So why was he taking out her rage on me?

Author Bio 

Sarah Strohmeyer is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of fifteen novels one of which, THE CINDERELLA PACT, became a Lifetime Movie, LYING TO BE PERFECT.

Her first mystery, BUBBLES UNBOUND, won the Agatha Award and THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL was nominated for a prestigious RITA™. Her books have been translated into German, French, Italian, Turkish, Taiwanese and a bunch of others.

Her first young adult novel, SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT, will be published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins, on June 26, 2012.

Follow her on these sites  

Waiting on Wednesday: Talon and Let's Get Lost

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

Talon
 by Julie Kagawa

Release date: October 28th, 2014
 Publisher: Harlequin Teen
 Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

This summer I finished reading the Iron Fey Series and I must say that Julie Kagawa is so one of my favourite authors! Now there's another book written by her and it's about dragons! *imagining the cool dragons of khaleesi...* Anyway Talon is one of my anticipated reads of the year and I bet Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian is one helluva sexy dragon slayer. Ha! *wink*

Let's Get Lost
 by Adi Alsaid

Release date: July 29th, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Five strangers. Countless adventures.One epic way to get lost. 

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most. 

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love. 

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

A road trip book! I wonder if this is going to be told on five perspectives and I'm certainly intrigued by the plot. Their lives are connected through one girl and when she leaves they started their epic journey. A book about friendship, loss, love. Definitely like it! I also like the cover. ^_^

Book Blitz: My Best Friend, Maye by Caela Carter

My Best Friend, Maybe by Caela Carter

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: June 3rd 2014

Blurb:

Colette has been bored and lonely ever since her best friend, Sadie, dumped her the summer before they stared high school. She tries to be perfect for everyone left in her life: her parents, her younger brothers, her church youth group, even her boyfriend, Mark. But Colette is restless. And she misses Sadie.

When Sadie tells Colette that she needs her old friend to join her on a family vacation to the Greek Islands, one that leaves in only a few days, Colette is shocked to hear their old magic word: need. And she finds herself agreeing.

Colette tries to relax and enjoy her Grecian surroundings but it’s not easy to go on vacation with the person who hurt you most in the world. When the reason for the trip finally surfaces, Colette finds out this is not only a fun vacation. Sadie has kept an enormous secret from Colette for years...forever. It’s a summer full of surprises, but that might be what Colette needs.

Purchase Links

Excerpt

    Dad pulls up to the curb outside the international terminal.

            When he looks at me, his eyes aren’t so wild anymore. They almost look sad. “You ready?”

            “what’s going on, Dad?” I ask. It hits me that he somehow snuck me out of the house and now he’s ready to push me onto an airplane to some distant island, but he still hasn’t said anything real.

            He shrugs. “Mom’s not always right,” he says.

            But she is.

            His eyes fall to his lap. “Neither am I,” he says. “Call your mother. Say good-bye.”

            My hands shake as I finally turn on my phone.

            She answers before the first ring. “Don’t get on that airplane, Colette,” she says, “Know that I don’t approve of this.”

            “You know?” I ask.

            “Your father left a note. Colette...” She trials off. “You heard me tell you not to go, right?”

            “Yes,” I say.

            “Well if you go anyway, be safe. Protect your body and your soul. I changed your phone plan so you can only call home, okay? It’s too expensive for you to call Louisa and Mark willy-nilly.” Mark. “But call when you arrive, okay? So we don’t have to worry.”

            “Okay,” I say.

            My hands aren’t shaking anymore. I’m relieved to hear her sound like any-old-mom.

            “And, honey?” she says. She says it so softly I think she’s going to tell me to have a nice time. Or that she loves me.

            “Yeah?”

            “I hope you understand what a terrible choice you’re making.”

            She hangs up.

            I stare at the phone in my palm.

            “She okay?” Dad says finally.

            I shrug.

            We get out of the car and I spot Sadie and her family climbing out of a limo curbed fifty feet away. She jumps up and down as soon as she sees me, her now purple-and-blond hair waving across her face. I can’t help smiling. I can see her mouth moving even from here. “You came! You came!”

            I give my dad a quick hug, pull out my suitcase, yank up the handle of my rolly bag, and take my first step as the new, imperfect Coley.

            “Colette?” Dad says.

            I turn around, ready for him to sit me back in the car, to tell me this was all a test that I failed. Instead he holds out his hand and shoves a stack of bills into my fist. “For whatever you need, little lady. Have fun. I—we. We love you.”

            Then he’s gone.

            “Coley!” Sadie is running toward me so quickly that I only have a second to open my phone and click on my good-morning text from Mark.

            “One more day! I love you!” the message says.

            My heart beats faster and salt water threatens to escape from behind my eyeballs and I know he deserves so much better than this, so much more explanation, so much more of me. And me, too. I know I deserve a better good-bye than I’m going to be able to give him. But I only have ten seconds before she reaches me, before it’s time, before the bell rings on my perfect life and I dive into the drama with Sadie.

            I type the seven letters i-m s-o-r-r-y. Then I press Send.

            Here we go.

Author Bio

Caela Carter grew up in Basking Ridge, NJ and Baltimore, MD. She's been writing since she learned how to pick up a pen but before the writing thing got serious she spent six years teaching English to middle and high school students in Jacksonville, FL and Chicago, IL.  Her debut novel, ME, HIM, THEM AND IT was published in 2013 by Bloomsbury.  When she's not writing, Caela is a teacher of some awesome teens in Brooklyn, a Notre Dame football enthusiast, and a happy explorer in New York City. 

Follow her on these sites  

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