New novels by fantasy authors Labuschagne & Centeno

I'm thrilled to present two fantastic dark fantasy authors with fall launches. Carlyle Labuschagne and Kristy Centeno. Want to see the books? Sure you do!

Carlyle Labushagne's Dead of Night was first published in 2014 in the USA. It's just been re-edited with new content by Fire Quill Publishers! It was nominated by Kindle Hub for Best Dystopian and by UtopYAcon Best Dystopian.

The blurb: In a dark and desolated After Earth, love still does exist, but the cost of bearing such a flaw is death.

World War III has left Earth in utter turmoil. People’s beliefs are said to be the cause of the worldwide destruction. After The Clearing new laws are set about - to show certitude in anything besides the law is weak and chargeable as mutiny. To be illogical and have faith in religion is illegal, to be limitless is dangerous. And Illness is seen as a defect – all flaws that are inexcusable.
But to love is the greatest betrayal of all man kind. It is a fault the world has long forgotten and punishable by death, a fatal risk Aecker and Opel are fully prepared to take - because in love there is freedom. But how far can they push back before it claims their lives and of those they care about?

Buy it from Smashwords. Amazon. Barnes & Noble . Add it to your Goodreads list. Check out its creative page including the playlist & image board!

Connect with Carlyle: Facebook, Twitter, website, instagram, Amazon, RADIO INTERVIEW

Carlyle is an South African award-winning author, with a flair for mixing genres and adding drama to every story she creates. For now she's happy to take over the world and convert non sci-fi believers. Her goal as an author is to touch people's lives, and help others love their differences and one another by delivering strong messages of faith, love and hope within every outrageous world she writes about."I love to swim, fight for the trees, and am a food lover who is driven by my passion for life. I dream that one day my stories will change the lives of countless teenagers and have them obsess over the world literacy can offer them instead of worrying about fitting in. Never sacrifice who you are, its in the dark times that the light comes to life."

She has used writing as a healing tool, and that is why she started her very own writers support event - SAIR bookfestival. "To be a helping hand for those who strive to become full times writers, editors, bloggers, readers and cover artists - its a crazy world out there you don't have to go it alone!"  Follow @CarlyleL for all updates. Founder of SAIR Book Festival   Co Founder of Fire Quill Publishing.   Founder of Help build a library in South Africa. 

Another great fall launch is Kristy Centeno's Dark Side of the Moon from Inkspell Press.

Blurb:
During her darkest hour, will she find the courage to seek the light?
Marjorie has eluded both capture and death yet again, but her days are numbered. The old threat has resurfaced to endanger everyone she cares for and only a forged alliance with a member of royal blood will guarantee their safety and hers.
However, in the midst of accepting who she is, Marjorie has to come to terms with the fact that those she considered friends may be anything but, and the mother she thought dead may have been missing against her will.
A relationship in turmoil, a storm brewing in the distance, a shattered tranquility...will she find the courage to save her loved ones even if that means losing her humanity?
Buy the ebook at Amazon, B&N, Kobo. The paperback at CreateSpace.

About the Author:

Kristy Centeno is an author of paranormal romance, young adult, new adult, horror and contemporary romance. 

She has always had a passion for books and after years of being an avid reader, she decided to transform her desire to write into a reality and thus, her first novel was born. In her journey to create memorable reads, she has delved into several genres, creating fictional characters meant to entice readers and captivate the mind. She is currently working on finishing the Secrets of the Moon saga among other projects, which include sequels to her published work. When she’s not busy taking care of her five children or holding down the fort, she finds time to sit and do what she loves the most: writing.

Follow Kristy: website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Blog, Linked In, Pinterest, Skillpages

My big news! Book #2, Private Internship is forthcoming in the Art of Love series

My big news is that Inkspell Publishing picked up the second in my new adult Art of Love series, Private Internship, to be launched this fall! *Happy Dance* It follows artist, Sienna Karr into her first wonderful and horrific paid internship. Here's a summary:

Sienna’s bestie, Harper warned her not to intern for famous bad boy artist, Casper Mason. After all, he just fired Harper who helped Sienna land the interview. But the moment Sienna sees Casper—or Caz—sweaty and practically shirtless and swinging from chains while he works on his sculpture, she’s hooked. He’s the richest, hottest artist in New York, and he lives in the fabulous Williamsburg Sugar Factory. But he’s also an incorrigible game-player, who seems to relish testing Sienna’s loyalty with a string of unsettling tests.

She knows she should get away fast. But by the time Sienna sneaks into his locked storage room and begins to unearth his dark and terrifying secret, she’s fallen way too hard for the handsome, charismatic Caz.

The shuttered Domino Sugar Factory

The odd thing is that I set it in a place that is now getting tons of attention: the old Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I've been obsessed with that place for many, many years, ever since I moved in around the corner from it when I first came to NYC. 

Kara Walker's gorgeous sugar sphinx

So, it was news to me this year when I heard it was slated for partial demolition, and even bigger news to me when I read that well-known sculptress Kara Walker had crafted a gigantic Sphinx mama, made from sugar in the defunct annex there, and it was attracting lines around the block. You see, my main character's love interest, Caz lives and works in the factory, and he makes . . . wait for it . . . sugar sculptures!!!! 

I had to pay a visit my old haunt. And it did not disappoint! It brought back strong memories of my very first visit and it still smelled like burnt sugar. I'm sad that the place is now closed, and will be altered in preparation for an ambitious waterfront building project that have many in Brooklyn up in arms.

But I'll have Sienna and Casper Mason's love story set in the factory to cheer me up. And

hopefully, if and when you read it, you'll fall in love with the sugar castle too. In the meantime, here are a few other amazing sculptors who spin sugar art.

The Writing Process, What's Yours?

Today I'll focus on my writing process, part of a craft thread that the talented Donna Galanti invited me to be a part of. A bit about Donna:

She writes suspense, YA, and middle grade fiction and is represented by Bill Contardi of Brandt & Hochman Literary. She's an International Thriller Writers Debut Author of the paranormal suspense novel A HUMAN ELEMENT (Echelon). Watch for her suspense novel A HIDDEN ELEMENT, the sequel to A HUMAN ELEMENT, coming summer 2014 by Imajin. Her middle grade series, JOSHUA AND THE LIGHTNING ROAD, debuts in 2015 by Month9Books.

Her writing process question made me wonder what is my writing process exactly?

The Cape porch where I started to
write Fireseed One, Ruby's Fire
and Model Position

I tend to start projects in the beginning of the summer, often at the writing retreat I go to at the Cape, where I can get totally lost in daydreams. It takes me around six months to do a first draft, though I've done them faster: once for an American Girl project in a month (!!!) and another during Nanowrimo (61K words in a month). I'm trying to fast draft now, but it doesn't always work, because I'm the type of writer who needs to know where the plot is going first. Yes, I outline, but not in too much detail.
I work on one novel draft a time, though once in a while I'm revising one project, while drafting another. I get into my characters quite deeply, so it can get confusing to write two first drafts at once.
I've written middle grade lit, A Girl's Best Friend, a ghostwritten novel and a story called the Fashion Show for a Scholastic book club anthology. More recently, I've written YA: Refugees, Fireseed One, Ruby's Fire. And I'm continuing to write YA. I've also really gotten into writing new adult: Model Position, and the continuation of that storyline in my forthcoming novel, Private Internship. I love writing new adult, because the boundaries of what can be portrayed are pretty boundless. I like boundless.
And I like romance. We'll see where my journey takes me!

Taking a poll. What should I work on next? Book 3 of Sienna's artistic journey or
a historical romance set in the 30s?

And now, I'm happy to introduce the two writers who I've selected to talk about their writing journeys for their own posts on May 21.

The first author is Helen Mallon, who writes contemporary fiction that straddles the line between literary and women's fiction (if you had to categorize it, which she may give me a sharp elbow nudge for doing). Her writing truly impresses me: her wordcraft and character portrayals are masterful. And she's got a brand new bundle of stories coming out!

The second is Elizabeth Arroyo, a wonderful author of paranormal and romantic fiction. Her dark fantasy series The Second Sign and The Second Shadow are real rollercoaster rides.

So make sure to check out their posts on Wednesday, May 21!

What's one hallmark aspect of your writing process?

Release Day for Model Position! Party & More

OMG! It's actually happening. Model Position has launched. A huge thanks to everyone helping with features, tweeting, joining my street team, or who has donated a giveaway item to the launch party. I also want to thank the blog community in general because you've all helped keep me going with your posts and blogs and savvy author talk!

If you like romance, stories about art and artists, and tales about striving to live out your dreams, please consider loading your kindle or iPad or Nook with Model Position! It's a fast-paced novella, inspired by my actual days showing my paintings in NYC. Now I'm writing Private Internship, the second in the series, and hopefully it will be a series you'll want to follow!

Find Model Position here: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Inkspell

In Manhattan’s glitzy gallery scene love and art are perilous games. Will Sienna dare to play?

Sienna is a beautiful, talented artist poised on the precipice of soaring into the glamorous, yet cutthroat Manhattan art scene.
Dave Hightower is a hooked-up, handsome heir to the hippest gallery in NYC, Gallery Hightower.
Erik is the live drawing model with his sizzling green eyes fixed only on Sienna.
Three’s a crowd, so Sienna must make a choice: date Dave and ride the fast track to landing a show at Gallery Hightower and hobnobbing with the art glitterati, or follow her heart and take a chance with Erik, the stunning male model who’s stealing her heart. But Erik has some worrisome secrets, and who in their right mind would make live modeling their career? 

"Kitsy Clare paints a provocative picture with words - a sexy 

montage of art, beauty, lust and love as colorful 
as any artist’s canvas."  -Share my Destiny, romance book blogger

"A captivating and sensual work of art!" -Jaycee DeLorenzo, 
author of The Truths About Dating and Mating

Here are the bloggers helping to celebrate:
Christine Rains' blog
Nevaeh's New Adult Books
Books Books Books!
Lexa Cain
Karen Pokras Toz
***more bloggers to come & tour in March!

Also I invite you to PARTY & WIN MAJOR SWAG today, Feb 21 at a Model Position party on the  Romance Novel Promotions blog There will be multiple giveaways and fun Q&A, so do pop in! Click on the invite to join us!
The Friday party lineup:
9 am CST : Kitsy Clare
10 am CST: Piper Malone
11 am CST: Kennedy Layne
12 PM CST: Elizabeth Arroyo
1 PM CST: Lee Strauss
2 PM CST: Lisa Casia
3 PM CST: Stephanie Keyes
4 PM CST Lisa Voisin
5 PM CST: Final post from Kitsy Clare

Here are two tweets to choose from if you feel like tweeting about the launch. Thanks in advance!

"I imagine myself posing with him. It has me blushing as permanent rose as the paint on my palette." http://tinyurl.com/oetbu8o  #NA #romance

"A sexy montage of art, beauty, lust & love as colorful as any artist’s canvas."-Share my Destiny http://tinyurl.com/oetbu8o #NA #romance

Stephanie Keyes Star Catcher, Sale & Prizes!

Today on Idea City I have a fellow Inkspell author, the fabulous Stephanie Keyes, with a focus on her Star Catcher novel! Plus the first two in the series are on sale. Enter the Rafflecopter below for these prizes: One Complete E-book Set of the Entire Star Child Series (INT) & Multiple e-book Copies of The Star Catcher (INT). How cool is that?!

Magick and destiny intertwine as he fights to save his kingdom and the goddess he loves.

Her kiss…the feel of her skin…the beat of her heart…For seventeen-year-old Kellen St. James, each memory is marred by a single sentence on a lone strip of paper.

Cali has been taken…

Armed with an amulet that channels the ultimate power of Faerie, Kellen searches for his love. However, control of the amulet’s energy comes with a price, and Kellen soon learns that Cali’s captor has plans for the stone. With the threat of the Star Catcher’s evil looming above Kellen and his kingdom, he’ll have to free the Heart of Faerie and break the curse the binds the Children of Danu to the darkness. But before that, he has to find his real father, the king. No pressure, right?

Kellen and Cali will battle bewitched armies and unknown foes as they fight to stay together. Will Kellen embrace his immortal destiny? Or will his world, and the man he is fated to become, be destroyed by The Star Catcher?

Buy the book! Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo
Find Stephanie: Stephanie's Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Book Trailer


Sale! This week only, grab the first two in the series:
The Star Child and The Fallen Stars for just $1.99!
Amazon | B&N

Excerpt
“I thought I’d never see you again.” Cali’s voice sounded small.
“There’s so much to tell you, I don’t even   know where to begin.”
“I know.”
“Marry me. For real this time.” The words came out in a rush, but I’d never wanted anything more. I didn’t plan on being apart from Cali ever again. “No Faerie attacks, no fleeing the country.” I didn’t know how to sum it up properly. “Just be mine.”
Cali smiled and pushed her warm body even closer against me. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.” Her yeses jumbled together as we kissed again. “I will marry you. I will.”
We had so much more to share, but I wouldn’t think past this moment, past today when I had Cali in my arms, finally, with our never-ending life lying ahead of us. I asked her to marry me. Promised it, in fact. I would keep my promise. Somewhere in the middle, I’d have to tell her the rest of what had happened. But today, in this infinitely glorious time, we were finally together again.

About Steph
Stephanie Keyes grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and spent years traveling and working as a Corporate Trainer before she made the decision to pen her first novel.  As a teen, her family always accused her of having an “overactive imagination.” Now, she’s encouraged to keep her head in the clouds and share her world with readers.
Still a resident of the ‘Burgh, Steph is now Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she's best friend to her incredible rockstar of a husband. She is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), as well as a featured author for Love a Happy Ending Lifestyle e-magazine.
Keyes is the author of the YA Fantasy series, The Star Child, which currently includes The Star Child, After Faerie, The Fallen Stars, and The Star Catcher, all from by Inkspell Publishing. Steph writes YA novels because she’s a hopeless romantic who lives to believe that Magick truly does exist. She is hard at work on a new YA novel.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover reveal for Model Position by Kitsy Clare!

Hi everyone. I'm excited because today is the cover reveal for my new adult romance novella, Model Position! Inkspell's cover artist, Najla has outdone herself. She says that black and white with a pop of color is a growing trend, and I think it's cool. What do you think? Another cool thing is that Model Position is available for pre-order right here at e-junkie.com!

Here are the bloggers participating in the reveal. Stop by to say hi. And thanks to all of you who are helping out. You rock! Stay tuned for the book's launch on February 20. In the meantime, you can Like my Kitsy Clare FB page and my newsletter to get updates.

elliegarratt.blogspot.com
www.bellasshelf.com
www.chandarawrites.blogspot.com
http://drugscalledbooks.blogspot.com
http://paulettespapers.com
http://www.avidreadermusings.com
http://cicistheories.com
http://to-procrastinate.blogspot.com
http://raelori.blogspot.com
www.findyournextread.blogspot.com
http://kellyhashway.blogspot.com
ashelyndrake.wordpress.com
http://meradethhouston.blogspot.com
http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com
http://jackiesbookworld.blogspot.com/
extraordinaryreads.com
The Story of a Writer
vanessaebooks.blogspot.com

Gratitude list & Kitsy Clare on Love Romances Cafe

Happy New Year! It's a popular time to make resolutions, though I prefer to make a gratitude list and a fresh work plan. 

Topping my list is the extreme gratitude I feel for getting back to the USA after two nerve-wracking days stuck in the Dominican Republic airport. Ack, I was trying to fly Jetblue during that snow fiasco!

I have gratitude that my new novella, Model Position is going forward with Inkspell using my romance pseudonym, Kitsy Clare. Inkspell authors will be chatting about all things romance tonight (Jan 10) from 7 to 9 pm on Yahoo's Love Romances Cafe, and you're all invited to drop by!

For Sienna, love and art are perilous games. Is she ready to take that gamble? The cover reveal for Model Position is on for January 20! I'll give anyone who wants to participate in the cover reveal virtual hugs and a big, fat virtual box of delicious chocolates with no icky jelly centers--only the caramel and hazelnut ones. If you're interested in helping out with the reveal, please email my publisher, Shilpa at marketing@inkspellpublishing.com

I'm also grateful that I immediately came up with a wicked fun plot for novella #2, Private Internship, to keep the Art of Love series going strong, because sometimes it takes a while to think up good plots. I'm looking forward to tying up the last third of the story with some crazy switchback plot twists.

I had fun creating a new Facebook author page for Kitsy Clare. Click to see it. What do you think? The new book cover will appear on the right side of the FB banner on the day of the cover reveal. I'd be thrilled if you Like my author page! That way, you can be informed of the Model Position launch, giveaways and tours.
Thanks! That's it for me. How about you? What are you grateful for?

How's your Nano experience? Or if you're not Nano-ing, what are you up to?

Are you Nano-ing this November? For the few who have no idea what I'm referring to, it's National Novel Writing Month, and to "win" Nano one must write at least 50 thousand words in 30 days. Are you on track? Not even close? Way far ahead? Whatever your speed it's a great way to fast draft!

I'm working on the second in my new adult novella series. The first novella, Model Position, comes out with Inkspell (under my pen name, Kitsy Clare) in January or February! I already had an idea for the second story, so I figured why not strike while the iron is hot. Pretty soon, I'll reveal more about Model Position, but I'm keeping you in suspense just a little bit longer, at least until the cover's ready.

Just know that it's about an artist, Sienna Karr who lives in New York City, and is experiencing the spice, glitz, peril and sexy temptations that are part and parcel of that world. I know it intimately, having gone to art school and shown my paintings in galleries for at least 12 years. I find that writing about the experience is wicked fun. Because there is so much narcissism, bad art, posturing, and a whole big mess of bizarro art dealers. Get this, one of my friend's dealers actually had a physical altercation over my friend's painting, and he grabbed my friend's shirt and tore it. How's that for three scoops of crazy? 

Oh, sure, there are visionary artists, and many of them are hot as anything. Artists can be quite the sex-bombs! Like Sienna's Erik, and in novella 2, the great and terrible Casper Mason...
But I'm getting way ahead of myself!

So, tell me, are YOU Nano-ing? If so, why? If not, why not? And what are you up to instead? If you are, but not totally sweating the word count (like me) why? Any Nano food obsessions? New writing habits? Dish here!

My Big News! Offer on my New Adult Romance Novella. Launching this Winter!

So, the big news that I've hinted at in my last two posts is this:
I accepted an offer from the fabulous Inkspell Publishing for my new adult romance novella!!! The working title is Model Position, and it's about an artist, Sienna Karr who falls for her live drawing model. It will be published in January or February as a digital first ebook. And I'll be using the pen name, Kitsy Clare.
Why use a pen name? The novella is a bit steamy, and I'd like to have an obvious, clear boundary between my work for kids/teens and adults. Why not be totally anonymous and not connect it to the name Catherine Stine at all? Because people make it their business to find out who you are anyway, and also because I've worked hard to create a platform on social media so why reinvent the wheel?
Exciting, huh?! I'm really pumped!
I've discovered, while writing my last three YAs (one of which involves a sizzling, thorny love triangle) that I really enjoy writing love/lust/wooing scenes, whether it's for the YA audience or for "new adults", so why not explore it to my heart's delight?

Model Position is set in a fictitious art grad school, and in the giddying, high stakes New York City art world, where the weak are tempted into Faustian bargains, and even the strongest can pay a price.
More soon!
Oh, and Happy Nanowrimo-ing! I'll be working on the next in the series. You?