Thursday, December 4, 2014

Hanging Onto The Edge

Take a deep breath.
Let it out.
Still the shaking leg.
Stop the counting.
You're fine.
You're going to be fine.

When the panic hits, that's what I have to tell myself. Trying to calm the raging storm that's just below the surface, making me feel like my skin won't be able to hold me together. Like I'm suffocating, dying internally with so many emotions burning through me that I can't even grab hold of the ashes.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Some Things Are Harder Than It Seems

It's terrifying to be in the eye of social media. So many people come to my Facebook page to read my posts, and through me revealing only a little of what I am, and have been going through they find the strength needed to keep pushing forward.

I'm not doing this for glorification. I'm not doing this for pity or gain or whatever else you may think. I'm doing this for those who message/email/write me and let me know about their lives, their deepest darkest secrets, and through that small connection find the strength to continue on.

I'm going to reveal EVERYTHING, and it scares the hell out of me.

I'll start where every story starts, and that's at the very beginning.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Soul Journey Tour / Guest Post


Book Title: Soul Journey
Series: Soul Series book 1
Author: Miranda Shanklin
Release Date: August 31, 2014
Presented by: As You Wish Tours





It has been many lifetimes since the cycle began. 

The cycle that still haunts Annisa Lawson. 

A spell cast in desperation to help, which only caused heartache. 

Now, Annisa has found her way out of the varying repeats of her past; only to bring more danger to herself, and those around her. Now she must learn to survive with the help of her friends: Chase, Penelope, and Landon have all gone through each life cycle with Annisa. Sometimes helping, sometimes hindering. Now that Annisa has broken the cycle of their collective punishment, she finds that she needs her friends more than ever to keep their enemies, known, and unknown, at bay. As the group of friends learn of their souls' journeys through their many life cycles, they must also learn to control the magick they have discovered within themselves and each other, in order to defeat the most feared assassin in their world. 





EVANESCENCE – Bring me to Life




How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb
Without a soul my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love, darling
Only you are the life among the dead

All this time I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life


About the Author

Miranda Shanklin resides in Central Illinois with her husband and their two children. When she is not working at her day job as a paralegal, running her children to practices or supporting them at events she is writing. She has been an avid reader most of her life and has always dreamed of writing her own books someday. Now that her children are reaching their teenage years she is finding the time to sit down and chase her dream.
Miranda loves to hear your opinions and uses the feedback to improve. You can find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mirandashanklinauthor or email her at mlshanklin@gmail.com.


Book Links


Author Links




Monday, November 3, 2014

Kissing Trouble Blog Tour @AirickaPhoenix @Morgana_Phoenix




Title: Kissing Trouble (In The Dark Series, #2)
Author: Morgana Phoenix 
Genre: Psychological Thriller Romance
Warning: Strong language and sexual content
Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours




Blurb


Their screams will be his lullaby.

Escaping into the wilderness should have been a piece of cake for a super-babysitter like Julie Brewer. But even she isn’t prepared for the horror awaiting their arrival, or the man who had broken her heart all those years ago to suddenly show up on the doorstep.

Mason Brody has a plan and it is simple: wait for Julie to grow up. Yet in no way is he prepared for the fierce amazon who ambushes him with a baseball bat, or the way the shy fifteen year old has blossomed into a beautiful, passionate woman he can't get enough of.

But there is so much more than just their past between them. There is a dark force lurking in the shadows, waiting for the chance to appease its hunger for death and it will stop at nothing until it is fed.

Can Mason and Julie keep the evil at bay long enough to escape? Or will the monster add their lives to its list?




Author Bio

International Bestselling author Airicka Phoenix lives in a world where unicorns, fairies and mermaids run amok through her home on a daily basis. When she’s not chasing after pixies and rounding up imps, also known as her four children, she can be found conjuring up evil villains, bad-ass heroines and swoon-worthy heroes to play with. 

Airicka is singlehandedly responsible for her greatly anticipated collections, the Touch Saga, The Lost Girl Duology, The Regeneration Series, Games of Fire & Betraying Innocence. She also writes mature paranormal & contemporary romance under the dark guise of Morgana Phoenix. To date, she is responsible for the Sons of Judgment Saga, My Soul For You, & Kissing Trouble.



Author Links:

Facebook: 
Twitter: 
Goodreads: 
Google+
Book Pages:




Buy Links:

Sunday, October 19, 2014

The Parker Harris Series Tour







Cascades of Moonlight
The Parker Harris Series Book 1
Pages: 259
Publication Date: May 13, 2012

***UPDATED VERSION 07/11/13****
Parker Harris was a normal teenage girl with a normal teenage life. That was true until two years ago when she was bitten by a werewolf, forcing her to endure the painful shifting each month during the full moon. She has kept this secret from everyone she loves. One day a stranger enters her small town and knows this secret. Nothing ever happens in the small town of Cascade Idaho, and new people rarely move in, but its Parker's senior year now and two new faces show up in town.  Shortly after their arrival, there is a brutal murder which becomes the first in Cascades history.



Dreams, Spells, and Moonlit Tales 
The Parker Harris Series Book 2
Pages: 278
Publication Date: December 18, 2012

Parker Harris desires a normal life, but it's just not in the cards for her. Parker is a werewolf. She has been for three years now. It’s the summer after she graduated high school and she is preparing for college. If only grades and college classes were her only worries. Parker and Jackie are trying to mend their fractured friendship from her betrayal. Jackie and Mitchell are working on their relationship, fighting jealousy and trust issues of their own. Quinn, a vampire, is the love of Parker’s life. He begins to look into his family’s past and what he finds is not pretty. In fact, it could mean the end for his relationship with Parker. A mistake from Parker's past is revealed and proves to be more enormous than she realized. Dreams—Parker is having dreams and visions of Will. She can’t decipher real from illusion it seems. Spells—Charisma, a new friend to the group, brings magic into the fold. Moonlit Tales—it seems that the full moon is not only a time for Parker to feel the pain of shifting. It’s also a time for unexplained occurrences and secrets being revealed. Can Parker and Quinn's love survive the obstacles they encounter? Is Jackie trustworthy? Are Parker’s feelings for Mitchell becoming too strong for her to ignore? Dreams, Spells, and Moonlit Tales summarize the events of Parker's life in this book.



The Dark Moon
 The Parker Harris Series Book 3
Pages: 251
Publication Date: May 5, 2013

This book picks up from the moment we left off in book two. Quinn received a call from Parker stating Will is alive. Quinn drops everything to rush to her aid. Will he make it in time or will his father stop him? Parker and Mitchell's feelings are not going away and they begin to take a toll on Mitchell's relationship with Jackie. Everyone seems to have a secret they are keeping from Parker and it seems they have feel "there's something she should know" and now is the time. Parker is overwhelmed with all the new information coming her way. Parker's secret life as a werewolf is on the brink of being exposed.






The Cold Moon 
Novella
The Parker Harris Series Book #3.5
 YA Paranormal
Releasing: Aug 22


This is a story told from Mitchell's point of view. This is Book 3.5 in The Parker Harris Series. This novella is broken into three parts: The Change: In this portion we will learn what events happened leading to Mitchell's change into a vampire and how he dealt with it. Lupita and Fangs: The story of how their friendship blossomed into something more. What Happens Next: The lead in to the spin-off series, The Crispin Sinclair Chronicles. We'll learn what happened to the fab four after The Dark Moon ended. We'll also meet a new character who will be pivotal to Crispin's story






The Shimmering Pool
The Crispin Sinclair Chronicles Book #1 
(spin-off from Parker Harris)
 YA Fantasy
Releasing: Oct

Crispin Sinclair isn't your average teenage boy. He inherited precognitive dreams from his mother who died during childbirth. His other unique quality was inherited from his father; Crispin is a werewolf. Growing up as a supernatural being in a world that doesn't know they exist is difficult to say the least. Crispin's been lucky that his family is made up of supernaturals; witches, vampires, and werewolves. As he begins to obtain his werewolf abilities, his life will be thrown into turmoil placing everyone he loves in danger.

Amytha Roberts feels like the most ordinary girl in the world. She was adopted at age five but not by your traditional idea of parents; her mom's a werewolf and her dad's a vampire. Amytha's best friend Crispin is a werewolf with futuristic dream abilities, while she is a normal sixteen year old girl surrounded by paranormal beings. Stories of Amytha's past begin to surface causing her family to investigate more into where she came from.


Crispin and Amytha take turns telling this story of being in a family that you choose, being abnormal in a normal world, and the importance of friendship. Together they will go on adventures into a faraway place where they'll encounter new creatures and discover truths they never imagined.




Author Bio

Amy McClung was born in Nashville, TN. She is the second oldest of four girls. She married Daniel McClung in September 2005 and they currently reside just outside of Nashville. She graduated from Father Ryan High School in 1996. In 2002 obtained her general certification in medical coding and billing and in 2009 she obtained a specialty certification in Hospital medical coding and billing. Amy and her husband are both fans of fantasy novels as well as avid movie collectors. The Parker Harris Series is the first series of books by this author. Cascades of Moonlight is Book #1, Dreams, Spells, and Moonlit Tales is Book #2, and The Dark Moon Book #3 and The Cold Moon Book #3.5 a Novella from Mitchell's POV. Her second series is a New Adult Contemporary Romance, The Southern Devotion Series, with each book having as a standalone novel with crossover characters. The first book in that series is For the Love of Gracie. Curves in the Road is her newest release as Book 3 in the NA series. Her favorite past times include watching movies, drawing, and reading fantasy novels. Her first book was a means of therapy for her as it enabled her to escape reality for a while during a difficult transition in her life. Her current work in progress is a spin-off of The Parker Harris Series called "The Crispin Sinclair Chronicles" that will be released in October 2014 as a YA Fantasy series. 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Generation X: The Rising

Hey everyone!
As promised, below is the first TWO chapters of Generation X: The Rising
AS WELL as the book trailer and a giveaway!
I'm so excited about all of this, you have no idea!
I hope that you enjoy it, and look forward to seeing your guy's reactions!

xoxo,

The Confetti Queen
(aka Desiree DeOrto)



Saturday, August 16, 2014

A Little Tough Love From the Confetti Queen

Dear Authors:

Ya'll know me, and if you don't
YOU WILL.

I'm pissed. Why? Because I'm sick and tired of hearing that what I do is a hobby. That irritates me to no end. What I'm also pissed about is other authors, authors that I admire and look up too, who are QUITTING because they're tired of the fight. They're tired of trying so damn hard and feeling like they're not getting anywhere. They're tired of being bullied by the pathetic people who hide behind a computer. They're tired of being pirated. They're tired of being told by everyone in their 'real' life that it's just a hobby, that writing isn't an actual job. Well I'm here to tell ya'll something:

SUCK IT UP!

Saturday, July 26, 2014

A Freebie, A New Release AND All The Feels!

I just needed to take a moment to say something.
A lot of times, people don't appreciate things the way they should, and we see it happening so often where people aren't sincere in their thanks.

I'm not here to do that.
I'm not here to fluff everyone up for doing something that I think is truly wonderful.
I'm here, to let you all know, that I truly do appreciate everything.
From the support,
to the shares,
to the tweets.

I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude from everyone's kindness that I can't even.
I. CAN'T. EVEN.

Almost a year ago, I lost everything.
My home, my children, my life.
Somehow, through all the pain and sadness, I managed to make it through,
and things are getting better.

I never thought the day would come where I'd break into the top 100 of ANY category.
I never thought that I, who just MONTHS ago was living in a van and didn't feel anywhere near safe,
could look upon the future and see something bright.
But it happened, and I didn't make it happen.

Yes, I fought on, I kept going and kept writing and built my businesses up.
I may have lost hope a time or two and just had to stop and break down,
but I'm not the one who had the kindness to spread the word.

Through your guy's faith in me and in my work,
it has flourished.
As a person and an author, I have flourished.
You guys have given me hope, and have given me one of the most priceless gifts ever:
Your love.

So, thank you.
From the bottom of my heart, from the depths of my soul and with everything that I am.
THANK YOU!


Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for believing in my dreams.
Thank you, for seeing me as I am, and believing that I was enough.
And thank you for being there, and taking a chance on me.
I don't think I could ever tell you guys how much it means to me, and it's not enough by simply saying:
Thank you!


For celebration for the release of The Divine, book two in the Divinity Stone Series, I have put The Prophecy up for FREE!
You can pick it up HERE

ALSO!
The Divine JUST HIT AMAZON! So you can continue on in the journey

Thank you, everyone. I feel extremely repetitive, but I don't know what else to say.



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Casey Bond Cover Reveal!

Untitled

Welcome to the cover reveal of Resist, Book 2 of The Harvest Saga by Casey L. Bond. Let's check out the full cover!!!

1.2 mg resist full wrapcover

RESIST:

Abby Kelley returns home from the Greater city of Olympus to find that things in Orchard Village are bad, very bad. The Olympian Guard has taken over village affairs. The Lessers are being worked to the bone in the coldest winter Orchard has seen. Villagers are being dragged away for the slightest indication of what they call “resistance.” She needs to keep her head down and her mouth shut. But, it’s so hard to do when everything within you screams rebellion.
Kyan is coming on strong, trying to convince her to take a chance on him. Shocking news of Crew’s activities in Olympus sweeps through the Villages. When Abby is taken away by the Olympian guard, Kyan sends word to Vesuvius for help. But, no one could have predicted their idea of help or what they might expect in return.
Who will be left to pick up the pieces of Abby’s heart?

Releasing in the Summer of 2014

Reap Ecover 878KB
REAP:
The remnants of the United States of America have been divided. From five enormous, technologically-advanced cities, the Greaters rule over the Lessers. In the Lesser village of Orchard, things are not as perfect as Abby Kelley thinks they are. When the apple harvest draws near and the Greater’s engineered fruits become too much for one village to handle alone, reinforcements from neighboring villages are called upon.
Having to choose between her best friend, whom she has no romantic feelings for, and mysterious newcomer Crew, Abby finds herself in the middle of a harvest that she had no intention of becoming a part of. She becomes involved in a situation that threatens the strict rule of the Greaters, and just might give the Lessers hope for a better tomorrow. But, can she help the Lessers without losing Crew? And if she chooses Crew, will she lose her best friend?
REAP Excerpt:
Something was touching my face, caressing my cheek. The skin that brushed mine was rough, hardened by the work we all share. Am I dreaming? I waited, trying to see if this was real or part of a dream. Whichever it was, it was nice, comforting.
Rough fingertips moved over the parts of my back that weren’t split open and packed with gunk. I sucked in a breath and held it. This was real. I moved my head and saw his silhouette against the candlelight flickering in from the kitchen and living room. “Ky?” My voice was raspy and barely sounded like my own. Sleep and exhaustion filled every chord.
“Shh. I’m here.” Suddenly, I was very aware that I was lying shirtless on my bed. Even though, I was on my stomach, that didn’t help me feel any less naked in front of my best friend, who happened to be a member of the male species—a very fine male specimen according to my girlfriends.
I knew he was handsome. I wasn’t blind. But, I didn’t see him like that. He’d dated many of my friends and now was getting ready to marry Paige Winters in just a few weeks, after the harvest was complete and the orchards picked bare. His fingertips trace the in-tact skin between my shoulder blades and I tensed under his touch.
He’d kissed my head and temple and hugged me more times than I can count, but this was somehow different. This was more intimate. His touch was delicate, gentle compared to his normal strength and anything but playful. “Ky?”
He didn’t answer. His fingers explored my back, careful not to stray too close to the wounds that streaked across my skin. “Kyan?”
“Shut up, Abby. Just let me... Just shut up.” He’d never talked to me like this. His voice was raspy and he’d never, ever told me to shut up before. So I did. I wasn’t sure why. He shouldn’t have been touching my skin. Shouldn’t have been caressing the good parts left of me, but sitting with me in the dark, he was doing exactly that and I was allowing it.
Paige would be furious if she saw us now. She’d always had a jealous streak, had always hated any girl who dated or flirted with Ky. Lately, she told anyone and everyone who will listen that Kyan was hers and that she hated me with a passion. She wasn’t lying. She hated me. Rather, she hated my relationship with Ky. He was my best friend. I wasn’t interested in him as anything more or anything else. I’d told her that. He’d told her that a million times. But, she refused to listen, adamant that I wanted him for myself, adamant that he wanted me.
I honestly didn’t have those types of feelings for Kyan. I never have had them. Ever. And up until now, I’d always thought he felt the same. But feeling his fingers exploring my skin made even me question that sentiment. And it scared me to death.

Want to check out the first book?
REAP Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://tinyurl.com/pht888t
Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/kvj83zp
Amazon CA: http://tinyurl.com/p6djny5
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reap-ebook-casey-l-bond/1118930952?ean=2940149395262

REAP BOOK Trailer:
Trailer: http://animoto.com/play/wEjFgIPPVZPTV1ANgQuf4w
or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnuthOAy02s


Contact Casey:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20890250-reap
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorcaseybond
Twitter: @authorcaseybond
Website: http://caseybond.tateauthor.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/caseyb007/reap-the-harvest-series/
Other Books by Casey L. Bond: Winter Shadows, Devil Creek, Pariah (Releasing 5/14), Shady Bay and Resist, Book 2 of The Harvest Saga (Late Summer 2014).

Friday, May 9, 2014

Within The Shadows, Part One

Hey everyone! So I've decided to participate in this writing thing... you should know how it goes ^.^ I'm going to be writing a short story every month, and separating it into four parts, one part releasing each week of the month! So, without further ado, here's Part One of this month selection entitled: Within The Shadows © Desiree DeOrto 2014

“Baby, you know what I love most about you?” She pasted on a smile as she turned in her seat, light fading in and out of the car as they whirled past the streetlights. The light didn't dispel the shadows that constantly lingered, taunting her peripheral vision. She clasped her hands together in her lap, trying to stop their shaking as the voices started whispering to her again.

“What’s that?” She asked, hoping her voice was soft instead of yelling over the voices that only she could hear.

He smiled, taking his eyes off the road to look at her. She softened under his gaze, momentarily forgetting about everything. About the shadows and the constant whispering. About the fact that she was crazy.

She turned away at that thought, looking out the windshield. Her breath caught in her throat at the black mass that was heading right for them, its fathomless form soaking in the light from the headlights. “I love how you…”

“Michael! Look out!” The steering wheel jerked, sending their car careening on the slick pavement heading straight for the guard rail. A scream erupted in her throat as they went air-born, effortlessly flipping over and over again. Her horror filled eyes locked onto Michael’s right before her world shattered, sending her straight into the shadows embrace.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

LIZZY FORD'S SURPRISE APRIL RELEASE!

Semper Mine_fb

I'm so excited to be a part of Lizzy's Surprise April Release! Not only is she an absolutely AMAZING author, but she's a truly wonderful person as well! SO, without further ado, I give you Lizzy's surprise release for April: "Semper Mine," a standalone novel in the new Sons of War series! Available from: Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

A Letter to My Children

Dear Harley, Demetry, Jace and Lexia,

As I look at this screen, everything I want to say floods my mind. Drowning me in thoughts and memories of you as surely as the tears that fall without fail from my eyes. Its been almost a month since I've seen you. A month since I've heard your voices, heard your laughs, held you in my arms. A month since I've played with you, got mad at you for not listening. A month since I was able to tell you that I love you.

Everyday, other parents take for granted those moments. They get mad when they're busy and their children come up to them, interrupting them to tell them something they find funny. They take for granted the growing pains of raising a little person. They get frustrated when their kids act up. When they throw fits. Scream and yell and demand to get their way. I was one of those parents. I got mad at you, Demetry, when you decided to make 'pancakes' on the living room carpet at 3am when everyone was asleep. I got mad at you, Harley, for waking your baby brother and sister up at 5am because you wanted to play. But, ever since October 2013 when our family fell apart and I was left with no choice but to give you to your dad because I couldn't take you to become homeless with me, I would give anything in the world to have those moments back again. To be able to be mad and upset with you for all the silly, irresponsible things that you guys do that drive me insane. I would take you guys at your worst for every day of my life than to feel this overwhelming pain that not having you, not being able to see you or hear your voices brings me.

Monday, March 24, 2014

And The Walls Come Tumbling Down

It's been over 7 months since my last post. You'd think that things would have gotten better, that everything would have worked out, and my family and I would have stayed together. Life isn't that easy, or kind. I've, for the most part, stayed silent about everything that's happened. I've stayed silent about how my world, my life, was destroyed. About how hard I've been fighting. But I don't want to do that anymore.

First Comes Pain

We ended up not finding another place to go after our eviction. Still, I had hope that we would make it. That, somehow, we'd still remain a family. I should have known better, because the lessons life has taught me since I was young prove that you can't always have what you want, no matter how much you want it. I didn't know that Jeremy thought that I didn't love him anymore. That with how much time I had spent writing was hurting him. I thought that he was supportive, that he understood and stood beside me. I didn't see the jealousy that he carried over my books. Didn't see how much I hurt him, and I'm sorry for that.