Pitch Wars Mentee Bio

I'm so excited to participate in Pitch Wars this year. Last year, I met so many amazing writers, and I learned so much. That's my favorite part of Pitch Wars--growing as a writer and connecting with the community.

PITCH:

LOST meets AVATAR (the James Cameron movie, although I love The Last Air Bender) in this multiple POV Adult Fantasy novel, SAVING KENTÁN.

Alex never expects his plane to crash above the clouds.

Rather than falling to his death, he's rescued by a flying, fiery-haired beauty. In the process of saving Alex, Ginaveh's blood mixes with his, and he speaks and understands her language. Ginaveh takes him to her world, Kentán, and introduces him to the different clans that create day, night, storms, sunrises, and sunsets. Shortly after his arrival in Kentán, the clans lose control of their powers, bringing destruction to Earth and Kentán. The clans blame the human, demanding his immediate exile. If Alex and Ginaveh don't discover the truth behind the plane crash and the sickness, they will be forever separated, and the world responsible for the beauty of Earth's skies will be no more.

             

 

 

ALL ABOUT ME:

My love of writing began in 5th grade. When my teacher made me read my short story aloud to my class, she bawled. It was then I realized my words could move people, and I wanted to tell beautiful stories about complex characters.

Hubby and I have been married 12+ years. I have a 7yo boy who is currently in love with sharks and all things related to oceanic wildlife. I also have twin girls who are about to start kindergarten, and I'm completely freaking out. They are crazy strong-willed and energetic and not fans of personal space but lovable and share my love of reading.

I taught elementary school for five years and will start my first year teaching preschool in a month. My second grade class loved my writing so much they convinced me to turn my efforts to writing professionally.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN A MENTOR:

*Loves this story as much as I am

*Critiques with positive feedback and suggestions for improvement

*Willing to do several rounds of revision/edits

*Helps eliminate unnecessary subplots 

*Enjoys brainstorming and lots of communication

Favorite Books:

*Redeeming Love--made me want to be a writer--Francine Rivers

*Shadow & Bone--Leigh Bardugo

*Daughter of Smoke & Bone--Laini Taylor

*The Wrath & The Dawn/The Rose & The Dagger--Renee Ahdieh

*An Ember in the Ashes--Sabaa Tahir

*The Forbidden Wish--Jessica Khoury

*The Game of Love & Death--Martha Brockenbrough

*A Court of Thorns & Roses--Sarah J. Maas

*His Fair Assassin series--Robin LaFevers

*Written in the Stars--Aisha Saeed

*A Voice in the Wind/Echo in the Darkness--Francine Rivers

Favorite TV Shows/Movies:

*BLACK SAILS!!!!

*Other favorite TV shows: Psych, Friends, Still Starcrossed, Person of Interest, Alias, Parks & Rec, How I Met Your Mother, the Office, Murdoch Mysteries, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, New Girl, and many more

*Various Disney movies--Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast (ESPECIALLY THE NEW ONE), Lion King, Tangled, and Moana 

*Harry Potter movies

*Most superhero movies--Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wonder Woman

*Pitch Perfect

*The Notebook

*Pearl Harbor

*P.S. I Love You

*The Mummy/Mummy Returns

*Saving Mr. Banks

*Jurassic World

*All Star Wars movies
*Newer Star Trek movies

*All Fast & Furious movies

*I'm also a sucker for movies with spies, car chases, fighting, and romance

PICK ME, PICK ME! <3 LOVE YOU ALL.

Monsters & Angels Cover Reveal

Today, I have a cover reveal for you from a friend's novel. Check it out:

MONSTERS & ANGELS
by Anne Marie Andrus
Publication date: October 2017
Genres: Historical, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis:

Fledgling nurse Sorcha Alden knew she had the skills to save lives, but she never dreamed that her own life would be the one in danger.

Driven by tragedy to honor her family name, Sorcha embarks on a journey that takes her from the bleak but familiar streets of New York, through the sultry and seductive city of New Orleans, and into the brutal jungles of Nepal. Forging friendships and carrying on her mother’s mission of healing was her dream. Plunging into a love affair with the mysterious Dr. Ashayle could have been a fairytale.

Being murdered and waking up as a blood-thirsty monster—became her living nightmare.

Torn away form a life that had just begun, Sorcha returns to New Orleans as a newborn vampire, forced to start over in a cutthroat underworld of devilry and decadence. Complicated politics, bitter rivals and jealous ancestors stand between her and the promises she’s still determined to keep.

In a realm where the boundary between good and evil is as murky as the Mississippi River and immortal does not mean invincible, will Sorcha ever risk her shattered heart and love again? Can the magical harmony of the Crescent City give her enough courage to fulfill her eternal destiny?

AND HERE IT IS:

Goodreads: Click the link and add it to your Goodreads to-read list today!

AUTHOR BIO:

Anne Marie has been an equestrienne, chorale singer, candy-striper, EMT, and baseball fan. Roaming the back roads of New Jersey with her family, she found great respect for antiques, historical locations and the stories they hold. Her current list of favorite pastimes include coffee, bourbon, and Les Miserables--which requires more bourbon. She has been known to attend sporting events just for the flyover. The boat she and her husband christened Glory Days, is her escape from the chaos of everyday life.

The inspiration for Anne Marie's debut novel, Monsters & Angels, is her fascination with vampires and her passion for everything New Orleans. When she isn't writing, she can be found working nights with the critical care team in a busy trauma center.

Author Links:

https://monstersnangels.com/https://monstersnangels.com/

https://twitter.com/monstersnangels

https://www.facebook.com/AnneMarieAndrusAuthor/

FRIEND ZONE Cover Reveal

The amazing Laura Brown is back at it again, friends! FRIEND ZONE debuts JUNE 27, 2017, so here is a little bit about the book before showing you the gorgeous Dev.

I’m ridiculously attracted to my best friend.

Today is a bad day. The worst actually. After dealing with the constant manhandling that comes with being a cocktail waitress at a dive bar and surviving a date from hell, I see an eviction notice slapped on the door of my sketchy basement apartment. Great.

When my best friend Devon shows up at my door and uses his stubborn charm (emphasis on stubborn) to get me to move in with him, I give in. We’ve had about a million sleepovers since we met in the kindergarten Deaf program, but this time it’s different because I can’t stop thinking about his hard body covering mine, every single night. 

I know Devon would do anything for me, but I’m afraid what I want to happen will ruin our friendship forever. And the more time we spend together in close quarters, the harder it’ll be to resist the spark of attraction I’ve always felt. But maybe it’s possible to have the best of both worlds: keep the one relationship I can’t live without and indulge in an attraction I can’t deny.

I guess the only thing we can do is try…

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(Author fun fact: Before you check out the amazing cover, there are two details I absolutely love, be on the lookout for them. One, the model's hands appear to be in motion, almost as if he's signing. Two, my amazing graphic artist managed to add a hearing aid, as Devon himself normally wears two.)

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Available for pre-order at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | and more!
You can also add to your Goodreads list!

About the author:

Laura Brown lives in Massachusetts with her quirky abnormal family. Her husband’s put up with her since high school, her young son keeps her on her toes, and her three cats think they deserve more scratches. Hearing loss is a big part of who she is, from her own Hard of Hearing ears, to the characters she creates.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

MY VICE is HERE!

I've recently had the honor to read the novel a personal friend of mine self-published. The talented Breanna Mansfield wrote an intense romance, called WORTH THE FIGHT.
Amazon Link:

Since I do this in my spare time, I offered to read her next release. Not only did I connect strongly to the characters, but I was sucked into the world of motorcycle clubs.

Here's the cover:

ROMEO AND JULIET meets the high-octane motorcycle club (MC) world. Stanton wants freedom from his drug-addicted mother, so he can run the Angels' MC in peace. When he needs escape, he bikes over to a small diner, where the gorgeous Schuyler waits tables.

Schuyler lives her life in quiet, unassuming fashion. After all, being the daughter of the president of the Striker's MC nearly killed her. When the sexy Stanton asks her on a ride, she never dreams of the consequences that will follow--to the Angels and her own heart.

When Stanton learns Schuyler is the daughter of rival MC President, he must choose between protecting his club or accepting the woman he loves and all the baggage she brings. The showdown will rain hellfire on both clubs.

"I imagine his hand holding mine.

His lips warm on my temple.

His soul making mine feel whole.

My past long forgotten."

AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK AND E-BOOK:

US --> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0725746ZD
UK --> https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0725746ZD
AU --> https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0725746ZD
CA --> https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0725746ZD

IN THE MIDDLE is here!

I'm so excited to bring to you a hauntingly beautiful YA read. I had the great honor of reading this prior to publication, and its intense pacing kept me turning pages, desperate to find out what happens next. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Purchase Links:

Amazon 

TinyFox Press 

Girl moves to new town.

Girl meets Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.

Cue Happily Ever After.

That’s how the story goes, right?

Except this is Lucy. The same Lucy whose stellar driving skills single-handedly wiped out both of her parents, leaving her with nothing but the suitcase in her hand and the screws in her skull. Not to mention that Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome—AKA Oliver—is just as annoyingly bossy as he is hot. According to Oliver, Lucy’s not safe in her new hometown, but he refuses to say why. He just gives her some lame warning about not going out after dark, like that’ll stop her.

When several townspeople vanish, the lethargic community springs to life, fearful of the danger lurking among them. The problem is that Lucy’s the last person to have seen any of the missing. Doesn’t exactly qualify her for the Neighbor of the Year Award.

Lucy’s already given up on Happily Ever After, but now she has two choices left: find out what’s happening in her new home, or become the next victim.

Excerpt

“Do you trust me?” he asks. He’s closer to me.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really. We’ve got to get you back to the mansion before . . .” His voice trails off. I want to slug him in the arm for being spooky again, but I’d have to find his arm first.

He swoops in without warning, whisking me from my feet. Again, I cry out. He sucks in a sharp breath that catches between his teeth. “Lucy, I’m not kidding—stop making noise.”

My blood simmers beneath my skin. “Warn me next time you’re planning on picking me up, then.”

“Sorry,” he fires back, his mouth too close to my ear.

I want nothing more than for the strength in my legs to return so I can get away from him and his nerve, but Oliver is in control now and holds me pressed unnecessarily tightly to his body. Turning my head from him is my only means of escape. I’d shown him, all right.

With a little more energy than necessary, he heaves me up into the blackness. My bottom connects to something soft yet solid—Jasper’s back—and pain spikes down my spine. I gasp as my body starts to curl in on itself.

“Okay,” Oliver says. “Slide your right leg over to the other side. I’ll keep you steady.”

My mouth flops open and I wonder if he can see the ever-growing whites of my eyes. Or maybe he’s picked up on the stampede going on between the valves of my heart, because he softens. “Lucy, I’m not going to let you fall. Trust me.”

“The only people I’ve ever trusted are dead,” I shoot down to him as I claw around for something, anything, to keep me from falling on my face.

Oliver snorts, which sends me over the edge.

“What? You think that’s funny?” I challenge him, no longer concerned about keeping quiet. His hand clamps on my leg in piercing reproof. I’ll have bruises there tomorrow, for sure. Through locked teeth, I order, “Let. Go.”

“Please stop,” he says. “I’m trying to keep you sa—”

A rumble beyond us, where the orchard fades into the rest of the forest, interrupts his plea. Even though I sit astride stoic Jasper, I can feel the ground vibrating beneath us.

“What in the—?” I cry, whipping my head in the direction of the growing commotion.

“Slide back,” Oliver commands. I know better than to take offense at his bossy tone. I’d made a big mistake, one he’d been trying to protect me from. The fear of horses leaves my body, only to be replaced by the fear of the unknown. Ignoring the bite of pain in my hip, I throw my leg over Jasper’s withers and shove myself backward, using my palms for leverage. A second later, Oliver sweeps himself upward and in front of me on his horse’s back.

“Hold on,” he yells over the thunder moving our direction.

Author Bio

S. J. Henderson is the founder of the Kid Authors Project, as well as a published author of the DANIEL THE DRAW-ER series. Now that she's published IN THE MIDDLE, she'll start working on the next big thing.

S. J. lives on a farm with her husband, four boys, two dogs, and cat. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her riding one of her family’s three horses. She loves to sing and is slowly learning to play the ukulele.

Social Media Links

Website (www.sjhenderson.net)

Facebook (www.facebook.com/authorsunnyhenderson)

Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/SunnyHenderson)

Twitter (www.twitter.com/SunnyJHenderson)