Books I’m looking forward to reading in 2016

~ sharisakurai ~ Leave a comment

I’m taking part in the 2016 Reading Challenge on Goodreads and my goal is to read 25 books in 2016. Here’s some of the books that I’m really looking forward to reading!

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The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives at a grand house in Amsterdam to begin her new life as the wife of wealthy merchant Johannes Brandt. Though curiously distant, he presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift; a cabinet-sized replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose tiny creations ring eerily true.

As Nella uncovers the secrets of her new household, she realises the escalating dangers they face. The miniaturist seems to hold their fate in her hands – but does she plan to save or destroy them?

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After the Crash by Michel Bussi
On the night of 22 December 1980, a plane crashes on the Franco-Swiss border and is engulfed in flames. 168 out of 169 passengers are killed instantly. The miraculous sole survivor is a three-month-old baby girl. Two families, one rich, the other poor, step forward to claim her, sparking an investigation that will last for almost two decades. Is she Lyse-Rose or Emilie?

Eighteen years later, having failed to discover the truth, private detective Credule Grand-Duc plans to take his own life, but not before placing an account of his investigation in the girl’s hands. But, as he sits at his desk about to pull the trigger, he uncovers a secret that changes everything – then is killed before he can breathe a word of it to anyone…

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The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne
A year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcraft move to the tiny Scottish island Angus inherited from his grandmother, hoping to put together the pieces of their shattered lives.

But when their surviving daughter, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity—that she, in fact, is Lydia—their world comes crashing down once again.

As winter encroaches, Angus is forced to travel away from the island for work, Sarah is feeling isolated, and Kirstie (or is it Lydia?) is growing more disturbed. When a violent storm leaves Sarah and her daughter stranded, Sarah finds herself tortured by the past—what really happened on that fateful day one of her daughters died?

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Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster’s apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—andwhat she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

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The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people’s lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

I’d love to hear what you guys are all looking forward to reading this year!

Author Spotlight: Lyssa Chiavari

~ sharisakurai ~ Leave a comment

Fourth_World

This month’s Author Spotlight features Lyssa Chiavari whose debut novel Fourth World (The Iamos Trilogy) (Volume 1) is released today!

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Interview with Lyssa Chiavari

1. Please tell us a little about yourself?
I write young adult science fiction and fantasy. Up until now, my published works have mostly been short fiction/novellas, so I’m excited to branch into longer form storytelling with my first novel, Fourth World! When I’m not writing, I enjoy playing video games and exploring the woods near where I live in the Pacific Northwest.

2. When did you first start writing?
I started writing for fun pretty much as soon as I learned how to write, but I didn’t start writing professionally until about two years ago, when I started submitting my short fiction to different magazines hoping I could get something published!

3. Which authors have most influenced your writing?
Catherine Fisher is probably the biggest influence on me—I love her style of blending science fiction and fantasy, focusing on characters and relationships without a huge emphasis on romance. I also love Meg Cabot’s humor and sarcasm, and I feel like that was also a big influence for me when writing Fourth World.

4. How long did it take you to complete your first novel?
I worked on it on and off for about three years, but the first couple were just floating it around in my mind, writing occasional scenes here and there. I started really buckling down on it in January, so I’d say about a year.

5. Tell us a little about Fourth World?
Fourth World is a YA sci-fi adventure set on Mars near the end of the twenty-first century. It follows a teenage boy named Isaak who’s growing up in the Martian colony and accidentally uncovers a government conspiracy involving alien archaeology, time travel and more.

6. What is your favourite scene or part?
I don’t want to give away too much, but I think my favorite part is Chapter 21. As an asexual writer trying to increase ace representation in YA fiction, it hit home for me on a personal level as I was writing it, and I hope it will resonate with readers as well. One reviewer commented that that chapter was like “a punch in the gut”—in a good way— so I’ll take that as a good sign!

7. What advice would you give to someone who wants to publish their first novel?
Do as much research as you can to figure out what it is you really want from a publishing career! There’s no one path, not even for one person—I’m a firm believer in hybrid publishing, and every book is going to take a different direction. For Fourth World, I knew pretty early on that I was going to focus on indie publishing with this series. But even once you make the decision between traditional, small press and indie, there are still a number of other things to take into consideration (such as Amazon-exclusive or wide distribution? Or hard launch or soft launch? etc), so make sure you do your homework and figure out what your goals are and how best to achieve them! A good starting point would be Susan Kaye Quinn’s Indie Author Survival Guide—that book was a lifesaver for me!

8. What can we look forward to next from you?
I’m working on a few different projects right now: first up is the sequel to Fourth World, as well as a tie-in novella (I call it Book 1.5) that’s scheduled for release between books one and two. I’m also going to be editing a sci-fi fairytale anthology with Jaylee James, editor of Vitality magazine, that’s opening for submissions in just a few days. 2016 is looking to be pretty busy, so I’m hoping I can keep up with everything!

Lyssa Chiavari Online:
Website: www.lyssachiavari.com
Twitter: @lyssachiavari
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lyssachiavariauthor
Fourth World on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25555364-fourth-world
Purchase link via Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fourth-World-Iamos-Trilogy-1/dp/1519496338/

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Excerpt from Fourth World

The sky looked red.
That was all I could think as I gazed out over the desiccated plain. The once-gray rocks and boulders, strewn about the old dry coastline, were now almost completely covered with rust. Orange-tinged clouds swirled above my head, the air thick with choking dust kicked up by the harsh wind that raked over the parched ground.
Even though we’d been forbidden to leave the safety of the citidome, I’d decided to take the risk that night. I had wanted to see the sunset—really see the sunset—for what could be the last time. It had been so long since I’d seen the sky, I couldn’t remember what it looked like.
But I certainly hadn’t expected it to be so red.
The oxygen was too thin. It made breathing difficult, painful. I couldn’t believe how quickly it was depleting now, at the end. Last year on my annual we’d still been able go outside. But now we had to huddle in our enclosed cities, looking out at the world through the tinted filter of smooth blue glass. And even that option wouldn’t last much longer. The world really was ending.
It was much too soon. This was the first day of my eighth year, my enilikin. I still had my whole life ahead of me. I hadn’t even completed my schooling yet, thanks to Gitrin. It would be at least another year, now, before I was ready to take my place in the ranks of the geroi.
But in their last report, the scientists said that our planet couldn’t sustain us another year. My heart stuck in my throat at the thought. Standing here, looking at this, I knew it to be true. Sometime in the next six-hundred days the last of our atmosphere would be gone. The energy sources used to power the citidome would be entirely depleted. And if the colony on Hamos wasn’t stabilized—if we didn’t complete evacuation by that time—we’d all be dead.
I’d be dead. Before I even got a chance to live.
We needed more geroi. And still she told me I wasn’t ready. Everything was so hideously unfair.
I shivered as the biting wind dragged over me, pulling wisps of colorless hair loose from the tight braid encircling my scalp. There was the briefest hint of the fragrance of flowers on the wind’s breath, but it was overpowered by the dry, metallic scent of the ever-reddening earth. What if this was the last time I’d ever smell Iamos? The last time I’d ever see the sun, or the sky, without something in between me and it?
No.
I took a final shuddering breath, and, tucking a flyaway hair behind my ear, I made my decision. I was not giving up. It was not over. No matter what it took, this would not be my last annual.
It was only as I turned to head inside that I saw him.
I might have missed him otherwise, but the light from the setting sun threw his form into relief. A boy was sprawled across the ground. He wore no breathing apparatus. He was completely unprotected. And he wasn’t moving.
Panicked, I raced to his side. I was out of breath by the time I reached him, even though he lay only a short distance away. “Are you all right?” I asked, wheezing. When he didn’t respond, I rolled him over onto his back.
He was young—probably close to my own age. I realized instantly he couldn’t be from my city; his traits were all wrong. He must have come from another citidome. But how? He couldn’t have walked. All that way, unprotected? He would never have made it…
I reached for my earpiece, then hesitated. I was invisible right now—the System couldn’t track me—but if I called for help, I’d be back online and the geroi would know I’d broken the edict. Not to mention that it could draw their attention to the fact that my earpiece had been altered. Ceilos would never forgive me.
But there was no way I could shift this boy’s dead weight on my own, not when I was already feeling the effects of the thin air.
Before I could give myself a chance to change my mind, I pressed the button. “Gerouin Melusin,” I called.
“Nadin?” Melusin’s voice was soft in my ears, like the drip of water in the caverns.
There was no time for explanations. “I need help outside the dome,” I said as calmly as possible.
“‘Outside’?” she repeated, her gentle voice faltering almost imperceptibly. “What are you doing—”
“Just hurry,” I interrupted her, breathless. “I found someone out here. He’s injured.”
The gerouin said nothing more, simply disconnecting. I turned back to the boy. He was still unconscious, but he was breathing—barely. I crouched to get a better look at him. His hair was coated in the red dust that the wind kicked up in swirling eddies, but I could see it was curly and dark. His skin, on the other hand, appeared bleached like an old man’s, even though he was clearly young. Could unprotected exposure to solar rays have done this? The atmosphere was so thin now…
I inhaled shakily, my lungs burning. It was already painful for me to be outside, and I couldn’t have been out for more than five minutes. This boy… how did he get here?

Purchase Fourth World on Amazon.com

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lyssachiavariAbout Lyssa Chiavari
Lyssa Chiavari is an author of speculative fiction for young adults, including Fourth World, the first book in a YA sci-fi trilogy set on Mars. Her short fiction has appeared in Ama-Gi magazine, the Wings of Renewal anthology, and Perchance to Dream, a young adult collection of Shakespeare retellings which she also edited. Her first published story, “The Choice,” was named one of Students for Liberty’s Best Fiction of 2014. When she’s not writing—which isn’t often—you can usually find her coding websites or losing an unreasonable number of life balloons on Donkey Kong. Lyssa lives with her family and way too many animals in the woods of Northwest Oregon, which suits her just fine; except it actually doesn’t rain there as much as you’ve been told, and she really could do with more rain, thanks.

#SupportIndieAuthors Presents The Ghost of Christmas Book Blast

~ sharisakurai ~ 1 Comment

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Happy Holidays! Tis the season when once again, the good folks over at Support Indie Authors are hosting another free book event. On Saturday, the 19th of December, forty authors will be offering more than fifty books in a wide variety of genres absolutely free! What better way to de-stress, decompress, and take a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays than to curl up with a good book? Once again, all of the free books will be listed on the official Book Blast website:

www.freebookblast.com

As is our tradition, each of the authors participating in the book blast has told us a little about themselves. Each name links to the author’s Goodreads profile, so feel free to give them a follow if you like what you see. Below are interviews for ten of the forty participating authors. At the end of this post are links to three other blogs with the additional thirty authors. Please be sure to visit each and thank you for continuing to #SupportIndieAuthors

The Interviews!

What is your name?
V.M. Sawh

What genre or genres do you write in?
Historical, Western

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Only a Sith thinks in absolutes.

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
CINDERS is the classic tale of Cinderella given a murderous Gothic twist. HONTAS is an ass kicking, bounty-hunting Wild West Pocahontas. Both are part of my Good Tales For Bad Dreams series of re-imagined fairy tales.

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
I actually like the combination of gingersnaps and coffee crisp hot chocolate. Apple Cider is also quite nummy.

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
I would like to highlight the SPCA, as I feel animals are often the forgotten victims when hard times hit. The SPCA is there not only to provide education, insight and help for owners of our four-legged friends, but also helps save lives through adoption. I strongly urge you to consider adoption if you’re looking for a pet companion. You could be saving a life. https://www.aspca.org

Where can readers find out more and connect with you?
Website: www.supportindieauthors.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VMS_author

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmsawh/

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/VMsawh/

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What is your name?
Eugene Linn

What genre or genres do you write in?
Science Fiction

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Nice

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
An ET spacecraft headed for Earth and mysterious red dots that baffle even world-renowned scientists provoke violent outbreaks around the globe—will humans destroy themselves before the aliens even arrive? Red Dot is a thought-provoking sci-fi thriller complete with a remarkable cast of characters and an intriguing portrayal of alien life. Expect the unexpected and you’ll still be surprised.

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
Cranberry salad

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
Red Cross. I’m in the Philippines, and the Red Cross has been a big help for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. http://www.redcross.org

Where can readers find out more and connect with you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Dot/1028047867229514

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What is your name?
Miss D

What genre or genres do you write in?
Urban Fiction based on true story WITH profanity AND sexual content

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Naughty

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
Corrupt: Rise To Power was inspired by the Tavon White Baltimore City Detention Center scandal of 2013. I am a Corrections Officer in Maryland and used 1st hand info which makes the events in the book very authentic. It is my 1st urban novel and very graphic.

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
My favorite underrated holiday treat is a new pair of flannel christmas pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Great for late night writing sessions.

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
My favorite charitable organization is the Salvation Army. They are always lending a hand to families in crisis situations. http://www.salvationarmyusa.org

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What is your name?
Patricia Loofbourrow

What genre or genres do you write in?
Science Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, steampunk neo-noir

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Only a Sith thinks in absolutes.

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
My novel is about a female private eye in a neo-Victorian domed city split between four crime families. She runs her business in secret because she’s married to one of the mob bosses and the Family frowns on this sort of thing. In this first book of the series, she’s trying to find a missing child, the little brother of her best friend (who was murdered in front of her ten years before).

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
Canned whole berry cranberry sauce

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for people who don’t have one. https://www.habitat.org

Where can readers find out more and connect with you?
Website: http://www.jacqofspades.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jacq_Of_Spades

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJacqOfSpades

Other: http://red-dog-conspiracy.tumblr.com/

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What is your name?
K.B. Goddard

What genre or genres do you write in?
Horror, supernatural

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Nice

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
An homage to the classic ghost story. My book is a collection of six short stories set in the Victorian era. Victorian inspired ghostly goodness.

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
I’m not sure I have one! Possibly rum sauce for the Christmas pudding.

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
Crisis do wonderful work for the homeless especially at Christmas. http://www.crisis.org.uk

Where can readers find out more and connect with you?
Website: https://kbgoddard.wordpress.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kbgoddard

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kbgoddard

Other: http://kbgoddard.blogspot.co.uk

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What is your name?
Susan Stafford

What genre or genres do you write in?
Mystery/Thriller

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Nice

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
Trouble in the Keys is a murder mystery that takes place in Key West. Desperation and curiosity have Liz and Maggie searching the island and making inquiries that don’t always end well.

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
fruit cake!!

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
St. Jude’s Children Hospital in Memphis https://www.stjude.org

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What is your name?
Alp Mortal

What genre or genres do you write in?
LGBTQ

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Only a Sith thinks in absolutes.

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
In Delayed Reaction – Andrew is waylaid by a snow storm; his flight is cancelled and the only hotel in town is full. An old motel on the edge of town looks to be the only choice. He meets Morgan in the hotel’s reception; together they drive to the motel – their worst fears are realised but at least it has vacancies.

In A Dog’s Life – Orion is an escort at the pinnacle of his career. He meets Stephen who is also an escort during a weekend in Nice. Is it time for them to give up the dog’s life and re-discover the joys of sex without the pay-off?

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
Walking on the beach after lunch

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
Saint Catherine’s Centre in Ventnor Isle of Wight. A residential school and respite Centre for children with learning disabilities, funded entirely by donation. http://www.stcatherines.org.uk

Where can readers find out more and connect with you?
Website: http://alpmortal.weebly.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/carterseagrove

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecarterseagroveproject

Other: http://www.amazon.com/Alp-Mortal/e/B00BJ5FH7Q

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What is your name?
Ian S. Bott

What genre or genres do you write in?
Science Fiction

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Only a Sith thinks in absolutes.

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
Sci-fi action adventure. One book is a far-future tale of planet-wrecking revenge. The other is closer to home, our own civilization stealthily corroded by the technology on which it depends.

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
Good old-fashioned British Christmas pudding, with brandy butter and cream.

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
The local food bank, which is run by the Lions Club.

Where can readers find out more and connect with you?
Website: http://www.iansbott.com/

Other: http://www.thebaldpatch.blogspot.com/

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What is your name?
Susan Catalano

What genre or genres do you write in?
Fantasy, Historical

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Nice

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
Merry Chalmers is an accused witch who leaps from the 17th century into modern-day Salem and embarks on a race to save both herself and the man she loves from the disastrous fate history holds for them.

The Timeless Ones is the first of an exciting two-book series. The sequel, A Necessary Darkness, is due out early 2016.

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
Lebkuchen – A german gingerbread dipped in chocolate

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
Blues City Animal Rescue – This organization is filled with some very special people who rescue dogs from high-kill shelters and foster the dogs in their homes before sending them off to their new families. We were fortunate to adopt our amazing, wonderful pup, Finn, who was found at a construction site at approximately 5 months old. We are still in touch with his foster family. https://bluescityanimalrescue.wordpress.com

Where can readers find out more and connect with you?
Website: http://susancatalano.wix.com/susancatalano

Twitter: https://twitter.com/scatu2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimelessOnes

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/knitcat1/the-timeless-ones/

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What is your name?
Shari Sakurai

What genre or genres do you write in?
Horror, LGBTQ

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Nice

Tell us a little about the book(or books) you are offering.
Demon’s Blood: Japanese vampire Kokawa Taku and his English lover, Thane Bremen, were forced to flee their home in Tokyo after being discovered by vampire hunters and have resettled in Norfield, England. Ever since Thane has been haunted by the events in Tokyo and suffers from reoccurring nightmares. Yet unknown to Thane there is more to those events than he is aware of, and as a consequence Taku is struggling against something much darker, something that could ultimately destroy him.

What is your favorite underrated holiday treat?
Candy canes! They’re really yummy but many of them just get left hanging on the tree as decorations for all of the holiday season!

In the spirit of giving, tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
The Blue Cross is an animal charity that finds homes for unwanted pets and also provides veterinary treatment to pets whose owners are unable to afford to take their pets to private veterinary clinics. https://www.bluecross.org.uk

Where can readers find out more and connect with you?
Website: http://www.sharisakurai.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ShariSakurai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharisakurai

Other: https://sharisakurai.wordpress.com

Links to the other interviews:

https://riannejar.wordpress.com/2015/12/12/year-end-free-book-blast

https://rileyamoswestbrook.wordpress.com/2015/12/14/another-siafbb-come-read-about-the-authors-giving-away-free-books/

http://www.stefanyrattles.com/stef-anythings-blog/author-interviews-for-book-blast