Joann I Martin Sowles Q&A {Giveaway!}

Joann I. Martin Sowles
· Website
· Facebook
· Twitter
· YouTube

Books
· Laney (Brookehaven Vampires #1)
· Darkness (Brookehaven Vampires #2)

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1. What made you get into writing?
It was partly Laney. She kept growing and getting stronger in my mind and at one point I just had to get her out. Plus, I seriously felt that I needed to turn my vampire addiction into something productive. I honestly didn’t believe I could write a book. I had wanted to for years but I just didn’t think I was capable of actually writing an entire novel, I finally convinced myself that I had to give it a try. I figured it would be better to try and fail than to regret never giving it a chance. And considering Laney was just a finalist in Dan Poynter’s Global eBook awards, I think I did alright with my first story.


2. There are many books about vampires out. How would you say that Laney stands apart from others in the same genre?
I think my biggest stand apart feature is that I tried to make my vampires as realistic and believable as possible. For example; my vampires can handle the sun, they are able to eat food and they can reproduce, just to name a few.


3. Unlike most YA books, your book is set in a college atmosphere instead of high school. What made you take this approach?
I think that was mostly due to what I have planned for the characters, being out on their own just fit with the story. Most of the characters are still rather inexperienced with life and we get to learn how to make it in this great big world with them.


4. Was the development of Laney and Oliver's attraction in the book something that you knew from the very beginning, or did it happen as you were writing the story?
I knew. I’ve always known what will happen in their relationship.


5. In your opinion, what is it about vampires and the supernatural that attracts such a large audience?
I think it’s that forbidden and unknown aspect about the supernatural that is so attractive to some. It’s exciting and scary at the same time and a lot of us crave that.


6. Aside from vampires, if you could be one supernatural creature what would you be? Why?
A dragon or a mermaid. Dragons are one of my absolute favorite creatures but I’m not sure I’d like to be one, maybe have one as a buddy instead. And mermaids are absolutely fascinating to me. They’re human-like, beautiful creatures of the sea and I imagine they have a hidden world from us down in that water.

Thank you for the interview and to all who have taken the time to stop by and read it. I invite all of you to visit my website where you can view the first 3 chapters of both Laney & Darkness.

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Win An E-Book of Laney!

From now until Sunday, October 9, you will have the chance to win an e-book copy of Laney - courtesy of Joann. To enter, simply fill out the form here or below. If you're the winner, you will be notified via e-mail on Monday, October 10th and your information will be forwarded to the author.

Giveaway Form Here

Epic 1000 Followers Giveaway -- Extension & News! {GIVEAWAY CLOSED!!}

I cannot thank you all enough for everything that you have done to help me promote this giveaway and my blog. You have gone beyond the call of duty. As a matter of fact, you've done way more than I have.

I haven't been around much lately. If you've read my personal Facebook or my Facebook fan page for this blog, then you'll know that last week was rough for me. On Monday, I found out that I had a type of cervical cancer. Fortunately for me, we caught it really early and I was able to have a surgery on Wednesday to have it removed. I'm at home going through recovery right now, which has been relatively painless... it's just been very uncomfortable. Sitting up (like I am right now to type this) is a challenge and not something I can do for long periods of time. In saying that, I know that physically I don't have the strength to sit up tonight and go through this giveaway, add up points, verify everything and pick winners... not including actually having to go through and e-mail winners then order everything as well.

So, I'm extending this contest until next Sunday, which is September 11th. I fully believe that I will be mostly recovered by then and it'll be just before I leave out of town to go visit my parents. Now, I know it's a little unfair to just extend a date after all you've gone through to enter... so I've decided to add some more opportunities for you to win.

I am adding FOUR more prize packs into the mix. These four prize packs will be mixed to have:

- a book of your choice OR a random book I have lying around here
- a package of swag
- OR a mix of both - a book (your choice or mine, it'll be random) AND a bunch of swag.

I will literally put all of the choices in a hat and select, so everything will be random and you won't know what you win until it shows up on your doorstep. Aaaand, I'm still keeping everything international.

So if you haven't entered, then you still have time. If you have already entered... don't worry, you're in the drawing for Prize Packs #7-#10 already. ;) As a matter of fact, the form will stay the same... everyone will just be automatically entered to win the new prize packs when they enter. If you win a book of your choice, I'll just pick a book from the list you made for Prize Pack #5.

Thanks for everything, guys!

Missy's Epic 1000 Followers Giveaway!! {CLOSED!!}

I always like having excuses to have super awesome giveaways on here, so I promised myself that reaching 1000 Followers would be no exception to the rule. My 1st Annual Anniversary Celebration was pretty incredible and I wanted this one to be just as great, so I decided to wait until after my beach trip to announce this one -- that way, I'd have more time to brainstorm. I think I came up with some decent prize packs that you can win. So, are you ready? Let's get started!

Prize Packs
There are going to be FIVE themed prize packs that you can choose from. It's up to you how many you'd like to enter to win, so enter just one... or a few... or all of them! Each one has a specific theme and all the books in the prizes will come brand-spanking-new from Book Depository, which makes each and every one eligible to be INTERNATIONAL.


Prize Pack #1: The Beach Bum Prize Pack
All books in this category are beach-related in some way, shape or form. If you win this prize pack, you will get your choice of three books.

Prize Pack #2: Bitten & Smitten Prize Pack
These books are all about vampires. Again, I'll list some of my favorites and you will get your choice of three books.

Prize Pack #3: Boys, Boys, Boys Prize Pack
Some of my favorite books, all written by male authors. Pick three.

Prize Pack #4: Everything In-Between Prize Pack
The books listed here are some of my absolute favorites of the year. If selected, you will choose three.

Prize Pack #5: Surprise Prize Pack
This prize is pretty much all about the winner, but with a twist. On the entry form, there will be a place where you will write down your top six books on your wishlist. If you're selected as the winner of this prize pack, I will choose three of those six books to order and send to you.

Bonus Prize Pack: Ultimate Follower Prize Pack
Okay, I lied... there's one more prize pack. This one is made specifically for you to show my gratitude.

In this prize pack, you will get the following:
· Your choice of three books.
· Two random ARCs that I have lying around.
· A whole bunch of swag - bookmarks, bookplates, charms, stickers, notepads, etc.

These will be shipped in two packages. Your choices will be mailed from Book Depository, and the ARCs and swag will be mailed from my place. The ARCs are a total surprise but I will say that they will be recent releases. I will be shipping these in a medium package, and will use the swag to fill the box the rest of the way. The last time I did this, someone got over 50 pieces of swag.

So there you have it, SIX PRIZE PACKS! All for you guys because I appreciate all that you do.


Rules
1. You MUST be a follower of this blog.
2. You WILL have the option of extra entries (below) to give you more chances to win.
3. All prize packs listed above are INTERNATIONAL.
4. This contest will be open from today (August 22) until midnight EST on Sunday, September 4, 2011.
5. All winners will be notified via e-mail, so you MUST enter a valid e-mail address in the entry form.
6. When I e-mail you with your notification of winning, you MUST e-mail me back with your choice of books for whatever prize pack you win within 72 hours of me sending the e-mail. If I don't hear back from you, I will choose another winner.

**Most importantly, you MUST fill out the entry form to be entered.

Extra Entries

+3 each: Follow
Facebook
Feedburner
Goodreads
Networked Blogs
Twitter

+5 each: Announce
Facebook It
Tweet About It
Sidebar Link

+10 each: Post It
Blog Post

There's a limit of one each for announcements and posts, meaning you can post more than once but you'll only get the extra entries once. If there are other ways that you spread the word, please let me know in the Other areas and I will give you points accordingly.

**Please remember to post all links in the entry form as this is the only way that I keep up with them and, therefore, your only way to get the points. If you decide to go for the extra points after you fill out the form, do NOT fill out the form again! Simply comment on THIS POST with the your name (the one you used in the form) with your links and I will add them to your entry.

Thanks for everything you guys, and good luck!!

**Edit: This contest has been extended and MORE prize packs have been added. To read more about this, click here.

Giveaway Reminders

This is just a quick note to remind you guys that I have two giveaways going on right now that end tonight at midnight EST. There's still time to enter, so why not?

First up is a copy of Cat Patrick's debut, Forgotten. You can read my review for it here, or just simply go to the post here to learn more and enter the giveaway!

Next is the first two books in Lisa Desrochers' Personal Demons series, Personal Demons and Original Sin. You can read my review for Personal Demons here, and my review for Original Sin here. The details and giveaway is included in the same post as the review for Original Sin.

So, there you have it! Two giveaways and a total of three books that you could possibly win. Good luck!

2011 Top Picks Giveaway (Giveaway CLOSED)

Alright guys, it's time for the fourth and final giveaway of the 1st Annual Anniversary Celebration! I'm extremely excited about this one because I get to showcase all of the many 5-star books that I have read and fell in love with [so far] this year. Just for consideration, some books may be available as an e-book only. Please make sure to check the BOTTOM of THIS POST where I will have a list of the books that are e-book format only.

**You guys seem to like getting extra entries, so I'll go again for this giveaway as well. For each review post that you comment on, you get +1 extra entry for the giveaway. This is completely optional, of course.

As per usual, let's go over the rules one last time!

(1) Choose one book from the options below to receive if you're picked as the winner of this contest.
(2) Make sure to read the rules on this post before entering.
(3) Contest is INTERNATIONAL.
(4) Fill out THIS FORM to be entered!


Good luck!!

E-books Only
Banished
Dreamwalk
The Gods of Dream
LadyStar: The Dreamspeaker
The Mind Readers
When Colors Bleed

Don't forget that this giveaway is part of a four-part giveaway for the 1st Annual Anniversary Celebration. If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out and enter the other giveaways below as well.

Giveaway #1: In My Mailbox
Giveaway #2: Before & After
Giveaway #3: New Releases