laura a.h. elliott – Author Bryna Butler

Fun Friday: Cover Love

I’ve spent the entire week revealing the cover for the upcoming 5th book in the Midnight Guardian series, Book of the Lost. See Oct. 31 post for full view. How fitting that we end the week with “Cover Love”.

Most of you know by now that I’ve joined a new collaborative called The Society of YA Storytellers. The Society is a group of novelists writing in the young adult genre. The stories are well-written and engrossing, but the covers…wow!

Here are a few of my favorites in no particular order…

Suzy Turner’s Morgan Sisters series are wrapped in spooky chic covers. She even re-released her Raven Saga with new covers featuring the same artist. Love the look.

Patti Larsen’s Haven novels have very consistent covers. This is one of my favorites. I love the font and detail.

I really like the newly released covers for Melissa Pearl’s Elements Trilogy. All three book covers feature this model who looks intense and strong. The color palette is beautiful. Love the harmony between the covers within the trilogy.

The first time I saw the cover for Stacey Rourke’s Sacrifice, my eyes did a double take. A cover that demands a second look is definitely a good one.

Heather Hildenbrand’s Blood Rule cover practically drips with drama.

LM Preston’s Thundering Luv cover is romantically beautiful. I love the scrollwork on this one.

Like the redesigned magical green of Heather Sutherlin’s Seen. She also redesigned her website in this theme and it looks fantastic.

Love the use of tattoo marks (a central part of the story) as watermarks on the covers of the Grey Wolves novels from Quinn Loftis.

The cover for Liz Long’s Witch Hearts is so simple yet so creepy, I just had to read it.

All of Christy Sloat’s covers have mesmerizing color palettes, but I adore this one in particular. I also think the handwritten font adds just the right touch.

I’ve loved this cover from the moment I first saw it. I often see twenty-somethings on the cover of teen books. It was nice to see an early teen model featured.

And last (only because I wanted to give it a shameless plug) is the brand new release by K.C. Blake, HUNTER. Hunter is the follow-up to BAIT. Nick on the cover…whoa, baby! You can get it on Smashwords now. Coming soon to Amazon.

To see more COVER LOVE posts for Fun Friday, go to http://yastorytellers.com/fun-fridays/

Random Ramblings

California Dreamin’

After I write this, I’ll start packing for a business trip to San Diego. I’ve done quite a bit of traveling over the US, but somehow I’ve never been to California. I’m really looking forward to it. Which means, there are TWO things that I’m really looking forward to this week and both happen to be based in California.

The first, being my trip of course. The second is the release of Shadow Slayer (Shadow Series #2) by California author Laura A.H. Elliott. I loved the first book in the series, 13 on Halloween (btw, it’s now free on Amazon).

And Laura rocks, not only as an author, but as a person. She’s so much fun and it shows in her writing. See what I mean with this special excerpt from Shadow Slayer. Enjoy!

***

I turn another corner in the labyrinth. Every leaf, every twig, and the grass changes colors. Unnatural colors. I startle at a huge rustle beside me and bite my nails.

Two disembodied arms stick out of the bush next to me. My heart beats hard against my chest. I try to wriggle out of his grip but whoeveritis clamps down on my arms making it hard for me to get any leverage.

“AAAAAHhhhhh!” I scream, writhing back and forth. I fight to free my arms but he’s already wrestled them to my sides. I can’t move. He lifts me a few inches off the ground. I kick and stare at my useless hands and spot the long nails with black nail polish that begin to dig into my skin. There’s a tattoo on each finger. All the same. Stars, I think.

“I want to suck your blood!” he says laughing, lowering me to the ground. As soon as my feet get a little traction I kick and try to run away.

“Ouch! Drew, control your woman!” One of the guys says, a familiar voice. A football player steps Continue reading “California Dreamin’” →

Top 10 Lists, YA Indie Carnival

Beat the Heat: My Summer TBR

The YA Indie Carnival assignment for this week is to give our summer book recommendations just in time for Labor Day weekend in the US. It’s been a busy summer. Despite the heat, I’ve been able to consume a few cool books. Yet, I still have a number of promising tomes on my TBR list.

I know what you’re thinking. No, I didn’t read it. You know the one that I’m talking about. The one with the colorless cover and the flurry of Continue reading “Beat the Heat: My Summer TBR” →

Secret Santa

Santa’s Author Spotlight: Laura A.H. Elliott

Today’s spotlight is on the fascinating and delightful Laura A.H. Elliott. I recently read her work 13 on Halloween and found it to be an unique, creative story about an oddball girl and her magical journey to popularity. Today, I am pleased to offer you an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from 13 on Halloween as well as a SNEAK PEEK at 14 on Halloween which releases summer 2012.

13 on Halloween

In 13 on Halloween twelve-year-old Roxie, wants to be popular. In Roxie Speak, she wants to be a peacock…not a dodo––a loser. And so, she decides to invite all the popular kids to her 13th birthday party, which her parent’s don’t know about. The peacocks Continue reading “Santa’s Author Spotlight: Laura A.H. Elliott” →