The Romania Grey Wolves have been through hell and back. A month remains of the mourning period decreed by the Great Luna, and Jen has decided it’s time for the pack to celebrate the many blessings they’ve missed over the years because of all the battles they’ve faced. As usual, there’s a little crazy, a lot of funny, and most of all the loyal love of the pack as they deal with all the chaos that comes with the holidays. It’s A Grey Wolves Howliday!
For those of us in Ohio, coronavirus concern exploded this week with the announcement that schools are dismissed for the next three weeks–four with spring break–and a ban on events of 100 persons or more. This news was followed by today’s restriction of restaurants to carry-out/delivery only and a warning that daycare facilities would be closed soon.
At this point, I welcome a little distraction from the world around me. So, here we go with the things I know…
The second book in the newest duology by the incomparable Casey Bond hit shelves on Friday. And before the end of the first day, The Omen of Stones, reached the #1 spot in Amazon YA Royalty Fairy Tales and Folklore category.
Quinn Loftisrevealed a beautiful new cover for Luna of Mine. I have to admin, this one is my favorite of the Grey Wolves redesigns.
Chanda Hahn announced that Of Sea and Song, book 3 in her Daughters of Eville fairy tales series, will be releasing June 16. We talked about Book 1, Of Beast and Beauty on the Halloween episode of On the Same Page.
Yesterday,L.L. Hunter revealed the cover for Reign of Secrets, an epic YA fantasy romance which drops June 30.
On Wednesday, the fabulous Stacey Rourke announced finalists for this year’s Once Upon A Book Awards. It’s stiff competition for Author of the Year with Tish Thawer, Kelly Martin, Heather Hildenbrand, and Karen Lynch! More category finalists on the fan page.
What I’m fangirling over…
I’ve watched The Magicians on Syfy since the beginning, but it’s only been the last few seasons that I’ve become a real fan. Season Three’s key quest reeled me in, and I’m still hooked.
Currently in its Fifth and final season, writers have kept the surprises rolling, starting with a new foe gloriously played by Sean Maguire, who also portrayed Robin Hood on Once Upon A Time.
Season Five has already had such fun moments as a 300-year jump in Fillory, psycho Dean Fogg, Penny as dean, Eliot and Margot body switch, the crew MOVING the moon, Julia with an unexpected “development”, and Finn with knives. Oh, I so love Finn.
And this week, I was already geeking out over seeing Penny 40 again, but then the trailer for next week popped up with Ember! Ember!! I am freaking out, guys.
Last season’s goodbye episode is a permanent staple on my DVR, and I’ll be watching these last few episodes with wonder. If you watch too, send me your thoughts.
In today’s post, I geek out a little about Sarah J. Maas, but first…
Here we go with the stuff I know…
”The hands of the clock, They tick and they tock.”
Today, Stacey Rourke released Pursuing Madness, the Alice themed third installment in her popular Unfortunate Souls Chronicles. The YA twisted fairy tales that tell the villians’ stories are a must read.
At the end of February, Quinn Loftis released the first in her new Nature Hunters series, called Bound by Earth. As you can imagine, Furball Nation (Loftis fans) is on cloud nine over the book’s not one, but two, hot-yet-infuriating book boyfriends.
I’m still celebrating over the announcement that author Suzy Turner, who took a writing hiatus to become an Instagram style influencer, is back at the keyboard. Her new Winterbourne Witches series will be available soon. In the meantime, new subscribers to her newsletter get Willow Tree Farm, a novella from the series for free.
Don’t forget that What Rachel Did by Kelly Martin and Girl Who Cried Warby Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd both debuted this week. Support these indies!
What I’m excited about in print…
Also debuting this week was perhaps the most anticipated YA book of the year, House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas. The book is the first in what will be the Crescent City series, which promises suspense, mystery, and lots and lots of romance set in an original, magical world. A girl set on avenging the deaths of her friends by the hands of a demon. A fallen angel set on making those who have enslaved him pay.
This book has all the makings for an epic to rival ACOTAR. ACOTAR! Can you imagine?
Clear your calendar though. House clocks in at a whopping 816 pages for the hardcover and nearly 28 hours for the audiobook.
I’m super excited to delve in, so, I’m out for now. That’s all I know, tell me what you know in the comments.
Thought it would be fun to share some insider favorite Halloween memories from one of my favorite authors. And she agreed!! So, here in pic form, straight from the undisputed Queen of Furball Nation herself, is Quinn Loftis’s favorite Halloweens.
Personally, the smurf costume has to be my favorite. Comment below to let us know which you like best, and don’t forget to pick up Quinn’s Grey Wolves series, werewolfy fun perfect for the season.
Happy October 10! For the tenth day of the tenth month, the authors of The Society of YA Storytellers are sharing Top 10 lists on just about everything. Part of the fun of Fun Friday is that we get to twist the topic and make it our own. And I plan to do just that.
For this Fun Friday on 10/10, may I present my Top 10 favorite Fun Friday Storytellers posts of all time. Click on the post titles to read them for yourself!
Great list of epic love affairs from books and the screen, all early in their romances. Thought it was interesting what she said about Vampire Diaries books vs. show.
If you missed this one, now is the perfect time to take a look with Halloween sneaking up. Christy’s list is awesome, and may I point out that she is absolutely on her game. One book she mentioned is just now starting to gain big buzz, but she listed it in this post a year ago. She really knows her stuff.
Just before Superbowl Sunday, Quinn created this very simple and perfect post where she names which of her Grey Wolves would be on a football team and what position they’d play. Hutt, Hutt, Howl!
Liz’s questions are structured in a way that turns the typical interview on its ear. When a question begins with “Let’s say you’re thrown into the Hunger Games…” you know you’re in for an entertaining read. Heather’s responses are hilarious. Then again, what else would you expect from someone who speaks in hashtags. 😉 Love you, ladies!
Laura shares an embarrassing moment from her own life, then one from one of her characters. We can all relate, but what puts this in the number one spot for me is that her post included some words I’ll never forget. These are some of the most beautiful and insightful words I’ve ever read, “A perfect stranger’s kindness is usually what meets my embarrassment every time. I guess fast friends are formed in the intimacy of being vulnerable, being human. And for every time I’ve wanted to disappear when I’ve been embarrassed, I’ve been given a measure of magic too.”
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.
