Friday 56 #115 & BB – Harry Potter by J K Rowling @jk_rowling

Posted on January 6, 2017 by fundinmental

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

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This next series of books probably needs no introduction…

Harry Potter by J K Rowling…

Once I started, I couldn’t stop and would jump on each book as soon as it came out!

Amazon / Goodreads

My 56

“Now you listen here, boy,” he snarled, “I accept there’s something strange about you, probably nothing a good beating wouldn’t have cured – and as for all this about your parents, well, they were weirdos, no denying it, and the world’s better of without them in my opinion – asked for all they got, getting mixed up with these wizarding types – just what I expected, always knew they’d come to a sticky end-“

(Page 56 in hardcover, 1st American Edition, published 1998)

Book Beginnings

Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.

GOODREADS BLURB: Harry Potter’s life is miserable. His parents are dead and he’s stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry’s first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it’s his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.

Full of sympathetic characters, wildly imaginative situations, and countless exciting details, the first installment in the series assembles an unforgettable magical world and sets the stage for many high-stakes adventures to come.

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Release Giveaway and Interview

Posted on January 15, 2013 by fundinmental

Release Blog Tour: Interview & Giveaway

Posted: 04 Jan 2013 05:00 AM PST

YA Fantasy

The Protectors Book 3

Release Date: December 10, 2012

After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made – especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past – sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.

When did you begin writing?

I’ve always loved writing, but I started writing fiction about two years before I published Exiled. That was the story that really just took me by storm and put the writing bug in me.

Have you ever been discouraged in regard to your writing ability and if so, how did you get past it and move forward?

All the time. I’m so back and forth with it, sometimes I think I’m crazy. Maybe that doubt comes with the territory? You’re always seeking the next level of validation.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I love being able to disappear into another world, and know there are no limits. Anything that comes to my mind, I can amplify and create into something bigger, scarier, more beautiful. I love that all I need is my imagination to fabricate something I *hope* people will enjoy.

What is your writing style? Do you like to outline or just write as you go?

This varies from book to book. I don’t know if it will always be this way, but right now I think I’m still trying to find where I fit. Each story requires something different, and I try to be relaxed in that approach.

Do you have a favorite spot where you like to write?

I love writing with my laptop at the kitchen table, after everyone’s gone to bed. Sometimes I get all cramped up there since my table is high, and then I have this really comfortable chaise lounger that I love to sit on. It’s perfect.

What is something you’ve written that will never see the light of day?

Any and all of the poetry I’ve written.

What is your writer food?

Cereal! And Candy. Specifically, Milk Duds.

What inspires you to write?

Everything. But the original inspiration came from telling my daughter bedtime stories. That’s what pushed me to try writing a book, and it’s what has kept me going. Those bedtime stories showed me a passion for story telling I never knew I had.

Would you say you relate to any of your characters? If so, which one and why?

On some level, I relate to all of them. But mostly, Chase. His mindset and thought process works just as mine did when I was a teenager. It doesn’t matter who tells you anything, you always think you’re right and you always learn things the hard way. Sometimes the really hard way.

What’s the hardest thing about writing for you?

Getting out of my own way. I over think things and get inside my own head. Regularly, it destroys all my motivation and takes me time to step back out and get into story telling mode. I really am my own worst enemy.

What authors do you like to read?

Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, J.K. Rowling, and I’ve recently discovered a love for Stephen King.

This or that. Sweet or Salty?

Sweet!

If you were deserted on an island, which author would you want to be stranded with?

Either J.K. Rowling, or Stephen King. I’d have endless books…err sand-written stories?

About the Author

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer and author of The Protector Series, a Young Adult mash-up between Urban and Epic Fantasy. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he’s usually found at the computer between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Exiled (Protector #1) Shift (Protector #2)

Grande Prize Pack (3 Winners)

3x Signed paperbacks (Exiled, Shift, Release)

3x Signed 8×10 posters (Exiled, Shift, Release)

5x Bookmarks

1x Notebook (Winner’s choice of cover)

1x Magnet

Runner-up Prize Pack (5 Winners)

1x Signed paperback (Winner’s choice of Exiled, Shift, or Release) with signed poster

1x bookmark (Winner’s choice)

1x Magnet

Secondary Prizes A (10 Winners)

Release eBooks

Secondary Prize B (10 Winners)

1x bookmark (winner’s choice)

1x The Protector magnet

Winners will be chosen as follows: First 3 names drawn from Rafflecopter will get the grand prize. The following 5 names get the runner-up prize. The following 10 names win ebook copies of Release, and the final 10 names win the swag pack.

There will also be multiple opportunities to win signed paperbacks, signed posters, notebooks, swag packs, and bookmarks throughout the tour on both Twitter (@MRMerrick) and Facebook Fan Page .

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is now closed. Winners will be notified.

Blog Tour and Giveaway – Release (Protector #3) by M.R. Merrick (thebookhookup.com)
Release (The Protector #3) by M.R. Merrick – Blog Tour Review & Giveaway! (creativedeeds.wordpress.com)
Review and Giveaway: Shift (The Protector #2) by M.R. Merrick (thebookhookup.com)

Giveaway/Review of Stitch (Trilogy, #1) by Samantha Durante

Posted on December 18, 2012 by fundinmental

. Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, #1)

Alessa has seen him numerous times. When the nightmares started, she found it hard to concentrate on anything else. The ghost was in her nightmares. Does that mean he really exists? He seemed so familiar to her. Did she know him? How was that possible?

Alessa fell apart after her parents died, but managed to get into Eastern State University. She thought it would help her, so she joined a sorority. She chose it because of the house. She thought that was how she had found her best friend, Janie and the ghost. She never saw that there was something else going on.

She did wonder why no one else could see him. She was afraid, frozen by her feelings of longing and sorrow. Should she talk to him? She felt a connection. Janie joked that maybe her and the ghost shared a past. Could that be why she was so attracted and drawn to him? That night in her dream, she saw him. He blamed himself for what happened to her family. How could that be?

There was an odd incident with security and her teacher, but she shrugged it off. She really should have paid more attention. Janie even hinted at it, but she didn’t pick up on it

The sorority was holding a party and it was Alessa’s job to pass out invitations. That was how she met Nikhil. For the first time in a long time, she was excited about meeting a guy and invited him to the party. Her and Janie were on their third beers when Nikhil and Josh showed up. They stared dancing with the guys and when Nikhil started to kiss her, she looked into his eyes, but they were Isaac’s eyes. She ran to her room.

The next day, the showers were full when Alessa went in, so she told Janie that she was going to take a bath in the attic bathroom. Isaac appeared and sat on the edge of the tub. When he turned to her, she realized he was really looking at the her. She reached for him and he disappeared. Now she was more motivated than ever to find out what was going on. She was shocked at what found. Isaac was so much more than just a ghost.

Janie knew more than she was telling. She was afraid for Lessa. When Alessa heard Janie say, “her stitch seems to be holding strong”, Alessa was past being afraid. She was confused and terrified.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

Stitch is Samantha Durante’s debut novel. I love it when I am so surprised by the quality of the writing and story from a writer’s first novel. She is currently working on the second book in the Trilogy, Shudder, and is happily considering any suggestions readers have for Book II. What would you like to see? Follow the link to her blog, below, to see what others are looking for in Book II.

I loved the title and cover. The blurb and excerpts I’d seen made me feel like I had to have this book. I tweeted day after day, determined to win the giveaway. I was right. The book surpassed my expectations.

I thought it was gonna be a haunted house story, but it took a great, surprising twist. Made me smile and delve deeper into story to see where it went. It just kept getting better and I kept reading faster as the plot twisted and turned through the pages.

Even though Alessa is the main character, I became enamored with Janie. A true blue “friend” that would risk it all for Alessa as she tries to make her aware of all that is going on.

Wow. Samantha led me down a twisted road. What a great journey. I loved it. I wondered where the idea came from to start with this, then go here, then there. Wow again. I haven’t read a book quite like this and am eagerly anticipating the next one.

I won the book through a blog tour where nomisparanormalpalace.blogspot.com was a participant. Naomi and Samantha noticed that I tweeted so much and offered me a signed paperback, instead of the ebook I had won, which I eagerly accepted. Thank you Naomi and Samantha.

About the Author

As an avid lifelong reader of fiction of all sorts, there’s nothing I find more engrossing than an epic sci-fi/fantasy/romance series. I’ve whiled away countless weekends of my life immersed in richly-woven worlds that someone else was kind enough to put on paper, and I’ve always felt a debt of gratitude to these wonderful authors – J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Suzanne Collins, Christopher Paolini, Sharon Shinn, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, and most recently Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth, to name a few.

Stitch – my very first novel, and part one of an upcoming trilogy – is my humble attempt to return the favor. My dream is to bring the same enjoyment and delight to readers that these authors have brought to my life. If you find yourself staying up just a little too late to finish another chapter, or sneaking into the bathroom at work to read when things are slow, I will know I have done my job!

I currently live in New York with the two loves of my life – my husband, Sudeep, and my cat, Gio. In addition to penning novels, I am also a freelance business writer and communications consultant at my company, Medley Media Associates.

Prior to pursuing my passion for writing full time, I spent three years in software engineering at Microsoft, as a Program Manager first on the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) developer platform team and later on the Zune for Xbox LIVE team. I am a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, where I studied Systems Engineering, Management, Entrepreneurship, and Operations & Information Management at Penn Engineering and Wharton business school.

I love to hear from readers! I do my best to answer each and every email I receive, so please don’t hesitate to send me comments, questions, or even suggestions for what you’d like to see in future books. You can also find me on Facebook at my author and Stitch fan pages, on Goodreads and Twitter, and on my Amazon Author page.

Giveaway

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos Samantha is offering 1 e-book for the giveaway (format of the winner’s choice – mobi/Kindle, epub/Nook, or pdf). Entry is easy, as always. Just leave an email address, so I can contact you if you win, and answer the question – If you were to meet a ghost, who would you want it to be and why?