NEW RELEASE ~ The Tick Tock Man by R.M. Clark w/ Giveaway

 

Hello Readers! Welcome to the Release Day Celebration for

The Tick Tock Man by R.M. Clark,

presented by Tantrum Books / Month9Books!

Grab your copy today!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

 

Happy Book Birthday, R.M. Clark!

 

 

When the clocks in town stop, thirteen-year-old CJ discovers an unusual "clock world" where most of the citizens are clock parts, tasked with keeping the big clocks running. But soon the seemingly peaceful world is divided between warring factions with CJ instructed to find the only person who can help: the elusive Tick Tock Man. With the aid of Fuzee, a partly-human girl, he battles gear-headed extremists and razor-sharp pendulums in order to restore order before this world of chimes, springs, and clock people dissolves into a massive time warp, taking CJ's quiet New England town with it.

The Tick Tock Man 

by R.M. Clark 

Publication Date: May 2, 2017 

Publisher: Month9Books/Tantrum Books

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

The clock on the radio displayed 4:05. I compared it to my watch, which I had put back on before sitting at the head of the table. The time was frozen at two o’clock. How strange. My watch always worked perfectly. When Uncle Artie gave it to me, he said it was a one-of-a-kind watch that would never need winding. I decided it was best not to tell anyone.

We drove through what we called downtown Hambleton, and only a few people were on the road. It was Thanksgiving, so this was not too surprising. In fact, it was one of the reasons we went for a drive on major holidays. Most people were home, and we usually had the roads to ourselves. Dad and Grandpa liked it that way.

 

 

R.M. Clark is a computer scientist for the Dept. of Navy by day and children’s book writer by night. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two sons.

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A Is For Apprentice by Steve DeWinter

Title: A is For Apprentice
Author: Steve DeWinter
Release Date: November 2, 2015
Publisher: Ramblin' Rose Publishing
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Format: Ebook

It is said that when the student is ready the teacher will appear.

In Midguard, Spinners are practitioners of innate magic who must learn to control the power that lives inside them before it destroys them.

With the mysterious death of his father, only days before his training is to begin, the knowledge of Van’s lineage as a powerful Spinner is hidden from him. Five years later a near-death experience awakens the dangerous powers within.

Halen, a banished Spinner, is the only one willing to teach Van to manage the magic before it consumes him. He must train Van to hone it into the powerful force needed to stop a vindictive Spinner whose personal mission to conquer Midguard would start a war resulting in the deaths of millions. But how do they save the world, and Van’s very life, when both apprentice and master are forbidden from ever crossing paths by the same organization created to bring them together?

A IS FOR APPRENTICE is a fantasy novel from the #1 Bestselling Amazon Action & Adventure Sci-Fi Author, Steve DeWinter. This is his next foray into the genre after releasing A Tale of Two Cities with Dragons, a fantasy mashup of the #1 Bestselling Novel of All Time, co-authored with Charles Dickens. Yes! That Charles Dickens.

ORDER INFORMATION

A is for Apprentice is available for order at  

   

Steve DeWinter is one of the best adventure authors in the world and, after authoring over 40 books, he still works tirelessly to keep up with the growing demand of readers wanting more across multiple genres. His books have hit #1 on the Amazon Children's Action & Adventure Sci-Fi Bestseller list and his adult thrillers reached as high as lucky #13 on the Amazon Action & Adventure Bestseller list. He also has the distinction of having nine books in the top twenty of the Amazon Children's Action & Adventure Sci-Fi Bestseller list all at the same time.

For More Information

Visit Steve's website.

Connect with Steve on Twitter and Facebook  

Thieves Of Greatness by Emily C. Burger

Title: Thieves of Greatness
Author: Emily C. Burger
Genre:  YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 317 pages
Release Date: July 30, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1511903714

Elizabeth, forgotten daughter of King Henry 8th, is trapped in her own world of bitter hatred over the traumatic events of her past. She longs for greatness and is un-expectantly given the chance to chase down her dreams when a mysterious flying pirate ship lands on the palace roof. Soon she finds herself entangled in a monstrous injustice, forced to face dangers and step out of her comfort zone along with other famous characters from history against a tyrant who knows only cruelty. Together, Elizabeth and her new friends must stand up for their own futures before their dreams are snatched away from them forever.

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Born in 1997, I spent my earliest years living on the East Coast of South Africa in the town of Pietermaritzburg. I spent my days climbing trees, on the beach or writing short stories for my younger brother. When I was eight years old, our family moved to England where I was exposed to a whole new melting pot of cultures. We travelled Europe as frequently as we could, fuelling my growing hunger to experience the world around me. When I was ten years old my sister was born, and my love for children and writing combined themselves into my imaginations. We returned to the tip of Africa just as I was entering my teen years, and since then we have explored our own country as well as our neighbouring ones. I started writing ‘Thieves of Greatness’ when I was fifteen, finished it by 16 and have now published at the age of 17.

A Storm of Secrets by Shona Perrett

Welcome to my tour stop for A Storm of Secrets by Shona Perrett! This is a new adult psychological thriller. The tour runs December 1-11 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

About the Book:

Special Agent Rios wakes up in an abandoned aeroplane. He finds himself on an unfamiliar island in the Bermuda Triangle, suffering from what appears to be amnesia. He must search for clues about his identity, as well as decipher the secrets of the island itself.

But will the truth be too terrifying to live with? Strangers hell-bent on murder, stranded young pilots, and signs of organized weapons trade. These things only touch the surface. What lurks in the skies above is far more sinister.
There is a strange energy high above the clouds, stewing deep within the Bermuda waters. And it grows restless. A storm is coming. A storm like no other, seeking to invade their minds. With the help of his newly acquainted team of special ops pilots, Rios must find a way to stop the storm before it destroys them…from the inside out.  

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Excerpt:

The roof arched upwards in the middle, its large beams a dark wood stain, more striking in appearance against the soft white walls. There was a grand chandelier drooping down just above head height, Timothy calculated it must be around four feet wide. The room, although large, felt warm and inviting. The seats were cushioned and reclined. There was a large rock fireplace in the dining section and an open lounge area off to the side. 

Graeme handed Timothy and Aiden each a numbered key. “Your rooms for the night. Have a pleasant evening gentlemen” he said with a brief head nod, turning and leaving out a side door.

Timothy spotted Tia with a man at the bar, who was loudly saying something about cockpits and fuel canisters. Tia made a disgusted gagging noise as she walked away, an expression of relief on her face as she noticed Timothy and Aiden at the entrance. 

“Hey boys. You made it, finally!” 

Aiden poked out his tongue.

The three sat at the corner side of the bar and flicked open the dinner menus. There were a handful of agents sprinkled throughout the quarter. Some were laughing together by the unlit fireplace, others were sitting quietly by themselves, eating and reading. One was playing softly on the black polished piano in the corner. 

Sam had sat with a young female agent, most likely trying his luck, as usual. Most of the men were wearing suits apart from a few of the rowdier ones who were dressed in workout gear, their brightly coloured Lycra shorts making quite a statement against the black loungers they were sprawled on.

Timothy swivelled his bar chair to face Tia. “So I guess you heard the details of our test. A little unexpected, but nothing we can’t handle right?”

“Yeah. I was actually hoping for a good old-fashioned race, but working with agents makes up for that.”

Timothy smiled in agreement. The two were silent for a few long moments, skimming the menu. Aiden was signing something indecipherable, and most likely inappropriate in Sam’s direction.   

“So Tia-” Timothy lifted his eyes to face her, but then redirected his gaze onto his menu, noticing that her full attention was on him. “Is everything okay? You seemed…I don’t know.” He looked up. “Distracted earlier?”

Tia smiled a little, tilting her head to the side. “I’ve been better. It’s just, um, some complications with a friend. It’ll work itself out though, I’m sure. Thanks for asking.”

Timothy nodded at Tia, then ordered his dinner. He turned back to face her. “So are you heading out to the lake again for semester break?”

“No, I don’t think so. I’ll have to see how things go yet.” Tia smiled, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

Timothy hesitated. She always went to the lake…He swallowed curiosity down with a glass of whiskey that the barman had just poured him. 

The television above the bar flicked on as Tia finished making her dinner order. It spat static noise, then the sports channel came blaring on, capturing Aiden’s attention. 

Timothy and Tia exchanged a quick smile. Timothy tilted his head, glaring into the kitchen, as if food should have arrived in the two minutes since they ordered. 

He was being ridiculous, he knew that. But his nerves sometimes got the better of him, turning him into an impatient, obnoxious jerk. It was a coping mechanism he had developed in his early teens to deflect the mockery of the boys twice the size of him. But even years later, after passing through the awkward, insecure stage of puberty and all that went with it, he still hadn’t managed to completely kick the habit. 

Timothy breathed in slowly, trying to calm back into his own skin. He lifted a hand, signalling the barman for another drink. “So what about those Rangers huh?” he asked Tia jokingly.

Tia’s attention had floated off somewhere. “What?”

“I’m attempting to talk sports” Timothy said pointing up at the TV. “Obviously it’s not working.”

“Oh I see. Yes, uh, Rangers. That ref was outrageous last time” Tia said playfully, joining in on what was clearly an unnatural conversation for the both of them.

“I know right. Sounding off that whistle like he was getting paid per blow.”

“Paid per blow, interesting payment system I must say.” 

“That sounded worse out loud, didn’t it?”

Tia laughed. 

Timothy pointed at the top shelf of the bar. “How about an um, a…”

“Two more please. On him” Tia said to the barman.

“I was getting there.”

Tia smiled teasingly. “So what’s your plans for the summer Timothy? You going to disappear again?”

***

About the Author:

Shona Perrett is a first time author, blogger and closet poet. Her novel A Storm of Secrets is due to release November 2015. Shona studied applied writing in her home town of Whangarei, and is now looking to branch out into creative business enterprising. Passionate about finding beauty in the dirt, she aims to write stories of redemption. Shona believes that narratives exist to teach us how to love one another. That every day, we all communicate through the medium of story, seeking out ways to connect with the world around us. She believes they are one of the most ancient forms of creative expression and vulnerability, and are therefore a fundamental part of what it means to be human. You can visit her at www.shonaperrett.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/shona.perrett

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GIVEAWAY:

$25 Amazon gift card (INT)

Paperback of A Storm of Secrets (INT)

Ends December 16th

Prizing is provided by the author. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No  purchase necessary to win.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

The Zimmah Chronicles by Scott King

Welcome to my tour stop for the Zimmah Chronicles by Scott King! This is a middle grade fantasy series. The tour runs December 1-11 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

Cupcakes vs. Brownies

Zimmah the djinn isn't evil. He simply thinks the world would be more fun if everything was made of desserts. So when ten-year-old Karim Jacobs makes a wish to fix his parent's marriage it's not Zimmah's fault that he twists the wish. He couldn't help himself. Candypunk airships and cupcake castles are cool! Of course Karim isn't happy about his wish going astray, specially when running into fantastical creatures like gummy-grizzly-bears and rock candy beasts; and although he desperately wants to go home, he finds himself in the middle of a war between the Cupcake Kingdom and Brownie Kingdom. With his parents lives in danger, its up to him to stop Zimmah and restore the world to normal.  

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Excerpt

Karim scrambled onto Lion’s back, sinking into the dip between Lion’s shoulder blades and neck. He gripped clumps of the fur in Lion’s mane and held himself in place.

“Yoouuuu want…” Karim said into Lion’s ear.

Lion stiffened, going catatonic.

“You want bath?”

Lion didn’t move or make a sound.

“You want to go night-night?”

Lion whimpered. Karim knew that Lion hated going night-night.

“You want treat?”

Lion squeaked out a half-bark, half-roar that shook the ground.

“You want treat?” Karim asked again. He pointed past the inner wall of the castle toward the village. Peaking over the ramparts were the tips of gingerbread houses. “Go get it. Go get the cookie!”

“Do something, now!” Madam Loope yelled.

The soldiers threw a barrage of spinning nets, but Lion sprung forward, bursting through them. Lion had seen cookies, and nothing was going to stop him. In four leaps, Lion reached the perimeter of the inner wall.

As they grew closer, Karim scrunched deeper into Lion’s mane. He expected Lion to climb the twenty-foot wall. He didn’t want to fall off when that happened. Except, it didn’t happen. Instead of making use of his graceful, snow-lion body, Lion crashed into the wall.

A thunderclap ripped through the air as Lion slammed into the wall. The wall fractured and exploded. Chunks of hardened icing mushroomed into the sky, raining down on the pursuing soldiers. Lion and Karim erupted from the other side. In their wake, the ramparts quivered and collapsed, making it impossible for the soldiers to follow.

Even free of the soldiers, Lion didn’t stop running. At full speed, he charged the nearest gingerbread house. It was gothic with a Victorian wrap-around porch of salted-caramel pretzels. Lion ripped a section of the railing off the porch and held it in his mouth.

“Good boy.” Karim patted Lion’s head and nudged him forward. “Now we gotta go.”

The two made their way down the village street. Most adults screamed when they saw them, while most of the children laughed.

Near the town square, they passed a herd of animal cracker elephants. Having already finished his pretzel stick, Lion eyed them. Karim knew that dog-Lion would have wanted to play with the elephants. Lion always loved making new friends. However, he was concerned that snow lion–Lion might want to eat the creatures. In a stern voice, he ordered Lion to keep moving.

No one impeded their hike through the candypunk town. Within minutes they passed through the city gates and entered the candy forest.

Book Trailer

Mermaids vs. Unicorns

Zimmah the wicked djinn thought he was so smart. He thought nothing could stop him, let alone a mere child. That was until he met Whitney, a devilish girl who used his own powers against him. A wish gone wrong sends Zimmah, Whitney, and Karim to The Otherworld, a magical land where Mermaids and Unicorns are caught in an epic war. All Whitney wants is to save her sick mother, all Karim wants is to get home, and all Zimmah wants is revenge on the children who have tricked him.

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Genie vs. Djinn

The chaotic magic of hundreds of djinn are destroying San Francisco. Dinosaurs. Butterfly volcanos. Buildings made of jello– If someone can wish it, it’s happening. Unable to access his own powers, Zimmah the former djinn, must rely on Karim and Whitney’s help.

Standing in their way is Alkema, Zimmah’s murderous father, an almost omnipotent ifrit who enjoys watching the suffering of others. If not stopped he will not only destroy the city, but plunge the entire world into total madness.

 Amazon | Goodreads  

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About the Author:

Scott King is a writer and photographer. He was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Ocean City, Maryland. He received his undergraduate degree in film from Towson University, and his M.F.A. in film from American University.

“DAD! A Documentary Graphic Novel,” King’s first book was published in Fall ’09. He is also the creator and writer of “Holiday Wars” and he is known for his board game photography, specifically his annual calendar that highlights tabletop and hobby games.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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GIVEAWAY:
$25 Amazon gift card (INT)
Ends December 16th
Prizing is provided by the author, must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Casandra (White Wolf Matriarchs #2) by Crystal Dawn

Casandra (White Wolf Matriarchs #2)

 By Crystal Dawn

A standalone story in the White Wolf Matriarchs series. 

A wounded warrior, a devastated widow, would they help each other heal or tear each other apart? 

After the death of her husband, Cassie struggles to find meaning in her life. She is accepted to administrate a new program that helps wounded warriors get back to their lives. Helping others will help her move on. 

He's no longer a soldier, it's the only thing he has ever been as an adult. The war will go on without him, but he's left a part of himself behind on the battlefield. How will he ever go on without it? Two people looking for a reason to go on. Can they find it in each other's arms?

AMAZON US / UK / AU / CA / JP / IN

Trailer

Imogene (White Wolf Matriarch #1)

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When she's not out hunting rogue vampires and werewolves, you can find Crystal Dawn out exploring the galaxy. She can do it all without ever leaving her computer. She kicks ass, takes names, and puts it all down for the enjoyment of her readers. At least that's what I think she told me. Writing came as a natural outlet for her overly creative mind. The start of her stories is the easy part. Finishing them is a little harder when all the stories are in there trying to get out. She loves reading, chocolate, fine sweet wine, and traveling among a large list of pursuits. Her favorite people, after her family and close friends, are her readers who she says are some of the most wonderful people in this galaxy and the next.

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Al-Kabar by Lee French ~ #AlKabarBlast

One fell night, the whims of powerful men strip her life to nothing...

Publication Date: September 19, 2015

Genre: Fantasy

Series: A Novel of Ilauris

Fakhira is a simple woman with simple wants and needs. She expects her life to be the same as her older sister’s and the same as her mother’s. Though their marriages aren’t strictly by choice, they manage to make their relationships with their husbands work. They raise children. They laugh and cook and manage their men.

Except that’s not how Fakhira’s story goes. One fell night, the whims of powerful men strip her life to nothing. She survives the attack, but can she survive what the Fires and the Water demand of her? Can she rise above the pain of loss to find purpose, a calling, and justice, or will she sink into despair and seek only revenge?

Joan of Arc meets Arabian Nights in a fantasy world.

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GoodReads

Lee French lives in Olympia, WA, and is the author of several books. She is an avid gamer and active member of the Myth-Weavers online RPG community, where she is known for her fondness for Angry Ninja Squirrels of Doom. In addition to spending much time there, she also trains year-round for the one-week of glorious madness that is RAGBRAI, has a nice flower garden with one dragon and absolutely no lawn gnomes, and tries in vain every year to grow vegetables that don’t get devoured by neighborhood wildlife.

She is an active member of the Northwest Independent Writer’s Association and serves as the Municipal Liaison for the Olympia region of NaNoWriMo.

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Delano In Hollyhook by Cameron Glenn

Title: Delano in Hollyhook
Author: Cameron Glenn
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Length: 366 pages
Release Date: August 10, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1512049411

Delano Farnsworth is one of the few ‘lucky unfortunates’ chosen to receive an invitation to the magical Camp Hollyhook. After he arrives, however, he quickly discovers that not is all as it seems. With his new camp friends the ‘quirky’ Jackie, the ‘dour’ Lenore and the ‘lonely’ Wheeze, Delano seeks to uncover the sinister true purpose of the camp, as well as learn about his missing parents who abandoned him when he was three, his kidnapped uncle as well as his own self and destiny.

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How I came up with the idea for “Delano in Hollyhook”.

I had finished my first attempt at a children’s novel called “The Glow Worm Gang” and queried it to lit agents and publishers.  I had hope for it, as I had more fun writing it than anything I had written in a long time and I thought it original and imaginative.  I’ve developed a tough skin and healthy perspective about writing, yet still when the polite rejections boomeranged back they stung a bit more than usual, leaving me in a bit of a discouraged and morose headspace for a little while. 

It was in this mood that I came across two letters by one of my favorite authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald which he wrote to his niece Frances about her story, in 1938.  They’re excellent written letters, of course, full of tough love, good advice and quotes, one being:

“Nobody ever becomes a writer just by wanting to be one.  If you have anything to say, anything you feel nobody has ever said before, you have got to feel it so desperately that you will find some way to say it that nobody has ever found before…”

This quote is a variation of his more famous quote: “You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.”  Such sentiments have become a bit of a cliché since Fitzgerald’s time, but the truth of it impacted me.  I wanted to give writing a children’s, or “young adult fantasy” novel another try, and it should be about something I feel and care about deeply. 

I’m not usually a morose person, and I think the best writing is light and vibrant, but what I was feeling most profoundly in that moment was a sense of loneliness.  It is a universal feeling everyone, even kids, and maybe especially teens, can relate to.  I decided to make loneliness one of the themes of Delano.  The theme came before the characters and plot development. 

Looking back, it does seem a bit strange that this was the genesis of Delano, as “loneliness” might not seem as a major or obvious theme, yet I do think that it is there underneath everything: not “loneliness” perhaps, as the desire to belong, to have friends, to find yourself, your purpose, and your true identity; the desire not to be lonely, and then ultimately to accept loneliness as a sacrifice to a greater purpose. 

That’s a pretty deep read though, and it’s my belief and hope that a reader will still enjoy “Delano in Hollyhook” without picking up on that interpretation or coming up with their own.  I do believe, in the case with this novel anyways, that a reader’s interpretation is just as valid as the authors. 

As for the plot and characters: a lot of brainstorming and trial and error went into the planning.  At first Delano was a time traveler in an organization tasked with preventing famous assassinations throughout history.  I still think that idea may not have been a bad one, just, going back to the Fitzgerald quote, I didn’t feel I had the passion to develop it further than I did, although I did waste some pages and time struggling with it.  I came up with the name “Delano” after watching the great Ken Burns documentary on the Roosevelt’s, and thinking “Delano” a great heroic game that has really been underused.  This was before I found out there was a casino in Las Vegas called “The Delano”.  Still, I think it’s a good name. 

In my brainstorming I wondered what some familiar themes in popular children and Young Adult novels were.  Two that jumped out to me were: orphans and the groupings or ‘sorting’ of young people.  I wondered what it was about these two tropes that so resonated with young readers, and then decided that I  would try to use those tropes as well, but in a way that subverted and commented on them, rather than simply trying to follow a trend and be a part of a cliché.  So that is where the ideas of Delano being (or considering himself as) an orphan came from, as well as the sorting of the campers of Camp Hollyhook into types. 

For the plot much of the inspiration came from mashing up the “Pleasure Island” aspect of Pinocchio with the “forgetting their moms” Lost Boys of “Peter Pan.”  The idea that the longer one is submerged in a fantasy, the more one forgets “the real world” is an interesting one to me.  Trying to imagine the story as both a video game and a movie (and sometimes even a Broadway musical) also served as goals and inspiration in the plot.   In the beginning stages, I was visited by my twin sister and her two daughters Jane and Emma, ages ten and twelve, and I bounced ideas off of them, which was really fun.  I just got an e-mail from my sister saying her daughter had just read it and gave it “two thumbs up” which made me happy and feel like anything else that happens with “Delano in Hollyhook” now will be added gravy (although of course I do want it to be as successful as it can be). 

Cameron Glenn grew up the third of seven children in Oregon. As a child he dedicated hours to the pursuits of basketball and cartooning, as well as waking up way too early for his paper route in order to earn money to buy toys, candy and comic books. He also loved to read and write, which he continues to do voraciously. He currently lives in Salt Lake City after having earned a BA in literature from Boise State.

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