Neil Gaiman, Amber Benson, Vampires, Oh My!

Every once in a while a brilliant idea pops up and makes you say, "why didn't any one think of this before?" Blood Kiss is one of those brilliant ideas.

Emmy Award winning writer Michael Reaves is creating a new film, BLOOD KISS, and
new genre, Vamp Noir. He’s discovered a fresh acting talent to co-star, superstar writer
Neil Gaiman. Also starring fan favorite Amber Benson from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Blood Kiss revolves around detective Joe Belicek, who must solve the murder of a
vampire before a deranged killer murders them all. Inspired by Film Noir, this
supernatural thriller is set in 1940s Hollywood with famous haunts like the Brown Derby.

BLOOD KISS will bypass the Studios, going straight to the fans for funding to greenlight
the film. Fans who contribute to BLOOD KISS’ Kickstarter campaign are eligible to
receive exclusive rewards in exchange for individual pledges ranging from $5 to $10,000.
Because of Michael’s personal struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, Blood Kiss is proud to
be associated with the American Parkinson’s Disease Association to promote awareness
of the disease. 

How cool is this? And you can be part of the fun by joining in the Kickstarter to help get Blood Kiss out into the world, but hurry--the campaign ends tomorrow.

Find out more by following Blood Kiss on Twitter or Facebook.

So what are you waiting for? Every pledge helps, no matter how big or small and you get to be part of something awesome. 

Join me, won't you?

The Sound of Letting Go Cover Reveal & Giveaway

I'm excited today to be part of the cover reveal and giveaway for Stasia Ward Kehoe's new novel in verse, The Sound of Letting Go. The cover design is stunning, clean and simple, but definitely beautiful. Check it out:

Here's a little bit about the book:

For sixteen years, Daisy has been good.  A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly.  A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad. She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave. But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal.  Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy?  Should she side with her parents or protect her brother?  How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go? 

This sounds like a great summer read full of tension and romance. Check out the Rafflecopter widget below for a chance to win an ARC of The Sound of Letting Go, a signed copy of Audition, and lots of cool swag.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

To discover more about Stasia, check her out on twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or on her blog.

Review: Unknown (The Elements Trilogy #1)

Darkness is covering the land. As the city of Mezrah grows with power and greed, the rest of the world can only stand by and wait for their inevitable destruction. The only hope against this growing power is an ancient prophecy that people have stopped believing in.
Then a star begins to fall.
Princess Kyla of Taramon stopped believing in the power of light the day her father died. Trapped in a city she does not care for, under the watchful glare of her mother, the queen, she struggles to accept her fate.
Then a star begins to fall.
Jethro has loved Kyla for as long as he can remember. Learning that she was to marry his cousin drove a wedge between him and the feisty princess. Watching her from a distance is a torture he is unable to free himself from.
Then a star begins to fall, sparking an ember of hope and sending two seekers on a treacherous journey into the unknown.

Already a fan of Melissa Pearl's Time Spirit Trilogy, I jumped at the chance to check out Unknown, the first of her new fantasy trilogy. Unknown starts off at a simmer, taking the time to set up the world and to introduce the characters. The intrigue is immediate though, as readers will find themselves curious to discover what the prophesy is all about and what role each character plays.

Princess Kyla is a likable and relatable character. A teenager who longs for adventure and is dissatisfied with the constraints of her gender. When we first meet her, she is sneaking around outside the palace walls dressed as a boy. These shenanigans do nothing to impress her mother or her betrothed; but Jethro, her lifelong friend, enjoys Kyla's spirit. Soon enough, though, Kyla gets her chance to set out on an epic adventure. As usual in fantasy, all is not as it seems. Kyla is more than just a princess and Jethro more than just an ordinary boy. They are both seekers, and the fate of the world may rest on their shoulders as they set out to locate The Elementals. The Elementals themselves are interesting, I was intrigued by them. While there are some familiar fantasy elements (trolls, dark forests, a long journey), The Elementals are a new addition to the fantasy world.

Unknown will appeal to fans of fantasy along the lines of The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. It starts of slow, building to an epic adventure with mystery and intrigue around every corner. It does fall victim to the abrupt ending that many series books seem to favor, so I'm hopeful book two will hit stores soon! Anyone looking for a fantasy fix should definitely check out this gem.

Happy Reading :)