author Cheri Schmidt

YA Indie Carnival ~ Interview With a Villain

2012-01-27T12:22:00.004-05:00

Interview with a villain...

(If you’re here for the giveaway, or would like to know more about these characters, please enter the Young Adult Giveaway Hop in the post below this one!)

“Welcome to Cheri’s blog, my lovely ladies...and dashing gents, whatever the case may be.” Max winks as he sketches a bow, his waves of brown hair tumbling down over his forehead. The knight shoves fingers through his hair to push it back into place as he settles into his chair. “Today, I have Lucas from the Fateful Trilogy here for an interview.” Max twists in his seat to face Lucas who is sitting in a comfortable chair in Beon’s drawing room at Order headquarters. “Welcome, villain.”

Lucas stares, or rather, scowls at Max before he says with a heavy note of annoyance in his tone, “Were you expecting me to cackle evilly, or something? Because it’s just not going to happen.”

Max shrugs his big shoulders and props one booted foot on his opposite knee, the picture of ease. Apparently the knight isn’t intimidated by murdering rogues. Although, it might have something to with the burly vampire body guards posted at the doors during this interview, but only a little bit. Max is dangerous in his own right. “Shall we begin?” Max drops his gaze for a moment to peek at his notes.

“If you would get on with it, I’d appreciate it. I do have better things to do than sit here with you answering stupid questions.”

“Like what, exactly?” asks Max.

Muscles jump along Lucas’ jaw. His dark eyes narrow on the knight. His nostrils flare. “Are you talking about stupid questions you’d like to ask me, or what I’d rather be doing?”

“The latter, obviously,” mentions Max.

“Mischief and mayhem...obviously,” answers Lucas smugly.

“What sort of mischief and mayhem? Be specific. Our audience is curious to know,” Max queries with an annoyed lift of one eyebrow.

Smirking evilly, Lucas locks his dark gaze onto Max’s in a threatening way. “I could be seeking time alone with Nadia so that I may get to know her better. She and I haven’t...chatted much.” The smirk turns to a leer as it seems Lucas imagines what he’d like to be doing to Nadia.

Max comes back with a threat of his own. His lips thin, his fingers slip into his boot, and in the blink of any eye, he sends a knife at Lucas. The six-inch blade sinks into the back cushion of the chair Lucas is seated in.

The villain didn't even flinch. “No bad for an old rusty knight,” Lucas says in a silky voice.

“I’ve spent most of my life dispatching miscreants like you.”

“We've digressed,” comments Lucas.

Max draws a measured breath and releases it slowly, apparently in agreement. “Do you have any hobbies the readers might not know about?”

“Crossword puzzles,” says Lucas.

A mocking laugh blasts from Max. “Do you also knit?”

Lucas frowns. “You insult me.”

“Every chance I can get.”

“You’re digressing again,” Lucas says. “Did you have any other questions for me? Perhaps something more relevant than what I do with my spare time, like what I do with my victims instead? I can promise you, the readers would be much more interested in what I could be, or rather, will be doing to Nadia.”

“Threaten my wife again, and next time I won’t intentionally miss.” Lucas didn’t seem to have an answer to that, so Max went on, “What made you like this, Lucas? What event in your life darkened your soul so much?”

“I think I was always like this, to be honest,” Lucas says with a note of pride.

“Always evil? Surely as a child—”

“I don’t remember much from my childhood. But what I do recall, it wasn't exactly pleasant.”

“Your father—”

“Wasn't the nicest chap there ever was.”

“So you’re blaming your evilness on him, then?”

Lucas shrugs his shoulders. “I wouldn't be the first.”

“Now you’ve made me curious. Tell me more about your father, would you? What was it about him that turned you to a life of disruptive and violent behavior?”

“This is an insipid line of questioning. Next please,” Lucas says with an air of superiority.

Max rolls his jaw in an apparent effort to keep his anger tamped down. “Fine. Let’s just cut to the chase, hmm? What is it about being a monster that appeals to you so much?”

“It’s a bit cliché, but there is power in fear.”

“So this is all about power?”

Lucas sighs. “Actually, no. It’s all about revenge.”

“Against Ethan,” says Max.

“Precisely.”

“Did I just hear my name?” Ethan asks as he enters with service for tea.

Max draws in a breath of air, and his eyes land on the hot scones on a plate next to the teapot. Despite the fact that he was hungry, he eyes Ethan with unmasked curiosity. “What are you doing?”

“Helping you.”

“I don’t need help.”

“Then I’m simply here to offer refreshment.” Ethan’s gaze touches on Lucas and it was easy for Max to mark the lie.

“Really?” Max asks doubtfully.

“Of course.” Ethan starts pouring out. He has three teacups so Max knows he intends to serve Lucas as well. Intrigued, Max leans back into the cushion and watches to see how this is going to play out. “Would you like a spot of tea?” Ethan asks Lucas.

Lucas eyes the cup wearily. “Is it poisoned?”

A chuckle rumbles out of Ethan. “Would I poison you?”

“Yes. I believe you would.”

“What reason exactly would I have to poison you?” When Lucas doesn’t answer right away, Ethan asks, “One lump or two?”

Lucas folds his arms. The corners of his mouth slid downward. “Where’s Danielle? Isn’t she going to join our quaint little tea party too?”

“No,” Ethan practically growls, straightening, the food forgotten...apparently. Ethan removes his glasses and sets them carefully on the coffee table next to the tea tray.

The action was clearly not lost on Lucas as he also rises to his feet and pushes up his sleeves.

“Ethan, what are you doing now?” Max asks.

“Nothing,” Ethan shoves up his sleeves as well.

“Why did you take off your glasses then?”

“No reason.”

Max rolls his eyes when Ethan throws the first punch, and the two men brawl, spilling the tea, smashing the teacups, and breaking the table.

Max hadn’t noticed at first, but Ethan had ropes and a gag in his back pocket. As a bruise develops around Ethan’s left eye, and a trickle of blood oozes from his bottom lip, Ethan tightens the knot on the ropes now securing Lucas to the floral-patterned wingback chair.

Clearing his throat, Max folds his arms over his chest and shoots a curious gaze at Ethan. “Exactly how am I supposed to interview the villain with him bound and gagged like that?”

Ethan shrugs his shoulders. “Scone?”

Casting his gaze to the ruined food on the floor he lifts an eyebrow.

Ethan’s face splits into a smile. “I’ve got fresh ones in the kitchen, this was poisoned.”

“And you need a new pair of spectacles,” Max points out.

“Oops,” says Ethan spying his crunched eyewear in the mess littering the decorative rug.

Check out the other AMAZING writers and reviewers in YA Indie Carnival:
1.Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween
2.Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.Heather Self
4.T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5.Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6.Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7.Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
8.K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9.Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
10.Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11.Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
12. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
13.M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping
14.Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
15.Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
16.Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
17.Gwenn Wright, author of Filter
18.TG Ayer
19.Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
20.Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
21.Roots in Myth, PJ Hoover
22.Courtney Cole Writes

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

2012-01-26T18:05:00.000-05:00

Welcome to a wonderful Giveaway Hop hosted by the delightful I'm a Reader, Not a Writer, and Down the Rabbit Hole.

The Prize:
An eBook copy of Fair Maiden or Fateful, gifted to you from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. (Note: Since Fateful is prime, it is only available in Kindle format at this time.) USA only. Good luck!

About Fair Maiden:
It's the Victorian era in England, but Tessa is from the medieval past. She awakens within a castle she has never seen before. Knowledge of her name also evades her. However, even worse than not knowing who or where she is, she cannot recall how she died or why she is dressed as a bride.

Along with Christian, the earl of the castle she haunts, Tessa tries to discover who she is and break the spell holding her in a prison of death. They never imagined the curse keeping them apart is the only thing protecting her, until it's too late.

About Fateful:
A huge fan of Jane Austen, Danielle hopes to find her own Mr. Darcy when she leaves Colorado to attend art school in London. Of course she knows it's silly to wish for that, naive even. But she's met enough males who lacked respect for women, a growing trend it seemed. And at nineteen...well.... However, on only her second night there she gets lost and is threatened by a stalker who proves to be immune to her martial arts training. Before she is completely overpowered, she is then saved by Ethan Deveroux.

While Danielle does find the romance she seeks in Ethan, he's no Mr. Darcy. Her hero is held by a spell which fractures their chance at a happy ending. During the day Ethan is closer to mortal than immortal and can date her like any other man. Yet, as the sun sets, the powerful magic of an ancient curse returns and the evil of that spell is revealed. When that magic begins, Danielle's fairytale romance ends because Ethan Deveroux is a vampire.

To Enter:
Follow my blog via GFC or email subscription and fill out the form below. For an extra chance to win, you may also like my Facebook fan page.
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To my wonderful UK readers...I have not forgotten you!

2012-01-25T09:57:00.001-05:00

Amazon does seem to be slow about updating my author page on Amazon UK, but all of my books are available to you now! Only problem is that you have to search for them specifically to get them to come up. Clearly some of you have found Forever already, because I have seen sales in the UK. But to make things easier for you, here are the links for the my newest books in the Amazon UK store!

Forever, book 3 in the Fateful Trilogy.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forever-Book-3-Fateful-ebook/dp/B006XMM0AM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327502448&sr=1-1

Fateful, the complete trilogy. This is all three books in one file!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fateful-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B006ZICOWS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327502824&sr=1-1

Happy reading, and thank you so much for reading my books!

Thank You!

2012-01-20T12:22:00.005-05:00

Thank you to everyone who took a chance on me and downloaded Fateful during my free promotion ... and there were a lot of you! So many that you pushed Fateful into Amazon's top 50 list on only the second day! The book also made #1 in Teen Love and Romance in the USA, the UK, Germany, any maybe even Spain, though I'm not sure because I couldn't read it. LOL

Of course I hope you love it enough to pick up Fractured and Forever next!

And I'll tell you a little secret. If you're willing to take a risk, and pick up the complete trilogy of the Fateful Series, it's just like getting Fateful for free. Note: The series is not suitable for anyone who doesn't like glittering fairies, vicious pixies, hot vampires, the dashing Mr. Darcy, arachnids, or large amounts of snogging.

Come back to my blog on Friday for YA Indie Carnival where we'll be interviewing villains. I think I'll have Ethan or Max interview Lucas for you.

Then visit me again on the 27th for another giveaway hop from I'm A Reader, Not A Writer.

Until next time! Thanks for visiting my blog.

YA Indie Carnival ~ What Reading Teaches Me...

2012-01-19T14:56:00.002-05:00

Welcome to another YA Indie Carnival Post! Our Theme today: What Reading Teaches Me....
It teaches me how other people think.
It teaches me about life, history, faith, and facts, as well as myth.
It teaches me how to write.
It also teaches me how not to write, sometimes...
It teaches me to not give up on myself.
It teaches me that we all have different strengths and weaknesses as writers. From both, I learn more about my own writing style and it strengthens me as a writer. At least I think so...
It also teaches me that we can't be so hard on each other as writers! Find the good in each other's writing, and praise them for it. Everyone needs that little pat on the back sometimes because it's easy to doubt yourself in this very fiercely competitive market.

With that said, check out the other AMAZING writers and reviewers in YA Indie Carnival:
1.Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween
2.Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.Heather Self
4.T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5.Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6.Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7.Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
8.K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9.Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
10.Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11.Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
12. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
13.M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping
14.Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
15.Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
16.Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
17.Gwenn Wright, author of Filter
18.TG Ayer
19.Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
20.Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
21.Roots in Myth, PJ Hoover
22.Courtney Cole Writes

Another Release!!!

2012-01-19T11:15:00.001-05:00

The complete Fateful Trilogy just went live on Amazon. Read about it on my website, and buy it here:

Description:
This is a collection of all three books in the Fateful Trilogy in one file: Fateful, Fractured, and Forever. See way thousands of readers are devouring this new series with a unique take on vampire romance.

What are readers saying?
"OMG by far the best of the Fateful series! It has a little bit for everyone, vampires, werewolves, witches, pixies, faires, mermaides, and awful spiders! All I have to say is poor Danielle, how much can one person endure and still come out like that! she is my new hero! You definatly get to see a more vunerable side to Ethan. If you havent read the others in the series you definatly have to read them first. Forever was well worth the wait! and out of everything that has happend to them, you will cry with joy and relief when its all over (not to mention sad that the story is over)
and if your aracnaphobic like me, you will definatly have nightmears. :) Its definatly a book I can see myself rereading a thousand times! *the whole series is*" by Ali (Note: This review is in regards to Forever, book3 in The Fateful Trilogy.)

Also, Fateful will be FREE from Amazon on Sunday, January 22nd!!!! Don't miss it and make sure you spread the word. If you haven't tried this series, now is your chance to begin!

Forever - Book 3 now released.

2012-01-16T11:23:00.001-05:00

Finally!! It's available on Amazon now. Nook has been uploaded and should go live sometime today. Kobo is next. I'll also put Fateful on a free promotion for a couple of days, so watch for that too!

It took me 6 months to complete Forever, which felt like forever to me as well as you, I'm sure. Anyhow, I worked really hard on it, and of course, I hope you love it! Written in third person, this story is told from both Danielle's and Ethan's points of views. I don't like to clutter up the story with the points of views of the side characters, mainly because they'll get a chance to tell you their own stories in future novelettes I have planned.

Fateful was Danielle's story of how she met Ethan and discovered this new world of mythical creatures. Fractured is about how Danielle deals with these big changes in her life, and then Forever is their story and their happily ever after. I know many of you want to know more about Max and Nadia, as well as many of the others. Don't worry, they'll get their chance to tell you.

Also soon to be released, is all three books in one file/book. Here is the cover for the complete trilogy:

Thank you to Kechake-stock from deviantART.com for the stock photo of the lovely TheLittlePureOne to represent Danielle Darcey wearing her pearl necklace. The frog prince on the fountain is representing Ethan Deveroux. By layering about 17 different images together, I created this cover.

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop

2012-01-13T09:50:00.002-05:00

Thanks for entering! This giveaway is now closed. I'll email the winner as soon as I have the names entered into Mr. Virtual Hat.

Welcome to another awesome blog hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, and Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.

In Forever, book 3 in the Fateful Trilogy, both Danielle and Ethan have quite a few dreams. In celebration of my birthday and the very near release of Forever, enjoy this "dream themed" excerpt:

Why is everything so bright? Ethan wondered. The world was so saturated with sunshine that he couldn’t comprehend why he wasn’t squinting against it. Not only was everything kissed with a blinding halo of white, but not a single sound disturbed the silence in this place. He peered to his side and saw Danielle beside him, smiling. Ethan looked down and realized his hand was linked with hers. How did he get here? How did they get here?

The corners of her pretty brown eyes crinkled as the smile widened and then they were running across a mist-covered field. They came up to a tree and their hands broke apart. Danielle looped one arm around the trunk and swung around it to face him. The white dress she wore fluttered in a breeze he couldn’t feel. With the way her lips parted, the way she bent forward, and the way her nose wrinkled, he knew she was laughing, but he didn’t hear it. The breeze blew her long brown hair forward. Her hand reached up as she brushed it out of her face. Silky strands slipped free of her fingers and feathered down against her shoulders. Smiling at him, her lips moved around words he still couldn’t hear. As though he had responded to her, however, he moved forward and kissed her mouth after first touching his lips to her eyelids and her nose.

Lashes swung up as those brown and gold-flecked eyes captured his. Again her full mouth shaped words. Again he could not hear them.

Like in a dream, the scene changed. And as before, the world glowed with a curtain of white, like a blinding solar flare caught on film. This time she sat nestled between his legs and he was startled to realize Danielle was crying, her body jerking against his with each heartbreaking sob.

Why?

With her chin on her shoulder, she peered back at him with sadness tightening her features. She was rattling off her displeasure at him in words he couldn’t hear, and too fast for him to read visually. It was as though he wasn’t really the one doing it, as he kissed her forehead and rubbed her arm, because what he really wanted to do was ask questions. It seemed like he was reliving this and not actually dreaming it....

Now how the bloody hell did I wind up on my back? Ethan pondered as he stared up at a pitched roof of roughhewn branches. The branches were so roughly hewn, in fact, that they still had green leaves attached and vines crawling the surface. A line of bewilderment formed between his eyebrows. His memory came back to him in sections, like assembling a complex puzzle where the image wasn’t recognizable until enough of the pieces were in place. He remembered the misty place. He remembered the dancing. He remembered the strange irrational thoughts muddling his mind. He remembered the feast.... Ethan jerked upright. “They lied!”

Danielle swung up next to him like his outburst had wrenched her from a deep slumber. She covered a yawn with her hand. “Who lied?”

“Those horrible, cunning, winged and glittering little—”

“The fairies?” Danielle asked, obviously appalled at his angry tone, as if to say, How could anyone be angry with fairies?

Now for the Giveaway!!!

The Prize:

A copy of one of my books (your choice) shipped to you from The Book Depository. By doing it this way, I won't be able to sign it for you, sorry. But I can more frugally ship to my wonderful international readers!

Many of my international readers complain that they have difficulty getting books from American authors. The Book Depository is a great place for you since they ship internationally for free!

To Enter:

Follow my blog via email or GFC and fill out the form at the bottom of this post.

For an extra entry to win, like my Facebook Fan Page.

Thanks for visiting my blog, and good luck!

Young Adult Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop

2012-01-05T13:27:00.002-05:00

Welcome to another great hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and vvb32reads.

The Prize:
A signed copy of Fair Maiden with a matching beaded bookmark made from ecru glass pearls and light-blue glass beads. My Fateful series has been hugely popular, and I fear many forget about this unique story because of it. Fair Maiden is an unusual spin on sleeping beauty. By blending a heavy dose of fantasy, a murder mystery plot, a paranormal twist, a dash of fey beings, and a good measure of romance, this story will likely transport you to another time.

Description:
It's the Victorian era in England, but Tessa is from the medieval past. She awakens within a castle she has never seen before. Knowledge of her name also evades her. However, even worse than not knowing who or where she is, she cannot recall how she died or why she is dressed as a bride.

Along with Christian, the earl of the castle she haunts, Tessa tries to discover who she is and break the spell holding her in a prison of death. They never imagined the curse keeping them apart is the only thing protecting her, until it's too late.

To Enter:

Follow my blog via email or GFC and fill out the form at the bottom of this post.

For an extra entry to win, like my Facebook Fan Page.

Thanks for visiting my blog, and good luck!

Forever update:
I don't have an exact date yet, mainly because I'm reliant on others for editing and formatting, but it had better be out before my birthday, on the fifteenth, or I'll be super annoyed!!! Anyway, here's a preview: (Note: This book will first be released on Kindle, then Nook, then Kobo. Then printed copies will follow. I'll also release the trilogy as a bundle.)

Description:
Danielle and Ethan may have solved their problem with vampires, but other magical beings have taken interest in the ones who discovered the cure.

On the run trying to escape a gaggle of evil pixies, a clan of creepy werewolves, a coven or two of wicked witches, and a school of lovely but malicious mermaids, they fight to have a normal life with the aid of slightly dishonest fairies and flirtatious vampire bodyguards.

This is Danielle and Ethan's happily forever after....

YA Indie Carnival ~ Writer Resolution

2011-12-30T13:30:00.000-05:00

Mine is super simple... I resolve to just keep writing! Here is a list of the books I have planned for the coming year:

Forever is my next finished work. This book completes Danielle and Ethan's story. (And here are two preview shots of the cover! I haven't decided which one I like best yet. The center solar flare or the side solar flare. Which one do you prefer? And can you find the pixies?)

Danielle and Ethan may have solved their problem with vampires, but other magical beings have taken interest in the ones who discovered the cure. On the run trying to escape a gaggle of evil pixies, a clan of creepy werewolves, a coven or two of wicked witches, and a school of lovely but naughty mermaids, they fight to have a normal life with the aid of slightly dishonest fairies and flirtatious vampire bodyguards. The end of Celeste and Lucas will be revealed, as well as how Ethan and Danielle recognized each other...and how they finally get their happily forever after.

I know you'll miss these two characters. However, two novellas will come out to supplement the Fateful series. Max and Nadia, and Beon and Sophia will get their stories... One will take place in a historical setting, the other will start out historical and move into modern times. Richard will likely get his own novella as well, and if you keep asking for more...I'll probably keep going....

Before those novellas, though, I'll release Sophia’s Cookbook for Mortals ~ A fun recipe book featuring recipes Sophia likes to mess up her apron with.

Christian and Tessa from Fair Maiden will get a novella about their wedding since many of you asked for that.

Following that, will be The Trapping club (A sequel to Fair Maiden) ~ Beginning with a magical masquerade and a kidnapping, The Trapping club is the tale of second sons as they struggle for survival in a society that leaves such forgotten. Those who’ve read the first book will be surprised to find that the hero of this next enchanting tale is the brother of the villain in Fair Maiden, and the heroine will be a grown-up Emma...

Book 3 in the Fair Maiden series, is titled The Mistaken Reformer. Peter, Christian’s brother, will be the hero and the heroine is still a mystery as of yet...

And somewhere in the middle of all of this, I'll release The Fairy Ring Enchantment ~ This is the first story I dreamed about, thinking it would be a short picture book. But when I started writing, it was turning into a novel. With no plans of becoming a writer, I was extremely confused by that. I never thought I'd have a novel in me. This is a story about fair rings and why you shouldn’t step inside them...

Thanks for visiting my blog and don't forget to enter my New Year Giveaway Hop in the post right below this one. And if you'd like to check out more awesome books from my fellow carnis please go here.

Happy New Year Giveaway Hop

2011-12-29T21:06:00.001-05:00

Happy New Years everyone! To celebrate, I'm participating in another blog hop hosted by I'm A Reader, Not A Writer and Babs of Babs Book Bistro.

The prize:
A gifted Kindle or Nook eBook copy of either Fractured or Fair Maiden.

Synopsis for Fair Maiden:
It's the Victorian era in England, but Tessa is from the medieval past. She awakens within a castle she has never seen before. Knowledge of her name also evades her. However, even worse than not knowing who or where she is, she cannot recall how she died or why she is dressed as a bride.

Along with Christian, the earl of the castle she haunts, Tessa tries to discover who she is and break the spell holding her in a prison of death. They never imagined the curse keeping them apart is the only thing protecting her, until it's too late.

Synopsis for Fractured:
(If you haven't read the Fateful Series yet, I suggest you do since Forever, bk3, will soon be released!)

The Fateful Trilogy continues with Fractured. No, it’s not called Fractured because Ethan and Danielle break up, because they don't...in case you were wondering.

They had thought they’d escaped most of the danger surrounding them, when in truth they’ve made it worse by unintentionally sparking a civil war amongst vampires. Many vampires want to protect them for discovering the cure to the curse binding their kind. However many more want to destroy them for that same discovery.

Ethan’s and Danielle’s struggle for survival intensifies while they sink deeper into the midst of this danger. The romantic fairytale bliss they once had will soon fracture under the pressure of the curse....

To Enter:
Follow my Blog Via GFC or Email Subscription, and fill out the form below.
For an extra chance to win, like my Facebook Fan page too.

This giveaway is closed.

Winners of the Secret Santa Giveaway

2011-12-23T21:21:00.000-05:00

The winner of The Grand Prize is: Vanessa Eric!!! To see what you won, go here.

And the winners of my giveaway are: Diana and Cola! I'll be emailing you to see which eBook you'd like. You may choose any of the ones I spotlighted or any of the books from any of the YA Indie Carnival writers listed here.

Merry Christmas!

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop

2011-12-20T20:26:00.001-05:00

Thanks for all of your entries! I'll enter those names into Virtual Hat and contact the winner as soon as I can. And, just so you all know, the winner of the pearl necklace from the Gratitude Giveaway Hop never did respond to my email, so I'll be choosing a new winner!

Welcome to another blog hop hosted by I'm A Reader Not A Writer, and Jessie Harrell from Oasis For YA & The Daily Harrell.

The Prize:
A Kindle or Nook copy of Fairy Maiden gifted to you. This giveaway is open internationally. You just need to be able to receive a gifted eBook from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

To Enter:
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for visiting my blog, and check back frequently for great giveaways!

Description

It's the Victorian era in England, but Tessa is from the medieval past. She awakens within a castle she has never seen before. Knowledge of her name also evades her. However, even worse than not knowing who or where she is, she cannot recall how she died or why she is dressed as a bride.

Along with Christian, the earl of the castle she haunts, Tessa tries to discover who she is and break the spell holding her in a prison of death. They never imagined the curse keeping them apart is the only thing protecting her, until it's too late.

Reviews:

Magical, Romantic and Unique! ~ Courtney

This book is amazing!!I finished in half a day because I could not put it down. There is a good amount of romance in this novel, but it is not overboard. The characters are great and you really get involved in their emotions. Abosolutely loved this book and recomend it to anyone who enjoys romance and/or novels about magic and medival times!! ~Jodi

This has to be one of the most fun, magical, sweet and yes...emotional books I have read. The old fashion love story was very refreshing compared to some of the modern day love stories of today. I have heard that there will be another book to this story and am so excited for it to come out. Love this book so much! ~ LeAnn

Being a Cheri Schmidt fan, I knew I would like this book... But I didn't realize how much I would LOVE this book. It is so clever, and takes you on a suspenseful and romantic ride from beginning to end. As usual Cheri has created a perfect romance and wonderfully quirky characters for you to fall in love with from the moment they are introduced! You will feel like you are living the story... and if you are an avid reader like I am, then you know how hard that can be to find in a book. So, if you are in the mood for a murder mystery/fantasy/romance novel this is the book for you. Personally, I love the combination of the genres in this book and I really hope to see more work like this from Cheri. :) Also, if you have not already, check out Cheri's other books, Fateful and Fractured. They are absolutely spell binding as well. ~Brittany

Naughty or Nice

2011-12-16T10:27:00.002-05:00

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Or, as my husband would say, "Have you been nice and naughty?" ;)

December 16th to the 22th, YA Indie Carnival presents Secret Santa! We're giving you an awesome chance to win a ton of indie books! And all you have to do it follow us at YA Author Club and tell us (in the comments of any of our blogs) if you've been naughty or nice this year. Winners will be announced on the 23rd.

GRAND PRIZE: A Kindle or Nook copy of the books featured on the Grand Prize List! View that list here: http://yaauthorclub.blogspot.com (I see 21 books so far!!!)

To enter the Secret Santa GRAND PRIZE Giveaway just FOLLOW us at YA Author Club & comment on any carni’s site (like this one) telling us why you’ve been naughty or nice this year. Each carni will have individual giveaways too so be sure to visit all the carnis to win as many books as possible!

Here's my giveaway:

To enter:
Follow my blog, then fill out the form at the bottom of this post so I can enter your names into Virtual Hat. Two winners will be awarded their choice of any one of these Nook or Kindle books I spotlight between December 16th-22th.

The world of ebooks has made it possible for readers like me, and you, to get our hands on some really great stories that will enchant you and satisfy your craving for a great story. Here are some that have tantalized my curiosity. Throughout this contest, I'll be listing more, so keep checking back.

Rippler by Cindy Swanson ( I LOVE her dreamy coves.)
Description

Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love. Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments. The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe.

Of Sun & Moon by Bryna Butler (Another cover I love)

Description

Teens are disappearing in a small river town in southern Ohio as Keira Ryan begins her freshman year. Kidnappings aside, her worries mount as she crushes on an older guy, her best friend starts dating a spoiled cheerleader, and the parents that abandoned her at birth arrive at her doorstep. And, oh yeah, she’s a tooth fairy destined to kick some butt and bring about the end of a royal line of vicious, blood-sucking tyrants. Over the years, humans have pieced together sightings and assumptions to create the myth of the tooth fairy. As it turns out, they were pretty much wrong.

Blood Like Poison by M. Leighton (This cover makes me want to kiss my hubby.)

Description

Like most seventeen year olds, Ridley Heller thought she had her future all planned out. What she wanted most in life was to get out of small town Harker. Her only goal was to keep her mouth shut and her grades high so she could win a cheerleading scholarship to Stanford. But that was before she met Bo.

In Ridley’s wildest dreams, she could never have planned for someone like Bo, for a love so intense it left her breathless. No human girl could.

A haunting stranger that watched her from afar, Bo stole Ridley’s heart from the moment she laid eyes on him. But he has secrets. Bo’s a vampire. Both his past and his present are a danger to Ridley, but the biggest threat is not her blood; it’s her heart. He’s feeding a thirst for revenge that will cost him his life, and it may already be too late.

The more darkness Ridley uncovers, the more she realizes that her life will never be the same—with or without Bo. Can she sacrifice her future and her heart for someone who has a death wish?

Sorry, I didn't get more of these up sooner. I don't know why, but I'm always surprised at how busy I am the week before Christmas. Anyway, The winner will have their choice of any of the eBooks available from any of the carnis at YA Indie Carnival. I'll personally gift your choice of Kindle or Nook to you.

Here are a few more great books that have caught my interest...

Vampires Rule by KC Blake:
They don't call him Jackpot for nothing.

Jack has always beat the odds... until now. When a werewolf tried to kill him, vampires saved him. When he got tired of life as a vampire, another attack gave him back his mortality. Now Jack just wants to live a normal life, but what's normal about having a hunter for a girlfriend, a brother who wants to stake him to be on the safe side, and a werewolf building an army to rule the world?

Family Magic by Patti Larsen:

Sixteen-year-old Sydlynn Hayle is the daughter of a powerful witch and a demon lord of the seventh plane. The trouble is, she just wants to be ordinary. Syd struggles to survive the minefield of her new high school while being torn between her attraction to football hero Brad Peters and the darkly mysterious Quaid Moromond. When her coven comes under attack, Syd is forced to face the fact she is a witch and only her power can save her family’s magic.

Warriors of the Cross by T.R. Graves

Allison La Crosse, beginning a challenging family medicine residency, leaves the protection of her family. With the transfer, her worst nightmares come true. Her closely guarded mystical talents – those which seldom appeared before the move – unleash themselves from her confinement and reveal their presence with very little provocation. Allison’s most terrifying power is her compulsion to cure the dying with her touch. Given her career, this gift would be valuable if she were not drawn like a magnet to the ailing person's every symptom. Some of which are fatal. At the hospital and surrounded by life-and-death emergencies, Allison’s inability to manage her impulse turns deadly. When it does, her mentor, Brody, rescues her from her own demise. His resuscitation ignites an exciting and tempestuous bond between them. Desperate for a cure, they join forces and embark upon a journey to uncover the origins of Allison’s lethal curse. In the midst of their adventure, Allison exposes a secret pursued by many…known by few. Warriors of the Cross is Book One in The Warrior Series. To find out more go to: http://thewarriorseries.blogspot.com/

Soul Quest By Amy Jones
Do you remember how horrified you were about the idea of attending high school? I remember ticking off those last miserable days of my summer vacation following my eighth grade year. Maybe you don’t, maybe you were one of 'those people.' You know who I’m talking about, people like Melissa Small, the distinguished District Attorney, Larry Small’s daughter, popular, gorgeous... and absolutely terrifying to someone like me, Liv Glyn. No, I am far from measuring up to the standards required to make Melissa’s crowd. I’m not even close. I’m just a simple man’s daughter, mostly tolerated by my peers with average looks. If this isn’t depressing enough for you, stay tuned, it gets worse. I was commanded with Spirit at birth by the Great Spirit, Hala. I know, it sounds crazy but it’s true. If you think it's difficult being a teenager, try being a teenager who was born destined to save the world from soul sucking Daevas and their mutant progeny Aengels. There are four of us. My companions of Spirit are Laith, Brayan and Meena. Melissa Small is Laith’s step sister and she is always meddling where she doesn’t belong, further complicating our lives. To make matters even worse, my best friend Jedd is apparently aware of things that are typically undetectable to ordinary humans. So, I have to lie to Jedd, the boy who has been my constant standby since the third grade, to shield him from the horrible and very dangerous truth. Did I mention that I think I’m falling in love with him? The term awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it, trust me. Welcome to the mess that is my life.

YA Indie Carnival ~ Cover Love

2011-12-08T23:10:00.003-05:00

Our theme this week is cover design. I'm super busy finishing up with Forever, so I decided to recycle one of my older posts on this very topic. Enjoy!

I thought I would take a moment and share a little background about one of my book covers. First of all I took most of the pictures associated with the cover. The picture of Big Ben was taken during my 2009 Anniversary trip to London with my husband. We stayed a few nights at a Marriott directly across from the Thames near Big Ben. We both love photography and took thousands of pictures on the trip.

The model on the right is my biggest fan, and she really wanted to be on the cover. I was happy to oblige.

The model on the left is a friend of hers. He was good enough to help a new and struggling author with her cover especially because the stock photo I had originally wanted was $500. Fateful is doing very well, but I still wouldn't be able to afford that price. And since I've worked many years as a professional photographer, I really didn't see the point in paying someone else that much for a photo I could take.

I used Adobe Photoshop to create the final product. If you are unfamiliar with Photoshop imagine those old over-head projectors when a teacher would lay one transparency over the top of another to teach a lesson. Photoshop works in very much the same way. This image has about 30 layers or more. The picture of Big Ben is the bottom layer. Built on top of that are the models, the moon, the glow on the moon, the text, a couple of texture layers and the graphic embellishment. Even a bit of stubble was added to the male model's face. There is some overall shading and smoothing done to blend it all together and this is the result.

Some of the graphic designs are Photoshop brushes from http://www.brusheezy.com/ and/or 123freebrushes If you use brushes like this, I would recommend checking the copy right on each one to make certain they can be used for commercial purposes.

It takes a few hows to get it the way I want it...and it takes a bit of trial and error, even so, I immensely enjoy the process. Of course I hope you like the design as well.

(Note: I actually did two designs. One for the eBook, and one for the printed book. I might not do it that way for everything I do next, that's just how the first one came out.)

Also!!! For Christmas shopping, if you've already read and loved the Fateful Trilogy there are signed books and replica jewelry available in my shop on my website. For the first 5 customers who buy something, you will get a coupon for half off your next purchase!!!

Until next time, my friends! But before you leave, check out my other amazing YA Carnival friends:
1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self
4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6. Darby Karchut, author of GRIFFIN RISING
7. Lexus Luke
8. PJ Hoover, Author of SOLSTICE, Blogging at ROOTS IN MYTH
9. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
10. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
11. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
12. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
13. Courtney Cole, author of The Bloodstone Saga
14. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
15. Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
16. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
17. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping
18. Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and The Vincent Boys
19. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
20. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
21. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
22. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop

2011-12-01T16:55:00.004-05:00

Thank you to everyone who entered! I'll be emailing the winner just as soon as I've entered all of the names, with extra entries, into Virtual Hat. Good luck! (And a special thank you to those of you who posted comments. I really appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts with me.)

This Hop is hosted by the wonderful and amazing I'm A Reader, Not A Writer and Alyson from Kid Lit Frenzy.

Prizes:

In preparation for the release of Forever, I'm giving away a Kindle eBook copy of Fractured so you can get all caught up with your reading when Forever comes out. The Kindle copy will be gifted to you. You must be able to receive gifted books from Amazon for this. (Note: Amazon offers many free aps, so this book can be read on iPad, iPod, iPhone, PC, etc. So even if you don't have a Kindle you can still read this.)

For those of you who don't like reading ebooks, you may instead choose a beaded bookmark as your prize like the one pictured below, which is made from crystal beads and silver spacer beads strung on silk cord.

Printed copies of my books can be purchased from these locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and The Book Depository for free international shipping.
Singed copies of my books can be purchased from my website at www.cherischmidt.net

Thanks for stopping by my blog!!!

New Online Shop now Available

2011-11-26T13:42:00.001-05:00

First I must say Thank You to all of my loyal readers! These books would not have had the success that they have without you. I've been truly humbled by the the sweet and kind words that so many of you have shared with me.

I love jewelry and my daughters love it too. What girl doesn't, right? One of our hobbies is to make our own necklaces, bracelets and earrings. My daughters are also fans of my books and so we've worked together to design replicas of the ones mentioned in my books.

Just in time for Christmas, I've launched a New Online Shop featuring Danielle's Pearl Necklace as described in Fateful and Danielle's Fairy Necklace as described in the soon to be released, Forever. Each necklace comes with a matching set of pierced earrings.

Also available are singed paperback copies of my books. These are rare copies that have been signed by me AND the cover models. These paperbacks are large format with color covers much like the ones you'd purchase in bookstores for 15-18 dollars, and each one comes with a handmade beaded bookmark designed to match the cover art.

Here is your chance to get something unique and special for the holidays, especially if you're already a fan of the Fateful Trilogy.

(Note: You have today and tomorrow to enter the giveaway to win this glass pearl necklace. Check the blog posts below for details.)

YA Indie Carnival ~ Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T20:30:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting my blog! I was going to put my YA Indie Carnival post up on Wednesday due to the holiday--however, I got too busy baking pies, visiting with friends and family, Black Friday shopping and other fun Thanksgivingish type stuff. Sorry about that... I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!!!

This week our theme is anything to do with Thanksgiving. I had to think hard about this one because I haven't put any specifically Thanksgiving-themed scenes in any of my books, but there is a feast. So, I decided to share an excerpt from Forever (bk3 in The Fateful Trilogy) describing a feast put on by fairies... Enjoy!

(Of course this is only the end part of Chapter 4 in Forever, so if you haven't read the previous books, this might not make sense to you. This is a hint for you to take some of your time off for the holiday and go read, or re-read, books 1 and 2. ;) If you didn't catch the other excerpts of Forever posted here on my blog, check them out here, here, here, and here.... Happy reading!

Forever, Chapter 4

Return to The Fey

She blinked and refocused on Ethan’s face, somewhat. Her eyes still swam with unshed tears. But when he smiled and she saw many colored lights dance across the reflection of the glasses shielding his sapphire eyes, she turned around.

A procession of fairies had filled the clearing. As they bent over the grass, they twirled their wands in the air. A shower of sparks fell and twisted like tendrils of glittering smoke, and by magic a table appeared. It was laden with plates, each one piled high with food. The fare looked like it was proportioned for humans, as did the table, but it was embellished and decorated more like it was fit only for fey. A three-tiered cake towered above everything else in the center. The frosting was white and it was embellished with sugar-coated apple blossoms that glittered in the waning sunlight.

After wiping her cheeks dry, she took Ethan’s hand into hers and drew closer to the table as the fairies conjured moss-cushioned chairs and three candelabra, each one holding six long candles. A lone fairy zigzagged up the table lighting each one with a strange green flame.

Slightly awestruck and more than slightly relieved they’d distracted her from their grief, Danielle stepped around the ring of mushrooms used for marking the fairy dance floor. On her past visits, the fairies had been extremely strict about making sure they never stepped within the ring. She didn’t know why but she suspected it had to do with the fact that the ring was probably enchanted in some way.

The fairies had thrown them a party before. They’d danced into the late hours of the night around the mushrooms she was moving past at the moment. They’d usually brought their own food too, only eating the fresh berries that had been offered and nothing more. Except for when she’d fainted and they’d given her the magical berry juice to heal her.

“Why the big feast?” she asked because this was different from their past visits.

Ethan halted their momentum and she swung her gaze to his face. Her pony tail swatted her against the cheek with the action. When he didn’t speak right away, and because he looked just as awestruck as she felt, she asked, “What is it?”

“We always brought food with us because their food is laden with magic.”

“But we ate the berries.”

“That’s because those had been picked fresh from a plant and not prepared by them.”

She thought about that a moment. “But the juice that healed me had been prepared by them, hadn’t it?”

“Yes, but you needed it then, and only then,” he said. “That juice in large and continued quantities could’ve done something strange to you.”

“Oh,” she said, now understanding. “So could it hurt us to eat so much, then?” As she asked this, Danielle eyed something that looked like strawberry tarts. Her mouth was practically watering with how delectable they looked. She swallowed.

“I don’t think so,” he said slowly, before adding, “But there could be side effects.”

“Like what? Could we sprout wings or something?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

“Why did they prepare it for us then?”

“Did you not say you needed our help against magic?” The words came in a soft but fairy-like voice at her ear. Danielle whirled around and was surprised to find Alora apparently eavesdropping. The tiny sprite was hovering at eyelevel to her and smirking like she knew a secret she wasn’t going to share.

“Yes, but won’t this food have an adverse affect on us?” asked Ethan.

Alora tapped one finger against her little pink mouth for a moment. Her hip was cocked to the side as her petal-beslippered feet dangled in the air. “I suppose there could be some side effects to consuming our feast but I don’t think you’ll regret it. It will not make you sick, if that’s what concerns you.”

Danielle looked at the spread again and decided she wasn’t worried about it making her sick except for maybe eating too much of it. It just looked so good, and smelled so good, she decided, dragging in a deep breath of the aromas wafting from the long table.

“Please, sit down and join us,” urged Alora.

Only a few more steps brought Danielle up to the end chair where Alora encouraged her to sit. Danielle slid it back and sat down. Her fingers sank into the spongy texture of the moss-covered arms and she noticed the organic piece of furniture was actually in bloom with little white flowers. Many of the fairies joined them by conjuring miniature tables along with six chairs each right on top of the table she sat at.

Ethan sat to her left and the guards took up the remainder of chairs surrounding the table. “But, um...” she began, meaning to point out the obvious by saying the vampires don’t usually bother to eat food since it doesn’t taste good to them anymore.

“This is one meal they’ll actually enjoy,” said Alora.

Cedric tossed a surprised look Alora’s way. “Truly?”

“This feast will be able to tantalize your broken taste buds in a way nothing else can.”

At that, Cedric snatched up a little cake with a single pansy flower on the top and popped it into his mouth. While chewing, his eyes rounded and he quickly selected another item. The other guards did the same. They looked like a bunch of boys who’d been given permission to indulge in something they’d normally be forbidden. Manners were soon discarded by all except for Richard. Of course the prince would maintain his cool, but he was sampling food just like the rest of them.

Reaching for one of the tarts she’d been eyeing earlier, Danielle studied it. It looked ordinary enough, but she couldn’t help but think of the candies Lilith had given them, and paused with the morsel held in her fingertips. “Are you certain this won’t turn us into ... er ... something?”

All of the fairies giggled at that. The sound was like several little bells tinkling along the table from where they sat.

“I’ll confess, my dear, it could influence your dreams,” admitted Alora.

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

“But how will it help us against the pixies and werewolves?” Does it work like the fairy-healing-juice? she wondered as Ethan downed what they’d just brought to him.

“This is only part of what will help you,” said Alora.

When she realized Ethan was already reaching for a slice of the big cake she sank back into her chair and again considered the tart she was still holding. With a shrug of her shoulders, she popped it into her mouth. She didn’t feel energy surge through her body like she had with the fairy juice. The flavors of crust and a burst of berry filled her mouth, and that was all. “Hmm,” Danielle murmured now reaching for a little bowl full of mixed fruit that had been drizzled with a pink sauce of some kind.

~Of course there are side effects to consuming the magically-prepared food they're eating but you'll have to read the book to find out how. I am probably as frustrated as you that book 3 isn't out yet. I'm trying to make sure that what I release is as well-polished as possible for you but, unfortunately, that takes time. The good news is that I am getting closer to announcing a date for the release of Forever, so if you haven't read Fateful and Fractured, I suggest you do that now!~

eBooks:
For Kindle:

Fateful

Fractured (Book #2 in the Fateful Series)

Fair Maiden

For Nook

(Keep in mind that both Amazon and Barne's & Noble have free apps so the eBooks can be read on iPad, iPhone, iPod, etc. So if you don't have either of those readers, you can still read my books on other devices. My husband will soon have my eBooks available on Kobo for those of you who need ePub.)

Paperback:
From Amazon:
Fateful (Volume 1)

Fractured (Book Two) (Volume 2)

Fair Maiden

From Barnes&Noble

For Free World Wide Shipping, get them at The Book Depository
~For some reason their search for my name is not working, but you can see the links here: Fateful, Fractured, and Fair Maiden.

And...when my husband gets around to it, signed copies of my books and handmade copies of the jewelry pieces mentioned in the books will now be available from my website!!! (This is another great Christmas gift idea for lovers of my books!) I hope to have this available for Cyber Monday shopping.

Don't forget, there are two more days left for you to enter the Gratitude Giveaway Hop in the post below.

Until next time, my friends! But before you leave, check out my other amazing YA Carnival friends:
1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self
4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6. Darby Karchut, author of GRIFFIN RISING
7. Lexus Luke
8. PJ Hoover, Author of SOLSTICE, Blogging at ROOTS IN MYTH
9. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
10. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
11. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
12. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
13. Courtney Cole, author of The Bloodstone Saga
14. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
15. Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
16. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
17. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping
18. Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and The Vincent Boys
19. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
20. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
21. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
22. Nicole Williams, author of Eternal Eden, Falling Eden
23. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter

Gratitude Giveaway Hop ~ Win Danielle's Pearl Necklace

2011-11-19T14:00:00.001-05:00

Here is another giveaway hop for you hosted by the delightful I Am A reader, Not A Writer and All-Consuming Books. This giveaway runs from November 17th to the 27th. Winners will be chosen on the 28th. Good luck!!!

I'm grateful to all of my loyal readers who read and liked Fateful, and took the time out of your busy schedules to tell me how much you liked it, and posted good reviews for me. Nothing motivates me more to keep writing more than getting a good review! To thank you for your kind words, here is what I'm giving away...

The prizes:
~The grand prize is a copy of Danielle's pearl necklace as mentioned in Fateful, book 1 in the Fateful Trilogy. This necklace is made with white glass pearls and antique brass accents. This necklace has an extender chain on the back, but I'll customize it by making it either longer or shorter as needed. The pair of matching earrings are shown in the second photo. This set is slightly chunky, but very flattering on and it will soon go up for sale on Etsy. (If you loved Fateful, then think of this for Christmas! ;) Take a look...

~And the runner-up prize is a beaded bookmark, custom made for you in your favorite colors. There are two shown in the pictures below.

Thanks for entering!!! With more than 200 entries I think I had a great response to this giveaway. I'll notify the winner via email as soon as I choose the name.

Have you read the books yet? If not, you should so you'll know why this necklace is very significant, and so you know why more than 17 thousand copies have sold, and so you're ready for the release of Forever! I'm just saying...

YA Indie Carnival ~ On The Rise ~ Why do you love YA Fantasy?

2011-11-18T10:15:00.001-05:00

Of course I have my own ideas as to why this genre is growing like mad. I feel YA Fantasy gives us a mental break from daily life. I feel it crosses over well because there seems to be a gap in the market for clean, or mostly clean romance. I know not all YA is clean, but it does tend to be cleaner than most adult. I think the popular YA movies are part of this too, it seems like people want movies they can take the whole family to, and maybe it's the same way with books? Anyway, that's just my opinion, but I'm curious about what your reasons are for reading YA fantasy/romance. So post a comment and tell me!!! Especially if you're not technically a young adult any longer, like me. :D

Why do you love YA Fantasy so much?
Is it because you're still young at heart?
Or is it because you feel YA tends to be cleaner with just enough romance to satisfy the sappy side of you?
Or is it for a completely different reason all together?
Tell me! Tell me! ;D

Don't forget the Gratitude Giveaway Hop in the post below...Win Danielle's pearl necklace as mentioned in Fateful.

Until next time, my friends! But before you leave, check out my other amazing YA Carnival friends:

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self
4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6. Darby Karchut, author of GRIFFIN RISING
7. Lexus Luke
8. PJ Hoover, Author of SOLSTICE, Blogging at ROOTS IN MYTH
9. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
10. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
11. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
12. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
13. Courtney Cole, author of The Bloodstone Saga
14. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
15. Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
16. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
17. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping
18. Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and The Vincent Boys
19. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
20. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
21. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
22. Nicole Williams, author of Eternal Eden, Falling Eden
23. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter

YA Indie Carnival ~11 Reason's Why I Love My Readers

2011-11-11T15:51:00.003-05:00

Our theme this week is anything to do with the number 11, for obvious reasons...

Since it's November, and I'm feeling very grateful to my readers for their support, I'd like to list 11 reasons why I would like to say thank you!!!!

11~ Thank you for taking a chance on a new writer by purchasing my books.

10~ Thank you for following my blog and/or my Facebook Fan Page.

9 ~ Thank you OnyxHikari for the nice reviews you posted on your blog and MyVampFiction.com.

8 ~ I especially thank those of you who found Danielle's Facebook page and asked to be her friend.

7 ~ Thank you Wrathsqueen for posting a great review of Fateful on your blog for me.

6 ~ Thank you for posting positive reviews for me on your blogs.

5 ~ Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to post a positive review on Goodreads for me.

4 ~ I send a cyber hug your way for tweeting about me.

3 ~ Thank you for posting positive reviews for me on your blogs.

2 ~ I love and admire you for taking the time to post a positive review on Amazon for me.

1 ~ I adore you for sharing my stories with your friends.

Until next time, my friends! But before you leave, check out my other amazing YA Carnival friends:

November Giveaway Hop ~ Win Danielle's Necklace

2011-11-07T16:44:00.004-05:00

Here is another giveaway hop for you hosted by the delightful I Am A reader, Not A Writer and Tristi Pinkston. This giveaway runs from November 8th to the 11th. Winners will be chosen on the 12th.

The prizes:
~A copy of Danielle's Fairy necklace as mentioned in Forever, book 3 in the Fateful Trilogy. Thank you for entering without seeing the necklace yet!!! I just finished it. This necklace is made from antique brass chain and accents with three aqua crystals hung from the center drop. The pair of matching earrings are shown in the second photo. And the third photo shows the decorative accent in the back. You could actually wear it both ways for two different looks. Take a look...

~Or a beaded bookmark, custom made for you in your favorite colors. There are two shown in the picture below.

Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway. With more than 100 entries, this was my most popular one so far. I'll choose the winners today and contact them on Monday.

YA Indie Carnival ~ Blast From The Past and Forever Excerpt

2011-11-04T10:02:00.002-04:00

I have the children off to school...so now I can do my post. :)

Our theme this week is about sharing our high school writings with you. Sorry, folks, I don't have any of that because I was more into art and photography back then. My past writings just don't exist any longer. But, art is still very important to me, and it's a huge reflection of who I was in high school. So today, I would like to share some of that with you.

In Fateful, a drawing like this is described:

"Creating another sad painting, she decided it made her feel a little better. But only a little. This time a distraught fairy emerged from her pencil. The little sprite sat curled up under a brown mushroom, her arms wrapped around her bent legs, her cheek resting on her knees, and desperate tears trickled down her tiny cheeks. Even her little wings drooped sadly. Danielle understood how she felt as she filled the fairy in with the wash of soft watercolors."

As you can see, the description was based on a real piece I'd created. This was a very sad time for me. Obviously, I didn't have the same reason Danielle did for creating it, but I had been betrayed by a very close friend. I'm pretty sure I was crying as I drew and then painted it. I do feel very close to this sad little fairy because of that, and she will be framed and hung in my new home.

Here is another just for your viewing pleasure. This one hasn't been painted yet:

If you hadn't noticed, I love fairies and they have made their way into all of my finished writings so far. I don't expect that they will be in everything I write.... If you don't like fairies, then don't read the Fateful Trilogy.

In the very near future, just in time for Christmas, I plan on opening an Etsy store where you can purchase handmade items that relate to my books. These things will include: replica art, like the one above, replica jewelry, like Danielle wears in the story, bookmarks, and even an apron like Sophia's.

Of course my top priority is finishing Forever...so to treat my readers who are waiting patiently, here is another excerpt:

Chapter Two

The Things of Nightmares

“What do they eat?” Danielle asked tucking her feet beneath her and setting her untouched plate of cake on the nightstand next to the bed. She couldn’t stomach even chocolate right now. Werewolves were creepy enough and now Lucas was one of them? If they were like wolves it might not be so bad, but these things were nightmarishly frightening with distorted human faces semi-cloaked beneath a wicked-looking mask of a beast. A shudder rolled up her spine and she looked at Ethan to see if he’d noticed.

Apparently he hadn’t. He seemed really distracted, like he had the weight of dark and wicked things on his shoulders. A little sigh blew past her lips, because he probably did. Staring straight ahead like he was, she could see his profile perfectly. His golden eyebrows were drawn low over his straight nose. Wire-rimmed glasses were perched there and Danielle’s mouth wanted to smile at how handsomely adorable he was with them on. She preferred him this way, slightly blind, and completely normal.... But her smile never made it to her lips because his mouth was pursed with deep thoughts—thoughts that were likely tormenting his peace of mind. His usually calm, blue-eyed gaze reflected the distress within. Again she wondered if he regretted the return to weak-mortal-ness, even though he’d been the one to first partake of the candy before prompting her to follow. He dragged a hand through his blond hair which needed a trim and hung into his eyes until he pushed it back. After a long pause, Ethan finally answered her question. “During a full moon? Flesh ... probably.”

“You don’t know for sure?” she asked, trying not to let what he just said totally freak her out.

His eyes shifted to hers. “No. Their kind is even more reclusive than fairies are.”

Danielle turned away from the upsetting things she could see within his expression, and nudged the plate of cake out of the way as she reached for her tea. Maybe that would help settle her stomach, because it was churning at the idea of Lucas with a whole mouthful of pointy teeth instead of just a pair of fangs. He’d been scary enough as a vampire, and now he was something she knew very little about. A sip of creamy peach liquid filled her mouth and then slid down her throat as she swallowed. “Then how can we fight them?” she asked. Danielle decided the tea was helping a little and took another sip, watching the little rosebud painted inside it disappear as she rocked the cup level again.

“It doesn’t seem like they can do anything to vampires. We’ve fought them before, as you know, and none of us were affected adversely. I suppose it could be due to the fact that the curses were placed by different sorceresses.”

“Hmm,” she murmured as she drank, again watching for the pink rosebud with green leaves inside her cup.

“I love watching you do that.”

Startled by the sudden change in topic she looked at Ethan, who was smiling. “Do what?”

“Watch for the flower.” When she wrinkled her brow at him, confused, he added, “The one inside your teacup.”

While rounding, her eyes swung back as the flower in question disappeared halfway below the liquid line. “You noticed I do that?” Had she even noticed she did that?

He popped a few pieces of popcorn in his mouth and said around it, “I noticed that, and the fact that you’re not really paying any attention to the picture.”

With eyes returning to the television, she figured it had been playing for a while and she had no idea what was going on. Is that what he’d been so focused on earlier? Somehow she doubted it. On a sigh she said, “I need to know more about them, more about what to expect from Lucas now.”

Until next time, my friends! But before you leave, check out my other amazing YA Carnival friends:

Author interview and another chance to win my books!!!

2011-11-02T14:15:00.000-04:00

Thank you to I'm A Reader, Not A Writer for interviewing me and posting another great giveaway! Head on over to her blog to check it out.

Entry is easy, but it must be done on her blog. ;)

The winners of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop have been chosen and will be notified via email for their shipping address.

Check back on Friday for another YA Indie Carnival post.

YA Indie Carnival ~ Best Indie Reads for Halloween

2011-10-28T10:14:00.001-04:00

My "to read" pile of YA books by indie authors is growing. Listed below are some of the scary-ish ones...fitting for Halloween...

Some of these are sitting on my Kindle, and some I haven't purchased yet. So I can't tell you if I like them or not...yet, but I'm very eager to read them for many different reasons. Here's why in no particular order:

Coming out on Halloween is The Reckoning by M. Leighton. I love the beautiful but spooky cover, and check out the excerpt on her blog. Actually, in terms of Halloween reading, M. Leighton has you covered with books like Wiccan, and Blood Like Poison, and many others...

Existence by Abbi Glines ~ This is probably one of the most striking and intriguing covers I've ever seen. Check out the excerpt on Abbi's blog. Along with the cover, I was totally sucked in after reading that...The big bummer...this one doesn't come out until December, so you'll need to add it to your wish list like I did.

Or how about 13 on Halloween by Laura Elliot? ~ another cool cover here, and if you have an e-reader you can read this one on Halloween for less than 3 bucks!

Don't forget that I have a ghost for you to read while you wait for the release of Forever! My ghost isn't particularly terrifying, because she is just too darn innocent, but Fair Maiden is a murder mystery with a heavy dose of fantasy and romance to make it sweeter. If you don't like horror, this is the Halloween read for you...

Get if from Amazon, or Barnes & Noble, or The book Depository.

Or, if you're looking for something different, perhaps you should try Of Sun & Moon by Bryna Butler ~ Gorgeous cover, kidnappings, blood-sucking tyrants, and a paranormal tooth fairy? Must read! LOL

These are only a few...if you're looking from some good YA reading, I suggest trying any of my other carnies. Just click on one of the links below to visit their blogs.
And don't forget to enter my Library-Drive Giveaway and the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!!!!

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self
4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6. Darby Karchut, author of GRIFFIN RISING
7. Lexus Luke
8. PJ Hoover, Author of SOLSTICE, Blogging at ROOTS IN MYTH
9. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
10. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
11. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
12. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
13. Courtney Cole, author of The Bloodstone Saga
14. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
15. Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
16. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
17. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping
18. Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and The Vincent Boys
19. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
20. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
21. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
22. Nicole Williams, author of Eternal Eden, Falling Eden
23. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter

2nd Annual Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!!! ~October 24th to the 31st~

2011-10-24T08:35:00.010-04:00

Hosted by the amazing, I'm A Reader Not A Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm...

This one is HUGE so don't miss out! There are more than 400 chances to win free stuff! You have from October 24th to the 31st to get through all of them and enter as many as you can. Note: Since my library-drive giveaway is international, I need to make this one USA only due to shipping costs. (If you don't live in the USA, you can still win books from me if you enter the Library-Drive Giveaway.)

Prizes:
A signed copy of one of my books. Winner's choice of Fateful, Fractured, or Fair Maiden.
OR
A beaded bookmark. I'll custom make it in your favorite colors.

To Enter:
One mandatory entry:
Follow my blog, and let me know in the comments here that you did or do. (Don't forget to tell me your email address so I can contact you if you win.)

Optional entries:
Like my Facebook Fan page, also mention this in the comments of this post.
Or Share the Facebook post of this giveaway, and comment about it here.
Or Share the Facebook post of my library-drive giveaway, and comment about it here.

Thanks for visiting my blog and good luck!

Welcome again to YA Indie Carnival ~ Halloween Memories

2011-10-21T12:07:00.005-04:00

Heh, it seems I can't recall much in way of Halloween Memories, at least none worth sharing. Lame, I know...But...I went to my daughter's chorus recital last night and the boys sang this song that totally cracked me up. It's called "We May Not Be Vampires (But We'Re Still Men)." by Mark Burrows. It was so darn cute to see middle school boys sing it with actions.

I tried to find the lyrics online but I could only find a YouTube performance. These boys are older than the ones I got to see last night, so they weren't as cute, in my opinion, but you can still get the idea.

Anyway, if you're involved with a chorus, I noticed the music can be purchased for $1.95 here.

I would guess that Mr. Burrows wrote this in reaction to the major vampire excitement that's been going on lately in books, television and movies. And I suspect a lot of men are feel this way right now. LOL

And don't forget about my Library-Drive Giveaway in the post just before this one!!!!

(Get to know the other amazing carnis by clicking on any of the links below.)
1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self
4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6. Darby Karchut, author of GRIFFIN RISING
7. Lexus Luke
8. PJ Hoover, Author of SOLSTICE, Blogging at ROOTS IN MYTH
9. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
10. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
11. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
12. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
13. Courtney Cole, author of The Bloodstone Saga
14. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
15. Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
16. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
17. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping
18. Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and The Vincent Boys
19. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
20. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
21. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
22. Nicole Williams, author of Eternal Eden, Falling Eden
23. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter

Library Drive & Giveaway ~ Win signed copies of the Fateful Trilogy. YES, this includes Forever!!!

2011-10-20T11:48:00.007-04:00

This giveaway will run from October 20th-November 20th.

To Enter:
Like my Facebook fan page and be entered in a giveaway for me to donate books to your local library! Just so I know you're entering, please post a comment on my Facebook page and share it with your friends. Together we can make my books available to thousands who don't have a budget for buying books.

Note:
This giveaway is open to my international readers too! Also, I don't know if all libraries will accept my book, even as donations. I don't really know how the process works, but we'll try it anyway...and learn as we go!

Prizes:
The grand prize is for signed copies of all three books in the Fateful Trilogy, and unsigned copies of the same three books sent to your local library. (You'll be one of the first to get Forever in print when it's available! But Fateful and Fractured will arrive first, because Forever isn't quite finished yet.)

Plus I'll award two runner-up prizes where I'll donate a paperback copy of Fateful or Fair Maiden to your local library. You'll need to get the mailing address and phone number of your library to me for this.

Obviously I can't afford to donate my books to every library in existence...I need your help! To get printed copies of any of my books in your library, you must go in and request they carry books by Cheri Schmidt. Give them the link for my Createspace Estore if they can't find the books through their usual channels. I'll give discounts on books to Libraries from my estore, or from The Book Depository for international libraries.

On Createspace:
Fair Maiden~ https://www.createspace.com/3620048
Fateful~ https://www.createspace.com/3598687
Fractured~ https://www.createspace.com/3675647

On The Book Depository:
Fair Maiden~ http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Fair-Maiden-Cheri-Schmidt/9781463531980
Fateful~ http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Fateful-Cheri-Schmidt/9781461103998
Fractured~ Soon

And...help me get my EBOOKS into libraries too! Many libraries have ebook lending capability now through www.overdrive.com. Check with your local library to see if they have it. Sadly, my ebooks are not yet listed on Overdrive. So go to your local library and request that they carry ebooks by Cheri Schmidt. They'll need to contact Overdrive on their own per your request.

My ebooks and printed books are available via the web from Barnes & Noble, Amazon USA, UK, France, and Germany. Printed copies are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Createspace. Availability will soon be at: Kobo, The Book Depository and other places soon to be announced. As soon as I have those worked out, I'll update this post... (Update: Two of my books are available from The Book Depository at discounted rates and with free shipping. If you'd like to purchase, or have your library purchase them for you, go to this link or share it with your library: http://www.bookdepository.com/search/advanced?searchAuthor=Cheri+Schmidt )

YA Indie Carnival ~ My Best Fan Experience...And a Forever Update.

2011-10-14T10:44:00.004-04:00

My best fan experience would probably have to be getting to know my first blind reader when she requested my third book, which wasn't available on Smashwords yet. Here is what she said on my Facebook Fan page:

"Hi Cheri! I just wanted to tell you I really like your books! Are you going to put Fair Maiden on Smashwords? I really think you should. I like them because I'm blind and I can read your books in several different formats, even on my computer in braille. Thanks very much! I can't wait to read your next books!" ~Heather

In truth, I consider EVERY positive review one of the best experiences from my readers. Each one comes at at time when I really need to be uplifted. THANK YOU for taking the time to post your good reviews for me on Amazon, Goodreads, and B&N!!!! It means a lot to me.... Anyway, I just have to share some of my favorites with you:

One of my all time favorites from Santiago Chile:
"I REALLY enjoyed this book. I loved it! It was very well written. I am constantly on the look out for a really good story, with great characters, well developed plot and of course a melt your heart romance. Believe me it doesn't happen often. But I was soooo happy to find Fateful met and exceeded all of my criteria. I'm still smiling about it :). O.k as for the comments that it is a Twilight copy. Please. Yes there are some similarities. There is a vampire who is good, who falls in love with a human and there are some bad vampires. And that's about it. Everything else (which there is a lot more) is not only unique to Fateful but makes it so much more and different than anything else out there. Lastly, for all of us thousands of readers who were searching for something as good (if not better) to read after Twilight. This is IT!" ~Malomia

From my blog:
I love both of the books. I am so glad youre continuing this series with a third book. I can't wait by the way! I have re-read both of the books twice and loved them just as much as I did the first time. Any ideas when the third one might be out? Also, I would love to see your books into a movie. And I dont see why not since Amanda Hocking got her Trylle Trilogy in the works. I feel Fateful is just as good if not better. ~Ryadne24

A new one that I loved:
"I was a little skeptical at first that this would be a Twilight knock-off. But I enjoyed the twists and differences. The way I see it I will read all types of romantic books that all have the same plot just with different twists. This is what this book is. The writing is well done. I could not put the book down. I was on vacation at the time of reading and I was desperately looking for internet to download the next book "Fractured" to my kindle. If you like vampire romance, this is definitely an excellent book for you." ~Jc22

Another new one:
This book is a phenomenal paranormal young adult read. The reader will love Ethan and Danielle's developing relationship, it's actually believable-a rarity in teen novels. Danielle is sweet and caring, though she can be a tad impulsive. Ethan is protective, strong, and charismatic. The two balance each other out perfectly and the reader will be rooting for them throughout the novel. There is a part, towards the beginning, that will remind the reader of Twilight; however, that notion is quickly dispelled. The events are fast-paced and range from detailed to fast-paced, the plot was certainly fun to read, and the characters are very likable. ~Chels

From a book blogger who reviewed both Fateful and Fractured, so I'm sharing part of each:
This book had that old-time romance feel in a modern world. It is saccharine with a little bit of danger lurking around each corner. I did like the story and the writing and the first romance aspect of it all and the, oh so rare chivalrous beau we all hoped to find. I would like to have known more about Lucas, Lilith & Benjamin but then again, maybe that will come up later, the vampire curse still holds some mystery to it and there is a lot of possibility to where Ethan and Danielle’s relationship will go. Anyway, it was an entertaining read and I really felt like drinking tea for some reason while reading this. I mean I downed tea like crazy.

Wow! I just finished Fractured and am impressed.... The attacks on the two just escalate and their future together is rushed as they plan on being married. Then just one thing after another happens and everything seems so dire. Anyway, I like this story, it has that old-fashioned air to it that gave a wonderful tone to the world of Ethan and Danielle. I love mortal Ethan, he takes full advantage of life and loves every aspect of it, even his flaws are endearing and he continues his unwavering affection for Danielle. With immortals and creatures constantly after them they had some difficult decisions to make, some of them may have been made to rashly but that always makes the story more interesting. I like the writing style of the author and I can’t wait for the final book in this trilogy! ~Ramblings of a Semi-Housewife

Again, thank you to all of you who have taken the time to post a positive review for me! It's always the highlight of my day, or week, and sometimes even my month! Nothing inspires me to write faster more than good reviews, so keep them coming!

Now for updates: Forever is nearing completion, although I don't have an exact date for it's release yet. Part of the holdup is the move into a new house. As I write, I'm sitting in an office while surrounded by boxes that still need to be unpacked, but they're just sitting there because I'm too busy writing! I've been interrupted a lot by things like phone and internet installation, and it's kind of driving me a little crazy. Plus my editors have busy lives and are doing this for me on the side....I wish I could do it faster, but I strive to write the best book possible for you, and that takes time.

At the beginning of this post I mentioned that a reader had requested I get all of my books on Smashwords. Well, I just had to remove them from Smashwords. They're not responding to email quires and all of the copies of my books that have been pirated, are only the copies from Smashwords! Over six months, I've only sold 33 books there so I don't see it as worth it to have my books listed with them anymore. I am doing my best to make my books available to my international readers through: Kobo, Amazon UK, France and Germany. Printed books will soon be available internationally from www.bookdepository.co.uk/ where they offer free shipping worldwide! If you live outside of the US, please let me know of places you like to purchase your books so I can make them even more widely available. Soon, I will have a Library-Drive Giveaway to help get my books into libraries across the world for those of you who don't have a book budget. But to help me with this, contact your local library and request that they carry my books!

PS: I just had to add this...Did you know it was National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2011? As I just noted, my books from Smashwords have been illegally pirated, and while I was looking at what I could do about it, I found this. Report websites that conduct illegal ebook sharing here.

Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels
Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Nicole Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and Fallen Eden. She is also a contributing author in the Glassheart Chronicles
Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Laura A. H. Elliott Author of Winnemucca as well as 13 on Halloween, book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms
T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross
P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis
Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful, Fractured, and Fair Maiden
Lexus Luke Author of Manitou, The Sky People Saga
Suzy Turner Author of December Moon and Raven
K. C. Blake Author of Vampire Rules
Gwenn Wright Author of Filter
Kimberly Kinrade Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind
Darby Karchut Author of Griffin Rising and the upcoming Griffin's Fire
Madeline Smoot Author of Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
Heather self
M. Leighton Author of Blood Like Poison and many more.

Hop for Red October Giveaway Blog Hop ~ Oct 7-10

2011-10-06T17:00:00.007-04:00

This hop is hosted by Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust.

I'm giving away a replica of Danielle's pearl necklace and earring set as mentioned in Fateful. To win, all you have to do is follow my blog. Please post a comment here with your name and email address letting me know you're either following now, or you're already following me. I need your email so I know who to contact when I draw the winner randomly on the 11th. Good luck!!! And yes, this is open to my wonderful international readers too.

(Note: If you're not 18, please have your mom or dad enter for you. ;)

This set is handmade with white glass pearls and antique brass accents.

For more chances to win stuff go to any of the links below.

And for YA Indie Carnival here is my post and promotions going on this week:

My favorite characters to write have first been Ethan and Danielle ~ see the dream cast photos in my previous posts. And then my next two favorite characters were Tessa and Christian in Fair Maiden. I don't know why it's just my main characters that are my faves, I suppose it's because I hear them talking to each other in my head. Hence I feel close to them.(Really, other than hearing voices in my head, I'm fairly normal...) :D

From Rachel: Beyond The Veil ~ A Ghost Story Anthology by Rachel Coles is out on Kindle!
And Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94161

From Darby: Griffin Rising is a nominee for the 2011 Cybils Awards (YA fantasy.)

From Laura: On tour in Portland, OR tonight, Friday Oct 7th 6:30-8:15 pm at the West Linn Library, West Linn, OR 97068 She'll also be at Wordstock Oct 8-9

From Dani: She’ll will be interviewing fellow carnie Kimberly Kinrade on the blog and a giveaway for her first book in the Forbidden series, Forbidden Mind.

From me: Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Danielle's necklace! Follow and make a comment here...

To visit the other wonderful carnies go to any of the links below:
New! Cidney Swanson Author of Rippler
Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels
Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Nicole Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and Fallen Eden. She is also a contributing author in the Glassheart Chronicles
Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Laura A. H. Elliott Author of Winnemucca as well as 13 on Halloween, book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms
T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross
P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis
Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful, Fractured, and Fair Maiden
Lexus Luke Author of Manitou, The Sky People Saga
Suzy Turner Author of December Moon and Raven
K. C. Blake Author of Vampire Rules
Gwenn Wright Author of Filter
Kimberly Kinrade Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind
Darby Karchut Author of Griffin Rising and the upcoming Griffin's Fire
Madeline Smoot Author of Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls

YA Indie Carnival ~ Dream Cast ~ Danielle Darcey

2011-10-05T17:56:00.000-04:00

Danielle has been more difficult for me to chose an actress for. She needs to be someone who comes off sweet and innocent, so the villain is surprised when she pulls out her dangerous side, even though it doesn't work against vampires...

I've considered Keira Knightly. I'm guessing she can fake an American accent, don't you think? But then I thought of Leighton Meester and I think she fits better. Obviously Danielle isn't anything like Blair who she plays on Gossip Girl, but when I look at interviews Leighton has done, then I think she's perfect for Danielle. She was also in Monte Carlo, which came out this summer. (Ah, look, I really think that pink, ruffly dress is exactly like something Danielle would choose.)

(These photos were found in a Google search...)

And while we're at it, let's look at Ed Speleers again, and imagine him playing Ethan...

On the seventh begins another giveaway. So check back then.

Cheers,

Cheri

YA Indie Carnival ~ Dream Cast of the Fateful Trilogy

2011-10-01T23:32:00.000-04:00

I'll be honest, I never really thought I would do one of these, but it's our theme this week, so here you go...

Ethan Deveroux is described as looking like an angel. He's blond and blue eyed but also strong. LOL

My first choice would be this model on the box of Hollister's Jake cologne. The old box, they may have updated the picture, I'm not sure. Great fragrance, by the way. I purchased it for my husband and I love the smell of it.

I don't know his name, and don't think this guy is an actor. So if I could choose an actor for Ethan it would probably be Ed Speleers. He's they guy who played in Eragon, and most recently, A Lonely Place to Die. These photos were found on his Facebook page.

Next, will be Danielle Darcey, but you'll need to wait until I have internet back. I only have partial access at the moment due to the move into our new house. This is why my post is a tad late...

Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels
Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Nicole Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and Fallen Eden. She is also a contributing author in the Glassheart Chronicles
Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Laura A. H. Elliott Author of Winnemucca as well as 13 on Halloween, book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms
T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross
P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis
Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful, Fractured, and Fair Maiden
Lexus Luke Author of Manitou, The Sky People Saga
Suzy Turner Author of December Moon and Raven
K. C. Blake Author of Vampire Rules
Gwenn Wright Author of Filter
Kimberly Kinrade Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind
Darby Karchut Author of Griffin Rising and the upcoming Griffin's Fire
Madeline Smoot Author of Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls

YA Indie Carnival ~ My Indie Idol

2011-09-22T16:33:00.000-04:00

I'm moving in a few days, so I need to keep it simple this week. (Don't worry, wonderful readers, I'm working on Forever while boxing stuff up! I hope to give you a release date very soon.)

One of my indie idols is definitely John Locke. My husband purchased his book “How I sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months!”

I’ve been trying to do what he suggests, and one of those things is get lots of books out. I have three out now, and I have several more in the works. Of course this move isn’t helping my writing schedule much. Anyway, I was delighted when he started following me on Twitter the other day. Maybe many of you don’t know who he is, but for me it was like having a celebrity notice you! On his Twitter account he says, "I'm John Locke, the private investor and crime fiction writer, not the guy on Lost!" Hmm, now you'll know I never watched Lost because I know who John Locke the writer is, and not the guy on Lost.

I recommend his book for writers, and he just posted a great blog post for self-published authors...

“The world makes it hard enough for you to be successful, so you’re not going to see me piling on the negativity! Let others talk about the mountains. I’ll show you where the tunnels are! Others can talk about the raging rivers, I’ll point you toward the bridges! Yes, there are roadblocks in the land of self-publishing, but there are super highways, too.”~ John Locke

To read the whole thing, go here. www.lethalbooks.com

I have been disappointed with my US sales during the summer, but my UK sales have picked up. I don’t understand why. Even so, my sales have been great enough that I’m not going to lower my expectations. Going indie is still one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I recently joined YA Indie Carnival and I'm really enjoying it. I'm linked in with a bunch of really great people. If you're looking for some entertaining YA reading, please check out any one of these blogs:

The Fuji Mermaid Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Leopard Girl Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels.
Fire Breather Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
The Magician Wren Emerson Author of I Wish and a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Strong Woman Nicole Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and Fallen Eden. She is also a contributing author in the Glassheart Chronicles.
Champion Sword Swallower Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Snake Charmer Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Pretzel Woman Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms.
The Giant T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross.
Woman With A Song That Hypnotizes Cyndi Tefft Author of Between
Jungle Woman P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis.
Shape Shifter Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Tarot Card Reader Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Fortune Teller Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Knife Thrower Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful, Fractured, Forever, and Fair Maiden
Elephant Trainer Gwenn Wright Author of Filter
Ring-Leader Kimberly Kinrade Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind
Prestidigitator J.L. Bryan Author of Paranormals series- Jenny Pox. Tommy Nightmare & Alexander Death
Death Defying Darby Darby Karchut Author of Griffin Rising

First Chapter of Forever ~ Book 3 in the Fateful Series!

2011-09-17T11:14:00.001-04:00

Welcome again to Sweet Saturday Samples. I hope this excerpt tantalizes your taste buds, as well as makes you eager for more.

Told from Ethan's point of view:

(Note: Please remember that this is copyrighted material and cannot be copied or shared without my written permission. Plus, I may not leave this sample on my blog for long....)

The sale of Fateful will not last forever. Pick it up for .99 cents while you can. I plan to raise the price this week, so hurry, don't miss out!

YA Indie Carnival ~ Winners And Forever update...

2011-09-16T09:37:00.000-04:00

Welcome again to YA Indie Carnival!
Today we're announcing the winners to our giveaway. Congratulations to all of these lucky ladies!!! We sincerely hope you enjoy your prizes. (Each blogger will contact their winner separately, so check for it in your email.)

So, Miss Queen of Teen Fiction, look for my email!!! You won the Kindle copy of Fractured. I hope you like it, and I would suggest snatching up Fateful while it's on sale. If you haven't already, that is. It will not stay at .99 cents for much longer.

Dani Snell’s Winner is BBurton! You’ve won a Kindle copy of PineLight by Jillian Peery
and a Kindle copy of Filter by Gwenn Wright.
Patti’s Winner is Emily Tardy! Kindle copy of Run and Hide (YA thrillers, 1 and 2 in a series of 4)
Courtney’s Winner is Darby Karchut! Kindle copy Every Last Kiss
Fisher’s Winner is Winner Cassandra! Kindle copy The Understorey
Laura’s Winner is Vivien! Kindle digitally-signed edition of Winnemucca & Winnemucca Coffee Mug
Rachel’s Winner is amabe421! Kindle copy Into The Ruins
T.R. Graves’ Winner is LuvToRead09! Kindle copy of Warriors of the Cross
Cyndi Tefft’s Winner is Paige! Kindle copy Between
PJ’s Winner is Kimy Unalesca! Kindle copy Solstice
Alicia’s Winner is Julie Witt! Assortment of awesome YA paperbacks
Heather’s Winner is Avery Olive! Kindle copy of Perception
Abbi’s Winner is Jess! Kindle copy of Breathe plus very cool Breathe beach bag
Cheri’s Winner is The Queen of Teen Fiction! Kindle copy of Fractured
Amy’s Winner is krystallarson! Kindle copy of Soul Quest
Nicole’s Winner is Emily Ann Ward! Kindle copy of Fallen Eden

Back to school is our theme today. Hmm...I don't have any school clips from my books or any personal things to share. Too traumatic...Really, I try not to think about my school days because I was teased a lot, the lonesome nerd that I was.... So instead, I'll share reviews from one of my teacher readers. This Literary arts teacher reviewed both Fateful and Fractured and put them on her summer reading list. (Careful, spoilers!)

They were both phenomenal books, and the best part is there is a 3rd in the series. Woohoo! I can’t wait! How much longer??!!

Now, on to the Forever update I was teasing you with earlier. I'm moving into a new house in two weeks. I wanted to get Forever published before then. If by some miracle I can still make that date, I will announce it here. But between boxing up the house, and stuff like that, it looks like I won't be able to get it out until October. :( Sorry, this is driving me crazy too! LOL

So...to hopefully make it up to you. Check back here on Saturday for Sweet Saturday Samples to read the first chapter of Forever!

Have you loved the Fateful series so far? Let me know by posting your good reviews for me on Amazon and Goodreads. You'll make my day a happy one, and there's nothing like getting a good review that motivates me to write faster! Here's one I recently got:

"I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. When I finished Fractured I was so upset that the third book wasn't out. When I bought Fateful I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I found myself thinking about the story all the time. Thank you for writing this series and for making it clean. I can't wait for the third book!" ~ From the amazing and generous Kenzie. Thank you! I really needed this!!!

The Fuji Mermaid Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Leopard Girl Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels
Fire Breather Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Strong Woman Nicole Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and Fallen Eden. She is also a contributing author in the Glassheart Chronicles
Champion Sword Swallower Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Siren Laura A. H. Elliott Author of Winnemucca and soon to be released 13 on Halloween
Snake Charmer Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Pretzel Woman Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms
The Giant T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross
Jungle Woman P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis
Shape Shifter Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Tarot Card Reader Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Fortune Teller Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Knife Thrower Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful, Fractured, and Fair Maiden
Fire Dancer Lexus Luke Author of Manitou, The Sky People Saga
Fire Breather Suzy Turner Author of December Moon and Raven
Dragonslayer K. C. Blake Author of Vampire Rules
Elephant Trainer Gwenn Wright Author of Filter
Ring-Leader Kimberly Kinrade Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind
Prestidigitator J.L. Bryan Author of Paranormals series- Jenny Pox. Tommy Nightmare & Alexander Death

Welcome again to YA Indie Carnival ~ Interview and Giveaway

2011-09-08T21:02:00.003-04:00

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Dani Snell. She reviews YA books on her cool-looking blog with the equally cool name of Refracted Light. I suggest heading on over to her blog--after you read this interview first!--and clicking on "About Us" to learn about her. You'll discover why she named her blog Refracted Light in question number 5. I personally loved that part....

First the questions:

1.What first draws you to a book you’d like to read, the cover or the description?

I'd have to say probably a combination of both. The covers tend to draw me in, but if the blurb doesn't sound that interesting, I move on. But the opposite can also be true, in that the cover might not seem like anything special, but the blurb will catch a hold of me. I like to think I'm an equal opportunity book lover, and that I'll pick up a book despite it's cover, because when it all comes down to it, it's the blurb that seals the deal.

2.How many books do you, or can you, read at one time?

I cheat on my books horribly. <shhh...don't tell them.> I'll usually have a book going on Kindle, an audiobook I'm listening to, and an actual paper book that I'm reading all at once. I like being in the middle of several different stories at one time, but typically one of those will stand out and I won't be able to put it down. If that happens, I usually finish that one before continuing on with the others.

3.Who was your favorite character from the books you’ve read so far and why?

Oh boy. That's a really tough one. I can't say I have a one & only when it comes to favorite characters, there are so many that I love and for different reasons. But I'll list two....

I loved the title character of Greyfriar from Clay & Susan Griffith's The Greyfriar. I can't fully explain why I loved him because that would ruin the story, and you should definitely pick it up if you haven't read it. But in short, he's a bit of a steampunk superhero who fights to free humans from the vampire menace that plagues them. He's honorable, courageous, committed, selfless and yet also has a wonderfully vulnerable side. He's a character with a lot of depth....and goggles. Which is awesome.

My second character would be Elisa from Rae Carson's upcoming Girl of Fire and Thorns. I just really connected with Elisa's character for many reasons, her self-doubt, her ordinary appearance, her fears, and her hopes. I haven't connected with a character like that in a really long time and Carson does an amazing job of developing Elisa throughout the story and transforming her into this amazing, strong, confident woman. I just loved her journey and she was just a character that really resonated with me.

4.Within YA, what kinds of stories or genres really draw you in?

I mostly read paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi – anything that's “other.” I find when I read, I'm wanting to escape the mundane and the typical human problems that plague us all. I'd rather read about impossible odds and impossible abilities, fantastic lands and amazing and terrifying creatures, unlikely heroes and the age old struggle of good vs. evil. Recently, I've really gotten into Steampunk which is kind of Victorian-era sci-fi that runs on steam and is more mechanical in nature. Typically these worlds feature alternate histories, corsets, dirigibles (say that five times fast) and – of course – goggles. Do I own a pair of leather and brass goggles? No. Do I want to? Absolutely. Would I wear them? All. The. Time.

5.I love the title of your blog, Refracted Light. What inspired it?

Refracted Light. That was first inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's poem Mythopoeia, and I particularly loved this passage:

Man, Sub-creator, the refracted light

through whom is splintered from a single White

to many hues, and endlessly combined

in living shapes that move from mind to mind.

Though all the crannies of the world we filled

with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build

Gods and their houses out of dark and light,

and sowed the seed of dragons, 'twas our right

(used or misused). The right has not decayed.

We make still by the law in which we're made.

I know that talking about God is not everyone's cup of tea. But I've always loved these lines as they infer God as ultimate Creator and that we as humans, follow in His example using our imaginations to create entire worlds, peoples, creatures, languages, histories and legends. We have been given an amazing gift – the ability to create. We are ourselves refractions of the brightest light and we continue to refract that light – reshape it and redirect it – as we create art in all forms, but specifically in this case, literature. So yeah, short answer: a love of reading inspired it. However, it also does double duty and combines my love of books and photography quite nicely I thought!

Now on to the giveaway! If you missed the Back to The Books giveaway, you have another chance. But I'm only giving away the eBook of Fractured in this one, so if you haven't tried Fateful, I suggest you snatch it up now. Plus, when Forever comes out sometime this month, Fateful will no longer be on sale for 99 cents.

TODAY'S GIVEAWAY: Just comment on a Q & A post ALL DAY TODAY and tweet the carnival [#yaindiecarnival] to win these ebooks from the carnival authors:

Kindle copy of The Understorey by Fisher Amelie
Kindle digitally-signed edition of Winnemucca by Laura A. H. Elliott and a Winnemucca signed Coffee Mug.
Kindle copy of Breathe by Abbi Glines along with an autographed canvas Breathe tote.
Kindle copy of Solstice by PJ Hoover
Kindle copy of Between by Cyndi Tefft
Kindle copy of PineLight by Jillian Peery
Kindle copy of Filter by Gwenn Wright.
Kindle copy of Eternal Eden by Nicole Williams
Kindle copy of Fallen Eden by Nicole Williams
Kindle copy of Soul Quest by Amy Maurer Jones
Kindle copy of Run and Hide by Patti Larsen (YA thrillers, 1 and 2 in a series of 4)
Kindle copy of Fractured by Cheri Schmidt
Kindle copy of Warriors of the Cross by T.R. Graves
Kindle copy of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Bees of St. John, Mushrooms, Whistles, and Beergarden by Rachel Coles

There's a special surprise too. Open to all 13 and over internationally. Winners will be announced September 16. Thanks for helping to celebrate two months together! See you at the carnival next Friday and good luck!

PS: The wonderful Abbi Glines interviewed me. If you'd like to see that check it out here.

Come to the carnival every Friday! (Heh...now I'm craving cotton candy....)

And the winners are...

2011-09-08T21:00:00.000-04:00

Again, thank you to everyone who entered! Getting such a huge response kind of drove me a little crazy, because I really wanted to give everyone a prize. I'm a softy like that... But, alas, I had to narrow it down to 6 winners. I know I said just three before. It's my blog, so I can change my mind if I want! :D

One person will get their choice of book for the signed copy with the bookmark. Two or three will get an eBook, and then two or three will get a beaded bookmark.

(I'll email each winner to let them know which prize they won.) In no particular order, the winners are:

Nyaaso
Laurie
Juanna
Amy(ArtsyBookishGal)
Kimyunalesca
Lori

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

2011-08-31T08:23:00.012-04:00

~This giveaway is now closed~

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Buried in Books

This Giveaway Hop will run from September 1st to the 7th. Don't miss out because there are so many chances to win prizes!

What is a giveaway hop?
Simple - Each participating blog hosts a giveaway and then we link up together allowing our followers to hop easily from one giveaway to another. For followers this means lots of chances to win free books.

To win the prizes from Cheri Schmidt, here is what you need to do:

Mandatory entry: Follow my blog and mention it in the comments section of this post. Don't forget to let me know your email address, so I can contact you if you win.

For extra optional chances to win: (You may do one, some, all, or none of these...)
Become my friend or follow me on Goodreads
Like me on Facebook
Pin my book cover on Pinterest and link to either my blog or website. Or just repin this one.

Again, let me know which ones you've done in the comment's section of this post. Winners will be drawn randomly and notified via email. There will be first, second, and third place winners.

Prizes:
~A signed paperback copy of Fateful, or Fractured, or Fair Maiden. Each book comes with a handmade beaded bookmark.
~Get the e-book copy of Fractured, or Fair Maiden gifted to you from Amazon. (Since Fateful is on sale for .99 cents, I'm not including it as an option in this giveaway except for the printed copy.)
~A pretty handmade bookmark like the ones in the pictures below.

Good luck and thanks for stopping by to say hi!
Note: originally I'd said USA only. But I changed my mind. I will open-up the eBook and the bookmark to international readers as well.

What are readers saying about the Fateful Series?

This literary arts teacher reviewed both books on her blog and put them on her summer reading list for her students: "They were both phenomenal books, and the best part is there is a 3rd in the series. Woohoo! I can’t wait!"
"All I can say is I love this book! It pulled me in quickly, and I instantly fell in love with Ethan. He is one of the most likeable characters to be introduced in a long time. Dare I compare his likeability to Edward Cullen? I loved Cheri Schmidt's writing style. I finished this book in a day because I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait to start the next one." ~Christine

"I read this book front to back in one day.....I was useless to the world in all other ways but I HAD TO FINISH IT. Its a different spin on the vampire and with just enough detail to give the great visual image but with a quickly evolving plot. Not to slow....Not to fast....so you can enjoy the ride! LOVE LOVE LOVE" ~ Glo

"I usually don't take the time to write reviews (and I wouldn't consider this one a review) BUT I absolutely LOVED this book and Fractured. I couldn't put my book (kindle) down. I kept wanting to read more and more. I loved the romance in the book. I fell in love with Ethan! I loved how much of a TRUE gentleman he was!!!"
~ Anonymous

YA Indie Carnival ~ 3 tips for authors...

2011-08-30T11:11:00.000-04:00

Welcome to YA Indie Carnival! I'm going to keep this very short and to the point. My three tips for YA Indie Authors are:

1~Keep a schedule so you don’t lose track of time and spend the whole day reading blogs or blogging when you should be writing. Give yourself an hour a day for that kind of stuff, for example. I’m over my limit for today, which is partly why I’m keeping this short. Plus I won’t take up too much of your time either. ;o)

2~Befriend those who love your books. Friends are the most loyal readers!

3~Read these 2 posts by John Locke: (They were both very helpful to me.)

Bad Reviews

AND

Break Some Rules

Danny Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels.
Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Wren Emerson Author of I Wish and a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Nichole A. Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and the upcoming Fallen Eden. She is also participating in the Glassheart Chronicles.
Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Laura Elliott Author of Winnemucca and the upcoming 13 on Halloween
Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms.
T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross.
Cyndi Tefft Author of Between
P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis.
Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Cidney Swanson Author of Rippler

And don't forget about my giveaway below!!!

Sweet Saturday Samples ~ Forever, Book 3

2011-08-30T11:07:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Samples! Please enjoy this clip from Forever, Book 3 in the Fateful series.

Told from Danielle's point of view...

She saw why as they backed toward the bed again. Pieces of wood dug into her bare feet with each painful step. Spinning away, they both dove onto the bed as a werewolf flew at the glass and crashed through it. Worse than hearing a car crash, the sound of breaking glass was followed by vicious snarls and shouts. Driven by a crazy need to see what was going on, Danielle lowered the hands she’d tossed over her face, and craned another look over her shoulder. Even obscured by the hair that had fallen over her face, she could see the beast had landed in their bedroom, its knees bending with the impact before straightening, its spine uncurling as it rose upright. It shook like a dog trying to dry itself. Danielle threw an arm over her face again. Shards of glass showered the room like droplets of rock-solid water, clinking against anything hard it hit. Danielle felt a few pieces hit her, but it seemed they didn’t hit hard enough to do more damage than a few minor abrasions.

(If you haven't read the Fateful series yet, get them by clicking on the pictures below. Or enter my giveawy in the previous post)

For more Sweet Saturday Samples go here or click on one of the links below. (Please note that all of these samples are copyrighted by the authors and can't be copied or distributed without the author's written permission.)

Indie eBooks Interview

2011-08-30T09:14:00.004-04:00

Author Interview and excerpt on indieebooks.blogspot.com

Up next: Join me for many chances to win stuff at the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop and don't miss the huge sale on ebooks at Indie Book Blowout.

Another Sample of Forever, Book3 in the Fateful Trilogy

2011-08-26T08:54:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Samples! The last excerpt of Forever was so popular, I decided to gift you with another. If I gain a lot of blog followers from this, then I'll likely post a few more clips...maybe....

Told from Danielle's point of view:

A pleased smile captured his lips as he braced his hands on the trees at either side of her and leaned toward her for a kiss. She could see her reflection in his glasses as well as the flirtatious twinkle in his eyes. But instead of matching his mouth with hers, he shoved her backward into the leaves and bluebells and landed on top of her. “What—?” was all she managed as the air whooshed out of her lungs before one of the guards shouted, “Pixies!”

That’s when she realized Ethan hadn’t intentionally knocked her down; he’d fallen into her when Merrick shoved him down. Looking just as surprised as she was, Ethan shifted so he wasn’t squashing her with his weight but maintained a protective position above her. He also looked for his glasses which had slid off as they fell and then bounced off her cheek before tumbling into the thick undergrowth.

“Do you have salt?” Danielle asked as the little creatures entered her line of vision and their rotten-apple smell assaulted her nose.

When he jammed his hand into his pocket and tossed what looked like white particles of granular snow at a swarm of sharp-toothed and snapping pixies, she took that as a yes.

Ethan lifted his arms and came back down on top of her shielding her from another shower of salt thrown by the guards this time. Danielle closed her eyes as it pelted her skin not covered by Ethan.

When Ethan lowered his left hand to the ground to brace himself, lifted his head, and looked over his shoulder, she could see the guards battling against what looked like hundreds of pixies. The men tossed salt and smacked away the creatures attacking them. Merrick, who was the closest to her and Ethan, backhanded three at once as they tried to fly past him. The pixies went sailing like thin, snarling toys.

A huge crowd of them got past Merrick though. While the vampires swatted and tossed salt at the pixies, Danielle got a better view of what was attacking them. In truth, she’d never actually seen them this close up before. With their skinny bodies they looked something like stick bugs but they had little faces sort of like fairies, except a wicked twist of their lips made what could be smiles evil-looking. Instead of having brown skin, however, they were actually a pretty shade of pale-blue mixed with brown. That was the only appealing thing about pixies though. Miniature beasts closed in on them with claw-tipped hands raised and needle-sharp teeth exposed. Their smell became overpowering enough to make her sneeze. When her eyes blinked open again the pixies grabbed hold of Ethan’s backpack and pulled. Ethan let it slide free of his arms before he was dragged along with it. Danielle kicked out and managed to impact two of them, sending them flipping head over heel away from them. Ethan swung out with a fist too but they’d gone for his clothes this time and hauled him right off her.

“Ethan!” she screamed reaching for him. Danielle had no idea those things were so strong until then.

He swore and fought to get them off his clothes as his feet actually left the ground.

(If you haven't read the Fateful series yet, get them by clicking on the pictures below. Ebooks are priced at .99 and 2.99. Printed copies are around $10. Printed copies of Fractured will be availabe within the next week.)

For more Sweet Saturday Samples go here. (Please note that all of these samples are copyrighted by the authors and can't be copied or distributed without the author's written permission.)

Writers’ Platform-Building Campaign

2011-08-22T20:32:00.000-04:00

I've just joined Rachael Harrie's Writers Platform-Building Campaign. If you're a writer and would like to learn more about it, go to her blog. I'm new to this too, but I'll fill you in on what I learn as I go.

Preview Sample of Forever, Book 3, in the Fateful Series.

2011-08-20T00:09:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Samples! I have a treat for you if you've already read Fateful and Fractured. Please enjoy this preview of Forever, Book 3 in the Fateful series.

Told from Ethan's point of view. Hope this wets your appetite... :D

Chapter One
Full Moon

I’ll do anything to wipe that pout off her face, Ethan thought to himself as he watched Danielle wash the paint out of her paintbrush while he leaned against the doorframe, his arms folded over his chest.

Her shoulders lifted and then drooped with the troubled sigh she expelled. Moonlight filtered in through the skylight above her art studio and bathed her in silver. The lamp painted the rest of the room in gold. With her eyebrows drawn together, her thick lashes shadowing her cheeks with her downcast gaze, her soft hair caught up in a messy bun at the back of her head, and the earrings he’d given her dangling from her earlobes, she presented a portrait for Ethan that was prettier to him then the painting she’d just finished. And it was one of her better pieces. In shades of brown, cream and pale blue she’d captured another fairy in a soft wash of watercolors.

When Danielle was finished cleaning up her work, he gathered her under his arm. A little pressure on her shoulder and he had her facing him. Catching her chin on the edge of his finger, he said, “I like the fairy trapped in a jar, but she doesn’t look very happy.”

Those lashes swept up along with her chin when she looked at him. “Would you be happy if you were confined like that?”

Ethan noted the guards in his peripheral, knowing Danielle was talking about herself with that query and not the displeased little sprite in her painting. “I see your point.” He brushed the hair from her forehead. “Let’s watch that picture we rented,” he offered, hoping to distract her from the guards posted at each door and window inside their home as he steered her toward the sofa.

The pout deepened and those pretty brown eyes of hers darted to the guard near the window where the full moon was just visible beyond the sheer curtain and the man’s hulking shoulder. A twinge of jealously jabbed him in the gut even though he was fairly certain she was looking at the moon and not the handsome French bodyguard who said his name was Casanova ... Casanova, really?

Forget them, he mentally commanded and refocused on the lines of distress on Danielle’s face. He really needed to fix that. Drawing her down onto the seat next to him, he lowered his voice and muttered right next to her ear, “Forget we live in a fishbowl for an hour and a half and I’ll make popcorn.” Leaning out to make eye contact with her, he wagged his eyebrows and a shout of triumph echoed through his thoughts when she giggled at him. Her whole face lit up with the sound and he decided he’d not only do anything to wipe the pout off her face, he’d do even more to hear her laugh again, to hear her laugh more often.

Things had gone back to normal after they’d returned to being mortal. Sort of ... mostly.... Secretly he missed her need to feed from only him. The way she clung to him when she sank her little fangs into his flesh, the way she needed him, the way she still feared insects even being as dangerous as she was then. It was back to mortality for both of them, however, and he didn’t, no he couldn’t regret that. He still planned to care for her despite that modern streak of independence she had. Danielle was an intriguing bundle of contradictions. He found her fascination with all things Jane Austen charming. It was part of what drew him to her because she reminded him of his Victorian past, even in a modern world. But the fact that she could sweep his feet right out from under him in one smooth move ... well, that brought a smirk to his mouth when he thought about it. That violent side of her also drew him. Of course more than any of that was what he saw when he looked into her eyes. Their forgotten past together and the personality quirks she tried to hide from everyone else.

(If you haven't read the Fateful series yet, get them by clicking on the pictures below.)

For more Sweet Saturday Samples go here or click on one of the links below. (Please note that all of these samples are copyrighted by the authors and can't be copied or distributed without the author's written permission.)

Don't get a toothache...

2011-08-13T10:41:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Samples

This is where authors share excerpts of their works for a sweet bit of Saturday sampling.

Fateful is a PG rated YA paranormal romance.

What readers are saying about the Fateful series:

“Delicious and addictive.” ~Courtney

“You've managed a feat that many authors find challenging: making certain scenes in your book sensual and sexy without being trashy. I commend you for writing "clean" fiction.” ~Shay

“I absolutely LOVED this book. I was looking for a romance book that WAS clean to read. (I have a passion about reading books, but am easily disappointed when I find that it has filthy content). I truly wasn't disappointed with either book. I found that I couldn't put my Kindle down. I just had to keep reading. When I finished Fateful, I hurried on to Fractured.” ~Roxana

Enjoy this sample of Fateful:

“You smell like a vanilla cupcake.”

“Uh, thanks.” That would be the shampoo from last night.

“I like it, although I haven’t eaten cake in a very long time.” Danielle thought she felt his lips pull into a smile. “‘Sugar and spice, and everything nice…. That’s what little girls are made of.’” After quoting the nursery rhyme, he then chuckled to himself.

Recalling the verse, she said, “So are you made of frogs and snails and puppy dog tails?”

“I don’t know. I may be more toad-like than you realize, though I believe the rhyme goes ‘snips and snails,’ not ‘frogs and snails.’”

“Really?” She’d never heard it that way. “What’s a snip?”

“Good question.”

For many more Sweet Saturday Samples go here.
To buy Fateful, click on the picture below.

(Sorry, I'm not sure why this post didn't show up at midnight as I'd scheduled. That schedule thingy doesn't work very well for me. Hmmm.)

Electronic revolution, really? What do you think explains the drop in sales of print books? Have you made the switch yet?

2011-08-12T14:06:00.000-04:00

Amazon announced a while back that eBooks have already outsold printed books on their site. In June, Barnes & Noble announced that eBooks outsell print books three to one. I guess that explains why my printed books never sold on B&N,even though B&N had discounted them by 3-4 bucks! David Farland said this in one of his "Daily Kick in the Pants" posts: (I recommend signing up for his "Daily Kick" if you're a writer, by the way. It's free to subscribe.)
...book sales on a month-by-month basis for hardcovers in the US are showing about a 40% loss...and paperback sales are also tanking.

At the same time, Amazon.com, the world’s largest retailer, is showing about a 300% rise in sales of e-books on their site from last year.

Barnes and Noble, the second largest retail chain in the United States, is jumping onto the digital platform. In the past few months, they’ve reduced shelf space for books in their stores dramatically, increasing the space that is allotted to selling e-readers and accessories.

As a result of this, an author can anticipate that paperback sales now are about 50% of what they were last year.

In other words, paper books are rapidly dying. Many of the retailers who were selling them only a year ago are gone, and many of the survivors were selling paper books are now pushing electronic books instead.

If you go looking for printed copies of my books you'll see a new lower price. Basically, I had opted in to the programs that make my books available to places like B&N and Libraries, but those options drove up the price. Because the eBook version of my books are outselling the printed versions by something crazy like 2000 to 1, I decided to drop those options and lower the price of my printed books.

If you want Fateful in your local library, sorry, you'll have to donate it or specifically request they buy it for you. The only places you can buy printed copies of my books are: Amazon, Createspace and soon my website for signed copies.

Some might complain that my books aren't widely available...well, since B&N is carrying less printed books in their stores and Borders is closing, I can't change that even if I do opt in for the programs that make my books available in those markets as well as more expensive. Of course you can always follow my blog to be informed of giveaways, which I do often.

Something Completely Different (guest post by Drew)

2011-08-09T15:21:00.000-04:00

So Cheri and I have a whole set of differences -

She is shy and quiet.
I'm loud and obnoxious.

She likes to get dressed up and wear frilly skirts.
Cargo shorts and sandals are perfect for me.

She is a woman
I'm a man (encase you were wondering)

And certainly there are many more - - but the one I want to focus on today....is....

I believe bigfoot is real.
She could care less.

Now you may wonder why I have chosen to use this forum and your time for such a subject. Well perhaps you are more like me then Cheri. Perhaps you like Bigfoot. Perhaps there is a friend in your life...that like me...things Bigfoot is real. If either of these are the case, then I would like you to check out another Indie author name Rusty Wilson.

I met Rusty through Kindleboards which is a great online resource for new authors and those who simply want to find Indie authors or ask a few questions about anything Kindle related. We developed an email friendship. I've read his books. And his wife is reading Cheri's books.

Rusty is an outdoor guide in Colorado and spent quite a bit of time in the woods and the rivers of the west. Over the years he has collected a huge collection of Bigfoot stories. Some are funny. Some are strange. Some will scare you to death.

Word of mouth is huge for Indie Authors. So I'm hoping that you wonderful and sweet readers of Cheri's work will pass along the word to the Bigfoot believer in your life and encourage them to get Rusty's books. They will enjoy the stories. And Rusty will enjoy the sales.

Rusty's blog - http://rustybigfoot.blogspot.com/

Rusty's Books are available on the Kindle and in paperback.

AND!!! Don't forget Ethan's Interview and the contest at the Bottom!!!

Drew’s interview of Ethan Deveroux: (Don't miss the giveaway at the end ;)

2011-08-06T12:03:00.007-04:00

Drew: Thanks for joining me today. It’s nice to talk man to man.

Ethan: Indeed. The pleasure is all mine, I must say.

Drew: (wrinkling his nose like something smells bad) “Indeed?” and “I must say?” Your...um, historic choice of words prompts me to ask: Do you realize that you sound kind of cheesy sometimes?

Ethan: It might be that British, Mr-Darcy-like side of me coming out. I grew up in the late 1800’s. Sorry, old habits. (Ethan grins showing teeth)

Drew: Mr. Darcy, huh?

Ethan: I daresay, if someone plucked him from the past and plopped him right in the middle of the 21st-century, wouldn't people label the poor bloke as cheesy too? (Ethan slants an offended gaze back at Drew)

Drew: Dude! People don’t say “daresay” anymore!

Ethan: British guys do.

Drew: Really? (still not buying it)

Ethan: We use words like actually, bangers and mash, bloke, pip pip, cheerio, and knickers quite frequently too.

Drew: (Drew gaped at Ethan before saying) You’re pulling my leg.

Ethan: (smirking knowingly) Perhaps.

Drew: So is it safe to guess that you know the effect this kind of speech has on women?

Ethan: (shrugs shoulders) Danielle likes it...and with that knowledge, I confess I might be pouring it on a little thick.

Drew: Let’s get back to business, shall we?

Ethan: Very British way of putting it. (Ethan offered in approval)

Drew: Er, thanks...So in the books it's mentioned that you and Danielle recognize and know each other. From like another time. Can you explain that?

Ethan: I believe we knew each other BEFORE we were born into this life, as spirits basically. I also believe we chose one another then and had a relationship then. But since none of us can remember our existence before we were born, we too can’t remember that time together either. We can only see it when we look directly into each other’s eyes, or sense it, really. It’s sort of like how one’s spirit continues to exist after death of the physical body—one existed before physical life too.

Drew: Don't you know a witch, or fairy, or something that could shed some light on this for you?

Ethan: Hm, perhaps. That’s a good idea, though. I'll look into it and inform you all in book 3.

Drew: So how old are you?

Ethan: A little over 170.

Drew: And how long have you been a vampire?

Ethan: I was turned in my twenties, so for about 150 years.

Drew: Why do you want to be human and mortal? Why not stay a vampire with all of the benefits that come with that?

Ethan: I still consider myself human, just cursed. And as a cursed man I can't have children. I want to be a father more than I want immortality.

Drew: But all of that power and strength! Can’t you hypnotize with our eyes and don’t you have some kind of magical breath that smells intoxicating instead of like normal breath...which might smell more like a burger with onions for example?

Ethan: (Glancing sideways, a grin lifts the corners of his mouth.) I rather fancy American burgers with ketchup and mustard and pickles and, of course, melted cheese. Ah! Don’t forget the chips!

Drew: You’re getting sidetracked again.

Ethan: (rubbing his stomach) I suppose I should have stopped for a bite first.

Drew: So at the end of book 2 you make a decision that seemed sort of impulsive to me. Why so quick? Why no hesitation?

Ethan: Inside I did hesitate. There are advantages, so to speak, that I will miss due to that decision. But I strongly believe it was for the best, for both Danielle and me. I will always do what's best for her. Deep down I can be as selfish as anyone, but in this instance, I was choosing what I thought was best for her. She really hated being a vampire even if I thought she was safer that way. I just want her to be happy.

Drew: What do you have to say to people who say you’re like Edward?

Ethan: Well... I’m older than he is. I have blond hair and blue eyes. I can grow facial hair and I can tan when exposed to the sun. I’ve never looked down on Danielle as though she were a child. Our spirits are the same age even if our physical bodies aren’t. I see her as an equal, no actually, that isn’t right either. I put her above me. I respect her. She can kick major a—! And I’ve let her defend herself when I knew she could. Like with that handsy-creep she met at the dance club.

(Ethan took a big breath and released it slowly, also releasing his fisted fingers.)

Going back to that Edward chap, I certainly do not sparkle, and I have real fangs! I believe I do have a soul, always have. I believe in an afterlife as well as a pre-earth life, which is where I believe I met Danielle, and probably why I don’t fear the idea of growing old as a mortal man. And, most importantly to me, I wasn’t constantly resisting the urge to eat Danielle. I was more concerned with getting to know her, winning her heart and becoming un-cursed so I could have a normal life with her. ~He’s a little aggitated. His accent got thicker...~

Drew: So what is the deal with you and Lucas?

Ethan: The troubles with him go back to our days in school as teenagers. He became a murderer before he ever became a vampire. My friends and I tried to stop him but failed. He blames me for things I couldn't change and things I did do to him. Because of that conflict he went after Danielle. I regret the fact that my past put Danielle in danger.

Drew: What should readers look forward to in book 3?

Ethan: Readers will learn the details about my past with Lucas. And you’ll get to know me even better than before. Look forward to another wild ride with a considerable dose of danger, an introduction to more mythical creatures and, as always, plenty of romance and sexy Victorian lingo. (Ethan winks, only smiling with half his mouth.)

Author note: The sale on Fateful will be ending soon, so I suggest you snatch it up now! Plus I’ll give away a free e-book OR PRINTED COPY of Fateful or Fractured or Fair Maiden to one of the lucky people who post a comment below by August 12th. (Yes, even international.)

Cheers! Cheri

Bloggers I like and a heartfelt thank you to my readers.

2011-07-29T22:39:00.000-04:00

First the bloggers: Joe Konrath and John Locke

My husband found both of these blogs and, in truth, I rarely read them myself. But my husband does and he tells me what he’s read since I’ve been too busy writing to have time for that. This is one post he shared with me that I’d like to share with you:

John’s logical and comforting look at bad reviews...

Next, good reviews I received and LOVE...Thanks again for posting them. Good reviews really help me out and I’m deeply grateful to the many kind and loyal readers for taking the time to post them. ~Hugs~ (If you've read and loved any of my books but haven't reviewed them yet, please do! You'll make my day a happy one. ;)

All I can say is I love this book! It pulled me in quickly, and I instantly fell in love with Ethan. He is one of the most likeable characters to be introduced in a long time. Dare I compare his likeability to Edward Cullen? I loved Cheri Schmidt's writing style. I finished this book in a day because I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait to start the next one. ~Christine

I can relate to Danielle in the book because I am a huge Mr. Darcy fan and let’s say you get 14 days with lend me and I read it and stayed up all night.... One of my absolute favorite reads... ~Courtney W

Yes, it sounds similar to Twilight, but it’s actually got an original take on vampires. The only similarity is that Ethan is a vampire and Danielle is not. I liked Schmidt’s take on vampires, I thought it was more believable and I liked that there was some hope that they could maybe change. It made it more believable that there would be good vampires, etc. I also really liked that both Ethan and Danielle not only had high standards, but they also believed marriage was a positive thing. ~Kathy

This book really surprised me! I went in with fairly low expectations, thinking this would be a Twilight knock-off, but in many ways Fateful was actually better than Twilight! Now, when I first read Twilight it was the very first vampire romance book I'd ever read and that was why it blew me away and I loved it. Since then I've read MANY YA books and paranormal romance books and have come to the conclusion that Twilight pretty much sucked. Now on to Fateful. I really liked the twist the author put on vampirism...that it's a curse that could possibly be broken.
I liked Ethan very much, he was realistic and I enjoyed his and Danielle's relationship. Danielle was interesting too. With a black belt in karate, she was no push-over weakling! Overall, I was very impressed and cannot wait to pick up the sequel right now. ~Jaimie

I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to be Danielle. She made me feel like I was living the fairytale that we all dream about as little girls. ~Anna

Okay, a lot of reviews keep going on about how the book is so similar to Twilight. Before I buy a book I mostly read a few reviews so when I started reading, this was constantly on my mind. But really, after a few chapters it became obvious that this is an amazing story, and that it isn’t the same as twilight.... But now enough about twilight and more about Fateful. The story is really well written, the characters are really nice and likeable. I’m not going to tell you anything about the story and especially not about the end of the book, just be prepared to be surprised, in a good way of course. The story is really sweet, there’s a lot of romance going on, but I like the fact that there’s some action too. The story just keeps you going until you’ve finished the whole book. I would really recommend this book, Cheri Schmidt is an amazing author. ~Carolien

I loved this book. I went and bought the sequel before I was even halfway through this book because I knew I would have to start reading it the second I was done with this one and I didn't want to be caught somewhere without internet (for my kindle). I loved how well the characters were developed, I wanted Danielle as a best friend. I found myself rooting the whole book the mail characters could be together. I loved all the twists and turns in the plot as well. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good fantasy romance to read. ~Sheena

I stumbled upon fateful by accident and I am so glad I did!! What a great series and very well written! Do you have a estimated date for the release of forever? I hope sooner than later as I can't wait to read what happens. I have been reading books here and there but none that got me hooked right away in a while. I know sequels usually are not as great as the first but fractured is just as amazing as fateful! Keep up the great job! :) ~Sharon D

And then two great reviews from Confessions of a Book Junkie. I love the look of her blog as well as her well-rounded and honest take on books.

Ereader News Today (guest post by Drew)

2011-07-26T08:49:00.000-04:00

Cheri is busy, busy, busy trying to write Forever so I thought I would take a moment and post something for her. Our oldest daughter is also in town so between family fun and work...we're trying to balance things this week.

One of my jobs is to help Cheri spread the word about her books and help her build that fan base. So the other day I came across this website called Ereader News Today. The webmaster has posted this link as a way for authors to promote themselves. What I like about this site is that he has some rules. These rules are as follows:

Must be available on Amazon - The large majority of Cheri's sales come from here, so that's perfect.
Must have a rating of 4.0 or higher on Amazon - Cheri's overall rating is just a bit over 4.0. And all of you deserve a BIG THANK YOU for writing a review. I can't begin to tell you how much Cheri really appreciates a good review.
Needs to have at least 5 ratings/reviews - It's hard to get fans to write reviews. It's even hard to get 5 or more great reviews.
Must cost 99 cents or less. - We've kept Fateful at 99 cents for a while. Mainly because we want to build a fan base. We'll likely raise it someday....we'll see.

These rules help protect both the readers and the writers. For the readers, you are only going to see books that cost 99 cents but have good reviews. For an author, you'll be exposed to a bunch of people and the webmaster does an excellent job at promoting your book for you.

The Facebook page has over 25,000 followers. Then his website has subsections for Free Books, Bargain Books and the Book of the Day. If you are looking for something to read, and have already downloaded and read Fateful, Fractured and Fair Maiden, then go check out ENT - Ereader News Today for something new.

More Updates or News or whatever you want to call it...

2011-07-11T10:43:00.000-04:00

I’ll soon be posting an interview of Ethan done by guest blogger, Drew, my husband. This should be interesting... LOL

I’m typing feverishly away at Forever. I’m always surprised at how a story just takes on a life of its own.

A new version of Fair Maiden was recently uploaded. We found a few mistakes while getting it ready for print. It will be available in print very soon. And when it is, I’ll start selling signed copies via my website.

Thanks to Tifferz Book Review for the great review of Fractured she recently posted on her blog. Check it out...

THANK YOU to my loyal readers and followers. I aim to please and I’m extremely grateful for the support. I’ve just exceeded 10,000 books in sales and will be having another giveaway to celebrate. So watch for that too. (Also, thanks Joe Konrath! I couldn’t have done this had you not been so open and informative on your blog.)

Reader Poll

2011-07-07T20:41:00.003-04:00

What is the best way for me to reach you with updates about my books, giveaways and future releases?

Forever update ~ Book 3 in the Fateful Series... (I know you’ve been looking for it!)

2011-06-30T13:48:00.002-04:00

In Forever, I’m getting into Ethan’s head and the 1st chapter is told from his point of view. Due to things that happen in the plot, I need to tell the story from both Ethan’s and Danielle’s perspectives. By doing it this way, you’ll better understand why Lucas went after Danielle like he did. Driven by that overprotective nature of his, Ethan kept things about the past in terms of Lucas from Danielle because he didn’t want to upset her more than she already was.

You probably noticed in Fractured that I mentioned other magical beings gaining interest in Danielle too. That was intentional and was my way of setting things up for Book 3. And obviously, that is what Forever will mainly be about, their survival as creatures like pixies, witches and werewolves stalk her... Lilith can’t control other things she didn’t create...and that becomes a problem for them.

Also, you haven’t seen the last of Lucas and Celeste or some of the knightly heroes you got to know in Fractured. You’ll also get to see how truly evil Lucas can be.

Anyhow, I would like to ask my readers a few questions as I write this novel. I do have the plot in mind and much of it is already written, but I was hoping to get your input on things you’d like to see more of. For example, I know many of you would like to see Danielle get her revenge on Celeste besides the slightly satisfying punch to the face in Book 2. In this case, I think what I’ve come up with is pretty horrible but also unexpected.

So here’s how I’d like to do this: I’ll ask a few questions and if you would answer them in the comments section of this post then I’ll know what my readers want and therefore satisfy your wishes in the conclusion of the Fateful trilogy.

1~ Who are your favorite characters? And who would you like to see more of?
2~ What are some of your favorite scenes and why?
3~ What other creatures would you like to see more of? For example: Would you like to see more fairies or something else I haven’t explored yet?
4~ I plan to write at least two Novellas in the future for this series. One for Max and Nadia and one for Beon and Sophia. Are there any other characters you’d like to see stories written for?

(As you answer, all I ask is that you don’t put in too many spoilers ;-) Thanks so much!)

Fair Maiden Update AND Contest!

2011-06-27T09:21:00.006-04:00

It looks like the wrong copy of Fair Maiden was uploaded in a recent update by mistake. We’re working on figuring out which file should be posted to correct the errors and we’ll re-uploaded ASAP.

Also, in preparation for print of Fractured and Fair Maiden, I’d like to have a contest. If you noticed any errors in either of those, please contact me through email (authordDOTcherischmidtATgmailDOTcom)with a list and I’ll award three people who find the most errors a prize. If there is a tie, I’ll decide by drawing. (Deadline is July 1st)
You’ll have your choice between:

~A printed and signed copy of Fateful, Fractured or Fair Maiden. Each book comes with a matching beaded bookmark.

~And for everyone who emails me with errors, I will gift you an updated e-copy of the book of your choice.

Thanks bunches! I adore my loyal readers. I'm very grateful to you for reading my work...and typos drive me a little crazy, like I said in this post from a while back: The Monster Under the Bed for Writers

Great Reviews for the Fateful series...

2011-06-13T10:20:00.015-04:00

It’s been about 60 days since Fateful was released and since that time it has sored to the top 100 on Amazon and stayed there. At the moment Fateful is #8 and Fractured is #12 of Hot New Releases in Children’s Love & Romance Literature.

What are reviewers saying about this series?

An 8th grade literary arts teacher added it to her recommended summer reading list and gave both books rave reviews...

The Book Whisperer (What a great blog name! Don’t you think?)

Courtney’s Chitter Chatter (Great place if you’re looking for clean reads.)

Tifferz Book Review (Another great place if you’re looking for clean reads.)

Book Worm Nation (Another great place for reviews.)

And here is a new review Fractured just got on Amazon:
By jaterry
"OMG!!!! If it was even possible Cheri Schmidt outdid herself with this, it is a million times better then Fateful with twists at every turn! I couldnt put it down, it even made me late to work!

Please dont read this book if you havent 1st read Fateful, and for all the people who said it was a Twilight knock off, you have to read this book, it by far blows Twilight out of the water! and I am a huge Twilight fan.

Ethan and Danielle dont fail to deliver on the romance and surprises! And the action of the vampire civil war will keep you on your feet! this was an easy book to get wrapped up in, I easily felt Danielle's excitement, fear and disappointment, and even cried for her at one point.

Without any spoilers, I really wish we could have seen more of Lilith and a better description of "goth" Ethan but other then that, I have no complaints! you have to read this book, what are you waiting for click the button!!!!

Cannot wait for book 3! I would love to see Danielle get her revenge (more then what was done) on Celeste!"

If vampires aren't your thing then might I suggest you try out Fair Maiden? It has none of those fanged beings in it. With the massive attention the Fateful series is getting I fear Fair Maiden is being forgotten. Don’t forget about it!! Especially because it’s on sale for 1.99 right now! Thanks to Tifferz Book Review for her recent review and blog post of Fair Maiden

Up and Coming...

2011-06-08T14:00:00.007-04:00

Great reviews for Fractured are coming in. I’m so glad and so grateful that my readers are enjoying the sequel to Fateful. Thanks for the great post Courtney! If you’re looking for something clean to read, then I recommend her fun review blog.

Today is the last day to enter the Summer Treasure Hunt to win a signed copy of Fateful. Check my previous post to see how to enter. And don’t forget there are more chances to win different prizes for the rest of this month. Also check my previous post to see how to win a signed copy of Fateful with a matching beaded bookmark, or a glass pearl replica of Danielle’s necklace and earrings. This other contest ends the 18th...Don’t miss out!

Book updates:
~Fair Maiden is on sale for 1.99. So if you’ve been trying to decided if you should get it or not, now’s a good time.

~Fateful has sold more than 3000 copies and is ranked high in Amazon's bestseller lists:
#19 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Children's Fiction > Literature > Love & Romance
#19 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Love & Romance
#38 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

~Fractured is following close behind Fateful and has made it into the bestseller lists as well:
#38 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Children's Fiction > Literature > Love & Romance
#43 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Love & Romance
#78 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

Right now I’m working on:

~Forever—the conclusion to the Fateful series
~The Trapping club—the sequel to Fair Maiden
~Sophia’s Cookbook for Mortals—A fun recipe book featuring recipes Sophia likes to mess up her apron with.
~Two novellas to supplement the Fateful series. Max’s story and Beon and Sophia’s story...
~The Fairy Ring Enchantment—A story about fair rings and why you shouldn’t step inside them.

Thank you for sharing your good reviews with me!!!

2011-06-07T11:25:00.027-04:00

Many of you tell me you love my book, and I really appreciate that!

Thank you to those of you who participated in the interview/giveaway! The winners are Courtney and Nicole. Congratulations!!

Next I'm hosting the Summer Treasure Hunt tomorrow, June 8th! I'm giving away a singed copy of Fateful. It's easy to enter, here's what you do:

1~ Find the answer to my treasure hunt question.

QUESTION: Who is the prince of darkness? (HINT: Click on “April” under Blog Archive in the left hand sidebar and read the April 12, 2011 post)

2~ Email the answer with your name and mailing address to jdipastena@yahoo.com. Put Summer Treasure Hunt, June 8th in the subject line. (Don't enter in the comments of this post for this contest.)

3~ Deadline is midnight tomorrow ~OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY~ Sorry about that, shipping just costs too much right now : (

4~ The winner will be contacted tomorrow, and I'll update this blog post then with the name.

Don't forget to enter for the other prizes as well! There are going to be a total of 30 prizes given way, so don't miss out!

~Plus, with the success of my last two contests I’m holding another to thank my loyal readers. Follow my blog for one entry, then post a comment for another.

The prizes are as follows:
~A signed paperback of Fateful with a matching handmade beaded bookmark.

~A glass pearl replica of Danielle’s necklace and matching earrings. (This is a quality handmade set that will be sold on Etsy soon.)

~A gifted Kindle or Nook e-book of Fractured.

~I’ll also be giving away a few handmade beaded bookmarks.

I haven't decided how many of each I'll give away, so enter and find out... The deadline for this contest is June 18th.

Good luck and thanks for taking a chance on me and reading Fateful!

Bookmarks are a mix of cream glass pearls and crystals strung on silk cord. The necklace is made up of white glass pearls strung on durable memory wire with an antique bronze leaf bead cap and extender chain. The earrings are made of matching white glass pearls, and antique bronze leaf bead caps on a lever-back earring. Click on each image to see it larger.

Fateful in paperback

2011-06-07T11:06:00.002-04:00

Fateful is now available for sale in paperback at the following locations:

Createspace.com

Amazon.com

Very soon signed copies will be available for purchase on my website.

Writer Interview & Book Giveaway!!!

2011-06-02T11:18:00.011-04:00

Cheri’s publicist (AKA Hubby, Drew) did an interview of her:
(Scroll down if you have no patience and just want to know how to win the free book.)

Drew: So how long have you been writing?
Cheri: About 6 years.

Drew: How long have you known you wanted to be a writer?
Cheri: I only figured that out 6 years ago too. I’ve always had stories playing in my mind. And I always thought they were for my own personal entertainment. Then I dreamed about a story called The Fairy Ring Enchantment which I have a lot of handwritten notes for. Anyway after that dream, I started typing it thinking it was a picture book and was really confused when it started to come out like a novel. I was so confused in fact that I stopped typing in my notes to figure out what was going on in my head.

As I set that story a side for a while (I will finish it very soon though) Fateful started to come to me. And Fateful was coming at me so hard and fast that I was forced to start typing. I finished Fateful and half of Fractured in about two months. And I was shocked. I never knew I had more than 200 thousand words of text and dialogue in my head. Part of that might be because I’ve always been very creative in other ways, painting and photography and crafting...so I think those things sort of overshadowed my skill for writing. I like to say it was a hidden talent that I’ve only just discovered I had.

Drew: When does inspiration come to you?
Cheri: Sometimes while’ I’m driving, sometimes while I’m showering....

Uh, Drew, are you still there?

Drew: Huh? Oh, sorry, I was picturing you showering.
Cheri: ~rolls eyes~ As I was saying, most of my ideas usually come when I’m tucked in bed, comfortable and just on the verge of falling asleep.

Drew: This is why I bought you those little light-up pens...so you’d stop getting up with pen and paper, sneak off to the bathroom, shut the door, flip on the light and write. You always still woke me up...hence the light-up pens.
Cheri: Do I wake you up now?

Drew: Nope.
Cheri: You sure toss and turn a lot. It makes it kind of hard to write...I’m just saying...

Drew: Hmm...On to the next question! When did you write Fateful?
Cheri: Sometime between 2005-2006. Yes, before Twilight was popular. Only my first beta readers know that.

Drew: So did it hurt you when Twilight did become popular because you also wrote about vampires?
Cheri: Sort of but not really. I was editing when Twilight became popular so when it was time to find an agent or a publisher it was like swimming in a sea of vampires. That makes it really hard to get noticed. So I set the Fateful series on the shelf while I wrote Fair Maiden which doesn’t have any vampires in it. I mean I knew vampires would always be popular; at least they always have been for me. I’ve loved vampires since movies like “Love at First Bite.”

Anyway, I knew I could come back to my vampires and then this e-book revolution happened... Now I’m incredibly glad I couldn’t get an agent or a publisher. So in truth the best thing to happen to me was the explosion in vampire popularity. I love having this sort of control.

Drew: This brings me to the indie question. Are you glad you did it?
Cheri: I am sooo glad I did it. The publishing industry is really struggling right now and authors are getting cheated in the process. I feel so free doing it this way. I’d always wanted to design my own covers because I know my way around Photoshop. But every time I asked agents and publishers if they’d let me do that I’d get the explanation that I could put in a submission for the cover. Then the marketing department would make the final decision.

Drew: Okay, since you brought it up, explain what the covers mean to you....
Cheri: With Fateful I wanted a sense of wonder and curiosity. The two characters recognize each other from a time in their past neither of them remembers. I think my models captured that very well.

With Fractured the characters deal with a lot more danger to their lives and I wanted that to show in their faces. Again the models did a brilliant job and I’m extremely pleased. Funny thing, myself and the models like this even better than the first one.

For Fair Maiden, I wanted her to sort of look like she could either be dead or sleeping, but deeply like Sleeping Beauty. This model was also delightful to work with and I got exactly what I wanted for the cover.

Drew: Okay, again....since you mentioned your models, who are they?
Cheri: I’m not going to say who they are.

Drew: But I can...
Cheri: Jerkface

Drew: You used that word in Fateful, where did “jerkface” come from?
Cheri: Well our teens use it a lot, as you well know. Urban Dictionary has two definitions that fit: “The action of being a jerkface. Being a complete jerk in every sense,” and “a term of endearment between siblings; often meaning I Love You.” I put it in the story mainly for my kids and I think the character would use it too.

Drew: How does the story come to you? Besides when you’re trying to sleep and naked in the—?
Cheri: Do we really need to go back to that?

Drew: I suppose not.
Cheri: Great...anyway, the stories come as ideas in my head. Sometimes, or rather, many times I even hear the characters talking to each other in my head.

Drew: I see... ~Drew raises eyebrows~
Cheri: I told this to a girlfriend once and she said, “That’s not normal. It’s a sign that you really are a writer. Most people don’t hear characters talking to each other in their head.” I wasn’t exactly sure what to say to that, but it felt like a compliment so that’s how I took it.

Drew: Who is your favorite author?
Cheri: I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one. So some of my favorites are: Catherine Anderson, Lynsay Sands, Lisa Kleypas, Leslie Charteris, Brandon Sanderson, and Lynn Kurland, just to name a few.

Drew: You have a knack for drawing emotion out of the reader. How do you do that?
Cheri: I really have no clue...

Drew: Why did you go indie?
Cheri: Because YOU introduced me to Joe Konrath AND because of him, I realized books are something people consume like ice cream, or chocolate or French fries. When it comes to something people consume then they want it cheep and they want it now. I think that’s why e-books are exploding. You can buy a novel with one click and devour it in a day. Much to my vexation.

Drew: Why do you say that? But first would you define vexation for me?
Cheri: Eh, sure. Vexation means the sate of being provoked to slight annoyance, anxiety, or distress. (according to dictionary.com)

And to answer the first question: Because it took me months or perhaps even a year to write and edit the book and then readers just scream through it in a few hours...oh well. May aim is to entertain, so I guess if I accomplish that then I don’t really care if my readers take time to savor it. People are really fast readers. It’s amazing really. I can’t read that fast!

Drew: Did you try to publish the old fashioned way first?
Cheri: You know I did.

Drew: ~clears throat~ I mean, for the kind folks reading this did you try to publish the old fashioned way first?
Cheri: Oh, sorry. Of course I did. I even started off the year with 160 quires sent to agents and a few copies of Fair Maiden in the hands of small publishers. I got a very positive response in terms of my writing, however I frequently heard, “Due to the market right now...” or “Could you make it 30 pages shorter because we can’t afford to print anything over 300 pages...” or “This looks great but it just doesn't fit into our list right now...” Then Joe Konrath showed me the light.
Drew: And me.
Cheri: Right, and you. xoxo Thanks for the support.

Drew: So how do you keep up with everything else? Your Blog? Your Website? Twitter? Facebook? Kindle Boards? Converting your books? Computer backups..the list must be endless!
Cheri: That is why I hired you, my handsome geek you.

Drew: Um....where is my paycheck?
Cheri: You know, hugs, kisses, and don’t forget the Wegman’s cannolis in the fridge!

Drew: Oh and you folks out there in internet-land reading this....if you like it....let us know by leaving a comment and following the blog. Then perhaps I’ll con Cheri into doing another one of these interviews soon

Plus, for everyone who comments, she’ll put your names in a hat and draw a winner to send a fee e-copy of Fractured to. For an extra chance to win, comment AND follow this blog. Deadline is June 7th.

3rd Annual Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win! Contest

2011-05-31T08:55:00.007-04:00

Welcome to our 3rd Annual “Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win Contest!” This is becoming an exciting tradition, both for our sponsors and hopefully for all of you! 29 writer friends and I have banded together to present a month-long contest where we will give away a prize a day for the entire month of June. That’s right! 30 awesome prizes, running the gamut from books books books! (romances, fantasies, mystery/thrillers, inspirationals, children’s books, and various non-fiction), as well as Amazon gift cards, a Mary Kay gift set, a vinyl lettering gift certificate, a hand-sewn weekly planner with ribbon bookmark, a crocheted book tote with matching cell phone case, and again for you aspiring authors, TWO free edit/critiques of a partial manuscript. Many of the giveaways are open to International entries, though always check to be sure before you enter for a particular prize.

And how exactly do you enter for these amazing prizes? By following these rules:

SUMMER TREASURE HUNT RULES:
You can send in one entry for each day’s prize, or only for those prizes that strike your fancy. The rules are simple:

(1) Go to the website or blog indicated for each day, find the answer to the question for that day, then email the answer with your name and AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. I promise you will not wind up on any mailing lists. This is only to facilitate the receipt of your prize. All entries will be deleted at the end of the contest.

(2) Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: Summer Treasure Hunt, June 1; Summer Treasure Hunt, June 2, etc).

(3) Deadline for each day: Midnight PST

(4) The winner will be contacted and announced on the day following the deadline.

All winners will be drawn by www.random.org.
You do not have to wait until the designated day to enter. You can start sending in your entries right now, or begin entering at any point along the way. And check back here each day between June 2nd – July 1st to read the names of the winners.
If you have any questions, please email Joyce DiPastena at jdipastena@yahoo.com.
And now…let the treasure hunt begin!

Click here to view the daily prizes and blog addresses (with hotlinks) to all the fun!

I sponsor on June 8th and I'll be giving away a signed copy of Fateful.... But don't miss out on the days before and after me!