Guido Mattioni

The action of the book follows an Italian man, Alberto Landi, who at fifty has lost his way. Like Dante (of Divine Comedy fame), Alberto is having an existential crisis after the sudden death of his beloved wife, Nina. He leaves Milan, where he has always lived and worked, and escapes across the ocean to Savannah, a city both he and his wife had loved. There, in a natural paradise governed by the breath of the tides and with the help of many dear friends, he starts to rebuild his life.

Guido describes his novel as a declaration of love to the women of the world, as well as to the city of Savannah. We were intrigued by this premise, and took the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his writing and life via email.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I have no doubt: Dante Alighieri, because his Divine Comedy is the summa of everything can be written about human beings. You’ll find an answer to every question in it. For the same reason, I love Marcel Proust. His ability to distill universal lessons, even from the most apparently simple fact or behavior, is impressive. From a writing style point of view, I do love many American writers, even if they are very different from each other. Authors like John Steinbeck, John Fante, Tom Wolfe, Mark Twain, Truman Capote, Saul Bellow, William Faulkner and many others, and I always keep a special corner of my soul for my beloved Flannery O’Connor.

Do you have a favorite quote about writing or the writing process?

I do not have a quote, but I do believe that good writing has to be much more similar to the job of a cabinetmaker. I mean, a writer has to start from a raw piece of wood—the words—and then going on outlining, roughing off, refining, smoothing until the curves look like velvet and sound perfect. Maybe I will be not a bestseller, but I hate this modern and very popular syncopated writing. To me, it’s the language of a generation who grew up reading and writing short cell phone text messages. Literature is something else altogether.

Where are you from, and how does your geographic location influence your writing?

I’ve lived most of my life in Milano, a business-oriented big city in northern Italy. It’s full of history, like any other big Italian city (or small village), but it’s unfortunately always running, and it’s money-minded and polluted. It’s very different from Udine, in northeast Italy, where I was born and where I grew up. Udine is a cozy and elegant small town not far from Venice, on the border of Austria and Yugoslavia. Fortunately I can write anywhere, probably because of my former job as a professional journalist always travelling. I have a vast stock of knowledge, faces, characters, sites and places, and my memory is still good.

What’s your favorite writing fuel?

I must say I don’t need a specific “fuel” to write. Except for a good cup of coffee in the morning, what I do need is just silence. That’s why I’ve spent a hell of a lot of money on doors and windows and special glass to keep Milano’s traffic noises out of my downtown apartment!

Do you have any superstitions or writing exercises you like to use when starting a new project?

No, I have no superstitions at all—not in writing, nor in the rest of my life. I love all cats, even black ones! I’m definitely much more afraid of politicians.

What are your hobbies or interests, outside of writing?

I don’t love sports, of any kind, but I have to admit I am a definitely strange kind of Italian because on top of that, what I really hate is soccer. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know. I just hate it! But I would have loved to play golf, because I enjoy walking on the grass and under the trees. After a dozen useless lessons, years ago, I realized I was unable to coordinate my movements, and it was frustrating, so I quit. But I love cooking, and I’m an excellent chef for my wife and friends. It’s the only hobby I have. I spend a lot of money on new pots, ceramic knives, small appliances. My wife calls them my “toys.” And she’s right, they are!

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

No question: I would have been a chef! That’s probably because cooking is a creative job, just like writing.

What’s next for you? Are you working on anything right now?

I’m already working on another novel, also set in the United States, but it’s more of an action/adventure story. It’s an old idea that goes back to the 80s, a fiction story that has slept for decades in my handwritten reporter notebooks. I’m just updating the plot. It will not be a poetic setting, like Savannah with its idyllic sunsets on the marshes, but instead it will be set on the dusty and dangerous border between Texas and Mexico. It will be definitely a tough story, even if it’s a human one, because feelings and good sentiments can grow up even in the sand, even in the middle of the desert, just like saguaros and cactus do.

Whispering Tides is available at Amazon in English and Italian (as Ascoltavo le maree), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and Apple’s iBookstore. You can also buy the Italian hardcover version at Lulu or read an excerpt here. Connect with Guido on Facebook, Twitter or GoodReads.

Eighty Six the Poet

Find out more about Eighty Six the Poet and get in touch with the sexy and strange side of life.

Who are your favorite authors and/or influences?

As a post-apocalyptic writer, The Stand and Earth Abides have had a strong influence on me. “What would you do after the end of the world?” is a question that intrigues me. As a poet, I love Robert Frost and Shakespeare for their ability to make form feel natural. As a cocktail writer, influences surround me daily. I include scenes and sound-bites from guests and co-workers often. In truth, I have little time to read now and count it as one of my guilty pleasures. I can read 400 pages a day but would get nothing else done. Unfortunately I must choose between reading and writing. I can’t do both.

Do you have a favorite quote about writing or the writing process?

“Write a lot about a little.” Not sure who said this first. I picked it up somewhere in college.

Where are you geographically located, and does this play any part in your writing?

I have lived in Spokane, Washington for almost four years. It was a family move. My big sister moved here first and I realized I could work at a restaurant and buy a house. A single me would have stayed in Seattle. Prior to Spokane, I lived in the Seattle area and Northern California, which are both close to my heart and writing. Inside the Skull of David Priest takes place in fictional Empire, Washington, which is a city much like Seattle and Tacoma. The Cathartes Aura series wanders from the Pacific coast of Washington through Oregon to California, without specifically saying so. I like to make up my own settings, although they are always much like real places.

How has your past influenced you as a writer?

During college, writing dialogue was my weakness. I just had not seen and heard enough of the people on this planet to be able to copy them. Years of waiting tables and tending bar have filled my ears with tons of speech and my eyes with lots of body language. I am much better at describing a character with just a few words and gestures.

Pick your poison: what’s your favorite writing fuel?

Coffee, of course. Big fan of the French press. And bourbon. Good for creativity but bad for work ethic and focus. Rarely touch that marijuana anymore, but I can’t stop writing about it. Writing about David Priest, who is ripped all the time, was a bad influence on me.

Do you have any special routines, superstitions or writing exercises you like to use when getting started with a new project?

I like using a computer for writing, but I also love the feel of old-school stuff. I still use 70-page spiral notebooks from elementary school and like the feel of a good pen. I used to love fine-point roller ball pens in any color but blue, but lately I’ve fallen for the Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen with an extra-fine point. It’s the type of pen you’d use to draw a comic book. The india ink never runs or smudges, but the tips wear out fast. I’ll need a new one soon.

I still love to brainstorm and think it’s important to fill up pages with unfiltered ideas before trying to make a polished text.

What are your hobbies or interests, outside of writing?

I love to fish. This summer I plan to get my toddler hooked on the outdoors. I play frisbee with my dog daily, otherwise he’ll chase my wife around the house all day. I love to cook.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

I’d be a bartender, of course, because the business is fun and the hourly pay is good, at the right place. As an artist, I’d be a photographer. The crusty old kind that insists on using film and dark rooms. None of this modern digital crap. That’s for vacation photos. I used to do a lot of black and white in high school and college. I would have minored in photography but my old camera kept breaking and I kept dropping classes.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

Prague. My wife is Czech. We visited the country a few years ago and I almost didn’t come back. Before my bilingual kids get too old, they will go to school there. I could tend bar and teach English in Prague. If I can ever make a living writing, I’m moving there.

What are you working on now?

Three things:

1. Cathartes Aura 3. The first chapter is on my blog.
2. David Priest, the novel. Characters and plots are bouncing around my head, including a scene involving the “One Inch Slap.”
3. A new post-apocalyptic novel. I love the genre as a character study. I want to build a beautiful remote tropical island nation with a screwed-up government. A history of neglect and corruption has shoved the society to the brink of collapse. One more tiny push will cause the whole place to fall into disaster. Told in first person by multiple diverse characters, rather than in third person by a distant turkey vulture. Instead of destroying the whole world, which is difficult to do even fictitiously, I want to wreck an isolated community and see how the individuals respond.

Here’s a brief sample from the book, featuring Mr. Priest getting pumped for a night at the bar:

When they drew me from the deck, they pulled the ace. I am the trump, the wild card, the read ‘em and weep. Want to step to my bar? Better bring two stomachs, two livers. Best bring four kidneys. Come with your rugby team because I’m ready.

I am the spigot and the pump. The muddle and the anvil. Lemons and limes tell their kids campfire stories, flashlights under dimpled faces: “David Priest will smash you for his drinks if you’re naughty.”

Grab a copy of Inside the Skull of David Priest at Smashwords or Amazon, and find out more about Eighty Six the Poet on his blog, Eighty Six the Poet.

Seumas Gallacher

We discovered his work through a chance encounter on Twitter, and thought the U.S. could use an introduction to this rising indie star.

Who are your favorite authors and/or influences?

On the writing scene, I discovered Stuart McBride’s crime noir stuff a couple of years back, he’s got gritty quirky characters that leap out at you, coupled with the Scots dry wit. For solid storytelling I like Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, who never goes to the toilet or farts or anything really except mow down all the bad guys. About a hundred years ago I read How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn, which I found an amazing read.

Outside of writing, my life long hero has been the late Winston Churchill, apart from his prodigious literary contribution, I relate to his maverick style, taking on of the rest of the world, and try to adhere to his motto, NEVER, EVER, GIVE UP on anything you believe in.

Does geography play any part in your writing?

I’ve had the privilege of working all over the world: the Far East, Australia, and now in Abu Dhabi in the Gulf, which has led to a realization that the world is just one huge village. The cultures, styles, attitudes and experiences that stick along the way get selected directly and indirectly into what and how I write, particularly people (character) descriptions. All of my characters, goodies and nasties, are composites of people I have met.

How has your past influenced you as a writer?

As a 15-year-old brought up in the then-slums of dockside Glasgow, I did the usual Glasgow mandatory thing of punching out my father and leaving home to seek my fortune elsewhere. At the time it was terrifying, but looking back, I know it was the ultimate making of me. All the experiences along the way have added to any colour I have in my writing.

Pick your poison: what’s your favorite writing fuel?

Food: Scottish brand Tunnock’s Caramel Chocolate Caramel Wafer biscuits. Drink: Diet Coke by the case.

How do you deal with negative reviews?

Interestingly, the first negative review gave only two stars out of five, but when I looked at the only other review that reviewer had posted, I saw that he had given John Grisham one star out of five, so I guess it should ALL be taken with a pinch of salt. A positive review I enjoyed said “this book gets you in from the first shock in Chapter One and then you can’t put it down. Tightly written, with lots of connections throughout to keep you thinking. Very clever. Let’s hope Gallacher brings out a sequel soon…” Thanks, Mum!

What are your hobbies or interests, outside of writing?

I am a devoted couch potato weekend soccer TV freak, I watch all of the English Premier League games which we get live here in the Middle East. I mess around with a recently acquired electric guitar, and produce (really!) weird noises on that.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

I dabbled variously along the way as lead singer in a band, played a reasonable level of football (soccer), and even thought of teaching other people about how business REALLY works at Harvard, any of which I would have happily pursued.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

On a space vehicle circling the planet just to see what it looks like from up there… it must be awesome.

Do you have any special routines, superstitions or writing exercise you like to use when starting a new project?

Before I get into any project, I need to have a clear idea in my head of the ending. I then go walking for several evenings in a row, letting my mind play with some of the structure… all of this before typing the first word. That way, I get a flyer at it, and hopefully that impetus starts to feed on itself.

What’s next? What are you currently working on? Is there a sequel or prequel in the works?

I am working on the second book now, which is well advanced, with another three in concept (just today, another series of ideas has begun mentally, so probably up to four more after this current WIP). These will be not so much sequels as a series of stories centered round the same basic characters, with some fresh ones to keep it from getting boring or formulaic (which I detest). I have also produced a couple of short stories for competitions just to keep me on my mettle, and to add some frisson to it all.

Here’s a brief sample from the book, to whet your whistle:

On either side of him, one man each took hold of an arm… two others stepped forward swiftly and acted in concert… two meat cleavers flashed and thudded through the flesh of each arm. As the dying triad was folded into the tarpaulin, the man in the middle seat spoke, very quietly.

“Remove this scum and park it with the fishes. The hands that have been stealing my money will be taken and shown round the streets to the rest of our people. Remind them all how much I value their honesty.”

Hooked yet? You can read more or grab a copy of Gallacher’s book, The Violin Man’s Legacy, at Amazon.com.

As part of our new partnership with Novel Publicity & Co., we present an interview with Justin. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

Who or what is a Sykosa?

Sykosa is a 16-year-old junior in high school. She’s the main character of a novel I’ve written by the same name. For a quick rundown, she attends a prestigious preparatory academy, is part of the school’s coolest clique, “the Queens,” and she has started dating the boy she’s secretly been crushing on for a year, Tom. It’s taken a year to start dating him because A) there was this SUPER HUGE thing that happened during her sophomore year, and it delayed things and made being intimate with Tom difficult, and B) she kinda starts seeing stars around him and loses the ability to behave in any type of serious manner.

Why is Sykosa different from other novels?

It’s different because youth driven literature has become full of metaphors for danger that seem to have split into either science fiction or fantasy. (Before I go any further, I like both genres, so I’m not being a snob!) Sometimes, it feels like instead of dealing with real problems, it’s easier to have kids use magic. And instead of facing real contemporary issues, kids should fight aliens or something. These metaphors are meant to represent real life, but I fear they’ve slightly crossed over into a bit of denial about contemporary Americanism, which is a hard topic to write about since our country is in an identity crisis, and has been for about 11 years. Sykosa is an attempt to counteract this trend. When I was young, I read books about young people that blew me away like One Fat Summer and The Outsiders. These books felt real, and it felt like I could slip into them at any moment. The writing was gritty, it was unapologetic, it was brilliant. I just don’t see many of those around, and I wanted to write one, and I wanted to write one with a female protagonist.

Why did you choose cross-gender writing?

Toward the end of the my high school education, I was allowed to split my school day from my normal, traditional education and a newer style, self-directed educational program. I took an English class where my English teacher, someone who I’m still friends with to this day, gave me only one assignment for an entire semester, and it was, “Perform a deep self-evaluation of yourself and your writing and come up with one goal for what you’re going to improve on.” At the time, I was seriously into writing, and had taken to writing a few books per year, but most of them were in the first person, and they were just me talking about myself. The issue was that I had been in a serious car accident the year prior and I had injured a friend in it. (He fully recovered, but never forgave me.) I had tried to write a first person story about myself many times since the accident, but I was constantly failing because I was dealing with some lingering self-loathing and guilt. As a way to get away from it, I decided I wanted to work on a story I had been thinking about for a while, but that I never started writing for one super scary reason.

The main character was a teenage girl.

Odd as it might sound, I was intimidated by the fact that the main character was a woman. So I faced my fear and said my goal would be to write women better, and I proceeded to work with several teachers and several female students to help me craft a female character that was realistic, yet met my vision of her as well. This challenge stuck with me into my adult life, and it eventually found its ultimate form in Sykosa.

How will I know I’m a fan of Sykosa?

I’m glad you asked! Sykosa.com has tons of stuff to help you determine if this book is right for you. Below you’ll see some humorous diagrams I’ve made, but at the website you can read an excerpt of the book, watch the book trailer, read character profiles and really get a solid understanding of Sykosa’s world.

What kind of stuff influenced you to write Sykosa?

The primary motivators for Sykosa were Buffy The Vampire Slayer and It by Stephen King. It so happened, in 2001, I moved in with a woman I was dating. She was a fan of Buffy, so I had to watch it and became a fan myself. While most people were probably drawn to the vampire killing, it was the last thing I was interested in. I thought Whedon created an interesting cast of personalities and analyzing them was something I enjoyed. At the time, I was reading It. What I liked about It was the small town, insular feel to the novel, and how the inhabitants of this town were able to show a “front” of values, but were secretly hiding and allowing evil to proliferate all around them. From these two things came Sykosa, a girl who does not have any super powers, nor does she kill any vampires, but she did have a traumatic event happen in her life, and she’s struggling to deal with it, and its made no easier by the fact that her small, insular parochial school has decided to ignore the incident.

What is your most favorite and least favorite part of Sykosa?

The most favorite part is easy. It’s Sykosa’s best friend Niko, who just gets my blood pumping every time I have to write her. I love Sykosa, she’s definitely the main character and the story would never work without her, but I could sing Niko’s praises all day and all night. She’s such an interesting young woman and to see how she’s developed over the years as I’ve written the story has been a real treat. When someone first reads Sykosa and then decides to talk to me about it, I’m secretly waiting to hear them mention Niko. It’s never the first thing they say, it’s never the last, it’s always sandwiched somewhere in the middle, “By the way, this Niko—I love her!”

My least favorite part… Wow, that’s hard to answer, isn’t it? In the middle of the book, there’s a section called an Interlude, which is a story structure that Stephen King used in It, and that I borrowed as an homage to it. There’s a section where Sykosa, Niko and her mother are driving in a car together. I swear, I rewrote it fifty times—maybe more—and it’s never read right to me. It just never has.

What kind of writing schedule do you keep?

Let’s put it this way:  I recently heard a story that there are “cat writers” and “ox writers.” I’m an ox writer. I put in the time, every day, whether I’m feeling it or not, whether its terrible or not, even if I know I’ll just end up deleting it, I push through it and I do it anyway, and somewhere along the way, it ends up coming together as a story.

What’s the coolest story you have from writing Sykosa?

Sykosa is interesting in the sense that it took me a long time to finish it. The first couple years I was writing it, I was really just writing stories about the characters, feeling everyone out, figuring out how they fit together, but there was no plot holding it together or pushing anything forward. In 2003, I seriously debated quitting, as it had been the hardest piece of writing I had ever taken on, and to be honest, I was somewhat used to overcoming challenges easily and without a lot of adversity. And while I usually worked on the book on my bus ride to and from work, this one beautiful, sunny day, I decided not to. I sat on the bus and kept the binder of writing closed on my lap. When the bus stopped at Pioneer Square, a homeless black woman sat next to me. She noticed the book, then said to me, “So you’re writing a novel?” I couldn’t tell how she knew that, but I said, “Yes, I am.” She asked me what it was about, but I’m terrible at talking about my work, so I gave her the gist, “teenage girl” “high school” “likes her boyfriend” etc, etc. The conversation lasted one stop, when the bus opened its doors, the woman reached out with her hand, put it on my own (which was clinging to the book like I was protecting it or something) and she said, “Justin, I want you to know, God blesses this book. He blesses it, and you can’t quit.”

I had never mentioned to her that I was quitting it.

I started working on it after she left the bus, and I never spoke or saw her again.

True story.

Do you have any tips for people who are struggling with writing or want to take it up?

I do. First off, keep struggling. It’s a worthwhile struggle. There’s a lot of be gained from writing. And for those who want to take it up and for those who are already writing, I can’t stress this enough:  Draft. And by the I mean, write in drafts, don’t sit in a chair and challenge yourself to make it perfect now, write it perfect now, but instead write in drafts. If something only gets 5% better, that’s fine, cause it’s just one draft of what will be many, and eventually, that 5%, that 3%, that 7%—it adds up and you end up with a really good story. But, if you try to knock it out of the park every time you step up to the plate, you’ll swing the bat a whole lot, and you’ll be tired and exhausted when you’re done, but you won’t have a ton to show for it. That’s when most people quit. They think, “I can’t do this” or, “I don’t have the talent.” They don’t understand they’re doing it wrong, that’s all.

When you’re not writing, you’re…

Singing karaoke. I go once a week with some close friends of mine. It’s a fantastic release, also you get feedback from an audience, which you sometimes miss from writing, and you can forget how exciting it is to share your work with others. My favorite song to sing right now is Gaga’s “You and I.” Gaga has got a great voice that she can make raspy if she needs to, and I’ve got a voice that can match the raspier songs, so I think I do her proud. Otherwise I’m singing the Killers, Kings of Leon, Oasis or Lauryn Hill.

 EXTRA BONUS SECTION!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Sykosa eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To win the prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of Sykosa for just 99 cents
2. Fill-out the simple form on Novel Publicity
3. Visit today’s featured social media event
4. BONUS: Leave a comment on this post*

Leave a comment, win $100:

One random tour commenter will win a $100 Amazon gift card. Just leave a comment on this post, and you’ll be entered to win. For a full list of participating blogs, check out the official tour page. You can enter on just my blog or on all of them. Get out there and network!

About the book: YA fiction for the 18+ crowd. Sykosa is a sixteen-year-old girl trying to reclaim her identity after an act of violence shatters her life and the lives of her friends. Set at her best friend’s cottage, for what will be a weekend of unsupervised badness, Sykosa will have to finally confront the major players and issues from this event, as well as decide if she wants to lose her virginity to Tom, her first boyfriend, and the boy who saved her from danger. Get it on Amazon.

About the author: Sykosa is Justin Ordoñez’s life’s work. He hopes to one day settle down with a nerdy, somewhat introverted woman and own 1 to 4 dogs. Visit Justin on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

As part of our new partnership with Novel Publicity & Co., we present an interview with Sheryl. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

If you could travel in a time machine, would you go back to the past or into the future?

I would go to the past, meet famous people, see history as it happened. I’d be afraid to go to the future. I’m not sure I really want to know when I die.

If you could jump into a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

This might be too expected, but I would love to live at Hogwarts, stroll through Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, play with all the magical stuff, and visit the Weasleys at their house. I saw the Harry Potter exhibit at the museum a few years ago, and it just seemed so fun.

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why?

Sandra Bullock. Since she became a movie star, people all over the place tell me I look like her. She’s also funny. I can only imagine how much more interesting and funny my life would be if she were the lead.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always knew I wanted to be a writer. There were times that I thought I wanted to be an interior decorator, but in the end, I was always much happier writing and creating.

Who are your favorite authors of all time?

I have two. The first would be Stephen King. I was always amazed by the detail and imagination he used in his books, especially the earliest books. I watched him on an interview many years ago and he was talking about the things he was afraid of, one of which was sleeping with his feet outside the covers at night. He would always cover his feet so that the monsters under the bed wouldn’t get him. I laughed so hard because I do the same thing. J.K. Rowling is also a favorite. Her life story and Harry Potter reminded me that I wanted to be a writer when I was seven. She reminded me of the genre that I loved. It got me thinking about what stories intrigued me. I watched her interview on Oprah and cried through the entire thing. It got me thinking of ways to take my personal experiences and hide them in the fantasy world.

What do you do in your free time?

I read, a lot. In the winter, I spend time at museums and go shopping. In the summer, I love to go to flea markets. You could never have too many fleas. I love to travel. I spend most of the summer driving my 1966 Mustang convertible.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I’m a huge fan of Ninja Warrior. Yeah, the Japanese obstacle course. On one side, it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. On the other side of it, the obstacles are so challenging, and the participants are so revered for making it through each stage that it is a huge honor to win.

Favorite places to travel?

I love Europe, London being my favorite city. I’ve been to Scotland, France, Italy, Germany and Austria. The Austrian/German Alps are some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen.

Favorite way to spend a rainy day?

In front of the television watching my favorite movies. Who doesn’t love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Sixteen Candles?

If you could have a superpower, what would you choose?

Telekinesis! Then I could clean my house without actually having to do anything.

EXTRA BONUS SECTION!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Day of First Sun eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To win the prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of The Day of First Sun for just 99 cents
2. Fill-out the simple form on Novel Publicity
3. Visit today’s featured social media event

Help my blog win:

The tour blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card. When you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill out the contest entry form, don’t forget to VOTE FOR ME.

About the book: A vampire, a rogue wizard and an army of soulless zombies are par for the course for Annie Pearce and Bobby “Cham” Chamsky of the Wizard’s Guard. But when the non-magical princess, Amelie of Amborix, is murdered by magical means, a deeper plot unfolds. Get it on Amazon.

About the author: Behind the wheel of her ’66 Mustang Convertible, Sheryl is a constant surprise, using her sense of humor and relatable style make her books something everyone can enjoy. Visit Sheryl on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.