March 11, 2014

Interview with K.A. Tucker! Anomaly Tour Stop



About the Author





Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.


☆ How to find K.A. ☆
BlogWebsiteFacebookTwitterGoodreads


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Title: ANOMALY (Causal Enchantment series #4)
Author: K.A. Tucker
Release Date: March 6, 2014

Goodreads
AmazonBarnes & NobleiTunes
She was merely a pawn in their game. And then something happened. Once the fragile, naïve human, Evangeline has become altogether … different. A being who holds formidable power, she may be the key to changing the course of fate. Or she could be the final nail in the world’s coffin. But Evangeline doesn’t know exactly what she is, what she can do. She knows only that she has to stop an enemy far worse than the Sentinel and the sorceresses—one driven by revenge. And he’s hunting the man she loves. As Evangeline fights to keep Caden alive and the human population from eradication, she can’t help but sense the imminent doom. Find out if fate will prevail in the harrowing conclusion to the Causal Enchantment series.




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Mindy: K.A. Tucker is back! I’ve missed you!!! And I didn’t realize how much I missed the Causal Enchantment series. I felt like you ended Allegiance so brilliantly that I was okay to wait for another series, but I had no idea how you would come up with a whole new final book for the Casual Enchantment series. But OMG! You did and I totally loved Anomaly! And I don’t think I would have EVER gotten the slightest clue that you would take that book the way you did ONE BIT!

K.A: Thank you, thank you. I’m soooooo glad to be back at one of the first blogs I ever visited!

Mindy: What was it like to finish the final words in your Causal Enchantment series?

K.A: “It was time”. LOL. This series was the start of a passion and a career for me so it holds a special place in my heart. I needed to finish this. It felt completely satisfying to end the story the way I wanted it to end. There may have been some wine-drinking and chocolate-eating too…

Mindy: Did you know that the series would end the way it did when you first started writing Anathema? Or, did you have an epiphany about the ending while writing one of the other books in the series and, if so, in which book did you have that epiphany?

K.A: Back when I was writing ANATHEMA, I didn’t even know it would be four books. I certainly didn’t know how I would end it. I started seeing the end while writing ALLEGIANCE, realizing how big a role The Fates would play in the story. But even still, I wasn’t sure how I would get from point A to point B until I began writing it.

Mindy: After writing the first 3 books in your Causal Enchantment series, you came up with the story for your contemporary novels, right?

K.A: Yes, that’s right. ALLEGIANCE drained me. I needed a break from the world-building and the giant cast of characters. It was around that time that the idea for Ten Tiny Breaths hit me.

Mindy: Due to the popularity of Ten Tiny Breaths, you are now a traditionally published author! For you, what do you think are the pros and cons of publishing traditionally vs. independently publishing?

K.A: Yes! I have been fortunate enough to be offered a contract from Atria Books (actually two contracts now, for a total of eight books). I can say that my experience with Atria has been fantastic. In terms of pros vs indie publishing, I would say the following: having several editors (my editor, for story content, etc., plus a copy editor to catch all the little uglies) gives me an opportunity to strengthen my story and writing in a way that I couldn’t do without spending a fortune on freelance editing. Another pro is that I’m not doing all of the work involved with indie publishing (all the packaging.) I am still involved with cover design to a certain extent—meaning I’m asked for my input—but I’m not coming up with the concept, hiring a designer, etc.

In terms of cons vs indie publishing: the indie publishing world moves much faster. To be fair, Atria has worked very hard to release my books quickly (4 books in 16 mths, from the time they picked up Ten Tiny Breaths to the release of Five Ways to Fall!). But with indie publishing, you have the freedom to finish your edits and upload your files the same day, if that’s what you want to do.

Mindy: After writing four contemporary novels, what was it like to come back to writing your Causal Enchantment series?

K.A: It was extremely difficult, not only for the genre and category change but also because I was shifting from present to past tense. My editor caught many tense issues because I struggled to switch my brain back.

Mindy: Before you traditionally published Ten Tiny Breaths you were a really busy business woman. What are the pros and cons of your previous career vs. writing full time?

K.A: This one is easy *smiles* -- I’m passionate about my career now. Before, I was doing something that I was good at and I could be very successful doing. But I didn’t love it. I love my life now, even on the hard days. I also have so much more flexibility. I don’t have to answer to anyone. As long as I submit my manuscripts on time, everyone’s happy.

Where it can get difficult is time management. Now, I’m always working or thinking about working. I had a much easier time shutting down and walking away before.

Mindy: If a publishing house offered it, would you ever traditionally published your Causal Enchantment series?

K.A: If it makes sense to do so, yes. I already have interest from foreign markets and am in the process of selling to one country.

Mindy: What do you think you’ll miss most from the Causal Enchantment series?

K.A: Max. I loved writing that freaking dog so much.

Mindy: Do you have any new brilliant book plots ideas in that crazy mind of yours?

K.A: Ha ha. There are a few ideas floating around. Not sure how brilliant they are. I’m working on the new series with Atria, BURYING WATER, right now. I have thoughts on a psychological thriller that I want to write and there is a YA contemporary book about bullying that is calling to me for personal reasons. It’s one that I’ve been thinking about doing for some time but it will be an extremely difficult one for me to write, so it’ll be awhile before I open that draft file up.

Mindy: Thanks again K.A. Tucker for stopping by Magical Urban Fantasy Reads! And thank you for not forgetting about me when you became this awesomely famous author! I can hardly wait to meet you in person (finally!) and in only just a few weeks! See you soon!!!

K.A: Silly rabbit. I don’t forget my friends xox


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This is an author hosted giveaway!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
Void where prohibited by law

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March 6, 2014

Anomaly by K.A. Tucker Released TODAY!


I'm extremely excited to be able to participate in the Release Day Launch for K.A. Tucker's ANOMALY! ANOMALY is a Young Adult Paranormal and is the final book in the Causal Enchantments Series. I am one of her beta readers and was very lucky to read this a few weeks ago it's the perfect ending to the series! Go out and grab your copy today!!

And if you haven't started the series yet book 1 ANATHEMA is free!!! Grab your copy at AmazonBarnes & NobleKoboiBooks



Title: ANOMALY (Causal Enchantment series #4)
Author: K.A. Tucker
Release Date: March 6, 2014

Goodreads
AmazonBarnes & NobleiTunes
She was merely a pawn in their game. And then something happened. Once the fragile, naïve human, Evangeline has become altogether … different. A being who holds formidable power, she may be the key to changing the course of fate. Or she could be the final nail in the world’s coffin. But Evangeline doesn’t know exactly what she is, what she can do. She knows only that she has to stop an enemy far worse than the Sentinel and the sorceresses—one driven by revenge. And he’s hunting the man she loves. As Evangeline fights to keep Caden alive and the human population from eradication, she can’t help but sense the imminent doom. Find out if fate will prevail in the harrowing conclusion to the Causal Enchantment series.



Exclusive Excerpt


“So …” One of his fingers tucked a strand of blond hair behind my ear. “How are you feeling?”

I didn’t know how to answer that question. “Completely uneven, though my balance is better than ever,” I admitted. How long would it take to get used to the new me? Would I ever? Drawing breaths out of habit rather than necessity? The air still pulled in and out of my lungs, though I no longer needed it to survive. If I made a conscious effort to stop the repetitive act, no pressure built in my chest, no dizziness threatened my consciousness.

I would never grow old or die by natural means. My face, my hair, my body would never change. Not again anyway.

“Is it a good feeling?” Caden’s fingers clasped my hand, his thumb rubbing over the meaty part of my palm. I closed my eyes and tipped my head back, reveling in the sensation, like an all-consuming itch finally scratched. Since waking, the urge to be in constant physical contact with Caden had been almost overwhelming. It was as if my skin had been stripped back, exposing every nerve ending. Only it didn’t hurt.

Far from it.

It was a euphoria I’d never experienced and I couldn’t get enough. 

Cracking an eyelid to peek at him, I caught a smirk that told me he could sense my reaction to his touch, though I knew that’s not what his question referred to. “I don’t know. How am I supposed to feel?” My new life had begun mere hours ago, when I woke on a dank dirt floor to a world of possibilities. And unpleasant anticipation. “I guess I’m just … waiting for the inevitable.” For the uncontrollable urge to kill to hit me.

Despite other distractions competing for my attention, that anxiety lingered like a vicious thorn. Sofie promised me that it was only a matter of time until the first human crossed my path and tested my control. And she also promised me that I would have none.

I dreaded that.

I desperately wanted to skip over that part. Heck, I wanted to not need any blood to survive at all. I wanted to be immune to it.

But nothing I wanted had ever come easy so there was no reason to believe it would be different now.

“Yeah, so am I,” Caden whispered under his breath, a hint of wariness in his tenor. He followed it quickly with, “But how do you feel?”

How did I describe this? “Alive? I guess? Like I’m bursting with energy? Like I could run forever.” This strange bubble of something had taken up residence in the pit of my stomach. A ball of energy or thrill or eagerness. Or all three. I didn’t know what it was exactly but I was keenly aware of its presence, almost a tangible force inside, ready to explode. Perhaps that was the impending hunger?





About the Author





Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.


☆ How to find K.A. ☆
BlogWebsiteFacebookTwitterGoodreads



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This is a author hosted giveaway!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
Void where prohibited by law
a Rafflecopter giveaway

March 3, 2014

Ruins by Dan Wells Blog Tour & Giveaway!




About the Author






Dan Wells writes in a variety of genres, from dark humor to science fiction to supernatural thriller. Born in Utah, he spent his early years reading and writing. He is the author of the Partials series and the John Cleaver series. He has been nominated for both the Hugo and the Campbell Award, and has won two Parsec Awards for his podcast Writing Excuses.




☆ How to find Dan ☆
WebsiteBlogTwitterFacebookGoodreads
The Partials Facebook Page


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About the Book

Our time is almost up.

As the clock ticks closer and closer to the final Partial expiration date, humans and Partials stand on the brink of war. Caught in the middle, thousands of miles apart, are Samm and Kira: Samm, who is trapped on the far side of the continent beyond the vast toxic wasteland of the American Midwest; and Kira, now in the hands of Dr. Morgan, who is hell-bent on saving what's left of the Partials, even if she has to destroy Kira to do it.

The only hope lies in the hands of the scattered people of both races who seek a way to prevent the rapidly escalating conflict. But in their midst appears a mysterious figure, neither human nor Partial, with solemn warnings of a new apocalypse—one that none of them may be able to avert.

The final installment in the Partials Sequence is a thrill ride of epic proportions, as the last remnants of life on our planet fight to determine its final fate.


☆ How to find Ruins ☆
AmazonBarnes & NobleBook Depository




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The Other Books

Publisher's Summary: The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

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Publisher’s summary: Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence—it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

The second installment in the pulse-pounding Partials saga is the story of the eleventh hour of humanity's time on Earth, a journey deep into places unknown to discover the means—and even more important, a reason—for our survival.



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I have a very special post by Dan Wells today! In each of the RUINS Dan Wells Tour stops, there is a timeline of events leading up to the wars before PARTIALS and I'm excited to share the first four to you today!

2020: Biotech company Rock Canyon Labs announces first public sale of "cloned" organs: custom-built replacement body parts grown from your own DNA. With no need for a donor and virtually zero risk of host rejection, this revolutionizes health care, surgery, and human longevity. (Stage 1: eyeballs with perfect vision)

2027: Competing companies begin offering engineered organs, shifting biotech from a "replacement" industry to an "upgrade" industry. The first markets are cosmetic and even recreational uses. (Stage 2: eyeballs with perfect vision, nightvision, and your choice of iris color.)

2029: Human augmentation becomes commonplace, though still comparatively primitive. Simple genetic tweaks for disease resistance become as pervasive as vaccinations in the west, but several eastern nations are leery of the technology and slow to adopt it. Corporate conglomerate ParaGen begins buying up every biotech company it can find, consolidating the best minds in the field.

2033: China takes a strong anti-manipulation stance that will stand firm until the Break, going so far as to outlaw genetic engineering of the human genome. People with genetic upgrades are no longer considered human under Chinese law.



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This is a tour hosted giveaway!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
Void where prohibited by law
Two trilogy sets, signed by Dan US Only
Two Partials T-shirts, one ParaGen and one Plague Baby. We can find out what size the winners are and send them something that fits. International.

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☆ The Tour ☆

Week One:
3/3/2014- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads
3/4/2014- Fiktshun
3/5/2014- Step Into Fiction
3/6/2014- Two Chicks on Books
3/7/2014- Fantasy Book Addict


Week Two:
3/10/2014- Parajunkee
3/11/2014- Tales of a Ravenous Reader
3/12/2014- Mundie Moms
3/13/2014- Supernatural Snark
3/14/2014- All Things Urban Fantasy


Dear followers, fans and peeps! Some of the books I review on Magical Urban Fantasy Reads are provided to me for free by either the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. Please know that I am in NO WAY compensated for my reviews. All opinions are mine and I am not required to give a positive review in exchange for a free book! But some of the purchase links on my blog are monetized through places like Amazon, Book Depository or Barnes & Noble.