Anaphora and Epistrophe by Annette Lyon

Anaphora is a funky term that essentially refers to a stylistic effect with repetition at the beginning of sentences or phrases.

Before your brain starts spinning with “what the huh?” let’s look at some examples you’re probably already familiar with. Note the bolded sections:

One of the most famous examples in modern times is from Martin Luther King, Jr:

I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi a state, sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

Then there’s one of the most famous openings to a novel, where Charles Dickens used anaphora in A Tale of Two Cities:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair . . .

Or how about Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address:

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right . . .

A general writing rule is to avoid repetition. But as with any rule, there are exceptions, and this is one.

My critique group is great at catching weak repetition (so, not anaphora), whether it’s when one of us gets redundant with concepts (“beating a dead horse; you already showed that . . . a lot”) or words (“on these two pages, your characters looked twelve times”).

When I find that kind of repetition, I cut it out and revise, and I suggest the same to editing clients. A great way to find repetition is to read you work aloud. Your ear will catch things your eyes don’t.

But anaphora is a different animal; it’s repetition with a purpose. It’s used for a specific emphasis in meaning or to create a desired impact on the reader or listener.

There is another type of repetition that is similar to anaphora, and that is epistrophe, which is repetition at the end of a line. I used epistrophe in Lost Without You, my first published novel (*cough*now on Kindle for cheap*cough*cough*).

It’s a minor moment, when Brooke falls into a lake. Greg and Russell worry at first that she’s hurt herself, but

Brooke was only wet. Very wet.

I remember circling “Very wet” during revisions, wondering whether I should take it out. In the end, I kept it in for emphasis, even though I didn’t realize that what I was doing had a name. In that case, I think it worked.

Once you’re aware of them, you can find examples of anaphora and epistrophe everywhere. Without resorting to Dr. Google, can you think of other examples of anaphora or epistrophe? Any favorites?

 

Annette Lyon  is a Whitney Award winner, the recipient of Utah’s Best of State medal for fiction, and the author of nine novels, a cookbook, and a grammar guide, plus over a hundred magazine articles. She’s a senior editor at Precision Editing Group and a cum laude graduate from BYU with a degree in English. When she’s not writing, editing, knitting, or eating chocolate, she can be found mothering and avoiding the spots on the kitchen floor. Find her online at blog.annettelyon.com and on Twitter: @AnnetteLyon.

Need a little extra grammar help? Get Annette’s grammar book, There, Their, They’re: A No-Tears Guide to Grammar from the Word Nerd.

A Thousand Suns by Jim Haberkorn

Every six months a Russian agent arrives at the Rockin’ Rooster saloon in Twin Falls, Idaho to fight local cowboy and laid-off spy Rulon Hurt.

To the locals it’s great fun and even to Rulon and his punk wife, Yohaba, it’s not a bad way to spend a Wednesday night.

But when Rulon saves Boris, the latest Russian, from a gang of local skinheads, a feud ignites that quickly escalates out of control. Eventually an assassin is brought in from Germany, and Rulon is shot and left in a coma.

Yohaba and Boris are now alone together. Great minds think alike. They back track the assassin to Zurich with the intent of settling the score.

Read excerpt

Title: A Thousand Suns (Book 2)

Author: Jim Haberkorn

Publisher: Bonneville Books (CFI)

Release Date: March 12, 201

ISBN: 978-1462111855

Size: 320 pages, 6×9, softcover

Genre: Suspense

Rulon Hurt Series: Einstein’s Trunk (bk 1)


Forever Fair by Elise Pehrson

Azelia Pendragon was the most beautiful woman in the kingdom when her infuriating jealousy took over her sanity. After making a deal with a sly wizard, she loses her life to her daughter, Vidella Altaire.

Vidella has spent her life in the dark about her past, but it all begins to unravel on her eighteenth birthday when the sinister spirit of her mother appears before her eyes.

Now Vidella must figure out a way to kill the already dead Azelia on a journey filled with fear, pain, and self-discovery.

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Title: Forever Fair

Author: Elise Pehrson

Publisher: CreateSpace (Self)

Release Date: March 14, 2013

ISBN: 978-1482699654

Size: 258 pages, 6×9, softcover

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal


Hansel and Gretel by Jenni James

A hidden princess and the boy who saves her life—

Hansel’s father finds a child lost and alone during a violent thunderstorm. After bringing her in from the tempest, he and his son are startled to discover that she is Gretel, a princess of Larkein–the enemy kingdom their own king has just destroyed. Fearful for her life, Hansel pleads with his father to save her. He believes they can make Gretel good by teaching her their ways. His kindhearted father agrees, but with great trepidation.

Ten years later, Gretel has grown into a lovely young woman who both infuriates and drives Hansel to distraction while he attempts to not lose his heart to her. When the Larkein witch comes back in the guise of a beautiful woman and marries their father, everything is set into a tailspin. Now they must figure out their new stepmother’s plans and prevent her from destroying them all before it is too late.

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Title: Hansel and Gretel

Author: Jenni James

Publisher: StoneHouse Ink

Release Date: March 14, 2013

ASIN: B00BUSEL88

Size: 83 pages, ebook

Genre: Fantasy

Faerie Tale Collection: Beauty and the Beast (#1),  Sleeping Beauty (#2), Rumplestiltskin (#3), Cinderella (#4)


Journey of Promise by Vickie Hall

Richard and Leah Kenyon believe they’re ready to sacrifice whatever it takes to reach Zion.

To confront the challenges mounted against them they call upon the Lord’s tender mercies to see them through and strengthen their love for one another.

But they’re unprepared for the exacting measure of the Atlantic Ocean and the mighty Mississippi River.

Journey of Promise is a story of enduring faith against incredible odds.

Read excerpt 

Title: Journey of Promise

Author: Vickie Hall

Publisher: Bonneville Books (CFI)

Release Date: March 12, 2013

ISBN: 978-1462111169

Size: 272 pages, 6×9, softcover

Genre: Historical

Series: All That Was Promised (bk 1)


Why You Should Avoid Succeeding as a Writer by Michaelbrent Collings

I am often asked questions about the business of writing – how to self-pub, how to market, how to amass a group of loyal fans – but the question I am most often asked (in some form or other) is this: “How do I become a successful writer?”

For a long time I tried to answer the question, babbling about sales and marketing and hard work and blahblahblahblah. But then I realized what I should have been saying, and what I now say to you: if you’re asking yourself – or anyone else – how to become a successful writer, you’re asking the wrong question.

Success is an ever-retreating illusion. Like the end of the rainbow, it looks beautiful, laudable, something that people just over there clearly can lay their hands on. So why not you?

Well, because even if you manage to get to the end of the rainbow, even if you somehow contrive to grasp the edge of that many-colored illusion, you will find in the next moment that it moves away from you once more. And your version of “success” moves right along with it.

How many times have you said this in your life?

“If only I could get that promotion – then I’ll be a success.”
“If only I could buy that car – then I’ll know I’m a success.”
“If only I could afford the big house – then I’d know I was a success.”

And what happens? You get the promotion, you buy the car, you put the down payment on the big house… and like the rainbow, your measure of success immediately moves. You’re not successful unless you are constantly moving onward, upward, forward. “Success” is a beast with a relentless appetite.

So what do you do? Is the only answer to eschew success as a writer? Do you put all your manuscripts in a box and bury them somewhere, then go off and live as a hermit in a cave?

Not at all. But you must stop thinking in terms of being “successful,” and instead ask yourself this: as a writer, what will make me happy?

In other words, what is my goal, my aim, which will give me satisfaction once reached?

Is it to simply write a book?
Is it to win an award?
Is it to pay the rent on a regular basis?

Each of these is an attainable goal, but each is different, and each carries with it different responsibilities. Recently, the finalists for the Whitney Awards were announced. Several of my friends were among them, which was great.

My name, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen on the list. I’ve sold oodles of books, my novels are consistent bestsellers on Amazon’s major lists, my most recent novel Darkbound is doing great and getting rave reviews.

But none of my books were there.

Did I break down crying over this? No. Because long ago I decided that my goal, my reason for writing, my “happy place,” if you will, was to write full-time, and take care of my family doing by doing so. So while it would have been nice to get on the list (if only to see the look on the judges’ faces, given the kind of books I tend to write), it mostly would have been nice inasmuch as it might have driven a few more sales my way. Because that’s my goal: to sell books.

Other people crumple into a fetal position when their names are missed for some honor or other. Not me. And it’s because I’m too busy achieving my goal – the thing that I decided will make me happy – to worry about incidentals.

How do you “succeed” as a writer? How do you “make it”? Beats me. But that doesn’t matter.  Because more important is your determination of what will make you happy. The question is subtly different, but the difference allows you to focus on concrete steps that will aid you in achieving that goal. It also allows you to avoid the poisonous practice of comparing yourself with others, because no matter how “successful” other writers may be, their success is irrelevant to the question of your happiness.

What is your goal as a writer? What is your happy place? Answer those questions. Then push away everything else, and work to achieve those ends. And once you have achieved them, recognize that you have done so, and find joy in the attainment.

But oddly enough, you will most likely find that in the doing you achieve as much joy as in the accomplishing of them.

Michaelbrent Collings has written numerous bestselling novels, including his latest novel Darkbound.  His wife and mommy think he is a can that is chock-full of awesome sauce.  Check him out at www.facebook.com/MichaelbrentCollings or  michaelbrentcollings.com.
 

Mattie by M. Ann Rohrer

Born in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, nineteen-year-old Mattie turns her back on God when her father dies. She vows never to pray again, except perhaps to ask why. But years later, as she places her trust–and heart–in the hands of a dangerous man, Mattie discovers that though she may have left God, He never left her. She takes her first step to recover and tries to decipher the depths of her broken heart, finding love again–perhaps not in the place she thought.

Will she choose Alonzo–her tall, good-natured childhood sweetheart–or Enos–the rough, gun-packing nemesis of her youth? Relying on her rediscovered faith, Mattie learns that trusting God is not without sorrow, especially when the hardships of the Mexican Revolution threaten her fragile faith and wedded bliss.

Follow Mattie through heartache, hope and history–and discover that God will never leave you.

Read excerpt

Title: Mattie

Author: M. Ann Rohrer

Publisher: Bonneville Books (CFI)

Release Date: March 12, 2013

ISBN: 978-1462111114

Size: 240 pages, 6×9, softcover

Genre: Historical


SEALed with Love by Heather Tullis

It isn’t Sage Parker’s fault that she mistakes former Navy SEAL Joel Watts as the stalker who had been sending her disturbing letters–he shows up every time she turns around. Too bad her father doesn’t tell her he sent Joel to protect her. When the stalker tracks Sage from LA to her new job in Colorado, she’s glad to have Joel on her side. She didn’t plan to falling in love with him though—now if he would see her as more than just a client.

Joel takes his job as head of resort security seriously, but Sage is his number one priority, and the one woman he can’t get out of his mind. He isn’t sure if he believes in her precognition, or some of her other hokey beliefs, but he soon finds he can’t live without her. He just has to catch the stalker before he or Sage end up dead.

Read excerpt

Title: SEALed with Love (DiCarlo Brides, Book 2)

Author: Heather Tullis

Publisher: Jelly Bean Press

Release Date: March 11, 2013

ASIN: B00BSOU4IU

Size: 217 pages, ebook

Genre: Romance

DiCarlo Brides Series: A Perfect Fit (bk 1)


Beyonders: Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull

Jason and Rachel were not born in Lyrian. They did not grow up in Lyrian. But after all of the battles and losses, the triumphs and adventures, and most of all, the friendships forged in this fantastical world, Lyrian has become home to them in a way they never could have imagined.

And so, armed now with the prophecy of a dying oracle, they have gone on their separate quests—each surrounded by brave and powerful allies—knowing that the chance for success is slim. But Jason and Rachel are ready at last to become the heroes Lyrian needs, no matter the cost.

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Title: Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders #3)

Author: Brandon Mull

Publisher: Aladdin

Release Date: March 12, 2013

ISBN: 978-1416997962

Size: 512 pages,hardcover

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Beyonders Series: A World Without Heroes (bk 1), Seeds of Rebellion (bk 2)


The Pirate Ruse by Marcia Lynn McClure

Abducted! Forcibly taken from her home in New Orleans, Cristabel Albay found herself a prisoner aboard an enemy ship—and soon thereafter, transferred into the vile hands of blood-thirsty pirates! War waged between the newly liberated United States and King George. Still, Cristabel would soon discover that British sailors were the very least of her worries—for the pirate captain, Bully Booth, owned no loyalty—no sympathy for those he captured.

Yet hope was not entirely lost—for where there was found one crew of pirates—there was ever found another. Though Cristabel Albay would never have dreamed that she may find fortune in being captured by one pirate captain only to be taken by another—she did! Bully Booth took no man alive—let no woman live long. But the pirate Navarrone was known for his clemency. Thus, Cristabel’s hope in knowing her life’s continuance was restored.

Nonetheless, as Cristabel’s heart began to yearn for the affections of her handsome, beguiling captor—she wondered if Captain Navarrone had only saved her life to execute her poor heart!

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Title: The Pirate Ruse

Author: Marcia Lynn McClure

Publisher: Distractions Ink

Release Date: March 9, 2013

ISBN: 978-0982782644

Size: 300 pages, 6×9, softcover

Genre: Romance


The Book of Jer3miah: Premonition by Luisa Perkins and Jared Adair

When college freshman Jeremiah Whitney accepts the charge of a mysterious Mesoamerican box, it makes him the target of a terrifying conspiracy. As he tries to uncover the truth about the box, more questions arise and the stakes get higher.

From the murder of his parents to the revelation of his own adoption, Jeremiah discovers that the more he learns about the box, the less he knows about himself.

Will he be able to discover the secret of the box before more people die?

Or will he be the next to disappear?

It is a race against time…

Read excerpt

Title: The Book of Jer3miah: Premonition

Author: Luisa Perkins and Jared Adair

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Release Date: March 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1609070113

Size: __ pages

Genre: Young Adult___?


The Hand of Glory by Stephen Carter

Thou shalt honor thy ancestors.
Unless they are trying to kill thee.

Moving to an old house in a tiny Wyoming town has made life miserable for 14-year-old Paul McCallister. The ancient toilet doesn’t work, two school bullies have singled him out as prey, and, worst of all, his mom has disappeared. The only thing that keeps Paul sane is the friendship of his Uncle Doc who, when not tending his gigantic junk shop, snoops around in their family’s strange past.

And in that past lurks a mystery: A vanished woman. A pool of blood. An old house that won’t stay quiet. As Paul comes closer to solving that mystery, a dark presence begins to haunt him. Paul will soon discover how long hatred burns, how deep blood runs, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for family.

Read excerpt    Book Site

Title: The Hand of Glory (Harrowed Valley Hauntings, Book 1)

Author: Stephen Carter

Publisher: Leicester Bay Books

Release Date: March 8, 2013

ISBN: 1482021625

Size: 210 pages, 5.25 x 8, softcover

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Suspense


Fall by Jennifer Latas

Being promoted to project manager is a dream come true for 21 year old Julia Dayle (J.D.) Halstead. And her first project is to convert a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse into a B & B.

However, an ancient secret hides within the walls of the schoolhouse.

A secret nightmare that could unleash the Furies of Hell and cause a Host of Angels to weep for the loss of one of their own.

A secret that could scar J.D. for eternity.

 

Read excerpt

Title: Fall

Author: Jennifer Latas

Publisher: Phoenix Fire

Release Date: March 2, 2013

ISBN: 978-0615778389

Size: 274 pages, 6×9, softcover

Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Fantasy


Poison Me by Cami Checketts

Jake Merrill was raised by his grandmother, Ruby, and her hilarious friends. After a suspici0us death at the retirement home where Ruby lives, she enlists Jake and Chanel, the beautiful activities director, to help her find the killer.

But secrets Ruby has kept for decades threaten her family and the man she’s always loved but could never have. Chanel’s unstable ex-boyfriend, a presumably dead relative, and vicious criminals add to the confusion.

Time is running out as Jake, Chanel, and Ruby desperately search for clues to solve the murders and fight to save those they love.

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Title: Poison Me

Author: Cami Checketts

Publisher: CreateSpace

Release Date: March 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1482615869

Size: 268 pages, 6×9, softcover

Genre: Suspense


Isabelle Webb: The Grecian Princess by N.C. Allen

The sun burns brightly over the ancient isle of Greece as former Pinkerton spy Isabelle Webb returns for her most rousing adventure yet. Legend has it that the location of a fantastic treasure is revealed only when three mystical jewels are united. In an effort to locate the elusive trove and the power it promises, shadowy organizations and greedy men have tirelessly pursued the three hidden stones for centuries.

Isabelle and her trusted companions including her dashing fiance, James Ashby are in possession of one of these legendary jewels, while nefarious treasure hunter Thaddeus Sparks retains another. The third stone, the Jewel of Hades, is rumored to be concealed on the rocky shores of Greece. As good and evil converge on this fiery island, the final battle for possession of the jewels and their anciently protected secret begins.

When events take a deadly turn, Isabelle must rely on her keen instincts and indomitable spirit as dastardly forces threaten to make her first Greek expedition her last.

Read excerpt

Title: Isabelle Webb: The Grecian Princess (Book 3)

Author: N.C. Allen

Publisher: Covenant

Release Date: March 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1621083610

Size: 304 pages, 6×9, softcover

Genre: Historical Suspense

Isabelle Webb Series: Legend of the Jewel (bk 1), The Pharoah’s Daughter (bk 2)


The Legend Thief by E.J. Patten

Sky has more monsters to fight—and lives to save—in the sequel to Return to Exile.

Sky thought he had problems before. “Before” as in when his uncle disappeared, he had to move to an odd new town with his family, and, oh yeah, it was up to him to make sure the world’s deadliest monster didn’t escape from his prison.

But none of that compares to now. “Now” as in when the entire Hunters of Legend are coming to Exile with one mission: kill Sky.

Well, Sky thought there was only one mission, but the longer he stays alive, the more he realizes that there is something else afoot. And all those friends that he kept in the dark to keep them safe? Turns out he might have to ask them to risk their lives yet again to stop an unspeakable evil from wreaking havoc on the world.

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Title: The Legend Thief (The Hunter Chronicles, vol. 2)

Author: E.J. Patten

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Release Date: March 5, 2013

ISBN: 978-1442420359

Size: 384 pages, hardcover

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

The Hunter Chronicles: Return to Exile (bk 1)


Stars of Blood and Glory by Joe Vasicek

The princess of Shinihon could not have picked a worse time to run away. The largest Hameji battle fleet ever gathered threatens to overrun the last of the free stars. To make matters worse, a rogue assassin from an unknown faction has killed the high admiral of the Federation. Without clear leadership, the war may be lost before she can be found.

But Danica Nova and her band of Tajji mercenaries are no strangers to lost causes. They’ve fought the Hameji before, and they’ll fight them again—not for honor, or for glory, but simply for the pay. War has been their way of life ever since the diaspora from the homeworld.

Master Sergeant Roman Krikoryan is one of the few remaining mercenaries still old enough to remember the homeworld. But he’s an old cyborg, and his humanity is fading. Death is a mercy he doesn’t expect to find on this mission.

They aren’t the only ones after the princess, however. Hungry for glory and eager to make a name for himself, Sholpan’s son Abaqa seeks to make the girl his slave. Though only a boy, he’ll stop at nothing to prove himself to his Hameji brethren.

With the Federation in disarray, the bloody end of the war may come too soon for some of them. But one thing is certain—not all of them will live to see it.

15 years after the events of BRINGING STELLA HOME

Caution: This book may contain objectionable content. (PG-13)

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Title: Stars of Blood and Glory (Gaia Nova, Book 4)

Author: Joe Vasicek

Publisher: Self

Release Date: March 4, 2013

ASIN: B00BP0RVVA

Size: 249 pages, e-book

Genre: Science Fiction

Gaia Nova Series: Bringing Stella Home (bk 1), Sholpan (bk 2), Desert Stars (bk 3)


Cragbridge Hall: The Inventor’s Secret by Chad Morris

Abby and Derick have been accepted to the most prestigious secondary school in the world, Cragbridge Hall. Due to the inventions of their grandfather, Oscar Cragbridge, they will be able to experience history in 3D, use their minds to literally project visual interpretations of classic literature, and become animal avatars for zoology.

But when their grandfather and parents go missing, Abby and Derick must follow clues Oscar left for them that will reveal a dangerous secret. Along the way, they discover there is much more to one of their grandfather s inventions than anyone has ever dreamed.

Saving their family will take all of Derick s mind and Abby s heart as they come face to face with a crazed scientist who desperately seeks to change the past. If they fail, the world past and future will never be the same.

Read excerpt

Title: Cragbridge Hall: The Inventor’s Secret

Author: Chad Morris

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Release Date: March 5, 2013

ISBN: 978-1609073268

Size: 256 pages, hardcover

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

 


The Bane by Keary Taylor

Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world.

Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won’t stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn’t need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West—one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

Note: This book may not be eligible for a Whitney Award. It was previously published as Eden in 2011, it has been “revamped and re-released as The Bane: book one in The Eden Trilogy.”

Read excerpt

Title: The Bane (Book 1)

Author: Keary Taylor

Publisher: Keary Taylor Books

Release Date: February 28, 2013

ISBN: 978-0615769806

Size: 352 pages, 5.5 x8.5, softcover

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian


March 2013 Prize Sponsors!

A big thank you to our Prize Sponsors! Please take a moment to learn more about this month’s wonderfully generous sponsors.

The Book of Jer3miah: Premonition by Luisa Perkins and Jared Adair

Jer3miahWhen college freshman Jeremiah Whitney accepts the charge of a mysterious Mesoamerican box, it makes him the target of a terrifying conspiracy. As he tries to uncover the truth about the box, more questions arise and the stakes get higher.

From the murder of his parents to the revelation of his own adoption, Jeremiah discovers that the more he learns about the box, the less he knows about himself.

Will he be able to discover the secret of the box before more people die?

Or will he be the next to disappear?

It is a race against time…

Perkins_Luisa2

Luisa M. Perkins graduated from Brigham Young University, and is the author of several short stories and essays. She has been a member of the Whitney Awards Committee for the past two years. She also served a French-speaking mission in Montreal. She and her husband, Patrick, live with their six children in New York’s Hudson Highlands.

Jared Adair is a pseudonymous conspiracy theorist, hacker, and corporate whistleblower. He is the unofficial leader of the anti-GDT movement, The Davenport Papers, a community committed to “bringing the truth to light by exposing the atrocities committed by multinational conglomerate Gainsborough Dahl Transglobal.” Little else is known about Adair beyond his online presence and his associations with the missing Dr. Calbert Davenport.

 

Braving the Blaze by Cindy A. Christiansen

BravingTheBlazeSingle-minded Dean Harward is going to become a veterinarian if it kills him. He’s worked summers as a volunteer wildfire fighter to earn money for college. Just his luck, a pyrophobic woman gets assigned to his team. He’s certain she’ll get him killed before he can graduate.

Ginger Warby is a walking firestorm as accidents continually spark around her. Or are they accidents?

Can Dean keep the flames of desire he reluctantly feels for her under control long enough to keep them and his Golden Labrador alive?

Christiansen_CindyACindy A. Christiansen writes sweet romance with comedy, suspense…and dogs! She is a member of National Romance Writers of America, the on-line Kiss of Death chapter and The League of Utah Writers. Cindy lives in Utah with her supportive husband, two very special autistic boys and two rowdy dogs. All of her books include dogs because life wouldn’t be life without them. She is currently working on another novel and hopes she can be an inspiration to other challenged writers to live their dreams. She donates both time and money to organizations that support abused and abandoned dogs.

Winner of this book will also receive a PDF copy of Christiansen’s book, Stolen Horses, Stolen Hearts.

Echoes of Issel by Diann Thornley Read

EchoesIsselBook two of the Sergey Chronicals and the sequel to Ganwold’s Child.

Tristan is now a soldier reunited with his family. Tristan and Lujan Sergey, commander of the Special Forces and the father Tristan has never known, try to find some common ground on which to build a relationship.

The universe is just opening up for Tristan when a new crisis occurs and he is pressed to volunteer for hazardous return to service. The alien masuk slavers are about to attack the Issel system and only Tristan, once held captive there, knows the planetary defenses.

 

Read_DiannDiann Thornley Read: Originally from Smithfield, Utah, Diann  wrote her first story at the age of five and never stopped writing. She taught herself to type on her father’s ancient manual typewriter at the age of six because it was faster than pushing a pencil. Ganwold’s Child, her first science fiction novel, took seven years and countless revisions to complete, due to entering the U.S. Air Force. Diann retired from the Air Force in June 2009 to return to her writing career. She is now working on a military space fantasy series called The Seventh Shaman.

 

Isabelle Webb: The Grecian Princess by N.C. Allen

GrecianPrincessThe sun burns brightly over the ancient isle of Greece as former Pinkerton spy Isabelle Webb returns for her most rousing adventure yet.

Legend has it that the location of a fantastic treasure is revealed only when three mystical jewels are united. In an effort to locate the elusive trove and the power it promises, shadowy organizations and greedy men have tirelessly pursued the three hidden stones for centuries. Isabelle and her trusted companions — including her dashing fianceé, James Ashby — are in possession of one of these legendary jewels, while nefarious treasure hunter Thaddeus Sparks retains another. The third stone, the Jewel of Hades, is rumored to be concealed on the rocky shores of Greece.

As good and evil converge on this fiery island, the final battle for possession of the jewels — and their anciently protected secret — begins. When events take a deadly turn, Isabelle must rely on her keen instincts and indomitable spirit as dastardly forces threaten to make her first Greek expedition her last.Allen_NC

Nancy Campbell Allen has a total of eleven published novels, including her popular Faith of Our Fathers series and the Isabelle Webb series. She has a degree in Elementary Ed and is the mother of three.

 

 

Second Chances by Melanie Jacobson

SecondChancesAfter walking out of a thankless job at a prestigious marketing firm, feisty California entrepreneur Louisa Gibson is going into business for herself. Lou’s pioneering venture, The Mormon Bachelor, is a reality dating web series sure to be fabulous advertising for her new marketing firm. And as a bonus, she can solve a problem close to home: while Huntington Beach is crawling with eligible, sun-bronzed Saints, they’ve forgotten the vital skill of dating. Lou hopes the reality show will finally inspire this group of hangout enthusiasts to pair off. But shortly before filming begins, the unthinkable happens—Trentyn, a.k.a. The Bachelor, gets a girlfriend. And Lou needs a new leading man—fast.

Enter Nick, Lou’s devastatingly handsome ex-boy- friend. He’s the stereotypical actor: shallow, self-serving . . . and perfect for the job. A whirlwind of dating ensues, with Nick at the center of it all. Things are going according to plan—that is, until Lou is forced to step in as a substitute bachelorette, becoming an unwitting cast member on her own show. Despite Nick’s attempts to reestablish their friendship and the growing spark between them, Lou is determined to keep her distance. The show must go on—but what’s a girl to do when the Mr. Wrong of the past just may be the Mr. Right of the future?

Jacobson_MelanieMelanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She consumes astonishing amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and romance novels. After meeting her husband online, she is now living happily married in Southern California with her growing family and a series of doomed houseplants. Melanie is a former English teacher and a popular speaker who loves to laugh and make others laugh. In her down time (ha!), she writes romantic comedies for Covenant and maintains her humorous slice-of-life blog.

 

Where the River Once Flowed by Jennie Hansen

WhereRiverFlowedNew Mexico, 1879—The Sebastian Hacienda is a lucrative and coveted ranch deep in the fertile wilderness of New Mexico, a property held for generations by the powerful Sebastian family. After the death of his son and heir, proud and formidable Don Sebastian has only one hope for the preservation of his land: his beautiful young granddaughter, Iliana. Desperate, he makes a shocking deal—the property will be sold to Ross Adams, an American cowboy, on the condition that he marry the stunning young Iliana and bequeath the land to her sons. A bargain is struck, but not everyone is pleased with the outcome. Neighboring rancher Ben Purdy has his eye on pretty Iliana—and on ownership of the Sebastian Ranch. In his ruthlessness, Purdy is willing to go to terrible lengths to acquire them both, even if it means destroying everything in his path . . . Utah Territory, 1891—Travis Telford was born to be a cowboy. He left his family to chase the dream of someday owning his own ranch, but years of nomadic living as a ranch hand have proven taxing. After several seasons of horse trading with the American owner of the Sebastian Ranch, Travis finds his life dramatically altered by a routine stop at the property. He finds the ranch in chaos and the rancher’s beautiful widow Iliana in the midst of a turbulent land battle. His instinct to protect Iliana is undeniable, and as the danger mounts, only their reliance upon each other has the power to save them.

Hansen_Jennie2Jennie Hansen was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She lived in many farming and ranching communities in Idaho and Montana. Her family moved more than 20 times as she grew up. Born the fifth of eight children, Jennie had a ready supply of playmates during her childhood. Her brothers and sisters are still among her closest friends. She married Boyd Hansen of Rexburg, Idaho, and over the next ten years they became the parents of five children. They have made their home in Utah since their marriage.

Jennie graduated from Ricks College in Idaho then continued her education at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been a receptionist, a model, a Utah House page, freelance magazine writer, newspaper reporter, editor, library circulation specialist, mother and grandmother. She has over twenty published books to her credit. Jennie also writes a monthly review column for Meridian Magazine.

 

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Winner: Susan (Bloggin’ ’bout Books)

Commenting on: Dealing Positively with Negative Reviews

 

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Winner: Rebecca Talley

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Winner: Michelle

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The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction.

A king gone missing.

Who will survive?

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

Read excerpt

Title: The Runaway King

Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: March 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-0545284158

Size: 352 pages, hardcover

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Series: The False Prince (bk 1)


Jump Boys: SOS by Alex Banks

A dare gone terribly wrong.

An SOS from another universe.

A threat from right next door.

Thirteen-year-old twin brothers Jayce and Val are about to jump the multi-verses on a dangerous dare, but true danger is closer to home than they realize.

The Jupiter Prime colony has been orbiting the stormy gas giant for nineteen years and all anyone wants is to get back to Earth. Sent to preserve the best and brightest of the population, a grievous error in the Prime’s navigation coordinates sent the colony to an alternate dimension with no way to return to the Earth they call home.

In a society where technical expertise is valued above all else, Jayce and Val are among the most privileged—until they uncover their uncle’s plot to claim dominion over space and time. While attempting to rescue a lone girl from a post-apocalyptic earth, Val will come face to face with space pirates and Jayce will lay his life on the line for the sake of his brother and the little girl who holds the key to time itself.

Read excerpt

Title: Jump Boys

Author: Alex Banks (Ali Cross)

Publisher: Novel Ninjutsu

Release Date: February 27, 2013

ISBN: 978-0991859962

Size: 198 pages, 5×8, softcover

Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult Science Fiction


Small Town Superhero by Cheree Alsop

Small Town Superhero is about a boy whose life is turned upside down after a horrible accident tears apart his family and forces him to live with his relatives.

Kelson struggles with the move to a small farming town where he becomes the target of the town’s gang. When circumstances turn dangerous, Kelson is forced to risk everything to save the town and the girl who changed his life and captured his heart.

Small Town Superhero has a fresh voice and frank point of view that draws you into Kelson’s life and helps you understand the boy who is fighting to overcome challenges made by both his decisions and the circumstances of a town struggling to face its past.

Read excerpt

Title: Small Town Superhero

Author: Cheree Alsop

Publisher: CreateSpace

Release Date: February 27, 2013

ISBN: 978-1482645231

Size: 276 pages, 5×8, softcover

Genre: Young Adult