Seven 11: Teaser from The Talisman

It's that time again!

Every month on the 11th, me and some other awesome author buds post teasers. Seven lines ONLY of whatever story we choose. This month, I'm giving you guys 7 lines from The Talisman, my NA Urban Fantasy short story that just came out in Perception: A New Adult anthology from Elephantine Publishing.

Here's your teaser:



Avery glanced behind her and picked up her pace. 

She knew they were out there. Hiding. Waiting. She wouldn’t let her guard down. She’d promised her father she would be vigilant and even though death would put her one step closer to him, she wouldn’t go without a fight.

The streets were dark in this part of town. Not even a streetlamp to cheer up the shadows that seemed to close in around you so tight … until you could barely breathe. Her paranoia, though warranted, made it worse. She struggled to keep her breaths even and quiet and hurried forward.

The world will never look the same… 

There comes a defining moment in every young person's life that irrevocably shifts their point of view. 

Missing by award-winning author Mary Laufer--For a new teacher who still compares herself to her students, the shift in reality comes in the form a missing girl and a false accusation that could cost her more than her career. 

The Outlaw by debut author Scott C. Davis--For a young man who settles into a rut that not even his broken marriage can pull him out of, it’s a drifter’s gun to his head. 

Drive by author & screenplay writer Nealy Gihan--For an idealistic college student, the point of view shift comes in the form of her parents’ divorce pulling back the curtain on who they really are, shattering everything she thought she knew about love. 

My Boyfriend is a Senator by award-winning author Linda Davis--For a recovering addict who's not ready to change, it might just be an unhappy ending to her illicit affair. 

The Talisman by bestselling YA & NA author Heather Hildenbrand—For an orphan on the run from monsters, a shift in perception might be discovering the power of prayer as a saving grace against the likes of which no human being has ever seen. If we’re lucky. 

In Perception, discover five captivating stories that explore what it means to be a new adult. 

Get it on Amazon, B&N, or iTunes for just .99!

Check out what these other author peeps are teasing you with!

Amanda Aksel
Justine Winter
S.M. Boyce
Kasi Blake
Alicia Sheehy
Steph Nuss
Kayla Smith

and now--awesome giveaway time:



From Justine Winter:
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And 2 tickets to UtopYA 2015!!

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8/30 My UtopYA - unofficial official tips and a blog hop

I was asked by my awesome, beautiful, & talented friend Carlyle Labuschagne (THIS gorgeous girl!)

to participate in some sage advice-giving posts all about how to survive--and thrive!--at the awesome place that is UtopyA con! UtopYA's basically my favorite book place to be in the entire world so I was definitely excited to help out with this fun hop. And, because typed words are not enough to convey the excitement, I did a video.

You're welcome.

Adam Kunz!!!!! Best advice ever.

(UtopYA 2013)

And if you haven't checked out any of the other hoppers, you should read the posts below along with any others they can lead you to. Here's a list of some other #UtopYA shenanigans!

Aug 6 Delphina Reads Too Much, Official UtopYA blogger
Aug 8 Amy Evans, author of Clicks
Aug 28 Chelsea Fine author of amazing stuff like the Archers of Avalon series and The Best Kind of Broken (which gave me the best kind of cry)

And you should DEFINITELY make it a priority to get your pretty ass to UtopYA next year. You won't regret going but you WILL regret not going. I'm just saying.

And, because UtopYA is ALWAYS about free books, here you go...

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A Vampy, Sleepy Beauty

A few weeks ago I had the experience and privilege of hanging with a most awesome group of fifth graders. We talked about working in your PJs and what it takes to create a story and "why haven't you made your books into movies?" (Good question. Hollywood...? Anything... ?)

We also wrote our own story together, just to show how fun the process of creating can be. There were two classes and two stories. The first is a Zompire Love Story, which you can read here. This is the second:

BTW-our future authors have some crazy, awesome imaginations!

I had SO MUCH FUN with you guys!

A Vampy, Sleepy Beauty

Once there was a girl named Kate who, through a paranormal curse from an evil vampire, became trapped in permanent sleep. Doctors came and went. Her mom even hired healers, shamans, and medicine men but no one could figure out how to wake her up. One day, her boyfriend Shawn came over. He was a vampire but he still had a good heart. Shawn loved Kate and would do anything to save her. Someone had told him the only way to heal Kate was to bite her. He didn't want to. He was scared to hurt her. But nothing else had worked.

Shawn waited until Kate's mom had left the room and then he bit her.

There was a lot of blood. It ran onto Kate's bed and the floor, staining Shawn's sneakers. 

Kate's mom came in and screamed and Shawn ran out just as Kate woke up. 

Kate opened her eyes and when she saw her mom standing there, Kate's fangs came out and her stomach growled.
She jumped out of bed and tried to bite her mom. Kate's mom ran into the basement and called the police. 

Kate was captured and locked away in a mental hospital. She insisted she wasn't crazy--she was a vampire. But humans didn't believe in vampires. So they kept her locked up in a padded room.

One day, Kate's childhood friend, Kody Bahnks, came to visit her.

Kody was a werewolf. He'd moved away because he couldn't let anyone find out, but when he heard Kate was a vampire, he wanted to help. and he wanted a friend again. 

Kody promised Kate he would help her get free.

One night, when the moon was hidden in the clouds, Kody broke into the hospital  and freed Kate. 

Prison Cell by Chapboy, DeviantArt

They decided to run away together but first they had to stop at Shawn's one last time so Kate could say goodbye. He was the one that saved her from the sleeping curse, after all. 

When Shawn saw that Kody was a werewolf he became very angry. 

"You can't leave with him," Shawn yelled. "He's our enemy!"

"He is my friend. He helped me escape," Kate yelled back. She tried not to cry. She was already sad because she had missed Shawn. She didn't want to fight with him on their last night together. 

Kody growled at Shawn. Shawn bared his fangs. Before Kate could say anything, the two boys leaped on each other, fighting and biting and wrestling the other to the ground. 

"Stop!" Kate screamed but neither boy listened. 

Kate jumped in between them and wedged herself in front of Shawn's raised fist. "Stop," she repeated. "You can't find about this. Or about me."

Shawn stepped back. "Fine," said Shawn. "But I love you, so you have to choose one of us."

Kate looked at Kody. "He's right," Kody said. "Choose one. You can't have both."

Kate was sad. She loved Shawn but Kody had been her friend since she was a kid. And both had saved her. She couldn't give up either one.
She hesitated and a noise came from the darkness behind her. 

"Look out," Shawn yelled, his eyes wide. 

But Kate didn't move in time. 

Something grabbed her wrist in a tight grip and lifted her clear off the ground.
She screamed as her feet scraped the grass and then lifted higher before carrying her up into the clouds.
The boys yelled and stared after her, trying to see which direction she'd gone, but the darkness swallowed her up. 

The only thing they could see was a white trail of whatever ghostly kidnapper had taken the girl they loved.

To be continued.... (maybe.)

--Story by Mrs. Strohecker's Fifth Grade Class.

Side note--I want to mention an awesome giveaway going on right now: UtopYA's Unofficial 25 days of Giveaways has officially begun! 2 Kindle Fires up for grabs, loaded with books, and a prize pack every day from now until Christmas!!!

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Authors of UtopYA Ultimate Giveaway

The countdown has been going on for months, and now it’s almost time! One of the most fun conventions of the year is about to happen, and some of your favorite authors attending UtopYA want to celebrate. We’ve gotten together, and have some amazing prizes that you’re not going to want to miss out on.

Ultimate Swag Pack Giveaway:

True reading fans love to collect goodies from their favorite authors, but this giveaway takes that to the next level! If you’re going to UtopYA this year, you’re going to want to get your hands on this Ultimate Swag Pack. Some of your favorite authors have gotten together to give you their very best swag. I’m not talking about a signed bookmark (although those are included)—this prize pack includes the following:

·        Leather bracelet from Tiffany King

·        “Grant’s Cupcake” tee shirt from Sarah M Ross

·        Lavender/Spearmint bath salts from Heather Self

·        “Nick Rocks my World” mug and bath soaps from Ella James

·        Skull Necklace and other prizes from Amy Jones

·        Keychain from Morgan Wylie

·        Signed mini-poster and other prizes from Quinn Loftis

·        Custom USB loaded with books and Necklace from Laura Elliott

·        Modified Swag Pack from CA Kunz

·        Estilorian Swag Pack from Raine Thomas

·        Bracelet from SR Johannes

·        Archers of Avalon tote bag and coffee mug from Chelsea Fine

AND from me: A custom Imitation necklace AND a picture with Linc ON his motorcycle Saturday night!!!! <-- yes, for real!

And that’s just part of the prizes you can win!  So now that you’re salivating and reaching out your “gimme, gimme” hands, you’re probably wondering how to enter. We’re giving you a few options:

1.   Make a video hyping UtopYA and the authors of UtopYA. Then, post this video on FB or Twitter and email it to sarah@sarahmross.com (so we don’t accidentally miss it in the Twitterverse. This video can be short and sweet – basically telling people that UtopYA is coming and about the amazing authors that are going.

2.   Make a FB banner or meme hyping UtopYA and the authors of UtopYA. This is the same concept of the video, but for the more camera shy folks out there. Then, change it to your banner and email it to sarah@sarahmross.com to have your entry counted.

*We’re not giving a whole lot of instruction on how to do this on purpose. We want you to be creative! Get those juices flowing! Want to make a Utop rendition of “Call Me Maybe”? Or post a video of you stalking your favorite authors before you stalk them in real life at Utop? A meme of Grumpy Cat at Utop with the authors? The possibilities are endless! But make it creative! All the participating authors will vote on the one that WOW’s us the most.  And remember: This part of the contest is open to peeps attending UtopYA only! Prizes to be picked up at UtopYA!!

Not able to make it to UtopYA this year? Don’t worry! We have a great giveaway for you too! Enter the Rafflecopter below to win some amazing autographed paperbacks! (Open to US residents only! Sorry!!)

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Whisper giveaway and UtopYA shoutouts

HOLY ...

This summer is going by fast!!!! It makes me sad. I love summer like a fat kid and cake. I really need to move south because I hate the cold. I like looking out a window at a snowy scene but I don't like standing in it as a rule. <--- already off track. Nobody cares about snow in July.

So I went to UtopYA in Nashville a couple of weeks ago. *Sigh* It's really been over for that long. I had sooooo much fun and met sooooo many fun people. Authors and readers and bloggers, most of which I've been chit-chatting with online for at least a year now. So it was one of those #EpicLifeMoments like every 5 minutes all week long.

I roomed with Angeline Kace (author of Descended By Blood), Chelsea Fine (author of the Anew, Awry, and Sophie & Carter), and KC Neal (author of Pyxis). This hashtag -----> #Epic could be used to sum it up. We had a blast.

That's me on the left, next to KC. Then Ang, then Chelsea. (Thanks, Michael, for taking such a great pic!)

One of the highlights was a panel I was on called StoryFrenzy where we created a story completely through Improv and audience/card prompts. Amanda Havard, Chelsea Fine, Brina Courtney, and the rest were HILARIOUS! We didn't get to finish our story, though, about a Were-Liger named Xavier and his ex-military girlfriend so if you want to read the story or see how it ends, stay tuned on Twitter for this ---> #Ligerbane. We will continue the story, 144 characters at a time. 

And a huge "LOVE YOU!" to everyone I met: Tiffany King & fam, Adam & Carol Kunz, Quinn Loftis, Michelle Leighton, Raine Thomas, Supagurl Heather, everyone at Art Circle Library, Amy Bartol, Janet Wallace, Amanda Havard, KP Simmons, the cast of Auror's Tale, Myra McEntire, Brina Courtney, Morgan Wylie, Abbi Glines, Jamie Anderson, Delphina & Rachel, Ella James, Alli (Magnet 4 Books) <---- love all of you!!! I know I'm forgetting peeps. And whoever you are, don't be mad. It doesn't mean I don't love you, too. I just can't think straight because UtopYA gives me a brain buzz just thinking about it.

And because I want to spread my excitement around, I have a giveaway. I'm putting together some fun stuff for Whisper coming up in a few weeks and as a teaser I am offering some of Whisper's jewelry up for grabs!   

And if you've already read Whisper, the button here ------>
may interest you. It's Dylan ;) Feel free to copy it and splash it all over your blog or website. He won't mind.

As for the contest, you can enter via the rafflecopter below. Contest is international! 

**There is also a special giveaway going on EXCLUSIVELY for my street team which is open to bloggers. Click the link here to request to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/300938726647500/

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