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Monday, October 28, 2013

What’s in a name? Naming your book and characters is like naming your child (PART 1)

I love the feeling of excitement I get when an idea for a story first pops into my head. It could begin with a word, a place, an emotion, or even a colour. But for me it more often than not starts with a person. Sometimes I know a lot about this particular person, and sometimes I don’t, and that’s where the fun starts. When I can visualise one person, I start to see what they are like when they meet other people, and then what those people are like, and before I know it I have a cast of characters jumping around in my head all vying for my attention.

Today I want to talk about names.

PART 1: Characters

I find naming my characters really fun, but there are a few basic things I take into consideration before making my choices.

Names shape personalities: certain names say certain things. I try to choose names that fit who I want my character to be. I love the name Oliver, but I would never use it for a bad-boy character. Maybe a kind hearted vigilante like Oliver Queen, but not someone who is really bad-ass evil.

Meanings: I always look up the meaning of each name and make sure it suits the personality I’ve imagined my character to have. For example, one of the meanings of Oliver is affectionate. See what I mean about the bad-boy thing?

It's not just one name: don’t forget about middle and last names, they are just as important. 

Pronunciation: there are so many great names, but some of them can be a little hard to pronounce if we’ve never heard them spoken before. I like to make sure my names can be pronounced easily, and if not I think a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book is a good idea.

First isn't always best: sometimes my first choice for a name isn't quite right, and I don't discover it until I'm half way through the first draft. But that's what first drafts are all about, for a pantser like me anyway. I'm not scared to change a character's name if it isn't working.

Make a list: I have a notebook for names. Actually, I have a notebook for just about everything. Anyway, writing down a name I like when I hear it or see it, and making notes about that name really helps me when I come to naming my characters. There's only so much I can hold in my head at any one time. All the excess goes into notebooks.

Be unique: there are quite a few names that are overused in my opinion. I like to try and choose names that haven't been used often because I think it makes them more memorable.

Finding the perfect name for my characters is one of the best parts about writing a story. They become real people to me, and I find if I get the names right, the story comes more easily.

PART 2: Book Titles coming Friday November 1st, so stay tuned...

K x

Saturday, October 26, 2013

RELEASE DAY - Kiya: Mother of a King by Katie Hamstead

Today I have a special blog post for you. I don't usually post on a Saturday, but since it's Friday in the US I've made an exception. Because...

It's Release Day!

The second book in the KIYA series, Kiya: Mother of a King, is here! I loved the first book and you can read my review of Kiya: Hope of a Pharaoh HERE

 Purchase Kiya: Hope of a Pharaoh from Amazon.




To celebrate the release of Kiya: Mother of a King, Katie has opened up the comments on her blog for you to ask what you want to know about the series. And yes, book 3 is written and contracted so you will be seeing the final installment before you know it.





Book blurb:
Nefertiti has forced Naomi to flee Amarna with Malachi and the three children. But even under the protection of Naomi’s family in Thebes, Nefertiti still hunts her and Tut. Nefertiti sends assassins to kill them, and while Naomi fights to protect the children, Malachi fights to keep her safe.

With three children in tow, one of which isn’t her own, she is labeled the harlot outcast wife of the pharaoh and is shunned. She isn’t safe among her own people, and flees from being stoned to death. Although her family protects her, she must find a way to survive.

While Naomi struggles to keep herself and Tut alive, old adversaries return as Smenkhkare takes advantage of Akhenaten’s ailing health. Naomi must rely on Horemheb’s promise to protect Tut’s birthright, but her feelings for Malachi could cause more problems with Horemheb than she expects.

Giveaway:
CQ is also hosting a giveaway for Kiya: Mother of a King on Goodreads! So jump in!




Goodreads Book Giveaway

KIYA by Katie Hamstead

KIYA

by Katie Hamstead

Giveaway ends November 20, 2013.


See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter to win



K x

Friday, October 25, 2013

We're all Going on a Summer holiday...

The past couple of months have been very hectic, and I have no idea where the time has gone.

Today, I’m on my way here:


Fraser Island is off the east coast of Queensland from Hervey Bay. It is world heritage listed, along with Uluru, Kakadu and The Great Barrier Reef. The island is more than 123km long and 22km wide at its widest point. It is the largest sand island in the world.

And I'm going there. Yay!

We've been looking forward to this trip for the past two months. The kids, my son in particular, are so excited it's infectious.

Stay tuned for some holiday pics in about two weeks...

K x

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Words to Live by - Writing TO DO Lists

I try to live by a simple rule: do what I have to, so I can do what I want to.

Sometimes it doesn’t quite happen that way. Some days my hubby gets home from work and it looks like I’ve done nothing because the floor hasn’t been vacuumed, the breakfast dishes are still in the sink, and the ironing basket has suffocated my house fairy. But I made school lunches, got the kids to school looking mostly decent, wrote for two hours, did the groceries, went to the post office, scheduled some blog posts, picked the kids up from school—see, I did actually do something.

But the one thing I struggle with the most is finding time to do all the things I want to do. There never seems to be enough hours in the day, and I often get stressed or feel overwhelmed by it all. I’ve come to realise it’s not actually that there isn’t enough time, it’s more that I’m not organised or using my time wisely.

I have found that writing a list first thing in the morning of what I want to achieve that day is a huge help. I get some of the small and easy tasks out of the way first—things like paying bills or tidying the bench. That way, I feel like I’ve accomplished something, and that feeling of accomplishment grows each time I draw another line through an item on my list. If I feel this way I’m more likely to power through the list as well.

For someone who feels like I’m drowning pretty much 24/7 these are my tips to help me cope:

  • Write a daily list.
  • Write a weekly list as well. This is for things that need to be done over a longer period of time.
  • Don't make the list too long. The aim is for it to be achievable.
  • Do some of the easy things first so it feels like I’m getting somewhere. 
  • Balance what I have to do with what I want to do. For example, fold some washing and put it away, then sit down and write for half an hour. 
  • If something is really important don’t put it off. It will only cause more stress. I always feel relieved when I’ve done something that needed to be done but I didn’t actually want to do it. 
  • If I don’t cross everything off my list, it doesn’t matter. There is always tomorrow.

Another thing I find helps me with my writing is DEAR. The kids came home from school with this concept, and it actually stands for drop everything and read. I figured if it helps them to better their reading skills, why not use it to help with my writing? Even though DEAW is not a word, it doesn’t matter. The point is there are times when we need to just drop everything and do something we love. This especially applies to me and my children. Even though I should do what I have to first, I always take into consideration priorities, and what is most important.The housework can always wait.

How do you cope with getting everything done? Are you a list writer like me?

K x

Friday, October 18, 2013

Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter Series - Revamped Covers

Most of you know I love Nikki Jefford. She is full of awesomesauce. Today I have the cover reveal for the first two books in Nikki's Aurora Sky series. These books are bad-ass, and the revamped covers are totally fantastic. I love them! Check it out, and make sure you enter the giveaway at the end of the post.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.


If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it's to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn't hurt either. Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora's life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter in Alaska. Basically she's a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis before she has to finish the job...by hand. Now Aurora's only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire. And if he's a vampire, will she be forced to kill him?

AURORA SKY: VAMPIRE HUNTER
is the first in a YA Mature/New Adult paranormal fantasy series.


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | Sony | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads


Love Bites. Probation sucks. Thanks to Dante's recklessness, Aurora is now partners with Valerie: the redheaded, backstabbing vixen. Dante is in full flirt mode. Fane's tactics are more ruthless. Something carnal has awakened in Aurora and neither boy is helping tame her cravings. When a member of the unit's team is found dead, Aurora and Valerie are sent after a vampire in Sitka, but Aurora suspects the killer's much closer to home.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | Sony | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

Cover Credits
Design and artwork: Claudia at Phatpuppy Art
Photos: Teresa Yeh Photography
Typography: Ashley at The Bookish Brunette
Models: Gabriella (Aurora) and Alyssa Dearest (Valerie)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan with a degree in journalism from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She loves fantasy, magic, fictional bad boys, and heroines who kick butt.

Nikki married Sebastien, the love of her life, while working as a teaching assistant at a high school in Amiens, France during the 1999-2000 school year. They now reside in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands, 70 miles northeast of Forks, Wash. in a town without a single traffic light.

Follow Nikki on Twitter
Connect with her on Facebook
Visit her website.


Win a Stay Strong / Aurora Sky Goodie Pack

Next week Nikki will be participating in the Strength Through Love and Books author event and fundraiser in Vancouver BC. The event benefits the Amanda Todd Foundation, raising awareness to protect teens against cyber bullying. (This giveaway is international.)


K x

Monday, October 14, 2013

BLOG TOUR - KIYA: Hope of the Pharaoh + GIVEAWAY

Today is my stop for the KIYA blog tour. This book has a special place in my heart because it was written by the very talented Katie Hamstead. I participated in the cover reveal for the sequal KIYA: Mother of a King at the beginning of the month. Check out the details for KIYA: Hope of the Pharaoh then read my review below.

To follow the rest of the blog tour go HERE.

Book Description:
To save her younger sisters from being taken to the cruel life of the palace, Naomi intervenes and gives herself to be a wife of the erratic Pharaoh Akhenaten.

In the palace, Naomi finds herself thrust into the intrigues of the royal family, and has her name changed to Kiya. She becomes beloved by the Pharaoh, who declares that she will bear him his heir. But the Great Queen Nefertiti, furious with jealousy, schemes to destroy Naomi and even brings her fidelity into question, which could cost Naomi her very life.

Naomi must play the deadly game carefully. She is in a silent battle of wills, and a struggle for who will one day inherit the crown. And if she does bear an heir, she will have to fight to protect him as well as herself from Nefertiti who is out for blood.

About the Author: 
Born and raised in Australia, Katie’s early years of day dreaming in the “bush”, and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing.

After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog.

She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing. She is currently at school studying English and Creative Writing.

Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports and be a good wife and mother. She now works as a Clerk with a lien company in Arizona to help support her family and her schooling. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.

Stalking Links:
Website | twitter | Facebook

My Review:
I’ve never been partial to historical fiction, romance or otherwise. From what I have read in the past, I find it tedious and a little boring, with too much emphasis on setting and explanation about historical events.

KIYA: Hope of the Pharaoh was neither tedious, nor boring!

Hamstead has effortlessly woven history into fiction, and I found myself enthralled from the very first page.

The character development in this novel is amazing. Kiya is a strong heroine. She is loyal, brave, and headstrong—which often gets her into trouble—and she follows a great journey of self-discovery and development. I found myself becoming sympathetic to Kiya’s situation, and admired her unwavering loyalty in her beliefs.

The world building is also equally amazing. I know very little about Egypt and I’ve never been there, but I had no trouble picturing ancient Egypt and what it may have been like at that time.

KIYA: Hope of the Pharaoh has everything: romance, intrigue, jealousy and betrayal. It is an immensely enjoyable read.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

K x

Friday, October 11, 2013

Blogging about Blogging: Dissecting the Blog Post – a Writer’s Idea on Writing

Like any piece of writing whether it be a novel, short story, news article or in the case of what I want to talk about today, a blog post, you need a hook. If you don’t create interest from the beginning, and maintain this interest for the rest of the post, your reader probably won’t get to the end of what you have to say.

Let’s break it down:
Like a novel, a blog post needs an introduction, main story, and a conclusion.

Begin with an interesting title. This little piece of information is often over looked, but it’s very important. It can be long or short, but it needs to give the reader an idea of what the post will be about.  Be careful not to have a misleading title as this will only annoy people.

Take my title for instance: Blogging about Blogging: Dissecting the Blog Post – a Writer’s Idea on Writing

Instantly the reader knows I’ll be talking about blogging, that I’m a writer, and I’m going to express my ideas. If the title is about a topic that the reader finds interesting, then they’ll continue reading.

The title is the beginning of the hook, but not the complete hook. The first paragraph is equally important. At the beginning of this post I stated what I was going to talk about, so the reader knows exactly what to expect. Then move on to the body of the post and make sure all ideas are expressed clearly.

Inject personality into the post. Write in a style that best suits you, and be genuine. It’s very important to stay on topic. As I said before, if the title says the post is about one thing, and it’s actually about another, readers will get annoyed and probably won’t come back.

The word count of the blog post is also another important thing to consider. Don’t make the post too long. Anywhere between 500 and 1000 words should be enough, sometimes even less than that. Of course, there are always exceptions, for example, an excerpt of a current WIP could be up to 2000 words.

Proof read the post. This may seem like a basic step, but let’s face it, blogging is quick writing. Mistakes slip through more often because a post can be written and published in around half an hour. My suggestion is to write the post, read over it and make any corrections, then walk away for a little while. I always pick up mistakes I missed the first time around, and I always end up adding more to the post.

The next point I want to talk about is being regular. Yes, it’s good to be regular. I need to follow this piece of advice, but the fact is I’m busy and blogging doesn’t always top the list of things to do. I can’t seem to find the time I want to dedicate to my blog, so I’ve decided to look at it like this: one post a week, two if I can. That’s only four posts a month at the least, which means I can write them and schedule them in a day. Sometimes it doesn’t always work, and I don’t know that far in advance what I want to write about, so I have a notebook that is dedicated entirely to my blog. When I have an idea I jot it down. Planning the post is also a good idea. This can be as simple as starting with a bullet point, then elaborating on the points to form each paragraph.

Be original! This is highly important. I like to talk about things I’m passionate about, and that I find interesting, or that I’ve learnt and think others will learn from, too. Make sure to mix it up. Don’t blog about the same thing all the time. The key is variety which leads me to my next point.

One mistake (I think) that some writers make is that they focus too much on self-promotion. Sure we need to promote ourselves and our work, but this shouldn’t be the focus of all blog posts. It will get old very quickly. There needs to be a balance between things like self-promotion, advice, topical or opinion posts, and life experiences.

Make sure to check blog statistics. This information is vital and will show what posts have done well, where hits are coming from, how many page views the blog gets etc.

Lastly, the blog post needs a conclusion. This could be as little as, I hope you’ve found this information useful, or thanks for stopping by today. Or sometimes I like to finish with a question and encourage readers to engage by leaving a comment.

Was this post helpful? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

K x

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Indie Life - Something Happy and Inspirational


Welcome to my Indie Life post for October. This is a monthly feature posted on the second Wednesday of the month and hosted by the Indelibles. The aim is to promote, encourage, and support indie authors.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about climbing back to the top of my happy. I’d been feeling a little low and overwhelmed by all the things on my to do list, so I took myself out and away from it all to get some retail therapy for an hour or so.

I came home with these:


Aren’t they pretty?

I purchased these from kikki. K.

Today I wanted to share some of the quotes with you, because sometimes we need something to inspire us to keep going. This is for all the Indies out there who may be feeling low and overwhelmed like I was.

From the INSPIRE book:

Courage is living each day of your life like it’s your last.

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Inspiration is all around you.

From the HAPPY book:

Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.

Stay true to you and you will end up incredibly happy.

Happiness is a journey not a destination.

And my absolute favourite to remind myself exactly why I became an Indie author:


Have a great month.

K x

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Finding Home by Lauren McKellar - Guest Post + Giveaway

Today I'm excited to have Lauren McKellar on the blog as part of the Finding Home blog tour. She's here to talk about taboo topics in YA books. Check out the details for her debut novel, then read what she has to say about sex, drugs, alcohol and abuse. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post.

Book Details:  
Moody, atmospheric, and just a little bit punk, Finding Home takes contemporary YA to a new level of grit...
When Amy’s mum dies, the last thing she expects is to be kicked off her dad’s music tour all the way to her Aunt Lou in a depressing hole of a seaside town. But it’s okay — Amy learned how to cope with the best, and soon finds a hard-drinking, party-loving crowd to help ease the pain.

The only solace is her music class, but even there she can’t seem to keep it together, sabotaging her grade and her one chance at a meaningful relationship. It takes a hard truth from her only friend before Amy realises that she has to come to terms with her past, before she destroys her future.





YA: Taboo or not to taboo…that is the question.
I remember the first time I read a YA book that really resonated with me. It wasn’t a book about other worlds, fairies and dragons. I mean, sure, I read those and I loved them, but as a teenager, the YA books that really stuck in my head were the contemporaries; and, let me tell you, they weren’t the ones that talked about a simple first kiss.

Sure, kissing was a part of it, but the YA books I read were gritty, darker. John Marsden was my hero, and his worlds involved drugs, alcohol, abuse, sex and all sorts of taboo subjects.

When I went to write my first YA novel, that immediately flashed to mind. I thought ‘I want to write a book that’s real; I want to write like that.’

I should preface this by saying Finding Home is nowhere near as good as John Marsden’s works, but he was definitely an author I tried to emulate when I put pen to paper…or, fingers to keyboard…however you want to play it.

I was sick of reading YA books where sex for the first time is with someone you love and it’s amazing and beautiful. I was sick of reading books where the lead character has never had a drink before, even though when I was seventeen, I didn’t know anyone who hadn’t had a sip of something stronger than a lemon, lime and bitters.

That’s not to say Finding Home is all booze and sex; I think it’s important to find the line in YA. You can’t preach about the perils of underage drinking; but you can’t ignore it, either. And, for me, and for many other seventeen-year-olds I know and knew, sex and boys were a big part of being a teenager.

Of course, you need to send the right message. That’s an important part of being an author. And you don’t need to show every little detail when it comes to sexual interludes. One publisher who requested my book asked for a ‘Fade to black’ moment, and I thought it was a very good idea. Having said that, I think honesty in YA is refreshing. I think covering subjects that are more taboo generates interest from a younger audience.

But I also think it’s very important in issue-driven novels to end your work with a message. A message that summaries what your book is about; what you wish you had known or been able to tell people you loved, way back when. And for me, the message in Finding Home is twofold: don’t use alcohol as a crutch, and don’t have sex with boys who have girlfriends. Enough said.
 
Lauren McKellar is a writer and reader of Young and New Adult books. Her debut novel Finding Home is out now, and can be bought from all your usual eBook sites (links available here). She also works as a freelance editor for novels for all age groups and you can chat to her on twitter or facebook any time you like.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

K x

Friday, October 04, 2013

BLOG TOUR: The Beast Within by Melissa Crowe

 

Today I welcome Indie author, Melissa Crowe, back to the blog as part of The Beast Within blog tour. Check out the details for the first three books, then read my thoughts below.

The Beast Within
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Karina's world is turned upside down when she meets the sexy and mysterious Xavier. Something powerful and sensual is unlocked from inside her that she cannot explain and seems to have little control over.

With Xavier's help, Karina discovers she is a Tuatha De Danann, celtic faeries long thought to have been eradicated. Xavier's insistence on making her believe troubles Karina, what dangerous secret is he keeping from her? Can her ex partner Ian save her before it's too late?

Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Smashwords

Haunted
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Karina has now discovered her abilities, but this only puts her in further danger. With a 600 year old lycanthrope thirsting for her blood, Ian must summon the help of his brother Ronan. The keeper of the Spear of Victory, a treasure sacred to the Tuatha De Danann.

Can the two Guardians protect Karina, or will her secret ultimately bring destruction upon them all?

Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Smashwords

Journey
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Ian has been summoned by the Goddess Danu to the Otherworld, and Karina will not let him go without a fight.

With a Tutha De Danann that is unable to cross water, getting from Australia to Ireland will make for an interesting journey. Supernatural beings, sworn enemies and the full moon are only half of the risk as they try to cross three continents. Drug smuggling, guerrilla kidnapping and lycans on the prowl will hamper their travels.

Davarus, self-proclaimed King of the lycanthropes is building an army and on the move. Danger faces these forbidden lovers at every turn.

Would you travel to the ends of the earth for the one you love?

Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Smashwords
About the Author
I am from Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. I have been a lover of Paranormal and strong powerful women all my life and now am lucky enough to put the two together and share it with the world. In 2009 I started writing and have not looked back.

Facebook | Amazon | Smashwords | Website

My Reviews:

The Beast Within
Karina is at a crossroads in her life, and she decides she needs time away from her boring, mundane boyfriend, Ian. She meets Xavier, a random stranger, and they have a bit of a fling. Xavier knows things about Karina, and at first I thought it was all a little convenient, but everything came together in the end and I understood why he had this knowledge. He tells her she is a Tuatha De Danann, or celtic faerie. Karina's reaction isn't much different from Sookie's, but she places her trust in Xavier—which isn’t such a good idea—and Ian turns out not to be so boring after all.

I don’t know much about the Tuatha De Danann, so all the twists and turns in this novella took me by surprise. Throw in some mean werewolves (or lycanthropes) and there's a good mix of reality and fantasy.  

The Beast Within was a short, fast paced read with an intriguing plot, but I was left with some questions that I’m hoping will be answered in the next book.


Haunted
Haunted begins about a year after The Beast Within, and it’s hard to review this novella without giving away plot spoilers for the first book.

I will say that the pace is again fast, and we’re introduced to some new characters, but I felt the plot was somewhat predictable. It seemed to be a case of the same thing happening but with a few different people. Still, I enjoyed it and it had the same charm as the first book.

I really liked Ronan and thought he was very interesting, and I’m wondering what part he will play in the next instalment. We get to see Karina develop more as a character, and Haunted answered a few of my questions. Karina's powers are something I’m looking forward to seeing more of as well.


Journey
The title pretty much sums up the plot of the third book in The Beast Within series. Karina and Ian set out on a journey to reach the Otherworld after Ian suffers a mild possession. They meet a few 'people' along the way, some who help them and some who don't so much. Karina faces several obstacles since she can't travel across water and needs to get from Australia to Ireland.

There's plenty of action—more so than in the first two books—and surprisingly no sex (the first two novellas had some steamy sex scenes). Karina really comes into her own. She is determined and strong, and doesn't let anyone push her around. Ian's loyalty is unwavering and the prospect of him not being able, or allowed, to be with Karina is heartbreaking.

There wasn't much more detail about the four gifts that the guardians guard, and I'm looking forward to finding out more about them in future parts of this series. The ending to Journey has left me hanging on the edge of my seat as it stops in a place that leaves more questions than answers, and I'm eager to find out what happens.

For me this series has been an up and down roller coaster, and Journey is by far my favourite of the three so far. Maybe it's because the plot was different to the first two and brought something new to the table.



Overall this is a great series with an interesting and fast paced story line. I recommend it for those who like anything paranormal, and characters that don't mind getting their hands dirty.

Due to some sexual situations I recommend this series for readers 18+

K x

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

COVER REVEAL - KIYA: Mother of a King

Back in April I took part in the cover reveal for KIYA: Hope of the Pharaoh, and now it's time to reveal the cover for the second book in the series. I'm really excited about KIYA: Mother of a King because not only did I love the first installment, but Katie is one of my Aussie Owned and Read girls. She is so full of awesome, and I can't wait to read the nest part of Naomi's story.

KIYA is on tour at the moment and you can check out the full schedule HERE. I'm be having a review stop on October 14 so make sure you drop by to read what I have to day about this great book.

Now for the cover...


Book Blurb:
Nefertiti has forced Naomi to flee Amarna with Malachi and the three children. But even under the protection of Naomi’s family in Thebes, Nefertiti still hunts her and Tut. Nefertiti sends assassins to kill them, and while Naomi fights to protect the children, Malachi fights to keep her safe.

With three children in tow, one of which isn’t her own, she is labeled the harlot outcast wife of the pharaoh and is shunned. She isn’t safe among her own people, and flees from being stoned to death. Although her family protects her, she must find a way to survive.

While Naomi struggles to keep herself and Tut alive, old adversaries return as Smenkhkare takes advantage of Akhenaten’s ailing health. Naomi must rely on Horemheb’s promise to protect Tut’s birthright, but her feelings for Malachi could cause more problems with Horemheb than she expects.

About the Author: 
Born and raised in Australia, Katie’s early years of day dreaming in the “bush”, and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing.

After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog.

She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing. She is currently at school studying English and Creative Writing.

Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports and be a good wife and mother. She now works as a Clerk with a lien company in Arizona to help support her family and her schooling. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.

Stalking Links:
Website | twitter | Facebook

K x