Ruby's Fire - A Dystopian Giveaway

Announcing Ruby's Fire (plus giveaway!)

Join the giveaway of a signed print edition or Kindle copy by signing up for Catherine Stine's newsletter at this link and stating you have done so in the comments below. Don't forget to leave me your contact email as well! I'll choose one winner by random drawing and announce it on my blog. 

You can also enter Catherine's own Rafflecopter drawing on the sidebar. 

When I read Fireseed One, I was blown away by the concepts and worldbuilding, handled expertly by my friend and fellow author, Catherine Stine. I couldn't wait to read the sequel, and at last it is here in my hot little hands: Ruby's Fire is available for purchase as e-book and print. 
I'm a fiend for dystopian books: Hunger Games, Wool, and now this series. The scorched earth is described and illustrated perfectly, but more importantly the characters are living, breathing beings. I deeply cared what happened to Varik and Marisa, and now I know I'm going to love Ruby.

Author's illustration from Fireseed One

Here, then, is an excerpt from Ruby's Fire:
This excerpt comes shortly after Ruby escapes a dangerous desert cult armed only with a pouch of her handmade elixir, Oblivion, and her little brother Thorn. They land in a boarding school for nomadic teens, where she’s ensconced in classmate, Bea’s room.

I crawl into bed exhausted in a good way. I’ve eaten, I’ve gotten exercise, and I’ve managed to fend off Blane. I’ve checked on Thorn and Radius seems to be leaving him alone. Bea hasn’t said anything truly nasty to me today, though she’s rolled toward the wall again without a word. Now she’s breathing steadily with a soft snore.

Progress, I may not even need Oblivion tonight.

But as I lay there, staring out at the orange-streaked sky and the distant, blinking stars, my mind sinks to a dreadful reverie. I’m standing in front of the garden shelf where the red leaves are trapped under those wide stones. The Fireseed seems to be emitting a high-pitched wail. Blane is there too and he’s pressing his face into mine, his lips biting at my own lips. His meaty arms trap me. He shoves me down on top of Fireseed stalks that crack and split, sending out more high-pitched whees. As Blane’s weight pushes hard against my chest, his face becomes Stiles’—the flared nostrils, bloodshot eyes and accusing stare. “You are mine,” Stiles says. “How dare you…”

I bolt upright, sending such a flurry of fearful energy into the air that Bea chokes in her sleep. Coughing, she turns my way and returns to her steady breathing.

Her eyes could snap open at any second. She could steal my bag of Oblivion or knock it from my hands, scattering the powder over the floor. It would be lost forever. I hold my breath as I pad across the room, reach for the velvety sack in my cloak and feel the reassuring give of the powder. It’s diminishing with every dose, and I won’t be able to make more here. I need to ration it carefully. My heart hammering, I flutter into the bathroom, inch open the drawstring and shake a line onto my wrist. I inhale greedily, desperately.

Stumbling back to bed, there’s only enough time to thrust the precious bag inside my pillowcase before sweat erupts on my upper lip and my eyes roll up.

Then I bump off swollen ridges of pain as I fall deeply into never.

 

The author

 If everything about you changes, what remains?

Seventeen year-old Ruby, long-pledged to the much older Stiles from the Fireseed desert cult, escapes with only a change of clothes, a pouch of Oblivion Powder and her mute little brother, Thorn. Arriving at The Greening, a boarding school for orphaned teens, she can finally stop running. Or can she? The Greening is not what it seems. Students are rampaging out of control and as she cares for the secret Fireseed crop, she experiences frightening physical changes. She’s ashamed of her attraction to burly, hard-talking Blane, the resident bodyguard, and wonders why she can’t be happy with the gentler Armonk. She’s long considered her great beauty a liability, a thing she’s misused in order to survive. And how is she to stop her dependence on Oblivion to find a real beauty within, using her talent as a maker of salves, when she has nightmares of Stiles without it?

When George Axiom, wealthy mogul of Vegas-by-the-Sea offers a huge cash prize for the winner of a student contest, Ruby is hopeful she might collect the prize to rescue her family and friends from what she now knows is a dangerous cult. But when Stiles comes to reclaim her, and Thorn sickens after creating the most astonishing contest project of all, the world Ruby knows is changed forever. This romantic fantasy set in 2099 on earth has a crafty heroine in Ruby, and a swoonworthy cast, which will surely appeal to the YA and new adult audience.

Catherine Stine writes YA, New Adult and middle grade fiction. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One, illustrated by the author won finalist spots in both YA and Science Fiction in the 2013 USA Book News International Book Awards. It was also granted a 2013 Bronze Wishing Shelf Book Award and a 2013 Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Middle grade novels include A Girl’s Best Friend.

Fireseed One sequel, Ruby’s Fire is earning advance praise from reviewers and authors:

“Ruby's Fire returns to the sun-scorched earth of Fireseed One. In this long-awaited sequel, Stine delivers a thrilling adventure led by a new and exciting cast of characters. Ruby, Armonk, Thorn and Blane are memorable, and the romance is really well handled. Favorite quote: " It feels wrong to lean on Armonk right now with Blane staring at me, a hungry, lonely look in his eye. It’s as if he’s never been hugged, never been fed, never been loved..." ”  -YAs the Word

More and more, Catherine enjoys writing speculative tales where her imagination has wild and free reign. She has taught creative writing workshops at the Philadelphia Writing Conference, Missouri University Summer Abroad, The New School and in her own ongoing NYC writing workshop. She loves her readers, and enjoys blogging.

You can also find Ruby's Fire on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and as an illustrated paperback.

For All Things "Stine:"

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The Miska Papers

I am an incredibly lucky blogger: I met Jo Hogarth on Goodreads, and she agreed to stop by my blog and run an excerpt of her new YA book, The Miska Papers.

Warning:

If you're reading these pages, than it means you have crossed into dangerous territory. That furtive movement, that tingle that starts in the base of your spine, something you can't quite put your finger on. We tell ourselves, it was nothing. But in a tiny little corner not in our minds but in a spot where logic doesn't reside; we know it is something, something real, something dangerous. There is no visible line, no brick wall, no gates separating us; and once you've accepted the possibility of something not quite normal the common currency changes to blood and matter and things we don't completely understand. Not because we can't, but because it's easier not to. In the darkness the cost can be high.

Can you smell it? You're near one of the birth places of evil and my suggestion to you would be to run very quickly in the opposite direction, because once you know, there's really no turning back. Leave now, while you still can. Later, escape won't be possible. Once it gets into your blood, there is no escape.

If you see these words, you have of course ignored my good intentioned warning. When you're thigh deep in regrets, trying to convince yourself you might be crazy, don't say I didn't try. They say curiosity killed the cat, but in your case it is genetics that put you on the path, it will be something else entirely that kills you, should that regrettably happen. I once thought I was mostly invincible too. That's one of the beautiful qualities of youth, but then you've seen the persistent shadow of death already, haven't you?

You think you know how the world works — you don't. The answers are not on CNN or Discovery or even the History Channel, you'd probably be closer to the truth watching a combination of MTV and Animal Planet.

There are a few who do know, but we're not talking, we tend to be a quiet bunch and we're too busy trying to keep you all alive. The amount of secrets I know could fill a deep dark lake and then still provide enough runoff to meander into nearby rivers. This isn't an accident or chance or even bad luck; you were supposed to find these papers, but I won't get into that now. I'll just say enough that you'll begin to believe me; I know you've wondered if this is it, shouldn't life mean something more? I also know that your blood isn't quite right, and I know why, the cure to your sickness unfortunately lives in my veins and truth be told you're not really sick. You're just different. It is a long and sordid story.

I wasn't born here, but I became who I am near the gates of the old castle remains, you can see just beyond the hill. I left these pages hidden under the stones because it is the place I always return to and it's part of my history. In fact in many cases these pages are all that remains of people, entire villages or kind gestures, now entombed in paragraphs. Written references of things that glimmered very quickly before the darkness snuffed them out. I did this for you and others who might join our struggle; I've tried to show exactly how things came to be, hoping that they'll evolve into what we should be.

Each year I come back here and add to these pages, the jagged history of my life. In the beginning my writing is harder to read, we didn't have pens then, just feathers and ink, and I was new to words, school wasn't really an option for a gypsy girl. Now I can click my Bic to tell you, but in the beginning everything was a bit of a struggle. It's still seems odd that more than half of the existence of the world is hidden to most, a silent orchestra that plays a tune that we all unknowingly dance to. But I digress, this is not the time or the place for difficult explanations.

Did you hear that? It might be something coming closer. They've been waiting for you. We all have, but some are less well intentioned, so watch your back, your front and your side, and even the skies. You have to make a decision, either leave the pages and get on with your life, pretend you never saw them, and let the thing you thought you saw move in your minds eye disappear to that place in your head which you put all things that don't feel safe. It's probably the wise thing to do. Or you can take them, read them, learn and wait for what happens next. Whatever you do, don't read them here, not near these soiled grounds, it's not safe enough even with electric lights nearby. Not everything sleeps at night, so take care.

I had to try one last time to save you from yourself, and them and perhaps even me. In case you have any doubts; even in your world of Ipads and shiny bright lights; evil lurks. Bad, good, naughty, nice, if only it were that simple, but it's part of the infinite balancing act of existence. With all light comes shadow; there would be no shining moon without the glare of the sun.

If you choose to read on, then it is likely our paths will cross, you and I are a team divided by time, but not for long. This letter could mean the end of you, not to be dramatic but it's very possible and if I can I will try to save you if the time comes, if not I'll try to retrieve my writings in the hopes of one day creating a world where no one has to be scared of the dark.

Dated this day of July 7th 2012. — Miska

***

The 1st Book in the 'Blood Sisters' Series:

Blood sisters, bound by fate and a prophecy that is thousands of years old.

Dagny is a modern girl, cursed by an incurable blood disorder. Stuck on a boring forced 'work holiday' with her geneticist mother, she discovers an old diary of a gypsy girl just outside the castle of Vlad the Impaler. Between the dusty pages, Dagny discovers her true sister; Miska, the first Blood Sister born of Vlad the Impaler.

Miska's diary spins a tale of terror and vampire legends. Her family has been torn apart by the evil of her father and a family battle that has been raging for centuries. Together - through time, they will try to save the world, fight an on-coming plague and discover who they really are, and maybe even meet a boy or two along the way. 

The first in the Blood Sister Series -  A smart book that blends vampirism,  the battle between dark and light, genetic disorders, and self discovery paired with action and adventure all in the face of an impending global disaster. 

You can buy The Miska Papers on Kobo and Smashwords.

The Last Guardian, by Joan Hazel

Joan Hazel's book, The Last Guardian, is on my reading list this summer. I can't wait to read a story about a group of shapeshifters.

But there's more than that - there's Mika, see. Ever since I learned about Joan's book, I've been drooling over her character. He's not just Mika, he's My Mika. Why you ask? I'll show you why:

OK! So now that we understand that whole concept, Joan has been kind enough to allow me to host an excerpt from The Last Guardian. And as a special treat, she has featured a steamy scene with CJ and with My Mika.

cover for The Last Guardian

"Do you not know me?" Mika spoke directly to her, yet continued to stare out into the middle of the lake. There was sadness in his voice, and CJ was unsure if the sadness belonged to her or to something else.

Did she know the man at her side? Her heart said yes, but her mind said no. Without shame or guilt, CJ stared at her companion.

He was taller than she by maybe four inches, no more. The earrings he wore were made from real feathers, wrapped with silver wire. The one closest to her swayed gently from the beating of his heart. Her gaze followed the long length of his braids to where they ended slightly above his belt.

The sleeves of the scarlet shirt he wore were rolled up exposing his forearms. Try as she might, CJ could not stop the woman in her from wondering if the skin beneath his shirt was the same deep sun-kissed color as the part she saw.

A laugh, deep and masculine, echoed across the lake. She would have thought it her imagination, had the sound not been followed by the plopping of frogs as they scattered into the water in surprise.

CJ's lifted her gaze to Mika's face. Still he stared ahead, unwavering. "Are you going to answer me?" she asked.

"The answer is yes," he said.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, my skin is the same color all over."

"I did not mean…How did you…"

"I have been inside your mind since you were a child. It is easy for me to slip in and out of your thoughts without your notice."

The author, Joan Hazel

CJ grunted and crossed her arms over her chest in defiance.

"Forgive me. I did not mean to embarrass you," he whispered.

"You didn't. I, uh…" Okay, she thought. I am embarrassed. Dang it! "You still did not answer my original question," she said trying to change the subject.

"Does that mean you have finished taking inventory?" he asked with a hint of male smugness.

CJ blushed, but felt no true remorse. "You asked if I did not know you. I was only checking to see if I recognized you. Which, I am sorry to say I did not."

"Very well," he said, facing her.

Though there was little emotion in his voice, his eyes held a pain and longing CJ did not understand, yet felt compelled to erase.

Mika took her hand in his and placed it over his heart. Her pulse quickened at his touch.

"What…uh…what are you...?" she stammered.

"Do not speak, Charlie Jean," he said. "Only trust."

CJ peered deep into his caramel eyes. Gold flecks twinkled and danced in a way that was mesmerizing. If he asked her to walk on a bed of hot coals at this moment, she would do it for him.

"Close your eyes," he requested as he brought up his other hand to cover her eyelids with his palm.

If any other man had tried to touch her in such a way, CJ would have pulled away, but she ignored her mind's protests and did as he asked. With eyes closed, CJ allowed Mika to guide her wherever he wished.

"I need to know that you trust me, Wicahpi. Truly trust me."

CJ nodded her obedience. "I do," she whispered. "I don't know why, but I do." Even with her eyes closed, she knew her statement had made him smile, and that made her happy.

"This is real CJ. I am real. I need you to open your mind," he instructed her. "Open you mind and your heart. Allow them to guide you to our Mother. She gives us all the answers. It is our job to know how to receive them."

Time held no influence over the events that were taking place. For CJ it seemed to be both an eternity and mere seconds. The heat of Mika's body radiated though his shirt to penetrate into her hand, and the rhythm of his heart pulsed strong and steady through her fingertips and into her body.

"Listen. Can you hear it? Can you hear my heart beat?

"Yes," she whispered.

"As my heart beats, so does that of every living thing upon the Earth. Every creature. Every plant. Even the water. Can you hear those?"

Timidly, CJ opened her heart and her senses to the world about her. She heard the breeze as it whispered through the pines and recognized the songs of the different birds that sang along its branches.

The world around her buzzed and thrummed. Each sound blended with the next to create a symphony that played in time to the beat of Mika's heart.

"You feel it. Don't you?" Mika asked.

"I feel it, but—but what is it?"

"Connection," he explained. "Connection to the Universe and all she has to offer you.”

*****

Oh, let's just have one more look at Mika, shall we?

 

Aria in G

I've been navigating the choppy waters of social media for about a month now, and I've made contact with a lot of fun, friendly writers who publish ebooks. One thing I've noticed is that there are a great deal of writers of erotica and romance (which, at times, is erotica with more plot line added.)

Not that there is anything wrong with that, I hasten to add! It must be very difficult to create a great novel which drives the characters to the bedroom (or the billiard table, or the  hot tub, or the grotto.) This can be done brilliantly; I've read some romance books that are both titillating and amusing and exciting, all at the same time.

It's not my genre, though. I am a writer of YA fiction, which is steampunk in nature and G-rated. I just am a G-rated gal. I don't know why; it's just what comes naturally to me.

My main characters are 12 - 15, and they go through loads of adventures, encountering a tiny bit of romance along the way. So, the books are geared towards young adults.

But am I reaching that population? What I mean is - do young adults own ereaders?/ I see a lot of them with ipods and smartphones; Kindles and Nooks, not so much.

Hm. I'm not going to become a writer of erotica. My failure as a sexy author would be truly epic. I"m going to stick with my own little G-rated universe that I've created, because it's what I do. I'm just wondering - are there young adults out there who have Kindles and who read books on them regularly?

Please ring in if you have an answer for me.