Author Interview with Laura Bickle / Alayna Williams + Giveaway

Today I am beyond happy to welcome to Book Lovers Inc. one of my most recent favourite UF authors, who besides writing amazing novels is incredibly friendly and sweet. Please give a warm welcome to Laura Bickle author of the Anya Kalinczyk series (Embers and Sparks) and the Oracle series (Dark Oracle and Rogue Oracle) penned as Alayna Williams! 

If you would like to get an idea about Laura’s writing or the universe in her novels, you can read my review of Embers and Dark Oracle here on BLI.

Stella: Hi Laura, welcome to Book Lovers Inc! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
 
Laura: Thanks so much for having me!
 
I’ve worked in libraries, criminology, and technology for several years. I live in the Midwestern U.S. with my chief muse, owned by five mostly-reformed feral …

Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Another new week and another friday and even better the WEEKEND!!!

This week’s news we have covers and new books and Apple backing down (I think) about their recent rule change about apps.

First up we have news that Apple have changed their tune about their recent rule change about app subscriptions and that independent apps being used on their platforms. It looks like there will be room for companies, such as Amazon and Kobo offering their own content and links outside of Apple and therefore still provide and sell to customers. More info can be found here.

Borders is selling the older models of the Kobo reader for $60 – check here for info or to ask at your local branch.

Glee’s Chris Colfer has signed a major book deal with Little Brown Books for Young Adults. He …

My Wishlist: the Absolutely-Must-Read-UF-series Edition

Hi Everyone!

Today I’m here to share with you all a slight part of my wishlist. Specifically a slice of my evergrowing UF series wishlist.

Urban fantasy is one of my favourite genres and I couldn’t be happier that I constantly discover new highly praised UF series and authors thanks to my fellow blogger friends.

So let me tell you about a few of my absolutely-must-read-UF-series!

Red Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells (Sabina Kane series)

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she’s on. She’s never brought her work home with …

Genres 101: Today’s Lesson – Humour

There is nothing better to get you out of a funk than something that will make you laugh, so this week, as I battle a head cold in scary humid weather, I thought we’d take a look comedic writings. I need a good laugh right now. Normally, I stick with fiction but I figured it would be nice to add in a few non-fiction examples in this category also.

The big thing is: what makes us laugh? I have a strange sense of humour at times, so for me, sarcasm and irony blended with intelligent writing are the best mix to tickle my funny bone. Defined by Wiki (I’m going to briefly paraphrase here), Comic Fiction is writing that is meant to amuse the reader while making them think about controversial issues, using subtlety, puns, and a carefully crafted narrative style. I’m not sure if I completely …

New Releases: June 6-12, 2011

Hexed by Kevin Hearne

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty—when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked …

Interview With Hunter Raines + Giveaway!

We are delighted to welcome award winning Author Hunter Raines (alter ego Lacey Savage) to BLI today. Hunter is here to celebrate the release of her latest novella Paradise Found, a ménage m/m/m erotic romance. Paradise Found is published by Carina Press and is available today in e-book format! Hunter is going to talk to us today about Paradise Found and her writing process.

Hunter! Welcome to BLI it’s such a pleasure to be able to chat with you today!

Hunter: Thanks so much for having me here, Lea!

Hunter can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Hunter: Sure! I’ve recently celebrated my 12th wedding anniversary to the man of my dreams, I’m turning 31 this year (you do the math on how old I was when I got married), and I’ve recently made the switch from working full time at a …

Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post, and its been a very drama ridden one for Romancelandia and Blogland and even for everyone at here at Book Lovers Inc.

First up, the genre of Romance took a total battering, (what else is new?) by columnist, Kimberly Sayer-Giles who cites, author Shaunti Fieldhahn, who studies into the differences between men and women. He states this humdinger “In fact, some marriage therapists caution that women can become as dangerously unbalanced by these books”. I think this explains all the drama we been having because of Romance can make us dangerous unbalanced, and that it can be as addictive and just as harmful as pornography. I am not really surprised by this view because some people view romance as a cheap genre and its really porn for women, which full of ignorant …

Interview Author Lauren Dane + Giveaway

We are very happy to welcome national bestselling author Lauren Dane here at Book Lovers Inc again. Her next novel, Goddess with a Blade will be released next week and today she is here to talk about her new book, her first urban fantasy, and what makes it so special to her. Please give Lauren a warm welcome and don’t miss you chance to win your own copy at the end of the interview.BLI: Welcome Lauren, it’s so great to have you here at Book Lovers Inc again. For all the new readers, could you please introduce yourself?

Lauren: Thanks for having me! Let’s see – I’m Lauren Dane and I contracted my first book in 2004. I realized just this last book that I’ve written 45 books with another five or six already contracted. I write contemporary romance both erotic …

Bookish Rants and Raves: Plagiarism

In light of recent events, it’s probably no surprise that Plagiarism is the topic of our Bookish Rants and Raves post this week.

As the plagiarism has come to light all of the Book Lovers have been affected in different ways. So we thought we would share the post this week and tell you our thoughts on Plagiarism and Trust in book blogging.

Amanda: Plagiarism for me is an old enemy. Having been plagiarised repeatedly in school and not being able to prove it, just the word “plagiarism” sends a shiver down my spine.

I try to be empathetic in everything I do in life, but plagiarism is not something I can’t get my head around, especially when it comes to book blogging. I can understand some of the motivations to consider plagiarism – free books, more followers and seeing a …

Romance and Me: How Sweet Do You Take Your Romance?

Hey Everyone!

Today I would like to talk with you about how sweet is too sweet?We all love to read romances because we want to read about HEA stories, stories that make us sigh with contentment at the end when putting down the book.

We want the story to be romantic and touching, but how much romance is too romantic and becomes syrupy sweet and cheesy?

I am a very romantic person yet I like my romance novels to (usually) be beliavable. And nothing ruins that better than a too gushy alpha male who suddenly cannot stop declaring nonstop his undying love for the heroine. Sure, I want him to have a gentle and sensitive side, but I feel like this too much gushing isn’t really in his original character.

Realistic storyline and more importantly credible characterisations are important to me, even if I’m reading a romance novel. I mean, come on, …