My stop on the Spellbringers Book Tour!

Welcome to The "Spellbringers Series" Book Tour!

This Tour features author Tricia Drammeh and is brought to you by Diverse Book Tours!

My review of "Coal" on the Diverse Book Tour

Welcome to "Coal" Blog Tour, featuring

author Constance Burris and brought to you by Diverse Book Tours!
Read on down the page to learn more about this
diverse fantasy and read my review~

 

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Come see Christine's Odyssey by J.L. Campbell

Welcome to the "Christine's Odyssey" Mini-Tour!

Award winning author J.L. Campbell pens a powerful story that brings you to tears. Christine's Odyssey is Book One in the Simms Sibling Series, about a set of children who lose their parents. This is a story that doesn't speak only to children, but adults and families as well.

 

~About the Book~

Raised in a hotbed of arguments and fights, eleven-year-old Christine Simms is the victim of her mother's temper and cruelty. A domestic dispute ends in tragedy, sending the family into a tailspin.

A shocking discovery sends Christine on a quest to find the stranger who left her behind in Jamaica. Determined to unravel the mystery of her birth, Christine uses every tool at her disposal and treads with courage where no child should.

You can support this diverse title by clicking and purchasing on the link below and adding it to your Goodreads want-to-read list!

 

 

 

 

~About the Author~

 

 

J.L. Campbell is an award-winning, Jamaican writer who is always on the look-out for story-making material. She writes romantic suspense, women's fiction and young adult novels. She is the author of A Baker's Dozen-13 Steps to Distraction, Absolution, Anya's Wish, Chasing Anya, Christine's Odyssey, Contraband, Dissolution, Distraction, Don't Get Mad...Get Even, Kicked to the Kerb, Grudge, Hardware (written under the pen name Jayda McTyson) Saving Sam, Taming Celeste and Retribution. Her Amazon author page is here.

Visit her on the web at http://www.joylcampbell.com You can also connect with her on Twitter @JL_Campbell or on Facebook.

 

 

 

~Author Interview~

 

Welcome to the blog Joy!
What went into writing this book and who were the people (if any) that inspired these characters?

I cut my teeth on this book. Christine's Odyssey is the second book I wrote and it was ages before I really knew what I was doing in terms of the technical aspects of writing, so it was a learning experience. When the writing was fairly decent, I entered the book in a local competition and earned a bronze medal.

Christine's Odyssey came out of a conversation I had with someone who had just lost her brother. She took her niece to live with her and our conversation triggered a series of 'what ifs' that became Christine's story.

 Why do you find diversity important in your writing?

I have diversity going on right at the starting gate, since my books are set in Jamaica. I've been a reader for most of my life and as such, I've been exposed to many cultures. For me, sharing my island home is important. Many readers will never have the opportunity to visit Jamaica and so in each book, I try to ensure they have a clear picture of what it means to live on an island in what might seem to be an alien culture.

How did you choose the cover for your book?

I'll search through hundreds of images looking for one or two that are exactly right and I back that up by doing a poll or asking friends, including those with graphic skills, what they think.

Why did you choose the genre in which you write?

I write in several different genres, but in terms of middle grade and young adult fiction, I write the stories as they come to me.

What piece of advice would you give a writer about to be in your position, who is just starting out?

My best advice is to learn the craft of writing and continue learning every day. You can't do justice to your characters if you don't know the intricacies of storytelling.

Do you typically start with characters, or plot first?

Most often, a character comes to me along with their story. The plot is never complete, but the general story idea is enough for me to figure out what other incidents will make up the novel.

Who are some of the people that inspired you to write?

My inspiration comes from people like Jeffrey Archer, Charles Dickens, Gerald Durrell, James Herriot, Mark Twain and Eric van Lustbader. They inspired a love of reading in me, which eventually led to my love affair with writing.

What can you tell us about your future in writing? Anything in the works?

As long as I'm alive, I'll be writing. The stand-alone sequel to Christine's Odyssey is complete and there is a third book in the works. I've moved into the New Adult genre and have a book scheduled for release shortly.

Where can potential readers learn more about you and your current and future projects?

My website is at www.joylcampbell.com and I post about my work there. My kid lit blog is at http://jamaicankidlit.weebly.com/

What are some of the things you like about being self published ?

Before I self-published, I was published with two small publishers and one of those contracts is still in force. I like the ability to publish my books to a schedule I've established. I also enjoy being able to have 100% input on how my covers turn out and I also like learning different things on each journey.



Congratulations, Joy! Thanks so much for visiting the blog! 

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Realm of the Goddess Book Tour

Welcome to the "Realm of The Goddess" Mini-Tour!

For readers looking for fantasy books that vividly blend mythology, but feel as though Greek and Roman might be in need of a break, or overkill, "Realm of The Goddess" might be up your alley!

It blends South Asian myth, with paranormal elements! Plus hot guys!


 ~Read the Blurb~

Seventeen year old Callie discovers she is an avatar of the powerful Hindu Goddess Kali and she has to save the world from Mahisha, the King of Demons. Now Callie has to accept her fate and control her powers. Before she can face Mahisha, she must find the Sword of Knowledge that the Immortals had given Kali five thousand years ago. 

As Callie embarks upon the dangerous quest to find this weapon, she must travel deep into the jungles of India to find a temple that time has forgotten. 

The Rakshakari, who are sworn to protect the Goddess, guide her on this treacherous journey, fraught with demons and mortal conspiracies. 


She is accompanied by the gorgeous, enigmatic Shiv for whom she feels an inexplicable but undeniable attraction. 

Can she trust Shiv with her life or are there dark forces at work that will divide loyalties and leave Callie at the mercy of Mahisha and his army of demons?

Sabina Khan's "Realm of The Goddess" blends Young Adult themes, Paranormal Elements, and South Asian Mythology.

You can support this Diverse Book by purchasing it on the link below, or adding it to your Goodreads TBR List!

~About the Author~
 

Sabina Khan is the author of Realm of the Goddess, the first in a series of YA Paranormal Fantasy books based on the gods and goddesses of India. She is an educational consultant and a karaoke enthusiast.

After living in Germany, Bangladesh, Macao, Illinois and Texas, she has finally settled down in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, with her husband and three daughters, one of whom is a fur baby. She is passionate about the empowerment of girls and women, hoping to inspire them with the strong female characters in her novel.

~Read an Excerpt~

 

Ten years before, my parents and I had lived in Kolkata, City of Joy — only I didn’t remember a whole lot of joy, just heat. Intense heat and an unbearable stench. It was everywhere, rising from the open sewers in waves and permeating the air so that it stayed with you wherever you went. And all the people. I was used to big crowds and intense heat, but this was ridiculous. You could barely move, and then only at a snail’s pace. That was bad, because your first instinct was to get out of the crowds and into a secluded spot, preferably in the shade.

But here on the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata in the middle of summer there was no escape. We were visiting the temple of the Goddess Kali, one of the oldest, most revered places of worship in the city.

That morning we tried to get an early start to avoid the crowds that were expected later in the day, but judging by the number of people there already, I didn’t know how there could be any more. As we slowly made our way to the temple grounds, the crowd started to thin. I could see many people heading off toward the courtyard while a few entered the main temple that housed the famous statue. Mom had told me that she and Dad had to get special permits to enter the restricted areas on the inside. Apparently some of the worshippers did not come for the Goddess but rather to try to steal the valuable gold ornaments she wore and the ancient artifacts she held in each of her six arms.

“Wow,” I said breathlessly as we approached the main temple. “This is amazing.” The two-thousand-year-old structure stood majestically, its nine spires rising up to meet the sky. The intricate carvings on the outside ran all the way to the top.

Dad put his arm around my shoulder. “Callie, we’ll need about an hour with the head priest to go over our research, but you can look around, okay? Just don’t leave the main building. We don’t want you getting lost.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be fine, Dad. Just don’t take too long. You promised we would go to the mall after.”

Just then the head priest came out to meet us. He was dressed in a cream-colored dhoti and a saffron shawl, typical attire for a man of his position. In the middle of his forehead was a vermillion circle surrounded by three white vertical lines and a Y-shape. I knew that the Y-shape meant he was a devotee of the Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva, her consort.

“Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Hansen. You have arrived at last. I trust your journey was pleasant.” He greeted us warmly and deftly maneuvered his rather large frame down the stone steps that led down from the temple. He joined his hands in a namaste, the traditional Indian greeting, and bowed slightly. After we had all exchanged pleasantries, he led us back up the stairs toward the main temple.

As we entered the inner sanctum, I was struck by how large it was inside. The high ceilings and curved walls gave it a cave-like appearance, while the low, discreet lighting kept the temple cool and dark. After my parents had left with the priest, I looked around first to decide where I was going to start. The main statue stood in the center of the inner temple, while several smaller ones were scattered around the periphery. Each had its own alcove and was cordoned off with thick ropes, no doubt to deter sticky fingers. I decided to leave the Kali statue until the very end and made my way over to some of the smaller ones. I came to a stop in front of a statue of Lord Shiva the Destroyer. There he was in his famous dancing pose as Lord of Dance. I liked this particular version of him, dancing on top of the demon of ignorance. I moved on to the next few statues. 

There was one of the Goddess Parvati, Shiva’s wife, as well as other minor gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. Finally I came to a stop in front of the statue of Kali. I’d saved the best for last. It was awesome. She was usually depicted as dark and a little frightening, but here she was, bronze and quite beautiful — if you liked strong, powerful and kick-ass women, that is. She was supposed to elicit terror in the evil-hearted, but to me she was the coolest goddess of them all. She was dressed in a beautiful sari made from red silk with gold threads woven in an intricate pattern. Her eyes were black and fierce. Around her neck she wore a necklace of skulls. They belonged to all the demons she had killed. With each of her six arms she carried a weapon. With her three left arms she carried a bow with arrows, a discus and a mace. With the right she carried a thunderbolt, a trident and her sword. Legend had it that all these weapons were given to her by the gods who created her so that she could vanquish the demon king, Mahisha. The gods had each given her their powers so that she was virtually indestructible. My parents, who were both anthropologists, talked about this sort of stuff all the time, so I was quite well versed in Hindu mythology. I stared at the goddess. She looked right back at me, her piercing eyes unwavering. I shook myself mentally, laughing at my silly imagination. 

As my gaze wandered down, I noticed something. Centered on the base of the statue was a rectangular engraved metal plate with the words DO NOT TOUCH. I really wanted to touch the goddess. I looked around furtively to make sure no one was watching then gingerly reached out to touch the cool stone surface of the statue. Instantly a painful jolt shot up my arm.



2015 Diversity Reading Challenge

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

King is often quoted and for good reason. He wrote incredible speeches, but my favorite quote is one you don’t see very often. It’s unfortunate because it’s particularly astute, even in 2015.

 

"Men often hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they can not communicate; they can not communicate because they are separated." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.


We live in a diverse world. No matter how much some people don’t want to admit it, we do. And that’s ok. Diversity is what makes life interesting. The recent movement #WeNeedDiverseBooks seeks to support books with nontraditional characters. When was the last time you read a book about someone who was from another country? Or a character with a disability? Or someone who’s gay? The vast majority of traditionally published books are about straight, white characters if you think about it, but there are diverse options out there.


In honor of diversity and Martin Luther King, who wanted us all to know each other better and not be afraid of differences, I’ve decided to take the Diverse Reading Challenge this year. I’m kind of a sucker for challenges these days. :)

Here’s the challenge:

1) Read a book by an author of color – I’ve always wanted to read Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. Just after Christmas 2014 I read Octavia Butler, and woah was that different! In a good way :) I’ve chosen Song of Solomon and I know why the caged bird sings.

2) Read a book with a person of color on the cover –  It’s a little silly to read a book just because of its cover though, but have you ever noticed how there’s a lot of books about people of color that don’t show them on the cover?? Yeah, hmm.  Do publishers shy away from people of color on book covers, I wonder?  I did just come across one today that I think I'll read though. It's non-fiction, which is unusual for me, but the subject is so intriguing. It's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. It's about a black woman who's cells were collected by a doctor in the 1950's and have since been reproduced for scientific study all over the world.

3) Read a book about coming out – I’m going to read Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg . It actually sounds kinda cute. I hope it’s not depressing.

4) Read a book with a main character with a disability – I’m going to read All the Light We Cannot see by Anthony Doerr about a blind girl during WW II. Looks amazing. Pretty cover too.

5) Read a book with bullying – I think this will be easily found, as a lot of YA deals with bullying. I‘m considering If I Ever get out of here and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part time Indian. I’ve been meaning to read Sherman Alexie for a long time. I’m reading Winger by Andrew Smith right now. It’s about privileged white kids in a private boarding school, but they sure bully the heck out of each other. Ugh. Depressing. I guess bullying is something everyone gets to enjoy.

6) Read a book illustrated by an artist of color – The suggestion was Kadir Nelson. I’m not familiar with Kadir, but I will be soon!

7) Read any Walter Dean Myers book – another author I’m not familiar with, so that’s good. I’ve chosen Monster. Written years ago, it sounds just like something you’d see on the news these days.

8) Read a book by or about someone who has a spectrum disorder – I found two I want to read. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon and Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine both look very interesting

9) Read a book about a child soldier or a child growing up in the Middle East- I have no idea where to start. Any ideas?

10) Read a book about a character that suffers a sexual assault – Eew. I don’t normally read this kind of book because I find it difficult to read such stories. I mainly read to be entertained and I couldn’t possibly see such a story as entertainment. I only hope I can find one that’s up lifting in some way. I’ve already read Speak. Wasn’t crazy about it. This might be the one I don’t get to.

11) Read a book with some same sex parents – Ideas?? Maybe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? Seems like there was a female couple in that, but the parents are out of the story for much of the book so I’m not sure about that.



My Goodreads goal this year is to read 21 books, so a good number of them are going to be diverse subjects. I hope you’ll join me, if not for the whole challenge, for just a book or two. I’ve love to have a book club chat. At least read my new novel this year, Vessel, a dystopian scifi with Asian main characters. It’ll be out in May. Eep!


Please check back and see how I’m doing as the year goes on. I’ll post updates and hopefully reviews of the diverse books I read. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts too. OK everybody. Let’s Read!

 

 *That's me at the Lincoln Memorial in 2011 where King gave his "I Have a Dream Speech". Let Freedom Ring!

Sins of the Father @DiverseBkTours Tour

Welcome to the latest Diverse Books Tour for Thelonious Legend for his book

Sins of the Father!

 

Read on to learn more about it and be sure to catch

 my interview with the author at the bottom. :)

 

~About the Book~

Sins of The Father

By Thelonious Legend

ISBN: 978-0615961125, 0615961126

Publisher: Self-Published

Pages: 272

Genre: MG/YA/Fantasy/Science Fiction

Plot Summary:

This was going to be a special year for the Parker sisters. Eve was going to dominate in the classroom and on the basketball court. 

Gwen was going to make the starting five and go down in history as the greatest prankster ever. Ana was going to do as little as possible.

But without warning, all three sisters gain extraordinary abilities that defy science… powers that come with a cost. Now all they want to do is make it through the school year without drawing any undue attention, while racing to find a cure before the side effects of their new abilities kill them. Eve’s temperament, Gwen’s fondness for pranks, and Ana’s predilection for money, however, are challenges they must overcome to achieve their goals. Because if they can’t, they’re dead…

~Book Links~


Amazon: Purchase Link

Barnes & Noble: Purchase Link

Goodreads: Connect about it on Goodreads!

 Book Depository: Pick up internationally!

 

~About the Author~

 Thelonious Legend
 

IT Professional by day, but by night I use my pen and pad as a canvas to explore questions of race, identity, privilege and class in a science fiction setting. Eclectic reader with a fondness for the classics and first generation Hip Hop snob. Don't start none won't be none! Philadelphia Eagles football fanatic and I also enjoy MMA from the safety of my couch. On the weekends you can find me wine drinking, rock climbing, fishing, or being an unpaid chauffeur to my daughters' activities. Also I'm a snark purveyor and been making with the funny since it was called the 'Dozens'. Get at me!

 

 

 

~Find Thelonious Legend here~

 Website: Official Blog

Facebook: Sins of The Father Page

Twitter: @TheLegendBooks

Goodreads: Author Profile

  

~Author Interview~

Thanks so much for being on the blog, Thelonious. Tell us a little about your writing journey.

I always wanted to write but for whatever reason was afraid to take that first step. Then I saw small indie film titled 'I Will Follow' and I thought the film was amazing so I googled the director/writer and discovered it was Ava DuVernay is now doing Selma. So as I did more research I discovered that Ava's background was in PR/Marketing and she just decided to make films. After that I had no valid excuse for sitting on the sidelines.
What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

I have to say talking about my book with my daughters. Including plot, character development, writing style and how it compares to their favorite books. And for the record they do not cut me any slack.
Kids are brutally honest. I know exactly what you mean.What is the hardest aspect of being a writer?

Rejection. Being rejected or dismissed by publishers and readers is tough. But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Having a rhino hide never hurts. :) So how much research goes into your story?

A tremendous amount of research. I watched hours of Youtube videos of my favorite fighters to choreograph my fight scenes. And when I write a minority character, I do exhaustive research so I can understand that respective culture. And I do this important because it is critical I get it right and avoid clichés and stereotypes.
Writers are sometimes influenced by things that happen in their own lives. Are you?

Definitely. I'm influenced by politics, by my daughters, by my job, pretty much everything and I try to use it all.

What can you tell us about your writing projects?

I have published one book and hope to have the other out by April 2015. I also write on my blog about diversity and host two chats on twitter. #BlackWritersChat for any writer that has questions about writing diverse characters, and publishing/marketing independent diverse works. And #BlackComicsChat where we provide a platform for creators of diverse comics to talk about their work and reach a captive audience.

I'll have to check out those hashtags. I've always got questions about writing diverse characters!What is the most surprising thing about writing/publishing you have learnt?

How hard it is. You have to become an expert at so many disciplines, social media, PR/Advertising/Marketing on top of writing, editing and publishing. It can be overwhelming at times.
Do you have any tips for other writers?

I would say find friends or beta-readers who are not afraid to hurt your feelings and give you the unvarnished truth about your work. It will make you better.

Other than writing what else do you love? 

I have to say I really enjoy fatherhood. Nerding out with my daughters, be it the latest Marvel movie, or going fishing and rock climbing. Just love spending time them.

I think kids keep you more in the moment and remind you what's really important. Who is your favorite author and why?

Toni Morrison. One for her honesty. She is not afraid to write about things that people keep locked in their closet or stored up under their bed and it's scary. Also, her skill level. She does things with the English language that make me want to set down my pen. Her work is that good.

Oh, I know exactly what you mean, but you have to let great writers inspire you, not discourage. :) If you had a premonition you would be stranded on a desert island what 5 books would you take?

Hmm Lord Of Rings Trilogy, James Alan McPhereson's Hue and Cry, which is an incredible collection of short stories and probably something from Paul Beatty because you are going to need to laugh.
Can you give us five words that sum you up?

Wow, that's hard. Ok here we go... Loyal, funny, driven, compassionate, and political.
Sweet. How can we learn more about you and Sins of the Father?


https://twitter.com/TheLegendBooks

http://theloniouslegend.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Thelonious-Legend/e/B00II6GJZS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1420082045&sr=8-2

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7899848.Thelonious_Legend

 https://www.facebook.com/TheloniousLegend

Thanks so much for coming Thelonious! Best of luck with your writing! 

Diverse Book Tours presents "Niko" by Kayti Nika Raet

~Excerpt from Niko~

What was most disturbing about Slithers was not their glowing, multicolored eyes, or the razor-sharp claws that extended from the tips of their hands, or even the crooked, slithery walk they employed as they stalked their prey. The most disturbing about Slithers was how human they looked, there were even some people who thought that they had been human at one time.

Niko didn't bother theorizing about monsters. It made them easier to kill.

The one she faced was a study of contrasts, with pale skin and black hair. It pulled up short; its head tilted quizzically as it regarded her. She was not following the usual script long established between Slithers and humans. She was supposed to be running, perhaps while screaming ineffectively, and it was supposed to pursue her in a glorious chase.

She grinned at it, lifting her hand in a wave. She let the bat slide free from her sleeve, a week ago she'd driven a large nail through the wood, giving it an extra kick.

The further she diverged from the script the more puzzled the Slither looked, its mismatched eyes sliding between her and the weapon in her hand. Then it offered up a jerky shrug, food was food even if it was acting strange.

It attacked.

Detaching itself from the shadows and it ran toward her on all fours. Its claws tore up chunks of the sidewalk. An inhuman shriek blasted out of a mouth full of long narrow teeth. It leapt over rain filled holes, its eyes only on her and the place where her ribs tried to shield her rapidly pounding heart.

Niko stood her ground, eyes narrowed, bat raised. 

The thing came closer, its excited pants the only sound filling her ears.

It neared, came closer, then just close enough. She swung a scream of her own filling the night.

Niko missed.

~About the Book~

Title: Niko
Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781301255191
Pages: 186

Genre:YA,Dystopian, Thriller, Romance

Plot Summary:

One can live for several weeks without food but only a few days without water, a fact seventeen year old Niko is only too aware of as she struggles to provide for her two younger brothers in a post apocalyptic landscape where the rain burns like acid, food grows increasingly scarce and any Slither that crosses her path is laid low before it can sink its teeth into her.

Then one night everything she'd ever worked for and loved is consumed by a raging fire, leaving her with one brother missing, the other dead and herself gravely injured.

She's rescued by the Rose Circle, a rogue group of Slither hunters. They sneak her into Amaryllis City, a decadent metropolis where those able to pay the exorbitant entrance fee live a life of relative ease.
But for Niko, Amaryllis City is not the haven she grew up believing it would be and her unique abilities as a Slither hunter make her a particularly visible target to a city with hopes of experimentation, replication and other nasty bits.

All Niko ever wanted to do was find her baby brother, but that's proving to be harder than expected.

~About The Author~

 

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Kayti Nika Raet moved down South when she was 11, where she was bitten by the writing bug, as well as other, less friendly insects.

She is the author of the Outsider Chronicles, a five book series starting with NIKO and set in a world where the rain burns like acid and flesh eating monsters roam.

She’s also a reviewer for Readers’ Favorite and has her own Youtube Channel: Kayti Edition.

When she is not hard at work on her fourth book she has fun reading, listening to K-pop, and photography.

Kayti lives in Georgia.

Check out her book!

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Interested in Diverse Book Tours, a tour company that celebrates diverse books? Click on their button to find out more!

Diverse Book Tours Presents "Dia of the Dead" and a Sweet #Giveaway

~About the Book~

Dia of the Dead by Brit Brinson

Protecting Romero High from all things supernaturally spooky as Dia Muerto is a tough gig for sixteen-year-old actress Dia Summers, but it’s nothing compared to protecting the ones she loves from real, live—well, formerly alive—zombies. Unlike the zombies that shambled around on set, the real deal don’t follow a script.  

At the majorly important birthday party of her boss’ daughter, Dia experiences a series of potentially career-ruining social disasters. Before the night is over, she soon discovers that the possible cancellation of her show isn’t her biggest worry. 

Armed with what they can find around Bixby Studios, Dia and her friends band together to find out why everyone they know has begun popping up as gray-skinned, black-eyed, limb-nomming zombies. With the ailment spreading, time is running out before Dia is swept up in Hollywood’s latest trend.

Amazon

Big Moon Press

Goodreads

~About the Author~

Brit Brinson was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. After time away to attend college and graduate school, she returned home. When she’s not writing, she enjoys doing nerdy stuff with her friends. She lives for all things horror, paranormal, and sci-fi.

Dia of the Dead is her first novel.

Website

Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Meet Dia Summers~

So Ms. Dia Summers, you’re the star of a hit series show on one of the biggest networks on tv. How did you get your start into acting?

Dia of the Dead is not only my first starring role, it’s also my first role. Other than acting out scenes from my favorite movies in my living room for my dog, Frank, I haven’t done much acting.

How did you land a deal like “Dia of The Dead?”
With a little bit of luck [laughs]. I attended a cattle call for a new show on Bixby. There were tons of other girls there. Some I’d seen on other shows. I didn’t think I would get the part but my mom gave me a pep talk before I went in to read. I must’ve done well because they called me back for a second audition [laughs].

 What can you tell us about your hit show “Dia of The Dead?”

 Dia of the Dead is a show about Dia Muerto--zombie high school student by day, kick-butt crime fighter by night. Dia was once a regular old ninth grader until she got into a freak accident and was brought back to life by Romero, California’s resident mad scientist, Dr. Fink. He kinda acts like her dad but not even he knows she protects the town from all the supernatural baddies that stop by to wreak havoc. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it.

 Anything “crazy” ever happen on set?

 Once my co-star Mason Jackson brought his pet pig Li’l Mason with him to set. He was supposed to keep the pig in his dressing room but somehow it ended up on set and ran through the studio audience. It look like three hours for people to catch him. We had to end filming early.

 Do you do your own stunts?

 I typically do but we have used a stunt double once or twice.

 We just have to know? Any Bixby Studio set romances brewing? I hear Mason and Brendan are totally single!

 [Giggles] No comment.

 Who’s been the most exciting person to work with on set?

 I’m going to say Kaci Miller. Even though she plays Addison, Dia’s nemesis at Romero High, Kaci is totally not like her character at all. She has the ability to turn a long day of filming into a party. She’s really fun to work with and so friendly and caring. I just love her.

 What is it like for an actress of color to retain a presence on screen for a MAJOR network?

 It’s an honor. My mom and I talk about this all the time. When I first got the role of Dia Muerto, it was a big deal but I didn’t think it was a big-BIG deal but my mom…my mom like broke it down for me. She explained how important I could be to some little girl or boy of color that sees me on TV because the media needs more diversity. She said seeing me as Dia Muerto might inspire them to pursue their dreams. If I were able to actually do that, it would make me so happy.

What’s the best advice you’ve learned in the industry?

 Be yourself. While it might seem pretty simple, sometimes it’s really hard to do.

 Have anything next lined up and where can we see you next!

 I have a few scripts for movies that I’m looking currently looking over so hopefully you all will see me on the big screen soon!

#SampleSunday excerpt from my latest Work In Progress

For lots of folks, today marks the end of NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. For me, it's the end of the November Writing Challenge, which isn't really an ending because the work isn't done yet. It's "well begun" and well begun is half done, as Mary Poppins says.

I've spent November working on a project I call "Crawdad". I started it over the summer and worked on it ever since. I have a rough draft now that I'm piecing together, since I wrote the parts somewhat out of order. I'd like to share an excerpt with you for #Sample Sunday. :) If you're interested, read on down.

I've also been querying another project called The Color of Water. There are at least three pitch events on Twitter this month, so I plan to pitch it as much as I can. Aside from attending conferences, Twitter really is the best place to reach agents and editors you might not ever get to meet otherwise. Twitter is where my first two books found their homes, so it does work. If you follow me on Twitter, I'm apologizing now; my tweets early in December will consist of A LOT of repetitive pitching. Sorry. :)



I'll also be book blogging a lot in December. There's the Small Press and Indie Book Blog Hop coming up Dec. 5-12 and my book Hush Puppy will be hosted by Diverse Book Tours starting Dec. 8 . Diverse Book Tours was started by my favorite Twinjas book reviewers to help promote diversity in literature. If you follow this blog, you're sure to see several posts sponsored by Diverse Book Tours.  I also post Month 9 Books cover releases and book tours. Month 9 Books is publishing my book Vessel in 2015, so watch for that and add it to your Goodreads list. If there's another small press publisher that does more to promote their authors online, I sure haven't seen it. I'm so excited to be in the Month 9 Books family. :)

Whew! With all that going on, I'm sure glad I decided to finish my Christmas shopping in October! I hope you enjoy the upcoming holiday season peeps :)

~Crawdad Excerpt~

Sometimes people do the best they can, but it ain't no good. There's no shame in it. Well, maybe there is, but there's nothing you can do about it anyway. No use getting mad about it. 

The day my mama died I'd been sitting there, wondering what I was gonna do, just like I had for the last three days of mama's coma. The hospice lady said I should tell mama is was all right to let go, but I didn't want to. I wanted her to sit up in bed and tell me what the hell she was thinking when she said I wasn't really her son. Who else's son would I be? Hadn't she been with me every single day of my life? It was only seventeen years, but I remembered her in almost every one of them. She was my mom as sure as August in Alabama is miserable hot, as sure as honey sticks to your fingers, and then she had to go and ruin it all.

"Jamil," she whispered to me, cause the emphysema had stolen most of her raspy voice. "I need to tell you something."

"It's OK, Mama. I know you wished you'd never smoked."

She done told me that about a million times. Made me swear on my immortal soul I'd never do it. I couldn't tell her I already had.

"It's not that."

She raised a bony hand for me to hold, her nails like claws they'd gotten so long. I took her hand and leaned in close so she wouldn't have to talk loud.

"There ain't much time left, so I better tell you this while I still can."

"Aw Mama, you gonna get better."

"No, I ain't Jamil. No time left. I just want to meet my maker with a clear conscience."

I couldn't imagine what she was talking about. My mama always had a "strong moral compass" she called it. She taught me right from wrong with a switch so I'd have one too, whatever it was.

"Then what is it?" I asked.

"I ain't..." she paused, her face bunched up like something hurt her.

"You need a nurse?"

"No. I ain't your mama."

"What?" I was sure my ears heard her wrong.

Pig Park Blog Tour

Welcome to the Pig Park Blog Tour, another Diverse Book Tours presentation. Enjoy!

~About the Book~

Pig Park
by Claudia Guadalupe
ISBN: 978-1935955764
Publisher: Cinco Punto Press
Pages: 256
Genre: YA Contemporary

Plot Summary:
It's crazy. Fifteen year old Masi Burciaga hauls bricks to help build a giant pyramid in her neighborhood park. Her neighborhood is becoming more of ghost town each day since the lard company moved away. Even her school closed down. Her family's bakery and the other surviving businesses may soon follow. as a last resort, the neighborhood grown-ups enlist all the remaining able-bodied boys and girls in this scheme in hopes of luring visitors.

Maybe their neighbors will come back too. But something's not right about the entrepreneur behind it all. And then there's the new boy who came to help. The one with the softest of lips. Pig Park is a contemporary Faustian tale that forces us to look at the desperate lengths people will go to in the name of community--and maybe love.

 

 

Amazon

 

Barnes & Noble

 

Goodreads

 

Book Depository

 

 

~About the Author~

 

Claudia Guadalupe Martinez, author of the award-winning The Smell of Old Lady Perfume, has long been distressed about how the global economy is displacing workers and families. Claudia grew up in El Paso, Texas. She and her family now live in Chicago, Illinois.

Website
Facebook
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Goodreads

 

~Book Excerpt~

Chapter One

I stuffed the letter from the bank back into the drawer and slipped into the kitchen to turn the vent out toward Pig Park. The smell of cinnamon and butter escaped into the street.

 

Living above Burciaga’s Bakery—and being a Burciaga—meant it was my job to keep the kitchen spotless and to do any other number of things from bringing in the mail to answering the phone.

 

I was sort of the Cinderella of crumbs—minus the ugly stepsisters and the singing mice.

 

The last thing we needed was mice.

 

“How are you doing over there, Masi?” my dad asked.

 

“All right,” I said.

 

I grabbed a crusty bowl, ran it under hot water and scrubbed hard, scratching at it like it had the kind of itch that requires a good dose of calamine lotion. I tried not to think about the letter.

It wasn’t so easy.

 

See, my dad started the bakery with nothing but an old box of recipes. He liked to say that the bakery, like most of Pig Park, sprouted in the boom and shadow

 

of the American Lard Company. The company had even donated land right in the middle of everything for the park our neighborhood was named after. That’s why our neighborhood got named Pig Park, because pig fat made lard and lard had more or less made our neighborhood.

 

As the company grew, so did we. Hundreds of company employees lived and worked here. They ate and shopped here. We baked twice a day just to keep up. That’s until the company closed down, and people left with the jobs.

 

“Economic downturn.” That’s how the big wigs at American Lard explained away how our good old Chicago neighborhood got left behind. My dad said that just meant they didn’t think they were making

 

enough money. So they packed up their jobs and took them some other place—like a whole other country.

 

Never mind the irony of American Lard made somewhere other than America.

 

I knew from that letter in that drawer that with no one to buy the bread, the bakery would close down

for good too. We would end up leaving Pig Park like everyone else.

 

This is what else I knew: I’d lived in Pig Park my whole entire life. I still had a few friends left. So—even after everything—I couldn’t wrap my head around the bakery closing and us leaving also. It kept me up at night, wondering about tomorrow and the day after. Maybe I would never see my friends again. My family lived upstairs now. Maybe we’d end up homeless.

 

My dad was always saying not to think like that, to leave the worrying to him and my mom, but—I just couldn’t help it. I couldn’t help it about as much as I couldn’t help breathing or just being me.

 

My dad tied an apron around his waist, rolled his sleeves up and grabbed hold of the masa resting on the counter. Sweat dampened his shirt across his thick broad back. He pounded down on dough the color of dirt clay. “How about some music?”

 

“Music?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Like what?” I grabbed a dish towel and dried my hands.

 

“Anything.”

 

I switched on the radio. My dad sang along to that old song, “Amorcitoooo Corazon.” I imagined

him making his way down a cobblestone road on a bike—balancing a big basket of freshly baked rolls on his head—belting out the song like in one of those old black and white movies they used to play in the park to bring the neighborhood together.