Julie DeMay dreamed of being a published author, and in 2011 her first book was released — two years after she lost her battle with cervical cancer.

Julie DeMay

Cell War Notebooks is a compilation of the blog Julie kept during the last seven months of her life — it’s beautiful, funny, brave and truly inspirational for anyone, whether you’ve been through cancer or not.  

Today, independent authors are banding together to  help promote her book.  Anyone who has marketed their own work knows how difficult it is under the best of circumstances, but Julie can't promote her work anymore. All proceeds will go to her 9-year-old daughter, Luka. 

What can you do?  Spread the word, tweet about the book and this courageous woman, buy Cell War Notebooks.  It's a small price to pay to help a little girl who is trying to navigate the world without her mother.  Plus, you get to help make Julie's dream come true (or truer).

Six Sentence Sunday

It's here.  The last ever Six Sentence Sunday.  I haven't been participating for all that long, but I appreciate the time and effort of the founders for this great idea!

Today's snippet is from Special Offers, book one of the Coursodon Dimension Series.  Hailey becomes "possessed" by Sebastian, who was previously trapped in her Kindle.  Alex finds a way to communicate with Sebastian and then explains to Hailey how she ended up with a bodymate.

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"He encrypted his essence into binary code and then intended to broadcast himself into his laptop, which was on and in the room.  He predicted that his spiritual being would remain intact and protected there until he could be reunited with his corporeal self. Unfortunately, he believes that during the melee with Kashanian the computer was damaged and was no longer receiving data.  There was a warehouse nearby, one which he assumes must have been a Kindle manufacturing site.  Luckily for Sebastian, someone must have been testing the wireless capabilities of one just as he became disembodied, and he was intercepted by this,” he declared as he dramatically picked up my Kindle.  He looked at the eBook reader with both wonder and admiration and whispered, “He did it;  that crazy bastard actually did it.”

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Thanks for stopping by.  Please check out Six Sentence Sunday for links to all the other sixes!

Six Sentence Sunday

Today's snippet comes from Special Rewards.  Here's the set up:  Hailey often has somewhat unusual dreams.  This one started out at her graduation ceremony, but changed - as weird dreams often do - to something involving her best friend, Rachel.

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As I was handed my diploma, the scene morphed.  I was now in a dark, windowless room.  Through the shadows, I could just make out Rachel, who was shackled to a conveyer-belt connected to an airport screening device.  She was naked except for three tiny mortarboards that covered her privates like a bizarre, geometric stripper’s outfit.  I heard a voice at the far side of the room; Sebastian was describing, in excruciating detail, how he planned to make certain she wasn’t sneaking more than three ounces of liquid in her carry-on. 

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Thanks for stopping by!  Check out all the other links at Six Sentence Sunday. 

The Next Big Thing!

Welcome to the NEXT BIG THING Blog Hop!

What is a blog hop?  It’s a way for readers to discover new authors. I hope you'll find new-to-you authors whose works you enjoy. On this stop on the blog hop, you'll find a bit of information about me and one of my books along with links to five other authors you can explore.

My gratitude to fellow author, Adrienne deWolfe, for inviting me to participate in this event. You can click the following links to learn more about Adrienne and her books.

Her Next Big Thing: http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/blog-hop-for-authors/2013/01/

Her Website: http://WritingNovelsThatSell.com

Her books: http://ebookdiscovery.com/AdrienneDeWolfe.html 

In this blog hop, my fellow authors and I, in our respective blogs, have answered 10 questions about our current book or work-in-progress. We've also included some behind-the-scenes information about how and why we write what we write--the characters, inspirations, plotting and other choices we make.

Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. Here is my Next Big Thing!

1. What is the  title of your book?  The title is Special Offers, the first book in the Coursodon DImension Series

2. Where did the idea come from for the series?  I had just purchased my full-priced Kindle when I saw Amazon was selling less expensive versions that came with “special offers.”  I thought what if the Kindles were cheaper because they came with some fiendish spirit?  Originally, I imagined something like a havoc - wreaking poltergeist, but that quickly changed into the annoying, yet ingratiating Sebastian Kess.  

The first book - Special Offers - introduces Hailey Parrish, a 30 year-old divorcee who milks chinchilla for a living and hadn't had a date in three years.  She only wanted an eBook reader because her collection of paperbacks threatened to take over her small living space.  Little did she know that the "special offers" that prompted her purchase included much more than just a reduced price in exchange for a few ads.  The device came pre-loaded with the essence of Sebastian Kess, an erudite womanizer with magical abilities from a parallel dimension. When she inadvertently releases him and he inhabits her body, she finally has a man inside her, just not in the way she imagined.  Hailey must come to grips with the existence of Coursodon, the parallel dimension, and the realization that magical non-humans walk the world all while dealing with Sebastian's annoying banter in her head.  Her predicament also introduces her to another supernatural, the handsome could-be-the-man-of-her-dreams Alex Sunderland.  The action moves from Hailey's hometown of Tucson, Arizona to New Hampshire and across Europe as she and Alex try to return Sebastian to his own body while staying one step ahead of the criminals that want to keep him right where he is.

3.  What is the genre of your book?  It’s Urban Fantasy/Paranormal with some romance and an occasional steamy scene or two.  I think it’s a little difficult to place the series completely in a specific genre—it has aspects of the paranormal, fantasy and a lot of humor.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  Yikes!  That’s tough. I think every reader should determine what characters look like based on their own imagination and I am a little hesitant to influence anyone with my ideas.  However, if I had to pick actors to bring the characters to life on the big screen I’d choose Mila Kunis for Hailey, Alexander Skarsgard for Alex and John Stamos for Sebastian.  But none of them are exactly what I picture for the characters.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your series?  It’s about a woman who is possessed by a supernatural being from another dimension who was previously trapped in her Kindle eBook reader.

6. Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?  All my books are self-published.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  Each book has taken about six months from start to finish.  Unfortunately, I have to split my writing time with my day job, so it takes longer than it might if I could focus only on the writing.  I try to write something, even if it is just a paragraph, every day.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  People have compared my work to Rose Pressey’s, probably because of the humor.  But I don’t think there are any books quite like this series.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?  I've always made up stories and I finally decided to free up some space in my brain by letting some of them out and writing them down.

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?  This is the best review quote I've ever received:

"Do you enjoy romance with a paranormal twist with a splash of humor that will make you snort Pepsi out of your nose if you take a drink at the wrong moment? Then this book is for you."

My writing made someone snort a beverage out their nose!!

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Below you will find authors who will be joining me virtually, via blog, next Wednesday. Please be sure to bookmark their sites, and add them to your calendars for updates on their upcoming books! Happy Writing and Reading!

1. Thianna D  Author of Erotic Romance

2. Christine Steendam Romance Author

3. Amber Lea Easton  Mysteries/Thrillers

4. Andrea Goodson  Author of Romantic Suspence

5. Cygnet Brown Author of Historical Romance

Six Sentence Sunday!

Welcome back for another Six Sentence Sunday.  Today's snippet once again comes from the second book of the Coursodon Dimension Series, Special Rewards.

Hailey's mother, worried that her daughter's spiritual life is lacking, sends Walter to help her "see the light".  Walter and Hailey went to high school together and even though he is now a preacher, he spent a lot of time in high school spying on the girls locker room.  Needless to say, she doesn't want to have anything to do with him.  She has to think fast and come up with something that would both get him immediately out of her house and discourage him from future visits.  So, she makes up a religion.
 

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“Walter, whatever my mother may have told you, I am not in need of saving, reprogramming or any other religious instruction.  I’m now a Reformed Copacetic and I’m very happy with their teachings.”

“I’m not familiar with that denomination,” he muttered.

“Really?”,  I said as I guided him toward the door.  “Our most sacred tenet is that we can only associate with other Copacetics, so I’m going to have to insist that you leave.  You wouldn’t want to get me in trouble, would you?”

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Check out all the other sixes at Six Sentence Sunday!

Six Sentence Sunday!

Welcome back for six sentences from my latest book Special Rewards. Here's the set up: Alex found a rather dangerous package in his hotel room, but the guy at the front desk can't remember much about the woman who brought it. Sebastian speculates that the lack of detail must be a function of how well-endowed the delivery chick was.

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“Close, she had very large breasts, wore a low-cut, tight sweater and the only other characteristic he remembered was that she had long, auburn hair.” 

What is it with men and mammaries?  Shove some humongous hooters in front of them and they lose 50 IQ points. “Let me get this straight,” I began, shaking my head slowly in disbelief. “He can’t recall anything important because he was mesmerized by her cleavage?” 

“One should never underestimate the befuddling power of boobs,” Sebastian replied. 

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 Thanks for stopping by. Please check out all the other great sixes at Six Sentence Sunday.  And as long as you are here, check out the New Years Blog Hop detailed in the post directly after this one.  Great prizes and today is the last day to enter!

New Year's Blog Hop!

Happy New Year! welcome to the New Year's Blog Hop!!  

Ahhh.  Another new year.  Hopefully, we really didn't fall over the fiscal cliff (and never have to hear the words 'fiscal cliff' ever again).  The next year is likely to be a sort of transitional one for me, but whatever comes I will try to face it with aplomb.  Or at least without going completely insane.  Here's wishing you a fantastic 2013!

Please check out the first two books in the paranormal romance/urban fantasy Coursodon Dimension Series 

Special Offers and Special Rewards.  

At $2.99 each in eBook format, they are a great addition to that new eBook reader you got for the holidays!

Meet Hailey - possessed by an otherworldly being who was trapped in her Kindle.

Hailey Parrish is quick-witted, irreverent, and hasn’t had a date in three years. She only wanted an eBook reader because her collection of paperbacks threatened to take over her small living space. Little did she know that the "special offers" that prompted the purchase included much more than a reduced price in exchange for a few ads. The device came pre-loaded with the essence of Sebastian Kess, an erudite womanizer with magical abilities from a parallel dimension. When she inadvertently releases him and he inhabits her body, she finally has a man inside her, just not in the way she imagined. And soon her predicament introduces her to yet another supernatural, the handsome could-be-the-man-of-her-dreams Alex Sunderland. Can Alex and Hailey find a way to return Sebastian to his own body, stay one step ahead of the criminals who want to keep him where he is, and not lose their sense of humor?
Buy Special Offers

What would you do if you discovered there was a parallel dimension?

Hailey Parrish used to be an average, everyday human. Boring, in fact. After being possessed by Sebastian Kess, a magically inclined enforcer from the parallel dimension Coursodon, her life took a decidedly less mundane turn. Besides coming to grips with the existence of supernatural beings, she risked her life helping Sebastian and her heart falling for his protégé, Alex Sunderland. Now, Hailey has to deal with the bit of arcane power that Sebastian left behind when he returned to his own body and try to stay out of the crossfire when an unknown assailant seeks revenge against Alex.

Buy Special Rewards




And now, for the contest!!!

You can enter to win fabulous prizes by going to 225 author's sites.  That's right, you can enter to win 225 times to win the grand prizes!  And each site has their own giveaway so you have many chances to win.  And what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $300 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

But that’s not all!  If you leave a comment and your email address, you will also be entered in my personal giveaway.  I’m offering a lovely pair of lampwork glass bead earrings designed by me!

My giveaway is available to anyone in the U.S. or Canada only (Sorry! Shipping overseas is expensive). However, if the randomly selected winner is from any other country, they will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card instead, and I will select another winner for the earrings.  Also, the 3^rd grand prize is also only available to residents of the US.

All you have to do to be eligible for either the Grand Prizes or my giveaway is leave your email address and answer the following question in the blog’s comments:

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

You can also increase your chances to win the earrings (or the gift card) with extra entries in the Rafflecopter giveaway below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


And the winner of the earrings is:

Cassandra Hicks