Spotlight & Author Interview: A Crown Forged By Victory’s Consequence + Giveaway

A CROWN FORGED BY VICTORY'S CONSEQUENCE

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the A CROWN FORGED BY VICTORY’S CONSEQUENCE by Marlayna James & Aaryanna Abbott Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

Title: A CROWN FORGED BY VICTORY’S CONSEQUENCE
The Blackened Tablet Series, #1

Author: Marlayna James & Aaryanna Abbott

Pub. Date: January 3, 2023

Publisher: Friends with Pens Author Group

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 438

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

 

The Blackened Tablet Series is an epic fantasy quest story with corrupt politics, wondrous magic, and illicit encounters in a supernatural world where no one is safe.

Three hundred years ago, the sacred tablet granted by their god, Jezabet, turned black, and eight kingdoms broke free, plummeting into the bottomless sea. There was no warning, and no one knows why.

Now, a strange illness plagues Aldersward. Crowned Prince Aedyn’s sisters, Achelle and Annora, his father, and countrymen are desperate and grief-stricken. All hope is lost…

Until someone dreams, and Aedyn leaves behind his mistress and his betrothed to cure their nation. He enlists his friends; a brazen playboy, a gentle strongman, and an ancient mentor. Together, they set out on a perilous journey-few believe they will survive.

This isn’t a fairy tale-s3x becomes currency, murder is ordinary, and love doesn’t conquer all.

Everyone loves a hero-good triumphs evil. But few dare to question how victory ripples into consequences. Explore this exciting concept in the Blackened Tablet Series.


 Serious Truths

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? Why?

Marlayna: I only write under pen names. I see how Erika’s life has changed with fame, and I don’t want it. I also suffer from a disfiguring skin condition and am embarrassed, so I don’t use any true images of myself.

 

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Marlayna: Keep writing. Don’t give up. I always wanted to be a writer but was told I couldn’t be, and so I gave up. I wish I hadn’t.

 

What’s your favourite under-appreciated novel?

Marlayna: The Pride of Hannah Wade by Janet Dailey. It’s an amazing read which was ahead of its time. 

 

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Marlayna: Yikes. A dozen half-finished. A single unpublished. Unwritten—too many. The Blackened Tablet Series By Aaryanna Abbott will be 9 or 10 books (2nd book is written). Annora has a short story playtime Restless Bean Series with over 200 titles already chosen. Achelle has 2 books which are half-written. I have the second book in the Sugarverse Series completed but not published.

 

What does literary success look like to you?

Marlayna: A readership of a few thousand who enjoy and discuss my work.

 

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

Marlayna: I think it is determining their reactions. Sometimes, I will bounce a scene off of a male friend or family member, and their reaction is much different from what I have written. I will go back and rewrite it.

 

What did you edit out of A Crown Forged By Victory’s Consequence?

Marlayna: When I finished the first draught, it was 187K words. Published, it is 157K words. I edited a ton of extra words which weren’t needed. As far as scenes, I removed a few scenes between Aedyn and Achelle. They didn’t add to the story. My orphanage—is what I call my deleted scene doc, is where I put my killed darlings. I’m fortunate enough that I hold no harboured feelings for my words—this can be a struggle for some writers—and so I easily delete the fluff.

 

How do you select the names of your characters?

Marlayna: First I find images which fit my imagination, then I open it next to a baby name website and read until something sticks.

 

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Marlayna: I do. I love them all. I want to thank every reader with a comment, but this is discouraged in the writers’ community, so I don’t. BUT I really want to!!


 

About Marlayna James:

Marlayna lives in Canada where she writes romance, erotica, women’s fiction, and fantasy. She loves video games, TV, reading, and writing.

About Aaryanna Abbott:

This is another of my pen names. For every pen name, I use a different part of who I am. I imagine this is how she looks.

What’s this part of me like?

I was a daddy’s girl. The very epitome of spoilt.

I love to be wild and crazy—experience everything the world has to offer. I’m adventurous and my carefree disposition is contagious.

I’m loyal to a fault and don’t care what expectations or labels society has bestowed upon me. I believe one’s truth is more valuable than anyone’s perception.

This part of me writes for escapism—to be free of my mundane day to day and live in a magical world almost as real to me as earth. Except in my imaginary world, I control all things and it pleases me to no end.

Do you know how happy you would be living there?

Find all of Marlayna James & Aaryanna Abbott’s Links HERE- https://friendswithpensauthorgroup.com/letshookup/


Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive an eBook of A CROWN FORGED BY VICTORY’S CONSEQUENCE, International.

Ends January 10th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

12/1/2022

Mythical Books

Guest Post/IG Post

12/2/2022

The Momma Spot

Guest Post

12/3/2022

Sadie’s Spotlight

Guest Post/IG Post

Week Two:

12/4/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Guest Post/IG Post

12/5/2022

A Dream Within A Dream

Guest Post

12/6/2022

Jazzy Book Reviews

Guest Post/IG Post

12/7/2022

Lady Hawkeye

Guest Post/IG Post

12/8/2022

Books and Kats

Guest Post

12/9/2022

Living in a Bookworld

Guest Post

12/10/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post

Week Three:

12/11/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

12/12/2022

Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf

IG Review

12/13/2022

Books With A Chance
of Traveling

Review/IG Post

12/14/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

12/15/2022

The Book Countess

Review

12/16/2022

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

12/17/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

Week Four:

12/18/2022

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review/IG Post

12/19/2022

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post

12/20/2022

Forthenovellovers

Review

12/21/2022

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Review/TikTok Post

12/22/2022

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

12/23/2022

The Girl Who Reads

Review/IG Post

12/24/2022

NO POST

NA

Week Five:

12/25/2022

NO POST

NA

12/26/2022

Ashe_and_ink

IG Review

12/27/2022

the book near me

Review/IG Post

12/28/2022

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

12/29/2022

Emily Ashlyn

IG & Facebook Review

12/30/2022

@booksrn_rashi

IG Review

12/31/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

 

BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Dark Apprentice, by Val Neil

BBNYA 2022 Spotlight Banner

This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the 50 books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website or take a peek over on Twitter: @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (If you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.


Dark Apprentice Cover

Dark Apprentice
by Val Neil
Publisher: Living Relic Press
Length: 470 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Adult
Date Published: 4 April 2021

A psychopathic wizard. An immortal mage. An epic battle of wills.

Nikolai doesn’t want much out of life: sex, immortality, and the power to disembowel anyone who crosses him. But with dark magic forbidden, his only option is Medea–a mage so deadly even the Enforcers give her a wide berth. Despite dire warnings that her apprentices don’t survive, Nikolai won’t stop until she agrees to train him. After all, he’s a killer himself.

Barbaric and brutal, the training is a far cry from what Nikolai expects. When a mysterious illness strikes Nikolai down, he suspects he’s found the secret to Medea’s longevity. He resolves to find out what happened to her previous apprentices. If he can locate the source of her power, he can turn it against her.

Medea swore off training dark wizards–none of them take the craft seriously and the ungrateful bastards always try to kill her. This one definitely seems the backstabbing type, but magic is dying out and she hasn’t felt such magical strength in centuries. If she can control the boy, show him that magic is more than curses and necromancy, he might obtain the power he desires. If not, well . . .

What’s one more dead apprentice?

Amazon CA / US / UK
Goodreads


Author Bio:

Val was diagnosed with autism at the age of forty-one and couldn’t be happier to have her weirdness professionally validated. She lives in California with her ADHDer spouse, three children (two neurodiverse and one undecided), a normal number of dogs, and an abnormal number of birds.

For a free short story, witty ramblings and recommendations, sign up for my monthly newsletter: subscribepage.com/t7a2d4

Web: valneil.com
Twitter: @ValNeilAuthor
Facebook: facebook.com/valneilauthor

Spotlight & Excerpt: Armadas in the Mist + Giveaway

ARMADA'S IN THE MIST

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ARMADAS IN THE MIST by Christian Klaver Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

Title: ARMADAS IN THE MIST
(The Empire of the House of Thorns #3)

Author: Christian Klaver

Pub. Date: December 6, 2022

Publisher: CamCat Books

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 332

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

 

The Black Shuck’s forces gather just beyond the mist . . .

Captain Justice Kasric knows how complicated family can be. The escalating Human-Faerie war has scattered and wounded her siblings and transformed her parents beyond recognition. After narrowly escaping yet another dangerous clash, fifteen-year-old Justice has had enough. She’s determined to defeat the Black Shuck, the mysterious leader controlling the Faerie invasion of London, but if Justice hopes to stand a chance at victory, she’ll have to do the impossible: reunite her family and lead them against the looming Faerie Armada.

With her mother and brother at the helm of the enemy fleet, and the prophesized Seven Virtues slipping out of reach, Justice more than has her work cut out for her. Even if she can save England, the cost may be higher than she’s willing to pay.

 

Grab the first 2 books in the Empire of the House of
Thorns series now!


 Escerpt:


 

About Christian Klaver:

Christian Klaver has been writing for over twenty years, with a number of magazine publications, including Escape PodDark Wisdom Anthology, and Anti-Matter. He’s the author of The Supernatural Case Files of Sherlock Holmes series, but has written over a dozen novels, both fantasy and sci-fi, often with a Noir bent. He’s worked as book-seller, bartender and a martial-arts instructor before settling into a career in internet security. He lives just outside the sprawling decay of Detroit, Michigan, with his wife, Kimberly, his daughter, Kathryn, and a group of animals he refers to as The Menagerie. He’s also a part of the Untitled Writer’s Group based in Ann Arbor for the past decade or so with a bunch of equally starry-eyed dreamers and social misanthropes.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub


Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of ARMADAS IN THE MIST, US Only.

Ends December 20th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/21/2022

Mythical Books

Guest Post/IG Post

11/22/2022

Jazzy Book Reviews

Excerpt/IG Post

11/23/2022

Books and Kats

Excerpt

11/24/2022

Living in a Bookworld

Excerpt

11/25/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

11/26/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

Week Two:

11/27/2022

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

11/28/2022

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

11/29/2022

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

11/30/2022

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

12/1/2022

Locks, Hooks and Books

Review

12/2/2022

YA Books Central

Guest Post/IG Post

12/3/2022

Sadie’s Spotlight

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Three:

12/4/2022

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

12/5/2022

The Momma Spot

Review

12/6/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

12/7/2022

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review/IG Post

12/8/2022

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

12/9/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

12/10/2022

A Court of Coffee and Books

Review/IG Post

Week Four:

12/11/2022

Emily Ashlyn

IG & Facebook Review

12/12/2022

popthebutterfly

Review/IG Post

12/13/2022

The Real World According To Sam

Review/IG Post

12/14/2022

History from a Woman’s Perspective

Review

12/15/2022

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic

12/16/2022

@ReadsReaders

YouTube Review/IG Post

 

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