Posts Tagged With: book

Book Release Party Oct 26-28

VIP Guests Wanted!

I’m getting ready for the Virtual party in a month and six days! Visit the Party Page for a list of participation needs: https://katepolicani.com/release-party/ I’m open to suggestions if you have a great idea for a way to join the party!

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

New Review: Poppy the Proud by Emlyn Chand

Poppy the Proud

By Emlyn Chand

Illustrated by Sarah Shaw

Genre: Children

Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/poppy-the-proud-by-emlyn-chand/

Evolved Publishing brings you the third of the BIRD BRAIN BOOKS by Emlyn Chand, “Poppy the Proud.” This children’s picture book, with full color illustrations by artist Sarah Shaw, is perfect for kids 4-6 years old.
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Poppy is the prettiest peacock in the entire garden, but one day his privileged existence is upset when an all-white peacock is born and promptly named the most beautiful by a smitten flock. Intensely jealous, Poppy no longer knows where he fits in and decides to reclaim his title as the fairest bird in all the land, no matter what it takes.

In a desperate attempt to regain the admiration of his peers, Poppy steals items from the humans that visit his park. He wraps himself in a beautiful silk scarf, wears a series of ornate bangles around his neck, and even tries to dye his feathers with colored dust from a festive Holi celebration. Unfortunately, each of these attempts not only fails to improve his appearance, they actually make it worse. What’s a poor bird to do?

In this compelling tale of self-esteem, pride, and learning what makes each of us special, Poppy the peacock discovers that true beauty lies beneath the feathers.

About the Author:

Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). Since then, she has always loved to hear and tell stories. When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity. Emlyn enjoys connecting with readers and is available throughout the social media Internet world. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

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Today is My Day! Last Day for Blog-in September!

Thank you for visiting the Blog-in and extra thanks to our wonderful authors participating! Don’t forget to sign up for October’s Author Blog-in! Please visit my book, The Disenchanted Pet, on these awesome blogs:

http://harshadpassion.wordpress.com/blog/

http://sharonscrazycats.blogspot.com/

http://therapywriting.wordpress.com/

Categories: Author Blog-in | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Author Blog-in: The End of the World Sucks by Sharon Trembley

Author Blog-In: End of the World Sucks

Sharon’s such a good sport that I read and reviewed her book just for the Blog-in! Read it here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/the-end-of-the-world-sucks-by-sharon-trembley/

 

The End of the World Sucks by Sharon Trembley

This is a genre blender book that might be compared to Lord of the Flies meets Let the Right One In in a post-zombie apocalyptic world. Don’t worry though, it’s about the people even though there are elements of horror.

Zombies, a Vampire, or her fellow Man – Which is most likely to kill Vanna Ames? Who can she trust?

After surviving a whole month past the End of the World by hiding and staying quiet, recent college graduate and fashion retail employee, Vanna, luckily finds others who have gathered together as a community for their mutual survival on a college campus.

Although claiming to be a democratic society, tempers become frayed, decisions defy logic, and rules are broken. Further emboldened by the lack of society and law, some even gain a sense of entitlement because they are self-labeled heroes.

Now that all the rules have changed, a vampire arrives with a deal – his help for blood. An equally beneficial offer or a Faustian bargain?

As the community’s flaws grow, Vanna must decide whether to stick with her own kind in relative safety, or reject their community service nightmare, risk her life, and appeal to a vampire who claims his only interest is human blood.

And for the Author Blog In, here’s an excerpt to give a better idea of Vanna’s character because she is a character.  This occurs after Vanna hears gun shots early in the book and goes for a walk to find out what happened –

When she reached a point where two rolls of chain-link were joined together with some twisted wire, Vanna saw her. If she had seen that dress before, she would have remembered.
Muumuus were made for a woman of this size. Displaying a cheery, floral print provided no slimming effects, but proudly declared big and beautiful. Along with the turquoise, orange, and pink poly-blend tent, she also wore a pair of nude knee highs, and filthy, pink terry scuff slippers, and large, turquoise-colored plastic earrings with a matching chunky bracelet.
The woman had fallen on her side facing the fence, and like most of the corpses, her eyes remained forever open. Vanna thought the zombies didn’t blink, so that might be why their eyes turned that spotty white color.
Even with a visible gunshot wound to her face, Vanna could see the trivial details that further defined who this used to be. The woman’s short, not-so-natural blond hair was arranged into a crown of curlsframing her face. She also had heavy blue eye shadow still caked all the way up to her plucked, then redrawn with brown pencil, eyebrows.
Her lower face was grimy, Vanna couldn’t confirm her expectation of coordinating lipstick to match her screaming pink nail polish, brightly visible on the tips of her dirt-caked fingers from a distance. Vanna’sconstant fearful imagination made the gunk smeared on the zombie’s lips still appear fresh, wet and red, when she knew it had been there for weeks.

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Author Blog-in: The Artist’s Inheritance by Juli D. Revezzo

Author blog-in first book!

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Reviewers Rock! Thanks Bookworm Extraordinaire!

Here is a lovely review for my book, Don’t Judge a Book By Its Magic, by The Bookworm Extraordinaire: http://www.thebookwormextraordinare.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-dont-judge-book-by-its-magic-by.html

And I’m the “Author of the Month” too! (That’s in the side margin)

The book release is set for Oct 26th! Be sure to mark the date ’cause we’re going to party!

Thanks again Bookworm!

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Author Blog-in Day 1: Post Your Own Book!

The Disenchanted Pet

By Kate Policani

Short synopsis:

Far into the future, the Earth is ruled by the ShaZha, a hyper-intelligent race of alien beings who are plagued by the violence and volatility of the human race. Supposedly intending to repair the broken societies and polluted planet, they have found the Human problem to be much more complex than they ever imagined. Zarah is a Prodigy, an obedient human, with a caring ShaZha master. Zarah wants to prove all her master’s hopes that humans can be civilized and responsible. When she is lost by her master and exposed to the other side of humanity, she must confront the possibility she might be not a valued citizen, but a pet.

I am currently writing my next book called The Stray, a second book set in the ShaZha Earth. It isn’t a sequel, but the story connects with The Disenchanted Pet

Buy The Disenchanted Pet on Amazon (Kindle and Paperback. Kindle copy free with Amazon Prime)

To buy multiple ebook formats, go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93067

To buy the paperback, click here: https://www.createspace.com/3657962

For great reviews:

http://tahlianewland.com/2011/12/23/review-the-disenchanted-pet-by-kate-policani/

http://mainemuse.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/the-disenchanted-pet-by-kate-policani/

http://nadiariell.com/2012/01/18/a-book-review-for-the-disenchanted-pet-by-kate-policani/

http://www.speculativefaith.com/authors/kate-policani/

Long Synopsis:

The Disenchanted Pet is ashort Science Fiction novel that takes place in the popular “post-apocalyptic Earth” setting,  exploreing the unique problems with the Human Race and how to “fix” it.

Zarah is a young, optimistic girl, entering into the exciting world of adulthood with an idealistic perspective. But Zarah lives in the a future where Humanity is ruled by an alien race occupying Earth in order to rehabilitate and repair the planet and its people.

Reality intrudes on Zarah’s unspoiled outlook when she is attacked and separated from her SaSa, an alien guardian who is like a parent to her. Trapped within the Feral Facility, pregnant and separated from her home and new husband, she learns all the mistakes about the reality she believed in. She sees that the “Ferals”, who who aren’t serviceable within  the ShaZha’s plans, are not necessarily the monsters her Prodigy society has portrayed them to be.

Suffering through the harsh truth about her world and the errors in her ideals, she must face a future without the assurances upon which she always relied.

The Disenchanted Pet appeals to Science Fiction lovers as well as readers who have never explored the genre before. It explores the disillusionment of growing up and the harsh realities of adulthood, but with aliens.

Cover Art by Heidi Barnett and Erik Sederstrom warpfrenzy@msn.com

Categories: Author Blog-in | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pre-review time!

My book is ready for pre-review! I won’t scream at you in a blog post, but know that I’m repressing a scream of excitement.

If you would like to pre-review my book, please email me at katepolicani(at)gmail.com and I’ll send you an e-copy. I will feature your review on my upcoming Virtual Release Party starting October 26th!

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , | 5 Comments

New Review: Island of Illusions by Jennifer L. Jennings

Island of Illusions

by Jennifer L. Johnson

Genre: Mystery

Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/island-of-illusions-by-jennifer-l-jennings/

This third and final installment of the Sarah Woods Mystery Series finds our sleuth immersed in the tropical splendor of Oahu. However, what begins as an island getaway for Sarah quickly morphs into a desperate search for the missing infant of a wealthy Boston family. Just when the detectives believe they’ve made a breakthrough in the case, a shocking death shakes their investigation to the core. Much to Sarah’s surprise, surveillance expert Max Stevens also joins the frantic search. Will the detectives locate the missing child? Will Sarah finally share her true feelings with Max?

Pick up this novel and lose yourself in the mystery, or start with Book One, “An Appointment with Murder.” Either choice will keep you guessing ’til the very end.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

Jennifer L. Jennings was born in Chicago, Illinois but has spent most of her life living in Maine. She was a massage therapist for fifteen years, and worked as a glass artisan for many years as well. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling the world, playing guitar with her son Blake, reading, writing and doing all things creative.

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Analysis: Get more out of your reading!

Why would I want to analyze a book while I read it? Iread for fun!

My answer: analyzing your reading gives you more fun with the next book. What is it about your book that you like? What don’t you like and why? These are important questions to answer if you want to get more books you will love reading. You want that, right?

If you like to talk with others about books, this is a great way to pull out the intelligent answers to the question, “What did you like about this book?”

Here are some easy habits to get into while reading that will help you analyze books:

  1. Pay attention to the commonly-used themes the author is using. (Example: a woman alone, man vs. the system) They are everywhere, in movies, books, even commercials. There are big themes and small themes, some encompassing the whole book and some for just one scene. They vary with culture differences around the world and even within a city. It’s surprising to see that books on entirely different subjects can have similar themes. Pulling this out and poking it with a stick can be a lot of fun. Continue reading
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The Churn – Emotional things that affect me physically.

Here and there in my reading I find emotional events or encounters that give me a physical feeling. I feel the zing of adrenaline from my neck to my fingertips at a really exciting or scary scene. I feel the clench of my abdomen with fear or surprise. I feel the hollowness in my chest from sorrow or loss. I only get these physical reactions when I’m really engaged by a good book. (I don’t include erotic scenes in this category. Eroticism is an intentional pitch at a physical reaction and can be accomplished without emotion.)

I look forward to finding the churn reaction with each book I read and often start from these feelings when I write. I hope to be able to write in a way that gives the same feeling to others that I began with.

There is a fine balance, though, between good emotions in a book and sappy writing. Authors have to maintain a balance so that you don’t bore your reader with too much sorrow, surprise or fury. You can wear out the emotions.

What emotions give you a physical feeling?

Categories: Reading | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Review: Flower Bowl Spell by Olivia Boler

Flower Bowl Spell

by Olivia Boler

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/flower-bowl-spell-by-olivia-boler/

Journalist Memphis Zhang isn’t ashamed of her Wiccan upbringing—in fact, she’s proud to be one of a few Chinese American witches in San Francisco, and maybe the world. Unlike the well-meaning but basically powerless Wiccans in her disbanded coven, Memphis can see fairies, read auras, and cast spells that actually work—even though she concocts them with ingredients like Nutella and antiperspirant. Yet after a friend she tries to protect is brutally killed, Memphis, full of guilt, abandons magick to lead a “normal” life. The appearance, however, of her dead friend’s sexy rock star brother—as well as a fairy in a subway tunnel—suggest that magick is not done with her. Reluctantly, Memphis finds herself dragged back into the world of urban magick, trying to stop a power-hungry witch from using the dangerous Flower Bowl Spell and killing the people Memphis loves—and maybe even Memphis herself.

Buy on Amazon!

 

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Book Promotion Companies Review Update

Look! A pretty Table!

My list is getting longer now! Thanks to all of you for your great input and willingness to share!

**These ratings for book marketing companies are all based strictly on customer experience and opinion. This is a running list and I will be happy to add other customer opinions of book marketing companies to this list. To include your ratings, please comment on this post or email me at katepolicani@gmail (dot) com. Continue reading

Categories: Publicity | Tags: , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

New Review: Puzzlebook: 100 Matchstick Puzzles

Puzzlebook: 100 Matchstick Puzzles

By Grabarchuck Puzzles

Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/puzzlebook-100-matchstick-puzzles-by-grabarchuk-puzzles/

Discover a new Puzzlebook series of hands-on puzzles. The first book embraces 100 matchstick puzzles which you can play anywhere using matchsticks, toothpicks, pencils, crayons, pretzel sticks….be creative!

About the Authors:

The Grabarchuck family has decades of experience working in the Puzzle World. They create, design and test all of their puzzles. Their puzzles are published in books, magazines, newspapers, and on the Web. Solving hundreds of puzzles a year, they research and study the historical backgrounds of their puzzles. The Grabarchucks participate in puzzle activities all over the World to inspire their interactive puzzle creations.

Buy on Amazon

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