I'm One Of the Greats!!

At least, this blog award says so, and I believe it. Every word!

This award came from Rose over at The Golden Road blog. Even though the rules don't say to thank the tagger and link back, I'm gonna do it anyway... 'cause I'm NICE like that.

So, here are the RULES...

Copy & paste the award to your blog.
Answer the questions given below (everyone answers the same questions every time).
Award 1-5 bloggers who are some of your favorites, give a quick description of why you chose them, and let them know you tagged them!

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Here are the QUESTIONS...

1.) What are some of your tips for the background of blogs? Layout, colors, etc.?
Er... I would say, try to go for colours that suit you, but are also rather pleasing to the eye. Me, I like green and dark colours, because I find my eyes object to overlong exposure to bright computer screens. And sidebars make a blog interesting, and give insight to what kind of person you are.

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2.) What are your favorite blog topics to write about?
I like to write about writing, about movies and music, about books, about me... about anything, really. I also post about clay. I guess I'm a random kind of writer! (Or blogger.)

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3.) What are some of your favorite blog topics to read?
I really love to read anything that's written well, is engaging and fun to read, and gets my interest. I like writing and art blogs, "crafty" and food blogs, and blogs that deal with book, movie, or music reviews. Hairstyle blogs are fun, too.

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4.) What is your biggest blogging tip for newbies?
Be yourself. Don't get too preachy. Sappy posts, or sanctimonious posts, or "I am such a deep thinker" posts can be a turnoff, if that's ALL you do. Try to make your posts light, funny, and engaging. You don't always have to be the joke-a-minute blogger, but when you go for a thoughtful post, truly try to make it THOUGHTFUL and not a soul-searching journey into treacle-town.

5.) Why did you start blogging? 
Because I am primarily a writer, and as a writer I wanted to network with other writers. :)

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I Tag:
No one!

S'r'ously, I iz too tired to tag and nominate peoples. So, I shall enjoy this award, and if you'd like it, nominate yourself, blog, and tag. Knock yourself out.

Until next time, cheers! God bless!

Cat

P.S. And stay tuned. On May 20th, I shall be posting an interview with Angelia Almos, author of HORSE CHARMER. She's going on a blog tour, and she'll be stopping by to talk about her book, and answer a few questions. :)

http://angeliaalmos.blogspot.com

Camp NaNoWriMo, June 2012!

I'm sure many people have heard of NaNoWriMo. (That's National Novel Writing Month, for anyone who doesn't know.) NaNo usually takes place during the month of November. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I've done it twice now, in November, and I've "won" both times.

However, they are also doing summer camp NaNo, in June and August. I did a summer NaNo last year, and "won" that time, too. The nice thing about NaNo is that its more of a focus: it helps you concentrate on your work and not to let yourself get distracted by shiny things.

Also, you don't have to write a complete, fully edited, 50,000-word manuscript that's a piece of art and ready to submit now. You can use it for whatever you need it for. The last three times I've used it to fully draft novels that I was procrastinating on, and just needed to get written. This time, I have a novel I've completed, but the revisions are killing me. I'm trying to avoid them, and that's always a bad thing. So, I'm using NaNo to completely revise my manuscript.

How about you? Are you going to participate? If so, welcome to Camp NaNoWriMo!

And you can still enter for a chance to win HORSE CHARMER, a novel by author Angelia Almos, whose new book UNICORN KEEP was released April 30, 2012. You've got mere hours left, so hurry down!

God bless

Cat

Unicorn Keep - Character Interview with Jiline

Good morning, everyone. Please meet Jiline, the main character of Angelia Almos' novel, UNICORN KEEP. Hello, Jiline! Thank you for coming over to my blog today.

Hello!

How would you describe yourself?

I don't know. I guess I would hope people would describe me as a good friend and a hard worker. 

Well, those sound like good characteristics.Tell me, where is Ainsley, exactly?

Ainsley is a village in the low farm lands about a weeks journey east of the ocean. We have many woods, but no deep forests near our village and plenty of pastureland for farms, animals and plowing. The land is what is most valuable in our village. 

Sounds like a gorgeous place. I wish I lived there!

So, in Ainsley, who is your best friend?

Madelen has always been my best friend. We have neighboring farms and I've always felt she understood me better than my older sisters. I could talk to her as I couldn't talk to them.

How did you decide to trade places with Madelen?

The idea to switch places with Madelen occurred to me when she told me that Wilm had asked her to run away with him. I could tell she wanted to even if she wouldn't come out and admit it. I was also still thinking about my realization that my parents had hoped I would be selected as a keeper. With the two thoughts swirling around my head, it probably isn't too much of a surprise that the idea occurred to me.

What is the Keep like? Can you describe it?

The Keep isn't like anything I've ever seen. I think my village could fit inside the Keep walls. I would have thought the Keep would be cold since it is built out of stone, but except for a few chilly mornings it always seems to be the right temperature. You have to be careful when you walk down anything but the main hallways, you could get lost easily if you aren't aware of where you are. 

That sounds like an amazing, yet eerie place. **shiver**

Now, the Keep is where the unicorns live. How do you feel about unicorns?

Unicorns are so beautiful it's hard to believe they're real. But they very much are and to be in their presence is to be touched by living breathing magic.

How do you like the Mages at the Keep?

Mages make me very nervous. I had rarely met or seen one before they came to our village to recruit unicorn keepers. They seem taller and stronger than regular people when you're in their presence.

What about Mage Herrick? What's he like?

Herrick made me uneasy from the first moment I saw him. I always felt like he knew I wasn't Madelen. I was nervous, but also relieved when he offered to ride with me to the Keep. It was nice not having to ride the mountain alone and I appreciated his presence even if I couldn't shake off my uneasiness. 

So, Angelia Almos wrote your story, didn't she? How did she do?

I thought Angelia told what happened in a very truthful way and I think that is all I could have asked for.

What's one secret about yourself that you didn't tell her?

I secretly envied Madelen's home life. She is an only child and received all of her parents attention while I had to share my parents with my siblings.

Where is your story available for purchase, Jiline?

Unicorn Keep is available as both an ebook and print book from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Create Space (print), and Smashwords (ebook).

Thank you so much for coming over and visiting! I enjoyed talking to you. Do you think Angelia would like me to post links, so readers can visit her?

I'm sure Angelia appreciate your kindness.

Angelia can be found at her website, her blog, and on Facebook and Twitter.

UNICORN KEEP - Book Review and Giveaway

Title: UNICORN KEEP

Author: Angelia Almos

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Enchanted Book Tours Review:

Jiline of Ainsley is dismayed when her best friend is selected by the mages to become a unicorn keeper at the Keep, an isolated mountain fortress. Especially since Madelen is in love and engaged to the richest boy in the village. Jiline on the other hand has no prospects of marriage or a trade in their small village. So, she comes up with a plan to take Madelen’s place at the Keep and hopefully flunk out of unicorn keeper training before the mages can discover the deception. Unfortunately, the unicorns have their own plans for her.

Mage Herrick, son of the Keep Mage, returns home to the Keep as the trainee keepers arrive. A chance encounter with Jiline, who he believes is Madelen, on the trail sparks a magical connection between the two. Knowing he can’t feel a magical draw to someone who has no magic, he tries to prove Madelen (Jiline) has magic within her. His attention brings unforeseen complications for both of them.

My Review:


UNICORN KEEP by Angelia Almos is a lovely, lovely story. Written simply, with enough prose and description to keep my imagination working, it features unicorns, unicorn lore, and unique characters I could sympathize with.

We are introduced to the main character, Jiline, and her best friend Madelen, as they’re waiting for the mages to "test" them for their worthiness as possible unicorn keepers. For those who are pure enough to be chosen, they must travel to Unicorn Keep, where they will take care of the magical creatures.

Madelen is chosen to be a unicorn keeper, and Jiline is not. For Madelen, who is in love with the mayor’s son, Wilm, the last thing she wants to do is leave the village. For Jiline, who has no prospects for marriage, the role as a unicorn keeper could have been a blessing.

Jiline formulates a quick plan. She and Madelen (who look so much alike they are often mistaken for sisters) will trade places.

Madelen and Wilm will travel to the city and start a new life together.

Jiline will go to the Unicorn Keep.

Expecting her lack of purity to be discovered, Jiline is surprised as the days pass and the mages don't seem to suspect anything. When the time comes for the trainees at the keep to be judged and chosen by the unicorns themselves, she prepares herself for the lie to be exposed at last.

Then the unexpected happens. The unicorns choose her as a keeper, because there is magic within her.

However, Jiline have to keep her friendship to the unicorns a secret, for they reveal secrets to her that puts her in danger. For one thing, the unicorns tell her that the keep is not a haven. It is their prison. And there is a lie about the crystal the mages use to choose new keepers. Does it really work the way they say it does?

Jiline is the girl chosen to save the unicorn from their imprisoned existence in the Keep. She just has to stay alive.

This book was a quick read, simple yet elegant in its simplicity. The unicorn element was delightful, and for unicorn fans, this is a must-read. I give it four stars.

*****

To celebrate UNICORN KEEP, I am excited to host a giveaway for another book written byAngelia Almos. To enter this international contest for a chance to win HORSE CHARMER, fill in the Rafflecopter widget below. Come by tomorrow, because I'll be a posting an interview with Jiline, the heroine of UNICORN KEEP.

Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

UNICORN KEEP - Release Day Party!

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Title: Unicorn Keep

Author: Angelia Almos

Genre: YA Fantasy

Jiline of Ainsley is dismayed when her best friend is selected by the mages to become a unicorn keeper at the Keep, an isolated mountain fortress. Especially since Madelen is in love and engaged to the richest boy in the village. Jiline on the other hand has no prospects of marriage or a trade in their small village. So, she comes up with a plan to take Madelen’s place at the Keep and hopefully flunk out of unicorn keeper training before the mages can discover the deception. Unfortunately, the unicorns have their own plans for her.

Mage Herrick, son of the Keep Mage, returns home to the Keep as the trainee keepers arrive. A chance encounter with Jiline, who he believes is Madelen, on the trail sparks a magical connection between the two. Knowing he can’t feel a magical draw to someone who has no magic, he tries to prove Madelen (Jiline) has magic within her. His attention brings unforeseen complications for both of them.

UNICORN KEEP is available from:

Amazon - Print Book
Amazon - Ebook

Create Space - Print Book

Barnes and Noble - Ebook

Smashwords - Ebook

Author Bio

Angelia Almos formed a lifelong passion for horses at the age of five when she talked her parents into riding lessons. Horses often play a prominent role in her young adult fantasy books. She also write horsey nonfiction and space opera. She lives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, two cats, and one pony (she often thinks of bumping that number up to two).
Visit her website: www.angeliaalmos.com

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/angeliaalmos
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/AngeliaAlmosAuthor

Want to win a copy of HORSE CHARMER, also written by Angelia Almos? Enter the giveaway! (Make sure you actually leave a post in the Comment Box below the Rafflecopter giveaway gadget. You can't leave a post in the gadget itself. :-)