Guest Post & Giveaway: Monsterland by Michael Okon

We're thrilled to host Michael Okon's MONSTERLAND Blog Tour today! Leave a comment below to enter the book giveaway!

Title:
MONSTERLAND

Author: Michael Okon

Publisher: Wordfire Press

Pages: 232

Genre: Monsters

Welcome to Monsterland—the scariest place on Earth.

The last couple years of high school have not been fun for Wyatt Baldwin. His parents divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An on-going debate with his best friends Howard Drucker and Melvin over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn’t stand a chance.

But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can rock out with vampires at Vampire
Village, be chased by actual werewolves on the Werewolf River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.

With real werewolves, vampires and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

 

My All-time Favorite Monster is…

My all-time favorite monster is…is…is I actually have no idea. Choosing a favorite monster is like choosing children, you simply can’t do it. When the spark of my book Monsterland came to me, I called my brother immediately and told him, “I’m going to write a story about a theme park with zombies.” He replied with a quick, “No.” He said, “You have to tell a story about a theme park with werewolves, vampires, AND zombies.” I started writing that night.

What I learned about writing books, specifically about monsters, is not limiting yourself to one type of monster to scare the audience. Werewolves, vampires, and zombies. Having the three most globally recognized monsters in the world, all on display at a massive theme park. What could possibly go wrong?

How would the story have turned out if I would have chosen one monster? I honestly don’t know. What would happen if Led Zeppelin only released one song on an album? The results probably would have been disastrous.

As of now, Monsterland 2 is scheduled for a May 26, 2018 release. I have three, actually four monsters in that one, with other monsters being alluded too. As for Monsterland 3, which I just started, there are three monsters named just in the first three chapters alone. What happens after that? Well, there are going to be more. Many more monsters in this interesting universe I’m creating.

But…if I had to choose one monster, just one superior monster to terrorize us lowly citizens, I would choose The Invisible Man. I’m incorporating The Invisible Man in an upcoming Monsterland novel. I say this because watching the original classic with Claude Rains…well…I was terrified. A zombie? Just shoot it. A vampire? Shine a light. A werewolf? They come out once a month and will fall with one little measly silver bullet.

But The Invisible Man is scary. A madman you cannot see. I’ve seen every classic horror movie, Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Blob, but nothing stayed with me like The Invisible Man. I guess that falls in line with ghosts, but again, a ghost can’t touch you. Right? Only The Invisible Man can. I believe when a monster cannot be seen, well, that’s the scariest type of monster I can think. It’s a primal thing, a monster always lurking and watching, and you have absolutely no idea.

Well, Jaws is really scary too. And Pennywise the clown is too. And Leatherface from…oh, nevermind. I can’t choose a favorite.

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling is his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can  remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE
| TWITTER | FACEBOOK

GIVEAWAY

Michael Okon is giving away 2
autographed copies of MONSTERLAND!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering
  the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• Two winners
  will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive a copy.
• This
  giveaway ends midnight December
  29.
• Winner will
  be contacted via email on December 30.
• Winner has
  48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Dark Echoes by Jaime McDougall

LONE WOLF

Lily Peterson is a wolf who hunts alone. Haunted by the attack that left her best friend permanently human, she will do whatever it takes to catch her prey.

FATE

Jason North is one of the Neuri, a pack of werewolves with special abilities. He knows he’s never met Lily before, but his instincts tell him he has. He’ll keep her close until he figures out why.

EVERYBODY LIES

A war that has played out across lifetimes threatens to consume Echo Falls. Friends become enemies, and old enemies become allies. Lily fights against memories that aren’t hers, forced toward a fate she doesn’t believe in.

Fate is about to learn that Lily doesn’t like being told what to do.

Jaime McDougall is a chocolate-addicted paranormal romance author living in country Australia. She likes

kidnapping her husband and naming her pets after science fiction authors.

When she is not writing or thinking about writing, she is baking all kinds of sweet concoctions. It’s been said that she makes the best brownies in Bendigo, but she couldn’t possibly comment.

She has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: High School: The Real Deal, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles, Painted Words 2012, and Painted Words 2013. She has also published the paranormal romance novels Echo Falls, Fading Echoes, and Dark Echoes as well as the So You Want non-fiction series for authors.

Find out more at Jaime’s website: http://www.inkyblots.com

New Cover Reveal: Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall

Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.

After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack - his pack - is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.

Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart.

Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?

Purchase here.

Inspired by the original cover art by Scarlett Rugers, the new cover embraces the feel of Echo Falls as a series. Jaimes says she's in such awe of the pure talent at Cohesion and she's so happy in taking these books to the next level!

To celebrate, she is holding a contest! You have the chance to win both Echo Falls (with the now-limited edition original cover) and the sequel, Fading Echoes – both signed! Already have the books? Then you can choose to have a minor character in the third book named after you or a friend. This contest is open internationally.

To win:

Go to her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/authorjaimemcdougall

Tell her what scene in Echo Falls or Fading Echoes is your favourite and why. Haven’t read the books? Then all you need to do is tell her what paranormal creature you would be if you could and why.

Everyone who participates will go into a draw. You will get an extra entry if you share this on Facebook and an extra entry if you Tweet!

Good luck!

Book Review: Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall

Phoebe Martin keeps running from her past. Problem is, it keeps catching up with her. She hopes Echo Falls is finally her safe haven from the secrets she holds inside.

After Phoebe is violently attacked in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan finds her to be the only path to understanding why the Echo Falls pack--his pack--is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses everything, including Aidan.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous about reviewing this one. Werewolves aren't my thing. I went through my vampire stage, but it was more television shows--Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel--than books. And any time you review a book for a friend you've known for a few years, it lends itself to some tense moments before you crack open the binding and begin reading.

Thankfully, McDougall is an excellent writer. I felt drawn in right from the moment I met Phoebe, who was running for her life. I love a book that drops me right into the action, and Echo Falls certainly did that.

I applaud an author who can create a superb villain, as it is something I struggle with as a writer. McDougall managed to make Liam despicable, yet the reader still is left with an ounce of sympathy for him. Challenging to do, yet wonderful when a storyteller creates such a character. McDougall's strength definitely resides in her ability to develop characters and bring them to life for her readers: Aidan the strong, sexy hero; Phoebe the independent, stubborn heroine who is determined to handle things herself; Will and Elle--husband and wife, leaders in the pack, who accept Phoebe and help her feel welcome; Mia, a member of the pack who isn't fond of Phoebe and Aidan's developing relationship.

I would definitely look forward to an Echo Falls sequel, perhaps a story that focuses on one of the secondary characters. If you enjoy a fast-paced paranormal romance, Echo Falls is the book for you.

Title:  Echo Falls
Author:  Jaime McDougall
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN-10: 1463664044
ISBN-13: 978-1463664046
SRP:  $10.99
Kindle version: $3.00

Author Spotlight: Guard My Heart: A Taste of Terror by Chastity Bush

As a Guardian it is Cole Douglas’s job to protect all living beings, mortal and immortal alike. When Cole is attacked by a female werewolf, he is shocked to find that his attacker is none other than his intended mate. Refusing to acknowledge that he has found his mate, Cole continues on with his job of hunting rogues, only to find that the beautiful creature he was attacked by is not only his intended mate but his ticket to finding the rogue werewolf he has been assigned to kill.

Unable to resist, Cole finds himself drawn to the woman unlike any before. From her golden brown hair to her amber gold eyes, Cole realizes that just because he doesn’t think he is ready for a mate, doesn’t matter when just a look from her can set his blood on fire.

Chloe Dunn is just learning to live life as a werewolf when the scent of a stranger sends her into a frenzy and leads her to attack him. Cole is dangerous and wild, something she needs no part of but the overwhelming pull he has on her is more than she can bear. The more time she spends with him, the more she wants him, needs him and will do whatever it takes to have him, even if it means placing herself in the hands of the very rouge that turned her.

Read an Excerpt!


“Are you all right?”

Sitting up slowly, she reached to feel the tender spot on the back of her head.

“Just a little sore, I think I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m more worried about you,” she said quickly, reaching out to pull what was left of his T-shirt away from the deep lacerations marring his chest.

“What the…?” The wounds she had seen him sustain were life threatening; she had been able to see his ribs through the deep gashes as he fought but now....

“They are almost gone?” she wondered aloud. “What in the hell are you?” She rubbed the tips of her fingers across what looked like four fading scars.

Cole shivered under her tender touch. Her fingertips gently brushed over the
wounds to his chest. The heat of her touch burned through him, pleasure weaving its way throughout his body. He had never experienced this kind of raw need for a woman, never felt such powerful desire for someone as he did for Chloe.

“Well?” she asked with exasperation as she stood, placing her hands on her hips.

“Well what?” His mind was still lost in the pleasure of her touch.

“What-are-you?” she enunciated slowly.

Struggling to hide a smile, Cole stood, pulling what was left of his shirt over his head before tossing it into the trash can.

Grinning, Cole watched quietly as the irritation displayed so clearly across Chloe’s face faded as her eyes roamed the length of his body.

“Do I meet your approval?” Cole teased.

It was as if he could feel her eyes roaming his bare flesh, burning a trail over every inch they covered. He could smell her need for him; he could see it in the expressions flickering across her face. For a moment he was severely tempted to throw her to the ground and take her, to claim her but his good sense prevailed. This was not the time and definitely not the place. Instead, the need to tease her had won out.

Cole watched as she schooled her features. The flicker of embarrassment fading only to be replaced by irritation.

“You’re a kind of an ass you know that?” she stated bluntly, her golden eyes
glittering in the bright lights. She had just saved his life and he would not even tell her what the hell he was? Irritation slithered within her.

She was serious, he noted and he fought to hide the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“So, I have been told.”

“I take it that you are not going to answer my question?”

“Not here.”

“Well, seeing as I need some answers as to what just happened here,” she said, waving her hands at the mess surrounding them, “where will you tell me what I need to know?”

He had intended on telling her about his assignment and what part she played in it. He had even intended to tell her what he was and answer whatever it was that she needed to know about her own kind. That had been his reason for coming to the hospital to begin with. He had first thought to catch her at her home but, after watching her apartment for nearly a week, it seemed that she was at work more than she was at home.

“Your place.”

Nodding her head, she agreed.

“There is only one problem.”

“What is that?” he asked.

“How are we both going to get out of here? I’m covered with blood and you are half naked. Don’t you think that that might draw some attention?”

Looking around the room, he spotted a door along the farthest wall with a large exit sign hanging above it.

“Where does this lead?” he asked, looking back over his shoulder at her.

“It’s a fire exit; my guess would be that it leads out onto…a fire escape.” she finished sarcastically.

“You are a bit of a smartass, you know that?”

“So, I have been told.” She repeated his earlier words.

He nodded. “Well then,” he said, striding back to stand in front of her. His chest was only inches from hers. “Let’s go.”

He reached down and hooked his arm around her waist, lifting her over his shoulder.
“What in the hell are you doing?” she squealed.

“We need to move fast.” he answered lightly, as if that explained why she was currently slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“I can walk, she complained, wriggling about.

The feel of her thighs beneath his palms sent heat straight to his groin.

The sight of her firm ass next to his face, wriggling as he carried her to the exit, tortured him, begged him to reach up and squeeze the firm globes in his hands.

Shaking his head, he fought the urge.

“I know that,” he began, “but we will have to jump down at least one story. Can you jump that far without hurting yourself yet?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t tried,” she admitted reluctantly.

Cole was not surprised that Chloe did not know the extent of her new abilities.

She had not had a teacher to teach her what she could and could not do now that she was a werewolf. That was something that he would have to remedy.

“Can you?” she asked quietly. “Jump that far, I mean.”

Stepping out onto the fire escape, Cole tightened his grip.

“Hold on.”



Chastity Bush is the author of four published romance novels. She is the married mother of two great girls and currently resides in the small town of Whitefield, Oklahoma with her wonderful husband and children.

She loves to hear from readers and you contact her anytime on her official website, Facebook and Myspace.


A TASTE OF TERROR BY CHASTITY BUSH IS COMING IN DECEMBER 2010 FROM MUSEITUP PUBLISHING!

Rie McGaha on Paranormal Romance

Today's guest blogger is Rie McGaha, author of Grounded, Deadly Dreams, and the newly released paranormal romance novel, Blood Line.

Truck driver Joshua Kaine and his wife, Jessie, enjoy the freedom of the open road, until the night Josh is attacked by a rabid dog. Josh kills the animal, but his and Jessie's troubles have only just begun.

Following the attack, Josh becomes deathly ill, but three weeks later he's feeling much better - much stronger - much more alive. When the moon rises full and bright, Josh experiences the change for the first time, his body morphing into that of a large, gray wolf. His appetite - for both food and sex - is enormous, and he spends every waking moment feeding his hunger.

Jessie doesn't know what's come over her husband, but she's not complaining. At least, not until a clan of werewolves comes after her and her family, intent upon seeking revenge for the death of their leader.

From a remote mountaintop to the swamps of Louisiana, Josh searches for a solution to their dilemma, but time is running out. When the absolute worst happens, Josh is forced to turn the tables and the hunted becomes the hunter.

About the author:

Rie McGaha lives in SE Oklahoma with her husband, Nathan, and their youngest daughter, Rocky. Rie rescues abandoned animals, gets them spayed/neutered, and tries to find them new homes. The ones who aren't adopted remain with Rie's family. She currently has 14 up for adoption.

When the dogs aren't demanding her time, Rie writes erotic romance novels.

You can visit Rie online at http://www.riemcgaha.com/.

Rie's turn:

The only thing I love more than reading paranormal romance novels is writing them! In this genre there are no rules and the characters can be or do anything the author can imagine, especially when paired with erotica.

Paranormal romance allows both the author and the reader’s imaginations to take them to places we’ve only seen in our dreams. I like writing about witches and vampires and werewolves and ghosts and other things that go bump in the night, but I like them to be more than the stories I read growing up. I like to push the envelope, stretch my own imagination, and make the places in my mind as real as the room I’m sitting in, not only for myself, but for the readers as well. As we all know, life can be less than what we dreamed it would be and the day-to-day details can leave us dragging, tired and less than enchanted with our existence. Although it would be nice to board a cruise ship and escape to an island somewhere, that’s not a viable option for most of us, but escaping into a world of make believe is only a novel away.

When I can create the man of my dreams in my imagination and then bring him to life with words so that others experience my fantasies the way I do, it gives me a feeling of satisfaction. When I’m able to tease and titillate the senses as well, I feel a part of my youth being revived!

I always loved bedtime stories when I was a little girl, so being able to write bedtime stories for grown up girls is a dream come true. Imagine being able to lie in bed and dream of the most glorious life imaginable, with a prince in shining armor, or a vampire prince, or a werewolf or shape shifter, and make him yours for the night or for eternity. That’s my job! I can’t imagine a better one!

While I write mainly for myself, sometimes getting away from my own worries is only done through the imagination of another author. One of my favorites is Alyssa Day and her Warriors of Poseidon series. Who wouldn’t fall in love with virile men from the lost city of Atlantis? Another favorite is Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Dream-Hunter and Dark-Hunter series. These dark, seductive vampires are enough to make anyone dream of getting just one good bite! The Argeneau Family series by Lynsay Sands is another tale of sexy vampires that I just love to eat up when I’m sitting in the Jacuzzi with a glass of wine!

So when you go to sleep tonight, dream of your perfect man and know that tomorrow you may be reading about him!

Rie McGaha…fantasy that keeps you up
http://www.riemcgaha.com/