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October 30, 2018

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Books, My Writing, Reading, Stories

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Stars and Soul [endorsements & cover reveal wrap]

Today’s post is basically just a giant celebration. Because on Saturday, the cover for Stars and Soul started exploding across the internet. And when I say exploding, I mean e.x.p.lo.d.i.n.g. My phone would not stop buzzing.

Alea Harper designed a stunning cover, but I was honestly afraid it would be just me and like my dad (who has no social media) sharing the cover and inviting people to preorder.

Alea totally deserves to have this piece of art blasted across all the social medias, but I was worried people would be too uninterested/scared away because this I’m young, small potatoes, and self-publishing this little collection.

*cue my socks getting blown off and then blown up*

// What Is Stars and Soul? //

In case you’re new here, Stars and Soul is a collection of four flash fictions (stories under 1000 words) set in a sci-fi world with aliens and alliances. It is set to release November 20, 2018. Right now, the Kindle copy is available for pre-order, but there will also be a tiny paperback available on the release day.

Here is the official blurb: A scheming imperial family. A bedraggled starship captain. A runaway artificial intelligence. A dying general. Four small stories of stars and soul.

// The Social Media Turnout //

There were way too many Facebook posts, Instagram posts, Instagram stories, and blog posts to keep track of over the course of the cover reveal day. Some of you never signed up for the reveal but joined on the day of, and you blessed me so much.

Thank you so much to Mom, Arielle, Katie Grace, Moya Tobey, Abigayle Claire, Amanda Hookham, Liv K. Fisher, Carrie-Anne Thomas, Kira Thomas, Bethany Jennings, Jaye L. Knight, Savannah Grace, Mary Weber (freaking. Mary. Weber), Katherine Massengill, Julian Daventry, Pam Halter, Ashley Townsend, Lydia B., Jenni Wojtowicz, Julia Anne, Kenzie, Elizabeth Koetsier, Elizabeth Hafferty, Brittany Valentine, Dominique Sprouse, Nadine Brandes (um, what?), Emileigh Latham and Stephanie Warner for leading the charge on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. (I know there were more, but I literally couldn’t keep track of all the IG stories and Facebook shares.)

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some #bookstagram posts

// The Blog Posts //

S&S cover reveal graphic.jpgThis hilarious, gif-ful reveal from Savannah at Inspiring Writes (also, Savvy just got on Instagram and Youtube, so go give her some love!!).

This lovely blog post from Serethiel over at The Book Sprite.

Jaye L. Knight also shared the cover with a blog post!

Katherine Massengill (a fellow flash fiction enthusiast who has participated in the Penprints Flash Fiction Dash) also featured the cover on her blog!

Julian Daventry (another #flashficdash alum!) also put together a blog post for the reveal!

// A Few Endorsements //

I’ve received some very glowing endorsements, and so I’m going to share them here first and then let them trickle out over my Facebook and Instagram as November 20th approaches. :)

STARS AND SOUL COVERWhen I made my list of people to contact about endorsements, I comprised it of people who a) know sci-fi, b) know flash fiction, or c) have experience with both. The people who agreed to read took my breath away with their words of encouragement and endorsements.

>> “Rosalie Valentine’s Stars and Soul opens a window into a galaxy rife with intrigue and danger, a place home to disparate peoples striving to survive. A scheming empress-in-waiting — a weary captain of a malfunctioning starship — androids seeking refuge — a general facing laments — all bring the ‘soul’ promised by the title in memorable ways. A fun, thoughtful, quick read.” — Steve Rzasa, author of The Face of the Deep series

>> “Rosalie Valentine needs no more than 1,000 words to send your emotions stirring. Her flash fiction is an art of storytelling blended with the human senses—leaving you both wanting more and yet extremely satisfied when you finish. I could lose myself in her writing all day.” – Nadine Brandes, author of the Out of Time series, Fawkes, and Romanov

>> “Rosalie Valentine has crafted an intriguing universe of flesh and machine that expands with each story told. Stars and Soul is sci-fi with heart and endings that leave you wanting more!” – Just B. Jordan, author of Never to Live and To Ashes We Run

I have no words. Please excuse me while I go bury my face in a pillow and shed some many tears.

// The Necessary Details //

You can pre-order Stars and Soul on Amazon, and you can add it on Goodreads, if you like. It will release on November 20, 2018.

#starsandsoul #starsandsoulcollection

Thank you all for blessing me. <3 My heart is so happy.

With love,

Rosalie <3

p.s. – that binary code on the cover, tho. Alea read the stories and scrolled through my Pinterest board, and I was so happy when she put code on the cover. You’ll know why later if you read the third Stars and Soul story.

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November 13, 2017

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Title + Cover Reveal of Nadine Brandes’ New Book – plus 5 things I’m jazzed for in this new novel and my leading fan theories – [and an ARC giveaway]

It has been said that no new posts come to Penprints during the month of November unless something momentous occurs. Well, something momentous has occurred.

Nadine Brandes has written a new historical fantasy novel, and today is the day the title and cover are revealed to the world. And you have a chance to win an ARC.

Brace yourself.

NB Cover Reveal Ultra Simple.jpg

But first, the all-important Blurb.

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did it. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King James.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

Now. The Cover.

Hold onto your hats, kids.

Are you holding onto them?

FORGET THE HATS LET’S GET TO THIS AMAZING COVER.

Here. we. go.

Fawkes.jpeg

Reaction to the Cover.

No words or gifs can suffice.

But. If I was forced to share the honorable mentions, they would include but would not be limited to the following.

lego batman 1

monsters inc 1

thor 1

excited 2

i am groot 1

explosion 1

it's beautiful gif

the correct answer: me. I will wield my copy like the deadly hardback it will be.

5 things I’m most jazzed for in Fawkes.

  1. The male protagonist. The YA market is flooded with so many books with female protagonists (aka: main characters), and it will be so refreshing to have a story from a guy’s perspective. This adds much-needed variety to the contemporary YA market and my bookshelf.
  2. Color power & color masks. Um, what is there not to be excited about with these two? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE COLOR MASKS ESPECIALLY (first and foremost: where can I get one?).
  3. Duels. It’s 17th century England, people. There’s bound to be a duel or two, and I expect them to be quite fantastic (especially if they include the mysterious color powers/masks).
  4. The Gunpowder Plot. Well-written assassination plots/conspiracies are always exciting, but when you throw gunpowder into the mix, things get downright explosive (see what I did there?).
  5. Treachery in general. The Blurb and Cover make me think that there will be more treachery and betrayal than just in the Gunpowder Plot itself. I’m jazzed (and scared?) about the relational treachery that could happen and how the characters will work through it.
  6. BONUS: The Stone Plague. What even is this thing???????? Where did it come from?? How did Thomas get it???

My current leading fan theories.

The Blurb leaves me with a lot of questions and a lot of different ways this story could go. So, in no particular order, here are some wild conspiracy completely solid theories (mostly about the Stone Plague).

– Guy Fawkes started the Stone Plague and ends up being the ultimate Bad Guy *wink wink* in Fawkes. This just seems like a viable possibility; if he’s plotting an assassination, he’s a shady character.

– The color masks are the source of the Stone Plague. As no bueno as that would be, it would follow with the typical fantasy rule that magic has to come with a price.

– Thomas has two personalities–the one that’s more-or-less innocently suffering from the Stone Plague and then the one that created the Stone Plague. (This one sounds out there, but is it really? Is it????)

– The family of the love interest is behind the Stone Plague which would kind of drive a wedge between Thomas and his girl (I mean, can we blame him?).

– The Gunpowder Plot is successful and King James dies (it’s historical fantasy, people, anything can happen).

– Thomas dies in the end. This one isn’t so much a thought through theory as it is a very real, rational fear since Nadine Brandes has no qualms about killing off nearly all the characters we know and love (case in point: the Out of Time Series). And also, I find the cracks in the mask on the cover quite concerning (and so should you).

– Whoever actually started the Stone Plague steps in and kills all the characters we come to know and love over the course of the book (remember, no one is safe). And then King James finds a cure for the Stone Plague, and the world cruelly keeps turning.

Now, I haven’t had long to ruminate on the Blurb and the Cover, but I’m sure even more theories will develop. And, of course, they’ll all be as wildly outrageous (but are they?) well-thought out as these I’ve shared today. Think about it. We haven’t even gone into the king’s call for death, why the Igniters and Keepers started fighting in the first place, or the color palette used in the cover. My frantic brain keeps churning theories out (like, what if no one’s responsible for the Stone Plague? What if it just came about and there’s no explanation and no cure and no bad dude to pin it on? Hmmmm? What then???).

Other stuff you need to know to be In The Know.

nadine-brandes-HR-6.jpegBe sure to check out Nadine Brandes’ original post about the cover reveal to get in on all the fun there and see if she has any exclusive content WE MUST KNOW about Fawkes.

Fawkes will release July 10, 2018. (Breathe, people, breathe. July 10 is only 239 days away. We will find a way to survive. I hope.).

Be sure to follow Nadine Brandes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for the ARC.

And last, but not by any means least, the all important pre-order link.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for today, kids.

I am. so. jazzed. for Fawkes and shall pre-ordering myself a copy (or two or three).

What about you? What are your thoughts on the Cover? And what do you think of the premise? Which of my fan theories do you think is most viable (correct answer: ALL OF THEM)? What theories of your own do you have?

With love,

Rosalie <3

P.S. – don’t forget: enter the giveaway but also pre-order just in case.

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January 21, 2017

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Cover Reveal: Martin Hospitality

Happy Saturday, Peeps!

Now, you may be asking yourself, “Why am I getting a Penprints post on a Saturday? Has that girl completely gone out of her tree?”. Well, I can’t say anything for certain on that last part, BUT I am here in your inbox (that sounds really weird) burdened with glorious purpose.

Abigayle Claire of The Left-Handed Typist has a book releasing next month!!!!

And today, the cover is revealed for said novel which is titled Martin Hospitality.

martin hospitality cover reveal pic.jpg

But, because I’m cruel, we’re going to go through all the fun bookish details before I let you see the lovely cover (okay, I’m not that cruel at all since I’ve already been blasting the cover across my social media, but whatevs).

Availability:

So, sadly, Martin Hospitality will not be available for purchase until February 4, BUT at least that’s only a couple weeks away! So, I assume all of you will stay up with me on February 3 to order Martin Hospitality at the stroke of midnight.

“But, Rosalie,” you sigh. “What makes you think that we should stay up with you and order Martin Hospitality as soon as humanly possible?”

Peeps, I’m so glad you asked because that leads straight into the next part of this post….

The Blurb:

Gemma Ebworthy is eighteen, pregnant, and alone. Now that she’s been evicted, she spends the night in a barn, never dreaming that tomorrow could bring kindness of a life-changing magnitude.

The Martins aren’t a typical family—even for rural Kansas. With more kids than can be counted on one hand and a full-time farm, Gemma must make a lot of adjustments to fit in. But despite their many differences, Gemma finds herself drawn to this family and their radical Christian faith.

When Gemma’s past collides with her yet again, she must begin revealing her colorful history. With every detail Gemma concedes, she fears she will lose the Martins’ trust and the stable environment she desires for herself and her unborn child. Just how far can the Martins’ love and God’s forgiveness go?

The Lovely Author:

abiclaireAbigayle has been inspired to write since she could spell her own name. Her passion wasn’t completing the stories (she did that twice and decided it wasn’t for her), it was jotting down the ideas.

But in 2015, a story grabbed her–one she had to finish. Inspired by a crazy dream in a genre she no longer read, Abigayle set off on a journey to write her first novel and she hasn’t looked back since.

Writing is her ministry, freelance editing her job, and reading her pastime–all of which are proof that God really does know what He’s doing when He inspires a 6-year-old with a pencil in her left hand.

The Cover:

wp-1485012566919.jpg

Isn’t it lovely? *happy sigh* I, for one, cannot wait to read it because 1) the story sounds so good and sweet and full of love 2) because of this cover. I  know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but I kind of am. And I’m not ashamed of it.

Have a merry weekend! I’ll be back on Monday!

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January 25, 2016

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Darkened Hope Cover Reveal

Happy Monday, peasants my dear followers!

Today I have the pleasure of participating in the cover reveal for Darkened Hope by J.L. Mbewe.  Some of you may remember that I said it is one of the speculative fiction releases for 2016 that I’m most excited about, and let me tell you, this cover gets me even more jazzed!

So, I’ll quit blabbing and give you the good stuff!

Note: If you don’t know much about the Hidden Dagger Trilogy, go here to read up about the first book in the series, Secrets Kept.

 

The Blurb:

Ayianna is a cursed half-elf betrothed to Desmond, but her heart belongs to another. After discovering the cure for the Sorceress’s curse, she and her companions embark on a dangerous quest to retrieve the ingredients.

When dragons descend upon their party, Ayianna realizes the Sorceress is searching not just for the corrupted dagger, but a human sacrifice that will open a portal to the underworld. Battling deadly creatures and natural disasters, Ayianna is forced more and more to confront her insecurities and conflicted heart.

Now she must decide whether to be true to her family or true to herself. As the nations rally for war, betrayal threatens to destroy them all, and it’s a race against time to return before the curse devastates the plains people.

The Cover:

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00038]

Coming May 2016

About the Author:

jennette headshotWriting as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete. She is currently living her second childhood with a wonderful husband and two precious children who don’t seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and swords, among other things. Here, between reality and dreams, you will find her busily creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril. She has two short stories published in The Clockwork Dragon anthology, and four short stories set in the world of Nälu. Her debut novel, Secrets Kept, was nominated for the 2014 Clive Staples Award, and its sequel, Darkened Hope is coming May 2016.

Stay up-to-date with all things Nälu and her journey as a writer mama at JLMbewe.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Pinterest.

sk saleAnd as if that wasn’t cool enough, the Kindle version of Secrets Kept, the first in the series, is only $0.99 on Amazon right now!

This is an adventure that fantasy lovers won’t want to miss.

a princess no moreBut wait.  There’s more.  One of the short stories that goes along with the Hidden Dagger Trilogy, A Princess No More, is free on Amazon right now.  Free!  FREE!

Out of all the short stories, I think this one might be my favorite.  (This short story is tragic, so be sure you have some chocolate.  Lots of chocolate.  Just go get a bag of Doves.  Maybe two bags.  Yeah, probably two bags.  You’re welcome.)

princess no more saleSo, hop on over to Amazon to pick up your Kindle copies of this gripping stories!

Have a fantastic week!

P.S. – if you go over to J.L Mbewe’s website and sign up for her newsletter, you get an exclusive deleted scene from Secrets Kept so… go do that too. :)

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June 8, 2013

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Shadow Hand Cover Reveal!!

Hello, my dear Followers!

Remember a few months ago, when I first created this blog, I posted about a wonderful author named Anne Elisabeth Stengl? Well, if you don’t recall this post feel free to check it out in “Random Tid-Bits”.  Anyway, she has just released the cover for her sixth book Shadow Hand!! And a blurb about it too!!! Also, there is a chance to win a Tales of Goldstone Wood mug!! 

So here is the blurb and cover as well as the banner that will be on the mug!! :)

 

“She will take your own two hands

to save your ancient, sorrowing lands.”

By her father’s wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands.  Not the prince she loves, handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush.  Unable to bear the future she sees as her wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, her only desire to vanish from living memory.

But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a world were vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal fey parasite…

A world that is hauntingly familiar.

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I don’t know about you, but I’m excited!  Obviously, if you are not into fantasy this is not the book for you. 

And here is the mug design (which you have a chance to win)!

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Click on this link to enter the contest to win the mug – http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cd52411/

BUT WAIT!! There’s more!!! Go to http://www.shadowhandnovel.blogspot.com/ to read more about Shadow Hand – meet the characters and such!

Shadow Hand… coming spring of 2014!

Have a blessed weekend!

 – RosyRosalie

P.S. – I had to wait till today to post this because Anne Elisabeth Stengl wanted us (bloggers who wanted to help with the reveal) to wait till today! ;)