Welcome to FAB Lovelies!

A Lifestyle blog that focuses on all things from fashion to beauty; fitness to weight loss; recipes to coupons; books to movies; travels to entertainment; and everything in between.

Monday, August 22, 2016

The Keeper’s Vow by Francina Simone - Book Tour - Guest Post - Interview - Enter Daily!


Hi lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host Francina Simone and her new book, “The Keeper’s Vow!”  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card.  Also, come back daily to interact with Francina and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this exciting giveaway!



The Keeper’s Vow
by Francina Simone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: YA Epic Urban Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

All Katie Watts wants is to pass her junior-year, at Hamilton Private, with as little effort as possible—devoting time to knitting hats, breeding gerbils, becoming a movie critic, or even just sleeping. No wonder she isn’t ready for a world with vampires, werewolves, and nightmares.

Her life is shattered to pieces when Tristan gets stabbed in her front yard. She has no idea where he came from and worse, he hears her thoughts—and when she can’t take anymore, she starts to hear his. No one is who she thought they were. Her father is keeping secrets and when she searches for the truth, she ends up homeless.

As the truth claws its way to the surface, Katie and Tristan grow closer together and they find themselves connected in more ways than she can believe. But is honesty worth more than the peace blissful, ignorance brings? Especially if it sparks a chain of events that will end the lives of millions? Can she live with the truth that begins with her dead mother and ends with The Keeper’s Vow?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT ONE:

A Mother’s Gift

Could he really read her mind, or was it just a coincidence?

His eyes flashed in her direction.

Not a coincidence.

“Do Will and Lucy know you can read their minds?” she said as he slowed down enough for her to drink and walk at the same time.

“I can’t read their minds,” he said.

“But you can read mine?”

“Yeah,” he said.

“Anyone else’s?”

“Nope,” he said.

“How is that possible? Why is that possible?” she said.

His face was still expressionless. “Gift from your mom.” He stared straight ahead.

Katie knew that wasn’t possible. Her mom died giving birth to her. Not exactly enough time to send gifts—let alone some jacked up ability to read her only daughter’s mind.

“You still believe everything your dad told you? Nothing about yesterday made you question a few things?” he said, making an abrupt left turn.

“What’s that supposed to mean? What do you know about my mom?” It was strange saying that word. Mom. It was something she didn’t have but had always wanted—like a cat, E-Z Bake Oven, a sixty-piece oil pastel set. Something she’d grown out of and would never have. A mom.

Tristan held her gaze for a few steps, then stared ahead for a whole block before making another left turn. He didn’t say anything else.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUEST POST:

Thoughts on Being an Organized Writer

I honestly wouldn’t consider myself super organized, but I have picked up a lot of tips and tricks over the years to help me sort and hold onto story ideas while I’m writing a novel, and keep those random new ideas in a safe place until I’m ready for them.

Let’s talk about the Smartphone

Now I know a lot of writers have one and a lot don’t. I know for sure a smartphone is one of your best tools if you cater it to yourself. The best App I’ve found for keeping my ideas organized, my author bio, blurbs, links, PR information, you name it I’ve probably got it on this app—Evernote.

Evernote is the best because you can organize everything by notebooks. You’re an audio kind of person? Take verbal notes, copy and paste links, pictures, it really is the ultimate organizer. Especially because you can use it on your desktop and phone. I usually make a notebook for every book for story ideas, a notebook for PR related information, a Notebook for my YouTube video ideas and writing tip ideas, and in those notebooks are countless “notes” all organized as separate papers by date.

You really can’t go wrong with a pocket sized on the go organizer that almost never runs out of room.

Let’s Talk Old Fashion Pen and Paper

I’m not a huge fan of keeping notes on pen and paper (even though I do) because they get lost, I sometimes don’t realize the importance or relevance of a note until months or even a year later. And let’s face it—paper isn’t permanent and it’s bulky and troublesome on the go. I do however LOVE to outline on a giant drawing pad. I’m talking about the 2ft kind that takes up too much space on the table so you use it on the floor. Pen and paper never fail me when it comes to book organization. I’m a BIG believer in having internal AND external plots in a story and depending on your story is how the balance shifts. That can be a lot to keep track of in your mind or during an edit. I like to use the visual approach of the drawing pad doubled with color pencils to define plot events. Green for internal, Blue for External, Red for romantic/relationship. This helps me organize the book in a way I can’t see or even realize when it is just words on a screen.

Ultimately it boils down to what works for you. Learn your shortcomings and allow the amazing tools of today and yesterday to make you stronger. And most important, find a way that isn’t stressful to you. If you’re stressed about making notes or organizing them, whatever your doing is working against you and not with you. Chuck it and look for something more pleasing and natural. Remember, it’s all about finding yourself as a writer, and there is no one right way to do any of this. Find your way, and rock it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:



Francina Simone is a writer of Epic Urban Fantasies brimming with Magic and Moral Ambiguity.

From the time Francina Simone entered kindergarten, she loved to read and share words with her friends. When she was in the fifth-grade, she was scared to read aloud and so the teacher concluded she wasn’t very good at reading—Francina read anyway.

Francina left her middle school book club behind for the daunting and exciting life as a high school freshmen. She was quickly told Young Adult books were childish and she should concern herself with finer literature—Francina read them anyway.

Francina waved good-bye to her high school life and strutted into University with her YA books and graphic paper to take notes. She witnessed the birth of a YA trend where publishers flocked to sell their stories to teens…stories that were underdeveloped and glaring with structural issues. The message she heard as a consumer was simple—common belief is YA readers aren’t good enough readers to discern quality stories or they are too childish to tell the difference.

Francina dropped her degree in chemistry and decided enough was enough—and set out to write the quality* stories her fellow readers deserved.

After her formative years she moved to Japan, with her best-friend and husband, land of some of the worlds best story-tellers and creators of unique manga. There she worked on her stories and the quest to understand what authenticity* in story means.

Now she lives in Boise with her husband, son, cat, and Catahoula. She spends most of her time battling the terrible-twos and puppy-dom. But when things are quiet—you can hear frantically typing away; her mind far away with her characters in their quest to make the right decisions in a world brimming with magic and moral ambiguity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH FRANCINA:

Twitter: @FrancinaSimone
Mailing List ChitChat: http://eepurl.com/bWnGZj

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AMAZON BUY LINK:



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Francina will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase made I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

67 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing this guest post with your insight into writing! Good luck on your new release and tour, and thank you so much for the giveaway! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love sharing writing tips! I have a bunch on youtube! Thank you very much! I'm super excited for this tour and to see who wins☺️🎉

      Delete
  2. I love the beautiful book cover!

    ReplyDelete
  3. congrats on the blog tour and thanks for the chance to win :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for having me!! ☺️💕

    ReplyDelete
  6. Enjoyed the excerpt! Sounds good. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Really great post, I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for the terrific giveaway. I appreciate the chance at winning.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Francina. Who are some of your favorite authors; what strikes you about their work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My favorites are always in rotation but Jacklyn Moriarty, Leigh Bardugo, and Rainbow Rowell are peaking at the moment on my list. Bardugo is loads of fun and is a master of Moral Ambiguity (Six of Crows) and I love how she weaves her worlds.

      Moriarty and Rowell are amazing at capturing authenticity with their characters you'll never find a Mary sue in the bunch!

      Delete
  10. Good Morning! Enjoy your Tuesday (thought all morning it was Wednesday) and thank you for this opportunity to win

    ReplyDelete
  11. I really enjoyed reading the entire post, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You're awesome and I do appreciate you bringing us this great giveaway. Thanks for all you do!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy FRIDAY!!! Have a good one and thanks for the chance at winning.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The days so many of us look forward to....the weekend! Hope it's a good one for you and thanks for the opportunity to win.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Have a Super Sunday and thank you for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's Monday so we'll make the best of it....Have a good week and thank you for the giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm back and here to say thank you one more time for the opportunity you have given us to win.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I appreciate you bringing us this great giveaway, thank you

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm running late today but want to say thank you for this chance at winning

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you so much for this chance at winning. Have a terrific Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Since my brother is off to work, I am here entering for him and thanking you. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wishing you and your family a Blessed Sunday. Thanks for the opportunity to this win this giveaway also

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day!Thanks for the chance at winning!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy Friday! Have a good one and thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Been a busy morning for me getting shopping done. Hope you're having a relaxing Sunday. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Happy Monday! Make it a great one and thanks for the great giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  27. Good Morning! Stopping by once again to thank you for offering us this giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you for the opportunity to win, greatly appreciated

    ReplyDelete
  29. Good Afternoon! Hope your day is great and thanking you for the giveaway as well.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Happy Friday! Enjoy your day and thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Rainy morning so far here in Michigan. Hope you have a sunny and fun weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy Sunday and hope it's an excellent one for you and your family. Thank you once again for your hard work you put into bringing us such amazing giveaways.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hope your Monday is great and thanks for the opportunity at winning this giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  34. I sure do appreciate all the work you put into bringing us great giveaways like this. Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hope your Saturday is terrific and fun! Thanks for all you do and for bringing us such great giveaways.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I missed yesterday, too many things going on but glad to be back again today. Thanks once again for the opportunity to win your great giveaways.

    ReplyDelete
  37. You're awesome and I sure appreciate all the work you do daily to bring us these great giveaways. Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Sure hope your not tired of hearing from me again but want you to know I appreciate the opportunity to win. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Have a fun Saturday and thank you for the opportunity to win

    ReplyDelete
  40. Have a Blessed Sunday and thank you for all you do for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Good Morning! Have a great day and thanking you again for the chance at winning.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Happy Hump Day! Hope it's a great one for you and thanks for all you do offering us these terrific gveaways

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hope everyone who is in the path of Hurricane Matthew is safe and just want to thank you for this giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Enjoy your Friday and prayers for all those going through Hurricane Matthew. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I am off to work soon so stopping by, wishing you a great Saturday and saying thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Finally, I am back I keep messing up but here today to say thank you for this giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  47. Have a terrific day and I want you to know I DO appreciate you bringing us these great giveaways, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Stopping by to say Good Morning on this fine Friday. Hope it's a great one for you and thank you for this giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hope your Saturday is filled with fun and thanks for all you do for us offering us these giveaways

    ReplyDelete
  50. Off to work soon for me but hope you have one awesome Sunday! Thanks for the opportunity at winning.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I have missed you lately, my appologies but back to say thank you for the chance at winning.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Thanks so much for the great giveaway and opportunity to win.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Have a great Saturday and thanks for the chance at winning this giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  54. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday and thank you for the opportunity to win,

    ReplyDelete
  55. Happy Halloween! Hope it's a great one for you and thanks for the giveaway

    ReplyDelete