I'm Visiting OH MAGIC HOUR! for the Splash into Summer mermaid event!

The bloggers at A Backwards Story and Oh, Magic Hour! have teamed up for a splash-tastic mermaid event to celebrate summer, even as it winds down toward Labor Day and back-to-school.

Their Splash Into Summer event started August 10 and runs through today, August 24. I have a guest post up there, on writing about mermaids (think like a mermaid!) AND there are also some fabulous prizes you can still enter to win! 

Hurry up and swim on over before the contests are over!

And the Winners Are... #Splash into Summer Reading Giveaway Winners!!!

My Splash Into Summer Reading Rafflecopter is now OVER... and Rafflecopter's Random Winner Generator has tallied the winners for me. The first time I held a raffle on my blog, there were 23 entries and we picked winners like this:

...so thank goodness Rafflecopter took care of it for me, with so many people entering for a chance to win! Whew! I'd need a much bigger basket for sure!

Anyway... on to the WINNERS!

11. Cassandra S. wins the ebook of THIEF OF HOPE by Cindy Young Turner

10. Tequila R. wins an epack of LUCKY'S CHARM and LUCKY BREAK by Jenn Nixon

9. Denise H. wins the ebook of EMBRACE by Cherie Colyer

8. Sherlyn G. wins the ebook of THE GRAVE WINNER by Lindsey Loucks


7. Rebecka J. wins the ecopy of DEATH LIES BETWEEN US by Jody Kessler

6. Debbie G. wins the KOBO tote bag and swag pack, courtesy of Shawna Romkey

5. Tiffany W. wins the SIGNED PRINT copy of SPEAK OF THE DEVIL by Shawna Romkey

4. Kathy O. (no relation to me!) wins the epack of EMBER and IRRIDESCENT by Carol Oates

3. Angela F. wins the ebook of her choice from Constance Phillips backlist

2. Morgan R.F. wins the Cape Cod swag pack and sea turtle ocharina (courtesy of me)

AND...

1. Shannon W. wins my PAIR OF SIGNED MERMAID PAPERBACKS - Blood of a Mermaid and Son of a Mermaid, by Katie O'Sullivan

Many, many thanks to everyone who entered the Giveaway, and to all the wonderful, generous authors who donated these great prizes!

Winners, the authors will be contacting you at the email you entered into Rafflecopter with details about your prizes! Congratulations to all! And...

HAPPY SUMMER READING!

#Splash into Summer tour - Last Day to enter #Giveaway!

Today is your last chance to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for the Splash Into Summer 2014 tour!

Last chance to win some great summer reading ~ what are you waiting for?
This Giveaway ends at Midnight TOnight!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Splash into Summer tour visits Kary Rader's blog, where she interviews one of my characters!

The tour continues with a visit to author Kary Rader, who insisted on chatting with one of the characters from the book! Wait until you see what Zan has to say for himself...

Kary has her own new release out now - THE PIRATE PRINCESS, which is the second in her Reign of Light series. I read, loved and reviewed her first book QUEEN OF JASTAIN last April - you can find that review on my blog HERE. 

I'll be featuring Kary here on my blog in a couple days - and can hardly wait to read and review the new book! Well, first I'd better finish getting ready for my son's graduation party this coming weekend - He's already graduated, so the tears have been shed (for now) so on to the party! ONly two more weeks before he leaves for the Academy... I foresee more tears in the near future...

 Have you entered the Rafflecopter yet? You're running out of time - get your entries in there now for your chance to win a dozen cool prizes!

#Splash into Summer tour visits Mermaid with a Book!

Today the Splash Into Summer tour takes a swim all the way over to Singapore!

We're visiting the MERMAID WITH A BOOK blog, where the wonderful Sherlyn reads, reviews and promotes all things mermaid (and some other YA stuff, too.) Check out her awesome website!

The Rafflecopter should be there too, so don't forget to enter for your chances to win great summer reading for the beach or poolside, wherever in the world you might be this summer!

#Splash Into Summer tour visits author Cindy Young Turner

The Splash Into Summer celebration moves down the block to visit fantasy author Cindy Young Turner's blog. Only one week left to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway, so get over there and enter today!

Cindy's debut fantasy young adult book THIEF OF HOPE was a finalist in the Compton Crook Award contest! The Compton Crook is presented to the best first novel of the year written by a single author in the field of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. I hate to say I haven't read and reviewed it yet, but it's definitely on my TBR list for this summer and should be on lots of summer reading lists!

And don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter - Check out these great prizes you can win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Splash Into Summer tour visits author Lindsey Loucks

The Splash Into Summer tour bus moves over to Lindsey Loucks blog today! Pop over and enter that Rafflecopter before it's over!

Lindsey Loucks writes "romance and other scary things" as she says! Her first book debuted last summer around the same time as Son of a Mermaid. THE GRAVE WINNER was a sassy, spooky paranormal romance that I read on the beach and just adored. (Read my review HERE) She has a new book coming out sometime this summer - WHAT GIFTS SHE CARRIED, the second in the series, and the cover looks even spookier than the first. Hoping it comes out in time to read poolside!

#Splash into Summer tour visits author Shawna Romkey

The Splash Into Summer party continues over at Shawna Romkey's blog today!

Shawna's the best selling author of SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, a young adult paranormal angels versus demons kind of book. She's also got a new book coming out this summer! THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT will be available July 1st - in time to stuff into your beach bag for summer vacation! You can read my review of her first book HERE. (If you haven't read it yet, you might want to grab that for your beach bag as well.) She doesn't have any mermaids in her books but there are some hot angels and a wonderfully quirky heroine full of snark and sass.

#Splash into Summer tour visits Danielle DeVor!

The Splash Into Summer tour continues, visiting author Danielle DeVor! (Only two weeks left to enter that Rafflecopter for all those books and swag!)

If you're into spookier reads, Danielle might have just the book for you! Her spooky tale of exorcism SORROW'S POINT had me sleeping with the lights on for a while (Read my review HERE.) Her tale CONSTRUCTING MARCUS was scary in a different way, dealing with family issues and addiction, in addition to the ghosts and ghost hunters! (My review as part of the Mythbehaving Blog Tour is HERE.) She has a new book coming out soon - I'm lucky enough to have an ARC on my TBR pile an will be sure to post a review when I'm done! Her books may not be "beach reads" but if you've got a rainy summer night and want to curl up with something spooky, Danielle's got you covered!

#Splash Into Summer visits author Cherie Colyer

The Splash Into Summer reading tour continues, visiting multi-published and multi-talented author Cherie Colyer today!

Cherie has a wonderful YA series which includes EMBRACE and HOLD TIGHT, both of which I loved and reviewed (read EMBRACE review here for February's Cephalopod Coffee House) (read HOLD TIGHT review here). Both would be great poolside reads... and I'm hoping there will be another book in this series for next summer!

Cherie also has a great paranormal YA out from my other publisher, The Wild Rose Press. Challenging Destiny is also a fast, fun read - perfect for a day at the beach! (Read that review HERE)

#Splash Into Summer tour visits author Jody Kessler

The Splash Into Summer reading tour continues today, visiting author Jody Kessler's blogwith another chance to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway. (Have you entered yet? You can always tweet for another chance to enter!)

Jody Kessler wrote one of my favorite books of last summer, DEATH LIES BETWEEN US, the first book in her An Angel Falls series. She's signed the contract for a second book... I'm anxiously awaiting its release! If you haven't read the first book yet, I totally recommend it! You can read my review HERE. Make sure to like her on Facebook (one of the Rafflecopter entries!) as she always posts the coolest, magical scenery pics!

#Splash Into Summer tour visits author Jenn Nixon!

The blog tour and Giveaway moves to Jenn Nixon's blog today! If you haven't entered the Rafflecopter yet, head over and start clicking!

Jenn is a multi-published suspense and science fiction author. Her latest book just out this month from Wild Child publishing is LUCKY'S BREAK, the second in her series about reluctant assassin "Lucky" Fascino. No mermaids, but still great edge-of-your-beach-chair reading for summer!

Still Splashing Into Summer - Mountain Style!

Today I'm visiting with the talented Jody Kessler, over on her blogspot. She's one of my favorite new adult authors, who wrote DEATH LIES BETWEEN US, which I reviewed earlier this Spring.

Today she has an interview with me, (including a sneak peak at the second book in my mermaid series!) and tomorrow - Wednesday - she will be posting her review of SON OF A MERMAID.

The CMP Summer Lovin' Blog Hop is officially over, and winners have been chosen! Big Congratulations to Maria M for winning the Grand Prize Paperwhite (with ebooks!) and more congrats to Kristi C for winning the $25 gift card and swag pack. The prizes will be in the mail to you soon!

In other book news, I had an AWESOME book signing at Beach Cottage Living over the weekend - despite the fabulously sunny weather! As one shop owner said in an email, "Here on Cape Cod we have a precarious love/hate relationship with the weather." But. I saw some old friends, neighbors, teachers and tourists, chatted a bunch, ate some yummy cupcakes and signed a bunch of books! Next up: Thursday night in downtown Hyannis at The Little Beach Gallery. See you there?

Here are a few of the wonderful people who visited me this weekend:

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the shop! You made my day pretty awesome!

Splashing Into Summer... at Courtney Farrell's blog

The blog Tour continues today at Courtney Farrell's place, with one of my favorite excerpts... visit and leave a comment at Loose the Hounds

If you've read SON OF A MERMAID and enjoyed it, please consider writing a review and helping me spread the word! Thank you to those of you who've already put reviews on Goodreads and Amazon - every review counts, and any one of them might help another reader choose to read my book - thanks in advance!

Friday is the start of another Blog Hop - the CMP Summer Lovin' Blog Hop, from June 14-17. There are 20 authors participating and some great prizes, including a Kindle Paperwhite that we all chipped in for. Don't miss out - come back here on Friday to start hopping!

Splash Into Summer Tour Continues Into June....

Can you believe it's JUNE already?! Summer is just around the corner now! We still have three more weeks of school around here - the last final isn't until the last Monday of the month, even.

And! My book tour continues through the blogosphere with two stops today, one tomorrow, and one on Wednesday, with interviews, reviews and Rafflecopter giveaway - and one stop has a special giveaway all its own...

Today I'm visiting Brooke at THE COVER CONTESSA blog for an interview, and that special giveaway of a "Follow Your Heart" beach stone necklace. She has both Rafflecopter giveaways at the end of the post - don't forget to enter to win! The special necklace looks like this:

Today I'm also "In The Spotlight" at Maer Wilson's blog. She's the author of the new urban fantasy detective novel RELICS, and owner of the awesome Mythbehaving podcast. And... She asks great interview questions!

I'm also ultra excited about my upcoming book signing ---> I'll be at BEACH COTTAGE  LIVING on Saturday June 15 starting at noon for a MERMAID EXTRAVAGANZA! Shop owner Erika Nickerson is all kinds of supportive and will be featuring all kinds of mermaid things - mermaid art, mermaid chachkas for the home... even mermaid themed cupcakes! Sounds like a lot of fun!!

How about you? Looking forward to the final days of school? Or are you already on summer vacation? What are you doing to get ready to Splash Into Summer?

More photos from Son of a Mermaid Launch Party...

 Sunday's Book Launch was a big hit, with gourmet cupcakes and crafts for younger readers. These girls enjoyed coloring their own mermaid-themed bookmarks at the craft table, and many other readers took some home to decorate later...

The party started on the outside deck of Where the Sidewalk Ends bookstore, on Main Street in Chatham. The covered deck stretches between the main bookstore and the Children's Annex. It was fine for a bit, while the sun was trying to decide whether to make an appearance... but once the sun gave up we moved the party inside next to the fireplace! Who knew it could be so chilly on Cape Cod for Memorial Day Weekend?

 It was great to chat with older book buyers, who were purchasing the books as gifts for nieces, nephews and grandchildren. One industrious shopper from New Jersey bought two as Christmas gifts for her grandkids and had me sign them - Christmas! Planning ahead!

Several young visitors asked to have their pictures taken with "The Author" - a new experience for me! But lots of fun. Even some of the girls I knew from volunteering at school and with Girl Scouts got a little tongue tied to see me in the role of Official Author. 

 All in all a wonderful event, and I'm so grateful to the bookstore owners, the fabulous mother-daughter team of Joanne and Caitlin Doggart, for inviting me to share my special celebration with them and their patrons.

Is It Summer Yet?

Memorial Day Weekend is officially over. It was cold, wet, foggy, cloudy, chilly, blowy, and downright gross here on Cape Cod... until Monday morning, when the sunrise was crisp, clear and beautiful, as was the day. After the morning ceremony at the town bandstand, we spent the rest of the day at the Community Garden, trying to get the weedblock down and some of the tomato plants in the ground at our little plot.

The book signing at Where the Sidewalk Ends booksellers on Sunday was a huge success - Huge! Thanks to everyone who braved the traffic (which was some of the worst I've ever seen!) Didn't quite sell out of books, but almost! There were only 4 copies remaining in the store when I left. Which are signed, by the way, if you want to snap them up ;-)

In the virtual world, my Splash Into Summer blog tour continued its journey, visiting author Patricia Lee up in Canada for an interview and analysis of my characters. Have you ever thought about what "color" would best describe one of your characters? Interesting!

And don't forget the RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY that I'm hosting - plenty of time left to enter, but don't forget to enter! If you click on this link, or the badge in the top left corner, you'll go to the page with the rafflecopter. I still need to figure out how to post it along the margin... maybe later this week. Not today.

Today I have review copies of my book to mail out - one requested by the Cape Cod Times! And a press kit to drop off at the middle school to see about getting on their summer reading list - I mean, the book is set here in town, why not?

Busy. Busy. Busy. Need to schedule some time to enjoy early summer... maybe next week. In the meantime, here are some pretty pictures from the weekend...

Splashing Over to Kate Evangelista's Blog

The Blog Tour continues over at Kate Evangelista's blog.

I know I say this every time I talk about Kate, but she was the author who first made me take a look at Crescent Moon Press, back when her YA novel TASTE was having its first cover reveal. She has a new book just out from another publisher titled ROMANCING THE BOOKWORM... sounds like a fun summer read! She's an awesome author, a fun lady, and I'm so lucky now to call her my friend!

Today I'm talking about something different in my guest post! Umm, no, I'm really not. Still all about my new book! Today there's a short excerpt from SON OF A MERMAID, showing the first time the reader really gets to see some mermaid magick. And gets to know for sure that the mysterious girl on the beach is REALLY a mermaid.

And Kate has the Rafflecopter on her blog as well - so if you haven't entered yet for your chance to win an ebook or a beach stone necklace or some awesome swag.... what are you waiting for? Click on over!

Keep Splashing Into Summer... Visiting The Writing Nut Today

The Splash Into Summer tour continues today in two more fun spots:

I'm over at THE WRITING NUT where I'm Nutschell's guest on her Wednesday Workspace feature.

Want to see what my mess desk looks like? The things I need to write? My puppy when she could still fit UNDER my desk (instead of being the same size as the desk!) Stop by and say hi!

I'm also visiting with author Cindy Young Turner, and answering her questions about my writing and inspirations. And whether I like coffee or tea (Tea! As if!) Stop by and make Cindy feel loved!

* * *

And big thanks to everyone who showed up to the Twitter party - and then moved with us to Facebook when Twitter crapped out. Tech rumour has it that our party wouldn't work because The Voice uses Twitter for live feedback on the show. Oh well - we had a BLAST on Facebook! Congrats to all the winners - I will get my share of the prizes in the mail today!

Guest Blogging and Today's Interview... Are Mermaids Real?

Day Two of my Splash Into Summer tour, and I'm already wishing I'd hired someone to manage all the details for me, lol!

Today I'm guest blogging at Constance Phillips spot. She's the author of the paranormal romance FAIRYPROOF, and the historical paranormal romance about Harry Houdini, RESURRECTING HARRY. We're discussing whether mermaids might actually exist... what do you think? Come read my arguments and tell us your own thoughts!

I'm also being interviewed by Wendy Russo on her blog - Wendy is the author of that great new YA novel JANUARY BLACK. (If you haven't read it yet, you really should! And she's got some cool contests of her own going on right now, so be sure to stick around and check out her website!)

Wendy asks great questions, which evolved organically over the course of a long email conversation. It was a cool way to be interviewed - unique, like her novel!

And don't forget the Rafflecopter giveaway is now open - enter to win your own copy of SON OF A MERMAID and your own mermaid necklace!


AND AND AND... if you're already sold on buying SON OF A MERMAID... why wait? Order today at Amazon in paperback or for your Kindle!