Book Blitz: Stalkers: A Collection of Thriller Stories / Featuring Author Phil Taylor! + Giveaway!

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Stalkers: A Collection of Thriller Stories Book Blitz

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Each blog on tour is featuring one of the stalkers authors. Mine is Phil Taylor!

Title: Stalkers: A Collection of Thriller Stories

Authors: Rene Folsom, Jason Brant, Elizabeth Collins, A.E. Killingsworth, S.L. Dearing, Andrea Stanet, Bart Hopkins, Chad Foutz, Eaton Thomas Palmer, Laurie Treacy, Jon Messenger, Lindy Spencer, Magen McMinimy, Michael Loring, Nicki Scalise, Phil Taylor, Nicole Clark
eBook and paperback, 498 pages
Release date: November 26th 2013
Publisher: Indie Style Press
Purchase: Amazon

Shadows follow you in the darkness of the night and the eerie sensation of being watched crawls up your spine. Your sanity pulls apart at the seams as the terrors stalk their victims, leaving you too frightened to turn off the light.

These twisted stories will leave you breathless, dreading the horrors lurking around the corner.

Seventeen authors. Seventeen tales of terror. Infinite nightmares. 

STALKERS.

Watch your back.

Stories featured in this anthology:

- Every Thorn by Rene Folsom

- Dead Ringer by Jason Brant

- Autumn by Elizabeth Collins

- Don’t Kiss the Dead Fred by A.E. Killingsworth

- Affliction by S.L. Dearing

- Lucid by Andrea Stanet

- Donations by Bart Hopkins

- Bernice by Chad Foutz

- Destination: Death by Eaton Thomas Palmer

- Powerless by Laurie Treacy

- Freezer Burn by Jon Messenger

- The Watcher by Lindy Spencer

- Immortal Luck by Magen McMinimy

- Izzy’s Assassin by Nicole Clark

- Say My Name by Michael Loring

- Damaged People by Nicki Scalise

- Blog Stalker by Phil Taylor

This except if from author Phil Taylor and his book BLOG STALKER

Excerpt from Blog Stalker: (this is a little different because my story was written using social media format, so the excerpt is a blog post with comments.)

The Phil Factor: Where Sarcasm Gets Drunk and Lets its Hair Down

Friday July 19, 2013

There’s More than One Way to Skin a Cat

Really? More than one way to skin a cat? Who the hell did that experiment? I hope his neighbors called the SPCA on him, or her. Secondarily, just out of curiosity, how many ways are there? Shouldn’t there be a saying that goes, “There’s 17 ways to skin a cat.” Sadly, there’s probably an instructional video on Youtube. Go on. I dare you to click that link.

Hey everyone, Happy TGIF! Any plans? I do. Besides going to a Green Day concert with my son tomorrow night I’ve made a date. No, I’m not cheating on my wife. I’m meeting Becca73 in a public place for coffee after work today. This issue needs settling and with my history as a mental health counselor I believe I can help rather than exacerbate the situation. Sometimes threats and punishments actually increase anxiety and acting out. More often if you treat people like adults with respect they actually act like adults. With my book coming out soon I don’t want to have to take down this blog and start over rebuilding an audience. Wish me luck.

Comments:

Becca73 said: Oh Phil, you won’t need luck! ; )

Question Girl said: Phil, I appreciate that you have a professional background but I really don’t think this is a good idea.

Attila the Mom said: The cat stuff was funny, but the stalker stuff, not so much.

LLCoolJoe: I don’t know about this plan. I mean I know the crazy chicks are the best, if you know what I mean, but this is a crazy internet chick. That’s different.

Becca73 said: Joe, you sad little man. You’re just jealous. And you should be. Phil is in for some great coffee ; )

Natalia said: Dude, this is just totally wrong. Don’t do it.

Phil said: Natalia! C’mon, you know what you did wrong. Don’t make me block you! :)

Each blog on tour is featuring one of the stalkers authors. Mine is Phil Taylor! Here is his guest post he wrote. :)

Although I’ve written and published two novels, my favorite thing to write is my blog, The Phil Factor. I started blogging in 2005. I was sitting around the office having a sarcastic rant about something when a co-worker said, “You should blog about that.” So I did. As I blogged I got a lot of positive feedback from other bloggers about my writing, so I started my first novel, White Picket Prisons.

The idea for my contribution to the Stalkers anthology came from a series of blog posts I wrote in the week leading up to April Fools Day in 2006. On my blog I posted about an online stalker as if it were really happening and not fiction. As the posts progressed the “stalker” became more and more intrusive and agitated, as did my blog commenters who believed that it was real. On April Fools Day I revealed the story to be a hoax. Many of the commenters in the Blog Stalker story in the anthology are real bloggers who commented on my blog at the time. Some of the comments used in the story are real also. I’ve kept in touch with some of them and have let them know I was using the blogger pen name and some of their comments in the story. So far there are no lawsuits that I’m aware of.

Truth be told, I enjoy writing fiction, but if I had a dream scenario play out it would be my blog getting syndicated and run weekly in newspapers and websites across the country much like Pulitzer Prize winning author Dave Barry whom I had the good fortune to interview for my blog back in September. So yes, please buy Stalkers and all my books, but more importantly go read The Phil Factor and share it with your friends. And yes, I believe that it is possible to be addicted to hyperlinking.

About The Author: Phil Taylor

Phil Taylor is a father of three, husband to one, and life-long smart ass to many. He has been well trained by his two dogs and a cat and is a loyal servant to them all. He has a Master's degree in Psychology and after trying stand-up comedy he turned to writing. His two fiction novels, White Picket Prisons and The Sneaker Tree are dedicated to the life-long friends that shaped his life. His third book, Fifty Shades of Phil, is the fifty best humor essays from the first eight years of his blog The Phil Factor. 

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Book Blitz: After the Curtain Falls by Ainsley Shay + Giveaway!

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After The Curtain Falls by Ainsley Shay Book Blitz

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After the Curtain Falls 

by Ainsley Shay 
Publication date: January 31st 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Erik never had to be anything other than a freak...until now.

Two hundred fifty-three days is a long time to fake being normal when night after night you perform miraculous feats on stage in a freak show. Thousands have paid to witness the miracle, suspecting nothing more than a hoax. But it is very real and it is slowly destroying him. Erik is weakened to the point where he'll stop performing and start going to school for the first time ever—in his senior year. His only goal is to rebuild his strength so he can return to the stage and perform doing what he loves most in this world. What he didn't plan for was the appearances of beautiful Addison and mysterious Naya. Now, unfamiliar feelings and bizarre new friendships threaten to unbalance Erik's future as a miracle-performing freak.

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   The moment is perfect to lean in and kiss her. And I badly want to put my hand on her cheek and bring my lips to hers.

     Addison looks at her wrist, my fingers still there. “I should go,” she says shattering my thoughts.

     I slide my hand from her wrist, along her palm, lingering on her fingertips with my own. Looking up into her eyes, I ask, Are you sure you want to?”

     She meets my eyes. “No.” Her voice whispers the simple word I was hoping she would say. “But they’re expecting me down there.” My stomach aches when she starts to get up. “Thanks for catching me when I fell.” She brushes the sand off her dress and walks through the wheat grass toward the shore.

~~~

     “You’re a freak like me,” Naya says, no doubt present in her tone.

     Shaken by her word choice, but intrigued to know why she’s chosen it, I ask, “Am I? And how do you know that?” I swallow nothing, feeling my throat constrict as I wait for her answer.

     With concern on her face, her lips purse, and she shrugs one shoulder. “I just know.” She touches my arm, leans into me and whispers, “As a friend, just be careful. The people here,” she looks to her left and then to her right, “well…they aren’t very nice to our kind."

About The Author: Ainsley Shay

Find Ainsley @

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Ainsley Shay avoids insanity by living mostly in the fiction world. She believes surrounding herself with positive people, and strives for balance in everything. She owns more jeans with rips and holes than without; and has recently found the magic of patches. For her, reading or writing the perfect sentence is better than the smoothest piece of dark chocolate melting in her mouth. She is a deltiologist for pure enjoyment, not for the study of. She longs to move north one day, even though she hates the cold. (Go figure!) So, for now, she continues to live in warm south Florida with her incredible husband, three beautiful daughters, and two lazy cats. (We won’t mention the dog.)

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Prize: 1 ebook copy of After the Curtain Falls 

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Book Blitz: Fifty First Times - A New Adult Anthology + "My First Time meeting an Author" + HUGE GIVEAWAY!

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Fifty First Times: A New Adult Anthology Book Blitz

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Title: Fifty First Times: A New Adult Anthology
Authors: Julie Cross (creator), J. Lynn, Molly McAdams, Sophie Jordan, Roni Loren, Tracy Wolff, Lauren Layne, Andrew Shaffer, Cole Gibson, Myra McEntire, Carrie Ryan, Mark Perini, Gennifer Albin, Lisa Desrochers, Hannah Moskowitz, Lyla Payne, Alessandra Thomas, Melissa Landers, Melissa West
Published by: Avon Impulse
Publication date: February 25th 2014
Genres: New Adult

You always remember your first time...

Whether it's the couple who decides not to go through with it, the two boys who finally aren't ashamed, the newlyweds whose wedding night could very well be their last night together, the deaf pair who have no choice but to take body language to a new level--or, of course, the two young lovers fumbling and laughing, getting everything wrong. These are the memories that will never fade.

Join nineteen fantastic authors as they pull back the curtain and give you a peek inside that one intense moment in their characters' lives when everything changes and nothing will ever be the same again.

Featuring stories from some of the hottest names in New Adult, Young Adult, and Romance including New York Times Bestselling authors J.Lynn/Jennifer Armentrout, Molly McAdams, Sophie Jordan, and Carrie Ryan.

NOTE: These stories are works of fiction. If you want to know about our first times, you'll have to buy us a pet monkey first.

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Book Quotes

"I twist the ring around my left finger. It’s foreign to my body, but in the same way a new pet is foreign to a person’s home. It represents work and responsibility, but somehow you know that it will eventually become a part of you. Jack’s already a part of me. It’s just the ring that’s new." –DAYLIGHT by Julie Cross

The friendzone wasn’t such a bad place to be. I saw how Allen treated the people he slept with. They were as disposable as red Solo cups. “I’m an equal opportunity lover,” he once told me, “but you can call me a slut.”—BUNGA BUNGA by Andrew Shaffer

“Perhaps the gods hadn't been so perverse after all.”—UNDER THE SEYRN MOON by Melissa Landers

“No, if I were brave I would have—“ but I’m not even brave enough to say the words. Instead I take another swallow wine while I finish the sentence in my head. Would have let you make a move on me. Would have touched you. Would have kissed you.”—LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR by Carrie Ryan

“Don’t push me away, V. I may not know as much as I want to about you, but the thing you need to know about me is I’m a persistent son of a bitch, and I will wear you down.”—A LITTLE TOO SCARRED by Lisa Desrochers

Finish this sentence, "Fans of ____ book, author, TV/movie might enjoy your story"

Julie Cross (DAYLIGHT): The Notebook or another soul mates separated, timeless type story

Hannah Moskowitz (THIS IS MY SIGN): The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

Mark Perini (FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE): Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, or An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Myra McEntire (STRIKE OUT): Summer Catch, Trouble With the Curve

Tell us about your story’s main character(s)

Andrew Shaffer: The unnamed narrator is a booksmart English major who spends too much time studying and not enough time partying—at least according to his best friend Allen.

Julie Cross: Audrey appears quiet and timid on the outside, but inside she has gifted intuition when it comes to reading people and a fierce loyalty to those she loves.

Lisa Desrochers: Rene Vargas' army unit was blown up by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, and she's scarred in more ways than one. She's kickass is so many ways, but her whole life has changed, and now she's left to discover who she is...with some help from Rick Hamilton (Lexie's dirtbag ex from A LITTLE TOO FAR).

Mark Perini: Luke comes off a bit nerdy, but he’s got an inner Juno cool that he’s just now figuring out about himself. He wants that movie romance but doesn’t think it’s in the cards for him. Well not yet anyway.

Melissa West: Summer is strong and opinionated, and Blake is a classic guy's guy with a huge heart.

Myra McEntire: Ben is not your typical jock, but he is an amazing athlete. Liza is a go getter with a crunchy shell and a smooth center.

What motivated you to join up with other authors for this project? Do you like collaborating with writing peers?

“Well, I started this insane projected and was hit over the head with the idea during the Romantic Times convention last year. Luckily, I was in the presence of some amazing authors and able to walk right up and pitch the idea to them. Which is literally what I did, "Fifty First Times, A New Adult Anthology...are you in?" And to my complete surprise, it totally worked. I still can't believe the authors we have onboard. And I can tell you, the stories are just fabulous. I loved every minute of reading them!” – Julie Cross, International Bestselling author of the Tempest Series and creator of Fifty First Times

“I thought the concept for the general story was so fun, and definitely something I would normally love to write anyway. The fact that it would be with a bunch of other authors sharing their stories as well just made it that much more fun. I do [enjoy collaborating with peers]! It's not something I'd ever done before this, and it was such a fun experience.” –Molly McAdams, New York Times Bestselling author

“A huge motivation was being a part of an awesome group. Plus I was able to give readers a story with Brit and Ollie.” –J. Lynn, #1 New York Times Bestselling author 

“I saw "Fifty First Times" as a unique opportunity to tell a different type of story than the fiction I'm accustomed to writing. Julie was very encouraging and helped me push the story in some interesting directions I hadn't anticipated.” –Andrew Shaffer, author of Fifty Shames of Earl Grey

“I love a challenge, and once the story idea came to me, there was no turning back. Writing it was an absolute blast!” –Melissa Landers, author of Alienated

“Anthologies are just so fun; I love the variation you see in stories all around one theme. It's a great way to highlight the strengths of individual authors. And I love collaborating! I have a co-write book coming out in 2016.” –Hannah Moskowitz, award winning author of Gone, Gone, Gone

“I was really excited to join this project because I loved the concept from the first moment I heard it. First times. Firsts are so full of intense emotions--angst and joy and fear and excitement--whether it’s someone’s first time ever or the first time with that special person. So I knew it would be a blast to write a story about—in the case of my story, “Two in the Morning"—two guys who have been best friends forever but who may be developing feelings beyond that. As for writing with this group of talented authors, what’s not to love? There are so many fresh perspectives and original concepts in this anthology that I can’t wait to read all of the other stories!” –Roni Loren, bestselling author of the Loving on the Edge series

Being part of this tour us tour host have been asked to share a "first time" of our own. I decided I am going to share MY first time meeting one of my favorite authors. Jeaniene Frost. :) 

I actually made a really nice post all about this experience a few days after I meet Jeaniene Frost. It tells all about the event and everything that happened.

To read all about it please click on the link below.

My first author book signing w/ Jeaniene Frost

Blitz-wide Giveaway!

Prizes (US only) - all to 1 winner:$25 gift card for either Amazon, Apple, or B&N (winners choice)

e-copy of Fifty First Times gifted through Amazon Kindle

*below books will be paperback unless only hard cover is available, also note some books including the featured title are for readers 17-18+

Entire Tempest trilogy by Julie Cross

Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Be with Me by J. Lynn

Gone Gone Gone by Hannah Moskowitz

Stealing Harper by Molly McAdams

Catching Liam by Sophia Bleu/Genn Albin

Need You Tonight by Roni Loren

A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers

Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

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ARC Review: The Well's End by Seth Fishman

Title: The Well's End
Author: Seth Fishman
Expected publication: February 25th 2014 by Putnam Juvenile 
Hardcover (ebook/audio), 352 pages
Genre: 
Source: Publisher / Print ARC
Reading Level:  YA

A deadly virus and an impossible discovery unite in one enthralling can’t-miss read... 

Sixteen-year-old Mia Kish has always been afraid of the dark. After all, she’s baby Mia, the one who fell down a well. That was years ago, though the darkness still haunts her. But when her classmates and teachers at ritzy Westbrook Academy start dying of old age from a bizarre and frightening virus that ages its victims years in a matter of hours, Mia becomes haunted by a lot more than the dark. Their deaths are gruesome and Mia worries she and her friends may be next. In order to survive, Mia and her small crew must break quarantine and outrun armed soldiers in hazmat suits who shoot first and ask questions later.

And there’s only one place to go—the Cave, aka Fenton Electronics. Mia knows it’s somehow connected and hopes her dad, Director of Fenton Electronics, who has always been strangely secretive about his work, has the answers she needs, and more importantly a cure to save everyone before the whole town succumbs to the mysterious virus. Unfortunately, it’s not answers Mia discovers, but something far more treacherous and impossible than even the virus itself. 

A high-stakes, fast-paced adventure with imagination and heart.

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  The Well's End was a totally unexpected fun and thrilling read. I went into the story knowing only want I read from the book's synopsis expecting much another average sci-fi novel but what I found was so much more! This half "End of The World", half  "suspenseful" science fiction novel hooked me from page one. I found myself speeding through the pages again and again to find out what would happening next.

Mia Kish is your average teenage girl...well with the exception that she kind is or was famous. Mia was the little baby many years ago who fell down the well. (side note: referencing Baby Jessica) Now grown up she is soon to be faced with a new problem, one that will change her life forever. Mia's Father is the Director of Fenton Electronics. Mia really doesn't know what her Father does but has had no need to question it until now. 
While Mia and her friends, Jo and Rob are in school something strange and confusing happens. The school alarm goes off presumed to be a ordinary drill but ends up being so much more. After a desperate and ominous warning comes from her Father soon after the schools alarm sounds, Mia comes to find out an virus outbreak has occurred in her school which rapidly ages adults and teens alike until the only thing left is death. Mia and her friends are terrified to find out this shocking revelation. Teachers, and their fellow peers are dying all about them. With nothing else to do Mia remember her Father's warning and know she needs to somehow leave and find  the CAVE aka Fenton Electronics. Mia and her friends, including a mysterious new guy named Brayden she only just meet need to find a way out. The problem is the school is heavily guarded by many "men in hazmat suits" who know a lot more than they are letting anyone onto. 

Mia knows something just is not right here and is not being told the whole truth about "what" really is going on. All the answers lie within the one man who Mia always thought she knew and trusted. Her Dad. And the one place she knows nothing about. The race in now ON! 

I tried really hard to not spoil anything (I hope I didn't) but at the same time give you the basic plot of the story. 

I was extremely surprised by how much I enjoy The Well's End. From start to finished I was totalled captivated by the story-line. There was so much suspense and action. I never knew what would be coming next or how a scene would be played out. There was never a dull moment, a real page turner for sure! 

I enjoyed Mia's character immensely. She was strong willed, knew how to take charge, and never gave up even though she was faced with many hardships and dangerous situations along the way. A few of which really tied into the "Baby Mia" fell down the well subplot. 

If there was one thing that was not ideal for me in the book it was the lack of feeling something I would see in Mia and her friends. I mean if my Dad or friend died right there before my eyes I would be beyond devastated. I wouldn't care about anything else. Yes, I do feel the reactions to the deaths were adequate but for me they lacked something. As I said I loved Mia and her friends but at the same thing I long to see more emotion.

The ending was fantastic; a really cliffhanger. I for one can't wait to see what happens next! 

The Well's End is a perfect read for anyone who loves a good thriller and some epic science fiction all wrap into one. Author Seth Fishman is one to watch, and his new book is one not to pass up! 

4.5 STARS - Totally Awesome! I loved it, would read again.

About The Author: Seth Fishman

Find Seth @

Website | Facebook | Twitter | tumblr 

Seth Fishman is a native of Midland, Texas (think Friday Night Lights), and a graduate of Princeton University and the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. He spends his days as a literary agent at The Gernert Company and his nights (and mornings) writing. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. This is his first novel (that’s not in a drawer).