NBC’s Dracula: Have you been bitten?

NBC’s Dracula featuring Jonathan Rhys Meyers premiered on last Friday night.   Did you get a chance to see it?  Since I’m such a huge fan of Bram Stoker’s classic, Dracula, I had to watch it.  My thoughts?  Truthfully…I’m on the fence.  Check out a sneak peak below:

Warning:  Spoilers are mentioned.  Read at your own risk.

NBC's Dracula was entertaining but completely different from the original story.  If you want a brief overview of the classic lit novel, see my review here.  The NBC version of Dracula is definitely unique because he's more of a vigilante and not necessarily a soulless bloodsucking monster (not yet anyway).  Interesting huh?  In the late 1800’s Dracula is awakened and reinvents himself as a wealthy American industrialist named Alexander Grayson.  He’s sworn vengeance against a secret group of ruthless business and political leaders called The Order of the Dragon.  This group did unspeakable things to Dracula hundreds of years ago, and he demands revenge.

Some of the original characters are present in this tale, including Mina, Jonathan, Lucy and even Van Helsing but the story has of course deviated.  Since this is a series, NBC must create plots that will entice viewership beyond the original tale.  And so how will Dracula extract revenge from his adversaries?  In short, Dracula wants to launch "wireless electricity technology" to the world and put the Order of the Dragon out of business.  I said it was a different story line, didn't I?    

Was it entertaining?  I suppose.  Will it be enough for me to watch an entire season or two?  I hope so, but I’m not sure.  Did you see the premier?  What were your thoughts?  If not click here to watch episode 1!  

Mina B.

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

The Spooktacular Giveaway Hop is here hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.  With Halloween just around the corner this has become one of the biggest book blog hops of the year.  Are you ready for Halloween yet?  Have you read any good books that awaken your spirit this season? No?  Well don't fret.  There are over 375 blogs participating this year giving away lots of wicked books.  How cool is that?  

Since this giveaway must be book related, I'm giving away one (1) FREE Amazon Gift Card so the winner may pick their own poison.  How's that for keeping things simple?

To enter…

You MUST be a follower of my blog and MUST fill out this entry form. (And yes, I do check GCF)

Extra entries…
+1 Like me on Facebook/MinaBurrows
+2 Follow me on Google Plus
+1 Retweet this Twitter (limit 1 retweet)

Again, the giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Oct. 15th - October 31st, midnight. Contest is open to International participants. 

Want to see who else is participating?  Visit I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and check out all the links and hop on by.

Update: Congrats to Tiffany D. for winning the Spooktacular Book Hop. The winner was chosen by the reputable Random.org and has been notified via email. They have 72 hours to respond.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mina B.

On the blog: Partners in ParanormYA

Hey, friends, I have two very special guests I'd like to welcome to my blog today.  The female version of the dynamic duo, Partners in ParanormYA featuring Gwen Gardner and Angela Brown.  

Hi girls!  *waves emphatically*  I'm so excited to have these mystic babes here and so should you.  Sit back and take a tour as both Gwen and Angela give us a sneak peak at their new releases and give us a special treat.  

Popcorn to Go

Abby: Fighting should be used as a last resort, at least that’s what I was taught at V’Salicus Academy.

Indigo: I’m not much of a fighter, or a lover or any of that. Why are we doing this in the first place?

*Abby moves her head in a slow circle, stretching her neck muscles.*: Get you ready , you know, for another investigation.

*Indigo tugs at her sweatshirt.*: I can’t really touch ghosts…not even trying to get close to the Soul Collector.

*Abby reaches her arms above her head, then resituates her sweatpants on her hips after checking that her sports bra was firmly in place*: I’m talking about the flesh and bone perps that don’t take too kindly to you and the gang asking questions.

Indigo: Oh…them. Yeah. *her face reddens*

*The door to the Partners in ParanormYA training room opens and closes. Badger and Basil settle on the floor leaning back on yoga mats propped up against the wall. Soda pops, popcorn and candy fill their arms.*

Abby: Uh, we’re busy here.

Badger: Don’t mind us. Just here for the show.

Abby: I’m trying to teach Indigo how to fight.

Basil: Exactly. This should be fun.

*Badger and Basil fist bump then grab their bags of popcorn.*

*Abby and Indigo share a glance. They saunter across the room and snatch the popcorn from their fingertips.*

Abby: Not this time, fellas.

*And the girls take their popcorn to go.*

Will the girls get to make up the botched session? Will Indigo need a few kick-butt pointers for A Guilty Ghost Surprised? Will Abby get to put her skills to use in They All Fall Down? Answers to two of three of these questions await discovery.

About A Guilty Ghost Surprised: Indigo Eady and gang are back with a feather and a Chance setting off another twisting-turning investigation to bring a cold case, and loved ones, closure at last.

Get your copy here:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About They All Fall Down: Free of their duties as Cleanser and Harvestor, Abby and Basil try to move on with their lives. But some secrets remain. And what is done in the dark won’t be good when it comes to light.

TAFD buy links: Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About Partners in ParanormYA:

Gwen Gardner and Angela Brown - YA paranormal authors embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. Share with us as we take the Indie journey to bring our works to the world. Buckle up! There'll be mystery, mayhem, action and emotional roller coasters...oh, and a few things that go bump in the night.

Hauntings are scary but we love interaction:

Angela’s author FB page | Gwen’s author FB page

Tweet Angela | Tweet Gwen

Angela’s blog | Gwen’s blog

And don’t forget about the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks girls for stopping by.   Congrats to you both.

Mina B.

Insecure Writers Support Group: Why not?

It's October and time for another Insecure Writers Support Group.   This monthly meme is brought to us by non other than  Alex J. Cavanaugh.  Thank you Alex for giving us an outlet to release our demons.  This month Alex has enlisted these fine folks, Julie Luek, Rachna Chabria, Beverly Fox, and Ilima Todd!   Thanks guys!  Don't forget to visit our awesome IWSG helpers.  Oh, and use the hashtag, #IWSG.

Like most aspiring writers, I tend to get an exorbitant amount of unsolicited advice from publishing firms, agents, writer acquaintances,  blogs and so forth.  For the first few stories I wrote, many harangued me with sometimes subtle but mostly damaging statements like “You can’t do this,” or “You can’t do that.” 

As I embarked on my writing adventure, I took copious notes on what was expected.  And so what happened after that?  Well, this list grew and grew to the point of nausea.  Don’t get me wrong there was a ton of excellent advice I found along the way.  Honestly though, there was also a ton that I found crippling.  Soon after, I grew more and more insecure.  To give you an example, here are a few lists of "You can'ts" that I heard when writing my YA novel.   

1. You can’t self-publish.  
2. You can’t be that graphic in a YA novel. 
3. You can’t have prologues in novels.
4. You can’t write about religion like that. 
5. You can’t write about personal stuff. 
6. You can’t have character be evil and then good.
7. You can’t make a plot rule and then break it.
8. Oh, and my favorite...You can’t write about vampires.

Well, as you can see the list goes on and on.  I felt like not matter where I turned, I was incapable of making these rule-makers happy.  After a couple of years, I realized that the growing expectation from others wasn't worth all the hype I’d given it.  In fact, it wasn't worth much at all.  The truth is when you constantly have people tell you, “You can’t do this or that,” it stifles the creativity. 

Soon I realized my best course was to ask the inevitable…Why not?  Now that I understand much more about myself, using this tactic has helped me stave off the naysayers and focus on what’s most important….the story.  

If you want to write about a purple elephant who possess magical farts, then by all means write about it.  As the owner of any story, what’s most important is you have total control from the beginning to end so make it a great one.  Write a story that way you want to and don't listen to every little bit of crap out there.  

Have you ever been plagued by this type of insecurity?  Did you fall in line or did you eventually break from the crowd?

Mina B.

Guest Post by Mina Lobo, author of That Fatal Kiss

Hey, minions!  I have fellow author, friend and Goth babe extraordinaire, Mina Lobo visiting my blog today.  She just released her debut novel, That Fatal Kiss this week and is doing a special post for my minion fans.  Pretty awesome, huh?  Please welcome, Mina...

Hello, fans.  Below is a small excerpt of my new fantasy romance, That Fatal Kiss.

Persephone glared at him. “You might put yourself to good use rather than just standing there, laughing at me.”

Hades was before her in an instant, swooping down to pick up the pin and gathering the folds of her gown up on one shoulder. “But it affords me such pleasure,” he said, clipping the folds together before twirling her around so that he could arrange the other shoulder.

“Then mock me, if you must,” Persephone said, swatting at him when he stole a peek down her neckline. “You aging degenerate.”

“Madam, you wound me,” Hades stated crisply, giving the newly pinned cloth a final tweak. He turned her around once more and shoved her so that she was forced to sit down on their bed.

“Have a care, Hades!” she admonished without heat. A smile broadened her lips as the Lord of the Underworld played Lady’s maid. He solemnly took her foot and placed a sandal upon it, lacing it quickly. “You’ve done this before, have you?” Persephone asked, and then squealed as he tied the lace too tightly. “Gently, you brute!”

“Really, Persephone, you might address me with the respect due to your King,” he pointed out, taking her other foot in hand.

“Yes, I might. But what joy would there be in that?”

“Very little, I should think,” Hades acknowledged, rising to his feet and grasping both of her hands to pull her up. He stared down at her for a moment and then noted, in a warm and hushed tone, “You’re really quite lovely, you know.”

* * *

That Fatal Kiss, is set in a mythical Greece. In it, Persephone and Hades, Queen and King of the Underworld, engage in a bit of teasing as they prepare to meet with the half-mortal son of a fellow god, who's come to request a really big favor. Throughout the book, Persephone breaks Hades' chops over the difference in their ages, while Hades "kills her with kindness." Beneath the raillery, however, is a growing affection which always turns up to take the edge off the silly taunts.

Some folks do more than gently tease, of course; they launch wicked barbs under the guise of wit and expect their significant others to take it all in stride. OK, I agree that it's a generally favorable characteristic to be able to laugh at yourself, but I really don't want to spend the majority of my time dodging the sarcasm of the person who's supposed to love me best. Of course, if that sort of put-down "joking around" works within your relationship's dynamic, then rock on. I guess.So, when does teasing cross the line? Maybe never, for some couples? What do you think? Tell us in the comments!

About the Book
In That Fatal Kiss, life-giving Persephone seeks a mate but the goddess' mother frustrates her plans. Then Hades, King of the Underworld, spirits Persephone away to rule with him below, as his bride. Yet, even as she awaits rescue, Persephone aches to be consumed by the fire in the dark lord's immortal soul.  

Get your copy here!

About the Author
Mina Lobo writes dark and whimsical romances, dodges the slings and arrows of her outrageous college-aged son, and feels compelled to do things in threes. She digs comedic horror, alternative rock, and Belgian chocolates. 

GIVEAWAY!  
Visit Mina's Web site, Some Dark Romantic, from September 24 - 29, for your chance to win an e-book copy of That Fatal Kiss!
Blog: Some Dark Romantic
Facebook: mina.lobo.1
Twitter: @GothMomLite
GothMomLite Will Tumblr For Ya

Thanks for stopping by, Mina.  What do you think?  Isn't that excerpt delish?

Mina B.

3rd Annual Banned Books Week Hop

September 22-28th, 2013 is Banned Book Week!  And to celebrate, this is my 3rd year participating in the Annual Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop hosted by  I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Mary from BookHounds.  Supporting banned books is a passion of mine.    Once again, I'm posting the list  new and classic books that make up the ALA's "Top Ten Challenged Books Lists by Year: 2001-2012."

Here is an example of last year's challenged books:

2012 
- Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey.
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.
Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
- Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher.
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group
- Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
- And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.
Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
- The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.
Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
- Looking for Alaska, by John Green.
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
- Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence
- The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
- Beloved, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

To make thing easier, I'm giving a free $10 Amazon Gift Card for one (1) lucky winner.  Our winner can choose their preferred banned or challenged book.  Cool, huh?
Let me clarify: One (1) lucky winner can win a $10 Gift Card from Amazon! Check out the details on how to enter.  See below and tell your friends!

To enter

You MUST be a GFC follower of my blog & MUST fill the form.

Extra entries
+1 Subscribe via email to my blog
+1 Like me on Facebook/MinaBurrows
+1 Retweet this Twitter (limit 1 retweet)

Again, the giveaway starts at 12:01 AM EST on Sunday, September 22th and runs September 28th midnight. Contest is open to International participants.

Want to see who else is participating? Click here and hop on by.

Update: Congrats to June M. for winning the Banned Book Hop. The winner was chosen by the reputable Random.org and has been notified via email. They have 72 hours to respond.

My rafflecopter giveaway link:   http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/efa52530

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CassaStorm by Alex J Cavanaugh - Release Blitz!

CassaStorm’s release blitz is here!  Alex J Cavanaugh's 3rd book in the Cassa series just released yesterday and I'm hear to scream it to the world!  For those that don't know this series has had some serious buzz from science fiction fans and Captain Ninja Minions like me.  Some noteworthy distinctions of this incredible series include Amazon Best Selling Series and CassaFire just won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award.  How awesome is that?  Rock on, Alex!

CassaStorm's backcover:  

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

My question to Ninja Captain Alex:

Tell us something about the series that no one has figured out yet?

The Captain's response:

Well, judging from the reaction of those who’ve read CassaStorm, no one has figured out how it all ties together!

Blast the man with this cryptic reply!  Does anyone want to take a guess at that?  

CassaStorm Book Trailer:  
Alex's book trailers are some of the coolest I've ever seen.  #seriously

The Reviews: 
“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse

"Cavanaugh makes world building on the galactic scale look easy. The stakes affect the entire known universe and yet Cavanaugh makes it intensely personal for our hero. The final installment of this series will break your heart and put it back together."
- Charity Bradford, science fantasy author of The Magic Wakes

“…mesmerizing story of survival, personal sacrifice, tolerance, and compassion. It’s a rare jewel that successfully utilizes both character and plot to tell a story of such immense scope and intimate passion…” - Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken

Get your copy today!

Amazon    Amazon Kindle     Barnes & Noble     Goodreads

***

About Alex:  

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

Find Alex on...
Alex's Website     Alex on Twitter     Goodreads 


Congratulations, Alex.  There is no way this is your last book.

Mina B.