The Seraphine Blog

Welcome to the Lunar Love Giveaway Hop!

2012-03-07T18:20:00.003-08:00

Hello Fallen Friends!

Once again, I'm proud to be taking part in the I Am A Reader Not a Writer Lunar Love Giveaway Hop. This contest in open internationally although the linky says US. The two lucky winners will receive a package containing five great ebooks: Angelfall by Susan Ee, Branded Fall of Angels by Keary Taylor, Exiled by M.R. Merrick, Moon Spell by Samantha Young, and Ethereal by Addison Moore. That's right. A set of five great ebooks for two lucky winners. Just fill out the rafflecopter found below the book descriptions and have fun visiting my blog today. Oh and check out my other giveaways where you can win a $25.00 gift certificate and a signed copy of my debut novel When Copper Suns Fall!

The books:

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Branded Fall of Angels Book 1 by Keary Taylor

Ethereal by Addison Moore

Exiled by M.R. Merrick

Moon Spell by Samantha Young

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Indie Spotlight with Mom/Gamer/Writer and an Epic Giveaway!

2012-03-07T13:05:00.002-08:00

Hello Fallen Friends,

In celebration of my weeklong feature and conclusion of the Dark Seraphine Tour, we're doing an epic giveaway where you can win a $50.00 prize package. And if you missed all of the posts including an interview with two very outspoken characters from When Copper Suns Fall: Seth Alton and Faris Toulan then the posts are still available at Mother/Gamer/Writer. So go ahead and enter the contest for a chance to win a $25.00 gift card from either Amazon or Barnes&Noble, a signed copy of When Copper Suns Fall, and a bookmark.

This contest is open internationally! Click on "Read More" to use the Rafflecopter form!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The 2012 Multicultural Book Challenge

2012-01-22T19:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 2012 Muti-Cultural Book Challenge hosted by One Page at a Time and Truly Bookish blog sites. The hosts thought it would be great to highlight the fabulous YA books written by muti-cultural/ethnic minorities OR featuring multi-cultural/ethnic minorities as main characters.

The goal of this challenge is to read 12 minority YA books for the year. The books can be newly published or been around for a long time.

Every month, I will be featuring a book or author that meets the criteria. For the month of January, I'll be reviewing Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. In February, both the host of the contest and the Seraphine Blog will be hosting a Native American-themed interview and giveaway. I'm looking forward to that!

There'll be chances to win ebooks and other goodies during the review post weeks which will happen on the first Monday of each month beginning in February. These are truly great books by some very fine authors and I do hope you take time to check into the ones mentioned here.

Mulitcultural Review List
1) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
2) In the Arms of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane
3) Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck
4) Living Violet by Jaime Reed
5) Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran
6) Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
7) Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper
8) The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson
9) The Bully by Paul Langan
10) One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
11) Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
12) Angel Fall by Susan Ee

Check back in a few days to see the review for Shatter Me and a detailed description as well as buy links for the book mentioned above.

Yours in Prose,
KaSonndra Leigh

Book Review: Olympus Union The Past Revisted by Gary Bloom

2012-01-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

Sci-Fi author Gary Bloom recently approached me and asked me to review his book Olympus Union: the Past Revisited. At first, I was somewhat hesitant. I don't really read that much sci-fi, and intergalactic tales have never caught my eye. But by the time I was done reading, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the adventure I'd just experienced. And I'm looking forward to purchasing Bloom's next book in the series. Later this month, Gary Bloom will be return for an interview with the Seraphine Blog. So mark your calendars. Now, on to my review of Olympus Union: the Past Repeated.

Gary Bloom's Book Review for Olympus Union
By KaSonndra Leigh

What I immediately appreciated about Gary Bloom’s book is that his science fiction world is based on the ingeniousness of a female scientist named Katie Lynn. Ms. Lynn’s invention changed the future of the Olympus Union and enabled travel between the planets of our solar system with lightning speed. This invention provides the core of the plot and story lines that follow.

The year is 2171 and there are several settings for Bloom’s story. One of them is on one of the ten nations of a futuristic Earth. To eradicate war and promote peace, the earth has been divided into ten realms that coexist under one prime minister if the Olympus Union. There are also fully functioning cities on Mars and space stations set up around Jupiter. The story begins in one of three prison clutches named after Greek goddesses: Hera, Demeter, Athena. A prisoner, Duncan Lab, is in the newest and largest of the three, Athena's clutch. The reader is given a recap of the how the former engineer ended up in prison. And then the reader is introduced to the rehab centers located in Athena's clutch. Next we find Prime Minister Oden and his female minister of Peace, Anat Meron debating over the affairs of the Olympus Union, OU. There is political unrest in the Jovian system: rebel activity threatening to overturn years of peaceful co-existence and research, riots breaking out in the state formerly known as Texas. A new drug called Raylax has been developed. The primary purpose is to instill calm in the OU’s citizens and Prime Minister Oden has his job cut out.

The next chapters introduce the reader to a host of the OU's characters. There's the brash Captain Dondo Kryz and the witty, but highly intelligent mercenary named Kro. The author does a superb job of weaving the three story lines mentioned in the previous paragraph into one gathering of sub-plots which isn't an easy task to accomplish. By the time we see Kro cross paths with Duncan Lab, Mr. Bloom has done such an intriguing job of setting up the story that you don't realize you've been pulled into the core conflict until Kro blatantly says so. And the way Kro manages to pull off his contracted jail break is one of the most unique scenarios I think I've seen in a novel.

Seamless interaction between the space colonies, prisons, and the earthly provinces makes the story fun and easy to follow. I truly felt as if I'd been transported into a different time within Bloom's world. The one small issue I found in the story was that in some areas I couldn't tell who was speaking. A simple addition of a few dialogue tags in those areas would solve that minor problem. Also, I was left feeling as if there was more to come by the time the story ended. Even though the main storyline was pretty much wrapped up, I had a feeling there should’ve been more. This was more than likely the author’s intention, to leave the reader wanting more of the next installment. It worked for me, anyway.

Overall, this was a fun read that took me out of my paranormal and fantastical comfort zones. If you're into political thrillers, intergalactic sci-fi adventures, and even prison stories in a sense, then you'll enjoy Mr. Bloom's Olympus Union. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

Kasonndra Leigh - Urban Fantasy with a Dystopian Twist + Contest | Night Owl Reviews

2012-01-04T03:16:00.000-08:00

Kasonndra Leigh - Urban Fantasy with a Dystopian Twist + Contest | Night Owl Reviews

2012-01-03T07:16:00.001-08:00

When Copper Suns Fall stops at the Reading Lark today. Head over to: http://ping.fm/XqOCn and tour the world of my dystopian fantasy.

Mid-Winter's Eve Blog Hop & Giveaway!

2011-12-20T18:53:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to be participating in my very first blog hop & giveaway co-hosted by the I'm A Reader Not a Writer blog site. You, the lovely reader, gets to try for the chance to win one of four books by four fabulous indie authors. Drumrolls please...

1) Becoming: Daughters of Saraqael Book One by Raine Thomas

Description from Amazon: Every three years, Amber Hopkins explodes. Okay, not a blown-to-smithereens explosion, but whatever it is always hurts like hell and leaves her life a shambles. She's already worked her way through five foster placements, and she's doing whatever she can to avoid getting blasted into a sixth.
As her eighteenth birthday approaches and she feels the strange and powerful energy building, disaster looms. When the inevitable explosion occurs, her life gets its biggest shakeup yet. She'll not only learn how her fellow foster and best friend, Gabriel, really feels about her, but she'll discover that she isn't really without family. To top it all off, she'll finally find out why she's having the power surges: she isn't entirely human.

2) When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh

In fifteen-year-old Chela Prizeon’s city, alchemy is forbidden and angels hide among the mortal. With a deadly virus ravaging the globe, Chela’s nightmarish memories compels her to experience a past riddled with gloom, and now her brother is infected. Chela’s only hope is the Caduceans, slayers sworn to protect the last seven Light Keepers and the ancient memories they share. A group led by the sometimes elusive, sometimes infuriating boy who intrigues Chela. But can she trust this boy with the mysterious past, someone who can influence her memories? With the Caduceans aid, Chela races to defeat her rivals, to unearth dark family secrets, desperate to find a cure...only to discover the glutovirus is far more than a simple disease.

3) The Scarlett Dagger by Krystle Jones

Description from Amazon: When seventeen-year-old Sloane McAllister’s twin brother disappears, she seems to be the only one who thinks he isn’t dead, and vows to stop at nothing to find him. Gathering her courage, she braves the Red Sector to search for clues to his whereabouts. By chance, she encounters Aden, a handsome, charismatic vampire with a hidden agenda. He turns Sloane against her will, and whisks her away to his underground city. Enemies quickly become friends as Sloane struggles against her attraction to Aden, and resists her growing loyalties to the creatures that ruined her life. But the vampires themselves are the least of her problems. The city is harboring a devastating secret, one that could change the tide of the war and threaten to destroy everything Sloane has come to believe in.

4) Paradox: the Angels are Here by Patti Roberts

Description from Goodreads: A little girl's world is turned upside down by a visitor,the Angel of Death. She finds herself trapped in a nightmare, consumed by her paralyzing loss and overwhelming grief. The haunting visions and untimely deaths of others are a constant reminder that life and death are only a heartbeat away. A journey crossing Two Worlds. One Ancient - One New. How do the heartbreaking visions experienced by a little girl fit into this Ancient World of Angels, Myth & Legend?

Since each of these books represents varying tastes, there will be four winners, one lucky person for each book. Now on to the rules, yes, we all must deal with those. So here goes:

1) Entries must be received by midnight, Saturday, 12/27.
2) This IS an International Giveaway.
3) You must be at least 13 years old to enter
4) You will need to use the Rafflecopter form below this post. Just click on "Read more" to see it.
5) If you already follow one of the authors listed in the giveaway, you'll still need to complete the form in order to receive the points.
6) Overall, this should be a fun and easy giveaway. Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2011-11-30T03:23:00.001-08:00

All right friends all over the world, I just want you all to know I got Hollywood's attention now! Can we say WOOT?!!?!!!

Patti Roberts - Book Blog: Interview with Author KaSonndra Leigh When Copper Suns Fall.

2011-11-21T16:48:00.000-08:00

Patti Roberts - Book Blog: Interview with Author KaSonndra Leigh When Copper Suns Fall.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

2011-11-20T18:46:00.000-08:00

There is less than 2 weeks to go before all my faithful fans & readers all over the world get to see what happens When Copper Suns Fall. I am so happy with the warm welcome my debut novel has received and can't wait to hear what you all think of the story. The fun begins with an interview hosted by Tamazon, interviewer extraordinaire of the popular website Night Owl reviews, on November 25th. I hope you all get the chance to stop by and get a first glimpse into my unusal but super fun journey to publication.

And then the fun continues with Copper Suns' release day blitz on December 6th hosted by the fabulous Roxanne Rhoads of Bewitching Book Tours. She has managed to get plenty of blog stops lined up for me. So if you're not on the list and wish to be included shoot me your email address. Bewitching Book Tours will also be hosting a Twitter release party on December 9th! There'll be a gorgeous prize related to the book given to one lucky winner. All you need to do is drop by and say hello.

Details of these and other events can be found on my tours and appearances page. I'm excited and truly looking forward to bringing When Copper Suns Fall to all of you.

Yours in Prose,
KaSonndra Leigh

Interview with Jaime Reed Author of Living Violet: the Cambion Chronicles

2011-11-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

Jaime Reed humbly agreed to be the Seraphine Blog's first paranormal author interviewee. And we are so excited to have such a unique and talented writer here today. Her book has been getting rave reviews and the release date of January, 2012, is right around the corner. I cannot wait to read the novel and be able to offer an updated review on this intriguing story.

But until then, here's a blurb from the book:
He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most--and everything she most fears. . .

Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.

But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever. . .or consume it.

Doesn't that description sound intriguing? Without further ado, let's jump into the my interview with Jaime.

Where are you from?

I'm from Virginia and I currently live in Williamsburg.

Tell us your latest news?

I have a bunch of ARCs of LIVING VIOLET that I need to give away. I have a contest on Goodreads and one on my blog this month. I’m currently writing the third installment of The Cambion Chronicles during NaNoWriMo.

When and why did you begin writing?

It's a great treatment for neurosis. When I was a kid, I would write all kinds of weird stuff in notebooks. I did it for fun—didn't think much would come out of it until years later.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I didn’t and still don't. Not trying to be contrary, but I'm just someone who puts words on paper and hope it makes sense. I've always prided myself in being an active muse, because I inspire other people, but have very few good ideas left for myself. As far as writing goes, I've been doing this for so long—eight years wholeheartedly for sure.

Do you have a specific writing style? Do you outline or free form?

Free form all the way. I can't be bothered with trifles like plot and pacing when I'm in the Zone. It's all about me. Catering to my sick, twisted amusement is the only way those words will hit the page. Now during editing, that’s a whole other story. Editing is when the outside world gets their say and I have to listen, whether I like it or not. As far as style, well, it depends on the narration. If it's first person, I tend to write the way I talk, where third person is a bit more formal. I'm not a formal person, so I tend to avoid that method.

What inspired you to write Living Violet? Is it your first book?

It was my getaway story—something to take my mind off another book series I was writing at the time. It kinda got away from me and grew bigger than I expected, then Poof! A book! It's the most honest book I've written and a bit personal because there's more of my world in it than my other stories. As for how the premise came about…well that’s a question with about fifty answers and all of them are right. Just know it was a story that I've always wanted to write, with a strong female character of color.

How did you come up with the title?

Whoa! Not easy at all! Just thinking about it makes my head hurt. I submitted the manuscript to my agent as COIN JAR because a recurring event in the book, but the powers that be decided that the title sucked. It was a joint effort between me, my agent, and my editor. It took us weeks to come up with it and we finally agreed it should be associated with the color scheme in each story, which changes with each book.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I'm sure there is, but I can't really lump it into one whole thing. There are several, you see, and it's up to the reader to interpret. Not every reading experience is the same. Some might be offended; some might cry, or wet their pants laughing. As long as they reach the last page somewhat entertained, my work is done.

Tell us about the world of The Cambion Chronicles?

Cambions have a very vague and interesting lore, which I've embellished for my own selfish purposes. I wanted to focus on the hybrid dichotomy, because there's bad and good in everyone. The fascinating part is keeping the balance.

The series follows a 17-year old girl named Samara (Sam for short) whose world gets turned upside down in the summer before her senior year. She works at a bookstore where strange occurrences begin to happen and they all have something to do with her co-worker, Caleb.

Are the experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Sure. The key to writing is to write what you know. So the story is set in my home town of Williamsburg. I used to work in a bookstore, so I used some of my experience to mold the story and took a few creative liberties along the way. There's a lot of me in each character an there are a mixture of my friends and family thrown in there too. It's funny when friends read it and they can see where I got my inspiration.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk. In fact, excerpts of the fan letter I sent to him are in the book.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Stephen King. EVERY writer should read his book On Writing. It's a must.

What book are you reading now?

I'm getting back to YA basics. I checked out a whole collection of RL Stine Goosebumps books. Next, I'll be working on Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High. Kicking it old school, but these books are classics in their own right.

What are your current projects?

Right now I need to finish the final book to The Cambion Chronicles. What I write after that is anyone's guess. I might go back to my older series and polish that up, but I'll have to complete my other project first.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

God. No one else knows what I had to go through to get where I am, and I think my faith has grown stronger because of it. It's kind of a weird thing to say considering my story is about demons and such, but I know where my creativity and drive came from—and it wasn't manmade.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

That is the worst question to ask a writer. Lol. Of course there is, but I would drive myself crazy thinking woulda-coulda-shoulda. I have to let it go and mark it as “the best I could do” for that particular point in my writing life. All I can do is learn from my errors and improve in the next book.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Description has always been a tricky thing for me. I don't want to weigh the story down with pointless detail and fluff, but I still want to bring the reader into my world. Very fine line we must walk. A lot of people say that I'm good at dialogue to where it reads a lot like a screenplay, which is entirely my fault. I wrote a lot of screenplays when I was younger and I guess some of that style stuck. My bad.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Hard to say. John Green, Neil Gaiman, Chuck Palahniuk, Cormac McCarthy just to name a few. I tend to enjoy male authors more than female authors. I don't know, they seem to get to the point quicker. They don't drown the story with excessive adjectives, product placement, and melodramatic mush. It's raw, in your face, and unapologetic. Love it.

How did you find your agent, Kathleen Ortiz?

(Cue saxophone) It was a dark, seedy dive on the Upper East Side, a place where you go to drown your sorrows. I was at the bar feeling down on my luck when she walked in wearing a red dress. She shook the rain from her hair then looked up, searching through the smoky haze. The moment we locked eyes, I knew she was the one…

Actually, it was pure luck or what I call divine intervention. I was researching agents online who represent YA fiction with multicultural characters. Kathleen was maybe the third agent I queried for this story. She loved it. The rest is history.

Your covers are striking. Who designed them?

I have no idea. That's all on the publishing end of the spectrum. I'm glad you like it.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Ending it. I never had so much fun writing a story and the characters were so full of life and dimension— I could have easily gone on for several hundred more pages. It could be why I decided to make it a series. I don't want the high to end just yet.

Did you learn anything from writing your book, and what was it?

Finish it. Worry about how it looks later. Get it all down before trying to dissect all its 2,000 parts. You'll never get anything accomplished by agonizing over the details in the beginning. Lay down the groundwork then build from there.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write, read, and be patient. Repeat.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

And thank you Jaime for stopping by the Seraphine Blog. Be sure to visit Jaime's online homes and enter her blog giveaway at:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12363795-living-violet

http://www.jaimereedbooks.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/jaime_reed

Stay tuned for more author interviews in the upcoming weeks!

2011-11-13T16:56:00.001-08:00

Join me on Tuesday, November 15th for an interview with Debut author Jaime Reed. We'll discuss her paranormal romance Living Violet at:http://ping.fm/iaf9l

2011-11-13T16:22:00.001-08:00

Go Steelers!

Upcoming Author Interview

2011-11-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

Join me on November 11th, when I'll be interviewing debut author Jaime Reed. Her paranormal romance novel Living Violet (Book 1 of the Cambion Chronicles) will be released December 27th by Dafina. Ms. Reed is an exciting new author on the young adult scene, and I cannot wait to have her here on the blog.

Also, there'll be many other author interviews, blog visits, and exciting news on my debut novel in the weeks to come. Check back soon for updates. And don't forget to follow/like my Facebook fan page for the timeliest updates.

Until next time,
KaSonndra Leigh

2011-10-26T15:50:00.001-07:00

Reading 'The Ultimate Book Launch Party' here: http://ping.fm/THrIB After reading, stay tuned for news on my upcoming Twitter release party!

2011-10-26T03:28:00.001-07:00

ePub Daily News is out! http://t.co/7sfvCaha ▸ Top stories today via @atprompt @workflowepub @jenniecoughlin @christycoal @kasonndraleigh

2011-10-23T06:10:00.001-07:00

@RachelintheOC Wrote a geek crush piece about Madonna last yr: My Geek Confession on a Dance Floor http://bit.ly/nv31Ny check it out Madonna fans. We know who we are. Haha

2011-10-21T11:36:00.001-07:00

Check out my lady nevey berry's blog and a nice pic of When Copper Suns Fall here:http://ping.fm/1GknW

2011-10-16T18:01:00.001-07:00

thewalkingdead just started. See you all after it's over!

2011-10-16T14:36:00.001-07:00

Be sure to check out the season premiere of thewalkingdead tonight on AMC

2011-10-13T17:56:00.001-07:00

Check out FallenAngelHaven FF @FallenAngelTalk and see the tribute to my debut novel When Copper Suns Fall http://ping.fm/KpbDC

2011-10-09T07:03:00.001-07:00

It's a beautiful morning. If you haven't already done so, check out the cover to When Copper Suns Fall at www.kasonndraleigh.com

2011-10-07T09:22:00.001-07:00

Join me tonight for the cover reveal of When Copper Suns Fall at www.kasonndraleigh.com.

Writerly Things and People Who Sing

2011-09-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Fallen Friends,

Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I'm excited to say that I've been working hard to bring When Copper Suns Fall to my readers, fans, and friends. The cover reveal will be in one week and the novel debuts on December 6th, 2011. I want to take a moment to thank all of my new friends on Goodreads, all of my new followers on Twitter, and all of my old friends for the support along the way. Thank you for the notes, for the stories about how we met on Goodreads (smile), and the letters from far across the seas. You all rock!
Now on to the Seraphine Blog. Some of my friends who I love to stalk on Goodreads have graciously volunteered for author visits. In the upcoming weeks, authors of all genres will be visiting. We have an urban fantasy girl, a woman of erotica, a travel writer, and an expert. In addition to those wonderful personas, I'll also plug a few book and movie reviews. Doesn't that all sound exciting? I'll be posting the schedule over the next few days, so check back often!

Yours in Prose,
KayLeigh

2011-09-07T16:42:00.001-07:00

New blog post at http://ping.fm/Vxf1u

A Formal Introduction

2011-09-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Welcome to my new blog. Those of you that have been following my fallen angel facts will be able to catch me here now. The Livejournal archives will still be available, but new posts regarding angel tidbits, etc. have moved to this spot. The site will be dedicated to up and coming writers and reviews of their work. There'll also be excerpts, author interviews, and promotional campaigns for all of the talented writers I can possibly fit into one blogger spot.

Those of you that have contacted me regarding reviews, please forgive my tardiness. I hope to be able to make it up to you. I'm very excited to get started on this new venture, and I hope that many will join me on this journey. If you'd like to get a sense of my review style then you can check me out on Amazon.com. If you'd like to submit materials for review then contact me through @kasonndraleigh. I love chatting about all things literary and welcome new conversations.

Yours in Prose,
Kay
Author of the Edgy YA fantasy novel:
When Copper Suns Fall
Release Date: Fall, 2011

2011-09-05T17:02:00.001-07:00

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person...Mother Teresa quote

2011-09-05T08:18:00.001-07:00

Good morning world. How lovely to wake up and see so many encouraging messages from my friends.

2011-09-04T21:01:00.001-07:00

Just received my cover art for When Copper Suns Fall! And it's awesome!!!! http://ping.fm/2iNMo