The Liebster Award

Angelica Dawson, erotic and fantasy writer, and participant in the Thursday taster group recently nominated me for the Liebster Award. I think I heard about this award before but I never really took interest in it, I mean who could nominate me when my blog is such a mess of diversity.

So here is the part where I explain what it is all about. I need to answer her 11 questions, nominate another 11 bloggers (with followings under 200) and give them 11 questions of my choice. The recipients should like back to me and notify their nominees via social media that they have been nominated. That's about it! It's all about discovering new blogs! (But that was already said in the picture.

Here are my answers to her questions:

1. What one thing can you not live without?

Recently, my plushy buffalo. You have probably seen her around in the 365 photos challenge. 

2. The library is on fire! Which book do you grab?

The Dune trilogy. I was gonna say Pride and Prejudice or the little prince but they were already taken.

3. The house is on fire! What one thing do you grab?

^^ See answer to question one: the buffalo plushy and my 30 years old teddy bear.

4. Your car is on f... no I'm kidding, enough of those. When did you decide to start writing?

When I could hold a pen, yes that's so cliche, but I was bullied for writing during the breaks in primary school so...

5. You made the NYT Best sellers list are raking it in. Who do you thank?

My PhD supervisor for telling me that at some point enough is enough and you should stop editing and Mariko for teaching me that I should know by myself if it's good enough without relying on anyone else.

6. Authorgraph: yes or no?

Not 100% sure of the meaning but I'll go with Yes.

7. Paper or electronic?

I think better on paper.

8. The power's out and you only have enough battery on your phone to play one album. What is it?
Gatacca OST... You're fault you caught me in Gatacca obsession mode.  

9. What is the one article of clothing that you love most? Where do you wear it?
My blue and black zipper hoody and everywhere, I'm not complicated about clothes. Even though at the moment I like my new pajama.

10. Kink or vanilla?

Vanilla?

11. Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate but the danette are definitely vanilla.

Here are my questions for the nominees:

1) Once upon a time: What is your favorite childhood fairy tale?
2) Flying or breath under water?
3) Make one of your character really sick: which one, what sickness and why?
4) What's your favorite movie?
5) What do you like to do when you are not being a writer?
6) If you could live on a different planet in the solar system, which one and why?
7) You're walking under the rain, who comes take shelter under your umbrella?
8) Sushi or spaghetti?
9) Create an alternative universe, where do you live?
10) Pick and dinosaurs and why?
11) Do you think you can manage a crazier list of questions? (Yes, that's a challenge) 

And the nominees, of course:

1) Iris Blobel
2) Siren X Star
3) Jeff Tsuruoka
4) P. T. Wyant
5) Cindy Amrhein-Author
6) Millie Burns
7) Gem Sivad
8) Veronica Scott
9) Stephanie Burkhart
10) J. M. Stewart
11) Karen Michelle Nutt

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Blue Moon House: Slave by Angelica Dawson - Limited Time Price of $0.99!

Will has no interest in women. He thinks them all animals to be trained, beaten. It doesn't take him long to discover his preference for men, but time and error reveal how wrong view toward women is. Before long, he is able to separate the way he treats women, which is still horrific, from the way he regards women, as fellow human beings.

How does a slave become an equal? What does it take for a young man to see women in a new light?

In the fourth installment of her Blue Moon House series, Angelica introduces Will, a slave boy from the early nineteenth century.

You can purchase Blue Moon House: Slave on Amazon. Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks and Naughty Nights Press.

Angelica Dawson is the author of Blue Moon House, which has been in the top ten best-selling titles at Naughty Nights Press for over six months. She has also written two short stories, “The Highest Bidder” and “Leave Taking” which were each included in anthologies. She contributes flash fiction to several blogging collectives and excerpts from work in progress can also be found on her blog. She is active on Facebook and Twitter.

She has been writing for several years and having sex a lot longer than that. Angelica is a wife, mother and environmental consultant. Her love of plants and the outdoors is not diminished by the bloodsucking hoards – mosquitoes and black flies, not vampires.

Here is an excerpt from Slave:

---

In the morning, as he set about his chores, Sophia descended, interrupting him. She poured him another cup of tea from the pot he had made with his breakfast.

“Is this about Nicholas?” he asked, standing and sipping.

“Please, Will, sit down.”

He did, less uncomfortable than he had once been sitting with his master. He was sure this had something to do with Nicholas indulging him.

“Nicholas told me about last night.”

He sighed. “You don't approve.”

She took two breaths before answering, each one released in a bit of a huff. “It's not that. I worry about you not being in control. You have such tenuous control as a slave. I hate to see you lose the little you have.”

He took another swallow of the tea, and smiled. “I'm not afraid of that. If everything you and Nicholas say is true, I will still have control. I can make it stop.”

Sophia smiled and nodded. “That's exactly right. I’m glad you know that. I also...” She pursed her lips as she chose her words carefully. “I wonder if you would rather be in charge in such encounters. It's the way you directed Nicholas last night. Will, are you sure you'll be happy taking direction and instruction from another?”

It wasn't something he'd thought about. It was true; he had had command in that situation, strange when he had control of so little normally. A slave didn't own or command anything.

No, that wasn't true. He was in control of his leisure time, though his masters controlled when and if he had any. He was in control of what he purchased and ate. Since Sophia had purchased him, he had more command of his life than he imagined possible, and he took it for granted. Just as he had assumed control in every sexual encounter he'd had.

Except that first one. The woman had been in control. She had dictated what he would do and how he would respond. She had demanded it of him, even in a pretty and caring voice.

He had enjoyed it. 

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Life in Japan or why I might never be an adult but I don't care

Today's post is a bit special, it's about the difference between living in France and living in Japan. I guess that's what I get when I ask people for a topic for the dreaded Saturday blog post and someone actually answer (you might even have these weird posting for several weeks, if I'm lucky). 

The truth is I have been out of France for so long (almost 9 years), that I don't even remember what it is like to actually live there, especially that when I was there I was in Rennes and Nantes and Toulouse and Paris... (I guess that's about it).  Then before going to Japan, I lived in Belfast, which was already something else but I disgress. Anyway back to our sheeps... (And happy Chinese New Year!)

So when I first arrived in Japan, I discovered that unless you know some basic kanjis you won't get anywhere. I mean in France you can still read something. In Japan, you can't because... kanjis. Except I knew my kanji and managed to get to where I was going. But the kanjis are everywhere, especially in Tokyo seeing the number of signs and advertisements, so somehow, I think people must be trying very hard not to read them, seriously. 

When you get to Japan, there are a lot of things that are allowed, or maybe I should say that are socially acceptable, while you would almost be lynched for them in France. Let's be serious a little, an adult in France doesn't watch "cartoon" (evolved people call that anime), doesn't put little teddy bears on his bag, doesn't eat with a spoon (except for soup), doesn't forget it's camera in the train (yes, in Japan you can and you'll get it back (still don't try, just in case it was repeated luck))...

Going to live in Japan made me feel 10 years younger than I was when I lived in France and that shows even on my face, people still believe I'm a student which I'm definitely not anymore! I was 26 when I arrived in Japan, 10 years younger made me 16 years old, so I guess by now I'm 11. It's the Benjamin Button syndrome on a geographical base.

Living in Japan makes a lot of things easier, you get more international friends than when you live in your own country as well and they all somehow speak English (which is terrible for you so stay away from international people). It's also very easy to make friends with Japanese people, if you can manage to say hi, they might be friend with you, really I'm not kidding, that's all it takes. I remember being so shy when I was in France that I was standing alone at a party and only Chinese students came to talk to me so that I happened to only have Chinese students as friends in the university accomodation in Paris. In Japan, I'm the less shy of the group so no matter what I do I look like an out-going bee, which is fun, I like being the bee.

I probably forgot a lot of things so I might write about it another day. For the moment thank you for reading and have fun whatever you do!

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Outsider (Flawed #2) is LIVE!

Hello everyone, today's post is a little special as I'm hosting Becca J. Campbell for the release of Outsider.

Outsider Book Release and Goodies

This week marks the release of Outsider, the second book in Becca J. Campbell's New Adult Paranormal series Flawed. To celebrate, Becca is hosting a giveaway and a book sale!

The Prize Pack

The giveaway at the end of this post is for a prize pack that includes: one autographed paperback of Outsider, one 12" x 18" poster of the cover art, and two square collector's buttons (one of Empath and one of Outsider). Please note, this giveaway is open to those with an address in US or Canada.

The Book Discount

The regular price of the Outsider eBook is $3.99, but for the first week, you can purchase a copy for only $2.99 (ends January 12th). On Jan. 13th, the price increases to $3.99, so make sure to get your copy now! Here are the purchase links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | 

Kobo | iTunes

About Outsider (Flawed #2)

After a psychopath tried to kill his friends, Josh Schuyler figured 'normal' was far off. The real problem: Josh's friends have all acquired supernatural abilities, while he's still the same average guy.

Josh has always believed he was destined for greatness, but he's been out of college for two years without a clue of his purpose. After watching his friends and siblings develop superhuman traits, he wonders if he might be meant for something grand, too. Can Josh even hope for an extraordinary event in his own future? And how long must he wait for this transformation - if there is one?

When Alex met the Schuylers, she was grateful for new friends to whisk her away from her lonely life in California and give her an escape from her divorced, bickering parents and aimless future. But Josh won't drop his defenses, and Alex isn't sure she wants to trade her old life for this new, uncertain one.

Nicodemus has an amazing ability he's been milking for years to get whatever or whomever he wants. Things are going great until a young woman - Alex - inadvertently busts his latest swindle. Nic is furious when he discovers his power has been disabled, and he vows to find her in order to wreak his vengeance. She will be punished. All he needs is a little help from his friend, Ethan Black.

Josh has been waiting for his big break, or for the chance to be a hero, or just the opportunity to stand out in his own, extraordinary way.

Will Josh discover his purpose in time to stop Nic?


My review of Outsider! 
I had the chance to get an ARC copy of this book. What I like in general with Indie authors is that the next book is always better than the previous one, but I think with this one Becca Campbell really set the task really high for herself. 

I already loved the previous book in the series, but Outsider was so much better.
I think it was a lot easier for me to relate with the main character, Josh. I already liked him from the previous novel and thought that he would have been a better match for Jade than Cam or Logan but it didn't turn that was as he was just a minor character. It was a really nice move to bring him to the front of the scene and to have the book mainly written in his point of view. Even when complaining, Josh didn't feel whiny at all which was a nice surprise. He still moves forward even with all the odds against him and even more when it turns really bad.
The romance in the book was really realistic and flowed just perfectly. Alex is a very realistic character and I like how well she fits in the story. The bad guy was also more defined and easier to understand than the previous one and it was good that all the fact ended up linked to each other. 
Another good part about this book is that he felt really self standing so that I didn't have to try and remember what happened before.
I would heartily recommend this book, but I have to give a warning though: You might fall in love with a character.

More Flawed Books

Empath (Flawed #1)

Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her.

Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.

When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her, unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.

Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Kobo | Inktera | Scribd

Pulled (A Flawed Short Story)

Eight-year-old Juniper has been labeled many things—troubled kid, orphan, runaway—but none of her foster families have known what she really is: a girl with a unique and brutally inconvenient ability to teleport.

Her spontaneous jumps are not only beyond her control, they get her into trouble. When Juniper disappears, no one believes her wild stories, so she's stopped trying to convince them.

One day when Juniper gets pulled away, finding her way back is harder than ever. Stranded on the side of a deserted highway, she must rely on her own instincts to determine who is a creepy stranger and who she can trust.

Resourcefulness may get her home, but is getting home enough when you don't have parents that love you?

Juniper knows something most people don’t: there are others like her with unexplained abilities. Until now, she’s exercised stranger-danger caution, but maybe these people can offer what she needs.

Will Juniper find a family she can share her secrets with?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Kobo | Inktera | Scribd

 

About the Author

Becca J. Campbell is the author of the Flawed series as well as Science Fiction novels Foreign Identity and Gateway to Reality, and Sub-Normal, a series of short stories.

An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality, Becca looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. You can find her on her Author Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Amazon.

Giveaway

Enter the Outsider prize pack giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway