Author Spotlight 1: Brita Skinner 1.3

DayBreaker Review

By Vanessa Grosett: Authors Care Agency,LLC

The main character is eighteen year old Sambi Prince and takes place in Toronto Canada. Sambi has a brother named Sam. They both don’t have a great start in life, as they relocate constantly and don’t have a good relationship with their mother.

Sambi meets also eighteen year Matthew Greenwood in her Chemistry class, and there is certainly chemistry between them as they take an instant liking to each other. Matthew however is not all what he seems, he comes from a supernatural world that Sambi is also part of though she does not find out until later on in the book.

An unfortunate incident makes Sambi leave her household, her brother goes missing and after a heated argument with her mother Sambi decides to look for him, with Matthew, during their travels Matthew decides to tell her who she is, part Nephilim.

It seems like humans are not the only one in this world as well as the Nephilim there are the Nightlife who are demons. There are three clans in this book, DayBreakers are Nephilim which means they are fallen angel they want to exist peacefully among humans, the Dark Angels are too Nephilim however they have sided with the Nightlife by interbreeding with humans, the more children their make the more their DNA will remain. Making this supernatural world that they can rule over, and eventually humans will be extinct.

This book contains action and adventure. The reader can really relate to Sambi, her confusion, pain and be a part of the world she lives in. This book is not afraid to step into the unknown, and doesn’t shy away from topics that some publishers think people might be uncomfortable with. When in fact there is a great interest in the supernatural world and this book brings this to readers.

It is such an enjoyable unique book. The writer has thoroughly research this topic. A must read.

For more information about Brita Skinner or to contact her, please try these links:
Web: http://britaskinner.wix.com/britaskinner#, Email: authorbritaskinner@gmail.com

On behalf of author, Brita Skinner, and myself, I do hope you have enjoyed this spotlight and will take some time to look into the creative works of this talented author.

*This review has been posted (text provided by author) per the request of the author being featured. This review has been written by a professional agent representing the featured author. The relationship between author and agent is based on an agreed upon monetary exchange for services rendered, but the details of each individual case varies. With that being said I, Toi Thomas, have not requested and have not received any compensation for posting this review.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Author Spotlight 1: Brita Skinner 1.2

A Brief Bio

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Brita Skinner is a young adult Christian Secular Thriller author who lives in Calgary, AB with her husband where she continues to write and support not only her husband but also her dad and step mom who suffers from Dementia.  She is currently working on book 2 of her Nightlife series for which Daybreaker is a part of.  She is also plotting out future projects to work on after her Nightlife Series is complete. 

Brita is the oldest of three children.  She also has several brother and sister-in-laws and a multitude of nephews and nieces, all of whom she loves dearly and loves to spend time with.  Brita has a younger brother who is married with a son and is currently working as a mechanic.  Her younger sister is currently a student at Cornell University in New York on a full scholarship doing her Doctorate of Music History.

For more information about Brita Skinner or to contact her, please try these links:
Web: http://britaskinner.wix.com/britaskinner#, Email: authorbritaskinner@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Author Spotlight 1: Brita Skinner 1.1

An excerpt from DayBreaker

Prologue

I knew I had my gifts and that I was unique.  But to have it confirmed I am peculiar and so different from everyone else that I never expected.

I never gave much thought to where my life was going. I honestly thought I would follow in my mom’s footsteps, go to college one day, start a career, get married and start a family of my own.  Some of that has changed now and I know I can’t go back to where I was or where I thought I was going, even if I wanted to.

My life has changed so much I have loved and lost, fought to save what was important to me, and while I have failed more times than I can count, I know that I have to move forward I can’t let what has been keep me from what will be.

If I die in this struggle, then I know my life will have some meaning. If I survive then I will have to face a new world that has been changed by what we do here and now. Each of us plays a dangerous game in our own way, from hiding who and what we are to what we are really doing.  So many have put their lives on the line for what they believe.

I don’t know anyone who would come out of this untouched and be able to continue living the life they knew.  What happens next, we do for what we believe…

Chapter One

The First Day at School

I have always hated the first day at a new school.  There were the big things everyone thought about such as meeting new people, teachers, and learning the hallways.  But there were also the small issues, like finding a new locker, the smell of a new place and surroundings.  I was always stressed when I started new schools; I knew my peer’s were just fascinated with me. Why they would have so much curiosity over a five foot three, long black haired, and blue eyed girl is beyond me. Oh yeah did I mention the fact I was skinny well let me say slender that makes me sound more attractive, plus I just turned eighteen but that shouldn’t make me stand out.

Let me tell you a secret I know there is something odd about me. Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m human though I look like one, and no I’m not some alien from out of space. I just knew deep down I was different I just didn’t know how.

Anyway back to my moan. If there was anything worse than a first day, it was starting a new school at the start of senior year, when everyone around me had grown up together and already had their bonds.  This first day of senior year, was going to be one of my worst, I could sense it. But never could I have ever imagined that it would be this bad.  Nothing I’d ever seen – or had seen – prepared me for this day.

I stood outside my new school which was a vast Toronto public school, in the chilly September morning. As you properly guessed I wasn’t excited, and leaping for joy instead I wondered Why me?  I was underdressed in nothing more than a simple sweater and leggings; not exactly fashionably I know! But I did not want to make a fashion statement. I did not want to be here full stop.

I was extremely unprepared for the noisy chaos I walked into.  There were hundreds of kids around me, all clamoring, screaming, cursing and shoving each other.  It was more like a prison yard; trust me you would not want to be here.

Everyone had too much energy or maybe it’s just me acting like a granny. Whatever the case I was exhausted and sleep-deprived as most of us teens are. I did wish the noise would die down and no this is not my granny act coming out I just needed that peace and quiet.

Reaching into my pocket I felt my iPod.  Fantastic some nice calming Beethoven that I could listen to I inserted my earphones, cranked the volume up but no sound came out I peeked and saw the battery was dead, great!

So the iPod was not working I needed some distraction from all this chaos before class started, so what is the next best thing? The cell phone I grabbed mine out of my pockets hoping for some text messages but there were none. This makes me sound like a loner but I’m not honest. Because I had to move around so much I never got that close to anyone but I had made friends, I may not have been miss popularity but at least I made friends.

Chapter Five

The Disappearance

I ran.  The bullies were back, this time with friends, just like Matthew had warned me; they were chasing me down the alleyway again.  There was a dead end before me, a massive wall blocking my way, but I kept on running anyway, right towards it. As I ran I was picking up speed, it was a supernatural speed, the wind was rushing through my hair and I knew they couldn’t catch me.

The closer to the wall I got, the more I felt I had wings and I could fly.  Suddenly my feet left the ground and I was standing on top of the wall.  Looking down I could see the bullies and their friends stopped in their tracks as they tried to figure out how to get me.

For more information about Brita Skinner or to contact her, please try these links:
Web: http://britaskinner.wix.com/britaskinner#, Email: authorbritaskinner@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Author Spotlight 1: Brita Skinner 1.0

image provided by author

Author completes new Christian thriller, despite having a rare muscular disease.

Brita Skinner finished the Young Adult fiction novel entitled DayBreaker, which is part of the Nightlife series. Though the book is aimed at Young Adult’s it can also be an exceptionally read for the general market.

The main character is Sambi Prince a senior who finds out she is not all human and has a mission to fulfill. Her life will never be the same again.

Skinner who residences in Canada states, “There were times when writing became difficult because of the awful pains I experience, this has not been an easy process I was diagnose with this chronic pain in 2007, which is actually a disease of the nerves system, the nerves that control my pain receptors but also affects my muscles.” She continues to say, “However this hasn't deterred me from pursing my dream as a writer, I love to write and am determined to make it into the publishing world. My advice is despite your circumstances hold on to your dreams and run for it.”

Though her agent is diligently looking for a publisher DayBreaker has already received great response from the public. “I thank all those people who have supported me, which includes my fan base. This makes me want to write and interact with you more and more.”

For more information about Brita Skinner or to contact her, please try these links:
Web: http://britaskinner.wix.com/britaskinner#, Email: authorbritaskinner@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Beginnings by Nina Soden

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Book Title: Beginnings

Series: Blood Angel

Author: Nina Soden

Publisher: Self-published

 -eBook: www.BookTango.com (paperback coming soon)

Reading Level: Teen & YA

Genre: Fantasy/Supernatural

Content Rating: PG

Number of Pages: 268 pages

Purchase Links: Kindle

Book blurb

Having lost her family Alee has been thrown into a new life and a new world. Camouflaged by the mundane happenings of a high school existence she would never have guessed what was happening below the surface in, "The Underground".  If she thought hunting in the wild and drinking blood was bad, what will she think when she becomes the hunted? Newly armed with the knowledge of being half witch and half vampire Alee, the only surviving Dhampir in history, is forced to learn to control a lifetime of magic and vampire powers if she wants to survive. Will she overcome the challenges she faces or will her destiny prove more powerful than she?

 

provided by author

Author bio

Nina has always been creative, be it art, theatre, film – anything but singing – you don’t want to hear that! She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Military Science from EMU where she spent most of her time either on stage, rappelling down buildings, or working one of three jobs. After college she moved to Los Angeles, like so many other actors, in pursuit of her dreams. In 2008, after some major life changes, Nina self-published her first book PRIVATE WORDS UNSPOKEN, a compilation of poetry. Since then, her dreams have gotten bigger and she likes to think her storytelling ability has gotten better. She has done everything from secretarial work to business development to being the Director of a private preschool. She has fired a M16, jumped out of a C130, and given birth – TWICE - but she always returns to her art.

Though she’ll forever be a Michigan girl at heart, she now lives in Alabama with her husband and two beautiful children. If she’s not working on her latest story, you can find her lounging with a good book, playing with her kids, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to Starbucks coffee.

Author Links: Blog | FaceBook | Twitter

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Awaken by Nina Soden

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Book Title: Awaken

Series: Blood Angel

Author: Nina Soden

Publisher: Self-published

 -eBook: www.BookTango.com 

 -paperback: www.createspace.com

Reading Level: Teen & YA

Genre: Fantasy/Supernatural

Content Rating: PG

Number of Pages: 376 pages

Purchase Links: Kindle | Amazon

Book blurb provided by author

Awaken is set in a world very much like our own, yet Atlanta isn’t just an ordinary city and Alee Moyer isn’t just an ordinary girl. Having barely survived her childhood it will take the death of her father for the truth of her true bloodline to come out. Even if it means losing her life, or at least her identity she won’t be able to escape her true destiny as the first surviving Dhampir in history. Surrounded by a new world where the horror films she grew up watching have become reality and the most unlikely characters have become her lifeline, Alee will struggle to find herself and her purpose.

Part horror thriller - part tender romance, Awaken will leave readers wanting more!

Come back next week, October 7^th to learn about the second installment in this series.

Author Bio

provided by author

Nina has always been creative, be it art, theatre, film – anything but singing – you don’t want to hear that! She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Military Science from EMU where she spent most of her time either on stage, rappelling down buildings, or working one of three jobs. After college she moved to Los Angeles, like so many other actors, in pursuit of her dreams. In 2008, after some major life changes, Nina self-published her first book PRIVATE WORDS UNSPOKEN, a compilation of poetry. Since then, her dreams have gotten bigger and she likes to think her storytelling ability has gotten better. She has done everything from secretarial work to business development to being the Director of a private preschool. She has fired a M16, jumped out of a C130, and given birth – TWICE - but she always returns to her art.

Though she’ll forever be a Michigan girl at heart, she now lives in Alabama with her husband and two beautiful children. If she’s not working on her latest story, you can find her lounging with a good book, playing with her kids, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to Starbucks coffee.

Author Links: Blog | FaceBook | Twitter

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

The Marisol Trilogy Trailers by Eileen Clemens Granfors

Book 1, The Piñata -Maker’s Daughter

Scholarly Carmen Principia finds that she’s ready for everything at the university except Life 101.

Buy link: Amazon.com

Book 2, Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead

Marisol flees Tijuana, Mexico, with her mother after her journalist father is killed, probably by the drug lords. Living in a migrant camp under an oak tree in a posh suburb is not what Marisol had in mind for life in America.

Buy link: Amazon.com

Book 3: So You, Solimar

Solimar’s sister has the perky attitude and good looks. Solimar has the athletic genes. A tragedy after Homecoming brings the sisters into a more conflicted relationship. (due out Spring 2014)

Author Bio 

provided by author

Eileen Granfors lives in Santa Clarita, California. Though born in New Orleans, Eileen grew up in her mother's hometown, Imperial Beach, California, the most southwesterly city in the U.S. Her mother’s love of Mexico and beaches influenced Eileen's strong ties with her Hispanic neighbors. When Eileen was a child, she and her brother could walk to Mexico down the beach, after crossing the Tijuana River mouth. Today, an iron fence extends out into the breakers at the border. Eileen is a proud UCLA alumna. She began writing after retiring from teaching high school literature and composition for thirty-four years. She enrolled in UCLA’s Extension Writers’ Program on the first day of her retirement.

Author links:

Blog: Word Joy New book reviews of others’ books and tabs, trailers for my books

Twitter: @EileenGranfors

Email: eggranfors@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

The Piñata-Maker’s Daughter Excerpt by Eileen Clemens Granfors

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Title: The Piñata-Maker’s Daughter

Series: The Marisol Trilogy

Author: Eileen Clemens Granfors

Publisher:  Self-published (CreateSpace)

Reading Level: YA/New Adult

Genre: Women’s Lit

Contemporary Fiction

Hispanic trilogy

Content rating: PG-13

Formats: paperback and ebook

Pages: 270 pages

Buy link: Amazon.com

Blurb provided by author

Scholarly Carmen Principia jumps into college unprepared socially. First, there's her weird roommate. And then the men! Radical protester, Franco, who shares her Hispanic heritage, or frat rat Joe, who makes her laugh? Follow her adventures, some hilarious, some heartbreaking.

Excerpt

“Thank you, Joe,” I say. “See you around campus.”

            “Maybe. Twelve thousand people, sometimes it’s hard to find who you’re looking for. What dorm are you in?”
            “Ortega.”

            “Good one, closer to campus.”

            “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Are you in the dorms?”

            “Not this year, I pledged Kappa. The house is right across the street. Come on over and ask for me when you get settled. I’ll buy you a sundae at Al’s.”

            “Al’s?” It sounds like a dive bar.

            “Al’s Place at the student union. Everybody hangs there. Gotta go if you ladies are okay. We have some frat business this afternoon.” As he leaves, he sees the bumper sticker. “Hey, the La Raza people hang out on Crusader Commons. Viva La Raza?” he says as if it’s a question, pronouncingRaza with a long A. He waves, guns the Miata, and disappears into traffic.

            I look at Mama, Mama looks at me, we both shrug, and then we laugh. We wrap her arm in strips of tee-shirt. I hug Mama. I’m so relieved it’s going to be okay. Twelve thousand students at WPC, and now I know one.

            “Don’t be ashamed of your hometown, Carmenita,” says Mama.

            “Why would you say that?”  I ask, as if I am shocked. “Wow, Laguna Beach, this Joe guy must be rich.”

            “You’re going to meet a lot of rich people in college. Rich doesn’t make them better.”

            “Sure.” I can picture the looks of people the first time I answer, “So what does your mom do?” and I tell them, “Oh, she makes piñatas.” As if piñata-making is perfectly normal in their world. I remind myself to say she’s an artisan. Yeah, artisan sounds totally righteous.

Come back Monday, August 26, to see the trailer for this book and its sequel.

Author Bio

provided by author

Eileen Granfors lives in Santa Clarita, California. Though born in New Orleans, Eileen grew up in her mother's hometown, Imperial Beach, California, the most southwesterly city in the U.S. Her mother’s love of Mexico and beaches influenced Eileen's strong ties with her Hispanic neighbors. When Eileen was a child, she and her brother could walk to Mexico down the beach, after crossing the Tijuana River mouth. Today, an iron fence extends out into the breakers at the border. Eileen is a proud UCLA alumna. She began writing after retiring from teaching high school literature and composition for thirty-four years. She enrolled in UCLA’s Extension Writers’ Program on the first day of her retirement.

Author links:

Blog: Word Joy New book reviews of others’ books and tabs, trailers for my books

Twitter: @EileenGranfors

Email: eggranfors@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken