Cassandra Giovanni’s Just One Cup Cover Reveal

Hello once again, Readers!!! Today I stray away from a normal post to bestow you with a lovely gift. Okay, so maybe this doesn’t come as a surprise considering the title pretty much gives it away, but hey, what can a girl do!? I’m trying to drum up some excitement here.

Hey you! Yeah, you! Get excited!!!

I digress.

So yes, onwards and upwards…or sidewards if you want to be silly.

Huh?

Today I have the lovely Cassandra Giovanni featured on my blog. As you may have guessed, today is the BIG reveal of her debut New Adult novel, Just One Cup. She has also written, In Between Seasons and Walking in the Shadows. So without further adieu, I give you the beautimous cover (designed by Cassandra) of Just One Cup:

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 20, 2013

Emma Walker was a writer who’d lost herself to someone else’s anger–who had given up on ever feeling like herself again. Evan Levesque was a rock-god–the one all the woman wanted, but he’d never gotten used to the loneliness between the stage and real life. With just one cup of coffee they’ll begin a journey of self-discovery at each others sides, but can Emma handle Evan’s fame while dealing with her own demons? Emma’s checkered personal past, a bad relationship that haunts the edges of her memories, threatens to make everything implode on them when Evan takes matters into his own hands. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words…they’ll destroy my soul–Can Emma handle being put back together and facing who she’s become because of it? GENRE: New Adult>Contemporary Romance

Time to meet the brains behind the words:

Cassandra doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character’s stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. In 2012 she became a published Young Adult author, releasing In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1) and Walking in the Shadows. In 2013 she branched out by using her artistic illustrating talents to publish her first Children’s novel, The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy: Tales of Friendship (Skippy Tales, #1). Cassandra will also release her first New Adult novel, Just One Cup, in the Spring of 2013.

Cassandra is a freelance professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is the owner of Gio Design Studios, a photography and publication marketing company that designs covers and marketing materials for authors utilizing the company’s photography. She is currently studying to receive her associates degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other loves of her life their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.

Now how about an excerpt from Just One Cup!?

When he came off the plane he was wearing aviators, a black button-up, dark wash jeans and those Converse shoes that I hated on anyone but him. He lifted his sunglasses and broke into a smile as I ran into his arms. He dropped his bag and spun me around as soon as I was in his arms.

“How did you know?” he asked as he set me on the ground, his hands tangled in my hair.

“You told me what flight you were on.”

He shook his head and held my chin in his hand. “I’ve always wanted to have someone to wait for me—to spin them around and then do this.”

He pulled my chin up and tilted it until our lips touched—soft at first and then the reminder that we hadn’t kissed in two months came over us. The only thing that could pull us apart was the whistle that echoed through the terminal and then the incessant flash of cameras.

“Crap,” Evan hissed, his forehead pressed to mine with his hands on either side of my face so they couldn’t get a good picture of me. “You don’t want them to know who you are yet, do you?”

I shook my head but said with my voice shaking, “I knew the risk.”

He swallowed and then smiled. “Tilt your head down so that your hair covers your face from

I did what he said and then felt his hands slip the glasses over my eyes. As I looked up his cocky half-smile made me laugh.

“They look a hell of a lot hotter on you,” he teased, throwing his duffel bag over his shoulder and wrapping his arm around my waist so that his fingers were in the front pocket of my jeans.

“I don’t think that’s possible,” I replied, breathless from the feel of his touch as my t-shirt rose, exposing the flesh of my hip to his warmth.

“It’s very possible with you,” he whispered into my ear as we made our way past the flashing cameras. “I can’t wait to see the tabloids on this one.”

“It would be much better if we did something dangerous, like locked ourselves in a public restroom.”

He looked down at me through his eyebrows. “Really? That’s not all that clean.”

“I haven’t seen you in two months,” I said, turning and stopping in front of him. “I’ve thought about you every single day. Do you know what that does to a girl? Especially when pictures of you half- naked are strewn across the internet.”

“I see you found those.” His voice was edged with amusement, but his face was red in embarrassment.

I pulled on the collar of his shirt before leaning up on my toes and whispering into his ear, “I need some real ones.”

“What do you need pictures of when I’m here?” he answered, his breath hot on my chin, voice seductive.

“I need you to burn the images into my mind then,” I said before gently biting his ear.

His free hand drifted down the small of my back to my rear pocket. “I thought I already had.”

“Mhmm…I need more.”

“I have to admit I kind of enjoy this.” He smirked down at me. “But teasing me like this is just

cruel.”

“Does the rental car have blacked out windows?” I asked over my shoulder as I turned.

I watched his Evan’s Adam’s apple rise and fall. “I sure hope so.”

<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17457178-just-one-cup“><img alt=”Goodreads-badge-add-plus” src=”http://s.gr-assets.com/assets/badge/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png” /></a>

Echelon out ♥

Born in Flames Flash Sale!

Hello once again, Readers!!! Get your copy now!!

Echelon out ♥

Teaser Tuesday: Embracing the Flames

Hello once again, Readers! Guess what!? It’s Teaser Tuesday (in case you didn’t sum that up from the title of  today’s post). Hey…I’m just looking out for you, you know.

Any who, I thought I would share a snippet from Embracing the Flames since it is so close to being released. My publisher is currently reading through it, making her notes and edits, so what you read may not be exactly the same when it’s finally published.

This particular scene is from chapter 6. Fenn and Aurora were spending some quiet time together which turned into playing a form of hide-and-seek. As usual, Aurora is a magnet for trouble. She heads into the forest behind Astral’s house, but instead of finding Fenn, she finds her first encounter with a Necromancer-a race she has been told to stay clear from.

When she finds Fenn, she tries to tell him about the man in the forest and that they need to run, but he decides he needs to take a look (typical guy). When he finds nothing, they start to leave, which is when Shiron decides to show himself. After a few attempts of dispelling him with magic, Fenn and Aurora discover that Necromancers are immune to Mage magic.

That is when all hell breaks loose and that is all I will give up! Here it is:

 

Shiron’s face scrunched for a moment before looking at Fenn, assessing the threat. He pursed his lips and said, “Oh? And who’s going to stop me? You?” He was quick, the daggers already in his hands, as if they had appeared there by his will alone.

“Run!” Fenn yelled as he punched the guy, using the shock to jump on top of him. They fell to the ground with a heavy thud, rolling through the muck and brush, fists flying in the midst of the leaves.

At first, I did as he said, running from the pure fear of death, but then I heard Fenn’s pained cry. I stopped suddenly, muck flying up around me, and I turned back, thriving on anger and rage.

My dragon spirit was already trying to push forward, fueled by the desire to kill whoever was hurting my mate. I couldn’t let anything happen to him. I knew I had to let my dragon side take over in order to protect him. With regret, I let go and slumped into the darkness that came with not being in control.

 

When I came to, I was lying on the soft grass underneath the Jacaranda tree. Fenn was huddled over me. “Aurora, wake up please,” he said, his hands shaking.

My first thought was to make sure he was okay. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” he confirmed, his lip caked in blood and both eyes swollen and black. “You saved my life.”

I tried to sit up but was hit by an overwhelming pain throughout my left side. I reached over and felt dampness on my conjured shirt. Slowly, I brought my hand up. It was covered in blood. “I’ve been stabbed,” I panicked.

“I know,” Fenn rushed out. “I’m going to open a portal and take us back, okay? I wanted to get you dressed first.” His face was pale, and his voice was full of worry. He was shaking all over. I tried to reach out to his misted eyes in an attempt to ease his worry.

“Okay,” I said, taking his hand instead. As I stood, I felt faint. “I’ve depleted myself,” I admitted. A nauseous wave struck me hard. I stumbled forward, unable to hold myself up any longer.

My vision started to falter, and my heart pounded against my chest in a rush. “Something’s happening. Oh no.”

Fenn was right there, catching me before I hit the ground. “I need you to go get Astral,” I muttered as the pull of my Oraculus weighed on me. “Zordon-”

“Hang on,” I heard him call. And then, as usual, everything went black.

And scene.

There is way more to this scene, but of course that will come with reading the book when it is published. Hope you enjoyed!

Echelon out ♥

Tagging Thyme Meme: 11 Weird Questions Answered

Hello once again, Readers!!! I was nominated by Story Addict for the 11 Weird Questions Meme. I didn’t have anything else to post today so I figured why not?

Let us begin!

1. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten in public?

I can’t think of anything that was strange. I don’t stray too far from the norm when it comes to food.
2. If you had to go on an adventure, with elves, dwarves, or hobbits, who would you take and why? 

My husband for sure. He knows everything there is to know about each of them and would probably fit right in. He has hobbit feet. I would totally be safe.
3. You are at a rural retreat lodge somewhere deep in Wisconsin or Canada. You are approached by a taxidermist who hands you a stuffed badger and asks you to put it in your lap. What do you do next?

I would most likely say no because I don’t like touching dead things and I especially wouldn’t do it for a stranger who approaches me by asking me to hold something dead. *shudder*
 4. If you were given biscotti, would you prefer it with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

Coffee…Irish cream flavored. Yum.
5. In your opinion, who is the funniest man or woman alive today (comedian)?

I’d have to go with Dane Cook. The Kool-Aid man was one of my favorite skits.
6. If you were given thirty seconds on television to say something, what would it be?

I would probably freeze up and stare at the camera like a weirdo lol.
 7. What is your idea of the most romantic date setting ever?

A late-night picnic under the stars followed by camping. No distractions and hours of good conversation.
8. If you could go on one date with a movie or television star, who would it be and why?

Sheesh. I wouldn’t because I love my husband, but since this is not real and it will never happen, I would have to go with Ryan Gosling because I love his movies.
9. What is the worst song you have ever heard?

Lol. Umm…I usually stick to what I like and branch out in genre so I haven’t really run into anything that I would say was the worst.
10. If you could live anywhere else, where would it be?

Somewhere over seas. At least that is my dream. I have no idea if I would like it and I would probably miss home, but for now, that is where I would go.
11. Who- in your opinion- was the greatest person to ever live?

Gosh, I don’t know. I don’t really think that way about life. There are a ton of people for many different reasons that I respect and am grateful for their choices and influences on the world though.

Now to tag. Muhahaha. I am tagging anyone and everyone who reads this!

Echelon out ♥

 

Blog Hop! The Next Big Thing: Embracing The Flames

photo credit: osiatynska via photopin cc

Hello once again, Readers!!! I have been meaning to do this post for a while now since I have been nominated by a few of my author friends, but am just now getting to it. I want to thank Elizabeth Guizzetti for nominating me first and foremost. She is a fellow author at 48fourteen (my publisher) and is extremely talented. Her debut novel, Other Systems, has received great review and even an interviewed from me! Check out her post, Blog Hop! The Next Big Thing: The Martlet to find what her next big thing is!

But I digress.

What is the working title of your next book?

• The title of the next book in the Born in Flames trilogy is Embracing the Flames. It is in the last round of editing by my publisher and will hopefully be released by summer of 2013.

Where did the idea for your book come from?

• The idea for the trilogy struck me in 2009 when I decided that I actually wanted to try to write the small ideas I had floating around in side of my head. After completing the first novel in the trilogy, Born in Flames, and then being accepted by 48fourteen, I continued on with the trilogy. I had a general idea of where I wanted the second novel to go in terms of planning out the major plot line of all three, but the actual details came to me as I began writing which is mostly how I write. I let it flow without the pressure of a guide to follow.

What genre does your book fall under?

• It is still a young adult fantasy. Maybe with a little more epic fantasy in it.

Who would play your characters in a film?

• I would love for Hayley Williams from Paramore to play Aurora and I think Logan Lermen would be a good Fenn.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

• Embracing the Flames is the next chapter in Aurora’s life where she discovers secrets more sinister than her enemy that will unveil the price of her life.

Will your next book be self-published or represented by an agent?

• Neither. It is being traditionally published by 48fourteen.

How long did it take to write the first draft of your manuscript?

• Around three months. My read-through took about one month after that.

What other books would you compare this story to in the genre?

• I’m not sure. I haven’t given much thought to comparing.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

• Wanting something more out of life inspired me. I was bored with my day job and decided to write the ideas in my head, not really knowing that it could actually become a career. By the time I finished the novel, I knew that it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

• This novel dives deeper into the fantastical world that Aurora now lives in. You will see more magic, dragons, different races such as Necromancers and Priests, and the development of Fenn and Aurora’s love story as well as the discovery of Fenn’s role in Aurora’s future. He’s her protector, but on more levels than the readers know of right now.

You can read more status updates about the trilogy on my author Facebook page. You can find Born in Flames on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and KOBO.

I want to now nominate my best friend Sonya Loveday. She is a wonderful writer who is on her way to being published as we speak! Make sure you follow this link and show her some love! You won’t be disappointed.

That being said, Echelon out! ♥