I'm Off to See THREE Wizards!

source

Hey, gang! I'll be travelling for about a month, so I may not be able to join the fun in the blogosphere while I'm out. It's always a tough call choosing between paying for Hotel Wi-Fi and eating.

I'll try to drop you guys some postcards during my quest to meet three amazing "wizards." Who are they? I wouldn't be me if I told you who they were, right? Don't worry. I'll leave you some clues. I'm  not that evil. Well, okay. Maybe just a little ;-)

Wizard One - When I first met her, I was over the moon!

photo credit

Wizard Two - "So much of life life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness." - Sydney Poitier

Does this house look familiar?

Wizard Three - I'm all out of Floo Powder, so I might just have to catch a train to see him.

photo credit

See you soon!

Friday Field Trip: Scavenger Hunt Down Under

Aqua Duck - Gold Coast

Hey, campers! Glad you’re here for the second part our Adventure Down Under Field. One thing I love about traveling is how it can make the ordinary seem new again when viewed in a different environment or context. It’s the same thing I appreciate about my favorite authors. They can make the mundane feel special, the big appear small and keep the spectacular hidden in plain sight. They are experts at the art of illusion and blindsiding.


On today’s field trip, we’re going on an Australian scavenger hunt for little seeds of storytelling inspiration that you might like to plant in your organic idea garden. You'll be harvesting fresh plot twists before you know it.  

Are you ready? Stay sharp and don’t forget to look in the corners. Ready…get set…go!


Perspectivus Zoomous Inus
When fully grown, this tree bears the "A-ha!" fruit which allows main characters to see things from a different angle.

An earless pig or is it a...

And how about this?

Is it a marshmallow with Kim Kardashian's eyelashes or is it....

Dinosaurus Restroomus 
The leaves of this plant must be steeped in boiling water to make tea. Readers must drink this tea from floral cups until they feel so calm that they...

...can hear the waves,

....feel the breeze in their hair,

...and feel the warmth of the sun on their skin.

And then, at the peak of bliss, at the point where they think that they cannot possibly feel more relaxed....

...send a dinosaur to get them in the ladies room.

*Burp* Who's next?

Evilus Koala-us 

Choose the cutest, cuddliest and sweetest characters. Let them chew a mouthful of this herb to turn them from this... 

....into this. 

Dreamus Sequencus 

Grind up the roots of this plant and slip into a main character's drink to induce a deep sleep. 

*Cue psychedelic dream sequence*

Then wake them up with an attack of mutant insects.

I hope you enjoyed our little scavenger hunt, campers! Don't forget to take care of your plants and water them everyday. 

Sshhh! I Have Another Secret!

Unfortunately, I can't tell you what it is just yet. Patience, little grasshopper. In two months, all will be revealed.

But I suppose I could leave you with a little clue...

This is for work. Really.

Breaking News: First Vlog review of Before Ever After!

I was literally about to go to sleep when I found out that the a-mazing KATE EVANGELISTA posted the FIRST EVER VLOG REVIEW of Before Ever After. (And now that I've watched her review, I don't think I'll be able to go back to bed! :D)


You can check out her vlog HERE.

Now you see me...

...now you don't! That's because I'm guest blogging over at "Everyday Gyaan" today. See you there!

Want a FREE book? Join Goodreads' Before Ever After Giveaway Promo!

source

Hi, US-based friends! Have you requested for a FREE copy of Before Ever After yet? There's ONE DAY more to go before Goodreads giveaway promo ends! 

Add Before Ever After to your Goodrads to-read shelf today and click HERE to join the promo!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! Good luck! 

Koala Conga Time! More Praise for Before Ever After! Woohoo!

source

G'Day! You may have noticed that our little van has been hijacked again. I really must set up better security for our Friday Field Trips. But what's a tour guide to do when not one - but TWO - amazing blurbs hop aboard the bus? Why, I start a Koala Happy Dance Conga line of course! (Can you tell that I'm still hungover from my recent holiday Down Under? Must have been all that Eucalyptus...)

But before you put on your dancing shoes, come and read what these wonderful authors have to say about Before Ever After:

Jill Smolinski, author of THE NEXT THING ON MY LIST and FLIP FLOPPED:

"I was absolutely enchanted by Before Ever After - it's a highly original and engaging mix of romance, mystery and magic that will challenge everything you think you know about happily ever after."

AND

Saralee Rosenberg, author of CLAIRE VOYANT, FATE & MS. FORTUNE and A LITTLE HELP FROM ABOVE


"In Samantha Sotto's high spirited debut, a young widow travels to a remote and distant island to answer the question, what price do we pay for eternal love. It is a mesmerizing journey transcending time and continents, all to remind that there are many ways to live on forever and to immortalize a marriage. Note to readers: Curl up with jasmine tea and savor the warm, rich writing, as delectable as the recipes for love found within every enchanting page."
 




(p.s. See you Monday for part 2 of our Adventure Down Under!)