Vampire Ascension by Eva Pohler Release Day : Indie News & Highlights

When seventeen-year-old Gertie leaves New York to study abroad in Athens, she learns that vampires and demigods are real and unwittingly becomes a catalyst to an uprising led by Dionysus, lord of the vampires.

 

In this final installment, Gertie, Jeno, and Hector struggle to bring a peaceful resolution to the war in Athens, but any success they make comes at great cost. How many more people must die for freedom and justice? The teens quickly learn that nothing is fair in love and war. Sometimes even love requires a terrible price.

  

If you don't already have the first book, Vampire Addiction, go here for your FREE copy: http://www.evapohler.com/facebook.       

Check out this one-minute series trailer!

 

Some Early Reviews

"An absolutely EPIC conclusion to an awesome tale of vampires and Greek mythology!"--Jeanine Walsh Palinkas

"The unique blend of the paranormal with Greek mythology is breathtaking and will leave you dying for more."--Jonel Boyko of Pure Jonel (A book review site) 

Buy your copy of Vampire Ascension: The Vampires of Athens, Book Three at your favorite retailer today for $3.99 for a limited time! 

Kindle 

Nook 

iBooks 

Kobo 

Google Play 

Smashwords 

Come celebrate this new release with fun games and prizes at our Facebook event tonight! Click to join!

 

As part of the celebration, Eva is giving away a signed set of paperbacks of ALL SIX books in her Gatekeeper's Saga, plus an Eva Pohler's Books drawstring tote full of swag. Click here to enter! 

More About Eva

Eva Pohler is the Amazon bestselling author of The Gatekeeper's Saga, The Purgatorium Series, The Vampires of Athens, and The Mystery Book Collection. She also teaches writing and literature at a university, where she lives with her husband, three children, two dogs, and two guinea pigs.

Meet some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : Laura Howard

Please welcome the next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) series. Last year I was excited to meet Laura, but she couldn’t make it to the con. Instead, I met her paper cutout (see picture below), which people were lovingly carrying around.

Finally, I met her in person this year. She’s warm, friendly, and so easy to talk to. Plus, I was fortunate to spend some extra time with her visiting the Parthenon on the last day. 

Thanks so much for hanging out on my blog today.

LH: I'm delighted you asked me to join you, thank YOU Tia!

I love your author bio, probably because so much of it speaks to me. I read Sweet Valley High and the Twilight series! When did you know you wanted to write, and how did your love of young adult books influence the type of writer you wanted to be?

LH: Haha... I've gotten more people to open up to me about Sweet Valley High than I can tell you. It's almost like it's a dirty little secret for some of us. :) After my kids were born, I felt like I had to do the whole "adulting" thing, so I naturally assumed it was time to turn to adult fiction. While there isn't anything wrong with adult fiction, it wasn't until I read the Twilight Saga that I realized how much I missed the raw emotion of YA fiction. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered there were so many other adults reading YA. I felt so vindicated and free. From that moment on, I devoured countless YA series to the point of near-obsession. As for writing...I will tell you that I have always dabbled in writing, but it never occurred to me that I might actually write for the public until around 2010. I credit the pioneers in self-publishing for giving me that freedom. :)

Your latest novel, Belong to Me, is a new adult contemporary romance. I love it. My review will go up later today. Please tell us about it.

LH: Belong to Me is a story about many layers of loss and ultimately learning to move on. It's a love story about two people, but it's also about family, both the ones we're born into and the ones we choose.

When did you decide to try your hand at writing new adult contemporary romance after so much success with young adult paranomal?

LH: Belong to Me was something I started a while ago, not really planning on ever letting it see the light of day. It was too close to my heart, a little too raw. I lost my brother and mother between 2006 and 2010 and it was a very cathartic experience for me to pour my emotions into that little novel. But, as a lover of primarily paranormal fiction, I wasn't sure my readers would appreciate the contemporary side of my writing. A friend read the manuscript one day and said, “You need to publish this. Even if only one other person reads it, it'll be worth it.”

So there you have it. And I found that I liked the world I created, even if there are no supernatural elements. I look forward to expanding the series in the future with other POV and other emotional issues they are experiencing. 

"Flat Laura" from UtopYA2014

I'm all about characters and emotion first. I've been asking each of my participants... What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

LH: The best way to predict the future, is to create it. -Abraham Lincoln

So simple, but so true. It was so wonderful to finally meet you at this year's conference. What do you think makes UtopYA, renamed Utopia for its fifth year in 2016, so special?

LH: The thing that has set it apart for me is the ambiance. It's about connecting with people. Not just readers or writers, but all the creative people we interact with on social media. The energy everyone brings is a huge part of the experience. It's about being positive and it's almost as if there is an unwritten zero-negativity policy.

✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮

Last Movie you Saw: Inside Out

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? Romance ;)

Last book you Read: Promise by Kristie Cook

First Job: Cashier at Burger King :/

Gift cards or cash? Gift cards...that prevents me from using it for my kids hehe

Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere peaceful. I love the beach as much as I love the mountains. 

More About Laura

I’m an author, a mother of 4 and a voracious reader.

My obsession with books began at the age of 6 when I got my first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other YA novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. My mom took me to the library nearly everyday so I could get my fix!

Books took a backseat to diapers when I had my first child at the age of 21. It wasn’t until the release of a little saga called Twilight, 8 years later, that I rediscovered my love of fiction. Soon after, my own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is my first published novel.

Find out about New Releases

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.

Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : Morgan Wylie

Please welcome the next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) series. I’ve known Morgan online for a couple of years, but our lives recently crossed in a very “It’s a Small World” way.

We moved to California two years ago, and my daughter became friends with a sweet girl. One day when I was picking my elementary school daughter up from a playdate, her mom asked if I was an author because she noticed her sister and I were mutual friends. That sister… Morgan. So awesome!

So, this year, I was determined to finally meet Morgan. She’s amazing, sweet, and always has a smile on her face.

Thanks for hanging out on the blog today!

MW: It really is a small world sometimes, isn’t it?! I was floored when my sister asked if I knew you. I was like, “Well, yeah she’s awesome, but how do you know her?” It was so fun to FINALLY meet you in person and meet your lovely daughter as well.

My 15yo daughter was so excited to meet you this year, too, because she’s a huge fan of your The Age of Alandria series (I can’t wait to get to them myself). What book are you currently working on?

MW: Currently, I am wrapping up a new project. It’s an NA paranormal romance that takes place in Seattle. It’s called Rylen and follows him and his crew as they lead the pacific northwest faction of an underground network of supernaturals (think underground magical crime syndicate) as the confront a conservative group intent on ridding the world of magic. Look for it end of this summer!

That sounds so cool, and I love the cover! When did you know you wanted to be an author?

MW: I had dabbled with writing on and off during my school years, but hadn’t done much with it. In 2001, I had thought about writing non-fiction during some years I that I had shelved reading fiction, but just wasn’t “feelin’ it”. Finally, in 2007 I had been feeling the need and urge to read and write again (I know that took awhile to come back to it, right?) but just wasn’t finding the right story. I had decided that was what I really wanted to do though, and in 2009—7 months preggo—I finally found my story and have been writing it ever since.

My story is very similar. I always dabbled, but I started really writing when my first child was born. So, as an author, where do you see yourself in five years?

MW: Hmmm… I plan to continue writing full time (even more so than I am now), I want to be traveling more/attending more conferences, and want to be expanding not only further into YA and NA genres but also middle-grade.

I think Middle Grade is a great area to move into. I've thought about it myself. I've been asking everyone during this series to share their inspiration, because it's so important. What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

MW: “Not until we are lost, do we begin to find ourselves.” Henry David Thoreau. 

For me, I was trapped in a box of being someone I believed I should be or who people told me I was. It took me coming to a place in myself where I felt lost and unsure of who I was and where I was going in life. But then I found myself. It’s not always a quick easy path, but I believe it was essential for me to be lost in order to find myself.

It's like you know me or something! I could have given a very similar answer. UtopYA, renamed Utopia for it's fifth year in 2016, brings so many people together. What do you think makes it so special?

MW: For me, it has always been the people. I love and enjoy all the learning and inspirations, and FUN, but I have made truly enriching relationships—relationships that make me a better person and a better writer—there that I will continue to cherish for years to come.

I asked everyone to send in their favorite photo from UtopYA2015, and I love that Morgan sent this awesome collage...

✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮

Last Movie you Saw: Inside Out (loved it!)

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? Romance

Last book you Read: Spring Rain by Lizzy Ford and Edge Season Two, episode 4 by Jamie Magee, and Fighting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins (it was a binge reading week)

First Job: Corporate Office Assistant for a health club (I think this was my first)

Gift cards or Cash? Gift cards

Favorite Vacation Spot: Disneyland

I hope to see you in Nashville next year, if not sooner!

MW: Absolutely!! Thank you so much for having me!!

More about Wylie

Morgan Wylie published her first novel, Silent Orchids, one year after moving across the country with her family on a journey of new discovery. After an amazing three years in Nashville, TN and the release of two more books, Morgan and her family found their way back to the Northwest where they now reside. Still working everyday with great optimism, Morgan continues to embrace all things: “Mama”, wife, teacher, and mediator to the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head… where it gets pretty loud!

You can find her and news on her books at the following:

MorganWylie.net

MorganWylieBooks on Facebook

@MWylieBooks on Twitter/Instagram

Info@MorganWylie.net Email

Goodreads and Amazon (Author Bio)

Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria: Book One) is FREE right now! 

Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two)

Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella)

Fractured Darkness (The Age of Alandria: Book Three)

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.

Carolina Book Fest Fun!

Good Monday morning.

I am heading back to California today after three incredible weeks of family bonding. Still, I must admit... I'm ready to not be living out of a suitcase. I haven't been home since 7/27. 

This past Saturday I attended the Carolina Book Fest. It was an amazing event. Our host LP Dover, and her amazing assistant Kim Walker, deserve a huge round of applause for a well-run, fun event. Not only did I meet new authors and readers, but I was able to visit with dear friends.

I shared a table with the lovely NL Greene, who was one of the writers on Fractured Glass. I love her!

And I got to see old friends and finally meet people I've known online forever. It's always great seeing Inger Iverson, Bethany Lopez, Michelle Hart, and Devyn Dawson, and I loved meeting Amy Miles, Nadege Richards, and Apryl Baker.

I hope to be able to make this event again next year. 

Hope everyone has an amazing Monday!

Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : Eva Pohler

Please welcome my next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) series. I actually met the beautiful Eva last year, but this year I got to hang out with her at The Parthenon just after UtopYA ended. It was the perfect way to wrap up a wonderful five days.

She’s truly a beautiful person and so eager to share her knowledge and inspiration with everyone. Much love for her.

Thanks for hanging out on my blog today!

EP: Thanks so much for having me!

When I read your author bio, I want to go back to school and study all things literature. What was your favorite literature class and why?

EP: Wow, that’s a tough one. You don’t waste any time, do you? Hmm. I think my very favorite was Narratology, because we analyzed the different elements in prose—such as plot, character, and point of view—using specific systems created by six different narratologists. I’d never looked at storytelling so analytically before that class, and I absolutely loved it.

Man, I really do want to go back to school some days! What inspires you most about teaching literature to college students? What’s the best thing a student ever said to you?

EP: The reactions of my students continue to remind me of the importance of stories in our lives. I love it when a student finds a deep connection with one of the assigned readings. It totally reinforces the idea that our work as writers is valuable to others.

The best thing a student ever said to me was in a letter. He told me that he entered my class hating literature and left it wanting to major in English so that he could teach it on the college level one day, too. He said my enthusiasm was contagious. That felt amazing.

I totally agree... your enthusiasm is contagious. So, now I have to ask about your writing. Is there a common element in all of your books?

EP: Another tough one! Maybe you should be a college teacher, too! You could write some really hard exam questions, lol.

I write two different types of books. My fantasy novels revolve around Greek mythology and the desire to experience adventures of god-like proportions. Usually these adventures lead the human protagonists to an important moment of self-actualization.

My suspense novels revolve around the idea that readers are like victims of the Stockholm Syndrome (the phenomenon that occurs when captives fall in love with their captors). Narrators lure us in, abduct us, and torment us with their stories, and yet we are grateful.

So inspiring. Now, what book are you currently working on? When can readers expect to get their hands on it?

EP: I’m working on the final book in The Vampires of Athens series, Vampire Ascension. It will be released on August 24^th of this year. I’m so thrilled for everyone to discover how this trilogy ends!

Congrats! I have some more information and a short trailer about that below. So, I have to ask... what was your first favorite book? Why was it so special?

EP: Very first? Probably a Nancy Drew mystery. I loved trying to solve the mystery before the characters could.

  

I loved Nancy Drew, too. A question I've been asking everyone: What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

EP: I have two, and they both come from my series, The Gatekeeper’s Saga. The first was inspired by Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, and is inscribed on a locket that Athena gives to my main character, Therese: “The most common way people give up their power is by believing they have none.”

The second comes from Hades: “Life isn’t fair, but death is.” I like this because it reminds us that we are all equal in the end. None of us is immune to death. I think we should try to remember that in our dealings with others.

I love those! It's been such a treat getting to know you at UtopYA the last two years. What do you think makes UtopYA, renamed Utopia for its fifth year in 2016, so special?

EP: As Rachel Harris said in a Publisher’s Weekly article, “It’s the conference with heart.” The Utopia team goes out of its way to make sure people feel included and to make sure the conference is successful for all. The authors who attend also try really hard to avoid being cliquish. They invite newbies in and make them part of the tribe.

Some lovely UtopYA-an women surround Eva 

✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮

Last Movie you Saw: Jurassic World

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? Drama!

Last book you Read: A Cygnet’s Tale, by Susan Burdorf

First Job: Pizza Maker at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza

Gift cards or Cash? Either!

Favorite Vacation Spot: The mountains of Colorado

Thanks so much for hanging out today, Eva. Now, to share more about Vampire Ascension...

Watch the trailer

More About Eva

Eva Pohler is the Amazon bestselling author of The Gatekeeper's Saga, The Purgatorium Series, The Vampires of Athens Series, and The Mystery Book Collection. She also teaches writing and literature at a university in San Antonio, where she lives with her husband and three children.

You can keep in touch with Eva on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,Linked In, and by email at eva@evapohler.com.

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.