Category: Virtual Book Tours

Book tour stops hosted by Toi Thomas.

Categories
Virtual Book Tours

Tattoos by Stacy Overby – #NewRelease Interview

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Ain’t Nobody Got Time For Book Reviews!, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Stacy Overby. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down…Be sure to check out the book trailer at the end.

Toi Thomas: Hi there Stacy! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

Stacy: Thanks, Toi. I’m glad to be here and am ready to share.

 

Toi Thomas: So tell me, who is Stacy Overby?

Stacy: Stacy Overby is a columnist and graphic designer at ourwriteside.com. Her short stories and poems have been featured in multiple anthologies, online, and in lit journals, in her poetry collection Scath Oran, and her new novel, Tattoos. Her day job as program director for an adolescent dual diagnosis treatment program provides inspiration for many of her stories. When not at work or writing, she and her husband are playing with their son, hiking, camping, or involved in other outdoor activities – if it is not too cold.

Toi Thomas: Well before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author, a little better.

Wikipedia – The Powerpuff Girls: Bubbles (left), Blossom (middle), and Buttercup (right)

Toi Thomas: Who is so you and why?

Stacy: I did a Facebook quiz once that said I was a combination of Buttercup from Power Puff Girls, Batgirl, and Arya Stark from Game of Thrones. I thought it was an interesting combination, but friends told me it fit pretty well.

Toi Thomas: What makes you geek out?

Stacy: I am in love with the Lord of the Rings. Star Wars comes in a close second. Both universes are appealing for different reasons. I love high fantasy, of which Lord of the Rings is the epitome, but I also love space and astronomy type stuff. Hence Star Wars.

Goodreads

Toi Thomas: What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

Stacy: I absolutely loved Melanie Rawn’s The Sunrunners trilogy. Between that and the old Dragonlance books, they were my first foray into adult reading. This was back about seventh grade or so.

Toi Thomas: In terms of interviews, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Stacy: Neil Gaiman. I’d love to sit down over tea and chat. He’s got such a diverse range of stories, some of which get pretty out there in terms of creativity. I’d love to know how some of these stories came into existence. Also, there’s just something about following him on Twitter that tells me he’d be a fascinating person to talk to.

Toi Thomas: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you, the author, and dive into your special message.

Toi Thomas: So, whacha got for me today?

Stacy: Tattoos is a story about what happens when Eli’s Black Ops oaths come up against everything he values. Choosing to follow orders means going against his beliefs about protecting people–the very reason he joined Black Ops. When he defies orders to uphold his values, what Eli learns about the government he swore to serve and defend could bring about the downfall of that same government. But is that really a bad thing?

Toi Thomas: So who’s starring in this 2-dimensional script read of Tattoos?

Stacy: Eli Thorson is a Black Ops specialist. Part military, part police, part covert operations, his job is to take care of threats to the United Earth Government and protect the peoples of the UEG. He’s a loyal and intelligent person who stumbles onto something much darker than he ever expected. In deciding to right some terrible wrongs, Eli finds a purpose to his life he’d been missing for years.

Toi Thomas: What’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?

Stacy: This is a novel that touches on issues we face in the world today, but does it in a way that doesn’t shove it in the reader’s face. Eli and his best friend, Shawn, are an entertaining pair, but help remind us of what we need to be in our own lives.

Toi Thomas: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

Stacy: I am not one to plan and organize my writing. My life is pretty chaotic with my day job and my family, so the time I get to write I spend writing the story. I’ve learned to write with quite a bit of noise–television, music, etc.–going on around me. My family is kind enough to put up with the occasional scribbling even at the dinner table when something strikes me. Tattoos was my NaNoWriMo project from 2011. Once I see this book in print, I’ll be working on the edits for its sequel, Scars.

Toi Thomas: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Stacy: Oh, for sure!

Toi Thomas: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Stacy: Oh my, that’s a tough question. Do I have to pick just one Lord of the Rings movies, or can I have them all and count it as one? I suppose the same rule applies for Star Wars as well?

Toi Thomas: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

Stacy: Some of my favorite music includes the likes of Linkin Park, Godsmack, Three Days Grace, Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, and the like. They all made at least one appearance on the playlist I created for this book.

Toi Thomas: Let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a black-out in Central Park the day zombies attack?

Stacy: A flamethrower to beat back the zombies
An armored vehicle to get out of Central Park with
Uncontaminated food and drink to survive longer than a couple days

Toi Thomas: What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Wikipedia

Stacy: Taking my son to Disney World. We went just before he turned five. All of the characters were real. The rides were amazing. Watching my son experience the magic of all of his favorite characters coming to life was amazing. His experience there helped renew my ability to see that magic again. The endless possibility and wonder that children have.

Toi Thomas: Last question of the day; here we go.

Toi Thomas: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

Stacy: If I’m not totally crazy by then, I’ll still be running my adolescent treatment program, Tattoos and the sequels will be a big hit, and I’ll be learning to deal with my own teenager rather than just the ones at work. Hopefully, by then my writing will support some of my other hobbies as well–such as traveling.

Toi Thomas: Thank you so much, Stacy, for spending time with me today.

Stacy: Thanks for having me, Toi. It was fun.

Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Stacy Overby, check out these great links:

Website: ThisIsNotHitchhiker’sGuide.com
GoodReads: Stacy Overby
Facebook: ThisIsNotHitchhikersGuide
Twitter: Stacy Overby @dontpanic2011
Pinterest: S. Overby’s This is Not Hitchhiker’s Guide
Amazon: Stacy Overby
Tattoos purchase link: Amazon.com

This has been a

This post contains some affiliate links. Please see the about page for more information.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
IWSG Virtual Book Tours

#IWSG June 2018 & Write with Fey #newrelease #giveaway

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: What’s harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?

For me, it’s definitely book titles. I have this whole obsession with names and their meanings and keep a list of possible names I could use at any time. Book titles, on the other hand, elude me. Even after I’ve settled on one, I never really feel it fits. At some point, I have to call the book something so people will know what they are getting. It’s not easy making that final decision.

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So, first off, this is going to be a long one, but for good reason. I’ll be back to my shorter posts next time, I promise.

Now, I’d like to congratulate Juneta Key on her member spotlight in the May newsletter. Not only is she a great blogger and writer, she’s constantly giving back to the community. A very well-deserved recognition.

Now, on to the personal updates. Please stick around for a special new release message at the end.

So, in case you missed it, I unpublished the first two books in the Eternal Curse Series (they are still available to anyone who asks for them). You can learn more about that at the link above. Needless to say, I have a lot of writing to do with that rewrite as well as finishing the first draft of my Sayings sequel, which I still don’t have a title for. I seriously thought I’d be on my 3rd or 4th draft by now, but as usual, my day job, which is convenient for writing, is also so stressful as of late, that it’s blocked all my creativity… Oh well, that’s life.

On a slightly fun note, I’m in position 56 on the IWSG blog hop list. When I started out, I was 181. All that means is that many people have come and gone, and likely come back again in the time I’ve participated in this blog and I’ve been sticking with it and moving up the ladder. Being part of this group is one of my greatest accomplishments. I’m sadly thinking of reducing my blog to once a month post, still being open to interviews and spotlights whenever someone needs to fill a spot or wants some free promo… We’ll see what happens.

Over at A Small Gang of Authors, we are hosting our first ever book cover contest. We’d love for you to head over, check it out, and vote in the comments. Thanks bunches!

NEW RELEASE & GIVEAWAY!
Catch the sparks you need to write, edit, publish, and market your book!
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Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication offers an
abundance of data in one handy book. From writing your novel to prepping for publication and beyond, you’ll find sparks on every page, including 100 bonus marketing tips. You’ll also discover how to write specific scenes and characters, adding depth to your work.
–
•        Spark One: Being a Writer
•        Spark Two: Story Essentials
•        Spark Three: A Book’s Stepping Stones
•        Spark Four: How To
•        Spark Five: Character ER
•        Spark Six: Editing
•        Spark Seven: Publishing
•        Spark Eight: Marketing
•        Spark Nine: Writing About
•        Spark Ten: Final Inspiration
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With so much information, you’ll take notes, highlight, and flag pages to come back to again and again on your writing journey.
–
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AUTHOR BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. She’s partnered with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and runs their Goodreads book club. She’s also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press.
–
Fey realized she wanted to write by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for hurricanes.
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Chrys Fey’s Links:
Website / Blog / Amazon / Goodreads
Facebook / Twitter
–
GIVEAWAY!
Open to all from June 4th 2018 – July 6th 2018
Click here to enter or use the form below.

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So, are you a whiz at book titles but struggle with character names or vice versa?
Would you ever unpublish a book? Does the idea of it terrify you?
What did you think of Carnie?
You gonna enter Chrys Fey’s giveaway?

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Tyrean Martinson,
Tonja Drecker, and
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #56).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Fiction Author Virtual Book Tours

Boy of Blood by @MeganORussell Interview & #Kindle #Giveaway.

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Eternal Curse, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Megan O’Russell. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down (be sure to stick around for the Kindle Fire & eBook giveaway at the end).

Toi: Hi there Megan! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

Megan: It’s good to be here Toi. I can’t wait to get started.

Toi: So tell me, who is Megan O’Russell?

Megan: I am Megan O’Russell, and I have three young adult series, including the Girl of Glass series. Book two in that series, Boy of Blood, was released on April 10th and I am thrilled to send this new story out into the world!

Toi: Wow, three YA series. I see you’ve been busy.

Toi: Well before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author.

Toi Thomas: Who is so you and why?

sourced from awesomestories.com – “Betsy Ross”, Age 21, Adept, Fair Use

Megan: I had to take a poll. The answers I got were Betsy Ross and Susan B Anthony… they may have been kidding.

Toi: Those are quite interesting. Guess that makes you a cross between a patriotic seamstress and an activist.

Toi: So, what makes you geek out?

Megan: Hamilton, Harry Potter, and Disney are the three biggest geek loves I have at the moment. If I had to choose only one, it would be Harry Potter, though I would feel like I was betraying the other two.

Toi: Ah, the struggle is real when you have to choose between the things that make you geek out the most. For me, it’s books, movies, and comic books.

Toi: What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

Megan: Anything Madeline L’Engle. I love all of her books. There’s something in the way she wrote that was just so welcoming.

Toi: It’s hard to believe I haven’t read her books, but I’m very familiar with them. I bet you were excited to get A Wrinkle In Time movie.

Toi: Now, in terms of interviews, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Megan: Leigh Bardugo, author of Six of Crows and the Grisha Trilogy. It would be wonderful to sit down with such a brilliant contemporary.

Toi Thomas: Ooo, that’s a good answer. Those are both really popular series. For me, at this moment, I’d probably like to interview Marissa Meyer for her Lunar Chronicles.

Toi: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you, the author, and dive into your special message.

sourced from Goodreads.com

Toi: Whacha got for me today?

Megan: Boy of Blood is the second book in my Girl of Glass series. Taking place in a mid-apocalyptic world with chemically induced vampires, the series takes a look at the fall of society from the point of view of the upper one percent.

Toi: This sounds like a unique twist to both the vampire and apocalyptic story tropes. Kudos to you.  

Toi: Who’s starring in this 2-dimensional script read of Boy of Blood?

Megan: Nola Kent is my protagonist. She’s spent her life living in the safety of the domes, secure in the knowledge that she is protected. When watching those on the outside of the glass suffer becomes too much, she is drawn into a world of darkness she never imagined.

The thing I love most about Nola is her heart. She doesn’t do everything right–she sometimes hurts people–but even when she screws up, she always began her actions through a place of compassion.

Toi: Sounds like you have a pretty solid, strong female character to lead your series.

Toi: Now, what’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?

Megan: We’ve all seen dystopian worlds from the point of view of those starving on the street. The Girl of Glass story twists that trope. The question then becomes how much suffering can you watch before it is your obligation to help?

Toi: That’s a great selling point, and you’re right; that’s not a perspective we often receive in stories such as this. I’m intrigued.

Toi: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

Megan: At the moment, I’m purely working on the Boy of Blood book release fueled by massive amounts of coffee and queso. After life calms down, I’ll be back to editing book three in the series, currently titled Night of Never.

Toi: Oh, I can totally relate. Sometimes the book release can be more grueling than the whole writing process, but it all pays off in the end.

Toi: What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

Megan: Madeline L’Engle for her sense of engaging wonder.

Toi: I can see that. It’s got to be hard being a fan without also being influenced as a writer.

Toi: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Megan: Yeah, do that.

sourced from Wikipedia.com – Theatrical release poster

Toi: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Megan: Big Hero Six because Baymax brings me joy.

Toi: I know what you mean. Wish I had a Baymax in my life.

Toi: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

Megan: Basically, Mumford and Sons Pandora station for Joy, Flogging Molly Pandora for Rage.

Toi: Wow. I guess it’s good Pandora offers so much variety; everything you need for joy and rage is right there.

Toi: Let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a black-out in Central Park the day zombies attack?

Megan: I’d want a hunting knife, rope, and matches.

Toi: I like it. Forget about flashlights; let’s light some stuff on fire. LOL!

Toi: What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Megan: My husband and I took a two-week road trip through Ireland. That was the most relaxed and joyful I have ever been. Live music, wonderful scenery, amazing people. I would go back in an instant.

Toi: That does sound nice and relaxing. I haven’t been anywhere as special as Ireland yet, but I too love those quiet, intimate road trips with the hubby.

Toi: Last question of the day; here we go.

Toi: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

Megan: I’m going to err on the hopeful side. In five years, we’ll all have realized that all humans are humans, nothing more nothing less. I personally will have a thriving publishing career and own a house near the water… and a cat.

Toi: Now, that’s a future I can get behind. I wish you all the best.

Toi: Thank you so much, Megan, for spending time with me today.

Megan: Thanks for having me, Toi. It was tons of fun.

Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. And don’t forget to check out this cool Kindle Fire & eBooks GIVEAWAY. For more from Megan O’Russell, check out these great links:

Website: MeganORussell.com

Blog: Life Beyond Exaggeration

Facebook: ORussellauthor

Twitter: @MeganORussell

Purchase links for Boy of Blood: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | iTunes

This has been a

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords