THE LAST STORED cover reveal!

TODAY'S the day!

I am so excited to share with you the wonderful cover for my debut novel, THE LAST STORED. The team at Anaiah Press did a fantastic job! So without further adieu here is the Cover! Let loose the confetti cannons!

 Blurb for The Last Stored - 

After the sudden death of her parents, making it through the day is a struggle for Amber Megan Peel. In the midst of her grief, an exquisite bird perches on her garden fence and shows her visions of a vivid landscape and a dark lord slouching upon a throne.  She thinks the visions are tied to her sorrow. But when a boy flies through her kitchen window to tell her she’s the Last Stored, she wonders if she’s just lost her mind.

Cree of Din is tasked with one job: Bring Amber home. For seven years, Cree has trained as her protector and it is the ultimate responsibility. Failure means Amber’s certain death, and that’s not an option for Cree – especially since he’s falling in love with her.

The Returning has begun. Now all Amber and Cree have to do is enter Tali, a world of unimaginable splendor and equally unimaginable horror, and defeat Lorthis. If they can’t, not only will Tali plunge into darkness, but so will Earth.

My Bio - 

I'm a homeschooling teacher, an active youth volunteer, and a writer.  I grew up traipsing through the thick woods of Kentucky often getting lost in the magic of the forest. The woods inspired my heart and my father and mother, a Kentucky Colonel, cultivated my love for storytelling. For me every day is an adventure, providing me with an endless parade of eccentric characters and vivid worlds. Currently, I live in the sleepy community of Pittsboro, Indiana, with the love of my life, and God has blessed us both with three amazing kids. 

THE LAST STORED will be available January 2015 and is published by  Anaiah Press. 

You can also find me on:

Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/SoniaPoynterAuthor

Twitter - @SoniaPoy

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22606747-the-last-stored

So how cool is that? Amber and Cree have their own cover.  A few years ago when I started my journey with them, I never would have believed it, but yet here they are. Thanks again to the fabulous people at Anaiah Press, who are an absolute dream to work with!

Tali - The Last Stored!

Since there’s only five days until my cover reveal, I thought I would talk a little bit about the world Tali from my book, THE LAST STORED. Plus, I'm chomping at the bit to share this land with readers!

Tali - 

Long ago Earth and Tali were united. The people traveled between worlds. The lands came together sharing their vast knowledge. They created things of beauty, and the people of both worlds lived in peace, but obscurity overtook Earth, what we named the Dark Ages, and for whatever reason Earth slammed the doors to Tali shut.

But the Keeper of the Light left three doors open, hidden from the inhabitants of Earth. Soon Earth lost all knowledge of Tali, but Tali never forgot of Earth. They still sing of it. Some even train to one day return to Earth.

So what is Tali like-

The taste of honey permeates the air. Emerald green birds soar through a cotton candy sky. The lowlands of Din are a vast plain of orange wheat. Flowers pop with colors we haven’t a name for. The Severhed Mountain range spires high in the north, and to the south the forest of Outerrat. This land used to abound with life, but Tali is dying.

 

Now the people of the Din have been forever changed, only one remains. The Severhed has become the very seat of evil, and the Outerrat the last stronghold of good is losing its grip.

Tali is waiting for THE LAST STORED to return…

Make sure you join me here on October 31st for my Cover Reaveal!  

THE LAST STORED will be available January 2015 with Anaiah Press and http://www.anaiahpress.com/

Family Reunion and A Chivaree

Reunion - 

Our family holds a huge reunion every Memorial day down in Somerset, Kentucky, and when I say huge I do mean huge.  About two hundred are in attendance of those two hundred I know probably thirty. But it does give me lots of character to write about, which for a writer is absolute heaven.

Two wagons are brought in with food spread out, of various casseroles and fried chicken. An open mike is set up for all the real bluegrass music. Lawn chairs are opened; people reconnect, life events are shared.

Now, I haven't been to this family reunion for about twenty years, I stayed away, I couldn't for the life of me remember why until...

Chivaree...

I'm sitting there with my best southern accent, I only pull out for these occasions, or the occasional speeding ticket.  No kidding, it works, but that's another story. Out comes two bags of ice and a washtub.  Oh great...

"It's Chivaree time," my cousin Dana said.  

Chivaree - A tradition that our family took and slightly changed. It used to happen on the honeymoon night.  All the relatives would surround the newlywed's home, banging pots, and cheering. The crowd would persuade the couple to come out. Once they did, the husband would  ride an oiled knotty pine log hosted high in the air by the men, while the wife was placed in a wash bucket with ice water. They crowd would run them around the house three times. Only then would the relatives leave.

Of course our family put away the tradition on the honeymoon. They changed it; the event now occurs when you attend the family reunion, no matter how long the time has passed you are required to be chivareed.  I had forgotten all about it.

One of the women I don't know stood up and produces a list. I slink into the shadows. Surely they wouldn't remember I haven't been there since I got married twenty-five years ago.  Two couples are brought forward, people I didn't recognize.  Good they still haven't seen me.

I see my husband, Jeff, talking to my aunt. He's never met a stranger, and he can never tell a lie.  It's loud, but somehow I can hear him.

"What are they doing?" he asked Aunt Joyce.
No, please no... I can't get to him fast enough.
"Chivaree."
I raced forward.
"What's that?" Jeff watched as a log is produced.
I swooped in. "Hi honey, I need something from the car."
"Can it wait, I want to watch this," he said.
Cousin Dana, who had followed me over asked, "Wait, you haven't been Chivareed yet have you?"
Jeff began to speak, but, I interrupted him with a wave of my hands, "I really need my purse can you go get it."
"Sure," he said.  God love that man!
Dana turned to me, "Were you Chivareed?"
Okay, Sonia, dive in deep to that southern charm. "Oh yes, we were.  The water was so cold, and Jeff 'bout hit his head on the rafters," I smiled, reflecting on the fake event.
"Really? I don't remember it."
"I don't think you were here that year. It was so long ago." I said.
"Hmm, must have been one of the years I missed." She watched as a woman in jean shorts sat in the tub of ice.
At the same time six big strapping men lifted up the log with the 'groom' on it and ran through the shelter bouncing him all over the place. My husband returned after the log was put away and the ice was emptied. The relatives had moved on to the open mike as my brother sang some Johnny Cash.

We never did get Chivareed that year. Hopefully none of my relatives will read this, if they do, I might be in trouble the next year I attend.

Trailer Reveal for Hunter

With only 11 days until my cover reveal for The Last Stored. I'm so excited to be part of the trailer reveal for Hunter.  Check it out!!!

HUNTER
by Renee Donne 

Blurb:

Moving across the country isn’t Hunter’s ideal start to her Junior year of high school. She has no friends to hang out with, no beaches to lounge on, and she’s living just a few miles from the secluded hiking trail where her father died when she was a baby.

Living in Wyoming isn’t all bad, though, thanks to Logan, the handsome veterinary assistant at the animal clinic where she lands an after school job. And he seems just as interested in her as she is in him.

As Hunter begins to settle into her new home, she learns more about the circumstances surrounding her father’s tragic death, and it may not have been the accident everyone believes. Something dangerous lurks in the woods, and Hunter might be the next victim.

Trailer:

Release Date: June 9, 2015

Author photo: 

Author Bio:

Renee Donne is a native Floridian with a penchant for writing books with a western theme. In her head she's a world traveler and an amateur chef. In real life, she's a hometown girl with an affinity for fine wine and good friends. Her favorite place to write is sitting on her veranda, overlooking the beach.

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23125830-hunter

Anaiah Press: http://www.anaiahpress.com

Cover reveal for Bricks by John Davidson

I'm pleased to share with you the Cover Reveal for a fellow Anaiah Press Author, John Davidson. It completely captures the story and I can't wait to read it!!

Bricks by John Davidson

Surge, Anaiah Press

Blurb:

Sixteen-year old Cori Reigns learns that not all tornadoes take you to magical places. Some take your house, your school, and life as you knew it. Struggling to put the pieces of her life back together, Cori learns to rebuild what the storm destroyed by trusting a family she didn't know she had and by helping friends she never appreciated.

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Book Links

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23342608-bricks

Author Bio: Married to my bride for twenty-four years, I have an amazing son and a wonderful daughter.

Born and raised in central Oklahoma, I work in education, first as a teacher now in technology curriculum. I write. I read. And in the summer I make snow cones.

Website:www.aboyandhisdreams.com

Twitter: @jdavidsonwrites

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jmdavidson

T-minus 16 days and counting

October 31st is my Cover Reveal Day!

In 16 days my cover will be revealed for my young adult fantasy called THE LAST STORED! I have pinched myself so many times I'm bruised, but who cares.

So watch your clocks and be sure to check out my cover reveal October 31st.  I always knew loved Halloween this just makes it extra cool!

I can't wait to show the world Amber Peel and Cree.

Oh, and if you're interested in helping with my reveal you can do so, just click here.

The Freight Car of Life

When did life happen?

I can't hardly believe it.  Life is hurtling ever forward at a break neck speed and nothing I do can slow it down.

Why is it when you are in high school you just can't wait to be out on your own.  You lick your lips in anticipation, you study the clock as it ticks, anxious to be done with your day until you can start living your life. When your plans will be yours and yours alone. But a funny thing happens as you wait - Life happens: graduation, marriage, birth, death, trials, happiness, sadness.

All those moments slam together forming a freight train of your life. 

Each car a minute, a year, an event until they form a long chain that make up who you are.  The train struggles to make it up the mountain of life, but suddenly you're on the crest of a hill. The engine balances over the

precipice for just a second, then it gains strength and barrels down. You realize that your train has no breaks. Nothing you can do can stop it.

I can't put a finger on when I started to descend; I just know I have.  I'm past the climb, and life is speeding by.

But something pretty cool has happened. 

The wind is in my hair, I don't care so much what people think of me, I've honed out my goals in life and have focused them. My hands are over my head and I'm letting life happen. Are bad things going to happen, um yeah, but now I know bad things are mixed with the good.

My husband asked me this weekend, if you could go back in time to the happiest time of your life when was it.  Honestly, I couldn't pinpoint a moment in time, but had a group of moments where life was just about perfect.

I think'll look back on this moment as a perfect moment, and say God has blessed me more than I know.  

Psalms 90:10  As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.