Fresh Writes Spotlight: Melanie Cusick-Jones

After graduating from The University of Sheffield with an English Literature Masters in 2003, Melanie has been writing fiction - time permitting - ever since. 

The Ambrosia Sequence (started in 2008) and The Elementals (begun in 2004) are both ongoing, extended projects each containing several novels, aimed primarily at young adults and hover somewhere in the middle of sci-fi, futuristic and fantasy genres. Hope's Daughter, released in December 2011, is her debut novel and the first of The Ambrosia Sequence, with the sequel - Outlanders - due in 2012. 

When she's not writing Melanie enjoys the wet weather of the north of England with her dogs or disappearing into a book for a few hours (no surprise there then). Unfortunately, all too often the 'day job' gets in the way of the nicer things in life!

Life should be simple for Cassie. 

For the small population of Earth survivors who live on the Space Station Hope everything they do is planned and scheduled, down to the cyclical food menus, their roles in the station, even how many children they have. 

Despite rigid controls directing her life, Cassie feels more out of synch than ever and worries she won’t find a place for herself within the station community. Perhaps that’s because she’s hearing things inside her head that can’t possibly be real. Or maybe it’s the regular elopements of her peers, heading off to a romantic future in the Married Quarter of the space station, whilst she’s never even been attracted to a boy – no matter how hard her best friend Ami pushes them at her. Then there are the odd questions her work placement partner Balik keeps raising. His questions are just as troubling for her as his distracting smiles and eyes that seem to see inside her.

As Cassie draws closer to Balik she finds that everything else in her life begins to shift. He tells her things that call into question the system they live within. She can't believe he is right, but at the same time she finds it hard to deny the sincerity of his ideas. Could there be a connection between Cassie’s problems and Balik’s questions? The truth will drag them both to a terrifying and deadly conclusion beyond anything they could have imagined.


This book was published December 1, 2011 and is available on Amazon and B&N for $2.51 right now. Get your copy today!

Fresh Writes Spotlight: Jennifer Comeaux

Jennifer Comeaux earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working in the corporate world, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became Life on the Edge, her first published novel.

When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see a different side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author.

Visit Jennifer at her blog: http://jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com and on Facebook at Jennifer Comeaux Author. She loves chatting with readers! 

Life On The Edge Synopsis:

Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream–to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history.

Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily’s dreams of gold.

The book was released January 3, 2012 and can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AstraeaPress.com, and the paperback can be purchased on Amazon and Createspace.

Get your copy today!!!

Fresh Writes Spotlight: Emmalee Aple

Emmalee Aple was born and raised in Wisconsin, but always dreamed of life on the coast. Now, grown with a handsome computer geeky husband and two beautiful blonde monsters of her own, she uses what spare time she can manage to squeeze out of her day, writing, sewing and crafting. Emmalee’s debut novel, Neophyte, was released in February 2012. She is excited to share the beginning of this story with you, and is currently busy working on Rogue, the second book in this series.




Synopsis:
Addisyn White thought she had her new life, her after life, all figured out. Granted death had not brought her to the pearly white gates, she hadn’t even left Earth. But death had its perks; she got to live forever with her best friend and her assigned Link of Angels, in a beautiful beach house. Even with the changes she was going through to turn her human body into an angelic one, everything seemed pretty easy. Until a gray winged angel comes into her life, then all the secrets and lies her Link had been keeping start crumbling away, exposing a whole new world of dangers she didn’t even know about.
Now Addisyn must fill in the blanks before things escalate too far. Will she save her Link? Or will she be buried in their secrets forever?


This book was released Feb 22, 2012 and is available in e-book format from many online retailers for $2.99

Fresh Writes Spotlight: Heather Anastasiu

 *Bio taken from Goodreads.
Heather lives just south of Austin, Texas and is currently finishing up her Master's in Literature with an emphasis in Children’s Literature at Texas State University. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd, attracted to anything fantasy or sci-fi, especially if there’s kissing involved. She spends her free time writing, reading, and loving on her hubster and cutie-pie kiddo. 

Glitch Synopsis:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network. 

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers. 

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse. 

Glitch's expected release date is Aug 7, 2012 so mark your calendars!!

Fresh Writes Spotlight: J. Meyers

(Taken from her website jmeyersbooks.com)

j. meyers grew up in Vermont and now lives in Central New York. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s chasing her four kids around, exploring the outdoors with them, relishing the few quiet moments she gets with her husband, baking sweet treats, and forgetting to make dinner. Though she cannot actually see the future nor heal with a touch of her hand, she likes to think her children believe she can. Intangible is her first novel.

                                                          Intangible Synopsis:

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right.

And he can’t do anything about it.

This book was released Jan 29, 2012 and is available on Amazon & Amazon UK for $9.99 paperback and $4.99 Kindle edition and on Barnes & Noble for $4.99 Nook edition. Get your copy today!

Fresh Writes Spotlight: Hannah M. Davis

     Hannah Davis grew up in Hertfordshire, England with two parents & an older brother. She loved reading and buried her nose in a book just about every night. She even started writing her first book at the age of 7. By the time college came around she knew she wanted to take a creative writing course. After college she got a great job in film and did some film writing in London. After three years in London she felt she needed a change and eventually ended up in Southern Spain where she still lives 10 years later. 

     She spent her first few years there helping other authors become published but then started to focus again on her dream of writing. She found herself with a wonderful debut book Voices of Angels. The 1st in a trilogy of young adult paranormal romance books with a transformational twist.

Voices of Angels synopsis:

     When Lizzie Fisher sees a black mark above her teacher's head, she has no idea how much it will change her life. Seven days later the teacher is dead and Lizzie must come to terms with a frightening new ability: she sees when people are about to die. Sent to Andalucia to live with a grandmother she has never met, Lizzie falls in love with gifted musician, Rafa. All seems well until one day the black mark appears above her grandmother's head. Horrified, Lizzie finds herself in a race against time to find out what the gift really means. Will Rafa help her? And can she save her grandmother's life before it's too late?

This book was released Jan 27, 2012 and is available for purchase on amazon.com right now for $2.99 Kindle edition only. I bought a copy and can't wait to read it! So be on the lookout for a review in the future.

Fresh Writes Spotlight: Amy Holder

Amy Holder is a new teen fiction author born and raised in upstate New York. Her love of books began at a young age and never left. This eventually led her to want to write her own wonderful stories instead of settling for only reading the words of others. This led to the creation of.....
THE LIPSTICK LAWS.

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.

For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.

But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

Amy Holder has written a book that combines common teenage issues with humor in a way that every teenage girl will be able to relate to. This book is available to buy now  for $8.99 and is on preorder now for the kindle. It will be delivered to the kindle on April 4th. Get yours from Amazon.com, B&N.com, Borders.com or indiebound.org.

*The book description was taken from amazon.com