Literary Agent!

Have I mentioned that I snagged a literary agent? Yep, it's true. Signed on a 6 month contract in March or May (one of the "M" months) for a children's picture book manuscript. YES, a picture book. While I love young adult fantasy, I've also had ideas for picture books rolling through my head--my four year old is my greatest inspiration--and I gave one of them a shot.
If you don't know, finding a literary agent to back your work is pretty hard so I'll give myself a pat on the back for this one, though nothing could come of it. Now to work hard and not disappoint...

It's heeeeere!

It's heeeeere! Obvious things, based on Michael Darling’s winning story, “The Mark,” which has this great mix of noir, gangsters, and magic. I think you'll like my story, "The Real Whack Job" about Harry, an innocent thrown in the cell of a mad woman's home. Click here to see it on Amazon. Or here. Or here.

I've started dabbling into children's picture books. I've sent out queries for my third book and have an agent interview in 7 minutes. Wish me luck!

Here's a link to my new author/illustrator website:
http://tamaralynbordon.blogspot.com/

BOOK REVIEW: Wicked Fate by Shannon L Maynard

BOOK REVIEW: Wicked Fate by Shannon L Maynard

Ava Starr is on a beautiful deserted island with two hunks who want to marry her. What young, single girl wouldn't love that? Problem is, she loves them both. Another problem is, the local cannibals want to marry her, too. Their wooing antics are pretty darn cute and funny. I was hooked the whole time.

While Ava tends to be a blubbering beauty who's sweet but otherwise devoid of personality, Dax and Preston emulate typical guys-their-age thoughts and behaviors (even if most real-life guys won't put up with a lot of the crap she put them through). It's like the scenario with Bella and her two guys in the tent on the mountain, but spread throughout most of a book. I happen to love that scene.

Super fun teenage read. She ends up with the guy I like and everything is a dream...until the man who supposedly wants her killed sails his boat up to the island. Talk about a cliff hanger. Rated PG-13 for an abundance of sexuality (a LOT of kissing and "melting" and caressing, though nothing explicit, it's pretty darn clean but I'd think twice before letting a young girl read it) and 4.7 stars.

Honorable Mention

I have to snag a brag moment here. I entered a couple writing contests a couple months ago and got honorable mention in one of them. As one of two other honorable mentions, I'll be published in a book of anthologies! This will by my second publication in a book of anthologies coming out next year. I'll keep you posted!

Enter writing contests, people! Writing short stories is the perfect way to practice tightening your work. (I'll know I'm good enough to really move forward as a novelist once I can win first place in one.) Plus it helps to have SOME publications on your resume.

Here's a link to their site if you're intersted in checking out The United Authors Association:  https://theuaa.org/events/contests2015/

I must go make a few revisions to my story. Stay tuned...

BOOK REVIEW: Resurgent Shadows by Kevin L Nielsen

BOOK REVIEW: Resurgent Shadows by Kevin L Nielsen

"Ever since the Breaking, when earthquakes tore the world apart and unleashed the nightmares of myth and legend, humankind has struggled for survival. 

"Caleb is one of the survivors, and the only thing he cares about is getting revenge on the monsters that killed his wife and son. When he saves the life of a dverger—a mythic dwarf-like creature—Caleb discovers that the Breaking may have brought good to the world along with the evil. "On the other side of the country, Eric leads a small group of survivors in relative prosperity until a powerful war hammer is forced into his hands—a weapon with a will of its own so commanding that it sends Eric on a mission with one purpose: destroy the creatures that threaten his home. "Caleb and Eric must each decide to do something no one has dared before: to hunt the Dragonlords."

This story kept me coming back for more. There's a lot of war and weaponry and soul-searching in between. I love a book that can delicately weave in religion(s) and he does it well. The weapons take on a lifelike thread, like in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, which I loved. There are some cool magical powers on top of dragons that were definite highlights of the story.

The writing is a bit wordy and repetitive--and jumpy--but overall it was good and the ending made me super excited for the next book. Rated 4 stars and PG for content.
*I received a free copy of this book for an unbiased review.

Click here to buy the book.

BOOK REVIEW: Caretaker by Josi Russell

BOOK REVIEW: Caretaker by Josi Russell

"Ethan Bryant was supposed to fall asleep on a ship leaving Earth and wake up fifty years later with his family on a new home on Minea. Instead, after the ship’s caretaker – the lone human in charge of monitoring the ship’s vital systems – suddenly dies, the ship’s computer locks Ethan out of his stasis chamber and gives him the job. That was five years ago. Five years of checking to make sure everything is running smoothly on a ship Ethan knows almost nothing about.

"…That is, until the ship suddenly wakes up another passenger: a beautiful engineer who, along with Ethan, soon discovers a horrible secret – a navigation room hidden from even the ship’s computer. The ship is not bound for Minea – but to somewhere far more dangerous.

"With the ship nearing its sinister destination, Ethan soon learns he is the only one who holds the key to saving all 4,000 passengers from a highly-advanced, hostile alien race."

Full of love x2, action, adventure and aliens, this book will take you on a ride through the stars. Interesting story, though it could've used a few more clever twists and the villain could use more development. I was hooked the first half, the second half was a little disappointing. But it tickles the emotions and is overall a very entertaining trip through space and other planets. 

If you like space stories (like Star Trek) and Romeo and Juliet love sagas, you'll love this. My favorite was how the author delicately wove love into it, and what the protagonists did in the name of love (even if the love isn't well founded and super believable). 3.8 stars and rated PG.

Here's a link: http://amzn.to/1N3RbxO

BOOK REVIEW: Wicked Luck by Shannon L. Maynard

BOOK REVIEW: Wicked Luck by Shannon L. Maynard

"How can Ava Starr's worst nightmare be Dax Miller's dream come true?"

The story starts when Ava washes to shore on the island Dax had been deserted on for three years. They discover they're childhood friends and Dax had been hoping to find her again for the past 10 years. They also find, through a briefcase that washes to shore, that those in Ava's life may be out to get her. All while discovering their feelings for each other and trying to avoid the wrath of the local cannibals.

This book has romance and intrigue, a fun morsel any teen would enjoy. I know the teen girl in me didn't want to put it down. I'll definitely be watching out for the sequel! Rated PG and 4.3 stars.