Scavenger Hunt Begins

  By Arial Burnz | June 17, 2013 - 12:01 am | ,
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BBB03_puzzlereveal03Let the Hunt Begin!

The trumpeting of the horns blare across the glen and the hounds are off! Galloping over hill and dale on the hunt for…puzzle pieces?

Yes! Help me assemble the puzzle pieces to my cover for a chance to win some fun prizes and meet new fans and authors of paranormal romance!

The Midnight Hunt Scavenger Hunt Cover Reveal will tour around various locations connected with my internet presence as well as readers and authors who love paranormal romance! Keep returning to this page for updates on where the latest pieces can be found and watch the cover assemble through the tour.

What’s the book about?

Midnight Hunt is the third book in the Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles. If you’d like to read a blurb on the story, click here. This book will open readers to my version of werewolves and also has witches. Additionally, there will be more revealed about the prophecy storyline.

Where To Find the Pieces

Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE and FOLLOW where you can so you can get the latest updates on puzzle piece locations. The hashtag on Twitter for the Scavenger Hunt will be #BBB03HUNT. You can find clues and links to the puzzle pieces at my various internet locations:

Character Appearances

Broderick MacDougal - Bonded By Blood Vampire ChroniclesBroderick MacDougal and Angus Campbell have been known to make appearances at the blogs where I’ve been a guest. You never know when one of those rogues is going to show their true colors…or what’s under their kilts!! They’re more likely to come out if you leave them questions to answer. Don’t be shy! They’re not!

James Knightly (Model: David Gandy)However, James Knightly is! He’s the hero in Book 2 – Midnight Captive. I’m throwing out the gauntlet…who can coax this gentle rogue out into the open??

And we need to hear from the ladies! Davina MacDougal, my heroine from Midnight Conquest (Book 1), and her daughter Cailin, all grown up and the heroine in Book 2, have yet to come out and play. And we have a newcomer…Monika Konrad, my heroine from Midnight Hunt (Book 3), due to release in July! *crosses fingers*

Scavenger Hunt Stops

A hearty THANK YOU to all the wonderful people of the blogs and websites who are hosting the pieces for my cover reveal. MWAH! Please be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW and show them some lovin’ wherever you can. You might meet new friends and discover new books! (Hint: If you follow their blogs, sites, Twitter, etc., you can be notified when they post a puzzle piece!) Pieces will be posted in the order and on the dates as follows:

  1. Laura Kaye, NYTimes and USAToday bestselling author – June 17 - Click to Tweet
  2. Arial’s Facebook Page - June 18 - Click to Tweet
  3. Paranormal Cravings e-Magazine - June 19 – Click to Tweet
  4. Arial’s Google+ Profile - June 20
  5. Catherine Winters - Paranormal Author of BLACK - June 21
  6. Happy Indulgence - Book Reviews & Gaming Blog – June 22
  7. A Little Bit of R&R - Book Reviews by Ren – June 23
  8. Sharon Buchbinder - Paranormal Romance Author – June 24
  9. Arial on GoodReads - June 25
  10. M. Sembera – Reading, Writing & Everything In Between Review Blog – June 26
  11. Vonnie Davis - Romance Author – June 27
  12. RomFan Reviews – June 28
  13. Ari Thatcher - Paranormal Author – June 29
  14. Arial’s Pinterest Boards - June 30 (Hint: You might have to HUNT for the piece a little)
  15. The Bookish Brunette - Official Zombie Craze Hostess – July 1 & final cover reveal

How To Play

The Midnight Hunt cover has been split into fifteen puzzle pieces and will appear at a different blogs and websites (listed above) each day from June 17 through July 1, 2013.

To Enter the Giveaway

All you have to do is collect the puzzle codes posted with the pieces and email me at arial (at) arialburnz (dot) com when all the pieces have been revealed, which will be by July 1, 2013. Please be sure to include “BBB SCAVENGER HUNT” in the subject line of your e-mail. I’ll be posting links on Google+, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter with #bbb03hunt, so be sure to LIKE and FOLLOW me so you know where to find the pieces! All puzzle piece locations will also be listed here with links.

On or about July 8, 2013, I will select four random winners from the eligible entries for the following prizes:

  • Grand Prize: Signed paperback copy of Midnight Hunt, signed swag cards & romance trading cards (RTCs), and $20 Amazon/B&N Gift Card (winner’s choice)
  • 1st - $15 Amazon/B&N Gift Card (winner’s choice)
  • 2nd - $10 Amazon/B&N Gift Card (winner’s choice)
  • 3rd - $5 Amazon/B&N Gift Card (winner’s choice)

How will you know if you’ve won?

Winners for each prize package will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received from July 1 through July 7, 2013. Winners will be notified via the e-mail they used to submit their entry on or about July 8, 2013. See all Official Rules.

Midnight Hunt – Scavenger Hunt Cover Reveal

  By Arial Burnz | May 28, 2013 - 5:32 pm | , , , , ,
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BBB03_emptyWe’re goin’ on a scavenger hunt…

For the pieces to the puzzle that will complete the cover of my next novel MIDNIGHT HUNT!

Join me and a number of wonderful authors and reader bloggers on a cover reveal tour like you’ve never seen! Each piece of the cover will be revealed and the entire cover assembled at the end of the tour on July 1st.

  • Tour Dates: June 17th – July 1st
  • Cover Reveal: July 1st
  • Tour Locations: author blogs, reader blogs and various stops around the World Wide Web, such as my Facebook author page, my Google+ page and other related sites
  • Prizes will include…
    • Grand Prize: Signed paperback copy of Midnight Hunt, swag cards & RTC and $20 Amazon/B&N Gift Card
    • 1st - $15 Amazon/B&N Gift Card
    • 2nd - $10 Amazon/B&N Gift Card
    • 3rd - $5 Amazon/B&N Gift Card

Once the tour begins, I’ll post a white cover space with the first piece and a link to where you can find it. As the tour progresses, I’ll be updating the graphic and the link to location of the next piece. Each piece will have a number/code. At the end of the tour, participants will send me an e-mail with all the puzzle codes to be entered into the final drawing. Contest rules will be posted closer to the date. Click here to see a calendar of this and other upcoming events.

Wanna Host a Piece of the Puzzle??

I still have some dates open for the blog tour, so if you’re an author or a book blogger and want to host one of the pieces, please contact me ASAP to get booked: arial (at) arialburnz (dot) com. Slots are filling up fast! I have 15 pieces to reveal and many are already spoken for!

I’m Falling in Love…with Google+

  By Arial Burnz | May 25, 2013 - 11:35 pm | , , ,
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Facebook SucksYes, I’m going to publicly confess…I’ve never really been a fan of Facebook. But as a writer, it’s a necessity to use the darn social media networking tool. My biggest beef is all the changes they keep doing. The YouTube video “A Facebook Update In Real Life” says it all. That’s EXACTLY how it feels when Facebook changes something. However, if it wasn’t for Facebook, I probably never be in contact with my relatives back in Chicago. It’s really the only interaction I have with them. And I have indeed met a lot of WONDERFUL people in the publishing world. So many awesome readers and fans and authors and *sigh*. Love all the people I’ve connected with.But it’s not the people that make Facebook suck. It’s the interface and all the bloody ads.

I love Google+Now Google+ (aka Google Plus, G+ or GPlus) will be celebrating a 2-year anniversary come June 28th, so admittedly I’ve been a little slow in getting on board. Yes, I’ve heard it went through an embarrassing launch and there were a lot of bugs to work out…so did Facebook. And I know it’s changed it’s interface, even very recently…so has Facebook…many, many, many times (see previously referenced YouTube video). But I just really started using G+ in the last month or so…and OMG I’m really liking it.

There is indeed a learning curve, especially since I’ve been using FB for a few years. You don’t go to someone else’s wall and post something. You actually post it all on YOUR G+ profile page, but address it to either individuals or groups or even a community. That was a little scary at first because I wasn’t sure if I just shared my latest endeavor of shopping for panties with one of my girlfriends…or if it was out there dangling in the breeze for everyone to see. Lucky for everyone, it was a private post.

What do I love about Google+?

Well, that’s the kind of embarrassing part. I don’t know! I just do! I like the way the individual posted messages flip around like, well…a card. I think that’s what they’re called. It’s just freakin’ neat! And they have these communities you can join where people share like-minded ideas. Yeah, FB has Groups you can create, but the interaction just seems cleaner and more organized…without all the ads…in G+. It’s bizarre. I go to Facebook and I can almost hear the din of activity and noise traveling through cyberspace. I get to Google+…ahhhhhh! Blessed silence.

The one thing I think I can nail down about what I like about Google+ are the Circles. It’s soooooo much easier to share information with a whole group of people or a community when you have your connections sorted into these Circles. They’re so easy to sort, too. Just drag and drop. And you can have the same person in many Circles.

In FB, they do indeed have lists you can add people to when you become friends…but then what? I can’t use them when I want to send a message to all my reader friends or to my writer friends. It’s crazy! Create a list for what purpose? Of course, I could be using it wrong. But here’s the point…I’ve been using G+ for a month and I already know how to do that. I’ve been on FB for over 4 years…no clue.

So that’s my rant for the day. Anyone else getting into G+ and have some fun tips to share? I’m new, so I’m eager to learn new ways of using the fun social media interface.

That’s my two pence… Arial ;)

Audio Books Narrated by Arial Burnz

  By Arial Burnz | May 21, 2013 - 5:27 pm | , ,
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I’m so excited to announce that I have done the narration for two of Victoria Vane’s Devil DeVere Series! They’re Georgian erotic romance and they are just delightful! You can buy them either at Audible.com or Amazon.com. Below are the links and blurbs. And if you’re interested in having me narrate YOUR books, visit my ACX profile to hear audio samples.

A Wild Night's Bride - Book 1 of The Devil DeVere Audio Book

A Wild Night’s Bride

Buy Links: Amazon | Audible | iTunes

With the devil in charge, there will surely be hell to pay…

What happens when a struggling actress and a grieving widower come together in a night of unbridled debauchery orchestrated by a bored and machinating rake?

She’s a lonely lady down on her luck…Phoebe Scott, alias Kitty Willis, is a struggling Covent Garden actress with a bruised heart and a closely guarded secret.

He’s steadfast and eminently respectable…Sir Edward Chambers, Ned to his intimates, is guilt-ridden over his beloved wife’s death and has avowed to live out a rustic and mundane life…of celibacy.

Devil-in-disguise Viscount Ludovic DeVere is determined to return his best friend, Ned, to the land of the living. His meddling machinations result in a night of mind-blowing passion after which “Dull Dog Ned” awakes to find himself in the King of England’s bed!

The Virgin Huntress - Book 2 of The Devil DeVere Audio Book

The Virgin Huntress

Buy Links: Amazon | Audible

Desperate times call for devilish measures.

When the object of one’s passion has eyes for another…it’s time to take matters in hand!

Lady Vesta Chambers is accustomed to getting what she wants…and what she wants is Captain Hewett DeVere…. Coddled and pampered since her mother’s death, Lady Vesta Chambers is beside herself when her father goes to London to prepare for her come-out and returns with a young bride of his own. With her world turned upside down, Vesta accompanies her godmother, Diana, to town where she is smitten the moment she lays eyes on a certain captain of the 17th Light Dragoons. But when the object of her passion has eyes for another….

Captain Hewett DeVere, younger brother and heir to Viscount Ludovic “The Devil” DeVere, has returned from the American war scarred, disillusioned, and looking forward to settling down to a quiet and respectable life. But when the handsome and straight-laced captain turns his eyes toward the widowed Diana, Vesta is prepared to take devilish measures to prove to Hew that she is no longer a little girl, but a woman with the passion of…a huntress.

Note: This is the second book in an ongoing award-winning series.

Where Are Arial’s Audio Books???

Nandana's Mark - Audio Book coming soonYes, I know! I’ve had many friends and fans asking me when I’m going to narrate my own books. I promise, I’ll be working on them very soon. Right now I have one other audio book I need to record for Heidi Garrett titled Nandana’s Mark. It’s a lovely YA fantasy and I can’t wait to record it! However, I’m still getting over bronchitis and fear it may have developed into walking pneumonia. Don’t worry, I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow morning to get checked out. I hope to have my normal voice back again in a few days. *crosses fingers*

Once my voice is back to normal, I’ll be recording her book and my own. In the meantime, I’m plugging away at writing Book 3 – Midnight Hunt! I have a tentative release date of July 19th, 2013 for both print and eBook. Be sure to join my mailing list so you can be notified when it’s released.

That’s my two pence…

Arial ;)

“Vampire” through History

  By Arial Burnz | May 16, 2013 - 6:07 pm | , ,
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London – 1582

London_night_448x300A fog crept in from the Thames, gliding through the streets like a phantom, shrouding the darkened alleyways between the tanneries, breweries and slaughterhouses…a perfect place to hide. Tucked into the shadows, a cloaked figure stood, listening. Staggering footsteps clicked against the cobblestones and feminine laughter fluttered against the high walls of the surrounding industry buildings.

The dark figure stepped from the shadows, seized her by the shoulders and whirled her into the doorway. Her eyes as wide as saucers, she gasped as he opened his mouth, revealing his fangs. “Wha-what are you?” she shrieked.

“I’m a…” He paused. “Well, I’m a…” He scratched his head.

Go ahead…I know you want to finish the sentence. He’s a vampire, right? Actually, as you read above, it’s 1582 and the word vampire didn’t exist. That’s right! Vampire from French or Vampir from German didn’t make it into the written language until 1734; or 1732, in an account of Hungarian vampires, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. Dictionary.com says 1725-35 for the German Vampir, so it depends on your sources.

Vampire-like creatures have existed for centuries in a multitude of cultures, but they more resembled demons and spirits or walking, bloated corpses. Not the hot, sexy, intelligent and alluring creatures of the night that fascinate modern culture today. And they definitely didn’t sparkle. Imagine my dismay when I started writing my Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles—which starts in 1486, and the back story even earlier—and learned I couldn’t use the word vampire! Well…I had to come up with something!

The number one question I get about my vampires is, “Why did you call them Vamsyrians?” Obviously, the above was my motivation. I chose to create a word that could easily morph into vampire through the years…and that’s exactly what some of my readers have done by mispronouncing it by adding a “P” where none exists—vamp-seer-ee-an. It’s already on its way to morphing!

That’s my two pence…

Arial ;)

Guest Spot on Bathsheba Dailey’s Blog

  By Arial Burnz | May 12, 2013 - 10:48 pm | , , ,
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I am very honored to be featured on Bathsheba Dailey’s Blog! And she’s as cute as a button, too! Please be sure to stop by and leave a comment or say hello. We did a fun, short little interview. She’s been very helpful in spreading the word about my Mother’s Day book promotion and chatting with people about my books.

A little about Bathsheba:

Bathsheba Dailey

I’ve just met Bathsheba, and in the short amount of time I’ve come to know her, she’s shown herself to be a courageous woman, being a single mom and raising three girls, and gifted with a loving heart. She’s a talented writer, too. She has a new book coming out soon, which I cannot wait to get my hands on, titled Five Year Old Death. Please click on the link or the cover to read the description and learn more about her story.
As always, please show your support of indie authors by LIKING and SHARING where you can and as much as you can. Readers will only know about us if we help each other spread the word.

Thank you!!

That’s my two pence…

Arial ;)

Mother’s Day Giveaway!

  By Arial Burnz | May 11, 2013 - 1:40 pm | , ,
4 Comments

FREE Book for Mother’s Day

If Mom likes historical romance with a paranormal twist – or you think she’d like to give it a try – she just might love my Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles. Maybe YOU’RE a mom and would like to sample hot men in kilts with fangs!

The ebook version of Midnight Captive - Book 2 – is FREE all Mother’s Day weekend. What’s that you say? Neither she or you has read Midnight Conquest - Book 1? Perfect! The ebook version of Book 1 is only 99 cents.

Here’s how to can get both ebooks:

Share to Win!

We indie authors are nothing without our readers! If you help me spread the word, you could win a signed, trade paperback copy of both Midnight Conquest AND Midnight Captive. You will be entered into the drawing for each of the following. The more you do, the more chances you have to win.

  • If you’re not already on my mailing list, fill out the form in the sidebar – 1 entry.
  • LIKE my Facebook Page - 1 entry. Everyone who LIKES my Facebook Page this weekend will be entered into the drawing.
  • Share my Facebook page with friends and family – 1 entry for each share (please make sure the SHARE privacy settings are set for PUBLIC or I won’t see who shared)
  • Follow me on Twitter: @arialburnz - 1 entry
  • Retweet any of my tweets for my Mother’s Day Promo. Look for the hashtag #BBBMom - 1 entry for each RT.

I’m giving away TWO SETS of my novels. The two winners will be drawn on Monday, May 13th. Depending on how you participated, I will contact you through e-mail, Facebook or Twitter to obtain your shipping address and for your personalized inscription in the books.

Thank you for helping me spread the word and supporting indie authors!!

Help Stop E-Book Pirating

  By Arial Burnz | May 5, 2013 - 11:19 am | ,
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E-Book Pirating is a Problem

I just found a pirated version of one of my writer friends’ novels. Just as her friend, I felt violated and protective of her hard work. I know what she went through to publish that novel and it’s disheartening to see others trying to make money off of someone else’s sweat and tears. And contrary to popular belief, unless an author is selling tens of thousands of copies of their books, authors do not make a lot of money. For my friend, this is her sole source of income right now along with unemployment and she’s a single mom. Every penny counts for her.

Pirating is an ongoing struggle for any person in the creative industries – people selling illegal copies of artwork, fiction, music, etc. for their own profit and at the expense of the creative individual. Though it’s impossible to stop all such activities, our combined efforts – as readers, authors and publishers – can work together to stop what we do find.

FBI Piracy WarningPirating is Illegal

According to the FBI, pirating software, music, movies and books (among other things) is a punishable offense of “up to 5 years in federal prison and fine of $250,000.” Ouch!

But if you’re an author and you find your books being pirated, what can you do? Report it!

Report Pirating

ic3_logo

Why not go directly to the people who have the resources to stop pirating? The Internet Crime Complaint Center (iC3) is that resource! Who’s that? As quoted from their About Us page: “The IC3 was established as a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) to serve as a means to receive Internet related criminal complaints and to further research, develop, and refer the criminal complaints to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement and/or regulatory agencies for any investigation they deem to be appropriate.”

Whew! Quite the mouthful…but they’re a powerful ally. If you see artistic work being pirated somewhere, please be sure to inform the author immediately and you can provide the above link for their reference so they can report the pirating directly. You can also post on Facebook, Twitter and other social media what website and individual is in violation of that piracy, warning friends and family.

Thank you for protecting the hard work we authors put into our stories.

That’s my two pence…

Arial ;)

 

Bonded By Blood Series Now Available in Print!

  By Arial Burnz | April 1, 2013 - 1:28 pm |
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Woo hoo! For those of my readers who love to have a book in their hand, with the scent of print and paper accompanying their reading experience, my books Midnight Conquest (Bk 1) and Midnight Captive (Bk 2) are now available in print!

Buy them directly through my CreateSpace store by clicking on the covers. Book 1 is already listed on Amazon. Book 2 should be showing up in a few days.

BBB01_Redesign_3DBBB0_3D

That’s my two pence…

Arial ;)

Guest Spot: Laura Kaye’s Book Cover Reveal

  By Arial Burnz | March 25, 2013 - 8:15 pm |
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Book Release: “Hard as it Gets” by Laura Kaye

Ooooo! I feel so special! The fabulous–and such a SWEET PEA–Laura Kaye has a book release cover reveal I’m excited to share. HOT cover and so excited for her!!! Ready? *drum roll…..cymbal crash*

HardAsItGets final

Did I say HOT or what!?!

Blurb:

Tall, dark, and lethal…

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey’s tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome-pure catnip to a very jaded Nick. He’s left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander’s daughter. Loyalty won’t let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn’t expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge…
—————————-

Here’s the best part…you get to pre-order Laura Kaye’s latest book release!!! Check it out:

Amazon Kindle Pre-Order:
http://www.amazon.com/Hard-As-Gets-Ink-ebook/dp/B00BATNM50/ref=la_B004XMNF6W_1_4_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1363991714&sr=1-4

Amazon Paperback Pre-Order:
http://www.amazon.com/Hard-As-It-Gets-Ink/dp/0062267884/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1363991714&sr=1-4

Nook Pre-Order Coming Soon:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-as-it-gets-laura-kaye/1114298655

Add to Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17331433-hard-as-it-gets

Laura KayeAbout Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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