Belle Whittington
Serial daydreamer, Inkslinger, Author of YA Paranormal Novels, Shopaholic, and Professional Nerd.Join me as I begin my journey to publication. Here, I will post articles of interest, blogs, and interviews pertaining to Indie Publishing.
Check out a sample of my novel, CICADA, posted on my "About My Writing" page. I've also got some CICADA short stories posted here, as well.
Thank you for stopping by! Let's follow each other! :-)
-
Pg. 254 of David Markson’s copy of Forces in Modern British Literature: 1885-1946 by William York Tindall:
On which Markson placed the text of...
-
My tumblr is one today.
Tempus, as they say, fugit.
-
-
Currently Reading
I was suppose to read 13 reasons why by Jay Asher but i really had a hard time reading it cause i just have the copy...
-
Day 7: FIREFLY Book Blog Tour! #fireflybookblogtour YEEHAW, Peeps! Have you been following along? It’s not too late to participate in all sorts of fun activities and earn chances to win some really neato SWAG!! Not to mention signed PAPERBACKS! Oh, my!
Pop over to these blogs today to read reviews, guests posts and enter the madness that is the FIREFLY Book Blog Tour! And please show these blogs some luvvvv!
http://nerdydino.blogspot.com/2013/03/firefly-by-belle-whittington.html
http://luckybooks12.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/firefly-book-blog-tour-book-trailer-giveaways-part-three/
Blurb:
Summertime for Blair Reynolds and her friends had always been carefree and fun…until the summer they happened upon something that was not human. As they band together in a fight for their lives, Blair’s true love becomes something more than human. Something unnatural. And their entire survival depends upon their ability to keep a secret.
My Review of Cicada:
I loved this story! It is not your usual paranormal fantasy story. Throw in some intriguing sci-fi and it blows you away! It is told from the point of view of Blair Reynolds as she hangs out with her older friends as they enjoy their carefree youthful lives. In the summer, things start happening around them that can’t be explained. Together they must fight for eachother’s lives, accept changes to come and ultimately find each of their fates.It was refreshing not to read about werewolves, vampires and the like. This introduces a more scifi element with aliens. Or is it? Belle throws a spin on the legends of crop circles, lights in the sky and even the tale of twins. I loved the suspense, the realism and the smooth writing that kept me engrossed and turning each page. The story fuses reality and the unknown easily but leaves you with enough mystery that you are attached to the characters and story until the very end. I look forward to the next installment, the end was definitely left wide open for another one. I can’t wait!5 out of 5 stars!I received this book from the author for an honest review for her blog tour.
Summertime for Blair Reynolds and her friends had always been carefree and fun…until the summer they happened upon something that was not human. As they band together in a fight for their lives, Blair’s true love becomes something more than human. Something unnatural. And their survival depends entirely upon their ability to keep a secret.
First off, I’d like to thank you for having me over to your lovely blog for a lemonade and a chat! I look forward to getting to know your readers and followers.
Like most authors, I love listening to great music while writing. There are so many talented musicians that inspire me while daydreaming and writing my stories. I thought I’d share my inspiration play lists with your lovely readers. :-)
Another thing I think readers might like to know is that I have a favorite song that fits the mood for each one of the books in the trilogy! Want to hear the unofficial theme song to each book? Here goes!
· Cicada: The Resistance
· Firefly: Cosmic Love
· Third (yet unnamed book): Electric Feel
There’s even a song for Everett
Click here to read the rest, listen to the music, and show this beautiful blog some luuuvvvv!!!!
Please Welcome Author Belle Whittington!
May 25, 2012 by nicolestorey
Today, I am honored to join in on a wonderful blog tour for my dear friend and fellow author, Belle Whittington! This post is part of the exciting blog tour hosted by Megan at Reading Away the Days: http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com/
I encourage you all to follow along on Megan’s wonderful blog! She offers so much to readers and writers!
Belle’s book, Cicada, was one of the first I reviewed when I started my blog. You can read the review here! I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for her second book in this series, Firefly! So, to give you a little taste of what the book is about, here is the blurb!
Summertime for Blair Reynolds and her friends had always been carefree and fun… until the summer they happened upon something that was not human. As they band together in a fight for their lives, Blair’s true love becomes something more than human. Something unnatural. And their survival depends entirely upon their ability to keep a secret.Sounds awesome, right? Trust me – it is WAY more than awesome! Check out the book trailer on Youtube!
Tiffany has written a lovely, heartfelt review of Cicada on her gorgeous blog! Pop over and check out her assessment! While you are there, don’t forget to show her some bloggy love in the comments! <3 Click here to spread the luvvv!
Summer time for Blair Reynolds and her friends had always been care free and fun… until the summer they happened upon something that was not human. As they band together in a fight for their lives, Blair’s true love becomes something more than human. Something unnatural. And their survival depends entirely upon their ability to keep a secret.
This book was surprising in so many ways. I have a very fragile relationship with the entire not human thing. However Belle Whittington has created a well written and intriguing story. There wasn’t a point where I felt it was too much or got board with the story. The characters were so realistic and believable and to be honest the story was more about them than anything. I think that was one of the biggest things for me, that the story wasn’t just about “It” but about the secrets and what was going on in their lives. That’s not to say that “It”didn’t make the story but more so that it didn’t run it.“This story takes place in an outwardly unimportant little town.Looks can be deceiving.”Blair is the baby of the group. She has always hung out with her older brothers friends and this summer everyone is getting ready to say good bye. That’s kind of how everything starts. Being out on Blair and her brothers grand parents farm when things take an odd turn. Blair is having nightmares and you only get bits and pieces of what they are but they are a piece of the puzzle that I grasped every time.“I woke up screaming. Not because of the dream, but because someonewas shaking me and telling me to wake up.”You can’t help but feel a little of what each of the characters feel. I would like to be like Everett but I think my reaction would be to freak out like Natalie. I honestly love that these teens are just regular teens. They aren’t the rich and famous or the popular people, they are just a tight group of friends. There is a little bit of everything in the group and everyone seems to support one another for the most part. I would like to say 100% of the time but when you read it you will understand why in certain moments they don’t. The summer leaves them all changed and really there is no way to go back.“I’ve been thinking about something,” she checked her makeup in themirror. ”I’ve been wondering which one of us is the real Cicada.”Biggest thing with this book is that I wanted more at times. By this I mean I wanted a little more in way of explanations for things. For the most part I was good but the things that I felt were missing could have changed this into an epic book. With that said I must mention that I had no desire to put this book down and got irritated when I had to put it down to do things. I can’t wait to get Firefly and continue on with this sci-fi/paranormal/mystery.
1) Can you tell readers a bit about yourself- your writing history/journey your novel(s)?
First of all, I’d like to thank you for having me over to your lovely blog for a glass of lemonade and a chat! I’m so happy to have a chance to get to know you and your readers!
I suppose I’ve been writing stories for as long as I could put a sentence together on paper. Before that, I was daydreaming stories. Nowadays, I still daydream stories, weaving them in my mind and heart until they feel alive. Then they find their way through my fingertips and onto the page.
Part of my writing journey has been fueled by my love of literature. Reading a beautiful, ancient heroic ballad, such as Beowulf, or a well-written contemporary novel, such asHunger Games, is like eating a large slice of the best chocolate cake in the world!
And so, with my love of weaving words and daydreaming worlds into reality, writing has become a natural part of my heart and soul.
My YA Paranormal Sci-Fi novel, Cicada, was released last July, and boy has it been a wild ride! Cicada has developed sort of a cult following, and I love my readers! Cicada is the first of a trilogy. Firefly, book two, will be released late this summer (‘Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, as the old folks here in Texas say!). I included the first few chapters ofFirefly at the end of Cicada, so readers will have a little something to whet their appetites! Check out the book trailer for Cicada and let me know what you think! I love getting message from my readers, and I always respond!
Click here to read the rest and show this lovely blog some love by leaving a comment! <3
Check out the video and see how you can enter the t-shirt contest which is international!
The rules are:
It must be Cicada-themed
You can’t use any part of the book cover art
It’s open to international contestants
The deadline is June 30th, so you’ll have time to read Cicada and have an idea of what the book’s about
The winner will receive the t-shirt you’ve designed, and your design will be made available in the online store that I’ll be opening up later this summer.
Send your designs to cicadatshirt@ymail.com
Good luck and have fun!
bellewhittington.com
Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Cicada by Belle Whittington
Welcome to Author Belle WhittingtonBelle resides somewhere north of Houston, Texas in a small inconsequential town with the smallest most inconsequential name. There, in the shady reaches of the pines, elms, and oaks, she daydreams of adventures and secrets that she weaves throughout her stories. As a student of literature, Belle is earning her degree in English at the University of Houston. She hopes to teach literature at the college level some day.
Links:
Website: http://bellewhittington.com/
Goodreads Page:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5046101.Belle_Whittington
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/BelleWhittington.Author
Tumblr: http://bellewhittington.tumblr.com/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/AuthorofCicada
GUEST POST:Everyone tweets these days, and apparently my characters are no exception. I thought I’d share a twitter feed with you all so you can get a glimpse into a tiny portion of time in my character’s lives.Here goes! Let the tweeting begin!@BugDoc (Everett F.)@Equestrian (Blair R.)@AndrewR (Andrew R.)@WillisWildKat (David H.)@CheerGirl (Natalie)@Sprinkles (Mom)AndrewR: @BugDoc @Equestrian @WillisWildKat @CheerGirl Burgers at the Sonic in 1 hr?WillisWildKat: @AndrewR Sounds good to me. I’ll be the one in the cement truck!Equestrian: @AndrewR Can u pick me up from Grandpa’s?BugDoc: @AndrewR I’ll walk over from work. Give me a ride home ltr?AndrewR: @BugDoc No prob. Gotta pick up @Equestrian at the ranchCheerGirl: @AndrewR Meet y’all there!WillisWildKat: @CheerGirl Need a ride, babe?CheerGirl: @WillisWildKat Sorry…gotta pick up cap and gown. Have 2 meet u there :-(
Today is the second day of the Cicada blog tour!! To check out yesterdays post head on over to Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands! I’ve got a giveaway and a excerpt and a couple other details to share with you guys! Isn’t that cover just so pretty though?!?!?EXCERPT:The dark feeling inside me was twining its way out from the core of my being, winding its tentacles around my ribs. My fingers were quivering, and I pushed my hands deeper into my pockets so no one else would see.I glanced to my right and caught the terrified expression in Natalie’s big blue eyes. She was standing as close to David as possible without wrapping her arms around him. David’s eyes were squinting slightly as he looked into the fire, and I noticed that his brow was furrowed. Andrew was as still as a statue, his eyes still on Grandpa, but I could see that he was wondering … wondering … it scared me when he wondered …
Hop on over to Kate’s gorgeous blog and ENTER THE GIVEAWAY! While you are there, don’t forget to show her blog some love!!!
Today is May 14th and do you know what that means??? It is the OFFICIAL kick off for the Cicada Blog Tour! I am so excited to be a part of this tour which is hosted by the lovely Megan @ Reading Away The Days! This tour runs from today until May 27th with lots of fun posts, reviews, and perhaps a giveaway or two! So without further ado, let’s learn about this great, little book!
{Book Tour: Review} with Cicada by Belle Whittington
Seeing Night Reviews is the next stop in The Teen Book Scene Tour for Cicada by Belle Whittington.
Cicada by Belle Whittington
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Aliens
RECEIVED: Review Request for Book Tour
AUTHORS BLOG: Belle Whittingtons Site
Cicada
Goodreads rating: 4.22 (51 ratings)
BLURB:Summertime for Blair Reynolds and her friends had always been carefree and fun…until the summer they happened upon something that was not human. As they band together in a fight for their lives, Blair’s true love becomes something more than human. Something unnatural. And their survival depends entirely upon their ability to keep a secret.
REVIEW:
I didn’t know what to expect with Cicada the synopsis caught my attention right away and the cover didn’t give much of a hit of what to expect. But I truly enjoyed this one of a kind young adult novel. Finally! A book without the usual paranormal creatures and a plot that just kept on making me guess. Though the beginning was a bit slow for me, when it started picking up I couldn’t put this book down.
Blair Reynolds lives in a small town and she is about to start summer with her friends. But it’s a summer that not only is their last together before college, it’s a summer filled with secrets after finding something that know one would ever believe.
Blair is dealing with being the only one a year younger than her friends and brother, all who are going to start college in the fall. Everything started out normal for them all until Blair and her friends discover crop circles in their hometown. Blair is a young girl who lost two people in her family and is struggling with their loss. But her strength starts to show its face once the discovery of this creature is discovered and a friend becomes in danger.
Click here to read the rest and show this blog some luuuuvvvvv!!!!! <3
Pop on over to Larkin’s Book Bloggers to ENTER THE GIVEAWAY for an AUTOGRAPHED PAPERBACK of Cicada!
Once you’ve done that, hop over to my FB fanpage to ENTER THE GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY!!!
As part of Teen Book Scene’s Author and Book Tour, we are pleased to host Belle Whittington today! Belle is the author of the new novel, Cicada. Don’t forget, we’re running a contest to win a signed copy of Cicada – enter below! Belle will be answering some Author This or Thats – one of my favorites. Welcome, Belle!
1. TV Junkie or Music Junkie? I’m not either, really. I guess I’d be more of a book junkie! LOL! But if I had to choose from these two, I would be closer to a music junkie.
2. Facebook or Twitter? Facebook
3. Coke or Pepsi? Coke
4. Tropical beach vacation or cabin in the woods vacation? Tropical Beach Vacation
5. Addicted to your smart phone or what’s a smart phone? What the devil is a smart phone?
6. Email or snail mail? Email
7. Cats or dogs? Doggies!
8. Rock or pop or country? Rock (especially alternative rock)
9. Red Sox or Yankees (I know, you’re from Texas – but this is an important question up here in New England)? I’m speechless and I hear crickets chirping in the background. I’m a nerd. I don’t have an answer to this question… I don’t even follow sports in Texas! LOL!
You can find Belle at her website – http://bellewhittington.com/
Thank you Belle!
