June 27, 2012

The Liebster Blog Award







The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers and Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

The rules:

1.Each person must post 10 facts about themselves
2.Answer 10 questions the tagger has given you and give 10 questions for the people you’ve tagged.
3.Choose 10 people and link them in your post.
4.Tell them you’ve tagged them.
5.Remember, no tag backs.

Okay. Wow. Ten facts about me:
1. I LOVE to sleep! My dreams are the most amazing and are like watching movies in my head all night. I never know where I am going to go, who I will be or what kind of cool stuff I will get into. Even the nightmares are amazing.
2. I am a movie fanatic! My kinds have this standing order that they are to put Feature Presentation on my grave stone. They are my two favorite words in the world. Of course you never hear that anymore, but when I grew up you watched all kinds of previews and then they said: And now for our Feature Presentation. Awesome.
3. All I ever wanted out of life was a porch you could sit on and watch the rain without getting wet and an island in my kitchen. I still have neither. Someday.
4.I love my family and am a compound kind of person. I want some land and each kid gets a house and the back doors all face in to each other and create a huge shared patio area with a pool and hot tub. Then we see each other every day, but have our seperate lives as well.
5.I am a travelholic, a gypsy or a nomand. Take your pick. I love to go to new places and see new things. I don't like to stay in one place for too long. Don't mind having a home base. But like to go places.
6. I hate to read outloud because to me my voice sounds stupid. I can talk in public all day, just don't ask me to read.
7.I love the water. The ocean, a pool, hot tub, water fall. I love water.
8.I wouldn't mind living in a hut on the beach. Of course I would prefer a nice house with a great porch to watch the ocean, but I would settle for a hut just to live at the beach.
 9. I love Wavy Lays potato chips best. Especially with some pico de gallo! And a glass of milk. Yummy.
10. I am afraid to write some of the things my brain comes up with. Probably would be best sellers, but not my cup of tea. It creeps me out that my mind could go there. That was why I never tried drugs when I was growing up. The monsters in my head are too scary to be unleashed by LSD or some other crap!


Questions asked of me:
1. How long have you been blogging for? Just since my book House On Butcher Harbor came out.
2. Why did you start up a blog?
Because I had just self-published a book and wanted to get the word out. 
3. What has been your weirdest experience with blogging? People not leaving comments. I leave comments on everything I read. I am blown away by the number of people who don't comment on anything, good or bad.
4. What is your favourite book? The Andromeda Strain. I realized this when Ray Bradbury died and it made me wonder what book would I be if I had to or could be a book. I would want to be this book.
5. Who is your favourite author? So many. I always thought it was Steinbeck, but since Andromeda is my favorite book I guess I would have to say that Michael Crichton.
6. What do you want to be when you grow up/what is your profession? My day job is actually a night job. I pull third shift at a convenience store. I have always wanted to be and an now a writer. It just isn't paying the bills right now.
7. How many books do you think you might have? I get new ideas for books in everything I do everyday. For instance we visited a cave you toured in a boat and by the middle of the tour I had outlined to my son an entire novel based on this cave. Or people walk into the store to buy something and I get a certain vibe from them and can build an a novel around that. It drives my family crazy.
8. Do you prefer reading a proper book or a ebook? I prefer a paperback book over an e-reader, but you can carry around a lot more books on an ereader if you are say going on vacation.So both have their merits. Plus ebooks are cheaper to buy so you can buy more books! Except that there are no .25 yard sale ebooks for sale that I am aware of.
9. If you could choose to live one character's life in a book, who would it be?
Oh I would have to be Claire Templeton. Then I would be in line to marry the handsome and amazing Deputy Dogg!10. If you were stranded on a desert island what 10 items would you want to have with you?
My husband, my two boys and their girls.My laptop, camera, cell phone, food, and an unlimited battery or charging supply! Yes, I would need to be dialed in.

Her are my nominees:
http://authoradduling.blogspot.com
http://bookblogs.ning.com/profiles/profile/show?id=SageAdderley
http://swansandcygnets.blogspot.com
http://notpeppery.blogspot.com
http://ultrachick.blogspot.com
http://rhepoems.blogspot.com
http://nlkamper.blogspot.com
http://liveonmission.blogspot.com
http://mel121.blogspot.com
http://margie-miller.blogspot.com
Good Luck to everyone!

Guest Post by Tricia Stewart Shiu

Please enjoy this guest post by Tricia Stewart Shiu, author of the paranormal YA novel with a literary bent Moa. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $6000 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, 5 autographed copies of Moa, and 5 autographed copies of its sequel, Statue of Ku.

The Story Behind Moa
by Tricia Shiu

I’ve always loved Hawaii and was thrilled when my husband booked a visit for us to see his relatives in Honolulu, Hawaii in October of 2006. We packed light and brought our daughter, who was three-years-old at the time.
Our condo was close to parks and monuments that oozed history. We enjoyed wandering around and indulging in the local cuisine. I even tried poi and liked it!
The morning after we arrived, I rose early to push my daughter’s stroller through the quiet, cool morning air. It felt like such a gift to experience Honolulu before the rest of the island was up.
After a hearty island breakfast, we headed out for a morning at our favorite sandy reprieve, Kuhio Beach. The water was calm and protected by a breakwater. Our daughter enjoyed digging and splashing and my husband and I sat sit nearby without worrying about the strong current.
Afterward, we headed back to our condominium, ate a light lunch, and took a luxurious siesta. Although I’m not usually a mid-day napper, the fresh sea air and sun lulled me into a light sleep—the kind where I felt like I was awake, but I was actually deeply asleep.
I heard a voice say my name and a part of me awoke. I use the word “part” because I could definitely feel my body touching the soft material on the couch. And yet, another part was keenly aware of a young woman with dark hair standing over me. It felt real, but dream-like, so I decided to go with it and ask her her name.
She pronounced a long Hawaiian string of letters, which seemed to go on for minutes. After repeating the name three or four times, she told me to call her “Moa.” Through my exhausted, sleepy haze, I remember being skeptical. If this was, indeed, a dream, I would ask as many questions as possible. So I did.
Why was she here? Where did she come from? How could I be sure she was who she claimed to be?
Instead of any answers, she flashed a mental picture of a woman and said that she was a long lost friend of my husband’s. She told me her name and explained that my husband’s family and she had lost touch 15 years before and had been orbiting around one another trying to reconnect.
I awoke from that nap, slightly groggy. That was an indication that I was definitely asleep. Perhaps it was just my creativity kicking into overdrive, I reasoned, and decided to go on with my day. We walked to a park with my daughter and began playing. Suddenly, there was a squeal and my husband and I turned to see the woman from my dream charging toward us with her arms stretched out wide. As she spoke, I tried to gather my wits. Here was the same woman from my dream, someone I’d only seen a mental picture of, and she was standing on the grass right in front of me.
She and my husband exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch. For the next few hours, I tried to make sense of what happened. I had never had an experience like this before, but there was no denying that I saw a picture in a dream before I met someone and then they showed up in real life.
When I went to sleep that evening, Moa visited again. She answered the other questions I’d asked earlier that afternoon and wanted me to know that I was protected and should share my experience with the world. Since this was definitely my first metaphysical encounter, I had no idea how to form the correct words to share what had happened. How on earth, I asked Moa, am I supposed to convey such undocumented, unsubstantiated, unusual information?
She said that our world exists on many levels which all play simultaneously. Her analogy was of a DVR. Several shows can be playing at the same time but are on different tuners. That, she said, is where she existed.
When I awoke, I began writing and continued to do so. The story evolved into “Moa,” then the sequel, “Statue of Ku.” My daughter, now seven, took the cover photo and illustrated, as well. The photo was taken a few years ago on the North Shore as we played on the beach. The artwork has been compiled over the last two years.
Since my visit with Moa, I began an extensive and sometimes circuitous search to explain my metaphysical experience. I took classes on mediumship, Huna, energy work and through my education, I learned to create healing essential oils and elixir sprays and incorporated that information in the book. Not only did my experience with Moa inspire me and guide me through four-and-a-half of the most challenging years of my life, I also believe that writing about those events and including information I received about that inspiration and guidance, brought my own deep physical, mental, emotional and spiritual transformation and healing. Writing, editing and publishing Moa has opened doors to a new way of understanding myself, those around me and the energy we share.
Whatever your belief or understanding of the metaphysical world, I believe that if one person is transformed through learning, then we are all transformed. I truly believe the Moa I met came through in this work and, just as I connected with her as I wrote, those who read the book will experience her as well.

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Moa and Statue of Ku eBook editions have both been dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing either of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $600 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of each book.
All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!
To win the prizes:
  1. Purchase your copies of Moa and Statue of Ku for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About Moa: Eighteen-year-old, Hillary, anticipates adventure as she embarks for trip to Honolulu, but gets more than she bargained for when Moa, an ancient Hawaiian spirit, pays her an unexpected visit. Get it on Amazon.
About Statue of Ku: The second book in the Moa Book Series, “The Statue of Ku” follows Hillary and Moa as they jet to Egypt on the Prince’s private plane to reclaim Moa’s family heirloom, the inimitable statue of Ku. Get it on Amazon.
About the author: Tricia Stewart Shiu combines her addiction to the written word with her avid interest in the healing arts and all things metaphysical in her novels Moa and Statue of Ku and looks forward to finding new ways to unite her two loves. Visit Tricia on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.
https://plus.google.com/100227436861049512391/posts/K8jgefpTqLG stop by here for additional prizes and discounts!

June 26, 2012

The Moa Interview!

Moa Interview


Please enjoy this interview with Tricia Stewart Shiu, author of the paranormal YA novel with a literary bent Moa. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $6000 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, 5 autographed copies of Moa, and 5 autographed copies of its sequel, Statue of Ku.

1. The Moa Book series has a metaphysical theme. Do you have any expertise in this area?
I am an energetic intuitive and have a talent for creating powerful healing essential oil blends and gem elixirs. The unearthing of these talents occurred as I embarked on a metaphysical journey, which included studies in mediumship, pagan and Huna rituals as well as an energy healing technique called “Crystalline Consciousness Technique.” I also studied a variety of shamanic clearing methods and healing rituals.
2. You get pretty heavy into the metaphysical. Are you, in fact, a witch?
Like, Hillary, I question who I am on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. For centuries, women have been persecuted and even killed for being labeled a witch. I have studied many forms of healing rituals and magic and discovered that I have talents for using essential oils and crystals for the highest good. Others, who have witnessed the results of my practices, have called me many things: healer, shaman, and yes, witch. I choose not to accept any of these names but to embrace all of them as one growing changing name—wishealer or heshitch—to coin a phrase…or maybe not. As I discover more talents, gifts and unique parts to myself, this unusual word is sure to undergo a metamorphosis and may grow to the size of Moa’s real, and quite lengthy, Hawaiian name.
3. What are your favorite books and how have they touched you as a reader?
Albert Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” The books/stories that touch me most echo the theme of humanity and self discovery and include a sense of adventure and wonder. Ray Bradbury’s short story, Frost and Fire is a shocking, but tender story about a boy’s journey into a world where people only live eight days. James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man inspired me to unleash my inner censor and allow my truth to shine though my writing. If I could wish anything for those who read my books, it would be the gift of self acceptance and self acknowledgement.
4. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
Good question. I went back into my notes and discovered that it took me exactly three months and ten days to write Moa from beginning to end. That seems to be my average writing speed, three months. My aunt Rebecca Gummere is my editor extraordinaire. We have developed a comfortable and productive working rhythm that balances creativity and structure and brings such joy and enrichment to the work.
5. Who designs the covers for your books?
The brilliant and talented Sydney Shiu took the cover photos when she was six during a trip to Hawaii. Scott Torrance brought his years of experience in photographic art and design to the layouts.
6. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The time between stories is the most challenging for me. When I am inside a story and writing I am filled with peace and joy. When I finish and have to leave that world, I mourn the loss of this comforting place–the same is true when I finish reading a great book. Nevertheless, I believe that this sadness brings with it a great opportunity and depth of creativity and I wouldn’t change a thing about the process.
7. Any take-away message you want readers to grasp?
Each of us has at least one divine gift to remember. The moment we wake up and retrieve the memory of who we are and what we are here to do, that’s when the adventure begins.
8. When did you first consider yourself an author?
I was in middle school and read James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist for the first time. About an hour later, I was overcome by an urge to write, an impulse I readily indulged. Time stood still, I still can’t quite remember what happened during that frenzied period of first creation. All I remember is coming to with pages upon pages filled with words in front of me. It felt incredible to express myself so freely. I’ve never looked back.
9. Did you start out writing novels?
No. I started out writing short stories when I was young. Then when I began acting, I wrote one-woman shows and plays, eventually combining my efforts of performance and writing in a piece called Doing Lunch which made it’s way into a short film trilogy directed by Hal Trussel. That film won “Best Dramatic Short” at the Houston Film Festival.
10. What was your main source of inspiration for the Moa book series?
When I was five, I was visited by a vision. I’ll never forget it, I was running down the stairs and the entity, a girl with dark hair, stopped me in my tracks. The spirit said that I would go through a deeply challenging time in my life, but would resurface, later in life, with unimaginable joy and fulfillment. That vision stayed with me. In middle school, I would sit quietly at my desk adding up the years to figure out exactly when my life would turn around.
And then I forgot. I got busy, my work and the stress of family life took over and I was completely overwhelmed and in desperate need of a vacation. My husband, daughter and I decided to go to Hawaii.
When the plane landed in Honolulu, I remember feeling the difference in the atmosphere as I disembarked. The air made me somehow, remember that there was a part of me that knew…something…what was it?
Never mind, I was in Hawaii it was time to see the sights! So, I sped off to see Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach and then headed home for an afternoon nap before an evening luau. As I drifted toward sleep, I heard my name being called. In my mind’s eye, I saw a beautiful young woman with dark hair, who said her name was Moaahuulikkiaaakea’o Haanaapeekuluueehuehakipuunahe’e—Moa for short.
And then I remembered.

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Moa and Statue of Ku eBook editions have both been dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing either of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $600 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of each book.
All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!
To win the prizes:
  1. Purchase your copies of Moa and Statue of Ku for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About Moa: Eighteen-year-old, Hillary, anticipates adventure as she embarks for trip to Honolulu, but gets more than she bargained for when Moa, an ancient Hawaiian spirit, pays her an unexpected visit. Get it on Amazon.
About Statue of Ku: The second book in the Moa Book Series, “The Statue of Ku” follows Hillary and Moa as they jet to Egypt on the Prince’s private plane to reclaim Moa’s family heirloom, the inimitable statue of Ku. Get it on Amazon.
About the author: Tricia Stewart Shiu combines her addiction to the written word with her avid interest in the healing arts and all things metaphysical in her novels Moa and Statue of Ku and looks forward to finding new ways to unite her two loves. Visit Tricia on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Author Interview. Thanks for having me!

I was interviewed by the Duling Family. Check out their blog. Thanks so much for having me. I had a great time.
http://authoradduling.blogspot.com/

June 21, 2012

Author Reading at Jemison Library

I read Michael and the Monster and Michael, the Monster and the Messy Room to the children of the Jemison Library Summer Reading Program. It was great fun! Purchase House on Butcher Harbor for only 99 cents and receive these two books for free at http://www.smashwords.com/28921 

Coupon codes to enter at check out:
Purchase House on Butcher Harbor for 99 cents. Get these two free with coupon codes provided:
Michael and the Monster JC59R
Michael, the Monster and the Messy Room ME95Z

I really hope you enjoy them. You do not need a kindle or nook, although it works for these too, but you can download pdf file right to your computer!

Follow me on twitter: #lisalewismoon

June 20, 2012

Author Appearance and gift offer...

Tomorrow I will be reading Michael and the Monster (JC59R) AND Michael, the Monster and the Messy Room(ME95Z) at the Jemison Library from 10-11 am for the summer reading program. In honor of this reading I am offering with the purchase of House on Butcher Harbor on ebook for only 99 cents I am giving you both Monster series ebooks for free! Thats right, all three for just 99 cents! Go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/​28921 and use (coupon codes) at check out! Please share thiss offer with your friends.

June 6, 2012

Ray Bradbury passed away at 91. Great author!

Interview with author Veronica Miller


Curse on Tanner's Bluff:
"Addison bought the farm of her dreams only to find out others were still living there. Unable to leave the spirits were bound to the farm for their greed by a curse. It was up to Addie as her friends called her to break the curse freeing the spirits and solving a mystery that haunted her family for generations. Pony express riders, outlaws, bandits and con men all tried to get their hands on gold that was stolen from military payroll. A French woman scorn and a little voodoo let her even the score over a hundred years in the making. What does Addie find? Can she break the curse? Or will she be the next to be bound to the farm forever?"

LLM: Veronica, I understand you had a very specific reason for writing Curse of Tanner’s Bluff. Can you explain?

VM: At one point in time I was under medical order to do nothing. During that time the only things I could do to entertain myself were read and watch television. The reruns got old and all the books I read I figured out the end after just a few chapters. I even kept an index card with my guess on it as a book marker. I couldn’t believe these were best sellers and so predictable. I had to see if I could write a story that the reader couldn’t figure out before it was finished.

LLM: Veronica Miller is not your real name. What made you decide to keep your identity a secret?

VM: I live on a small state. Everybody knows everybody. I wanted the book judged by the story it told rather than the hand holding the pen.

LLM: Do you plan on letting readers know who you really are?

VM: I am thinking about doing a reveal. I would love to have it at an event that I am sponsoring
 this fall.  I will have to wait and see if they will allow me to ...crash their party so to speak.

LLM: That sounds interesting.  Will you contact us when you reveal your identity so our readers can know who you are?

VM: I'd be glad to.

LLM: I see that you are not profiting from the sale of this book. Why is that?

VM: I never expected to get the book published and now that it is I'm sure I will never become rich and famous because of it. So I am donating the proceeds from book sales to equine rescue efforts. So far I have lost nothing in writing this book, invested nothing but any time that I was bored with nothing else to do, and I have gained nothing except the satisfaction of knowing that I DID IT. That's enough. For now anyway besides I'm sure the animals need it more than I do.

 LLM: What got you interested in equine rescue?

VM: What got me into it was - a big heart and a life time of being round horses of all kinds and breeds and an intolerance for brutality against animals. Rescue is for horses that are malnourished/dehydrated/abused/neglected/ etc. These animals are either run through auctions headed to the slaughter trucks or just shuffled from sale house to sale house. Through rescue these horses are purchased or are donated to agencies that rehabilitate then to the healthiest state that they can achieve. They are worked with and handled in a gentle caring manner as well as given much needed veterinarian care. Many of these animals are already trained. Some animals are so depleted that they can only be given a half a gallon of water every couple hours so that the clean fresh water will not make them sick, because a simple stomach ache is deadly to a horse.
LLM: I hear you do not use the computer to write your stories. What is your process for writing?

VM: I carry around a note book so that whenever I am sitting still or an idea hits me I write it down. Later when the story is all together I type it from beginning to end on my laptop then reread it and edit it. But initially it’s all written in long hand.

LLM: You must go through a lot of pencils.

VM: Gel pens, and yes I do. About 6 pack’s per book if not more. I like the smooth writes with the finger grip.

Well I have read Veronica Millers Curse on Tanner Bluff and found this historical fiction to be delightful. And she was right, I did not predict the ending of the book and was quite surprised at the end. Pick up a copy at:  http://www.publishamerica.net/product44390.html http://www.publishamerica.net/product44390.html
You may contact the author at veronicamillerbooks@yahoo.com

June 4, 2012

On Wednesday I will be interviewing Veronica Miller, author of The Curse of Tanner's Bluff. This is a historical fiction AND a ghost story. All I can say is I have read this book and it is far from predictable! And Veronica is keeping a secret. Tune in on Wednesday to find out just what Ms. Miller has to hide!

http://www.publishamerica.net/product44390.html


Book signing a success!











What great fun it was to be at Fairy Tale Fun Night at the Jemison Library signing books! Everyone was in costume. The kids looked great. Met a few authors and wanna be authors. I look forward to networking with them. Also some fabulous readers. Special Thank you to my son Trevor Moon for assisting me with setup and tear down, and to my photographer for the day Kaitlyn Lewis. So glad you both came along.