Chasing the Sun Review and Giveaway!

Hello everyone! I have a fun new book to show you today :)

Chasing the Sun

An Earth Relic Novel

Book 1

Sasha Abernathy

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Crimson Frost Books

Date of Publication: October 21, 2014

ISBN: TBD

ASIN: TBD

Cover Artist: Suzannah Safi

Book Description:

Hunted by Chaos. Protected by Death. Guided by Fire.

Terran is now the key to a world she never knew existed.

Normal was what Terran did best – house, job, dog, friends – rinse and repeat. She never knew demigods existed, or that you could journey to other realms, manipulate nature with your mind, or that the dead weren’t really gone at all, but instead existed in the Underworld. No, she lived the mundane life of any twenty-seven-year-old Alaskan girl…until she met Aiden, the complicated and gorgeous new local art gallery owner.

As their fiery relationship evolves into something more, Terran finds herself surrounded by a world of nightmares and gods, when the mysterious Aiden proves to be more than a simple man. Soon, Terran finds that she is not so simple herself. As an ancient evil threatens to escape and unleash all Hell, Terran must dive into a magical world she never knew existed to save them all…even if that means giving up her life to do it.

Excerpts

#1:      

"Aren't these Aiden’s pieces?" Micah had caught up to me and seemed as perplexed as I did.

"Yeah, I guess so.”

“Who would have thought he'd donate his work?" Micah commented and then lost interest, walking away as she saw someone she recognized.

I stayed, staring in shock.

"Don't look so surprised. Your friend Jon's charity is truly for a good cause."

I shouldn't have lingered. By now I should have known to avoid anything having to do with Aiden. Many of the contributing artists were here to help promote their pieces so I should have known. But somehow he always caught me off guard.

"Actually, I'm surprised you have a heart at all." My disdain oozed off my words as I gave him the biggest scowl I could muster.

However ugly I thought his attitude, I couldn't say the same about his appearance. Aiden cleaned up nicely in his all-black tuxedo. His hair had been gelled down, but you could still see the natural wave of it. His tux looked as if it had been custom-made, which made me curious. How many black-tie events did he go to in order to have purchased a custom tux?

But, who cared? With my shoulders back, chest raised, and chin up I turned my head, grabbed my dress on the sides and walked away. Screw him.

I got about three steps away before I heard him.

"You look beautiful," he said to my back. It stopped me, my heart thumping loud in my chest. An immeasurable amount of time had passed since someone besides my friends had told me I was beautiful. I could feel him staring at me, but I didn't move. I only stood there, frozen.

"Terran," His voice was soft with yearning. It was then that I gained enough courage to walk away. I had already made up my mind about him. He was too complicated and I was tired of the ups and downs of his mood. This man would break my spirit, at least what little of it I fought to keep.

My Review 

This is quite an interesting story based on Greek mythology and a little twist on supernatural lore. This actually a sad then inspirational story. How love of all different kinds can change your life. We all need love but this one shows that there's different types of love and they all mean something special. Terran is the main character. She's so sad because she lost her husband and two sons in an accident 2 years before. She's alive but she's definitely not living. Her two best friends Jon and Micah are awesome and they want to see her live. So they kinda try to set up her with a new art gallery owner. Except neither are interested in each other. Aiden, the owner, is actually an ass, but then swears he's trying to protect her. His "special" uncle is gifted, obsessed with hamburgers, and is also amazingly talented. They give her gifts but they come with warnings and riddles. Then there's Seth. The amazingly gorgeous rich guy who seems interested in Terran. Without getting too detailed, Terran has to figure out which is the good guy and which is the bad. It's a slow start trying to figured out her dreams, the weirdness with plants, and the two men who are significant, just not how she realizes. I actually liked the plot once I started figuring out what was going on. My only complaint is that I'm still missing some major info on those Gods and how they work and their world. And how her dad and late husband and her mom all exactly fit into it all. It's just the beginning and I'm too intrigued to not read book two!! I hope there's gunna be a book two, because I'll be disappointed if not. The first book kept me on my toes and I'd like to see more of Terran grow, since she's changed so much in the book, for the better. 4 PAWS!!

Author Interview

First, tell me a little about your book J…. 

Chasing the Sun is the first book in the Earth Relic Series. Based in Anchorage, Alaska, Terran, a young windowed horticulturist, finds her life turned inside out when she meets the new local art gallery owner, Aiden. It’s a story of hope and mythology, dreams and nightmares.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated or did you always just know? 

I’ve always loved story telling. I used to write short stories here and there as a kid, but as I got older, I put it aside to focus on my education and career. Until recently, I had only thought about writing a book, but never wrote anything down. I needed a push to put my ideas down. Luckily, my husband gifted me a journal and pen and said ‘write.’

What inspired you to write your first book and what was it? 

I was inspired by my love for Egyptian mythology. First, I love to read everything paranormal: vampires, werewolves, ghosts, goblins, fae, zombies, everything. There’s something about believing in a world of magic that is so stress relieving. But, I had read so much that I was sick of your typical supernatural creatures. I went on a mad search for something new, something different. But, I didn’t want Greek mythology either since you see that a lot as well. So I thought about my longtime love: Egypt, and the love story of Osiris and Isis. Again, I went in search for an urban fantasy or paranormal romance with a fun Egyptian twist. I wanted something set in modern times that brought back these gods from the ancient world. I couldn’t find it. So, I wrote what I wanted to read. And I’m in love with it.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I think that all authors take inspiration from what’s around them. The fun part is taking this seed of an idea, place, or person, and growing into a complex and beautiful song. Some parts are based on reality more than others. I lived in Anchorage, Alaska where the book is set, so I used a lot of my time there to inspire me. Alaska is one place everyone should visit. It is amazing. Many of the characters are rooted in the people that I know or grew up with, so it was so easy to expand on them. I also took some of my worst fears, (like going crazy or being buried alive) and some of my greatest dreams, (like attending a masquerade gala) and used them to inspire me.

How do you choose when/which characters die in your books?

It’s all about what flows. I love a good shocker and twist, (No one has mastered it like Mr. George R.R. Martin!), but in the end I want it to feel as real as possible. When you’re working in a world of fantasy, the only truly real thing you have is your characters feelings. You have to play on the connection between the reader and the characters, but still always maintain that blip hope.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? 

Oh, man. So, I have this amazing CP (Critique Partner) group. I’m talking amazing! Some of their stories have me so hooked and invested that I’m literally yelling at the characters. They are great. Most of them are just starting the querying process, so I’m anxiously awaiting their novel releases. You can follow them on twitter though: @Patchi_writes, @AinsleyWynter, @ColleenSMyers, and @ChellesWrite.

Who do you look up to as a writer? 

I love so many writers for very different reasons. I love George RR Martin for his courage to shake things up. I love Karen Moning for taking an ordinary girl and putting her in an extraordinary world, and building on relationships with creatures from fables. And I love Douglas Adams for his ability to make up gibberish that leaves you laughing until your side hurts.  J

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book? 

No. Of course, I am a perfectionist, so that’s probably only halfway true. The whole truth: at some point, you have to stop picking at something and simply let it be. That’s where I’m at right now.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 

There are a couple of scenes in the book that are very emotionally awkward. As I was writing those scenes, I found myself feeling that same emotional discomfort. It was really difficult to write past those parts because I didn’t want to face what they were facing either.

What book are you reading now? Or what genre?

I’m currently reading The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner. It’s a suspense that a friend of mine told me was a must read. So far, I’m really enjoying it.

Who designed the cover? And do you help with them? 

The lovely Suzannah Safi. In the initial process I submitted a form describing what I wanted and how I wanted it to feel. She went beyond what I expected. I love it!

Did you learn anything from writing your books and what was it? 

I learned that I have a comma-phobia.  I’m still working on that. Although now, I think I sometimes swing the other way.

Are there any books you think some of us should read, just because? 

You’ve got to read The Fever Series by Karen Moning. It’s one of my favorite series, for sure.

About the Author:

Born in Germany to a Puerto Rican mother and All-American Military father, who saw fit to give her a Russian name, Sasha Abernathy has always loved storytelling, traveling, and doing all things silly. Raised in Oklahoma, but eventually moving everywhere from Alaska to Spain, Sasha has finally settled in the beautiful state of Colorado. With her loving husband, two wild sons, and neurotic labradoodle, Sasha is surrounded by way too much testosterone and escapes through her mysteriously whimsical and romantic novels.

http://sashaabernathy.blogspot.com/

http://www.sashaabernathy.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SashaAbernathyBooks

Twitter: @EarthRelic

Tour giveaway

2 ecopies of Chasing the Sun by Sasha Abernathy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I wanna wish you  good luck!! :) Happy reading and later gators!