Escaping... One Book @ a Time: *Top Ten* Laura Howard + Giveaway

Today Laura has an AWESOME Top Ten for us!!! However, it kind of made me

realize just how many rocking women are out there that aren't being featured :(

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16288155-the-forgotten-ones

Buy It:

Amazon~B&N

We’re going to the beach tomorrow,” Nicole said.

“Have fun,” I mumbled.

She wiped her lips with a napkin and narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re coming.” I opened my mouth to argue, but she held a slender finger up at me and pursed her lips. “It’s the first Saturday you’ve had off in months. School’s over, at least for the summer. You’re coming.”

I sighed and looked up at the pattern of our umbrella. “You really know how to ruin a perfectly good sundae.”

Her eyes shot daggers at me. “We’ll have a great time, Al.” Her expression changed as she seemed to change tactics. Her green eyes widened and her lip stuck out just the tiniest bit.

Cranky Nicole was a challenge, but pouting Nicole was impossible.

“Fine,” I sighed. “We’re going to the beach.” I looked at my sundae, which had made me so happy a minute earlier and a thought came to me. She hadn’t said anyone else was coming, but Nicole and her boyfriend Jeff were practically inseparable. “Wait, who else is going?”

Nicole grinned, clearly smelling her victory. “The usual crew: Jeff, Rachel, Sean and”—her eyebrows inched up—“Ethan.”

I nodded, trying to breathe evenly. I hated the way my pulse spiked at just the mention of his name. Handsome, cocky Ethan. His smile had the power to break down every one of my defenses. But, I didn’t have space in my life for that. I had a plan—to focus on taking care of my mom. My grandparents had done it by themselves for long enough. I needed to find a way to help, to unburden them. That was my priority. But Ethan…he was so hard to resist sometimes.

About the Author

Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Find Her:

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Top Ten Favorite Indie Girls

This post would be so much easier if I could write a Top Fifty Favorite Indie Girls! But I am always up for a challenge, so here are the Ten Chicks that in one form or another have influenced the way I write or how I share my work. They aren’t listed in any particular order.

10. Samantha Young - Samantha has a wonderful personality that really comes through in her Social Media outlets. She’s always shows her gratitude for anyone who helps spread the word, and I really admire that about her. Plus she dreamed up Braden Carmichael.

9. Amy Harmon - Amy writes books that are, in my eyes, Great American Novels. She is a true master of her craft and it shows in every paragraph. She’s also super thoughtful and a wonderful person.

8. Rebecca Ethington - Rebecca is one to watch in the writing world. She pulls you down into her stories in such a way that you forget you aren’t actually running for your own life. Her fan base is literally chomping at the bit for her releases, and that is something any writer can admire.

7. Rhiannon Paille - Rhiannon has an eye for story and has been my go-to girl for help deepening my characterization. She has a way of separating what works and doesn’t work for me in a way I just can’t do on my own. Plus she has her hands in nine bajillion different pots - writing, editing, event planning-- you name it, she does it!

6. Alexia Purdy- Alexia is a huge community builder. She is incredibly supportive of so many authors and organizes a fabulous NetGalley coop for Indies that I really appreciate.

5. Heather Hildenbrand - I recently read Heather’s non-fiction guide for Indie authors and she gives some fantastic tips that got me thinking outside the box as far as running promotions and marketing in general

4. Joanna Penn - The first website I read when I decided to self-publish was The Creative Penn. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to publish my own book if I hadn’t read her blog and listened to her podcast.

3. Karice Bolton - Karice is just so.. Karice. She’s sweet and fun and I just adore her. She has amazing fans and she’s so humble and down-to-earth, which is extremely admirable to me.

2. Raine Thomas - Raine was one of my earliest friends in the publishing world, and I have learned so much from her. She is smart and savvy, but a great listener as well. Plus she brought Estilorians to life.

1. Cambria Hebert - Cambria is like a tiny ticking time bomb of awesome. She has published a ton of top-quality books in the past year or so I’ve known her.Plus she has a fabulous online presence that I wholly admire. She is always receptive whenever I have a question for her. She’s out straight with writing and marketing, yet she’s present. So, yeah. She’s a big deal.