Author Heather McCorkle

I've been dying to scream out from the rooftops about this novel since I beta read it for Christine over a year ago now. It is so amazing that I have trouble finding the words to describe it. All I can say is that you MUST read this novel, it is utterly breathtaking. I'm beyond excited that it is coming out this September through Compass Press. It is called Transcend and it's by Christine Fonseca. Here is the cover: Wondering what all the mystery of the masquerade is about? Well, along with the cover reveal the participants are revealing a secret of their own. My secret: This winter my very first high fantasy novel is set to release! The date isn't solid yet, Compass Press says somewhere between November and February depending on editing. Get ready for dragons, sword-wielding warriors, and fair maidens who can kick some butt. My second secret (why yes, I'm generous, you get two): I'm terrified. Agents and many of the big 6 publishers say fantasy is a hard...

Last week my goal was to complete the new ending for my work in progress. I failed. *sigh* but I'm close, as in like, maybe a page or two away. The 'day' job has been draining and marketing has kept me busy with almost every other free moment. This week I'll get it done though, I'm determined! As for reading goals, I finished reading Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel and enjoyed it. A girl who can glimpse the future, a family filled with drama, and parts of it take place in my old stomping ground. Can't go wrong there. And the eBook is free right now on both Kindle and Nook so it costs you nothing to check it out. How about you? How did you do on your writing or reading goals last week? And have you entered my contests yet? Here is the latest one, and it's for a great cause (for the details and other giveaways click on the Events tab above). You can skip options that you don't want to do and move onto those that you do: a Rafflecopter giveaway

This week on the #WritersRoad chat we talked about character mannerisms and actions. It was an excellent chat and I walked away with a lot of great ideas. Today's #writetip is inspired by the chat. #WriteTip: Mannerisms should be unique to each character~to a point~and she be used to show instead of tell. Such as, crossed arms and looking down one's nose to show defiance, tight jaw and clenched teeth to show anger, maybe a slight limp to hint at an old injury. For some excellent ideas on character mannerisms and description I highly recommend The Emotion Thesaurus . It truly is a writer's bible. Don't forget to enter my eBook and paperback giveaway , it's to help a great cause !

It may seem like an odd picture to feed my muse, but there's a fantastic story behind why. You may remember the Spruce Knoll for Endangered Species mission. Well that mission has changed and become much bigger. Now all three novels in the channeler series (The Secret of Spruce Knoll, Channeler’s Choice, Rise of the Rector) will go toward a new, fantastic charity. Unlike the last charity who would not allow me to mention them, this new charity gave me approval to announce that I’m donating to them! Though it’s a new charity some of you may have heard of it (say maybe the Vampire Diaries fans among you). It is the IS Foundation which stands for Ian Somerhalder Foundation (yep, the very one from Vampire Diaries)! I’m incredibly excited to be giving to this amazing charity because they do so much for not only animals, but the youth and the environment. Since you, my friends and fans, will in essence be helping me help this charity by purchasing my books I will start giving you...

My goal last week was to finish a new chapter that I'm working on for my editing project, and I did! Yay! *throws confetti* On the downside, I realized I needed to write another new chapter. *sigh* Oh well. The celebration was fun while it lasted. These chapters will make it stronger overall so I'm happy to be writing them. My #writegoal (remember to use this hashtag on Twitter if you'd like to check in with me and others for support on your goals) for next week is to finish the second new chapter. Did you make your goals for last week? What are your goals for this coming week? On a side note, due to having two posts go up on Monday, I fear that my shout out for author Kristie Cook's fabulous cause (supporting a hotline for domestic abuse victims) may have gone under the radar for many. So I hope you'll check out this great cause at this link and enter to win the signed books I'm giving away to help support the cause. Enter here: a Rafflecopter givea...

First, for those who are dying to know, the winner of the final week of the puca tour giveaway is: Shana  Congrats Shana! You've won signed copies of The Vespertine and The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell.  Last week this amazing picture fed my muse as I worked on a new chapter that is going into my work in progress. It was one of those surprises that comes up during editing when you realize you need to flesh something out. And wow am I glad I realized it because I’m loving this chapter! As for reading muse, I just finished The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell. It is part historical, part paranormal, and all AWESOME. I love this author’s work, she is just amazing. Her writing is almost lyrical in the way that it flows. A natural storyteller. I highly recommend it. A surprise inspiration was the discovery that To Ride A Puca is being featured on Bookpinning . It’s a great site that features some outstanding authors and I’m completely honored to be among them. Cl...

Last January author Kristie Cook  made a pledge to donate $500 to The National Domestic Violence Hotline if any of her books made it (again) to the Top 100 All Kindle Paid titles list. Just a couple weeks ago she  announced that she was getting close to selling my 100,000th book and she'd be celebrating in some way or another. And if you've read her first novel, Promise, you surely remember that Tristan wanted to teach a certain wife-beater a lesson. Rather than waiting to hit the Top 100 list again, Kristie is going to donate that $500 to The Hotline when she has sold her 100,000th book. Sometime this month she'll be clicking that donation button. But she'd love to make it more than $500 and this is where you can help. For every 1,000 books sold past the 100,000 mark, up until July 30, 2012, she'll donate another $100.* So what can you do? Well, you can... Buy a book , of course, if you haven't read the Soul Savers Series. Remember, Promise and Genesis...

Today is the last day of the Puca tour. While I'm sad to have it end, I'm exhausted! But in a very good way. The outpouring of support and love for this novel has blown me away. I can't thank you all enough. But I'd like to try. If you'd like some swag click on the Contact Me button above and leave me your email through that form and I'll contact you. The last two stops on the tour are with my friend Kitty Howard , who did an in-depth interview with me that you won't want to miss, and author G.P. Ching who is shouting out for me. Remember, you can get more points by stopping by their blogs. Then don't forget to fill out the form below to win these fantastic books by author Saundra Mitchell (one of my favorite authors ever, seriously, EVER!): a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today for the Puca tour I'm visiting author RaShelle Workman . I hope you'll stop by to say hi and get extra entries into the contest. The tour is nearing its end, only two days left! This week is the biggest prize yet, a signed paperback of  Saundra Mitchell’s  fabulous YA paranormal historical about a girl who can see the future,  The Vespertine  and a signed hardback of the companion novel,  The Springsweet . Saundra’s writing is breathtakingly beautiful and she is the one who inspired me to write historical in the first place, so it only seemed fitting to give away copies of her book. I was delighted when she graciously agreed to sign both copies! The contest will be open until June 17th, the winner to be announced on the 18th. (To Ride A Puca is available in eBook and hardback at  B&N ,  Amazon ,  The Book Depository  and other retail sites. ) To enter to win Saundra's books, fill out the form below: a Rafflecopter giveaw...

This week my writing goal is a bit different than normal. It is to help a fabulous author friend of mine with the release of her second novel through Simon Pulse, SURRENDER by Elana Johnson. If you haven't read the first novel, POSSESSION , quick click this link and get it! She also has a novella out ( Regret ) that you won't want to miss either. And if you don't know Elana, she is one of the most generous, sweet people I've ever met. During Elana's tour she's giving out 3 B&N gift cards (told you she was sweet!). For my part in the blogfest I'm blogging about a time when I didn't surrender. On Christmas day of 2005 my horse kicked me in the face, shattering my orbital socket and literally rearranging my face. When the doctors put me back together I decided right then and there that I would never be vain again. I was happy just to be alive and look normal. It was one of the worst experiences of my life and I could have let it beat me, but I ...

It's important that you have a team on your side when it comes to preparing your work for the world. If you are the only person who has ever read your work before you submit it, or all the powers in the universe forbid, publish it, then you are doing yourself and your manuscript a huge disservice. Tuesday #WriteTip: Utilize beta readers, critique partners, and/or a freelance editor. Don't have any? Then you need to be on Twitter! There is a fabulous writing community on Twitter that is super supportive. Drop in on the #WritersRoad chat on Monday nights. It's a great time and place to connect with other writers. Remember though, always do for others what you would like them to do for you. Today for the Puca tour I'm visiting editor extraordinaire TS Tate . I hope you'll stop by to say hi and get extra entries into the contest. Speaking of which: This week is the biggest prize yet, a signed paperback of  Saundra Mitchell’s  fabulous YA paranormal historical abo...

Happy Monday! *ducks* My inspiration last week was still my wonderful trip to Hawaii. I think it will be inspiring me for a very long time. This picture is me (yes I have tattoos. I thought about photoshopping them out but decided not to. *waits for the gasps to die down*. For the kids, don't get them. I attempted having one removed once, WORST pain of my life, seriously.), Karen Strong, and Kathy McCullough . What inspired you last week? The winner of the signed copy of Lacrimosa is: Ivya Congrats Ivya! I've sent your information along to Christine and she should be in touch soon. Welcome to the final week of the To Ride A Puca tour. Today I'm visiting the fabulous author Susan Kaye Quinn . I hope you'll stop by to say hi and get extra entries into the contest. Speaking of which: This week is the biggest prize yet, a signed paperback of Saundra Mitchell’s fabulous YA paranormal historical about a girl who can see the future, The Vespertine and a signed ha...

Happy Friday! Only two more weeks until the Creature Features return. Today's stop along the Puca tour is a special one that involves a character interview! Tyr is dropping in on my good friend, and author, Lisa Nowak to reveal a bit more about himself, and about the novel To Ride A Puca. I hope you'll drop by and give him some love in the comments after you enter the giveaway below. To Ride A Puca is a vailable in eBook and hardback at  B&N ,  Amazon ,  The Book Depository  and other retail sites. Enter to win a signed hardback of Lacrimosa by Christine Fonseca below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today for the Puca tour I'm visiting good friend, and author, Stacey Wallace Benefiel , otherwise known as S.W. Benfiel in some genres. I hope you'll stop by to say hi and to meet Stacey. You'll love her and her books! To Ride A Puca is a vailable in eBook and hardback at  B&N ,  Amazon ,  The Book Depository  and other retail sites. Now for the entry form to win a signed hardback of Lacrimosa by Christine Fonseca: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Before we get to my tour I'm dying to tell you how my Wednesday writing goals fared over the writer's retreat in Hawaii. I got through all but the last forty pages of my novel. Wow, just wow! I can hardly believe that I accomplished that much. I owe a lot of the credit to my retreat buddies, Kathy McCullough and Karen Strong . Thank you ladies! How have you been doing on your writing goals?  Now on to the To Ride A Puca release tour celebration. Today I'm over at author Tina Moss's blog . Tina is one of the most wonderful, supportive people I know so I hope you'll stop by to meet her and say hi. This week I’m giving away a signed hardback of LACRIMOSA by Christine Fonseca . This book is unique among angel stories and once you read it, you will never look at angels and demons the same again. It is one of my favorite books, trust me you’ll love it! The contest will be open until June 10th, the winner to be announced on the 11th. To Ride A Puca is a vail...

Before the tour fun, how about a Tuesday Writing Tip. Today's #writetip: Explore new locations for your novels. If you can't visit the locations, do thorough research and Google the location, both for maps and websites. Google maps (and other search engines) will give you a satellite view that often can zoom right in on the streets of the place you want to use for a location in your book. If you haven't tried that you've got to, it's awesome! On to the Puca tour now. Today for the Puca tour I'm over at author Laura Pauling's blog . If you don't know Laura or her novel, be sure to stop by, you'll love her! Oh yeah, and I designed the cover for her book, so you know you want to see that! ;) This week I’m giving away a signed hardback of LACRIMOSA by Christine Fonseca . This book is unique among angel stories and once you read it, you will never look at angels and demons the same again. It is one of my favorite books, trust me you’ll love it! Th...

Well I'm back from Hawaii, and I've got to tell you, coming back was not easy. It never is when I visit there since it's pretty much my favorite place on Earth. Besides home of course, which I did miss, right along with you peeps! I hope your month started off as fantastic as mine. The winner of last week's signed paperback of Tangled Tides by  Karen Amanda Hooper  is    Susan Deuel Schleicher . Congrats Susan! It's now week #3 giveaway for the To Ride A Puca release tour celebration, which means a new prize! This week I'm starting off with a visit to the blog of the very author whose book I'm giving away a signed copy of Lacrimosa by  Christine Fonseca!  Please stop by to read her special interview of me. This book is unique among angel stories and once you read it, you will never look at angels and demons the same again. It is one of my favorite books, trust me you’ll love it! The contest will be open until June 10th, the winner to be announce...

Today for the tour I'm visiting the fabulous author Ali Cross . Remember, you can get extra points in the giveaway by stopping by the blogs on the tour. Plus, if you don't know this author yet, trust me you'll want to and you'll thank me. I hope you'll stop by to say hi and to get extra entries to win this fabulous prize. To Ride A Puca is a vailable in eBook and hardback at  B&N ,  Amazon ,  The Book Depository  and other retail sites. This week I’m giving away a signed paperback of  TANGLED TIDES  by  Karen Amanda Hooper . It is about a girl who finds herself tangled up in the underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. It is one of my favorite books of the year so far, trust me you’ll love it! The contest will be open until June 3rd, the winner to be announced on the 4th.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Friday Creature Features are coming back, I promise! In fact I have some great ones planned for you. In case you were missing them~and because I want you to feel like you're with me~I thought I'd include this photo of a turtle that I took snorkeling this week on Maui (sorry it's hazzy, the water was murky that day): Today for the tour I'm visiting the fabulous author  Jessie Harrell (YA). There is an excerpt over at Jessie's you won't want to miss. Remember, you can get extra points in the giveaway by stopping by the blogs on the tour. I hope you'll stop by both locations to say hi and to get extra entries to win this fabulous prize. To Ride A Puca is a vailable in eBook and hardback at  B&N ,  Amazon ,  The Book Depository  and other retail sites. This week I’m giving away a signed paperback of  TANGLED TIDES  by  Karen Amanda Hooper . It is about a girl who finds herself tangled up in the underwater world of mysterious me...