November 19, 2012

OCEAN BREEZE Cover blitz and blog giveaway


It's a Cover Blitz and Blog Giveaway!!!

OCEAN KILLS, the first book of the Ocean Breeze Series by Jade Hart, will be released in early December 2012. In order to celebrate, free copies of Ocean Kills are available to be won, either by simply liking Jade Hart on Facebook, or finding the words "Ocean Breeze" in either the current book you're reading, a TV show, or on any item such as air-freshener, shampoo, or body-wash! When you start looking, those words are everywhere!

For example, this was found a few days ago:
A bottle of body-wash
Without further ado, here is what OCEAN KILLS, a sexy New Adult Urban Fantasy, is all about:


Around the world, murderers and rapists pick off the innocent. Killing loved ones, separating families, and ruining lives.

As an eight-year-old girl, Ocean witnessed her family’s massacre and something altered inside her. Twisting her genetic code… unlocking an ability to teleport.

Ocean Breeze was never destined to be normal, especially being named after air-freshener. She’s a shadow, a ghost—a dark saviour of the innocent. Armed with a switchblade in her bra, and a box-cutter in her pocket, she hunts the filth of the world.  

Callan Bliss is a Sydney Police Officer whose skill set is far above a normal cop. All his fellow officers see is a hard-worker who loves to catch perpetrators and surf, but that’s because they don’t know his past. When Callan arrests a suspicious looking prostitute, coming face to face with a self-confessed vigilante, his secrets aren’t that easy to keep silent anymore.

Ocean hates the police with a passion, and has no intention of being held captive by a cop, even if he is sexy as hell. Teleporting from under his nose, Ocean hunts her next target—a man responsible for the largest sex ring in South Africa—and he’s about to die. But she doesn’t count on Callan giving chase, nor the body-quaking lust which consumes them. However, Ocean's dark hobbies take precedence over what her heart wants—her thirst for murdering is killing her too, and not even Callan can save her.

You can TBR on GoodReads HERE

There are 10 free copies to be given away... so get searching :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Now, onto some questions :) Some of you may know that Jade is my cp, but what you may not know is that we've been cps from the beginning. She was my first cp, and though she'd been writing for a year or so, I was one of her first as well. So when I asked these questions, I really wanted to learn new things  about her. My questions will be in red and her answers are in blue.

1. When/why did you start writing?

I started 3 years ago. I don't really have a reason. All my life I've doodled with stories and creative writing, but never had the discipline to write a full novel. Then one night I turned to hubby and said I think I want to write for a living - completely out of the blue. The next day I was writing my first MS and boy did it SUCK! lol But I kept at it and slowly grew.

2. What gave you the idea for Ocean?

A dream funny enough. I dreamt that hubby and I had gone on holiday and the hotel was terrible. I remember thinking I just wish I was home. Then BAM I was home, but with a splitting headache and nosebleed. I then had to go BACK to the hotel to get hubby. It was all very strange, but turned out well for the story creation of Ocean Breeze :)

3. Why did you decide to self-publish when you could totally get an agent with this awesome ms?

I chose to self-publish because of how the market has changed considerably in the last year or so. It seems more and more writers - if they have a good MS and are willing to put in the work - are self-publishing, making a bundle of money, and getting the agents to come to them. For example: Chelsea Cameron, S.C Stephens. However, I also love to be in control. I like to have a say over my release dates, cover designs, and artistic rights. So keeping all the decisions to me is better than selling off my rights and having no choice to edit - sometimes if I don't agree. Plus, I'm super excited to release a new Ocean every few months, which a traditional publisher wouldn't be able to do.

4. What is one of your favorite scenes, and would you share a snippet?

One of my favorite scenes probably is probably a bit R rated for a blog post ;) However, I'll post the start of it... let's just say it gets hot, and involves a kitchen bench. :)


Callan freakin' Bliss aimed a gun at me, his legs apart, face unreadable. Shit, the guy held a serious grudge.

A tremor of warning ran over my flesh. My heart did some crazy Latin move which left my lungs wheezing for air. Tension uncoiled from my limbs, turning me into a puddle.

He was delicious. Dangerous. Angry.

He didn't turn on the lights, prowling toward me with liquid grace, seething with energy that spoke of the sea.

“Is that my t-shirt you’re wearing?” His voice was a growl.

Lustful infatuation star-burst in my belly. Why did he have to be so sexy? I reined in my inappropriate thoughts and welcomed anger. “I used your shower, too. You’re late. You were supposed to be here yesterday.”

“Says who?” His eyes glittered.

“Says the flight from Manchester.” I desperately wanted to ask where he went. But I kept my lips closed. I wasn't interested. Yep, lying to myself again. I was in huge trouble. Who knew pulling a gun on me was such amazing foreplay? My machete grew sensual in my hands. I stroked the shaft before resting the blade tip on his shag-pile rug.

Callan's hand shot out and flicked a switch. I winced as the overhead light blinded me. He turned the dimmer so the glare diminished to a soft glow.

My eyes fell from his face to the glint of light on the muzzle of his revolver. That was sexy as hell. Licks of need ignited. All thoughts of finding my cash were drowned by the urge to stroke him. Pet him. To see if his skin was as soft as it looked.

“Are you planning on shooting me for wearing your t-shirt?” I cocked my hip, daring him. I couldn't tear my eyes away. This was a very bad idea—I shouldn't have come. I was in deep trouble with the way my body totally disregarded me, snarling for his touch.

Callan scowled. “The t-shirt I can live with. How the flaming hell did you get in here? How did you know where I lived?”

5. What was the inspiration for Callan--cause I'm kind of thinking your hubs might have just a teeny bit to do with it--he does look a little surfer to me :)

Umm, funny enough the character wrote himself. However, you're right in thinking there are parts of my hubby in him. Callan has to surf everyday otherwise he can't deal with stress - same as my man. He is loyal and hard-headed and romantic, same as my man. But that's about all. Callan is his own unique self ;) And yes, I have a crush on him!! :)

6. What's the hardest thing for you about being a writer?

Umm, always wanting to be better. To write the tightest story, to improve my craft. Somedays I'll read what I wrote and think, yeah, that's not to bad. And then others I want to press the delete. I know all writers suffer insecurities, but I wish I could believe in myself a bit more.

7. Do you realize how far your writing has come in just over a year? Not that it was ever bad--cause it wasn't, but seriously, can you tell me your secret for the constant state of improvement? (And I know you have awesome cps *cough, cough*, but that's not what I'm getting at :) Is there some miracle drink, are you a google, obsessive researcher, are you a mad scientist who's discovered the formula to perfection--cause seriously, I think you've been holding out on some blue pills :)

Oh, that's very lovely of you :) No, no secrets. You're right, critique partners are absolute key to growing as a writer. Not only the critique you get on your own work, but critiquing others too. You can see what works, what doesn't, and helps you grow immensely. I think if I had any secrets, it's write the book YOU want to see on the shelf. I know a lot of people say that, but I didn't start to find my grove until I ditched what i thought agents wanted and wrote what I wanted. For example Ocean Breeze is hard to pigeon hole. It's a book with a vigilante murderess who teleports, a sexy cop, some bad guys, and erotic sex. What genre does that fit into? Not sure... that's why I love the idea of self-publishing as it gives you the freedom to blend genre's and create a story that is unique.


Now onto my random questions because there's no better way to get to know someone than a bunch of randoms

8. If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Peking Duck

9. Quick, your boat's sinking and you have ten seconds to grab three items before swimming to a deserted island--what do you grab?

A blow-up dingy / A container for water / and a tool-kit. For my serious answer, however if you're talking 5 star resort on the island and I don't have to worry about building myself a shack, then I'd take my ebook reader, laptop, and sunglasses. Needless to say my hubby would be swimming beside me with more stuff :)

10. If you could have one supernatural power what would it be and why?

Umm, do I have to only have one? All right, I'd be like that dude in either Hero's or Misfits that can absorb other superhero's powers so I could fly, breathe underwater, be invisible... whole bunch of stuff. :) Is that cheating? :) lol

11. If you could spend the day with one person (anyone who EVER lived) who would it be?

Can I be really corny here and say my hubby?? lol. If not then I'd like to spend the day with one of my fictional characters - Ocean or Callan... to get into their headspace even more. :)


12. If you could be anything in the world EXCEPT a writer, what would it be? (And don't say something crazy like you'd die before being something else!) haha

I'd like to be a young heiress, retired with a bank balance with the word Unlimited in it so I could travel the world, offer my services in charities, see family regularly, and study new languages and arts. :)
 
Thanks so much for sharing. I feel like I know you better already.
 
~Amber