Friday, October 18, 2013

DEGREES OF WRONG Sample Booklets Available

Calling all book bloggers!

Did you know I wrote a Sci-fi romance? Yep, it's called Degrees of Wrong (Samhain Publishing 2012) and here is what it's about:


Dr. Elyse Morgan’s mission: find the cure to the HTN4 virus. The compensation, courtesy of the United Nations: a lab stocked with hi-tech goodies, limitless resources and enough chocolate to make her rear look like a cellulite farm. Bonus: she gets to live.

Rescued (kidnapped) and secreted (imprisoned) on an undersea warship, Elyse adjusts to her assumed identity as a cadet with the finesse of a toeless ballerina. Her sulfuric temper and blatant insubordination capture the unwanted attention of the ship’s captain, the gorgeous, infuriating, engaged Nicoli Marek.

Elyse would rather perform her own autopsy than become the other woman, but Nicoli—who’s as full of himself as he is of secrets—regards his impending marriage as a mere political transaction. And Elyse as fair game.

As Elyse’s suspicions about the UN’s true agenda mount along with her attraction to the relentless, chronically shirtless captain, she must choose between the murky path to everything she’s ever wanted, or the squeaky-clean path of self-sacrifice—which could mean taking the secrets of the virus with her to the grave.

Warning: Features a strong, chocolate-loving heroine who takes no prisoners on the way to saving the world from an epidemic and winning a captain’s heart.


I'm offering book bloggers signed sample booklets of Degrees of Wrong, plus signed bookmarks to use as giveaways. And if you'd like to review the book on your blog as well, I'm happy to send you an e-copy. All you have to do is email me at byannabanks (at) gmail (dot) com.

I guarantee you'll find Nicoli worthy of all the swoons!

*If you're not a book blogger but would like a signed sample booklet, please email me and you got it!

UPDATE: This offer is now closed! My supplies have officially been depleted, which means that you guys ROCK! :)

Friday, September 20, 2013

OF NEPTUNE Update

I know everyone has been waiting to hear what the heck is going on with OF NEPTUNE. The truth is, I wrote it. Then I rewrote it, because it wasn't good enough for you guys. It wasn't juicy enough.

The good news is, now it is. It's going to knock you on your proverbial butt, in fact.

The bad news is, my publisher has decided to put it on lockdown. There will be no ARCs. Not even on Netgalley. To which I said WHOA. It's top secret, this third and final book. You might have thought I wrapped up OF TRITON so nicely and neatly and put a bow on it, that there's no need for a third book. Ohhhhh how naïve you are.

So you will have to wait until Spring 2014 to find out what happens in the grand finale. And I will have to wait until Spring 2014 to see what you think about the grand finale. Yep, we're screwed.

That said, I will do everything in my power to make the first five chapters available to you somehow, someway. And I'll be tweeting quotes from the book. Not that the quotes will ease your pain. They won't. But there will be quotes.

I haven't seen the cover yet, but when I do, I'll let you know. I expect it to be epic. But even then, you won't be able to guess what happens in this final installment.

This has been an official OF NEPTUNE update.

Thank you.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Multi-Author Charity Auction!

Welcome to the Multi-Author Charity Auction. All proceeds will be going to Alaqua Animal Refuge, which over the weekend rescued 97 dogs and 6 horses. They are in desperate need of donations to help cover the care of their newly gained residents. This refuge is a NO KILL SHELTER so they are with the animals for the long run.

Some very generous authors have agreed to donate their time or their books to help this wonderful cause. There is something here for avid readers AND writers, so be sure to look at all of the packages up for bid.

How to Bid

Leave a comment below stating the package you're bidding on and the dollar amount you're bidding. For instance, in the comments, you would say "Package C $100".
The bidding opens today when this post goes up, and ends Friday at noon CST. If you've won, you'll be asked to mail me a check or money order made payable to Alaqua Animal Refuge. Open to US/Canada residents only.

You can bid on one or all of these Five Awesome Packages:


The Packages

Package A--BOOKS!

In this package you will receive ALL of the following signed books:

        1.) Signed hardcover of CREWEL by Gennifer Albin

                                                                    




        2.) Signed First Editions of SHADOW AND BONE and SEIGE AND STORM, plus a map,
             from New York Times Bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo


                                                     







                                                     





        3.) Signed copy of MONUMENT 14: SKY ON FIRE plus a Greenway tote bag and a swag pack              from Emmy Laybourne.


                                                     



        4.) Signed copy of THE KARMA CLUB and signed copy of UNREMEMBERED by Jessica
              Brody.

                                                     






                                                     




        5.) Signed ARC of the up coming VITRO by Jessica Khoury, and a signed paperback plus
              signed swag of her first novel, ORIGIN.

                                                     

                                                      



        6.) Signed copies of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON by Anna Banks.

              







        7.) Signed copy of DEGREES OF WRONG by Anna Scarlett.


                                                      

PACKAGE B--Partial Manuscript Critique by Leigh Bardugo!

 Get 30 pgs of your manuscript critiqued by this New York Times Bestselling author!


PACKAGE C--Partial Manuscript and Query Critique by Lindsey Cummings!


Get your first chapter and query letter critiqued by this up and coming author of THE MURDER COMPLEX (2014 Harpercollins) and BALANCE KEEPERS (2014 Harpercollins).


PACKAGE D---Partial Manuscript Critique (50 pgs) plus a phone call from Anna Banks!

 If you don't have a manuscript ready and just want to talk to me, by all means, bid on this package. We can talk about anything and everything you want to discuss. :)


PACKAGE E--Name a character in Anna Bank's upcoming YA novel JOYRIDE!


JOYRIDE is a YA Contemp which is a mashup of Pretty in Pink meets Bonnie & Clyde. Highest bidder gets to name one of the characters in it!




Okay guys, that's a lot of motivation to make a bid here for such a great cause! Thanks to all the authors who donated, and thanks in advance for bidding.

Ready, set, GO!

Friday, June 7, 2013

ONCE UPON A DARKNESS--EXCERPT AND GIVEAWAY!

Today yous guys get a special treat. My good friend Aria Kane has agreed, after much begging on my part, to let me host an excerpt and giveaway for her upcoming novel ONCE UPON A DARKNESS!

As soon as she said "It's kind of like Hansel & Gretel & Zombies" I was totally like pleeeeeease let me do something with this pleeeeeeease oh pleeeeeease. Only ten times more obnoxious than you're imagining. 


So, let me introduce you to the epicness that is this book which releases June 17th, so probably you should preorder it rightfreakingnow:







ONCE UPON A DARKNESS BY ARIA KANE

Gretchen and her twin brother, Hank, were abandoned to a zombie horde when they were five years old. Intended to be a sacrifice by their zealot parents, they were instead rescued by The Company. Raised to become soldiers in the war against zombies, they now provide safe passage through danger zones, one contract at a time.

Clint's only skill is war, but he's weary of killing other men. When his contract with the Marines runs out, he takes a job on Gretchen's team, hoping that the search-and-rescue life will suit him better.

On Clint's second day, their four-man team is attacked, drugged, and taken to a prison full of frightened civilians. The only way in or out is by helicopter and, here, their enemies are human. One by one, the captives are culled from the holding area.  Rumors say the facility director uses the prisoners as experimental subjects for the testing of a zombie cure.

When Hank is taken, Clint and Gretchen must put aside their personal feelings and find a way out of the prison, surrounded by thousands of starving zombies, before Hank becomes just one more disposable guinea pig in the hands of a twisted mad woman.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17791187-once-upon-a-darkness


HOW COOL DOES THAT FREAKING SOUND!?! See why I begged to host this???

And if the blurb alone didn't sell you, how about an excerpt, mkay?


EXCERPT:

"Can we try something else?" Clint swung the practice sword in a wide sweep. "I think I got this motion down."

"When you're facing a crowd of zombies, there's no time to think," a woman's voice said behind him.

He spun, sword in hand. She lunged at him. He had enough time to register pale skin and straight white-blonde hair atop a lithe frame before her arms crashed into his shoulders with shocking force. Air rushed painfully from his lungs as his back hit the ground. His sword rattled out of reach. She crouched on top of him, somehow holding him down with not much more than a hundred pounds to her. Eyes the color of ice on an Alaskan glacier stared back at him.

"If I were a zombie, you'd be a three-course meal right now." The woman, who was maybe a few years younger than him, snapped her jaw and laughed.

"Or a new zombie, yourself," another male voice said. Clint looked over her shoulder to find the male version of his attacker standing about twenty feet back from the scene. Next to him, a mountain of a man smirked with amusement. All three of them were nuts.

She shaped her hand like a gun and pressed it to his forehead. "No, I'd kill you before I let that happen." She said it casually, like telling someone lunch was ready.

"Thanks?" Was this some sort of weird initiation?

The woman leapt to her feet and yanked him up after her. She tapped the back of his skull. "When you're attacked, your lizard brain takes over. You have to do something like a sword swing or a roundhouse kick thousands of times so that it becomes instinctual. Hesitation is fatal." She punctuated her words with practiced movements; the swinging of an imaginary sword and a roundhouse kick aimed at the practice target.

"Right." He had known this, of course, but had forgotten it in the absolute boredom of swinging the sword the same way for hours.

The woman stood there with her hands on her hips as if she were waiting for some kind of applause. He didn't know what else to say that would keep her from jumping him again. Though, now that he got a good look at her, maybe he wouldn't mind another roll in the dirt. She was tall, with long legs bared by khaki shorts. A tiny white tank top stretched over a black sports bra that definitely earned its keep. Lean muscle stretched along the full length of her arms, torso, and legs. Strapped to her legs and waist were weapon holsters of all varieties that - in his mind, at least - only made her sexier.

"What are you, Zombie Slayer Barbie?" 


GIVEAWAY:


Leave me a comment below telling me how much you want this book, and you'll be entered for a chance to win a SIGNED copy! (Open US/CANADA only).

About the Author:


Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. She lives in sunny Florida with a 60 lb mutt who thinks he's a chihuahua. She is the author of ONCE UPON A DARKNESS and A TITAN FOR CHRISTMAS. You can learn more about her at ariakane.com

Or even better, CONNECT with her:



Website: http://www.ariakane.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/aria_kane
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ariakaneauthor
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ariakane/

Monday, June 3, 2013

BOOK TRAILER CONTEST WINNERS! (AND A GIVEAWAY)

Okay. So.

You guys blew away with your entries. It was a hard decision. I think I'm going to stop having these contests, because choosing is just too freaking difficult. Remember the bookmark contest? And how I made YOU choose? Yeah.

This time, I did choose (well, I chose two Honorable Mentions too. Can you imagine shoe shopping with me?) Thank GAWD I offered three prizes, so I could narrow it down to the best three instead of just one winner.

But not only am I offering fantabulous prizes to the winners, I'm also giving YOU the chance to win a signed set of OF TRITON and OF POSEIDON! All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me which video you enjoyed and why. Be warned, if you leave a mean remark, you will not win, and I will fantasize about locking you in a classroom with kindergarteners armed with squirt guns full of vinegar.

So without further delay, here they are:


1st Place-Laura Kolar

This one literally gave me goosebumps when I first saw it. I was in my car, pulled it up on my phone, and listened to it through my car stereo, surround sound effect, and all I could think was Holy. Crap. Everyone I showed it to was all "WOW", including my agent. (P.S. If you have motion sickness issues, beware of the water tunnel at the end!)




2nd Place-Emma Smith

Emma's entry was just so swoon worthy. The music, the soothing ocean scenes. I fell in love.









3rd Place-Tiffany Bernardo

I love the color scheme in Tiffany's entry. The whole thing is so chick and stylish. I felt intimidated because I could never be as cool as Tiffany. Obviously.





Honorable Mention-Heidi Liles

I appreciated that Heidi actually chose a cast and directed this video herself. I think she might have a future in the cinematic arts!








Honorable Mention-Merrina O'Malley

Merrina's entry really appealed to me because for one, it's completely adorable. And for two, she explains how I'm the best author in the world, in case you didn't already realize. And for three, did I mention it's completely adorable???












Friday, May 31, 2013

RAVENS GIVEAWAY WINNER!

Hi all! *waves*

I know some of you have been asking if the winners have been announced---they weren't officially announced yet. Sorry. I've been in author prison. They only serve us hotpockets and Coke Zero in author prison.

But here are the winners, and congrats to them!

Hannah the syrena_girl

and
 
Holly Bryan

They're getting a signed copy of RAVENS by Kaylie Austen, and a signed bookmark! Can I get a woot woot?!?

Thanks to all who entered. Your comments had me cheesin'. :)  If you haven't already picked up this literary gem, you should hussle and do so for some great weekend reading!



Tuesday, April 23, 2013

On Writing

With the release of my second book next month, I've been reflecting a lot on my publishing journey. I remember the painful rejections from agents, the late nights I spent perfecting my query letter, the lunch hours spent in my car writing down scenes as they struck me. The maddening feeling of "Am I crazy for putting so much energy into this? What if I'm no good? Is this going to be something I'll be embarrassed about in ten years?"

We all fight our doubts. We all let ourselves get in our own way. I did. I even had people telling me I would never make it. That I was wasting my time.

But I had other people too. I had the writing community, and without them, without you, I wouldn't have made it. I know that with every fiber in my body. Soldiers fighting a war in the trenches always became close, like brothers. They looked out for one another, they were loyal to each other, and they truly cared.

That's how it is in the query trenches. You won't stay there forever. Like soldiers, you'll suffer injuries. But it will be in the form of rejection, and it will maul your pride instead of your physical body. The scars will either make you stronger or make you quit. I remember the soldiers in the query trenches with me. And it seemed like when one of us got an agent, the rest of us did. I fought with Mindy McGinnis, AG Howard, Valerie Cole, Heather Rebel, and many more.  I got an agent. They all got agents. What are the chances of that? Do you see the pattern here?

We were there for each other. And we made it out of the trenches together.

So if you're an aspiring writer, don't keep to yourself. Give and receive. Get involved. Learn your craft, teach your craft. Share information and doubts and worries and excitement and encouragement.

Get each other out of the trenches.

You can do it.

Monday, April 1, 2013

OF TRITON PRE-ORDER BONUS CONTENT!

There are many reasons you should pre-order the hardcover of OF TRITON (unless you never need to know what happens after that horrible cliffhanger in OF POSEIDON, but whatevs, right?). But now the shiz just got real.

Because there is EXCLUSIVE bonus content you'll get if you do pre-order OF TRITON or purchase it between the dates of May 28th through June 2nd 2013.



1.) You'll get the first chapter of OF TRITON right-freaking-now. It will not be available anywhere else until the date of release. You know you want to read it. And yes, you will love-hate me when you do.

2.) You'll get a bonus scene from OF POSEIDON, told by Toraf's point of view. (Remember that part where Toraf does something to Emma on the beach in front of the twins? Well this is the scene right AFTER that scene, with all the feels Toraf has about it.! Insert squeal here.) This will also not be available anywhere else. (Hence, it's EXCLUSIVE).

So, to get all this fantabulous content, you must email me proof of your pre-order, which could be a picture, scan, or email confirmation of your purchase receipt. Send the email to oftritonbonuscontent@gmail.com.

We'll respond with a PDF designed especially for this content. It's purdy. And the words are good, too. :)

It's that easy.

OF TRITON BOOK TRAILER CONTEST

Yes, thaaaaaa's right.

You guys blew me away with your entries for the Of Triton bookmark contest. (Truly. Madly. Deeply.)

Soooo I've decided to hold a contest for creating the book trailer for Of Triton. Now, since book trailers involve a bigger time investment than designing a book mark, I've decided to offer prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. If you're an aspiring writer, you'll be interested in these prizes. If you're a reader, you'll be interested in these prizes.

If you're both, you're super duper interested.

FIRST PLACE:

A FULL manuscript critique from my agent, the magnificent-in-every-way Lucy Carson of The Friedrich Agency.

AND

A $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble.

AND

You get to name a major character in OF NEPTUNE, the third and final installment in the Syrena Legacy series. 

SECOND PLACE:

A 50 page manuscript critique from my agent, the magnificent-in-every-way Lucy Carson.

AND

A $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble.

AND

A signed (and/or personalized) copy of OF TRITON.

THIRD PLACE:

A query letter critique from my agent, the magnificent-in-every-way Lucy Carson.

AND

A $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble

Here are the rules:

1.) You have to use the blurb for OF TRITON to create the trailer. As in, you get no extra spoilers. I'm not saying you HAVE to include a single word from the blurb (but it's a good idea), I'm just saying that's all you have to go on. And remember, the goal is to make the viewer want to read the book right-freaking-now.

2.)  The trailer should be at least 30 seconds long. (This is a suggestion, not a strict rule.)

3.) By entering, you agree that you have access/rights to all content used in the trailer. As in, some dude's not coming after for me for using his music/images when I post the crap out of this book trailer. And post the crap out of it, I will.

4.) By entering, you agree that I can post it wherever the fancy strikes me. I'm going to be bragging about this, rest assured. If you're one of those shy artist types, this contest is not for you. You also NEED to include your information in the credits. GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT, peoples! Show the world the shiz you can do!

5.) The contest is open to US/Canada residents only. For legal reasons only, I promise. I LOVE my international fans. Sorry. :(

6.) When your entry is complete, email it to byannabanks (at) gmail (dot) com as an attachement. You are not officially entered if I do not respond to your email indicating I've received it! Feel free to harass me until I acknowledge receipt. Seriously.

7.) Have fun. Because if you don't, and you stress out about it, then you'll hate me, and possibly Galen, and I couldn't stand for that. Mkay?

UPDATE: DEADLINE IS APRIL 30th! 


  

Monday, March 4, 2013

Bookmark Contest Winner

Guys. We have a winner. (We've HAD a winner, but Blogger is the devil and ate my winner post!).  Thanks to all who voted, entered, and help spread the word about the contest. I can't tell you how awesome it is for my official OF TRITON bookmark to be completely fan-created. Not to mention by a book blogger--and book bloggers are among my most favoritest of people. :)

Freaking fantabulous! (<----sorry blurted.="" br="" i="">

Now, without further ado, the winner is........(you're imagining a drum roll right now, aren't you?):

ENTRY #3!!!



Some of you may know the person behind the creator, but for those who don't, I've asked her to introduce herself. She's a bit camera shy, but please give a virtual high five to Kazhy! (And check out her website, which is majorly classy).

I'm Kazhy, a college student by day and a book blogger, well, all the time! I'm more confident with my bookmark design than with my blog, but if you'd like to check it out, it's here! You can also find me on Twitter. I was really surprised to find out that a lot of people liked my design, considering I only used GIMP to make it. Thanks to everyone who voted! :D

Monday, February 18, 2013

RAVENS-AN EXCERPT AND GIVEAWAY!

I'm elated to the infinite degree to be hosting this giveaway of RAVENS by Kaylie Austen. She's a very talented author pal of mine, and I'm stoooopid excited to read this YA debut. I know the dark and twisted mind that is Kaylie's and I'm pretty sure I'm going to need someone to hold me while I read it...

That said, you can (and should) connect with her on her blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

Without further ado, here is the magnificence of RAVENS!



Blurb (World Castle Publishing January 2013):

What are Ravens, and are they as the world wants us to believe—sinister and without human qualities? When abruptly taken from their world, select humans are transformed into creatures of the night with penetrating eyes and uncanny abilities that most believe are a threat to mankind. Stripped from their mundane and ordinary lives, these creatures have no choice but to stalk the night and fight back in order to survive.
           
One such Raven is eighteen-year-old Liam, who uses his telepathy to communicate with Kendra in order to lure her into the transformation. It proves to be a double-edged gambit that turns into a tumultuous journey. Racing against time to save her sister, whom she believed to be dead, Kendra falls through a portal and into a parallel world where humans hunt her. She becomes a Raven with ill-controlled powers, trapped in a torrid affair with Liam, and desperately struggles to find a grip on her new reality.
 
 
Sounds intense huh? Huh??? *nudges shoulder* As a special treat, I've got an excerpt for your reading pleasure!
 
Excerpt:

The first few times Kendra dreamt of Liam, he was a blurry ghost haunting her sleep. After the first year, he sat with her, talked to her, and consoled her.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” she’d asked.
His gaze met hers until she looked away first. The intensity of those unnatural orbs sent chills down her spine. The colors were all wrong and made Liam seem dangerous, inhuman.
“Our eyes change here.”
“Where’s there?”
He shrugged. “Another world.”
“Like…the afterworld?”
He laughed. “I’m not dead!”
“Of course you are,” she muttered.
Liam disappeared when she awoke, and every so often returned to continue the conversation.
“Is Julie with you?” Kendra inquired with a bitter ache in her chest.
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
“You really want to know?”
“Who killed you?”
He laughed. “I’m not dead!”
“Of course you are,” she muttered.
Liam hadn’t visited in a while, but the anniversary fast approached, which meant he’d pop up again.

Giveaway:

I'm giving away not one but TWO signed copies of RAVENS. To enter, leave a comment below and tell me why you want to read this book so very much badly. Be convincing. Make me feel it. Make me want to overnight the book to you, mkay? Because that's how you're gonna win this giveaway.

So...On your mark...Get set...Wait for it...Wait...I said wait...GO!



 
 

Monday, February 11, 2013

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!

Okay, so I'm pretty sure I've mentioned in passing that you guys suck in the best possible way. You've made picking the winner for my bookmark contest haaaaaard. So many great (and by great, I mean fan-flipping-tastic) entries. There were well over a hundred entries. I was almost in tears trying to pick a winner. This was supposed to be fun. If not for you, then AT LEAST for me, right? Right??

Shame. On. You.

So now I'm putting the ball in your court (cliche alert! Ew). Now you must suffer with indecision. Bite your lip bloody and raw. Drink wine from the bottle with said bloody/raw lip.

However, I have made it a tidly bit easier for you. I've narrowed the contest down to the top six entries. Instead of hundreds of entries, you just have to choose between six. Easy, yes? (Insert maniacal laugh here, then the gulping sound of drinking more wine, followed by an unladylike hiccup).

Here are the rules:

1.) Vote in the comment section. (For example: Entry one. Another example: Entry two. See how it works?) I don't feel like messing with one of those poll widget things. This also gives you a chance to give praise to the finalists.


2.) If you leave a negative comment about any entries, your vote will not count, your comment will be deleted, I will secretly consider you a bad person and possibly a poor sport, other people will know that you're a jerk, and your mother will be utterly and irretrievably ashamed of you and what you have let yourself become.


3.) You may vote only once. (Because duh).


4.) All votes must be in by midnight on February 15th. Any votes posted in the comments after that deadline will not be counted. I am not responsible for what time zone you're in. I don't even know what time zone I'm in, so good luck with that.


ENTRY ONE

 
 
 
 
ENTRY TWO
 
 
 













ENTRY THREE


   



ENTRY FOUR




ENTRY FIVE








ENTRY SIX






Monday, February 4, 2013

BOOKMARK WINNER---HALP ME!

You guys suck, and I mean that in the best possible way. You are all so talented that I actually couldn't decide on a winner for the OF TRITON bookmark contest. That said, I need your help. Pwease.

I've got it narrowed down to my favorites, but I was wondering if you could help me decide who THE winner is? Would you be willing to vote? Would you be willing to give of yourself in that way?

In a few days, I'm going to post the top 5 choices I've made. I want you to vote for your favorite in the comment section. I do NOT want any nasty or ugly or demeaning comments about the entries I've selected. I simply want your vote. If you make a derrogatory comment, I'll delete it faster than I'd pop a zit, and then I'll secretly think of you as a bad person, and probably never have tea with you and your vote will CERTAINLY not count at all. So you just think about that.

I'm going to be contacting the top 5 finalists in the next few days to make sure it's alright to publicly flaunt their skillful swagger on my blog. After I've received the go-ahead, I'll post the images. You will be impressed. It will be difficult for you to choose. And then you will know my agony.

Stay tuned for updates on this contest.

I can't even tell you how overwhelmed I was with the huge response to this contest. There were literally hundreds of entries. And most of them, honest to God, were mind-blowing.

So, you guys really do suck. In a good way. :)

Monday, January 7, 2013

CONTEST: DESIGN MY BOOKMARK!


So. I assume you’ve all had a chance to see the cover for the second installment of my Syrena Legacy series, OF TRITON, yes? If not, please do avert your eyes to its glory here:

                     



I know. It’s hawt. You don’t have to tell me.


Here’s the blurb. Be excited.


In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?


So. I need your help.


My creative artistic abilities ended with kindergarten. However, I’ve seen just how creative my fans can be by the swag they make. Necklaces, nail polish, cookies, chocolate, rings, magnets. You guys are crazy talented.  So I was sorta kinda wondering if…


Would one of you design a bookmark for OF TRITON? Pwease?


Here’s what’s in it for the winner:


1.)    An ARC of OF TRITON.

2.)    A signed hardcover of OF POSEIDON.

3.)    The choice between a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card OR a 50 pg critique of your manuscript, plus a follow up phone call from me to discuss it.

4.)    I’ll pay to have your bookmark printed, and you will get a good supply of signed, printed copies. Each bookmark will include a credit to you as designer.

5.)    A signed poster of your bookmark.


Here are the rules:


1.)    You must be able to design the bookmark based solely on the cover image and the blurb. In other words, the cover must be used somehow in the bookmark, and the bookmark must capture the sense of the blurb somehow. Remember, draw the reader in. Make them curious about the book. Make them salivate for it. Make them…well, you know.

2.)    If you choose to use any other images, you must have legal rights to do so.

3.)    By entering, you give me permission to mass produce and mass distribute the bookmark you designed (if you win). This means your bookmark design could (and probably will) end up in countries all over the world. So by entering, you agree that’s kind of cool.


Here’s how you enter:


1.)    Design a bookmark.

2.)    Email the bookmark as an attachment to byannabanks (at) gmail (dot) com. Do it before January 31st. In subject line of the email, please put BOOKMARK CONTEST ENTRY.


The winner will be announced on February 4th, 2013.


Whataya say???