Author Insight: The 30-second sell

If you had 30 seconds to sell your book to a stranger passing on the street, what would you tell them?

"Luckily I have that experience all the time. I usually start off by describing it as a novel about "a teen oracle who can see the future when he gives himself concussions" and that already grabs them. Or puts them off." - K. Ryer Breese, author of Future Imperfect. 

"If you like hot guys, beautiful settings, mystery and intrigue, all wrapped up in a sizzling romantic package, well then this book demands you read it. And while you’re pondering that, look at the pretty cover." - Leigh Fallon, author of The Carrier of the Mark. 

"Possession is about a girl who lives in a brainwashing society who decides she doesn’t want to follow the rules anymore. She breaks the law, chaos ensues." - Elana Johnson, author of Possession. 

"That I wrote Ballads of Suburbia because it was the book I needed to read as a teenager. I was inspired by songs by the likes of Johnny Cash and Social Distortion where the singer tells the story of their life, the mistakes they made and pulls no punches and that's what I let my teenage characters do, tell about the struggles with love, family, addiction, and depression--the secrets that people don't want to tell--like they were writing a ballad about their lives." - Stephanie Kuehnert, author of Ballads of Suburbia. 

"I would say, 'There’s a twenty dollar bill in this book and I’ll sell it to you for $15.00.'" - Marta Acosta, author of  Haunted Honeymoon.

"Hearts at Stake is Snow White with bite! Add a reluctant vampire, her snarky human best friend, seven gorgeous vampire brothers and a lot of mayhem." - Alyxandra Harvey, author of Haunting Violet.

"Consuela Chavez discovers she can remove her skin and create new ones out of anything in order to save people from dying before their time. (Unless they're my age and then I'd say, 'Quantum Leap + Buffy the Vampire Slayer + What Dreams May Come ala the Day of the Dead.')" - Dawn Metcalf, author of Luminous. 

"That it’s wicked awesome!  It’s got tons of action and romance and lightning.  Not enough lightning in books nowadays." - Josephine Angelini, author of Starcrossed. 

"Imagine a mythical ancient China where a young girl must masquerade as a boy to bond with one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune and become a Dragoneye Lord. Now imagine that young girl thrust into the center of a lethal struggle for the Imperial throne. She must find the strength to defeat a vicious enemy, face her own dark desire for power, and walk a deadly line between truth and justice. Now, go forth and buy EON and EONA and enter the Empire of the Celestial Dragons (cue dramatic music)." - Alison Goodman, author of Eona. 

"If they stopped and listened to me instead of avoiding me, I'd probably turn and run. (Can you tell I grew up in NYC?)" - Leah Cypess, author of Nightspell. 

"A girl without Original Sin falls in love with a son of a dark angel, then discovers she can save him from Hell if she gives up her mortality and certain Heaven to join him and his brothers in a war to save mankind’s free will. It’s uber conflicted and romantic. Please buy it, because I think you’ll enjoy it. Or buy it because I have a kid in college, and tuition is righteous, yo." - Trinity Faegen, author of The Mephisto Covenant. 

"A bone chilling tale for all ages about a trap two exes walk into and their journey to try and escape while their past stands between them." - Emma Michaels, author of The Thirteenth Chime.

Stop by Thursday to learn how the rest of the authors pitch their book in 30 seconds!
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