Friday, November 4, 2011

Guest Post + Giveaway: JL Bryan and The Paranormals Series


Today is the last day of the promotional tour for JL Bryan's beautifully dark Paranormals series and I'm honored to be the very last stop! If you haven't been following the tour, you can find all the details and previous tour stops listed on the tour page at Kismet Book Touring. JL is offering up some pretty unbelievably fabulous giveaways for this tour, so be sure and check the bottom of the post for all the specifics on how to enter! Without further ado though, I'd like to welcome JL back to the blog to share with you some thoughts that have reminded me exactly why I love being a book blogger so much.

A LONG, STRANGE, PARANORMAL TRIP

So, this is the last day of the Paranormals tour. This has been a fantastic celebration of the release of the third book in the trilogy, and I want to thank all of the tour hosts for their generosity in sharing their blogs. I also want to thank Danny and Heather from Kismet for making things easy, and for putting together all the great prizes and trick-or-treater characters!

It's fitting that the tour began on Bewitched Bookworms and ends here on Supernatural Snark. I first released Jenny Pox in July 2010. I queried lots of bloggers to review it, but as an unknown indie author, I initially got few responses.

The few bloggers who featured the book back then included the Bewitched Bookworms, Darkeva, the Caffeinated Diva, and Supernatural Snark. The response from these bloggers gave me the sense that the book might be something valuable that would eventually find lots of readers. The Bookworms actually featured me several times in 2010, back when nobody had heard of Jenny Pox and nobody was reading it.

Over a year later, the book has grown into a trilogy, and they often show up on the Horror and Contemporary Fantasy bestseller lists on Amazon. It's always stunning to me how many book bloggers are eager to help spread the word about the books! Countless bloggers have helped make this happen (including The Bookish Brunette, who even made Team Seth and Team Alexander buttons).

The first two books enabled me to take a couple months of leave from work when my son was born on June 2. I can't begin to describe what it meant to me that I was able to spend so much time with him. Now, I'm leaving my day job altogether to focus on writing and baby care, so expect a lot more books from me!

As a writer, you spend huge numbers of hours alone, creating and refining your stories. The biggest surprise about going indie is that I'm not doing this alone at all – I've met so many amazing, intelligent, funny, and generous book bloggers who are so helpful. This doesn't even begin to mention the great community of indie authors I've met, which would take a whole other post!

This journey has been fun, exciting, mysterious, and full of surprises. Sometimes everything just comes together at once, spontaneously, in a way you never could have planned. Sometimes, it's kismet.

So this post is just a big “thank you” to all the bloggers and readers who have made this amazing process unfold over the past fourteen months. I appreciate every one of you, and I look forward to years of adventures to come! Thanks for being there.

You're so very welcome JL! Finding authors like you has been one of my favorite parts of running the blog, and I'm thrilled to be able to promote the Paranormals series to any and all who will listen:)

GIVEAWAY #1

I've got two very special giveaways on the blog today! The first is my tour stop "treat" which includes a signed set of all three books in the Paranormals series: Jenny Pox, Tommy Nightmare and Alexander Death. To enter please just leave a comment on this post with a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only and will run through midnight EST on Friday, November 11th after which time a winner will be chosen and announced on the blog.

*please note that the Paranormals series is recommended for older young adult readers as it contains more graphic sexual content and some drug use*


GIVEAWAY #2



Your eyes are not deceiving you my friends, this giveaway is for a Kindle Fire! YAY! The winner will receive a Kindle Fire skinned in the their choice of Paranormals artwork and loaded with an AMAZING indie library. Simply fill out the form below (just once during the course of the tour, so if you've already filled it out at a different stop, you don't need to enter again) and you're entered to win the latest and greatest from the biggest name in eReaders. Open to US and Canadian residents only, see full contest rules HERE.



A huge thank you to JL for offering up such amazing giveaways and to the wonderful girls of Kismet Book Touring for putting together a fantastic tour:)



Alexander Death week:
Monday, October 31st - The Slowest Bookworm
Tuesday, November 1st - Buried In Books
Wednesday, November 2nd- Paranormal Opinion
Thursday, November 3rd - Belle Books
Friday, November 4th - Supernatural Snark

67 comments:

  1. I am dying to read this series!!!!!! Fingers crossed!


    moiraethefates(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  2. I've gotten "Jenny Pox" for Kindle already, but I'd love a physical set. Those covers are gorgeous! Such a nifty idea as well.

    Thanks for the shot!
    postedcontests (at) g m a i l (dot) c o m

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  3. I just finished reading Jenny Pox. I really enjoyed it.

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  4. Mary DeBorde [M.A.D.]
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com

    I'd love to read these, thank you for such a super sweet giveaway!! :D
    And those covers are way cool!

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  5. I would absolutely love to get into this series, everyone seems to be enjoying it. [: Thanks for the giveaway!

    Erin @ Let's Evaluate
    letsevaluate@yahoo.com

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  6. Oh WOW what a giveaway! TY to the arthur and all the book blogs for this chance! I have Jenny Pox and will start reading soon. The other two are in my to-read list. Cheers!!
    sacredmoon1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. This sounds like a great series and I would love a chance to read it. Please count me in and thanks. :)

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

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  8. Love these books!

    ericab44@yahoo.com

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  9. I'm almost sad that the tour is over...but also excited to see who will win the prizes! I would LOVE to have a signed set of books!

    Congrats on your success JL! I'm betting you'll be just as good or better as a stay at home daddy!

    barbbattaglia@yahoo.com

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  10. Aww, it's the last day of the Paranormals tour -- that's so sad! But I'm still really excited to read these books and you're totally right, Jenny! Authors as awesome as Jeff make you want to promote their book like there's no tomorrow! :)

    Thank you so much for the amazing giveaways!

    mimivalentine@hotmail.ca

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  11. That was so inspirational! I am glad that "Jenny Pox" is now a trilogy, and I do hope your keep writing - I like your style! Thanks so much for the blog tour - it as fun (especially the playlists!) and I wish you tonnes more success! :D

    Thanks!
    Ammy Belle
    apereiraorama @ gmail . com

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  12. I am sad to see the blog tour end, but it was a fun ride :)

    gringitajill@gmail.com

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  13. I read Jenny Pox a while back and loved it, a I somehow didn't know books 2 and 3 where already out! Really excited to read the next books and would LOVE to add signed copies to my library. Thanks so much for the chance to win!
    bluesun1218@dishmail.net

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  14. I have the books in e form, but I would love to have the hard copies, and signed!!!! Thanks for the giveaway!!!!


    mrs_laura_koehler(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  15. OHMYGOSH...its like everywhere I go Im hearing about the Jenny Pox and Alex Death!!! I must read these...And thanks Mr.Bryan for the shout out on bloggers. We do love you authors and work hard spreading the word for books we love...:D

    willowdust@gmail.com

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  16. I've also read Jenny Pox, but not the other two yet. I'd love a signed set of the books. It's so nice to hear that JLB is able to become a fulltime writer now! Hooray to the all those that helped *blogging power!!*
    tlabunski **((gmail))**
    Pabkins @ Mission to Read

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  17. This sounds like an incredible series and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Thank you for the amazing giveaway and a wonderful post!

    astewart305(at)rogers.com

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  18. I have been wanting to read these books since I heard about them at The Bookish Brunette. Thank you for hosting the giveaway:)

    Heather R.
    threeroddsandaberry@gmail.com

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  19. Great guest post Jeff! Thanks Jenny. :)

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  20. I've heard great things about that series. Hope I get it.

    jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  21. Great tour...thanks for writing and sharing such awesome stories.

    laura.troudt@cox.net

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  22. I can't wait to read this series. It sounds great. These books are going on the top of my TBB pile.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

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  23. Hey Jeff! I am so glad I found you long ago when Supernatural Snark first reviewed Jenny pox! I actually won a copy of the original notebook style with the cartoon cover from you and I have been in love with the Paranormals series and all your other works since! Congrats on all of your success and you so totally deserve it!

    hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

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  24. The Jenny Pox trilogy look so good!!! They're going on my wishlist!!!

    Glassheart18ca@hotmail.com

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  25. Thanks for a lovely post and giveaway! I've got Jenny Pox on my Kindle and I'm sorry to say that it got lost in the TBR pile. But I'm determined to start it now that I've read such a wonderful post!

    Thanks again!

    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. This tour has been awesome! I absolutely loved Jenny Pox, and I am excited to read Tommy Nightmare and Alexander Death! From the reviews, the books just get better.

    unabridgedbookshelf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  27. I just finished up Jenny Pox and I'm really curious to see how the series ends from there. Seth right now is my favorite character, but I have a feeling I'm going to find some new favorites in the next books. Can't wait!

    jtheunknown(at)gmail(dot)com

    Jen
    In the Closet With a Bibliophile

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  28. Good lord, a chance for a whole series at once?!? Blessings upon you!

    diesel(dot)doll(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. Awwww!!! Well, everyone knows how incredibly freaking EPIC I think this series is- and I absolutely think JL Bryan is brilliant. (shhh- don't tell him! *grin*)

    JL Bryan honestly cemented my love/slight obsession with indie books and authors. I am always happy to spread the word and talk (for HOURS) about my favorite books... good thing I'm a book blogger right? :)

    LOVE this post! And not just cause you mentioned me- well, that may be a part of it! :D

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  30. OMG! This post makes me want to cry! What a remarkable journey. I'm so glad you got to see you got some amazing support and how it changed your life in amazing ways. :)

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  31. I've added these books to my wishlist thanks to yours and Missie's reviews, Jenny.

    It's amazing how things just work out sometimes if you work hard and believe in yourself. Thanks for the giveaway.

    ayareader@hotmail.com

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  32. Tommy Nightmare looks so, so creepy!!!! :)

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  33. Wow, what a great giveaway. I really want to read this series now so I'll cross my fingers and toes and hope I win.

    John Thomas
    jathomas48@suddenlink.net

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  34. Thank you for such a wonderful tour. Best of luck to the series.

    Cambonified[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  35. Thanks to all of you who've been following the tour! I hope it was fun, and good luck on all the prizes!

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  36. I am having fun following this tour. I haven't had the chance to start this series but everytime I hear about it just makes me want to more and more. Lol. Thank you for the great giveaways.

    Sthrnsweetie115@AOL.com

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  37. Since I can't enter, good luck everyone :D

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  38. I'm so glad that you've found people to review them and the series has become so popular. As a blogger with so many review requests it's impossible to decide which ones to accept and which ones not to. So many of them sound amazing and when there are so few reviews it's impossible to really know which ones to pick. But the series seems to be EVERYWHERE in the blogosphere these days. So congrats! I'm hoping to get these ones read next year, so sign me up!
    candace_redinger at yahoo dot com

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  39. Hey Jeff! I'm so glad for all of your success in the past years! Jenny Pox was one of the books that actually got me to start blogging. I had been thinking about it for a while, but when I read how amazing Jenny Pox was, all I could think was "I gotta tell people about this!" I hope you keep writing and believe me, I will be reading anything your put out! You are amazing and I am so happy for you!!

    andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

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  40. I just picked up Jenny Pox on my Kindle about a week or two ago and I can't wait to start reading it!

    Avery
    averys.book.nook@hotmail.ca

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  41. I'm so glad you're having success at what you do. I'm really eager to start this series. The klaut has been amazing. :)

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  42. Missed most of the tour since I didn't find you until this week but have enjoyed the tour since. Look forward to reading your books. Thank you. shadow31071 (at) suddenlink (dot) net

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  43. I just finished reading all 3 books last week. Really loved them. If you haven't read them yet you should definitely get started.

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  44. Forgot my email. christygibbon at juno dot com

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  45. Thank you JL Bryan! I'm so glad I heard about you on Amanda Hockings blog. I really enjoyed this series. I can't wait to see what you write next.

    B00BOY@COMCAST.NET

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  46. I have heard such great things about this series!

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    danceislove27 At gmail DoT com

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  47. Thank you so much for this!

    chelle2006 @ aol.com

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  48. Thank you for the fun tour and awesome giveaway opportunity. I have really enjoyed following. I would love to have a signed copy of these awesome books.

    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

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  49. Amazing, amaZing giveaway and reviews. These are books I have not read and I'd love to, especially Jenny Pox. What? I think it's awesome you could get so many authors to sign copies. How on earth did you manage that!? I'm in awe. Thanks for setting up such a complex and fabulous giveaway for followers. I've tried to touch all your bases.
    Deborah/TheBookishDame
    thebookishdame at aol dot com

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  50. Thanks for the two lovely giveaways!

    For the Kindle giveaway, do you know whether there is +1 point for just your name and all that info? I did 8 points worth of the extras. Do I only have 8 points or do I have more?

    alisoncanread at gmail dot com

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  51. I am so looking forward to making time to read this series. It sounds awesome. Pick me ;)

    Amy @ www.bookgoonie.com
    bookgoonie @ yahoo.com

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  52. The book tour was so fun! Sad it's over. I found so many great book blogs through it that I plan to continue visiting. Thanks J.L. for providing great extras on the characters and so many opportunities to win cool prizes! I think besides the kindle fire, this giveaway is my fav. I would love to own 3 hard copies of one of the greatest series I have read! And signed is even better... :) Thanks JL and all of the bloggers for providing and hosting more Jenny material over the past 3 weeks!!

    vshanno1(at)mail(dot)naz(dot)edu

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  53. I love these books!! I've only read the first one but I've heard such great things about the last two and would love a copy! Thanks so much:)
    jwitt33 at live dot com

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  54. such a sweet giveaway and very kind one .I would love to read this series!!

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  55. oops.Forgot to put my email its nancy0_0(At)live(dot)com

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  56. oh!the little circles are the number zero just to make sure.

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  57. great giveaway! Jenny Pox is on my TBR list and on my kindle app.
    ~Jaclyn~
    jaclynsmusings*at*gmail*dot*com
    www.jaclynsmusings.com

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  58. I keep hearing the most amazing things about this series. Mostly from you, btw. That said, I'm sold :)

    iswimforoceans at gmail dot com

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  59. This series sounds so good, and I keep hearing great things about it. I would love to be entered in this giveaway!

    countrygirl922@verizon.net

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  60. I've heard some great things about these -- they're very intriguing!

    thebookswarm@gmail.com

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  61. I'm so excited for your success! Thanks for the tour and giveaway! misscrazej(at)gmail(dot)com

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  62. Those covers are definitely evocative! (extemter at hotmail dot com)

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  63. LOVED these books! I was lucky enough to win a copy of Jenny Pox during that first book tour, and have been a fan of the series and of JL ever since.

    CONGRATS on such a successful blog tour! And double congrats on writing such an excellent trilogy!


    Smiles!
    Lori

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  64. Thanks so much for the giveaways!

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  65. I haven't read these yet, but they look interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.

    geoarchs(at)gmail(dot)com

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  66. What an awesome treat! I would LOVE to have signed copies of all three of these! I hope Jenny Pox continues to get all the recognition this brilliant series deserves!

    Donna @ The Happy Booker
    ahappybooker at gmail dot com

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  67. Great giveaway! This series looks great. Thanks for the giveaway. marcie(dot)turner(at)yahoo(dot)com

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