The Marked Son by Shea Berkely Blog Tour

Posted 6 August, 2011 by Danny in / 24 Comments

Today I want to welcome Debut Author Shea Berkley on the blog and I’m happy to be able to host her during her The Marked Son Blog Tour.

The Marked Son Book I in the Keepers of Life series. 
I already read it and loved it!
It’s different and awesome, told from a Boys POV- Dylan
which I find always refreshing after there are so many Girl POV. 
Plus, when you go on reading the below guest post 
then you most definitely want to read her book. 
Those are one of the moments where I simplylLoooove
guest posts from awesome authors – the minute I got the guest post and 
finished reading it I knew I HAD to read the book from her!

And please stay tuned, I can offer you a giveaway! woot!

The Marked Son
by Shea Berkley
(website, facebook)
Book I in the Keepers of Life series
Release Date: August 2nd by Entangled Publishing
Buy at: amazon (Kindle, Paperback)
synopsis from goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he’s never met, he had no idea what.
When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents’ farm, he knows he’s seen her before…in his dreams. He’s felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power.
Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he’s completely insane or he’s about to have the adventure of his life, because where they’re going is full of creatures he’s only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death…

A day in the life of YA Author Shea Berkley

Hey, everyone. I want to thank the lovely Bookworms for inviting me to share my super exciting typical writing day. I hope you’re ready, cause your life won’t be the same after reading this.
Sunrise

First thought: Oh my gosh! Close the curtains! The blare! The blare!

The sun comes up way too early for me. Seriously, I love to sleep. It’s like my favorite activity besides eating, but laziness does not a bestselling author make, so I drag myself out of bed at 6:30 every morning, sludge down the stairs—this may seem like a weird verb, but it’s not, not if you know me… to sludge is to move in a manner that implies you are trudging through a mass oozy muck—and pop the tab on a regular (diet is from the devil) Coca Cola. Yes, every morning I imbibe in that insidiously unhealthy carbonated, caramelized alternative to water, and gulp it down. The whole 12 oz. can. If I’m feeling especially weak-eyed, I’ll pop another tab and down the sweet stuff until the professed “happy” mood infuses my body. At that point, I will gleefully skip over to the cabinet by the back door and pull out either a ho-ho, ding-dong or some other sugar laden food.

Bad author. Bad. (hangs head)

I am an adult who still eats inappropriately. It is a curse, and not to be emulated. Pity me if you must, but believe me, it is not a lifestyle to aspire towards. I’m a heart attack waiting to happen. End of PSA.

After my gluttonous dive into sugar, I may shower, I may not. Depends. Sometimes I work out in the morning. If this is one of those mornings, I jump into my workout duds and head to my kickboxing gym. I may eat like an idiot, but I don’t want to look like I eat like one. Over an hour later, I drag myself back into my house (a sugar high gives a nasty crash), shower and then strap myself to the chair in front of my computer.

Time to get to work

Think: Umm, what was I supposed to do today? Dang it, I need a secretary.
Writing for me is play time. I wouldn’t do it if it were too much of a burden. That isn’t to say it’s easy. Writing well is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Any monkey can put words to paper. I’m determined not to be a poop-slinging monkey. I’ll bleed all over my keyboard to make my stories entertaining. Others, who are smarter and more capable, can dole out wisdom and morality lessons. I know my place in the scheme of things. I’m an entertainer.

Mid-morning

Think: I’m soo wasted. I need another cola.
I grab another cola and a handful of peanut M&Ms. I’ll then tap out a few emails, visit a few websites and blogs, call or text a friend or two for any number of reasons… sometimes research, sometimes to talk about writing, like figuring out a writing problem, or gasp… just to have human contact. Writing is a lonely business. My watercooler time is more fluid (tee-hee) than most peoples, but it is necessary.

Lunchtime

Think: Do people really need more than peanut M&M’s to survive?
I imagine the horrified look on my mother’s face when I reach for the industrial sized peanut M&M bag and feel twenty layers of guilt. I back away and make a sandwich, but I still slurp down another cola. I’m a rebel, not an addict. (Seriously, I can quit any time. Really.) Then I head back to my computer.
I like adventure. I like a good fight. I love creatures that are scary. I like to write about heroes who face insurmountable odds. Sometimes they win, sometimes they don’t, but they’re always better people for having gone through the fire. I like feisty heroines who can give as good as they get and don’t need rescuing, but they’re happy to have a guy by their side, kicking up trouble and dishing out justice.

Evening

Think: I’m delusional. Everything I write sucks monkey poop. (hit head repeatedly on keyboard) What is my fixation with monkey poop lately?
To prevent permanent brain damage (though by this point in my life, it’s probably too late), I unbuckle myself from my chair and back away from the computer. It’s about now my fallen angels get home and demand sustenance. I slam back another cola and invent something edible out of random ingredients I fish out of the fridge. Fed, their halos shine a bit brighter, and we settle down to watch whatever movie or TV show we’ve played rock, paper, scissors to watch. I rarely win. Later, when most people are still watching TV I’m in bed. Like I said, I like to sleep. I’m fussy without a good 8 to 12.

Thus ends a typical day in the life of YA writer Shea Berkley. An atypical day would be me opening the door and finding Gerald Butler dressed in his Spartan uniform asking me if his cape makes his butt look too big. I’d tell him yes and make him take it off. Grinning like a fool, I’d then jack his cape, helmet and sword, put them on and run around screaming, “Sparta! Sparta!”

Hey, it could happen.

Wasn’t that an awesome post?
 Thank you so very much Shea for sharing this with us!
After reading this post and The Marked Son I think I’m a lill Fangirl now 😉 
Now thanks to Entangled Publishing

we can draw one lucky 

winner for an eCopy of The Marked Son
(Open only 24 hrs … and open internationally)
How to enter? 
  • Leave a comment – easy peasy.. 
  • and answer my question:   What makes you want to read a book? (For me, sometimes it’s simply the cover, sometimes when I read a fabulous guest post like this.) 
  • and… why not check Shea on her website and  facebook and say Hi? And.. I even give you an extra entry 🙂 
So that’s it for today I’ll post my review soon!
You really should check it out my friends!

Much Love
and Happy Weekend! 

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Obsessive Reader by Night - Scientist at Day! You can also find me on goodreads. I'd love to get to know you so, don't be shy and say Hello!

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24 Responses to “The Marked Son by Shea Berkely Blog Tour”

  1. Caroline

    For me, sometimes like you said it's the cover, other times if I've heard people talking about or reviewing a book with a good opinion, then that makes me want to read it. Or it can be the first page of the book, when the cover or blurb aren't as intriguing.

    Reply »

  2. Deborah

    I usually choose a book after reading a review or it being recommended by a friend. Sometimes I am drawn to an authors website after an interview like this to find out more about what they write. Fun interview.

    Reply »

  3. Victoria Zumbrum

    It varies for me. Sometimes it is the cover and what the story is about. Sometimes I hear about it and hear good reviews on it. Sometimes I do look for a particular genere. Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

    Reply »

  4. Hmmm…what makes me pick up a book? Defininetly a blog post like this! Also, the back blurb and the author. Recommendations are key as well.

    Loved the post, Shea! And loved the book. You're so right, Danny, Marked Son is different. The writing is amazing, the creativity and surprises abound with every section. I just LOVED Dylan and Kera!!
    My recent post Robin Perini

    Reply »

  5. Full disclosure time. I know Shea, and she's travelling today, so if I can tell you any secrets, I'd be happy to reveal all. Though she did give away the good stuff. Her coca cola and chocolate addiction…umm…desire to eat like a twelve-year-old are only a few secrets. I won't mention her strange desire to make up creatures and animals that don't exist and put them in her books and make them do weird, wonderful and horrible things…

    Seriously, she's probably the most gifted writer I know, and as she just told you she comes by it the old fashioned way…hard work and blood, sweat, and tears over the keyboard.

    I'm honored to know her.
    My recent post Robin Perini

    Reply »

  6. Nina Croft

    Great post, Shea – but you look way too thin for someone who drinks all that sweet stuff – is there no justice in the world???
    I think the blurb is what I look at most when I buy a book.

    Reply »

  7. Linda

    First of all, the cover is gorgeous. Second, Shea won me over with her peanut M & Ms and the discussion of monkey poop and Coke. To answer your question, however, sometimes the cover plays a part in my desire to read a book. However, the premise and characters are the selling points for me.

    Reply »

  8. ruby95660

    Usually I just look at the cover and think "Ooh.. This looks good, I wonder what it's about.." After that I read the summary and if it sounds interesting, I'll read it. If not, all well. That's how it works for me. And this book has definitely interested me.

    ruby95660[at]yahoo[dot]com

    Reply »

  9. It's an amazing story. Dylan is a hero you'll absolutely love. He's one of those characters that just grabs you the first page and doesn't let you go. Kera is his match in every way and Teag, the other realm, is unique and wonderful. Shea created an amazing mythology with these books. Just love it!
    My recent post Robin Perini

    Reply »

  10. I had chocolate for breakfast this morning, Shea!

    I recently had cola in a glass for the first time ever. I think there is a huge taste difference. What do you think?

    Looking forward to your book!

    Reply »

  11. Vivien

    I definitely will say that a cover usually lure's me in. However, I will check out reviews if I'm purchasing online.

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    Reply »

  12. Julie Witt

    First off, the cover has a big part in making me want to read a book, and the cover of The Marked Son is awesome! As soon as I saw it, I KNEW I had to read this book! Thanks so much for the chance to win a copy:)

    jwitt33 at live dot com

    Reply »

  13. Good gracious, Shea! I got sugar overload just reading your hilarious post. Such is the life of a writer…rarely normal!

    I'm attracted to a book by its back cover copy, sometimes the cover (but then the story has to captivate, too). No bait and switch, please!

    Reply »

  14. Denise Z

    I have been following this book for a while and it is definitely on my wishlist. I will admit that sometimes a cover will grab me and more often the title. I want to read a book that will give me a place to go in my imagination and I want to find characters that I like and would like to have as friends. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway opportunity, I would love a copy of this this book. I left a comment on Shea's FB to share the joy!

    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

    Reply »

  15. elaing8

    oh I hope I'm not too late for the giveaway.
    The cover draws me to the book,but its usually the blurb on the back or word of mouth that interests me in a book.

    Reply »

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