Showing posts with label 2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2016. Show all posts

Sunday, February 12, 2017

See What French Reviewers Are Saying About Ómorphi!

« Il y a ces livres, si rares, si précieux qui bousculent votre vie, bouleversent votre esprit et restent gravés dans votre coeur... "Omorphi" est de ces livres. » —Eryna

« J'ai été tellement touché que j'avais envie de les prendre dans mes bras, les réconforter...Les personnages secondaires sont tous aussi importants, car malgré la gravité de la situation, ils apportent une belle touche d'humour! Cody Kennedy est un auteur à suivre. » —Livie

« Ce livre c'est le genre d'histoire qui vous fait passer par tout un panel d'émotion et qui vous est impossible à arrêter en cours de lecture. Vous en voulez toujours plus, et même arrivé à la fin, vous ne voulez pas quitter les personnages. C'est le genre d'histoire qui résonne en vous, qui s'infiltre dans votre tête, et vous remue de l'intérieur. » —Ely

« Il y a bien longtemps que je n'avais pas lu un livre si poignant, si dur qu'il me fallait arrêter de lire pour supporter et assimiler l'horreur indicible de ce que l'Homme peut faire subir à un autre être humain ! Ce roman est une ode à a vie et à l'espoir bien que regorgeant de tout ce qui se fait de pire. J'en ressors bouleversée et grandit car j'ai eu la chance d'avoir des parents comme Michael qui ont su faire de moi une personne tolérante, ouverte et sans préjugés. » —Marionle6tron

« ENORME coup de coeur pour ce livre de plus de 550 pages (tout de même) mais qui se lit avec une extrême facilité tant j'ai été happée, "aspirée" par cette histoire qui m'a prise aux tripes...Ce sujet qu'est la maltraitance, abus....n'est pas un sujet facile à aborder et pourtant C. Kennedy l'a fait avec extrêmement de pudeur et de retenue, même si certains passages sont poignants. » —Caliméro

« L'histoire est émouvante, mais l'auteur a fait en sorte que ce ne le soit pas en continue. On a donc des moments bien bouleversants, avec l'histoire de Christy, mais également des moments de franche rigolade avec le duo Michael et Jake, les inséparables. Il y a aussi des moments de doute, d'angoisse, de joie, d'apprentissage de la vie.... » —de Nanaho



Saturday, February 11, 2017

See What People Are Saying About Books by C. Kennedy!

Ómorphi

“Hauntingly beautiful, a book that you never wanted to end... Magically written, the voices and setting of the story were so clear you lived each moment with the characters.”—2014 Rainbow Awards

“Cody Kennedy writes with staggering beauty... The love story... leapt from the page and wrapped itself around your heart.”—Sammy Goode, Joyfully Jay Reviews & Goodreads YA LGBT Group

“The beauty of Omorphi is more than skin deep... There were so many facets to Cody Kennedy’s first full-length novel, it was just… so much.”—Tina, The Novel Approach

“This book, in the guise of a fictional novel, ... lets [you] know that you are not alone and you are not defined by what has been done to you.”—Deb, Live Your Life, Buy theBook

Thárros

“...for beneath the social overtones of this novel lurks a breathtaking story of love and healing.... Author Cody Kennedy has created an indomitable spirit in Christy—one that will not be broken despite all the horror he has experienced. Kennedy has given us a novel of hope…of love…of courage…thárros.”—Sammy Goode, Joyfully Jay Reviews

“A STANDING OVATION FOR SHEER AWESOMENESS.... yet another installment of beauty and strength, love and devotion, and now we’re adding hope and loyalty to the mix too...”—Caer Jones, QUEERcentric Books

“I loved being back in Michael and Christy’s world.... Most of the book was sweet and moving, but the ending just about broke my heart. This book was just beautiful all around...”—Jenna, Love Bytes Reviews

“We must start with courage. And Thárros is courage... we do muster courage, because without it there is no hope. And without hope, we are all lost.... a story of great struggles, of great friendships, and of great pain, all turned into a wondrous blend of both strength and love. The telling of a great, great love story—with true friendship shining through, the kind of love that inspires both happy endings and hope....”—Anna Lund

“Cody Kennedy is the literary artist who created the compelling situations. As I read, I was right there with Christy and Michael.... it was awesome! Highly recommended.”—Mia Kerick, author of Not Broken, Just Bent

“...to sum up this whole story into one word it would be magnificent. I highly recommend reading the Elpída series.”—Joanne Swinney, Jo & Isa Love Books

“[Thárros] is a must read. It will break your heart, but it will also fill you with love as these two boys struggle with the unthinkable. Loved it.”—Pam Kay

Slaying Isidore’s Dragons

“...intense, emotional, crazy... and beautiful.”—Brian Katcher, Forever Young Adult, and author of The Improbable Theory of Anna and Zak and Almost Perfect


“This bold, sweeping saga is a compelling story of redemptive love and healing grace. The people who inhabit Cody Kennedy’s Slaying Isidore’s Dragons are heartbreakingly real and heroic.... I highly recommend this novel to you. It is one that will impact your life in so many ways and remind you that we must all be dragon slayers.”—Sammy Goode, The Novel Approach

“If you read just one book this year, this should be the book….”—Wendy, Joyfully Jay Reviews

“Kennedy has done it again... he has put his heart and soul on the page and produced magic.”—Bec, Bike Book Reviews

Safe

“Cody Kennedy has done a great job of making two distinct personalities for the boys, and I really want to know more about their lives together.”—Becky Condit, USA Today, Happily Ever After Blog

“Mr. Kennedy pushed all the right buttons and touched me deeply with this story.... The author made me long for more because of  the way he portrays their experiences.”—Dani, Love Bytes Reviews

“…the most effective tool an author possesses to illicit emotion from the reader is excellent characterization, and in this, Kennedy is a true master.”—Mia Kerick, author of TheRed Sheet

“Safe easily rises to the bar set by Mr. Kennedy in Omorphi. I love this author. The writer and the man. Please read this.” —Tina, The Novel Approach Reviews

“Emotions, connection, first love, friendship, family support. Everything that a young boy needs while walking down the road of self-discovery.” —Connie, Gay List BookReviews

Friday, December 30, 2016

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Timmy's Review of Lost Tales From Foster High by John Goode!

At first I was worried about reviewing this book because I thought it wasn’t going to be published. But have no worries! Mr. Goode assures me it will be published. Even better, maybe today! Yay! It’s always awesome to hear there is a new Goode book out! (Ha! See what I did there? It’s a gift!) Because this book is actually an anthology, it makes it harder to review. So here’s how I’ma do this. I will review the whole book as one, then I will go through and do a very small review for each story. By the end, you will be totally jealous that I have read it already, and you wait endless days until Mr. Goode has it for sale (which I hear is in a week or so. But it will feel endless to the hardcore Foster High fans!)

Lost Tales from Foster High overall review:

Lost Tales from Foster High is one of the best anthologies I have read. Some of that is because I love the whole Foster High cast, and some of that is due to the author. I have not met a character in this series who I didn’t want to know more about. Even the “bad guys” have a story to tell. So it was neat to hear a few stories or updates on characters you didn’t think you’d hear about again. I also really liked that each and every story had an introduction, because that helped me see where we were in the books and, in some cases, what we missed due to editing. Without those small intros, I would have been confused. So thanks for that, Mr. Goode!

The book I received is not the finished edited version, but I was informed that all the stories would remain the same. I also promised Mr. Goode that I would not pick on any proofing typos that would be caught in edits. So I will hold to that. But for those of you who got this version, I bet the small errors didn’t even matter. Right? I was able to enjoy every story, and any errors there were did not take away from the truly awesome writing in these stories. And because this was a complaint in my last Goode review, I would like to thank the author for not making me yell the first few words in a new chapter! (In the last book, the first few words of each chapter were all caps. Just threw me off a bit, but didn’t ruin the story in the least.) There is only one complaint I have in the book in general and I hope by saying something, Mr. Goode may try not to do this in future books (‘cause it really does throw me off). In the stories, it is not always clear who is talking. A question is asked and answered in the same paragraph by two different characters and is not always clear who is speaking. I’m going to give an example, and I found one that does not give away spoilers.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Timmy's Review of Wraith Queen's Veil, Book Two in the Sun Child Chronicles, by Lou Hoffmann!

Hey, y’all! Back again so soon! I think a trend is starting! :) So, as you know, I haven’t been doing many reviews lately. That’s for two reasons. One, I’m super busy this year at school and with school things. Second, I am reviewing and beta reading for people who have requested it of me. If you would like me to review or beta read a book, there are instructions and an email address on Cody’s blog to send me requests. Above all, I really want to thank the authors who have asked me to review and beta read their books. It’s an honor and a privilege that I don’t take lightly. I also want to thank this author, Ms. Hoffman, for being so patient with me. This review took awhile because I have been so busy. But it was well worth the wait for me to read and review for her because it was an awesome book!

I decided to reread the first book to get a good feel for the characters before reading this one. If you haven’t read Key of Behliseth yet, then you need to read it before reading this book. It is not a stand-alone book, and it will not make a lot of sense without reading the first. In the first book we learn a lot about the world that this book takes place in.

First, I want to say thank you to Ms. Hoffmann, because whether it was done on purpose or not, she took my advice from the first review. This book was a much easier read. It was still descriptive and I could close my eyes and picture what she had written, but I did not get lost in the descriptions. I did not have to reread parts. I was able to fully immerse myself in the world she created. (Wow, that sounded really professional! :D) So for those readers who are unsure whether they want to read the second book because of that happening in the first, let me say, it is not a problem here. Please don’t cheat yourself out of an awesome read.

Friday, December 9, 2016

#Giveaway Welcome to Divine Magazine's Christmas Blog Hop!

A very special thank you to Anders and all the wonderful folks at Divine Magazine for our awesome holiday blog hop! This blog hop is to get us all in Christmas mood. Get hopping and read all the posts as the common theme is, well, Christmas!🎄 Don't forget to scroll down to the bottom and enter the giveaway!

As you know, I write young adult works for Dreamspinner’s Harmony Ink Press label. I have a unique writing background in a number of ways and have written in multiple mainstream venues for years, and spent way too much time on movie sets as a kid watching films come to life for the silver screen. Though I write for Harmony Ink Press and have spent the past four years concentrating on young adult works, I write primarily for adults—surprise! I have all kinds of books releasing in 2017 and I hope you'll join me in celebrating them!

The Holiday Season means a lot to me because it's a time of love and laughter. Those of you who know me, know that I love to share and spread laughter. My most precious holiday memory was my very first Christmas gift. I was raised by my grandfather, a prolific author, and began writing at the age of seven. That year, my grandfather gave me two dictionaries, the Oxford Dictionary, and Webster's New International Dictionary. (c. 1943) Best gifts ever! Try lifting all 3,194 pages from a shelf to your desk! My grandfather and I spent the next year or so reading the Websters dictionary. I kid you not. I still have both dictionaries and, in spite of our internet information age, I often find myself perusing these wonderful reference books.

Monday, November 28, 2016

You Can Play Project & Pride Tape to Support #LGBTQ Athletes in Sports!

LGBTQ Athletes. Allies. Teaming up for Respect.

You Can Play is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

You Can Play works to guarantee that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete, judged by other athletes and fans alike, and only by what they contribute to the sport or their team’s success.

You Can Play seeks to challenge the culture of locker rooms and spectator areas by focusing only on an athlete’s skills, work ethic and competitive spirit.

PRIDE TAPE
Stop Homophobia in Hockey. One Roll at a Time.


Pride Tape is a badge of support from teammates, coaches, parents and pros to young LGBTQ players. It shows every player that they belong on the ice. That we’re all on the same team. And with the support of over 1,000 Kickstarter backers, it’s now a reality.


Buying Pride Tape will help support LGBTQ youth outreach initiatives, such as You Can Play and the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services. That means every roll of tape will make an impact on and off the ice.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving from me to you!

Walk outside, 
stand there, 
in silence, 
look up at the sky, 
and contemplate how amazing life is.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Timmy's Review of John Goode's "What About Everything?", Book 9 in the Foster High Series!

Hi y’all! I’ve missed you guys! Ok! I’m back with a review that makes me happy to write! Do you know why? BECAUSE the book is from John Goode! Anyone who follows my reviews knows I love everything Goode! The Foster High Books are among my very fave books written, and John Goode is in my top 5 fave authors. So YAYAY!

This book has a few things that I want to talk about. First, as always Mr. Goode has written an awesome book, with awesome characters. None of the characters are new, so if you have been following the series you will know all the peeps! If not, go read the other books! One of the things I love best about Mr. Goode’s books is that the characters are so real! They are funny and full of heart, and a bit messed up! There is not a full-on HEA in this book, but there is REAL LIFE! I like that! That is not to say his characters don’t have HEA or HUNB (Happy Until Next Book), but they feel so real! They are messed up, they do stupid things, they say funny inappropriate things, and they cry! Most of all, they love. I truly love reading a love story about normal messed up people!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Readers & Dreamers Series! Join Me in Welcoming Sara Ella to my blog with "Reading and Living"!


Join me in welcoming Sara Ella to my blog for the Readers & Dreamers Series! Sara is an awesome reader and her post captures the very essence of why we read books. Thank you for joining us today, Sara! It's a great pleasure to have you here!

Reading and Living


As I sit in my reading chair, soft lamplight overhead, mp3 playing a bouncy guitar piece in my ear, and a glass of chilled Cabernet on the small table nearby, everything is in place for me to start my new, very anticipated, adventure. As you can tell, I do not stand atop skyscraper I-beams or scale vertical bluffs to find that adrenaline rush. My search for excitement involves the impossible, improbable, the fantastic, and the occasional mostly realistic story. More than plot and characters, I seek the storyteller who can transport me to another place, transcending time, wringing my heart and bending my thoughts enough that when I reach the final line, and even days after the tale is read I am still captivated by strong emotions and my life perception changed.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Timmy's Review of Ethan by Ryan Loveless


First, I want to thank everyone who is reading this. I haven’t done a review in a while because life as a teenager is way more busy then I thought it would be. So, it is an awesome special thing for me to get this request.

I loved the adult version of this book. I did not reread it or my review of it before reading the young adult version and writing this review because I wanted my review to be impartial to this book. Every book has its own qualities and I worried that I would see only what I wanted to see because I loved the adult version so much. Unfortunately, I have a great memory when it comes to books, so I may have remembered too much. I feel that may have hindered my impartial judgment. Please keep that in mind when reading this review. Because I’m a reviewer who wants you to form your own opinions, I will not give specifics about events in the story. No spoilers.

Ethan is the young adult version of Ethan, Who Loved Carter. I have a few Pros and Cons to go over with this book. But first, let me say I loved this story as much as I did the adult version.

I think one of the problems I have when an author converts a book from adult to Young Adult, or the other way around, is that they tend to leave too much of the original story in it. It’s almost like plagiarizing your own book. If you're going to do that, you want to be sure it fits the characters.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

The Beasts in Lucky's Worlds! Lou Hoffmann's "Wraith Queen's Veil," Book #2 in the Sun Child Chronicles!

Join me in welcoming Lou Hoffman to my blog with her blog tour stop for Wraith Queen's Veil! Today she gives us an inside look at the Beasts in Lucky's Worlds! And don't forget to enter the giveaway below!


Use coupon code SUNCHILD2 to get this fabulous deal: 
35% discount on Key of Behliseth and Wraith Queen’s Veil when you buy only from Harmony Ink Press!
Also available from 

The Beasts in Lucky’s Worlds: 
A loving look at the horrible, wonderful, treacherous, loyal, extraordinary non-humanoids 
in Lou Hoffmann’s The Sun Child Chronicles

Hello Readers! I’m Lou Hoffmann and today is the official release day for book 2 of The Sun Child Chronicles, Wraith Queen’s Veil. I’m grateful to Cody Kennedy to have me here today, and thank you, too, readers, for stopping by. This is a fun post—at least it’s a fun one for me to write, and I think you’ll enjoy reading it as well. Before I begin the bestiary, take a look at the blurb for WQV and the outstanding cover, designed by artist Catt Ford.

About Wraith Queen's Veil

When Lucky arrives in Ethra, the world of his birth and destiny, he expects a joyful reunion, but the first thing he notices when he reaches the Sisterhold—his home—is something false behind his mother’s smile. In a matter of weeks, the Sisterhold becomes agitated with worries and war plans. People he trusts—like the wizard Thurlock—frequently can’t be found. His mother seems angry, especially with Lucky. Even Han Shieth, the warrior uncle he has come to rely on and love above all others, maintains a sullen silence toward him.

When Lucky’s resentment builds to the breaking point, his bad decisions put him and his friends, L’Aria and Zhevi, in unthinkable danger. Han arrives to help, but he can’t claim invulnerability to the hazards and evils that threaten at every turn. Events launch Lucky, alone, on a quest for he knows not what, but every step brings him closer to his identity and full strength. Self-knowledge, trust, and strength lead to smarter choices, but even his best efforts might not render his world truly safe, now or for the future.

Also important, there’s a giveaway—follow the Rafflecopter link in this post and enter for chances to be one of four winners!


Now about the beasts…

(In the arbitrary order of the letters of the alphabet)
Aedanh
Book: Key of Behliseth
The Stallion ridden by Liliana, Lucky’s mother, in as she leads her elite cavalry, Shanha’s Rangers, into battle. “His gait proud, his hooves fleet. His coat shone like spun gold even in the tower’s foul glow.”

Ahrion
Book: Key of Behliseth
The northern queen Hilgaardre’s legendary “moon-white winged mount,” given in hopeful atonement for a lifetime serving an evil god to her adopted daughter, Isa.


Baneshieldh
An ancient wolf who rules a dark, cursed forest in Ethra. Tall, heavily muscled, paws larger than dinner plates. His “eyes blazed with an eerie, changing light, never settling on any color.”


Black Dragon
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
A wingless, dragon, very large in circumference and length, a single central horn located behind it’s skull, and numerous short legs. It breathes neither fire nor ice. Well-armored with “shiny back scales… quite beautiful in the moonlight.”


Caveblights
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
Large, smelly, horrific but natural monsters. Nearly blind, sensing sudden changes in heat instead. “Nasty creatures the size of a pony with teeth like a beaver but pointy.”


Dawn Cats
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
Pack-hunting carnivores of the Sunlands’ forests, also known as thrall-gazers, death kittens, and venom cats.


Dragonlings
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
Small flying creatures, venomous. “Dark and winged and sort of like a very small dinosaur.”


Eastern Flickers
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
Small silver-winged birds that cheer Lucky during dark times while on his travels in Ethra.


Flame Eagles
An Ethran species of intelligent, civilized bird, allies of the Sunlands. “Massive birds plumed in white and crested black, saffron, and red.”

Ghriffon
Book: Key of Behliseth
The Flame Eagles’ “battle-wise” king.


Glacier Wolves
Book: Key of Behliseth
Ethran wolves with shaggy white hair. curled-up tails, the aerodynamic shape of a greyhound, double rows of teeth in long snouts. “Their eyes pearled ghost white except for the pupils, dart-sharp and burning red.”


Kindelred
Book: Key of Behliseth and Wraith Queen’s Veil
A flame eagle killed in the battle of Black Creek Ravine.


K’ormahk
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
A black winged stallion. “The last of the great winged beasts of the far north—born long after the world believed the strain had died.”


Lemon Martinez
Book: Key of Behliseth and Wraith Queen’s Veil
A grumpy gray cat Thurlock and Han found under the Martinez Bridge in Valley city. “Lemon Martinez loathed magic in general, but he loved the wizard’s things—slept on his pajamas, for instance.”


Maizie
Book: Key of Behliseth and Wraith Queen’s Veil
A yellow mongrel dog Lucky raised during his time as a homeless teen. Sloppy tongue, thick fur. “Like a big ball of animated sunshine.”


Mishka
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
Lucky’s aunt Rosishan’s orange tomcat.


Naht’kah
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
An ancient shape- and color-changing dragon, sometimes called the Giver. She dwells “in iridescent pools… in the deepest, most hidden cavern in the heart of Behlis Ethra.”


Nahk’tesh
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
A singular, water-dwelling being who lives in underground pools with Naht’kah, called the Taker, “A furry beast with duck feet, human-like hands, and a long, floppy proboscis.”


Sahlamahn
Book: Key of Behliseth and Wraith Queen’s Veil
A blue, ice-breathing dragon. Eerily beautiful, large for her species, clawed, armored. “The first ice-drake ever transformed, and the only one ever to rise flawless.”


Simarrohn
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
Lucky’s uncle Han Shieth’s exceptional, fleet, stouthearted sorrel mare. 


Sherah
Book: Key of Behliseth
Thurlock’s famous silver-gray mare. “Even at night, the mare’s silver coat flashed as they passed through shadows. Her hooves, shod with sun-metal, sparked with every stride.”


Windy
Book: Wraith Queen’s Veil
“A plodding old-man-horse…who had three speeds: slow, slower, and backward.”
That’s it for the beasts! I hope you enjoyed peeking into the crazy worlds wandered by Lucky (also known as Luccan Elieth Perdhro, Mannatha, Suth Chiell, the Sun Child of the Ethran Sunlands). 

Wraith Queen’s Veil is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all around the web, but here are the buy publisher’s buy links, where you can use coupon code SUNCHILD2 to get this fabulous deal: 35% discount on Key of Behliseth and Wraith Queen’s Veil when you buy only from Harmony Ink or Dreamspinner Press!

That’s it for the beasts!

The Giveaway:




About Wraith Queen's Veil
When Lucky arrives in Ethra, the world of his birth and destiny, he expects a joyful reunion, but the first thing he notices when he reaches the Sisterhold—his home—is something false behind his mother’s smile. In a matter of weeks, the Sisterhold becomes agitated with worries and war plans. People he trusts—like the wizard Thurlock—frequently can’t be found. His mother seems angry, especially with Lucky. Even Han Shieth, the warrior uncle he has come to rely on and love above all others, maintains a sullen silence toward him.

When Lucky’s resentment builds to the breaking point, his bad decisions put him and his friends, L’Aria and Zhevi, in unthinkable danger. Han arrives to help, but he can’t claim invulnerability to the hazards and evils that threaten at every turn. Events launch Lucky, alone, on a quest for he knows not what, but every step brings him closer to his identity and full strength. Self-knowledge, trust, and strength lead to smarter choices, but even his best efforts might not render his world truly safe, now or for the future.

About Lou Hoffmann
Lou Hoffmann has carried on her love affair with books for decades, yet she hasn’t even made a dent in the list of books she’d love to read—at least partly because the list keeps growing. She reads factual things—books about physics and history and fractal chaos, but when she wants truth, she looks for it in quality fiction. She loves all sorts of wonderful things: music and silence, laughter and tears, youth and age, sunshine and storms, forests and fields, flora and fauna, rivers and seas. Even good movies and popcorn! Those things help her breathe, and everyone she knows helps her write. (Special mention goes to (1) George the Lady Cat and (2) readers.) She writes for readers who find themselves anywhere on the spectrums of age and gender, aiming to create characters that live not only in their stories, but always in your imagination and your heart. 

She blogs at Queerly YA, is on facebook, is @Lou_Hoffmann on Twitter, and loves to hear from readers at louhoffmannbooks (at)gmail(dot)com. She believes in love, believes in you, and believes in the magic of a good book.

Find Lou on her Website, Facebook, Twitter @Lou_Hoffmann, 

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Breaking News! The French translation of Thárros is underway!

Thárros is being translated into French by our beloved Bénédicte Girault!
Anticipated release, January 2017!

“It is the task of the translator to release in his own language that pure language that is under the spell of another, to liberate the language imprisoned in a work in his re-creation of that work.” ― Walter Benjamin, Illuminations: Essays and Reflections

The work that goes into a translation of a work is a true test of the translator's art, will, and nerve. It isn’t only to translate the words literally, but to translate the author’s “voice.” It is to render the original intent of the author's words and, above all, to capture inflections in the telling of the story. It is a true art. Thank you, Bénédicte, for your tireless efforts and your beautiful words.
Thárros is available in English