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Monday, July 18, 2011

Guest Post with Paula Bradley, Author of Chosen & Giveaway!


When I was encouraged to become a writer, I thought, What am I going to write about? And then things just started exploding in my head. While I experimented, I read nearly thirty books on how to write. I realized something odd: I was doing nearly all the things the experts said to do, and not doing what they said not to. In my youth, I never gave writing a thought as a profession because it always came naturally to me and I never believed anything easy was worthy.

I'm glad I had to quit my corporate job, because I can now do something I've always loved to do: tell stories. I can remember trying to get out of punishments for some (minor) infractions when I was a child, so I would tell a whopping tale, making it up as I went along. I always wondered why my father’s lips; I never realized he was trying to keep from laughing. Then he would say, “Is that the truth?” I learned quickly that if I ’fessed up and admitted it was just a story, I usually got off pretty lightly. I realized then that if you're entertaining, people are liable to forgive a lot of misdemeanors.

I see the world as one great, big plot line. I naturally pay attention to my surroundings; to what's happening, and what people are doing (or not doing). People intrigue me as I try to imagine what they're thinking, what just happened before I saw them, and where they're going.

Of course, I have to throw in paranormal activity in these musings. Most lives are mundane, but they become downright exciting when you toss in a cosmic oddity or an antagonist with special powers.

If I am so lucky, I can envision writing the rest of my life and never run out of material. Articles in financial magazines have hidden treasures bubbling just below the surface; a cookbook can become a subplot to a fascinating mystery; a pharmacy holds frightening poisons that just needs a genius sociopath to bring about mayhem.

So if you're looking to write a story, listen to sounds of life around you, to cars flying by on the highway, to malls with endless stores, and people who exhale the very life of a great novel.



Chosen 


CHOSEN BY PAULA BRADLEY
July 5, 2011
Have you ever wished you had superhuman abilities - a six sense? An ability to fly? Superior strength? The shy and introverted Mariah  Adele Carpenter sure doesn't! The talent of clairvoyance that plagued her since childhood has been carefully concealed by her mother to prevent marking her a paranormal freak.

In Paula Bradley's heart-pounding debut novel CHOSEN, Mariah's faith, perceptions, and sanity are put to the test. After a suicide attempt, her powers can no longer be concealed. Mariah thought the woes of her powers would be extinguished by taking her life, but somehow a mysterious being saves her and sets her on a journey.

The supernatural rescue enhances Mariah's extrasensory power so much that she becomes a person of interest to the FBI, another government agency, and the media. She can't escape the intensifying outer turmoil and she quickly finds herself tormented by nightmares and an obsession of trying to find the ambiguous character that haunts her dreams. This page-turning thriller is a trip for the reader as well as the gripping danger and unexplained happenings challenge their own beliefs on the nature of faith and the value of discovery.

Is Mariah's gift a blessing or a curse? You decide!



Want to win a finished copy? 
It's easy. Just leave a comment for Paula along with your email address. 
Official Rules: Must be 13 years or older to enter. Contest is open to entrants with a valid U.S. Mailing address only. Ends 8/1

34 comments:

Martha Lawson said...

Sounds great! I'd love a supernatural ability. Enter me please.

follow on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Vidisha said...

the book sounds great

vidishamun@gmail.com

Reading said...

I do think that special powers can sometimes be a curse. Thanks for the giveaway.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Library Lady said...

Thanks for the awesome giveaway! It sounds like a great book.
adsanders77 at gmail dot com

Denise Z said...

Wow I have been stalking this book. Thank you for the wonderful post and giveaway opportunity.

dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Chosen sounds as if it will be an attention-capturing read. Just the bit in the post caught MY attention. I have to read this book!
mom1248(at)att(dot)net

mamabunny13 said...

Hi Paula! Sounds like an awesome book. I we love to be clairvoyant...I think. I'm looking forward to reading "Chosen".
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Theresa said...

I really liked the review for the book Chosen!! It sounds like a good one. Thanks for the giveaway!
Theresa
rtnorman2@gmail.com

misskallie2000 said...

I love mystery and supense and Chosen sounds like a great book. Would love to win Paula's newest. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Vivien said...

This sounds like an interesting premise!

Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Maureen said...

It looks like an intense story.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

Unknown said...

Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. it sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

Gloria Walshver said...

I'd love to win this amazing novel
GloriaDeal@aol.com

Gloria Walshver said...

love to win this book, it seems interesting.
GloriaDeal@aol.com

SandyG265 said...

Sounds like a good book. Thanks for the chance to win.

sgiden at verizon.net

In Julie's Opinion said...

I really want to read this book, so thanks for an awesome giveaway:)

jwitt33 at live dot com

Alicia0385 said...

What is your favorite secondary character in the book?

aliciahall0605@yahoo.com

A'lina said...

Ooh this sounds so good! I'll be looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the chance to win!

linaramz at yahoo dot com

Sarah said...

Sounds exciting! Count me in!

Sarah L
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com

Myra C said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway!

myra0502 at yahoo dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

A great storyline, I would love to win and read it.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

I would love to read this book, it sounds really good.

kayswederski@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I do like the sound of this book. I love reading about the supernatural.
mom1248(at)att(dot)net

Helen Keeler said...

This looks like a few hours of good reading. helenkeeler@comcast.net

Christina Andre said...

sounds like a good book!

nobodysangel113(at)yahoo(dot)com

Susan said...

Thank you for the giveaway! (: and I absolutely LOVE this guest post. I'm an aspiring writer myself, and Paula has just inspired me. If she reads this... THANK YOU, PAULA! <3

Chosen sounds fascinating! I'd love to read it. So again, thank you for the opportunity to win :D

~Susan*

oneofakind308 AT gmail DOT com

Susan said...

Thank you for the giveaway! (: and I absolutely LOVE this guest post. I'm an aspiring writer myself, and Paula has just inspired me. If she reads this... THANK YOU, PAULA! <3

Chosen sounds fascinating! I'd love to read it. So again, thank you for the opportunity to win :D

~Susan*

oneofakind308 AT gmail DOT com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Secret powers would be so cool.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Anita Yancey said...

Sounds like a wonderful book. I would love to be able to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Hoot aka Jessy said...

Thank you for the giveaway. The books sounds good. I do not want any supernatural ability. But love to read about it.

hootowl1978 at gmail dot com

Nancye said...

This sounds like an interesting book! Thanks for the chance.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Stacy said...

I'd love to read this, thanks for the giveaway.

the imagine tree at aol dot com

daniel thornton said...

Some good tips Paula, thanks

cranky30[at]hotmail[dot]com

hedgerhousehold said...

Thank you for the giveaway
jenhedger at hotmail dot com