Blog Tour: Earth "Excerpt" (+Giveaway)

Shayna and her two best friends have the abilities to manipulate and control the four elements, earth, air, water and fire. While learning to hone their growing powers, they discover a new and malicious presence in their sleepy beach town. Someone is performing blood magic and threatens to expose their small magical community. So far only small animals have been slaughtered, but then the nightmares start.

Shayna suffers nightmares of being chased and sacrificed only to wake up bloodied and bruised. She thinks her magical blood is the ultimate target for the final blood rite. When an innocent girl, Tracy, is kidnapped Shayna knows it's only a ploy to draw her out; she can't let someone die because of her.

Earth
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: ?? (ebook)
Part of Series: Elemental #1

It was a rough start to the school year for Shayna and her friends, Jodi and Steven, but thankfully summer break is near. Trying to sort out her feelings for the new guy in town, Shayna agrees to let Jensen join her on a group date with her friends. While out they end up at a local coffee house where their classmate, social outcast Jeremy McCormick, is humiliated by his baseball star brother. When Jeremy runs away from the jeering crowd, Shayna and Jodi hear the unmistakable sound of a thousand wings chasing after him, but no one else seems to hear them. These are not like any air elementals that Shayna or Jodi have ever encountered before and they fear Jeremy has gotten himself tangled up in something too dangerous for him to handle. But when Shayna tries to help Jeremy control his magical abilities she realizes it might be the biggest mistake of her life.

Air
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: ?? (ebook)
Part of Series: Elemental #2

Book Three in The Elemental Series

Shayna's first surfing session of the summer is interrupted by the screams of a mother who has lost her little boy in the water. Without regard to her own safety, Shayna swims out, rescues the boy, but must escape the clutches of something far worse than she could have ever imagined – mermaids.

Compelled to answer the sirens' call, the boys of Shayna's town are drawn to the sea, but when they return are afflicted by an unknown illness, a sickness which is draining them of their life force. Unable to tell anyone about the mermaids, Shayna and her friends are forced to solve the mystery before it's too late, and in doing so, Shayna will finally have to face the full force of her powers. Whether she’s ready or not, she will have to face her true nature.

Water
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: ?? (ebook)
Part of Series: Elemental #3

Excerpt for Earth

It was a relatively silent drive to his house, but at least it was blessedly short. It turned out he lived in my neighborhood, just a few blocks over. Not that it was all that surprising; if he lived too far away he’d be enrolled at our rival high school. I pulled up to the curb outside his house, letting the engine idle loudly, purring like a contented tiger. He reached for the handle, turning his body towards the door, hesitating for a second, not really staring out the window.

I had the sudden horrible thought that he might try to kiss me goodnight like this was a date or something. I kept both hands securely on the steering wheel and my eyes forward and tried to keep my breathing normal.

“You know,” he said quietly, turning his face slightly towards me but not his body, “It’s ok not to hate me.” It was probably the saddest voice I had ever heard; my stomach ached with the urge to comfort such a pitiful sound.

“I don’t, I don’t…” It was like someone had hit me in the back of the head with a baseball bat. I was so confused by such a blunt statement that I was fumbling for the words. “I mean, that’s not… you shouldn’t…” He pulled on the door handle and pushed at the door to step out. The icy wind rushed inside behind him, swirling with the heat from the car vents. He leaned down, one hand still on the door and the other on the roof of the car.

“Just in case you did, I wanted you to know it’s not too late to change your mind.” He smiled then, softly and not showing any teeth, not even crinkling the corners of his eyes, eyes that seemed to be searching my face for reassurance. I knew, horribly, that my face was slack jawed and stunned. He stepped back and shut the door, suddenly cutting off the cold air with one last gust.

I watched him walk to his front door and go inside, never looking back at me. He must have turned off the porch light, leaving the house completely in shadow, but I didn’t remember seeing the light go out. I had lost myself watching him walk away while his words echoed in my mind. I shivered, realizing my fingers ached with the effort of holding on to the steering wheel. I came back to myself and drove away.

About The Author

I don't do well talking about myself. So as basics go, I have recently self-published the first two books in my Elemental Series, Earth and Air, Young Adult Urban Fantasy novels. Look for the third installment, Water, coming in 2012!

I have been working on the Elemental Series for the last four years and plan for it to be a 5 book series. It was a hard decision to self-publish but it's been an exciting and terrifying ride. 

You can find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shauna-...

And to my readers (or fans of my covers), I have beautiful bookmarks that I would love to share with you. If you'd like one, drop me a note with your contact info and I'd be happy to send you one!

GIVEAWAY

There is a signed copy of each paperback, Earth, Air and Water and a matching bookmark for each. There is a mini Jack-o-lantern and an awesome, sparkly candle (electric) and some fun Halloween treats that include candy, stickers and copy of one of my favorite Halloween movies, Monster House. (US only)

3 other winners will also receive a ebook from the series, winner’s choice from Earth, Air or Water. (Open Internationally)
a Rafflecopter giveaway