Angie Sandro
July 1, 2014
Grand Central Publishing/ Forever Yours
“A
vivid and entertaining storyteller, Sandro is an exciting new writer to
watch." —J.A.
Redmerksi, New York Times bestselling author
From rising star Angie Sandro, a steamy Southern gothic romance that will appeal to fans of Beautiful Creatures . . .
DARK LEGACY
Mala LaCroix has spent her whole
life trying to escape her destiny. As the last in a long line of “witch women,”
she rejects the notion of spirits and hoodoo and instead does her best to blend
in. But when she finds a dead body floating in the bayou behind her house, Mala
taps into powers she never knew she had. She’s haunted by visions of the dead
girl, demanding justice and vengeance.
DEADLY SECRETS
Landry Prince has always had a
crush on Mala, but when Mala discovers his sister, murdered and marked in some
sort of Satanic ritual, he starts to wonder if all the rumors about the LaCroix
family are true. Yet after Mala uses her connection to the spirit world to
identify his sister’s killer, he starts to form his own bond to her . . . a
very physical one. As they move closer to each other and closer to the truth,
Mala and Landry must risk everything—their families, their love, and even their
lives.
DARK SACRIFICE
Angie Sandro
August 5, 2014
Grand Central Publishing/ Forever Yours
A GIFT AND A CURSE
Mala LaCroix sees dead people—really. After using her psychic gifts to catch a killer, she's locked in a psych ward and must strike a deal with the devil to secure her release. Apprenticed to a dark arts practitioner, Mala vows to free herself and save her loved ones from danger. But she doesn't know who to turn to when her crush on Landry Prince turns into something more serious.
A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH
Landry has sacrificed everything to protect Mala. A near-death experience changes him forever, and now he, too, possesses supernatural powers he doesn't understand. Mala and Landry must band together to defeat the dark forces—both human and otherworldly—who would use their abilities for evil. Even as they fall for each other, they must prepare to battle for their very souls . . .
One (1) Winner will receive a free Query Critique w/ (2) revisions from Michelle Hauck AND (1) Digital Copy of DARK PARADISE or DARK SACRIFICE (AMAZON US or BARNES & NOBLE), plus a First Chapter Critique (up to 10 pages) by Angie Sandro
Angie Sandro was born at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Within six weeks, she began the first of eleven relocations throughout the United States, Spain, and Guam before the age of eighteen.
Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary friends. Visits to her father's family in Louisiana inspired
this story. Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and an overweight Labrador.
To keep me engaged in a first chapter, I need a captivating writing style. Some tension and humor is good as well. Too much description or backstory usually doesn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteTo engage me with the first chapter I need a strong voice, snarky humor is great, but not a must. I also need action or tension. The first chapter is not a good place to world build. If there's too much back story or description, you'll lose me.
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, I hope the morning is treating you well. Thank you so much for inviting me on today and hosting this amazing giveaway. I can't wait to read the winner's first chapter. *rubs hands together*. Good luck to everyone. And thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteTo keep me engaged: I need to know where we are and who we're with. It helps to have something happen in those first pages, just something that finishes drawing me in and makes me stay with the book. But the important part for me is who and where.
ReplyDeleteI read MG primarily, so I'm looking for voice. Funny and with a lot of heart. I can usually tell if I'm going to like the book from the first few fall in love with the voice. I also want conflict or a hint of the forthcoming conflict.
ReplyDeleteI need to fall in love with the character's thought process and have just enough questions about what's happening to keep turning the page.
ReplyDeleteI have to connect with the voice from the start and the book has to start in the right place. If there is info-dumping in the first chapter then I'm out.
ReplyDeleteI am actually pretty forgiving of weak first chapters, but I will not tolerate an opening where someone's parents/family are murdered. To me, it is the cliche to end all cliches.
ReplyDeleteI like to be in the MC's head, heart, and soul from the get-go. Make me a close part of your MC's life.
ReplyDeleteI like to connect with the main character. Voice is important to me in the first chapters.
ReplyDeleteVoice is imperative, and that first chapter has to raise questions without bogging me down with too much info. That's what propels me to the next page.
ReplyDeleteI like it when I feel kind of sad for the main character and I want them to win or be able to overcome, even if it's just something in their own head. I suppose this can all be wrapped up into the tone and voice.
ReplyDeleteTo keep me engaged I have to have story questions and a voice that I feel like I want to spend a few hours of my time with.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer, I love an astonishing first sentence, or one sentence first paragraph, that makes me say: Why didn't I think of that?! And it sucks me in every time.
ReplyDeleteTo keep my attention, I need a great voice a little humor and suspense. And a MC i can relate to.
ReplyDeleteFirst chapter engagement, a character showing some personality in a situation that piques my curiousity.
ReplyDeleteI need stakes. Surprise me. Make me gasp. By the end of the chapter, give me something that completely sets the tone. I dont need tone setting in the first 250 words, but if by the first chapter I am not 'jaw dropped' i'm dropping the book.
ReplyDeleteAs a reader, what elements do you need in a first chapter to keep you engaged? I need strong voice, interesting character(s), and one of the following: story hook(s), tension, or humor.
ReplyDeleteI need conflict, for the main character to have a goal or someone they're fighting against (be it an unfair teacher or a dragon or their own inner doubt or whatever), i.e. not just sitting around or going through a normal, ho-hum day. Beautiful writing will often draw me in, but it won't keep my attention if there's no greater purpose to the story.
ReplyDeleteSomething unusual to pull me in and a great voice.
ReplyDeleteto keep me going, I need a sense that I want to spend the rest of the book with this character. I want to know this will be fun, or silly, or mysterious for the character. I guess voice is the thing that makes that possible. If the character comes off as a know-it-all or snotty or even stupid, I'm not interested in following their journey.
ReplyDeleteTo keep me engaged, I want to care about the MC right away. It's more than identifying with them, I want him/her to be real enough that I'm immediately invested in what happens to him/her.
ReplyDeleteI need to care about the main character and feel his overwhelming conflict with the trouble that is about to unfold.
ReplyDeleteGood writing and compelling characters, without a heavy-handed author - no obvious manipulations and tricks. The character, story and/or setting should be naturally and strongly intriguing so I want to read more.
ReplyDeleteI want to connect with the main character, and have an understanding as to what is conlflicting him or her. The first chapter should be a prelude into the main characters life. I prefer having a grasp on things by the end of the first chapter as opposed to wondering what the heck just happened.
ReplyDeleteI need a strong voice and a sense that there may not be a resolution to the conflict. At least a resolution I can't see.
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be something unique about the main character. I give it a chapter to find something fascinating. The plot should also have some trajectory.
ReplyDeleteFirst chapter has to feel like I'm going somewhere. It can be a day in the life of, but only if I love the character or the hook. But there are other books where I know I'll read it till the end by the first line. In those, it's hard to tell why I felt that way (like I didn't find HP to be all that compelling in the first chapter).
ReplyDeleteIn a first chapter, I want that "wow, this is different" feeling. I want to be intrigued and excited. I want to be transported to another world that both frightens and seduces me.
ReplyDeleteFor me, story is king in the first chapter. If I'm not interested in finding out what going to happen on the next page, I'll close the book.
ReplyDeleteAs a reader, I'm more of the give me a beautiful description, visual image of your world and your characters right away. As a writer, I tend to focus on character first.
ReplyDeleteAs a reader, I need a voice that engages me within the first two paragraphs, a voice that rings as fresh and young. After that, give me a cliff hanger and I'm set for the whole novel, usually! Ironically, this is also how I wrote my first chapter...
ReplyDeleteI need a strong voice, vivid but not flowery language, a sympathetic character, and a sense of unrest.
ReplyDeleteI love humorous writing, but if I don't feel a connection with the POV character, I won't keep reading. I think Hitchhiker's Guide is hilariously written, but I've never finished it, because I don't care deeply enough for the characters. I like Jane Austen, but the stakes are never high enough for them to be un-put-downable.
If all four are included throughout the book, I will finish the book in a weekend.
To keep me engaged and draw me in, it has to be all about the voice. The MC could be doing something simple, but if I like the voice, I'll keep reading.
ReplyDeleteA recommendation from a trusted reader friend trumps all good qualities in a first chapter. But without that I want the promise of a good romance. Yep, I'm that shallow.
ReplyDeleteHmm....a little mystery, but not too much to be frustrated. An instantly likeable character -- whether the protagonist or someone else. And enough explanation to build a world.
ReplyDeleteI need a strong voice; someone that I like immediately. Often, this person is "like me". Gone Girl comes to mind because even though the first chapter was a male voice, I liked him. I bought his humor and 'attitude'.
ReplyDeleteI like an engaging concept (any genre) and I want to know the characters' names right away.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest...to keep me through the first chapter you have to not make me roll my eyes. Don't tell me the sky was the color of a bruised peach. Don't use the most makey-upey names that seem so trendy these days. Don't give me insta-love. Don't make me feel like this is really your personal story in disguise. Don't be a bandwagon writer.
ReplyDeleteOK, so that's 5 things that will make me roll my eyes, go 'blach' and toss the book aside. Don't do those and you're good.
I need to read writing that flows well and that entices me to read more. I also need to have a strong sense of setting or of the main character.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about voice for me!
ReplyDeleteSpecific element! Tough to say. I definitely judge a book w/in the first few pages though, so it has to be strong. Voice, interesting, whatever.
ReplyDeleteI need action, no heavy back story. Just get the party started.
ReplyDeleteI need something that makes me connect with the characters!
ReplyDeleteI need to connect with the character's voice! And I appreciate humorous writing as well.
ReplyDeleteA character I want to know more about.
ReplyDeleteI need to be sucked in the story immediately. Get me swept away and unable to catch my breath. I need to connect with both the character and situation they find themselves in.
ReplyDeleteTo keep me engaged I need an outstanding voice at the beginning or I can't continue.
ReplyDelete