Sunday, April 20, 2014

National Princess Week Day 1

Song Stuck on the Brain: Love Story by Taylor Swift


Hi! Welcome to #NationalPrincessWeek! A week for us to celebrate the little girl (or not so little girl) in all of us that at some point dreamed of being royalty and finding her Prince Charming.

In my latest novel, Dysfunction Junction, you meet Kianna Ravencamp, a girl with big
dreams for true love and for success as a songwriter. Dreams that are a little scary, but worth pursuing despite all the craziness they bring. While Kianna pursues her dreams, she holds one of my dream jobs – managing a book store, including all the fun perks of being the story lady that reads to the children every day in a princess hat. It’s a happening place to be, any child will tell you. 

A lot will be happening this week, including a contest to win a great prize, so be sure to stick around to hear more about that.

But first, let me introduce you to a couple of friends of mine…


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Hi, I’m Curly-Locks; I visit Kianna, the story lady every day. She has a beautiful princess hat, but ONLY the story lady can wear it! That’s okay, I’m not jealous or nothin’. I’ve got my OWN princess hat. Since I already have a hat and my daddy calls me his Little Princess, Kianna asked me to be her story helper this week. Every day I’m going to tell you about a favorite princess inspired story book. Yay!

My book choice today is: The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke

“Violet is a young princess who wishes she could show the world that she is just as brave and strong as her brothers. But her strict father insists that she get married, and her brothers only mock her when she wants to be included in their fun. So Violet decides to use her intelligence and bravery to show everyone--once and for all--what she's made of. Disguising herself as a boy, Violet takes part in a knights' jousting tournament. When she wins the contest, she reveals her true identity--and wins the prize of freedom!”


 photo Cherry-Locks.jpgHey everyone, my name’s Cherry-Locks, I’m featured in a mixed up fairytale written by Kianna in Dysfunction Junction. I’ll admit to being a sucker for a good fairytale romance and it doesn’t matter to me what age it’s written for. I’ll be co-hosting this Princess Shindig with Curly-Locks and featuring some of my fav Princess books too.

My selection today: Royal Wedding Series by Rachel Hauck featuring

Once Upon a Prince

"Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by best-selling author Rachel Hauck, treats you to a modern-day fairy tale. Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life. The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simons Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love. Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation. It's the ultimate choice: His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own? "

A March Bride (novella)

Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can't help but wonder if it's a sign that their love is not meant to be.

Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner.
But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can't help but wonder if it's a sign that their love is not meant to be.

Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She'll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna's heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her.

Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own---right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon's Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won't return.
Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

Princess Ever After

 photo PrincessEverAfter.jpg"Regina Beswick was born to be a princess. But she's content to be a small-town girl, running a classic auto restoration shop, unaware a secret destiny awaits her. One that will leap from the pages of her grandmother's hand-painted book of fairytales. Tanner Burkhardt is the stoic Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg. When he is tasked to retrieve the long-lost princess, he must overcome his fear of failure in order to secure his nation's future---and his own. Yet lurking in the political shadows is a fierce opponent with sinister plans to abolish the throne forever. Overwhelmed with opposition, Regina must decide if she's destined to restore old cars or an ancient nation. Together---with a little divine intervention---Regina and Tanner discover the truth of her heritage and the healing power of true love."

If you’d like a little peek at my story, here’s a clip now.

Cherry-Locks and the Three Men
(A sneak-peek from Dysfunction Junction by April Erwin)




Once upon a time and not long ago, there lived a beautiful (albeit large) young

woman with long flowing locks the color of black cherries. Cherry-locks, as her

friends called her, was friendly and intelligent with a winning smile and a

charming sense of humor. She had many friends, both guys and girls. But what she

did not have was a boyfriend.

One morning Cherry-locks awoke with a yawn and smacked her alarm clock.

As she rolled over to gain another nine minutes of sleep she noticed something

wasn’t quite right. She sat up and looked out her bedroom window. To her

surprise, it was not her quiet neighborhood street she saw, but a quaint little store.

She threw her covers back and stumbled to the window. All her neighbors’ homes

were gone and in their place, a misty haze rolled along the dewy grass. The store

looked like a tiny candy shop.

“Oh my goodness!” exclaimed Cherry-locks. “What in the world is this?” She

quickly donned her clothes and went down for a look. Upon exiting her small

house, Cherry-locks met a sweet little woman in a pink pants suit with poufy

blonde hair. She could have been about seventy, but her flawless make-up made it

hard to tell.

“There you are, honey.” The woman linked arms with Cherry-locks and pulled

her out onto the sidewalk. “I was beginning to think you’d never get up.”

Confused and still a bit sleepy-eyed, Cherry-locks looked at her quizzically.

“Who the heck are you?”

“Why, honey, don’t you recognize a Fairy-Matchmaker when you see one?”

The older woman said with surprise. “I heard you wish for the man of your dreams

on the turkey bone at Thanksgiving. So here I am to help you find him.”

“Thanksgiving?” Cherry-locks’ eyebrows shot to the edge of her cherry

colored hairline. “That was eight months ago. In fact, it was eight months and six

years ago. I’ve wished for the same thing every year.”

“Well, honey, you’ve got to give us time. There’s not many of us Fairy-

Matchmakers left and we have a lot of wishes to fulfill.” She propelled Cherrylocks

toward the store.

“It used to be we only had to answer the flower wishes. But now, with the job

market the way it is and downsizing and all, we’ve also been given the star wishes,

fountain wishes, turkey-bone wishes…” She shook her head dismally. “The list

goes on and on, so we’ve gotten a little behind in the wish fulfillment arena, but

today your name came up, so here I am.”

The Fairy Matchmaker paused in front of the little shop and turned to face

Cherry-locks. “Now I don’t have much time, so I’ll explain quickly what’s on the

agenda. The store in front of you is the Wish Fulfillment Center for Lonely Hearts.

Inside you can choose between three selected bachelors. I’ve personally screened

them to fit your general tastes. The one who’s just right is yours to keep. So, if

you’ll just come along with me, I’ll introduce you.” With that said, she once more

propelled Cherry-locks toward the front door.

continued in Dysfunction Junction by April Erwin,
available at Amazon.com, B&N.com, Smashwords and all other fine e-book sellers. Click the Buy My Book tab for more direct links.


Tomorrow we’ll back with another friend of ours from Dysfunction Junction along with a lot of fun new Princess-y things to do this week.

But before you go, don’t forget to enter to win!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
Available at all fine e-book sellers
Finding true love these days feels impossible to Kianna Ravencamp, only dysfunction surrounds her. Her sister’s married to an abusive husband and marriages she’s admired for years are falling apart. Maybe relationships like her parent’s don’t exist anymore. She dreams of true love and a family, but she’s never even been kissed.
For her birthday, her best friend gives her a journal and dares her to follow her dream of songwriting and vocal lessons quickly follow. Kianna’s finally dared to dream big… if the three men in her life don’t get in her way.
Nick Steele, her new vocal partner is flirtatious and charming. Derek Simpson, the new vocal coach is asking her out for coffee. Even Jason Payne, a childhood friend is acting odd. For the first time in her life, she will have to navigate dating and flirtation. Will her inexperience be her downfall? How will these relationships affect her songwriting career? Letting go and trusting God is the only answer that brings the path to real love and success.
 

Buy your copy today at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and more. Click the Buy My Book tab for a list of direct links.
 
 

4 comments:

Erin Maree said...

I love the song Love Story in high school when we studied Romeo and Juliette 2 girls in my class broke out singing it most lessons :)

April Erwin said...

I love this song too. I don't think I'll every outgrow it.

What a fun memory of school, Erin! My sophomre year when Aladdin released we had a whole table in the lunch room of like 10 of us that that would sit around and sing all the songs from Aladdin. From memory! :) LOL Showing my age a bit right? Great memories that you'll always be able to share and laugh over.

Thanks for stopping by.

Rachel Hauck said...

Thanks for featuring the royal wedding stories!

And great job on your piece! Blessings on your writing!

Rachel

April Erwin said...

Thank you, Rachel. Glad you could stop by. :)