Cover Love #7 Featuring Some Fab Fontage

It's cover love time!

I am such a font freak these days. I was at an AFL Grand Final party this weekend and since everyone was talking, the die-hard fans had the subtitles on.
Does Sarah even notice what they're saying? Of course not. She's wondering what font the subtitles are written in.

I have been clicking on and saving so many great books covers lately, you don't even know. There's a lot of awesome out there.

Behold!

The title font and colouring is so
eye catching and cool!

So much atmosphere.
And the texturing really adds to that.

The setting, the costuming, the lighting,
and check out that font for The Agency!

Love the simplicity, the bright pink sash
and title font. Lovely.

Am I right? You don't have to tell me. I know I am. They're all most excellent in their own ways.

Finished my last two assignments for my ENTIRE Bachelor's degree this weekend. HELL YES I DID. As someone who did two years of an Education degree before deciding she didn't really want to be a teacher followed by a year of a Bachelor of Writing & Publishing full-time before having to cut back to part-time for the next two years...I am so ready to not be a university student anymore, you don't even know.

What did you do this weekend? What do you think of the pretty that is the book covers above? Look like great books, am I right?

Love you all,

Short, Sassy & Scary! Available Now!

Hello most excellent ones!

I have NEWS. Firstly I got out of suburbia this weekend and headed to the country to visit one of my bestest friends in Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia.

On the way there, I had to pull over and take a photo of the sunset because it was absolutely beautiful.

But then I looked at the photo, and it makes me think I seem to have survived the apocalypse. Don't you think? Yowza.

I seem to have gotten into the WORST ROUTINE EVER and am wide awake and working at 6am these days, so while my friend was sleeping off the end of the school term (she's an English teacher, who, I discovered today, yells homework assignments at her students as they walk past her down the street. I think all three of us - the student, the teacher and I - were horrified at this development), for a couple of hours before she got up I was hard at work on what I have to say is my favourite scene so far of the The Kiss Off book two. 

And. AND. New books alert!

Well. Sort of new. I have bundled three of my short contemporary young adult titles into the Sarah Billington Short & Sassy Collection: Volume One, and a mixed bag of four of my scary stories into the Sarah Billington Short & Scary Collection: Volume One.

Observe:

Pretty, yes? And by buying in bulk, it's cheaper for YOU, and I make more money. Win-win, right? 

AND though I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the cover for my middle grade novel Life Was Cool Until You Got Popular, I can't use it for the print edition which IS BEING MADE AND WILL HOPEFULLY BE AVAILABLE WITHIN 6-8 WEEKS.

And though I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cover up there, I SUPER LOVE the new cover. For realz. And you'll see it soon, I promise.

That's it from me for now. How about you?

In Which I Become a Complete Brent Crawford Fan Girl

I love Will Carter.

Truly I do. In a kind of, he'd be the funniest yet most annoying little brother ever, but I want to pat him on the head and say "aw, my boy's all growed up (but not entirely)" way.

Hi, my name is Sarah Billington and I am a complete Brent Crawford fan girl.

He brought Carter into my life a couple of years ago with this book...

Carter Finally Gets It

Meet Will Carter, but feel free to call him Carter. (Yes, he knows it's a lazy nickname, but he didn't have much say in the matter.) 
Here are five things you should know about him: 

1. He has a stuttering problem, particularly around boobs and belly buttons. 

2. He battles Attention Deficit Disorder every minute of every day...unless he gets distracted. 

3. He's a virgin, mostly because he's no good at talking to girls (see number 1). 

4. He's about to start high school. 

5. He's totally not ready. 

Join Carter for his freshman year, where he'll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he'll almost kill a trombone player, face off with his greatest nemesis, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), get caught up in a messy love triangle, meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself.

And then again with this book... 

Carter's Big Break

After surviving freshman year (just barely), Carter is craving his summer break. Unfortunately, when he and his girlfriend, Abby, part ways, it looks as though summer just might break him. Things start to look up when he's unexpectedly cast in an independent film opposite the world's biggest tween sensation, Hilary Idaho. With Hollywood knocking on his door, Carter gets a taste of the good life. But as the film spirals out of control, he begins to fear that he's not the "somebody" he thinks he is and more the "nobody" he's sure he always has been. Find out if Carter goes Hollywood...or Hollywood goes Carter. 

And then, most recently, I got to hang with Carter and his boys again in this book...

Carter's Unfocused, One-Track Mind

After an eventful freshman year and disastrous summer, fifteen-year-old Will Carter returns to Merrian High none the wiser. His sophomore year will present a host of new problems: the return of Scary Terry from juvie, the pregnant presence of Amber Lee, friends-with-benefits negotiations with Abby, prom night expectations, and the ever-constant harassment from his boys. When Abby announces that she might be transferring to a New York arts school, Carter's world is turned upside down and he'll be forced to make the biggest decision of his life. In his signature voice, author Brent Crawford details young Will Carter's high school struggles, this time focusing on Carter's discovery of his true passion and the sacrifices he'll need to make.



While reading, I laughed out loud a whole bunch of times and subjected my sister and her boyfriend to funny paragraphs that I thought were simply genius. I had them trapped in a car so they couldn't run away from me and my Carter recital anyway. They could roll their eyes (which my sister did when I first started) but they both laughed when I started reading (at the book, not at me. I think) so it all ended up brilliantly.

The Carter series is just so REFRESHING. Contemporary fiction from the boy's point of view, and OH how different it is to a girl's.

There are no boys to swoon over in these books, these are the kind of boys who push each other over and shave off someone's eyebrow because they think it's funny.

And in Carter's world, it totally is.

If you like comedies and contemporary young adult fiction I highly recommend these books. Seriously. I don't know Brent Crawford (I totally want to write him a fan letter though, but don't know how to contact him) but am a big, big fan.

I can't wait for the next book. I really really hope there will be a next book.

So this is my fan girl post. I'm sharing the book love. What books, movies, bands or things do you LOVE SO MUCH OH SO MUCH that you want the world to also recognise the awesome (mostly so you have someone to talk about it with)?

Love,

FREE BOOKS: Edwina Ray and Sarah Billington - When 2 Become 1

Some of you may know that I sort of have two personalities. There is Sarah Billington who is kind of upbeat and happy and tortures her characters with humiliation, and then there is Edwina Ray who is a bit darker, a bit scarier and tortures her characters with actual torture.

I kept the two types of genres I write fairly separate through the two names, but by no means did I make it a secret that Edwina was Sarah but with more eye liner.

Let's face it, I can't tell lies, I get all weird and obvious, so if anyone was to ACTUALLY call me Edwina (even though it IS my middle name) I would go all red and weird and stupid.

I don't think any of us deserve to go through the awkwardness of that.

SO. Edwina Ray's stories are getting rolled into Sarah Billington! This means that soon, Sarah Billington, the author is going to have a dark side some readers might be a bit surprised about.

I was a little worried, as the author of a middle grade novel for girls (Life Was Cool Until You Got Popular) that those readers might inadvertently pick up another Sarah Billington story and end up scarred by the inner-workings of a zombie's food-related fantasies (I, Zombie) because they didn't realise there would be a big, big difference between the two types of stories I write.

But my readers are smart people. And the covers of the scarier stories sure give off a different feel to the covers of the humour titles. I think we're good.

To celebrate the merging of Edwina Ray and Sarah Billington, I have two short stories going COMPLETELY FREE on Amazon.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

FREE Aug 31 - Sept 3, 2012

In the small town of Carringwood, Doug and every other resident turn out to watch the drama as the Gabarski home burns down. Luckily Shana and the kids got out. And her husband Peter is mysteriously absent. Speculation runs rife through the town, why are arson investigators here? Did Peter do it? Why did he do it? But Doug wonders something else. If it wasn't Peter, who was it?

Life Was Easier When Boys 

Were Stupid

                                         FREE Aug 31 - Sept 4, 2012

Jess is at a party and girls and boys around her are locked together at the lips and hips. When did everyone grow up so fast? She's not sure she wants to, but her girl friend Carla points out a boy across the room with eyes only for Jess. 

Life Was Easier When Boys Were Stupid won the Gippsland Award in the Fellowship of Australian Writers Awards.

LIFE WAS EASIER INCLUDES A SNEAK PEEK AT CHAPTER ONE OF THE HIT NEW NOVEL: THE KISS OFF!

Get a taste of both sides of Sarah Billington FOR FREE. If you feel so inclined (and I really hope you do), leave a short review, as reviews are integral to any author's success.

BUT THERE'S MORE!

The Kiss Off

99c FOR ONE WEEK ONLY

WARNING: Sexual references, occassional course language.

When sixteen year old Poppy Douglas writes a song about her ex-boyfriend Cam and ex-friend Nikki, she has no idea that her heartbreak is about to go global. 

A local band picks up her song from Youtube and soon she's along for the ride with her own fanbase as they blow up on the local club scene and hit the international charts. Though it turns out leaving Cam behind isn't as easy as she had hoped. 

Tangled in a web of unfinished homework, ill-considered sexting and a new lead-singer boyfriend, Poppy has a choice to make between the ex that inspired it all and the rock God whose poster lines the inside of half the lockers at school. But as she struggles to keep her emotional dirty laundry private, she learns that the truth can be hard to find when your life is in the headlines.

Just as an added extra. :)

Happy reading, lovelies!

Ba(n)d Romance - new book AVAILABLE NOW!

My newest fun and upbeat young adult novelette (30 pages) is available now for just 99c from Amazon and Smashwords!

Ba(n)d Romance

Jordan thought she and Paul were forever. Then she found out about Missy: Paul’s other forever. Now it’s the sophomore dance. Jordan’s on stage with her band, Paul’s text bombing her and Missy’s in the audience with murder on her mind. Unfortunately, it’s not Paul in Missy’s sights. Another short and sassy story from Sarah Billington! 

Brittany on Goodreads had this to say:

"Jordan and her friend Wyatt are about to perform in their band for the sophomore dance, but all the while, Jordan is getting texts and calls from Paul, her ex-boyfriend. Why is he her ex? Oh yeah, he's been seeing other girls. Missy, to be exact. Missy who's a no-nonsense, about-to-punch-Jordan-in-the-face kind of girl. Now Jordan has to face her nerves to perform and successfully avoid Paul and Missy to have a successful night! 

This was a really cute and quick short story! Thankfully I never had this type of experience in my day, but I'm sure we've all had something similar (like seeing your crush (not boyfriend) with another girl). 

I know it was a short story, but I almost wish there was just a liiiiittle bit more so we could get to know more about Jordan. She seemed like a really good protagonist and one I'd be happy to read about! I'd actually like to read a whole novel about her little high school drama!"

But that's not all! (Sorry, just really wanted to say that)

Ba(n)d Romance is also featuring in my first short story collection, Short & Sassy Young Adult Fiction Volume One, along with Life Was Easier When Boys Were Stupid and That One Night, which will make its way into eStores in September.

There is also a Short & Scary Collection in the works but I'll tell you more about that later.

Phew! That'll about do for now, yeah?

Take care, my lovelies!

Award Winning eBooks only 99c!

Hello fellow bookavores!

Sorry for my absence. August has just been pretty intense for me. I've been editing up a storm for clients (cos I do that too - I'm an editor...did you know that?) and am really excited about some new books that will be coming your way over the next few months. I'm so lucky I get to be a part of them. 

I've been working away on my final assignments for my Bachelor of Writing & Publishing degree (it's nearly over!) and putting Poppy in some pretty awkward situations as I work on The Kiss Off 2. But I'm sure you expect that of her.

But enough about me - I want to draw your attention to some books that are so awesome they've won awards. And they're really cheap right now! 

Check it out: 

Readers! Eight award winners in the 2012 eFestival of Words "Best of the Independent eBook Awards" have grouped together to offer you an amazing opportunity. They've reduced the prices of their award-winning novels to 99 cents for August 27 and 28th!

Whether you like to read mysteries, romance, horror, young adult, women's fiction, or fantasy, this group has it. Are you a writer yourself? Do you want to learn all about digitally publishing your next masterpiece? They've got you covered there too.

Get all eight award-winning ebooks for the price of one single paperback!

Award Winners

Best Mystery/Suspense: Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice
Best Non-Fiction: DIY/Self-Help: Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran
Best Horror: 61 A.D. by David McAfee
Best Romance: Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne
Best Young Adult: The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto
Best Fantasy/Urban Fantasy and Best Novel: The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III
Best Chick Lit/Women's Lit: Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes
Award for Best Twist ("I've Been Shyamalaned"): The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. Logan

Here's a one-stop shopping link for your convenience: http://amzn.to/MO7qBY

Book Blurbs

Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice
Laura Carnegie gave up on the man of her dreams a long time ago. He's fashion designer Jeremy St. James, and not only is he her boss, everyone knows he's gay.

When the woman who holds the company purse strings is found dead in the office, and Jeremy's arrested for the murder, everything changes. If Laura can just solve this crime, keep the cops off her tail, break up a counterfeiting ring, and get the show on the runway by Friday, she might stop being Seventh Avenue's perpetual loser.

If you love Project Runway, or enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, try Dead Is the New Black.

Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran
This guide contains over 60,000 words of essays, articles, and how-to guides, as well as contributions from 33 bestselling indie authors including J Carson Black, Bob Mayer, Victorine Lieske, Mark Edwards, and many more.

It covers everything from how the disruptive power of the internet has changed the publishing business forever to the opportunities this has created for writers. It gives you practical advice on editing, cover design, formatting, and pricing. And it reveals marketing tips from blogging and social networking right through to competitions, discounts, reviews, and giveaways.

If you are considering self-publishing, if you need to breathe life into your flagging sales, or if you want to understand why it's a great time to be a writer, Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should will explain it all.

61 A.D. by David McAfee
61 A.D. For ten years, Taras has lived in the young city of Londinium, feeding off the city’s underbelly. But now Theron, his old enemy, has come looking for revenge, and Taras’ nights of living in relative peace are about to end.

Yet not even Theron can slip into town unnoticed, and the Council of Thirteen sends Ramah to deal with the two renegades once and for all. But unknown to the Council, a much older enemy is also in Londinium, and this time even the great Ramah might not be safe.

Set against the backdrop of the Iceni uprising in Roman-era Britannia, 61 A.D. continues the story of Taras, Theron, and Ramah, as they fight their way through history.

Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne
Nic Lamoureux's perfect movie star life is shattered by a stalker who threatens any woman close to him. When he meets photographer Lauren James, the attraction is instant--and mutual. She's exactly the sort of woman he craves, but the stalker makes deadly clear Lauren is the competition.
And the competition must be eliminated.

"Stock up on ice cubes because this is definitely one sizzling debut. Readers will be hooked from the first sentence- on the book and on Nic! As rich as a white chocolate cheesecake, Cayne's entrance into the suspense genre is invigorating, explosive and simply intoxicating." ~ RT Book Reviews Top Pick

The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto
When teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Worse, someone has used an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers.

Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But first, she’ll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits: the school’s hotter-than-brimstone demon bad boy, Nick Marcelli. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and Ivy soon discovers it’s going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week’s end

The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III
Against the backdrop of epic warfare and the powers of ten mysterious gods, Lucia struggles to understand The Black One.

Her father-king wants war.
Her messianic brother wants peace.
The black god wants his due.
She suffers all the consequences.

"Moses is a fine writer deserving of success, and I think that it will follow ... I really enjoyed Moses's work." - David Farland, NYT Bestselling Author of The Runelords

Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes
Hallie Mediate was raised by her (slightly) crazy Great Aunt Grace on the wrong side of the tracks in Cincinnati. Hallie escapes her hometown and never looks back.

That is, until she’s transferred back to the hometown. Not wanting her past to cross paths with her future, Hallie puts her life on hold.

Aunt Grace is still up to her old tricks, but Hallie finds some sanity at a local jewelry-making class where she uncovers a hidden talent for beading.

Will she keep searching for the happiness she may already have found?

The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. Logan

Thomas Ford is the only survivor of the car crash which killed his wife. He is also the only witness who would be willing to identify the young, reckless driver who caused the crash. But the driver would sooner see Thomas Ford dead than ever let that happen.






Happy Reading, lovelies!

Ba(n)d Romance ARC Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the Ba(n)d Romance Advanced Reader Copies!

Winners have been emailed, but here they are below, in all their glory!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

But there are still MORE CHANCES TO WIN! Readinista is also giving away 10 COPIES! So scurry over and enter before it closes, just a couple of days left to enter!

Ba(n)d Romance is OFFICIALLY coming August 13! But I bet you'll be able to find it sooner...