Tag Archives: Retelling

It’s the cover reveal for How to Kill a Street Rat!

Posted on April 23, 2019 | Comments Off

You guys!

I am soooooo excited that I finally get to reveal the cover for

How to Kill a Street Rat.

The cover was designed by rock star designer Christian Bentulan. I’m also premiering the book synopsis below.

So let’s do this!

___________

The princess of Jasmine is mine, she just doesn’t know it yet.

I’m the most powerful sorcerer in the world and nothing will stop me from conjuring my way into her life and convincing the Sutlan that his daughter—and the throne of Bisnegar, belong to me.

So what if the princess has no intention of marrying anyone? Sorcery will fix that. If my spells don’t work on her, I’ll win her heart the old fashioned way, if she doesn’t win mine first.

When a handsome prince shows up with dancers, a monkey, and a blasted elephant, things become complicated. This prince isn’t a prince at all, but a street rat in disguise. How dare he weasel his way into the palace hoping to charm his way into the heart of my princess!

An ancient evil hovers over the kingdom, maybe one even more powerful than my own. As everything Aladdin touches falls into ruin, the truth becomes clear. To save the princess and the kingdom, I will have to fight Aladdin and his genie. This is a battle only one of us will walk away from.

For the first time, there is something in my life worth dying for, and oddly enough, it isn’t a crown.

Pick up How to Kill a Street Rat and battle the genie today!

PRE-ORDER HERE

___________

Yay! I hope you have ten tons of fun reading this one.

Amazon and KU release day is May 23, and pre-sale starts today!

Click on buy it now

and How to Kill a Street Rat will auto deliver to your e-reader on or before May 23.

___________

Wide eBook release (Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Google Play, etc) will be on or around July 23.

Paperbacks will be available shortly after the May 23 eBook release at all your favorite bookish places.

Kindle Unlimited fans: We’ll be in Kindle Unlimited for three months. After that the book will go wide to all other distributors. As long as you order the book before that three month period, you will be able to finish at your leisure.

Yay!!!!!!!

I hope you love the cover!

See ya soon!

–Jennifer

Here’s a fun anthology with a cover I couldn’t resist for all you anthology fans.

While you’re waiting, here are some super great discount and free eBook promotions to keep your e-readers rocking. Enjoy!

That’s it for now. Enjoy!

Big Fat Hugs!
Jennifer M. Eaton
USA Today Best Selling Author

Check out what people are saying about Jennifer’s books on Goodreads

You can find the Fire in the Woods series at all these awesome bookish places!

Catch up with me on social media!

Comments Off on It’s the cover reveal for How to Kill a Street Rat!

Posted in Marketing Madness

Tagged 2019, Aladdin, how to kill a street rat, Jaffar, Jasmine, jennifer eaton, jennifer M. Eaton, Movie, New Aladdin, Retelling

March Madness Title Reveal!

Posted on March 26, 2019 | Comments Off

Hey guys! I’m super excited to tell you about my next project. I’ve been sharing little snippets if the cover, but now I’m ready to reveal some more…

My super secret new project is a retelling of Aladdin, but this won’t be any old retelling. We’re going to experience the story from the bad guy’s point of view, and my job is to make you root for Jaffar!

And the title is…

How to Kill a Street Rat!

I’m super excited about this one. I hope you all love it. I’m hoping to get a cover reveal together really soon, and my goal is still an early May release.

While you’re waiting, here are some super great free book promotions to keep your e-readers rocking. Enjoy!

Spring into Light – Books about “creatures of light” (No picture for this one, sorry!)

(Starts March 29th)

That’s it for now. Enjoy!

Big Fat Hugs!
Jennifer M. Eaton
USA Today Best Selling Author

Check out what people are saying about Jennifer’s books on Goodreads

You can find the Fire in the Woods series at all these awesome bookish places!

Catch up with me on social media!

Comments Off on March Madness Title Reveal!

Posted in Marketing Madness

Tagged 2019, Aladdin, Jaffar, Jasmine, jennifer eaton, jennifer M. Eaton, Movie, New Aladdin, Retelling

When a book surprises the heck out of you… A review of The Shadow Queen by CJ Redwine

Posted on August 18, 2017 | Comments Off

The Shadow Queen by CJ Redwine (Audiobook) This is a very loose Snow White Retelling, where not only is the evil queen a witch, but Snow white is also a kick-ass witch. There are no dwarves in this book, but the huntsman is a dragon. Pretty cool stuff!

I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected. I sort of avoided it for a while because I hadn’t been in the mood for a retelling, but this was so different that it just barely fits into the retelling category. For me, the ending was slightly ruined because I knew it was a snow white retelling, and when I connected the dots to the handsome prince character, I kinda knew what would happen, and rather than being upset at the end, I just sat back and waited for the storybook ending.

HOWEVER this in no way muddied my enjoyment for this novel. I’m glad this was a standalone, because always having to get the next book is a little annoying, but also, I would love to read another book in this series. (sigh).

Anyway, I will definitely be looking to more CJ Redwine book in the future.

Comments Off on When a book surprises the heck out of you… A review of The Shadow Queen by CJ Redwine

Posted in Book/Movie Review

Tagged CJ Redwine, jennifer eaton, jennifer M. Eaton, rediew, Retelling, snow white, the shadow queen

Using Audio for Editing with Melissa Crispin

Posted on April 10, 2017 | 2 comments

When I go into editing mode, I try to find ways to distance myself from my words. I search for methods that will allow me to assess my work-in-progress in an impartial way. One of my favorite tools for this is the text-to-speech function on my kindle. I find it useful for different stages of editing.

Some of the issues it helps me to catch are:

Pacing – There may be certain spots I’ve read over and over again, causing my eyes to skim over the content. When the automated voice is reading for me, I can’t speed it up or slow it down. This highlights places that drag, as well as places that are missing an extra something.
Stilted dialog – If the robotic voice is reading a character’s dialog and it sounds like a robot, I know it’s worth revisiting.
Misplaced or missing words – When I’m proofreading a manuscript, I find the text-to-speech invaluable for finding these problems. An extra “the” or “a” in a weird spot, or a word that is absent from a sentence won’t get picked up by spellcheck.

I’ve heard of other people using a speech function in Microsoft Word for editing. I plan to try this out someday too. What about you? Do you have any editing tricks that may seem unusual or uncommon?

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today, Jennifer!

Cursed and disfigured, Calliope must find true love before the final leaf falls from the Enchanted Tree. Being bound to her mansion on the outskirts of town leaves her with little hope.

Abandoned by his wife for a wealthy man, Bastian only needs one female in his life, his five-year-old daughter, Yareena. When she goes missing during a raging fire, fate brings him to a strange place where he encounters a woman wearing a golden mask.

An attack by rogues puts Bastian in Calliope’s care. As he struggles against pride and prejudice, Bastian can’t ignore his growing attraction to the kind soul behind the mask.

Yareena and the mansion staff do their best at matchmaking, but Calliope can’t reveal her darkest secret. Will Bastian discover her true beauty before it’s too late?

Sasser, Melissa 02 color low res Melissa J. Crispin lives in Connecticut with her husband, two kids, and an adorable Siberian Husky. She spends her days in the corporate world, and pursues her passion for writing in the late nights and early mornings.

From micro-fiction to novels, Melissa loves to write stories in varying lengths. But, no matter the story, it’s almost always about the romance.

Facebook: Melissa J. Crispin – author Twitter: @MelissaJCrispin Instagram: @MelissaJCrispin Website:www.melissajcrispin.com

2 Comments

Posted in Author Interview

Tagged Beauty and the Beast, Crimson Curse, Jenifer Eaton, jennifer M. Eaton, Meliss Crispin, Retelling, The crimson curse

Because sometimes you just want a nice, light read… A review of Beastly by Alex Flinn

Posted on November 25, 2016 | 1 comment

Beastly by Alex Flinn (Ebook) A handsome, but arrogant son of an television news anchor is cursed by a witch and turned into a hideous beast. Terrified anyone will find out (thus ruining his career) the news anchor father sets him up in a lavish home with servants to wait on him, but he can never go outside (for fear someone might see him). The only way to break the curse is for the boy to fall in love, and have her love him back (and kiss his hideous face)

I really loved this contemporary retelling. I think what drew me forward was the interesting way the author wove in the scenes from the classic Beauty and the Beast tale into the present-day setting. Yes, I knew what would happen, but that didn’t mean the ride was not enjoyable. I’d definitely recommend this book for a light, fun read that will keep you smiling.

Add this one to your TBR!

Hello out there!

You can find Fire in the Woods and Ashes in the Sky at all these awesome bookish places!

Catch up with me on social media!

1 Comment

Posted in Book/Movie Review

Tagged alex flinn, beastly, Beauty and the Beast, Book Review, jennifer eaton, jennifer M. Eaton, Retelling, Review, Young Adult

Breathing life and a new twist into a well-known fairy tale with @ShonnaSlayton

Posted on October 10, 2016 | 3 comments

OOOooooo! Retellings! I know it’s a fad, but I’ve read some really good ones. I love seeing old fairy tales in new settings. Today we’re welcoming Shonna Slayton to talk about her brand new retelling: Spindle

Hi guys!

I’ve been a fan of fairy-tale retellings since reading Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. And lately, there seems to be an explosion of retellings. It’s been wonderful to see!

I know right? They are so much fun to read! What did you do with yours to make it different?

My particular twist on a fairy tale involves taking a fairy tale object (the dress and shoes in Cinderella; the spindle from Sleeping Beauty) and moving it into another time and place.

What do you mean?

I think of the fairly-tale objects like family heirlooms that get passed down from one generation to the next—for good or for bad. And my characters are somehow descended from or connected to the original fairy tale.

Ooooo that’s a neat idea. But your book doesn’t take place where the original stories are from, right?

I tend to have immigrants in my stories as the fairy-tale objects start out in Europe, but I have to get them to America somehow. An immigrant on the move makes that happen. Also, I’m an immigrant myself so I suppose that’s a subtle bit of my own experience slipping into the tale.

That’s a great way to add a neat twist!

Yup. With this basic set-up, I’ve already changed the trajectory of the narrative. The story is no longer in a fairy-tale land, the characters reside in a real-world historical setting, and they are descendants instead of the actual fairy-tale characters. Well, except fairies. We all know they transcend time.

After that, it’s a matter of fleshing out the new story. It’s also fun to drop hints and parallels to the original fairy tale for readers to catch. That way you get a mix of the known and the unknown. A fresh read that feels right.

Awesomeness! I can’t wait to read Spindle later on in the year. I’m really looking forward to this one. [She slips SPINDLE into her “To be reviewed” page]

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks for letting me hang out!

SHONNA SLAYTON writes historical fairy tales for Entangled TEEN including Cinderella’s Dress and Cinderella’s Shoes, set in the 1940s, and now Spindle, a Sleeping Beauty inspired tale set in the late 1800s.

She finds inspiration in reading vintage diaries written by teens, who despite using different slang, sound a lot like teenagers today. When not writing, Shonna enjoys amaretto lattes and spending time with her husband and children in Arizona.

The best way to keep in touch is by signing up for her monthly newsletter. She sends out behind-the-scenes info you can’t read anywhere else. Sign up is on the sidebar of her website Shonna Slayton

About Spindle

In a world where fairies lurk and curses linger, love can bleed like the prick of a finger…

Briar Rose knows her life will never be a fairy tale. She’s raising her siblings on her own, her wages at the spinning mill have been cut, and the boy she thought she had a future with has eyes for someone else. Most days it feels like her best friend, Henry Prince, is the only one in her corner…though with his endless flirty jokes, how can she ever take him seriously?

When a mysterious peddler offers her a “magic” spindle that could make her more money, sneaking it into the mill seems worth the risk. But then one by one, her fellow spinner girls come down with the mysterious sleeping sickness…and Briar’s not immune.

If Briar wants to save the girls—and herself—she’ll have to start believing in fairy tales…and in the power of a prince’s kiss.

Goodreads: Amazon Buy Link: Barnes & Noble Buy Link: iBooks Buy Link: Kobo Buy Link: Amazon.co.uk: Amazon.ca: Entangled Publishing:

Giveaway Information:

• One (1) winner will receive signed copies of Cinderella’s Dress and Cinderella’s Shoes (US and Canada)

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

3 Comments

Posted in Author Interview

Tagged jennifer eaton, jennifer M. Eaton, Retelling, shonna slayton, spindle

Sometimes a retelling just “works”. A review of the 2014 animated Tarzan movie

Posted on August 28, 2015 | Comments Off

For family movie night recently, my husband pulled up “Tarzan – The Legend lives” (The 2014 version)

To be honest, all three of our boys 9, 12, and 14 rolled their eyes. I think I did, too.

ANOTHER Tarzan adaptation? Pleeeeease say it isn’t so.

Within about three seconds, though, the movie caught my twelve year old’s attention as dinosaurs ran across the screen, and we were taken into outer space to see a meteor throttling toward Earth. For a while, I’d forgotten what the movie was about. This didn’t seem like Tarzan at all!

Really impressive animation

My fourteen year old and I jumped on board when we skipped to the future to see that they’d updated the story to a more present-day-like setting. Then a little accident happened, and the little boy gets stranded in the jungle.

This is where my youngest set aside his computer and started watching with the rest of us.

I have to say, this adaptation seemed the most “real” from the perspective of how Tarzan was raised by apes and how he moved and learned to live like an ape. My husband didn’t think that Tarzan would have forgotten people and words (he was about six when lost, and people show up when he’s about seventeen, I’d guess) I’m not so sure this is true.

While all the basic elements of the Tarzan story are there, I love how they wove in a sci-fi angle. And where stuff like this (crossing genres) usually bothers me, somehow it really worked in this story.

By the end, we were all huddled on the couch watching and enjoying this together – something that rarely happens in our house these days.

This movie had plenty of good old Tarzan for Dad, lots of explosions for Mom, and enough action and adventure to keep the kids happy.

For us, this adaptation totally worked. I’m surprised that I hadn’t even heard of it. I’m not sure if it did well in theaters, but I think this one is worth a watch from home.