It’s time to bring author Andrea Buginsky back to my blog as she launches the next installment of her Avalon Series, Fate: New Avalon, Book 2. But first Andrea discusses her thoughts on social media, and more specifically, my favorite, Pinterest! Then, read an excerpt from the book, watch the trailer, check out her tour dates. and much more below!
by Andrea Buginsky
Social media is a huge part of our lives. We’re all on at least one medium or another. Facebook, Twitter, G+…you name it, someone you know is probably even on it, as well as you yourself. I’ve used several social media sites over the years, concentrating specifically on Facebook and Twitter. But lately, I’ve been using Pinterest a lot. And I love it.
I’ve had a Pinterest account for several years now, and pinned websites, pictures, and other material to it occasionally, but not as much as I see others use it. Then, a few months ago, I got the new iPhone. When I was choosing my apps to load on it, I decided to add Pinterest. Now, I can’t get enough of it. I have so much fun sitting in front of the TV scrolling through the pins and selecting the ones I want to add to my boards. I enjoyed it so much when I started that I went back to my profile to clean up some boards, rearranging them, adding new ones, and deleting unnecessary ones. Now, I love my profile! It screams “ANDI!”
The best part about using Pinterest is the unlimited amount of boards and pins you can add. I can keep creating new boards as I find pins that don’t fit on my existing boards, and give my followers something new to see on my profile.
I also love the interaction. Although I don’t use the messenger feature much, I do love seeing who’s pinning which of my pins and following my boards. I love sending pins to my friends that I think they’ll love. And I love receiving pins from my followers who know how much I’ll love them.
Pinterest is so much more than a social media outlet. It’s a playground. I love coming to the playground!
Follow me on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/andreabuginsky/
Fate: New Avalon, book 2
by Andrea Buginsky
Available September 30, 2014
Elena Baxter’s second year at New Avalon may be more challenging than her first. The demons she was warned about show up, a visitor who greatly affects her arrives, and her best friend, Izzy, has to deal with her painful past. Can Elena survive everything that’s coming at her at once? Or will the future Lady of the Lake take on more than she can possibly handle?
Excerpt from Fate:
In Alchemy the next day, Elena could tell Izzy was still distracted. She never did that well mixing the potions, but she was getting better studying with Elena. Today, however, everything she mixed kept exploding. Elena knew she was still preoccupied with their conversation from the other night. “Damn!” Izzy coughed as her third attempt to mix the potion exploded in her face. Elena ran to her side. “Are you all right?” “Yeah, I’m fine.” The rest of the class rushed over to make sure everything was OK. “You alright, Izzy?” “Yeah, Mia. Just ticked. I can’t get this to work right! Lady Bittle, what am I doing wrong?” Lady Bittle sifted through the ashes in Izzy’s cauldron. “I don’t think you used the right amount of herbs. Remember, you need to be very careful when tossing each one in. You don’t want to add too much or too little of any herb.” “I know that! I’m a third-year. I’ve been mixing potions for over two years now. I know I’m not the best at it, but this is ridiculous!” “Izzy, is everything OK? You know you’re powers are linked to your emotions, and you seem to be in overdrive right now. Perhaps you should stop for the day. I’ll still give you full credit for your attempts.” Izzy looked like she was about to explode. But a scream from Elena broke her out of her anger. “What’s wrong?” “I don’t know…” Elena stood there, holding her head in her hands, nearly collapsing. “It hurts!” “What hurts, Sweetie?” Mia tried to calm her down, but they were all freaking out over Elena’s outburst. “My head! It feels like it’s going to explode.” Lady Bittle rushed to her and took her by the elbow. “I’m going to take her to Isabel. The rest of you can use the remaining class time to work on your own potions, if you’d like. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” “Wait! I want to go with her.” “No, Izzy, that’s not a good idea. You’ll see her later, back in your room.” She led Elena out of the classroom and down the hall to Isabel’s office. Isabel was waiting for them. She sensed something was wrong, as she always did, and helped Lady Bittle carry Elena to the couch in her office. She gently caressed Elena’s head, her eyes closed, her lips moving. Finally, Elena calmed down enough and took a deep breath. “What was that?” “Tell me everything that happened.” Elena told Isabel about Izzy’s trouble in class and her outburst. “I know she’s been upset lately, but I’ve never seen her like this. She just became infuriated, like she was about to explode!” “And then you felt like your head was exploding?” Elena looked at her, shocked. “Yeah, how did you know that?” Isabel sighed. “Lady Bittle, I’ve got this now. Thank you for bringing her to me. Will you return to the classroom and let the other girls know Elena is just fine?” Lady Bittle nodded, touching Elena gently on her shoulder. She left her in Isabel’s capable hands and returned to her class. Isabel gently stroked Elena’s hair. “I think congratulations are in order.”
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Print
Tour Dates September 30: Missuswolf’s Storyland October 1: Bonnie Trachtenberg October 2: Sheenah Freitas October 3: Confessions of a Reader October 4: Sheila Deeth October 5: UnorthodoxBlog October 6: Regan Black October 7: Emerald Barnes’ Dreaming Awake Blog October 8: Annamaria’s Writing Corner October 9: Belinda Witzenhausen October 9: Ignite Your Creativity October 9: WriterzBlox October 10: Martha Emms Cognitive Dreamer October 11: Teen Books and Other Stuff October 11: Brandi Breathes Books a Rafflecopter giveaway
Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer with a BA in Mass Communication-Journalism from the University of South Florida. She has always wanted to be a published writer, and decided to try to write children’s fantasy books. The Chosen is her first book, and was released on December 14, 2010, to her delight.
Andrea has written four more books since:
* My Open Heart, an autobiography of growing up with heart disease.
* Nature’s Unbalance: The Chosen, Book 2
* Destiny: New Avalon, book 1, a YA fantasy
* Fate: New Avalon, book 2, a YA fantasy
She is currently editing the third book of The Chosen series, and writing the fourth. Andrea lives in Kansas with her family, which includes her two precious puppies.
I’m welcoming Andrea Buginsky back to my blog today because the second book in the New Avalon series will be arriving soon! Here’s a look at the beautiful cover, designed by Natasha Brown. Stay tuned for more on the book from Andrea in the coming days!
Elena Baxter’s second year at New Avalon may be more challenging than her first. The demons she was warned about show up, a visitor who greatly affects her arrives, and her best friend, Izzy, has to deal with her painful past. Can Elena survive everything that’s coming at her at once? Or will the future Lady of the Lake take on more than she can possibly handle?
Excerpt:
Elena ran through the dark woods, tree branches leaving deep, angry, red scratches on her arms, legs, and face. Her legs were heavy and her feet were cold and damp. The moist dirt of the forest floor began to seep through her shoes. She desperately wanted to look behind her to see if the dark figures were still there, but she dared not, afraid it would slow her down and they would catch up to her.
She kept running; she felt as though her lungs were about to explode and her heart would burst out of her chest at any moment. Cold sweat broke out all over her skin.
Just when she thought she couldn’t run anymore, she reached the edge of a cliff that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Peering through the heavy mist, she realized she had run to one of the far edges of Avalon, and knew the only thing below her was the icy cold ocean.
With nowhere else to go, Elena turned to await the dark figures chasing her. She prepared to use her magic on them, even with the knowledge that the few spells she had learned so far would barely touch her oncoming attackers. She would defend herself – she would not let them see how terrified she was.
As she watched ahead of her, three dark figures appeared, and when they saw her, they came rushing at her. They reached out their hands, casting their own spells faster than she could react to them. As several fireballs headed toward her, Elena began to scream.
Releasing September 30
Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer with a BA in Mass Communication-Journalism from the University of South Florida. She has always wanted to be a published writer, and decided to try to write children’s fantasy books a few years ago. The Chosen is her first book, and was released on December 14, 2010, to her delight.
Andrea has written three more books since:
* My Open Heart, an autobiography of growing up with heart disease.
* Nature’s Unbalance: The Chosen, Book 2
* Destiny: New Avalon, book 1, a YA fantasy
She is currently editing the third book of The Chosen series, and writing the fourth.
Andrea lives in Kansas with her family, which includes her two precious puppies.
You can visit Andrea on her website or Google+