Time for a #1click Vote for DIVINE FALL's cover? #amwriting #romance

Another Cover Love Poll to vote on!  There are 8 covers up for Best Cover over at Lolly Tova's blog.  I'm hoping you'll take one second (literally!) and vote!  No emails, registrations, etc...just pick your favorite and hit "Vote".  If you like several, guess what?  You can vote again tomorrow, and the next day, until the poll closes on November 30th.

Of course, I'm hoping you'll vote for the beautiful cover of DIVINE FALL.  You see, this cover is very dear to me, as I had an integral part in the design.  My first two novels, SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR, are with a publisher, and therefore, the cover is designed by their artists and owned by the company.  And I truly do love how the covers came out...spooky and mysterious, just right for haunted romantic suspense.

But I decided to publish my new Young Adult Paranormal Romance independently, for a number of reasons.  One big part was complete control of the cover.  For anyone interested in the details of each step I took in the cover design process, you can see my post about it here.

And please take a moment to vote!  Here's the link: Cover Love Poll.  A big thank you!

Cover Contest - Please vote GULL HARBOR #amwriting #romance

Cover contests are a lot of fun - a chance to actually judge a book by its cover.  This month, GULL HARBOR is one of the choices over at Lolly Tova's Cover Love Contest.  The spectacular artwork by artist Rae Monet really captures the spooky and suspenseful atmosphere of this ghost story/romance set on Cape Cod.  All that's needed is a 1-click vote, no sign-ins or emails.  If you can spare a moment to vote for GULL HARBOR, I'd really appreciate it!  And if you have a book cover you love, take another minute and enter it into one of the upcoming months. 

VOTE HERE!

Thanks so much for any votes!  If you'd like to view the photos I sent to Rae to use as inspiration, plus the other storyboard pictures, visit GULL HARBOR'S Pinterest Board.  Have a great day :)

A dangerous ghost & an ex-boyfriend
await Claire in GULL HARBOR
Beautiful cover by TWRP
cover artist Rae Monet

A Thank You and a #Romance #Giveaway!

Short and sweet today...first off, a huge thank you to everyone who voted for GULL HARBOR in the January You Gotta Read Cover Contest...it won!  There was stiff competition and a number of truly gorgeous covers, and I'm thrilled artist Rae Monet's beautiful cover came in first.  It will receive a spot on the website's home page for three months, which is great promotion. 

Secondly, my Goodreads giveaway for a signed print copy of GULL HARBOR went live today...it's a 3-day giveaway, so if you'd like to enter, don't wait!  Here is the link:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Gull Harbor

by Kathryn Knight

Giveaway ends February 06, 2014.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Have a great week everyone!

Cover Contest - Please vote! #amwriting #romance

January's cover contest at You Gotta Read has begun...and GULL HARBOR is lucky #13!  This is a one click vote, no registration, no email, no info needed.  I'd be so grateful for your vote if you have a moment!  The Wild Rose Press cover artist Rae Monet did an exceptional job on this cover, and I'd love to see her work get the votes it deserves.  The link is here: 

http://yougottaread.com/category/cover-contest/



GULL HARBOR is entry #13
Cover art by Rae Monet

Thank you!  If you have your own book cover, you can enter it for a future contest--the winning entry receives a nice promotional spot on the website home page.  Enjoy browsing the covers, you might find a few new reads for your TBR list.  Happy Reading :) 

The Number 13 - Lucky or Unlucky? #Superstitions

I embraced the number 13 long ago, since it is the date of my birth...I've had plenty of birthdays on Friday the 13th, in fact.  I do sometimes wonder if being born on the 13th has anything to do with my love of all things spooky, though.  All my novels incorporate some type of supernatural suspense, whether it's a mystery surrounding a haunting (GULL HARBOR and SILVER LAKE) or a quest for revenge undertaken by the world's last half-angel (DIVINE FALL).

Some of my most popular posts discuss the reasons behind our superstitions.  This one delves deeper into the number 13 - while I consider it a lucky number for myself, many people don't!

A fear of the number 13 is known as Triskaidekaphobia.  I actually once worked in a building that lacked a 13th floor.  To me, this made little sense...did the people on the 14th floor not realize they were actually on the 13th floor?  Still, the button in the elevator did not exist.  Why does the number 13 get such a bad rap, anyway?





Some reasons stem from various religions.  In Christianity, for example, 13 people sat down to The Last Supper: Jesus Christ and 12 disciples.  The last to sit down, the 13th, was Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus. 

According to Norse legends, the 13th (uninvited) guest to arrive at a banquet of the gods was Loki, who then killed another god and set in motion a series of tragedies.

Historically, condemned people climbed 13 steps to the gallows.

A coven was traditionally made up of 13 witches.

In the deck of tarot cards, XIII is the card of death - a pale horse and rider.

Apollo 13 was the only unsuccessful mission to the moon; the oxygen tank exploded, putting the lives of the astronauts at risk.





Finally, 12 is considered a perfect and magical number in many disciplines and traditions.  There are 12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 days of Christmas, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Christ, 12 principal Olympian gods of the pantheon...the list goes on and on.  It follows, then, in some people's minds, that to add a number to 12 would make it unlucky.

I find the reasoning fascinating, but I still like the number 13.  But I also have black cats, and we cross paths all day long.  But of course, I have my good luck rituals as well...I have to pick up every penny I see on the ground!

I may pick up a few extra today, just to be safe!  Have a happy Friday the 13th, and grab one of my steamy romance + ghost stories for this combination Friday the 13th/Valentine's Day weekend!

Cover Contest- Please vote for Silver Lake! Kathryn Knight

What an exciting Friday!  The official release day for Gull Harbor, and the first day of Silver Lake's first contest.  This is really a vote for Kim Mendoza, one of The Wild Rose Press's talented cover artists, and we would both love to have your vote here (entry #7) at the You Gotta Read website:

http://yougottaread.com/vote-now-for-the-june-2013-cover-contest/

No sign-up needed, just click on the link and vote!  I truly appreciate it.  While I have very little artistic talent myself, I was able to convey my thoughts on a dream cover for Silver Lake and select the artist.  Some of my visual inspiration, including the pictures I sent in, are here on my Pinterest board for Silver Lake.  I think Kim did a fantastic job in creating a spooky and mysterious feeling for this ghost story/reunion romance.

My brand new release, Gull Harbor, also has a Pinterest board here.  Friday, June 21 is this novel's "official" release day, which means the title is now available in all formats - e files for every reader as well as print paperbacks.  I have my author order on the way and I'm very excited.  There is nothing like seeing you book in print, despite the ease and popularity of e-readers (more on print vs. e-books here).  That said, the Kindle Select Program was an absolutely amazing experience and Gull Harbor has remained on the Top 100 Best Sellers list on Amazon since April! 

Once my print copies arrive, I'll be ready for some author signings.  The biggest one for me is usually the gym where I work!  My class members and clients are very supportive, and those without Kindles have been waiting patiently.

Meanwhile, I'm hoping Silver Lake does well in the contest.  My first novel will always have a special place in my heart, and I'm thrilled Gull Harbor's success is giving Silver Lake more exposure.  Thanks for celebrating with me, and I appreciate your vote!