Monday, July 28, 2014

Blogoversary Celebration Day 2: Steven Montano {Guest Post & Giveaway}


Welcome to day 2 of the blogoversary celebration!! Yesterday we got to know more about M.R. Merrick through his personal guest post. Today you get to know another one of my favorite authors. I don't exactly remember when I met this next author. But I do know that it was on Twitter. Yea I meet a lot of authors on Twitter, if you're not there you are missing out. I think I responded to one of his usual funny, sarcastic tweets and he actually tweeted back, sparking the beginning of what has turned out to be a great friendship. If you don't already know, Steven is a funny guy and is great at taking those 140 characters on Twitter and turning them into comic relief. 

Now I knew Steven Montano long before I actually ever read any of his books. In truth I had never read any Sci-Fi style Fantasy novels before I read Blood Skies (by the way it's FREE on amazon!). Once I read Blood Skies though I couldn't stop. I became addicted to his style of writing and I have now read every novel he has written, with the exception of 1. I'm getting to it though. 

Over time and after devouring every book he passed my way I became one of his beta readers. Which was a first for me. I had never beta read anything until Steven asked me and even though I have beta read a few of his books now I still get humbled every time he sends me his work. I now run a street team for Steven and force him to let me host blog tours for him :)

And when it came time for me to write my book, Steven became a life line. He is the biggest reason Guided didn't get deleted before it was ever finished. He talked me off the ledge and saved me a lot of work. Thanks to Steven I finished my novel and got to work on publishing it. He also answered all my annoying questions about publishing. Yea he's awesome like that.

Today Steven is going to share a sort of picture journal with us. Think of it as a life in pictures... well a shorter version of that anyways. Make sure you read all the way through because Steven Montano is graciously giving away 1 signed copy of any of his books to 1 lucky winner!!! And just so you know, if this wasn't my giveaway I would totally be all over it :)


My Life, In Pictures
Ok, the title is a tad misleading, because it implies I'm going to recount for you the entirety of my existence in pictures.

That's just silly.  I've only been using Instagram for a few months.

I'm a very visual person, and that shows in my writing -- I try to create vivid images and tactile sensations, because sucking up those kinds of details is how I see the world.  Up until recently I was an old-fashioned camera-toting sort of a guy.  I took my little silver toy everywhere, sometimes snapping dozens of shots whenever Lib and I took kids out on a hike, capturing forests, trees, wildlife, and occasionally even my kids.  (Trust me, the trees are easier to photograph.)

Well, my wonderful camera is starting to get a little old, and recently I made the leap into the 21st century and acquired a Smartphone.  Now, like everyone else, I am never without the means to record my surroundings and embarrass my family!

I still don't think the pictures I can take with my phone come anywhere close to matching the quality of my old camera, but I have found I've been apt to take far fewer pictures, which means I've gotten a lot more picky about what I've decided to shoot.

So, without further ado, I give you "Steve's Life Since the Acquisition of Smartphone" (aka the past couple of months).  Enjoy.

My very first Instagram picture.  Lib and my daughter Takenya chillin in Grandma's living room.    


Lib stops to smells the flowers.


Extreme flower!!!

The last picture I took of Lulu before we lost her.  She was a sweetie.    


From the kayak.

Ramming speed!


From right: Lib, her sister Sabbath, and Sabbath's beau Tony.  Good times after the kayaking adventure.

Fish + chips at the tavern.


The trees by the lake.


Best. Sign. EVAR.


Totem to a dark god...that happens to be located in Kalamazoo, MI.


Squirrel!

I love this post! Thanks Steven for sharing it. It actually reminds me that I need to take more pictures. I always have my phone so why the heck not! 

And now on to the Giveaways!!





a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway

8 comments:

  1. Hi Steven!! Great pictures :) Love the sound of Blood Skies and have grabbed it from Amazon. Thanks.

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    1. Blood Skies is a great start to an even better series. Hope you like it Natalie :) thanks for stopping by.

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  2. Awesome post Steven! I loved both Blood Skies and City of Scars and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

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  3. Thanks so much for featuring me as part of your Blogoversary, Danielle. I'm truly honored. =D

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    1. You're welcome Steven, it wouldn't be a celebration without you. :) thank you so much for participating. :)

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  4. So, that is totally the best sign ever – corkscrew, followed by a wine glass!

    I love visuals! Thanks for sharing the pics and dang! Nabbed me another free read. I don’t even have to enter the giveaway. I’m already getting so many goodies. ;-)

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