GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ The Top 5 WEIRD, CRAZY, and FUN facts about UF author Courtney Shepard + giveaway | I Smell Sheep

Friday, January 25, 2019

The Top 5 WEIRD, CRAZY, and FUN facts about UF author Courtney Shepard + giveaway

The Top 5 WEIRD, CRAZY, and FUN facts about Courtney Shepard

1. I went to a boarding school from Grade 10 until Grade 12. Too much to tell.

2. At age 19 to combat my soft, sheltered, princess-y ways, I took an outdoor survival course.

In a ‘scared straight’ type scenario with some court-appointed troublemakers, I spent four weeks in the wild mountains of British Columbia. The final test was to ‘survive’ for three days and nights alone in the wilderness. The results? An unhealthy and debilitating fear of bears who haunt my nightmares.

3. I used to compete in water skiing, both jump and slalom.

Jumping was the crazy part though. The first time I tried it, I was terrified. I strapped two large skis to my feet, grabbed a rope, and let the boat tow me around the lake. My heart pounded as we turned toward the jump, a giant ramp rising from the water, looming up in front of me like a brick wall. I pulled across the wake to take the jump at the right angle, but as I hit the jump I bailed. I wasn’t prepared for the transition, and instead of letting go of the rope I was pulled over the edge of the ramp on my face.

Broken ribs aside, the next time was better and the next even better. Before long I was cutting across the wake at the perfect angle and speed, leaning forward, launching off the edge of the ramp, and soaring into the sky. It truly felt like flying.

But yeah, that first jump was crazy.

4. When I was in Grade 6, my two best friends and I hatched an elaborate scheme to spend the night in a public park. We took sleeping bags and a kitchen knife for protection. We stayed up all night and didn’t shut our eyes until the sun came up. Not very smart, but oh so exciting and rebellious at the time.

5. On an amazing trip to Thailand, my friend and I went on an elephant tour. Our elephant’s name was Rambo, and he was perfection. During our ride in the jungle, we took a little break at a shallow, murky pond. Rambo, our elephant, thought it would be hilarious to take water in his trunk and spray us with it. Unfortunately, because Rambo was such a funny guy I had my mouth open in a guffaw of laughter when the stagnant, jungle pond water hit.

To this day I don’t know what was in that water, but it was something my weak Canadian immune system was not prepared for. Life lesson: If an elephant sprays you in the face, keep your mouth closed.

Unbalanced (Unbalanced Series Book 1) by Courtney Shepard
June 1st, 2015
Genre: Urban fantasy, light romance
Publisher: Champagne Books
ISBN: 9781771551502
ASIN: B00Y6A2RVU
Number of pages: 224
Word Count: 75,000
Cover Artist: Trisha FitzGerald
Four sister, one destiny.

Every generation four sisters with power over earth, air, fire, and water are born to fight against a fanatical, secret faith. The Order exists only to sacrifice the sisters for their power. With each success their strength and control grows. They have never failed, for their rule depends on it.

The sisters, separated at birth, are unaware of what hunts them...but they are coming.

A handsome stranger discovers Asha in hiding, and swears allegiance to her cause. She falls for him; though he is not who he says he is. Betrayed and imprisoned inside the Order, Asha is without her power for the first time in her life.

As the war heats up haunting secrets and true motivations are revealed, but the sisters must unite and override their instincts and trust the untrustworthy if they are to fight their terrifying destiny.

Excerpt:
With a crack and rumble, the ground surrounding the cabin broke apart and water burst from the earth. It sprayed as strong as any fire hose up and over the cabin. The pounding force was like a waterfall in reverse, and the flames sputtered and died.

She had never seen anything like it, an enormous water fountain extinguishing fire burning that hot. The cabin door, charred and still smoking, flew off its hinges and onto the flooded grass.

Three figures ran out into the early morning glare. Asha took off her helmet and slouchy hood, but her eyes weren’t playing tricks. She could see them clearly, even across the distance, and her stomach dropped. They stopped short, facing an army with guns raised. No.

“Fire!”

“Stop!” Her scream was too late; the soldiers fired. She didn’t have time to act; they were sitting ducks. She prepared for their thrashing bodies, but like a swarm of hovering locusts, the bullets stopped in mid-air and dropped.

What? She couldn’t get her mind around the scene unfolding before her. She’d lost control of her body. Her muscles wouldn’t move.

“Hold your fire,” Clay shouted, but the soldiers continued shooting.

His brothers were the only ones not attacking. They had to be as shocked by the falling bullets as she was. She couldn’t blame them. She was as still and as useless as a rock, unable to move or act, only watch in growing disbelief. Three young women stood against an army.

“Asha,” yelled one of the girls, her eyes were even brighter green than Clay’s. “We’re your sisters. We’ve been looking for you.”


Sisters?


About the Author:
Courtney Shepard is a freelance writer living on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. After initially studying for a career in journalism, she switched to fiction writing.

Unbalanced is the first book in the Unbalanced Series published by Champagne Books.

Tour Giveaway
2- $10 Amazon gift cards
5 - $5 Amazon gift cards
Advanced copy of Unbent – Book 2 of the Unbalanced series coming out next year. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 comments:

  1. I like the fun facts

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loved the fun facts. You are a very adventurous and daring person.
    sherry @ fundinmental

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think there is a book hiding in your fun fact #2. It would make a great story.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you so much everyone!!!! ❤

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like how you had to combat your princess-y ways :). Your book sounds good.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are quite adventurous. I love that.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Really interesting stuff , thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The Rambo story had me cracking up!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post. I enjoyed reading it and I like a laugh.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am always looking for new authors to read. Glad I found this one.
    jwisley(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete