Of Threads and Oceans Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the OF THREADS AND OCEANS by Camilla Tracy Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

OF THREADS AND OCEANS
Author: Camilla Tracy
Release Date: August 17, 2023
Publisher: Pudel Threads Publishing
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 326

Find it: Goodreads, https://geni.us/OfThreadsandOceans

Description:

An exceptional life leads to extraordinary challenges. Especially with a tiger, dog, and snake.

In a world of ancient secrets and mystical powers, Thali, a famed merchant’s daughter conceals her true identity. After her brother’s sudden death, Thali must stay safe and navigate a new school and unfamiliar faces. As she struggles with whom to trust, strange things start to happen around her, and the animals refuse to be ignored as she’s tempted by the draw of her own magic.

Every day threatens to expose her secrets as she’s torn between embracing her magic and remaining in the shadows. Especially when she meets a mysterious boy who is a match for her in all forms. With her friends, magic, and identity at stake, Thali must confront the truth she has been avoiding.

As Thali battles her inner demons and the mysteries of an ancient world unravel around her, will Thali embrace her true self and harness her magic’s potential, or will she succumb to the evil dangers that lie ahead?

 Buy the series!

 

Top 5 Favorite Movies

Mulan

This was the first time I saw Asian representation in main stream media. There are so many cultural things I could relate to, but I think my favorite is when Mushu presents Mulan’s breakfast of congee with eggs and bacon. I don’t think I’ve ever had bacon in my congee, but I’ve definitely had egg in it, and you can take it in many directions with all kinds of add ins.

Bride and Prejudice

I can’t explain it, I absolutely adore this movie and have watched it dozens of time. I love Pride and Predjudice (the super long BBC version with Colin Firth is my personal preference), but sometimes I don’t have the time and want my P&P hit in a shorter version and this is the playful, super fun and colorful version that is like a mug of hot tea on a cold snowy day.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

While I’m not Greek, there were so many relatable moments I found here. That moussaka scene? I literally went through the same moment with some home made cucumber rolls when I was an elementary kid.

Encanto

I could rewatch Encanto a thousand times. I love the music, the stories, the characters – I want to BE Antonio so badly. I also LOVE Luisa. It’s such a beautiful story with so many touching moments and deeper meanings.

Barbie

I honestly think that just like The Importance of Being Earnest is an exaggerated representation of life at the time, Barbie is the movie that represents the 21st century. I never liked barbies as a kid, actually I hated all dolls (they made my uncomfortable), so I was hesitant to see the movie. When I did though, I went through the gamut of emotions and I thought it was such a poignant and important film to our generation.

Top 5 Favorite Board Games

It is a GREAT time to get into board games. There are so many types and kinds and artwork associated with them, there’s something for everyone. If the last one you played was monopoly, scrabble, or Life, (not that there’s anything wrong with them), it’s time to dive back in because it’s a HUGE world!

Skyrise  

Not only was I a lucky duck and won this beautiful edition of this game, but I love how different it is as it’s kind of an auction game, but even if you lose all the auctions, you still have a chance to win the game as a whole! Also, the pieces for the edition are beautiful and fun to handle.

Settlers of Catan  

This is the gateway game that got me back into board games and the wide world it is. I love a good long term strategy, where you can’t mess with each other too much.

Dog Park  

Remember when I said that there are all kinds and types with all kinds of artwork? This is a great game with beautiful artwork done of various dog breeds and it’s fun to play with fun little bone pieces to play with. You get to collect, walk, and show dogs.

Clank

I love this game because it’s cuter than the usual dungeon crawling. You’ve got to go down into the dungeons to grab some fancy artifacts without waking the dragon – but you’re all a little clumsy. And then when someone makes it out, it’s a rush to make sure you don’t get buried alive underground!

Scout 

Scout is a new card game I’ve just started playing and I’ll admit the first round was confusing, but the more I play it, the more complex the strategy is and since it’s kind of chance what you get to work with, I feel like it’s low stakes pressure.

Top 5 Writer Must Haves

Mood music: Lately, I’ve been into Imagine Dragons while I edit and get business stuff done. I’m finding it energizing and motivating to get my tasks moving. But, I can’t write with lyrics playing. So while I’m writing, it’s always instrumental, and lately, it’s been this fantasy instrumental list that helps me get my words in. 

Beverages: At least two drinks, maybe three. Water to hydrate, something fun like tea or coffee, and a protein drink for nutrition to keep yourself going through your those writing sprints. I believe it’s known as being a drink goblin and I am definitely that.

A favorite pen: My favorite pen is the Sarasa zebra gel pen in blue. Whether it’s to make notes, write something down to remember later (like the color of a dress in a scene), a pen you love using makes it all the more lovely to do.

Favorite notebook: Now I know I can’t be the only one who collects notebooks and is usually too afraid to use them. But just like it can be a pleasure to write with your favorite pen, it’s also a pleasure to write ON your favorite paper – the smoothness, the thickness, please tell me I’m not the only one.

Furry friend: please don’t get a furry friend if you don’t already have one, or weren’t planning on getting one. Or maybe get a stuffed animal friend. I’m an animal person through and through, but I do think they make the best office co-habitators. My doggos remind me to get up and empty my bladder, stretch, and move around. I also love to grab a few treats for a quick training session for a mental break. And there’s nothing better than doggie snuggles!

Many of us readers/writers have pets and while they make great snuggle buddies and reading companions, if you’ve ever wanted something quick to do with your dog (or cat), I’ve put on my other hat as a pet professional to give you a few things to try below:

Five quick games to play with your dog:

Treat hunt: put your dog in another room, put three-five treats in little piles around your space – the easiest is in the middle of an open space, the more difficult being near furniture corners. Let your dog use their sniffer to find and eat the treats!

What do you know: Does your dog know the hand signal, or the verbal cue? Try asking for a sit – both verbally first, and then with your hand signal and see which your dog listens to fastest. This one gives you homework to know which you need more practice with.

Random tricks: Write each of the behaviors your dog knows on a cue card, shuffle them up and pull each out at random to see which you should practice. Or make it fancy by seeing how many you can do in a row!

Nose boop: Put a treat in your hand. Close your hand around it and place your hand right in front of your dog’s nose. When they move to investigate and touch your hand – open your hand and let them eat the treat! Once your dog practices this a few times, make it harder by moving your hand further away, or to the left/right, or up/down. 

Good dog: Dogs don’t usually like to be pet, especially a hand touching the top of their head. But you can teach them it’s awesome! Pat your dog’s head and then give them a treat. You’re creating a positive association with touching the top of their head! You can do this with touching their collar too. Because usually, when we grab our dog’s collar, we take them away from the fun thing, so many dogs learn to shy away when a hand moves in.

Bonus: Recall: The power of your dog’s name comes from all the previous instances – and what happened after. Grab ten treats, call your dog to you, give them one from your hand and toss the second treat away from you. Takes seconds and you’ve just put five great coins into the ‘come when I call your name’ account. 

Camilla is a lover of many mediums of storytelling. She loves to write YA fantasy with strong heroines who can kick butt, find love, and adventure with their animals sidekicks. She always has projects on the go and loves to consume stories of all kinds – books, shows, movies, plays, amongst many others.

When she is not writing, Camilla is often found exploring animal behavior, crafting, drinking a hot beverage, and clicker training her animals.

Sign up for Camilla’s newsletter!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

(2) winners will receive a book box with a finished copy of OF THREADS AND OCEANS & swag - US & Canada Only.

Ends March 4th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/17/2025	Two Chicks on Books	Interview/IG Post
2/17/2025	Fire and Ice	Guest Post/IG Post
2/18/2025	@hardcovers.withhans	IG Post
2/18/2025	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
2/19/2025	Frugal Freelancer	Guest Post/IG Post
2/19/2025	Daily Waffle	Guest Post
2/20/2025	Ilovebooksandstuffblog	Review/IG Post
2/20/2025	@kimbartosch	Review/IG Post
2/21/2025	Readwithrolo	IG Review/TikTok Post
2/21/2025	@thepageladies	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

2/24/2025	Lifestyle of Me	Review
2/24/2025	More Books please blog	Review/IG Post
2/25/2025	Mom with a Reading Problem	Review/Facebook Post
2/25/2025	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
2/26/2025	Edith's Little Free Library	IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
2/26/2025	@callistoscalling	IG Review
2/27/2025	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
2/27/2025	Pagesforpaige	IG Review
2/28/2025	@lexijava	IG Review/TikTok Post
2/28/2025	@alexandriavwilliams_	IG Review

Soxkendi: A Family of Dragons Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SOXKENDI: A FAMILY OF DRAGONS by Camilla Tracy Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

SOXKENDI: A FAMILY OF DRAGONS
Author: Camilla Tracy
Release Date: February 10, 2024
Publisher: Pudel Threads Publishing
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 402

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/SOXKENDI-A-FAMILY-OF-DRAGONS

Fate can be cruel.
A standalone novel. If you've read the Threads of Magic series, this book is a centuries ahead prequel that also stands alone.

Alexius has been ignored for centuries. He’s quietly taken the blame for his sister’s death and simply tries to get by unnoticed, until his heart won’t let him ignore his mate. Will she bring him closer to his family or pull him away?

Aexie is trying to figure out why she’s turned into a raging, angry dragon that can’t express what she wants to while not letting her anxiety control her.

Jaxon fights to decide how best to keep the family together or if he should just give up and travel the world.

Xerus is learning to navigate the ancient love of his life and run the kingdom he’s been brought up to rule.

As siblings grow up, their duties to themselves clash with their responsibilities to their family and realm. Mysterious attacks force them to put the kingdom first and work together. They need to figure out who the culprit is before their entire realm falls.

Will they come together or will they abandon their duties and watch their kingdom fall to evil?

A scene from another character's POV 

Brixelle

 

I tapped my claws on my thigh one at a time as I stepped forward in the line. I’d flown by the palace, and my mother said I’d been here once as a child. But seeing it up close, even in my dragon form, was intimidating.  

 

The great blue doors would fit at least two of the tallest dragons I knew one atop the other. And they were open. Just like every first day of the week in the month, they stood imposingly. I took another step, looking down to see the plush carpet below my feet. I’d never felt anything quite as soft as this before and felt self-conscious of the dirt I might bring in. I think if I lay down on it, I could take a nap.   

 

There was a brown dragon in front of me and I was glad that he seemed to know what he was doing. He followed the line and stood quietly and I tried to do the same, though my claws kept tapping on my hip. Normally at this time, I was doing something - moving, focused, busy. I had told my mother that I was going to visit one of our neighbors but had made the flight here instead. She wouldn’t want me to come here, to ask for help. But she was all the family I had left. My father had passed a long time ago. It was just me and my mother for most of the life I remembered.  

 

The line moved forward steadily. I was now far enough into the palace that I saw tapestries and paintings that were as big as the side of my house. Intricately painted or made so that it looked lifelike. Sculptures of the various types of citizens - griffons, pegasi, dragons, manticores, minotaurs…just to name a few. I could stare at each of them all day. A cough behind me made me realize I wasn’t following the line. I blinked and hurried my steps to catch up.  

 

Now, we approached doors that were equally as large, but in a pink and white stone. The top layer of stone was white, but as the artists carved into it, the layers underneath were pink, making the shapes of various flying dragons pop out.  

 

We’d already been briefed this morning, when I arrived, on the protocol, when meeting the King and Queen. We would line up one by one and then present our case. We would enter the room individually and bow or curtsy when we first met the royal family and wait for them to speak to us first, or ask us questions. We were to remain two dragon lengths from the dais and would exit the side door around the gallery where we were also invited to stay and watch the rest of the line of citizens make their requests. There had even been snacks and refreshments set up in the courtyard where we had all gathered to wait.  

 

I stood to the side, wanting so badly to stick my head forwards to see the throne room. My claws tapped on my hip faster and faster as my nerves started to fray. Maybe it had been a bad idea to come. Maybe they would laugh at me. Everyone had problems, everyone was struggling. Why would they help me over someone else? I was only a sheep farmer.  

 

“Miss,” the palace staff coughed to get my attention and I blinked at him. The fur around his face moved as he jerked his head towards the open doors quickly.  

 

I nodded. I took a deep breath in and out. This was for my mama. I strode forward, turned, and held my head high as I marched into the throne room.  

 

There were less creatures there than I had expected as I looked around the spacious room. The floor was made of pink and blue stones, the swirls of blue outlined in gold leading toward the dais where the king and queen sat on their thrones. The queen smiled at me as I strode up to them. I remembered at the last second to count two dragon lengths and stop there. My eyes were drawn immediately to the red dragon on the queen’s left. His scales shone bright red, and he stood proud and stoically, but his green eyes reminded me of the billowing grass. They were soft and kind and when they met mine, I felt a part of me snap into place. I forced my gaze back to the monarchs, hoping they didn’t notice me ogling their son.  

 

“Your Majesties, Your Highnesses,” I bowed as low as I could.  

 

“What is your name, dragonling?” the Queen asked me.  

 

“My name is Brixelle. I’ve come today because my mother is sick, and we would ask for enchantments for our property so our labor could be eased.”  

 

The queen paused and I kept my eyes down. Did all the princes have this effect on all the young dragons of a certain age?  

 

“Alexius, why don’t you go with this young dragonette and provide her with the enchantments she needs?” the queen said.  

 

I looked up again at the red dragon. My body glowed without any prompting from me, but instead of a knowing smile, or arrogance in his face, Prince Alexius seemed to freeze for a moment before he blinked and nodded. I bowed my head to the king and queen again before moving to the side door. I knew the moment Alexius had come up right behind me. How did I know where he was without seeing him approach? 

 

“I am honored, Your Highness. Thank you,” I said. I hadn’t expected a royal prince to help me. I dipped my head as I went back to the courtyard I’d come from.  

 

“The pleasure is all mine,” he said. I felt a shiver dance across my scales.  

 

“Where do you live?” he asked, bringing me back to the present.  

 

“On the outskirts of The Gathering,” I said. I wanted to stare at him, but I didn’t want to make the situation more awkward. Surely all princes were as charming as Alexius. I couldn’t be someone special.  

 

“It’ll be much quicker if we fly,” I said. He nodded. His eyes narrowed for a moment as if he was trying to figure something out and then motioned for me to go ahead first. The courtyard wasn’t quite big enough for both of us to take off at the same time. He waited patiently. I swallowed and took off. He joined me in the air a moment later, catching up swiftly.  

 

We flew in silence and I felt myself glow as the tips of our wings danced around each other in the air currents.  

 

“It’s not much farther,” I said. “Just over the rise there.” And I couldn’t help but smile as I saw my home come into view. It loosened some tension in my chest to know I was closer to my mother now. That my sheep were in view. We landed in the grassy field. My sheep didn’t love strangers, so we stayed away from them. I also didn’t know how the prince felt about getting dirty on a farm.  

 

“What enchantments would you like?” he asked. He turned his complete attention to me and my heart did a flip-flop. I could bask under his gaze forever.  

 

“One to protect our livestock, some border alarms, and if you could, a weather detector would be wonderful.” I smiled my most charming smile, knowing it was quite a long list. Hopefully he would be able to do one or two for me.  

 

He laughed and my chest puffed to think I had caused it. In that moment, his face had turned from serious to carefree and joyful and I wanted to do it again.  

 

“I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a weather-detection enchantment, but the others I can do. Can you show me your borders?” he asked.  

 

“Of course, Your Highness.” I lowered my eyes because I couldn’t keep staring at him without making this awkward. He coughed and I took off into the sky.  

 

We flew along the edges of my farm land and I felt blissfully happy. He was a talented flyer, moving with agility and ease. I felt safe next to him.  

 

“Would you object if I set wards up in sections? That way if someone or something triggers one, you’ll know which section to attend to instead of having to search the entire property?”  

 

“Handsome and smart,” I said before I regained control of my mouth. I clamped my jaws together to stop myself. I snuck a peak at him and he grinned. Was he glowing?   

 

“Do you have specific sections you’d like me to divide the property into?” he asked.  

 

Swallowing my own awkwardness, I took a breath and then turned back to him.  

 

“Follow me?” I asked. His face lit up. That pull I had felt earlier, the one that had snapped into place, glowed and I knew, Alexius was my mate.

Camilla is a lover of many mediums of storytelling. She loves to write YA fantasy with strong heroines who can kick butt, find love, and adventure with their animals sidekicks. She always has projects on the go and loves to consume stories of all kinds – books, shows, movies, plays, amongst many others.

When she is not writing, Camilla is often found exploring animal behavior, crafting, drinking a hot beverage, and clicker training her animals.

Sign up for Camilla’s newsletter!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub  

(2) winners will receive a Lunar New Year themed box with a finished copy of SOXKENDI: A FAMILY OF DRAGONS & swag - US & Canada Only.

Ends February 27th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/12/2024	Writer of Wrongs	Guest Post
2/12/2024	A Dream Within A Dream	Guest Post
2/13/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post/IG Post
2/13/2024	Lady Hawkeye	Guest Post/IG Post
2/14/2024	YA Books Central	Interview/IG Post
2/14/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	IG Post
2/15/2024	Kountry Girl Bookaholic	Guest Post/IG Post
2/15/2024	@hardcovers.withhans	IG Post
2/16/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Review/IG Post
2/16/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

2/19/2024	jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Post/TikTok Post
2/19/2024	GryffindorBookishnerd	IG Review
2/20/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review
2/20/2024	Callisto’s calling	IG Review
2/21/2024	@dana.loves.books	IG Review/TikTok Post
2/21/2024	@sparks_books	IG Review
2/22/2024	@niks.bookshelf	IG Review
2/22/2024	The Momma Spot	Review/Guest Post
2/23/2024	Confessions Of The Perfect Mom	Review/IG Post
2/23/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post