Welcome Special Guest Author Mareen O. Betita & Win The Kraken's Mirror!

A Beta Reader You Can Trust


Hi, I’m Maureen O. Betita and I’m taking over Cheeky Reads today, by invitation, don’t worry! I’m a new author, with my first release upcoming from Decadent Publishing.

It’s called The Kraken’s Mirror, a captivating romantic adventure featuring pirates, a kraken playing cupid, ipods and a curse of good luck. With a bit of time travel tossed in for fun. Along with waltzing vampires, a swamp full of zombies and a pack of werewolves running in the forest. Yes, Tortuga will never be thought of the same!

Bwah ha ha!

When I dreamed up this menagerie of a story and saw it develop into more than just a lark I knew I needed a beta reader with some experience to help me see past the love affaire I’d fallen into.

Yes, I love this story. I still do, especially after the beta experience. In fact, my beta reader proved invaluable at pointing out some real holes in my narrative. She drew my attention to areas where I lacked descriptive detail, for one thing. Like many new authors, I was caught up with knowing my world so well I just sort of…well…skipped describing it. With her help I brought the pirate festival to life, adding color, pulling up vivid memories and inserting them for the reader.

Thanks, Sabrina!

Another thing she spotted had to do with how my heroine reacted when a betrayal was revealed. Emily needed more connection to what led to it, more connection to why she might feel betrayed. And why she might feel the moments of insecurity the way I painted them.

This was harder to do, had to back up quite a bit…but I saw the hole because she pointed it out to me. Gently. Because she’s Sabrina and she knows how to work with sensitivity.

There were several other bits and pieces Sabrina helped me with and I look forward to her eventually reading the finished product, reviewing it here on CheekyReads and giving me how every many kisses she deems it worthy of. I trust Sabrina, my beta reader.

She made the book better. And no, I’m not just playing kissy-kissy. I hope you will enjoy The Kraken’s Mirror when it comes out and remember to thank Sabrina…she helped a lot!

A Sneak Peek At The Kraken's Mirror:

Treated by our youth oriented society as invisible and sexless Emily Pawes attends a pirate festival to recapture the make believe magic she knew as a younger woman. She wins an interesting bit of booty at an old woman's bric-a-brac stand. The Kraken's mirror is a magical portal and transports her to a land of Hollywood piratitude, where swashbuckling heroes own iPods. With little choice, she embraces the madness, deciding she’ll play pirate until she figures out how to get home. Or wakes up in a padded cell.

Instead of men in little white coats, she encounters the handsome Captain Alan Silvestri. He is a man haunted by a strange curse. Good luck is his to command, but it comes at the cost of any place to call home or people to call family. Resigned to die shunned by all, forced to sail every three days, he begins to dream of a special woman.

When they meet, sparks fly, passion flares. He needs her to be free, but more than that, he needs her to be whole. They set sail, uncertain of who has control of the wheel, seeking to defeat his curse of good luck and discover all the Kraken’s mirror plans for them.

Learn more about Maureen and The Kraken's Mirror at the following locations online:
http://www.maureenobetita.com/
http://believinginsecondchances.typepad.com/
www.twitter.com/maureenobetita

A Special Note From Cheeky Sabrina:
Ok, seriously folks I did not pay her to say all those awesome things. Really I didn't. Maybe I blackmailed her a little, but no money actually exchanged hands. :) I had no idea that she'd write about my being her beta. Thank you so much for the lovely post Maureen. It means so much to me that you think I helped even a little. And isn't that an awesome cover!


Maureen is both an amazing woman, a true friend and a wonderful writer. I was surprised and honored when she asked me to be a beta reader for her and hope that some of my comments really did help. The Kraken's Mirror is a really fun and original story chock full of pirates. I said PIRATES people! And not just of the male persuasion. There is a whole crew of kick-ass awesome lady pirates as well and I had a blast reading about them.

To help spread my love of Maureen and her debut release The Kraken's Mirror, I'm hosting a giveaway! When the Kraken's Mirror releases, I'll personally purchase a copy and send to a lucky Cheeky Reads reader. All you have to do is leave a comment with your best made-up pirate name! Be creative - make it something fun, or even give yourself a Cheeky pirate moniker.

Contest is Open to all users including Internationally. I'll announce a winner on Monday. Please feel free to share this contest on your blog, Facebook or tweet about it!

19 comments:

  1. My husband likes to be called Captain Joey G. It's not different, but he is hot.

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  2. Cap'n Joey G... Sounds pretty good to me! Thanks for stopping by, Kathleen!

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  3. Great post, Maureen! And I know what you mean about having someone else point out the things that I can't see in my own work. Sabrina, it sounds like you provide a wonderful service! *makes note for future* LOL

    A pirate name. . .well, I have my Dead Reckoning Donna one at the Revenge. I might need something sexier for here though. *thinks* Okay, I got nuthin'. LOL

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  4. Oh the Undead Monkey would be great at this game. I only call him Captain when I'm being sarcastic and he's barking out orders like I'm a deck swabber on the RWR.

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  5. Donnaroo...Sabrina is a good beta reader and I bet she'd like your stuff. Not that Im volunteering her for anything...not me!

    Sinster...does the undead monkey even read?

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  6. Sabrina Hello! *waiving*

    I have to agree Sabrina is an awesome insperation! Her site and knowledge overflow with proffesionalism.

    Maureen this will be a great story, I love the fact the heroine is more mature. Lets face it we all can't be 20 and a size 5 forever! Thank you for taking on the challenge to bring us real women like ourselves in the exciting world of pirates!

    Hmmm.. can a princess be a pirate? LOL!!

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  7. Cheeky Sabrina11/4/10, 11:30 AM

    You ladies are all making me blush!

    I had tons of fun being a beta-reader for Maureen and can't thank her enough for thinking of me.

    Maureen's cover rocks - I really do love it. It's so eye-catching!

    Thanks for being here today Maureen!

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  8. Does the fact that I "play" a pirate on the net help me? LOL! I'm the Bo'sun, but that's not really a sexy name. I'll have to think about this.

    I can't wait to read this entire story since I've only gotten bits and pieces - and the synopsis. LOL!

    Sabrina, you are a true darling and one of the sweetest chicks going. Not to mention a cool roomy. :) You deserve all the gushing, don't be shy.

    Another awesome blog.

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  9. And Sabrina always brings the towels. Best Roommate Ever!

    Aside from Terri, she was there first! ;-)

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  10. Cheeky Sabrina11/4/10, 5:39 PM

    Room with me and you'll never run out of towels!

    Ok - so trying to think up my pirate name. Cheeky Wench is pretty much taken. :)

    I'm going to have to think on this some more.

    And find out where all my blog followers are today...HELLO?

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  11. Did I scare 'em off, Sabrina?

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  12. Pam S (pams00)11/4/10, 10:42 PM

    My lastname is Sinclair so I play as a pirate on game as Lady Sin ... totally made up Charity Sweet Cheeks, Raven Hawk, Well Endowed Wanderer, and Jaded Dragon.

    This was fun and the book looks awesome! Ty for the cool post Maureen and Sabrina!

    Pam S
    pams00 @ aol.com

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  13. I'm so excited about an older couple!

    For my pirate name I'm going with Captain Rainbow - my pirates are a happy, cheerful lot.

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  14. Pam - I bet Well Endowed Wanderer would make you one popular pirate!

    Lisa - Captain Rainbow works for me! Of the good ship... Lily Pad?

    I love Emily and Silvestri, and am really excited to see their debut on the romance scene!

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  15. Maureen -- It certainly sounds like you have a little bit of everything in there! How fun. May I ask if you were a fan of Clash of the Titans growing up?

    And for pirate names -- how about Mistress O'Malley

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  16. I am very bad at names but I found a site that gives you a pirate name based on your real name and I am The Evil Mermaid Lizzie - lol

    Maureen, your book sounds awesome. . . a pirate, a vampire, werewolves and zombies . . . oh, and don't forget an iPod. Wow, can't wait to read it!

    Please enter me in the giveaway.

    Chrizette
    baychriz at gmail dot com

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  17. Louisa - Ya know, I know the movie, but wasn't a huge fan... But I do love the sea. I live across the bay from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and try to get over there every few months just to sit near on the big aquariums and watch the critters drift in the currents. Always loved how octopus and rays feel...

    Mistress O'Malley sounds appropriate!

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  18. The Evil Mermaid Lizzie got an ax...gave her


    Yeah, well, we all know where I'm going with that!

    Thanks for visiting, Chrizette! I did have fun tossing in element after element after element, but it's all done with love and appreciation for the many facets of paranormal romance!

    Good luck!

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  19. Make up a pirate name ! That is something new.

    Lets see.

    How about Captain Gore

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

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