Sandra Cox's Blog, page 293

It's All About Me

As many of you know, both the hh and I work at a community college. Many of the students that come through the doors of that institution stun me with their talent, creativity, hard work ethic and drive.
Then, like in every walk of life, there are a few that make me blink and mutter, "Say what?"
For instance: As mentioned on a previous blog, the hh had a sinus infection and double pneumonia. He was out sick for a week. He was extremely lucky, he didn't land in the hospital. Anyway...when he got back to work he checked his phone messages. One of them was from one of his students that blessed him out for not calling and letting her know he wouldn't be at class that day so she could have slept in.
Ya gotta laugh.

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Just a reminder....Its E Book Week and I'm giving away two downloads on Smash, Akasha and Power Stones.
The link for Akasha: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/47397
The link for Power Stones: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54683

The Coupon Code for Both Books: RE100.

Hell No Hail Yes and EBooks

I heard a rat-a-tat-tat on my window earlier this week, looked out to find hail was popping everywhere. The ground was covered with little white discs of ice. It didn't last long, but Mother Nature put on quite a show for a few minutes. It looked pretty amongst the yellow daffodils and bright green grass.
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Question. If you're a regular blog visitor, how often do want to see a book tour on it? Do you get tired of seeing them or do you like to know what new books are coming out? If you get tired of them, how much is too much? Twice A Week? Three Times? Or more?
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Don't forget its E Book Week.
If you'd like some freebies, I'm giving away two downloads at Smashwords, Akasha(the 2nd in the Cats of Catarau Series and Power Stones.
The link for Akasha: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/47397
The link for Power Stones: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54683

The Coupon Code for Both Books: RE100.

Flidderbugs and Doodling

Jonathan will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter from the tour. Tour date links: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/12/virtual-book-tour-fiddlerbugs-and.html.

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Welcome, Jonathan. Tell us about Flidderbugs and Doodling.

Doodling and Flidderbugs are both prime examples of what I like to refer to as Dag-Lit. They're kind of friendly and funny and a little bit surprising. They're also both quite short – more novella than novel. Not that Dag-Lit has to be short. But as a writer, I like to say what I want to say and then get on with things – I tend not to go on and on and on. Some people who have read them seem to have been a bit annoyed at their shortness, but most people seem to appreciate that they're both exactly the right length that they need to be.

While they have much in common, they're also quite different. Doodling is more random and rambling. It's about a man who falls off the world (because it's moving too fast). He winds up marooned out in an asteroid field and spends most of his time wondering around, unsure of where he's going or what he's doing. In the end there's a bit of action and adventure, but mostly it's slow moving and gentle. I called the process of writing it "literary doodling" as I had no idea what was going to happen from chapter to chapter – hence the title.

Flidderbugs is quite different. It's a satire, with a bit of a political focus. But I also like to think of it as a sort of fable. It's about a bunch of insects who spend a lot of time behaving rather foolishly and having silly arguments about things that are really not as important as they think they are. And yes, we do get a bit of action and adventure at the end, but probably not quite as much as in Doodling. It's a bit more grounded, even though all of the events take place high up in the branches of a tree.

Hopefully they're both a lot of fun for readers. Interesting and funny stories, with deeper layers which readers can discover if they choose to take the time.

Are you a blogger? If so do you blog every day?

I'm not sure. I have a blog. I try to keep it nice and clean. I suppose it's a bit like saying I have a garden I try to look after, but I'm not sure if that makes me a gardener. It's a simple little blog called Dag-Lit Central – http://daglit.blogspot.com. The theme is "Writing that stands out from the crowd". That's one of the things about Dag-Lit – it definitely doesn't follow any fashions or trends in writing. Unfortunately I don't have the time to be getting into it every day, but I try to get a new post up at least once a week. And I always love to have guests coming to visit as well.

What do you do to promote your books?

I stand on the corner with a large club in my hand and threaten passers-by with a good thumping if they don't buy a copy. Well I wish I could do that. I guess otherwise, I try to do the usual things – Twitter it and Facebook it and blog about it, wherever I can. One thing I do a bit of is cross-promotion with other writers. I'm involved with a group of science fiction and fantasy writers called SciyourFi. Check us out on Twitter or Facebook. And if any of you knows a good corner of the internet where I can stand with my club, please let me know.

Hmm. I never thought about the club thingy. Let me know if it works....

Do you transform people you know into characters in your book?

I have been known to do it, but not that often. Generally my characters come from two places:

a. I'll get an idea for a theme or concept and try to work out how a character might exemplify that

b. I'll have a problem with the plot and try to work out a character to fill it

When I have based characters on people I know, it's usually about taking a particular aspect of that person and then transforming them quite a bit. I'd be surprised if they'd be able to recognize themselves.

Oops – I just forgot –there is one person who is very like a lot of characters in my stories – it's me.

If you were marooned on an island, what would you prefer to have with you: Your curr ent wip, or beer and a pizza?

That's a brutally hard question. I don't suppose I have the option of including a beer and pizza salesman who would accept books as payment?

Where can someone buy your books?

From the major ebook sellers:

Both Flidderbugs and Doodling are available at:

Amazon

Amazon UK

Smash words

Barnes and Noble

iBookstore

Kobo

Sony Bookstore

Book 1

Title: Doodling
Genre: Comic fantasy
Blurb:

Neville Lansdowne fell off the world.

Actually, he did not so much fall off as let go. The world had been moving so quickly lately and Neville was finding it almost impossible to keep up.

Doodling is an engaging comic fantasy which relates the events that befall Neville after he finds himself abandoned by the world and adrift in the middle of an asteroid field. Douglas Adams meets Lewis Carroll (with just a touch of Gulliver's Travels) as Neville wanders through his new home, meeting a variety of eccentric characters and experiencing some most unexpected adventures.

Book 2

Title: Flidderbugs
Genre: Satire/fable/fantasy
Blurb:

As Kriffle the Flidderbug investigates why his fellow 'bugs find it impossible to agree on the pressing issue of how many points there are on the leaves of the tree on which they live, he finds that the truth is more complicated, and ultimately more terrifying, than he ever could have imagined.

Flidderbugs is a political satire, a modern fable, or maybe just a funny little story about a bunch of insects with some very peculiar obsessions.

Brief Moment of Silence For My Nails

Okay, I realize I've gotten a bit fixated on fingernails, now that I've finally got them--or had them.
I actually had lovely (at least in my mind) long nails. But since they didn't retract at will like Wolverine's, I couldn't fasten my buttons or necklace clasps, pick change up off the floor.. well you get my drift.
Somethings I could do but with difficulty:
Type
Write with a pen. Though I must admit it was challenging taking notes in meetings.
Pop a tab on a can
Of course it didn't slow fork work down.
Maybe its like learning to walk, you just have to practice using them. Regardless, I had them cut back. Sigh. They aren't completely gone, just no longer that perfect length of long.
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Through March 10, Power Stones is a free download at Smashwords when you use the code:RE100.
The link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54683

Minder Cover And E Book Week

This is my new cover created by Charlene Volek. Like it? Minder will be out in May.

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Blogs of interest:
Amarinda Jones
Anny Cook
Helen Woodall
Julia Barrett
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To Cele brate Read an EBook Week I'm giving away two downloads at Smashwords, Akasha(the 2nd in the Cats of Catarau Series and Power Stones.
The link for Akasha: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/47397
The link for Power Stones: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54683

The Coupon Code for Both Books: RE100.

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Rush and Sex Videos

Honestly, I've never understood Rush's appeal. But he has a huge following, his yearly salary is staggering. He's paid 28,000,000 to make comments like:

"It makes her a slut, right … a prostitute ... Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here's the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives ... we want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."

And the fact that he's interested in watching a sex vid...hmm.

For those of you who haven't followed Rush's latest tirade this all came about when Sandra Fluke, a law student, testified in front of congress about the need for birth control coverage. Oh yeah, very sluttish thing to do. Cough, cough, choke, choke. Excuse me while I hack up that fur ball.

And Fluke's response to his comments: "I just thought that they were really outside the bounds of civil discourse." The woman's a master at understatement isn't she?

His outrageous comments have added fuel to the fire in the ever widening divergent paths Republicans and Democrats tread.

If you think this time he may have gone too far and wish to sign the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee petition asking Rush to apologize the link is: http://www.dscc.org/home.

If you'd like to urge Pro Flowers to quit advertising on his show, you can sign the petition at this link:http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/proflowersrush/?akid=39.173287.ELos4h&rd=1&t=1

Kudos , Sandra Fluke. You go, woman.
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All Kinds of Giveaways on the 31st

Night Writers is having its first ever Annual 31st Giveaway. Sound like a head-scratcher? On the 31st of each month ( March, May, July, August, October, December, January) Night Writers will be giving away free downloads. Stop by Night Writers on the 31st and leave a comment and your email addie. One random commenter will win the following downloads. Actually stop by anytime, but be sure and leave a comment on the 31st:)
Blog addie: http://www.sevennightwriters.blogspot.com

Savage Destiny, a historical romance by Jewel Adams

Crewkin, a sci-fi romance by Rhobin Courtright

The Crystal, a paranormal romance by Sandra Cox

Storms Interlude, a romantic suspense by Vonnie Davis

The Younger Days, a middle grade historical fiction by Mike Hays

Inappropriate, a mystery romance by Sherry Silver

Somewhere My Love, a paranormal romance by Beth Trissel

Cornerstone Deep, a romantic suspense by Charlene Wilson

Sherry Gloag will be giving away bookmarks
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You'll want to check this one out too. Cheryl's got some awesome giveaways.




Blogs of Interest:
Amarinda Jones
Anny Cook
Julia Barrett
Shelley Munro
Jennifer Shirk
Helen Woodall

The One Book Blurb Blitz Tour

Cheryl will be giving away a $50 Amazon.com gift card to one blog commenter.

Book Synopsis:

A fateful encounter with a savvy young producer lands aspiring writer Olena Day the role of America's bachelorette on the new reality show The One. There are just two problems: Olena despises reality TV, and technically she's not single. What could she possibly hope to gain? A book deal? But Olena's made it clear; she won't resort to the stereotypical antics often portrayed by women on reality TV. But ratings rule and the producers have plans of their own to assure the show's success even if it means exposing some of Olena's long-held and most embarrassing secrets.

Jason Nix is a former NFL superstar turned TV sports commentator. He's been dating Olena off and on for almost a year. Financially, he's set for life, but he isn't happy. When Olena's preoccupation with reality show stardom puts their relationship on the rocks, he meets a young woman from Dallas who captivates him in ways no other woman has. There's something about the makeup-free, Bible-toting Texan that Jason can't seem to get enough of, and soon makes him wonder whether she's too good to be true, or if the real problem is she's not Olena.

Step behind the scenes of the highly competitive and unique world of reality dating shows, in this relationship-driven page-turner that keeps delivering surprises.

Author Bio:

Cheryl Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and resides in Ocala, Florida. She has a bachelor of science degree from Wayne State University. The One is her eighth novel. Her passion for writing was sparked while taking a fiction writing course as a college elective. She began her literary career by self-publishing two novels before acquiring a literary agent and then a publishing deal with New American Library (an imprint of the Penguin Group) who published six of Cheryl's eight novels. She is currently writing her ninth novel, Like Mom.

Links:

www.cherylrobinson.com

www.facebook.com/theonenovel

http://cherylrobinson.com/the-one-quiz/

http://cherylrobinson.com/the-one-book-chat/ - This is the link to RSVP for the online book chat and also the link for the actual book chat.

http://cherylrobinson.com/bookchat/ - This link will not be live until March 1, 2012. It is the blog post with details on the chat/door prizes/etc.

Amazon.com link: (The One is available in both paperback and ebook. Below is the link to the ebook)

http://www.amazon.com/The-One-ebook/dp/B0073YEZ0C/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Tour dates: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-blurb-blitz-tour-one-by-cheryl.html

Accidentally In Love With...A God?

Don't Forget the Wine with that Romance, People!

I bet you were expecting a nice little article where I talk about myself as a writer and the craft that I love so very much. While that does sound fun (I mean, what's not to like about discussing either topic?), I am truly a Romance reader above all things.

That said, I'd like to raise a very serious topic. As a Californian, I am appalled by the lack of attention toward drinking the correct wine with one's romance. This is simply…wrong! An abomination. An act against nature herself.

Don't let food get all of the pairing attention! Romance deserves the right wine just as much as a filet mignon or tasty chocolate soufflé. So, let's begin with the basics.

First, to pick the correct wine you should consider the following things:

1. Subgenre (Historical, Paranormal, Contemporary, Cozy, Erotica, etc…)

2. Writing Style (Snarky, Dramatic, Contemporary, Traditional)

3. Indie or Traditionally Published

4. Level of Steam (White Gloves, Respectable Fun, Oh Maybe My Mom Shouldn't Read This, I'm Blushing, and Is That Even Legal?)

5. Main Male Character's Primary Traits (Because it's all about the hotty.)

Now, since there are almost as many possible combinations of these elements as there are wines, I'll focus on a few examples.

Example 1: Novel is Katie MacAlister's, Sex, Lies, and Vampires

Subgenre: Paranormal/Writing Style: Snarky-Contemporary/Novel is Traditionally Published/Level of Steam: I'm Blushing/Main Male Character's Primary Traits: Dark and Brooding

Ideal Wine Pairing: A Carneros Pinot Noir (Sebastiani Winery, Artesa, Domaine Carneros, or Smoking Loon are my fav's.)

First, anything with a vampire in it requires red wine. Period. Let get that out of the way.

Second, a lighter wine is always best with Snark. (If you get too snockered, you might miss the jokes.)

Third, I find that wines with a smoky bouquet and currant undertones go extremely well with dark and brooding heroes. I have no idea why, but they do.

Example 2: Novel is ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE WITH…A GOD? (Well, what do ya know? That's mine!)

Subgenre: Paranormal/Writing Style: Snarky/Novel is Indie/Steam: Oh Maybe My Mom Shouldn't Read This/Main Male Character's Primary Traits: Dark and Brooding

Ideal Wine Pairing: Viognier. This aromatic Rhone varietal comes from a temperamental grape with vines that don't mature for 15-20 years (i.e. takes a long time to mature—just like my hero.) In France, it is generally blended into Chardonnays as the residual sugars cut tartness. (My fav's are DuMol, Cold Heaven, and E. Guigal Condrieu.)

First, there are no vampires in this novel, and there is a boatload of Snark. This calls for a white wine!

Second, this novel moves extremely fast, and our hero, though dark and brooding, is a

Title: Accidentally in Love With…a God? (Accidentally Yours Series, Book 1)

Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
Publisher: Self/Indie
Length: 88,000 Words
Sub-Genres: Contemporary, Paranormal

AVAILABLE AT:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/ACCIDENTALLY-Paranormal-Romance-Accidentally-ebook/dp/B0070BUAFC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327197458&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/accidentally-in-love-witha-god-a-paranormal-romance-mimi-jean-pamfiloff/1108350327?ean=2940013683914&itm=2&usri=mimi jeanBUY

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123362

BLURB:

Twenty-two-year-old Emma Keane has a secret friend. He's powerful, mysterious, and devastatingly handsome. In her dreams, anyway.

In real life, he's an enigma. Maybe just a teensie jealous. Definitely overbearing. He's also a voice only she can hear.

So who or what is he? He won't say. But if she wants to be free, to be normal, Emma will have to trek to the jungles once ruled by the Mayans and find the forgotten ruin holding the answers.

However, the ruthless deity she's about to unknowingly unleash on the modern world might not be so easily extracted from her life. Bottom line, he's got enemies, and now, so does she.

EXCERPT #1:

Chapter 1 - Present Day

Wasn't dating supposed to be fun? Because this was anything but. At any moment, a man I'd never met—approximately six-foot-three, brown hair, and soul-piercing blue eyes, according to his online profile—would walk through the door of the Conga Lounge, give his name to the hostess, and scream hysterically at the sight of me. Okay. He wouldn't scream. Aloud, anyway. Not that I was heinous, but anyone who looked closely enough might notice I was…different.

I eyeballed the door, contemplating making a mad dash before he arrived.

No, you can do this, I thought while staring at the condensation channeling down my glass of water, my leg bouncing under the table. Why had my date picked a corny theme-bar that looked like Gilligan's Island threw up? What sort of man goes novelty on the first date? Bad sign. Bad sign.

At least the other patrons—seated around the faux-torch lit room, leisurely sipping Bahama Mama's and Mai Tai's—were oblivious to my impending meltdown.

I felt the gentle whoosh of summer evening air as the door swung open and the noise from the traffic-packed New York street poured in. A tall man with sun-kissed skin, broad shoulders, and tousled brown hair floated in—yes, floated—as if he'd ridden in on a cloud straight from Hot-Man Land. He wore a black polished-cotton shirt, which hugged his well-constructed chest, and low slung jeans that molded to his lean physique. He wasn't just good looking, he was Milan runway edible.

"Oh, sweet Virgin of Guadalupe, please be Jake," I muttered under my breath.

Like a cliché from a movie, our eyes met from across the room, and his face lit up with a dimple-framed smile. My heart nearly stopped. "Thank you, Virgin," I said, releasing my breath.

He strutted across the restaurant, a magnet for every female in the room.

"Emma?" he said in a deep slow-churned voice then smiled and held out his hand. I stood up in a daze, mentally pinching myself.

"You are Emma, right? Curly, shoulder-length, red hair, five-three. Several crazed female stalkers for best friends?"

Oh, no. What had my roommates done? Since the whole online-blind-date thing was their idea, they assured me they'd carefully "screened" the guy. But I thought they were just joking about breaking into his apartment and rummaging through his underwear drawer. And dammit, they hadn't even bothered to dish. Tighty whities or boxers?

I looked down at his outstretched hand. Oh, shoot. Shake hands. "Sorry, it's just—I wasn't expecting someone so…" I swallowed and placed my palm in his. It was warm and inviting, just like his eyes. "Um…so tall."

"And I wasn't expecting a woman so…" He paused to look me over like a dog eyeing a giant juicy steak. "…adorable."

"Adorable?" said the deep male voice inside my head. "What kind of moron compliments a woman with the word 'adorable'? Does he think you're a goddamned puppy?"

Couldn't I have one, just one lousy day without the voice? My blood began to boil instantly, but I resisted the urge to snap back with something lame like, "Well, maybe Jake senses I want to lick him from head to toe. Maybe even have a go at his leg." But then I thought better of myself. Because tonight, I was on a mission, and nothing would stop me from climbing my own mental Mt. Everest: convince myself that I, Emma Keane, could feel attraction for a real live man with ten fingers, ten toes, arms and legs, and the other necessary dangly bits needed to make a relationship normal. All I needed was the right man.

The catch?

The other person I needed to prove this to wasn't exactly a person. Okay—truth be told, he was a mysterious voice only I could hear. Yes. A luscious, deep velvety voice so seductive that it could turn me into a quivering mindless puddle of need with one little sigh. Sound crazy? That wasn't the half of it. But it was why I had to do this. If I wanted a shot at normal, I had to take this first step.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Before taking up a permanent residence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mimi spent time living near NYC (became a shopaholic), in Mexico City (developed a taste for very spicy food), and Arizona (now hates jumping chollas, but pines for sherbet sunsets). Her love of pre-Hispanic culture, big cities, and romance inspires her to write when she's not busy with kids, work, and life…or getting sucked into a juicy novel.

She hopes that someday, leather pants for men will make a big comeback and that her writing might make you laugh when you need it most.

Website: www.mimijean.net

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mimi-jean-pamfiloff/id498303364?mt=11

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MimiJeanRomance

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mimi-Jean/218935048190356

Email: mimi@mimijean.net

This And That

THIS:
I'm expecting line edits and a cover for MINDER in the near future. I'm excited to see what the artist does with it.
Here's the blurb:

Among the northern tribes there is a legend passed down from generation to generation about shape-shifting Minders—guardians of the innocents—and how they came to be.

It is said that n owadays only a handful of Minders exist, hunted to near extinction by a fearsome beast. Of the remaining Minders, only one wears a garnet-studded collar, the symbol of protection and royalty.

Even when my aunt told me the story, and handed me an ancient garnet-studded band, I had no idea the tale applied to me.

After all, it's only a legend…

AND


THAT:
Beginnin g March 31st Night Writers will have a giveaway the 31st of each month. Each Night Writer who chooses to participate will giveaway a download to one randomly drawn commenter.
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AND A LITTLE MORE THIS:

Online privacy issues are becoming a real concern. You can find information on Googles changes as of March 1 at www.downtownya.blogspot.com, on Saturday the 25th's blog Geekalegal--Privacy Be Gone? If your not familiar with the situation and the recommended way to protect your privacy, I suggest you check it out.
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Blogs of interest:
Amarinda Jones
Anny Cook
Jennifer Shirk
Julia Barrett