Sandra Cox's Blog, page 298
January 19, 2012
Do You Know Jeanette Marie?
Here's Jeanette's post:
~*~
I'm currently an assistant for New York Times best-selling author Alyson Noёl, which means I get to help one of the nicest and coolest authors on the planet with administrative tasks and PR outreach, which can include everything from selecting SWAG items to scheduling interviews with reporters.
Over the past few years working with Alyson, I've learned a lot about the publishing industry. Perhaps the greatest thing I've learned from Alyson is perseverance. Her personal road to publication is truly amazing (she worked on her first book for more than 15 years before it got published).
I'm an aspiring author myself and, as I'm sure most writers can attest, the publication process can feel a lot like playing the lottery--
Step 1 - Write awesome book.
Step 2 - Query awesome agents.
Step 3 - Cross your fingers and hope you have the winning ticket.
Your email is then crashed by a flurry of requests for your book and you skyrocket to #1 on the NYT bestseller list.
Okay, so it only happens like that in the Hollywood movie version.
There's no doubt that the publishing industry is challenging, and building a career as a successful author takes a lot more than winning a golden ticket. When I was a teenager, my dad always told me no one was going to knock on my door and offer me a job. If you want a job, go out and get it. If it doesn't exist, create it.
So if "author" is the career you want, go for it. And don't let anybody stop you.
Read. Write. Revise. Repeat.
Don't stop revising that book and sending out query letters until someone says yes to you.
If aspiring authors gave up and took "no" for an answer, we wouldn't have…
Life without Harry Potter would be pretty boring, wouldn't it?
If every writer who received a rejection gave up, the shelves at your local bookstore would look a little plain and empty right now. That's what's so great about this business—it's a marketplace of ideas. And there's always room on the shelf for another great idea.
Alyson Noel has been kind enough to offer one of her books as a giveaway. For a chance to win one of her books just leave a comment and your email addie.
Meet Jeanette Marie
Here's Jeanette's post:
~*~
I'm currently an assistant for New York Times best-selling author Alyson Noёl, which means I get to help one of the nicest and coolest authors on the planet with administrative tasks and PR outreach, which can include everything from selecting SWAG items to scheduling interviews with reporters.
Over the past few years working with Alyson, I've learned a lot about the publishing industry. Perhaps the greatest thing I've learned from Alyson is perseverance. Her personal road to publication is truly amazing (she worked on her first book for more than 15 years before it got published).
I'm an aspiring author myself and, as I'm sure most writers can attest, the publication process can feel a lot like playing the lottery--
Step 1 - Write awesome book.
Step 2 - Query awesome agents.
Step 3 - Cross your fingers and hope you have the winning ticket.
Your email is then crashed by a flurry of requests for your book and you skyrocket to #1 on the NYT bestseller list.
Okay, so it only happens like that in the Hollywood movie version.
There's no doubt that the publishing industry is challenging, and building a career as a successful author takes a lot more than winning a golden ticket. When I was a teenager, my dad always told me no one was going to knock on my door and offer me a job. If you want a job, go out and get it. If it doesn't exist, create it.
So if "author" is the career you want, go for it. And don't let anybody stop you.
Read. Write. Revise. Repeat.
Don't stop revising that book and sending out query letters until someone says yes to you.
If aspiring authors gave up and took "no" for an answer, we wouldn't have…
Life without Harry Potter would be pretty boring, wouldn't it?
If every writer who received a rejection gave up, the shelves at your local bookstore would look a little plain and empty right now. That's what's so great about this business—it's a marketplace of ideas. And there's always room on the shelf for another great idea.
Alyson Noel has been kind enough to offer one of her books as a giveaway. For a chance to win one of her books just leave a comment and your email addie.
January 17, 2012
Kiss of Death Romantic Suspense Rocks Book Tour
Romantic Suspense: When You're Looking for More The tens
ion, suspense and passion in romantic suspense all wrapped up in one book keeps me reading and writing. Give me a dark, sexy story with alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through death and fear only to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other. These novels are fast paced, rollercoaster rides that can leave the reader breathless and looking for more.
Jerrie Alexander is one of the many talented authors who belong to the Romance Writers of America's Kiss of Death chapter. At Kiss of Death we believe that every great romance should include suspense. Whether a spy thriller in Regency times, a paranormal romance with a revenge-seeking zombie, or a traditional serial killer after the heroine, romance relies on suspense, leading the reader through the trials of the heroine and hero to see if they will get their happily ever after ending. If you can call your writing suspenseful, then the Kiss of Death has something for you! Find out more and join at http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org and follow us on Twitter at @RWAKissofDeath. Also, check out the Kiss of Death's Recipes To Die For cookbook featuring recipes from our members.
Jerrie writes alpha males and kick-ass women with a hint of humor. They weave their way through death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other. Find out more about Jerrie and her upcoming release, The Green Eyed Doll, at http://jerriealexander.com and follow her on Twitter at @JerrieAlexander.
Love Me To Death
By Allison Brennan
"Grabbing the reader by the throat from almost the first page, this pulse-ratcheting romantic suspense from Brennan (Original Sin) delivers intense action, multifaceted characters, and a truly creepy bad guy. FBI hopeful Lucy Kincaid is trying to heal from a brutal attack six years earlier. She volunteers at a program dedicated to luring and rearresting repeat sex offenders via the Internet, but then discovers a horrifying connection between her work and the execution-style murders of the parolees. PI Sean Rogan, a friend of Lucy's brothers, becomes focused on protecting her at any cost, and their mutual passion flares. As Lucy draws closer to the truth, effective red herrings litter the way and throw her deeper into confusion. Also confusing are a too large cast and intricate backstory from the previous related titles, the only things marring this fast-paced, engrossing read." - Publisher's Weekly
For an opportunity to win a copy of Love Me To Death, leave a comment and mention one of your favorite things about romantic suspense and your email addie. The winner will be randomly drawn. (Sorry, U.S. residents only)
January 16, 2012
Birthday
www.birthday-clip-art.comToday is my birthday or as the hh says Orbit Day as the sun has orbited around the earth 365 days since the last bday. And since the earth's orbit around the sun is slightly elliptical no two birthdays are necessarily the same:)
So to celebrate my Orbit Day I'm giving away some downloads. If you would like a download of either Akasha, Makita or Power Stones just send an email to sandracox1@gmail.com, put birthday in the header and the name of the download you'd like.
Enjoy the day.
January 15, 2012
Faith
Faith is the bird that feels the light when the world is still dark.~*~Rabindranath Tagore
Sherry Gloag
This is not so straight forward to answer as it could be, LOL. In strict accordance with your questio
n, my current WIP is a Regency story I began back in2008/9. This has been something of a 'love/hate relationship. As with most of my stories, the heroine turned up first demanding her day of glory. All went well until chapter eleven when it stuck. I plodded on writing a load of rubbish, all of which was later dumped.
About a year later I took another look at the crits from the fabulous group I belong to and decided to have another go at it. It didn't take much persuasion to change allegiance to another, new heroine, who wanted her story told so once more I ditched this Regency.
That story, Duty Calls, was published early in 2011 by Black Opal Books. Then I was asked to contribute to a Valentine's anthology and The Wrong Target was published in late January 2011 by eTreasures.
Two published short stories later and I began again, only to be foiled by my computer going 'awol'. Nine weeks later, after a great deal of hassle I was the proud possessor of a new PC.
In the meantime, while having access to a back-up laptop, and hugely influenced by the British royal wedding I began my current release, From Now Until Forever, published by Astraea Press in December 2011.
So now, unexpectedly I have just finished a follow-on story about the hero's, Liam's, brother, Henri, and am waiting to hear whether it will be accepted.
So, to return to your original question! I am back working on my Regency, and it is absolutely flowing, I can hardly keep up with the characters and their demands. J
A lesson, if ever there was one, never, and I do mean *never* throw away a WIP however lousy you think it is. Months, years later it may just come together like my Regency, which now has a working title of No Job For a Woman.
Whew. You've got a lot of irons in the fire. Tell us about your blogs.
I have a regular blog-spot at Nightwriters where I offer a bi-monthly blog about meditation.
I participate in three weekly blogs,
Sweet Saturday Samples ( http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/ )
Six Sentence Sunday ( http://www.sixsunday.com/ )
And Tuesday Tales ( http://tuesdaytales1.blogspot.com/ )
I also have my own blog, The Heart of Romance ( http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/ ) where I post the odd blog, but which, so far, has been used mainly to promote fellow writers.
Do you blog every day?
No. One of my goals this year is to expand my blog presence online and hope to do more guest blogs if I can.
What do you do to promote your books?
Panic, is the short answer!
Seriously, I have the theory, I have the will and have put much of the theory into action, but am still missing that all important 'something'. I am fortunate, in as much my books receive generous reviews and I would love for those to transform into mega sales, LOL. I mean who wouldn't!
Do you transform people you know into characters in your book?
Oh boy! Don't let my characters hear this question!
If I do it is not intentional. My characters usually turn up, if not 'fully formed' certainly with a will of their own that ensures they develop and grow with the progress of the story. I have often gone back the following day and read over what I wrote previously and wonder just where did those words, phrases and comments come from, because to my knowledge they don't come from friends, and they certainly don't echo my speech and thought patterns. J
If you were marooned on an island, what would you prefer to have with you:
Your current wip, chocolate or your favorite pizza?
Without a doubt my current WIP. Chocolate wouldn't last above a minute , the pizza is gone once you've eaten it, but I can read and re-read my wip as often as I want, and probably create spinoffs in my head, or on paper, (if I'm allowed to have pen and paper too.)
Where can someone go to buy your books?
1 - From Now Until Forever
http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7105194
http://www.amazon.co.uk/From-Now-Until-Forever-ebook/dp/B006GYAV44/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322854884&sr=8-1-spell
2 – Duty Calls
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dutycalls-513942-149.html
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ean=2940012108609
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004NBZL10
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NBZL10
3 – The Wrong Target
eTreasures
http://store-67a3d.mybigcommerce.com/categories/Cupid-Gone-Wild/ = http://tinyurl.com/6dyen5a
http://store-67a3d.mybigcommerce.com/products/The-Wrong-Target-by-Sherry-Gloag.html == http://tinyurl.com/6k489dk
Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wrong-Target-Cupid-Gone-Wild/dp/B004LLIIPS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1296564250&sr=8-1-spell = http://tinyurl.com/6kkoscq
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
and other online outlets
4 – The Brat
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/sherry-gloag-m-862.html
http://www.amazon.com/Brat-Sherry-Gloag/dp/1601548257
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-brat-sherry-gloag?store=ebook
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thebrat-471885-149.html
to mention a few!! LOL
You can also find links to my published and free short stories on my web site.
*****
Author Bio:Multi-published author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. She considers the surrounding countryside as an extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel. While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as no other walkers are close by.
Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.
Author Web: http://sherrygloag.com
Author Blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/
Nightwriters: http://www.sevennightwriters.blogspot.com/
Blurb: for From Now Until Forever:
For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his 
personal freedom. Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?
Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?
EXCERPT:Liam Fitzwilliam Gasquet stared in amazement at the blooming patch of red milliseconds before the pain exploded in his arm. Some trigger-happy idiot had fired in his direction. Indignation didn't have time to take root before another bullet kicked the dust at his feet.
Not 'trigger-happy'.
Intentional.
The rebels had found the fourth and youngest son of Jean-Phillipe Gasquet, ruler of the tiny kingdom adjacent to the Swiss border. When had they discovered his whereabouts?
With a reluctant sigh, he faced the truth of it. They hadn't 'found' him at all. They'd followed him.
January 13, 2012
Maturity
Myfreewallpapers.net
A mature person is one who does not think in absolutes, who is able to be objective when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and all things, who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life.~*~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I blush to admit that at times it's tough for me to be objective when my passions are involved. And if I'm upset with someone it's also hard to think in terms of their good side. What about you? Do you remain objective when you are involved emotionally? And when you're angry, do you still see what's on that individual's plus side of the ledger?
January 12, 2012
Pitch
Even though, I've been published awhile now, I've never pitched. I decided to give it a go.
Before the pitches, Ms. Lee spoke about the business. She was dynamic ,informative and had a professional, easy-going manner. Her one request: that no one stick manuscripts under the bathroom install when she's inside:) Apparently this has happened before:)
She gave us a look at what goes on inside the higher echelons in the publishing world. One of the things she pointed out which surprised me was, the agency (at least the one she works for) doesn't always look at the highest offered contract but considers long term. Considering, those contracts are their bread and butter I was impressed. Though I came away feeling like it's easier to get in a size O dress than get a contract from a New York publishing company.
After the program we had lunch and then it was time for the dreaded pitches. Robin decided to do her pitch publicly to give the other members that had never pitched an idea what to expect. Better her than me. I'd rather eat meat, and I've been a vegetarian for nearly fifteen years, than give a public pitch.
After that it was my turn. Being the great orator that I am, I read mine. Even though, I'd chatted with Quinlan over lunch and found her to be an easy to talk to, fun individual, my heart was thumping like a drum while I read it. She didn't care that much for my pitch but liked the concept of my manuscript. And here's the thing. She did everything she could to point out, in a positive manner, what she felt I could do to improve my pitches.
Overall it was a positive experience. I liked Quinlan Lee and I have no doubts she's a wonderful agent for her authors.
The only fault I found with her...she hadn't read one of my favorite books:)
~*~
Blogs of interest:
Amarinda Jones
Anny Cook
Julia Barrett
January 11, 2012
The Fall of Rain Blog Barrage
Blurb:
Leif Dæganssen, an archeologist from Norway, is determined to trace back his Scandinavian roots as far as the Dark Ages and find proof of their existence on the Emerald Isle. After several years of living off the west coast of Ireland, he finally uncovers an ancient artifact—an intricately decorated chest with pagan carvings—buried beneath the very porch of his coastal cottage. Knowing it only confirms the presence of a glorified Norse-influenced settlement on Inis Mór, he's determined to establish a link between himself and those who once inhabited the rugged isle.
For as long as she can remember, Lorraine O'Connor has had dreams of a Norse warrior kissing her. And even though she's never fully understood the reason for her vivid subconscious imagination, she welcomes the meaningless and wanton pleasure of being in a Viking's protective embrace—until the day she meets that brazen Northman on an impulsive vacation trip to Ireland.
Though blindsided by the relevance of her dreams and the strange familiarity of the man within them, Lorraine can't help but feel a deep-seated intimacy toward Leif. And the more she gets to know him, the more she's convinced they've shared a life together in a time long forgotten.
Are the clues to their ancestral past hidden within the contents of the chest or buried deep within their hearts?
Excerpt:
Leif laughed inwardly as he heard the lock engage. Lorraine was definitely an odd sort of female, with all her outlandish outbursts and peculiar reactions, but no less interesting. She h
ad this way about her that made him pay close attention, made him want to pay close attention, else he might miss something. No woman had ever been able to do that to him.He was not a man easily beguiled. 'Exceedingly picky' were Kristoff's words on many occasions when they could've had a few choice opportunities with several of the women who entered Tí Joe Mac's Pub in Kilronan. But he always found a way to stay clear of them. Either their hair was too short, their fingers too long, or they were excessively giggly over anyone who spoke Gaelic to them. No matter how beautiful they were to the eye, Leif always managed to find some flaw, an imperfection he couldn't get passed.
The only imperfection Lorraine possessed, if he could call it that, was being unreadable. Even then, he couldn't rightfully hold it against her. He was glad that she left him guessing, left him wondering what she'd say or do next. Every time he spoke to her, he had no idea what would come out of her mouth.
And what a pretty mouth it was.
Her lips were a delicate shade of rose and looked just as supple as the petals from which its color derived. He imagined they felt as soft and delicate in a kiss, and longed to taste them, to press his lips against her and savor every blessed moment of it while watching her eyes close in automatic response.
Oh, those eyes…
Their exquisite brilliance utterly entranced him. He couldn't look away no matter how hard he tried. They shone as bright and vivid as the intrinsic color of an emerald, with flecks of lighter green pigments fissuring throughout.
Though he'd stared at them as if they were rare jewels tucked within the hilt of a Viking warrior's ceremonially-bent sword, uncovered from a sacred burial site, he couldn't help but feel he was gazing into something he'd known and seen before. Words could not describe what he felt, except that his longing was innate—as if her eyes and all its wonders had been engraved on him from years past.
Again, he laughed inwardly, reminding himself that his entire week had fallen into the epitome of the absurd. Between finding the carved chest of treasured antiquities buried beneath his porch to having a gorgeous woman bathe in his home, he could hardly believe his bizarre stroke of luck.
He quickly left the hallway and entered the kitchen, flipping the nearly burned fish in the pan. The unrelenting vision of her slick wet body clung to him like a wet blanket, drenched with his own lustful musings of what she'd feel like if he dared to touch her. At least, he was glad to know he was still a red-blooded man. As many times as Kristoff had ridiculed him for his lack of interest, tonight he didn't have to ponder his gender. It was as plain as the nose on his face, and stuck out a bit further than he cared to admit.
Reaching down, he shifted himself, trying to award his erection some more room in his jeans, while cursing it all the same. "Now is not the time."
"Not the time for what? Dinner?"
Leif turned at the sound of Lorraine's voice, not expecting anyone to be behind him, and almost knocked the pan off the stove. He caught it by the handle, fortunately, steadying it before it slid off the edge.
"I take it you're not used to a woman in your home," she stated discernibly.
Heaving a sigh, he smiled. "How was your shower?"
"Exhilarating."
I'm sure it was. "Good." He rallied his best casual voice and turned back to the fish, still simmering on the stove. As he resumed cooking, he secretly regarded the way the small swell of her breasts put curves in his oversized T-shirt that her raincoat had once hidden. Though her dainty figure had been virtually swallowed up by his cotton drawstring sweats, he knew somewhere beneath all that fabric was an enticing set of feminine curves.
"Since my clothes were still damp, I hung them over the shower rod to dry," she confessed. "I hope that's all right."
His grip tightened on the handle. The image of a lace-lined bra and delicate panties, hanging in his bathroom flashed in his mind and he could do little about the smile teasing the corners of his lips. Without facing her, he shrugged his shoulders, pretending he hardly cared and changed the subject. "I hope you're hungry," he replied, fisting a quartered lemon above the pan-seared cod and dousing it with lemon juice. "I've made enough for the whole village it seems."
He thought he heard a slight chuckle, regretting that he'd probably missed the first opportunity to see her smile. But he kept to his mission of transferring the food to the two plates sitting on the adjacent counter. That little feat required more of his attention given he wasn't much of a practiced chef.
"It smells delicious."
Adding the final touches to the plate with a few island flowers he'd picked days ago—only because he heard from the more experienced chefs in Dublin's pricey restaurants that presentation was everything—and a slice of soda bread on top, he turned around and caught her looking at him. Her eyes, however, did not meet his until they jumped up from a lower direction.
She cleared her voice and looked away, feigning that she had ever been looking at his arse. Leif was not a stupid man, nor did things often get passed him, but for her sake, he acted as if he were none the wiser.
"Please. Have a seat."
She did as he suggested, wringing her hands in the extra T-shirt cloth at her waist.
She's still nervous.
For that reason, he sat in the seat directly across from her instead of next to her where they could share the same corner of the table. Disappointed as he was, he refused to show it, keeping a keen eye on her facial expressions and body posture. At the present, she sat stiff-backed in the chair, her eyes fixed on the bounty of food he placed in front of her.
A quick grin teased her lips when she saw the white and yellow daisy garnishing the corner of her plate. She never said a word in regards to his makeshift embellishment, but the smile that hung about thereafter was enough for him.
She didn't waste any time taking her first bite, closing her eyes as she pulled the fork from her mouth. Her shoulders melted and a slight hum reverberated from her lips.
"Does that mean it's good?"
"Are you kidding?" she asked, her eyes nervously diverting from his the moment they met. "This is the best pan-seared fish I've ever had."
He shook his head, forking his first bite. "Now I'm convinced you have a concussion."
"I'm serious. I've never had fish like this before. Most times it's fried to a crisp or bland as hell."
"Well, I don't know much about Kentucky, but I believe they're known for their horses, not herbs." He took another generous bite and waited. "That wasn't funny?"
She mildly smiled and stuffed a piece of bread in her mouth. "You make a better cook than a comedian."
"Ah, look at that. Give the small town Kentucky girl a hot shower and some food and she's as good as new."
Another smile. That one he was sure to catch.
"I don't know about all that," she replied uncertainly.
"Well, you're gaining a bit of confidence. It's good to know you're less fearful of me."
Her hand froze, her fork stuck in another cut of fish. "I don't fear you, Leif. I just don't know you."
He set his utensil down and crossed his arms, eager to finally delve into a meaningful discussion. "What is it you'd like to know?"
I shied from his intrusive eyes, feeling the heat of his stare setting me ablaze.
He leaned in. "I know you are avoiding me because you feel 'tis right. 'Tis moral. 'Tis safer. But you needn't fear me."
I took a deep breath. "I fear you not, Dægan. I simply know not enough about you."
His face recoiled slightly as if my choice of words had stunned him. He released me and crossed his arms in front of him. "What would you like to know?"
"Rain?"
Leif's voice caught her off guard and she looked around, confused, the name Dægan echoing in her ears. She blinked, staring at the man across from her, his face illustrating as much bewilderment as her own.
"You all right?" he asked, reaching for her hand.
Instantly, she pulled away, trying to gather her wits. It seemed she'd hear Leif's words in the same minute she'd hear the exact same thing from a man by the name of Dægan.
What the hell was wrong with her? Why did she keep seeing things that weren't really there or hear conversations from an unknown past, which were so akin to what she was talking about now?
"You blacked out for a moment," he explained.
"I did?" The question came out of her mouth even though she knew she had gone somewhere else, somewhere that seemed like memories. It was as if she were having personal recollections of long ago, which involved her and a Norse warrior in some uncanny fashion.
"Yeah, you did. I asked you what you wanted to know about me, and suddenly, your eyes glazed over. You stared straight forward, but focused on nothing. Are you sure you're all right? Perhaps we need to wake up the good doc."
She fidgeted in her chair. The thought of a doctor looking her over and determining she was categorically crazy was not in her vacation plans. She tried to go back to her normal routine of eating, forking another bite of fish to prove to him, if not herself, he was overreacting. "Really, I'm fine. You shouldn't worry. I just need to finish eating and get some rest. I've had a long day."
Again, he didn't look convinced. But what else could she say? She was as lost as he was when it came to her "blacking out" and no amount of pondering it could procure a logical explanation.
For the rest of the meal, they both lost their tongues for small talk and the only sound heard was the casual clinking of silverware on their plates. It was just as well, since neither seemed to know what to say anyway. Despite the great food and warm hospitality Leif had provided her, Lorraine wanted nothing more than to be alone. To lie down with her thoughts and hopefully be exhausted enough to sleep.
She prayed for sleep. Sleep without dreams. Somehow, as she glanced over at Leif looking at her in the most concerned way, she didn't think she'd get her wish.
Buy Links:
Amazon print: http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Rain-Emerald-Isle-Trilogy/dp/1937389553/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322576302&sr=1-1
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Rain-Emerald-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B006HM9QZA/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323032349&sr=1-2
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fall-of-rain-renee-vincent/1107867696?ean=2940013440005&itm=1&usri=renee+vincent
Turquoise Morning Press: https://www.createspace.com/3729821
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thefallofrain-651760-140.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/110678
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-fall-of-rain
About The Author:
I am an author with a passionate interest in Irish and Norse history. I live in the rolling hills of Kentucky with my husband and two children on a beautiful secluded farm of horses and hay fields.
When I am not writing, I love to spend my time on the back of a horse, whether with my family or with my friends. There is nothing like feeling the sunlight on your face, the wind in your hair, and the power of the animal beneath you as you enjoy the beautiful scenery. Seeing the world from a saddle is, by far, the best view and the best therapy for a heavy heart or a troubled mind. My therapist's name, or my horse's, rather, is "Statues Suddenly Lucky", a full-blooded Tennessee Walker, and of course, he goes by the name of Lucky for short.
I am a sucker for a good cup of coffee (lots of cream and sugar...and whipped cream if I can get my hands on it), great conversation, and a lilting Irish accent. I love to read and I can't resist watching great epic historical movies.
Links:
Website: http://www.reneevincent.com
Blog: http://www.pasttheprint.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reneevincentauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ReneeVincent
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3005290.Renee_Vincent
Deep In The Heart Romance: http://www.deepintheheartromance.com/
Publisher:
Turquoise Morning Press http://www.turquoisemorningpress.com/
Organizations:
Romance Writers of America http://www.rwanational.org/
Kentucky Romance Writers http://www.kentuckyromancewriters.com/
Ohio Valley Romance Writers http://www.ovrwa.com/
Celtic Hearts Romance Writers: http://www.celtichearts.org/
Hearts Through History: http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/
Reviews:
Ræliksen
*Winner of two categories by Love Romances Café
"Best Book Cover 2010"
"Best Historical 2010"
"This book and author earn my highest recommendations and I feel privileged to have read one of the best. It is a must read for any lover of historical romance or even lovers of romance in general."~ 5 Stars TOP PICK ~ Night Owl Reviews
"…this story is realistic, historically accurate and unforgettable; a story you will remember long after the last page is read."
~ 5 Blue Ribbons! ~
Blog schedule: http://cblspromotions.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-barrage-fall-of-rain-book-three-of.html.
Stories To Enjoy
Back with us today is Tom Mach to talk about his short story collection:
This unique collection of sixteen short stories written by prize-winner Tom Mach includes stories such as "Real Characters," which is about a writer who gets his wish--that his characters come alive.... "Breakfast, Over Easy" makes you wonder about loyalty in the face of temptation.... "When Kansas Women Were Not Free" takes you to a time when women were less free than former males slaves.... "Son" make you think differently about compassion. One novelist describes STORIES TO ENJOY as "memorable and intriguing, with O. Henry twists that are sure to surprise and entertain."
Those Characters in My Short Story Collection—Are They Misbehaving?
In my novels I find that my characters frequently want to deviate from what I had originally planned for them. For example, in my novel An Innocent Murdered , Detective Matt Gunnison has more heart than I imagined. In one scene, he's crying over the death of a little girl.It's a little different with the characters in my short stories. That's probably because they normally perform in only one scene and I don't give them enough latitude to shift into diverse directions. However, there are some exceptions. For example, in "The Crossword Puzzle Murders," a story in Stories To Enjoy, Detective Agatha Pulaski cares more deeply about Pete, her wayward brother, than I initially imagined her to be, as depicted in this scene:
Aggie wished people knew how sensitive her brother was to criticism, especially from women in authority. She assumed this stemmed from the fact that they had a stepmother who was the CEO of an investment firm and who always let Pete know that he wouldn't amount to anything in life. Maybe that's why he was more comfortable solving a Rubik's Cube or completing a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle in record time.
Robin was inconsiderate about a coworker of hers named Sara in my story "The Lead Bird", which also appeared in Stories To Enjoy. This surprised me because she appeared to be quite concerned about the welfare of birds. First, Robin callously asks her boss whether Sara is still on vacation, feeling that, because Sara is the owner's niece, she's been given a longer vacation than she's entitled to receive. Later, when Sara shows up for work, Robin's anger rises to the surface….
Sara widened her smile. "I hear you moderated a focus group for Synthia Labs yesterday. I wish I could have been there, but I was so tired I went to bed early."
Robin arched a sarcastic eyebrow. "I suppose you're tired after enjoying a three-week vacation. You must be absolutely exhausted."
I personally think it's a good sign for a writer when a character wants to take off on her own. That means a character has become a three-dimensional, living and breathing person. But the writer's job is to either rein her in so she stays true to the plot or to let her go into another direction—realizing, of course, that you will have to change your plot accordingly. It's a tough decision every writer must face.
Bio:
Tom Mach wrote two successful historical novels, Sissy! and All Parts Together, both of which have
won rave reviews and were listed among the 150 best Kansas books in 2011.Sissy! won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award while All Parts Together was a viable entrant for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Award. He also wrote a collection of short stories entitled Stories To Enjoy which received positive reviews. Tom's other novels include: An Innocent Murdered, Advent, and Homer the Roamer.
His poetry collection, The Uni Verse, won the Nelson Poetry Book Award. In addition to several awards for his poetry, Writer's Digest awarded him ninth place in a field of 3,000 entrants. His website is: www.TomMach.com He also has a popular blog for writers of both prose and verse at http://tommach.tumblr.com
Tom can be found at:
http://twitter.com/kansasauthor
http://www.facebook.com/kansasauthor
http://www.linkedin.com/in/tommach
Tom will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter.
