Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 169

Interview with Sara R Turnquist, THE GENERAL'S WIFE

What are four things you can’t live without?(I’m assuming you mean other than my family)My computer (to write), my tablet (to read), my phone (to stay connected), and my husband (to give me feedback and keep me sane)
What is your favorite television show?Right now, The Big Bang Theory. When I watch TV, it’s to be entertained. And that show makes me laugh.
If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?Elizabeth (Bennet) Darcy. She has the brains, the fire in her spirit, love, a good man, and money…what more could you want?
What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?This tour is for The General’s Wife, a story set during the Ptolemaic Period, a time with Greeks ruled Egypt. The story follows Ismene, a young woman, who leaves her home and her first love in Athens, Greece for an arranged marriage to Pharaoh Ptolemy II’s highest general. She struggles to find a place in her new home, which seems foreign to her and finds that someone does not wish her to be there and will go to great lengths to ensure she does not stay.
I have another book set to release in the coming months called Hope in Cripple Creek.It is set in Cripple Creek, Colorado in the late 1800s during the last great gold rush to Colorado.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?Michelle Moran, Joanne Bischof, Melanie Dickerson, and, of course, my writing mentor, Hannah Conway

BLURB:“Go home!” Ismene is speechless as she reads those words written in blood on the walls of her new home. The young, raven-haired Grecian beauty had traveled all the way from her homeland to marry the Pharaoh’s top general. But she never expected this. The hatred of the Alexandrian mob for their Greek rulers is right in front of her. It is the first of many threats she will receive.

Things are escalating out of control. Damaged crops and horses turned loose at night are one thing. But when Ismene receives a death threat, it becomes clear that there is a spy within her own household. She would turn to her husband to deal with this issue, except he left for battle by order of the Pharaoh. Not knowing whom to trust, she fears for her safety as well as the entire ruling class of Egypt.
Buy Links:
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Generals-Wife-Sara-R-Turnquist-ebook/dp/B01A9FDT9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453141274&sr=8-1&keywords=the+general%27s+wife
Barnes & Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-generals-wife-sara-r-turnquist/1123223438?ean=2940157880965
Kobo:https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-general-s-wife-1
Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/606098

~~~~~~~~~~~~~AUTHOR Bio and Links: Sara is originally from middle TN. After a short stint in Memphis, where she earned a degree in Biology and began a career as both a Zoo Educator and a Sleep Technician, she then followed a dream to work for a large zoo in Orlando, FL as an Educator. Once she and her husband started their family, they moved back to Tennessee. Sara and her husband now enjoy a full life with their three beautiful and very active children. Sara enjoys many creative outlets – singing, piano, drawing, drama, and organizing anything. And even though she has enjoyed her career as a Zoo Educator, Sara's great love of the written word continued to draw her to write. She has always been an avid reader and, for many years, has been what she terms a “closet writer”. Her travels and love of history have served to inspire her to write Historical Fiction. Sara has made several trips overseas to the Czech Republic. Her time among the Czech people and the landscapes of the country inspired her and greatly influenced her work on her debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, set in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Sara is also a member of the ACFW.
How to reach me:Website/URL: www.saraturnquist.comTwitter: @sarat1701Facebook: Sara R. Turnquist, Author - www.facebook.com/authorsararturnquistPinterest: www.pinterest.com/saravturnquist/

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Interview with J.A. Owenby, THE TRUTH SHE KNEW

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?An 18-year-old girl living in Hot Springs, Arkansas is pushed into adulthood as she tries to win her abusive mother’s hard-won love. When she meets the guy of her dreams, she starts to realize that her version of “normal” is far from reality, and she has to make a decision: walk away from everything she’s ever known, or never learn the truth.
The Truth She Knew is book 1 in a series.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I worked with Andrew from Design for Writers in the UK. I was very involved with the process,and he did a fantastic job.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?I create the outline first and then research music that I feel represents the overall book. I also search for songs that support scenes and leave them on repeat as I write.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?My first book I didn’t outline, and it ended up one big mess. It’s in my closet. J For the Truth She Knew and all future novels,I definitely outline. My brain runs in too many directions if I don’t.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Yes, even for the short stories that are traditionally published I had an editor. For my novels, I have an amazing editor who used to work for Harper Collins and Routledge Publishing before starting her own business. We go through developmental edits first to identify and fix any plot holes, weak characters, or places in the book that don’t make sense. We then work through line edits. I think we went through the book eight or nine times, and then I had beta readers to make sure we hadn’t missed anything.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?Yes, the book is available on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes as well. Here are the links: 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/29gHfohBarnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/29NX8DLiTunes: http://apple.co/29LelKxKobo: http://bit.ly/28RjthM
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I own and run a career coaching business, and I’m responsible for all of the marketing. I feel it’s helped me with the novel. I have a full 6-week marketing plan, to begin with, and it covers all social media sites, blog tours, press releases, Facebook marketing, and more. I think the promotional piece for authors can be difficult so I’m grateful I have some experience, but it’s an ongoing learning process.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Hire an editor. A good editor. I’ve found that it’s an investment, but if you believe in your work, give yourself the best chance to succeed. And, it’s the fastest way to learn to write stronger, learn about character development, plot, and grammar. I’ve learned more working with my editor than in any class.
Also, do your research and hire a good cover designer. I worked with someone who had a degree in design, and the cover didn’t turn out well. My editor said the low quality would cost me sales. So, I did some research and located Andrew. I love my cover now.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?I own and operate a resume and interview coaching business, and I love working with amazing clients across the country to help them find a better job and move to the next level in their career. I’ve worked with people in the FBI, NFL security, technology, teachers, sales, human resources, and so much more. I love meeting new people and learning about them. Since I work from a home office, I workwith them virtually. www.onbproresume.com
But, it’s more than just writing marketing documents. I receive emails about how they were able to buy their first home or gained twenty thousand in income. I've also worked with client’s that had given up hope of finding a job they were happy with. After working together, client’s landed their dream job. That’s what it’s all about, making an impact and changing lives through my business and my novels.
What’s next for you?Book two in the series is with my editor now for developmental editing, so I will be working on edits and book three.

The Truth She Knew
J.A. Owenby

(The Truth, #1)Publication date: September 12th 2016Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
“A bittersweet story of young love, independence, and soul-crushing manipulation. J.A. Owenby shines a light on the impact that mental illness can have on a family.” —Dr. Sheri Kaye Hoff, PhD, Professional Life Coach
Mama didn’t want me. In fact, she would’ve traded my soul back for someone different if God would’ve let her, but he didn’t, so she was stuck with me.
For eighteen-year-old Lacey, life at home is a rollercoaster. She doesn’t think she’ll ever be good enough to truly deserve Mama’s love.But when Lacey enters college and meets Walker, everything starts to change. Suddenly, Lacey is face to face with the realization that maybe what she’s always seen as normal really isn’t. Her entire life—and everything she’s ever believed about herself and her family—is abruptly hanging in midair.
Lacey is left facing two paths, and she has to make a choice. The first means walking away from everything she’s ever known. The other means never really knowing the truth.
The TruthShe Knew offers an honest and powerful glimpse into mental illness, the meaning of true love, and the psychological waltz that a daughter dances as she endures her mother’s unpredictable emotions, manipulation, and abuse.
Goodreads/ Amazon/ Barnes & Noble / iBooks/ Kobo
Author Bio: J. A. Owenby lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and two cats.She’s a published author of six short stories and is beginning her first full length novel. J.A. doesn’t mess around when it comes to working with a professional team in order to present her best writing.She also runs her own business and helps people find jobs they love as a professional resume writer.
She is an avid reader of thrillers, romance, new adult and young adult novels. She loves music, movies, and pop tarts. Her downtime consists of a beautiful summer evening, snuggling with her hubby outside underneath the stars. If it’s winter, listening to the rain and watching NFL football.You can follow the events of her upcoming novel on https://www.facebook.com/JAOwenby
Website/ Goodreads/ Facebook / Twitter
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#SALE .99: THE SINGLE DADDY CLUB by Donna Fasano

The Single Daddy Club, Book 3 ~ Hasn’t been on sale for 2 years!
Blurb:
The only remaining single guy in the Single Dad Club, Reece Newton. Marriage may be the answer for all his friends, but not for this contented father of one. Of course, the right woman could change his mind…

Endangered Beauty
Woman in hiding, Maggie Dunlap. When someone ransacked her house and put her life in jeopardy, the lovely lady had nowhere to run—except into Reece's protective embrace.

Eventual Bride?
Against his better judgment, Reece offered Maggie a safe haven in his home. Her mere presence changed the lives of father and son more than he ever dreamed possible. But would Maggie ever get the bachelor dad to the altar?
Buy links:
US Kindle: http://amzn.to/2dTDqZe
UK Kindle: http://amzn.to/2bqtjrk
iBooks: http://ow.ly/AKhf304N5xq
Nook: http://ow.ly/9oP4304N5HW
Kobo: http://ow.ly/aPEE304N5Z0
Google: http://ow.ly/Ap5P304N67O
Author bio: USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA FASANO is a three-time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, a Golden Heart finalist, and a two-time winner of Best Romance of the Year given by BigAl's Books & Pals Review Blog. Her books have sold 4 million copies worldwide and have been published in two dozen languages. Her novels have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #1.

Donna has a website, and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. Contact information can be found inside Donna Fasano's books. She loves to interact with readers.

#Excerpt: BROOKLYN HEAT by D. James Eldon

Detective Hiro Masimoto makes his way through the gaggle of spectators, approaches the yellow police tape stretched loosely between the railings at the foot of the brownstone steps. He runs an absent hand through his cropped, jet-black hair, then bends his lanky six-foot-two-inch frame under the tape. Despite the heat, he wears an immaculately pressed dark-blue suit, crisp white shirt, and geometrically patterned blue and white tie. A gold shield hangs from his breast pocket.
“Hey, Maxi,” the uniform standing at the top of the stairs says, taking a pull on his cigarette as the detective walks up to meet him.
“Hey, Ralphie. What’s the deal?” Masimoto asks in his patient way, as if passing the time, waiting for a train.
“Don’t know really, but I think it’s murder,” Ralphie chuckles darkly, blowing smoke. When Masimoto doesn’t respond, Ralphie frowns. “I wasn’t first on the scene. McNally and Dugan were. Dugan said to wait here for the Dicks.”
“OK, well, I’m here now. Medical Examiner on the way?”
“Don’t know.”
“Right, so, what do you know?” Masimoto asks.
“It’s been three weeks without a drop of rain, and today’s gonna be another scorcher. Weatherman says hazy, hot, and humid. There’s a bit of a panic over the temperature as no one can recall it ever being this hot this early in the year. It’s been so hot for so long, the murder rate has dropped to its lowest since the city’s been keeping track. People are just too hot to bother,” Ralphie says with a wink, a nod, and a puff of his cigarette.


BLURB:
When a little girl is found brutally murdered, veteran NYPD homicide detectives Hiro Masimoto and Ryan Sullivan are determined, against all odds, to solve the case.
In the midst of the worst heat wave in New York City’s history and with personal and professional pressures mounting, the detectives pursue the mother’s ex-boyfriend and former criminal, Nick DeSantis.
But DeSantis, a two-time felon, has skipped town and the detectives struggle to collect enough hard evidence to extradite him before he slips completely out of their grasp.
With a cast of outlaw characters and more twists and turns than a coiled spring, Brooklyn Heat delivers a taut thriller of the highest caliber.
Purchase Links:
Kindle (& paperback) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JH4FRVQ
Nook (& paperback)- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brooklyn-heat-d-james-eldon/1124360495
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/brooklyn-heat
iBookstore - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/brooklyn-heat/id1143801990?mt=11

The new paperback version of Brooklyn Heat is available at the CreateSpace eStore at this link:
https://www.createspace.com/6536968
And if people use the coupon code - 9NYHU7HL at checkout they can get 20% off the retail price (the paperback through CreateSpace retails for $15.99, the discount is $3.20, so the final price is $12.79). The discount will remain in effect through October.
The ebook retails for $4.99 and remains unchanged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links: D. James Eldon is a poet, novelist, and short-story writer from New York City. His work has been published online and in print, in the US, Canada, and Europe, in both English and French.

His debut novel, All The Way Gone, the first of the Brooklyn Homicide Investigations, is available as an ebook and paperback in English as well as paperback in French (under the title Sur Le Fil).
The latest Brooklyn Homicide Investigation, Brooklyn Heat, is available now in both ebook and paperback.
And, in 2017, look for the third Brooklyn Homicide Investigation, The Pope’s Guard.
Author Links:
Website - www.djameseldon.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/djameseldon
Twitter - @djameseldon

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.b logspot.com/2016/09/book-blast -brooklyn-heat-by-d-james.html


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NEW #Holiday Romance: MISTLETOE KISSES by Debra Elizabeth

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Blurb:
Petite Ellie Davison had the worst luck when it came to dating. Not wanting to endure any more bad first dates, she swore off dating, that is, until she met the impossibly handsome Jared at her friend's wedding.

Corporate lawyer Jared Castian was not pleased when his Washington firm transferred him to Boston to oversee a complicated merger. He was on the fast-track to making partner and had no time to date. When a chance meeting at his friend's wedding paired him with bridesmaid Ellie Davison, he found himself captivated by the pretty brunette. Was Ellie the one that would open his heart to love?

Buy links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Kisses-England-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B01M0NKDMX/ref=twoen-20

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mistletoe-kisses-debra-elizabeth/1124728438

#Excerpt: BURNED BY THE FIRE by Danielle Arnett

Burned by Fire
Danielle Annett
(Blood & Magic #3)
Publication date: September 30th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

Aria’s pyrokinetic ability has always been hard to control, and being pulled in so many directions, isn’t making it any easier. Now she has to help Inarus, a foe turned friend who is being targeted by the Human Alliance Corporation—the very organization he once worked for.

But the HAC has more than just Inarus in their sights. Aria finds herself going deep into enemy territory to save a witchling child with never before seen powers, that the HAC has kidnapped to further their own ends.

Aria has been hired to save a child once before, and she failed. That failure has haunted her even to this day and she won’t let herself fail again. With the HAC closing in, and complications between herself and the Pack rising, Aria has no choice but to succeed. A child’s life is on the line and Aria will risk everything to save that life.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks
Previous books in the series:
—
EXCERPT:I trudged up the stairs to my apartment and wiped wet tendrils from my face. Water sloshed in my boots, a reminder of today’s most recent adventure. I’d had the pleasure of bodyguard duty for a water nymph, which was no easy task given that, in her eyes, I was a glorified babysitter, and we happened to be staying in a cabin that was mere feet from the Spokane River. It was the middle of January, and I’d taken the polar bear plunge more than once today. I was chilled to the bone, wet, hungry, and I sorely needed a good cup of coffee, or three.Only one more flight of stairs to go. I could already taste the coffee on my tongue and feel the hot spray of a warm shower against my skin.
As my apartment door came into view, the hairs on the back of my neck rose and my body went on high alert. Something was off, and dammit, wasn’t that just my luck. I stood in the hall, a chilling breeze whipping my wet hair around my face from the open balcony doors and stinging my cheeks. Shit, it was cold.
I narrowed my gaze. Why were the balcony doors open in the middle of winter? It was like a blizzard out there. I stepped closer toward the balcony, intending to shut the doors, when a splash of red to my left caught my attention instead. There was blood on the doorknob leading into my apartment. This couldn’t be good.
I took a deep breath and debated just turning around. I was too tired to deal with anything else today. Was it too much to ask for some dry clothes and a hot cup of coffee? For chrissakes, I’d take a cold cup of coffee at this point. Then again, it was my apartment, and with my luck, there would be a dead body inside and I’d be framed for the murder. Why couldn’t stuff like this happen at a decent time of day when I was fully rested?
I pressed my ear against the door. Well, really it was more like I slumped against the door, but the result was the same. I listened for any signs of movement. The wooden door was cool against my cheek. Silence greeted me. Hmm, maybe there really is a dead body, I mused with a sick sense of morbid curiosity.

Author Bio:
Danielle Annett is a reader, writer, photographer, and the blogger behind Coffee and Characters. Born in the SF Bay area, she now resides in Spokane, WA, the primary location for her Blood & Magic series.
Addicted to coffee at an early age, she spends her restless nights putting pen to paper as she tries to get all of the stories out of her head before the dogs wake up the rest of the house and vye for her attention.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
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#Excerpt: THE EVER FIEND by Randy Ellefson

Suddenly freed, Talon squeezed his sword, flexed his limbs, and weighed some options. Quick as he was, no sword could fly faster than words. And while the taller shadow was likely the wizard, he had no idea to whom or what the other shadow belonged, and had to know before launching an attack. Besides, he could hardly assess his foes with his back to them. He slowly turned around, a scowl on his face.
A black-robed, balding man stood beside the empty pedestal, a reassuring smile on his swarthy face. Perhaps he was a Marulan from across the Antaran Sea. But Marulans were thought to be mostly savages, their skins as black as their deeds, and not wizards with an air of sophistication and opulence. The man did not have an accent that Talon could hear. The long face, nose, and limbs matched what Talon had heard from stories. The dark eyes of Viland Shadowbreaker observed him coolly.



BLURB:
Only a fool steals from a wizard.
Talon Stormbringer thought he knew the risk of stealing from Viland Shadowbreaker - until he got caught. The wizard will spare him if Talon performs a service - fetch the deadly silver elixir from the Everway, a supernatural land that Talon assumed wasn’t real. Only children believe the stories about what lies within - lost souls, corrupted magic items, and mysterious destinations that most people never escape. Ruling over it all is the Ever Fiend, a bogeyman that people use to scare unruly youngsters into behaving.
Talon agrees to go, if only to stop Viland from doing something unholy with the potent elixir once retrieved. Joining him are a band of people he can’t trust. Their leader, a sorelia with nefarious plans of his own. The sorelia’s battle-trained mynx, a large cat who obeys only its master. An alluring swordswoman who wants to enchant her blades with the elixir. A cocky guard whose bravado might prove more liability than asset. A warrior kryll whose curiosity about the elixir might cost him more than his life. And a tortured Knight of Coiryn who seeks redemption in a place where most are damned. Of all the things they might discover on their journey, one is the most obvious and yet the hardest to learn...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Randy Ellefson has written fantasy fiction since his teens and is an avid world builder, having spent three decades creating Llurien, which has its own website. He has a Bachelor’s of Music in classical guitar but has always been more of a rocker, having released several albums and earned endorsements from music companies. He’s a professional software developer and runs a consulting firm in the Washington D.C. suburbs. He’s married and loves spending time with his son and daughter when not writing, making music, or playing golf.
www.RandyEllefson.com
www.llurien.com
FREE eBook: http://fiction.randyellefson.com/freebook/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/randyellefson
FaceBook (as author): www.facebook.com/RandyEllefsonAuthor
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.b logspot.com/2016/09/book-blast -ever-fiend-by-randy-ellefson. html




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Interview with Meg Benjamin, RUNNING ON EMPTY

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Sure. Running On Empty is book 3 in my Salt Box Trilogy (Books 1 and 2 were published by Samhain Publishing).
Here’s the blurb:She’s running her heart out to stay in the same place.Ronnie Ventura has every reason to distrust Fairstein Productions: she’s had run-ins with their shows before. But Fairstein’s newest reality show offers Ronnie a chance to redeem herself from looking like a blonde bimbo. All she has to do is win a modified triathlon. Simple, right? Except this is Fairstein, and nothing is ever simple with them.Ronnie’s boss at the Blarney Stone bar and café, owner Ted Saltzman, is a lot less convinced that another Fairstein show is just what Ronnie needs, particularly when he’s head over heels about Ronnie himself.  But she’s determined, and he’s a man in love.Ted becomes her running coach, which fans their budding romance to a fever. But can Ronnie’s newfound confidence stand up to the usual Fairstein plots? And can Ted find a way to keep his true love in Salt Box if Hollywood tries to steal her away again?
Do you have a favorite character?
I’m very fond of my heroine, Ronnie Ventura. Ronnie first appeared in book 1 of the trilogy, Finding Mr. Right Now,where she was a naïve and sort of annoying bachelorette on a reality show. In book 2, Love In the Morning, she’d become a lot savvier, and her backstage knowledge about the reality show world helped the book’s heroine overcome a major challenge in her life. Now she’s the heroine herself and I had a lot of fun showing how much she’s grown and what traits she still shares with the sweet innocent from Finding Mr. Right Now.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
This happens to me all the time! I just finished a book where a little girl showed up as a very minor character (a sales clerk) and managed to become a major part of the plot before I was done. Her contribution made me rethink how the Big Black Moment would take place in that book. And now she’s become a major supporting character in the next book in that series.
Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
I do both. Running on Empty was originally supposed to have been published by Samhain Publishing, but they went through a difficult period and I took the rights back. Publishing this book myself has been a major learning experience, but I’m so glad I did it. Now I know how the process works, and I’ll feel more confident about publishing books on my own if that seems to be the more promising way to go.
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
As I said, Running On Empty was originally set to be published by Samhain, which published books 1 (Finding Mr. Right Now) and 2 (Love In the Morning). When Samhain went through financial difficulties, they could no longer bring the book out. My choice was to let the trilogy remain unfinished or to publish the book myself. I really wanted to bring the trilogy to a close and to give Ronnie a chance to be the heroine of her own story, so I decided to go for it.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?Samhain always allowed a lot of writer input on cover design. The first two covers in the trilogy were done by Angela Waters with a common theme: Mountains (the books take place in Salt Box, Colorado), a sunrise/sunset, and a happy couple. I really wanted the cover for Running On Empty to use the same theme, so I contacted Angie, who (fortunately for me) also works freelance. I found the couple I wanted to use on a stock photo site, and Angie put the cover together. I’m very happy with the way it worked out.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?I’ve belonged to various critique groups over the years, but I sort of evolved into using a critique partner, the fabulous Teri Wilson. We exchange chapters every week or so. To me, it’s more useful to have the same person look at extended passages from a book so that she knows what’s come before and what you’re trying to do. Teri’s been a huge help in finding plot holes and pointing out things about the characters that I wouldn’t have picked up on my own.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?I wish I could use music, but I really have to have silence to write. I can’t really deal with distractions—I have to be able to concentrate on what I’m doing.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?I’m a total plotter, always have been. I really need to have a clear idea of where the plot’s going before I start to write. I may end up heading in different directions once I actually start working, but I need to know I won’t run out of ideas as I go.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Absolutely! Having an editor look over your manuscript is a crucial step in getting your book ready for publication. In my case the editor pointed out some weaknesses I hadn’t noticed (and took care of quickly), as well as picking up those random mechanical errors that can cause all kinds of problems. I used to be a copyeditor, but it’s almost impossible to edit your own book—you’ll read through the errors because you know what’s supposed to be there. Kelli Collins, my editor, made a big contribution here.

BLURB:
Ronnie Ventura has every reason to distrust Fairstein Productions: she’s had run-ins with their shows before. But Fairstein’s newest reality show offers Ronnie a chance to redeem herself from looking like a blonde bimbo. All she has to do is win a modified triathlon. Simple, right? Except this is Fairstein, and nothing is ever simple with them.
Ronnie’s boss at the Blarney Stone bar and café, owner Ted Saltzman, is a lot less convinced that another Fairstein show is just what Ronnie needs, particularly when he’s head over heels about Ronnie himself.  But she’s determined, and he’s a man in love.
Ted becomes her running coach, which fans their budding romance to a fever. But can Ronnie’s newfound confidence stand up to the usual Fairstein plots? And can Ted find a way to keep his true love in Salt Box if Hollywood tries to steal her away again?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Bio: Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of contemporary romance. Her Konigsburg series for Samhain Publishing is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Ramos Family Trilogy is set in San Antonio’s King William District. Her Salt Box trilogy takes place in her new home the Colorado Rockies. She’s also the author of Going Up In Flames, part of the Sapphire Falls Kindle World series. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England Romance Writers and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers. Meg’s Web site is http://www.MegBenjamin.com.
You can follow her on:
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1), Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/megbenjamin/),Twitter (http://twitter.com/megbenj1).
Meg loves to hear from readers—contact her at meg@megbenjamin.com.
To purchase Meg’s books, you can visit her author page at  Samhain,Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, or All Romance Ebooks.
Meg’s books are also available through iBooks and other venues.
Meg’s Books:
Konigsburg, TXVenus In Blue Jeans ISBN  9781605043692Wedding Bell Blues ISBN 9781605046303Be My Baby ISBN 9781605048437Long Time Gone ISBN 9781609281083Brand New Me ISBN 9781609283070Don’t Forget Me ISBN 9781609288259Fearless Love ISBN 9781619212404Hungry Heart ISBN 9781619222274
Salt Box TrilogyFinding Mr. Right Now ISBN 9781619229570Love in the Morning ISBN 9781619230729
Promise Harbor WeddingBolted ISBN 9781619214293
Ramos Family TrilogyMedium Well ISBN 9781101599648Medium Rare ISBN 9781101622575Happy Medium ISBN 9781101622568
Sapphire Falls Kindle WorldGoing Up In Flames ASIN B01FV7OAYI
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/08/vbt-running-on-empty-by-meg-benjamin.html


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#Excerpt: RUIN by Clarissa Wild

Ruin
Clarissa Wild
Publication date: September 20th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Maybell Fairweather was the girl of my dreams.

Always smiling brightly, she kept going, despite the names her classmates called her behind her back.

She was full of curiosity and independence, the extent of which I could only be jealous of. Even though she had all odds stacked against her, she knew what she wanted from life and pursued it, no matter the cost.
She was completely my opposite in every way.

Perfect, even though she couldn’t see it.
Perfect … until me.
Because this is the story of how I ruined her.
Based on a true story. Standalone Romance. No cliffhanger.

Goodreads / Amazon
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EXCERPT:He winks, and somehow, it makes me blush.For some reason, it’s hard to look away too.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Alexander Wright.”
I smile. “Maybell Fairweather.”
“Hmm … Maybell … nice name.”
“Thanks.” I blush.
I don’t know why or what it is about him, but he has this gentleness about him that soothes me and makes me want to ask him to stay, even if I don’t have a reason for it.
But then I realize it’s not the only reason I’m looking at him.
Something’s felt off since we met, and I couldn’t put my finger on it, but now, I can.
“Wait …” I mutter. “I know you, right?”
“Yeah, I’m that guy who ate a sandwich with you the other day. You don’t remember? Should I call a nurse?” He chuckles.
I roll my eyes. “No. I mean …” I recognize him from somewhere. “I know you from … school, right?”
His eyes suddenly widen, and he slams his lips shut.
HA! I knew he looked familiar. “No way! I knew it.”
The muscles in his face tighten. “Oh, boy.”
“I’ve seen you at school a few times.”
“Really?” he says, scratching the back of his neck.
“Yeah … don’t tell me I’m making this up. I’m not crazy … right?” I pout.
He smiles, his dimples making me wanna pinch his cheeks. “No, you’re not crazy. It’s just a surprise that you’d even recognize me. People usually don’t even see me. I’m invisible.”
“Yeah?” I bite my lip and frown. “Same here.”
He lowers his arm. “No … you’re not invisible at all,” he says, looking at me with half-mast eyes. “I see you. All the time.”

Author Bio:
Want to be the first to get your hands on new books & get access to free short stories, giveaway prizes, previews, and more? Sign up here http://eepurl.com/FdY71
Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, and Stalker. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.

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#Review: HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN by Hannah Howell

3.5 of 5 stars
I've read a few Scottish romances by Hannah Howell and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one fell a little short for me. Bethoc's character was too good, too kind, too understanding. She never had bad thoughts about her abusive father, just took the punishment silently. While she did have thoughts of running away, to leave her brothers and sisters was unthinkable and so she stayed. The day she found Callum MacMillan lying injured on the beach, her whole world changed. 

I thought Callum's character was a bit dense at times. He gave no thought to the consequences of taking a young woman's maidenhood or having her by his side at his ancestral home without any kind of commitment on his part. He seemed oblivious to what others would think about that. He did shine, however, when it came to rescuing women and children from violent homes. He gave no second thought to their station. If they needed help, he was there. 

Of course, the character who stole the book was three year old Margaret. She was fierce little girl who took no prisoners. Whenever she was in a scene, she made me smile. While I did enjoy the book, I would recommend starting with one of the other Scottish romances from Ms. Howell, such as, "Highland Guard." 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Blurb:
Responsible for protecting her younger siblings from their abusive father, Bethoc Matheson is in no position to rescue another soul in Scotland. Yet when she sees a bleeding man on the verge of drowning, that’s exactly what she does, securing him safely in a cave where she can return day after day to tend to his wounds.

Sir Callum MacMillan can scarcely believe such a slight lass as Bethoc could save him from the grasp of death. But he knows the telltale marks of an angry fist on her skin, and he knows she has the soul of a fighter within her feminine frame. Raised to be a protector of the weak by his Murray clansmen, Callum would prefer to be the one saving her—and save her, he will. If he can first survive the treacherous attack that led him into her irresistible arms . . .

Amazon buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Chieftain-Murrays-Hannah-Howell-ebook/dp/B01A4ANVEC