Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 177

Interview with Beth Fehlbaum, THE PATIENCE TRILOGY

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?Truth in Patience, the final book in The Patience Trilogy, finds sixteen-year-old Ashley Asher struggling with wanting to have a boyfriend like other girls are able to do, but struggling with the emotional and mental scars she has as a result of being sexually abused by her stepfather from the age of 8. She is safe now, living with her biological father, David, his wife, Beverly, and their son, Ben, in the small Texas town of Patience, but recovery from             childhood sexual abuse is a long, arduous journey. In addition, her mom comes knocking, wanting Ashley to return to living with her. Ashley must dig deep in order to find her voice. 

Do you have a favorite character?
Pre-recovery Ashley is very much me as a child and teen, because I was also sexually abused by my stepfather, and her stepmom, Bev, is my “teacher self.” I love all the supporting characters in Ashley’s life; even the ones who begin as unlovable generally reveal themselves to be flawed because they are human, not because they are truly unlovable.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Many characters actually evolved over the course of The Patience Trilogy, but among the more notable are Marvella and Gabe Brown. Marvella, the Patience High School principal’s secretary, began as a foil for the boneheaded principal and warm-hearted comic relief, but she and her son, Gabriel, who was at one time a member of a White Supremacist organization, play a pivotal part in a major plot point in Truth in Patience.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I am traditionally published as well as published by small indy presses. My agent is Gina Panettieri of Talcott Notch Literary Services, LLC. My book, Big Fat Disaster, is published by Merit Press/F+W Media. The Patience Trilogy is published by Steady On             Books, a small independent publisher.

How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
I was offered representation by Talcott Notch on my first round of
agent queries for Courage in Patience.
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 have a contract for another book with the publisher of Big Fat Disaster, and I anticipate publishing the non-fiction companion to The Patience Trilogywith Steady On Books, since that makes sense.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I sometimes work with music—usually Celtic instrumental—but I also playlist my books. Sometimes I prefer silence. It’s unusual for me to be able to concentrate and lose myself in my story if there are a lot of people around. I prewrite in my mind quite a bit then make interlocking webs of characters and what each of them want.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I wrote Courage in Patience without an outline but it went through dozens of revisions. In my subsequent books, I have outlined at least through the first 100 pages. After that, it’s a matter of knowing where I want to go next and figuring out how to get there.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
The fabulous Evelyn Fazio (!) edited The Patience Trilogy. She is phenomenal, insightful, and wonderful to work with!
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
My books are for sale in all brick-and-mortar and online channels.
They are accessible through all major distributors.
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I have a website, Beth Fehlbaum Books ; I’m on Facebook and Twitter, too.


Book & Author Details:The Patience Trilogy by Beth Fehlbaum Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Courage to endure.Courage to survive.Courage to overcome.
Tenacious 14-year-old Ashley Asher claws her way back to normalcy after enduring six years of an unimaginable Hell. Uprooted from her negligent and selfish mother, Ashley finds solace in the safety of her father’s home. Building a relationship with her stepmother, she’s finally able to open up and confront the past that haunts her.
With the help of her stepmom, therapist, and a group of troubled adolescents, Ashley battles her demons, struggling to find the normal teenage life she’s always wanted. Can Ashley find the strength and courage to overcome the horrors of her past while fighting for the future she so deserves?

Hope in Patience:Hope to heal.

Hope to grow.

Hope to evolve.

Still shattered from the horrific events of her childhood years, 15-year-old Ashley Asher is barely holding it together. Battling her vicious and vile mother who still sees her as the villain and not the victim, Ashley’s stuck in a cycle of self-injury and self-hatred as a result--despite the many people who trying to pull her out of it.

Adolescence is hard, but throw in a new school, a new family, and a father she hardly knows, Ashley's need for self-destruction and pain intensifies. Her new therapist, Dr. Matt, may be unconventional with bizarre antics, but he'll do whatever it takes to pull Ashley out of the doldrums. Ashley just wants a crack at normalcy. But can her counselor and the friends and family who love her teach her that "crazy is the new normal" and that nobody has it easy?

Truth in Patience:
Truth in the past.

Truth in reality.

Truth for tomorrow.

Finally adjusting to life in small town Texas, Ashley Asher sees a glimmer of what happiness really is. Even her new relationship with the attentive Joshua Brandt shows promise of a first romance. But Ashley's fear of intimacy after years of unspeakable abuse may cause friction and distance in their relationship.

Determined to prove to her that she's healing, Dr. Matt, her beloved therapist, shows her that "life is messy." And he doesn't know how messy it is about to get. When her mother decides that Ashley belongs back in their hometown with her, Ashley is forced into another family feud that she isn't prepared for. Refusing to leave behind the new life she created in Texas, Ashley and her mother go head-to-head. But can Ashley finally find the courage and strength to battle her demons when her mother might be the biggest demon of all?

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29746546-courage-in-patiencehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29746545-hope-in-patiencehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29640474-truth-in-patience
Purchase:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Beth+Fehlbaum+The+Patience+TrilogyB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Beth+Fehlbaum+The+Patience+Trilogy?_requestid=669928Kobo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/search/?keywords=Beth%20Fehlbaum%20patience
AUTHOR BIO: In addition to writing Young Adult Contemporary Fiction, Beth Fehlbaum is a high school English-Language Arts teacher who frequently draws on her experience as an educator to write her books. She has a B.A. in English, Minor in Secondary Education, and an M.Ed. in Reading.
Beth is a featured author on the 2015-2016 Spirit of Texas Reading List- High School for the Kirkus Starred Reviewed Big Fat Disaster (Merit Press/F+W Media, March 2014) and The Patience Trilogy: Courage (1), Hope (2), and Truth (3) (Steady On Books, April 2016).

Beth is a member of the RAINN (Rape , Abuse, Incest National Network) Speakers’ Bureau. She has a following in the young adult literature world and also among survivors of sexual abuse because of her work with victims’ advocacy groups.

She has been the keynote speaker at the National Crime Victims’ Week Commemoration Ceremony at the Hall of State in Dallas, Texas and a presenter for Greater Texas Community Partners, where she addressed a group of social workers and foster children on the subject of “Hope.”

Beth is in-demand as a panelist, having presented/appeared at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference, the American Library Association’s annual conference, YALSA, and N.C.T.E./ALAN, and she is a member of The Author’s Guild.

She is a survivor of a traumatic childhood, like Ashley in The Patience Trilogy, and the day-to-day manager of an eating disorder much like Colby’s in Big Fat Disaster. These life experiences give her a unique perspective, and she writes her characters’ stories in a way meant to inspire hope.

Beth lives with her family in the woods of East Texas.

You can find Beth online at http:www.bethfehlbaumbooks.com, http://www.uncommonya.com, on Facebook, and on https://twitter.com/bethfehlbaum.
Author links:www.bethfehlbaumbooks.comhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1301011.Beth_Fehlbaumhttps://www.facebook.com/beth.fehlbaumhttps://twitter.com/bethfehlbaum  
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Interview with Allison Whitmore, FORGET ME NOT

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Theodora “Teddi” Donovan and Calvin Wynne have always hated each other. They didn't have a choice after Teddi's bootlegger father killed Calvin's and left them both orphaned. The scandal has fueled gossip in quiet, quaint Brookhurst, New York, for over a decade. When a friendship develops between them as teenagers, they are ridiculed and shunned by the strict society that dictates life in their town. As they grow older, friendship turns into love, and Teddi and Calvin have to choose between their future and the specter of their past. Spanning continents and decades, Forget Me Not is a coming-of-age story about truth, self-reliance, and the freeing power of love. 
Do you have a favorite character? I will always say Teddi, Calvin and Teddi’s sister, Liza. They are definitely my favorites.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?Not in my novel writing, but my writing partner are currently adapting Forget Me Not into a TV pilot and at least two minor characters from the novel are getting major roles in the storyline. It’s changing it a lot. The story’s central focus, though still about the love story of Teddi and Calvin, will be on the town and its secrets. That simple change basically made the B story in the A story.
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?Not really. I did find two small presses to work with me, but I did not go for agents or big publishing houses. I think I just did not have the patience and wanted a hands-on experience. Never say never, though. I may try that route several years down the line. At this point, I am very happy and excited to be working with my new publisher, Captive Quill Press. We’ll be launching new editions of my books in the fall.
How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?The hunting process took me about six months. Yes, it was for my first novel.
What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?My current publisher has a lot of hands-on experience with authors. The president is an author herself and writes in the same genres that I do. She also has a lot of heart and motivation to do excellent things. I’m excited to be working with her.
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 am between publishers, so Forget Me Not will spend the summer self-published until its relaunch this fall. My other book, The Lost Heir will not be available until its relaunch in the fall.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I gave her my ideas for a concept. She gave me some shots. We decided what would look nice. Then I gave her an idea of what I’d like to see and what I wanted to convey. She did the rest. I was much more involved with the cover for my other book than for Forget Me Not. Both were done by Amalia Chitulescu. She’s incredibly talented.
Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing? I did have one when I was in graduate school. They helped a bit. I also have my writing partners, and we share our work. It’s very helpful.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? Both. I outline then let the story talk. It sometimes fits the outline; it sometimes does not. I’m more about sticking to character arc goals and them than anything else.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?My publishing company provided an editor. I also hired a proofreader before submitting to publishers.
What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?I haven’t done this yet. I will just be doing it for a few months this summer. But I will say that my journey is not that different than self-published authors. I am in the indie world with small press, so I am doing author take-overs and joining communities with other indie authors in order to help each other with promotion and such. It’s been a lot of fun.
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)? Twitter and Facebook are my primary platforms. I also have done book tours and other types of promotion.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book? Yes. It’s tough. I’m currently working on a pilot and a novella.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena? I’m probably not the best person to ask this. But I think I’d say ask for help or get a mentor.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions? Sadly, story is my life. I tend to love the movies and television, which is also driven by story. I think traveling is a lot of fun, too. Of course, I’m storytelling in my head while doing it, so there you go.
Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night? I love both dogs and cats. Vanilla, thank you very much. Green tea. Text for the most part. Night.
What’s next for you? Applying to a lot of fellowships and contests for screenwriting and finishing up my next book. It’s a YA fantasy novel about a girl who travels into a place called the Time Realm.


Book & Author Details:Forget Me Not by Allison Whitmore
Publication date: September 14th 2015
Genres: Historical, Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:Theodora “Teddi” Donovan and Calvin Wynne have always hated each other. They didn’t have a choice after Teddi’s bootlegger father killed Calvin’s and left them both orphaned. The scandal has fueled gossip in quiet, quaint Brookhurst, New York, for over a decade. When a friendship develops between them as teenagers, they are ridiculed and shunned by the strict society that dictates life in their town. As they grow older, friendship turns into love, and Teddi and Calvin have to choose between their future and the scepter of their past. Spanning continents and decades, Forget Me Not is a coming-of-age story about truth, self-reliance, and the freeing power of love.Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26633116-forget-me-not
Purchase:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GL04FJO/ref=cm_sw_su_dp(The book changed publishers, so it was pulled from Amazon and will be re-listed shortly and found at that link!)
AUTHOR BIO: Allison Whitmore started her first novel, Forget Me Not, one icy morning in her dorm room in Southampton, NY. After many years of teaching high school English, she came back to the novel to rewrite it. Allison comes from a family who loves history and enjoyed immersing herself in the research that brought Teddi and Calvin’s world to life. She lives in her hometown, Los Angeles, California. You can find her on Twitter @alli_whitmore and her website: allisonwhitmore.com.
Author Links: http://www.allisonwhitmore.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14242954.Allison_Whitmorehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Allison-Whitmore/244114125778980https://twitter.com/alli_whitmore  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Jadah McCoy, ARTIFICIAL

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?Sure! ARTIFICIAL is the story of a young woman, Syl, who lives in a post-apocalyptic city ravaged by Cull—genetically spliced bug monsters. She’s abducted while scavenging and her genes are spliced. Syl slowly begins to turn into one of the Cull and ventures to an android city to find a cure and stop the person responsible for the splicing. ARTIFICIAL is the first in a trilogy.Do you have a favorite character?My favorite character (and yours, too—you’ll see!) is Bastion. He’s the male main character and second POV in the novel. Bastion is an android living in New Elite and working as a pleasure bot in the slums. He is the sassiest robot, and while he plays the perfect anti-hero, he has a caring heart—er, cortex? The relationship between Syl and Bastion—their banter and chemistry—is one of my favorite parts of the novel.
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?I queried agents as well as querying small publishing houses directly. I had a couple of bites from agents, but more from the smaller houses. I queried for maybe a month or two when Curiosity Quills asked for my full. A week later they offered me a contract!
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I used Regina Wamba with MaeIDesign. When I hired her, she gave me an extensive questionnaire to fill out, listing the novel’s themes, my vision, etc. I left her to do her thing, and she later sent me a mock up, which I made comments and changes to. Overall, I would say I was very involved in the process.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?My writing process is to vom words onto a page. Honestly, if I didn’t do that, I would nit-pick the story to death. I find the most efficient way for me to draft is in “layers.” Get the ugly first draft down, then keep writing drafts until all the details I want are there. I can only write in absolute silence. I’m very easily distracted!!
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?I am a master plotter. I’m paralyzed in my story until I plot everything out. Prior to this series, I was never like that at all—a pantser to the nth degree. However, I find plot to be the hardest part to get down, so I resolved to plot this series. It’s made my writing process so much smoother.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Yes. I have a very intensive editing process. I finish my drafts and have a product I feel is safe for public consumption, then send it to critique partner one. After I get that feedback and make changes, it goes to critique partner two. After that, I hire a professional editor. Then I submit that product to my publisher, who has their own in house editor take a look at it. I ain’t playin’ with no typos!! I don’t want to see one typo in that book when I’m finished with it!
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?You can also find my book on Barnes & Noble!
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?When not writing, I’m usually traveling. I’ve been to seven countries so far: Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand, and Indonesia. Next on my list is Japan!
What’s next for you?Book two in this series, titled ORGANIC, is slated for a Spring 2017 release. I’m currently writing the third book in the series, due out 2018. And I have lots of shiny ideas in my head, including a horror and fantasy series, as well as a prequel for my Kepler Chronicles trilogy. So, lots to work on!!
Thanks for having me! 


Book & Author Details:Artificial by Jadah McCoy
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: April 4th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Science Fiction
Synopsis:She struggles to feel human.In 2256, the only remnants of civilization on Earth’s first colonized planet, Kepler, are the plant-covered buildings and the nocturnal, genetically spliced bug-people nesting within them: the Cull. During the day, Syl leaves her home in the sewers beneath Elite City to scavenge for food, but at night the Cull come looking for a meal of their own. Syl thought gene splicing died with the Android War a century ago. She thought the bugs could be exterminated, Elite city rebuilt, and the population replenished. She’s wrong.Whoever engineered the Cull isn’t done playing God. Syl is abducted and tortured in horrific experiments which result in her own DNA being spliced, slowly turning her into one of the bugs. Now she must find a cure and stop the person responsible before every remaining man, woman, and child on Kepler is transformed into the abomination they fear.
He struggles not to.
For Bastion, being an android in the sex industry isn’t so bad. Clubbing beneath the streets of New Elite by day and seducing the rich by night isn’t an altogether undesirable occupation. But every day a new android cadaver appears in the slum gutters, and each caved in metal skull and heap of mangled wires whittles away at him.Glitches—androids with empathy—are being murdered, their models discontinued and strung up as a warning. Show emotion, you die. Good thing Bastion can keep a secret, or he would be the next body lining the street.
He can almost live with hiding his emotions. That is, until a girl shows up in the slums—a human girl, who claims she was an experiment. And in New Elite, being a human is even worse than being a Glitch. Now Bastion must help the girl escape before he becomes victim to his too-human emotions, one way or another.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28682101-artificial?from_new_nav=true&ac=1&from_search=true
Purchase:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Jadah-McCoy-ebook/dp/B01CDAA1IAB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/artificial-jadah-mccoy/1123599684?ean=9781620074978


AUTHOR BIO: Jadah currently lives in Nashville, TN and works in law. When not babysitting attorneys, she can be found juicing her brain for creative ideas or fantasizing about her next trip out of the country (or about Tom Hiddleston as Loki - it’s always a toss up when she fantasizes).

She grew up in rural Arkansas, yet can still write good and sometimes even wears shoes! She did date her first cousin for a while but they decided against marriage for the sake of the gene pool.

Her true loves are elephants, cursing, and sangria - in that order. If you find an elephant that curses like a sailor whilst drinking sangria, you’re dangerously close to becoming her next romantic victim - er, partner.

She cut her writing teeth on badly written, hormone-driven fanfiction (be glad that’s out of her system), and her one true dream is to have wildly erotic fanfiction with dubious grammar written about her own novels. Please make her dreams come true.
Author Links:https://jadahmccoy.wordpress.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14903289.Jadah_McCoyhttps://www.facebook.com/Jadah-McCoy-Author-1570450153179469/


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#FREE: FALL OF SKY CITY, Devices of War series by S.M. Blooding

Get book 1 in the Devices of War Series for FREE June 16 - 18  

Author's Extended Edition includes never before seen deleted scenes! 

In a world governed by the opposing forces of the mystical House of Tarot and the tribal Great Families, Synn is caught in the crossfire. He witnesses the slaughter of innocent people, and the devastating murder of his father. This act awakens his Mark of power, a Mark greater than any the world has seen in a very long time. Queen Nix thought she won a great prize when she destroyed Synn’s father, the leader of the strongest Great Families. She had no idea she’d be doubly blessed by capturing his son. 

However, before Synn can become her treasured weapon, before she can use him to bring the rest of the world to its knees, she must break him and bind his soul to hers. She does her job with brutal brilliance. Synn’s mind is broken and his soul is seared to hers in an unbreakable bond. That doesn’t stop him from wanting to be free. She may have broken his mind and claimed his soul, but he will find a way to destroy her. Experience a world of ships that sail the clouds and cites buried beneath the ocean, and survive the fiery battle brought forth by those who control the forces of nature! 

Buy links: 

Knight of Wands  

Whispers of the Skyborne  

Interview with Mark Spivak, FRIEND OF THE DEVIL

 
Can you describe your dream home?I’ve always had my eye on one particular house on top of Pritchard Hill in the Napa Valley. I won’t tell you who it belongs to, in order to protect his privacy, but the setting is magnificent. The house itself is very nice---not palatial, but designed in a gently sprawling way that blends into the landscape, provides comfort for the resident and ample space for guests.
If we were to come to your house for a meal, what would you give us to eat?If I really liked you, we’d start with caviar. One of the courses would be an eggplant mousse that I first had in a wine bar in Provence, and later recreated the recipe for. I’d probably grill some fish and lobster tails eventually, and all of it would be accompanied by some killer Chablis.
Tell us about the absolute BEST fan letter you have received.I recently heard from a gentleman I profiled in my second book, Moonshine Nation. A large chunk of the profile consisted of stories told by his two uncles, who were former moonshiners in Kentucky. In the letter he informed me that the older of his two uncles had passed on, but that the portrait of him in the book had the highlight of his final years.
Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?I’ve always wanted to go to Asia and have never gotten around to it, so I’d say probably Japan and definitely Hong Kong. I don’t have a book idea yet for those locales, but I’d find one if the publisher was paying.
Who designed the book cover for the book you are touring?A very good friend of mine, who owns a marketing and public relations firm, offered to have one of her designers do the cover. It was a very gracious offer, and I took her up on it.


BLURB:
In 1990 some critics believe that America’s most celebrated chef, Joseph Soderini di Avenzano, cut a deal with the Devil to achieve fame and fortune. Whether he is actually Bocuse or Beelzebub, Avenzano is approaching the 25th anniversary of his glittering Palm Beach restaurant, Chateau de la Mer, patterned after the Michelin-starred palaces of Europe.

Journalist David Fox arrives in Palm Beach to interview the chef for a story on the restaurant’s silver jubilee. He quickly becomes involved with Chateau de la Mer’s hostess, unwittingly transforming himself into a romantic rival of Avenzano. The chef invites Fox to winter in Florida and write his authorized biography. David gradually becomes sucked into the restaurant’s vortex: shipments of cocaine coming up from the Caribbean; the Mafia connections and unexplained murder of the chef’s original partner; the chef’s ravenous ex-wives, swirling in the background like a hidden coven. As his lover plots the demise of the chef, Fox tries to sort out hallucination and reality while Avenzano treats him like a feline’s catnip-stuffed toy.
Amazon author page URL            http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Spivak/e/B007QASMAC/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1458677775&sr=1-2-ent
Barnes and Noble Author URLhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/mark+spivak?_requestid=552756
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links: Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He was the wine writer for the Palm Beach Post from 1994-1999, and was honored by the Academy of Wine Communications for excellence in wine coverage “in a graceful and approachable style.” Since 2001 has been the Wine and Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group; his running commentary on the world of food, wine and spirits is available at the Global Gourmet blog on www.palmbeachillustrated.com. He is the holder of the Certificate and Advanced diplomas from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Mark’s work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, Men’s Journal, Art & Antiques, the Continental and Ritz-Carlton magazines, Arizona Highways and Newsmax. He is the author of Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History (Lyons Press, 2012) and Moonshine Nation: The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle (Lyons Press, 2014). His first novel, Friend of the Devil, is published by Black Opal Books.
Website: http://www.markspivakbooks.comhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4659831.Mark_Spivak?from_search=true&search_version=servicehttps://www.facebook.com/mark.spivak.3
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/05/virtual-book-tour-friend-of-devil-by.html
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The Story Behind: IF I FORGET YOU, Thomas Christopher Greene

Author Bio:Thomas Christopher Greene is the author of four previous novels: Mirror Lake; I'll Never Be long Gone; Envious Moon and The Headmaster's Wife. His fiction has been translated into 13 languages. In 2008, Tom founded Vermont College of Fine Arts, a top graduate fine arts college, making him the youngest college president in the country at the time. He lives and works in Vermont. (www.thomaschristophergreene.com)
 

Interview with K.N. Salustro, CHASING SHADOWS

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
My most recent book is Unbroken Light. It’s the second installment of my Star Huntersscifi series, which follows a bounty hunter and a military officer forced into an unstable alliance by a mutual enemy. The books have plenty of action, aliens, and far-off planets, for those who are in to adventure space operas.
Do you have a favorite character?Lissa. Definitely. She is one of the main characters of the series and is a bounty hunter who gets pulled into a struggle that she tried to run from all her life. She finally gets backed into a corner but she never gives up, and she’s not afraid to do what she thinks is right, even that puts her on the wrong side of the law. Actually, especially if that puts her on that side. I may not agree with her sense of morality, but she is one of my favorite characters to write.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?Yes. Yes I have. A prime example is Jason Stone, who originally had a much smaller role and nowhere near as much development in the earliest drafts of Chasing Shadows (the first book in the series). As I continued to work on Chasing Shadows, I found that Jason kept working his way back into the plot, and the more I explored him as a character, the stronger the book felt. He’s still not a main character, but he’s had a much, much stronger influence on the direction of the series as a whole than I ever thought he would, and he will continue to do so in the third book.
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?For me, the biggest draw of self-publishing was the ability to keep total creative control over the content of my book. When I finished writing Chasing Shadows, I knew that the ending in particular would probably be a bit of a turn-off for most traditional publishers. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and most traditionally published first installments tend to have a more positive and more closed ending. That’s not a bad thing, but there was a very definite place that I wanted Chasing Shadows to end, and self-publishing let me keep that ending, along with all the other creative decisions I made.
How involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I commissioned a freelance artist for my covers, and I was thrilled to be very involved with the creation of the images. I had admired the artist’s work for a couple of years before reaching out to him for the book covers, so I was excited to see what he would come up with and wanted to give him some creative freedom, but I did get to tell him what I was looking for concept-wise, what kinds of colors I wanted, and what specific elements I wanted to incorporate. I gave feedback when he showed me drafts and ask for changes as needed, but I was really happy with the images he created for me.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?When I first started writing, I was very much a go-with-the-flow kind of writer. I let the plot go where it wanted and the characters do as they pleased. Then I ended up with way too many characters and plot points to keep everything straight in my head. So, I started using sticky notes as a way to keep track of the important characters’ timelines. Each character has their own assigned color, and I handwrite their actions and the impacts of those actions on a note before I stick it on the designated wall. It’s an easy way to keep their movements in chronological order and keep an eye on the pacing of the action. This method also adds a lot of color to my walls, though most people tend to think it’s more weird than decorative. There are a lot of notes.
What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to be confident in my own work, and have patience. I started out small and it took time and effort to get to where I am now, and it will take even more time and even more effort to go further. As long as I am passionate about what I am doing, however, it is all worth it.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?Yes! The print editions are available through CreateSpace, and other digital editions can be found through Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and the Apple iBook Store.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Be prepared to be your own biggest cheerleader. You need patience, you need determination, you need thick skin, and you need to have enough confidence in your work to trust it to stand on its own. Confidence does not mean arrogance, however. Be willing to listen to criticism and take away the constructive parts so you can become a stronger writer. Put out the very best you can at this point in time, but never stop learning and growing as a writer. And, most importantly of all, editing and proofreading are your friends. Do not skimp in those areas.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?I actually double as a plush maker. I run an Etsy shop called Dragons by Kris where I make—you guessed it—dragons, though I’ve started branching out into custom patterns and other creations, including a couple of critters from my Star Hunters series. Plush making is something that can be frustrating, but I enjoy doing it, and I love holding my finished works in my hands. I’m still learning, but I’ve already come a long way from where I started three years ago.
Author Bio: K.N. Salustro is a science fiction and fantasy writer from New Jersey who loves outer space, dragons, and good stories. In addition to writing, she also runs an Etsy shop, works as a freelance editor, and makes art for her Society6 and Redbubble shops.

Her debut novel Chasing Shadows was a finalist for the 2015 Cygnus awards, and is currently available for purchase through Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, the Apple iBook store, and CreateSpace. The sequel Unbroken Light can be purchased from the same locations.

Interview with Michelle Grey, CONVERGENCE

Do you have a favorite character? I have enjoyed writing each of my characters. Usually the ones I am most connected with are the ones I’m currently writing. Tori, my heroine from Convergence, was probably the most interesting for me, because her personality is so different from mine.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?I’ve had minor characters evolve into heroes or heroines in future stories. But in the current novel I’m working on, this is the first time someone I thought would be a very minor character has ended up playing a major role in resolving the plot line. Such fun!

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers? I didn’t go the traditional publishing route initially, but now that I’ve been writing as an indie author for a few years I am branching out and working on becoming a hybrid.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)? I think the climate in the publishing industry has allowed self-publishing to flourish, and allowed an avenue to get my books to market more quickly than traditional publishing. But it has also been difficult to find readers because of the glut of books that have come to market, so it’s just as important to know how to market as it is to know how to write well.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover? Marisa Shor at Cover Me Darlings is a creative genius. I conceptualize an idea, and she brings it to life. I know my limitations and am so thankful I’ve connected with Marisa, who can make anything gorgeous!

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing? Yes. I’ve been critiquing with the same two women since 2012. We’ve developed such a bond of trust over the years, which allows us to put our egos on the shelf and just get work done. They both bring unique strengths to my edits and I love working with them.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? I’m a plotter by nature. I feel like I need to have a good idea of where the story is going in order to not wander off into the weeds too much…although that still happens.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book? As an indie author, it is challenging to do both. You can write a great book, but if you fail to market it, no one will ever know about it. But writing is my heart, and much more of my time goes into that than marketing.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions? I’m an ovarian cancer survivor, so I’m passionate about spreading the word about early symptom awareness. They call ovarian cancer the silent killer because the symptoms are so mild early on (when you have the best chance of beating the disease) that women generally ignore them until it’s too late. I try to incorporate that early awareness message into every author event I attend.

What’s next for you? I’m working on two projects now. The first one is the fourth book in the Long Shot Series, which is Cam’s story (Tori’s best friend in Convergence). The second is a two-book project that is going to be offered to agents/editors for traditional publishing.


BLURB:He faces Tori’s hostility and objections head-on, interjecting himself into every aspect of her life, and leaving him no time to dwell on his own.
Through the twists and turns of the madman’s game, Tori is forced to adapt to her unwelcome circumstances. Still, she fights Jack's presence, and her attraction to him, as he tries to open doors better left closed.
For Tori and Jack, life and death decisions are part of their jobs. But, can they overcome their pasts and realize that there’s a difference between life and living?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~AUTHOR Bio: Michelle Grey is an avid lover of books, and had always thought that someday she would take up her pen and write romantic suspense. In 2009, Michelle was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer, and she realized that “somedays” aren’t guaranteed. This life changing event motivated Michelle to pursue her dream of becoming an author. 
In January of 2013, Michelle released her debut novel, Dangerous Ally. 
In September of 2013, the next book in her Long Shot Series, Unspoken Bonds, was published.
Now a cancer survivor, Michelle decided to use her platform to promote awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms.  In January 2014 she published, Are You Listening: A Personal Journal of an Ovarian Cancer Survivor.
Because it is so important to spread the word, one hundred percent of the proceeds from this $.99 ebook go directly to the Vicki Welsh Ovarian Cancer Fund to support their mission of fighting ovarian cancer through awareness, education, research and support.
Michelle lives in the Midwestern US with her husband of twenty-eight years and has four amazing and unique children, a wonderful son-in-law, and two beautiful granddaughters.  Michelle believes that any day that involves family, writing, or reading is a great day, indeed.
Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellegreyauthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleGrey13Website:  www.authormichellegrey.com

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#Excerpt: FALLING FOR SARAH by Cate Beauman

EXCERPT:
“Nice place,” he said glancing around at the light blue knick-knacks accenting bright yellow walls and the pale green furnishings giving the room a tropical paradise feel.
“Thanks.” She took Kylee from him. “Bath time first.”
“O-tay, Mama.”
“We’ll be back.” She turned and walked to the bathroom.
While a reenergized Kylee sang and splashed in the water, Ethan stood by the window, staring out at ocean waves kissing the sandy shore. Sarah’s voice chimed in with The Itsy Bitsy Spider, making him smile, but his smile disappeared as he thought of the way she’d looked at him with her eyes full of disdain. He’d always played by his own rules, caring little of what others thought, but the mockery in her voice tonight bothered him. Something was eating at her, and he wasn’t leaving until they figured everything out.
Kylee ran from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. “I ready for my story.”
“You look like you’re missing something to me. Where’re your PJs?”
“Over der.” She pointed to the pink polka dot pajama set lying on the bed. “I have to det dressed. I tan do it myself.”
He smiled. “Well, go for it then. I’ll get your book and wait in the other room. Call me if you need help.”
“O-tay.” Her angelic face beamed up at him, and for a flash, he saw Jake’s smile. Sadness warred with the comfort that a piece of him was still here.
Minutes later, Kylee crawled into his lap, soft and warm, smelling of baby shampoo. She nestled herself against him, hugging Mr. Ruff, the stuffed brown dog he’d bought her at a toy store in Germany the year before.
Ethan covered Kylee with the small patchwork quilt Jake’s mother had made for her second birthday and settled against the couch.
She looked up at him. “Mama be out soon. She getting her bath too.”
As Kylee spoke, the spray hit the tub behind the closed bathroom door. Ethan knew Sarah was avoiding him. But he could wait. He was patient when it suited him. “Let’s read this story, Sleepy Marie.”
She put her hands on his cheeks. “I not Seepy Marie. I Kylee.”
Her eyes were so solemn as they stared into his, he couldn’t help but grin. “Okay, Sleepy Kylee, let’s read this story.” He opened to the first page, and she rested her head against his chest again. By the time he made it to the third page, the water in the bathroom shut off, and Kylee’s eyes drooped. He continued on until Sarah stood in the doorway, wrapped in her pale blue robe that stopped a good inch above her knees.

BLURB:
Widow Sarah Johnson struggled to pick up the pieces after her life was ripped apart. After two years of grieving, she's found contentment in her thriving business as photographer to Hollywood's A-list and in raising her angel-faced daughter, Kylee... until bodyguard and long-time friend Ethan Cooke changes everything with a searing moonlight kiss.

Sarah's world turns upside down as she struggles with her unexpected attraction to Ethan and the guilt of betraying her husband's memory. But when blue roses and disturbing notes start appearing on her doorstep, she has no choice but to lean on Ethan as he fights to save her from a stalker that won't stop until he has what he prizes most.
Buy Links:Amazon: http://bit.ly/FallingForSarahTourAMZBarnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/FallingForSarahTourBNiBooks:  http://bit.ly/FallingForSarahTouriBooksKobo:  http://bit.ly/FallingForSarahTourKoboPaperback:  http://bit.ly/FallingForSarahTourPaperback
~~~~~~~~~~~~~AUTHOR Bio and Links: International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards.
Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on Deceiving Bella, the eleventh novel in her popular Bodyguards series.
For information on Cate's new releases, monthly giveaways, and upcoming events, sign up for her newsletter at: http://www.catebeauman.com/author/home.html#!newsletter-sign-up/c9td

Cate can be reached at www.catebeauman.comand www.facebook.com/catebeaumanwww.goodreads.com/catebeaumanTwitter @CateBeaumanAmazon Author Pagehttp://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/05/excerpt-tour-falling-for-sarah-by-cate.html  a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 Excerpts: THE SHEIK'S DESIRES by Elizabeth Lennox and Leslie North

 
Excerpt:
The Sheik’s Challenge By E. LennoxTwo things hit her all at once.  First, the man was naked!  Well, he had a towel wrapped around his lean waist, but that was it.  He had another towel in his hand that he used to dry his hair, then rubbed it against his chest.  Ana couldn’t do more than stare, fascinated by that hand as it moved the towel over all of those muscles.  They were everywhere, the skin and muscles flexing as he dried himself off.  Was his hand moving more slowly?  Was he…
Her eyes flipped up to his and she blushed when she realized that he was watching her, watching him.  “I’m sorry,” she whispered and licked her dry lips. 
“I enjoyed it,” he murmured.  “Feel free to take over.”
Ana felt her breath catch in her throat and her eyes moved down over his body again, her mind spinning out of control at the idea of drying off that man’s chest and arms.  And…everything else. 
Prince’s Challenge By E. LennoxWhen she realized what time it was, she looked down, embarrassed to have monopolized the evening so completely.  “I’m sorry.  You’re probably sick of hearing about the escapades of my students.”
“Not at all.  It is refreshing to hear about someone who loves her job.”
She smiled but looked away, unable to hold the intensity of his gaze.  “I’m sure you have other priorities on your time.”
He glanced at his watch.  “I don’t, but you need sleep.  I’ll come get you in the morning for breakfast if that is convenient?”
She shook her head.  “No need,” she told him, standing up and feeling relieved that her muscles held her upright once again.  They would start to wobble soon, but for the moment, she was steady.  She cinched in the tie to the robe, painfully conscious that she had nothing on underneath.  His eyes told her that he was conscious of that fact as well and her whole body heated. 
Thankfully, he didn’t mention her lack of clothing, proceeding on as if she were completely dressed.  “There’s every need,” he said and came around the table.  Taking her hand, he kissed her knuckles gently.  “Until tomorrow morning,” he said.  A moment later, he’d disappeared and she was standing there by the table looking at the now-empty doorway.
Sonya had no idea what was going on, why she was here or why he was spending so much time with her.  She suspected he carried a great deal of responsibility on those broad shoulders.  So why was he spending time with her?  Listening to her drone on about her students and helping her to bathe? 
She walked over to the large bed, still blushing at the memory of his heated eyes looking at her as she stood in the shower area.  She slipped beneath the sheets and, because he was no longer around and she felt “safe”, her mind wondered about how it might feel to have him touch her with more than just his eyes.


BLURB:Get four breath-taking sheik romances from two of your favorite authors - all in the same boxset!

The Sheik’s Challenge by Elizabeth Lennox
When she sings, she sounds like a cat in heat…but Ana, a brilliant mathematician, stuns and surprises Najid del Sabur, Sheik of Safir. Her bright eyes defy him and her smiles sooth him, while her body makes him lust for her. But can he catch her? Can he convince her that her past won’t hurt their future?

The Prince’s Challenge by Elizabeth Lennox
She can’t sit still. She’s beaten every nurse and doctor on her floor at cards. And she’s achingly beautiful. But is she friend or foe? Having been caught in the line of fire by a bullet meant for his brother, Prince Jual del Sabur, Minister of Defense for Safir can’t decide if the lovely Sonya was part of the assassination attempt or innocent and just caught by bad timing. All he knows is that he is definitely caught by her startling eyes and her soft sighs as he explores that question.

The Sheikh's Untraditional Lover by Leslie North
Ultra-traditional and devastatingly handsome Prince Zafar Tadros thinks a business/sports complex is not what is needed for his country—but he believes in helping his family. With the region increasingly doing more business with Western companies, his father Sheikh Ahmadi has ordered this new business/sports complex to be a mix between West and East cultures.

Zafar has decided he will work to integrate as much traditional elements as possible, but Belle Mooney, an innovative American architect has taken her direction from Zafar's father and is going for innovations. The two clash over designs—and only one can win.
The Sheikh's Stubborn Partner by Leslie North
With the deadline fast approaching, playboy Prince Adyan Tadros must supervise the only construction company that will take on the job of building the business/sports center in less than six months. The meticulous Edna Abbey has taken over her father's construction company while he recovers from a stroke, and the last thing she wants to do is rush the project. But with attraction between her and the Prince growing everyday, she may be glad for the distraction...
Book Links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sheiks-Desires-Boxset-Elizabeth-Lennox-ebook/dp/B01COB1MPE/Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sheiks-desires-boxset-elizabeth-lennox/1123496807Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1090935426Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-sheik-s-desires-boxset
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leslie NorthRead FIVE full-length, highly rated Leslie North novellas for FREE! Sign up for free books here: http://leslienorthbooks.com/sign-up-f...
Leslie North is the pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.
The truth of the matter is she loves her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her normal, day-to-day persona! Her bestselling books focus on strong characters and particularly women who aren't afraid to challenge an alpha male. Inspired after years of travel, her stories are set all over the world, from the tough streets of Russia to the beautiful beaches of the middle east.
Leslie fell in love with romance when she first picked up a scrappy, dog-eared romance book from her local library. She began writing soon after and the rest, as they say, was history. She now lives in a cozy cottage on the British coast and enjoys taking long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.
She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don't hesitate to contact her via e-mail: leslie@leslienorthbooks.com.
I'm Social Too:Twitter: @leslienorthbookWebsite: www.leslienorthbooks.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-North/736187383071331

Elizabeth LennoxUSA Today (c) bestselling author Elizabeth Lennox writes contemporary romance novels featuring sheiks, business tycoons, royalty, and other sexy rich men. Her male lead characters are smart, driven and determined, but can still be sensitive and vulnerable. Elizabeth's female lead characters come from a variety of backgrounds. They are strong, intelligent and independent, while still feminine and caring.
Although Elizabeth wanted to be a romance novelist since the eighth grade, that dream only became a (paid) reality for her in 2009 and a full time job in 2012. Along the way, she received a BS in History and held different jobs in the real estate, government consulting, and financial industries. All during that time, though, she was always writing, using her personal experiences, dreams, and travels throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean as backdrops for her stories. To date, she has written over 80 books and sold over 1.7 million copies. Her free novellas have been downloaded over 2.9 million times since 2013.
Elizabeth lives in Virginia with her husband and two children. Their home is just outside of Washington, D.C., and many of her novels are set in this area.

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