Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 210

Interview with Maisey Yates, PART TIME COWBOY

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series? Part Time Cowboy is about a former bad girl returning to her home town. The hero is a deputy sheriff and he…well, he arrested her once during her wild teen years. Now she has a B&B on his ranch and the two are forced to deal with each other, and their unwelcome attraction. While the book centers on Eli and Sadie, the entire Garrett family gets a bit of screen time. This is a series, and it follows each of the Garret siblings and the town of Copper Ridge.
Do you have a favorite character? I have a soft spot for Connor, who you’ll meet in this book, and also in his own book Brokedown Cowboy, coming May 25th.

How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel? I sent my first book straight to the Harlequin slush pile, no agent.  All in all waiting to be read (a long time since it was an unrequested submission) and three rounds of revisions it took 20 months to sell that first book.
What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher? I love the enthusiasm of my editor at HQN. I’m so happy to working on this series with her. She gets my voice and my characters. It’s been a fantastic experience.
Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing? I have a few people who read while I write. Other authors who help me figure out when I’m missing something, or if I haven’t hit a certain emotionally note hard enough. The ability to discuss my book at length with people who understand my process has been so helpful in my books being more fully formed in that initial draft than they would be otherwise.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?  I have three kids, so I listen to music. It’s much less distracting than screaming! J
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? I don’t do official outlines, but I definitely have an idea of the shape of the book. I land somewhere between a plotter and a panster. I’m always willing to let the book take an unexpected turn, but before starting I like an idea of the basic structure of the story, and of the characters.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780373779598
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/part-time-cowboy-maisey-yates/1120348725?ean=9780373779598
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/part-time-cowboy/id933740028?mt=11

Besides writing, do you have any other passions? I’ve dabbled in a lot of things, and writing is the only one that stuck. But I do a bit with music and I have done a lot of painting and drawing. Right now binge watching Supernatural on Netflix is my passion though.
What’s next for you? More cowboys and more billionaires. I’m continuing to write for Harlequin Presents and currently working on another novella in the Copper Ridge series.
 
Book & Author details:Part Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates
(Copper Ridge #1)
Published by: Harlequin
Publication date: March 31st 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:A one-time bad girl comes home to small-town Oregon in the first in a sexy, heartfelt new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Maisey Yates…Sadie Miller isn’t expecting any welcome-home parades on her return to Copper Ridge. Least of all from part-time rancher, full-time lawman Eli Garrett. The straight-laced, impossibly hot deputy sheriff glares at her like she’s the same teenage hoodlum who fled town ten years ago. But running from her demons has brought Sadie full circle, ready to make a commitment at last. Not to a man, but to a B and B. On Garrett land. Okay, so her plan has a tiny flaw…Eli works too hard to let a blonde ball of trouble mess up his town. But keeping an eye on Sadie makes it tough to keep his hands off her. And if she’s so wrong for him, why does being with her feel so right?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23214382-part-time-cowboy?ac=1
Purchase: --Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373779593/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0373779593&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/part-time-cowboy-maisey-yates/1120348725?ean=9780373779598

AUTHOR BIO:USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Author links:http://www.maiseyyates.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3430431.Maisey_Yateshttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Maisey-Yates-Romance-Author/291445138063https://twitter.com/maiseyyates
Giveaway:
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One Grand Prize: An eBook of Shoulda Been a Cowboy by Maisey Yates and an Amazon Gift Card for $25  
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Interview with Judith Works, CITY OF ILLUSIONS

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
City of Illusions is a story of a wife who longs for a change – Laura’s marriage has grown stale, she is childless, and her career is going nowhere. She is nearing 30 and life is passing quickly. Determined to find a more interesting life, she talks her husband into moving to Rome, Italy where she has found a one-year job. He decides he will take up painting while she works. They expect to find la dolce vita waiting for them but Rome has different plans – life suddenly becomes complicated as it swings from dull to dramatic as their paths diverge. The novel is stand-alone although some readers have suggested I continue the Laura’s story.

What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?
I considered attempting to find an agent, but because of the long process involved and the uncertain results I submitted to a small press, Booktrope, who accepted the manuscript for publication. They are what is called a team publisher with the book manager, editor, proofreader, cover designer and publicist all sharing in costs and profits. So far it is working well.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
Booktrope has a large selection of cover designers who contract with them. I contacted Greg Simanson who had excellent recommendations and whose covers I liked. I gave him some concepts to work with – I wanted a cover similar in style to the cover for my memoir about living in Rome, Coins in the Fountain, but with emphasis on the title of the book, City of Illusions. He came up with several concepts and I tried them out on friends. After about 4 tries we settled on the current cover which has received good reviews.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?I do most of my writing in my office. I have the local classical music station on as a background. My office is filled with inspiration – mementos of Italy in the form of posters, photos, and a large collection of books about Rome and Italy.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?I did a basic outline of the story, particularly the beginning and end. Then I let the characters take over to find their own paths. And when their paths diverged I let them deal with the results of their decisions.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?I hired two different editors during the writing process. After the first one made a number of comments I did a big re-write and then hired a different editor to have a fresh look.  

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I arranged a book launch at our local bookstore, appearances at writing groups, and book clubs. I have also had interviews for local papers, and my blog tour will be launching in March. I am on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and have a website. My blog (http://aLittleLightExercise.blogspot.com) is devoted to travel stories from my journeys around the world.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?I do find it difficult. All advice is to be on social media but it is time consuming. As a consequence the draft of my next book is gathering dust. I plan to get back to it as soon as the blog tour is over. (And my home needs dusting!)

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?All writing is hard work whether it is eventually published by one of the big five or by Create Space.
My memoir was self-published. Self-publishing in many ways is the same as professional publishing because you must have a good cover, and editing and proofreading are essential along with correct formatting. Therefore it is not cost free unless you are especially gifted. Self-publishing does have one advantage if it is an e-book: you can correct any errors you might find and upload again. And I think it is useful as a first step if you aspire to eventually securing an agent because you will learn a lot about the business as you go through the steps to getting your book out there.  
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
I travel when I am not writing or volunteering for literary and arts organizations and writing. So many places to go, so little time! Last year my husband and I traveled in North America; this year we will be going abroad again to Italy and other locations. I will be seeking locations to place my characters in as the plot moves along. A good excuse to jump on a plane!
   BLURB:A yearning for change puts Laura on the road to Rome but her marital problems, muted in cool Seattle, become magnified in the glare of the Roman sun. Will she find happiness in the Eternal City or are her dreams only an illusion?
AUTHOR Bio and Links:Life was routine until the author decided to get a law degree. Then a chance meeting led her to run away to the Circus (Maximus) – actually to the United Nations office next door – where she worked as an attorney in the HR department and entered the world of expat life in Rome. The ten years of happy and sometimes fraught experiences are the subject of her memoir, Coins in the Fountain. She continues to travel, having visited over 100 countries in between many journeys to Italy where she always tosses a coin in the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return to Rome. Judith and her husband now live near Seattle where she is working on her second novel.www.facebook.com/judithworksauthorwww.aLittleLightExercise.blogspot.comwww.judithworks.net
Twitter:  @judithworks
BOOK TRAILER: bit.ly/COIYouTubeTrailer  OR  http://youtu.be/8EsGi2sdVII
Background:Judith has a BS in Psychology, M Public Administration, JD from Lewis & Clark School of Law.  She has spent most of her career in Human Resources administration.  Judith is a member of Northwest Women Writers, past President of Edmonds Friends of the Library, board member for Edmonds Center of the Arts, vice-president EPIC Group Writers, and a member of PNWA and Willamette Writers.
Links to purchase City of Illusions:bit.ly/COI-Amazonbit.ly/COI-BarnesN

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/2015/01/vbt-city-of-illusions-by-judith-works.html
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Q&A with Rebecca Rode, NUMBERS GAME

Q: Will you tell us about Numbers Game?A: Absolutely! In the New Order Republic of America, 16-year-olds are given a Rating, a number that encompasses what they’re worth to society. It determines their career, living conditions, and potential partners. This is the story of Treena, who gets a different Rating than the one she earned. She decides to fight for what is rightfully hers, determined to get her boyfriend back in the process.
Meanwhile, she meets Vance, a mysterious prisoner-turned-soldier who has his own agenda. When someone tries to kill Treena—twice—they uncover a dark conspiracy that risks much more than Treena’s Rating.
Q: Great. You probably get this question a lot, but the concept is so unique that I have to ask—where did you get the idea for Numbers Game? A: I love this question! My husband sent me to the bank to finalize the loan on the truck he was buying. I looked at my credit score and thought how strange it was that one number was supposed to incorporate everything about me—my purchase history, how reliable I’d been, whether they could trust me to make payments, that sort of thing. And then I thought how strange it was, that we as citizens are so trusting of the accuracy of that little number, and how important it is in our lives. It spiraled from there—what is someone was manipulating the numbers? What if the number included appearance and intelligence rather than just financial history? It didn’t take long for the plot to unfold in my mind.
Q: What type of reader would like this book?A: I tell people that it’s like a thriller version of The Scarlet Letter, but set in the future. With bombs. And kissing. Dystopian fans who like Divergent, Hunger Games,and Matched would love it.
Q: Who is your favorite character and why?A: At first, Tali was my favorite. She knows exactly what she wants and doesn’t put up with anything. But now that the book is done, I think Vance has overtaken her as my favorite. The way he sees the world and struggles to survive while torn between two worlds really resonates with me.
Q: What was your favorite part of the writing process? What was the hardest?A: I really enjoyed taking an idea and running with it. Once I had the world solidified in my head, it was fun to explore all the different aspects of it—political, social, financial, emotional, etc. I wrote myself into a dozen corners because I was just having too much fun.
The hardest part? Probably the time it took to finish it. When I began writing Numbers Game in 2012, I was also juggling a journalism career and three kids, and then my nonfiction book was accepted for publication, so that took all my remaining hours. When my fourth child was born, everything came to a screeching halt for a while. It wasn’t until Numbers Game won first place in a statewide writing contest in that I decided to buckle down and get serious with it.
Q: Why did you decide to make it a series instead of a stand-alone book? A: You know how some authors say that their characters grab hold of the story and steer it in a different direction without their permission? That’s kind of what happened here. It just couldn’t end with this book. There was so much more that needed to be explored. Besides, Treena had a little more growing to do, and I think you’ll love the person that she becomes.
Q: Thanks for joining us. Where can we find out more?A: Visit my website at www.AuthorRebeccaRode.comor sign up for my monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bdwUKL.I give away free stuff sometimes, if you’re into that type of thing. But remember, Numbers Game is only discounted on Amazon for a few days, so you may want to snatch it up quick.


Book & Author Details:Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode
Publication date: March 16th 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Synopsis:Treena can’t wait for Rating Day. Her high score will mean a life of luxury, showing the world that she’s a valuable member of society, not a pathetic waste of space. It won’t hurt her chances with her top-Rated boyfriend, either. But when the big day arrives, her true number shocks everyone.To get her life—and boyfriend—back, she must go undercover and expose a military spy. Doesn’t sound too hard, except that someone seems to want her dead. And then there’s the mysterious soldier with a haunted past and beautiful brown eyes. Together, they discover a dark numbers conspiracy, one that shatters the nation’s future. They must band together if they are to survive the dangerous game of numbers—and the terrible war that rages within Treena’s heart.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24893016-numbers-game
Purchase:--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UKDWTPG?tag=smarturl-20

AUTHOR BIO:REBECCA RODE is an award-winning author, journalist, and mother of four. She is the author of the YA dystopian novel, NUMBERS GAME, and the inspirational book, HOW TO HAVE PEACE WHEN YOU'RE FALLING TO PIECES. She also writes for Deseret News, KSL.com, FamilyShare, and Provo Daily Herald. However, her true love is writing for teenagers. She enjoys traveling, reading, and martial arts, and she has a ridiculous addiction  to chocolate-banana shakes. Visit her at www.AuthorRebeccaRode.com.
Author Links: http://www.authorrebeccarode.com/https://www.facebook.com/authorrebeccarodehttps://twitter.com/RebeccaRode



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#Review: SING FOR ME, Gracie Madison

5 of 5 stars
I was first drawn to this book by the beautiful cover. A story about Angels and Demons, how could I resist and I have to say that I was not disappointed in the least. Ms. Madison has a lovely flowing and lyrical way with her writing. The reader is first introduced to Madeline Noel during one of the Eden Theatre's final rehearsals, but immediately, you can sense something is wrong. Madeline is keeping a tight rein on her emotions and for good reason. She's a Choir, a magnificent angel created solely for the purpose of singing the most beautiful and haunting notes for heaven and earth alike. She's hiding in human form as war rages on in the Realm. Evil is hunting all of the Choirs and it doesn't take long for Corinth's evil minions to find Madeline. She is saved by her demon hunter Damascus. He wants her to flee, but Madeline doesn't want to abandon the production with only days before opening night.
The relationship the author creates between Madeline and Damascus is beautiful and heart-wrenching as they're forbidden to acknowledge feelings or their undying love for each other. Back and forth they wrestle with control and Ms. Madison is masterful in bringing their struggle to life. Throw in an over-worked production assistant, aka a new prophet, a truly evil demon and two more Angel Demon Hunters and the cast is full of equally interesting and deep characters. I couldn't put the book down, it was that compelling. I absolutely recommend this book and I can't wait for the next installment! Highly Recommended.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.


Book & Author details:Sing For Me by Gracie Madison
Publication date: January 23rd 2015
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:Madeline Noel fled war-torn Heaven to hide within the mortal world, but the blessing that could protect her from evil is the holy realm’s forbidden power.
As a talented soprano for the Eden Theatre Company, Madeline hides among prima donnas and tone-deaf flutists. Her perfect voice may entertain audiences, but a careless laugh may shatter glass, and her greatest scream can kill. To control her unrestrained voice, the angels forbid Madeline from embracing the emotions that strengthen her song. Anger. Fear.
Love.
The demon-hunter Damascus vows to defend Madeline from Hell’s relentless evil, but he cannot protect her from her own feelings. Though they deny their dangerous attraction, her guardian becomes her greatest temptation. Surrendering to desire may awaken the gift suppressed within Madeline’s soul, and neither Heaven nor Hell will allow such absolute power to exist.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23314885-sing-for-me
Amazon buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Me-Angels-Arias-Book-ebook/dp/B00SIH53YU


AUTHOR BIO:Gracie Madison would spend every day, all day writing…if it were socially acceptable.  Ever since she was a little girl scribbling with a crayon, Gracie’s dedicated herself to her books and all the supernatural and paranormal, creepy and beautiful stories and characters born within the pages. Now Gracie is committed to finally sharing those books with the world.  When the laptop is pried from her hands, Gracie is probably working her day job, rooting on the Steelers, or out with her husband searching for Pittsburgh’s best sushi.
Author links:https://www.facebook.com/GracieMadisonAuthorhttps://twitter.com/authorgraciehttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8620804.Gracie_Madison






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Q&A with Charlotte Hubbard, HARVEST OF BLESSINGS

Have you ever had an imaginary friend? When you consider how many hours of most days I spend in my imagination, and how many story worlds I’ve created over the thirty years I’ve been a published writer, I’ve had hundreds of imaginary friends! Why, just in EMMA BLOOMS AT LAST, I’ve created twelve in the Brubaker bunch, four in Emma Graber’s family, eight in Abby Lambright’s family—not to mention the Yutzy clan, the Ropps, the Nissleys, the Masts, and other neighbors who have figured into this series over its four books.
And for each of the series (or stand-alone books) I’ve written, I’ve created a collage of pictures from magazines so I can keep better track of all these people and what they look like, sort of. Each time I begin a new book, or switch from writing a story in one Amish series to writing for the other one, I put the appropriate collage on the wall above my computer. Those imaginary friends keep me focused on whose story I’m telling, and remind me which world I’m living in as I write.
My mind’s a very busy, populated, exciting place! It sure beats dealing with reality full-time.
Do you have any pets? Yes, but don’t tell Ramona she’s a dog! Does her nickname, “Ramona, Ruler of the Universe” clue you in to her place in the family . . . and to my place?
I have always had dogs (or rather, they have had me). When I was 9, I got a collie puppy in my Christmas stocking and Fluff lived until the week before I took my first teaching job, when I was 21! Shortly after Neal and I married, we had an Irish setter: beautiful dog, but Heidi was usually headed in the opposite direction at a full run whenever you called her.
Then we adopted a pound puppy, a border collie-mix we called Kelly. Wonderful dog—quite the Frisbee whiz—and she was way smarter than I was. Ramona also came from a shelter, and I found her on PetFinders.com. Soon as I saw that little black face with the white blaze, I knew I had to drive the two hours to the adoption event to claim her. Now she’s my office manager—herds me down to my office each day to supervise me while I write.
Where do you get your best ideas? Ideas come at me from a lot of places—research, visiting towns/homes like the ones I’m writing about, newspaper pieces sometimes. For these Amish stories, I often get nuggets from The Budget, the newspaper for/about Amish and Mennonite settlements all over the country. Mostly, ideas come at me from the ether, out of nowhere, and it’s my job to filter out the ones that won’t flesh out into book material, or just won’t sell to an editor.
The better question is when do I get my ideas, because quite often whole chunks of dialog and sections of a story will fall into place when I’m in that semi-awake state that happens when you wake up at 3 in the morning and can’t doze off again. A lot of times, characters in my series generate backstory and help me concoct other people in their families to write about. Family “secrets” are also a great source for story lines!
BLURB:She certainly has no time for her reckless new neighbor Luke Hooley. They disagree about almost everything. And how can she trust him if he always seems to believe the worst about her? Somehow, though, his unexpected support and passionate heart are helping her find her own way in faith. And Nora will discover that even in the face of insidious lies and unyielding judgment, God creates unexpected chances for forgiveness—and love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Drawing upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi, longtime Missourian Charlotte Hubbard writes of simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle in her Seasons of the Heart series. Like her heroine, Miriam Lantz Hooley, Charlotte considers it her personal mission to feed people. Faith and family, farming and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle. She’s a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and when she’s not writing, she loves to try new recipes, crochet, and sew. Charlotte now lives in Minnesota with her husband and their border collie.
Seasons of the Heart, Book 5
Zebra (February 24, 2015)
ISBN-13: 9781420133097 •• ISBN-10: 1420133098

Click on these links to buy this book now!
• The Book Depository •• Amazon•• Barnes & Noble •
• B-A-M •• Chapters•• IndieBound •• Powell’s •• Kensington Books •
Ebook: • Kensington Books •• Kindle•• Kobo•• iBooks•
www.CharlotteHubbard.com
Facebook page =  Charlotte.Hubbard1
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/2015/01/virtual-book-tour-harvest-of-blessings.html

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#Excerpt: RECONCILED FOR EASTER by Noelle Adams

She was leaning back against the counter, and Thomas was standing far too close to her. Once again invading her personal space. And this time she easily recognized his tone as snide. “What the heck is your problem?”
Thomas had one hand on the counter beside her, bracing himself as he stood just a few inches away from her. She would have scooted over, but that would have been a surrender.
His green eyes were intent on her face, and she saw his nostrils flare just a little. “You smell like him.”
Abigail gasped, mostly from shock and outrage but also with the faintest trace of arousal at the intimacy of the words. “What?”
“I said,” he gritted out, edging even closer until the fabric of his shirt brushed against her arm and one of her breasts, “you smell like him.”
“Well, what do you expect?” she demanded, her anger blazing quickly. No one could rile her up like Thomas could. “I spent the evening with the man.”
Something grew even tenser in his expression. “Did you?”
She knew him well enough to understand the resonance in his words. “Damn you, Thomas,” she said in a harsh whisper, making sure her voice didn’t carry past the kitchen. She’d never used such language before they’d gotten separated. “You have no right to act this way.”
Clearly Thomas too was conscious of not waking Mia, since his murmur was thick, rough, and soft. “I’d like to remind you of the fact that you’re still my wife.”
“And what makes you think I need any sort of reminder of that?
His lips tightened into white. “I saw him walk you to the door.”
She sucked in an indignant breath and clenched her fists at her sides. Thomas was still far too close. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, sense the leashed tension in his stance, hear the fast, uneven breaths he was taking. “So someone isn’t allowed to be polite to me now, because I’m still your wife?”
Thomas made a guttural sound and braced his other hand on the counter, imprisoning her in between his arms. He leaned forward, pushing her back, and he rasped against her ear. “That man wasn’t just being polite. You know it as well as I do.”
She was so angry now she could hardly think straight, and it was worse to know that he was right. She’d been foolish in not recognizing what Jim was thinking long before now.
But worst of all was a familiar feeling building beneath her belly. She knew how to recognize it. Knew it was triggered by the proximity of Thomas’s lean, hard body, his familiar scent flooding her senses, his piercing eyes and thick voice.
Her body was primed for sex with him, even as she wanted to scratch lines down his slightly flushed face.~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blurb:Abigail has been separated from her husband for almost two years. After a marriage that brought her only insecurity, she seeks a life now of peace and independence with their six-year-old daughter. Thomas wants to put their marriage back together, because he liked the wife he used to have, but she never wants to be that person again.
She might need his help with their daughter and start to enjoy his company again, but she just can't trust him with her heart. Even when she discovers that her heart still wants him for a husband.~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
Social Media:Website: http://noelle-adams.com/Home_Page.htmlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoelleAdamsAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/NoelleAdams3Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572847.Noelle_Adams

Book Trailer for Reconciled for Easter:http://youtu.be/uRCv460Clr0
Buy links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Reconciled-Easter-Willow-Park-Book-ebook/dp/B00T57NJZ2/Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reconciled-for-easter-noelle-adams/1121154581?ean=2940151664592&itm=1&usri=2940151664592iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id964299568Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/reconciled-for-easter

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/2015/02/book-blast-reconciled-for-easter-by.html

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A Conversation with Lauren Oliver, VANISHING GIRLS

Q: VANISHING GIRLS focuses on the complicated nature of sisterhood. What compelled you to write about that? A: I’ve always wanted to write about sisters and been attracted to sister stories, undoubtedly because I have a sister. She’s older than I am and was both the scaffold around which I built my identity and also the source of my greatest anguishes and anger. I always think of siblings like those trees you see occasionally that have grown around something else, a foreign object; they’ve absorbed it and at the same time it’s a completely alien, other thing. That’s really the story I wanted to tell in VANISHING GIRLS, about the complexity not just of sisterhood but of all closeness, and the intertwining of need and resentment, admiration and anger.
Q: It’s remarkable how often two siblings from the same parents, brought up the same way, look so different and can have diametrically opposed personalities. Nick and Dara are a perfect example. You have a sister yourself – how are you alike, how are you different? A: I don’t think it’s remarkable. I think it’s actually intrinsic to the formation of identity--siblings learn to be themselves as they begin to differentiate themselves from their sisters and brothers. So the differentiation is actually built into the very core of the development of a sense of self. Lizzie and I are no exception. We share a sense of humor, for sure, and we’re both big readers. We love the outdoor and physical activity. But in many other ways, we’re extremely different. I’m an extrovert and she’s an introvert; she is much more intellectual than I am, and I’m more social than she; she’s a committed vegan, I’m an ecstatic meat-eater; she’s religious, I’m not. The list goes on.
Q: Nick and Dara are hotly competitive in every aspect of their lives, but especially when it comes to boys. Does this stem from any personal experience you want to share?A: I never competed with my sister overtly for boys--we were too far apart in age, and she certainly would never have been interested in any of my friends. But I did often fall in love with and idealize the guys she dated or hung out with; I sought romantic and sexual attention from them as a way of bridging the gap between our ages and also, perversely, as a way of actually trying to get closer to my sister by obliterating the gap between us.
Q: Much of the book is set at a dilapidated amusement park called FanLand. What was it about using that setting that appealed or interested you? A: You know, it’s funny. Settings choose you just as much as characters do—the best settings become characters, in a way. I always knew the story of these sisters had to be set in an amusement park, perhaps because of its themes of disillusionment. Much of the book deals with what things are versus what they appear to be, and about our perceptions and beliefs and their ability to distort reality. So maybe an amusement park, which depends on illusion and belief, is the obvious choice.
Q: What was it like to write a novel through two different perspectives?  How did you keep Nick and Dara straight in your mind as you wrote the narrative?  A: They’re entirely different people. I would never have confused them any more than I would confuse my two best friends for each other. Besides, I’d just finished an adult novel in which there were seven major narrators--two was easy!
Q: VANISHING GIRLS is your tenth full-length published book.  How did your previous novels inform and influence it? A: Double digits! Very exciting. My writing has certainly changed since my early books, I hope for the better. My interests have changed. I’ve shaken off some bad habits (but likely picked up others). It’s impossible to say exactly how much every novel informs the one that succeeds it, but there is certainly a strengthening effect to the cumulative practice of writing.
Q: You’ve written books for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers.  How do you do your research and what do you focus on when writing for different age groups?  A: Whether I do research or not depends not on the age group for which I’m writing but on the book itself, and that’s really true of the entire process—books have their own inner rhythm and demands, internal exigencies and places to be explored. I don’t ever consciously make decisions based on its intended audience.
Q: You are also deeply involved in the business side of publishing as a successful entrepreneur running your own book packaging company, Paper Lantern Lit.  How do you balance the time and energies that go into wearing your business and artistic hats?  A: Some days it’s very, very difficult. Like anyone else who balances multiple roles--a working mother or working father, a serious hobbyist of any sport who has to spend hours a week practicing--there are times where I feel pulled apart and overwhelmed. But creativity fuels creativity: I’m very inspired by my work and lucky to be able to do it for a living. I do run a business but we’ve built such an atypical company with such a flexible and innovative approach that I never feel it’s too distinctly different from my writing life.
Q: We’ve seen waves of popularity for dystopian, supernatural, and realistic storytelling when it comes to young adult fiction.  Any predictions for the next YA craze?  A: My deepest, profound hope is that the alchemically appealing idea of a “craze”--which I truly believe is driven more by the people at the editorial and publishing helm and by the limitations of the industry, as opposed to by readership--will be abandoned by the people whose job it is to produce great books. Trend-driven publishing leads to a landscape barren of so much richness and depth. So I’m hoping the next craze will be a continued diffusion in the YA space, until there is a continued and sustainable hunger for various different sub-genres of book as there is in the adult space.
Q: What can you share about what readers can look forward to in your next book?  A:  I’m thrilled that in the fall I’ll be releasing the first in a series of books for middle-grade readers, called CURIOSITY HOUSE: The Shrunken Head. The book is about four extraordinary children who live in a museum of freaks and oddities, and was coauthored by the brilliant (and quite strange, to be honest) H. C. Chester. And in Spring 2016, I’ll have another teen standalone.   
Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Girls-Lauren-Oliver-ebook/dp/B00KVHZVI8 
Author bio:
Lauren Oliver was born Laura Suzanne Schechter in Queens, New York, and raised in Westchester, in a small town very similar to the one depicted in Before I Fall. Her parents are both literature professors (her father is true crime writer Harold Schechter) and from a very early age, she was encouraged to make up stories, draw, paint, dance around in costumes, and essentially spend much of her time living imaginatively. She pursued literature and philosophy at the University of Chicago, and then moved back to New York to attend NYU’s MFA program in creative writing. She also worked at Penguin Books, in a young adult division called Razorbill, and while there started writing Before I Fall . She left in 2009 to pursue writing full-time and now happily works at home in Brooklyn, New York. She is also the co-founder of the boutique literary development company, Paper Lantern Lit.
Visit her website www.laurenoliverbooks.comand follow her on Twitter: @OliverBooks.[image error]

#Excerpt: IMPOSSIBLE PROMISE by Sybil Bartel

Excerpt:      I never was one for dreams. Nightmares, yes, but never any of the good stuff dreams are made of. I didn’t fly or soar or relive sweet memories of my parents. I didn’t dream of knights in shining armor or fairy tale endings. I only got the heart-stopping, panic-inducing, sweat-slicked visions of being hunted, chased, mauled, beaten and left for dead. So when I dreamed I was on the hot sands of Miami Beach, drunk with sunscreen fumes, the sun a leaden weight on my stomach, I knew something was up. I shifted, wondering how long I’d been lying out frying myself, when I heard a moan. Then a large, warm hand cupped my breast.       My eyes flew open.      Sexy day-old stubble covering a chiseled jaw surrounded the fullest lips I’d ever seen. Long, dark lashes rested on high cheekbones and before I could think what the hell, Buck’s ice-blue eyes opened and met mine. In the next instant, he raised himself up on one arm, pushed my knees apart with his leg and settled between my thighs. Unmistakable rigid heat pressed against the nothing barrier of my panties and his boxers.       He dropped his eyes and growled low in his throat.       My back arched and my eyes fluttered shut as his thumb glanced across my nipple.       “Not a good idea.” My pathetic attempt at a protest through flared nostrils and a clenched jaw sounded more like a plea any porn star would be proud of.      “Layna,” Buck breathed, leaving open-mouth kisses along my neck and collarbone.      Forcing myself not to reach for him, my fingers curled into the sheets. “Buck.” I tried to issue his name in warning, but I sounded breathless.      His lips, his teeth, found my ear.      “Aaaahhhh.” Jeez, that wasn’t playing fair. He felt so good that in about two seconds I wouldn’t have any self-control left. “Stop,” I begged, squeezing my eyes shut.      Instantly, he stilled.      Okay, think, think, think. Use your head, use your head. Oh my God, his musky, sexy scent, his body heat, his legs against mine, nothing felt better. But I had to stop him. I wasn’t doing this. I couldn’t. Inhaling, stealing my resolve, I opened my eyes.       Piercing, haunted eyes were staring down at me with so much need that I knew. I knew I was seeing the real Blaze Johnson. Not the warrior, but the man.       I touched his cheek. “Are you okay?”      Chest heaving, he said nothing.       My fingers skimmed across features that had been hardened by responsibility. He looked weary and vulnerable and stoic and I wanted him more than I wanted my next breath. “Talk to me.”      “I made you a promise.” Anger tainted the deep quiet of his voice.      He’d made me a lot of promises in the past twelve hours, all of them impossible. My hands wrapped around his neck. “I know.” But I wasn’t sure I cared. I pulled myself up to his lips and kissed the corner of his mouth.       Elbows straight, muscles tense, Buck didn’t move.       My fingers curled in his hair, my tongue swept across his ear, and I feathered kisses along his jaw.       The muscles in his neck strained.      I pulled at his bottom lip with my teeth.       His body came crashing down on mine, his forearms went to either side of my head and he caged me in. His lips parted with a fierce groan and he took control like he owned me.      Buck’s kiss wasn’t a kiss—it was a possession I felt to my very soul. Every breath in his presence was one more step away from who I was before I met him. And when his hips surged forward for one torturous tease of all he had to offer, my lips tore away from his with a desperate cry of need. I didn’t want to stop this. Not anymore.       Raising his head, trapping me in the intensity of his stare, he rocked forward again.       And fear splintered through me.      This was what we would be like together. My desire, his need, my desperation, his promises, I felt every inch of it and I felt my heart—slipping away into his arms. Arms that would be gone in a matter of days. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t give him the last thing I had to give. There would be no coming back. “I can’t do this,” I said frantically.      “Do what?” Buck ran his nose across my cheek and kissed below my ear.      “Casual sex.” It was easier than explaining I had nothing to give.      He met my eyes. “I don’t want casual sex.”


Book & Author Details:Impossible Promise by Sybil Bartel
(Impossible Promise #1)
Published by: Carina Press (HQN)
Publication date: March 23rd 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:Three years ago, Layna Blair listened in horror over a telephone line as her parents were murdered. When the killer said she was next, Layna panicked and made a deadly deal—his secret in exchange for her life. She’s paid the price every day since, becoming a prisoner in plain sight.
Marine Sergeant Blaze Johnson offers Layna a way out—her freedom, his rules, no questions asked—and she takes it, despite knowing what her keepers do to people who get too close. She doesn’t know Blaze is fighting his own demons or that beneath his warrior façade is a man on the verge of breaking.
Embarking on a wild revenge mission with Blaze and his smooth-talking best friend, Talon, is not what Layna signed on for. But attempting to run when Blaze has made no secret he intends to make her his is a reckless mistake. With the killer closing in, it’s up to Blaze to save them all—and to Layna to realize that she’s risked the one thing she can’t afford to lose.
Book one of two / 93,000 wordsHeat level: Steamy; not for under 17, it has open door sex scenes.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23595431-impossible-promise?ac=1
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1590597631161137/
Purchase:--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OHVLTXK/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_ca-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=330641--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/impossible-promise-sybil-bartel/1120548897?ean=9781426899676--iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/impossible-promise/id961195293?mt=11--Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/impossible-promise

AUTHOR BIO:I grew up in Northern California with my head in a book and my feet in the sand. I dreamt of becoming a painter but the heady scent of libraries with their shelves full of books drew me into the world of storytelling. I love the New Adult genre, but any story about a love so desperately wrong and impossibly beautiful makes me swoon.
I now live in Southern Florida and while I don’t get to read as much as I like, I still bury my toes in the sand. If I’m not writing or fighting to contain the banana plantation in my backyard, you can find me spending time with my handsomely tattooed husband, my brilliantly practical son and a mischievous miniature boxer…But Seriously?Here are ten things you probably really want to know about me.I grew up a faculty brat. I can swear like a sailor. I love men in uniform. I hate being told what to do. I can do your taxes (but don’t ask). The Bird Market in Hong Kong freaks me out. My favorite word is desperate…or dirty, or both—I can’t decide. I have a thing for muscle cars. But never rely on me for driving directions, ever. And I have a new book boyfriend every week—don’t tell my husband.

Author Links: https://twitter.com/SybilBartelhttp://sybilbartel.com/https://www.facebook.com/sybilbartelauthorhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7893521.Sybil_Bartel

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New #Fantasy release: THE FAIRY TALES, ONCE UPON A TIME LESSONS, Book 1 by Michelle Snyder

The Fairy Tales is a series of four short books presenting fifty-two wonder tales, one for each week of a year based on the phases of the moon: new, first quarter, full, and last quarter. There are thirteen classic fairy tales in each book; stories within a story. Once a week teacher Mother Merlina tells a tale to Fair One, who is taught important things with a fanciful story of character and struggle, fate and fortune, wisdom and foolery. The stories are archetypal in nature, and as such are universal in their import and message. Some are long, some are very short, but all are full of fanciful characters, magic, and wondrous events. 
Once upon a time , in a great kingdom by the sea, there lived a young Fair One. In order that she might receive the best education and become a just and compassionate leader, the young princess sat with her tutor Mother Merlina once a week. Together they would spend hours by the window which looked out upon a vast ocean and its rolling waves, and the wise woman would tell our Fair One the most important stories of all time while the princess looked at a picture from the box with the silken wrap. In it were parchments of colorful pictures, one for each story, made long ago by an unknown artist. They were a treasure. Over the weeks to come many wonderful pictures would be enjoyed. Each quarter of a year, Mother Merlina would begin a series of stories to teach the young princess about the moon, as well as some very important lessons about life; perfect for reading to young children. Classic fairy tales in book one: Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, Beauty & the Beast, The Blue Bird, Bremen Town Musicians, Cinderella, The Donkey, the Table, & the Stick, The Elves & the Shoemaker, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Fair One with the Golden Locks, The Fish & the Ring, The Fisherman & His Wife, The Frog Prince, The Golden Bird
Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tales-Once-Upon---Time-Lessons-ebook/dp/B00S4D0XTS 
Author bio:

Michelle earned her post-graduate degree at the University of Wales, decoding prehistoric images, mythology, folklore, and fairy tales and tracing them to their roots. She is an author, columnist, publisher, artist, and teacher. Her artwork, inspired by her love of symbolism and folklore, has appeared in galleries from Massachusetts to California. Michelle is co-owner of White Knight Studio.  
You see all of Michelle's other books at her Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Snyder/e/B004ZOHKFA[image error]

Book Tour Blast: A PATH IN THE DARKNESS by M.D. Cooper

The colony ship Intrepid is falling into a star. The ship’s AI has lost control of the engines and core systems. Battling a saboteur who strives to isolate him, his last act is to wake Colonel Tanis Richards from stasis. Tanis finds herself alone on a dying ship, unable to contact the AI. She must discover what has happened and save the Intrepid from burning up in the star’s angry red light. Even if she is successful, the journey to the colony world of New Eden is just beginning. With decades of travel ahead, she will have to find a path in the darkness.
 Buy on Amazon Put Path in the Darkness on your TBR list here 
  About the author:Michael Cooper has been writing since the day he closed Return of the King and wanted more. He's written a lot of fantasy that he never tried to get published, but one day decided to try his hand at science fiction, of which he has published one book (Outsystem) and is working on the sequel, A Path in the Darkness. Michael is a software engineer at a company which builds sites and services around the open-source CMS named Drupal and enjoys the creativity involved in building web applications. When not writing stories or code Michael is spending time with his wife and daughter, or doing carpentry--a hobby which he has been growing over the years. His other interests include astronomy, cars and racing, blacksmithing, movies, and just about any creative work one can do.
 Follow M.D. Cooper:Facebook / Website / Amazon   a Rafflecopter giveaway[image error]