Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 239

Are you a GOOD Beta Reader?

Have you volunteered to be a beta reader and then not known what you should do exactly?

I've had the pleasure of beta reading for authors whose writing I adore and they don't want to hear sugar-coated praise, "THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!"  or "I LOVED IT!" with no other commentary on the story. Now, the book could be awesome, but is every scene, character or theme of the book awesome? Probably not and that's where beta readers are worth their weight in gold. 

Here's some of the points I like to make when beta reading.
First, did the story grab me and hold my attention to the end? If not, where did my interest wander away from the story? Was there too much of an info dump at the beginning of the book? Did the descriptions go on and on and on? Were any of the characters totally unbelievable in the actions especially with how they were written within the story?Was the ending satisfying? Did the major plot points get resolved? Now this doesn't mean that every problem thrown at the characters need to be resolved especially if the book is part of a series, but rather, did 1 or 2 major obstacles become resolved while leaving a cliff hanger for the next book.I like to beta read a story in a word document with "track changes" on. This way I can point out things as I go along. I also love to comment on scenes that are, in fact, totally awesome! I also can catch typos and mark them for the author, but this is not the primary function of the beta reader. Most authors send their books to a professional editor for their final copy editing so beta readers need not worry about these things. If you beta read the story on your kindle, you can easily highlight sections that don't quite work for you.In the end, beta readers help a story become stronger and TOTALLY AWESOME! I have some fantastic beta readers who have graciously given their time and their opinions for our current book, WITCH'S CURSE. They have made the book better while pointing out parts that didn't work for them. That's exactly what we were looking for. No sugar coating wanted here!

Book Tour Blast: MAIL ORDER BRIDE by Ann Glynn

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anne will be awarding an eBook copy of The Runaway Mail-Order Bride to a randomly drawn commenter in their choice of format at each stop during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Remember, the more stops you visit and comment, the better your chances to win.

She thought she’d met the man of her dreams. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

His letters had won her heart. Leaving everything behind, Lisa Hanlon is ready to start a new life in the West. Sheriff Donald Skroch is attractive, influential, and eager to wed his mail-order bride. Shortly after arriving in Tate City, Lisa discovers that he's also short-tempered, violent and possessive…and she’s soon fleeing for California, desperate to escape the man she’s promised to marry.

Arriving at a broken-down ranch in the middle of nowhere, Lisa is only seeking a place to hide. She’s dismayed to discover a rugged drifter, Pearce Folsom, in one of the outbuildings. Burdened with secrets of his own, Pearce hides the truth of his past but not his attraction to Lisa. When he steals a burning kiss during the middle of a midnight storm, Lisa knows this handsome cowboy wants more from her than she is ready to give. She can’t truly offer her heart until she is finally and forever free from Donald.

Then, one terrible day, a telegram arrives: FOUND YOU.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

Lisa had to accept the darker reason why she wanted Pearce to remain nearby.

I can’t be alone when Donald arrives.

Presented with an audience, Donald pretended to be who he wasn’t. He shook hands and slapped backs, presenting himself as everyone’s favorite good fellow. It was only when the audience drifted out of sight that he smiled his shark’s smile.

Only in the shadows that he felt free to do as he wished.

Warned by his telegram, she knew Donald would arrive in Wyatt Ridge shortly. There would be a badge on his chest, likely granting him a few favors from the town’s officials, but he carried no legal authority in this part of the country. In this place, he couldn’t indulge his appetites and expect that others would pretend indifference to his behavior.

When he rode up to the ranch, he’d expect to find her there alone. He wouldn’t be prepared to meet Pearce Folsom. Whatever else he might be, Pearce wasn’t a man who frightened easily. When her derringer was at his throat, he didn’t flinch. His voice didn’t quaver and his hand didn’t tremble.

He wasn’t afraid of danger. She suspected he wouldn’t be intimidated by the gleam of a silver badge, either.

If she could convince him to stay at the ranch, his presence alone might buy her some time. Time enough, perhaps, to convince Donald to leave her in California. If her pleading didn’t work – and she doubted it would – a few extra days might give her the time she needed to build her courage.

Because, if all her other options failed, she had one last, desperate plan:

Kill Donald.

Author bio:

A collector of vintage Barbies and younger boyfriends, Anne Glynn currently resides in the American Southwest.

The truth is a little more complicated. I'm Anne and my S.W.P. (Significant Writing Partner) is Glynn. Together, we write as 'Anne Glynn'.

However, I am a collector of vintage Barbies and I have, on occasion, collected the younger boyfriend. Not so much these days.

Links: http://www.anneglynn.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Anne-Glynn/e/B00I2CFKXK/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1398974715&sr=1-2-ent

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/anne-glynn

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnneGlynn

 

Book Tour Blast: CITY OF CRUELTY AND COPPER by Rhiannon Paille

 
 

The year is 3305CE | 1305TE 

Nuclear bombs destroyed earth. But a small group of survivors Escaped to Antarctica Under the permafrost Fable Ketterling was fifteen When the bombs went off She was fifteen when She and her parents escaped She was fifteen when she found The fountain of youth She was fifteen when the fountain MADE HER IMMORTAL SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE
Buy on Amazon     
 Meet the author:Rhiannon is a booksmith from the middle of nowhere, Canada. She holds a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology, which is to say she happens to know a lot about what goes bump in the night. 

When she's not writing she's singing karaoke, burning dinner, and hiding her superhero identity. She'd like to own a unicorn one day, as long as it doesn't eat her. You'll find her sipping iced cappuccino despite her allergy to coffee at yafantasyauthor.com
  Find Rhiannon on the web:Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Website
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New #SCIFI release: FREE TO FALL by Lauren Miller

A Conversation with Lauren Miller

Q: Why did you want to write a novel for teens about society’s use of technology? 
A:  As a society, we’re hyper-focused on personal independence and freedom, yet we cede so much of our decision-making to our little rectangular devices.  Our Maps app tells us which route to take and we take it.  Yelp suggests a restaurant, and we eat there.  iTunes recommends a song and we buy it.  Relying on these programs makes our lives easier for sure.  But what are we giving up in the process?  Does “easy” always mean “better?”  More than anything, I wanted to write a story about free will, and looking at it through the lens of our collective dependence on technology felt like a really interesting way to do it.
Q: Rory is naïve and impressionable at the beginning of FREE TO FALL, and through the course of the book she becomes more and more savvy and cognizant of what her society has become. What particularly appeals to you about your heroine?
A:  Yes, Rory is naive in the beginning, trusting the technology she’s grown up with, but she’s got her eyes open.  As she begins to encounter things that don’t add up, she asks why.  I love that.  The other thing that’s cool about Rory is her intelligence.  The girl is crazy smart.  But she doesn’t have an ego about it, because she knows her brain doesn’t define her.  That’s probably my favorite thing about her. 
Q: In the book, you compare Rory’s dilemma with technology vs. free will and Milton’s Paradise Lost, even referencing the classic in your book’s title. What was it about Milton’s poem that resonated with you?
A: Paradise Lost, for those who aren’t familiar with it, is a re-telling of the primordial tale of the Garden of Eden, when Satan, disguised as a serpent, tricks Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, a choice that results in their expulsion from Paradise.  Adam and Eve had the capacity to make the right choice, but their egos got in the way.  They thought they knew what was best, but really they were just being duped by the proverbial snake in the grass.  They let the serpent trick them into giving up their freedom.  We’re no different.  We let ourselves be managed and controlled while pretending we’re calling the shots.  That notion — that what happened in the Garden didn’t just happen once, but happens over and over again, every time man is free to choose and chooses himself — is the aspect of Paradise Lost that most resonated with me and the idea I wanted to explore in Free to Fall. 
Q: FREE TO FALL blurs the lines between technological advancement and complacency; what is your personal opinion about finding a balance?
A:  The trick, I think, is to be skeptical of anything that professes to make life easier, because in my experience, “ease” typically comes at the expense of something else.  On a very basic level, take the smartphone.  Weren’t personal electronic devices supposed to set us free us from the confines of our desks?   They were supposed to make our lives easier by allowing us to do our work on our own schedule, on our terms.  What we’ve ended up with, though, is a different form of captivity.  We may not be locked in our offices, but we’re certainly tethered to our screens.  Where we used to be allowed to take a day or so to respond to an email, now we’re expected to reply instantly.  Not that the smartphone isn’t an amazing, helpful device — it is.  We just need to make sure we’re managing our technology, not the other way around.
Q: In the book, one’s so-called “inner voice” is called “the Doubt,” and admitting to hearing that voice is viewed as a psychological weakness, as something that people need to be cured from. What is that inner voice — conscience, intuition, something more?  And how will society’s view of it evolve as we become more and more reliant on technology?
A. At the core of FREE TO FALL is the struggle between reason and wisdom.  As we as a society become more and more dependent on our technological devices, there is risk that we will forget that reason and wisdom are not always the same thing.  Reason can tell us what is true about the natural world, but it can’t tell us what should be true.  Only wisdom can show us that.  To use an example from the book, an app like Lux could tell me exactly how long I would need to study to ace an exam.  Lux couldn’t, however, tell me whether I should sacrifice that cram session in order to help a friend.  But what happens when society becomes so fixated on personal achievement that the “shoulds” — which often require some form of self-sacrifice or personal risk — are dismissed as “unwise.”  I don’t think it’s a leap to think that the day will come when it’ll be considered foolish to do anything that doesn’t benefit you, like helping that friend or throwing away a lucrative career to follow a passion.  And what will become of the whisper within when that happens?
Q: Today teen readers have so many options for entertainment, from video games to social media interactions.  What’s your advice for parents and teachers to get young people excited about reading? 
A: I think you have to sell your kids on story.  The thing books have over video games and social media is narrative -- recognizable, relatable characters who are experiencing a meaningful conflict.  The human psyche is wired for story, so all we have to do is tap into that desire with the right narrative.  I think some young people are turned off by reading because they’ve only read the books on their school’s reading list, and those books, while incredibly worthy of study, don’t have an easy entry point for a reluctant reader.  Too often, the unfamiliar style of writing creates a barrier and readers give up before the story hooks them.  For eager readers, the solution might be to teach them how to navigate difficult prose.  But reluctant readers won’t make that effort, so it’s our job as mentors and parents and educators to find stories that make it easy on them. There is a story out there for everyone.  It’s just a matter of finding it!
Q: You call your writing “sci-chic”—can you explain what that means?
A:  I use the term to refer to grounded, based-in-the-real-world sci-fi that will appeal to readers who may have been intimidated by the genre in the past.  I was one of those readers when I was a teen, and I see now how many great stories I missed.  The word "chic" is there to remind people that science can be cool -- the discipline has gotten such a bad rap, especially among young women.  So often science is dismissed as boring or mind-numbing or geeky, partly, I think, because the media reinforces these messages over and over again.  So often, the characters who're into science are uber-geeks or eccentrics.  In my stories, there are no science nerds, and the science is as fun as it is freaky!
Q: How has your screenwriting experience influenced your fiction writing?  A.  In a script, the writer’s voice has a specific place on the page — you’re the narrator, describing the action in every scene.  You are not your main character.  It’s easy to forget this when you’re writing a first person narrative, and you end up with a voice that doesn’t fit your narrator.  Screenwriting taught me not only how to distinguish, but also how to define, my characters by their voices, and how to make sure none of my characters sound like me.  Description has its place in a novel, but dialogue is an incredible tool for bringing characters to life and making them relatable to the reader.  Both readers and reviewers have commented on how “recognizable” my characters are, which for me is incredibly high praise.

Q: What’s next for Lauren Miller?
A: More sci-chic!  Right now I’m working on my third standalone novel, which like Parallel and FREE TO FALL is a grounded, character-driven story with a fun sci-fi twist.  My main character is less of a “nice girl” than Abby and Rory are, so it’s been very fun to write from her POV!  
Early reviews for FREE TO FALL:
“The society’s dependence upon technology is enthralling, and terrifyingly realistic. Though Rory is slow to awaken to the realities of her carefully designed world, readers will be quick to fall in love with her. A fast-paced plot, an addictive, technology-driven world and fantastic characters make this one of the best reads of 2014 so far.” ~RT Reviews
“A mind teaser that is centered on the overwhelming ‘real world’ of 21stcentury technology, this book is unique.” ~Suspense magazine
“Miller offers an intricately plotted, intellectually rich thriller that will please a range of readers, from those searching for a page-turner to those wishing to thoroughly engage the mind. Mathematics and Milton’s Paradise Lost serve as additional drivers pushing Rory toward the truth in this boarding school murder-mystery with a near-future SF twist.” ~Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Engaging and thought-provoking, Free to Fall should appeal to a variety of readers with its blend of action, secrecy, and romance.” ~School Library Journal, starred review
“Recognizable characters and intriguing technology shine in this cautionary tale.”   ~Kirkus Reviews
Fast forward to the future—it’s 2030 and Apple and Google are long obsolete.  Lux, the decision-making app which “guarantees happiness,” monopolizes the technology market—and more often than not, the mind of its user. Such is the crux of the new thriller, FREE TO FALL (HarperTeen/Harper Collins; May 13, 2014), in which author Lauren Miller casts a powerful spotlight on society’s increasing reliance on technology and provokes essential questions about what we might expect in the not so distant future.
In sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn’s world, everyone relies on Lux to dictate what coffee to order, who to hang out with, where to go to school, and what career path to take. As an avid Lux user herself, Rory trusts the interface to make her every decision, including accepting her invitation to attend the country’s most prestigious boarding school, Theden Academy. But life on campus is not as idyllic as Lux suggests. Soon after her arrival, Rory finds herself at odds with an antagonistic professor and entangled in secret society challenges, all while dealing with a very difficult – and secretive – roommate. Then, there’s North: a rebellious anti-Lux admirer who offers a maverick way of life.  Soon, Rory is overriding Lux’s directions, listening instead to “the Doubt,” the dangerous inner voice everyone has been taught to ignore. But as the Doubt draws her farther away from Lux, she gets closer to the truth of her own family ties with Theden—and deep into the throes of the world’s most dangerous influencers.
Engrossing, suspenseful, and surprising, FREE TO FALLimagines where our reliance on technology may be taking us and the cost of being content with the status quo. And at the same time, it’s a universal story of a young girl in the midst of all the changes that come with growing up, who is learning to make her own decisions and face the outcomes of those choices.    
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lauren Miller grew up in Atlanta, went to college at Yale and law school at Berkeley. She is a television writer and entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and two children. Miller’s debut was the acclaimed “sci-chic” novel, Parallel, which Seventeen called “crazy addictive” and New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz praised as “deeply romantic and entertaining!”   Learn more at laurenmillerwrites.com and follow her on Twitter @LMillerWrites.

#Excerpt: UNSEASONAL WAR by David Englund

BLURB:  Clark Jackson’s travels, for the first time, put him in touch with an intriguing species remarkably human-like. He becomes instantly fascinated with the Fronents and envious of their advanced technology. Striving to befriend them and learn more, his uncontrolled enthusiasm forsakes the use of appropriate caution and suspicion. Could their cold reception be a byproduct of their war with a vile species in this corner of the universe, or something else?
The magnificent splendor of an unexplored galaxy, new species to encounter and the adrenalin rush of space battle feed Clark’s awestruck hunger for exploration and adventure. Unfortunately, the more he learns the more he questions; including the wisdom of his entangled involvement in their war.
Meanwhile, back home in Des Moines, Iowa, Clark attempts to maintain an inconspicuous lifestyle to avoid attracting the attention of a certain relentless federal agency. His girlfriend’s own secret, however, could unravel it all.
**Even though the book is the second book in the series, it IS standalone
AUTHOR Bio and Links:David Englund is a storyteller (science fiction author) and teaches economics at North Dakota State University.  His first two titles, Upsetting the Tides and UNSEASONAL WAR are available on Amazon.  Camouflaged Encounters is due out in late 2014 and the fourth and fifth books are in progress.
http://amazon.com/dp/B00F4MHDWM
http://davidjenglund.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/david.englund.104
Excerpt:Mouth chomping, the alien swayed his head back and forth, then back and back again.  His eyes darted from left to right, unblinking.  He took a step in Clark’s direction, stopped and sniffed anew.
 Maybe invisibility isn’t . . . good enough.  What to do?  No shape to fight.
Clark inched his way along the wall from his seated position.  Slowly, quietly, he distanced himself from the curious pursuer.  The sound of marching echoed in the hallway.  He wanted to avoid the hard gaze of the vile creature, but Clark’s head would not move.
No, no, no.  Stay away.  Nothing here.
The tenacious searcher took two steps forward.  Fingers flexed open and closed and opened and closed.  Nostrils flared.  Eyes continued searching while chomping persisted.
Clark inched along faster, less concerned with noise than distance.  His pulse quickened and despite his best efforts, sweat began to gather on his forehead.  His stomach lurched.  Breaths came in shorter, quicker gasps.  The sound of stomping feet eased slightly as did the smell of reptiles and leather.
One final sniff caused the soldier’s eyes to narrow, more determined to locate the foul smell.  He looked over his shoulder to see his comrades moving on without him.  A moment of indecision, and then renewed focus brought the hunter a step closer to Clark.
Small drops of sweat fell to the floor.  No longer attached to his body, a thin trail became visible as he continued backward.  Clark looked at the floor.
Gasp!
The creature followed Clark’s path.  He stepped onto the drops of sweat as he made his way toward the rear door.
***

David will be awarding a digital copy of Unseasonal War to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-unseasonal-war.html
 

Book Tour Blast: CONSTRICTED by Rae Z Ryans

"Enjoy a morbidly assortment of heartache, tears, and sadness …immediately felt connected … flow is beautiful … this book is what perfection really is!” - Toni L.

The world sundered and the demons arose, warring against those neither God nor Satan wanted. Korrigan trained most of her life as a courtesan, submitting to the will of men. Petre searched for the perfect woman to break his immortal curse. Sold to Petre in Arcadia, Korrigan stumbled through her journey of love, treachery, and forgiveness. Secrets and lies whispered in the dark recesses of her mind as her past haunted her dreams. What if all her master taught her proved to be wrong?

As the weight of her new world compounded on her shoulders, slave and master hatched a plan to liberate the brothel and tear down the walls.  

Beyond the Brothel Walls Saga #1  
Lust ruled the demons. Seven signs have come and gone. Sloth ruled the vampires. Seven angels fell to the Earth. Envy ruled the courtesans. Seven Keys lay hidden amongst the Seven Angels. Gluttony ruled the rich. Seven families rose and fell. Wrath ruled the Horsemen. One family would bring the world to its knees. Pride ruled the Morning Star. The Horsemen must seize the keys. Greed ruled the world. The topics covered in this book are sensitive in nature to some readers.

10% of every sale is donated to the Polaris Project which is an organization against human trafficking. For more information please visit http://www.polarisproject.org/

Purchase on Amazon / Paperback / Barnes and Noble Join the Facebook Party to Celebrate the Release! Sunday June 1 6PM - 10 PM CST

 Rae Z. Ryans is a member of the RWA and RWA Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal chapter. She currently resides in Alabama with her family. Rae enjoys writing romantic, steamy, fantasy/paranormal stories and poetry. Her name pays homage to her brothers: Specialist Ryan D. Rexon and Zachary U. Berthot. She is currently working on Beyond the Brothel Walls #2: Altered and Midgard #2 Rise of the Valkyrie.

Enter to the contest, fill out the form below to enter:

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#Excerpt: THE PERFECT SCORE by Beth Albright

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Beth will be awarding a $15 Target gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

Ginny Bloom Hunnicutt is crawling back home to Cottonwood Cove Alabama-- her promising CNN news-reporting career in shambles when an on-air flub cost her the job and cost CNN a lawsuit. Putting ego aside, she takes a position at the Chatterbox – the local weekly newspaper run by her mother, the town gossip. What’s a southern belle to do in a crisis but run home to her mama?

But when a mysterious hot high school football coach rolls into town, Ginny’s luck begins to change. Seems he has more secrets than a shady politician and Ginny’s determined to dig up the truth, and write the story that will get her career back on track. Everyone knows in a small, southern town, nothing stays private.

But the more she delves into his past, the more she begins to fall for the former college football star.

The coach’s star player has some secrets of his own and when Ginny uncovers it all, she must decide if she should reveal everything or follow her heart and protect the people she has grown to care for.

*** Author Beth Albright weaves a saucy southern tale filled with intrigue, romance and laugh out-loud comedy. From the bright lights of Friday night football to the darkened bedroom of unexpected lovers, it’s a richly layered story with more twists and turns—and mud, than an Alabama back road.

Now enjoy an excerpt:
“I’ll have another,” I said as I ordered my second dirty martini. The Sand Box was a dingy little bar near the pier in Cottonwood Cove, Alabama.

Covered in fishing ropes and other remnants of the life on the lake, the place was a dive for the small-towns folk who lived here, and for the kids who were lake rats during the summer. But summer had ended weeks ago, the kids back at school, and we were well into September now. Late that night, the place was nearly empty.

I sat there nursing my drink, drowning myself in what I had come to believe was the most embarrassing moment of my career. The dim lights swung in old metal fixtures from the ceiling of the Sand Box. A jukebox playing Hank Williams Jr. stood missing some of its colored lights in the corner. A few old wooden tables were scattered around with a couple of red vinyl booths shoved in the corner near the pool table and dartboard.

I had come home, tail tucked neatly between my legs, to lick my wounds. My name is Virginia Bruce Hunnicutt. I go by Ginny. My sisters and I all have my mom’s maiden name as our middle name. I kept it as my last name for my TV job. Ginny Bruce, reporting. I was a reporter for CNN in Atlanta. Was being the key word here. I had been fired two weeks prior because one of my sources was a fake. I swear I checked the credentials but the story turned out to be full of inaccuracies and CNN is now in a lawsuit. I may never work in the media again. And CNN was my dream job.

My name is now as muddy as the Alabama red dirt, which is exactly where I ran home to: Cottonwood Cove, Alabama. It’s the safest place to be. And even though I had become quite the big city girl, the one I had always dreamed of being, somehow, the safety of being home in Cottonwood Cove had its perks. Like being in this dive bar in the middle of the week late at night, with only one other soul in here besides me. Oh, God—and he was making his way over to me just as I was finishing my second round.

“What’s your poison?” he asked in his deep sexy baritone. He was beautiful. Rugged and sculpted with dark wavy hair and gorgeous lips; he was about six foot three and deliciously well built. His dark blue eyes undressed me as he moved closer to me—or maybe that was just me thinking I’d be more comfortable with my clothes off with this gorgeous man. He was dressed in a navy Polo button-down and perfect fitting blue jeans. His large muscular thighs and broad defined shoulders were evident even under his clothes. One dimple accentuated the right side his cute, boyish face. He smiled at me like he was fixin’ to eat me up, and oh, I was feeling like dessert as he slid in next to me at the bar. He looked like an athlete. Or a god. Come to think of it, in Alabama, those are one in the same. Regardless, he was heaven to look at, or maybe I was seeing him through double martini glasses. Probably the latter since I only weighed about 125 pounds and I knew better than to have more than two drinks. Ever.

“I’m having dirty martinis,” I answered. “You?”

“I’ll have the same,” he said to the bartender.

Beth Albright is the author of the award-winning, best-selling series The Sassy Belles. After knowing Beth for just a few short seconds you are sure to learn she is from Alabama. No, its not the lilt of magnolia you can still catch in her voice, or even the way she lovingly describes her undying love for her famous alma mater's football champions. She will tell you she loves Tuscaloosa, even after living quite literally all over the country. Though Beth has had a remarkable career, from New York City to Hollywood, and all points in between, she has never forgotten where she came from...and what she loves. That's why when it came time to write, Beth had no choice but to write about Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama, and all the quirky people she still calls family, though some do not actually share her bloodline!

Beth Albright has always been a storyteller. After spending nearly 15 years in talk radio, as a talk show host, playing the part of a principal character on the soap opera, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, owning her own acting school and children’s theater, and raising a son who was a nationally ranked figure skater, Beth has decided to return to her roots; storytelling. When she was in the sixth grade, her teacher gave her the floor every Friday to tell her stories. See, Beth was a talker, a future talk show host in the making, and she was telling stories so much that her teacher couldn’t teach. The teacher told 12 year old Beth if she would begin writing her stories down, she would be allowed time to share those stories with the class.

And she’s been writing, AND talking ever since. Beth has interviewed Bob Hope, Oprah Winfrey, Betty White, Wolfgang Puck and George Burns live from the Chinese Theatre, as well as numerous other celebrities, and authors. Then Beth became a principal character on Days of Our Lives. But through all of the excitement of talk shows and soap operas, Beth loved telling stories to her audience the most. With a degree in Journalism from her beloved University of Alabama, She always remains true to her roots, born and raised in Tuscaloosa, “My grandfather was the play by play announcer for the Crimson Tide in the 50s!” Beth will proudly tell you. She is a down homespun girl, although she currently lives in San Francisco with her TV producer husband and her brilliant son. But her heart is always in Alabama.

Author contact links:
https://www.facebook.com/TheSassyBelles
https://twitter.com/BeththeBelle
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583748.Beth_Albright
http://tulepublishing.com/product/the-perfect-score/
http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Score-Southern-Born-ebook/dp/B00KIBLG7M/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400963516&sr=1-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/beth-albright
 
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Beth will be awarding a $15 Target gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

PLOT VS. CHARACTER by best-selling author Michaelbrent Collings

Some people don’t understand how important character is to a successful story. Or how it interacts with the importance of plot.
Well, here’s how important it is: “super-duper.” And that’s a metric super-duper, which is, like, twice as big as a standard unit super-duper.
So: very important.
Plot is also super-duper important (also metric unit), but in a different way. Both are needed to create the Pure Awesome that is a successful story.
Here’s how I like to explain it:
When I first saw my wife, my impression was that she was Amazingly Hawt. She could have given the suna sunburn.
And, eventually, we got married.
But(yes, there’s always a but)…
… I didn’t marry her because of said Hawtness. I married her because she was smart, and kind, and spiritual, and good.  In other words, the thing that first drew me to her was that she was a babe. The thing that kept me with her was that she was an amazing person.
This, to me, is a perfect analogy for the interaction between plot and character.
The great majority of my books have a “hook” – an interesting plot device that is laid out quickly and clearly. Strangers has a family that is sealed in their own home by a killer who wants to have some, ahem, “quality time” with them. The Colony Saga is about a man who is trying to survive a zombie apocalypse in which 99.9% of the world’s population is changed or killed in only ten minutes. Crime Seen is about a detective on the trail of a serial killer who turns out to have died some time ago.
The reason these are called “hooks” is as obvious as the reason I approached my wife fairly quickly after observing her Major Babe-itude: they are meant to draw in the audience. To create questions in their minds, a need to find out “WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?” These are, basically, plots in microcosm. They are the beginning, middle, and end in a single line. With Strangers you know that the family is going to be locked up, tortured (mentally or physically), and then will either escape… or not. With Crime Seen you know the detective will hunt the ghost, will suffer loss, and then will find a way to exorcise the phantom… or not.
The plot, in other words, draws us in, and maintains a certain level of interest as we read a book or watch a movie or play.
The character, though… like my wife’s own character, the characters in a story are the thing that makes that story set up residence in our lives forever. We remember the basic story of Lord of the Rings, but the moment that has become part of our DNA is the moment when Frodo demonstrates his goodness by refusing to kill Gollum. We love the general outlines of Star Wars IV, but the moments we love, the moments we wish we could emulate, revolve around Han’s roguishness or Luke’s innocent goodness or Leia’s toughness under pressure.
The plot is the initial attraction, and the thing that gives us reasons to stay when character isn’t counting for much.
The characters rarely have that power. They can rarely catch us from the opening reel the same way a good hook can do. But they have staying power. They become part of our lives, part of our emotional makeup, part of who we are.
Both are important. One gives us a reason to start. The other gives us a reason to stay.
And that creates the Pure Awesome of a wonderful story.
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Michaelbrent Collings is a #1 bestselling novelist and screenwriter. His bestsellers include The Colony Saga, Strangers, Darkbound, Apparition, The Haunted, The Loon, and the YA fantasy series The Billy Saga (beginning with Billy: Messenger of Powers).

He hopes someday to develop superpowers, and maybe get a cool robot arm.

Michaelbrent has a wife and several kids, all of whom are much better looking than he is (though he admits that's a low bar to set), and much MUCH cooler than he is (also a low bar).

Michaelbrent also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MichaelbrentCollings and can be followed on Twitter through his username @mbcollings. Follow him for awesome news, updates, and advance notice of sales. You will also be kept safe when the Glorious Revolution begins!

Book Tour Blast: INTERCEPTING LOVE by L.P. Dover

Both have what she wants … but only one has what she needs.Working with professional athletes and helping them recover from their injuries has always been Kate Townsend’s dream, but after an accident left her scarred and heartbroken years ago she refuses to let what happened in her past happen again. Staying focused is the key, as well as not letting her feelings interfere with her job … no matter the circumstances. All of that is easier said than done when not only one, but two men crave her healing touch, igniting every single desire she’s denied herself for so long. 

Cooper Davis, NFL’s star quarterback and most eligible bachelor, packs up and leaves his home to move across the states to the East Coast after an injury results in the embarrassing trade to another team. Bitter from the pain, he deals with his problems through drugs and alcohol—almost ruining his football career—until he meets the one woman who makes him want to feel; the same woman who refuses to give up on him no matter how many times he screws up. He has to have her, and he’s not going to stop until he makes her his. Especially, now that someone else threatens to take her away. Motocross champion and local bad boy Luke Collins never takes no for an answer. For the past four months he’s used his charms to get what he wants, and now he’s so close to getting the girl of his dreams … if she’ll give in just once. One time is all he needs, and he’s never been known to fail, but he’s also never had to fight for a woman’s affections. Only one man will win their way into Kate’s heart, but which one will intercept the other and take what they want? Which one will she choose?
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Meet L.P. Dover:USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries. Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can't forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols. 

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae. L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.
 Where you can find L.P. Dover:FaceBook | Literary Addicts | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | PinterestWebsite | Blog

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formally known as Decoration Day and commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.

Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action.

The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date.

Whatever you decide to do on this 3-day weekend, say a prayer and a "thank you" for all of the US military personnel who are serving around the world to keep us all safe.