Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 281

Interview with Ashley Robertson

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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Szhq4B0dqR8..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Szhq4B0dqR8..." /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?</span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Crimson
Flames</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> (book #2 of the Crimson series)<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Half-vampire Abby Tate is determined to
learn more about the sorceress powers that were awakened inside her when she
was turned into a vampire—making her a whole new hybrid species. There’s a
group of rogue vamps banding together and forming a Resistance against the
vampire governing body, The Head Council, and Abby’s newly discovered powers
are the key to the Council’s victory. Now the Resistance will do anything
possible to remove the hybrid threat, and with no other options, Abby is forced
to rely on the aid of the Council, yet can she trust the very vampires that hunt
for her human lover? And even worse, can she fight the unwelcome attraction
that’s growing between her and one of those ancient vampire rulers?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you
have a favorite character?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My favorite character written by another author is Cat from
Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series. I love how strong she is on the
outside, and yet on the inside, she’s vulnerable and needy, but she only shows
that soft side to Bones (her vampire soul mate). And currently my fave
character that I’ve written is Abby from the Crimson series. In my newest
release, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crimson Flames</i>, she’s
stronger now that she’s embraced the fact that she’s a vampire hybrid and she
isn’t taking any more crap from anyone. She’s made some tough decisions that
could end up getting her killed, but she doesn’t let her fear stand in the way
of doing what’s right. I’m very proud of how Abby has become more confident in
herself and her powers, and she’s gotten a lot feistier too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>

</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At first, I hated the idea of self-pubbing—absolutely hated
it. I mean come on, who would love being rejected by countless literary
agencies? But it was the few personal rejections I received that actually
motivated me to self-publish. Apparently a lot of agents are sick of vampires,
and anything to do with them is an automatic “no,” so when a few of the agents
responded with, “I like your writing style, do you have something else you can
submit to me?” I knew I couldn’t just put my book to the side and abandon it;
there had to be others out there just like me that still loved the mysterious,
sexy, and sometimes malicious undead. So I moved forward to publish <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crimson Groves</i>, learning everything I
could about the indie industry along the way. By the time I had my second book,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">UnGuarded</i>, ready to publish, the
whole process was a LOT easier. Thankfully I’ve formed a system to the madness
of self-pubbing, and so far, it seems to be working. I have a wonderful editor
(Stephen Delaney with Close Reader Editing Services) and graphic designer who
does my book covers (Claudia with PhatpuppyArt). Yes, these are additional
expenses to your book—but they are essential to your success as an author. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you
used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the
creative process for your cover?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m a team player and I feel like our combined ideas
resulted in three fantastic covers. I worked with Phatpuppy for both <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">UnGuarded</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crimson Flames</i>. Before that, I’d hired an artist from Crowdspring
to assist me with Crimson Groves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is
your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Usually I
need absolute silence when editing, but when I’m working on first drafts I
enjoy listening to house music.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you
outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m a freestyler for sure—I actually wrote an article for
another guest post about this called “Freestylin’.” I’ve never done an outline,
and whenever a synopsis is asked of me, I totally cringe. Basically, I just
write what’s in my head and that gives me freedom to flow with the characters. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Did you
hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing? </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In my opinion, this is one of the most important steps of
the publishing process. I have used Stephen Delaney with Close Reader Editing
Services on all of my books and he’s amazing to work with.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Besides
Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes: Smashwords. Barnes & Noble. Books-a-Million.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you
find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and
writing your next book? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Keeping a good balance between work and other
responsibilities is extremely important. For me, I’ve found that creating—and
sticking to—a schedule helps. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing
arena? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I could go on forever here and totally make this question a
guest blog post. But in an effort to keep things short, here are a few
important bullet points that are a MUST:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 31.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">     </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Finish
your manuscript! Whether you want to publish traditionally or self-pub, you’ve
got to have a completed book on your hands before you can do anything else.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 31.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-prop-change: Robertson 20120727T0855; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">     </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hire a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">professional</i> editor! Not your friend!
You want someone that will shoot straight with you and not give a damn if they
hurt your feelings because at the end of the day, you want your book as good as
it can be for your readers, right? I use Stephen Delaney with Close Reader
Editing Services and he’s pretty badass. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 31.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-prop-change: Robertson 20120727T0855; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">     </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you’re
not a graphic designer and can’t manipulate artwork on a computer, then hire a
cover designer! People really do judge a book by its cover, so you need it to
look as good on the outside as it is on the inside. I use Claudia with
Phatpuppyart.com and she can do some pretty amazing things with graphics.</span></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoEnd..." height="1" width="1"/>

New Legal #Thriller: EYEWITNESS by Rebecca Forster

Book blurb:













Josie slept alone the
night the storm came up from Baja and crashed hard over Hermosa Beach. It was
as if Neptune had surfaced, blown out his mighty breath, and wreaked godly
havoc on Southern California with an all out assault of thunder, lightning, and
hellacious wind. Yet, because she was curled under her duvet, because her
bedroom was at the back of the house, it was no surprise that Josie wasn’t the
one to hear the frantic knocking on the door and the screaming that came with
it.



It was Hannah who woke
with a start.



It was Hannah who was
terrified by the darkness, the howling wind, the driving rain, and the racket
made by a man pounding on the door as if he would break it down. It was Hannah
who tumbled out of bed and ran for Josie, staying low in the shadows for fear
that whoever was outside might see her through the bare picture window.



Hannah called out as
she ran, but her shriek was braided into the sizzle of lightning and then
flattened by a clap of thunder so loud it rattled the house. She threw herself
into the hall. On all fours, she crawled forward, clutched the doorjamb, pulled
herself into the bedroom, and felt her way in the dark until she touched Josie.




Once.
. .



Twice..
. .



 Five. . .



“Josie! Josie!”



Hannah kept her voice
low. If she raised it she would get more than Josie’s attention; she might get
the attention of the man outside.



“What? Hannah. . .Don’t.
. .”



Ten.
. .



Twelve.
. .



Josie swiped at the
girl’s hand, annoyed in her half sleep. That changed when the wind blew one of
the patio chairs into the side of the house. Josie clutched the girl’s hand,
rolled over, and put the other one on Hannah’s shoulder.



“Sorry. Sorry. It’s
okay. Go back - ”



“Josie, no. Get up.
Someone’s out there.”



Hannah pulled hard.
Clutch and pull and tap and shake and whisper. Hannah would have crawled in bed
with Josie had she not sat up, reached over, and hit the light on the travel
clock she preferred to the effervescent glow of a digital. Midnight. No one in their
right mind would be out at a time like this, on a night like this. Josie
released Hannah’s hand and ran one of her own through her short hair.



“Hannah, you were
dreaming,” Josie mumbled.



Just then the small
house shuddered, reverberating as it put its architectural shoulder into the
huge wind that angled the drive of the rain. Beneath that, rolling in and out
was something else that finally made Josie tense. Hannah pitched forward at the
same time, throwing her arm over Josie’s legs as her head snapped left. She
looked toward the hall. Her hair flew over her face when she whipped back to
look at Josie again. Her bright green eyes were splintered with fear; Josie’s
dark blue ones were flat with caution.



Josie put her hand on
Hannah’s shoulder and moved her away. She kicked off the covers and swung her
long legs over the side of the bed as Hannah fell back onto her heels. Josie
put her finger to her lips and nodded. She heard it now: the hammering and the
unintelligible screams. Josie snatched up her cell and handed it to Hannah.



“Three minutes, then
call 911.”






Buy links:

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eyewitness-rebecca-forster/1114744200

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/289253

Amazon: See icon below

Review: FIRST BLAST OF THE TRUMPET by Marie Macpherson

4 of 5 stars


THE FIRST BLAST OF THE TRUMPET is an energetic mix of Scottish history and an intriguing story of a young girl's life gone awry. Elisabeth Hepburn, the daughter of the Earl of Bothwell, falls in love with the poet David Lindsay and imagines a life of love and family, but she soon finds her dream shattered when she is forced into a life as a nun at St. Mary's Abbey. She's a pawn in a man's world.



If you thought a life as a nun was one of peaceful contemplation, you'd be wrong. There is nothing peaceful about this story set in Scotland in the 1500s. The author weaves a fantastic story of intrigue and political maelstrom involving Elisabeth, her godson John Knox, the Catholic Church, Scottish nobles and even the English king, Henry VIII. I thoroughly enjoyed this story especially with so much Scottish real-life history integrated into the story. The characters are expertly portrayed and you'll feel their triumphs and heartaches. My only complaint is that there is not much resolution at the end of the book. I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel to see what happens next to Elisabeth and John Knox, Scotland's great reformer.



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

Book Tour Blast: EASY BAKE COVEN by Liz Schulte

 

Hungry, Hungry, Hoodoo
One simple revelation about her past turns Selene Warren’s life upside down. Determined not to let her elf half ruin her future, she fights for the love she’s found at Cheney’s side, despite her increasing doubts about the bond they share.



However, when her studio burns down, a new enemy emerges and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. To save one of her friends from a gruesome death, she must expose who she was and put more than just her life on the line. Her only hope is deciphering her past in time to save them all, but the more she learns, the less she can trust anyone.



 



Pre-Order Hungry, Hungry, Hoodoo on Amazon.

 




Easy Bake Coven
For Selene Warren being a witch is no big deal. She dabbles in harmless magic with her friends and never thinks much about it. However, when a stranger who seems to know her shows up at her studio and her grandmother is brutally attacked, her simple life becomes complicated.



A world of elves, half-elves, fae—and one peculiar Sekhmet named Femi open up to her. She will discover that fairy tales are real, politics are ugly in any world, and there is a lot more to her life than she ever dreamed possible.



This new reality threatens swallow Selene whole, but with a forgotten past beating down her door, she will have to dive in to save her future.



 



Purchase Easy Bake Coven on Amazon.

 





About Author Liz Schulte:
Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn't always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more.



When Liz isn't writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.



 



Follow Liz Schulte:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 





 Prize: Gift Basket 

   



Fill out the form below to Enter!

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Walter Bennett

Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Leaving Tuscaloosa follows the journeys of two young men, one black
and one white, through 36 hours of racial turmoil in a town in the deep South
during the hottest part of the Civil Rights era. Both young men, once childhood
friends, are forced to face their destinies on issues of race, common humanity,
and their own moral character. Their winding journeys through hatred, love and
lust, moral choices, and increasing violence, come together in a moving,
gripping climax.




Do you
have a favorite character?

My favorite character is
the black liquor-store owner, Rosemont (Razorblade) Greene. He is a wily
survivor and represents one of the essential instincts that got African
Americans through so many years of oppression. He is also a very reliable and
acute observer of life and the other characters. But the main reason I like him
is that he more-or-less walked into the novel and started talking. He really
got the story moving, and it was all I could do as an author to keep him from
taking over. He knew a lot more about writing a novel than I did.




What is
your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

I need time alone and
space to write. And silence. I am amazed that some of our best writers—fiction
and poetry—write in coffee shops, etc. Writing is a very private and intense
process for me. I do not listen to music, but sometimes I read other writers
including poets, to get me started. Silvia Plath, for some reason, is a
favorite. Ditto Craig Nova, Graham Greene, and James Salter.




Do you
outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

My muse is fickle, as they
say, but when she’s hot, she’s hot, and I trust her a lot more than I do any
linear outline I could come up with. I basically wing it. When that works,
magic starts to happen (see Rosemont Greene above). That is the true joy of
writing. Perhaps things would go faster if I outlined, but the few times I’ve
tried to do that, the outlines got quickly pushed aside into the dustbin of
wherever worthless outlines go.




Did you
hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Molly Tinsley at Fuze
Publishing was my editor, and a terrific editor she was! I’ve also had a lot of
readers from a number of writing groups and writing classes. They helped
tremendously.




Did you
hire a graphic artist for your book cover? Were you actively involved in the
creation?

Yes. Pam Chastain from
Chastain Designs in Durham, NC, created the cover for the book. She did a first-rate
job. I met with her and gave her some of my own ideas. She took it from there,
and what she produced—first try—hit the nail on the head. A much deeper and
more moving and engaging cover than I had imagined. It really captured the tone
and atmosphere of the story.




Besides
Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

It’s available on the Fuze website (and I’m told by the marketing
department that there will be a Valentine’s sale, so go to www.fuzepublishing.com).  It’s also available through most ebooks
options—Nook, Ipad, etc. And in print at numerous independent bookstores where
I have done many readings.




Do you
find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and
writing your next book?

Hell yes. It’s a real
problem for me. My main love is writing. Marketing anything is way down the
list with things like taking out the garbage and emptying the dishwasher. I
think Facebook and Twitter, along with Amazon, box stores, and fast food
(leaving out politics and religion), are ruining society. I’ll admit, though,
that I like doing readings and meeting with book clubs where I get to talk
about my work. I guess it's partly an ego thing, but I'm proud of this novel,
and I like to engage with people who take it seriously.




What
advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing
arena?

Leaving
Tuscaloosa was published by Fuze Publishing, an independent, hybrid press.  While self-publishing has become a popular choice for
writers, given the frozen state of the publishing mainstream, I
wanted a publisher who not
only provided a service, but was also financially and emotionally invested in my work. Fuze diverges from the traditional
publishing model in the extent
to which the publisher and writer commit to work as a team. Fuze is carefully
selective. Its editors
are terrific. Its promotion network
is increasingly effective. I
would suggest to a new author who is considering alternatives to the traditional agent-publisher route to look into new
small presses.




What’s
next for you?

Got another novel in
progress which should be finished within the next 10-20 years. It will blow the
socks off of the writing and publishing universe. Meanwhile, some short stories
and essays, a couple of which are just published or in the pipeline.

New #Romantic Suspense Release: KISS ME HELLO by L.K. Rigel

Book blurb:

When Sara Blakemore inherits Turtledove Hill, a vineyard on the northern California coast, it's a chance to rebuild a marriage stressed by stalled careers, incompatible schedules, and her husband Bram's infidelity. Excited by new possibilities, Sara dreams of renovating the bungalow-style mansion - and hopefully her relationship too.

Sara's attachment to the place deepens when she discovers the journal of its original owner, Joss Montague, who disappeared years ago after the death of his wife and child. According to local legend, Montague's malicious spirit still haunts the vineyards.

When Sara narrowly escapes death in one freak accident and a vineyard worker is critically injured, Bram blames the ghost; but Montague's journal reveals a sensitive man devastated by loss, and Sara is convinced the accidents were caused by someone very much alive.

Determined to keep both her marriage and her inheritance, Sara must help Montague's spirit rest in peace--and expose whoever is sabotaging Turtledove Hill before someone gets killed.




Excerpt:
There was a mystical power in the bell that transcended the worlds of the living and the dead. It was dangerous.

She laughed at herself. A week ago, the only mystical powers in her life were things she read in books. Now she was haunted by a real ghost, a handsome and interesting one at that. A man who was--or had been--thoughtful and kind. This was not good. Every minute she spent thinking about Joss Montague and his finer qualities was time she wasn't thinking about her husband. Her living, breathing husband.

She took the bell to the barn and hid it at the bottom of the steamer trunk under the fine clothes and pushed the trunk against the wall. As she picked up the saddle to replace it on top of the trunk, she thought heard a sound from overhead, like a snap, but there was nothing in the rafters but a few extra bundles of vine stakes.

She hoisted the saddle on top of the trunk and turned to go. Another noise came from overhead, a creepy sound of metal sliding against metal. She looked up to see a several loose steel stakes shooting out of the rafters--and flying straight toward her.



Buy links:


B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kiss-me-hello-lk-rigel/1114731219?ean=2940016175317&isbn=2940016175317

Amazon: See icon below





 

New #SF Release: WORLDS AWAY by Valmore Daniels

Book Blurb:

For
a thousand years the Kulsat Armada has ravaged the galaxy searching for
the lost legacy of an extinct race of technologically advanced beings.
They destroy anyone who gets in their way.









Now they have turned their attention to Earth and are gathering their forces for an invasion.




Justine,
Michael and Alex each hold a key to stopping the enemy, but they are
worlds away from each other, and they are running out of time...








Buy links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJ8B1LY

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BJ8B1LY





http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00BJ8B1LY

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/288179

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worlds-away-valmore-daniels/1046082972?ean=2940016201511








Author bio:

Valmore Daniels has lived on the coasts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans, and dozens of points in between.

An insatiable thirst for new experiences has led him to work in several fields, including legal research, elderly care, oil & gas administration, web design, government service, human resources,
and retail business management.

His enthusiasm for travel is only surpassed by his passion for telling tall tales.

Visit him at www.ValmoreDaniels.com

Newsletter : http://t.co/x3ieeoKbCS

Also by Valmore Daniels:

- The Interstellar Age -
Book 1 - Forbidden The Stars
Book 2 - Music of the Spheres
Book 3 - Worlds Away

- Fallen Angels -
Book 1 - Angel Fire
Book 2 - Angel's Breath
Book 3 - Earth Angel (TBR)
Book 4 - Angel Tears (TBR)
Book 5 - Angel of Darkness (TBR)

Book Tour Blast: CRIMSON FLAMES by Ashley Robertson

 

Crimson Flames
Half-vampire Abby Tate is determined to learn more about the sorceress powers that were awakened inside her when she was turned into a vampire—making her a whole new hybrid species. There’s a group of rogue vamps banding together and forming a Resistance against the vampire governing body, The Head Council, and Abby’s newly discovered powers are the key to the Council’s victory. Now the Resistance will do anything possible to remove the hybrid threat, and with no other options, Abby is forced to rely on the aid of the Council, yet can she trust the very vampires that hunt for her human lover? And even worse, can she fight the unwelcome attraction that’s growing between her and one of those ancient vampire rulers? 



Add Crimson Flames to your GoodReads Shelf. 



Purchase Crimson Flames on Amazon.




About Author Ashley Robertson
Ashley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, Florida, and loves writing about anything paranormal. She also composes poems and songs, though she learned long ago she doesn't have a singing voice. When she isn't writing you'll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, traveling and exploring new places, and drinking fine red wines and gourmet coffees from her Nespresso machine.



 Follow Ashley Robertson

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 



This tour will start March 1, 2013. Please also join the Crimson Flames Release Day Party on March 1st.



Gift bundle #1

- A signed paperback

- Matching custom bookmark from the bookswag shop

- Matching custom charm bracelet from the bookswag shop

- Buxom lip gloss (bare escentuals)



Gift bundle #2

- A signed paperback

- Matching custom bookmark from the bookswag shop

- eye shadow—Stila / Rockin' In Rio Travel Palette

- Sephora sampler pack (picture not included) 




 

 

 





Fill out the Form to Enter. Open to US Residents!

 


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Book Tour Blast: ENDLESS by Tawdra Kandle

 

Endless
After the tumult of her high school senior year, all is right in Tasmyn Vaughan’s world. She’s attending college with her boyfriend, and she’s learning to control her powers. Everything is finally perfect, until it isn’t.

When her new part-time job leads to more than she bargained for, Tasmyn is thrown into a deadly fight against forces of evil that she didn’t even know existed. Mastering her extraordinary gifts—along with the strength of an endless love—may be the only weapon that can guarantee her a happily ever after.

 



Check out the entire King Series:
Book 1: Fearless
Book 2: Breathless
Book 3: Restless
Book 4: Endless



About Author Tawdra Kandle
Tawdra Kandle is the author of THE KING SERIES, a young adult urban fantasy quartet. Born in South Jersey, Tawdra published her first short story at the age of 13 in Child's Life magazine. During the early years of her marriage and motherhood, she wrote articles and columns on parenting and homeschooling, as well as some homeschooling curriculum. THE KING SERIES is her first published full-length fiction. Tawdra currently lives in central Florida with her husband, and children, both skin and fur types. And yes, she has purple hair.

 



Follow Tawdra Kandle:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon 



Tawdra Kandle is giving away an awesome swag pack. Fill out the form below to enter: 



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Dealing Positively with Negative Reviews by Michaelbrent Collings

Okay, so, you’re published. 
Your book is “out there.”  It’s
“in the world” and “up for grabs.” 
People can “read it” and “peruse it” at their “leisure” (I like
quotation marks). 




And at first, things seem all right.  Fairly predictable.  The book doesn’t become an instant
bestseller, but it is selling.  Your mom bought it, and your dad bought two copies, and so did that slightly
weird person who sits in your closet and mumbles a lot.  Or maybe that’s just what happens to me.





Regardless, your work is now on its own.  Living, breathing, and (hopefully) being
passed from hand to hand by readers who are – slowly but surely – going to
become Your People.  Your Followers.  Your Army.





And then it happens. 
Among the four- and five-star reviews that have made you feel higher
than a kite on meth, suddenly this rears its ugly head on Amazon:





A TERRIBLE read





I
picked this boock up because of
all the good revuews.  But I guess the
revuews were all dun by, like, the writers’ parents and stuff.  Because
the book stunk.  It stunk a lot.  It stunk like a dead skunk that has
severe
dysintary and then drowns in its own poop. 
Also, the author is a ca-ca doodie head and probably has lice and kix
baby seals and stuff.  Dont read this
book, it will give you cooties.





- 1 star





You read it.  And the
questions start.  Is my work really that
bad?  How could this reviewer have so
completely missed the point of my book? 
Where did he learn to spell?  What
if I do have lice?





And, most urgently… how do I respond?





To that last, I have three little words: Ig.  Nore. 
It.





Okay, maybe that’s four words, I don’t know.  I’m a writer, not an accountant.







Seriously, though, when you get a review like the above, you
must simply rejoice within yourself. 
Why?  Because it means your book
is being read.  It’s getting out into the
world, meeting new people, getting beyond the closed circles of your family,
friends, and writers groups.  It will
inevitably meet up with people that hate it – because it’s not their style,
because you did an objectively terrible job writing the piece (it does happen),
or even for no good reason at all.











And like any good parent, you will have the urge to rush to
your “child’s” defense.  RESIST.





There are really only two likely outcomes if you choose to
wage war on the review or (even worse) on the reviewer himself. 





1)    
 You try
to show the review is “wrong.”  The
reviewer takes offense and goes to war with you.  You now have a dedicated enemy who will attack
you at every possible turn, giving you low ratings wherever possible and urging
his/her friends and family to avoid your work like a sack of rotten meat.  You have just accomplished nothing more nor
less than magnifying the effect and range of the viewer’s bile and hatred.  Result: you lose.





2)    
You try to show the review is wrong.  The reviewer takes offense and goes to war
with you.  You mobilize your friends and
followers and fight back.  A comment war
ensues!  You beat back the scummy, evil,
poor-spelling reviewer.   He/she is silenced
forever.  Huzzah!  But wait… those comments are there forever. 
And you look like nothing more nor less than a prima donna bully.  This will keep people from buying your books
in perpetuity.  Result: you lose.





Of the two, the second is gratifying to the author, but far
more damaging.  I am friends with a great
many authors, some of them legitimately Famous People.  And occasionally one of them will get their
undies in a wad over some disparaging comment made re their work and will
mobilize their fans to attack.  The fans
attack.  Or some of them.  Some don’t. 
Some become “un”fans, turned off by the author’s childishness.  And though maybe Famous People can afford to
lose fans, the average author just can’t.







An example: my most recent novel, Darkbound,
just came out. 
It’s a deeply disturbing horror novel about six strangers who get on a
subway train that turns out to go everywhere BUT where they want it to. 
When it was released, a very eminent horror
review site called Hellnotes wrote up a stellar review.  So did several
other review sites.  A friend who had received an advance copy
sent me a note saying he was… well… less than enamored of it.  It was
too dark, too violent.  Worried, no doubt, about typical author ego, he
asked what my response would be if he posted such a review.





My response: “Do it!” 
People have a right to know others’ thoughts.  The fact that this reviewer didn’t like Darkbound as much as he had liked other
books I’d written was a bummer.  But it
didn’t mean the end of the world, and insisting that he love everything about
my work, all the time, would be not merely ridiculous, but counterproductive.





The reviews of our work will at times
be insightful,
helpful, warming.  And sometimes it will
be shallow tripe that looks like it was probably written in crayon by a
five-year-old struggling against some weird form of Tourrette Syndrome. 
Both are part of being a writer.  Don’t respond to either (even the
good ones –
that can be a bit “stalky” and can also mess with your fan base).  If
you want to interact with fans, get a
Facebook page, a Twitter account, or stand on a box in Hyde Park.





But leave the reviews – and reviewers – alone.  Ig. 
Nore.  Them.





It is three words.  I
counted with my fingers.



Reprinted with permission.





Michaelbrent
Collings has written numerous bestselling novels, including his latest novel http://www.amazon.com/Darkbound-ebook/dp/B00B6NY4SYDarkbound. 
His wife and mommy think he is a can that is chock-full of awesome sauce.  



Check him out at  www.facebook.com/MichaelbrentCollings  or 
michaelbrentcollings.com .