Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 317

New Release: EXPERT WITNESS by Rebecca Forster

Book Blurb:







After Hermosa Beach attorney Josie Bates successfully defended sixteen-year-old Hannah Sheraton against murder charges, she took the girl into her own home. Now, just days before becoming Hannah's legal guardian, Josie Bates has disappeared, and Hannah enlists the help of Josie's lover, Archer, to find her. 

The only clue to her whereabouts leads them on a road of intrigue from the Hollywood Hills to the glitzy evangelical enclave of Orange County; the seedy side of Los Angeles to the pristine and remote California mountains. With Child Protective Services demanding Hannah be remanded to state custody,  they delve into Josie's past only to find that the woman they both love was once a ruthless and hated defense attorney, that the system he believes in has released a double murderer, and that there is more than one person who would be happy if Josie Bates was never seen again



Buy Links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Expert+Witness%2C+Rebecca+Forster&x=15&y=23

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/expert-witness-rebecca-forster/1108015116?ean=2940013850064&itm=2&usri=expert+witness%2c+rebecca+forster

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/115161

Author bio: I marketed a world-class spa when it was still called a gym and did business in China before there were western toilettes at the Great Wall. Then I wrote a book on a crazy dare and found my passion.

Now, I am a USA Today best selling author with more than 20 books to my name - and if you ask me where all those words came from I'd be hard pressed to tell you. All I know is that I wake up with a story in my head and go to bed the same way.

My specialty is legal thrillers and The Witness Series, featuring my beach-rat, volleyball playing attorney Josie Bates and her teenage ward Hannah, have really captured readers' imaginations. But I also like to stretch the thirller genre a bit. Before Her Eyes, for instance, has a fantasy overlay on a murder mystery that I really found intriguing. Wilde's Gamble is a romantic suspense.



I teach at UCLA Writers Program and work with The Young Writers Conference, a program that helps motivate middle school children to explore the power of words. I think I am particularly drawn to kids and writing because both my sons have always had a passion for it. Eric is a playwright and Alex is in film.



When I'm not writing, I'm traveling, on a tennis court, working a sewing machine or reading.

Thank you so much for taking a look at my author page. You can find out more about me, my travels and my work-in-progress at www.rebeccaforster.com

New Release: MUSIC of the SPHERES (The Interstellar Age Book 2) by Valmore Daniels

Book blurb:

THE SECRET IN THE STARS



The technology for interstellar flight exists through the power of Kinemet, but the key to unlocking its code lies in a thousand-year-old scroll left on Earth by an alien species.



When the ancient manual is stolen before a full translation is completed, Alex, Michael and Justine scramble to recover it.



Along the way, they stumble on an interplanetary conspiracy and uncover a secret that shatters their view of life and shakes the very foundations of our existence.



Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006NGHUEE

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006NGHUEE

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/music-of-the-spheres-valmore-daniels/1037397783?ean=2940013851320

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/115475





Link for FORBIDDEN THE STARS (BOOK 1)

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Stars-Interstellar-Book-ebook/dp/B003XT5S4S





Author bio:





In true nomadic spirit, 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. 

New #Romance: 4.9/5 rating, SAVING KATYA by Sandra Edwards

Book Blurb:

Olympic Gold Medalists Kate Peterson (U.S.) and Alexei Petrova (Russia) haven't seen each other in eight years--not since their teenage affair ended after Alexei was forced back to Russia. But in the here and now, they're about to be reunited at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. 



Kate's agreed to participate in the Torch Lighting Ceremony because she's on the verge of losing her eyesight to a mysterious illness, and she can't afford the experimental surgery that could restore her vision. With a little luck she just might land an endorsement deal at the Olympics--her only shot at funding the surgery.



Alexei's living in the States now, where he's made a fortune selling "himself". He's also made enemies with a U.S. senator who wants him deported. But his plight becomes secondary after he runs into Kate at the Olympics. Clearly, she's hiding something, and he's shocked when he finds out what. 



Once Alexei learns of Kate's illness, saving her becomes his top priority--but will he save her only to be forced, once again, from her life? 



Buy Links:

US Kindle -

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P9FURY



UK Kindle - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005P9FURY





Author Bio:



Sandra is an award-winning author with eclectic tastes. She writes in a variety of genres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary, and suspense. Her books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance. She lives in the U.S. (west coast) with her husband, two kids, four dogs and one very temperamental feline.

http://www.sandrawrites.comhttp://www.facebook.com/SandraEdwards.Author



Excerpt: Kate felt like a dismissed child. Overwhelmed by a sudden urge to escape, she stopped just outside the restaurant's entrance. "Alexei..." She started to speak and her voice wavered. "I know you've got business to attend to," she added, avoiding his cobalt-blue eyes. They were captivating and dangerous, capable of uprooting a girl from her good senses. "It's not far to my hotel. I can walk."    "I'm sure you can." A persuasive strength coated his vague words.  "The call sounded urgent." She stopped, and hesitated briefly before inspecting his tall, athletic physique. His blazer looked like it had been poured over his powerful shoulders. The mesmerizing teenage boy had grown into a striking, robust man—one who now wore cashmere overcoats and fancy European tailored suits.  A black limo rolled up. She stepped back, too flustered to care about getting in someone else's way. Who was Alexei dissing over the phone? Was it her? It must be so, the conversation had started out about her. She didn't deserve to be treated this way. Dinner was his idea. Not hers. He was right, though. She did know the score. He had ignored her letters because he wanted to. She was good enough to sleep with and that was it. Nothing more than a teenage tryst.      Disillusion reeled inside Kate's head and stole her breath away. She propped a steadying hand on the car. Alexei cradled his arm around her shoulder, opened the vehicle's door and urged her inside. "Wait..." She used the doorframe for leverage, but it had little influence over Alexei. He swept her into the car with capable skill. The door swung shut, trapping her inside a much too tight compartment with Alexei sitting way too close. Close enough to radiate sensual energy that was intense enough to drive her crazy. "You look pale. Are you sure you're all right?" His fingertips trailed over the edge of her face. Chills coursed through her in electrifying waves. Kate laid her purse on the seat and inched some space between herself and Alexei.   Be strong. One moment of pleasure with Alexei was not worth the pain it could bring their daughter. He'd already rejected Katya once—when he ignored Kate's letters. She couldn't risk that happening again.  "I can't do this." She scooted toward the door and secured the handle in her hand. "Call me tomorrow, okay?" Her suggestion was half-hearted and it came on the heels of her flinging the door open and scrambling out of the other side of the car. Instinct pushed her to run, but her legs dragged as if they had weights attached. The idiot in her wanted to look over her shoulder to see if he had gotten out of the car, but she didn't dare. A single come-hither glance from Alexei could send her back into his arms.  Kate hurried along the sidewalk, telling herself she could cover the distance—two blocks—and disappear inside the building before Alexei caught up to her.

Interview with Ian Lewis

Briefly describe the concept behind your book.  "The Camaro Murders" was largely an experiment. It is one of my early attempts at first person point of view and was born of my desire to avoid force-feeding the reader the meat of the story. I envisioned something that would require a keener level of interest on the reader's part—something that would elicit a re-read not because you didn't understand it, but because you wanted to gain a better understanding of what happened. I intentionally left gaps but tried to do so in a way that would permit the reader to draw logical conclusions about who did what and why.

Explain your decision to tell the story through multiple viewpoints.I was intrigued by the idea of seeing the same events through multiple characters' eyes. It was not so much an 'unreliable witness' thing as it was understanding that each character has a unique perspective on the events in which they're involved. Though it's more difficult to nail down a unique voice for each character than it is to tell the story in third person, the writing process is more interesting because you have to get into each character's head and think things through the way he or she would.

What genre are your books?  Do you write in more than one genre?I don't feel as though I write a particular genre, or at least don't strive to do so. I billed "The Camaro Murders" as a supernatural thriller for lack of a better description. I've never wanted to write genre fiction and have other stories in varying levels of completion that might fit other labels: science fiction, slice of life, mystery…

What factors influenced your decision to sign with Untreed Reads?I queried both agents and publishers, but Untreed Reads was the only one who was willing to publish a novella the length of "The Camaro Murders." I feel very fortunate because I didn't have to shop it around for years like some authors do with their first works. Untreed Reads is great in that they are more interested in the quality of your writing rather than whether it fits a standard length or format. This is a largely a benefit of digital publishing, but many of the e-book publishers I've seen still look for works that meet a certain word count.

Do you plan to self-publish any other books or will you stay with Untreed Reads?At this point I have no desire to self-publish. I suppose if I wrote something for which I could not find representation but felt very strongly about needing to be out in the world, I might consider it. Otherwise, I would love to continue to work with Untreed Reads.

What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?I have a website (http://www.ianlewisfiction.com) as well as an Amazon Author page. Though social media seems like an obvious choice for promoting an e-book, I am philosophically opposed to social media and do not see myself using it any time soon.

How do you feel about the world of digital publishing?  Do you think it will replace traditional publishing one day?I am torn on this subject. Personally, I prefer having a real book in my hands. For me, ownership is more satisfying when I can pull something off my shelf without the limits of a device that requires charging. However, I also recognize that digital publishing is the future and it's not going anywhere as well as the greater ease at which new authors like me have been able to break into the publishing world because of it. I think at the very least, digital publishing will give traditional publishers a run for their money.

Do you have any advice for new authors?I would recommend joining a fiction group that can provide constructive criticism. This continually proves to be an invaluable resource for me and helps to strengthen my writing. Plus, it's motivating to be around other writers. I had given up writing for several years before becoming involved with the group of which I'm currently a member. It's the best decision I've made as far as writing goes.

What's next for you?I am looking to find a home for "Power in the Hands of One," a technological thriller I completed about a year ago. I am also nearing the end of the revision process for the follow-up to "The Camaro Murders."



Buy links: http://store.untreedreads.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_7_46_60&products_id=196

Blogging: A Demanding Task with Few Rewards?

Reprinted from GET RICH SLOWLY

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/01/22/blogging-a-demanding-task-with-few-rewards/





Last week, a reader named Matt sent me an article fromChicago Business about how  bloggers are quitting what they call a demanding task with few rewards . It's a fascinating story that explores some of the problems with blogging as a money-making enterprise.The article suggests several reasons that blogs and bloggers fail:Blogging isn't as lucrative as people imagine.
Blogging takes too much time.
Bloggers aren't willing to share their personal lives.
Bloggers run out of material.
It's easier to reach people via Facebook or Twitter.
Leaving aside Twitter and Facebook, all of these are valid concerns. Money

As part of my job, I talk to bloggers all the time. I speak to groups of bloggers at conferences, and I meet them one-on-one for lunch all year round.From my experience, novice bloggers have no idea how much time and effort it takes to build and maintain a successful site. Yes, you can start a blog in just an hour or two. Yes, you can run a blog as a hobby, and you can even make a little money at it. But for a blog to be a full-time business it has to be, well, a full-time business. Blogging is no easy path to riches.Based on conversations with hundreds of bloggers, my best guess is that the average blog makes maybe $50-$100 per month. (Well, the average blog makes nothing. The average blog that's trying to make money earns about $50 to $100 per month.) A very successful blog might make $1000 per month. And some, like Get Rich Slowly, make enough for folks to earn a full-time living.Blogging can be lucrative if you're willing to invest the time and effort needed to make a go of it. But successful bloggers don't just sit on the beach sipping piña coladas and eating mangoes. The full-time bloggers I know treat this just like work. Because it is work. (To be honest, the best bloggers I know are obsessive workaholics. They spend too muchtime on their blogs.) Time

One reader wrote recently for advice on starting a blog. To paraphrase:

One of my 2011 Resolutions was to start a blog. The blog is up and running, but it's quite discouraging that people aren't visiting it. Do you have any ideas on how to get people to visit the blog?

My reply? "Building an audience for a blog takes years, not days." Blogs don't just spring fully-formed into existence, like Athena from Zeus' head. Building a successful blog takes hundreds or thousands of hours of work.Even then, many things have to happen right in order for a blog to grow to the size of Get Rich Slowly.You need to work hard.
You need to write well.
You need to cover a subject that interests people.
You need to spread the word.
You need to get lucky.
And, if you want to make money at it, you have to have a subject that can be monetized. (That is, a topic for which advertisers are willing to spend, or from which you can otherwise earn an income, like with e-books.)All of this takes time — and lots of it. Details

But time isn't enough. Your blog has to be interesting, and one of the best ways to make it so is to be sure it tells a compelling story. Most blogs fail to find an audience because they're just too generic. They're bland. They could be written by anyone.The blogs I like have personality. Why do I love Mimi Smartypants? Because she's so damn funny. What sets Progressive Ruin apart from other comic-book blogs? Mike makes the site personal. (He loves Swamp Thing, for goodness sake.) And what am I alwaystelling the staff writers here at GRS? Write with personality — share your life.A blog on any subject can be compelling if there's a story behind it. Sure, readers come to a blog for information. But they also come to be entertained. They come to be part of a community. For these things to happen, they have to feel like they're sharing your story. If you're not telling a story, what is there to keep a reader around?Last July, I spoke to a group of deal-bloggers. I was dismayed at how lifeless their sites were. "To set yourself apart, you have to let your readers identify with you," I told them. But a lot of people are scared to share too much on the internet. That makes it tough for a blog to succeed. Material

One final challenge bloggers face is a lack of material. If you're writing a personal blog, this isn't an issue. I mean, I can write about cats and comic books for a hundred years and never run out of stories. But there are only so many people who want to read abouthow much weight I lifted at the gym this morning or look at the latest video I found on YouTube.If you want to keep an audience, you have to write about a specific topic. And once you've narrowed your focus to just one topic, you've limited your pool of potential posts. Unless you only write once a week or don't mind repeating yourself, this is a problem. Note:  I recently spoke with a big-name personal-finance columnist. Somehow, we started discussing the problems with writing about money. "It's tough," the columnist told me. "There are really only about a dozen topics we cover. But nobody wants to read the same thing all the time. Our job is to find new ways to make these dozen stories interesting."To maintain a successful blog, you need to provide a constant flow of new and interesting material. This is much more difficult than you might think. In fact, I'd argue that it's the fundamental problem that bloggers have to solve. How do you keep covering your subject's core material without sounding like a broken record? Solving the Problem

You know what? I've faced all of the problems outlined in the  Chicago Business  article. But instead of quitting, whenever I've faced a challenge, I've looked for a way to solve the problem. As a result, Get Rich Slowly is not the same blog it was when it started nearly five years ago. This site has evolved, and will continue to do so.

Interview with Betsy Miller

Briefly describe your journey in writing your book. I've written two nonfiction books, which have print editions and ebook editions. They didn't go through Untreed Reads because the print publisher wanted to handle both the print book and ebook. Untreed Reads is publishing my short stories. When I started writing fiction, I found that novel length work was too overwhelming for me. So I focused on short stories. I wrote quite a lot of them so that I could practice with beginnings, middles, and ends. That sounds really basic, but that was what gave me the most trouble when I was getting started.

What genre is your fiction?  Do you write in more than one genre? My work spans several genres. Untreed Reads has published Equilibrium in their Candlelight line, and Half and Half in their Fingerprints line. Those are literary romance and mystery, respectively. I've written children's stories, and am currently writing a young adult novel. I also write nonfiction books about children's health. And in my day job I'm a technical writer, so I write instructions for wireless equipment too.

If you write in more than one genre, do you use a pen name?So far I haven't done that. If I write more in the mystery genre, then I might look at a pen name because that work has a different feel from my other work. 

Did you query agents and traditional publishers?  Did you receive an offer of representation or a book contract?The first book I wrote was The Parents' Guide to Hip Dysplasia, which I self-published as a print-on-demand (POD) book. It's a niche book, so though I did query publishers, it wasn't enough of a mass-market topic for them to pick up the book. My second book, The Parents' Guide to Clubfoot, was published print-on-demand through a very small publisher.  A large, bulk order came in, and I was getting requests for an ebook version and for international orders. This was too much for that publisher to manage. They were flexible about my contract, so I researched publishers and queried Untreed Reads and Hunter House (a traditional publisher). Both were interested in the book. Since I knew there was a significant demand for a print edition, in this case I went with Hunter House because they would only do the print edition if they could also do the ebook edition. We signed a contract, and the Hunter House print and ebook editions are coming out in January 2012.

For fiction, I had a few short stories published years ago and just returned to fiction writing recently. There are a lot more opportunities for publishing short stories today because of the emergence of ebooks. It's possible for a publisher to make individual stories widely available without incurring the cost of a print publication, or having to bundle together a specific collection—though there are opportunities for that too in the form of anthologies.   

What factors influenced your decision to sign with Untreed Reads?Untreed Reads is a very professional publisher. They are organized, upfront with writers about what they are looking for, and they disclose what their royalty arrangement is. Plus, their distribution is amazing—they make a real effort to stay on top of all the latest opportunities to make ebooks and stories available world-wide. I've found the editors to be helpful and responsive.

How involved are you during the creative process for your book's cover design?That hasn't applied to my short stories because Untreed Reads uses standard cover art to identify each of their short story lines. For my nonfiction books, I used professional artists for the cover images. When Hunter House acquired The Parents' Guide to Clubfoot, they used the same cover art—specifically children's footprints, and they sent the front cover to me for review.

Do you plan to self-publish any other books or will you stay with Untreed Reads? I'm moving away from self-publishing and toward traditional publishers and established ebook publishers like Untreed Reads. That frees me up to spend more time writing, and I appreciate the promotional and distribution tasks that publishers help with. You want to find publishers that fit what you do so that you have a mutually beneficial relationship.

I won't say that I would never self-publish though. If I wrote something I was passionate about and I couldn't find a publisher that fit the work, then I would self-publish like I did for The Parents' Guide to Hip Dysplasia. I'm going to update that title in 2012, and Hunter House has expressed an interest in acquiring it. So bear in mind that the publishing industry is changing, and it's good to stay informed. The Parents' Guide to Hip Dysplasia might need to stay a print-on-demand book, but I'll let Hunter House decide how to produce it if and when they acquire the title. That's a major change right there—a traditional publisher interested in a print-on-demand book with an ebook edition, rather than focusing only on mass market print titles. Part of the Hunter House mission statement involves providing health information to underserved communities—so that goes again to finding a publisher that fits the author.

What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?I use facebook and I recently created an author site at http://betsymillerbooks.weebly.com. I'm in a number of online groups pertaining to children's health topics, and my position on the Advisory Board of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) helps with both credibility and promotion for my nonfiction books. I'm just starting to join some online groups on the fiction side. I'd like to start a blog, but I haven't done that yet.

How do you feel about the world of digital publishing?  Do you think it will replace traditional publishing one day?I strongly believe there is room for both. There have been tremendous changes in print production and book publishing over the last 20 years. There was a huge consolidation of media corporations, and then the emergence of print-on-demand and ebooks that together with the incredible reach of the Internet have opened up new avenues for authors. It's confusing and exciting at the same time as new companies emerge, others disappear, and many change the way they do things.

What is the biggest thing you've learned during your journey as an author?Don't give up when your first attempts fall far short of what you hoped for. For most writers it takes lots of practice to get proficient—to reach the place where you can say, "oh, I want to write about this idea that I have, and I can tell it would lend itself to a short story—or wow, that one is so big it would have to be a novel—maybe even a series." And you have to develop your craft to the point where you have the capacity to execute your idea in a form that conveys your intent and is meaningful to others.

Do you have any advice for new authors?Keep practicing and don't write in a vacuum. Read the genre that you are working in so you learn its underlying structure. You might benefit from writing classes and a supportive writing group where you can share your work and get better over time. I'm in a writing group that has been a huge help to me. It's a drop-in group called Write to the End (http://writetotheend.com). We meet most Tuesdays and are open to new writers.

Write the thing you want to write, and aim to write it the way you'd love to read it. Ideally, you eventually want to end up writing work that you enjoy as a reader—which is all to the good because you're going to be rereading your work over and over as you revise and edit.

What's next for you?On the fiction side, Untreed Reads acquired my story Negative Space for their Candlelight line. I've also written a magical realism short story for an upcoming anthology. I'm currently writing a young adult novel with a working title All She Wants to Do Is Dance. It's about a teenager who loves to dance and undergoes hip surgery. I'm in touch with a number of teens who have gone through hip surgery in real life and they are so inspiring. I know paranormal is popular right now, but I believe there's room for realistic novels too.

An agent has asked to read All She Wants to Do Is Dance when it's ready. It's too soon to know yet if she will represent me, but at least I've got a foot in the door. Having my short stories published at Untreed Reads made it easier to approach an agent about my novel

On the nonfiction side, I'm updating The Parents' Guide to Hip Dysplasia, and co-writing The Parents' Guide to Legge-Calvé-Perthes Disease (LCPD) with a physician. It isn't a done deal yet, but I believe both of these titles will be published through Hunter House in print and ebook editions.



 Buy links: http://store.untreedreads.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=Betsy+Miller

Review: THALOC HAS A BODY by Jerry Hanel

4 of 5 stars

I have the pleasure of reviewing the second book in the Brodie Wade series. "Thaloc Has a Body" by Jerry Hanel is another fast-paced story that keeps the reader turning the pages.  Once again, we are dropped into Brodie Wade's life. He's a psychic detective who works closely with his police detective friend, Phil Dawson, trying to solve unsolvable crimes. 

In book 2 we learn more about Brodie, who sees and hears manifestations of The Truth. The Truth demands that Brodie follow certain clues and paths or he faces some hellish consequences. The author gives us a peek into Brodie's past and we learn what really happened to his mother. Unfortunately, no one else can see these manifestations and Brodie has spent half of his life locked up in an Institution.  He's damaged and timid out in public, but when Phil brings him a case that has the police stumped, Brodie reluctantly agrees to help his friend solve the case. 

The author also brings in another character, Officer Jamie Stanton, who made a fleeting appearance in the first book in the series, "Death Has a Name." The interactions between Jamie and Brodie are sweet and stay within the boundaries of Brodie's sheltered life.  It was nice to see that the author did not all of a sudden make Brodie comfortable with outsiders.

Phil, Brodie and Jamie race against time trying to solve three murders. The catch is that they already know who the murderer is, but things just don't add up. One of the murderers could not have possibly committed such a heinous crime and I'll leave it at that so as not to have any spoilers in the review, but suffice it to say, there is a paranormal creature from ancient Egypt named Thaloc who is involved.  In addition to trying to solve these three murders, The Truth tells Brodie something that shakes him to the core. Can Brodie figure out the riddles of The Truth before it's too late and more bodies pile up?

Once again in this book I found quite a few typos that jarred me out of the story. The book could definitely use the eyes of a good editor to take care of these. Also, I'm not sure what the cover of the book is supposed to depict. For me, it didn't properly depict the scope of the book. Besides these criticisms, "Thaloc Has a Body" is definitely a good read. Anyone who likes thrillers will thoroughly enjoy this book. Recommended.



You can read my review of book 1, "Death Has a Name" here:

Spotlight: HETAERA by Suzanne Tyrpak

ON SALE FOR .99 until December 31, 2011 Book blurb:

Hetaera--suspense in ancient Athens, is Book One of the Agathon's Daughter Trilogy.



Born a bastard and a slave, Hestia has a gift: the power to read people's hearts. And yet, the secrets of her own heart remain a mystery. Hestia's keen intellect makes her a match for any man. But even a literate slave has little control over destiny. Sold to a prominent statesman with sadistic tendencies, Hestia becomes his hetaera (consort). As her wealth and fame increase so does her despair. She dreams of freedom, but she faces enemies at every turn. When Hestia is accused of murder the mystery of her past unravels and fate takes another turn.



Hetaera: Agathon's Daughter was awarded third place in the Maui Writers Rupert Hughes writing competition.  Foreword from Tess Gerritsen:"Powerful writing makes itself known within a few paragraphs. That's how quickly I realized that Suzanne Tyrpak is a writer of extraordinary talent, when I read the first chapters of Agathon's Daughter during a writing workshop in Maui. I was the instructor, Suzanne was a student, yet I knew immediately that this was not a student's writing. This was polished, riveting work, lushly descriptive and fraught with tension. I wanted to read the rest of this story. I wanted this to be a book. Now that book is here, and I'm delighted that other readers can savor the story that I've awaited so eagerly over the past few years. Agathon's Daughter is a tale told by a writer who deserves your attention, a writer who certainly captured mine."

Tess GerritsenDecember, 2011Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hetaera--Suspense-Ancient-Agathons-Daughter-ebook/dp/B006KYE4ZM





Vestal Virgin will be FREE on Amazon on December 16, 17, & 18 

http://www.amazon.com/Vestal-Virgin-Suspense-Ancient-ebook/dp/B004G093HQ



Author bio:



Suzanne Tyrpak ran away from New York a long time ago to live in Colorado.

Working for an airline allows her to travel extensively and do research for her stories. She's been to Egypt, Greece and Italy doing research for her novels. Suzanne says, "I like to smell the air, taste the food, see the light on the buildings, experience the people and explore the setting I plan to write about."

She's interested in the daily lives of ancient people, especially the roles of women—much has not been documented. In order to create that world, she steeps herself in fragments of writings, jewelry, household goods by visiting museums and consulting her extensive collection of books. In college she majored in Classic Theater (with a focus on Greece) and ancient Religions. Research for Hetaera included traveling to Athens and Delphi.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers awarded her first prize in the Colorado Gold Writing Contest for her novel, Sisters of the Nile . Maui Writers awarded her third prize in the Rupert Hughes writing competition for Agathon's Daughter . Hetaera is book one in the Agathon's Daughter trilogy. Her debut novel, Vestal Virgin—Suspense in Ancient Rome, has garnered numerous glowing reviews.

*New York Times bestselling author, Terry Brooks says about her writing: "...a writer of real talent...a promising new voice." *New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen says, "Suzanne Tyrpak weaves a spell that utterly enchants and delights. Her writing is pure magic."

Rebecca Writes: Simplicity

By Rebecca Forster

http://www.rebeccaforster.com

This morning (a few Sundays ago) I was supposed to work on my
The Santa Shop is a short novel, but it was epic in its affect on me. This wonderfully crafted work held my attention, played on my emotions (yes, I wiped away a few tears at the end), made me think, and made me want to be an author just like Tim.

After I got over the heady reader-delight of having just read a good book, I also realized that I had been given the gift of professional inspiration.  I realized that if I was agonizing over my work, maybe there was something wrong. If I had a good story, it should unfold; if I couldn't figure out which direction to go, perhaps I was trying to fabricate a story where one didn't exist. The Santa Shop was a story waiting to be told. It really was as simple as that and here's why it worked.

I was instantly invested in the main character, Skip. I knew his circumstances, the joy and tragedy of his backstory, the pain of his current situation, and the torture in his heart and soul within the first chapter. I went with Skip on a journey that was equally spare and eloquent in the telling. I saw through Skip's eyes. I felt with his heart. I worried that he would not survive. I wanted a happy ending. I longed for a happy ending and, as anyone who reads my books knows, I am not a happy ending, ribbons-and-bows kind of gal.

However, it wasn't until I reached the last page and read the very last word that I realized it was not Skip who was leading me on, it was Tim. If this author agonized about word count, it didn't show. If he struggled to find just the right turn of phrase, it didn't show. If he edited this baby for a year, it didn't show. Therein lies the brilliance of what he accomplished. I never had to work for my literary pleasure. For a reader, there is no better experience; for a writer, there is no better lesson.

So, on this chilly Sunday morning, I want to thank Tim Greaton for reminding me of the very simple lessons to creating a good book:1) Have a story, not an idea.2) Know your character, not just his or her name.        3) Write as if you are pointing the way not giving directions.4) Stop when the story is told.

Finally, no matter how complex the plot, no matter how many characters are in a book, no matter how intricate relationships we create for our fictional friends, we, as authors, should not be present in the books we write. Simplicity – whether natural or hard won – is the key to writing a wonderful book.



         

Interview with Al Boudreau

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?My mystery/thriller In Memory of Greed is a modern day morality tale that addresses what can happen when greed and lust for power takes over man's ability to reason. My hope is that stories like mine will contribute to an increased awareness of abuses by big business and government, as my fiction deals with real-world issues. My goal is to entertain readers while helping to shine a spotlight on those who believe dollars are more important than integrity.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?No, the traditional route to publishing was never my desire, as I'm a huge fan and supporter of indie and small press authors. I've been my own boss with my day job for decades, maintaining a high level of control in my work. My name is associated with every project I take on, so I always strive to deliver quality. I maintain the same philosophy with my written work. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to provide my readers with the best novels I can possibly deliver. Having complete control over all that goes into my books allows me to achieve this end.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?I feel critique groups are a fantastic way to help improve a manuscript. Nothing can take the place of fresh sets of eyes on a work in progress. Different writers can pinpoint problems that you may not see, as they possess different skills and perspectives. I didn't take advantage of this while writing my first book, but knowing what I know now, I'll certainly do so for the next.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?The main reason I self-published was to eliminate the middle-man. An unknown author with representation will end up doing just as much self-promotion as a self-published author, yet the author with representation will receive a much smaller percentage of sales royalties. Further, rights to your work are given up when represented, and decisions about the book's cover, title, and release date are all controlled by someone else. When self-publishing, successes and failures are your own—I like that.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?I didn't hire an editor to review my manuscript before publishing, and it was a mistake. Due to my initial lack of experience, I rushed the process of getting my book out there. I've learned a great deal since those early days, and have had the good fortune of receiving sound advice and guidance from some very savvy author friends. I've since had a substantial re-edit done, and In Memory of Greed is a far better work due to the effort. As a result, I've now released the book in paperback format.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?The lessons are many, but the most important one for me is that writing is the easy part. The hard work comes after the fact: beta reader's critiques, re-reading, re-writing, editing, and more re-writing. A writer should take whatever time is necessary to produce a quality work, ensuring that a manuscript is ready to become a novel. Self-imposed time constraints are foolish and counter-productive. As authors, we owe it to our readers to provide the best work possible.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?In Memory of Greed is available via Barnes & Noble for the Nook e-reader platform.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I blog, and spend a great deal of time on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I also devote a fair amount of time to getting the word out, locally. I find that people tend to support local authors, and word-of-mouth is a great way to gain exposure.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?The balance between marketing and writing is always a challenge, especially when simultaneously working a day job, which many of us do. However, where there's a will, there's a way. My usual response is "how badly do you want it?" When I'm developing a manuscript, it's not uncommon for me to rise at 4 a.m. to get down some words before heading to work, then writing well into the evening after work.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?I would tell them to write what they know with passion then take the time to get proper critiques and re-write. Once this stage is complete, get your work edited by a professional. Reading the works of others in the genre you write, as well as studying grammar/style manuals, is also beneficial. Most of all, learn to enjoy the process, don't rush through it.

What's next for you?I'm about to start writing my second novel, another mystery/thriller, of course. The book has yet to be titled, but I have a detailed outline prepared to serve as a roadmap. I'm very excited to get started.

In Memory of Greed buy links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/In-Memory-of-Greed-ebook/dp/B004L2LJ94

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-memory-of-greed-al-boudreau/1103561000