Sara R. Turnquist's Blog, page 31
December 20, 2016
After #NaNoWriMo, I Propose #IReadDecember
An idea entered my brain today…and I thought I would share it. Yes, I do share most every idea that enters my mind, but that’s neither here nor there. So, this is the long and short of it: after the tons of hard work and intense writing sessions of November for NaNoWriMo, I propose an “I Read December”.
Isn’t it a little late in the month to be “starting” something?
Well, not for me. I’ve been delaying any editing…putting it off because of other things on my “to do” list and lack of time. My free time has actually gone to reading already. I have finished two novels this month. Both in one day each. I am a fast reader, I just rarely have the time to dedicate to my first passion. But I am prepared to throw myself wholly into it and give myself permission to not look at any of my manuscripts until January.
Are you not itching to get into editing mode?
A little bit. I am so excited about the next book in line to be published. And I’m excited about the novel I just finished during NaNoWriMo. But that book needs to “rest”. For those of you who haven’t heard of this process, let me expound on that idea. For a writer, it is important to step away from the manuscript between important phases in the life of the manuscript to let it “rest”. What we mean is really to let you give yourself some space from it. When you are “in” the work too much, you get so close to it that you can become blind to mistakes and weaknesses. Taking a step back for a couple of weeks or even a month can give you some better perspective on it when you go back to it.
So, what are you reading?
I just finished Melanie Dickerson’s “Silent Songbird”. It was wonderful, as have been all of her books. Her ability 
to write in deep point of view and engage the reader while keeping the work easy to read is amazing. Next I’m diving into something on craft. I think I’ll read “Revision & Self-Editing” by James Scott Bell. Because I think next month will be Edit-like-a-Crazy-Woman January.
What about you? Are you reading anything interesting?
The post After #NaNoWriMo, I Propose #IReadDecember appeared first on Sara's Desk.
December 16, 2016
FEATURED GUEST: Author Eli Celata
Hello all, are you done with your Christmas shopping? Are you tired of hearing that question? I am too. But I have decided that my top priority is to take moments each day to just rest and enjoy the season. My second priority is to enjoy my family. And, after those things, is the rest. There will be time for the other things. But I won’t remember who got what in 2016 five years from now or how well it was wrapped, but I will remember that I enjoyed my kids. And they will remember that mom was present.
Aside from the ongoing Christmas season challenges, I have the pleasure of hosting another Clean Reads author on my blog today – Eli Celata. Eli has stopped by to answer some of my questions and introduce us to her newest release. So, without further ado, let’s hop right in:
Welcome to my blog, Eli. First, tell us a little about your novel.
“High Summons” is my debut. It’s basically an ode to everything I love about my native city but also about YA literature in general. My main character, Jon Blythe, is a multiracial college kid from Boston who has relocated to Rochester for college. Raised by his mother, he has only one thing from his father – magic. Well, he has the monsters too. The dark and devilish figures that he sees out of the corner of his eyes. The ones who horrify his mother.
When Jon comes across a man setting one of the monsters on fire with his bare hand, he jumps in blindly hoping for the answers he’s been denied. However, the man – Jordan – might be a wizard, but he’s also a demon-hunter, and if Jon wants to keep his magic, he will have to risk everything and track down the rogue magic users set on burning Rochester to the ground.
Interesting. I love science fiction/fantasy though I write Historical Fiction/Romance, which means I read primarily in my genre. But I find the sheer creative genius of your genre so appealing. What was the inspiration for High Summons?
While the original drafts were an ode to my wanderlust, HIGH SUMMONS as it is now written memorializes the best parts of my home city of Rochester. From Rochester’s diversity and embracing of different cultures, there were so many nuances I only recognized once I was off at college. The fantasy came from my love of mythology, theology, and folklore.
Very personal inspiration for this novel. My debut novel was also very personal at it’s core. And it was a book I never expected the world to see really. I never thought I would be a writer until later in life though I have always written as a creative outlet. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Both my parents are avid readers, so I was a 3-year-old being read middle grade books at night alongside my siblings. My sister and I would spend hours telling each other stories which grew more and more complex, but it wasn’t until I realized we had a very different desire in the endings that I took to writing.
Fun. One thing that helps get me in the right headspace to write is my writing playlist. What kind of music, if any, do you listen to when you write?
My Twitter is a mass of music tweets. Each time I start a new book, I make a playlist. Currently, my main playlist is for a WIP for my WARLOCK OF ROCHESTER series titled #Gatekeeper. It’s a mix of symphonic metal, classic rock, and Sia. As I also have an unrelated adult dystopian bouncing around, Amber Run’s “I Found” joined the track, but it’ll get its own list soon.
How long does it take you to write a book?
The length of time depends on the type of book and my other responsibilities. Over the summer, I can probably get one done in two months from start and outline to submitting manuscript. Once I’m back at Binghamton working on my PhD, it can slow down to a full ten months.
Wow! Two months is amazingly quick! Even ten months is rather fast considering. Can you tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.
Jon’s multiracial. The cast is really diverse with Jon coming from a single parent household in Boston while his friends come from as far as you can get from a city in Puerto Rico to Midwest to well-off Rochester urbanite. That’s the wonderful part about writing a story set in a diverse “college town.” It also adds to the tension when Jon goes from this eclectic and accepting friend group into the demon hunting community which has its own prejudices and ideologies.
Do you have any current projects your working on? Care to share?
Weird dystopian novel involving a secret library and a twist on the classic soldier/pacifist romance – it’s been on my shelf for a while, but I’m caught on the ending. I can’t seem to keep my pacifist from reverting to her old – much more violent and megalomaniac inventor – ways, and that would definitely upend any chance of a Happily Ever After with the romantic humanist corporal.
Thank you so much for joining us today. And I am so eager to hear a little more about High Summons, are you?
High Summons
Jon Blythe is sick of waiting for his Yoda. After years of hiding his magic, he’s ready to retire from his mortal life, drop out of college, and jump into the world of demon hunters. He just didn’t really expect a bleach blond bookstore clerk with light up toys for weapons. Unfortunately, Jordan is Jon’s only hope. When rogue magic users come to Rochester with a malicious plan, the odd couple strikes out to save the day. Jordan might not be what Jon expected, but between demons and Econ homework, the demons win every time. Wild nights drag Jon further from normal into the world where his father vanished. Maybe he’s becoming an addict. Maybe magic just comes with a price. Either way, he’s hooked.
Buy Links:
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/high-summons
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/648921
iTunes: https://itun.es/us/MEqCdb.l
More About the Author:
Eli Celata was born in Rochester, NY and currently attends Binghamton University as a doctoral student in Biological Anthropology. When she isn’t studying bones or working on interdisciplinary experiments, Eli writes science fiction and fantasy.
Connect with Eli:
Twitter: @Celata_E
Website: elicelata.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EliCelata/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/EliCelata/
The post FEATURED GUEST: Author Eli Celata appeared first on Sara's Desk.
December 13, 2016
Christmas: I Need A Silent Night
I find myself yet again this year in the midst of craziness. Is this what Christmas is for the parents of littles? I see the joy of the magic of Christmas in them. I love experiencing the wonder of the season through them anew, but this hustling and bustling is for the birds. December is halfway over and it seems as if I’m stuck in a time warp somehow. Christmas doesn’t seem real this year.
NaNoWriMoNaNoWriMo is a wonderful thing in my life. It has allowed me to complete two novels (one this year, one last year) in record time. But it’s difficult to explain what it does to my enjoyment of the holiday season. Every spare moment goes to writing. And things are ramping up for holiday festivities and families are enjoying Thanksgiving. As well, I try to spread out my Christmas shopping across November and December (really trying to be done with the bulk of it in November so I can enjoy December), but no more. There is no time to fit that stuff in with NaNoWriMo absorbing my spare time. These are all things I must consider before committing next year.
Gift Giving
Gift Giving is one of my love languages…most certainly. But I am one of those gift givers that likes to find something that a friend/family member would love/enjoy and get that for them. I don’t like this obligation or this tit-for-tat thought to gift giving. The social expectations inherent in the process is, of course, something I understand. But I’d rather give a gift because I saw it and thought of you and wanted you to have it. You know? It’s all become too commercial for my taste.
Taking TimeThis is where I am ultimately lacking. I have been going here, doing that, making this, spending that…barely spending time just being. Or resting in the reason for the season. The family togetherness, the joy of humanity in harmony, and the coming of the Eternal Light to earth on one cold Bethlehem night. I fear this is true of so many parents, especially those of littles – stopping to just be in the moment and appreciate it for all it holds.
So, let’s make that our goal for the remainder of this holiday season…to stop, at least once each day, and just take it in – our children, our homes decked out in their red and evergreen glory, the laughter, the joy, and the eternal peace we have been offered.
The post Christmas: I Need A Silent Night appeared first on Sara's Desk.
December 9, 2016
SPOTLIGHT: Elaine Cantrell’s “Fortuna”
Hello, all! I hope this blog finds you well along in your celebrating and enjoyment of the season. I have a special spotlight for you today – a fellow author, Elaine Cantrell, and her book Fortuna. So, please, let’s dive right in.
Fortuna
Aimee Sherwood never dreamed that following her fiancé into the witness protection program would land her in a haunted house in a town that’s downright creepy. She’d have laughed if she had been told the guy who lives down the road might be her soul mate, not the man whose ring she’s wearing. Life in West Virginia is nothing like life in Los Angeles, but between bean ball battles with Marilyn Monroe, remodeling a crumbling farmhouse, and starting a new online business, life in the country is anything but boring.
Enjoy an Excerpt
From the hallway, Rocky led them to the back part of the house. “Here’s the kitchen, hon.”
“Much nicer,” Aimee approved as her eyes swept the room. “The kitchen must have been redone in 1920. Is that a woodstove over there?”
June scowled and Cade laughed.
“Hon,” Rocky reproved.
The bedrooms were no better, but the bathroom . . . “There are no words,” Aimee whispered. She kicked the claw-foot tub and dislodged a rain of rust particles. They made a pretty pattern where they drifted across the dirty floor. What did the floor look like? Was it black and white? No, maybe gray and white, or maybe brown? “Rocky . . .”
“Don’t worry, hon.” He patted her shoulder. “We have outside facilities. I told the contractor he’d need to work on the bathrooms first thing.”
“No, he’ll need to shore up the entire thing first, or it’s going to fall down and kill us.”
Cade’s eyes were full of laughter. “Hey, Rocky, where are the outside facilities?”
“Look out the window.”
Aimee rushed to the window and looked out. She saw an outdoor shower with absolutely no way to conceal oneself. Not far away she saw a small, crooked hut. No! It couldn’t be. Her grandmother had told her of such things, but . . . “Is that hut an outhouse?”
Buy Links
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fortuna-elaine-cantrell/1123328090?ean=2940157912277
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/fortuna-12
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/611196
More About the AuthorElaine Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina. She holds a master’s degree in personnel services from Clemson University. She is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary society for women educators and is also a member of Romance Writers of America. Her first novel, A New Leaf, was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, traveling, and collecting vintage Christmas ornaments.
Connect with Elaine
http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/elainepcantrell
http://www.twitter.com/elainecantrell
http://www.pinterest.com/elainecantrell
The post SPOTLIGHT: Elaine Cantrell’s “Fortuna” appeared first on Sara's Desk.
December 6, 2016
‘TIS THE SEASON: Seasons In Our Life and How We Care For Them
Welcome to such a joyful time of the year. A season of giving, a season of celebration, a season of merriment. All around us are markers, reminders of this special season: decorations, carols, shopping craziness, you name it! There is no escaping it. It makes me think of the seasons of the year, how they come and go, whether you mean the four major seasons of the year or the more personal seasons we walk through in our lives. Those can last years, months, or sometimes just weeks or days.
How do you define your season of life right now?
By the holiday we’re in? By the political atmosphere? By your health? By the social climate? All of these things can and do make up where we are in life, but none of them are strong enough, I think, to define us in and of themselves (unless we let them). Do your circumstances define you or do you define your circumstances? Remember that hot water hardens the egg yet softens the potato…it’s all about what you’re made of and how you respond to your environment…what you do with what you’re given. I’m not saying that will be easy. Quite the opposite. It may be rather trying. But there is hope.
The difficult season…
I would encourage those of you in those difficult seasons of life to take care of yourselves. But also to think about looking outside of yourselves to be of service to someone else. You never know how much that will feed your spirit to give what you can as you can. I’m not saying sell everything and give it all up…I’m saying take what steps you can to serve someone in your life, your community, or across the world in a very real way the is meaningful to you. WHILE taking care of yourself. You can pour into others if you’ve been drained and have nothing to give.
The season of plenty…
Just like Joseph from the Bible preparing for the famine, store up for that season of need. Don’t you forget to take of yourselves either. And, as you are more able, be generous in service and in love. These things will gird you for the harder times. And may even prolong your season of plenty.
Most of all…
Know that God doesn’t waste a hurt…and neither should a writer 
December 2, 2016
FEATURED GUEST & GIVEAWAY: Author Rachel Jones
Hello again! I hope you are all finding yourselves in the swing of the holiday season. I love the lights and the music and the glitter…okay, maybe not the glitter getting everywhere. But I just love this time of year. So much joy and goodwill!
On today’s blog, I am welcoming another author, Rachel Jones. She is dropping by to answer some questions and tell us about her book, Taking A Chance On Love. And she is offering a GIVEAWAY (details below)!!
Welcome, Rachel! First, tell us a little about your novel.
From childhood, Virginia Manning has planned for a career as a concert clarinetist. Blindsided by family circumstances, her plans are interrupted, taking her down a path she would never have chosen. As a music teacher, Virginia’s relationship with the football coach goes from problematic to romantic. After Blake’s brush with death, a scared Virginia runs away looking for the contentment music has always brought to her life.
Blake Oliver has experienced disappointment and pain, so he opts for a fresh start in a small New England town. Accepting the position of football coach, he isn’t looking for love when it finds him. When Virginia leaves to pursue a performance career, Blake realizes it’s not where you live but having someone to love that matters. His only problem is making her understand that as well.
I always ask about inspiration because I find the initial spark that ignites the story intriguing. What was it for Taking A Chance On Love?
I’m an accomplished musician and I love the arena of performing arts. I wanted to show how someone intent on following their dream would fare if they had to follow a different path.
Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what did you want to be when you were a child?
I wanted to be a teacher or a nurse. I taught in the public and private school setting for ten years before changing my profession to nursing.
So you have been living out your dreams! That’s great! When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I came to this realization after I finished my first manuscript, which I began at age fifty-seven. My writing began as a personal challenge. When I completed that manuscript and received a contract offer, I decided I wanted to pursue a writing career wholeheartedly.
We all have things that enjoy about the writing process and things we like a bit less. What part do you dread?
Listening to the comments from my critique partners, although I know their suggestions usually make my writing better.
Speaking of…do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer?
Set measurable goals. Write every day. Even a small word count of one hundred per day will grow to seven hundred words by the end of the week – words you didn’t have at the beginning of your week. Hone your craft. Read books and attend writer conferences or take online courses.
Great suggestions! Thanks! I know reading is a big one. Books on craft, but also reading fiction, absorbing others’ work. With that in mind, what are you currently reading?
I’m reading holiday stories. I’ve just started Melissa McClone’s “A Thankful Heart”.
One of the things that gets me in the writing mood is music. What kind of music, if any, do you listen to when you write?
I prefer to write in a quiet atmosphere. I know many writers listen to music while they write, but I have found I get pulled into the music and out of my writing. If I did listen to music, it would be classical music.
Do you have a favorite time of day to write? What about a favorite place?
Early morning, whether waking up or just coming home from work. My favorite place to write is in my office where I have everything I need to spend hours creating my stories.
How long does it take you to write a book?
At the present time with a full time job, it takes me twelve to fifteen months. I expect that to shorten in a few years after I retire from my nursing profession.
Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.
In his college days, Blake was a great athlete. He also possessed a polished singing voice that he never shared because of the memories associated with his singing.
Do you have any current projects your working on? Care to share?
I am close to finishing my third novel about a concert pianist struggling with illness and grief issues. The storyline includes a widower trying to build a new life amid family responsibilities that could pull him from his life in San Francisco back to Georgia permanently.
Thank you again, Rachel, for coming on the blog and for chatting with us today!
Taking A Chance On Love
Buy Links
More About the Author
A registered nurse by night and a writer by day sums up Rachel’s present life. This award-winning author spends her limited writing time composing stories about strong women and sweet romance. Her books reflect her love of the performing arts, and her career in healthcare has influenced the threads of medical drama woven into the storylines.
When she’s not working or writing, Rachel loves traveling, sewing and making music. She lives in Kennesaw, Georgia with her husband of thirty-eight years.
Giveaway
Author Rachel Jones is offering 2 eBook versions of Taking a Chance on Love. To enter the giveaway, simply comment on this blog post anytime between Friday, December 2nd and Friday, December 9th (by 11:59pm CST). Please feel free to ask a question, make a general comment, or respond to this question:
Have a hobby you wish you could turn into a job?
The post FEATURED GUEST & GIVEAWAY: Author Rachel Jones appeared first on Sara's Desk.
November 29, 2016
Can My Writing Be TOO Tight?
As writers, we’re frequently told to tighten our writing. It’s a common thing. I mean, how many of you have sat in a critique group and NOT heard that mentioned at least once? Believe me, tightening our sentences and paragraphs in general is a good thing. But can we do that to the point where it becomes a negative? Let me tell you about my first experience pitching to an agent.
I attended my first conference. I was so excited (and nervous). Despite the fact I didn’t know to sign up for agent appointments ahead of time, I snagged the last appointment on one of the agent’s agendas. Whew! One barrier crossed. Now cue the nerves. But I had been practicing my pitch, I’m really ready to go. And you know what? He liked my story. Truly. He was rather intrigued by my characters, their arcs, and the history I had pulled in. So he asked for me to send him the first however many chapters.
And I took the next day and poured over those chapters, making sure everything was how it should be. Hit “send”, breathe again. When he responded later that day, I got the most curious feedback I could have ever imagined: “Your writing is too tight.” What? Is that possible?
So, I call up my writing mentor…have you ever heard of this?…too tight? Nope. She’s got nothing. Never heard of that. I search the internet. Nothing. All I can find is “How to Make Your Writing Tighter”. What am I supposed to do with this feedback? How can I take this and improve if I don’t know what this could mean?
Fast forward to my next conference. I schedule appointments ahead of time (learned my lesson)…only this time, I scheduled a Mentor session first and an Agent session second. The Mentor read the same first page the first agent looked at. Her response? “I wouldn’t call it ‘tight’, I’d call it concise…and that’s not a bad thing. But as I went through it, I didn’t get a picture of what your main character looked like.”
Oh. So, I’ve tightened it to the point, I’ve left out some necessary description. Maybe that’s what that first agent meant. So, I take the manuscript, add in some description. Now I’m golden, right?
Well…that’s not where this story ends. At some point I decide to do a 10K day. That means a LOT of writing, right? And at some point in the day, you get to a point where you let loose your internal editor and just write. And something clicked. As I’m writing that day, I found a rhythm to my writing that had not existed. And I discovered something. In my striving for tight writing, I had lost flow. There wasn’t the smoothness to the manuscript that should be there.
So, for me, I would say, that yes, there is such a thing as writing that is too tight. As a general rule, I would say newbie writers need to strive for more tight, concise writing. But the “sophomore” level writers out there, need to make sure they aren’t sacrificing a nice flow for the sake of tightness. There’s my two cents, for whatever that’s worth.
The post Can My Writing Be TOO Tight? appeared first on Sara's Desk.
November 25, 2016
FEATURED GUEST & GIVEAWAY: Author Jannette Spann
Welcome, everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving are having a not-so-crazy Black Friday. My blog is even having a Black Friday deal! A giveaway from my guest! I have fellow Clean Reads author Jannette Spann with me today, talking about her novel, Right time for Love. (You’ll find the details for the giveaway below.) So, without further ado, let’s jump in with Jannette.
Welcome, Jannette! It’s always a pleasure to have a fellow Clean Reads author. First, can you tell us a little about your novel?
Brandy Wyne’s future includes an old house with plumbing problems, a new job, and caring for her mother who has suffered a stroke. Gavin Wilkin has increased his Grandpa’s plumbing business to twice its original worth, but the old man’s got a hot lady friend with greedy hands. How can he convince his grandpa of what she’s after without hurting him? Added to his problems is the responsibility of caring for his seven-year-old niece for the summer. Brandy can’t afford the plumbing repairs she needs, and Gavin can’t find a sitter for his niece. Ever heard of the barter system?
Interesting. What was the inspiration for Right Time for Love?
We’ve all heard about the proverbial crack that a lot of plumbers show when they’re down on their knees working under a kitchen sink. Well…my adult son was in that position fixing my drain when I noticed his shirt remained neatly tucked in at the back of his waist. That was my ‘what if’ moment. ‘What if’ my heroine calls the plumber (of course he’s got to be young and hot) and gets caught trying to see the proverbial crack? Throw in a precocious seven-year-old, plus the humorous side of some serious medical problems, and I was off and running. As you can see, it doesn’t take much to inspire me with a plot line.
I know that’s true. Give a writer a kernel of inspiration and we’re cooking up a whole novel. Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what did you want to be when you were a child?
Not always, there was a time when I wanted to be a beach bum. Come to think of it, that ideal still appeals to me.
Isn’t that the truth! When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
That didn’t occur until fourth-grade. A student reader came to our classroom each afternoon and read from, “The Adventures of the Camp Fire Girls”. The stories were so real to me that I could almost smell the forest. That’s when I decided that I’d someday writes stories like those.
I love it! And I know we all love making magic like that happen. But it’s not all magic. There are parts of the process we don’t like so much. What part of the writing process do you dread?
Conflict. Just look around and there’s problems everywhere, but it’s hard for me to pinpoint one that I can sustain throughout the entire story and then bring to a happy conclusion. In my own life, I’ve never been a drama queen. I’m a peaceful person and avoid conflict whenever possible.
I agree. I dread conflict in real life…and bringing it to the page can be challenging. Can you tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.
There’s an entire neighborhood of unique people introduced, one of which will be the heroine in a manuscript I’m in the process of plotting.
One last question before we dive into Right Time for Love. Do you have any current projects your working on? Care to share?
I had a full manuscript request from a publisher for the first book in my new ‘Home to the River’ series, and I’m currently working on the 2nd book in the series.
Wonderful! Best of luck with that! Thank you so much for being on my blog today and for talking with us!
Right Time for Love
Enjoy an Excerpt
He eased into Brandy’s drive, looking forward to spending time alone with her. An hour in her company never failed to relieve his stressful day, but when she came off the porch and headed his way, the frown was less than welcoming.
“I’ve got a problem,” she said, the moment his door opened.
“Join the rest of us.”
“I’m serious.” Brandy remained hot on his heels, following him around the truck.
He shoved his cap back. It didn’t matter if he was fed up and bone weary, she wasn’t relenting. “Okay, Brandy. What did she do?”
“Lily said she wants me to be her mother.”
He stopped, glancing back over his shoulder. “What brought that on?”
“I’m not sure. We were playing dress up, and I’d done her makeup and hair. Then out of the blue, she threw her arms around my neck and said she wanted me for a Mama!”
“What did you say?”
“That she has a mother.”
Gavin picked up the shovel and pickaxe, and headed toward the house. Ordinarily he’d use the backhoe and be done in a day, but he needed this job to last as long as possible, or at least until Paul and Clarice got back. Spending time with Brandy was icing on the cake—sometimes.
She grabbed his arm. “What am I supposed to do?”
“How should I know?”
“Well, you’re her uncle. They made you the guardian.”
He walked on. “They gave me guardianship, but they didn’t leave instructions on how to raise her. Besides, you’re the school teacher, you should know this stuff.”
“Well, I don’t!”
“Sounds like you need to get busy then.”
“Gavin!”
He pivoted, finding her right behind him, fists balled on her hips and fire in her expression. “Oh, all right, but it’s going to cost you.”
A suspicious gleam entered her eyes. “Just what’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’ll make a deal with you.”
She kicked at the grass. “That’s how I got into this mess in the first place.”
He laughed for the first time since he’d kissed her that morning. “I’ll straighten this out with Lily, if you’ll go to the zoo with us on Sunday.”
“Nothing else?” Her stance relaxed, and the cheeky grin went straight to his heart. “The zoo sounds like fun. But I’m not sure, it’s according to how Mom’s feeling.”
“Can you get Mrs. McGuire to stay with her?”
“I guess.” She hesitated. “Why don’t you and Lily go to church with us? We’ll come back here to eat lunch, and I’ll talk to Mrs. McGuire.”
He planned to attend church anyway, so if going with Brandy would guarantee him her company for the entire day… plus lunch… How could he go wrong?
Buy Links
More About the Author
Jannette lives in northwest Alabama and writes Sweet Southern Romance with a Sense of Humor. Her books are about small towns and regular folks (you may find someone you think you know) with problems everyone can relate too. Depending on the season, whenever she writes, there’s always a cup of hot coffee or an ice-cold glass of sweet tea sitting beside her computer.
Connect with Jannette and Her Books
https://www.facebook.com/jannettespannauthor
https://twitter.com/jannettespann
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7300239.jannettespann
http://sweetsouthernromancewithasenseofhumor.weebly.com
The Giveaway
Jannette will be giving away one e-book or PDF copy of Right Time for Love (winner’s choice) to one selected winner chosen from those who comment on this blog post between Friday, November 25th and Monday, November 28th (by 11:59pm CST). Please feel free to ask questions, comment, or answer this question:
What did you want to be when you were young? Are you living that dream?
The post FEATURED GUEST & GIVEAWAY: Author Jannette Spann appeared first on Sara's Desk.
November 22, 2016
FEATURED GUEST: Author Andy Lewter
Today I am hosting another Clean Reads author, Andy Lewter! She has just released the third book in her Valens Series. Welcome, Andy! First, tell us a little about your novel.
It is an urban fantasy novel that is captivating, suspenseful, and unpredictable! Need I mention a love triangle?
I love a good love triangle! I know this is a “give me” question for writers, but when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in the 4th grade. Every day, we had 45 minutes to write whatever we wanted, so long as we wrote the whole time. It was empowering and my love for literature blossomed since.
What a neat way to get kids started in the craft of writing. Glad you found your passion. But, as we know, it’s not all fun…what part of the writing process do you dread?
Plotting. I plot, then replot. Then question the plot some more. Which is why my books are so fast-paced and suspenseful. I yearn to be on the edge of my seat as I’m reading, so I strive to achieve that in my books.
Speaking of being on the edge of your seat as you’re reading…what are you currently reading?
The Premonition Series by Amy A Bartol
One thing that helps get me in my writing groove is the right music. What kind of music, if any, do you listen to when you write?
It depends on where I’m at in the book. If my character needs to be angry, I pull up a soundtrack of thunderstorms. If romance is involved, I listen to Pandora. It ranges according to my mood as well.
Do you have a favorite time of day to write? What about a favorite place?
Hands down, at night in my bed!
I’m always curious about other authors and the time they put into their art. How long does it take you to write a book?
About a year. I have little kids that need attention during the day. Plus, it’d be hard to be in the heat of a moment and have to file it away for a time I’m more readily available. I’d rather tap into writing mode when there’ll be no distractions.
I totally understand. I have littles too. It’s tough finding that undisturbed time. One last question, Andy, then I’ll let you get back to those kiddos
November 18, 2016
SPOTLIGHT: Lora Palmer’s “The Mirror Masters”
Hello, all! I hope everyone is enjoying the weather and getting their word counts in (for those of you participating in NaNoWriMo). Today, I get to introduce you to another book by fellow Clean Reads author, Lora Palmer. This book takes me back to my first love – science fiction. It sounds intriguing. But don’t take my word for it, check it out:
The Mirror Masters
Leah Ellis never knew why she was found abandoned on the beach at two years old. Content with her adoptive family and small town life, she hadn’t thought much about it over the years. That is, until her life takes a bizarre turn when she begins seeing images in mirrors she can’t explain–cloaked figures using powers that manifest like lightning bolts, or flash-frozen beaches on another world beneath a purple sky.
She practices mirror-gazing, driven to understand these images and their possible connection to her forgotten past, and discovers that it’s kind of addictive with its wild, boundless power coursing through her veins. Soon, she learns to control what the mirror shows her.
When new neighbors move in, Leah is shocked that they’re dead ringers for the people in her visions. According to Brian, with the gorgeous ice-blue eyes, and his father, she is a MirrorMaster–an alien with a gift that lets her travel through mirrors, even to worlds light years away. Her birth parents sent them to take her from Earth back to her homeworld of Jantyr, a planet she doesn’t remember. They’ve searched for her ever since she disappeared.
But Leah’s long-lost birth sister, a sorceress, activated an ancient device to trigger a cataclysm on Jantyr as a bid to consolidate her own power. Leah must return to Jantyr, master her newfound ability in order to locate and wield crystals that will disable the device, and thwart her sister’s plans. Otherwise, the destruction will consume the entire galaxy, including Earth and everyone she loves.
Enjoy an Excerpt
Strange things happen in Sea Cliff Heights every single year on this date, June 15th. Mysterious pulses of light flickered in the forest. Not-quite-solid figures appeared in the cemetery one second and disappeared the next. All day, I couldn’t shake the intuition that this year would bring something much worse than the usual weirdness, much worse than the usual gibes about how it began thirteen years ago, the same night my parents found me abandoned on the beach.
“Let’s watch something light — not a horror movie,” I said.
“Leah, Leah, Leah.” My brother David shook his head and scooted closer to Kara, my best friend, on their loveseat. They shared a conspiratorial grin. “Don’t tell me you want to watch some lame comedy when we can have a slasher fest. It’s tradition.”
A shiver raced down my spine at the mental image the idea conjured, one of chilling music, strangled sobs and hitching breaths, followed by silenced screams. Tonight also marked the town tragedy of the 1870s, when strangers murdered the Stanford twins, the mayor’s daughters. Of course David would insist we do something scary to commemorate the anniversary.
“Come on!” I shot him a pleading look. “I’m sure you breezed through exams, but I took three AP finals this week and fielded a million alien jokes today. Enough already — I deserve a break from crazy.”
“Just go out to the cemetery with us,” Kara said, her eyes sparkling. “We won’t do anything risky, I promise.”
Sure. Why wait for trouble to find us when we could seek it out and bring it right here?
Glancing out the sliding glass doors toward the church beyond, I couldn’t help checking for signs of unusual activity. My hands fidgeted, and I fought to still them. I thought I could just make out the sound of otherworldly voices speaking in urgent whispers outside. A gust of wind rustled the palm trees, obscuring any other noise and causing moonlight and shadows to flit across the lawn. Every muscle in my body tensed. Whatever might lurk out there, we’d be safer staying away from it.
Buy Links
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/MirrorMasters-Lora-Palmer- ebook/dp/B01EKZKP6E
Smashwords: https://www. smashwords.com/books/view/ 631608
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks. com/en-us/ebook/the-mirrormasters
ITunes: https://itunes.apple. com/us/book/the-mirrormasters/ id1109653965?mt=11
More About the Author
Lora Palmer writes science fiction and fantasy for young adults. Bucks County, Pennsylvania is her home, where she resides with her wonderful husband and their mischievous cat. She has earned a graduate degree in Psychology and works at a local residential facility serving autistic children and teens. In her spare time, she also sings in a praise band, Chalice Sounds.
Connect with Lora
Website: http://lorapalmer. weebly.com
Blog http://lorarpfictionblog. blogspot.com
Facebook https://www.facebook. com/Lora-Palmer-YA-Writer- 144172288935800/
Twitter @lorareedpalmer
Instagram: lorareedpalmer
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